Yea... Just don't get dirty

The kids wanted to get out on Saturday but we only had about 15-20 mins before we had to leave.

Girls: Can we go outside
Mom: No we have to get ready to go in 20mins.
G: But mom that is still 20mins away.
M: Okay, sure girls you can go outside, but just don't get dirty we are leaving soon.
G: K... Mom, you are the best (I even got a kiss from each of them)

Thanks for listening to mom... (what do we know anyways)

And he Walks

Kinda---


Dallin has not showed a lot of interest in walking as of late. He would take a step here and there, but never much more. Last Wednesday night (23rd) he actual took eight steps. WOW we were hyped for him. Yeah, not much of anything since then. I decided that he actually did walk and that qualifies him as know how to and being able to, but actually doing it on a regular basis is not something he all that interested in.

So YEA!!!! my son (knows how to) walks!!! : )

Play Day at the Park

We do picnics and park days quite often with LaShay Sapp and Cassie Humann and this time I actually took pictures. See, I always take my camera, but taking the pictures somehow eludes me between chasing Dallin and the girls bugging for rides on the swing. But not this time....

You handsome fella!!

Ellie Humann, MaCayela, and Mason Sapp

Ella (she suckered me into pushing her.)

Smile Mason Girl!!

MaCayela and Ellie Humann

You Silly Girls!!

Tagged by your Middle Name

I was Tagged by my friend Christi with the instructions to describe yourself with words starting with the letters from your middle name. And then Tag 3 friends.

Here goes:...








... did you learn anything new about me. About the only thing that you could learn is that I don't have a middle name, that means you will have to wait until I get another Tag done to learn anymore about me.

I Tag Erin Binford, Amy Boam and Miranda Roberts

A Day at the Zoo with Grandma Shirley

Grandma is in town for a few days so we thought that it would be fun to take the kids to the Zoo. YEAH!!!!!!!!! The kids love going to the zoo and really enjoyed Sting Ray Bay this time. They had lots and lots of fun showing Grandma all the different animals. This first picture I just thought had such pretty colors.

Back dated Post

I finally updated our Blog....

I was going to let some of you know that I have done some new post, but I back dated them to be in chronological order for our family records. So you might have to go back through the whole month of April to see them.

Presenting... Bentley

Okay I know what you are all thinking... She never said anything about wanting an dog. Well there would be a reason to that... I didn't. But I lost out between the girls, Corey and his Mom. His Mom's dog had the puppies and she wanted to give one to the girls and Corey thought that they would like having a dog.... So Shirley came out this weekend and brought "Bentley" with her.

It took us a day or so to agree on a name between Bentley and Georgie boy, and I wouldn't say that we really agreed on one more like the kids did for us. Ella came home from church and called him Gentley instead of Bentley so... Bentley it is.
He is a 1lb 4oz Maltese, Chihuahua mix . His parents are only4lbs. so I'm thinking that he should stay on the small side. He seems to be fairly well tempered and is doing quite well with the girls constantly caring him around. Dallin the the little pup sure have fun teasing each other also. Bentley will go and tug on Dallins sock and the run away. As Dallin goes after him and gets close Bentley will run behind Dallin again and get his sock and run the other way this time. It really is cute to watch as long as Dallin doesn't catch up with Bentley. Then you have to run and rescue Bentley from Dallins grasp.

Which movie mom are you?

Which Movie Mom Are You?

My Result: My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Maria Portokalos

Maria Portokalos may not have been the focus of the movie, but that's the only way she would have had it. You, like Maria, are the backbone of your family, but you do it without ever wanting to be the center of attention. You know what we're talking about — your kids always seek out your well-thought-out and sincere advice, and your husband knows who really wears the pants in your house.


You consider motherhood a delicate balancing act — you're strong and tough when necessary, but it's tempered with love and respect. Fiercely loyal, you always act with your family's best interest at heart. And that's just the way you want it.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=moviemomogt&c=50652

Family Funnies

Bed Time Stall Tactics 101

MaCayela is always my little sweetie that keeps us in line. She is always reminding us of what we should be doing (especially if it will benefit her and what she wants).

