Gardner Family

Hotel Havoc

2011-12-11T20:54:00.001-08:00

My cute punk slurping up the hot tub water.

Chase with his Santa beard and Brookie

T.K. kissing Glola

Brookie in the bubbles

Grandpa swinging Addie and Ryker around.

The pilot light on the hot tub had gone out, so it was kinda cold. That is why all the wimps are missing from this picture, (Russ, Rick, Matt & Lynn).

Grandpa and his girls

Ryker and Addie

Ryker giving Grandpa more white hair.

The girls

Teeky had gotten out and put his shirt on and then got back in. :)

Jadey getting thrown in he pool by her dad

Rick with his mommy

Russ and Rick playing pool

Black Friday

2011-12-11T20:14:00.001-08:00

We have a tradition with the Gardner's of going up to Park City the day after Thanksgiving and doing our shopping and staying the night in a hotel. Russ always has to work that day so we meet him for lunch. The Pie is one of our favorites. It is fun to try and find stuff we have written on the wall the previous year. We never found, BJ loves Kelsey. But we did find Jade loves Austin and Russell loves Kenya.

Good food, good times.

Thanksgiving With The Gardner's

2011-12-11T20:07:00.001-08:00

We brought rolls from Texas Roadhouse and they were delish!

Russell Smoked the turkey and it was fabulous!

It was kinda quiet without Matt's family but it was a REALLY good meal.

Another Teenager In The House

2011-12-11T19:54:00.001-08:00

Alicia's sister made this lime pie at our Enrichment activity and I LOVED it. So instead of a cake for Jade's birthday, she got a lime pie. I ate the whole thing practically by myself. No one else was that interested. She wanted to go to Subway for dinner so we did. We came home and watched a movie that she has been begging us to watch for the better part of 2 years now, Prom Night. Now that she is finally a teenager, we gave in. Her best friend Kenzie came over and watched it with us.

She got a straightener for her gift.

Closet Chaos

2011-12-11T19:28:00.001-08:00

Scott came over to play the other day. I was in my office typing

Christmas card labels. They were just down the hall. I had popped them some popcorn and turned on a movie and I THOUGHT they were quietly playing. Well when I went in to check on them, this is what I found...

They had taken everything out of the closet, everything out of the chest of drawers, everything out of the toy boxes and everything out of the window benches...When I say, "They". I think it was mostly Teek The Tornado. Ugh...sigh...breathe in...breathe out...clean it up?...not today...In fact it has been two weeks since this happened and I STILL don't have the heart to clean it. Ryker has done his fair share in there to make it presentable, but let's be honest, he didn't do much. My goal is sometime before Christmas.

Lasagna Soup

2011-12-11T14:03:00.001-08:00

I found this recipe on Pinterest for lasagna soup. I thought it looked pretty good and figured it had to go over well with my family because they all love lasagna.
The recipe was really complicated so I didn't follow it. I just took the idea.
I sauteed onions an garlic in olive oil. Then added hamburger and sausage. Combined meat and aromatics to a pot with tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasonings, Hot Shot, salt and noodles.
The topping is called, "cheesy yum" it is a mix of ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella and Italian seasoning.

Rick loved it. He said, "We need to have this once a week". It was nice to take something we make regularly and switch it up a little.

Happy Birthday To Me

2011-12-11T12:38:00.000-08:00

My birthday week started great. A friend brought me over a really cute necklace and earrings, my visiting teachers brought me cookies and Alicia, Shaunna and Merisa took me to Mimi's for breakfast followed by Sheeky toes. Rick took me to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner. He told me we were going to the symphony after dinner. My husband? The symphony? I knew he was full of it...

Last year when we were at the Hale Center, I saw them advertising for My Fair Lady. I told Rick I HAD to go. The whole ride home I was singing My Fair Lady to him and he said, "If that's what it sounds like, we are NOT going". Well, we were back there for Joseph in September and I said, "Have you gotten tickets yet? They will probably go fast". He told me that he had tried but that they were all sold out. So even though I wasn't expecting to go to My Fair Lady I still knew I wasn't going to the symphony. Well as you can see from the picture below, I am with Eliza Doolittle and Poor Professor Higgins. :) When I told him it was a relief that we didn't end up at the symphony he told me that he had purchased the tickets for My Fair Lady right after I told him I had to go see it almost a year ago. It was really good. They did a great job.

