Viva Las Vegas

Vegas kid style.

Actually... we would've done the same things if they weren't with us.

Our Las Vegas is very different from the worlds Las Vegas.

We loved the Bellagio water fountain shows. We sat here one night for 1 1/2. The kids LOVED it. They also loved the Mirages volcano water show with fire. So awesome.
Swimming in the Cancun resort pool. It had 4 tube water slides and of course was super fun. Unfortunately... our camera was acting up so ... not a lot of pictures.

Cute Sydney with her noodle swimming chair.

Kaitlyn is in LOVE with this albino lion from the Mirage hotels Secret Garden. They had 8 month old white tiger cubs, Leopards, and HUGE Siberian white tigers. We also loved the dolphins. Sydney especially loved the dolphins.

Is this Heaven or Las Vegas?...asks Kaitlyn.

Beautiful gardens at the Bellagio Conservatory.

I had to add this picture because Addison never holds still long enough for a picture. Such a toddler. There she goes.

Finally Toothless Tanner

Finally...

my cute Tanner lost his first tooth.

He's been waiting a very long time for this moment.

You can't really tell.. but it's the bottom tooth.

Dallin can't look at a mouth directly anymore :).

I guess he's used to looking at everyone upside down and backwards.

Tanner using Dallin's tooth fairy pillow from when he was a kid. Kaitlyn has used it everytime.. and now the tradition is passed to Tanner.

What a proud, cute little 7 year old boy.

The dreaded question...

Tonight... my precious son asked me why...

get this... why sex is a bad word.

Did you all catch that?

It's absolutely true.

After collecting my thoughts and

quieting my internal screaming,

I asked my precious offspring where he had heard that word.

He told me... and this is the saddest part of it all ... that it is from one of the songs from my ipod. Seriously?!?!?!?!?

It's an early 90's song from the Vipers called Turning Japenese.

In the song is says, "No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women"... and continues on to sing some more with it's oh-so-super catchy tune.

Thankfully we had a super cute babysitter that told my children that sex is a bad word. Thank you Jessie Groesbeck and her family for raising such a great girl. The sad part of it all... is that I felt if I never said anything... to my children it would just be another word. They don't know what the Vipers are really singing about anyway... right? We just like the tune. Right? Isn't that what I said when I was a teenager. Right? So here I am, stuck cleaning up a mess... that I made.

I told my son all the age appropriate things (he is 6 1/2), and definitely a very G-rated version. Then he says to me, "If it's so sacred, why do you and daddy kiss in front of us kids?" Again, I am dying. I just said, "we just don't say the word sex, so please never say it to your friends or your teachers at school". Then, my son, who is going to be my ticket to heaven says, "Well mom... if that song says a bad word, then we shouldn't listen to it anymore, right?"

Yes Tanner. You are right.

I just might get to heaven after all. I love you son.

Random Addison

Addison matches my house.

She looks like a throw pillow... but much cuter.

This is a daily occurance at our house. Addison loves to see EVERYONE go to the bathroom. Most of us cover the whole toilet seat... with Sydney she gets more of a view. It's hilarious...AND sanitary.

I love that Addison loves to dress herself. Even if it is in a plastic lei and squeezing her legs into one leg of the underpants. She is sooo cute.

Let the clothing battles begin...

I HATE my sons new "light up sketchers".

I could truly die. I hate these kind of shoes. So please... do not pass judgement on me when you see him "lighting" up. I gave in and told him that 7 year olds don't get to wear those shoes (he's 6 now)... so he should enjoy it while he can. I am so embarrassed. They are that hideous. Wouldn't you agree?

What is not hideous... is watching my son watch his feet as he walks. The joy is fantastic for him. Like I said earlier... enjoy it while you can Tanner boy... because mommy gets to pick out the next pair. And here they are...

So stylish yet comfortable. With convenient velcro straps because I have yet to teach the boy to tie his shoes. The style, the attractiveness... the fulfillment of mommy's pride. My pride will be patient. In the meantime... I might not get my son to look me in the eyes for a while. He'll be too busy looking down, playing in a dark room enjoying his super awesome light up shoes.

Yeah.. that's right.... THEY'RE SUPER AWESOME!

