Our Yard Phase 2

These are the pictures after we put sod down on the bottom and have the first retaining wall finished. Jason is laying the final pieces of sod.

Our Yard, phase One

We have been doing a lot of work in the back yard...digging, and flattening, and building. Here are the phase one pictures! I am standing on the top deck taking these pictures.

A little ranting from Jessica

My friend has an amusing blog for those of you wasting time on the internet when you should be cleaning...http://www.jessicaloff.blogspot.com/
Also, I have been doing my diet/exercise program for 4 weeks now. Every four weeks I redo measurements and take pictures. Today was the day. I was a little disappointed that I didn't see huge results, but then I had to take some of my own advice (and my moms, and my sisters, and my friends) that it is coming off, slowly, but surely, and just be happy that it is coming off and not on. I have 15.4pounds until I get to my goal! If I ever get there I will post a picture of the scale...make that, when I get there!
And one more, quick thing...do men ever outgrow laughing when they pass gas? Some of you may be more fortunate than I am, and your husbands aren't highly amused by this...I am jealous!

Fat Chance Farm

Austin's preschool took a field trip to the Fat Chance Farm. The kids got to take a pony ride. They were able to feed a goat, a sheep, chickens, a rabbit, and horses. Layla and Austin both loved it!

Where do they learn these things?

One Sunday afternoon we were sitting at the table eating ice cream. I look over and there is Layla with her face covered by her bowl, trying to get every last drop of ice cream out. I know that I do this, so she must have seen me do it!

Smores

Jason, Austin, and Ryan went to the father and son campout last week. They roasted hotdogs and marshmellows. When Austin got home he wanted to roast marshmellows again. So we turned on our gas grill and mom bought chocolate and graham crackers.

Austin's First Talk

Austin gave his first talk in Primary week before last. He was GREAT!! He did so well. I was totally impressed. He looked really cute with his hair combed and a four piece Sunday outfit! My baby is growing up!


Austin’s talk 4/22/07

My faith in Jesus Christ grows when I know He is my Savior and Redeemer.

Faith is believing in something that you cannot see.

My parents and my teachers teach me things about Jesus.

I have faith in Heavenly Father and in Jesus Christ.

I know that Jesus is my older brother.

I know that Jesus lived on this earth.

I know that Jesus paid for when I do naughty things if I repent.

I know that Jesus died.

I know that Jesus lived again.

I know that Jesus is my Savior.

I know that Jesus is my Redeemer.

I know that I will one day live with Heavenly Father and Jesus if I do what is right.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Easter

We drove home Easter morning. Jason had been driving all night. The Easter Bunny left some coloring books, sketch pads, and crayons for the kids in the car. We slept most of the afternoon. That evening we colored eggs.

Pretty Princess

Layla picked this flower while we were taking a walk one evening. I couldn't resist trying to get the perfect pretty princess shot....eight pictures later, I realized that I was not going to get the "perfect shot" but she is still a pretty princess.

Marmie and Pop-pop

Jason's paternal granparents live in Zephyrhills, a small town near Tampa. Wednesday we drove there to visit them. Jason's dad, brother, and sister went with us. When we got there we went into their house and visited a little then the men went to Lowes to buy supplies to help Pop-pop fix the front flower bed. The kids and I sat outside and played. Austin broke out in a weird rash and wouldn't stop rubbing his eyes. We aren't sure if it was from the cats or the smoke at their house.

The kids and I went to the neighborhood
pool and played there until the men were
done with the flower bed. Then we headed home.

Opa

Jason's maternal grandfather, Opa, lives part of the year in West Palm Beach. Tuesday we drove the 166miles to vist him. We had a nice, but short visit with Opa and Georgie, his friend.

Swimming

The kid's favorite part of our vacation had to be the pool. Austin had a life jacket and Layla had floaties, Ryan had one of the floating rings made for babies that he sat in. They just had so much fun playing in the water. The first day that we were there the pool was heated. It was great. The next day it was not, we were a little disappointed, but it was still really nice.

Austin's 5th Birthday

While we were in Florida Austin had his 5th Birhtday. We had a party with breakfast and he got to open his presents. He fell asleep that night before we did cake and ice cream, so we did it the next night.

Daytona

On the way to Orlando we stopped at Daytona Beach. We were amazed to see that you drive your car and park right on the beach. The sand is so fine and soft. The beach is flat, not slopped down like most beaches we have been to. Also the sand is so compact that you don't sink when walking, or driving, on it. Jason's dad said that they used to race the cars on the beach before they built the speedway. Patti said that is where they must film people running on the beach. It was like walking on concrete.

Clearance Cakes

After Valentine's Day I went to Target and bought a box that made two little heart shaped cakes. It was like $.40. It came with disposable pans, cake mix, icing, and sprinkles. So we mixed up the cake mix, and baked them. Then I let the kids decorate them.
It was fun. Then we got to eat them. They were gross! We ended up throwing them all away, but hey, it was a nice thought!

Sledding

These are the rest of the pics from sledding this morning. The first one is the hill next to our house. If you click on the picture and then zoom in you can see Jason stuck in the bushes! It was pretty funny!

Real reason

The real reason we took the below picture was so that we had a better picture me and Ryan to put on the fridge. I will post the one that we have on the fridge now. One of the reasons it has been on the fridge was to help me remember to eat well so I didn't look like this again. Yes, I know that I had just had a baby, but I still don't want to look like that again.
I like to compare the two and feel better about myself!

My baby!

Ryan is such a happy and cuddley baby. When ever I get him out of his crib he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly! It is so nice. Austin and Layla were never like that.

Bath after cake

After Ryan finished his cake he was filthy! We popped him in the sink for a quick bath. The kids all thought this was hilarious!

More cake pics!

On Sunday, Ryan's actual birthday, we gave him more cake. He actually had some fun with this one.

Opening Presents

Here is Ryan opening his birthday presents. He got three new outfits, a pair of shoes, some awesome books, cars, and a super soft growling tiger.

Birthday Party

Ryan's birthday party was a lot of fun. There were lots of friends and family there celebrating with us. We had subs, chips/dip, and veggie tray with dip (courtesy of Grandma Carol). When it was cake time we put Ryan in his high chair. He wasn't really interested in cake. He just kind of stared at it.
None of our kids have dug right into the cake!? O'well, less mess to clean up.

Ryan's birthday cake

Friday night after getting home from the temple at midnight, Jason and I started decorating Ryan's birthday cake. (I had to work Saturday morning and would be getting home less than an hour before the party.) We had a Baby Einstein theme, so the cake was the catepillar.