Welcome to our crazy world!!

Family Photos

2010-07-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

We had some family photos taken thanks to the Kerkman side of the fam. My aunts were able to get a very large group (all the family) of people, including Grandpa Fred, to WAYMAN Photography for a shoot. This only happens once a decade if we are lucky. I am soooo glad we were able to go. It will be very special to have these photos of my Grandpa who passed away very shortly after these were taken. These are not the best copies of the photos, but you get the idea. I think the photographer did a great job with such a large group of people. I am partial, of course, to my family and the photo of my kids. They turned out great. It is our 1st official "family" pic with Marshall in it. We decided to take a few "1 year" shots of him playing and crawling around as well. Not too bad considering they are all "impromtu". It was fun to get a family photo with my parents--Sharon & Craig--brothers-Steven and Scott-sister Tiff and her husband Jeremy. It has been a VERY long time since all of us were in one place for a picture. Overall, I think they turned out well. I am very glad to have them and will display them proudly:)

Our QT boy!

2010-06-28T08:35:00.001-07:00

Marshall is getting so big! He is walking everywhere now. He loves when we will "chase" him (especially around the ottoman), although he is not too steady on his feet while running. He falls often as per the usual for our kids. A few little face and head bruises here and there, but overall he is getting around very well now. Too well maybe...Marshall is into everything! I need to baby-proof stat--he is constantly into cupboards, climbing, and "escaping" to the upstairs. I noticed his 2 bottom front molars are swelling up and causing some crankiness. They look like they will pop through the gums anytime. Poor baby:(
He will be able to eat really well once they are in though. Marshall thinks he has to have what everyone else has so we have to be careful of what we eat in front of him. You can only chew so well with 8 front teeth. His little personality is really starting to bloom. He is very funny--loves to make people laugh. He has perfected the "fake" laugh and uses it often, especially if he is about to get in trouble for doing something he shouldn't. Marshall can be a bit goofy sometimes, but always adorable!
The girls are in their last week of 3rd grade and Kindergarten. Ashlyn passed her KG assessment testing with flying colors. I hope she can hand all-day school next year (really the end of July). I am sooooooo excited for her to go all day. I think she will have more fun and not be so bored for half the day while Tally is gone. Tally is just ready for whatever comes next. She is full of sass, but is very sweet and helpful when she wants to be. I hope we can fit a lot of summer into the next 3 weeks before they go back to school.

June Fun

2010-06-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

We have been soooo busy this June so far. The girls are still in school for another month, but we have tried to fit a bit of summer in. Well, when the weather cooperates that is! Tally has turned 9. A very fun day at Cowabunga Bay Water Park and then a Salt Lake BEES game with fireworks that night. I cannot believe she is 9! She is loving guitar and practices just about every day. My mom gave her the old "Schirack" guitar that I learned on. It is big for her, but fits her better than the little pink one she got from Christmas. She received a new "big" skateboard, helmet, and pads for every part of her body I could cover. She is awesome on it though. I am very nervous for her to take it to the skate park, but that is what she is looking forward to. Wow. I never thought I would type a sentence like that! Tals will be in 4th grade next year and I just cannot stand it. She is growing up so fast! They all are. Ashlyn just had her 1st "lunch" at school. She memorized her lunch number with vigor! I think it was the easiest homework assignment ever:) She is soooo looking forward to all day 1st grade and so am I! Marshall started walking while we were rafting in California. He was very close before we left--taking 5 or 6 steps here and there, but the second we leave town- BAM he is mobile! It is soooo adorable to watch him toddle-waddle everywhere. He seems to be turning into a little boy every day right in front of our eyes. Rob and I both have nasty colds right now. Miserable, but we are trying to keep busy and get some stuff done around the house. I am cleaning out the basement and mudroom. He is cleaning out the garage and fixing up the backyard. Always so much to do!
We went to California for a little V-K to visit Sowells and go river-rafting. It was a blast! More successful than our last attempt at being one with nature. We spent a day in San Francisco just the 2 of us and ate at the Stinking Rose restaurant with all of the Sowells that evening...so much fun. We cannot wait to have them visit at the end of July and go to Vegas at the first of August for Rob's Birthday. It will be a busy summer for sure!

Catching up!

2010-05-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe almost 3 months have gone by already....life is crazy busy with 3 kids and parents who work opposite schedules. Oh well, a ton has been going on at our house. Our little man turned 1 year at the end of April. So crazy! Marshall is so so so so so much fun to have in our home. He is VERY busy though. I literally spend my day chasing him around. He is very social so I get to take him to the gym daycare and he loves to flirt and play with all the ladies. Marshall is such a good boy still. He is learning the art of a tantrum though. He will throw himself down on the ground and "fake" cry if you tell him "no" or don't pick him up when he wants. He is also a fan of hitting (mostly mommy) if he gets told "no". The girls think it is funny to fake hit with him...funny until he clocks mom in the face when he doesn't get his way. It is rare that he acts up though. Sleeping better at our house. Marsh only wakes and cries about 1 or 2 times a night on average. I have stopped going in when he does this. He goes back to sleep within a half-hour or so now. He only takes one nap a day, but if I am lucky, it lasts up to 3 hours. Sometimes 1 so I never know. We built him a big sandbox in the back for his birthday and he seems to love it so far. He looks at us like we are crazy every time we put him in it though. I don't think he quite understands what to do yet...he is figuring out scooping, dumping, and destroying the sand though. He is trying to walk. He is a great solo-stander. Walking all along furniture and walls. He has taken a few steps alone here and there, but seems to prefer the ease and speed of crawling still. Marshall will crab-crawl on his hands and feet if he doesn't want to hurt his knees. Such a funny little guy.
Ashlyn turned 6 at the 1st of May. She is getting so big! Literally...she is in a size 7 or 8..Natalia is in an 8 or 10. They wear the same shoe size just about. Ashlyn is my little princess still. She is still loving "dress up". We found some fun tutus for her birthday and she is very into shoes and hair bows right now. We are growing out her bangs right now, but she is loving having her hair shorter. Her dance season is about done. A spring concert is right around the corner. It will be fun to see her dance and have fun. She really loves it. We will sign her up again in September. Ash also expressed interest in playing baseball this summer so that will be interesting.
Tally is doing well also. She will be turning 9 in about 9 days. I cannot believe 9 years have passed so quickly. She is such a good girl. We are getting a bit mouthy and talking back some, but overall she does what she is asked and helps out a lot around the house. She actually enjoys emptying the dishwasher, sweeping, vacuuming, and helping with Marshall. She is a great big-sister. Ashlyn knows how to push her buttons, but I am hoping they will outgrow their bickering soon. She really loves her little brother and plays with him everyday. They are really cute together. We got passes to Cowabunga Bay for their birthdays. It will be fun to spend so much time in the water and sun...that is, if summer ever gets here! The girls don't get out of school until the 1st of July and go back at the end of July to their new grades. A short summer that we will have to pack full of fun. Tally is planning to play baseball and basketball this summer/fall so that will keep us busy.
Nothing really new for Rob and I. Just trying to keep up with the little ones. My work has been slow so I have been "part time" for a lot of the year (I have been cancelled off shifts about 3-4 times a month). Hurting financially, but it has been nice to have the extra time at home. Hopefully it pick up soon though.
Rob and I are going river rafting with the Sowells in a couple of weeks. It will be fun to break away from the routine for a few days and let loose. We need it.
I think that is about it for now. I am going to try to be better about updating this thing. I don't know how many people actually look at it anymore though with facebook and everything.

