I love spring!

I love spring! Especially when Strawberries are on sale. Because when strawberries are on sale, I can take lots of these:

And turning it into 21 Cups of this:

And then spread it on warm, homemade...

I got all of me seeds planted and can't wait to see the greens poking out of the ground. Radishes, Onions, Lettuce, Carrots, Peas, and Potatoes. Potatoes are new this year. I've never done them before. Hopefully, I don't ruin them. I love spring!

Blogging and Baby

Wow! It's been while since I blogged. A LONG while! Hikari has decided that he is going to finish his degree if its that last thing he does, and I couldn't be more proud of him! So, he's still working full time and getting ready for our Stake Pioneer Strek up to Rocky Ridge/Martin's Cove and doing school. It keeps him busy, but I know he can do it.

Munchkin is just a bundle of wonderful! As hard as she tries my patience these days, she still manages to make me giggle. It was like pulling teeth to get her to help around the house today! Even after bribing (yes, bribing-it can be a very useful tool at times!) with a 'date' with Mom and Dad to the movies (to which she has never gone), she still was dragging her feet to even pick her 2 toys off the kitchen floor. But then we got a sitter for Monkey and went to the see "Up" and she kept laughing out loud at all the funny little parts, and I couldn't help but giggle at that little four year old that, at times, makes me want to pull my hair out! I was never like that, right??

And then my baby. He turned one during my blogging Hiatus. One. year. old. He's getting so big! But he sure is cute. My SIL did such a great Job with Ayana's pics, so we went back down and had her capture my son. He's so mellow campared to Ayana. He always seems to have a curious look on his face, but I absolutely love the pics. Enjoy! Thank Chrissy!!

Because Everyone likes a good Hip Hop Dance...

Tonight I was watching the American Idol with Munchkin, and in the middle there was a musical number by Kanye West. I'm not a huge fan of him, so I started picking up around the house for the evening. I noticed Munchkin dancing around the living room. I said to her "Are you doing some Hip Hop Dancing?" She has NO IDEA what this is, but now she thinks she does. Not 30 seconds later, she began skipping around the room saying "Hip...Hop...Hip...Hop..." I asked what she was doing and she said "Hip Hop Dancing, Mom!" Oh, of course, my mistake!

Munchkin's Birthday!

Munchkin is a princess. She is ALL girl!!! She loves to play dress-up and loves anything princess. She currently has (among many other dress-ups) a Cinderella Dress that I bought at a yard sale, a big poofy Belle dress that Grandma made last year, and a Little Mermaid Costume that Grandma also made for her. For Christmas this last year, she said she needed more princess clothes, but Santa decided to bring her a bike instead. So for her birthday, I decided to try and make a Snow White dress and a Sleeping Beauty Dress. I had the help of my Mother in law, thank goodness! It was a lot of work, but totally worth it! The best part was wrapping each piece in a different box so she had a lot to open!

The Snow White Dress includes the Dress with a detachable collar (which is good, because it's not very comfortable!), A red-lined blue cape, a red headband and bow, and we got a steal on some Disney Princess Snow White shoes.

Sleeping Beauty came with a short sleeve dress, A netted slip that my Mother in Law whipped together, fingerless gloves that made is "long sleeve" and a gold crown.

She had a family birthday party with her cousin and they had a Webkinz Birthday Party. My Sister In Law made a Wheel of Wow, a Wishing Well, and gave Kinz Cash and had a "W" Store with little trinkets. She got a baby horse Webkinz from Me and Hikari, and a Puppy from Her Aunt. We also brought one of the two dresses-Snow White. She was tickled!

Then on her birthday, we had Grandma and Grandpa and Omi and Opi over for a small Brownie and Ice Cream Happy Birthday, and she got to open the Sleeping Beauty Dress!

It was a lot of fun, and I think she really enjoyed it. Today she spent the day listening to Disney Princess Music and changing into each of her appropriate costumes...Oh to be 4 again!!

My baby is Growing up.

Munchkin is 4 years old on Tuesday. I can't believe how big she is getting. She is such a big sister to her little brother. Some days she can't wait to climb into his crib while I'm not looking and play with him. Other days she screams when he crawls up to her and pulls her hair. We took some pictures before her birthday, since the portrait of her in the living room was from when she was turning 2. Thanks to my SIL who did such a good job with these. Thanks Chrissy!!

We also did some with Chunky Monkey! What a cutie pie!

The children were nestled all snug in thier beds...

Yes, that's right. The children are nestled, however it is not Christmas eve. It is Christmas Afternoon. They both fell asleep in the car with about 90 seconds of leaving Grandma's house and have came home and went straight to bed for a much needed nap.

I don't sleep on Christmas Eve. I never have. I always thought that it would wear off as I got older. Last night I think I averaged between 20 and 30 minutes between snoozes and I would look at the clock. Finally at 5:00 am, Monkey woke up for his morning feeding, and by the time we were done, we were ready to have Christmas.

Christmas Eve was at Hikari's parents house. It is fun to go and be with Family. They always sing Christmas songs, and then do the Nativity with all the kids. That is something I really enjoy, that my family never did. My dad would read the Christmas Story out of the bible and then that was pretty much it. Munchkin got to share the big role of the Shining Star with her Cute little cousin, L. They were so darling, and then L decided she didn't want to be a star and took the role of Baby Jesus (which she did so great!) When Munchkin had her turn to "Shine" she put her arms up, and smiled for the Camera. I could tell she knew that she had a very important role.

After we opened presents, we went to Omi and Opi's house (my parents) and had nice big Christmas Breakfast! Then we had gifts again, and some good giggles.

And now the presents are unwrapped, the food has been eaten, the toys have been played with and my children (and husband) are nestled all snug in their beds for a good Christmas nap. I look at them and am so thankful for the blessings that we have seen this year. We have seen the influence of our Heavenly Father more this year, than any year since we've been married, and I'm so greatful that we have seen God's hand in our life.

I really need to invest in a new camera this year, but until then, here are some not so great pictures of our holiday season.

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

This is our Christmas Activity on the 23rd. I remember doing this in Elementary school. It's a milk carton with Graham Crackers pasted on with frosting. **then your walls don't fall down :)

Christmas Eve Jammer's: Lightning McQueen & Princess!

Here is Christmas Morning:

Santa brought some fun gifts. Munchkin got a new Big Girl Bike, Monkey got some toys, I got a Popcorn Popper, and Hikari got some movies and games. Then the whole family got a Wii Fit game.

Been a while...

Well, I realized that I needed to post again since my last post was nearly 2 months ago! Oops. As for us, things are just as busy as always. Since I was cut back to just one day a week again at work, I decided I wanted to expand my piano teaching. I've been teaching my nieces and nephews for about 3 1/2 years, and now I have two new students. Munchkin is also continuing lessons. It's been a slow process, but she likes to show off what she's learned. Hopefully I can pick up a few more students in the next little bit, too. When I started teaching my nieces and nephews, Idid it as a thank you for watching my kids while I worked, and it has turned into something I really enjoy. There is nothing like seeing the light go on and the joy of music is discovered in someone else.