A great Saturday

I do not have any pictures from Friday night, but it was significant, so I will add that really quick. Jade babysat the boys with her little friend from her primary class while Bill, Enos, Lindsay, and I went to see Dark Knight on IMAX. (which was awesome btw!) Leaving the boys with a 10 yr old and 11yr old for 4 hrs was a bit scary at first, but they did an amazing job. We paid Josh to be good, so other than Eddie's blow-out diaper, they all had a blast. Heading into the teenage years is sometimes stressful, but it sure has it's perks! Thank you Jade!!!

I have already done posts about some of my dearest friends, so knowing that I will repeat myself, here I go.... :)
Jamie is my oldest friend, since we were 1 yrs old. Our moms are best friends, and even though we only spent 5 years living in the same town, we have build a deep friendship that feels more like family and just as lasting. She and her husband, Tucker, live in CA, so we do not get to see them that often. One of the things I love about our friendship, is that our ENTIRE family are all friends together, our kids and our husbands. That's hard to find. I feel very blessed, that my two oldest and best friends in the world, have "significant others" who mesh well with mine. (Andrea, I'm still waiting for those pictures from your visit!)

We had a fabulous Saturday. Jamie and Tucker are here in Utah and came by for the day. As soon as the "half tour" of the house was done, the guys took off for a movie and lunch, while Jay and I stayed home with the kids. Like their last visit, Jade took over the kids so Jamie and I could hang out and talk. We love you Jade and appreciate you SO SO much!
She started out with painting flowers on all the pretty little nails she could. That's my artistic Jade!

Jade is like a big sister to Jamie's girls, Jordyn and Lexi. I don't think they mind one bit.
Josh couldn't take the nail painting, so he hung out with one of his buddies, Lego Indiana Jones.
Next, they moved the artistic groove they were on, into the kitchen. Jade made salt dough for everyone, and they spent the next hour making little treasures. Does my daughter rock or what!?!

Jamie's youngest, Peyton, is an absolute doll!

While the creations were baking, the older kids were playing with toys, while Peyton and Eddie played in his old Amby bed-turned-swing.
It was so nice to be able to just sit and visit the entire time. I LOVE having a daughter who can babysit!
Thank you for coming Jamie!!! I love you so much!!! I wish we could have spent longer together, but we had to head off to Bill's work BBQ in the evening. I am grateful for ANY amount of time we get with their family, it was a fabulous Saturday!!!

*****Happy Birthday JOSHUA!!!!*****

No, this is not Josh, I just had to throw in this cute picture of lone little Eddie at Josh's party.

Happy Birthday Joshy-boy! The BIG 6!

We had a little party for him at "Classic Skate Fun Center" with his cousins and some neighborhood kids. The kids got to jump, bounce, climb, skate, and waterslide. I think I'm going to do party's here forever, it was so much easier than the big theme parties I usually do. (I say that now, but I will probably still do theme parties every now and then, I just have too much fun being creative with those events!)

His birthday party was on saturday, but his actually BD was Sunday. Enos and Lindsay came over after church and we had grilled shrimp, baked cheese pasta, and grilled asparagus. Enos brought one of his delicious apple pies and a fun present for Josh. I can never say enough how much I love having family live close!

Oh my sweet Josh. There are so many wonderful things I love about my middle child. He is such a lovey-dovey boy and pretty easy-going. (sometimes) I love how he tries to figure out solutions to problems, and gives Jade cute "advice" when she is dealing with friend, attitude, or school issues. (since he has so much experience)

I stole this brilliant idea from a friends blog, it's a birthday questionnaire. It's long, but I think it will be fun to read when he gets older. I want to make it a tradition.

Joshua 2008 age:6

If you could have one super power, what would it be? change size and shape

What is your favorite song? Indiana Jones song

What is your favorite food? Watermelon

What is the nicest thing you've done for someone in your family lately? helped Jade and Dad clean their rooms

What makes you mad? when people call me names and fight with me

What do you like the best about yourself? I have the greatest family in the world

Where would you like to go on vacation next year? the mountains

Who's the smartest person in your family and why? me (Josh), because I know a lot about math

How are you like your dad? he has the same greatest smile as me

How are you like your mom? we both like to eat the same things, like watermelon, starbursts, and lots of chocolate

What is one thing that mom always says to you? I love you

What is your favorite thing to do with dad? give me a hug and play video games

What is your favorite thing to do with mom? go to the store and help her shop

What is your favorite thing to do with Jade? ride scooters with her

What do you like most about Jade and Eddie? Jade plays video games with me and I like to play with Eddie and listen to him sing

If you had a million dollars, what is the first thing you would buy? a Star Wars toy to trade clothes with my Indiana Jones toy.

What is your favorite cereal? cheerios

What is your favorite TV show? Spongebob

What is your favorite movie? Indiana Jones

What food would you eat every day if you could? watermelon candy

If you could choose a different name, what would it be? Sharky

If you could eat at any restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be? Sushi Express

What's your favorite candy bar? Reeses Peanut Butter cups

What's the last thing you did that you are proud of? I learned to whistle

What's the best age to be? 11 (the age Jade is going to be)

What is the best present you ever got? Lego Star Wars game

Who are your best friends? Gracie, Josh, Cheyenne, Alex

What is your favorite color? green

What do you want to be when you grow up? Scientist and policeman

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would that be? China

What's your greatest word of wisdom at age 6? people should live in a peaceful country, like China

I love you Joshy-boy!!!

