Cool air and tools

Yesterday Mike had the afternoon off so we went to the park! Ethan got a remote control airplane for his birthday and we went to fly it. It was too windy and the plane just blew in the air. But we did have fun playing on the playground. After that, I convinced Mike to go to Home Depot to pick out paint colors for our bathrooms, livingroom, hall, and entryway. While we were there, Mike decided we could pick up a new ceiling fan for our room. If you have seen the one that was there when we moved in, you'll know why we'd want to replace it. The last few days we have been running the fan at night because it's been so hot. Well, it's old so it's noisy. The new one, is so quiet and still has a good air flow. I wasn't expecting Mike to put it up last night, but when I got back from young women's, he was just about done and Ethan was in our room playing with his tools and tool bench. It was so fun to see both my guys working with their tools.

Flashback Friday, part 1

This is the first baby that Mike ever held, his nephew, Thomas.
However, no offense to Jocelyn, but here is the BEST baby Mike ever held. Our Ethan, just minutes after he was born.
And here's what Ethan's squishy face looked like just minutes after he was born. What a great sight to a new mom!

Flashback Friday, part 2

Well, it's been 5 years ago today that Mike left Utah to go home to Minnesota for the summer and work, work, work. And earn lots of money for school tuition, books, dates, and a car! That was a very sad day for me, but look at us now! I'm sure glad he came back and still liked me.

These are a few of my favorite things

Chocolate pie! And licking the beaters.
The snow, I have really liked the snow this year for some reason.
Spring weather, and my parents.
My in-laws.
And finally, my little family.

What makes me happy?

What more can I say?

Mowin' the lawn

Today was the day that Mike decided to pull the lawn mower out and mow our lawn for the first time since last fall. It really needed it and now it looks great. (I told him that it was okay not to mow earlier, like he would have liked, because none of our neighbors had mowed their lawns.)
Earlier this week I watched 2 of my visiting teacher's 3 girls. We played outside and I spent a good chunk of the time raking up all the tree branches that had fallen off our big tree. After Mike mowed the lawn, the wind picked up and there are almost as many branches on the ground that there were when I raked them up. Oh, well, I guess Ethan and I will just have to play outside this next week so I can rake all those branches up. I am really enjoying the warmer weather. Who isn't out there? I hear it's supposed to get colder this weekend, pray that there isn't much snow! I just bought come new capris and I will be very sad if I can't wear them.
In just a few minutes, we are heading to another Ethan's birthday party. He'll be 4, but our Ethan adores him and he adores Ethan. Our Ethan is such a social kid. I sometimes feel bad for him because he came first and doesn't have at least one older brother or sister to play with. And believe me, we are trying to get him a younger brother, or sister, I really won't care. I have gotten him to the point where if you ask him if he wants a baby brother, he'll say yes. He used to say no! For now though, I am glad that I have him, even when he is horrible and onry. I go check on him before I go to bed and he looks so little and sweet that I forget all about his attitude he has acquired lately.


Can't you see the mischief in his eyes? But he's so cute at the same time. I can't be angry at this kid for very long.

Happy Birthday, Kristen!

Today is my one and only sister's birthday and I wanted to dedicate this post to her. This is my favorite picture that I have of the two of us. Kristen went shopping at the Eddie Bauer sale and bought us dresses that are the same only different colors so of course we had to have a picture taken of us in our matching dresses.

Happy Birthday, Kristen. Enjoy it with Mom and Dad. (I suggested to Mom that she make you a cake.)

White trash?

When we moved into our house in August, it had been very neglected. Slowly, and I mean SLOWLY, we are trying to make our house, and yard, look better. Mike and my dad have been cutting down the very overgrown lilac bushes in the backyard. They haven't quite gotten to the point where they can haul them away, Saturdays have been too busy lately. Yesterday it was very windy here and when I came home from Stacey's, this is what I found in my backyard.

