Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air in Utah. Well at least we get a couple of spring like days here are there. The weather has been so unusually cold and wet this year. I am really bummed because this is my favorite season. I love the spring flowers, the perfect weather and knowing that a relaxing summer is near. Last Thursday was perfect in was in the mid 70's so we had to get out and play. In the morning Talan and I decided that it was a perfect day for a long bike ride. We loaded up Lincoln in the bike trailer which he loves to ride in now and started out.

Talan on his bike ready to take off. Notice his soccer shin pads. He didn't want to wear his helmet,but he needed to make sure that his shins were protected.

Lincoln is ready to go.

We rode all over the neighborhood, we were gone for over an hour. Lincoln had so much fun that he fell asleep.

 While Lincoln was down for a nap Talan and I wanted to plant flowers the front flower bed.

Talan is such a hard worker. He is always asking to help with whatever you are doing.

Talan took this flattering photo of me (HaHa) planting flowers.

Still working hard.

I tried to take an after picture but the sun was not right.

When Jason got home from work we BBQ some balsamic chicken. We all got a good laugh we Jason found this Baby Carrot in the bag.

You would think that my kids had never seen a carrot in it's natural state. They had so much fun playing with the carrot. It was a sword most of the evening until it finally broke. Who knew a carrot could be so fun.

I am so glad that spring is finally coming but I fear that it will be extremely short this year and summer will be here soon.

Birthday Questions

My birthday was back in February and I never did our questioneer for this year. Better late than never.

Birthday Questioner:

1. What is your favorite movie you watched this year?

The Hangover

2. What is your most memorable event this year?

Going to all of Jason's softball games. The kids had so much fun and the adults enjoyed watching the game and chatting.

3. Where do you want to be in 5 years from now?

Where I am now. I love the age the kids are now and life is good.

(Maybe have Jason home more and my little ones staying little forever.)

4. What is your favorite color?

Black (simple, chic, classic and my favorite slimming)

5. What is your favorite song  this year?

The Dog Days of Summer

6. What would your quote/Motto be for the coming year?

Live in the moment. I am always worring about what is to come or what I wish I would have done different.

7.If you could re-live one day from your past, what day would it be?

The day/year that Jason and I met. We had so much fun!

8. Who has inspired you most in your life?(why)

Lincoln~Becuase he taught me to never give up.

9. What is the most important thing you would want to teach you children?

1.We do Hard Things.

 ( you always need to challenge yourself that is how you grow. Step out of your comfort zone.)

2. Treat others how you want to be treated.

10.Favorite Sport to watch?

Football (i guess if I have to pick one)

11. Mountain Hideaway or Beach House?

Beach House

12. Sweet Treat or Salty Treat?

Sweet Treat

13. What is the worst thing you ever ate?

Beets and Ice Tea

14. What is your pet peeve?

People being late or picking at their skin.

15. What is the most embaressing tv show you would admit to watching?

River Monsters and Ice Road Truckers. (Jason makes fun of me becuase I will pick out some girlie movie to watch and I fall asleep. But he will wake up at midnight and find me watching River Monsters.) I need to stop watching River Monster before we go to Mexico after seeing all of those mean fish you will never want to get in the water again.

16. What did you want to be when you were young?

A gray haired cheerleader, a weather girl or a librarian.

17.What has been your favorite college class?

Marketing

18. What scares you the most?

Ferrets: They are like furry snakes that chase you.

19. If you HAD to change your name, what would your name be?

Gina (Inside Joke)

20.What is something funny or unique that people wouldn't know about you.?

I hate to were socks in the house.

.

The Grades are In.

Preschool is wrapping up for the year. Today Talan came home with his end of year report card. He did a great job and is improving in every catagory. This is how he did this year:
I am developing exceptionally well in this area:
Academic Development (ABC's numbers etc) He even got an extra plus in this area!
Child is cooperative with the teacher.
Respectful of class rules
My Progress in very good in this area:
Social Behavior(Kind, takes turns,enjoys friends)
Responsible use and clean up of school supplies and toys
Participation in group activities, games and discussions.
Self care skills (bathroom duties, nose care shoes coat, etc.)
Fine Motor skills (use of crayons, Scissors glue etc)
Computer use and skill development
I am becoming skilled in this area"
Listening skills & Following directions
Uses time well (Play Time/Work Time)
Gross Motor Skills (Balance, Hop, Skip Etc)
Emotions (cheerful, able to detach from parent, stable in most situations)

Talan had nothing in the categories of :This area is still a little difficult for me or This is very challenging for me. I am so proud of Talan, he is excelling at school. I wonder if the teacher ever gave out lower grades and I know she does because the first semester Talan got a "this is still a little difficult for me" in academics. Now he has "I'm developing exceptionally well in this area" and even an extra plus. He is at the head of his class in academics. He is reading 3-4 letter words and can sound out just about anything if he wants to sit down and do it. We are still working on his gross motor skills. (Unfortunately his mom is not the most coordinated person so he probably inherited that from me.) We are going to enroll him in karate and see if that well help. Talan has enjoyed preschool so much this year and has excelled in so many areas. I couldn't be prouder of him. His teacher also wrote this little note on his report card:
Talan is such a gentle little soul, We love him so much! He is progressing in every way and gaining new confidence daily. Thanks so much for sharing him this year. We are looking forward to more exciting opportunities next year.