A couple weeks ago we decided to do an activity for Family Home Evening. A few days later MaCayela was complaining to me as we were getting ready for bed (one of her stall tactics, find what mom has done wrong and complain to see if she will fix it before they have to go to bed)that we had skipped FHE on Monday. I reminded her that we had gone out for some family fun time that FHE. She then turned over in bed and told me that we are suppose to have lessons and that she didn't learn anything that night so it wasn't a real FHE, which she wanted to have right then and there so she could learn something about Jesus. I decided that since it was a spiritual stall tactic (the usual is if we read scriptures longer we would learn more about Jesus) that I would compromise with the girls and that we could sing some songs while in bed. They choose a few of there favorites and then asked if I would sing "Teach me to walk" and "I am a child of God" (2 of the normals). I sang teach me and then on I am a child of God they asked for 2 verses. I thought to shorten my time I would skip the chorus on the first verse and then sing it after the 2nd. Well as I skipped it and went into the 2nd verse Ella informed me that I wasn't singing it right, I forgot the Lead me, Guide me part. She then asked if I learned anything when I was a little girl in primary or if I needed her to teach me the right way to sing it. MaCayela then piped in that maybe they could teach us for FHE next time how to sing the songs right.

At least I know that they have good primary teachers and leaders guiding them and teaching them what is right. And that they can in turn teach us what is right.

Loose tooth

Yesterday MaCayela kept complaining about a sore tooth. I felt the tooth that she said hurt but nothing... I said to go brush them and that it would be just fine, figuring that she got something caught in it. As she was brushing her teeth she was just sobbing and waling about how bad her tooth hurt... and all I could think was come on give me a break... your dad's been gone for 3 days and I can't take anymore of your fussing. SOOOO what did mom do... what any tired, moody mom would do... Tell her that the sugar bugs have eaten her tooth because she hasn't brushed well enough and she will have to go to the dentist, then gave her a good dose of Motrin and oral gel and sent her to bed. The next day was so packed with school and appointments that I just kept telling her that we will see the dentist tomorrow... tomorrow.

Well Corey finally came home tonight while I was at a girls camp meeting and picked up the kids. When I got out of my meeting I had a voice message from Mac telling me that she doesn't need to go to the dentist but that she has a loose tooth. I came home to her waiting up so that she might show me her loose tooth (barely loose I might add) and prove to me that she doesn't need to go to the dentist because she is a good brusher. As I go to wiggle her tooth... the one that she kept telling me hurt, I say I don't feel anything loose. So Corey shows me the "one"... well this whole time Mac had been pointing to the tooth next to it and I never even thought about wiggling the one next to it.

WOW... all this growing up is happening fast ... first kindergarten sign-ups and now loose teeth next I know she will be ready to drive.

Lets Go Fly a Kite...

It was a wiiiiiindyyy day today, so we decided to chuck our family home evening plans for an evening at the school flying kites.

Once again I must say that I love these chances to do things with the kids that make the memories that we charish. I love seeing the simple happiness through childrens eyes.

Time Out for Women

What a wonderful girls weekend. I had the chance to go out Friday night and Saturday for Time Out for Women. It was a fun time with friends and a chance to reflect and recommit ourselves to our role as women, wives, and mothers. I really enjoyed the fun and friendships that were strenghtened. ...And it is alway nice to get out with no kids.

The picture above is of Kenneth Cope, Diana Lenzinger and myself. (sorry it was taken with a cell phone) It was really fun to have Kenneth be the host for this engagement in that we just had him here in March for 3 days for our stake youth conference and the spirit that he brought to that.

Corey's New Toy

This is Coreys new toy for himself. He has been wanting a new truck for a while and we decided that now was the time.

So... Enjoy Honey!

{**oh yea... we now have a Ford Exercion up for sale :(

and also a Ford Explorer Sport track if anyone knows someone looking**}

Pancakes with the Prophets

Wow what an experience. During Sat. morning session of general conference we had "Pancakes with the Prophet" a young women activity where we have a pancake breakfast while watching morning conference session. It is so fun to work with these girls and be able to experience some of these opportunity's with them.

It really was wonderful as it was our first opportunity to sustain the new Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, as well as all the Church Leaders. Even those of us who were watching on TV and not in Salt Lake were asked to stand and raise our hand and sustain President Monson and his two new councilors Pres. Eyring and Pres. Uchtdorf. It was very spiritual and moving to feel the Spirit testify of the rightness of their selection.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson was also called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to fill the spot left by Elder Uchtdorf moving into the Presidency.

I loved how Pres. Monson concluded the Sunday session by promising to serve his church and God.

"I pledge my life, my strength--all that I have to offer--in serving him and in directing the affairs of his church in accordance with his will and by his inspiration."

