It's a given that when the whole family is finally together, there will be a family picture.

Lorenzo, Zack, me, Dallin, Morgan
Jessica, Kent, Andrea

VAcation!

May was a big month for my family back home. My dad was taking his R&R from Iraq to come home for 2 weeks and my little brother Lorenzo had just finished his 2 year mission in Paraguay. My mom had a great idea in renting a beach house in NC for a week and for the first time in a loooong while my parents and all 8 of us siblings were able to get together. Add 2 spouses and 4 1/2 kids,(thats for you, Tara) and its a never-ending party, right? The weather wasn't as consistently sunny as we had hoped but we had plenty of other fun just hanging out, shopping, playing rockband and lots of poker late at night. I'm thinking it will have to be a new annual tradition!

Better late than never?? - can i use this title for EVERY post?

So now that Easter has long been gone, I'm finally finding the time to post a few pics. Tyler got a new shirt to wear and we all went to church ---we were even early!! but only because... Aaron and I both had to give a talk. But better that Sunday than others since it was full of primary programs and musical numbers. After church we gave Tyler his easter basket and all he cared about was the Cadbury eggs - seriously must be my child. I always buy a ton thinking I can stock up and still have some by June but lets be honest, I dont think they ever last 2 weeks.

**so not that I think my 18 month old should be able to master badminton*, but I had to find something that looked like a tennis racket for him to "play" with while we play

*and who knew badminton had an 'n'??


this was at dinner later - I love it!

Celebration Park

In between our church's conference sessions (which we have twice a year) we met up with the Blacks and headed for Celebration Park. It's really not too far and its a good place to go to just be outside for a while. There's a really cool old bridge that crosses a stream to trails that you can walk around and more trails that go up the "mountain" if you feel so inclined to hike. What was really funny though was that the trails are dusty and rocky and "hilly" and proved to be quite the challenge for Tyler. Every time he fell he tried as hard as he could to stand up without his hands touching the dirty ground - which meant falling down a few more times before eventually making it up. This time I guess he thought it would be easier just to slide down.

so I have no idea how to rotate it, I'm just happy it works :)
I think our picture from last year turned out better...

Never Ending Birthdays...

Happy Birthday to me on the 1st. It happens to be one of those birthdays that people either remember because it's so hilarious to them that I was born on April Fool's or they completely forget because I mean, really, who knows what month we're in until its half over? I thought we would wait to go out on the weekend but we ended up just going to Outback kinda last minute. Arron was our waiter and definitely hooked us up!
Rachael even bought me a tennis racket and made me a strawberry shortcake trifle thing. It was such a sweet surprise.

On the 2nd is one of my friend's kid's birthday so we were invited to dinner to celebrate for mine and Aaron's birthday as well. Tyler got a kick out of the Hulk hands and we just thought it was too funny since they were almost as big him!


Sometime that week Breanna took me to lunch at Applebees. Turned out that Aaron went there too for an office lunch so that was a little tricky to have Tyler see him and then disappear so he could enjoy his own lunch on the other side of the restaurant. We had fun and Tyler and Gracie did great especially when we put them next to each other. Tyler even tried to hold her hand - it was too cute! Of course I could't get a picture of that...

stay tuned for Birthdays: Round 2

New Furniture!

So we recently bought a 3 piece sectional and to our advantage the store wasn't selling much so they also threw in the matching recliner. Thankfully, the couch was backordered because there really is no way we would be able to fit all of it into our living room since we've procrastinated taking our other furniture to find someplace else to live. The love seat though has been able to entertain Tyler for hours now. Not quite the purpose I had intended it for but who cares as long as he's not bugging me and he can find something to do!

Wax on, Wax off

So one of my recent purchases (among too many :) is my own professional waxpot. It is completely necessary to wax Aaron's eyebrows from time to time and since my days of hair-free laser treatments are gone, I thought it would be a good investment. Of course it's easier having a complete stranger inflict that kind of pain rather than myself but its all for a good cause, right? I've already had one 'customer' enjoy my purchse and she lived. So if anybody else is interested, let me know. I mean, summer is coming....eventually....I hope.