Keep up the good work Talan. We are so proud of you.

Happy Mother's Day

I had the best Mother's Day. Jason woke me up with a humorous mothers day card that started my day off on a funny note. When the boys woke up Talan was excited to have me open the gift they had picked out. Talan and Lincoln had made me a sweet glitter heart and card. The had also bought me a cute shirt (the one I'm wearing in the photos and a pair of capris for the Mexico trip). Everything was so cute, they did such a good job picking out clothes for me. Then we went to church which was full of more Mother's Day fun. The primary leaders had the kids draw pictures of their moms and they hung them around the church. Talan drew an awesome portrait of his mom.

This is the picture that Talan drew. Talan told me that the two circles below my mouth are my chins and the dots on them are moles. He is such a little artist. Of course my picture was the 1st one right by the chapel doors so that everyone could see my sons awesome art work. The moment I saw it I was almost in tears. It is so fun to see what kids come up with. I had to leave the chapel because I was giggling so much thinking about this cute picture. Talan is always doing things to make me smile.

After admiring all the cute pictures that the kids drew of their moms. We went in to sacrament where the Primary kids were to sing a song to their moms. When the time came for the kids to go up Talan excitedly hurried up front. Jason and I kept looking to see where he was standing. We kept looking and could not find him. Then Jason almost burst out laughing and says to me "Do you see your son?" I look up to see Talan towering about 2 feet above the rest of the kids. It looked like he was going to sing a solo. Jason and I were having the hardest time trying not to laugh at the situation. It looked like Talan must have climbed up on something so that he could be seen. They sang "Mother I love You." it was so sweet to see all of those kids singing to their mothers. When Talan came back and gave me a big hug and said I love you. That was my favorite part of the day. After the meeting I asked Talan why he was so high up when they were singing. He told me that one of the bisphoric members was letting him stand on their lap. It was so funny to see him towering over all the other kids. He always seems to find a way to stand out and he is definitely not fearful of getting up in front of a crowd.

After church I wanted to get some photos with all of my fun little family. Talan loves to take photos with my camera, but they have to be how he wants them. This is Funny Faces.

We were then instructed to show him our Mad Faces. He does a pretty good job with the camera considering he is 4.

The cute card and heart that the boys made for me. Talan even wrote his brothers name on it for him. You know that you are a mom when these simple colored cards are some of your most precious possessions

Lincoln even sat still long enough for me to get my picture with him.

We weren't so lucky to get a photo with both of my boys.

After church we went over to grandma Christensen's to have a BBQ. Talan was so excited to give her the calendar that we had made for Mother's Day.

 We had a great afternoon eating and visiting with family, including Nancy and Todd who had come down for the day.

After lunch we went to grandma Jones' for more visiting and playing with the kids.

Talan's favorite place to watch a movies is in the recliner with grandma. He will get a snuggle whenever the opportunity is present.

We had a great evening visiting with everyone. It makes me so grateful for all of the wonderful family members I have. I am truly blessed to have such extraordinary people in my life.

I am so lucky to have a wonderful mother who has taught me to treat other as I would want to be treated. She is honestly the most patient and loving person I know. I am thankful for the many late night she was up comforting me and giving me advise. She is someone that I can always count on to drop everything she is doing to help me. My children love her more than anything and every morning one of the first questions I am asked is " When are we going to grandmas?" I hope that I can raise my children so that someday they will be as grateful and full of love for me as I am for her.

Another great photo taken by Talan the photographer.

I am so truly blessed to be a mother to my two favorite little boys in the world. They teach me the simple lessons in life that I often over look. Like to live in the moment, forget the past, don't worry about the future enjoy the moment you are in. I love the fact that I get to wake up to Talan sneaking in my bed when Jason leaves for work to get in a few snuggles before the busy day begins. I love the sound of Lincoln's little feet pattering down the hall and the slobber kisses that he gives me. I love that Lincoln like to sit on my lap while putting on my make up and laughs uncontrollable at our reflection as we stick our tongue's out. I love that Talan still like to spend time with me and that I am his best friend. I would not give up being a mother for all the money in the world. I wouldn't give up walking around with boogers on my shirt, chasing little ones down the street in my pjs or getting embarrassed when dragging a screaming child out of the store.  I love them for who they are and who they are becoming. I am the lucky one!



