Eat right. Exercise always. Die anyway.

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Who here needs a construction worker? He's trying to raise money for a mission and college. and my future nursing home. and a trip to disneyland.

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning I made gooey cinnamon pullaparts for breakfast. Made them the night before and all i had to do was pop them in the oven while we opened presents. They were amazing. Did i mention they were GOOEY?

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mack LOVES preschool. This is one of the things he loves best...when they do the crafts. He is a polar bear.

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

You can't leave her alone for a second. Or else this happens.

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Who can say no to this face?

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

A few days before christmas eve, Mack's Meema sent home some gingerbread dough for us to make cookies the next day. So we did.

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

On christmas eve, we went over to a neighbors house to help wrap some presents. She told mack to hop in this ginormous gift bag...totally awesome.

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mack had Caitlyns name for an exchange gift for christmas. We only have a $10 limit. I got some old makeup containers and made my own play makeup...dont worry. It doesn't actually work. It is nail polish that when it dries...it is like plastic. It takes a couple of days to fully dry. Fun, cheap, and super easy to do!

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

These two are two peas in a pod. Love them.

2012-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Macy loves Franklin. She loves to give him kisses too.

2011-12-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

On monday, I was at my moms house when I was assigned the birthday cakes for the wednesday birthday party. I was told that Cohen wanted a thomas the train cake, caitlyn wanted a rainbow cake, and reggie wanted a jake and the neverland pirates cake.

So that's what i made. ALong with about 30 cupcakes for everyone else.

Cohen's Thomas the Train cake

Reggies Jake and the neverland pirates cake (google it if you haven't seen the cartoon)

Caitlyn's rainbow cake...she was disappointed there was no pink or purple on it though.

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

We spent the day at my moms house on Wednesday. We had a birthday party for Cohen, Caitlyn, and REggie. So after the birthday festivities...

me and piper played with the camera. She's a doll.

Macy listened to Caitlyn sing a lot of songs. She would clap after each song so caitlyn would sing another one.

The older boys played the Wii. Mack had no idea what he was doing...i don't think he even knew what guy he was on the tv. But he had a blast playing with them.

Oh...and Macy ate a lot of food. Shocker.

2011-12-29T16:11:00.000-08:00

For christmas, I wanted to make a play kitchen for Macy. So I did...with brad's help of course. I bought a nightstand from DI for $5. We used scrap wood at our house to build the top part of it. I used a picture frame and picture that i already had lying around the house. We bought discount fabric and second hand fixtures. We converted one of the drawers into an oven by changing the hinges. In total, it cost about $25.

And I LOVE it!!! But more importantly, so does she.

2011-12-29T14:54:00.001-08:00

This is Mack as he is waking up from the anesthesia after his MRI. He ate a bright red popsicle to help wake him up. He was all smiles that day.

2011-12-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

GREAT NEWS!!!! Mack's MRI came back clear. Nothing wrong with him! He was probably born with scoliosis. I'm so grateful for the prayers that have been said on his behalf, for the blessing of the priesthood in our home, for amazing friends and family that were willing to step in and help, and all of you who have expressed concern and love for Mack. The Lord blesses my life every day through Mack. I felt him with me every step of the way through this trial. Now I can sit back, relax, and have a fabulous Christmas!

2011-12-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

A couple of things...

This guy...the one with the grey hair...yeah...the old one. It's his birthday today. the big 5-5. With every grey hair he gets, he get's wiser and wiser. I love you dad!

Also...

This guy is having his MRI tomorrow. THey said plan on being there between 3-4 hours. Wish us luck!

Also...

I found this picture from when mack was 2. I love it. I thought I would share.

That's all.

2011-12-14T09:00:00.001-08:00

Christmas eve we got pizza, went and saw Arthur Christmas, read the christmas story, then opened up some new PJ's. The kids are so cute.

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Macy LOVES our christmas tree.

In fact, she can't stop looking at it. Doesn't she have the stare of someone who wants to touch? SO BAD?

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

The little while ago, i went to Brad's cousins baby shower. I was trying to find something different to bring as a gift since i only have a walmart out here to shop at. I got this great frame...

After a couple of coats of white paint, some ribbon, and a foam poster board cut to the shape of the frame glued to the back, I got this.

A bow holder.

And everyone knows...a girl can never have too many hair accessories.

2011-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mack's aunt made this hat. Not for macy, but for her own granddaughter. lucky for macy, her granddaughter never wore it. so she gave it to macy. who LOVES it. Thanks Ida!

