Little of this, little of that!

My little Dawson always cracks me up between the things he says and the things he does. Above is him modeling my shoes and wanting me to take a picture of him. He is doing this pose all on his own. I think most kids like to try on their moms shoes.....or at least I hope so!!!

Here is Chandler and Dawson riding my dad's riding lawn mower on the 4th of July!! They loved it. They took turns driving it. They love going to Grandpa's!!

Here is a picture of my boys and their two cousins after playing in the fountains in AZ. They aren't quite as spectacular as the Gateway fountains in S.L. They only played in these for like 20 minutes then wanted to go. Oh and the drive to get to there each way was 30 min.

Above is my little Layla who isn't so little anymore. She started walking for good at exactly 14 months. She is all over the place and into everything. More adventurous and curious than my boys were at her age. She is so much fun and I just can't get enough of her!! She dances every time she hears my cell phone ring. Her favorite place to climb is on the coffee table. She loves to carry the computer mouse all over the house........who knows where it might end up. She loves to hide in my kitchen cabinets. She is so much fun and I am so glad she is mine.

And last but not least are my two handsome school boys. Chandler started 2nd grade today and loved it. And my little Dawson goes to half day preschool everyday. They are growing up way too fast. I sure enjoy my little guys but I also enjoy a quiet house for a few hours everyday!!!

We made it......

and survived the move to the hottest place on earth, at least to the hottest place I've ever been. We happened to move in on the hottest day this year reported so far in AZ at a blazing 117 degrees! I know, I know our timing is impeccable as always but it is over. I am sitting in our office in our new house with the a/c on so I am comfortable and ok. I am so thankful for modern day marvels such as a/c in the car and in the home, a roof over my head to get out of the sun, and a comfy place to lay my head at night! I don't know how people use to do it hundreds of years ago! I love my new house and think our movin days are over. I plan to be here until our kids our raised to say the least but hopefully even after that!! I don't recommend moving with 3 youngsters in the dead of summer! So we are alive and well. So to my family and friends, come visit me often and you are always welcome to stay here as long as you like. I don't reckon I will see many of you here in the summer, but I believe you will all come in the winter months to escape the cold and stay with me. That is when you will be lovin where I live and want to be my neighbor!!

Pictures are in....

of Layla's one year. Go to www.heatherbrownphotography.com and scroll down and click on 'studio blog' and you will see them. The first 3 are my favorite! It was so fun cause we were in matching skirts! Heather Brown is fantastic and did her newborn pictures as well. I highly recommend her. I can't wait to get my hard copies next week!

One year has past.....

(above my sisters, Hollie, Me, Kris and my Mom)

...................since I lost my very best friend ever!!

My mom and I had the best relationship anyone could ever have. We were so close and always together. I called her everyday just to talk even if it wasn't about anything special. She was so good to me and always there for me. And oh how she loved Ryan and our kids. They meant the world to her and she loved to spoil them. They loved her back as well. It was so fun to watch them together. For those of you who had the wonderful opportunity of getting to know my mom and feel of her sweet spirit consider yourself blessed. Those who didn't get to know or meet her definitely missed out. Loosing her has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through in my life. But I understand completely why Heavenly Father would want her back......she was so sweet and perfect. Heaven is definitely sweeter now with her there! I am just so thankful she is pain free and happy. It was SO hard to see her suffer the last couple weeks of her life and then to see her pass away right before my eyes was excruciating. Since this experience I now realize just how important it is that families are forever. I cannot even begin to imagine not ever being with my mom again, or any other loved ones for that matter. What a comfort it is to know I will see and be with her again and I honestly can't wait for that day! There has not been one day go by that I haven't thought about her nor will there be. She is so near and dear to my heart and I am privileged to be her daughter. I just hope I can be half the mom she was. There aren't words to express my love and gratitude for her. She sacrificed so much for her family. She suffered and held on as long as she could. Lymphoma ended up taking my mom from this earth but not without a fight. She was so strong. I love you more than words can say or express. You are the best mom and I look forward to that day when we run into each others arms. I miss you so much it hurts. Thankfully you are in heaven with other family and I'm sure so happy. We all miss and love you down here more than you can imagine!!

2 Months in a Nutshell.

I took my kids to my sisters house because she has 11 baby ducks. My kids had so much fun chasing and holding them. The yellow one that Dawson is holding above was the most popular due to its hair-do!! It has the cutest fuzz ball head!

We took our little family to Disneyland in May. Not only was it their first time but mine as well. They had a lot of fun. Chandler and Dawson both got picked to go on stage and fight "The Dark Side." Dawson got too scared and ended up not fighting Darth Vader but Chandler was brave and fought him.

We celebrated Layla's first birthday in California on the beach!! Can't believe my baby is one!

Me, the birthday girl Layla and my babe!

Ryan and Layla on the beach.

The fam at Disneyland!

My boys at the beach for the first time. They LOVED it! Ry buried them in the sand. Chandler kept telling me the entire week that he wanted to move to Cali because of the beach and Disneyland. He said he was going to move there when he is 16.........funny!!

Chandler celebrated his 7th birthday at "The Little Gym." Why do they grow up so fast?? He had a lot of fun!

It's True.........

that many of you may not know but can definitely believe that Ryan and I are up and moving one last time (I hope)!! I know, I know we can not stay in one place to long it seems. So we are off to the hot, sunny, desert of Arizona. We hope to sell our home quickly and move before school starts mid August. So that is the latest and greatest at our house. Let me tell you how excited I am to pack up my house again. This will be our 5th, yes I said 5th move in nine short years of marriage!!! If I would have known that I would have left everything boxed up until now. So there you have it..........AZ here we come!!

All Smiles!!

Layla and her big brother Dawson. He never
leaves her side and always wants to be in the
picture with her. He loves her soooooo much!


Big Smiles!!

Just cheesing for the camera!