Cookie makers in training!

Shaun wanted sugar cookies, for some reason they are my least favorite to make, so they helped. i made the dough and told them what to do. I don't know if it was less work for me or more. my kitchen suffered the consequences of the father-daughter team! I loved the apron! at the mall they are 40% off because they are going out of business, super cute!

Shaun cut the cookies while Kailey made the frosting

making frosting is meesy business

She is multi- tasking, I'm teaching her the skill early in life!

She was so proud of herself. i didn't help at all, i just told her what how and when to mix and she did it! melted the butter to pouring the milk and spilling the powdered sugar. it tasted great! she now thinks she can make frosting whenever she wants, I told her as long as it looks like she was never there then its fine by me! (my one rule growing up was i had to leave the kitchen like i hadn't been there)

Graduation Day

They said each kids name and they walked up on stage, really cute! here she is when they announced her name as a graduate

Kailey and Rachel, one of her friends at school

Kailey and Mrs. Hansen She did it! kindergarten, CHECK! they did a really cute program at the school with the caps and gowns, sang songs and each had a little part. she seems so old! here she is with her 2 born siblings. they look so excited to congratulate her don't they?

the beginning of the ends: Anna

Warning: long dramatic post to follow hiking up the mountains. a Dad, a girl and their Dog (although she was mostly mine)

most of the pictures of Anna are like this, shes always in the background, and always there. just like she has been for the past 6 1/2 years! (I'm gonna cry just thinking about it!)

Anna took Shaun for a sled ride, She also took him on Skateboard rides. she loved going with us to ID this past winter or anywhere with us.

well, trying to get my "ducks in a row" i posted several things on KSL/craigslist: couches, the jeep, furniture, Anna. the only one who has had responses is Anna. I am happy and sad. Happy that people want a older dog, but sad because this is REAL! I don't want to give her away! granted she eats bread/butter and pizza off my counter whenever we leave it out but i mean, come on! i keep my house fairly clean with her help! she cleans my floors, helps me keep food put away and dishes done. we've had her since before Kailey was born, shes lived in our only 3 houses. not to blame Shaun, but this is all his fault. he isn't exactly Anna's biggest fan, but even he can't deny that she a GREAT dog. he is the one making me get rid of her, and yes, i know, its easier this way, we can rent any place we want now, we can travel without having to worry about her, we wont have to get a dog sitter anymore. but now, when Shaun travels, who is going to stay downstairs and make sure no one comes in? someone came by this morning to check her out. an older couple with a golden retriever. they got along fine, Anna listened surprisingly well, and in the end when i handed them her rug, dog bowls and she climbed in her car and drove away, Kailey and I went inside and cried. She was part of our family. Ryan called and i cried, i cried to Shaun, Jessie and pretty much anyone else who has called today. the house feels empty, there is already crumbs on my floor. Thinking about it now, I have never been at our house without her other than like 4 or 5 partial days when she gets shaved. sad. I'm going to go through withdrawals! if this is what moving is going to be like, i don't want to do it. hopefully giving away other stuff wont be as bad but man, giving away your dog SUCKS!

Dirty little secret

i think the title says enough, you hopefully get the picture. gorgeous house, but no this isn't the one we are moving to. and yes, that's what i said, we're moving. after 11 years of being in Utah we are heading to South Carolina, Charleston area. i doubt we can afford a house like this, but one can hope right? I feel like I've had a secret for too long, (we've know about 2 weeks moving was an option, and decided yesterday its a done deal) and now its time to admit it, we're moving. I'm scared, i am having a baby in 2 weeks, and we are supposedly moving Aug 1st. That gives me 10 weeks to have a baby and pack my house. I planted my garden and wont get to reap my rewards. I'm sad. i used to think i didn't mind change "it was fun and new and exciting" but now that we are going to be like 6 days away from the nearest family member (sorry Jessie you don't count, you are moving in like a yr) I was all for change if that meant moving to California. but no, the opposite ocean, the one with warm water and no waves to play in, there are tons of trees to block the skies, but a lot of history to learn about. I'm trying to think all positive thoughts. It's hard. I'm hoping its just fear of the unknown, including pregnancy hormones making me scared. anyway, that's my dirty little secret.