Tollhouse Pie

2011-12-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

Another Pinterest idea and another recipe.

I had to take a pie to Enrichment...if you know my husband, you know that dessert does not leave his sight without being tasted first. Knowing I'd either have to smuggle the pie out without him seeing or take a pie with a slice missing, I decided to try this idea I had seen.You just use an old tuna or chicken can to bake in. So I scooped a little of the filling out of my pie and made him his own little individual pie. He love it.

Tollhouse Pie

2 eggs

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. butter, (melt & cool)

6 oz. chocolate chips

1 c. chopped pecans

chocolate crust

Bake 325 for 1 hour

top with whip topping

Breaking Dawn

2011-11-18T02:09:00.001-08:00

A bunch of us in the neighborhood got together to go see Breaking Dawn. Merisa had a before party, I stuffed my face with all the good food everyone brought.

The movie was at 12:21 at night. By the time we got home, we were, breaking dawn...3:00 a.m. Not to shabby for a bunch of old ladies.

I wasn't sure I wanted Jade to see this, let alone Brooke, but Merisa had to sell a few more tickets so I took a chance that it wouldn't be to graphic and let them come. They loved it.

I was really disappointed when it ended. I thought it seemed really short. Can't wait for the final installment. :) It was by far the best one. Not as funny as 3 but way more realistic, and yes I did tear up several times and had my head in my hands freaking out a few times.

Peanut Butter and Ricky

2011-11-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

I saw this recipe and thought it would be a quick yummy treat for Rick. Peanut Butter Cheese Ball

1 pkg. 8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup powdered Sugar

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

3/4 cup peanut butter chips

Mix first 3 ingredients. put mixture on a square piece of plastic wrap. Bring corners in and twist into a ball. Refrigerate for 1 1/2 hrs. Unwrap roll in chips. Put ball on serving dish and refrigerate for 2 more hours. Serve with cookie crackers or apple slices.

7-UP Cake

2011-11-16T22:47:00.000-08:00

So I was thinking that it would be smart to add some of the recipes I use to my blog so that when I print it for my kids they will not only have memories but recipes from when they were growing up. This is more of a non-recipe...Brooke had to take a healthy snack to achievement days. This is not necessarily healthy but it is a healthier alternative. You can do it with any cake mix. Instead of adding eggs and oil, (fat and cholesterol), Just add one can of diet soda. It bakes up just fine and tastes yummy.

What's Your Flavor?

2011-11-16T22:42:00.000-08:00

I loved my cinnamon so much that I wanted to try a few new flavors. I tried 4 but only two worked. Wintergreen which is smooth and sweet and Peppermint which is cool and tingly. The ones that didn't work were Watermelon and Cherry. Must have something to do with the coloring in it because it didn't want to mix in with the Vaseline. These are so yummy. I love them.

Shoplifting VS Trick-or-Treating

2011-11-16T22:36:00.000-08:00

On our way home from shopping yesterday, Teek kept saying, "I love my gummies". I realized I was smelling something fruity and turned around to look. Teek had taken a roll of bubble tape from the store and I hadn't noticed. I said, "Teeky, that is so naughty, you can't take stuff from the store unless mommy says it's OK and if mommy pays for it. He said, "Mom, I said trick-or treat at the store". I kinda think he deserves this roll of gum...pretty genius if you ask me.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

Matt and Alicia called and wanted to have a big Halloween party with the kids. So we went to Lynn and Russell's. I made potato cheese soup and we brought dry ice and root beer, and Matt and Alicia brought all the fixing for caramel apples. They were fun to make. I tried to re-create Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory's Key Lime Pie Apple...I dunked it in caramel then rolled it in lime Jell-O and then in crushed grahmn crackers. I thought it turned out pretty dang good. We carved pumpkins, told scary stories, watched Hocus Pocus and played hide the glow sticks! It was a fun night.