2011-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Macy says more and more words every day. She is getting better at names too. Here she is saying Annie for grandma annie.

2011-12-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mack was "super cleaning" the other day. not my words...his. He has a bottle of my cleaner hooked around his belt loop. He has a superman cape on. and a magnifying glass so he can look for dirt. again...his words.

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

She is definitely a performer.

2011-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mack and Meema made a gingerbread house. It looks amazing. He was pretty proud, although we were lucky that we had enough candy. He kept sneaking candy.

What a beauty!

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Macy destroyed one of my christmas ornaments already. The tree has been up a week. Inside the ornament was little pieces of styrofoam that was meant to look like snow. I looked over at her and it was all over her. I had to vacuum it off of her because static electricity was being stubborn. She didn't like that too much.

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

We were at my moms house and I noticed that Macy kept trying to fit inside the barbie car. nice. She also threw the baby doll out of the doll crib and climbed in herself. also nice.

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

The other day, mack had his friend over for a couple hours. We decided to make sugar cookies, mostly since the kids were getting bored.

Of course we had to give macy a taste of the frosting...

And mack probably ate more frosting than ended up on the cookies.

But the kids had a blast. And it kept them entertained for about 30 minutes!

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

This may be a little late, but I'm pretty proud of this. It may not be extravagant, but our Thanksgiving table that I put together helped thanksgiving to feel different than every other Sunday dinner. Thanks to kaylyn for letting me help out with this! The food was delicious!

2011-12-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

The other day, brad must have gotten bored or something. I was cleaning the kitchen when all of a sudden, i looked over into the family room to see Mack's plastic dinosaurs lined up on the wall, and mack and brad hiding behind the ottoman with a nerf gun.

Boys will be boys.

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

This may be a little late, but Brad had his birthday. The big 2-7.

I had to get a little creative with the candles...we didn't have a #7, so I just did 25 + 2 . It's like math.

As per his families tradition, he had to bite the cake.

Look at that smoldering look!! Happy birthday to the best husband I've ever had!

2011-12-01T16:11:00.001-08:00

I have always wanted a christmas advent calendar that looks like the wooden house one on Christmas Vacation. I've looked into it....those are over $100. So I decided to make one. No everyone, i didn't look on Pinterest. Believe it or not, crafts can be thought of without Pinterest inspiration...or what I like to call PINSPIRATION. I just bought some wooden drawers from Hobby Lobby, painted them, modge podged some christmas inspired scrapbook paper, and called it good. It took me all of maybe 2 hrs total and less than $30. And of course they are filled with christmas candy for the kids!!!1

P.S Mack was VERY annoyed that the numbers did not go in order.

2011-11-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

Check this out:

It's a great christmas gift Idea for your dad, brother, boyfriend, husband, and missionary.

2011-11-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

As some of you know, Franklin has grown. A lot. He is not even 6 months old. And I'm guessing he weighs about 85 lbs now. So he needs his food to be higher off the ground. All of the raised feeders that i've seen online that go as high as he needs them are like $175. So i bought these 2 stools at DI for $5 each and painted them, brad cut holes in the top, and i laid the bowls in them.

See? He loves them.

2011-11-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

First thing in the morning, she is a lover...

and a smiler...

But don't let that face fool you. At about the stroke of 6 PM she turns into a fighter and a yeller. basically she acts like a dozen teenager girls all PMSing at the same time. Can't wait til she's a teen.

2011-11-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

Mack didn't have a golf magazine in the dr.'s office this time. He only had Old Country. Tell me...who goes to these PEDIATRIC orthopedic doctors? Old men?

2011-11-15T08:56:00.001-08:00

Macy came downstairs wearing one of mack's hats yesterday. naturally, she played peek a boo with it...I thought it was pretty cute.

2011-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is macy. She is ALWAYS hungry. And every time you ask her what she wants to eat, it is always the same..."cheese".

2011-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today mack had his first appointment at Primary Childrens to see if we can figure out why he has back pain. After being there for like 45 minutes, and talking to a couple of different people, they decided that they needed to take full back X-rays. After waiting another hour in a tiny little room with 2 bored kids, the dr finally came in and told me the findings.

She found a pretty substantial curve in his spine. She doesn't know exactly what is causing it, so she had me schedule a full spinal MRI for him so we can find some answers. Unfortunately, the soonest they could fit me in was December 16th. So now we wait over a month, again, to see if we can get some answers.

