Yuck......

Abby has had some sort of stomach bug over the past 24 hours.

We were laying on the couch together last night when the first (of many) sets of pukies happened all over her and me. Jus and I spent the night consoling her and eventually cut her off of food and liquids for a bit to get the throwing up to subside.
I woke up this morning and sweet Isaac was cuddling with his sickly sister on the couch......

I say, "Thanks Isaac for taking care of your sister."
He replies, "Really mom, it's no problem. I even told her she could throw up on me. Actually she asked if she could throw up on me and I said yes. It's really don't mind at all."

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL BROTHERLY LOVE!

Thursday's Thought....

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." ~Marjorie P. Hinkley

Cupcake.....

I put the birthday girl to bed tonight and said,

"Abby, I am so glad I get to be your mom."

She thoughtfully replied, "Oh thanks mom, I am glad I get to be your sister."

Maybe there's some truth in what she said.....

I look forward to my little girl growing up and hope that I can always be the kind of mom to her that's like a sister.

Thanks to all of you who sent Happy Birthday wishes to little Pinkalicious!

Happy 3rd Birthday Tweeter!

To our Marvelous daughter who sprinkles our lives with sunshine!
She's earned A LOT of nicknames in her 3 years with our family

(most courtesy of her daddy):

Abilicious
Tweeter Pie
Crabby Abby

Abbycakes
Chica Boom
Abby Cadabby

Whatever she's called...It's WONDERFUL!

Treasure....

Someone wrote THIS about me today and it's the nicest thing I have ever read.........
***********************
I love you Rebecca, you are a TREASURE & you make my heart happy!

Calling All Pirates!

Arrrrgggghhhhh! Pirate Island is opening this week in Orem and we're BLOODY EXCITED! Even better that it's in walking distance from our house. Our little pirates can't wait to go.
Go here to learn all about it MATEY!

Where The Wild Things Are....

Warning: Cheesiness Ahead

I just booked out tickets to NYC to celebrate our 10 Year Wedding Anniversary!
It's particularly exciting for one special reason.
When I flew out here 11 years ago to see Justin for the first time in 5 years, I had one question:
"What is your favorite children's book?"
His answer:
"Why don't you bring yours with you and we'll share when you get here."
That first magical night here, it was discovered that we share the childhood love of the exact same book!
Why does this have anything to do with our anniversary you're wondering?

Well, the movie opens up on October 16, 2009.....
10 years to THE DAY we said our "I Dos" in Maui!
We love reading this book to our kids, telling this story and we can't wait to see the movie in New York!

It's OFFICIAL....

Our baby, is NO LONGER A BABY

oh and....

We're a bottle-free, binky-free, DIAPER-FREE HOME
...and we're ALMOST sleeping in our own bed all night long!
sniff, sniff....I MEAN:

YIIIIIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!
P.S. Isn't She Soooo Very Beautiful?

At The Car Wash.....

Speaking of SIMPLE things,

I got out the buckets and sponges last week for FHE and added a little suds to the mix.

We had a blast washing the cars and had a little talk about ways

to keep our bodies "clean"

The kids loved it.....doesn't take much to make a happy memory!

P.S. I learned how to make a collage today...hoooray! Look at me go!

Thursday's Thought

Am I The Only One Who Forgets This From Time To Time??????

Things that are filling my time this week.....

Hello Kitty Underwear (size 3T)
Temper Tantrums of the female type

Tons of encouragement!!!

Lots and Lots of Resolve

Giving Princess 6 baths a day

Flushable Wipes

Urine in Public Places

Even a new Princess Potty Throne that sings and lights up when a potty is deposited!

We're Pulling out ALL the Stops!

Everyone says that girls are easier to toilet train than boys....I'm not finding it so.

I'm NOT giving up, we're doing this right here....right now!

I AM THE BOSS OF ABBY

Date Night

What does a stressed out mom & dad do for date night?
Candlelight Dinner, You Ask?
How about a toy store or two?

We sure know how to have a good time!

Underwater Human Torpedo

The title of this post is all-telling. It may even offer up some advice for those dense parents (like us) in the world. In all the 10 seconds of horror I was experiencing, I did not have the thought to snap a photo. I did, however contemplate jumping from the moving watercraft to save my offspring...

How does a 6 year old boy become a underwater human torpedo you ask?

Well, that's easy....It's when the child's parents fail to tell him what to do when he manages to get up on skis and then falls down.

Ummm, yeah...that would be to

LET GO!!!!

After all was said and done, we had a good laugh. And Jellyman even agreed to do it again, the next time he's sure to not hang on so long!

Thursday's Thought

Justin and I recently took the children to see this movie.

I fell in love instantly with the charm and message it had to offer.

That message made a V-Line for my heart, and went right to my soul....

I imagined that I was Ellie and my sweetheart was Carl.

I imagined our life together flashing forward just as it did in the movie.

Sometimes there's PAIN, and that's a normal part of what our earthly experience is suppose to be. It tests our "true grit" and shows who we really are....

It made me really happy to think of all of our hopes and dreams coming to fruition.

You see, the fact that we met and got married is still a complete MIRACLE to me, (that's a story for another day)...so I know there are many more miracles in store for us.

It made me smile to think of growing old with this handsome, tenderhearted man of mine.

I was really able to feel Carl's pain.

It's what I do for a living....It's what keeps me going on those days that I just want to be home being a MOM to my three unbelievable babes.

I have the greatest opportunity in the world to change the lives of others.

I hope I do a good job.

I hope I give my ALL to those around me.

If you haven't seen this movie, you should. It's enlightening for young and old and really makes me grateful for the opportunity to be right here, right now, living this fantastic life!

