Backyard Surprise!

Yesterday we found a little puppy in our backyard.  No collar.  No tag.  Just a scared to death puppy, shaking!  It was such a cute little puppy that only weighed two pounds.  It was so scared, it just snuggled into whoever was holding it.  The kids were in heaven!

So you can imagine that it didn't take longer than two minutes when I heard, "Mom, can we keep it??"

"PLEASE??????????"

"We really love it, mom!"

But even though it was a sweet little puppy, I didn't even need a second to think about it.  NOOOOO!!!  Did they forget we already have a dog?  So, we held it and took care of it for a while.  The kids even named it Tiny Tim and called it "Timmy" for short.  I quickly typed up a sign to post before they got any more attached.  When I went out to post the "found dog" sign, I found a "missing dog" sign already posted.  I quickly called the number and left a message, but no one called back.  It got late that night and still no phone call.  We decided to let it sleep in Mia's old crate for the night.  She was fine in there.  Didn't make a peep all night.

But I had nightmares all night of the dog running around saying, "Yo Quiero Taco Bell."  haha!

The kids were so excited this morning to wake up and find the dog still here.

They got in some snuggling time, but right before I took them to school, the owner called and we returned him.  His name is actually "Tiger."  Tommy said he likes "Timmy" better.  I'm just glad we found the owner!

Jessica's swim lessons

She didn't want to do it, but went in to the pool without crying.

I couldn't tell if she was liking it or not.

She sure looked like she was having fun.

But I was wrong.  She got out and started crying.  She told me it was NOT fun and she told everyone else who asked that day.  She was not going to sugarcoat this experience at all!  Tonight we all cheered her on in the bathtub as she practiced "blowing bubbles."  She does not want to go back tomorrow and I'm sure there will be tears.  I don't think either one of us are looking forward to it!  Sorry Jess!  You'll thank me some day!

Bye-Bye Beast!

Last year Sam brought home a pet roach.  REMEMBER BEAST??  Sam didn't feed or take care of his little pet longer than a week.  So guess who did?  I just couldn't stand to let the roach suffer from thirst or starvation so I made sure it was fed and watered.  I did this for a year!
When Sam's friend, who has the same teacher that Sam had last year, mentioned that it was insect week at school last week, I got excited.  She wanted to know if Sam could bring in "Beast" to show the class.  YES!!!  I told the little girl.  Not only could Sam bring in "Beast," but we would let some other person have the privilege of taking it home and keeping it!  So, I watered and fed it one last time and said my goodbyes.  I even gave it a nice plump strawberry as a parting gift!

I was happy to get rid of that bug, but there was also a little part of me that was sad.  And every time I go in the boy's room, I get a little, I mean little sad feeling inside when I see the top of their dresser so empty without Beast.  I just can't help that mothering instinct!  :)  Well, bye-bye Beast, hope you have a good life.  It was good to have you for a pet for a while but if I see you outside on my sidewalk, you will be dead!

Jessica turned FOUR!!

Birthday day...

She got some pretend hair styling accessories.  Maybe they might fix the nest in the back of her head that she wakes up with everyday!  :)  (But don't get me wrong, I would take the nest any day to keep those curls!)

Grandma's visit with a present

Birthday cake

Princess Birthday Party
It's what she wanted!  She loves princesses and everything pink.  I gotta enjoy all this princess stuff while it lasts!

I checked Rachel and Megan out of school to help with the party.  I SERIOUSLY couldn't have done it without them!

Princess games..

So many princess toys!!  She scored big time and was in heaven!

Happy Birthday little princess!

Tommy

This week was strange.  Tommy hardly had any homework.  I was wondering what was going on, but didn't question him, I just enjoyed it.

Last night I found out why.....just as I was leaving to run Rach and Megan to their different activities and Mark was taking Tommy to basketball, Tommy said, "Mom, can you get me a tri-fold poster for my project that is due tomorrow?"  WHAT PROJECT???  And why were we not working on it all those days this week that he didn't have homework?  Well, Tommy got a little lecture (one of the many that night, dang it!)

