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Oklahoma

It's past midnight, but I am willing myself to get everything done on my list for today. That means getting some of our trip to Oklahoma up on this here blog. I only wish this was the last thing on my list for the night. I saved the best for last and that means cleaning up a pretty little disaster in the kitchen. Woohoo!

OK, here are just a few of my favorite shots from our recent family reunion in Oklahoma and short stop in Missouri on the way home.

 

 

To be continued...

Apparently expensive taste is genetic

When Samm was two years old she refused to eat macaroni and cheese (and still does) but would inhale shrimp alfredo (and still does). I should have known then that she wasn't going to settle for things like dance lessons. She has always loved animals and riding horses has always been a dream of hers. A few months ago a lady a church mentioned to me that she teaches horseback riding lessons so I mentioned it to Samm and it has been the only thing she has talked about ever since. I should have asked how much it costs before I promised Samm she could do it, but watching the smile on her face today made it all worth it!

 

Everyone was mesmerized by the horse, even Laila. She had a trampoline for the kids to jump on while we waited, but they kept ending up back at the fence.

I must admit, even I was a little jealous. I would have loved having a horse as a kid.

Catch up

I have honestly been avoiding blogging, because I hate playing catch up. The longer I put it off though the worse it will get. And I got a not so subtle hint text message from my mother in law this evening, so I guess I better get back into it.

A few weeks ago I took Macy and Laila to my parents house in Oregon. It was a very long day of travel, but the girls did really well and it certainly beats driving four days to get there so I can't complain too much.

I love visiting my family, but the time change is a killer for me. Usually by the time I've adjusted it's time to come back home. The first 2 days Laila and I were up at the crack of dawn, so one morning we decided to go for a walk @ 6am. I'm not usually a fan of being up that early, but it was nice to be out when things were still quiet.

The reason for our trip was because my brother David came home from his mission to Brazil and my brother Shaun just left this week for his mission to Fiji, so we had a small window of time when everyone could all get together. Most of the spouses stayed behind, which was a bummer, but it was still nice to have all the siblings plus Natalie and Bri all together.

I did get some beautiful flowers for mother's day while I was there from a handsome guy back in Michigan!

We had to take 3 flights to get back home and just when we were almost there, our last flight of the day got cancelled leaving us stranded in NJ. I was an emotional mess because I was so tired and just wanted to be back home, but the airline did put us up in a hotel and give us food vouchers so we survived and made it home just fine the next day.

After a quiet and relaxing two weeks back home, Josh and I celebrated our 13 year anniversary. We actually both forgot it was our anniversary until Josh said something about the next day being the 27th and I suddenly remembered what day it was. I guess that means we have been married for a long time now. He did buy me a very nice present a few days later (one he had been planning on, but forgot to get) Actually it is for both of us. We got a small swing to go on our back porch so we can sit outside with the kids in the evenings while the play. One of the things I love most about Josh is that he loves getting out and doing things together as a family. Any time he has a day off we are out doing something together, even if it's just a bike ride to get some ice cream. I also love to sit and just relax together though so now we can go out and be active during the day and then come home and sit on our swing in the evening. It's perfect!

All of the kids were off playing with friends this night so it was just a shirtless Laila in her favorite boots entertaining us.

I guess we really haven't been up to as much as I thought, but life is hectic with kids and after being around several of my siblings who have served foreign speaking missions, I finally decided to do something that I have wanted to do for a very long time. I'm learning Spanish! I found a great little online course that I can learn at my own pace, but I find myself having to listen to the lessons over and over before I finally get it. Then, just when I think I've actually learned something, I call my sister Krista and I can't carry on any conversation with her other than "Hello, how are you?" It's frustrating at times, but I'm also surprised at how much I am enjoying it. I told Josh that I am learning Spanish so that in a couple years he can take me to Spain.

And just for recording funny things purposes, I made some guacamole yesterday for the first time ever, and when we had it for dinner tonight Macy said "This whackamole is really good!" We had a good giggle about that but decided that whackamole is a great name for it.

And if anyone is interested, I posted a recipe for dairy free fudge bars on my Spinach Project blog.

Ward talent show

Our annual ward talent show is really more like a primary talent show along with one act from the YM and one from the YW. Some years the kids get really excited to participate and it gets really long. This year was nice though. Not too many performances and there was a strict 3 minute time limit (hallelujah!) Samm signed up to sing and was part of the group dance we put together for the Activity Day girls, Macy was part of the activity day girls routine as well, and James once again opted to simply be a spectator. I tried signing him up to do break dancing, but he got really upset and scratched his name out. Maybe one of these years I will get him up on the stage.

This is Samm singing On My Own from Les Mis. That is me on the piano, and thank goodness you can't really hear all the mistakes I made. I was so nervous for her that I was having a hard time focusing on the music.

These are my Activity Day girls. They did so great. Samm and I came up with the moves for the chorus while each group of girls came up with the moves for their verses. I also invited any of the little sisters that were interested to be our Hollywood glamour girls, and they were so stinkin cute. Samm is on the very far right of the girls standing up and Macy is sitting down in the middle with the feather boa around her neck.

Sisters and Home Made Popsicles

Two of the best things in the world!

 

I love spring
I love kids playing outside instead of sitting in front of the tv
I love orange juice popsicles

First Anual Earth Day Parade

Samm is such a unique kid. I couldn't love her more. She comes up with the best ideas. Today it was an earth day picnic with all the neighborhood kids (most a lot younger than her) and then a parade around the circle. Most of the boys opted out of the parade, but she didn't care at all.  I love our little circle and I am so excited for all the fun these kids are going to have this summer.

A little bit of a pile up.

Smiles all around when the weather is nice enough to be outside!

 

This was all very last minute so Samm wasn't able to put in all the planning that she would have liked. Next year's celebration will be even better I am promised!

Just a picture of my two shopping buddies

 

Now that we are eating differently I can't just head to one grocery store anymore and get everything I need , which usually means grocery shopping day is very long! These two are such troopers and hardly ever complain. In fact, Macy always asks "Can we go to Trader Joe's today?" Two little girls pushing little carts makes for very slow shopping and sometimes reckless driving, but it's worth it.

 

 

Oh, and if my blogging is a little scare for the next couple of weeks it's because I am busy painting and sewing a special surprise room for James. Here is a sneak peak.

Party in the USA

The activity day girls are performing a little dance routine to this song at the ward talent show next month. Samm and I came up with the choreography for the chorus that all the girls will be doing together so this song has been played a lot at our house the last few weeks. We just realized the other day that Laila was dancing along doing the moves and even has the air guitar down. I wish we could have gotten more of it on the video but she got distracted.

I wish you could all see the video of this

The microphone plays a couple My Little Pony songs and she was singing her little heart out.

 

After I smiled at her cuteness and took a few pictures (and shot a little video for future laughs), I sent Josh a text. "should we be worried about this?"

The girl loves music. We just need to chanel it in the right direction!