The Weekend.... My ThOUGhtS..... MORE SCHOOL!

For the weekend the weather was so nice. Last week it was hot... like 104 degrees and then the next day it was in the 70's... and then it rained Friday and again Saturday. We love the rain and it doesn't rain often, so when it does the girls love to go out and play in it. Then Monday we got together with our friends Travis and Natalie and had a BBQ at their house and later on Artie and I went to the movie "Iron Man"... it was actually pretty good!

When it's cold outside they "have" to have their bulldog sweatshirts on... they love them!

Don't pay attention to the yucky fertilized yard.... we are trying to get the grass to grow.... Come on grass grow....

It's a miracle... his hair is actually flat... But, not for long... as soon as it dries it will stick straight up again, and it's getting long too... I'm not sure what to do with it... :) I guess I need to gel it down or something...

So, the other day I was talking to Artie and was just thinking how it would be if I was "just a mom"... and didn't worry about everything else. But, he was like, "that's never going to happen!" Cause he knows how I have to always be doing something and making things, new things and more things :). I love to make stuff for people and make stuff for my kids but sometimes it gets crazy with orders and different things. So, I'm trying to get my priorities straightened out. It's going to be hard because everytime I have orders and lots of things to make I seriously can't concentrate on anything else... I have to just do it all until it's done. Don't get me wrong.. I love doing this, but I feel sometimes like I'm neglecting everything else, LIKE MY MAIN IMPORTANT JOB... TO BE A MOM AND WIFE. So, my goal is to take care of what needs to be taken care of with the house and the kids First and Business can be second. I can't always worry about it... it's gotta be second... MY FAMILY HAS TO BE FIRST. I like giving people things... I'm not a very good business person I guess cuz I'm always giving things away. But, that's why I'll also be doing giveaways on my crafty blog. It's more fun for me to make stuff as gifts for people rather than as business all the time, although the extra money is greatly needed.

Anyway... gosh this is long... But, now for the School part- Before Ammon was born I was taking classes online through Weber State... it was cheaper than SUU and had things that I was interested in. But, since I had never gone to Weber before I needed 20 credits before I could get my Associates from there, although I had everything I needed for my Associates. So, at the time I was thinking of getting my Bachelors through their anyway... so I was taking classes to get 20 credits and all those credits would go toward my bachelors. But, after Ammon was born... I was thinking there is NO WAY I can do all this right now... :( Besides, as figured out from my story above, the main job I wanna have is "being a wife and mother." That's what I've always wanted to do. And I'm so lucky I am able to stay home and do that! So, I contacted SUU to see what I need to do to go about getting my Associates. When I was going to school there they didn't offer Associates, only 4 year degrees, (If I wasn't such a slacker when I was actually in college I could have had my bachelors before I got married.... arghhh! But, lesson learned and I have a real appreciation of school and I know the importance of it and I know more of what I actually like and want to study now). Anyway, since things change all the time, there is a new category to take classes from... "interdisciplinary." So, I need to take 1 class from that section and I will have my Associates. Summer classes at SUU I don't have to pay out of state Tuition... so I'm taking a class online, my last class for now and it started today! IT'S ABOUT TIME DON'T YOU THINK AND I'LL FINALLY HAVE MY ASSOCIATES. When the kids get older I can always go and finish off my Bachelors. But, for now I'm excited to finally have this much out of the way. Yay for me!

(I just love having this little place that I can vent or write my thoughts.. thanks for listening!)

"Our Little GrADuAtE"

Alley's little Preschool Graduation was today....

First they did a little programShe had her part memorized and wanted to practice everyday until graduationThen they got in their caps and gowns and walked down the aisle to the graduation music.

Her teacher announced each one of them and what school they were going to next year..... ahhhh.... so cute! I can only imagine what it will be like at her high school graduation....

:( I don't even wanna think about it... time goes too fast! She had to wave to her sister in the audience..... :)
After throwing their caps in the air....then she got to come sit with us and we watched her video of what they did through the year.... SO CUTE!

