The Springen's

Simply Timeless

2009-10-08T20:25:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce the arrival of my new blog. Check it out at:

www.simplytimelessbyamy.blogspot.com

My Forever Family!

2009-10-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

So today I have had a little extra time on my hands and I have been playing around with this Smilebox program....way fun! Anyway, I have been thinking about my sweet little family and going through some old pictures. I put together this cute collection of pics and wanted to share it.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Soccer Sensation!

2009-09-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Brock FINALLY gets to play soccer. He has been waiting for about 2 years now, so he is beyond excited!! His team is the Red Dragons and believe me, they are FIERCE!! There are only six of them on the team. They play 3 on 3 with no goalie. It is quite entertaining! They have only played 3 games but the improvements since the first game are amazing! Our little athlete is definitely tearing it up on the field. It is so fun to watch him. After a full day of school and an hour of running his heart out, by the time 8:00 rolls around he is exhausted and crashes as soon as his little head hits the pillow! Keep up the great work Brock, we love you!

Brock and his soccer buddies, Sam and Roberto.

Chillin on the sidelines!

Listening to "Coach"

Beaded Watch Bands

2009-07-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

So I have found a little project for me that I LOVE. I have been making these beaded watch bands and they are so dang cute. I came across the idea while I was in Utah (of course) and knew it was something that I could do. I make a smaller size for kids and teens and then an adult size. I have all colors of beads to work with as well as different watch faces. The coolest thing is you can interchange the bands. So let's say you buy a silver or white watch face. Well you can wear tons with those colors! So then you can buy a couple different colors of bands and interchange them with the same watch face...depending on what you are wearing!! Below is just a sampling of what I have as I am making more each day. I will try to update as I go.

Pricing: Smaller sizes (including watch face)$18
Larger sizes (including watch face)$25

Bands only: Smaller sizes $10
Larger sizes $17

Child and Teen Sizes

Adult Sizes

Samples of the bands on the watch faces

Sample of smaller sizes

Brock's Last Day of Preschool!

2009-06-01T12:03:00.001-07:00

Brock has officially finished preschool and will be in kindergarten this fall. He had a great school year and his teacher's thoroughly enjoyed having him in class. I can't believe he is going to be 6 this fall.....where has the time gone??!! Brock is such a sweet little guy. We are so excited to watch him grow. We love you "little man!!"

After returning home from his friend's house, Brock and I were looking through what he brought home from school today. He had a sweet little note from his teacher and I wanted to share what it said: Brock,

"You are a terrific boy. You are a wonderful student. You listen very well. You do good work. You have very smart answers and great thinking ideas! You are very friendly. You are fair. You are fun loving and you smile a lot. You are cheerful. You are a good friend. You are helpful in our classroom. I have loved being your teacher. Thank you for coming to my school."

It is always so refreshing to hear what other people have to say about your kids (especially when it is so positive). I always hope for the best, but never know for sure!!

Spring Break 2009

2009-04-15T10:34:00.001-07:00

We had the best Spring Break this year. We decided to splurge a little and take the family to San Diego. It was well worth it! We went to Sea World, Lego Land, and the Zoo! The kids had the time of their lives. They played hard every day. They literally (all three of them) had blood-shot eyes at the end of the day!! Misson accomplished!!

We met up with our friends, Chad and Katy and their little boy Isaac down there. We couldn't have aked for better company...they're the best! Thanks guys for a memorable time....so much fun!! Brock making sure the cockpit is ready for take-off!

Getting ready to head to the beach after unloading everything!

Brock and his buddy Isaac.

The family at Oceanside Harbor

Ella loving the water!......

....Until she face-planted it a few times!

Mommy had to give her loves and keep her warm!

Emrey, Ella and John testing the water.

Gotta love the Shamu Show!

And Cotton Candy ALWAYS makes it better!

Brock was in heaven at Lego Land!

Emrey was a little impressed also!

Darth Vader was pretty awesome!

As was R2D2.

A panda on the loose at the Zoo!

Being silly at the "Kid's Zoo!"

Up close with an Orengatang(sp?)

Hanging out with our friend, Chad, while the ladies

are in one of the many gift shops!

Family photo right before we go drenched.....