That is our very worn out, very rundown shed that we don't use. Yup, upside-down! See what I mean about our backyard being a mess? Luckily, we have a big backyard and this is only part of the yard. Anyone have a truck we can use to haul all this junk away this weekend? I guess we'll be hauling the shed away too. When I saw the shed like this, I called Mike to tell him that we better get rid of it because it was upside-down. He didn't understand what I meant. It took me a good 2 minutes to try to get through to him that the shed was upside-down. I don't think he really believed me until he came home and saw it for himself. I wish I could have seen the shed blow over though. That would have been quite the sight.

Wii fun!

Today we went to my cousin, Stacey's house for lunch and to play. There were lots of cousins there and we had a lot of fun. Stacey pulled out the Wii and Ethan wanted so badly to play. Tyler and Taylor were boxing and Ethan was boxing behind them. He was very good and didn't hit anyone. After the big boys were done playing, Stacey showed Ethan how to box. What a great cousin! (I hope she doesn't mind me posting this picture!)

Hi-Ho Cherry-O!

The other day, Mike had the afternoon off and decided to take Ethan for a while. What a great guy! When I went into Ethan's room to see what they were up to, they were playing, and Mike was learning how to play, Hi-Ho Cherry-O! Ever played? It was one of my favorites as a kid ans it was fun to see them playing. Ethan really doesn't take just one or two cherries off his tree, no, when he's supposed to take one off, he doesn't like to stop until they are all off the tree. But he is learning to count them.

Funny Grandma!

My mom is the coolest Grandma in the world. Ethan just loves to play with her and especially when they do fun, crazy things. She bought some Go Diego, Go animals for her grandkids and Ethan loves them. One day, the two of them were playing with them when someone decided it would be fun to put the animals upside-down. Then what do you think Grandma did? Yup, she and Ethan put themselves upside-down too. Here's what it looks like.
It was pretty funny to come into the room and see my mom and son on their backs, as if they were upside-down too. (You can see all 11 animals upside-down in the rug straight behind Ethan's behind.)

Better, finally!

Today is the first day in 4 days that I am finally feeling better. I was hit with the yuckies Sunday morning and they are gone! Yipee! And so far, neither Mike nor Ethan are showing any signs of what I had. Keep your fingers crossed that they don't get it!

100 things you may, or may not, know about me!