Happy St. Patrick's Day and other stuff:)

2010-03-18T12:45:00.001-07:00

Another couple of months have passed in the blink of an eye! It is already half-way through March. The girls are out of school right now. They will go back after Spring Break. It will be a long 4 weeks. Hopefully we can get to the Zoo, Aquarium, and do a little bowling while they are off. Those are the things they would like to do at least. They got into a bit of trouble this week "writing" stars into the paint and taillights of Rob's truck. Grounded for the week and doing lots of chores right now. Marshall is getting big. He is just about 11 months now. Marsh is getting into everything! I need to baby proof stat! He can walk along furniture and just in the last couple of days has started to let go and "transfer" to another piece of furniture or person. I think he will be walking by his 1st birthday. This may seem like a normal milestone to some, but for our family he will be "ahead". Neither daughter was ever this mobile this early. They didn't walk until well into their 1st year. Of course, this had its advantages...I didn't have to worry about them getting into everything like I do with Marshall. Definitely keeping me busy. He is quickly learning "NO" or "Danger" and either pauses and moves away, or if so inclined, beelines it for whatever we just said "no" to. He is a really good boy overall though. The girls are loving playing with him. Tally can even feed him for me. Now, if I can just get her interested in changing diapers:) Ashlyn is having a lot of fun in dance. She has a Spring Concert coming up in June. It will be fun to see her perform again. She is finishing up Kindergarten and loving it. I think she is very excited for all-day school. Probably not as excited as I am though. She knows all of her "sight words" and is reading her little books very well. It is fun to see her succeed with reading. She is so proud of herself. We need to work on handwriting a little bit, but she is really thriving in the classroom. Tally is trying to memorize her times tables in school. She is constantly "testing" us on ours. She is doing pretty well though. She is a great student when she wants to be. Spelling and math are her two best subjects. She is really enjoying reading as well. Natalia cannot wait for "sport season" to begin. She wants to play soccer and baseball again. I think she may end up with just baseball because school isn't out until July. She has already been out shooting hoops in the backyard with all this nice weather we have had. I think they will all take swimming lessons this year. They are all getting too big too fast! We have the "Summer of Birthdays" starting next month. Marshall, Ashlyn, Tally, then Rob. I guess we need to get through April fools day and Easter first (Ashlyn is reminding us of every holiday that is coming up daily).
Well, there is an update. Hopefully my next blog post won't be too far in the future.

Happy St. Patrick

2010-03-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Oh, the snow days of winter!

2010-01-11T12:41:00.001-08:00

The girls had fun playing in the snow after the last storm. I never was able to get Mr. Marshall out there before it was melty, but he loved watching the big snowflakes falling & catching them in his mouth! This is the 1st time I have seen the girls have a snowball fight and play together. It was a fun few days of snow fun before school started up again. Marshall and I have pretty much been house-bound during the storms. I am not the hugest fan of the cold weather or driving in snow storms, so we have stayed home. It has given me time to snap some cute photos of my boy and his toys though:) The girls are back to school and loving it. Life goes on now that Christmas is over. I am looking forward to Spring--hopefully it won't be a late one this year!

Goodbye Christmas, Welcome 2010!

2010-01-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

It is a new year! I cannot believe it. 2009 didn't seem too great for a lot of people out there, but we were able to welcome Marshall to our family so it has been fantastic for us. Everyday is crazy, but fulfilling,and usually fun around our house. The girls are ready to start school (the longest 6 weeks ever for us all!) and I am ready to have time to myself again--even if it is only 2 hours! I don't really believe in resolutions, but if I were to have one it would be "to purge". Everything--toys, clothes, shoes, cupboards, basement, etc. We have way too much stuff taking up random space at our house. It is time to take back my space! I can't stand the clutter that is lurking in every corner right now. I sound pretty motivated eh? We will see how it goes:)

Hope everyone has a prosperous, safe, and healthy 2010!

Our Christmas was so much fun! I worked all the days up to and also a few after, so I was exhausted. I was thankful Rob and I were both off to enjoy the holiday with the kids this year though. Marshall had a really great time visiting all the family, playing with all his new little noisy toys, and crinkling paper. He likes to watch us play "RockBand" and the "Wii". A little gamer in training I am sure! The girls loved their respective "SANTA" gifts--Tally a guitar and Ipod, Ashlyn a nintendo DS and barbie(which she promptly took out of her festive dress and put on a dr.s coat and mask--nude of course:) Lots of fun. Spoiled for sure! I am thankful we could all be together, visit our families & friends, and be healthy this holiday season. Oh, btw, I do have Xmas cards coming. I am just a bit behind this year! I want everyone to get the cute and very rare (did I mention stressful and breakdown causing) photo of the kids together. So here is a belated Merry Christmas as well as a Happy New Year!

