Today after watching Sleeping Beauty, Morgan decided the proper thing to do would be to put her Sleeping Beauty dress on. Jackson and I then tried to change it to blue... for some reason it wouldn't work though... we must not have the fairy magic. :) I decided to start a new blog... mainly for all the cute ideas I see. Today I was looking at a friends blog that has these amazing hair-do's for kids... Morgan was even excited when she saw it, and told me her hair was a mess and that she needed it fixed, so anyway, my new blog is loveandthoughts and I think I will post all sorts of cool things, that I'm sure you can't wait to try. My sister started her own, and I thought it was a great idea, so if you get a chance, go visit... maybe someday I'll put some yummy recipes on there too! Right now it will be completly random... cooking, hair, activites, and any other thing I think is cool. Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day! I am so grateful for Brian and for the amazing Dad that he is. Brian loves to spend time with the kids, and always puts us as his top priority. The kids love talking to him, going places with him, playing with him, & just being around him. I always wanted to marry someone who was good with kids and Brian is such a sweetheart, and treats our kids so well. I am so grateful that our kids will grow up with a Dad who makes time for them, and wants to be their friend. I love Brian so much, and I'm so blessed to have him in my life. I am so grateful for the influence that my own Dad has had on me, and for the way that he has blessed my life. Brian is my best friend and soulmate, and my Dad is my hero. I look up to both of them, along with my father in law so much, and I have learned so much from their example. I love you all!
Daddy and his cute kiddies...
What a handsome guy huh! :)
So, this year I majorly procrastinated, and didn't do anything creative for Brian. I felt so bad about it, and when I apologized, he said all he wanted was a hug... so I gave him a hug, along with a chocolate cake... he wanted to eat it all by himself, which I'm sure he would have since it's his favorite, but he was nice and shared with us. :) Happy Father's Day!

Have you ever been in a crowd of people, and lost a child??? Yeah, I now have, and I NEVER want to experience that again!!!! Today my parents invited us to come to their city for "City Day's" and watch the parade with them. The kids LOVED all the candy, and by the end were finally getting used to the idea of running to pick up the candy when it was thrown. It was really hot, so Brian went and sat under a tree with Hallie. Jackson was right by my side with his hand on my shoulder, and all of a sudden he was gone. I mean within like 2 seconds, he was gone. I looked around really quick and told my parents that Jackson was gone, and then I ran and told Brian. And of course at this time the parade ends, and everyone is getting up and walking around, plus the traffic has started again. I had no idea which way to go... right, left, straight, stay in the same place... luckily my parents and sister were there, so my mom stayed with Morgan, my dad and another guy went off one way, and my dad notified the police, and my sister, Brian and I all split in different directions. I started looking, and imagining the terrible things that could have happened... he was right by my side, and I didn't know if someone had just come and scooped him up, or if he walked off, would I get to hold him again, or was he hit by a car... (yeah I think I worry a little too much) So, I knew there was only one thing I could do beside look... I needed to pray! I stopped & stood still for a minute & said a silent prayer. Now here is the interesting thing...there have been at least 5 times when I have found a missing child. Once we were at the grocery store and as we were walking in a little boy was walking outside in the busy parking lot, I stopped and helped him back inside to find his dad who was clear across the store in the toy dept. (actually I think this happened twice). Another time I was with my
mom & sisters at a big outside clothing store, and as we were in the car leaving I noticed a little girl walking the opposite way of the people, and I knew she was lost. My family said she was fine, but I felt I needed to stop & help her find her family. She had wondered off almost 2 blocks & we found her family. Another time I was working and I saw a little boy walking in the mall all by himself with a red wagon from our store & I helped him. So, as I sat there and prayed today, I said "Heavenly Father, I have helped so many times with finding other kids and helping them, please help me find my own, please help me to know which way to go." At that moment I felt I needed to go to my left. I kept walking some and stopped and I felt like I needed to keep walking. Soon I saw the cutest little boy... my little boy & I went running to him and scooped him up. How could I be mad when my prayer had been answered, and he was okay! I asked him why he left and he said he wanted to go find Daddy. He just kept hugging me, and I told him how he was lost, and how I prayed that we could find him, and Heavenly Father helped me find him. He laid his head on my shoulder and said, "I'm sorry Mommy!" I am so grateful that Heavenly Father knew where he was, just like he knows where each of us are, and that Jackson was okay. When I saw him, he was walking by himself, but I felt that there was a bubble of angels walking with him & protecting him. I am so grateful for him in my life, I love him, Morgan, & Hallie more than anything.
(These are pictures I had taken awhile ago, but fogot to post.)

Here's our little cutie... 4 months old! I think the time is cruising by with her. She is growing up way too fast. She is such a fun and calm baby, and just keeps smiling and laughing at us. It's funny because Morgan & Hallie have never really liked to snuggle... even the other night I was holding Hallie really close to me, and she kept grunting like "Mom, give me some space" while Jackson loves being held close, and has ever since he was a baby. This little girl is funny though. When she talks to us, she opens her entire mouth... I wonder if she'll be loud when she gets older. Cute little baby...

