So, I've just been looking at peoples blogs for a quick peak and thinking, "that was really fun when I use to share my life with you friends that care. . ." Life has carried me away as usual and here I am months later with no updates. Am I a bad girlfriend or what?

Well, School has started. Gabe is in first grade and loving it. Jace is in preschool at Hillcrest and loving it. They ride the bus home together and think that is so cool. Annabelle, well she is just about as perfect as ever. Except she doesn't sleep like the boys did so I'm forced to be awake at early morning hours when I would rather be sleeping.

Mike the big school boy loves school, he is learning a lot and running a lot. People ask me if I am happy about it and all I can say is it would be selfish of me to not be. No I don't want my husband to get hurt but this is his dream and I will support him in it. Big Mike the peace officer. So what has taken me away, well besides the every day busy life, piano lessons, soccer, school, room mom, bla bla bla. The things that take us all away, I'm just learning how to put it all together. Now I can say I've sad hello to the blog world.

Happy Birthday to my princess. One year went by way too fast but I do have to say I spent it well with her in my arms 90% of the time! This baby girl is such a joy. She is very VERY loved. I love her content personality, her giggles, her peak a boo's, her smile, her pats, HER.

Sometimes I feel like this too.

This little Piggie!

My baby has piggies!

A sneak peak

We were lucky to spend spring break in C A L I F O R N I A thanks to Aunt Terri and clan. To Jace, It was "far far away" He also thought aunt terri's house was called "California" so when we would leave for a day trip he would say on the way back, "We're going back to California!" To Gabe Aunt Terri's house was "The trip." "we're going back to the trip"

Like I said, sneak peak of our trip. We had so much fun having Easter with family. We visited Sequoia and Yosemite. Funny that we left the snow for the sun and drove to the mountains where the snow was! We had a blast hanging out with our family. Jace and Robbie had so much fun following each other around, it was sad to say good buy but we will do it again.

Princess Annabelle is 9 months old

Today we had Annabelle's 9 month check up

She must be starving, she weighed in at 21 1/2 pounds!

Do you think she'll be tall? She is off the charts at a whopping 30 inches!

She is Crawling, pulling herself up, eating everything (except pistachio pudding)

She's a happy happy girl.

GOTA LOVE MY PRINCESS A!

what a memorable day

What does St. Patrick's day remind me of? ECUADOR and this little guy that I fell in love with. 9 years ago I got on a plane with 15 other strangers who soon became my friends. It was March 16th, we spent the first night in the nicest hotel in Quito, the next morning we flew into Cuenca and that is where my story is told. . .

(drinking green milk with my first meal at mi casa).

I am so grateful to my heavenly father that I got to go and learn a love like no other, the love of a mother, before I ever had children of my own.

I was still very immature but selfless service does a lot for a persons soul. I know I left being a better person and I know I made a difference in children's lives. This is just one of those children that I loved. (he was my baby) There were 19 babies in the cuna and at least 30 girls in the other orphanage. Isn't he beautiful? He is 10 years old now. . . One day in heaven I hope I get to meet him again.

Vicente Gabriel Born aprox. October 2, 2000

Pictures weren't allowed so I had to sneak in the bathroom with a disposable camera to get this picture of my baby.

Can you imagine dropping your child off at an orphanage?

I witnessed one mother doing so, at least she had the dignity to bring the baby in instead of ringing the bell and running. She looked so heart broken. 3rd world countries bring quite different circumstances than what we have here. I'm glad to be an American.

Seriously

I wish to Squish!

I want to play tea

Every day we have a tea party. Jace is learning how to properly hold his tea cup. He has learned that we don't drink bad tea, but mommy tea is ok. In fact for our party he gets us water and it usually comes out of the bathroom sink. Yesterday he served us "bubble water." I made him promise he didn't put soap in it, but there was definitely a faint soapy taste. So all you girls come on over. Jace is a great host, and we can talk about rainbows and puppy dogs!

Jacersarus is FOUR!

My little Jacer is 4. I can't believe how fast the time really goes by.

I literally stink at this blogging thing. I can't get the pictures in order but at least the invitation is the first pic. Saturday we have an amazing family who joined us at thanksgiving point for a great dinosaur experience. Then on Monday Jace celebrated with his neighborhood friends. Thanks to My mom, Dana and Mindy I pulled it off. I think I forgot that 15 little people are a lot of work and a game takes about 5 minutes max before we lose interest. I also didn't realize that there is a HUGE difference between a 6 year old and a 4 year old, especially when the game is tug of war! Jace had a great day and I want to thank all of you for enjoying it with him.

Thank You Friends!

On my birthday these lovely friends of mine took me to breakfast. They showered me with gifts and made me feel loved. I had a great birthday and I don't feel a day older. I love the new twenties! I feel alive!

30 years ago today!

I don't think it was snowing.

I don't know any facts about the day or the year.

But March 5th I was born.

Here I am at age 3, just the age you might see a resemblance. . .

Who looks like this in my family?

(I think I see Paige)

Who has those cheeks and that double chin?

(Annabelle for sure got the chub from me)

Brothers. . . I wasn't bald until I was 3. Look at those locks!

not again!

On Monday I came home from Costco to Mike yelling, "we gotta go to the hospital, will you take him?" Mike is petrified of cuts, blood, wiggly teeth etc. . . While diving onto the love sac to pick a book Gabe smashed into the corner of the closet and once again we make our way to the doctors office for a few sutures. Gabe is so tuff, he didn't even flinch. Just like when he pulled his tooth out the other night so he could get a dollar.

I am happy to report that he does NOT have chicken pox. I don't know what it was. Just a few spots I guess.