Where did fall go????

2009-12-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Well, time has flown by once again! It is already winter and almost Christmas. I am still trying to figure out where fall went? I want to post some photos from the last couple of months and then I will post some from December. There will be a couple of posts in a row, but I gotta catch up! Our little guy is getting so big! Over the last couple of months he has learned to sit on his own, roll around and get into stuff, bang his drum and whatever else he can, eat "big boy" food, give big and slobbery loves and hugs, clap. He says "mo, mo" which we assume is "more" since it is always said when he is eating and he is eagerly awaiting the next bite. He says MaMa pretty regularly and sometimes "dog" when Al is around. Dog is a new one so I am not sure he really knows what he is saying, but Al is present when he has said it so far. We love all of his new little stages and tricks. Marshall's biggest fans are his sisters. They are very into playing with him right now. Tally is just finishing up her fall basketball season. Last game is this week. It has been fun to watch her develop her game. Her coach has been good this season and taught her a lot. Of course, we think she has some natural talent as well:) Ashlyn is loving taking dance lessons through Miss Margene's Creative Generation. She just finished up performing in their version of the "Nutcracker". Ash was adorable as a "puffoon" and really loved performing. No shy girl here! I am going to post a video of her performance because it was sooooo cute! That's about it I think. Same old for the rest of us. Thanksgiving was great. I was cancelled from work so I was able to spend my Thanksgiving and birthday with my little family. A really great day. Seems like forever ago now though. Natalia, Ashlyn, me, Grandma Sharon, and Aunt Tiff all went to Ballet Wests "Nutcracker" on the 5th. Very fun to dress up and have a girls day out. Well, here's to winter and all it brings....

Halloween 2009

2009-11-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

It was such a fun Halloween this year! The kids looked so adorable in their costumes. Tally wanted to be a witch, but not just any witch. She was a "pumpkin" witch--pretty much just had to find her a costume with orange on it:) Ashlyn was Snow White and had tons of fun posing with her prop apple. Our little Marshall was the cutest Sock Monkey that ever was! I think we have the cutest kids ever! We dressed up for 3 days straight--Valley Crest Carnival Thursday night, Atria Carnival with Great Gma and Gpa Schirack (also great aunt Sandy & Nina) then Trunk-or-Treat with Tiff and Jeremy on Friday, and last but not least--Halloween! So much candy and fun times. I was lucky to have a bit of time off around Halloween and got to do it all. Marshall had a blast exploring the pumpkin guts--our 1st kiddo that would even touch them. He thought it was fantastic and started eating it--yuck! He also thought the little pumpkin we let him play with was awesome. He apparently thought it looked like something that was going to feed him because he kept "latching" on and then looking at it so confused. It was very funny to watch, but after a while I felt bad for him and let him have the real thing. I guess it is time to prepare for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. This year is just flying by! It will be 2010 before we know it.

Sorry there are so many pictures, but I had a hard time picking which ones to post! I will try to figure out how to do a collage before Xmas photos are taken:)

Fall Photos at Kerkman farm

2009-10-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Oh my kids are cute! It was an impromptu photo shoot at my grandpa's farm. Lighting could be better, my kids could have cooperated better, photo quality could be better, but there are few I really love! They had a good time climbing around everything. Marshall was having a struggle because he cannot sit so well yet. I love fall and all the fun times it is going to bring us!

The last of summer & the first of fall!

2009-10-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

divWow time has flown! We fit in as much fun as possible this last few weeks (a difficult feat with school in session since July!). The weather has turned on us--cold and rainy, for the last couple of days. Miserable to us fair-weather friends. We hit the state fair this year on another rainy and yucky day. I did get a fried snickers bar which was quite an experience! Tally had fun playing baseball (Rob was her coach!) and is gearing up for basketball right now. Rob and I took a quick trip to Vegas for one last summer hurrah. It was so fun hanging out with John, Rachel, Katie, and friends. The kids had a great time with Grandma Cindy, Aunt T & Jeremy in their new house. Marshall is growing so quickly! He is already 5 months old. I really wish he would sleep at this point (still up at least every 2- 2 1/2 hours and some nights every hour!). He does not seem to need it. Happy as can be with no REM sleep or naps. Me on the other hand, am not fairing so well! I am dying for this boy to sleep. I keep telling myself he will soon--keep hope alive I guess. I can't say I am the nicest mom right now to the girls--very short on patience. I know it will pass and I hate wishing these months away, but it is rough for all of us! The girls are doing very well in school. We are learning "sight words" with Ash and continuing to learn those darn letters! She is improving every day though. Tally is doing great. She is loving to read more and more every day. She is doing great in math as well, which is good because I can't do much past the 4th grade level! Stay tuned--there are lots of photos to come!

Finally, some updates!

2009-09-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Well, there has been a lot of stuff going on for us lately. I will be posting quite a bit the next few days so bear with me or enjoy! I am late getting the girl's 1st day of school photos on, so here they are. My mom bought Ashlyn this cute dress. She has to wear a dress just about every day. I will be buying lots of tights and leggings for winter. It is easier to do that than fight with her every morning. Tally still could care less about what she wears (well, anything but a dress), but she looked cute too. The highlight of her outfit was her "twinkle toes" shoes from Sketchers. They are all she wanted for school. We had our California cousins (John, Rachael, & Katie) come for a visit in August. It was a lot of goofing off and tons of fun. The grown-ups will be meeting up in Vegas in a couple of weeks--very fun! We have just been doing a lot of homework, reading, working, and trying to fit in a little bit more summer before fall really hits us. More posts to come....

