Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend even though the weather didn't want to cooperate with us. We went to Vernal with my family on Sunday and went to see Trisha's grave. (It still seems very weird to say that) My Grandma Taylor had made a really nice makeshift headstone for her grave so that you could tell who was buried there, her headstone should be ready later this summer so that will be nice. Then we went to my cousin Seth's house for a BBQ for their son's birthday. It was good and it was the first time that I had seen their new house it is very nice and has a great view out the back of Steinaker Lake. Monday morning we woke to more rain and Ashton was just sure that his horse ride that he had been promised was not going to happen. But the rain did stop enough that we could get the horses saddled and all the kids got their rides in, even if they did get a little wet. Even Abbie got to go for a ride, she loved it and didn't want to get back off. She wasn't scared of the horses at all and loved all of the other farm animals that she got to see.
The brown house in the corner of the last picture is the house we lived in when we were kids and we would come "through the field" to grandma's for a little spoiling. The horse that I am riding with Abbie is actually "mine" or at least he was the horse that my grandpa gave me when I was a teenager, but since I couldn't take him when we moved to Salt Lake my grandpa has been taking good care of him and making sure that he earns his keep. All of my kids have now been able to ride on "Mom's horse" I think that is pretty cool. Considering he is 15 years old or pretty close to it, I don't know how many more summers he will be around for my kids to ride.

Picture time

I finally made it to Kiddie Kandids to get Abbie's one year pictures taken this morning. She did amazingly well considering that she woke up later than she usually does and then didn't take her normal morning nap before we went and had them taken. All she wanted to do was sit on things so I am amazed that we got some of her standing. She kept walking away which was kind of funny, after the fact.

Flowers, for Me??

One day, a few weeks ago, I let Ashton help me cut a few of our tulips to bring into the house for a bouquet. Well this weekend he was outside helping Jake mow the lawn, when suddenly he came inside and got something, then went right back out. A few minutes later, he came in with one tulip that he had cut way too short and was upset because "it didn't cut in the right place, and now it is broken." I took it from him and floated it in a cup of water because that was all that I could do with it besides throw it away. He then went back outside Well a few minutes after that I hear him knocking on the front door because he couldn't get it open, when I went to the door, there was my little guy with his arms overflowing with tulips from out garden. He cut almost everyone that we had left. "These are for you, mom." All I could manage to say was, "Thanks Buddy." So I put them in every small vase I could find and then a cup because they were overflowing. Our poor garden looks terrible, but our table has looked awesome for the last couple of days. This is just some of the flowers that he cut for me, sweet guy, just wished he would have gotten a little help.

Party Time

We had Abbie's party on Saturday evening. We BBQ'ed and had lots of good food to eat. The Abbie got to open her presents, like most one-year-olds she really didn't get it and just wanted to play with each new thing that was opened. But it was kind of funny to see all of the other kids get so excited about opening her presents, they loved it. She dug right into her cake though, no hesitation what so ever. She got some before I was even ready to set it down in front of her. She picked off all of the little frosting flowers. She even put her face down in the cake all by herself. A big thanks to everyone that came we really appreciate your support of our little girl on her big day.

Birthday Fun

On Friday we took the kids to the zoo for Abbie's birthday. It was a great day, Abbie loved all of the animals and really had a good time riding around in the stroller looking at all of them. She especially liked all of the smaller monkeys and she would get all excited and squeal when we were looking at them. We also went to the bird show she liked seeing all of the birds flying right over our heads, but she did get a little bored with it by the end. She got to ride on the carousel for the first time and was scared at first but then decided that she really liked it. We had a great day.

Abbie is ONE!!!

I can't believe that my baby is already ONE!!! She is sweet and curious. She loves her brother and sister and is a bundle of energy. I am so happy to have her as part of our family. We love you Abbie!!

My Little Climber

This is why I am taking Abbie somewhere else for her official one year pictures!! I can't deal with both sides of taking pictures when it is my own child and she is as active as Abbie is. I swear, you give her a chair, box, stool, anything you might possibly climb onto and she is climbing it. I really wanted her standing by the bench, but since she can just simply walk away, there was little hope for that shot and I gave up after only just a few minutes. I did get a good one thank goodness so I can give up until I take her to a studio next week. (I have only been trying to get a picture of her for the past 2 weeks, I have tried about 6 times to get a decent shot of her to no avail, she just doesn't want to have to hold still that long.
The stress I put myself through for pictures...Jake tries really hard to not be around when I am taking pictures cause he hates it so bad. But I got a good one!! Ya!!!!

Lexie's Party

Lexie had a friend party yesterday. Since every girl from 4 to about 14 loves Hannah Montana, she wanted a Hannah Montana themed party. I was even brave enough to make her a guitar cake, but was wishing that I didn't about the second that I had to start frosting the thing. I guess that it turned out ok, but I was wishing that my sis-in-law Sara lived a whole lot closer, then Lexie would have gotten a really cool cake for her party. Lexie said mine was cool, so I guess that is all that matters.

During the party we decorated cardboard guitars and then they sang and danced karaoke style with them. Lexie really likes doing that sort of thing, but I don't know how crazy the boys were about that idea. I ended up having them play a very exciting game of Uno attack.

Happy Birthday Lexie!!

Sweet, friendly, responsible, curious, loving, these are just a few of the words that describe Lexie. I can't believe that my little girl is 9 years old today. It seems like only yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital as first time parents. She has grown into such a sweet girl, she is my best helper and has been her whole life. She can see a need, and then figure out a way to fill it all by herself. I am so glad that she is a part of our family. She is a great example to her younger brother and sister. I love you Lexie!!

T-Ball

Ashton had his first T-ball game tonight. His team is the owls. Although it is slightly painful to watch 3 and 4-year-olds play T-ball, there are no outs and everyone gets a turn to hit, plus most if the kids don't quite understands what is going on so there are kids running everywhere. It was fun to watch Ashton have a good time and really enjoy himself. After the game I asked him if he had a good time and he said that it was "awesome". So that made it all worth it.
Playing in the infield-the only place the ball is ever hit so everyone gets a turn to play there so they get a turn to get the ball hit towards them.Waiting "on deck" to hit

"Playing" third base or would that be socializing at third base?? Either way he did a good job.

So for those of you who have never had the pleasure of sitting through a T-ball game here is a picture of one of the things that is very common during a game.. that is a player from the other team (who should be getting ready to bat) trying to get the ball that Ashton is trying to get. A parent or coach of the other team had to come and get the little girl and make her come off the field because she just wouldn't leave the field.