Rick telling the kids a scary story about a hunchback.

They say people look like their dogs...I think people look like their pumpkins.
I had no desire to carve my pumpkin, so I cheated and asked Russell for spray paint. It is suppose to be a devil. Not sure if I pulled it off. Zoe kept telling me it needed a pitch fork. Oh-well.

Addie had Kelsey carve the pumpkin in the front and back. :)

Russell's turned out really cool. He Googled picture before he started.

Scott and Teeky, (Peter Pan and Jail-bird), Halloween night.We always let the kids trick-or-treat in Lynn and Russell's neighborhood after we eat, (usually a potato bar). I'm still waiting for the day we get vandalized for never being around on Halloween but it hasn't happened yet.

Aspen and Brooke, (mermaid and Devil).

Teeky as a zombie prisoner! I don't think Teeky remembered trick-or treating last year and so I was so excited for him this year. He caught on quick and love it.

He is still talking about it two weeks later. Ryker went as a demon.

Jadey went as a mummy.

Russell went out with his friends and got a ton of candy. He went as Freddy Krueger.

Ryker's 8th Birthday

2011-11-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

So I was feeling pretty lazy about throwing Ryker a party, So I decided just to rent Zookeeper and have the kids watch a movie. The morning of his party reality slapped me in the face and said, "there is no way a house full of boys is going to watch a movie". So I moved the movie outside ans decided to do some zoo foods to go along with party; cotton candy, hot dogs, soda etc.

I was glad I moved the party outside when Chase smashed a whole cupcake into his face and then the rest of the boys follow suit. Yes, I ended up cleaning frosting out of noses.

Ryker got, Money, Bionicals, a basketball, few other things and his friend took him to a haunted house that night as his gift.

Brooke and Brianna making the cotton candy.

The boys roasting their hot dogs, The boys loved the fire. I use the term fire loosely because most the time it was actually just smoke. Russell and Rick weren't home to light me a fire...I figured, "how hard can it be"? The answer to that is, REALLY HARD! Surprisingly enough paper and wood don't really like to STAY on fire, they just smoulder and smoke and slowly turn to ash. How anyone can get a whole house burn down is beyond me.

Family Pictures 2011

2011-11-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

This is pretty much Jadey in a nutshell. My sweet Teeky One of Teeky's favorite things to do. He makes us do this to him on the way into the gym every Friday and Saturday.

Dad and his girls.

Mom and her boys.

Sisters

Ryker

Russell

Brothers

UsThe Boys

The Girls

Brooke

The Gardner's

Currant Creek

2011-11-08T14:50:00.000-08:00

Well we have had the trailor for a year and a half and we finally took it out. We took the kids to Currant Creek. It is up near Heber so of course we at at Dairy Keen on the way up. We took the four-wheel and went on some fun drives with it. We had fun fishing and playing games but the most exciting occurance was while slept. Russell woke us up saying, "Dad, I'm freaking out, I can hear a bear right outside my window, I'm serious, Dad get up". Rick got up and loaded his 45 amd my 38 Special. We sat there silently waiting Rick with his gun Russell with mine, (truth be told, my son with a gun...way more scary to me than a bear). We were trying desperately not to wake Brooke up because we had been teasing her about bears the whole trip and she was genuinely freaked out! But the bear pushed on the front of the trailor and moved it significantly. She said she felt it and heard us but was too scared to say anything. That was the last we heard or felt of the bear before he moved on.

Ryker with his fish. His was the biggest.

I really liked this picture. I was trying to get the dragonfly, but I like Jadey standing on the rock. Jadey caught a fish. She was the first one, she thought she was so cool.

Russell with his fish. After Jade and Ryker had both caught one he was determined...determination pays off.

Poor Brookey, she was so mad that everyone else had caught one and she hadn't and then all of the sudden she got a tug she pulled up and this itty bitty baby fish how itself just before coming free of her hook and swimming to safety. She was so smad, (that's sad and mad, for those of you who don't know).