Morgan loves playing with Hallie and making her laugh and talk. I love her version of the song... Enjoy!

Oh, how sweet is that... today Brian came home from golfing with a friend, and was exhausted. Hallie had already been asleep for quite awhile & then woke up and Brian wanted to cuddle with her. (Brian doesn't know I'm posting this) I'm sure he won't mind though... I think...maybe I should go check... :) I think he would mind if I started writing about all of his amazing qualities, like how handsome he is, or fun he is, or the great dad he is, or ... okay maybe I should stop before he finds out... :)
This is at the resevoir... only 10 minutes from our house. I LOVE the mountains!

For the 2nd time, Brian took Jackson on the Father/ Son campout this past weekend. They had a blast! Morgan was kind of jealous, because 3 of her little boyfriends were also going camping, and she wanted to go too. We tried to inform her that she would be the only girl, and they would wonder why she was there, so finally when I told her she got to go to dinner with my friend and her little girl, Morgan gave in. Jackson LOVED camping other than waking up cold from the rain in the morning. He is such a cute kid, and loved hanging out with Brian. I'm so glad they were able to go. We'll have to post pics of Morgan and I later. :)
Jackson got a new speedy racer fishing pole to fish with for the campout (plus we'll use it in July when we go to Fish Lake) He was so excited about it, they only problem... he kept casting it out while he was walking, thus tangling it all around himself and the grass. :)
When the boys got back we took the kids fishing to a resevoir (how do you spell that? ) okay a really big pond :) anyway, they kids were so excited to fish, and after about 1/2 hour Brian said we weren't leaving until he caught a fish... sigh... I'm not a big fisherwoman, but it was a nice day, and 10 minutes later... da da da da.. Brian caught a fish! The kids were so PROUD of him! They kept telling everyone around us.. "Our Daddy caught a fish!" Do you lik our nice red truck in the background... NOT... it is pretty though isn't it... actually ours is the nice long white van... ha ha ha ha just kidding ;) it's the blue van were standing by... :) as if you didn't know. ;)
oooohhhh la la doesn't he look good ... Brian, not the fish... ;)

Diapers for almost 3 years: $1300.00 (really that much?)
Pull Ups for Potty Training: $60.00
New underwear with Thomas the Train, Elmo, & Diego: $30.00
Wearing underwear for the first time on his head instead of his bum... Priceless :)
Ha Ha Ha Ha ... is this the funniest picture or what.... Jackson has kind of been hinting that he is ready to go potty. He has used the potty a couple of times, & it is actually better than I thought it would be. Somehow, I thought we would have beautiful streaks of yellow all over our bathroom walls... that's not the case... let me just say, "If you have a boy, teach him sitting down!!" Anyway, so today Jackson said he wanted to wear underwear (he used to call them panties since Morgan wears panties, but Brian said he would not have a son wearing "panties" :) I told him he could wear them, but he had to wear them over his diaper (I'm not ready to start completely until Monday because Brian & Jackson are going on the father's son campout this weekend and I don't want Brian to have to worry about a wet tent in the middle of the night...) So anyway, I walked out of the room & came back and this is what I saw... priceless. :)

Well, it has come time for us to move Hallie into her room (Morgan's old room). We decided to let Morgan & Jackson share a room & let Hallie have her own, since she needs more quiet. We bought 2 twin mattressess, & need to get the frames soon, but for now this will work. Then we found matchinh comforters at Target. The kids were so excited, and they have LOVED having their new beds.
She looks so tiny in this bed! I like that I can lay by them, and not feel that I'm going to fall off the bed. ;)
And of course Jackson LOVED the ball sheets.

My birthday was wonderful. Brian made it such a fun & sweet day. I am so grateful for my cute kids & sweet husband. They mean the world to me.

Do you remember that time when you were little, where you ran through the sprinklers and didn't care at all what people thought of you... especially in a swimming suit, & you would run and play & eat otter pops all day, without a care in the world... I miss those days, but I LOVE watching my kids experince the same joy and laughter that I did. I'm so grateful they can run & play in our front yard. I'm so glad we have such amazing neighbors that look out for my kids. Morgan & Jackson LOVE swimming. The first thing Morgan put on this morning at 8:00 was her swimming suit. Their friends come over & run through the sprinkler too. I think tomorrow I will put on my swimming suit and run with them. ha ha ha yeah right!!! But, I do love having a reason to go outside & getting a little sun tan & feeling little splashes of water on me. The kids love it & it's such a nice break from the day.
Morgan was so funny. She doesn't like to get too wet, so she would go and just barely get her foot wet, and then she would go and lay on her towel & "lay out" in the sun... she looked like a teenager... not 4!
Is this the funniest picture or what??? I love it! It describes everything! :) I think Jackson would live in the water if he could. :)