Double Birthday Weekend

On Sunday we had a couple friends come up and help celebrate the big 35 for Chris.

Chris, Josh & Brett

Erica, Alle & Angie
Virginia & Sara

This picture cracks me up. The minute Anna sat down with Ashton, she immediately put her feet up on him. I'm surprised she didn't ask him to rub her feet!! This is a trait she got from her Grandma Holding!
The swing set was one of the best investments. The kids LOVE it.

Kayee wasn't too sure about the boys on the slide, but she LOVED the swings.

Jason and Avva look like twins lounging in their chairs.
About 30 minutes after everyone left, I realized how quiet the house was. I called for Anna and when she didn't call back, I found her asleep on the front room floor.
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On Saturday we went to Jason and Angie's to celebrate Jason's birthday. Don't ask how I managed to only take pictures of the kids!

Avva showing off her new jewelry. She's just like Erica. She loves dressing up, jewelry and fashion.

Little Alle

The girls love the Butterfly game.

Kaylee and Anna have really buddied up with each other. All three girls hopped on the piano and started playing. At one point Anna belted out her ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle.

Thanks for everything Dr. Brett

This week I found out that our infertility doctor passed away suddenly last week. Dr. Brett Earl was instrumental in helping us diagnose our infertility problems and helped us to get pregnant with Anna. For two years I saw him once if not twice a month. He was the one who surprised us just weeks ago by telling us that we were pregnant again.

Dr. Brett had a great personality, very warm and friendly. He was just as excited as we were when we first got pregnant with Anna. At every appointment he would ask how I was doing even when I started seeing my regular OB. Just two weeks ago I saw him and we were discussing medications and he was talking about how he just remodeled his home and was excited to have Good Friday off work. He was so very easy to talk to and was always interested in what you were doing.

Dr. Brett you will be missed and I thank you for everything you've done for me and Chris to have the family we have.

Ea

A blog to follow

I love blog stalking. I have a couple favorite blogs I read religiously and I find myself viewing the blogs of friends of friends of friends. Hey, just like me, if you're going to put a blog out there for everyone to read it...I'm going to read it!

Case in point: the other day I told my friend Erica how I came across one of her friend's blogs who had a very creative way of breaking her son from breastfeeding...by drawing scary faces on her boobs. I laughed until I cried. It was so funny! And another time I actually saw the husband of one of the blogs I check in on at Wal-mart during Christmas. I seriously could have gone up to him and started a conversation just off the posts his wife makes.

Then I came across this blog http://www.mycharmingkids.net/. It's somewhat sad but also quite inspiring. This family has so much strength. You just have to read it to understand it.

Spring means yard work

Since Mother Nature has finally decided to let Spring arrive in Utah, it was time to get out in the yard and do a little work. Okay "little" is an understatement.

Here we raked all the old bark out of the front gardens. I filled the trash can so full that I doubt we'll be able to take out any house trash this week. I also filled a smaller can and a garbage bag full! But the garden already looks much better. The bark was old and ugly and will be replaced with red shredded bark. I'll have to plan raking the backyard gardens out on a light garbage day!!

Josh let Chris borrow his mower that had a power raker on it. I cannot believe how much dead grass it pulled up. But again, no room in the garbage can so we have bags and bags of grass clippings after mowing it all up.

Hopefully in a few weeks I can take some updated pictures of a beautiful green, full lawn!

Josh & Virginia

So one of my friends commented that my post about trying to convince Josh & Virginia to get married so they don't break mine and Chris's record of dating for 8 years was a little...pushy. So I decided to delete it and just leave these cute pictures of them up instead.

p.s. we think you guys are the best!!

Girl's Night Out

Erica arranged a girl's night out that involved a somewhat long Mary Kay presentation (no one left looking like a hooker, I promise). While there we got make overs and eye brow waxes from Salon Dante (I opted for the whiskers wax instead) and dinner from Olive Garden. We had fun giggling at the products and attempting to put make-up on off little instructions on the cards. After that we went and had appetisers and dessert at Carrino's (good suggestion Virginia!) It was such a fun night!! It's always good to get out of the house with other women and not have the husband or kid pulling at your pant leg all night!

Brittney and her tiny dessert cup and giant serving spoon!

Giving a little back

Chris's work organized a volunteer day with Tree Utah. In just 3 hours, approx 45 volunteers from ERAC & the UofU, planted over 525 tree saplings! We were in this big field that's part of the Jordan river run-off. It was a lot of work but I enjoyed spending the time with Chris.

Kenny

Dan
The "Big Boss" Bill

Easter

Making Easter eggs on Saturday night

I even make an egg for "Percolator"
The Easter Bunny hid eggs in the backyard (he did a great job). Anna had a blast finding them. She carried her little basket around and said "Hum, where would they be? Think. Think. Think".

My mom, sister, Ethan and Haylee all came up for dinner. We watched Slumdog Millionaire, which is a GREAT show.

Anna and Aunt Tannia (with Bear throwing the ball to herself)

Anna had the best time playing with her cousin Ethan