Summer so far

Can't even put into words my excitement for this weather.

So far we have...

hit the pool a few times

eaten LOTS of popsicles

roasted smores in the backyard

AND my favorite so far, FINALLY scored a playset from KSL (an early b-day present for the boys). Do you know how fast these things go?!?!? There have been 5 other ones that posted in the last couple of weeks that I wanted but they sold within 20 minutes or less. I couldn't sit on the computer all day hoping one would post. We did find a swingset kit on KSL and snagged that right away, so we were planning on building one ourselves. But then just yesterday, I was randomly checking KSL and saw that this had only been posted for 24 minutes. I knew it had probably sold but I texted the girl anyway. She said it hadn't sold yet and I said GREAT!! WE WILL PICK IT UP TONIGHT!!! Man, I can't peel these kids away from it, and the neighbors finally come over to our house :).

Can't wait for movies in the park, drive ins, concerts, camping, hiking, the list is never ending.

HAPPY SUMMER

(P.S. if you are interested in purchasing the swingset kit it is pretty sweet. All you need to purchase is the lumber and the manual tells you exactly what to do. Comes with all the hardware and swings. You could make it quite elaborate. Let me know before I post it back on KSL)

Today

Nothing new to report.  Just had to be one of the many complaining about this weather.  I have been so excited for the pools to open because we practically live there in the summers.  I love going the first week they are open because nobody is there.  All the older kids are still in school this week so it is so nice to practically have the pool to ourselves.  Doesn't look like that will be happening for us this week.  Isaac keeps asking me "Mom, what should we do this summer?" Well, we are going to do a bunch of swimming when the weather gets warm.  But then the other day he said he wanted to build a snowman.  Poor kid won't know how to differentiate the seasons if Mother Nature doesn't straighten up!

April

Spring Break with Delaney's

We could barely keep up, we did something everyday they were here. Parks, swimming pool, Zoo, Children's Museum, Kangaroo Zoo, movie night.

Never leave children unattended with a big bowl of popcorn. They sure loved cleaning it up though.

Why we haven't hit up Cottonwood Heights indoor pool more often this year? I don't know why, but oh so fun!

One decent day of sun spent at the Zoo, still pretty cold though!

The Ultimate CutDown

Ordered a clipper/trimmer and it came in the mail a couple of days ago.

I was too excited to wait for someone with more experience to monitor me so Liam was my first victim. Off to the bathroom we went and away I buzzed. Here he is before...(showing me his eyes.)

...and the after. This wasn't his hairdo yesterday though, originally I had buzzed the sides and left it long up top, then I just needed my sister to teach me how to trim the top. Ry said he looked like Hitler, I couldn't wait any longer so I just buzzed it all. It will grow back and I will get it right next time!

More chopping. The neighborhood spring clean up is this weekend so we decided to cut down some trees in the front yard. Really wish I would have gotten a before pic. Now hopefully our grass will grow without those darn pine needles!

EASTER

Easter Brunch at Gardner Village, it is gonna have to be a yearly tradition.

SPRING, PLEASE COME

Man, warmer weather can't get here fast enough! Playing outside is just a must for these boys, but it is still quite muddy out there.

Moab

Just got back from a weekend in Moab with just us girlies. So much fun! A bit windy, but it didn't stop us from finishing. Thanks to Jackie (and spectators) for the photos. Who forgets a camera on a girls trip!!

(Sorry for the embarrassing photo of these two nerds below, you know who you are)

Note to self: DO NOT apply 3/4 of this to your back without trying an area first.

We even had it in us to hike Delicate Arch the last day.

This is what we do when Mom is too tired after a late night with the girls...

(forgive me for my annoying voice)

Love that Liam raises his hand and says "me". This lasted for a good 45 minutes.

Burn

Here is my conversation with the checker at the grocery store today...

Girl: "Those your boys?"

Me: "Yes."

Girl: "How old are they?"

Me: "3 and 1."

Girl: "Sounds like me, I have a 2 year old and a 4 month old. We are probably the same age too."

Me: "28?" (after I did some math)

Girl: "Oh no, you are way older than me!"

OUCH!!!

Me: "How much older?"

Girl: " 7 years."

Me: "Oh" Well she knows her math well. Now check my groceries!

Now I know why the older you get, the more timid women are to tell their age. Looks like I will begin lying about my age now.

TMM (Total Money Makeover-Dave Ramsey style)

I read this book for book club and am obsessed! Ryan calls it my newfound religion. I am Dave's #1 fan! It is about getting out of debt and living debt free for the rest of your life (including your mortgage!! Who does that?!) I almost don't want to share this secret with anyone, but it is not a secret, it is common sense and discipline. I wish I would have found this 5-7 years ago when Ryan and I got married. Time goes by too quickly, I am sure we could have changed our financial future drastically in that time. I feel that I have always been smart with money, I can't stand being in debt, this book was just a wake up call on how to be better and plan for your future. I actually already followed a lot of his concepts, just out of order which would have gotten me nowhere and realized what areas I needed to work on and sacrifice some things to get there.

I was also obsessed when I heard about Grocery Smarts and so excited to cut my grocery bill in half every month, that wore off so this might too. Since it is fresh on my mind, I am super excited about it, but ask me again in a month and see if that changes. If anything, you will learn something from it and hopefully spend your money wisely. This is a MUST READ, it is an eye opener and very motivating.