Gabe's cute thought: He is fascinated with his body, questions about what is under his skin. We got a book from the library to explain but he still keeps asking what is under his bones. Finally yesterday I said "bone marrow" His reply: "Like a bow and arrow?"

No mean people

Jace has been collecting the elastics off of the asparagus and putting them on the door. He tells me, "I am locking the door so no mean people can get in." It is actually getting pretty strong. It might just hold out the bad guys!

Jace's cute thought: after naming off about 5 different things he wanted for lunch I told him his eyes were sounding bigger than his tummy. He thought for a bit then hopped off the chair. "I want to see in the mirror."

I can't get enought

of this face. She is so special. I am so lucky to have my little Annabelle. Grandma Liston told me a quote I just love.

A son's a son 'til he marry's a wife.

A daughter's a daughter her entire life.

pulled pork

My favorite place to eat is CAFE RIO.

I haven't been there in at least a year but that doesn't mean I don't love

it, it just means I never eat out.

If you are like me you are always wanted to duplicate the recipe.

I want to learn to make their lime ranch dressing.

My Mindy gave me a great recipe for the pulled pork that I think is close to the real thing.

1 pork roast

1 can coke

1 cup salsa

1 cup sugar

slow cook all day, pull the pork a few hours before serving to let the juices soak in.

I hope it isn't a secret because I just gave it away!

It is delicious and I am excited to eat dinner.

Kamers, sorry it din't work out. Leave little Abby in the oven for a few more weeks.

Take care of yourself.

As for me and my family, we are home bound. At least for a few days.

Do spots always mean chicken pox?

We'll find out if they scab or not.

Gabe has spots on his arm that I discovered yesterday at swim lessons.

No fever, just spots.

The wait is on, but hey we have dinner tonight!

The love of my life, My Mikey

Mike and I met 8 years ago on January 25th. 8 years ago today we were in Salt Lake at the Cheryl Crow Awards ceremony, he took me on a ridiculously priced, yet very romantic carriage ride and then had roses waiting for me when we got back to his house (compliments of Terri I'm sure) :) After the first date I wrote my dad a note to tell him he doesn't have to worry about me going on a mission because I had "found the boy I was going to marry." By day 3 I confessed my feelings to Mike about how I was going on a mission (his face dropped) but. . . my Bishop was holding my papers because I had met someone. The rest is history.

I tease him that it was his truck that I fell in love with but we all know better than that. ANY one who knows Mike can testify that he is a gem. He has a giant spirit that is even bigger than him! I couldn't help but love him and wish for my life to be complete with him by my side. He makes me smile, he makes me laugh, he makes my heart soar. He allows me to be me, and helps make my dreams come true. He works so hard for our family, I was at the dentist last week and so glad to not be working there. I have sucked enough spit for one lifetime!

Last week Brit and I got to go on a date and see a chick flick. (Thank you Brit). When I got home I was so happy because I love seeing people fall in love but my happy comes because I get to come home to a love story. I am so thankful to be in love with Mike and to truly be living a dream. Of course we have our rocks to climb over like everyone, I don't claim to be perfect. But I will always say with an honest heart "I LOVE YOU MIKE" Happy Valentines Day!

All I need is LOVE

These little monkeys are the sunshine in my day. Mike and I dedicate our Valentines day to our little ones. It's the day of love so we should share it with those we love.

Gabe is my little Mike who lives his days in his own unhurried ways. He teaches me patience, how to share, how to love, how to be silly. I love my Gabey.

Jace is my little tease who lives his days in bliss. He teaches me how to imagine, how to be brave, how to be dirty, how to laugh. I love my little Jacer.

Annabelle is my little peacemaker. We can't help but be happy when we are with her. She gives me alone time, me and her and our thoughts. She teaches me to slow down, to breathe, to smile. I love my little AnnaBanana.

So much more I could say about my sweeties, I am just so thankful to be their mom, that Heavenly Father loves me so much that he trusted me with these spirits. My next thoughts will be dedicated to the love of my life. :)

Fuzzy hair!

Do your kids have fuzzy hair? You know, it could mean something? When Gabe was a baby and we were doing all of the "testing," The geneticist was concerned about his hair because it stuck straight up. Well. . . all of my kids hair stands straight up, it adds height and don't forget personality! This picture of Annabelle is about a month old. You should see how long and fuzzy her hair is today!Jace's fuzzy hair was short lived. I don't know if I gelled it or what but he didn't live the way Annabelle and Gabe did at this age.

This Gabey is sooo cute. I love this picture, he is fishing for the cats under the door and having a blast. His hair always looked like this! LOVE IT!

Family Pictures

A dreaded event in everyone's life has got to be taking FAMILY PICTURES! To catch all the eyes looking one direction and having a cute look on everyone's face is almost impossible. So. . . This is Mike's least favorite thing to do, but it's got to be done. We have to document the growth of our family!

Disneyland!

Disneyland was not last week or even last month but it has not been documented in my blog world so I thought I would share a few highlights from our awesome trip. Can I just say that COUSINS are awesome. FAMILY is awesome. GRANDMA is awesome.

I Wish for everyone to have a bestfriend named GRANDMA!

Walkin in their daddy's footsteps. Those are big shoes to fill!

Screamin' California made Ky Ky and Gabey SMILE :)

My baby girl is practically perfect in every way!

My Handsome hubby makes me happy!

Zach Attack wouldn't do anything at first. . . then he was unstoppable!

Our trip was most memorable. The kids are asking to go back. In fact I think they asked to go back before we even left. When they say it is where dreams come true I believe it. There is a kind of magic to Disneyland that you don't find anywhere else. But. . . I wouldn't want to be there on a busy day or I might disagree!