My Ella is 4

It really is hard for me to believe that my Ella is 4!! Time really does go by fast and tends to blurr together! I need it to slow down. I just wanted to write some thoughts about my little girl, things I love, and who she is to me. I have always described her as SwEEt and SaSsY, and to this day it still holds true, and mAjOr girly girl, loves princesses, all things that are pink and purple(her fav colors) and that sparkle,or things that are soft and cuddly. Loves to dress up, put on play make up, sing and dance. In fact, this girl is always singing and making up songs about whatever is on her mind or what happens to be going on around her. She has to have her sippy of chocolate milk first thing in the morning when she wakes up. I swear that girl has chocolate running through her veins. Really social and LoVEs to play with her friends. She is a bit of a tornado when it comes to her toys, she can make a huge mess in no time that takes forever to clean up!. On the other hand is very hygienically clean; she is always washing her hands and brushing her teeth. She has the greatest smile that lights up her face and a giggle that is contagious. Loves to play outside, especially in the sand. Fun and flirty and has a great imagination. I admire her how she can sit and pretend play for hours with her Polys, Barbies, dress up, playing house, etc... she has always been my best kid at being able to make up a game and entertain herself. What an awesome imagination and so creative. Loves to watch Max and Ruby and watching movies. Is totally infatuated with cupcakes and frosting. Paints and colors just about everyday. Not my best sleeper, it is pretty normal to hear her little footsteps come tip toeing across the hall in the middle of the night to our room so we can lay down with her. She likes going to school (The Newcastle School) I think its a social thing for her right now because its all about art projects, playing and singing songs for her. That is all I ever get out of her when I ask her about her day. She is a wonderful sister both big and little. Claire follows this girl around all day and Ella is so good about including her! And she loves to play with Mason. We can't go to the store in the middle of the day and Ella not pick out a treat for him because she is thinking about him when he is at school. She is my little shadow, I love being with her all day even though she challenges me at times. But at the same time I am so thankful she does that so I can be a better mom. I love tucking her in bed at night and tickling her back and listen to her tell me I am her "best". She brings a peace and calmness to her daddy that no other can do. And she really is a ray of sunshine when she walks into a room. She brings happiness wherever she goes. Definitely has some DrAmA in her that I am sure will give a us a headache come the teenage years. But if the eyes are the window to a persons soul then hers truly are the most magnificent. Sparkly, bright, happy, kind, gracious, and a true daughter of God.! I am so excited for her life. She will do amazing things. I know the Lord will use her as an instrument in his hands to touch the lives of others and to help others feel His love through her. I am not worthy to be her mom, but I have never been more grateful for anything in my life. I am sure it will take me a lifetime to figure it out but I am happy to have my Ella by my side teaching me and forgiving me and loving me while I learn. I love having this little girl! What a gift she is to me! Happy Birthday Ella! Love you!

The Blue Lemon

So if you are ever in need of some GoOd comfort food... head up to The Blue Lemon in Alpine and go for the Sweet Potato fries and Butternut Squash Soup!!! YUMMMMMMMM! Totally hits the spot! Its Ry and I favorite right now! CaNNoT get enough!

My Little VaLenTineS

These kids are what gives my life purpose! Love them, every part of them! Perfect little faces and really fun personalities! How and why I am so lucky to have been chosen to be their mom is beyond me! I don't Deserve them! Thank You Ryan for letting me be the mother of your children! and being your eternal wife! LOVE YOU ALL!

