In need of. . .

A haircut. Jackson's hair is so long! I've been growing it out to see if he could pull off the cute shaggy look. If I kept it going and knew how to trim it properly it might get there but for now he just needs a haircut. So stay tuned for pictures of the before and after. Coming. . . mmm. . . soon-ish.

St. Patty's Day

For St. Patrick's day this year I decided to breach the crafty side. So we had leprechaun footprints, but where did they go?

They went into the bathroom and used Joshy's stool, not pictured is the green pee they didn't flush. Josh was appalled they didn't flush. We heard about it all day.

After a trip to the commode they invaded our kitchen. We set up a leprechaun trap the night before and baited it with their favorite cereal, Lucky Charms, they ARE magically delicious after all. But to no avail, we did not catch one.

They did leave the kids so cute St Patty's day shirts. They turned our milk and water green!


During the day we had a break from the St. Patty's day festivities and created a leaf for our table. Our table has always opened but never had a leaf. Through a lot of frustration we got the leaf to work out. We've since stained and lacquered it so it looks like it matches.

Again, not perfect but Mike did the edge from memory and I'm very proud of him.

After the leaf fiasco we started dinner. Cheese stuffed shells. Those Leprechauns were at it again. They turned our noodles green.

They also turned our cottage and ricotta cheese.

I don't have a picture of the finished product for a reason. While these were good ideas in and of themselves. The finished product didn't really turn out. The cheese was too liquid-y and it just looked wrong. So we won't be turning our food green again any time soon. Good thing it's only once a year. Don't get me wrong we had a lot of fun with the kids but again glad it's only once a year.

Everybody needs a hero

I believe that everybody needs a hero, someone to look up to and admire. My brother is one of those people for me. He has been in the military for. . . well since I was in high school about 11 years. He has been deployed several times being separated from his daughters and wife. When I was younger he let me tag along and even sometimes invited me to go places with him. His wife is a strong southern woman who kept things together while he was gone and did it fabulously. She's pretty amazing too. Shanon keeps a blog which is really nice now that they live in JAPAN! She posted this and it added to my reasons that Ben is one of my hero's not because of the medal but because he would never share it, to him it's another paper.
It says"Staff Sergeant Bejamin J. Condie distinguished himself by outstanding achievement as Aerospace Repair Craftsman. . . During this period Sergeant Condie's technical prowess was vital to executing the air tasking order when he quickly repaired a failed aircraft braking system. He expertly rigged the brake control valve to enable the timely medical evacuation of eight wounded combatants. Additionally, he led a three man maintenance team to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to recover a disabled C-130J aircraft that teetered nose wheel up onto the cargo ramp assembly. He leveled the aircraft and ensured the integrity of the ramp locking system, enabling a return flight airdrop sortie that delivered 36 bundles. An exceptional maintainer, Sergeant Condie's efforts powered his unit's generation of 1,400 combat sorties totaling 1,900 hours that transported 12,000 warfighters and delivered 9,100 tons of cargo while setting back to back single month records of 73 and 81 airdrops in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Finally, he quickly responded to a short notice sortie that airdropped an emergency delivery of fuel to a remote combat outpost enabling their continued combat operations. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Condie reflect credit upon himself and the United Stated Air Force."

All in all my brother is exceptionally good at what he does. He does it with humility and that is something I'm proud of.

Mack's Garage

Josh and I decided we wanted to build some stuff with the lego's and send the pictures to uncle Ben. (Shanon you'll have to show this to him) We started with the lid to the lego bin and knew it would be the best roof. We built the walls after that.

You can see Mack and Woody/RC look happy in their new garage.

We had to make sure there were windows, boop!

It wasn't very easy to keep Jackson away from our garage. He's a busy body! Look at that smile it looks mischievous to me.

As soon as we'd moved on to another project Jackson helped us take the garage apart.

Jackson decided he'd like to climb in the lego bin.

Amidst our playing Josh and Jackson were chasing each other down the hall. Lightning McQueen fell out of Jackson's hand and onto Joshy's head. He was ok but a little mad at McQueen for doing that.

After the garage we built Rapunzel's tower. Josh was pretending to be Eugene Fitzherbert and I was Rapunzel. This tower also has a window. . . .boop!

We're counting down

We're going on a little trip soon-ish. Josh and I made this paper countdown chain while Jackson was napping. For privacy purposes I won't say when but we've been saving our money and we're taking the kids to. . .

Disneyland!!!

We're looking forward to this trip we took Josh two years ago and had so much fun. My parents are going with us this year and I'm so excited to take Josh and Jackson. We'll post about it when we get back!

Amy B. Lyman

Tonight was our ward Relief Society birthday celebration. A group of sisters were asked to dress up in period clothing for the RS president they were representing. I was asked to portray sister Amy Brown Lyman.

She was called in 1940 by President Heber J. Grant to be the 8th General President of the Relief Society. Her task was to modernize the equipment and business affairs of the organization. She served during WWII. The Church called its European and Pacific missionaries home and the Centennial, scheduled for April of 1942, was postponed.

In addition, Amy bore the sorrow of her apostle husband's excommunication. Two years before she was released Bell Spafford, said of Amy "She met disappointments and challenges in her personal life during these years with composure. She never panicked in time of trouble. She always placed her faith and trust in the Lord and was poised always in time of trouble. I don't know anyone who better taught me how to meed adversity than Amy Lyman."

I found an outfit that was close to 1940's.


I did my hair myself, and was happy with the way it turned out.


This was a fun night and I learned a lot about the wonderful women who have led the Relief Society organization.

Tubby time

As my sons get older I realize more and more that they need special time with Mommy and/or Daddy. Today Jackson got some play time with me while he was in the tub. We played shapes and tugboat. And I played with his hair, it's long We've been letting it grow a little bit. Maybe he has a haircut in his future.

This is what Josh calls scarey hair so. . . .

We rinsed out the shampoo and his scarey hair was gone. I love his strikingly blue eyes.

He's such a happy dramatic boy and he's now 14 months old. He walks and jabbers, loves to play with cars, trucks, and trains he also makes car noises that we'll have to get on video.


Our tub is that big and we love it it's my favorite place to have Mommy time.

6:40 AM

For the past two weeks my kids have been making me a morning person. We've been getting up at 6:40-ish. This morning in particular Mike and I were brought awake by Josh crying out, "don't leave me on the train, don't leave me on the train!" Mike talked to him and told him he had a bad dream and he would never leave him on the train. Mike had asked him how many trains he was left on and Josh said 3. A few minutes later I asked him the same question and got the same answer 3. It made me a little sad. I would never lose him or leave him on the train.

Sass-a-frass

Josh: You done daddy?. . . . . you are done daddy?. . . . Daddy, you done?
Mom: Nope Daddy's not done.
Josh: I'm asking Daddy!
Well I just got put in my place. What can you do but chuckle a little bit and say, that isn't nice to say.