Are You Game?

2011-11-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

Look at all those $500's Rick and Brooke are flaunting!
If only those were real, I would find him so much more attractive.

It was Rick and Brooke to the death!

Fire Fun

2011-11-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

I really don't know what Jade is doing? Russell cooked and ate the fish he caught.
Rick prides himself on making the perfect roasted marshmallow.

Ryker thought his hollowed out marshmallow was pretty cool.

The moment when you realize your are not going to have a perfectly light brown marshmallow because you caught yours on fire.

That marshmallow looks HUGE next to my little Teeky.

What an angel!

I still don't know what Jade is doing???

Is that disappointment on is face? It night be a, What-up face.

Russell patiently cooking his fish on a hot brick.

Me and Brookey

Currant Creek

2011-11-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

The beauty of having a trailor...T.V.! After coming in that night we watched a movie we had rented, (Prom). The kids watching the show.
Rick making popcorn and Julius for us.

Bellevue

2011-11-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

So here is our trip in a nutshell, tons of good food, tons of working out, tons of shopping, and an extreme amount of relaxing. I was introduced to a lot of t.v. that I had never seen before. I became a fan of Sister Wives, Junk Yard Wars, Hoarders and Extreme Couponing.We found this awesome Italian restaurant called Maggiano's for $40 we got an appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and two entrees to take home. We were extremely pleased because everywhere else in Bellevue was over the top expensive. The appetizer was an awesome flatbread pizza, and the dessert was AMAZING, a peanut butter pie with a berry compote. It was a little PB & J ish. Yum!
Rick does NOT take his eating lightly especially when on vacation. So he really did his do diligence researching where to eat. We found this restaurant called Chace's where we ate banana waffles with coconut syrup and potato pancakes. It was really good. We were hoping it would be like the coconut syrup we had in Cancun but alas that syrupy goodness still eludes us.

Seattle

2011-11-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

We walked down to Pike's Place Market and yes we got crabs...

Pirates of Pike's Place

Me making an ass out myself. :)

Deadliest catch.

Dumplings

2011-11-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

We went to this dumpling house in Bellevue...Rick was in heaven. He's still talking about it.

Me hugging a dumpling. Pork dumpling.
We ordered three different kinds and they were all fabulous.

doin it dumpling style.

He is at his best when his tummy has something yummy in it.

Taylor Swift Concert

2011-11-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

I bought tickets for Brooke and I to go to Taylor Swift clear back in the summer. I ended up going to Bellevue, Washington with rick on a business trip so Brooke took her friend Brianna. She went with all the neighborhood girls and their moms. They went to Goodwood for dinner and yes that is a limo they are riding in. Can you say spoiled?

Princess Party

2011-11-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

Brooklynn Golding had Rapunzel and Snow White come to her 8th birthday. The girls got picked up from their houses in this pretty carriage. What the heck...my childhood was nothing like this! I'm happy that my little Brookey got treated like a princess for one night any way.

Bieber Fever

2011-11-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

Brooke and I, Alicia and her girls and Merisa and her girls. went to Never Say Never in our pajamas. It was insane. Little girls screaming at the top of their lungs ALL throughout the movie. The two behind us were particularly pitchy! The would squeal and scream, LOUD every few minutes. At one point I was leaning over whispering to Merisa and they actually shushed me...how dare I inturrupt their time with the Beibs? It was fun and I'm not gonna appologize...I loved it! He is so cute!

The girls in their curls.

Fox Hollow

2011-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

I finally found the cord to my old camera...Teeky hid it very well. These are some old pictures. Isn't my baby so cute?
I played pretty well. I got a double boogey on hole 16...the longest hole with a huge water hazard. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

Teeky Tub Time

2011-11-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

I got this idea off of Pinterest. You take a muffin tin and put shaving cream in each cup. Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup and stir. I gave Teeky a foam brush and let him go to town. After an hour and 1/2 in the tub I finally dragged him out of there. It was a hit.

Trial and Error!