Talented Kids!

2009-08-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

My girls are so very talented! We have quite the swimmer--"diving" into the pool over and over--OUCH! We also have quite the dancer. Actually Tally is our great swimmer right now and Ash is the little dancer. I guess they just wanted to challenge themselves! Very funny stuff!

4 Months!

2009-08-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

We cannot believe our little guy is 4 months old already! It is too crazy. Marshall can now roll over from his tummy to his back. He has almost gotten from his back to his tummy--hopefully the first time won't be off of something! Marshall really likes to smile and "talk" to everyone. He is very social, unlike both of his parent:) Hi says "hi" and "momma" or "mom" all the time (ok, it is babbling, but he makes noises that sound like these words--even Rob agrees with me which never happens!) Marshall is just so much fun to have around. He makes us smile everyday, no matter how bad it is going. He is even full of smiles today after his check-up and shots. He should be crabby and crying all day and instead, he is playing, smiling, and talking. Such a sweetie! For those of you keeping track, the Marsh-man now weighs 13.5 pounds and is 26 inches long. Long and skinny! He does have chubby cheeks and a double-chin though! He is wearing a 3-6 month, but can fit into a 6-9 month size as well. He is growing up way too fast!!!

More Summer Fun!

2009-08-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

We have been trying to fit in as much "summer" as possible! It has been a little more difficult since the girls started school, but we are makin' it happen. Marshall is now 3 months and soooooo cute if I do say so myself. He is such a happy little man and very full of personality. The girls have their own little personalities that come through in these photos as well. Our kids are all definitely unique from the inside out.We had tons of fun at Cowabunga Bay with Nikki and her kids--thanks for taking us Nik!

Happy 4th and other July happenings

2009-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun in Park City for the 4th of July. The girls had fun at the parade down main street--lots of fun things to see. We did lots of swimming and walking to "Cows" for ice cream. I am back to work now. Bummer! It was a nice break off though. I just wish it hadn't rained every day for the first 2 months. Oh well. We are trying to enjoy what is left of summer. The girls will both be back in school next week. Back to a schedule & homework.

Cute Kids

2009-07-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

I have the cutest kids ever! We have been busy fitting in all the fun things there are to do in the summer--swimming, zoo, playing at parks, riding bikes, etc. A lot of fun stuff now that it has not rained every day. Marshall went in for his 2 month check-up and now weighs 11 1/2 pounds and is 25 inches long. We definitely make them long and lean. He has been such a good boy so far. This is a good thing since his sisters are quite the handfuls! I go back to work in 2 weeks and cannot believe it. 3 months have flown by. We are off to Park City for a week for our family staycation. It should be fun. In the meantime, here are just some random summer photos of my QT pies.

11 Years of Marriage!

2009-06-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Rob & I have been married for 11 years now. It means we have been together for 16. That is just crazy to me! It seems like yesterday that we met. We are old now. I guess it is a good thing we still like each other after all this time. I have spent just about half of my life with Rob & wouldn't change a thing. This is the boy who taught me how to drive a car (or tiny white datsun truck with gold flames:), took me to all my school dances (even though he went to a rival HS), put up with & also helped support me through nursing school, overlooks my shopping habit, & has given me 3 beautiful kids. I am not an easy person to live with as most who know me are aware. Rob deserves an award in my book for this alone. He is also a great daddy, even if our kids don't think so most days (he is the enforcer of rules). He can keep our household running & care for our kids while I am working (I work when he is off) which I know most men wouldn't do. I could go on and on I am sure. I just want Rob to know that I love and appreciate him every day. I know I am a lucky girl with a husband who is waaaay hotter than she is! How did I get so LUCKY? Rob suprised me with roses (one of my faves) & we spent a night at the Marriot Hotel downtown. We went to PF Changs for dinner & had the brilliant idea to walk there. Well, as has been the trend, there was a huge downpour that we got to walk back to the hotel in. It did make a pretty rainbow outside of our window though. We just stayed in and utilized the hottub & relaxed without the kids. It was a fantastic little gettaway for our anniversary.

Tubby Love!

2009-06-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Marshall loves his bath! He just kicks and coos the whole time. He also loves to look at himself in the mirror. He can always make himself smile! Marshall has been so much fun this last 2 months. It is hard to believe 8 weeks have gone by. He is a great little guy-very easy-going most of the time. He is sleeping much better which makes me happier (the girls are anyway--I don't yell as much when I sleep) & a bit more productive. Marshall has been sleeping from about 9pm until about 2am then sleeps again until between 4 &5am. Somehow I have managed to birth what appears to be another "morning person" because he is up for the day smiling and talking by 7. It is too bad his mommy is not a "morning person". Rob usually takes Marshall while I get ready or sleep another 45 minutes before he goes to bed for the day. I am thankful for this because I know first hand how tired someone is after a night shift--all you want is that bed. So, thanks honey! Hopefully someday our 2 morning people (Ash & Marshall) can hang out together and the rest of us can sleep!

Marshall also seems to be like Ashlyn in the way he always wants attention. If there is activity happening around him, he wants in on it. He is very social (does not get that from me:) & loves to be held. I have resorted to wearing him in his baby bjorn carrier while I clean up a bit around the house. I haven't gotten any big projects done though. I do love just sitting around and holding him so maybe it is my own fault for "spoiling" him! Anyway, we are having a blast with our little family around the house these days. Now if summer would just arrive...

Tally is 8!

2009-06-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my firstborn is 8 years old already! I know I keep saying this, but time is just flying by! Natalia had a really fun birthday. Friday (her actual BD) she chose to go see the movie "UP" & have lunch at the Olive Garden. It was very fun to go out as a family. Saturday we had an outdoor water party for her at our house. It was not terribly warm, but the kids didn't seem to care too much. A balloon lady came and made pretty much whatever was requested. We had horses, cats, monkeys, princesses, spiderman, & a batman. It was pretty amazing what she could do. Tally received tons of fun gifts--spoiled as usual. Her biggest and most favorite gift had to be her brand new basketball hoop. She has been out shooting hoops every day since getting it. I must say she is a very good shot and super cute while doing it. I am hoping this is the combo that will retire us in style someday...when she is playing pro women's ball of course!

