Easter

We began our Easter festivities on Friday night. We had a picnic dinner in our front room and watched a movie with the kids. Saturday morning we woke up and colored easter eggs. After we enjoyed the beautiful weather outside, then we headed out for the rest of the day as a family. It was a very nice family day. I feel like we haven't had a whole Saturday to ourselves in forever. It was some much needed time as a family! 

Both Payton and Scarlett just adore their dad. Every day that he is at work I hear, "mom, I miss daddy". Besides working all the time Josh has been taking two class online for school (he is working on getting his bachelor's degree), and he has scouts every Tuesday night. His homework load this past semester has been a lot. He spent a good two nights after work having to do homework each week. It was definitely a long 3.5 months. He just finished the semester on Friday so we get him for a good week before the next semester starts. We all love when he has free time to play and just hang out. The kids thrive for his attention whenever he is home.

Before we started coloring the eggs we got a few shots of the kids. Payton was super excited. Scarlett didn't really know what was going to be happening. 

Being silly!

Keeping it simple!

I wouldn't not let the kids touch their eggs with their fingers. I hate when their fingers are colored for a few days it drives me crazy. They didn't seem to mind using the spoons.

I did let Payton touch them sometimes, but he had to wipe his fingers off right away. My craziness worked though. Neither one of them had colored fingers! Plus, they still had a blast!

Sunday morning we headed down stairs to check out what the easter bunny had brought. The kids were very excited about their baskets.

Showing us every thing that they had in their baskets!

After going through their baskets they went around the house searching for the eggs. It took Scarlett it a while to get the hang of it, but she figured it out. 

Looking all around the family room for the eggs!

They each found a bunch of eggs all over!

Showing off their eggs they had found!

Happy Easter 2012!

I love these 3!!! I am a lucky woman!

Our family picture! It was still early in the morning!

Scarlett and Payton both love loves ring pops. I think it reminds Scarlett of her pacifier, but mostly I am sure its cause it's candy, you get to wear it on your finger, and it lasts for a long time. 

Attempts of family pictures right after church! Being silly like always!

I figured out the self timer on my camera. The nice thing is that it has were it will take 3 pictures right in a row. I loved that because I knew we would hopefully get one good picture with everyone smiling, and IT WORKED! A family picture were we are all smiling and we look cute! 

Easter Sunday was a blast! Payton and Scarlett both gave me hugs through out the day and told me, "thank you for such a fun easter". We made sure to watch a few video's about the Savior and the Resurrection. We got to skype with Jared, Ashley, Ada, Grandma and Grandpa. Josh made a yummy ham for dinner. Over all the weekend was very nice, relaxing, and fun! I am grateful for the holidays that come so we can reflect on Our Savior Jesus Christ. I know he lived, died and was resurrected! As the years keep flying by I look forward to the many more Easters that we will have as a family!

Weekend with Family!

This past weekend we got to enjoy some much needed family time with Josh's parents, his oldest sister and her family! We got to watch General Conference on Saturday and Sunday. The kids were pretty good and quiet. Christy and Rob have 5 kids. Shaelyn, Braden, Bryce, Camden and Carter. Shaelyn and Braden are both in high school and they both were in their school play/musical. Saturday night we got to go and watch their last performance. We took the kids with us and they were pretty good. They performed High School Musical.  I think its just so fun to watch them perform. I believe this was Shaelyn's 3rd play and this was Braden's first. They both did a really great job! Shaelyn was Miss Darbus and Braden was a skater boy.

Braden and Shaelyn in the same scene!

They did a great job and we each enjoyed seeing how talented they are!

I let Payton have my camera before the play started because we had to get their early and he was getting antsy. These are random pictures that he took.

Aunt Christy with cousin carter behind her!

Cousin Carter! He is 1 year older than Payton. Then there is Payton taking pictures of himself.

Grandma and Scarlett!

Mom and I!

Cousin Camden, he is 10!

Camden taking pictures of Payton being silly!

Camden and Payton! They are goofy! 

Sunday between General Conference sessions the kids were in the backyard enjoying the sunny weather. They really liked jumping on the trampoline. Bentley their dog even came and played with the kids!

General Conference viewing!

More Viewing!

Scarlett couldn't handle watching all of general conference so she had herself a little nap!

Scarlett got to be pushed on the skateboard and she loved that!

Shaelyn even went out on the trampoline with Payton, Carter, and Scarlett.

Scarlett loved the attention from Shaelyn!

Payton and Carter played a lot of dress up while we were there. They were spy's! Carter took his costume off to jump, but Payton kept his on!