2011-11-08T07:55:00.000-08:00

OK, so the first time I tried this I didn't read very carefully and I melted Vaseline and Jell-O to make my own lip gloss. It didn't work, all the Jell-O sunk to the bottom. When I went back to Pinterest and checked the recipe again it said to use Kool-aid. I tried it again and it still didn't work great, it was better but not awesome. I wonder if I have to use a Kool-aid with the sugar already in it? I decided to use the same concept and make my own plumping lip gloss. I thought it would be cute to do it in a cinnamon Altoids case. I melted 1.75 oz. of Vaseline in the microwave then added .125 oz. of cinnamon oil, then poured it into the Altoids case. It is really yummy and yes it makes your lips red and plump.

Jell-O Popcorn

2011-11-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe off of Pinterest. You melt Jell-O in sweetened condensed milk and pour over popped popcorn and bake fro 20 minutes stirring every 5 minutes. I made Blackberry, Grape, Tropical Fusion and Watermelon. It turned out really yummy!

Bobby Pin-terest

2011-11-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Another Pinterest creation...Simply paint the tops of bobby pins with finger nail polish.

Oozing Hotdogs!

2011-11-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

This is an idea I got from Pinterest. Poke uncooked spaghetti through uncooked hot dogs. Boil. Voila!
Jadey and Teeky love these. They ate the whole pan themselves. Jadey has since made them again. She's dying to make them for the next kids she babysits.

Jello Slices

2011-11-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

So Pinterest is my new best friend. I got this idea from Pinterest. You cut an orange in half, hollow it out, fill it with Jell-O, and then cut it in slices once it has set. The kids loved these. Jadey stayed home from school the day I made these and she had the brilliant idea to but the orange halves in muffin tins in the fridge.

Can't Sleep

2011-08-05T01:11:00.000-07:00

I didn't go to bed last night until 4:00 in the morning so you'd think I'd be tired and sawing logs by now but it's 2:30 and I have been catching up on the blogs I follow for several hours now. Don't really feel like doing my own catch up, I still have Russell's birthday to blog about but I'm saving that for another insomnia filled night.

My week in a nutshell:

Sunday: fasted for my cousins baby. :(

Had an Enrichment meeting at my house, slightly frustrated with my calling, (hoping no one from church reads my blog).

Monday-Rick left for St. George.

Gave Step Interval another shot, (on accident, thought I was going to yoga), actually enjoyed it this time.

Went to Lindon Nursery t0 drop off a long over due baby gift to my cousin.

Ended up buying myself a lot of work in the yard, in the form of an herb garden and some pretty plants.

Took Jade, Kenzie and Ryker to the mall.

Shared Chinese with Ryker. The noodles were gross!

Bought a lot of stuff I didn't need and some stuff I really wanted, ( yummy lip stuff from Bath and Body Works and a new Settlers game, because I can't find an expansion kit that goes with the old game).

Read The Book Thief in the bath. Worried the whole time that I'd drop my Kindle in the water. I didn't.

Tuesday: Cheer practice, (sigh), dealing with 20 pre-teen girls, (sigh), fielding a good 2 hours of cheer phone calls and e-mails, (siiiiiiiigh)!

Took the girls and their friends to the pool.

Went to lunch with my BFF, Olive Garden, (yummy entree, burnt bread sticks, and a REALLY chatty Waiter).

Took a trip to the doctors with Ryker who fell and somehow ended up cutting the top half of his thumb almost completely off. He was pretty scared to get stitches and asked if they could put him to sleep. :)

Got pizza.

Went to get a bandage from my bathroom after cutting MY finger, to find that Ryker had been in there after cutting HIS finger and had left what looked like a crime scene straight off of CSI for me to clean up.

Made earrings with Alicia, Kelsey, Addie, Brooke and her friend Sophinie.

Planted the plants I bought yesterday. Neglected to wear mosquito repellent while planting and came in looking like I had some flesh eating disease, (mosquito bite count...somewhere in the 30ish range).

Read the Book Thief in the bath again. Didn't worry so much about dropping it this time. Hope I'm not getting to cocky.