I Want

I usually do not use my blog to vent or

even to share random thoughts about my life.

I should more often. So today is that day.

Why is it so hard to be the mom?

Today, simply put, I don't want to be the mom.

I want to put dishes in the dishwasher without a 20 month old taking all the dirty dishes back out - usually putting dirty spoons in her mouth.

I want to be able to put my makeup on without tweedle-dee and the other tweedele-dee (I would never call her dum) hugging my legs dying for me to pick them up or at least give them the attention they so desperately seem to think they are starving for.

I want to be able to leave my house without having to fight someone to put shoes on, go potty, fight to leave the blanket home, sit in the car seat, etc.

I want to not be told, "mommy, I want to play play-doh, do you understand?", "Mommy, I want you to sit by me and watch Wall-E, right now, do you understand?", "Don't eat my chips, mom, do you understand?". Damnit... I do understand, I'm just ignoring you.

I want to be able to turn on a movie and not have to sit down by her. Doesn't she understand that I am paying that "babysitter" a lot to watch her for that time. Seriously.Geez.

I want to use the bathroom without an audience.

I want to sleep in.

I want Addison to not poop in the bathtub anymore.

I want Addison to not write on the walls.

I want no more runny noses.

I want the children to be in bed at 7:30pm.

I want to not to have to brush their teeth.

I want my husband to have an office manager. I'm tired of him babysitting all of his employees. It's exhausting for me. I know it is for him. We haven't seen him this entire week.

I want my husband to brush their teeth again.

I want my husband.

I want to loose 8 inches off of my waist.

I want to have my beautiful long hair back.

I want to HATE carbs. I so do not. I love them.

I want to be a good... no EXCELLENT mother.

I want to not feel the undying guilt of being a mother.

I want to know that I am producing responsible, hard working

citizens of the world.

I want to know that I am helping my children combat Satan

everyday of their lives.

I want to know that they are gaining a testimony of who

they are as a child of God.

I want to know that I am teaching them in a way they will respond too.

I want them to know how much I love them.

I want to pray, always.

I know that King Benjamin exhorted his people

to impart of their substance to the poor and feed the hungry,

clothe the naked, etc...

"according to their wants". mosiah 4:26.

I know I want to have freedom at times... and I know that one day I will get what I want. On that day, some of the wants will be welcomed... but most... especially the wants of my 2 little ones and the frequent headaches they cause ... I will be sad they've grown. I hope when they all do... they will say...

"I want all that my mother wanted for me." Hopefully they will still want me.

P.S. I want to gobble her up. Crazy hair and all.

My little social-lite.

So put together...ish. HA

We are starting the new year so...well-"ish". The job charts are up and actively being stuck with stickers... even Sydney has "jobs". She is to help pick up toys, be nice everyone (especially Tanner who she teases relentlessly), and to be happy. She was thrilled to be able to stick on stickers for the first time.

Kaitlyn taught a beautiful FHE on the Plan of Salvation. She drew all the pictures of the different phases. SOOO Cute!

Tanner finally wore the sport coat we bought him 2 years ago. Luckily we only paid $8 for it... because this was the first time he actually wore it without pitching a fit. I think it fit him better 2 years ago... don't ya think?

More sticker excitement!

Oh yeah... JUST KIDDING.... We aren't put together AT ALL. The above was out of the ordinary. This is more of a "norm" at our house... everyone in their underwear. This day, the cuties decided to shake it up a bit and put "panty Dora" on their heads AND over their pants.

Seriously... don't take my picture AGAIN!

and then there's Sydney... who will pose for any photo.

Just a cute picture of Tanner and Addison playing trains.

I love them all!

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

My baby Addison is already working on her new years resolution. Actually it is my resolution for her... but she seems anxiously engaged to follow through. What a sweet baby. She just learned to walk 2 months ago... why not potty train now.

Addy bear having ALOT of fun running around the Sun Valley resort. She wouldn't hold still for any pictures... this was the best I could do. She is so happy to finally be walking.
Say Cheese. I usually don't like to get in front of the camera... but a nice woman wanted to take our picture as a family and I am glad she did. It is proof that I was around during these crucial years of my childrens lives.
Every year, Sun Valley Resort has gorgeous ice sculptures and snow sculptures.

