Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point

We, of course, jumped at the chance to go to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point a few weeks ago with our Carter cousins. I'm not sure exactly why I don't have a single picture of Jen or Van-- but I'm sure it has something to do with Jen's handiwork behind the camera for most of these shots. (Thanks, Jen!)
Anyway, we had a great day and loved our pony rides, our wagon ride, and all the Springtime baby animals... seriously, adorable.

Jake was a champ. He smiled the entire pony ride and I loved seeing him so proud.

Jack was not happy about his ride. He had his eye on  a different pony and another mom and kid snaked it from under him. Poor Jack.

Still... pretty great face there, Jack. Gotta love an angry kid sometimes.

See? Awesome.

Sarah was very serious on her ride. She loved every second of it too.

Markelle and Miles.

Sarah and me.

Seriously, thanks again Jen.

Jack and the rooster.

We were on a pretty tightly-packed wagon, but these boys still had fun.

Petting the adorable baby lamb that followed this employee around like it was their mother. It was so freakin' cute.

Wow. That's some cheeser on my girl.

A favorite quote from High Fidelity:

"Top five things I miss about Laura... 

 One: sense of humor. Very dry, but it can also be warm and forgiving. And she's got one of the best all time laughs in the history of all time laughs, she laughs with her entire body. Two: she's got character. Or at least she had character before the Ian nightmare. She's loyal and honest, and she doesn't even take it out on people when she's having a bad day. That's character." [holds up three fingers] " Three: [long pause, hesitantly] "I miss her smell. And the way she tastes. It's a mystery of human chemistry and I don't understand it... some people, as far as their senses are concerned... just feel like home." [shakes his head, recollecting, then looks back and lip syncs 'four' while holding up four fingers] "I really dig how she walks around. It's like she doesn't care how she looks or what she projects and it's not that she doesn't care it's just... she's not affected I guess. And that gives her grace. And five: she does this thing in bed when she can't get to sleep--she kinda half-moans and then rubs her feet together an equal number of times... it just kills me. Believe me, I mean, I could do a top-five-things-about-her-that-drive-me-crazy but it's just your garden variety women (you know) schizo stuff and that's the kind of thing that got me here."

Sarah Says:

Sarah is so sweet while putting her to bed. She says, "I uhvbe ooo" (I love you), and "doo[d] [g]irrw" ("good girl"), and "nigh, night"... The other night, as I was laying her down and taking her Cinderella doll out of her crib (she had a full entourage in there with her, already), the following conversation took place:

Sarah: (pointing to her Cinderella doll) Rella!
Me: You want to sleep with Rella?
Sarah Yes. (She totally says "yes" sometimes. Emphasis on the "s".)
Me: Okay, here she is, (tucking Rella in with a blanket next to Sarah).
Sarah: Rella, shoes?
Me: Rella doesn't need her shoes. She's going to sleep and already has on her covers.
Sarah: Otay. Nigh, night.

I listened for a while outside her door, and then with the monitor downstairs to hear Sarah talking to Rella...

Sarah: Oh, hi Rella! Hi!
Sarah: Shoes? Baempet? (Blanket) Rella, otay? Nigh, night.

Love this little girl.

Miles Kempton

A few of us gathered for Miles' first birthday on Saturday.
I'm looking at my four pictures and wishing I had taken more... maybe Lisa, Wade, and Cindy? Oh well...

These are some cute cousins.
And there's pretty Ashlee in the background.

And I'm dying over Miles' resemblance to his daddy, Jeff. Wow.
Jeff is my cousin and seriously... Miles looks just. like. him.

Hello, May.

April, you were good to us this year... We loved you in Florida and Utah was pretty great too. You brought us a little yard work, a new tree and shrubs, some fresh and pretty potted flowers and herbs, parent and kid-sized porch chairs, a little rain, and even a few really hot afternoons. We can't complain.