Wednesday-Took Russell and a friend to Jordan River to fish, (laughed when Ryker said, That's where Jesus was baptized).

Dropped off cheer skirts to be monogrammed.

Had a construction worker shake his finger at my violently in a, shame on you sort of way. Still not sure why I was being scolded and really don't care.

Registered Jade and Russ for school. Paid $230 to do so.

Cleaned my friends house for 9 1/2 hours straight.

Spent the next 4 hours helping her mom make sandals, (had fun, can't wait to teach my daughters).

Thursday-Cheer again. The girls did AWESOME with their show and go's!

Rick came home! Yeah!

Went to the gym and did a leg workout with him. Ouch!

Played the new Settlers game with the girls.

Wrestled with my baby.

Went to bed, where I couldn't sleep and this is how I ended up here documenting my week.

2:51...going to give sleep another shot. Have an extra cheer practice early in the morning, must be cheery for cheer practice so, good night.

Two Years

2011-08-01T23:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday marked the two year anniversary of B.J.'s passing. Anniversary seems the wrong word to use. An anniversary should be a happy occasion and while we had balloons it was not a celebration. Our hearts are still sad and the void B.J. left is still very much felt. The launch
Watching the balloons float up to B.J. Jadey Bug with her balloon, she wouldn't hold the side with her note on it for the camera to see.

The family

Russell writing his note to B.J.

T.K. found Addie's shoes laying in the grass and couldn't resist. Well he's definitely his mother's son.

Big Buddah

2011-08-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

Big Buddah came to Lehi High School to kick off the football season. I didn't make it mandatory for my Cheerios to go because we had to be there at 6:00 in the morning. I THOUGHT they would all want a chance to be on t.v...well they didn't. Besides my daughter, who I had to drag out of bed and who refused to do her hair or make-up, I only had one other cheerio show up. Oh-well it was fun anyway. The 8th and 9th grade squads made it mandatory so we had plenty of cheerleaders to go around. We did like 6 different segments; We buzzed Buddah, had a dance competition, Barbecued, (the chicken was YUM!), face painting, (this is the segment that got me on t.v.), football drills and cheerleading, and last but not least a hot dog eating contest.
Me with the Pioneere mascot.

Foam Festival

2011-07-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

This is the third year Lehi had put on this foam festival and the first year we have gone. The fire trucks come to the Sports Complex and out out a ton of foam and the kids, (and adults), just play around in it. It is really pretty cool, although the foam does have a bit of a weird smell to it?
Foamy Friends

Bubbly Brookie

Foam Face

Brooke and Jade got in a huge foam fight. Brooke ended up burping up bubbles all night from all the foam she swallowed.

Suds Sisters

Teekie did not like the foam!

We found Kelsey and Addie having some fun in the foam.

Kelsey dragged Brooke out to soak her and she ended up getting a dose of her own medicine.

Kelsey point at Jade and yelling to the fireman, "Can you please spray this girl."

...and he did. You can't even see Jade under all that foam.

Ryker had a lot of fun.

Yellow Belt

2011-07-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Ryker has been in Tae Kwon Do since November. He has been ready to get his yellow belt for like 5 months now but I just haven't gotten him down their for the testing yet. Well I finally did and it was really cool. They make a big production out of it. They get to break a board. The certificates are really pretty. It was fun to watch. The day he got his belt was also his last day of soccer, (where he got a medal), he was so proud of himself that day he said, "Mom can I keep doing more stuff like this so I can get tons of medals." Ryker and his friend Brock with their bright new yellow belts and their certificates.
Ryker bowing to his master

Splash Pad

2011-07-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

We went to the splash pad with Tali's kids and my Mom and Isabelle. The kids had a blast, they got in a big water fight with some boys there. It was funny to see Brooke being an extrovert and chasing this older boy and drenching him. Teekie was stufing his face half the time and the other half just off my himself wandering around. Everybody wants to be a pepper.
Ryk and Bryce looking for unsuspecting victims.

Brookie is in love with Jace. Grandma kept taking him from her but she managed to get him back.