Thanks for the warning Chad!!!

Ella gettin some loves from Daddy after a LONG day!

Next year.....DISNEYLAND BABY!!!!

Leg Warmers

2009-03-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Sorry, I have been slacking on the blog posts. I have been sucked into Facebook these days! So I have made more leg warmers for anyone interested. I know it is getting warmer (hopefully) but they are great for the little ones who are learning to crawl. They just give them a little extra protection on their knees! Below are pics of what I have available. I have duplicates of some so let me know if you want more than just one pair of the same style. I will continue to make more if I have enough interest so share my blog with your friends! Thanks for checking them out! $6 each or 3 for $15

Happy Birthday Babe!!!!

2009-02-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

Today John turns 32! In his honor the kids and I want to share 32 things we LOVE about him!!
1. He is the best husband, ever!

2. He loves me unconditionally.

3. He loves his children so much.

4. His family means the world to him (i.e. parents, siblings, grandparents)

5. He honors his priesthood.

6. He exemplifies the word SERVICE on a daily basis.

7. He is a loyal person.

8. He has a heart of GOLD!

9. He loves to wrestle with his kids!

10. He is a kid at heart!

11. He is passionate about life.

12. He is a "tightwad!!" (which is a good thing for me!)

13. He is not afraid to show his emotions.

14. He has the best sense of humor.

15. He is "mister fix-it"

16. "Jack of all trades, master of none" fits him to a tee!

17. Loves to learn

18. He is the best story-teller (at least he thinks so!!! LOL)

19. There is never a dull moment when he is around!

20. He is self-less.

The next 6 are from EMREY!

21. He smells good

22. He is nice

23. He is forgiving

24. He loves me

25. We have fun together

26. He teaches me about lots of things

The next 6 are from BROCK!

27. He loves me

28. He plays football and baseball with me

29. He always gives me hugs

30. He took me hunting with him

31. He taught me how to wink!

32. I love him so much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY, WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!

Daddy Daughter Dance

2009-02-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

Tonight was John and Emrey's 3rd annual date to the Daddy Daughter Dance. They had the time of their lives! From what I hear, they really got down and boogied!! Emrey already can't wait until next year's dance! She will definitely sleep good tonight!

Emrey and her best bud, Jessica

The boys and their gorgeous dates!

The Spread!

2009-01-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

This is what I have accomplished so far, give or take a few that I have given away! The 2 on the top right are for boys. Brock insisted that I make him a couple pair! I am having a hard time finding cute knee highs right now. They make really cute arm and leg wamers for older girls. Anyway, if you have seen any, let me know where! Until then, I will just keep sewing away!

The Final Product!

2009-01-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of little Ella with her new leg warmers! They fit perfect and she seems to like them considering she never keeps her socks on!

My new found hobby!

2009-01-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

So I have been searching for some long lost talents that Ihave been hiding. I have been wanting to find something fun to make that could possibly be a little hobby. I love baby leg warmers but they are a little spendy for socks (I think)!! I did a little "research" online and found easy step-by-step instructions on how to make them. Now for all of my friends and family who know me well, know that I can't cut a straight line, nor draw a straight line, therefore, I am not them best seamstress...imagine that!! However, I am determined! I found a couple pair of cute socks today, borrowed my wonderful friend, Katie's sewing machine, made John stop at JoAnn's on the way home from work for pins and thread and by 9:30 tonight had these two babies whipped out!! I am pretty proud of myself I must say!! Maybe tomorrow I will have a picture of Ella modeling them for you. Now my goal for tomorrow is to find more cute socks!!!

2009-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of Emrey performing at half-time of Saturdays basketball game. She worked hard earlier that day at a cheer camp and then performed that night. She loved it! It was a great experience for her as she get very nervous in front of groups of people. Way to go Em!!

Ella's "SAY CHEESE" face!

2009-01-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

We went to the WW girls basketball game on Saturday night and Ella decided to entertain me during half-time! I had my camera out to take pics of Emrey performing some cheers, so I decided to take a few of this little munchkin! This is what she does when the camera is in front of her. It is hilarious!!

An Eye Sore...literally!