Until then, here is a video of the kids playing under the exam table. There was not one toy in the exam room. Not one children's book. So they got pretty bored...

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

We are trying to take advantage of the last of the sunny days before the weather turns crappy.

Oh..and the cows are back.

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Macy, on Halloween, was twirling around until she would get so dizzy and fall down. She's such a funny girl.

2011-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is what I listen to. All. Day. Long. She sure loves to yell.

2011-11-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mack LOVES to vacuum. Up until about 6 months ago, he would run into a different room if I turned the vacuum on. he hates loud noises. now, he is all about the vacuuming! Who am I to stand in his way?

2011-11-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

What's this you might ask? It's a bobbin. Why is it significant? Let me tell you. i don't really know of to sew. I've always been terrified of threading a sewing machine. So i've always made my mom or kay do it for me. A few years ago, i got a sewing machine for christmas. I just got around to setting it up last night. I read every step of the instruction manual. And i was so proud that i wound my bobbin all by myself, that when brad got home I ran out to meet him waving it around in my hand. he thought i was crazy. Maybe i was...crazy good!!! Now that I have it set up, maybe I'll use it someday.

2011-11-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mack and Macy got their pictures taken through Mack's preschool in september.

Here is Mack's preschool pic from last year:

Here is his from this year. He looks so much older now! After just a year! His cheeks aren't as chubby and he has a few more freckles on his nose.

His teacher also let me get Macy's taken. So here she is at 1:

I sure do have love my kids.

2011-11-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

Ok I took a little blogging break. I didn't really think that I had anything to blog about. Then i was going through my phone tonight and found quite a few pics and a couple videos. So here we go!

Halloween was so much fun this year. I loved getting my kids all dressed up and taking them around.

I carved all 7 pumpkins. brad hates carving pumpkins, but I sure do like doing them.

Mack was a fireman. It took a lot of convincing for me to put "soot" on his face. He doesn't like to get dirty.

Miss Macy Lou was a lady bug. She wouldn't sit still for a picture.

Brad was...well who knows. He shaved a hideous handlebar mustache. He still has it. he won't get rid of it. And I was a "witch" (I just had the hat on.) Franklin was super dog. He wore one of mack's capes. We took him trick or treating with us.

It was a blast!!

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

My kids went out to help Brad wash his car the other day.

Who doesn't wear a cape while washing a car? Mack sure loves to.

And this princess was "helping". We had to change her clothes afterwards. They were soaking wet.

2011-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mack has been playing soccer this fall. he's not very aggressive. Sometimes, as a parent, it is frustrating. I guess I should be happy that he's not the kid on the team that slide tackles other kids. So we are practicing in our backyard. Franklin acts as the defense.

2011-10-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

So I was teaching piano the other day and saw macy doing this....She is yelling "jump" as she is jumping off the stair. Seriously...it's happening already.

P.S. I feel like all the pictures and videos I've posted lately are of me and my messy house. You have no idea the destruction macy does. Her new thing...throwing things down the stairs. Just sayin'.

2011-10-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mr. Franklin had a huge day this past week. And not in a good way. We had to have him neutered. We didn't want to, but we didn't have a choice. I don't want to get into details because that means I would have to use terminology I don't think people really like to hear too often (hint...it has to do with reproductive organs). ANd unfortunately, it was a more invasive surgery than normal because they had to do an incision in his stomach as well. SO, he has to wear a cone for 10 days. Yes, 10 days. It's rough for everyone in this house.

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy is getting much better every day with saying words. Mostly names so far...but it's a start. She is getting better at understanding me too. I ask her to go get certain things like a diaper and wipes and she does it. I can ask her yes or no questions about what she wants to eat for a meal, or even if she is hungry, stinky, or sleepy. I'd say she is doing pretty well!

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

She figured out how to rock the rocking chair.

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I got this little baby at DI for $10. It's going to be the nightstand for my guest room. Here it is before:

Here it is after:

I can't wait to get it all set up and finished in there!

While we are on the subject of me being "creative", I also made a yarn wreath. All by myself. Not bad for a first time.

2011-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Miss Macy and her cute tummy...

Meema was playing around with her clothes and gave her turban.

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Nikki's family was in town this last weekend We got to spend lots of time with them! We went to the pumpkin patch/corn maze with the kids. It was so fun!

