St. George Dixie Jam 2010

In the pool before the solo competition.
First place!

Abbi and Brynn
Lexy, Abbi and MiKayla. 1st in lyrical, 1st in jazz and 1st in hip hop. Way to go girls! Now trying to keep brother occupied was another story......
For reals...this is what I was dealing with!!

Sand Dunes Easter Weekend

For Easter weekend we decided to go to the Sand Dunes with some super fun families in our ward. Here's Shelli teaching Kaleb how to ride a motorcycle.
And off he goes........
......and goes........
.....and goes. We pretty much didn't see him this camping trip other than when he went around and around us on that bike.
Look at those skinny little bruised up legs!
Abbi and Kaleb cruising around.

Kaisey totally OUT after a good ride.

Mr. Miagi.

Kali with her new best friends Brittany and LaReesa.
Kali was so excited when the Easter bunny found us. Not to mention the cute baskets that my mom sent for the kids.

Such a fun trip! Now we are hoping to have our own toys by next Easter weekend!

Princess Hair

I just found the MOST ridiculously adorable website for girls hairstyles. Princess Hairstyles anyone with a little girl MUST check it out! Great ideas!!

Spring Fling 2010

First dance competition of the season. Abbi begged and begged to do a solo. We finally caved with the PROMISE that there would be lots of practicing without complaining. I'm sure you can guess how that ended. I think I might have been more nervous than she was. She put on her game face and danced right into my heart! I couldn't control my tears! She was AMAZING! I couldn't have been prouder......except for when she took 1st place. That look on her face says it all doesn't it?

The next day was group competition. Her team ROCKED! They took 1st in lyrical, 1st in jazz, and GOLD in hip hop.

A Snowy Morning Conversation

By The Mom

Kaleb: "Mom! I don't know where my snow boots are!"

Me: "I do. They are in the backyard where you left them weeks ago."

Kaleb: "Oh. Well what am I gonna wear then?"

Abbi walks out with a thin jacket on.

Me: "Abbi! It's snowing."

Abbi: "I know."

Me: "Seriously? Get a coat on."

Abbi: BIG nasty sigh as she walks into her room, comes out with coat on, and "pretty" boots.

Me: "Abbi? Are you really gonna wear those shoes instead of your snow boots? Your feet are gonna get cold and wet in the snow."

Abbi: "Mom! We aren't even gonna play outside because it's snowing."

Me: "Abbi you do have to walk in and out of the school."

No shoe change and enter carpool picking up the kids across the street.

Me: "They are here! Walk on over."

Abbi: "I don't want to walk all the way over there....it's snowing!"

Par-tay???

Kaisey to doctor's for croup= steroid shot + cough medicine
Kaleb to Instacare for suspected strep= virus + cough medicine
Kaisey to Instacare lethargic= double ear infections + anti-biotic
Trent to Instacare= cough medicine + anti-biotic
Kali to Instacare fever= urinary infection + anti-biotic
Kali BACK to Instacare 2 days later with higher fever= pneumonia + another anti-biotic

So here's where my fun begins.
See how cute that giant cupcake is? Yeah. It was hell. So I follow the simple easy directions for the Big Top Cupcake. Simple my ______. I followed the directions. Regular cake mix, spray cleaned liners with non-stick coating, bake for 35 min til toothpick comes out clean from each piece, wait 15 minutes til cooled and then gently remove. Nope. Gently removed and the thing fell apart. Alright...so we'll try it again. Regular cake mix...blah blah blah, spray with non-stick coating AND I flour as well.

I then jump in the shower, because I've got to get ready for church. Trent calls and tells me he's gonna drop off Kali (from the Instacare) so he can run and get her some medicine since she's NOW got pneumonia as well as the urinary infection.

Voila! Big Top Cupcake works this time.....only as I'm taking the top out I accidentally drop it in the sink...and it falls apart. Here's where Trent drops Kali off and I'm furious, as well as worried about my little girl. I've GOTTA leave to get to church...so I'm just gonna leave the kids with Abbi for about 15 minutes til Trent gets home.....and then Kali pukes all over the floor. As start to clean that up (in my church clothes) Kaleb informs me that the dog has puked as well. This is where I start to get REALLY frustrated.

Head to church find a sub (THANK YOU Brother Fugal) and try not to bawl like a baby.

Get home in time to clean up MORE puke, and start another giant cupcake. Regular cake mix blah blah blah! Phew! Last time is a charm. I've got SO much cake I can make Cakepops for days! Be ready neighbors....because if they stay here my diet is toast!

My SWEET Abbi took care of bathing Kaisey, getting her dressed, and even doing her hair.

Par-tay time!
After EVERY present Kaisey would say "OPY" (open). So each present would be carefully taken out of the package and loved before we could move on.

Then came the giant _____(insert choice words here) cupcake. Blowing out the candles.......
.....and then she bit into before we could stop her!
Happy Birthday to my sweetie pie! Here's to better health!

Mommy's Little Stinker

My little stinker is 2 today. I can hardly believe that 2 years have passed already.
Kaisey LOVES to sing, dance, and change her clothes. 99% of the time she's in her diaper, and it's not because I don't get her dressed.

She is such a blessing to our household. I cannot begin to imagine our life without her! We love you little girl!

Photos by Impressions Photography

Trade Off

I have begun training for my 1/2 marathon in May. Hitting the gym 3 times a week, and running at night, and I've started playing indoor soccer again. Alright...so it's not JUST for the 1/2 marathon, but I want to have my cute, lean, firm body back. However, I feel as though I'm trading some of my sanity for it! Getting up at 5am to be at the gym by 5:30am for my strength classes. Mind you I sleep in my gym clothes because I KNOW that at the last possible second I'm gonna change my mind about sleeping in and want to RUSH out the door. "Amy! You're only hurting yourself!" Yep. That's the conversation I have with myself every dang morning.

Here's where said 'trade off' walks in. HOW on earth does a non-morning person not take a nap when the little one is sleeping? I should be cleaning the house, I should be paying the bills, I should be blogging, I should be this and I should be that. How am I going to start balancing everything? I'm my own worst enemy and critic! I thought that exercising was supposed to increase your energy?

It's so hard to continue this insane exercising ritual when it takes time (A LOT OF TIME) to see any results....other than my untidy house!

I'd better get to bed early tonight! I've got another 5:30am class in the morning!

Superbowl Crafting

Several months ago (after seeing The Blind Side) I decided I was a Raven's fan. But...because I love the fleur-de-lis, I also decided I was a Saints fan. WAY TO GO SAINTS! Anyhow...I wanted to show my new found devotion but didn't want to spend an arm and a leg since the season was basically over.

Here is my $6 tee shirt from Target, and some iron on's from JoAnn's. (Thanks to my sister who just happened to have them handy at her house!)
Thanks also goes out to my awesome friend and neighbor Kim for having us over for the game!

This Is It

What an AMAZING, TALENTED, GIFTED man! Of course I always knew that because I've been a HUGE fan my entire life! I remember running around in my friends basement rocking out on the Billy Jean record. (Yeah the word 'record' probably just dated me!) I also remember being FREAKED out at the Thriller video! (Not so freaky these days) Rocking out in my car to his greatest hits and having my kids ask who is Michael Jackson? Watching this movie and seeing how he re-made Thriller just saddens me. He left this world FAR too soon!

AND Thanks ladies for the super fun and delicious 'This Is It' party!