2008-12-15T17:18:00.001-08:00

I cannot leave the house for ten minutes without someone getting hurt. Unfortunately this time it was little Ella's turn. Last night I decided to be a helpful wife and while John was hometeaching I went out and scraped his truck off. Mind you it hasn't been driven since Friday and we have got about 6-8 inches of snow since then! I told Emrey what I was going to do and told her she was in charge of Ella. (won't do that again for a while!!!!) Anyway I come inside to hear Ella screaming. The first picure is what her eye looked like last night. The second one is what it looks like today. Never found out what really happened b/c the story keeps changing, but something to do with the treadmill. Poor little thing, I feel so bad for my little gal!

Winter Wonderland!

2008-12-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago our winter weather set in. At the first trace of snow, Brock was out the door, begging to make a snowman. Before he was done playing, he made the perfect snowball. He told me he had to save it in the freezer for a snack later that day?? Ok?? SO, later that night after we had got back from running some errands Iwalk in the house and Ella is on the ground eating Brock' s snowball. What a nice brother to share his snack!!!! She LOVED it!!!
(can you tell??)

Ella Bella Dancerella!!

2008-12-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

My sweet little one year old loves music and loves to shake her fanny! Emrey got this little dance mat for her birthday and I'm pretty sure Ella boogies on it more than Emrey!! I just had to share this clip b/c it is so dang cute of her shakin' it!!!

Student of the Month

2008-12-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

Just wanted you all to check out this website:

http://www.calhoonsmartialarts.com/studentOfTheMonth.html

Brock was chosen this month as the featured student in his martial arts class so they put up a picture and wrote a short article on him and posted it on their website.

Way to go bud, you're doing so great! Keep up the good work!!

Martial Arts Mania!!

2008-12-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

My kids have made me a proud mommy this week!! Brock and Emrey both earned their Gold Belt in their Martial Arts Class. Brock has been in the class since February and Emrey since June. They have both worked so hard and love learning new techniques and moves. To earn their gold belt they had to demonstrate to their instrctor that they knew all the curriculum they have been learning, then there was the physical requirements. They had to do 3 good push-ups, 5 sit-ups, 5 squat thrusts and then run continuously for 3 minutes. Just a little side note...they have both been sick this week with really bad coughs and stuffy noses. They only test the kids once at the beginning of each month, so if they miss one month, they have to wait until the next month....oh no, not my crazy kids. There was no way they were going to wait until January! They were so ready, coughing or not!!!

Side Mount
Open Guard
Pumping out those sit-ups!!

Jogging for 3 minutes!

Getting congrats from Ryan!

Emrey shaking hands with her instructor.

Good job guys, you are so awesome!!

Over the mountains and thru the woods.....

2008-12-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

.....to grandma's house we went!! That is right, we traveled to the Tacoma area to visit John's mom and step-dad for Thanksgiving. We had nice visit and did lots of fun things. Most importantly (not really!!) mom was able do some Christmas shopping on Black Friday. Can't be a smokin hot deal....right ladies!!?? Later that day me and John took Emrey and Brock to see Madagascar 2...very cute! THEN that evening we went to the Point Defiace Zoo and saw the Zoo Lights. The kids loved the beautiful lights and better yet, the carousel. The kids helped grandma and grandpa on the farm, feeding the animals, collecting eggs and riding the four-wheeler. We definitely had a fun-filled weekend and LOTS to be THANKFUL for! THANKS grandma and grandpa for a fun visit!!

Happy Birthday Brock!

2008-12-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

Brock turned 5 on November 24th! The previous weekend he got to go to Chuck E Cheeses with some of his friends where he earned lots and lots of tickets (thanks Daddy!!). Then on his actual birthday we had a little get together with a Spiderman cake he picked out and one of his favorite ice creams, Rainbow Sherbet!

Happy Birthday to me!
Thanks Aunt Suzy....Go Cougars!!

Only the best sport ever!!!

Thanks Aunt Lisa! I finished the ship with Grandma Terri!

A Happy Halloween!

2008-11-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

The kids had quite the day on Halloween. It started right after school at 3:00. The Downtown merchants here in Walla Walla are quite festive. They get dressed up and stand outside their stores to hand out candy to all the kids in town. It is a really great idea! We start on one end of town and walk a big circle. It took us about an hour (including a quick stop to play on the toys) and we were done. The kids collected quite a bit of candy in short amount of time...the way it should be!!!! After a quick dinner it was off to the Trunk-or-Treat at the church...always a hit! After it was all said and done, I bet the kids collected about 5 pounds of candy each...it was a little insane!!!