Macy and my mom

Mack and Xander

The girls

Macy kept pinching the goats nose. Poor goat. Or stupid? He did keep walking up to the fence...

Macy also kept trying to eat the fence. She also kept saying "stinky"...over and over again.

And then she walked through a tunnel over and over again.

And why not really pics of mack? because he was running around with caitlyn and xander the entire time and i couldn't even get him to sit still long enough to take a picture. Believe me...i tried.

2011-10-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

the other day we were driving down to Orem, and he said that he needed to go to the bathroom. UNFORTUNATELY, it was at that one stretch of freeway where there wasn't an exit for a few more miles. And when Mack says he needs to go...he means NOW. so, we pulled over to the side of the freeway where he did his thing. Brad needs to work on his discretion when it comes to public urination.

2011-10-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another waiting room, another test. He had his blood drawn to test for arthritis to see if that was the source of all of his back pain. The tests came back all clear! However, the doctor wants me to take him to an orthopedic doctor now to have him checked out there and have more tests run so we can figure out why Mack has had back pain for the past 2 years. His appointment is not until November 10th, so we will wait til then!

2011-10-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy saying cheese while taking a picture of herself with a fake camera. Oh no...the self portrait pics in the bathroom mirror are coming before I know it!

2011-10-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've become obsessed lately with repurposing and refinishing. Here is a sneak peak of a lamp I'm working on...

A $5 ceramic lamp I got from DI for the guest room...

It is a hideous 70's brown color.

So I spray painted it. BUT I think i'm going to do a different color...so It's not finished yet.

I also took this boring lamp shade I got from WalMart for $10...

And recovered it with some fabric. Doesn't it look great?!

I also have a $10 end table that I am in the process of redoing for the nightstand in the guest room. Pics to come soon. It's going to look great.

2011-10-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

2011-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy playing peek-a-boo with Lyndsey using her long hair.

2011-10-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

The 2nd day of our quick st george trip, we got to visit with Family.

Here is a 5 generation picture!

Just the girls...

4 generations

And cute Macy.

2011-10-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we went to St George for a quick trip. Luckily, we got to visit with Nikki's family!! Me and Nikki took the kids to the park...

See how curly her hair is? Yeah..it's natural.

Caitlyn refused to stand still long enough for a picture with the three of them...but Mack and Xander had a blast playing tag.

And this is what the boys did while me and nikki took the 5 kids to the park.

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

I decided to make my own Halloween advent calendar. I had no pattern, no picture to look at, I just kind of winged it. It is 100% hand painted. It took me over a week to finish.

I know it looks super amateur...that's because it is. happy Halloween!

2011-10-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy saying "cheese" to the camera.

2011-10-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy loves giving EVERYONE kisses.

2011-10-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy and Cohen saying goodbye to each other one night at Grandma Annies house...so tender.

2011-09-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mack is 4 years old. Franklin is 4 months old. They are about the same size.

2011-09-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is what happens your kids play with your phone.

2011-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy wanders around the house all the time with her new shopping cart that she got for her birthday from Grandma Annie. She likes to put babies in the cart. She's so nurturing...

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy is so my daughter. Rubbing dirt all over her legs...her one last hoorah before our yard was dirt-less.

2011-09-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy and Brad in matching hats...she thought she was pretty awesome.

2011-09-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

That's right everyone...we got grass this week!!! HALLELUJAH! It feels great to have a yard. We are done for the year.

Starting in the spring:

Plant shrubs, flowers, trees, etc.

Build rock wall

Hopefully next summer:

Build deck

Flagstone patio

2011-09-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Macy sure loves Diet Coke. And Diet Mt Dew...and rootbeer...and chocolate...pretty much anything she can get her hands on.

2011-09-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Mack and I had to go to the hospital today. Don't worry...not an emergency visit. He had to get X-rays of his pelvic and hip bones. He has complained of pain there for the last 2 years or so. His doctor says that's not normal for a kid. So we are just covering our bases...making sure that everything is ok there. If everything comes back normal, then the next step is to do blood work and test for arthritis. We are still waiting for the doctor to call back with the results of his X-rays. I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime...read an issue of Golf Week. Because that's what Mack is doing.