1 Month Old Marshall!

2009-05-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

Our little guy is 1 month old already! I can't believe it. He is actually 5 weeks old now, but life has been a bit crazy lately so I am just getting around to update this thing. Marshall weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces almost 2 weeks ago (packing on about a pound a week!) so I think now he is closer to 10 pounds. Everyone thinks he still looks small, but I think it is because he is growing taller too so he is keeping his long and lean look:) He definitely has some cheeks and a little double chin now. He is still eating about every 2-3 hours. Sleeping a little better at night. He will go 3-4 hours at least once in a 7 or 8 hour period. He never cries unless he is hungry and then it is only a yell here and there. Smiling is a favorite pastime (especially for daddy and Ashlyn). We all just love this little guy. He is definitely the most popular person at our house right now. I just wish he would slow down the growing just a little bit--it is going too quickly for my taste! I will be back to work before I know it--5 weeks down and only 7 to go! Bummer. I am really enjoying my time off with my cute family.

My Little Graduate!

2009-05-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn graduated from preschool on the 22nd. I cannot believe she is 5 and now ready to go to Kindergarten! Time flies crazy fast! She was super adorable receiving her diploma (which I missed with the camera because I was trying to keep the baby quiet:( They put on a little program and she had to stand up and spell her name which she did so proudly and loudly wrong (she forgot the "L"). Also, she told everyone she wanted to be a doctor (she wants to one-up her mom and be a doctor for babies) & drew an adorable self-portrait that she showed-off. Ashlyn is so excited to start going to school with her big sister. Natalia decided to start riding her bike after owning it for 3 years now and not ever touching it. She of course has outgrown it and now needs a new one. One day she decided she could ride without training wheels & did it! Crazy kid! It was shocking to Rob and I because neither of us has even seen her ride a bike for years and now she was doing it by herself on 2 wheels! When she sets her mind on something--she can do it! We didn't help her obtain the skill at all. Not only can she ride 2 wheels, but she also can do stunts--she built this little ramp herself. Tally looks really cute riding her tiny bike & is so proud of herself.

Happy Birthday Ashlyn!

2009-05-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn turned 5 on the 6th. I cannot believe it! It seems like yesterday that she was born. All she really wanted was a bike & picked this one out. It is actually a little small for my giant 5 year old, but what do you do when it is all she wanted? We will have to upgrade to a bigger one if she remains interested. She is cute riding it around the neighborhood with her ginormous pink helmet. I tried to be a domestic diva and make the princess barbie cake. I think it turned out pretty well considering I had to make it twice! The first one caved in on herself. I was devastated and almost gave up, but she really wanted a barbie cake.

We took Ashlyn to Chuck E. Cheese with all of her little friends for a birthday party. A crazy, but fun night. Ash loves being "5". She has her Kindergarten checkup this week though so we will see if she still likes 5 after that! I had to throw one photo of Marshall in there. Ashlyn loves her brother and is always smothering him with kisses and talking to him in her "mom" voice (SUPER, SUPER high and loud!). He doesn't seem to mind though. He has even smiled at her a couple of times (yes he smiles and it is not just gas! Tally was an early smiler too.)

Tulip Festival

2009-05-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

I know I posted today already, but we took the girls to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point yesterday & we got some cute pictures of them. I didn't want them to feel "left out" of the blog so here they are. They had so much fun running through all the grassy areas & loved all the flowers. Ashlyn was in heaven, but so bummed she couldn't pick any flowers!

One Week!

2009-05-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe a week has gone by already! Time really flies, even when you are sitting around "relaxing". Rob has to go back to work Sunday night and we will really miss having him here all the time. It has been great spending so much time with him. He has been very helpful this last week. Cooking dinner, getting Tally to school, taking Ashlyn to the gym to give me a break. I could go on and on. Thanks babe for making this week go smoothly! The baby is doing well. He is sleeping better and eating better so I am functioning better:) We love having him around. The poor "little dude" (as Tally has named him) has been passed around and around all day. We all want our turn with this sweetie pie! Anyway, here are more photos (they will be never ending!). For those of you that wanted to see his room, here are a couple photos of it. We need to finish it, but it will have to wait until I am working again & bringing home a real paycheck!

First Days

2009-04-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

We are all home and doing well. The girls are LOVING their new brother. Much more than we ever anticipated. It is adorable to watch them interact with Marshall. He is doing well. He still weighs 6pounds 1 ounce. Has not lost a bit of weight! It might be due to the fact that he eats every hour or two during the night:( Marshall has been a good baby so far. He doesn't cry much (once again, only at night) and sleeps well during the day. I don't know how he does that considering our home is not quiet with both girls around. We will work on getting him on a "normal" day/night schedule this next week hopefully. I think he is the cutest little thing and can't stop taking photos of him. It is very fun having a baby around again. Even if it means that I get hardly any sleep! Thanks to all our friends and family that have brought us meals and fun gifts. We love all of you and hope to keep seeing you all summer!

Meet Marshall!

2009-04-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well our little guy has made his debut. His delivery had some drama (as per our usual), but everything went very quickly and very well. We are both doing just great. He weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and 19 inches long. We think he is so adorable in his little "old man" way. He has been pulling some of the funniest little faces for us. Marshall seems pretty mellow so far. He is a good eater, calms from crying easily, & hasn't peed on us yet. I think we will keep him! I know you all think I am crazy for posting so quickly, but I am used to being so, so busy that I don't even know what to do with myself now that we are home with the girls away visiting family & a good little sleeping baby. Here are some photos from Marshall's first days. You know I will be posting tons over the next few weeks. I won't be back to work until August, but anyone is welcome to visit us & keep me entertained!