A cute little pirate, a sweet kitty and a fierce ninja (who didn't want to wear his mask!)

Ella's funny face once again and her favorite treat!!

Our friend, Jessica and little Ella

Brock and his buddy,Cooper (aka Bumblebee!!)

Halloween Hoopla!!!!

2008-10-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night we had a fun family night! The High School Kids put on a "Trunk-or-Treat" for the community so we took the kids to that. Then we came home and carved pumpkins and made donuts.(Thanks for the idea Shandy!) It was definitely a fun filled night!

This is Ella's new face. Whenever we get the camera out, this is what she does!! So funny!

Happy Birthday Emrey!

2008-10-27T12:58:00.001-07:00

Today is Emrey's 7th Birthday! Holy cow, I can't believe it!! On Saturday she took her good friend, Kassidy to Tri-Cities and went to this fun place called Monkey Dooz! They dressed up like princesses, had their make-up done, their hair in up-do's and had their nails done. After that we HAD TO make a quick stop at Target and then went to Red Robin for lunch....what a day! Yesterday we made tons of cupcakes and she took them this morning to class with her to share with her friends! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMREY, WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Shandy Rocks!!!!

2008-10-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

I just have to give a little shout out to my dear, ever-so-talented, friend in Idaho, Shandy!!! She is absolutely amazing. Not only is she the best scrapbooker ever, hands down, she has developed a passion for photography. She has just started a new little business called Photo Flattery (check out the link on the right hand side of my blog) where she is focusing on enhancements as well as baby announcements, invitations and Christmas Cards. It would be well worth your time to go and check it out! I just wanted to share with you what she did to a couple of my pictures.....pretty awesome! Thanks so much Shandy, I don't know how you do it all !!!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Emrey's Breakthrough!!

2008-10-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

So I haven't failed, completely, as a mother. I wasn't sure what it was going to take to get my kids to actually help me around the house. One night after dinner, John, ever-so-lovingly, gave Emrey a lesson in dish washing! Let me tell you, she was not going to have it. She cried, saying it was too hard and that she didn't want to do it. Then out of the blue, everything was ok. She was loving it. It was so easy! I had to capture this moment, for I don't know how long it will last.

Preschool Presentation

2008-10-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

This week Brock had his first preschool presentation. This is where the parents are invited for a short program where the kids demonstrate what they have been learning about. Lots of music and movement! It was quite entertaining!! Brock did a great job.....way to go "bud!"

Who doesn't love a new purse??!!

2008-10-08T10:46:00.001-07:00

So check out this website and enter to win a new handbag! On October 15 they are giving away a different handbag every hour....pretty cool!!

www.handbagplanet.com

Happy 1st Birthday Ella!!

2008-10-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Ella's first birthday! Man, I can't believe how fast this past year has gone. I wass feeling so bad because she had a pretty crummy week with ear infections, a really high fever and some sort of rash...poor thing! I just wanted her to be well for her birthday and for the most part she was. She did really good and had tons of fun. She was wiped out by the time the sun went down though. She actually went to bed at 6:30 P.M. She wore herself right out!!! Happy Birthday sweet baby girl, we love you!!

HAWAII

2008-09-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

We are back from our vacation in paradise! WOW, what an amazing experience we had. We are definitely planning a return trip! For any of you contimplating the trip, definitely worth every penny! All of this wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for John's wonderful grandparents and my awesome parents and sister. Thanks so much guys for taking time out of your busy lives to hang out with our kids!!

NOW, back to REALITY!!!!
"Chinaman's Hat"
A breathtaking view from Pounders Beach
Up close and personal with a sea turtle.
Getting some air!

The view from our hotel. The USS Arizona Memorial
The names of over 1100 who died on the USS Arizona.

So thankful for those who have served and those who are serving!

Part of the USS Arizona still visible from above the water
Beautiful sunset on Waikiki
...and another Majestic moutain view from a beach heading up the coastline.