2011-09-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

I've been laying pretty low after last week. As most of you know, last saturday was the day of the race. This wasn't a race I was running...no no. This was my baby. I created this race. From scratch. I've been planning it since January. I got my sponsors, had a website created (thanks kenny), did my advertising (which wasn't much this year), and planned every aspect of it. And thanks to my amazing family for coming out the day before, we got everything put together and ready for the day of the race! Here are some pictures to highlight it:

The medals I had made for the top 3 overall winners. NO worries...they are real medal.

Even waking up at 5 AM, my mom still looks happy and beautiful.

The finish line. The starting line was up the canyon of the mountain behind. it was a BEAUTIFUL canyon run.

Who in the world would give me a megaphone!??

Even Cohen woke up at 5:30 AM to help out. And he sure did help!

Courtney was a walking advertisement for me! Note to self: Next year, have people walk around with stickers on their shirt for free advertising.

My "volunteers"

More of my "volunteers". (my "volunteers" were all family. So that's why I put quotations around it. did they really have a choice?)

He's always happy.

And the early morning snuck up on Cohen. He was out before 10AM.

Brad got to drive on the four wheeler behind all of the runners to make sure that everything went ok. Steven rode a four wheeler in front of all of the runners to make sure that no cars were coming too fast around the canyon road.

I'm celebrating...IT"S OVER!

Racers got race bags with nice shirts, car decals, two very night plastic water bottles from sponsors, and a few other free things in their bags. It was a HUGE success. I'm already starting to think about next year. I had about 80 runners this year. I bet I can double that for next year. I had so much amazing, positive feedback from my runners. Not one bad piece of feedback. They said it was all well organized, a beautiful route, and professionally executed. Yay! Looking forward to another great year next year! (Although...I'm looking forward to a few months off!)

2011-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

I did pigtails on Macy for the first time. She looked so dang cute. She has a very hard time sitting still though...So getting them in there took me like 15 minutes.

2011-09-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Macy and Tregan took a bath the other day at Meema's house. Tregan refused to look at the camera. Macy has some crazy hair...

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Macy ate dirt. Shocking. I guess, she is my daughter.

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

I took Macy and Mack to Target to go shoe shopping the other day. Macy LOVES shoes. We tried on about every pair there that was in her size.

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

When Macy is misbehaving, this is where she goes. Well, not really. This is Franklin's kennel. She thinks it's a big playpen.

2011-09-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Goliath. That's what I have named him. Right before I killed him. That's right...I killed him. With spider spray...so I was still 10 ft away. But I did it. And he was a MONSTER!

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mack has become quite the soccer player. Here are pictures from his 2nd game:

While he threw the ball in...the little boys on the other team held hands in a circle...it looked like they were praying or having a moment of silence or something hahaha

Their team won...and even though they tell the kids that it doesn't matter who wins...IT DOES.

2011-09-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ok...here are the more drastic changes to the house in Lehi that we made.

Here is the front bedroom Before:

After:

We ripped up the teal carpet to find original hardwoods from the 50's. I refinished them in a dark stain, painted, hung new blinds, and some added molding around the bottom. It was a LONG process.

Here is the before pic of the front room:

(notice the awesome orange carpet...)

After:

We pulled up the orange carpet here to find hardwoods too. I did them the same way with refinishing them with a dark stain, painted, and added some molding. I had no idea how to refinish a hardwood floor. I only read the instructions on the back of the stain...and I didn't even follow them. I think they turned out pretty good!

And now for the grand finale...

THE BATHROOM.

Here is is before: Only a shower, an old vanity, and ugly mirror, and some old linoleum.

The after:

Sorry the lighting isn't so good. But we ripped out the shower, put in a great new tub and tile surround, a brand new vanity, painted, tiled the floor, and hung a new mirror. Basically, the only thing we left in the bathroom was the toilet.

Brad and Scott did an AMAZING job in the bathroom. It looks like a brand new bathroom.

I am SO glad we are done. I have such an amazing family who jumped in to help. I even got Steven out there 2 days!! (he only supervised...)

2011-09-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

For the last 3 weeks, I worked around the clock with the help of family to

repair and remodel our rental house in Lehi that had been beat up by our tenants that just moved out.

But because I was dumb, I didn't even think to take actual before pics before we started doing demo. I just have the ones from when I lived there and I was listed it for rent. So you may have to use some imagination.

Here are a few before and after pics:

Before Dining Room:

(It's hard to see in this pic, but notice the textured 70's brown carpet. The same carpet was in the whole kitchen, except for a little piece of laminate, and all throughout the halls of the house.)

