My Little "THUM" Suckers!

I have heard of this stuff you paint on your kids nails to stop the thumb sucking, but I had never tried it..... until yesterday. Ella and Logan are big thumb suckers and I was starting to worry about Ella because she is turning 4 this summer. I know it is affecting her teeth and being the "orthodontic assistant" that I am..... I want her to stop! So I finally went to Target and bought THUM. It's just like a clear nailpolish with an added taste of cayenne pepper extract, citric acid, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and laquer. MMMM sounds tasty! You would think tasting that on your thumb would make you think again about sucking.......... Nope, not Logan.... it didn't even phase him! The little guy just looked at me and sucked away!


He might as well have said, "nice try mom." Then Ella was all excited about being a "big girl" and said she wasn't going to suck her thumb anymore. I was thinking, "this stuff might just work" especially after I saw her face and the way she wiped her tongue with her shirt! Maybe I could really get Ella to stop before her 4th birthday!

We'll keep painting on the "THUM" so wish us luck!

It's About Time......

Over Memorial weekend we met up with some old friends (Darren's roomates from BYU)and their families. We all live pretty close but haven't been very good about getting together in the past. So we finally did it! Thanks to Eric and April for having everyone over to their house... yes, we had 6 adults and 10 kids in all! We decided to go out to lunch and get pizza, pasta and salad and that was an adventure just finding a table for the party of 16! We had so much fun catching up with everyone and seeing how much their families have grown! Sounds like the guys have some summer camping plans for us, so until next time...... thanks for the fun!

Darren, Eric and Tyler (old roomies)

7 of the 10 ready to eat!

Making new friends

Thanks for a fun visit!

Tornados, Rain or Snow..... We'll be there!

Some of my best friends from high school and I try and get together for a "Girls Night Out" every couple months. Well, on my way to meet them, as I am stuck in crazy rush hour traffic, Lisa calls to say there are serious weather conditions out that way. So, I have already been driving 45 minutes, Heather and Colleen are already there and we are wondering if we should still go. But then we think...... are you kidding, a night out is worth some major traffic jams and a few tornadoes. In Heather's words.... "I'd risk my life for a girls night out!" We all made it safely and had lots of fun! Thanks for a fun night girls!

Heather, Lisa, and Colleen

All of us (including cute little Paige) after a yummy dinner!

So much fun just being with the girls!

This one's for you gals... Our kick-off GNO at Lucille's

AND.... in honor of Flashback Friday, I thought you might like these pictures! (I know.... what was I thinking with those bangs???)

Ella's Big Night Out!

Giving all of my children equal attention can be challenging at times. It seems like Avery has the more demanding schedule with school, homework, sports and activities while Logan has so many needs every minute of every day! Then there's Ella, that I know I need to spend that extra time playing with, while one is at school and the other naps.... yes, I'm talking about that precious time where I can return phone calls, fold a load of laundry, jump on the computer to check emails or just straighten up the house. It hits me when I am replying to an email and a sweet voice comes up behind me and says, "mommy, will you play with me?" Yes, that would be my little Ella who loves to play Barbies, dress up, or even watch a movie with popcorn and chocolate milk. Why do I let all of those unimportant things get in the way of something as sweet as playing with my 3 year old? I am going to be better though.... I will leave the house a mess and play! It's more fun than cleaning the house anyway! We had so much fun with Ella on her very own night out with mommy and daddy and I think you can tell from the pictures, she did too!

Dinner at Ruby's Diner

shopping at The Children's Place where she picked out her own belt and shoes!

playing on the phone at Pottery Barn Kids

It was time well spent with sweet little Ella!

All About Moms...Grandmas....and Great Grandmas

The month of May seems to start the busy season with activities and so much to do! Maybe it's just that spring is here and we want to be everywhere! We have been having lots of fun around here, so I have to journal it all since we don't want to forget a single second. We spent a fun Mother's Day weekend in San Diego at Darren's grandparent's house. Avery kept saying, "I'm so, so, excited to spend the night at great grandaddy's and great grandmommy's house!" Our kids can't get enough of their grandparents! We were fed well and enjoyed visiting with everyone! We hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! Thank you to all the moms in my life... you have taught me so much!

I love these little cuties! (love how they all lean the same way for the picture!)

Logan climbed in and out of this box of blocks all weekend!

Mommy opening her Mother's Day Present!

Grammy came for a quick visit last month and we loved having her stay with us!

I thought this was so cute of Logan sitting at the little table in the girls' room. He loves to play in there!

Darren and his mom after a great dinner and Sprinkles Cupcakes! YUM!


Grammy and Ella made pancakes together one morning while she was here.

Great Grandmommy with her 3 GREAT grandchildren

I love this picture of my mom with Avery. She was reading a story with her in the rocking chair. Of course she was in our thoughts on this special Mother's Day weekend....what an incredible example she was!

What a Sweet Surprise!

Well, if I would have known my husband would have missed me that much, I would have taken a girls trip a long time ago! Thanks for the sweet love note babe! I just finally saw his post a couple of days ago because when I came home from Utah our computer monitor wasn't working AGAIN! (It's only 2 years old but we've fixed the problem....I think.) I have so many things that I want to post from the past few weeks and I don't even know where to start. BYU Women's Conference was a blast! It is always so fun to be back in Provo and it is always beautiful in the spring. It was such a fun break for me to spend time with my sister Amber! We stayed with my aunt and my cousins and had lots of fun shopping and eating out.... maybe too much fun! It was such a great break to get away and hear all of the great uplifting talks, shop, stay up late, sleep in, go to movies and dinner and laugh with the girls! Thanks girls, and thanks Darren for holding down the fort.... you're the best!

What's a trip to Utah without Cafe Rio!

BYU Campus... so fun to be there!

Sisters! It was fun to spend so much time together!

Temple Square is so beautiful in the spring!

What a fun trip.... but it's good to be home.

I love my sweet wife!

O.K. This is Darren, and I'm not sure if I'm posting this blog right, but I guessed my wife's password so I think I'm in.

Emily comes home today after being in Utah for almost five days - I've been with the kids this whole time, and no one is more excited to have her back than me.

Em - I don't know how you do it. I felt like I was literally cleaning up the house 24/7. Thank you for being such a wonderful wife & mother - I appreciate now more than ever the work you go through each and every day to keep the house clean. I appreciate your ability to do the girls' hair - church is later today and I foresee a little disaster in the hair department (seeing as I couldn't even put Avery's hair in a ponytail very well yesterday for her softball game). I appreciate your patience more than anything, with all "four" kids (I'm including myself in that department). Finally, I appreciate your second job - that of a chauffeur - taking the kids all over the place. I didn't even venture to go to a store or anything with the three of them - I now know why you have such a hard time when you try to do that.

Even though the kids and I had a great time, I was exhausted by the end of every day, and I can tell you we all miss you very much. You are the glue that holds us all together and I don't know what I would do or where I would be without you. Thank you for being a perfect woman - I couldn't ask for a better best friend to enjoy life with, create a family with, and grow old with (although we're still young, right?). I love you, sweetheart!

Darren

P.S. I'm now a little more "motivated" to plan that summer vacation - just for the two of us!