A weekend away

This weekend Jake's parents came to town and we went to the Everglades, Key Largo, Fort Meyers and Sarasota. It was beautiful everywhere we went. I have posted many pictures. Hope you enjoy them.

Brielle sleeping in the car. She had 2 ear infections the day before she left. She did really well despite all that.
Sunset on Key Largo

An amazing resturant where we had dinner. It was right on the beach with our tables right on the sand. Good food, good music, lots of dancing, exactly what you think Key Largo would be like. We didn't see much else because it was too cold to go snorkling and that is what draws everyone to the Keys. Maybe another time.

The Everglades!!! Too many alligators to even think about. These pictures don't do it justice. Remember, these are alligators in the wild, not a zoo. At anytime they could have attacked us (Jake here- no, they couldn't have attacked because we were on a boardwalk and they were well below us. Amy likes to exagerate the possibility of sure death by gators...). Logan is so used to seeing alligators like this that I think he isn't scared of them. (Besides on Peter Pan whenever Hook gets caught by the alligator, he just jumps out of the alligators mouth, not scary right?) Wrong, very scary for me! We were feet from all these alligators. They called it "Alligator Parking Lot." We were on a dock a few feet above them, but if they would have wanted to they could have put their snouts up and eaten my foot (Jake again- probably not, but we'll let this one go.) I let many people stand in front of me so if that did happen, they would loose their foot, not me. Logan though kept bending down getting too close for comfort. Knowing his luck he would have tripped and been alligator dinner. Thankfully we made it out with all of our arms and legs attached.

We rented some bikes and rode around the everglades. 15 miles of beautiful scenery, scary gators on the side of the road and lots of turtles.
This was a beach in Sarasota. They have a fun little shopping district and then beautiful beaches with gorgeous sunsets. I love the gulf side of Florida!

She's a maniac, maniac in the chair!!!

Brielle gets pretty crazy when she is done eating and on the tired side. She pulls her hair out so the food in her hands makes a nice gel for it her hair to go all different directions. She will be a great hairstylist one day!

Some Random Pictures

I had to take a picture of Brielle's cute little legs. She was sleeping and I just want to remember all her little rolls and how smooth and soft they are.

Raegan and Logan got some money for Valentine's day so they paid their tithing. This was Logan's first time at paying tithing. While we were putting the money in the envelop he told me "Mom, Jesus is really going to like this money". The way he said it was so funny. True Logan, Jesus will like this money! (and the fact you gave it to Him) Raegan enjoying paying tithing because she can finally fill out her own slip. The church needs to make the spaces a little bigger for her big writing because she did a great job.

The kids slept out on the porch the other night. It was rainy that night and Jake had promised them they could sleep in the tent, so the porch was the perfect place. Jake wanted to prepare Logan for his first father and sons night that they did. They had the campout last weekend and as luck would have it, it turned out to be one of the few times it gets close to freezing here. The weather said 38 degrees. Cold for my florida boys! So we put Logan in warm jammies and our sub zero sleeping bag and he slept better than at home, so from now on, it's outside for Logan!!

Similar?

I thought they looked the same but now I am not so sure.

Raegan and Brielle with their 1st little piggies.

A few random pictures

This is how I found Brielle yesterday. Apparently she didn't care there was no circulation going to her legs.

My mom used to do my hair like this. I must have been cuter because Brielle just looked plain crazy.

Raegan had to make a city for school and she chose to make Magic Kingdom with Cinderella's castle. She did the whole thing by herself. She did a fantastic job. I saw many other kids' whose parent did theirs and they were all nice and lined up streets and whatever, I am proud of Raegan for doing hers all by herself!

Her first taste of lasagna. She inhaled it. I don't think she even tasted it. She did try to clean her face with it though.