After:

We repainted the whole house, and ripped out the nasty brown carpet and replaced it with this dark laminate. We also bought a basin for the washer and dryer to be set in so that if they leaked, it wouldn't get water damage anywhere.

Mack's Bedroom Before:

(again, it's hard to see, but there are light green walls and dark brown SHAG carpet.)

Mack's room after:

We repainted and recarpeted with a little bit darker, but still neutral carpet. We also had to hang a new door because the old one disappeared when the last tenants moved out.

Unfortunately I don't have a before picture fore this back bedroom. BUT...imagine GREEN SHAG carpet. All we did to this room was recarpet.

I will have more exciting before and after pictures tomorrow!!!

2011-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mack had his birthday the other day. We, of course, had presents first thing in the morning because none of us could wait any longer!!

We go him 3 hats from the 3 baseball stadiums we've been to lately...

And of course Macy felt the need to try one on.

And he got 3 bats from those 3 stadiums to add to his collection...

He got a soccer net so he can practice soccer...

And he got a "Home Depot" leaf blower.

Also not pictured was the magnifying glass and the floor puzzle that he got.

Macy felt the need, again, to be just like her big brother.

More to come on his bday parties at both his grandma's houses!

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mack had his first soccer game last week. It was not exactly what he thought it would be...it was a little more of a 'contact' sport. He got knocked down a few times, but after mild embarrassment, he was able to keep playing.

Macy had fun steeling other peoples chairs.

Mack's team is the purple team. They named themselves the dragonflies. Fierce. He is #5.

He spent the majority of the second half of the game showing everyone how "fast" he could run. Most of the time, he wasn't anywhere near the ball.

But of course, the best part of the soccer game comes at the end...TREATS! Why would anyone else play soccer?

2011-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I have been working 9 hr days everyday for the last couple of weeks at our rental house in Lehi. Our tenants for the past 2 years moved out and had destroyed the place. There was not one room we didn't have to do something in. Here is a quick list of what we had to do to the house:

Tear out and redo the entire bathroom

Tear out carpet in 2 rooms where there was hardwood underneath

Refinish hardwood floors

Replace carpets in the hall and back two rooms

Tear out carpet in the kitchen area and replace with laminate

Paint the entire house

Redo moldings

Fix the fence gate

Weed the 6 ft weeds that had taken over the entire yard

CLEAN EVERYTHING

Replace window shutters

Replace a bedroom door that went missing...

Wait...Did i Say a quick list? Oh yeah...that's right. THere was nothing quick about what we had to do to this house except the time limit we had. Did I mention we only have 3 weeks to do it in, and we were out of town for 4 days of that???

Oh did I also mention that Brad works 60 hrs a week? Maybe you knew that. With the help of my mom, my dad, Erica, Sam, Tyson, Scott and Kay, I have been able to do most of the house without him.

Here are a few IN PROGRESS pics...

Front room after I ripped out the orange carpet, sanded the hardwoods, and painted the walls.

Front Bedroom after I ripped out the TEAL carpet, sanded the hardwoods, and painted.

The kitchen linoleum being ripped up. We had no idea that this awesome olive green linoleum was underneath.

Mack's old bedroom after it had been painted...but before being recarpeted. It still has brown shag in this pic.

The bathroom with the shower ripped out. We have since ripped out the vanity and mirror and have set in the brand new tub.

I can't wait for you all to see the before and after pics!!

2011-08-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tyson gave Macy a popsicle. Scratch that....two popsicles. She ate both of them. SOMEONE wants to be the favorite uncle...

2011-08-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

My kids are awesome.

2011-08-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Last week, while Brad was working late, I heard Mack fall out of bed. No big...it's happened before. So I walked back into his room where he was sleep crying. But not hysterically. So I laid him back in bed...and I felt something wet on my hand. I thought to myself, "that's weird that his head is sweating..." til I went out to the hall. And found it was blood, not sweat. He had a huge gash on the back of his head. It probably needed stitches. But it wasn't bleeding very badly, so we decided not to take him to the ER. After all...his hair will cover the scar, right? Call us bad parents, but after the last ER bill that cost us $500 for 3 stitches, I didn't think it was a necessity.

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mack is growing up. Here he is at his soccer practice...he's so awesome.

I can't believe he is 4!!!

2011-08-21T09:00:00.001-07:00

This guy is 4 today. He's pretty much the coolest little man ever.

He is a soccer player now.

He is SO excited for preschool to start soon.