Conference Weekend Tradition

{I thought that this was the best picture to show what camping is all about... Resting, Relaxing, and of course a snack.}

We have this tradition of going camping with the Sobecks, some friends from our ward and family up at the lake on conference weekend each April and October. We love the company, atmosphere and with the technology of satellite, we enjoy conference there at the lake.

{Mike and Corey watching the kids at the lake}

This year was a little crazy though, we planed our trip some time ago and then came all of the other activities piled onto our weekend. We ended up coming down to town three different times during our 4 days away. Almost makes me wonder if it was worth going, but when the kids have such a wonderful time and you experience all the fun and friendships it was definitely worth it.

{Working on Larrys Motorhome}

Our weekend started out on thurs., but it started with one problem after another... When we got there the Ashcrafts were having problems with the slide on there "new" motorhome, and it wouldn't open. the guys fiddled with it and everything you could think of to go along with it for 3-4 hours and never could get it to work. We pluged in our satellite that evening and couldn't get a signal for anything. Then we came to Friday and it was just a good day... the Ashcrafts decided when they got up to just push the slide button again, and presto out went the slide. Corey fliped a bolt around on the satellite, pluged it in and presto we had every channel imaginable again. So when my dad got there he had his trailer emergency brakes lock up on him we thought oH GReaT!!! here we go again. Can't anyone have an easy go of it this weekend. His was at least a quick fix with just unpluging them and he was good to go. I will say that the other 2 families that came, came without problems, YEAH!

{The BoYS (Corey, Larry & Dallin) on Thurs. just a watchin'}

As I mentioned above, we ended up comming back down to town 3 time that weekend. Our primary had a great activity on Fri. night about the prophets that the girls wanted to attend and it didn't hurt that they had asked Corey to be one of the prophets. I then returned back down on Sat. morning for "Pancakes with the Prophet" with our Young Women fior the Sat. Am session of conference. And then Corey came down on Sat. evening to attend an all you can eat lobster dinner with one of the companies that he works with at the fedral building. So needless to say we were up and down the hill a few times that weekend.

What a wonderful oppertunity to be able to spend time away (somewhat) with the kids. Don't they just make things fun and interesting sometimes? The girls had an absolute blast running around all weekend. They rode their bikes, went on walks to the Lake, played in the lake, built sand castles, dug in the dirt, played games, practiced fishing, and enjoyed themselves throughly. Not to mention ate nonstop the whole time and wore themselves out enough for some great naps.

{Katy, Mac and Ella Playing in the mud}

{MaC playing in the water}

Saturday while we were there was Frances Ashcrafts birthday, so Larry and I planned a little surprise party for her that day. Larry got his 2 sons and their families to come up for the afternoon for some fun near the lake, some camp games, dinner and a camp fire. I had ordered a cake and brought up some decorations and we just had some fun. Between all of us that were there and those that came up for the evening we had somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 people for dinner that night.

{Parents and Grandparents watchn' the kids play}

{Richard and Brynley Ashcraft playing Ladder Golf}

{DINNER!!! yea.}

{Brynley, Tia, Dallin, Annaleesa, and

Triva Ashcraft sitting around the campfire}

Oh How we Grow up...
It was great fun to see how we have all grown up and changed... when I was just a kid (as far back as I can remember, 4 or 5) we camped with the Ashcraft family every summer, Larry, Frances, Mike and Richard then Dad, Mom, Karyn and I. On Sat. we had Larry, Frances, Mike and Triva (his wife) and their 4 kids, Richard (Susan was home sick) and his 3 kids, along with Dad, Mom, Karyn and Wyatt and their 2 kids and then Corey and I and our 3 little ones. Who would have ever thouht that we would be here 20-25 years later still enjoying the things that we love and friendships that our parents once started.

The girls and I had found a squirl under our trailer that had gotten the cheese and cracker snack pack out of the tash and was licking it clean, we laid there and watched that thing for 10mins ... it is amazing how the littlest things entertain us for so long.

As I before mentioned, the best part of playing hard is that they sleep hard...

Kindergarden Registration

My Big Girl is going to school next year!!!

And Wow, what a pain in the booty to get her registered! I thought that it would take just a couple minutes, walk in wait a few mins. give them your papers and your good to go. Yea Right!! First you wait outside in line, then you get a pile of papers to fill out, then you wait in another line and they check your address, then another line to check you shot record, another line to get copies of anything you didn't make copies of, and yet another line to have them check out all the papers that you filled out and collect everything you brought. and it only took me 2 hrs for all that WAITING!