Enjoying our drink......soooooo good!!
Our yummy pineapple smoothie at the PCC Luau.
The roasted pig that we partook of!!

The most beautiful flowers!

In front of the Temple...amazing!
For all you BYU Hawaii alumni....
Picture from a canoe ride at the PCC

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay
Our dinner cruise on the ocean.
The boat, Startlet, that we cruised on!
The famous, Diamondhead, taken from our cruise.

Carol's Interview

2008-09-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
Here is an amazing link for you to check out if you have been following Carol's story. There was an incredible fundraiser for her in Enumclaw this past weekend....and SHE WAS THERE! The TV station interviewed her and here is the interview........

http://www.komonews.com/home/video/28703094.html?video=pop&t=a

-AMY

KNDU TV Tri-Cities News Story

2008-09-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I just wanted to post another link to a story that a TV station in Tri-Cities did on Carol. It is a pretty good one, with lots of pictures. Check it out:

http://www.kndu.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=2908670&at1=News&h1=Kennewick%20Woman

Thanks,
Amy

FYI

2008-09-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

If any of you are interested in hearing more about Carol's story, a TV station in Seattle did an interview with her husband and family. Go to www.komonews.com to watch a clip from the interview.

Brock's first day of Preschool!

2008-09-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was Brock's first official day of being a student!! Yep, he finally started Preschool! He was so excited and can't wait for Monday so he can go back! The house is SO QUIET without the two oldest......but, I think I can get used to that!!!!!

Silent Auction for Carol

2008-09-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

Carol and her oldest daughter, Chloe!

For any of you interested, a friend of Carol's has put together a silent auction for Carol and her family to help pay for about $80,000 of inpatient treatment that IS NOT covered by their insurance. The auction starts Thursday at 6:00 P.M. There are some really cute things. Take a look, and feel free to bid!!! It is definitely going to a good cause!
http://www.auctionforcarol.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
Amy

Last days of summer.....

2008-09-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

We had a fun, long weekend. First went to the WW Fair and Frontier Days parade on Saturday. The kids had a blast......lots of candy and horses!! On Monday we headed over to Pendleton to go to the aquatic center there. It was the last day of the season and we hadn't been the whole summer, so we thought, what the heck!! It was a cooler day, but that didn't matter to the kids....they had so much fun! We are trying to upload a video of Brock practicing his forward rolls in the pool. Having a little difficulty so we will try and post it when we figure out the problem!

Mommy couldn't resist letting Ella have a little taste of a sucker!

Ella on the bouncy swing.....loved it!

Emrey conquered her fear of the water slide....yeah!!!
She was so relieved she could touch at the end!

Emrey's first day of school!

2008-09-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday Emrey started first grade! She was so excited for school to start. She really likes her teacher and the kids in her class. We know she will have a great year! She is such an awesome student...keep up the great work Em! We love you!

Emrey and her hair!

2008-08-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

So Emrey wanted a new haricut for school. I took her in on Monday to get a cute little "A Line" cut. She loves it and it looks adorable! She had the best time being pampered at the salon. I'm pretty sure the stylist got an earful for an hour!! One of the gals asked me, "is she REALLY only going to be in first grade??!!" That is my girl, 6 going on 16!!

Big sis, Emrey with little Ella!

A Couple Clips

2008-08-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get the hang of this blogging thing, so here are a couple video clips...I hope they turn out! The first one is of Ella and her big accomplishment.....she is a crawler now!! this one is especially for the grandparents!
The second one is of Brock on the monkey bars. He mastered this huge undertaking last week. He is so proud of himself and he NEVER ceases to amaze us! (don't mind the dude in the background...I have no idea who he is!! He was nice though, cheering Brock on!)
Enjoy!!

Fundraiser for Carol

2008-08-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

For a lot of you, you have heard the heart-breaking news about Carol. If you haven't, I have a link that will take you to her blog. I have just found out that her dad is putting together a golf tournament next month in Tri-Cities as a fundraiser for her and her family. Since I want to help out in some way and feel so helpless, this is my plea........PLEASE pass this information on to your friends and family, any business owners, or anyone who loves to golf. As you can imagine, the medical expenses are astronomical and this is just a small way to help out. Thank you so much everyone and PLEASE continue to pray for Carol and her sweet little family!!