1. Like my mom and sister, I don't have a middle name.
2. I went to a Backstreet Boys concert, an 'NSYNC concert, with a KISS concert in the middle.
3. The fist time I flew, I was 20, and I flew sitting backwards.
4. I love Sesame Street.
5. I don't like chocolate cake.
6. I do, however, love chocolate.
7. I lived in the same house until I got married.
8. I would love a house full of boys!
9. I bought myself a piano for Chirstmas.
10. I played the piccolo in the marching band.
11. I lost 20 pounds that summer.
12. I have met 4 olympic athletes, 2 wrestlers and 2 gymnasts.
13. I collect Box Tops for my nieces.
14. I always have to have lotion on my hands, they hurt if I don't.
15. My 10 year high school reunion is this spring.
16. I always have diet Dr. Pepper in my house.
17. I was very excited when the new first presidency of the church was announced.
18. I love the fall and putting on my sweaters.
19. I never dry my jeans, I'm paraniod they'll shrink.
20. I am very picky about my house and how I clean it.
21. Mike called "dibs" on me when he met me through his friend.
22. I started to fall in love with Mike on our second date.
23. That was the date that Mike wanted to kiss me for the first time, but I wouldn't let him because I was scared.
24. I cut and highlighted my hair to spite a former boyfriend.
25. I still have all the love notes my first boyfriend wrote me.
26. I love to go to Lake Powell.
27. I love to water ski.
28. I've never been able to get up on one water ski.
29. While at Lake Powell, one of my favorite activites was cliff jumping.
30. I used to scream everytime I jumped off the top of our house boat.
31. I've never been snow skiing.
32. When I first went to BYU, I majored in English because I wanted to be just like my high school english teacher.
33. I graduated from BYU in Marriage, Family, and Human Development.
34. It took me 4 1/2 years to graduate.
35. When I graduated from BYU, I was one class and a few tests away from getting my ASL interpreter's license.
36. My dream job is teaching preschool to deaf preschoolers.
37. I taught preschool for 5 months at Timpanogos High School after I graduated.
38. I didn't go back that fall because there was a preschooler who was mean and hit me.
39. I was on the "naming committee" for Timpanogos High School.
40. I love country music.
41. I worked at HUR Jewelers for over 3 years and only quit because I was having a baby.
42. I can put my flute up my nose.
43. Just like my dad and Kristen, I can pop my ears.
44. My nostrils are triangle shaped.
45. I have never broken a bone.
46. I was on band council in high school.
47. I was on Seminary Council.
48. I was in the English Society in high school.
49. My favorite Disney movie growing up, and still is, Sleeping Beauty.
50. I am a convert to Hannah Montana.
51. I was nominated for Homecoming queen.
52. I get very sick on the tilt-a-whirl.
53. When I went on the white rollercoaster at Lagoon for the first time, I yelled, "MOMMY!" the whole time.
54. I got a blanket from my grandma for my 3rd birthday that I still use.
55. I worked at a law office for 6 months.
56. I worked at Kid to Kid for a year and a half and was promoted to buyer when I'd been there for only 3 months.
57. I have been craving pizza every week for that last few months.
58. I can't eat a salad for a meal. I have to have some kind of other substance with it.
59. I lived in Bakersfield, CA for 4 months.
60. I don't miss Bakersfield, but I miss my friends and ward there.
61. When I was in elementary school, I wanted glasses.
62. I didn't get glasses until I was in the 8th grade.
63. I ran for junior class officer in high school.
64. I suffered through "Pride and Prejudice" because I was with a boy.
65. I have all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls.
66. Avocados make my lips swell and tingle, but I still eat them.
67. I HATE seafood.
68. I took dance at BYU for 7 years in the Children's Creative Dance Program.
69. I took piano lessons for 8 years and had 2 different teacher.
70. My first flute teacher was Kristen.
71. I played percussion in the band when I was in 7th grade.
72. I hate running/jogging.
73. I had no labor with Ethan.
74. I love to make cookies just so I can eat the dough.
75. I really enjoyed playing in the band.
76. I tried out for the school musical when I was in Jr. High.
77. Besides Bryan, I am the youngest cousin on the Lott side of the family.
78. I went to "Stomp Out Loud" last year with Mike.
79. My first doll was named Carla and she is still used and loved by my nieces.
80. I wanted twin Cabbage Patch dolls.
81. I got them for Christmas but found out about 5 years ago that "Santa" got them separately and not in a twin set.
82. I collect shot glasses from all over.
83. I have a collection of rings from all over the world that my dad brought back from his travels.
84. I hate digital cameras.
85. I don't have a cell phone, and I don't want one.
86. I can't stand cats!
87. I was dumped on my birthday.
88. I am always cold.
89. My favorite place to get french fries is JCW's.
90. My best friend growing up was Katie Howe.
91. I won a $100 savings bond when I was in the 8th grade.
92. I have been on the radio.
93. I played in a flute quintet my junior year in high school and we got a I (one) in region and state.
94. I fell off the upper level of the gym at MVHS when I was 18 months old. There are now blue gates there to prevent other kids from falling.
95. The first and last boy I kissed was named Mike.
96. I love to spoil Ethan.
97. I swam in a pool with a huge shark tank in the middle of it.
98. I love my family.
99. I love my Savior and the gospel and everything about it.
100. I love Mike.

Conference Weekend

I am pretty excited about conference this weekend. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a little out of it and not be too distracted by Ethan. I also have my 100 things that Kristen has challenged me to post, they are all written down and waiting for me to type up. Maybe I can get those up between sessions either Saturday or Sunday so stay tuned....

April Fools

When I woke up Sunday morning I thought that I was in an April Fool's joke. It was snowing and cold. Monday was the same and Ethan and I had a pretty boring day. (The pictures below are what our back yard and deck looked like.) Yesterday, however, we had fun. We went over to Benjamin's house to play. And then today, Gavin came over to play. We had a lot of fun and if anyone out there would like to come over to play tomorrow, just call me!