Lots of Yard Work

Ray and I decided that this would be the summer that we spent trying to finish our yard. A few weeks ago we headed to Lowes and bought some bricks for our front flower gardens, and have made several trips since to pick up more bricks. On Wednesday when Ray got off work we started digging trenches to lay sprinklers, and found that we have a yard full of yucky rocks. Ray has tired himself out from digging these trenches, and wishes he were much younger. I think in his young teen years he could have dug our whole yard front and back in a day or two for the pipe, but instead is finding that it will take a good week or more (Poor Guy). I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful husband who is willing to work so hard to make my yard a beautiful yard. He knows it means so much to me, and therefore is willing to work even harder. We are also hoping to get our deck built in the back yard in the next month or so, which will require putting in a sliding glass door as well out the back of our house. Jake thinks he is Rays right hand man, and has gotten in the way a time or two, but (SHHHH) don't tell Jake this because it would break his heart if he knew.

Jake's last day of school is on Tuesday, and Ellie's last day is on Wednesday, and then on the 8Th Jake will start a six week summer school program. I hope by the time school starts back up for him he will not be tired of school, and will be ready to jump in with both feet.

I am looking forward to the warmer summer nights so that we can go on our first official camp out of the summer. Ray and I love going camping and just being able to relax, Ellie and Jake love going and exploring. We have a few great spots picked out already, and I am excited to go.

I will try to post some before and after pictures of our yard when we get done, but for now you get a long post with no pictures. :)

Mini Photo Shoot

A friend of mine called me a few weeks ago, and told me that a friend of hers was starting her own hair flower business, and needed some extra girls for pictures. She asked if I would let Ellie go with her three girls to get their pictures done at a near by park. Well, today we got the pictures back, and here is a glimpse of the flower barretts, and pictures they did of my beautiful Ellie. Ellie and Lexi

Second Grade Performances

Ellie had her 2ND Grade school short play, and performance. The first one was just her class performing in the Music Box Room, and it lasted just 15 minutes. Ray and I thought it was cute, and we got quite a kick out of it. It was titled, The Case of the Missing Shoe.

Then we rushed to the gym where we watched the whole 2ND grade perform some songs for their end of the year program. It had a western theme, and we got quite a kick out of watching the kids dance. Ellie danced with Patrick, she wasn't to happy with that. It was a fun program.

Here is a picture of Jake ready to go to Ellie's program. I think he is so handsome!
And this is what Jake did during Ellie's 2ND grade performance. He is such a little character.

Welcome Home Skyler

My nephew Skyler returned from his mission on the 21st, and reported his mission on Sunday. I think he has grown so much, and I loved just looking at him and listening to him talk. He kept getting embarrassed because he would forget the English word while talking and I told him I loved it. When he asked why I would love that he forgot the English word, I told him it shows me what a great missionary he was that he can't remember the English word. Ellie and Jake were so excited to see him at the airport, and then later that evening Jake wanted to stop by his house to make sure that Skyler really did fly on that big huge plane to get home. It was cute, and I loved that Skyler was and is able to be such a good example to my kids.

Brandi did Jake's hair for the Airport. Lovely due, don't ya think? HAHA

Ellie was so excited to have HER Skyler home. She later informed me that she still might marry him, but he'll have to wait until she's 30 cause her dad says she can't get married till then. :)

What a Handsome Man!

Skyler and his best friend Axton.

Vernal Temple and the Flaming Gorge

We took a weekend trip to the Vernal, and then headed over to the Flaming Gorge. It was a very fun weekend trip. Here are some pictures of the fun things we saw. We are hoping to make it back this summer to do some camping and more exploring.I fell in love with this old tree. To me it had quite a story to tell, and I was lucky enough to get a great picture of its beauty.Ellie always finds a rock to bring home as a souvenir.This tree was struck by lightening. I think it is so incredible to look at.Jake enjoying the view. (we were very high up)We hiked to the top of this hill. It was quite a hike, but the view at the top was well worth it.Some pretty pictures of the Vernal Temple that I took.

My Mother's Day!

I had a pretty good Mother's Day, my kids went pretty much the whole day without fighting, arguing, and whining. And, Ellie played with my hair for several hours. I love it when she plays with my hair, it is so relaxing and it gives the two of us some time to talk. I found out that she has a crush on Wyatt (cute kid), and I also found out that when she grows up she wants to get married in the St. George Temple, even though it isn't the Temple we live by. She said it's the temple she wants to get married in cause then she will be just like her daddy and I. She is a funny girl. She made me several cards for Mother's Day. I got quite a kick out of this one that she made at school in her computer class. If you cannot read this one it says, Special Mother's Day on the front and then you open it and it says- I love you, you are great, then on the other side it says - We love you, mom we think. I read this and Ray and I laughed pretty hard and then she told me to turn the card over and that is where I read, You are great. Of course it made me laugh even harder. This one is a cute envelope she made with CAN-DO-COUPONS she made for me. They say that she will do some chores for me with a can-do-smile on her face, and that she told me they never expire. :) One coupon says she will do everything in a day that I do. And then the other one states that she will clean the house, do the dishes and put the laundry away and, that she will be happy. I love this girl.This card reads, Dear Mommy, I love you. Happy Mothers Day. I hope you have the most best mothers day ever. This one came with a hug and a kiss from her. :)This is from Jake. It is a little bouquet of flowers that he made at school, and a little book card that he made as well. It reads, Happy Mother's Day and then it reads, I'm cute as a button. I'm sure you agree, I really do love you. I am glad you love me! I hope you have a Happy Mother's Day! Love Jake and then their is a picture of him. How cute!!!My visiting Teachers brought me by this beautiful Gerber Daisy. They are my favorite flower, so it made my day to get this plant. They also brought by some chocolate peanut butter chip cup cakes which my kids loved eating.

I got a watch from Ray and the kids. It is a Seiko, and I really love it. My watch broke a few months back, so I was definitely needing a new one. Ray took Ellie on Saturday to pick out a gift for me, and this is he watch she was sure I would love. On Saturday I took the kids into town to do a bit of shopping, and the grocery store was giving out carnations to all moms. I chose a white one, although Ellie was hoping I would choose a colored one. The white ones looked fresher, and I wanted mine to last the whole week, which it has. We also stopped by this other store and they had a tent set up where they were helping kids plant a flower for their mom's for free, and then they helped the kids pick out some pegs, and stickers to decorate the pot. (how nice of the store)

All in all it was a very relaxing day, and I enjoyed just being lazy with my kids, and Ray. I love being a mommy, and would not trade motherhood for all the gold and silver in the world. Thank you Ray, Ellie and Jake for making my Mother's Day so special. I LOVE YOU!!!

Some Saturday Fun...

Today I promised the kids that if they would help me with cleaning the house, that we could go have a fun day. So, after we finished checking off our to-do list, we packed a picnic, and headed off to the park. I always seem to forget my camera during fun little outings, so I was glad that my camera phone pictures turned out OK enough to post.