Valentine Extravaganza

Happy Valentines! Jake and I had a fun week filled with a few valentine activities. We started last Saturday and went to the melting pot with some friends. We have wanted to go and try it for a while now. We saved our money and made the trek. It was a fun place. We had to cook all of our food in a little pot and the meats they gave us were wonderful. The dessert was not as fabulous as I had hoped. I could have melted the chocolate myself and had the same dippers and been just fine. Nothing fancy about that. But it was great to be without kids and enjoy good conversation. Yesterday for valentines Jake and I went to Disney with some friends (without kids, strollers, diaper bags, even a purse!! Completely empty handed!!) and we rode all the big rides we can't ever ride together because Logan and Brielle apparently aren't tall enough yet ;) We had a fabulous time! I don't know if it was all the screaming on the tower of terror that released so many endorphins or just being with Jake alone, but we had a blast. Thanks Jake and the Barsons for making a memorable valentines for me.

Somehow this ended up being a bishopbric party, from left to around the table is us, Matt and Michelle Duncan, Scott and Julieanne Pritchett, and Mary and Bishop Liddle. Fun times!

For the grandparents

These are to remind their grandmas of how cute they are!

Dinner meltdown

Whoever said a family that eats together stays together......

Today I tricked Brielle into crawling on all fours. She does the army crawl now, but this was the farthest she has gone on all fours.

Rockin' out

Sorry it is on the side, but it was so dang cute!

Pictures of cute Brielle

One of my old dresses-very frilly

Manatees at blue springs state park...you can see a family swimming in the background. My mom has been here this past week helping with post gall bladder surgery. It has been very helpful. I am doing well, even though my mom and I both caught the flu. Not the way we planned the last few days ;( Brielle has changed in just the week my mom has been here. She pulls herself up now, crawls all over, what happened to that little baby I had just the other day? She is a lot of fun. Very happy and just a pleasure to be around.

My "resolutions"

So I have two resolutions this year. I am not a goal oriented person unlike Jake who reads his goals weekly (very impressive). I know I will forget them soon so why make them ;). There are two things I want to do though so we will call them ‘goals” or ‘new year resolutions’. Whatever they are, I just want to try and incorporate them into my daily routine.
1—Get up early and have scripture study with Jake and then alone. We were doing pretty good at this before Brielle came along and then I used the excuse that I was too tired to get up. Well, she has been sleeping through the night for a while so I don’t have an excuse. I know that when I get up I am more patient and loving with my kids. When I don’t get up I am more tired and irritable, I get mad quicker at my kids which then makes me unhappy, so for me to be happy and have peace, I know I need to get up. Yesterday and today have worked, I pray I keep it up.
2---Eat better. My family needs more veggies and less treats. I bought the book “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld. It talks about pureeing veggies and then putting them in your food so that your kids/husband doesn’t even know they are there. On Sunday I got started. I steamed spinach, squash, carrots and zucchini and put about ½ c in zip lock bags and then put them in the freezer. Hopefully now when I am cooking I can just pull a bag out and add it. I will still offer veggies at every meal so my kids/husband learns to eat them, but now they will be getting a double dose.
We’ll see how well I do. Plus it will help me be a “bigger loser” and kick all your behinds!

Growing up

Brielle learned to pull herself up in the tub. Where has my little baby gone? She is a terror now because she gets into EVERYTHING!! I haven't baby proofed my house yet. I just kept hoping she wouldn't get to that point. Oh well, she is the cutest little thing though. That smile just melts my heart.....hopefully I will still feel that same way when she give me that smile as a naughty teenager.....

I am a bad mom though because on the video I said you are going to fall. Well, I went to get the towel and 1 second later, she fell out of the tub. Luckily we don't have a big tub. You can see the little goose egg on the top of her hairline. I know, bad mother.....At least she was still smiling......

Is it over already???

A few pictures from Utah. We had a great time playing in the snow and enjoying the cold. We loved spending time with family and friends. It is good to be home though even though I mowed the lawn today in shorts....what a change!

Brielle's first horse ride

Amy's family

The Zundel Christmas Eve party. My favorite tradition I just can't miss.

Raegan and I sledding behind the 4-wheeler



Tubing in Midway.....they had a rope pull you and your tube to the top and then you would race down.....so much fun!!!

snowmobiling in the Unitah's...very pretty!