mother's day

For Mother's Day I asked to go to Sundance after church. 

1. I love their food.

2. I didn't want to cook or clean at my house

The kids loved it.  They had so many different things to eat and made several trips back and forth to the buffet.  Ethan was happy that they had prime rib.

After brunch we came home and it was gorgeous out.

I put on my swimsuit, grabbed my book and layed out.

The kids jumped on the tramp with the sprinkler underneath while Ethan spruced up the yard a bit.

It was nice to all be together but do our own things too.

Mom and Paul came down for dessert.  

We haven't seen them in a while so it was nice to sit and chat and have some icecream.

  

via pinterest

April was a hard month.

I am so glad it is over.

May has been great so far.  Loads of sunshine and happy moments.

We have been playing lots of Uno with the kids.

So far, Kade is the family champion.  

I will be back soon with pictures from my visit to California to see Ash.

golfer kids

We met up with Cam and Michelle at Sleepy Ridge so the kids could hit on the range.

They looked so cute all decked out.

It was fun to see them practice and have a good time.

THE KILLERS -- SAN FRANSISCO

I knew the Killers were going to be in California this spring and was happy to find out they were playing in SF the weekend I was there.  We went to the Saturday night show and it was a blast.

We drove into the city and found parking pretty easily.

We walked around a bit and then decided to eat at a place called The Grove.

Our meals were delicious.

Then off to stand in line. When we got to the venue the line was crazy long, luckily the doors opened fairly quickly and we were inside.

The whole thing was general admission and we decided to grab seats.

Opening song, Mr Brightside.  They played it with the lights up like they did at the Orem show.

The whole thing was fantastic.  Ash and I sung our hearts out and danced lots.

Playlist from instagram:

 We got back to Livermore late and stayed up talking for a while.  

Our 4:15 am wake up came quickly. I was on the plane and back in SLC by 9 am.

off to california

Ash and I put together a quick trip for me to come out and visit.

I flew in late Wednesday night.

Thursday morning we took off for the city.

We went and saw the Girl with the Pearl Earring exhibit. 

It was pretty cool.

Then we had lunch at Jasper's.  

Went into Britex and bought some ribbons:

Went to the Ferry building for cheese and olive oil:

Dinner at Houston's aka Hillstone:

Friday was the book signing that had sparked the whole idea for the visit.

Alan Brennert was speaking about his new book, Palisades Park.

It was very interesting and entertaining.

We did pay full price at the bookstore for the new book ($30 grrrr) but we were supporting local business right!?!

After the signing we had lunch at a burger place called Habit and checked out Rich's Fossil store.

We picked up the kids and hung out and then had dinner at Sauced (a BBQ place) 

My nachos were HUGE and so good.

Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market and then I was itching to sit in the sun.

The kids' pool was having an opening BBQ so we went over so they could swim 

and I could get my sun fix.

 I am grateful for technology....I could see my kids and Ethan before they left for the day.

 Saturday night was the KILLERS concert which is a post of it's own.

odds and ends

Sunday morning last week we were late getting to church.

We walked in right as the Larsens were getting there so we all took up a row in the back.

I thought it was funny how our families just merged together.  

The kids did great (thank heavens for church apps on the ipad)

Sunday we stayed home and hung out.

We got the house in order after our fun weekend and put the kids to bed early.

I read (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and ate ice cream in bed.

Monday the kids asked if we could do family night.

We hardly ever remember to do it.

So Add made rice krispy treats, Kade gave us a lesson on WWII and we played UNO.

It was really fun.  I love the stage we are in right now so much. 

The kids are fun to hang out with and make us laugh all the time.

Tuesday, Michelle and I went and got a waffle and sat in the sun.  It was a gorgeous day. I was so grateful that I had done all my chores that morning so I could sit in peace in the afternoon.

I laid outside and read and napped until the bus pulled up.

I think this was Thursday:

I wanted to finish my book (The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton) so I rented the kids a movie.

Ha.  It was perfect.

Friday was Eric and Jackie's gender reveal party.  They are having a girl!  We are excited for them, Add especially!  Jackie went all out and even rented a photobooth.  We loved the booth so much. 

 I'm trying to think of a reason to rent it!

Saturday after work we had a babysitter come and we went out with the Larsens.

The kids LOVE having a babysitter.

We tried a new taco place (the Blue Pablano) in Provo and it was really good.  I want to go back.

We saw the movie Admission and it was just ok.

The kids were asleep when we got home and that was a definite plus.

Sunday I worked alllll day.  BLAH.

Yesterday Kade got an award at school for being a good student.

Ethan was able to go and show our support.

When Ethan was done with work we met him for dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

Then we met up with Nan and the boys for Alex's basketball game at Provo High.

It was also E's 14th birthday so we were happy to get to see him.

Nan and the boys were planning to go to Slab and I said we ate earlier since Add is a grump when she stays out too late.  But when we got to the cars to go after the game my kids jumped in Nan's van and locked themselves in.  I had no choice but to follow her to Slab and eat a second dinner :)

Nan said that Add told her that her dinner was disgusting (chicken tenders) and she thought the chicken might have been still alive.  gross!

The kids were so excited to get an extra hour or so with the cousins.  It was really fun.

And of course, Add was a grump this morning!!

Group shot:

(minus Al, he was getting bball pics taken)

E is officially taller than his Uncle. Ethan thinks that E likes to puff up when they stand next to each other so this is Ethan puffing up next to E. Ha.  

We are happy to have such a sweet boy as our oldest nephew.  He is always willing to be sweet to Addi and show Kade cool video games.  And he lets me hug him :)

After we got home, I was feeling so nostalgic.  E was only 2 when Ethan and I got married and he loved me so much.  We would hang out at Aar & Nan's a lot and we played tons.  He cried on our wedding night b/c he didn't want us to leave on our honeymoon.

I'll never forget, "Nanny, no moon!!"  

It was such a fun, exciting time in our lives and it makes me feel old to look back and see us :

(the night before our wedding)

OK...time to get off the computer and get back to the dirty floors.

Dad and Cath visit

 Dad and Cath came out for their annual spring time visit.  

I swear everytime they come we have good weather.  

They were here when the kids got off the bus on Wednesday and the kids were so excited.

We played at the park, played games, walked up Hobble Creek canyon, lunch at Cubby's, went to the Springville Art Museum, went to the zoo, had lunch at Moochie's, shopped, flew kites, had icecream at SOS and went for waffles with Eric and Jackie.

It was a fun weekend and we can't wait to see them again in August.