March 25th, 2012

This week has flown by so fast! Each day has been completely filled with things to do. The highlight of the week...Todd was offered employment! He is so excited for this new opportunity. We are so proud of him! (Although the kids and I am really going to miss him not being around all the time.)

• On Monday, Addy had a Rockin' 50's party to celebrate only 50 days left of the school year. She borrowed her little poodle skirt from her cousin Jane and dressed the part.

• After one of our very busy days Boden didn't get his nap and he just couldn't take it anymore...

• I woke up one morning and the sky was aglow. The picture does not do the beauty justice but it was breathtaking. Made me think of the small but numerous beautiful things in my life.

• Brynn had to return to the dentist this week and get some dental work done. One filling and a cap on one tooth. They gave her laughing gas and boy, was she ever funny! She kept talking really loud, laughing and giggling, and waving her hands everywhere. I was cracking up! The gas definitely works since she did great while they did the work.
• We took Bodee's bottle away this week. And he survived. He's doing very well considering his usual immediate comfort is gone. It had to be done, but it is always a hard process for child and parent. I'm just glad it's over with:)
• I found a local school close to home that would allow me to begin a nursing program in May and graduate in December 2013! To be accepted I had to take the TEAS V test. I standardized test for nursing applicants. I was kinda worried but it turns out, I did great! I hope the final details work out so I can finish this never ending degree.
• Friday night I was lucky to have a Girls Night Out! My friend Elizabeth and I went to to watch The Hunger Games. I usually don't like movies that have been adapted from books but I really liked this movie! Even though I knew what was going to happen I was on edge the whole second half. It was really nice to have dinner and laugh and talk with my dear friend. I'm so glad we live so close to each other. 
• On Saturday Todd and I went to the funeral for someone that was very close to Cathy, Todd's mother. I didn't know the man at all and Todd knew him some but we went to support our wonderful mother. It was the first LDS funeral I had ever been to and it definitely helped us remember our priorities in life. Heavenly Father, spouse, family. After the funeral we ate a quick lunch at Cafe Paesan then ran a few errands. I sure do love spending time with my sweet husband!

March 18th, 2012

This past week has been pretty much awesome! We have been so busy but we also had so many fun things planned and the weather has been perfect:)

• First things first...I turned 30 on Wednesday! Wahoo! It really was a wonderful day and I'm really looking forward the next decade of my life. To help make my 30th year great I've made a list of "30 Things to do While I'm 30". I look forward to tackling this list and making this a great year!
• Turning 30 also inspired me to reflect on the past decade of my life to see what I have accomplished: 
• Graduated from BYU-Hawaii with B.S. in Exercise Science
• Lived in three different states
• Married the man of my dreams and was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple
• Gave birth to the three biggest joys of my life: Adalyn, Brynnlee, Boden
• Bought a home (can't wait until we live in it again:)
• Continued the ever growing pursuit of further education
• Completed five marathons
• Traveled to Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii (again), New York City, Disneyland, and Wisconsin (repeatedly)
• Strengthen my relationship with my Father in Heaven and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Developed a deeper love for the scriptures and the words the Prophets speak. And learned I am continually amazed at how blessed I am!
• The biggest thing I learned this decade?  How to put others (namely my husband and children) first. Their feelings, needs, and happiness.
• Todd and the kids woke me up with fun balloons and a sweet card for my Birthday. Todd then took us all to the famous Lehi Bakery (which I had never been to) for donuts. Yummy! We had sandwiches for lunch with the kids and did the whole present and cake thing. I picked out a carrot cake because it is currently my favorite. Then my mother-in-law Cathy came over to tend the kids while we went skiing at Brighton. We had a 2 for 1 deal on both ski passes and rentals so it was a really good deal and we had the best time:) I really enjoyed my special day!

My best friend Elizabeth dropped this off on my Birthday. How cute is this?!

• The kids went to the dentist this week. This was Bodee's first check-up and he did great. He loved sitting on the chair and watching the movie.

• On Saturday it was St. Patrick's Day! The naughty leprechauns came and hid their treasure outside our house. Here's what they brought the kids. Green milk for their "magically delicious" Lucky Charms. St. Patrick's Day head bands and fun little painting sets. The girls loved searching for their treasure!

• This little dude is too cute!

• The girls were so upset that they didn't have green shirts so the day before we went to Old Navy and picked out some St. Patrick's apparel.

• Later that day the girls begged me to take them to Trafalga because we have the Pass of All Passes which makes all the activities free. It was crazy like always but once we got through the line it was really fun.