So I got home about 8:30pm, got the kids in bed and started Tommy's project.  I think we were up until 10:30 or so.  I was a little frustrated that Tommy left it untill the last minute and hopefully after this experience he wont do that again, but I will have to say I had a good time with this kid.

He is such a sweet boy.  He apologized to me over and over and kept telling me thank you for helping him.  When I finally tucked him into bed he gave me the biggest hug and told me he loved me and thanks for being the best mom.  I really wasn't the best mom.  I wish I hadn't lectured him or complained as much as I did!

But he left today with his project complete.

It was all about Utah.  Which made doing the project fun too.  He had a picture of the temple (which I love)

When we were printing out that picture, he said, I love this picture of the temple, it is so pretty!

You did a great job, Tommy.  I love you too and thanks for being the best son!

Spring Break 2010....Park City

(soooo many pictures!)

This year we decided to spend a few days of our spring break in Park City.  We were worried the snow would be gone by the time we got up there (first of April), but we were wrong, there was PLENTY of snow!!

My sisters Annette, Jill and Michelle also joined us.  They brought their kids that are the same ages as ours which made it even more fun!

(don't have a picture of the boy cousins!)

Jessica and Megan had ski lessons.  It was their first time skiing.  Jessica had the sweetest teacher!

and did a great job!

They rode a conveyor belt up a little hill (they called it the magic carpet).

and then skiied down.

Jessica's teacher would play games and sing songs on the way down, like "Head, shoulders, knees and toes."

At the bottom of the hill she would feed her treats like a momma bird feeding her little chick.

Megan was in daycare with her cousin most of the first day.  While I was taking pictures of Jessica's lesson, Megan came up from daycare with her instructor.

She was really confident and told her teacher that she already knew how to ski.  I think she was surprised that it was a little more difficult than she thought it would be.

But she caught on fast.

and did a great job.

That night we went back to the hotel.  Me and my sisters played a little dance revolution or whatever it's called on the Wii.  Our kids just laughed at us.  I guess we did look a little silly!  Good thing my sister Annette caught these moves on my camera!  :)

Then the adults went out to dinner.  Mark and Andy were starving!  Andy ordered a 1 pound burger.  I have never seen a burger so humungous!  

I told him it was bigger than his head!

He thought he could eat all of it, but he barely ate half.  And I'm sure his stomach was hurting all night!  :)

When we got back to the hotel, the kids were begging to go swimming.  Outside our window (yes, outside) was a swimming pool and jacuzzi.  The kids kept watching people outside swimming and they were begging to go.  I thought it was a crazy idea because by this time it was snowing hard outside, but we all got in our swimsuits

and headed to the pool (did I mention it was outside, and it was snowing?)

But I have to tell you, once we were in the water, it was AWESOME!

What better way to enjoy spring break then by swimming!!!  

Nice snow on the head!

It really was so comfortable and nice in the jacuzzi.  After a while, the kids jumped in the pool and had a blast having a snowball fight in the pool.  It was pretty comical to watch.  

We had to drag the kids out of the pool because it was getting late, but they were having so much fun.  

At then end of our trip, we asked the kids what their favorite part of our vacation was and it was unanimous....SWIMMING... WHILE IT WAS SNOWING!

The next day we slept in a bit and then headed to the slopes again.  This time we were all skiing together.  There is an area at Park City with a tow rope that pulls you up a small hill. That is where we skiied for the first few hours with Megan and Jessica.

The weather was so beautiful that we all started shedding our coats...

After a few hours of skiing, my sister took the girls back to my parent's house while we kept skiing.  Mark hit high slopes with Andy while I hit the bunny hill with the older kids.  Tommy was trying to teach me how to ski better, I'm still a beginner.  He was a great coach and it was so fun to hang out with these kids!

My first time skiing was a few years ago so I've only been three times.  Every year I try to talk Mark out of the ski trip.  He always tells me that it's such a great family activity.  I've gone the last few years, dragging my feet.  But after this year, I'm sold!  We had such a great time together.  It was so fun to have everyone up there on the mountain.  Can't wait till next winter!