Kick in the Booty

Anyone up for a new work-out routine? Try this: Adventure Boot Camp. My cousin Jill introduced me to the idea, and I'm going to give it a try Monday morning. I'm trying to promote the class, because 1. I think it's going to be amazing! and 2. My good friend's brother is the owner of the business......

Anyone else in? It's a close location (those of you who live out on this side of town), it's gonna kick some major booty, and hopefully a lean, mean body will be the end result!

Check it out and let me know if you'll be joining me for a booty kick'n!

Updated Photos

It's funny the people you meet; and the impact they have on your life. When we went on our cruise this past March there was a darling family there from Utah (they stuck out like we did....) They were the table behind us at dinner and so we always chatted with them. Laci, looked about my age and had to-die-for taste...she always was toting around her adorable little boy with her on the cruise. We were able to get to know she and her husband; along with her parents (her mom is the owner and creator of the company Jillie Willy--check out her funky aprons!) Laci's husband Nate even won the cruise talent show (can you say extremely talented! He put Lou Lou's, Nat's and my karaoke to shame!)

Anyhow...I jotted down Laci's blog address and have had fun keeping in touch with her. She does amazing photography; and so I had her do my family's fall photos. Isn't she great!

Just Octoberish Stuff

I feel like I haven't done a 'real' post for a while telling all the fun and festive October things we have been doing. I love this time of year--especially when the weather is pleasant and crisp. Everything about fall is delightful and here's just some little things we have been doing:

Party On!
Last Saturday we went to Hannah's birthday party at Thanksgiving Point. Wow! What an amazing party! It was held at the Children's Discovery Center and the kids had a blast. The best part was we adults were invited too! Trisha knows how to throw a party; and this was no exception!

Myka spots a balloon


(Marcy, Me and Trisha (the ultimate party planner!)



Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Big and Round
Can I just say how much I am loving preschool; and I don't even attend! Carsen is learning so much! He has memorized two poems (which I really need to post on here, because they are absolutely adorable!) and everywhere we go now he always says things like, "Light starts with 'L'." (He'll go through everything around us and tell me what they start with! He will even tell me what letters he sees in signs... Such a little smarty.) Best of all...he is excited to go! (Oh, and I get 2.5 hours to play with Myka!) Hooray.

One great thing about his preschool is the field trips they take once a month. This month they went to a neighboring Pumpkin Patch. I love the fieldtrips because I get to come along and see who these kids are Carsen is always talking about in his class.


A Quick Moment at Gardner Village
My friend Marcy is a planner and a goer. I envy her for her constant plans--and while I'm on the subject she is NEVER late. NEVER. She has three kids, always looks adorable and arrives to every location on time (or oftentimes early to stand in line for tickets or hold spots for us late comers). Incredible. She always has something planned and is so wonderful to invite lots of friends to come along to enjoy the fun too.

This outing was no exception. Gardner Village was having an event called "Little Witches" and kids were supposed to come dressed in their costume and 'mill' around the little village and visit all the witches and enjoy the ambiance. Well, it was PACKED. I think every kid in the Salt Lake Valley was there displaying their Halloween costume. (I was lucky enough to score an awesome parking spot...good thing since prompt Marcy was already there waiting for me. I think I about ran 20 people over in the process of securing my lucky parking spot...but at least I didn't have to walk 3 miles!)

We lasted about, oh, 30 minutes and then decided we had enough of the crazy chaos. We loaded up and grabbed some lunch at a drive-thru and let the kids run amok out at a park while we basked in the beautiful October sun and solved all of life's problems.

Here's a preview of Myka and Carsen's costumes. Myka a Kitty Cat (we bought the costume when she was going through her scratching stage). And Carsen is the Hulk (of course). They loved getting their costumes on and Myka was so patient with me painting her little nose. However, as soon as we got there she wanted the top of her costume off.



Eden, Hannah and Carsen



I think my expression says it all!

Photo Tag

Tag, I'm it! (Thanks Nat). I was instructed to go to my 4th picture file and upload the 4th picture.....Here's my parents with Myka on the day she was born (April 6, 2007). Myka looks like a squinty-eyed marshmallow, but my parents looks great!

Carsen and Myka are so lucky to have the best grandparents ever! We wish (pretty much everyday) that both grandparents lived closer so we could see them more and they could enjoy these vivacious children who are growing up way too quickly! Oh, and also so we wouldn't have to find (and pay) a baby-sitter!! This picture of Myka seems like yesterday....and really it was 18 months ago! Ah, my little girl is now a fiesty toddler with bouncing pigtails!

I now tag Amy, Kelly, Rachel Provost, Kami, Leslie & Trisha

Back to School

I would like to think of myself as being super studious right now. I am taking two classes a week for the rest of the month. (Chad's not sure what to think about it. I think his response was, "Let's not keep trying to see how many classes we can take, okay?") Okay. This is good for now!