• The girls wanted to do the climbing wall and I was totally okay with Addy going up because she is pretty good at this kind of thing and I knew she'd do great. She almost got to the top and I was proud of her. Brynn shocked me! She climbed so much higher than I thought she would, well over half way up and she was so stinkin' cute about it. Wow! I love having brave girls that are up for anything!

• To top off our day we played a round of laser tag. I hadn't played it for years and we had a blast! Addy got brave enough to venture out on her own but Brynn stayed by my side and helped me fight off the other teams. Our team came in second place!

• All week long we have been selling Girl Scout Cookies at booths in front of Walmart and Smiths. I forgot my camera at the first two booths but for the third and last booth I remember to snap a picture of Addy with her friend and fellow Girl Scout, Jayda. We were lucky to have such wonderful weather while selling cookies outside this week.

March 11th, 2012

I turned on my camera to look over the pictures I took this week and realized I only took one picture this week. Oops!

• Here is Brynn flying the kite she made at preschool.

• So while it has not been ideal for Todd to be unemployed again this week it has been ideal for the kids! He has been able to spend so much time with us and with each child one on one. All the kids have grown to LOVE basketball lately. They want to dribble, shoot, and pass the ball all the time. Todd loves that they are so excited about the sport and has been taking them to the park to shoot hoops.
• On Friday I participated in a Busy Bag Exchange. I made two sets of 14 bags, one with a toddler activity and one with a preschool activity. I then took my bags and switched them with a big group and came home with 28 new activities (both learning and quiet time) for my kids. How cool is that? I love it!
• Boden had his 18 month check up this week. He is happy and healthy and doing very well. He is cute as can be and oh so sweet. He is started to get really sad when I leave and I don't take him with me. It breaks my heart:(
• Saturday night Todd and I were invited to a game night with a few other couples in our ward. We played SCUM and had a blast! It was really fun to get to know our friends a little better.
• This was a little tidbit I forgot to write about last week. Last Sunday, March 4th was Fast Sunday and both our little girls went up to the podium in Sacrament meetings and bore their testimonies. I was SO proud of them! It was Brynn's first time and she did great. The only thing was she forgot to say "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." Addy did great as well. I won't allow my kids to bare their testimonies unless they can do it themselves and they did great!

March 4th, 2012

• This week we delivered A LOT of Girl Scout Cookies. We ate a lot too:) On Wednesday we drove up to Salt Lake City to deliver our cookies up there. Since it was the last Wednesday of the month the zoo was free so I thought I'd take the kids. Bodee hadn't been to Hogle Zoo since he was a baby so it was fun to watch him explore all the animals. His facial expressions and "ohhh" s were totally worth it.

• Wednesday night there was a snow storm so the next day Dad help the girls build a snowman. Addy's friend Emma came over to help. They loved helping Dad build it. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product but they had it all decked out in our snowman outfit with a scarf, hat, eyes, carrot nose, and buttons. 

• On Saturday, Grandma Bassett called to invite all the cousins for a party at...McDonalds! (Not a surprise since that's Grandma's favorite place to take the grandkids.) After lunch we invited all the girl cousins over to hang out! Addy and Brynn loved having some of their cousins come to play. They played, ate cookies, colored pictures, and played with Bend Its. We feel so lucky to live so close to so many cousins. 

• Bodee is really starting to talk and sign. He says yes, bye da (dad) and waves. He does the signs for more, milk, please, and thank you. He even started to try to sing a long while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He put his arms out and lets his voice soar. (Super Cute!) He loves to giggle and laugh and really loves dogs. Bodee always wants to pet them whenever he sees them.
• Addy has been accepted to the Chinese Immersion Program. I am so happy for her. She has also been working hard on addition and subtraction. 
• The other day Addy came home from school, gave Bodee a big hug and completely seriously told him "Hello handsome."

February 26th, 2012

The kids we able to do some fun things this week!

• Brynn's preschool group went on a field trip to the Fire Station in West Jordan this week. Luckily one of the firefighters that work there lives in our ward so we got a fun, personal tour! I couldn't believe how much Bodee LOVED the fire trucks! He is 100% boy and couldn't get enough of the big trucks.

• Brynn's preschool group. 

• On Tuesday evening instead of our regular Girl Scout Meeting we joined a Girl Scout Activity for 'World Thinking Day' at the roller skating rink in Orem. Addy and Brynn have ice skated a few times but they had not yet roller skated. After falling down over and over again they got it! By the end they were slowing skating around the rink all by themselves without any help. The skating rink allows scooters and we brought ours but both girls would not take their skates off. They really wanted to learn how to skate and kept working hard at it. I was SO proud of my girls! 