Wild and Wet Weekend!

2008-08-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

We had another eventful weekend! First of all, our awesome friends from Nevada, the Staffords, were driving back from Canada. They met us in Moses Lake and we took them to the water park and then out to John's Grandparent's house for a corn feed. About this time every year we go up there for Grandpa's YUMMY corn!! He has a beautiful garden and grows the best corn in the Northwest!! We had ourselves a feast with a good old fashion BBQ with all the fixins!!! Nothin better than Family, Friends, Food and FUN!!!! Brock just kickin it on the "lazy river!"
Emrey getting ready to take the plunge!
A little water in the face! Just chillin!
Even daddy gave it a try!!
Of course Brock HAD TO try it!

Not too bad for a rookie!!

Dallin
Garrison
Sydney

This was the highlight of Brock's trip.........
Getting to ride on Uncle Skip's Harley!

Collecting worms to go fishing in the pond.
Emrey, Brock and Tanner catching goldfish!
One of the lost fishies!

Brock and Jonathan playin around!
Taking a break to say cheese!!
Boys will be boys!
Even Emrey wanted a ride...shocker!
Hang on tight sis!

Picnics and Bike Rides!

2008-07-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

This is what frosting does to me!!!

Ella is a little sneak. She is trying to snatch a
piece of Daddy's carrot cake while he is away.

This is the end result. Up her nose and
everything!! She was proud of her
accomplishment though!

On Saturday morning or family went on a little bike ride to Rookes Park. There are nice paved trails that run next to Mill Creek so it makes for a scenic ride. Along the trails are Blackberry bushes. They are just now starting to be ripe for the pickin! The kids, including John, love to pick them and eat them. They had so much fun finding the biggest and the juiciest! On the bike ride back we ran into 2 bull snakes (see below). We are pretty sure they were over 2 1/2 feet long and very healthy!! The kids thought this was so cool! We had a very fun and eventful morning!

An Eventful Weekend!

2008-07-21T14:30:00.000-07:00

We had a crazy, busy weekend recently. John's cousin, Michael Gaddis, got married in Spokane. We had a fun time and it was so good to visit with family we don't get to see all the time. While we were in Spokane, we were able to take the kids to River Front Park and let them ride on the carousel and play in the water and on the toys. I think we wore them out pretty good!
Emrey had a huge milestone in her young life. She got her ears pierced!!! She has told me before that she would just wait until she turned 16, so I'm not sure what changed her mind! She was very brave and did a great job! Here are some fun pictures of our crazy weekend!!

FHE on the Green!

2008-07-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

This week for family night we took the kids golfing. There is a little Par 3 (I think??) at the community college so John took it upon himself to show the kids the fundamentals of golf!!! They had so much fun. They have asked to go every day since!

Here is Brock practicing his putting skills! Not too shabby!!!!

Always stylin'!! Gotta love the long sleeves (it was 90 out!!), shorts and flip flops!

John "instructing" Emrey how to drive the ball!

Trying to get a little power behind the swing!

And away she goes......I think it made it to the green!

Trying to keep little miss Ella entertained!

On the move again! So focused!!

The last hole of the night!

Funny Conversation.....

2008-07-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been talking with Brock and Emrey about the word "inappropriate" and using it when they have done or said something that is just that.
Yesterday, while running a few errands, we saw this guy jogging and he didn't have a shirt on. Here is the conversation that ensued after this discovery:

Emrey: Oh my gosh mom, that guy is not wearing a shirt! Why isn't he wearing a shirt?

Me: He probably just got hot while he was running and took it off.

Emrey: What if he wasn't wearing any shorts?

Me: Emrey, come on now. Everyone where shorts or pants when they are jogging.

Brock: Emrey, that is INAPPROPRIATE!!!

Emrey: Wow Brock, that is a big word for a 4 year old!!

SO funny, I had to write it down before I forgot!! Kids are hillarious!

We LOVE Summer!!

2008-07-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Since it has been so warm here lately, we bought the kids a little pool. It is a pretty good sized one...just perfect for them. Anyway, they love it and have become little fishies!!

Rye's (sickening) Wedding Weekend!!!