A couple of months ago was at my cousin's home in Alpine for a baby shower and that is where I became motivated (and extremely envious) of her home. Besides the fact her home is gorgeous, it was the pictures on the walls which had me envious. Every photograph in her home was taken by either she or her husband..it was all pictures of their family and places they had been, or it was a beautiful nature scene. I loved it! I decided then and there I was going to learn to be a photographer. (Okay, well not really professional photographer, but enough that I could take great pictures of the people and places I love most. I love the idea of covering my walls with my beautiful children!) So, I signed up for a photography class. It's only through the community and quite honestly the first class was not too thrilling--but I feel like I am learning a bit more about picture-taking.

Oh, and can I mention this is also a plug for Chad to make note that I really need that Nikon camera pictured up above. I think that just might be the ticket to me being a better photographer!


The second class I am taking is a Love and Logic course taught by a friend of mine from Heber. (Can I just say she is a great teacher!) I found out through her blog that she teaches these courses, and that she would be teaching one in Herriman. I recruited my friend Rachel to join me for the course (beings that she is from Heber too and knows Katie, the instructor) and also so we could both discover together how wrong we are in our parenting methods!

After our first class on Thursday evening I came home ready to try out my new parenting skills. Carsen was still awake and bouncing off the walls. I informed Chad that he was going about the process wrong of trying to get Carsen to settle down and he said, "How do you do it?" (I had forgotten). I told him to continue on with the 'old way' for tonight and I would start fresh in the morning!

One of the things you are supposed to do is go 'brain dead' when your child starts whining about something. Perfect, happens all the time at my house! So, the next morning Carsen was whining about wanting something and I did the 'ole brain dead routine. (Instead of negotiating and reasoning with your child, you are supposed to tell them ONE time why they can't have or do something and then after that you just keep saying, 'I know" when they keep asking and trying to reason.) After I said "I know" about five times to Carsen's reasoning, he looked at me and said, "Mom, stop saying I know." I think Carsen might have figured out my 'brain dead' routine.

Actually, it has been a good couple of days since the class. (Not that it was ever really bad). But, I haven't raised my voice once! (For those of you who never raise your voice at your kids...good for you!) For those of you who do...this class is awesome!

More Options

When I was getting ready to do the same-old with Myka's hair this morning I was feeling a little 'creative.' I made pig tails! And they stayed all day long. And she didn't rip them out. (We may be making some progress!) Oh she's so cute!! I love my little girl!

Vegas and Back

Hooray! We made it...and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. (I prepared for the worst and was presently surprised with it being not-so-bad.)

The kids and I flew-out of Salt Lake Thursday afternoon. I was loaded down with goodies from WalMart and the $1 Store. (Thank you all for your tips. I couldn't have made it without your suggestions!)

Of course getting through the airport is always a wonderful treat in itself. (I have already blogged about this several months back about how much I dislike airports...the whole taking off the shoes and hoisting the stroller up onto the conveyor belt is such an unnecessary process.) Once we were on the airplane we were fine. Except for the fact that it was a very full flight. I was hoping some mother-type woman would sit by me. (The type of person who understands a little girl who thinks screaming is equivalent to talking). Nope. Some young army-bound kid plopped down. I said to him, "Uhm, you may want to find another seat." He replied back, "The plane's full." (At this point it was not full, and I was clear at the very back.) I told him he might regret his choice in seats. Pretty sure he did.



Myka loved the chapstick! Carsen loved the little dinosaurs


The kids did quite well. I had to keep rotating through the 'surprises' but they were intrigued and loving it. Carsen loved the mini 'etch-a-sketch' and Myka loved her baby with the binkie. If anyone is traveling with kids, take a look back at the suggestions and do ALL of them!

Here's some quick highlights:

My mom's generous boss, Gerard, took us to eat lunch at Makino on my mom's birthday. It's my Mom and my favorite restaurant. It has the most delicious tempura shrimp and vegetables. The kids loved the noodles and the chocolate fondue fountain! (That picture of them is absolutely horrible....but that's what happens when your kids touch the lens of your camera with noodle fingers)!


Saturday we went to Mandalay Bay to visit the Shark Reef. What a hit! I have never been there and I thought it was amazing--the kids loved it too. They give you a remote control to listen to a recorded message about each aquarium and both Carsen and Myka loved to push the button and listen. Myka thought she had a little telephone, and Carsen was really into it and kept asking questions about the different fish. Both kids loved touching the sting ray and were so intrigued the entire time. We followed up the Shark Reef with a little seafood of our own at the MGM Grand Buffet. (Delicious!) The kids were also able to see the Tigers (sleeping...I swear they are always sleeping whenever I go there). While my Dad and Carsen headed back to get the car us girls hit the $10 Boutique to load up on some watches!



