Simple Math

Dustin and I are working really hard to make our house a home.
One of our many projects is improving our fireplace.

Right now it has water stained bricks (from a leaky chimney) and retro tile on it. :P
I would loooooove to re-brick the front with some stone like this:

but the conservative side of myself (and my wallet) says that tile, like this is the way we should go.

While emailing and discussing the matter, Dustin said the following:

Were not doing that big of an area.

Figure the sq ft of the area were doing. Times the cost of the tile. Then times the cost of the rock. Subtract those numbers for the difference.

Divide the extra cost by the number of days left of your life, figure the cost of your unhappiness per day. Figure this by how many times you will see it a day and shrug with unhappiness, minimum a buck a shrug. Then multiply those numbers (days of your life times how many times a day you shrug)....its overwhelmingly worth the added cost to be happy.

Plus down the road you would have me redo it anyways

I'm just sayin

So the stone it is! :D

Spring Garden

Like in the past in past years we planted a garden this year.
Its a weeee bit smaller than some of our others but it will be sufficient for us and won't kill me in the harvest.. I'm not pregnant this year either, so that's nice.

These are Allie's flowers. She tended them, watered them and grew them all herself in our green house and then planted them in the front when they got big enough. They are so bright and cheery, just like Al. :)

Here is our little plot.

Mark is finally getting the potty training thing.
He wears his big boy underwear most of the day and especially when he's outside.
He has such a cute little tush.. tee hee.
Reminds me of the days when we were potty training Allie.

Some Squash

Roma Tomatoes

and Carrots!
"What's up doc?"

How are your garden's growing?

Want to get together for a canning party??!
I'm being serious. :/

Conquer the World

Our little preschool group finished out their school year today.

I've loved and cherished every minute I've been able to watch these kids learn and grow.
From this day to this day and to now.

With teary eyes and a happy heart, I present to you the preschool...

“I wish we could promise you that the world will be safer and easier for you than for us, but we cannot make that promise, for just the opposite is true . . . Your challenge is much greater than was ours. Few of us would trade places with you...

"But, oh, what a wonderful time to be young! You have knowledge of many more things than we needed to have. It is my conviction that your generation is better and stronger than was ours—better in many ways! I have faith that you young men and young women can meet the world on its own terms and conquer it!”

President Boyd K. Packer

Now go out and conquer the world kids -- or at least half day kindergarten to start with.

We love you and are rooting for you!! :)

Spring Recital

Last weekend was Allie's Spring dance recital.
She was beautiful!

Allie and her dance friends. They take this ballerina stuff serious!

Allie and her mini-BFF Grace-Lynn Leavitt.

The Performance

Allie and her wonderful teacher Miss Amanda

Their final bow!

Miss Amanda surprised all the girls with roses!

Daddy's beautiful Alli-rina :)

Love you sunshine!!!
Keep dancing and singing and you'll always have joy in your life!

cuatro

Luke is 4 months old!
I just packed up all his 0-3 month clothes last weekend.

Yup, my newborn is tucked safely away, in about 6 boxes, in the attic.
How can something so small need so much stuff??

At 4 months Luke...

- is the. best. baby. ev. er. The end.
I would have 19 kids and change my name to Duggar if all my future babies are as good as him.
- sleeps a good 8 hours every night
- is happy and smiley all the time
- drools like an old dog
- rolled over once
- loves his brothers and sisters
- swats and grabs at toys
- tries to hold his bottle

Love you Wookie-boy!

A Desert Evening

The other evening, Dustin wanted to go out and take some pictures. So we loaded up on the four wheeler and headed to the Narrows.

View from the Narrows

Hiking around

Moapa Peak

The kids collected rocks

Beautiful desert landscape

Mom and Luke ~~~ Dad

A spider eating a bug

Allie ~~~ Mark
Yes I let Allie dress herself ;)

Our happy valley

May Day Dance

I love raising my family in the same town that I grew up in. I love to tell my kids, when I was younger I used to go ditch sliding here or ride my horse there. I love the fact that they are able to do some of the same things Dustin and I enjoyed doing as we grew up. I love that we could all sing the Moapa fight song and the "We're from Grant M. Bowler" songs together (that's never happened, but we could do it.. lol)!

One of my favorite traditions, that is still holding strong in our little (but growing) town, is the May Day dance. The kindergartners are still doing the parachute dance and the 5th graders are still braiding the May Pole!
And while some of the dances are different, a little change is good now and then. And I have to say Estefan looked really cute in his straw hat, doing a hula dance! I can't wait for next year when Allie gets to join in on this fun tradition.

Love makids!

My Mother's Day Gift

All I wanted for Mother's Day, this year, was for us to take some family pictures.
Well I got what I wanted and I'm one happy momma!!!

Much better than chocolate -- and that's really saying something!! ;)