2011-07-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Refreshing!Teekie stuffing his face with peach O's.

Brookie and Izzy Busy Bear

Teekie almost barfing because he stuffed too many Peach O's in his mouth.

"Sometimes I feel so alone in the world."

Taggart Trouble

2011-07-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

I had my sisters boys staying at my house from Thursday to Monday. Here are some of the going on's that occurred in that 4 day time period; They caught a 27 inch fish, (carp) in the river and brought it back to the house to, "fillet",they got in trouble with the police for being out past curfew, they found the creature below, (Mink? Ferret?), turned him into a pet and housed him in our garage for 2 days, (Luckily the garage door got left open and he ran away from "home."), and last but not least, my front, back and garage doors were opened, (not always closed), at least 250 times in those 4 days.

P.S.Ryker just told me today that they caught another fish before they left and to not go to the side of the house because that is where it is laying dead and baking in the hot sun so that all passers by may enjoy the fishy stench, (as if there aren't enough smells wafting around out here in Lehi.)

Cade and Ryker with their new pet. They saw a black one also but couldn't catch it.

Well, the constant dishes are done, the porch has been swept of river mud, and the bottoms of my washer and dryer have had the river sand and rocks wiped out of them, but I still have yet to try to revive the multiple pairs of shoes worn by Russ and Ryker to the river...maybe tomorrow. I'm glad the river doesn't have the same appeal daily as it does when the cousins are here.

Bad Baby

2011-07-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

So, Teeky locked himself into the bathroom the other day. I knew he was in there but I figured, "how much trouble could he really be getting into in one little bathroom" I assumed he was just doing the usual and drinking out of the toilet, but when I finally unlocked it, this is what I found; He had broken a huge bottle of lotion, he had broken a vase, (those are the feathers on the floor that use to be in the vase.), he had completely soaked the towel, smeared soap all over the mirror, started a river seeping into my cupboards, (luckily I had50 rolls of toilet paper in there ready to soak all the excess water up), and last but not least he had taken his diaper off. when I opened the door and saw this I said, "T.K. you naughty baby." He said, "Mom, I need a bath." I went to get the camera and when I came back he was standing in the sink peeing down onto the ground.
T.K. in his "bath".

Baseball Baby

2011-07-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Teeky came into my room the other day with all of Ryker's baseball stuff and came and kissed me and said, "Bye Mom, I'm going to my baseball game." He's so stinking cute!

Girls Camp 2011

2011-07-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

More pictures from the camera that whose cord was missing. Jadey and Kenzie hammin it up!

Best Friends

Jadey won the counting contest for this guessing jar...not the only worms she will eat all week...

Jadey and Uncle Matt

...and the other worm. Jenny Lewis bet her $10 she wouldn't chew and swallow this. She did!

Independence Day

2011-07-06T01:57:00.001-07:00

Fireworks at Lynn and Russell's. We found some "good" fireworks in the basement amongst B.J.'s belongings. :) There was one that didn't have a wick. Russell got out his blow torch in order to rectify the situation. Smart?...No! But it did work.
Russ dared Rick to hold the Roman Candle from the stick even though the warning label clearly states that you should NOT do this. He coerced him by saying, "B.J. use to do it".

After Rick did it, all the kids wanted to. He let Brooke, Ryk and Chase do one.

Rick and Russ are our official lighters.

I liked the look of this picture with the smoke in the air.

Alicia and Russ after the battle.

Kelsey and Alicia's battle.

Russell and Alicia-Russ won but Alicia gave him a run for his money.

Ladder ball

Dad teaching Teek to bat.

Weekend Getaway

2011-07-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

Rick has been promising the kids that we would go to a hotel since he got home from Georgia 5 weeks ago. Well, he finally made good.

We ate at this place twice. The first time for dessert. They have awesome Belgium waffles. The second time was to try the sandwich that was featured on Man VS Food. It is called the Machine Gun. It is a baguette with lamb sausage topped with fries and andalouse sauce. I thought it was pretty dang good.
Teeky hanging from the luggage cart.