Easter 2009

2009-04-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Easter has come and gone! Where is spring already? At least Easter sunday was nice. I didn't have to work so it was twice as nice this year! The girls had a blast and looked really cute this Easter, although the photos didn't turn out so well. Maybe next year! We have been busily preparing for our spring arrival. The baby's room is all finished and ready when he is!

End of season

2009-03-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

Basketball has officially ended. Tally did very well playing this season. We found out that she is the only player who had not played before and also the youngest on the team! Most of the kids playing were in 3rd or 4th grade, not 2nd like her. It was really fun to watch every week. I think Rob enjoyed helping out with the team as well. She will definitely play again. I think next up will be baseball.

Here is a 3D picture of the boy. He is only 28 weeks here (approx. 1 month ago). It is not the best because he decided to wake up and wiggle tons while we were trying to get a photo. I think he is camera shy because both times Dr. Porter tried to get a 3D ultrasound, the baby put his arms over his face & wouldn't move them. I think he still looks kind of cute though. I am hoping to get one more before he is born. I will be going every week now for ultra-sounds, appointment, and Non-Stress Tests. Makes for a long 2 months, but whatever will get him here safely.

I am bummed it is snowing again! I am so ready for spring. The girls have had a blast playing outside every day & it has been nice having them out of the house for a bit. Hopefully this will be the last snow for this season!

25 Random Things

2009-03-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

Nikki asked me to make a random list of 25 things that people wouldn't know about me. I am not that exciting of a person so it has taken me a month, but here ya go!

1) I love, love baths! It wastes water and I don't necessarily fit well in the tub, but I have to have one at least a few times a week.
2)I sell Close to my Heart so I can feed my own scrapbooking addictions & scrap with friends at least once a month.
3)I scrapbook. My husband thinks it is an obsession, but I think of it as my hobby.
4)I hate the gym, but spend at least 4 hours a week there sweating my worries away....
5)I love shoes & purses. They always fit!
6)I have to have all the closet doors shut in a room before I can sleep at night. No dark doorways (even in my girl's room)! I also have to sleep with my bedroom door locked and a fan on so I can't hear all the "scary" night noises.
7)I was an trophy-winning competitive gymnast--a long, long time ago!
8) I have to multi-task--i.e. I read a magazine or book while watching t.v. or a movie.
9) I love to read James Patterson/Dean Koontz books.
10) I have only dated one boy and married him!
11) My toenails are ALWAYS painted!
12) I have 3 tattoos and will probably get more someday.
13) I love movies and can't wait until I can go see more of them when my kids are older.
14)I don't eat most meats, especially pork or beef. Sometimes I like chicken. I do love almost- burnt bacon any time (I realize it is pork, but I can't turn it down!)
15) I am a make-up and beauty product junkie! I am sure I spend hundreds of dollars a year on make-up & lotions!
16)Love Mexican food and could eat it almost every day!
17) I have curly hair & straighten it almost every day.
18)I bite my nails--I have tried every remedy out there to stop and just can't do it!
19)I LOVE, LOVE AC/DC and most any other "big hair band" from the 80's.
20)I played the piano and guitar growing up--probably should have been a rock star or was one in another life!
21)I am a super shy person, but those that know me would never believe it.
22)I am addicted to "the girls next door" and "the Real World". Also, anything on the "E" channel.
23)I am a super clean person, but HATE cleaning!
24)I love to travel and hope to see the world someday.
25)I hate talking on the phone. I am not good at answering it or returning calls!

March Madness

2009-03-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it hasn't really been madness, but there is a lot of activity at our house right now. We just finished painting and putting together our bedroom and now we are trying to get motivated enough to start the baby's room. I have picked the colors and the crib bedding is being made. We haven't bought a lot of other stuff, but I am hoping to go shopping by the first of April. It is a lot of work to clean out a "playroom", purge old baby clothes/items, and get walls ready to paint! I have been exhausted, but it will be worth it. I cannot wait to have the baby's room ready so I can start washing clothes and "setting up" the nursery. Hopefully, I will keep feeling well, keep the blood pressure under control, and stay motivated (a lot of days the most difficult part!). I am hoping to get all this stuff done by April 1 so I can spend my "nesting" time doing easy things like cleaning out cupboards and making room for bottles! The real tricky part of the next 9 weeks will be fitting in weekly Dr. appointments, Ultra-sounds, & NSTs along with my full-time job & the kids! I keep reminding myself that we are almost done!

We still haven't found a name for our little guy. We are open for suggestions! We are having a hard time agreeing on a name. We do want it to be a little different, but not weird! I like simple names that you can't make "nicknames" out of. We don't want there to be 5 of them in the same class so it can't be too trendy. The middle name is Robert. Help us out!

The girls are doing well. We are trying to get Ashlyn to learn her letters. She has absolutely no desire to do this. She starts kindergarten in July so we are running out of time! I have made up games, bribed with treats, and even bought a "computer keyboard" just for her. She is doing a little better in preschool so I am happy. Hopefully we can make it through the next 2 months without her hating it too much & actually "graduating"!

Tally is doing well with basketball--her last game is this week. It has been really fun to watch the kids/team progress over the last 6 weeks. Lots better than some of the other sports they have played. She is off-track right now so the house is crazy, loud, & messy with both girls home all day.

Well, that is our life right now. Here are some random picks of Ashlyn playing on the stairs & Tally playing with "Bendaroos"!

My Valentines!

2009-02-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

These are my special Valentines! I love them all and couldn't imagine life without them. I have the best girls in the world and a pretty great hubby too. I couldn't ask for more!

Basketball SuperStar!

2009-02-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

Tally started to play basketball this week. It is her first time trying this sport. She loves it! We went to her first game Thursday. She made the first basket for her team in the first 5 minutes! It was so cute to see her so proud of herself. She is quite the sporty little thing. I am sure we will have many more photos to post, but here are a couple from her warm-up this week.

Hello 2009!