Oh and the worst part is we have to give Anna away. does anyone want a 7 yr old black lab? she's a really good dog, i'll even take her back in a few years! so sad, thinking about it just makes me sad.

back to life

After coming home it seems like things are different. kailey told me yesterday "mom, you are so nice lately" apparently i needed the vacation! my kids instantly grew up in a matter of 5 days. and i can't get back into a routine. i dont know what it is by cooking and cleaning don't seem to be on my "top priority list" i have about 3 weeks left until this baby is due and I am feeling huge, awkward and not good! its so sad when you open a door and hit yourself in the belly because you didnt judge the distance right. or when you park in a space and cant get out because your belly doesnt fit in between the door and not hitting the car in the stall next to you. NOT COOL! but alas, we're back, summer needs to be here in full fling and i want a maid. one can wish right?!

the 7 years of marriage

The Engagement photo: 2002

The Wedding: 2003 Year 1: 2004: I had actually had Kailey a few days before so this is all we got. digital is so much better! we went to olive garden with Kailey right next to us in a car seat. just FYI this picture is awesome! i mean, gotta love the face! i am 9 months pregnant and in a graduation mumu, please don't judge. i have 1 pictures of my pregnancy with Kailey, i'm sure you can see why!enjoy!

Year 2 2005: i know what we did but no pictures! we ordered outback to go and ate it at home

Year 3 2006: apparently we still don't own a digital camera... I was pregnant with Jordan. Shauns mom had just passed away so we did the temple and dinner

Year 4 2007: pregnant mind has swiped my memories
Year 5 2008: San Francisco weekend, pregnant with Carter.

Year 6 2009: Dinner at Sundance

Year 7 2010: Charleston, SC 5 day trip. Pregnant with baby #4 (notice the every other year pregnant teand, totally awesome, i know!)

it seems like it went by fast, but looking at the pictures a lot has happened in those 7 years!

Happy Anniversary to us!

it looks cold, but it was about 80 and humid. NO Waves. so different from the west coat. the beaches were so big and there were sea shells everywhere. This was about 5 at night and it was still really crowded.

Shaun fits right in, he's playing an instrument if you can't tell

Middletown Plantation. we did the carriage ride and found a few alligators in the butterfly lakes. it was so pretty! we also saw HUGE ants and and a snake, scary!

We still think we're pretty funny. i mean getting shot out of the cannons at fort Sumter. classic! i figure my baby is about the size of a cannon ball anyway!

Charleston bridge. we crossed it a few times some on purpose some on accident

Happy 7 years to us! it seems like it flew by, and we still like each other! Shaun had to go to Charleston for work and I got to come to! free vacation for Anniversary and mothers day! what more can you ask for!? Mike and Wendy watched the kids and Jacob and Deidre took over the last 2 days. i don't know why i decide to be pregnant every other anniversary, but we've gotten in a bad habit. We walked and walked and saw lots of sights, Ft. Sumter, Plantation, walked around downtown, went to Folly beach and Isle of Palms, we had every weather possible from 91 and humid to 70 and windy. It was a great way to spend the anniversary! wonder where we will go next year?! (hint hint Shaun)

bike riding!

Why did the Duck cross the road? To see Kailey RIDE A BIKE!

One of the may presents she got was a bike. the last one was way to small, so that will Jordan's present come June.. shhh don't tell her. ( poor kid get refurbished everything) so on Sat and Sun she learned how to ride a bike! it was about time and it came easy. she got the straight and stable rides came on sat and Sunday we practiced starting and stopping and now she's a pro! I think i twas more exercise for Shaun than Kailey, he got to run a few laps around the park!

My 6 year old?!

blowing out the candles

The whole gang, there were 15 in total, lots of kids. 2 hours was plenty but it was REALLY fun and they all loved it
Kailey's big opening presents debut

Carter being silly at Jumping Jacks

The Ice cream cake... home made awesomeness

The Party favor

I can't believe I have a 6 year old, she seems so little but at the same time she sure seems big! Apparently overnight she grew up, got funnier and learned how to be sarcastic. We headed to her birthday party at Jumping Jacks and Shaun tried to trick her by going a different way and telling her we were taking her some place else and she goes "Dad, you're not going to trick me, i know your just going to drive around until you think you have" and she was right.

then later that day we got lunch and she had a conversations with Shaun that went something like Shaun: "you can't do that, you're to little" "you mean you can't cause you're too little, oooo" as in oooo "zing", i got you Dad, so funny. what 6 year old Zings their dad? it was funny.