Field Trip (Bean Museum & Bowling)

Talan and his Preschool class went to the bean museum this month for their field trip. They had a scavenger hunt and had to find different animal in the museum. They also went to a wild life show. At the end of the show they had a snake that the kids could touch. Of course Talan didn't want to touch and had to find a different door to exit.

Talan not looking to fond of the bird exhibit.

Or the Africa exhibit.

Mrs Jackie teaching the kids how to bowl.

After the museum, Talans's brave teachers took all the kids bowling. That had to be exciting to take 4-5 year old bowling. Talan loved bowling.

Mrs. Loni helping Talan. He was too impatient to wait for his ball to come up so he would go the the next lane over and take a ball from their return.

The kids had a lot of fun bowling. Talan is going to be so sad for summer to come and not see his preschool friends.

Talan was lucky enough to have Grandma C and Jenny take him on his preschool field trip. After the field trip he even talked grandma to take him to McDonald's for lunch. What a lucky boy.

Not again!!!

Lincoln did it again. He spied a bag of potato chips in the pantry and decided he wanted a few. I guess I need to invest in some bag clip or buy individual bags. If he just wasn't so cute.

Hoppy Easter

This is a cute little Chick that Talan made at preschool. He did such a great job.

Every Easter we make a batch of sugar cookies to decorate. This year we kept it simple and just decorated with sprinkles.

I am such a mean wife, I am making Jason warm up his own dinner after a long day of work and school. Lucky for me he is so easy going. Lincoln is trying to help him out, well I don't know if help out is the right word.

Talan made some cookies that were a single color and some that were rainbows.

The best part of the whole project. Enjoying!!

Lincoln is just hoping for crumbs. And Jason may be filling for divorce when he finds out that I posted this lovely photo of him on the blog.

 This morning Ana called and wanted to know if we wanted to go over with them to the Easter Egg Hunt. Of course Talan wanted to go with his buddies. As you can see 5 rowdy boys, we knew this was going to be exciting.

Lincoln was so excited, that he would get running so fast he would fall down. 

There were just a few people. So I figured are chances of going home with one of the three bikes was pretty good. LOL!!!

Talan and his buddies.

 Talan putting the candy in his basket as fast as he can. To bad Talan doesn't eat too much candy. We will have Smarties laying around the house till next Easter.

 Ana helping the boys, making sure that they got a bunch of candy.

Lincoln had fun picking up the candy and then throwing it.

 Ana checking the boys loot to see if we were lucky enough to go home with a new bike. No such Luck.

We had a fun time and are taking home a bunch of candy.

Time to dye the eggs.

Lincoln was not about to be left out of egg dying.

Which color to choose?

Talan must have inherited a little of my OCD. He wanted to make sure that the colors didn't get mix together, so after every dip we had to wipe off the dipper.

Talan always wants to take silly face photos.

Talan and Jason showing off the finished product.

We have been Egged!! It looks like the Easter Bunny stopped by and dropped of some eggs.

Lincoln woke up first this morning. When he walked out of his room he ran over, picked up an egg and said ball. He was so excited to see ball laying all around the house.

Talan is always an early riser, except for holidays. So Lincoln and Dad went in to wake him up. Once he saw that Lincoln had an egg he was up and running.

Lincoln had a great time picking up the eggs and throwing them.

 What, no Baskets.

The Easter Bunny left a note, saying he was send the boys on a scavenger hunt. 

Clue number 1 was left of the table. It lead us to the boys bath tub. 

In the tub were a couple of water guns and a new clue.

The next clue told us to go where our cloths get clean and dry. There we found a new swim shorts, Ties for church and a new summer outfit.

The next clue told us to go to the fun filled room below. There we found a couple of new games for Mr. Milton Bradly (aka Talan)

Lincoln spent a few minutes trying to get his egg to go down the tracks.

The last clue said to go to the place you would find a sweet treat. That bunny put the baskets in the pantry.

Mission Accomplished. Now it was time to gather up all those eggs.

Lincoln and his robin eggs.

The boys checking out their loot.

We spent the morning eating way too much sugar and playing games.

That afternoon we left for church. I wanted to get a picture of the boys in their new church outfits. Talan was already out the door when I told him a wanted to take his picture. He turned to me and said "Mom are you going to take a picture of me everyday of my life?" I replied "Yes Talan, Everyday of your life."

Lincoln loves to have his picture taken.

So handsome!

After church we went to grandma and grandpa C house for a steak dinner. It was so good. After dinner we had and egg hunt and the boys got another Easter basket. After tons of food and the boys taking an afternoon nap we went to grandma and grandpa J. We sat a visited for awhile, the boys had fun playing with the new puppy and car set that grandma and grandpa got them. It was a fun Easter. Talan was even telling us about why we celebrate Easter. He said" Christmas is when baby Jesus was born, Easter is when he came back to life."