A Quick Gettaway

So we decided last minute to go down to St. George with my parents and brother Mitch, and wife Elizabeth for the Presidents day/ Valentines holiday weekend. Good choice by us! It was so fun and gave us all a major case of SpRInG FeVEr!!! It was 60 degrees plus all weekend! And we just loved being outside!!! My kids were actually tired by the end of the night from playing outside all day... Hooray! In fact, we were originally planning on coming home Monday afternoon with everyone but instead we stayed an extra day just to soak it all in! We figured we needed to to take advantage of this time being that the kids are all alright missing a day of school, baseball hasn't officially started practicing, Ryan is slow at work, and it was just fun to play together. So of course we packed in a lot in during the days....Ryan and Mason went golfing at the Ledges Golf course. It always impresses me how Mason can golf 18 and love it and not get bored or tired. And he really plays every hole!:), my dad took Ry for a bike ride up Snow Canyon. My dad does this everyday he is down and there and kills it but Ryan hasn't done anything like that in so long and he did awesome, he made it all the way up to the Upper Galoot trail and with only 2 gears! (his bike needs an obvious tune up). But on the way down, of course,Ryan had to have something go wrong and add some drama to the day, and missed a driveway onto a side walk and hit the curb and wrecked! But he is a rock star and got right back up and headed home with minor bruises and scrapes! Later that day is when he really felt it, OUCH! A day or so later we got my mom and Mason up the canyon and let them ride their bikes down it! That was fun to watch! I wanna do it next time, hand my girls off to someone and go play myself:). But they really enjoyed that too! I liked seeing my mom on a bike as much as watching Mason. Mason was a little nervous at first going down the hills but he did great! After the bike ride we went to the little sand-dunes in the canyon, my kids favorite place! They all LoVEd it. Claire was killin me... never seen her so quiet and content. She just sat there and played with the sand in her chubby little hands and toes! And through a fit when we left! Mason and Ella built sand castles and did sand angels! It was really peaceful and fun! We were at the park a bunch! Claire fell in love with the slide, Ella rode her bike around the neighborhood, Ry and and Mason played baseball for hours at a time. I went with my parents and brother to most of the Home Show Homes. That was fun... some really great houses that are just so far out of reach but that really inspire you but also homes that were smaller and more "doable". Love going to those for inspiration! At nights we watched the All star game with our home town hero making it this year, D-Will! and the Olympics! Both great. We have really caught the Olympic Fever this year, even Mason really likes watching it! Of course we ate at the Pizza Factory where Ella totally fell asleep in Bethys arms (a first for Ella, never once has she fallen asleep in a public place... girl must've been tired), shopped a little, slept a little (all of us in one room does not work very well), my mom took the kids to the Dollar store (or the money store as Mason would say) which has turned into a funny tradition down there, and for some reason my kids love the tub down there so they took a lot of baths, and just had a great time! Hard to come home to reality but so nice to be in our own beds! Until next time!

Superbowl... Colts vs Saints

So... the Superbowl is pretty much a holiday in Ryan's family... in fact him and I made the deal a few years ago that if my family could have Christmas Eve his family could have Superbowl :0 We make tons of great food and sit and watch the game together and laugh and have a great time! So this year 2 great teams, 2 awesome quarterbacks, and a really great game. Most everybody was on board with the Colts but Ryan and Mason chose the Saints and they were the winners. Gutsy calls... (2 pointer conversion, going for it one 4th and goal, and an on sides kick at the start of half time) all of which payed off and the Saints were victorious! Fun night. Commercials were OK this year. My favorite was the Doritos one with the little boys who told his mom's date not to touch his mama or his Doritos! Look forward to next year!

Daughter

I went skiing with my dad again this morning... Ryan was kind enough to take the morning off and let me hit the slopes with my dad for a few hours (Man, I owe my hubby big time...he is spoiling me rotten lately!) While I was up there I got to thinking about how much I enjoy feeling like a "daughter". Sounds weird, I know. But I think as I have gotten older and became a mother and wife myself the role of "daughter" and "little girl" hasn't been in the forefront of my mind. I of course talk to my mom just about every day and see my family at Sunday dinners but I find myself trying to be the "mother hen" to all of them and have the feeling that I need to take care of them all. Not bad feelings at all but I have to say that I enjoyed being with my "daddy" today, playing and enjoying quality time with him as he took care of me and watched out for me. Loved seeing him in his element, he is a rock star up there on those slopes and am honored that he would want to share his passion with me. Being a daughter really is a gift I treasure. I am grateful to both my parents who watch out for me in their own special ways even when I have kids of my own and am grown up now. People ask me all the time how I liked being the only girl with 4 brothers as well as the only granddaughter in our family and I have to say, I loved it! I was/am spoiled and have always had a special place in the heart of my parents and grandparents that I treasure. Wouldn't change anything!
It was a great morning up at Snowbird today and a lot of fun, I think I am really going to enjoy this hobby and can't wait to get Ryan and Mason up there soon and hopefully even my girls eventually! Thanks dad, Love you!

Bitten by the horse bug?

So my Ella has been bitten with the horse bug... from the time she was tiny she was in love with Nana and Papas horses. Not intimidated or scared at all. Will sit on or ride any of them no matter how big they are, she loves to help feed them, and give them treats! But my Claire hasn't been sure at all about them. She gets a little tense and nervous when they are up close. She loves looking at books of horses and can say "ssarsies" aka.. horsies but today we made a break through. We took Ella out to the barn for her first official lesson today to see if she is ready or not to start riding and can pay attention long enough to do this, and of course she loved every minute of it! Learned how to steer and stop today!:) But Claire has been so into whatever her big sister has been doing lately that I think seeing Ella so comfortable around horses really helped her and put her at ease. After spending some time in the barn playing with the kitty and visiting all the "ssarsies" she leaned in for a kiss and a love with one of them! She really seemed a bit more at ease today with them. Now if only I can jump on the wagon:) It seems like I need to get used to this horse life! My Ella is in love! and who know about my Claire Bear... maybe she's next?!