The Daily Buzz......

I was making dinner last night and teasing my honey for basking in the sun while I served everyone. I made his plate for him. Yes, I am that kind of girl....

The kind that feels good making hubby's plate for him and filling his belly with goodness, despite my teasing. Traditional, I know....

After serving everyone, I went back in the house to get a plate of my own.

Jus comes back in with a funny look on his face.....

THERE IT WAS.....A FLY IN HIS FOOD!

I promise it WAS NOT intentional, but it did give me a little laugh inside.

Party...Party...Party....Provo Parade Style!

"Magic" of the Provo Freedom Festival
Balloon Launch
2009

We had a MAGICAL Fourth of July. As you can tell from the lack of posts, it was jam packed with FUN! We started the weekend of festivities by getting the kids up at 6 a.m. on Friday morning so we could experience the balloon festival in its fullest. We have missed the balloons taking off every year. A certain wonder filled the air as all the hot air balloons lifted off. Then we enjoyed the Kiwanis pancake breakfast, went to Discovery Park and swam the afternoon away. Hubby was sweet and crazy enough to get up at 4 a.m. and get a parade spot reserved for our family! And yes, the 4th f July parade IS REALLY THAT BIG OF A DEAL AROUND HERE! We had Justin's parents and both of his brother's families come over for lunch at our house and headed to Mapleton that night. The kids had a blast playing in the mud with cousins, racing on the go carts and doing fireworks. WHEW! That was a lot to jam into the weekend but it sure was worth it!

Thursday's Thought

I don't feel like I live in a BUBBLE, but many say it is true......

This is one of many great cartoon's by Justin's amazing cuz Kurt Francom...

Go to kurtscartoons.blogspot.com to be blessed by more of his great humor!

Love In A Photo Booth, Part 2

He's the silliest boy I know!

Euphoria.....

Would you look at these two CRAZY people, Circa 2000....

Only 100 days until we celebrate 10 Years of Marital Blessedness, NEW YORK CITY STYLE.....

Abbycakes And The Sweet Tooth Fairy

Thursday Thought...

I am genuinely grateful to those in my life that are very aware of my shortcomings, but choose to love me and make me feel special anyway. Adopting this thought process has helped me in ways immeasurable to love others.

Dear Jill Springer,

Thanks for sharing this LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN with me. I loved kissing the chub wub on her arms!

She is so very beautiful. Just like her bright, spirited, creative mother!

And for writing stuff like this about me, too:

"I remember when I first started work and you brought in some lists and schedules for us to laminate for your babysitter...I just remember thinking "Wow, this lady really has it together!!" As I got to know you better and better through Courtyard I have come to realize just how amazing, compassionate, giving, and fun you are. And now I see your blog it looks like I can add wonderful mommy, great cook, and creative to the list of things about you!"

Really? It's ALL just music to my ears!

And by the way, I LOVE and ADORE YOU too!

We have a "blogger" everyone,

"Mom that is a blogger,"

were the words that came from my sweet and funny boy Isaac the other night.....

You see, I was in a bit of a frenzy. My awesome friend Rebecca was coming in the next day from Dallas to spend the weekend with us.

I wanted everything to be purrr-fect.

Most of all though, I wanted all my "chores" to be done so we could carelessly laugh and talk and play.

I was vacuuming the boys room when IT happened. I got a little too close to the linen in their bedside table and SUCKED it right up the vacuum. Hubby was yelling for me to "SHUT IT OFF" but my brain or my fingers wouldn't work. I couldn't move for a second.

Thank goodness for a hubby who can think under the pressure of his wife's stupidity....

and thank goodness for a bright 6 year old that is aware of the blogworthiness of telling our stories!

Then we laughed, and laughed, and laughed at my silliness!

Gorgeous, aren't they?

I spent my weekend with one of the most stunning women I know...

She does this and this.....and SO VERY much more!

Check out her Marvelous Life and Blog here.

She is always so willing to share her many gifts with all those around her,

I just wish Dallas was a little closer.

We ate cupcakes from our favorite place here, if you haven't been,

you REALLY SHOULD GO!

We partied all night long (preschool style), played night games with the kids, ate ourselves silly,

had a photo shoot with the Hill kiddos (photos to come) and even painted a mini mural for baby Anabelle.

She even inspired me to teach myself a new little blogging trick.

What is a Father?

In our house a father is someone who:

buys his daughter lip gloss and barbie dolls while her mom is away on business trips.....

teaches our children to always do the right thing and respect others....

does the dishes every night after dinner because his wife is tired....

spends his evenings lifting up rocks and finding bugs for our boys....

tells all his children every day how much he loves them...

scoops the dog's poop daily, not to mention never hesitates to change a diaper.....

keeps our yard looking impeccable and his side of the closet immaculate (can't say the same for mine).....
stays up until 1 a.m. watching "Ghostbusters" with our 6 year old (just last night)...
plays barbies with his little darling...

someone who is NOT opposed to going on a late night chocolate or donut run for his wife (preggers or not)....

Leaves sticky notes on his keys and wallet for things he wants to remember (mostly movie titles :)...
AND makes me feel like the most beautiful woman and mother in the world!

For these reasons, and SO MANY MORE...

This is why we love you SO!

Happy Father's Day

Courtyard Classic

One of the best parts of my job are all the fun events I get to plan. My friend Cory and I started this car show about 5 years ago and it has grown into something really great. We had about 25 cars this year, despite the rainy weather. We were also able to raise about $500 for the Provo Senior Games later this summer. It's fun to see the residents get excited about some of the old cars they remember on the road!

One of our residents with his car, he paid $35.00 for

2009 Best of Show Car

What's a car show, without a good dog?