My wrap

Most of you have already seen me wearing my baby in these fun and functional wraps. This is a picture from last year with my friend Jamie.
Since then, a lot of my friends have jumped on board with my version of the Moby Wrap. Except that the fabric I use with mine are more breathable and better suited for my girlfriends in places like California, Vegas, St. George, Texas, etc. :) My girlfriend, Staci, just sent me a wrap she made, (since I can't find the right fabric here in SLC area), that is shorter than the one I made for myself, so I can use it in a "hip hold" wrap with my mongrel baby. I LOVE it, and honestly wish I could have more babies JUST so I can carry them around in these wraps!

Well, I figured since Eddie is nearly 1 1/2 yrs old, he was too big for the front wrap. He didn't think so. Yesterday, with his bulging molars, and inability to calm down, I threw him in the wrap, fully prepared for my back to give out since he is so big. NOT SO! The second I started to slip his legs in, he stopped crying. It was actually just as comfortable as it used to be when he was smaller! He started to fall asleep right away, but woke up once I started taking pictures.



And then he signed for food....what a way to eat!
I love my wrap SO much, I even called Moby Wrap to give them some suggestions for making a new version with the fabric I use. (Staci, I will call you later about it, I offered to send them some swatches of "tested" fabrics) Almost every mom I know who has a Moby Wrap, doesn't like to use it because it's too hot. The fabric I use is still stretchy, but VERY breathable. Call me if you need any info. I hope I can get Moby to start manufacturing a breathable version so moms in hot climates will have more options. :) Join my campaign to wear your baby!!!

Get comfy, this is long......

We FINALLY got ahold of the disk of pictures from the photographer at Mica's wedding. There were over 1000 pictures! I was able to narrow it down a bit, but believe me, it was hard. So get comfortable and get ready to scroll....... :)

These pictures were all taken at the family dinner right before the wedding.
Eddie was his usual cute self, just wandering around, usually with his rice/soy/almond/hemp milk mix in his bottle. (I know, I just can't stand the taste of any of those milks, so I mix them all together)
My dad is so handsome, and he is such a wonderful grandfather, (not to mention he has more energy than I do!)

Wedding roll!

This is one of my personal favorites, I love this picture.

My sweet little grandmother and my mom.
What were we trying to do again?
Oh yeah, look like an organized set of siblings.

This is one of my favorite pictures of mica. She is SO beautiful! ALL the bridesmaids and groomsmen

Matt is trying to get on Eddie's good side by sharing one of his (oh so yummy) gluten/dairy/egg-free toaster waffles, only it wasn't toasted........mmmmmm. Eddie thinks he is a cool uncle.

Almost.....
"Who are these crazies!?! Where is my mom!!!"

Misc wedding pictures

There is a funny story behind this picture. Right before Mica (this is a picture of Mica BTW), left for the temple, she went into major panic mode. She has a good reason too. She could NOT find her ring! She started running up and down the stairs, EVERYONE was searching all over the house, I was tearing through the array of makeup strewn all over the bathroom counter as well as in her room. She was going through her purse like a mad woman in this picture. All of the sudden, while she was upstairs looking again in the bathroom, she stopped cold and started to cry. "you guys" she whimpered as she held up her hand. There was her beautiful ring, on her finger, where it had been the whole time. I just gave her a hug while she cried a bit, then we did our best to touch up the hour-long make-up job that was being threatened. And then she was off to be married!!! I love that story. :)





At the reception, we got some really sweet pictures. This is my favorite one.
I loved seeing Jamie there. It was sweet to be in the same spot with our picture being taken, where we were 12 years ago at my wedding reception in the same yard.
As always, grandpa's rope swings and spaceship were a huge hit with the kids.

Jade found amusement along the flower beds.
The kids sure love being with their grandparents, and my dad was particularly attentive at the wedding.
My mom's little sister, my Tia, with uncle Dave, and our cousins.
I have no idea what Josh is doing....

Our family

The DO love each other!!!



Are these cute kids plotting something?

End credits (at the temple)

Um, yeah.....this is what was happening at the end with Eddie. :)

a little update....not much, sorry!

Well, I am STILL plugging away at the art room. I have yet to get everything in order for classes to start, OR for the boutique I'm supposed to do in Orem in 2 days. Here are a few pictures I have managed to take during my craziness.....

These are little blue "squeaker" shoes we bought Josh in Japan, they are my favorite and Eddie is about to grow out of them. He loves his squeaker shoes too.
Matt and Josh playing video games. This was right before Josh got really mad at Matt and threw a fit.
My upholstered kiddie chair. It no longer has holes and wood showing through, I think I did OK for my first complete upholstery job. :)
Everyone got together on Sunday before Mom and Dad, Aunt Karen, Uncle Don, and Sam left to go back to CA. I LOVE being with family!!!
We celebrated Mica and Josh's BD's with a beautiful cake that Jade made. Can't wait to get together with everyone again!