"Miss Kim & Alley"

The other day I think Alley finally realized that in Kindergarten "Miss Kim" won't be her teacher anymore... she said with tears in her eyes, "But, I LOVE Miss Kim."

She's been a great teacher these past two years!

Preschool Class of 2008

Back Row: Alley Shaner, Mira Larsen, Lydia Clark, Morgan Rademacher, Tyra Harris, Miss Kim

Front Row: Shawn Anderson, Jason Abbott, Cooper Hughes, Quinn Tran, Tyler Wittaker, Enrique Ponce & Kaden Crompton

We Love you Alley and are so proud of you and we know you are sooooo excited to go to the "Big" School next year! We can't wait to watch you in more of all the fun and exciting times in your life!

WHoO HoO... 7 YEARS!

Our Anniversary was Monday. We were married May 19, 2001... it's been 7 years! It actually seems like it's been longer...(in a good way :)) I guess we've been together for 8, but anyway, I can't wait for the next 50 years! I love you honey... I can't imagine life without you. You are the best husband and Daddy Ever! You are my best friend and I know I can always count on you to stand by me no matter what crazy scheme I come up with next!

So, Artie and I were in the same grade, from Kindergarten through High school we went to the same school. I think for people who knew us both, it was weird that we got married, cuz we never dated or anything. We were friends, but never really hung out much and never dated. This was a random picture taken our senior year.... someone gave it to me at my bridal shower.... I had never seen it before and It was kinda crazy and now it's even more crazy... cuz we now live in that same house that the picture was taken! Weird, or what??!!

DaTiNg! Fun Times!
We were Engaged Christmas Day 2000

And the rest is History....

For Our Anniversary this year... Saturday we went to St. George and Artie and I went to Dinner at the Texas Roadhouse (YUM) and then had dessert at Cold Stone.... yummy! (Thanks Walter and Brittnee for the Gift Certificate and for watching the kids for us.... )

Then, we took a little mini vacation (only 45 minutes away... in St. George) We took the kids with us and we stayed at a Hotel Sunday night and then Monday we had a blast... we went to Fiesta Fun, the kids won 720 tickets in the arcade, so they picked a few different prizes, they loved driving the kiddie go carts all by themselves, and playing on the soft play mats and slides and we played miniture golf... (the girls did great... I was the one who lost my ball in the pond :)) and the girls and I went on the bumper boats and sprayed Daddy and Ammon while they were watching us...

Then, we went to The Discovery Dinosaur Site... my Aunt and Her husband are the ones that discovered the Dinosaur tracks back in 2000 and we had never gone to their museum yet...it was So Cool..... Pretty awesome of all the findings that they discovered right there in St.George and on their property! So Cool! Then, we went to the Wild Life Museum..... that was so fun too... they have so many different animals and the girls loved it! So, we weren't far from home, but we did things that we never get to do in St. George, cuz we are usually there for shopping, or Dr. Appts.. or whatever else... I really felt like we were far from home on a great vacation. The best part was we only had to drive about 45 minutes to get back home! We had a Great time!! (I'm so mad I totally forgot the camera... :(****

Mesquite Days 2008!

Mesquite Days was last week. It doesn't seem like its the same as it used to be...in the "good old days" I guess....but we still had a good time!

Friday night was family fun night with a bunch of jump houses for the kids and the Fireworks!

The next day we started off with the Parade.....Then Artie and I played in the co-ed Softball Tournament .....












Later we hit the carnival for some food & fun.....

*BOWLING*

A week or so ago we went bowling with some friends. It was the first time for the girls. They loved it so much we went again a couple days later for Family Night!

Alley was getting good at rolling the ball...
(nice *daisy dukes* by the way... yikes those are getting a little short I think :))

She always waited and then counted how many pins she knocked down and was obsessed with looking at the score board to see what numbers it saidAshlyn thought she was so strong to carry the ball by herself...."I did it!"

Ammon just sat there so good and watched the whole time....

Until the end as you can see....

After some Yummy Nachos, Chicken Fingers, Fries, Ice-cream... and a few Strikes... :) We were ready to head home... what a fun night we had!