May, you are bringing us a lot of birthdays and family time. We are excited. We look forward to more nice weather for nice walks, and maybe even a little more planting in our front yard. As for the backyard, YIKES. I'm more than a little nervous about what May might do to us back there. Wish us luck. And, May... be gentle. We're new at this.

I {heart} my hubs

While watching TV with Blaine last night, that funny/lame Subway commercial came on where everyone is eating and falling through their chairs, popping their buttons clean off, and causing flash floods in their swimming pools. Blaine started out laughing and then got very Vince Vaughn on me. (You know... the fast and loud talking thing.) The following monologue occurred...

"Every single one of those people aren't fat. Did you see that? Thanks a lot, Subway. You just made me feel like a fat douche. I hate myself. Congratulations-- I'm never eating your d@mn sandwiches again."

I don't know why but I was giggling over Blaine's exchange with Subway for several minutes. I love that guy.

Blurb is the word

2008 is done.

Locked and loaded. 

Bam.

Baby Eden

Some of my oldest and best friends, Ben and Val had their fourth little girl three weeks ago. I got to meet her today with another great friend, Becca. We had a fun afternoon, and I even got to take a couple pictures of Eden for Val while I was there. I love newborns. This baby is so sweet. 

 

On the way home, I couldn't help but try out the lensbaby on the lake.

I dig it.

Georgia O'Keeffe is all that's left

When I was pregnant with Sarah and very hormonal, I thought it would be a great idea if Jake had some fish. I am not what you'd call a "pet person" but we went to the pet store, picked out a tank perfect for the kitchen counter, some blue gravel, a Spongebob figurine, and three respectable goldfish.

Of course, we named them, Georgia O'Keeffe, Freddy Mercury, and President Palmer.

Freddy died right away. He looked pretty bad in the end of his short life, and I couldn't help but blame myself for his given name and his unfortunate disease.

President Palmer was flushed today. He's had a rough week and I'm actually surprised he's lasted this long. I'm also surprised that Jake cared. At all. I wonder if he would have even noticed if "yellow fish" was missing had I not told him what was going on.

Jake helped me get the fish catcher and carry poor President Palmer to the hall bathroom for his send off. Sarah followed suit and we flushed him and all waved "bye bye". If I didn't hate these dang fish so much, I would have been a little sad... Okay, it was a little bit sad.

Of course, Jake immediately asked if he could have "yellow fish" back and then was very concerned about his pet. He also sometimes seems to think that his fishy is all better now, that he can swim and eat just fine now that he's been flushed away. Poor kid. Poor fishy.

Jake has declared that he's happy to still have the "white fish" but that he's sad about his "yellow fish". Actually, that was over an hour ago. He hasn't mentioned anything about fish since I turned on his new favorite, "The Little Engine that Could." We'll see.

Anyway, Georgia O'Keeffe is all that's left. I'm not sure what that means, but I think it's safe to say that no matter my love for Pop-Culture, Fine Art wins. Always. :)

Easter

The Easter bunny made it to our house this year.

The kids were pretty into Easter... it was fun. 

I think next year we better focus a little more on the spiritual part of Easter though. All in all, we had a great Sunday, and my Sunbeam teaching counter-part, Angi, gave a wonderful lesson to Jake and the rest of the crazy three-year-olds. We even hung out with Scott and Megan and had a great Easter dinner.

A few pictures of our Easter morning.

Yes, I was the mean mom who insisted on a photo-shoot after church.

Hey, at least I allowed them to eat candy.

These next ones are all for my mom and Chris.

There's nothing like a little girl in her Easter dress.

Oh, man. These kids are my whole world.

Gotta love a sharp-dressed-(little)-man, too.

Due to our insane Saturday and the great journey back to SLC, I procrastinated dying eggs until Sunday. We dyed. We napped, We I cooked. We hunted. We ate. We ate a lot.

The hunt.

Blaine taught the kids to make some bug-eyes.

It was pretty funny.

Yeah... that last one's a little creepy.

Love you, baby. :)