He just learned how to do a front flip on the trampoline.

He idolizes his dad. Everything he does.

His favorite color is pink...he love ketchup...and he loves being a big brother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MACK WALKER BROWN!

2011-08-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

The day after Top Ten, we went to tour the SF Giants stadium.

This is not a very attractive pose...

In front of the AT&T field...

At the top of the stadium...

This is a weird mascot...glad they don't use it anymore.

This is a great collection of old bobble heads...

On the field.

In the dugout..

In the locker room...

A great mural painted on the wall...

And another...

After the tour, we went back to the warf to eat at the awesome Crepe place that I want to move next door to.

Brad at the sea lions...

Here is the crepe place...

Then we went to another A's game. Note to everyone reading this blog: Oakland is ghetto. The A's stadium is old and ghetto. And there were like 100 fans there.

Doesn't he have a freaking awesome smile?!

2011-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

After Alcatraz, we had to hurry back to our hotel to get ready for the reason why we even went to San Francisco in the first place. Top Ten. It's a black tie event for Brad's work. That's right...I got to get all dressed up in my fabulous new Calvin Klein dress that I bought at Nordstrom.

Here we are:

And here is me and my mother in law...

I think I did pretty well, seeing as we only had about 20 minutes to get dressed. Hair, makeup and all. Go me.

As for Brad, he was #17 in his company out of 340 companies last year. And he was number 2 in his company for volume increase. Might not mean much to anyone else, but I couldn't have been more proud!!!

2011-08-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Brad and I went to San Francisco this last week. We got there on Sunday and went to an A's game in Oakland after spending some time on the Warf.

On Monday, we first went to Alcatraz:

It was fascinating and eerie at the same time.. Here is the guard tower.

Here's the exercise yard featuring the baseball field and shuffle boards...

Here is the isolation cells and the old asian lady wearing a sexy lingerie tshirt.

We had a beautiful view of the golden gate bridge!

Here is the old light house...

Here is my brother in law pretending to go to the bathroom on a toilet in one of the old cells...

More to come on what we did later that evening...

2011-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

We had a small bday gathering at brad's parents house for Macy. She wasn't too interested in opening presents...but she did get her first My Little Pony, and after that, ever present mack started freaking out saying, "WHAT IS IT! WHAT IS IT! MAYBE IT'S ANOTHER PONY!"

Macy also got a necklace and some bracelets and a purse. She's pretty girly.

This is her bday cake that Kaylyn made her! So cute.

Pre birthday cake...

As you can see, she doesn't waste time. Who needs a fork?

That's my girl.

And Uncle Dude helped her eat it...

Mack's bday is on August 21st. More to come!

2011-08-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

Going back to Macy's bday...

Here is the cute birthday girl. See? It says on her shirt...

And here is the AMAZING quilt that Kay made for her for her bday.

Yay for kids birthdays!

2011-08-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Brad and I toured Safeco field a few hours before we had to leave Seattle. Stupid Mariners were on a road trip. but actually, we got to go places we never would have gone if we had just gone to a game.

We saw this awesome picture of Nolan Ryan putting someone in a head lock. It's even signed. I wanted it.

They wouldn't take us into the Mariners locker room because they said it was like their "Home", but we went into the visitors locker room which apparently was an exact replica of the home team locker room.

Their locker room bathroom which they stock with toiletries for the visiting team. They have more toiletries than I do!

Why the midget sized urinal in the locker room?

In the snack room, there was a keg of beer and a tap. So do they drink before or after the game?

THe locker room again.

They took us through the dugout and here is the field. It was pretty spectacular!

In the dugout...

Brad got in trouble for picking up the phone. It called the bullpen.

This is from the press box.

We got to go in a bunch of private suites including the owners suite. Pretty cool stuff.

A few hours later we were in the air flying home right past Mt Rainier. How beautiful.

Best trip EVER to Seattle.

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Day Four:

My parents and erica and sam went home. So brad and i had all day to find stuff to do. We took the ferry to Bainbridge Island. It was a BEAUTIFUL ferry ride. My city that I love oh so much...

Then we went over to the Jaspersons to intrude on their family BBQ. but I did get to see Alli. Why didn't I take any pics there?! Duh!!!

On Monday, we did two tours. I FINALLY got around to doing the Underground Seattle tour. SOO cool. Way worth $16.

We also on Monday toured Safeco field...But that will be for tomorrow's post because I took a TON of pictures.