Payton the spy!

More playing and jumping!

Carter and Payton!

Weekends away from home always go way to fast! We had a wonderful time and enjoying watching general conference. 

Facts I want to remember about my kids!

(Most may not care to read this post, I did this and will be randomly doing this for my own record)

Anyone that is a mom knows the more kids you have and the older you get the more you forget. My mom doesn't remember a ton about me and my siblings when we were really little so my attempt is to try writing some things down. She tells me all the time that I will be so glad that I blog as much as I do. I know I will forget it all in a good 10 years, especially cute, funny things that they say. I love my kids and loving being a mom. Its not the easiest thing I have ever done, but all the good times cover the bad times.

4-6-12 Payton went over to his friend Brock's house to play while Scarlett went and did some relief society things with me. While we were driving to his house, he says to me "mom just park the car and I will get out and go knock on the door by myself". He wanted to be a big boy and not have his mom take him to the door. It was a very weird moment to feel like he didn't need me. But at the same time I was a very proud mom to hear him be so independent! Once we got to his friends house he got out of his seat said bye to Scarlett then got out of the car. He walked up to the door and mid way he turned and said, "bye mom". He knocked on the door and went right in once Brock's mom opened the door! I can not believe how big he has gotten in the last few months. Moments after driving away Scarlett was saying, "I miss Payton"! This is a very common phrase we hear from her. I am pretty sure she and Payton say it at least a good 10 times every day about Josh while he is at work. Its very cute to hear and will melt your heart.

4-5-12 While I was making dinner Scarlett says to me, "I miss Josh". She totally loves her Uncle Josh. She constantly prays for him each night. While we were all sitting at the table to eat we were talking and I had asked Scarlett what mommy's name is and she said "Mallory". Josh then asked her what daddy's name is and she said "daddy". Josh then tells her "no my name is Josh", she of course looks at him and says "no your daddy". Having an uncle Josh and a dad name Josh is just way too much for a 2 year old to understand. In here mind there is only 1 Josh.

3-23-12 Scarlett was whining for her pacifier and Josh was not allowing her to have it. He had told her its for babies and she's not a baby anymore. He told her he was going to throw it in the trash so he did. About 10 minutes later she went and got it out and had it in her mouth. We just ignored it and didn't really care. When we were doing the dishes a while later we saw in the trash her pacifier. We were both shocked because she must have gone and put it in there. We figured since she put it in there then we would take that opportunity and have the pacifier be permanently gone. We knew it would be a long few days of lots of whining and crying. She surprisingly did very well at night time without it. It's during the day around nap time that is the worst. It has officially been 2 weeks today. The first week was HORRIBLE! The 2nd week has been SO-SO. The problem I am having is she doesn't nap and if she does its like at 4pm. I have also decided that no matter what she is 2! She is definitely not the easiest kid to deal with at times, but if I remember correctly either was Payton at this age. 2-4 is absolutely not my favorite age as of right now. Ask me in about 10 years and I am sure I will have another age range.

3-21-12 Payton had a physical for his kindergarden registration forms. He knew that he had to go, but he wasn't excited. He was very afraid of getting shots. He was a very big boy. He let the nurse weigh him, measure his height, do a hearing test on him, and do a vision test on him. He passed with no problems. He giggled though during the vision test and hearing test. That was his first time do those.  Once in the room he was required to strip down to his underwear. He wasn't thrilled about the idea, but he did it. He got to wear a little blue cloth to cover his nakedness! He was nervous through it all, but he did a great job. He did have to get shots and he was not thrilled. He was very brave though. He sat on my lap and he got 2 shots in 1 arm and 1 in the other arm. I didn't even cry. He did say it hurt and he squeezed my hand. Scarlett of course through out all of this was totally fine because she knew it wasn't her having to go through all this. She was very happy and even talked to the doctor this time. That little girl is such a stinker!!!

2-27-12 Scarlett had a doctors appointment for her 2 year heck up. She was good all the way up until we headed back into the doctors office. She then began to cry and didn't want to be weighed or measured. Once in the little room she fought me about everything. She absolutely didn't want me to take her clothes off her. She was required to just sit in her underwear. This was absolutely terrifying to her. She could not believe I would make her do such a thing. Once the doctor came in she wanted nothing to do with him. She didn't let him touch her! I had to hold her on my lap while he did the best he could. I am sure he could barely hear anything because she was crying so hard. She was even more mad when she had to get shots! I am pretty sure she thought I was the meanest mom that day!