2009-02-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Well, we are well into 2009! I can't believe the way time flies. New Years Eve was low-key fun. The Kristensen & Lopez families hung out at our house for a few hours. The adults played "Mexican Train" while the kids mostly ran wild. I finally get the Mexican Train game so it was a lot of fun--I even won once! The kids had a blast doing whatever kids do. Ava had a great time exploring our floor and furniture. It was a really fun night. The rest of January has been uneventful. Rob & I are trying to paint our bedroom and get it put together before starting the baby's room. It will be one project after another for the next few months. The girls are doing great in school. They both love going to school and learning new things. Ashlyn is attempting to learn her letters--not the most interesting/important thing according to her--its been a struggle! Between trying to teach an unwilling 4 year old her letters and having to do 2nd grade reading, spelling, subtraction, & multiplication (already, seriously???) every night, there just isn't much time for anything else.

Tally is starting basketball this week. It should be very exciting. She has never played bball before. We are all excited for her to see what she can do. I am still trying to find Ashlyn a little dance studio that will not break the bank. She is completely uninterested in sports so we will try a dance class instead.

Christmas Crazy!

2009-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well, the big day is over and done with. Our girls received everything their hearts desired(Ashlyn wanted "baby poops-a-lot a.k.a Baby Alive Learns to Potty & Tally a Nintendo DS). We actually scaled back this year and it was still overwhelming. Because our girls received less, some other family of children received more(we sent extra gifts to toys4tots). That makes us all feel like it was a successful holiday. Santa even brought Rob some cool new Sketchers shoes & me some new diamond earrings! I am spending my days off clearing out Christmas decorations & finding room for more stuff. We will be having one mammoth yard sale come spring! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday full of whatever makes you happy!

Holiday Festivities!

2008-12-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

We have been keeping busy with all of our "Holiday Traditions". We walked through Temple Square and enjoyed the lights before these last few snow storms. We have made graham cracker houses--quite the feat! The royal frosting did not go so well and then we had to wait days for the other frosting to dry. Talk about torture for kids! The girls were so excited to finally get to decorate them. Next year we will find another project, or just buy a gingerbread house kit! The tree is up and the house decorated. We have gone to see Santa and put in our wish list. I think we are ready for the real thing now. We will make cookies and frost them Christmas Eve day. We love the holidays because we all stay home together (as much as possible) and enjoy each other's company. I love to have the Christmas lights on with all the other lights off. I will miss my traditional glass of wine & relaxation on Christmas Eve this year, but we are all really excited to meet our new little son/brother this coming year.
We wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope that everyone has a wonderful & healthy 2009!

Holiday Preparation!

2008-12-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

We are busily preparing for the holidays. I had to work through Thanksgiving so I am now playing catch-up. Trying to clean (& deep clean/purge) everything to make way for Christmas decorations. I am hoping to at least get the tree up this week. The girls are very excited. They have both been handfuls lately so they are on the "naughty list" right now. Hopefully they can get it together before too long so we can visit Santa and put in our wish list. I love Christmastime. It is my favorite holiday because Tally is off-track so we can do lots of fun things. We have a ton of fun traditions to perform. I can't wait for the coming weeks. Hopefully work picks up so I can work a little extra and finish my shopping. If not, we will still have each other to celebrate with. I am over-ambitious this year trying to make some gifts for people. We will see how that goes!
We tried to have a photo of the cousins taken, but the kids weren't that into it. The outfits my mother-in-law bought are cute though. We will have to try again another time.

Halloween!

2008-11-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

Halloween was tons of fun this year! The girls looked adorable and really loved dressing up, especially Ashlyn. She has been wearing these red "ruby slippers" as much as possible this month. Tally picked her own costume this year. She made a great little angel. The girls had fun trick-or-treating--so glad the weather was decent! My sister Tiff & her husband Jeremy stayed at our house and passed out candy. I didn't even recognize them when they came up to us! The girls have too much candy to eat, but had fun collecting it!

Fall Photos!

2008-11-05T09:10:00.001-08:00

Our Fall 2008

2008-11-05T09:02:00.000-08:00

Its been a crazy couple of weeks for us! We have done so much fun stuff. We went to Schmidt's to pick pumpkins then over to Gardner Village to hang out with the withches. We went to the Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point-the girls loved the blow-up toys & face painting. We had our annual Halloween party (gown-ups only). Rob & I took the girls to Boo at the Zoo--it was mayhem! We spent 3 hours standing in lines for candy with hundred of other people. I don't think we saw any animals the whole time. I take that back, there was an owl being shown off near one of the lines. The girls had fun and that is all that matters. Who knew they would have record attendance this year? Ashlyn had her cute Halloween preschool program, complete with parade & lots of songs! She was shy, but so cute! So much fall fun! It is our favorite time of year. This is my first attempt at a slide show. Hope you like it!

Enjoy Fall Treats!

2008-10-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun going up Millcreek Canyon a couple of weeks ago. The girls thought it was awesome to hike in and find our own "camping' spot. I don't really camp so we just went for a delicious(??) dinner of hot dogs & s'mores. It was tons of fun. The girls kept running around (entirely too close to the river) & jumping off rocks, trees, whatever they could climb. It was fun & a bit nerve-wracking to watch them be crazy kids. Rob & I had to keep them safe from the fire, river, flying objects i.e. rocks & sticks (launched by one adorable daughter or the other:). The leaves were beautiful & the weather was nice. All in all, a great evening for our family.

We're Back!