How did I get so lucky. They are precious.

Sydney is 3!!!!

Sydney coming home from the hospital.

She was so tiny. She was 5 lbs. 12 oz. the day we came

home from the hospital. I think the apple tells the story.

I can't believe my precious little baby is now 3 years old.

Sydney has always been my little buddy.

In her baby blessing her father gave her, he said that she would always be a friend and a great help to her mother.

I have seen how true this is over the past years.

Ever since Sydney could talk, she's been "herding" the 2 older children... getting them to do the things I've asked them to do.

Sydney has a very tender heart and is a true peacemaker.

I love her very much and so very grateful that she came to our family 3 years ago. I love you Sydney. Here are some pictures of Sydney over the years.

Sydney 1 week old

2 days old. The nurses in the hospital brought her to me like this after her bath on day 2. What a sweet Christmas gift.

1 year old

16 months and walking. So tiny and cute.

Mischievious 2 year old... stealing a "taste" of her birthday cake.

3 years old!

3 years old and she still loves to sneak a taste of her cake.

Once upon a Potty

All smiles and poopy. Love it.

Should have taken a picture of her crying after we flushed her "baby caterpillar poop away". Seriously... she cried for 5 minutes.

and as Dora would say,

"we did it.. we did it...

we did it... HOORAY!"

And 1 week shy of her 3rd birthday no less.

That's when momma says... HOORAY!

It's a Hard Knock Life

Ladies and Gentlemen... Boys and Girls...

Presenting... in her first musical play...

Kaitlyn Young starring as an orphan in

ANNIE Jr.

The Sun'll come out... Tomorrow.

Maddie Hodge, Kaitlyn and Hadley Wayment.

What cute little girls.

Kaitlyn, I am so proud of you. You performed all 3 nights with a ton of energy, huge smile on your face and with perfection. You were wonderful and I am so proud of you. You truly shine when you are on stage. You are a natural. I hope that this is not the last we see of you in a performance. You were fantastic! I LOVE YOU. I am glad you are my little orphan.

Just a side note: When I was a little girl... I always wanted to be Annie (from the movie). I thought she was the best singer in the whole wide world. I also thought my life was pretty hard. My mother bought me a little knick knack of little orphan Annie scrubbing the floor with the inscription "It's a Hard Knock Life" on it. Looking back now... I know I was just a drama queen diva ... without the entourage.

A Man in Leather Pants

You know what they say about a man in leather pants... Well, I'm not sure what that is but CHECK DALLIN OUT!!! I am dying. After 15+ years he still was able to squeeze into his Lederhosen. Pretty impressive given he was a 21 year old boy when he got them. I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating cookies. Even if his leather pants are sueded knickers.

SPOOKY CUTE!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Mommy... the Fishy has a big mouth!!!

Night Terrors... UGH!!! So the day has arrived... well 3 mornings ago... and every morning since... that I hear, in blood curtailing, deathly fear scream, "Mommy...the fishy... the fishy...the fishy has a big mouth!". Oh and it is so much worse. Seriously, do I have to do this stage of horrible night terrors or can it just skip me this time. Of course she wants nothing to do with Daddy, it has to be mommy. Poor mommy wants Sydney to want Daddy. Mommy wants to sleep past 6:30am. I think I am depressed. Mostly because I know when Sydney is finished with the stage... Addison will be entering it.

Naps, here I come:).

Here is the scary fish. Oh my.

Happy Halloween

Trick or Treat!

Smell my feet

Give me something

Good to Eat!

Sydney, like her predecesors, is finished after she gets the first "dum-dum sucker".

Addison was happy just to go along for the ride.

Darth Vader, Cheetah Girl and King of Egypt

Diving in to her cake walk winnings

from the Xavier Fall Frolic party.

Addison contemplating ... who knows? Walking maybe?

Tanner and his cake walk winnings.

Cute Kaitlyn and Lera

I think I can... I think I can... I think I can.

Well maybe not today... but soon enough this little tigger

will take off walking.

Darth Vader, Purple Butterfly and my butterfly fairy. This was the trick or treat party for the Bridgeview Estates Assisted LIving center party. The cute old people love to see the kids. And the kids love to bring home the loot of major candy.

My mischievious little pixie.