• I forgot to get a picture of the whole troop but Addy's friend Emma rode with us so I got a quick picture of the three girls. 

• Last Sunday evening the girls got to have a sleep over at their cousins Sage and Ellie's house. It was Brynn's first sleepover somewhere besides Grandma's house and she did great. They both came home tired but so very happy!
• The lucky girls were also invited to their other cousin Jane's house on Friday night. They played, watched movies, went on a treasure hunt (thanks Uncle Trent) and ate lots of yummy food. We can't wait to invite our cousins over to our house next time.
• Friday night while the girls were gone Todd and I participated in a 'Progressive Dinner' with our ward. We hosted so we didn't have to move from house to house but we really enjoyed our evening. It was great to get to know couples in our ward that we had not yet talked with and spend time with those couple we know a little better. 
• The Girl Scout Cookies came this week! It's a lot of work to be the Cookie Mom but the cookies sure are good:)
• On a sad note, Todd lost his job this week. We are looking at the great blessings in our lives and know things will work out. We are just praying to know what path to take.
• On a positive note both Todd and I were able to attend the temple this week. We attended separately so the other could watch the kids but it was a very spiritual experience for me. I am so grateful I have the blessings and knowledge of the temple in my life. I know the Lord has a plan for our family and I am so happy to know he is looking over us.

February 19th, 2012

This week included Valentine's Day, a half birthday, and sledding!

• Here are the girls writing out their valentines for classmates, cousins, and friends.

•  Valentine's Day morning breakfast. (And the waffles are pink if you can't tell)

• I was the teacher this week for preschool so that included the Valentine's Day party! 

• Bodee has learned how to take advantage of his sisters:)

• A couple of years ago Todd and I borrowed a tradition from his brother's family. Instead of going out on a fancy date for Valentine's Day we just stay home with the kids and have a really nice dinner. It makes it so special for them and allows us all to tell each other how much we love them. This year I made chicken parmigiana, jello gigglers shaped like flowers, vegetables, garlic bread, and angle food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. The kids each got a box of chocolates and a little present. It was perfect! 

• The girls with the flowers their Dad brought them. The large bouquet behind Brynn is what Todd brought for me:) 

• Thursday was Addy's half Birthday. We normally don't celebrate half Birthdays but since her Birthday is in summer and she's not in school they allow her celebrate the day on her half Birthday. Here is the treat she brought as well as the Birthday Bag she got to take home for the night with fun Birthday books and a Birthday journal to write in. 

• Saturday brought on perfect winter weather so we decided to get the kids out of the house and up to Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon to go sledding. The girls loved it and were fearless. Right away Addy wanted to go down by herself and soon after Brynn followed suit. They even hit jumps, flew off the tube and laughed their guts out. So fun! Bodee kind of liked sledding but he really like to just sit and watch all the others go down the hill. We are loving how fun our family is becoming! After sledding and a drive in the mountains we met up with Grandma and Grandpa Bassett for a late lunch at McDonalds and let the kids play. 

• Friday night Todd took the girls with his brother Trent and family to the Sticky Shoe to see The Muppets. The girls had already seen it with me but they loved it just as much the second time.
• On Wednesday, I met up with my friend Cassie. We've been friends since we were infants. We met up for lunch and let our kids play. It was so fun to talk to her and to catch up on our lives. I am so grateful for old friends.
• Funny Brynn saying this week: We were snuggling in bed early in the morning and Todd must have bumped her nose without even realizing it. Brynn says "What are you going to say Dad? Sorry or nothing?" It really made us laugh!

February 12th, 2012

Here are some highlights from this week!

• The weather was beautiful on Saturday so we took the kids to a awesome, new park in the area. We had such a good time playing in the sunshine!

• Yes, that's Addy way at the top of this huge climbing apparatus! Brynn made it half way up but got scared so I had to help her down. So proud of my very brave Addy girl! 

• The girls are always performing gymnastic moves so Bodee has caught on and is constantly trying to copy their moves. It's really cute! 

• Tuesday night I was suppose to have my first big Anatomy test. Todd and I  miscommunicated and he forgot he had to be home. By the time I got in touch with him and realized he wasn't going to be home any minute it was too late and I missed my test.  With a third of my grade a zero I had to withdraw from he class...bummer! Luckily I had a girl night planned for that evening with my friends from the U. Hanging out with them for four hours was great. I sure miss them all!
• Friday was also a beautiful day so we all went up to the U to play outside and visit our friends up there. The girls loved every minute of it and really miss living up there.
• Saturday after the park Todd took the girls to Trafalga to use our Pass of All Passes. It was so crazy they only got to miniature golf but they loved it and loved spending time with Dad.