2008-09-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we are home! It has been a long 2 weeks, but so well-worth it. Maui was amazing-so pretty & relaxed. Oahu was fun, but a bit busy for the end of our trip. The photos are out of order, but you get the idea--so much fun & so much to do(too many photos to post)! Rob & I had fun snorkeling--saw turtles & manta rays. We saw amazing waterfalls & beaches on the Hana Highway (even if we had to "camp" in our cottage w/ bugs & geckos). Lots of swimming. I got my "anniversary tattoo" at the end of our trip. I love it!! Rob never figured out what he wanted so he didn't get one. I think he was a little too scared to get one, especially now that he saw me get mine! This tat did not feel good, but we have a clean slate now. I told him that I got rid of all my anger & angst toward him for the last 10 years--Yes it hurt THAT BAD! This trip was made better by having our friends there! We had a blast w/ the Kristensens & Ostmarks--2 weeks together and no real fights(inter-couple anyway:)--pretty amazing considering our close quarters

We all did well w/out our kids, but definitely won't be leaving them again any time soon. It feels great to be home. The girls are doing great and enjoyed their "vacation" as well. It is back to the grind for all of us-Tally is back on-track, Ash is back to preschool, Rob is back to work, and I go back this week as well. The fun has to end sometime I suppose!

Less than 24 Hours to go!!

2008-09-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

By this time tomorrow, we will be on our way to Hawaii! We can't wait. Rob is feeling tons better after getting Lortab, Decadron, 600mg Ibuprofen, & antibiotics from Instacare for bacterial tonsillitis. They hooked him up! It is working-yay! He is just happy that he can swallow his spit now. The girls are enjoying their vacation so far w/ grandma Sharon--it is going to be really difficult to be away from them for so long. I am sure we will all survive it though! See you all when we return!

4 days & counting!

2008-09-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Only four days to go! By this time Sunday we will be en route to our Hawaiian adventure. Rob is sick today with a terrible flu and sore throat. Gotta get him to the doctor and feeling better before we go. Bummer! I had the same thing 2 weeks ago & it is truly miserable. Hopefully we can all get well & stay well before we leave. The girls are very excited to stay with the grandmas. Tally is keeping a countdown of her own on her chalkboard. Ashlyn had her first day of preschool at Advantage Preschool. She was so excited to go to "school". She looked very adorable if I may say so myself! Ashlyn will have school on Mondays & Wednesdays. Her teacher is Miss Amanda. She really loved the first day--there was a birthday and she got M&Ms so she LOVED it!

Countdown: 7 days until HAWAII!

2008-09-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

We have one week to go until we will be standing in Hawaii! We cannot wait. Rob & I have never taken a real vacation alone since our honeymoon (to Disneyland--not even sure this is considered a "real" vk). We are sad to leave the girls at home, but we know they will have fun on a "vacation" of their own with the grandmas. We have tons to get done this week. Hopefully I can get everything ready for our big adventure. Stay tuned for photos and a "trip in review" post. The countdown will continue!

Warren weekend in Ogden Canyon

2008-09-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

We took a little breather from the hustle and bustle of our crazy life (thanks to the Glads!). The entire Warren fam was there to swim & just relax for this "last hurrah" of summer. The kids swam all day, then we just all ate together for dinner, & chilled in the beautiful mountains until after sundown. Very fun. We just got this underwater digital camera for our upcoming trip to Hawaii. It was a blast to try out. The kids really got a kick out of being able to "go under" and see themselves. Both girls are becoming great swimmers. Tally really seems to have taken to the water. She is a little fish! There was a slide there that was intimidating for the girls. They both were brave & mastered the exit (which was very fast!). These photos are their first attempts & their faces are priceless! It was fun for the cousins to hang out as well--we don't see Brayden & Trystin or Tyler much. Hopefully, this is something we can do every year.

Just Funny!

2008-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Yay for me! I finally figured this out (thanks Bern!). I cannot, however, make it upright so you have to watch it side-ways. It is still hil-ar-ious! This is our little Ashlyn hoola-hooping for the first time at the first of summer. It is so funny! We love her little bum shake. It is a little known fact that Rob is expert at the Hoola Hoop as well! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right?

Playdate!

2008-08-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun playing with Hope & Nikki. We went to Cafe Rio & then for ice cream at McDonalds. The girls had a lot of fun dressing up (they had to keep their princess dresses on for dinner of course!) and playing all the "girly" things. The girls can't wait to play with Hope again!

Miss U Grandma!

2008-08-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

I am thinking about and missing my Grandma Bigler today. She was one of my favorite people and one of my biggest fans! Full of unconditional love. I miss talking to her, sparkly wetn'wild lipstick kisses, & big hugs. I am lucky to still have my gramps here to support and love me & the fam (luv you)! I love you gramma--I miss you!

Time Flies!

2008-08-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

I found these photos of little Natalia at around 18 months. I just cannot believe it is possible that she was ever so small! Time is really flying by. Now at 7, she still loves to color, but usually keeps her pants on (unless the Kristensens are visiting!). I love my girls so much. I am the luckiest mom ever!

Park City Getaway!

2008-08-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

We were able to get away for 4 days to fabulous Park City, Utah this last week. It was so much fun! We had our cousin John & his new wife, Rachel out from Alameda. Linda was able to make it out from San Leandro as well. Grandma Shirley & Grandpa John were hanging out. It is all about family when we hit the PC. We spent our time swimming, hiking, shopping, playing games, & just enjoying each others company. The "cousins"--John, Rach, me, & Rob were able to go out a time or two for some horse play without the kids. We missed cousin Katie--who had to work:(, but had a really great time otherwise. This is one yearly trip we wouldn't miss for anything!

Sara Lee Lagoon Day!

2008-08-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

We had tons of fun at Lagoon this past week. We have not been for 5 or 6 years so it was all new to us. The girls loved running from ride to ride. They LOVE rollercoasters--the scarier the better! Ashlyn cried because she was about 1/2 inch to short to ride the really big coasters. Maybe next year. Tally had so much fun taking turns on the crazy rides with Rob and I. The girls each won a stuffed penguin--Crystal(Ash) & Julie(Tal)--playing a water balloon game.

Such a fun day for our family. A rare occasion that all of us were off together!

2008-08-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am not technologically gifted, but I am going to try out this blog thing. Apparently there are a few people out there who would like to keep up with our little family and see into our crazy lives. I am going to attempt to blog for those 3 people! We will see how it goes.