2008-06-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

We have recently returned from Utah, where my sister, Ryanne was married. The whole vacation was quite complicated! It started out bad and got even worse, BUT after it was all said and done, we wouldn't have missed it for the world.

So, the night before we left, Brock was up puking (out BOTH ends!!!) all night long. I think John and I got a total of 2-3 hours of sleep. The next day we traveled for 10 hours, arriving about 12:30 am. Talk about a long stinkin day!!

Two days later, Emrey gets sick, same thing but not as bad. We warned my sister to keep her kids away, but can you imagine the kids traveling all that way, just to see their cousins and not being able to play...talk about torture. So inevitebly all three of the cousins got sick-the night before the wedding. The morning of the wedding rolls around and we are suppose to be at the Temple at 8:30. I wake up feeling soooo nauseous, not sure I can make it. Because I love my sister so much I didn't want to miss her big day, I fight through the pain!!!! I go to the temple, couldn't make to the luncheon, and struggled through her reception. Long day once again. On Sunday we have to head out. My poor mom sick. (Sorry mom!!!!) And oh no, we are not done yet.....last but not least, my little 3 year old niece and my sister, Suzy got it.....sorry guys!!! I am not what strain of the flu virus this was, but it was AWFUL!!! I'm pretty sure we started some nasty outbreak of the flu in Utah County. Like I said before, it was BAD, but we got through it and ended up having a very nice visit and loved seeing everyone! (maybe the feeling isn't mutual, but oh well!!!!)

Oh, just a FYI...everyone has recovered and are doing fine!!

Congratulations Emrey!!!!

2008-06-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

Emrey and her fantastic teacher, Mrs. Leier

Today is a special day for Emrey! It was her Kindergarten Graduation! They had a nice celebration at one of the halls at Whitman College. The kids sang and danced and we got to watch a darling DVD that the teacher's put together of pictures of the kids throughout the year. At the end of the celebration, the kids had the choice to go home with their parents or stay for the remainder of the school day (which was only 2 hours). Well, Emrey wanted to stay at school.....I couldn't believe it! I couldn't even bribe her into coming with me! She really does love school. She did so well this year. We are VERY PROUD of her!! Way to go Emrey.... WE LOVE YOU!!

Daddy and Ella enjoying the graduation!

Emrey and Claire

Emrey and her friend Yuliya

This is a new little girl in Emrey's class, Halle!

This is Sloan, the "jealous boyfriend!!" Just kidding, but I really do think he is obsessed with Emrey. He is a really cute kid, but a little too young for boyfriends.....sorry dude!!!

Emrey and a couple of her girly-friends....Elsa and Harmony!!

Emrey and Michaela

Emrey and Krystal

Emrey's Turn....

2008-06-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

Emrey was tagged by Olivia, so now it is her turn to answer a few questions!

All about My Mommy

1. What is something mom always says to you? "Clean up your room!"
2. What makes mom happy? "When I obey"

3. What makes mom sad? "When I say bad words"

4. How does mom make you laugh? "When you tickle me!"

5. What was mom like as a child? "You listened to your mom and dad"

6. How old is your mom? "31"

7. How tall is your mom? "12 feet tall"
8. What is her favorite thing to do? "Play with your kids"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? "Do the laundry"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "a singer"

11. What is your mom really good at? "washing dishes"
12. What is your mom not very good at? "Jump roping"
13. What does your mom do for her job? "Take care of kids"

14. What is your mom's favorite food? "carrots"

15. What makes you proud of your mom? "we do fun things together"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "Minnie Mouse"
17. What do you and your mom do together? "go on bike rides"

18. How are you and your mom the same? "We both have brown hair"

19. How are you and your mom different? "We don't have the same color of eyes"

20. How do you know your mom loves you? "Because you are nice to me"

Gotta love T-Ball!!!!

2008-06-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

So this is Emrey's second year of T-Ball and today is her last game. She has really enjoyed playing and has improved quite a bit from last year. She has really started to become quite the hitter!! Good job "Em" we're proud of you!!

Brock has been tagged!

