I can't wait until I'm 8, for then I'll be baptized you see!

Today Tanner and his good friend Jacob were baptized.  Thank you to all of our friends and family for all of your support.  Between the Bennett's and us we squeezed 80 people into the baptistery!  It was really nice, and a special day for the boys.

Pinewood Derby, He wasn't supposed win!

So, Tanner turned 8 last Sunday, and at church they told me that the next Cub Scout (which he could now go to since he was 8) event was going to be the Pinewood Derby.  But, they didn't have any car kits left to give him one.  I wasn't going to be able to make it across town in the next few days to buy a car kit, so I told Tanner that we would just have to wait until next year.  He was so sad.  So, I thought, we have lots of friends that have boys, I am sure we can just borrow a car for him to use, so he won't be left out.  That is what we did.  I was hoping to just fly low, but the car we borrowed had a mind of it's own.  It wanted to win, every race!  And so it is, Tanner won the Pinewood Derby in his age group last night!

They're coming OFF!

Everyday Alyssa let's us all know how many days left until she get her braces off, which is now only 6 days away!  YEAH!

This is the most recent picture I have showing the "This is Getting Old" braces!  She is no longer excited to have braces!

She was so excited to get her braces on when she was 11.  I think she thought that she would look all grown up, or something!

Sweet Spring Break!

Everything about spring break is sweet!  The smell of orange blossoms in the backyard, the taste of ice cream and snow cones, the warm, but not too warm sun, yellow and red flowers blooming in the desert, long days of playing outside with your friends and cousins, and sleeping in!  It is all so sweet!  Why does it have to end?!!?  Have I mentioned that I LOVE Spring time in Arizona?

Hiking the Water Fall Trail at the White Tanks.

Rock climbing at the White Tanks.

"It takes a village"  to have this much fun!

Bike riding with friends!

Soaking up the sun!

Homemade tents!

Ice Cream cones and a sleep over!

Happy Birthday to my "Little Boyfriend"!

Tanner  will be 8 on Sunday!  We are so lucky to have such a great kid!  He is a hard worker,he  tries to always do what is right, he loves to go to church and wear his suit, he is a good brother, and he is sooooo sweet to me!  He is going to get baptized on Saturday March 28th, I can't believe my baby is already 8!  Life comes at you fast!

The most recent picture of my cool little dude!

Tanner at his orange belt karate graduation - he is now a yellow belt

Tanner at his favorite place in the world - Lake Powell

Tanner calls these binoculars is "chick scopes"!

Tanner with his "best friend" Lane Matthews

Tanner and his favorite cousin Sam

I think he is sooo cute!

My 2 favorite boys!

Tanner with the "favorite" blanket, sleeping  on his "couch" .  This chair was in his room and he called it "my couch".

The messes started early!

Addy with Tanner, I love this picture.

Amanda with Tanner

Alyssa with Tanner the day he was born

KING of the hill!

Yesterday Tanner's class went on a hiking field trip to the White Tank's, west of Phoenix.  It was the perfect kind of field trip, no one was bored (you can't tell me that kids actually like to go to the art museum!) they could run, climb, jump, slide down the rocks (I am sure a few pair of pants are now worn out!).  The weather was perfect, and scenery was beautiful!

Amanda has new skills!

Amanda made a tutu for herself and a friend this last weekend.  They plan to wear them to school! Really?!!? I try not to say anything because I am sure I wore some crazy things growing up  in the 80's!  

She tied a piece of elastic around the back of a chair, then looped the tulle through it

She folded the tulle in half and then cut 2 inch strips

Is that really only 2 families!

Saturday was a beautiful 84 degrees, so we decided to go on a bike ride with our good friend the Matthews.  There were 13 of us riding our bikes, single file, along the canal!  We only had to cross one street to get to the canal, after we crossed Marley yells out "YEAH no one died!" She is so funny!  We then we rode for 10 miles, round trip.  It was a really fun afternoon!

May I have this dance?

Friday night we went to David and Sarah's wedding (David is my nephew, my sister Robyn's son).  Addy asked Tanner to dance with her.  And of course he was very willing.

Tanner loves to wear his suit.  I told him that he didn't have to get that dressed up, and he said I don't care, I am wearing my suit!  I love to get dressed up too, he must get that from me!

Who's kids are these?