Carsen and Pa spent hours in their swimming pool. Every spare second Carsen was begging to go outside and go swimming. His favorite was when Pa flipped him in the air! What I love about my parents pool is how warm they keep it. They have it on a solar--so it's bathtub water warm. (That's my kind of pool water!)


The weekend flew by too quickly and Monday afternoon was there before I knew it. I wasn't very excited to fly again...but it was another pleasant flight back home. The plane was really empty and we had the entire row to ourselves way in the back. The flight attendant was a cute gal who kept tabs on me to see if we needed anything. The kids played cute together and I loved having Myka strapped into a seat and not crawling all over my lap, shoulders, arms and legs!

I love my little trips to Vegas with just the kiddos. My parents always spoil us and I come home with my bags (and belly) bulging.

Advice Needed (Quickly)!

I swore I'd never do it again...fly solo with 2 kids (even if it is only to Vegas). Here I go again getting ready to sweat, curse (in my head of course), and endure the short little flight to Vegas to visit Pa and Gigi. Carsen is beyond excited...I, on the other hand, am seriously questioning my sanity.

After our dinner outing tonight (Carsen had his first soccer game and then he wanted to go to Chili's.) We walked in, sat down, waited and waited for the waiter. Myka was climbing on the table, dumping out the salt and pepper, soaking herself with a cup of water and thoroughly enjoying herself. Chad and I looked at each other and picked everything up and walked out. Leaving behind a couple of dollars for the 10-minute mess Myka made. We walked across the parking lot to Bajios and were in and out in less than 20 minutes. That's my idea of eating out these days!

Back to my dilemma. As you can seee....a restaurant is bad news with Myka. She does not like to be confined (those of you reading this who think I have no control of my kid...you can click out right now!) Church is hard enough, and at church at least there is an outlet in the foyer! An 1.5 hour plane ride does not have an outlet!

So, I need your help. Anybody have anything up their sleeve (besides drugs!) I need toy ideas or entertainment ideas. Anything. (I'll even take some drug ideas if you promise it's safe!)

Thanks for helping, and wish me luck. I did it to myself, but it's all for good reasons!

Little Updates

I LOVE this time of year! The weather is perfect, and I am actually enjoying it getting darker a little earlier. (That is why I am a fan of the seasons. By the time spring and summer come rolling around again I am beyond ready for them...but I am always greeting fall with open arms!)

Here's a brief rundown of what we have been up too lately.

I'm so Glad When Daddy Comes Home
Lucky Chad. He gets a special greeting everyday when he comes home from work. (I should feel lucky I am with them all day, right?)
If we are in the house playing and Carsen hears the garage door open he starts hollering, "Dad's home...Dad's home!" And races downstairs. Myka follows after him shouting, "Hi. Hi. Hi." Then they enjoy their happy little reunion.

The other day we were outside playing when Chad pulled in from work. Carsen put his arm around Myka and they both stood there frantically waving and grinning at him as he pulled in the drive. I wasn't quick enough to grab the camera to capture that precious moment; but I did get them giving him his usual hugs and kisses.


Oh, Myka!
Little Myka is one busy girl. I will have people say to me all the time, "Oh wow, she's busy." Or another comment I get is, "She's curious." Yes, to say the least....she never seems to stop.

Not only is she busy, but she loves to tease. I have a feeling we are in for it with this girl. She loves to take things of Carsen's and run away from him. She will walk out in the middle of the road with a big grin on her face and look behind her to see if I am watching. If we are at a store or a restaurant and I let her down she runs away laughing so I will chase her. (So fun.)




Ride on Carsen!
Carsen has become quite good on his scooter and loves to cruise around on it. He ALWAYS wears his helmet. He insists. (Fine by me!) He is a rule followeer and does not like to get in trouble. Such a good boy!


Bluffdale Rodeo
Our friends the Jones' invited us out for a 'yee haw good 'ole time' at the Bluffdale Rodeo. It was a small-town rodeo with the opening act being bull-riding! Wahooo! (I mean, yeee haw!) I loved it, because I was able to dust off my red cowboy boots and finally wear them someplace! (No picture of the boots...maybe next rodeo!)


Utah's 'Finest' State Fair
Friday evening we decided to venture on down to the State Fair and see if we could waste some money on some rides and food. We succeeded! Actually, the kids had a fabulous time, and we adults enjoyed ourselves too (people watching is very entertaining at the fair! Like I said...some of Utah's finest are in attendance!)

Jason was lucky enough to take home a fabulous fair souvenior. His belt broke right when we got there (too many funnel cakes and fried twinkies, Jason?) so lucky for him he was able to score this sweet little number:


Myka was a crack-up. When we walked through to see the animals this was the expression she had on her face: (pinching her nose)!


Carsen loved the rides and Myka was beyond escatic to hug and kiss her puppy won by Chad's amazing game-playing abilities.