2008-06-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

All about My Mommy: (These are Brock's actual answers)

1. What is something mom always says to you? "Clean your room!"

2. What makes mom happy? "When me and Emrey obey."

3. What makes mom sad? "not obeying"

4. How does mom make you laugh? "tickling me"

5. What was mom like as a child? "silly"

6. How old is your mom? "31"

7. How tall is your mom? "30 feet!"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?"laugh"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?"fold clothes!"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "riding motorcycles"

11. What is your mom really good at? "dancing"

12. What is your mom not very good at? "football"

13. What does your mom do for her job? "cleaning the house"

14. What is your mom's favorite food? "pizza"

15. What makes you proud of your mom? "when you help me clean my room"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "Daisy Duck"

17. What do you and your mom do together? "play games"

18. How are you and your mom the same? "we both like to watch football"

19. How are you and your mom different? "I have red hair and you don't"

20. How do you know your mom loves you? "you give me hugs and kisses"

Brock tags: Hayden, Olivia, Chase, Edyn and Ali

I've Been Tagged! (THANKS JAMEE!)

2008-06-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

A. ATTACHED OR SINGLE? Very attatched!!
B. BEST FRIEND? I'm going to go with John on this one!!
C. CAKE OR PIE? OOOOh, that's a tough one!! I'll say pie!
D. DAY OF CHOICE? Saturday
E. ESSENTIAL ITEMS? Bread, milk, blah, blah, blah.....definitely CHOCOLATE!!
F. FAVORITE COLORS? Red and I'm loving turquoise lately!
G. GUMMY BEARS OR WORMS? not a huge fan!
H. HOMETOWN? right now it's Walla Walla
I. INDULGENCE? anything chocolate
J. JANUARY OR JULY? July
K. KIDS? 3.
L. LIFE ISN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT? My family, my faith, and my friends
M. MARRIAGE DATE? June 26, 1998
N. NUMBER OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS? 3 sisters
O. ORANGES OR APPLES? Love em both!
P. PHOBIAS OR FEARS? losing a loved one, alligators, snakes
Q. QUOTE? You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything
R. REASON TO SMILE? I'm going to Hawaii soon!!!
S. SUPERMAN OR WONDER WOMAN? Wonderwoman
T. TAG 5 PEOPLE Pay attention! Chy, Suzy, Nicole, Kerrie, Libbie
U. UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I've never been skiing (lame, I know, but I couldn't think of anything else!)
V. VEGETABLES? corn, beans, avacados, carrots
W. WORST HABIT? Biting my nails
X. X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND? ultrasound
Y. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Fresh Fruit
Z. ZODIAC SIGN? Taurus

Newest Addition...ALMOST!!

2008-05-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

For those of you who know my family, my little sister, Ryanne is getting married in a few weeks. Her soon-to-be husband's name is Braden Walker. He is a great guy and we are very excited for him to be a part of our family. I was recently going through some pictures and found these. They are from back in January when my family came up for Ella's blessing. Braden was great with the kids....Brock LOVED playing baseball with him and Ella enjoyed being rocked to sleep with him singing to her! WE LOVE YOU UNCLE BRADEN!!!!

Memorial Weekend

2008-05-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

So on Saturday we headed over to the little town of Dayton for Dayton Days! We meet up with our friends, Chy and Justin. They have 2 little boys, Cooper and Cade. There was a little parade in the morning and then we walked to the fairgrounds and let the kids play for a bit. Ella was especially lucky because she had her first sucker. Man oh man did she LOVE it! She was a little upset when I took it away from her to clean her up! All in all, it was a fun morning!!

Sunday Best!

2008-05-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

I had to take a few pictures last Sunday b/c Brock finally got some new church clothes! He looked so dang cute, I couldn't resist! This is quite an accomplishment, taking pictures on a Sunday morning, because our church STARTS at 8:30 a.m. and we are (I AM) usually running around like a mad woman. I think we were actually on time with a few minutes to spare this week!

Better late then never!!

2008-05-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well here I am. I can't believe I am finally doing this! After much persuasion, I caved in and decided this will be fun! It might take me a while to get the hang of this, but I'm sure as soon as I do, I will not be able to get enough......at least that is what my fellow bloggers say!! So I will leave this first post for now, but will be back later tonight to see if I can upload some pictures and figure the rest of everything out! Can't wait to chat with all of you!!
-AMY