So, on our ski trip to Utah last week, we were driving from Layton, where we met some friends for dinner, when the kids suggested that we drive by the Salt Lake Temple so they could see it.  So we did.  They then all asked if we could skip skiing on Saturday and go tour Temple square, and the Conference Center.  What do you say to that?  Of course, if your kids would rather go to the temple then go skiing you better do it!  So that is what we did!  It was a great experience for all of us!  I am really proud that they decided and chose the Temple.  Now I just have to make sure they keep that attitude!  Wish me luck!

Back, and a little bit better!

We just returned from our 2nd snow ski trip of the year to Utah.  Everyone is a little bit better at skiing, and a little bit more motivated to work hard so we can go on another family vacation!  We had a great time together and I think we even converted our nephew Brett over to the snow ski side. (He was previously a snow boarder!)

Valentine's Dance- Remember When

I loved when the girls were little, the cute clothes, the head bands, black paten leather shoes, all of the girly stuff.  But I think I love the pre-teen/teen age just as much!  Wednesday night for mutual there was a stake Valentine's Dance.  I helped the girls curl their hair and paint their nails, and get ready.  I can remember doing these things with my mom, and it doesn't really seem like it was that long ago!

Our 1st real project!

For Christmas I got this little machine called a Cricket Expression.  It cuts out letters and pictures.  So this week Alyssa had to make a poster for FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) for a conference they will be attending.  It was the perfect chance to try out our new toy!  It think we are going to have a lot of fun with this thing!  It can cut, vinyl, paper, card stock, and fabric. I can't wait to make something else!

I am not sure if they are listening?

This is the scene in our family room every morning before school.  We get up at 6:45 am to spend 5 minutes reading scriptures and have family prayer. It works for us, but I am not really sure that anyone can hear what is being read to them while they are "just resting their eyes"!??!

18 Year Valentine

Justin asked me to marry him on Valentine's Day 18 years ago!  The night started out so great, my mom made me a new dress wear (now that I am older I realize that it would have been a lot easier for her to buy me a new dress!) that was perfect, and beautiful!  Justin picked me up and took me to a really nice restaurant for dinner.  I must have been nervous because while I was eating my salad I went to fork the cherry tomato, that was covered in ranch, when it went flying through the air, hit the ground, and rolled under someone else's table.  Now, if that was not embarrassing enough later while I was looking at the gorgeous ring that he had just given me, I dropped it and it got stuck in the track of the seat in his car!   I can't believe he was still willing to marry me!  Happy Valentine's Day to all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MAN!

Today is Justin eve, because tomorrow is his 43rd birthday!  I talked to the kids and we came up with 43 reasons why we love him, admire him, and are grateful he is ours!

Addy said:

1. He is nice

2. He is a fast worker

3. He has a good smile

4. He is a good planner

5. He gives good horsey back rides

6. He is a good teacher (at boat driving, and knot tying)

Tanner said:

7. I like when he wrestles with me

8. I love you dad

9. He taught me how to drive a jet ski

10. He is cool!

11. He showed me how to fix a stool

12. He showed me how to mark and cut wood

13. He takes me snow skiing

14. He buy's me good toys!

15. He takes me to cool places! 

Amanda said:

16. He is funny!

17. He has good clothes (this is very important to Amanda!)

18. He is a hard worker

19. He is good at getting people to do what he wants them to do

20. He is a good boss

21. He picks good vacations!

Alyssa said:

22. He is a great water skier

23. He has very white teeth

24. He is a great snow skier

25. He is a good, fast driver

Melynda says:

26. Justin is a Great husband

27. He has a very positive outlook on life

28. He buys me anything I want (luckily I am not very demanding!)

29. He takes me on a date at least once every weekend!

30. He always kisses me when he leaves

31.  He tells me he loves me everyday

32. He is really fun to go on vacation with

33.  He likes to go on vacation!

34.  He smells really good!

35.  He is faithful

36.  He works hard to do what is right

37.  He is a great provider for our family

38.  He is a good dad and loves his family

39.  This is how old I am, and he tells me all the time that he can't wait until I am 40 because older women are hotter!  (we'll see)

40.  He is very confidant and takes charge (this was one of the first things I noticed about him)

41.  He has a strong testimony of the gospel

42.  He tells me I am beautiful, and that I look nice all the time

43.  HE IS LOVED BY ALL OF US SOOO MUCH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!