Just because you are at the temple does not mean that you can walk on water.

We walked to Temple Square on Sunday and walked around the visitors center. Luckily I missed it, but Russ saw a mouse in the bushes. I have to say, my faith has been shaken. I mean, I know God created the mouse, but I just can't imagine he would allow them on church grounds...I think if I ever saw a mouse in the temple I would apostatize quicker than you could say vermin.

Copy cats.

Rick is actually going to be posing for a sculptor in the near future, so maybe this
was good practice.

I know her girl is made of metal, but mine was definately heavier. I couldn't swing her quite as fluidly.

We are children, holding hands around the world...

Ryker flipping into the pool.

We played 500 in the pool all 3 days.

Jadey was my biggest competition. Rick would try to drown me to give her an advantage. Whatever, I can handle it.

500 was the only game Rick won all weekend. We played Settler's several times and Russ and I both won. We played Rummikub and Brooke won. We played Nertz and I won several times and Brooke won a few. Rick is so use to winning everything that it was NOT fun for him.

Not really sure what the pigs are about but they are all over downtown Salt Lake.

Brookie pretending to climb a ladder on our walk home from the Gateway.

Petting the horse. Brooke wouldn't come near him, she was too scared.

Teeky didn't like him either. He kept making loud noises and Teek would start to cry when he did. He was brave enough to pet him though.

Teeky trying to get the ball around the loop.

Ryker 52 lbs.

Rick, 196 and not happy about it.

Brooke 73 lbs. on Earth, 5lbs. on

Pluto. Newton's Daydream-An audio-kinetic sculpture. A two story-maze with balls that trigger bells, drums, whistles and whirring noises. Russ and Teeky had fun with this.

Clark Planetarium

Jadey taking a picture to send her boyfriend.

Ryker had to do what Dad was doing.

Dad getting captured by the alien king.

Gardner's in the SLC. May not seem like much of a getaway but seriously, SLC is a COMPLETELY different world than Utah County. Russ had a little bit of culture shock in a city 30 minutes away from him. He kept saying stuff like, "I don't like this place". and "These people make me nervous".

The kids were so sad by how many homeless people we saw. We had the girls give $10 to this old man that was laying under a tree. He was so out of it he didn't even open his eyes or say anything when they tried to give it to him. They got nervous and just left it on the ground by him. Rick wasn't about to have his money just laying on ther ground for anyone to take so he made Russell go back and put it in his jacket. We were eating down the street from him so when he finally came to we did see him find the money.

3rd Annual Spring Creek Ranch 4th of July Celebration

2011-07-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

Quinn Wiggington did some awesome cowboy poetry for us.

The first year we moved here Alicia said, "We should do something for the 4th like your old neighborhood did" I should have told her to take a flying leap., but I thought it would be fun. It is, but it is also a TON of work. 3 years later we are still carrying out the tradition. The neighborhood likes it enough that the HOA gave us $500 this year to help put it on. We bought a nice sound system with 2 microphones, horse shoes, ladder ball, a ring toss, Frisbee's, potato sacks, tattoo's, face paints, pin the beard on uncle Sam and fun prizes for the kids.

Jadey at her tattoo booth.

Russell at his balloon dart booth.

Rick was threatening me till the day of the celebration that he wouldn't be there and that neither would the kids. They would be in Park City with or without me. I knew he was just trying to get out of the flag ceremony. He hates doing it. Just because he hates being in his uniform sort of on display, but he does a really good job of it. I think it is most people's favorite part. This year before he marched the boys in we played Johnny Cash's rendition of The Ragged Old Flag, It definitely set the tone. Then they marched the flag in and our neighbor, Joelie Carroll sang our national anthem, (she sang it at the Olympics), it was really, really good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whmVGRSgAe8&feature=player_detailpage

Brooke obviously made more than one stop to the face painting booth.

Our Grand Marshall was Lightning Mcqueen

Boating

2011-07-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

Boating with Gary and Merisa and 10 children!

Ryker, Jade and Brooke Teeky was so cute, he was totally shaking his groove thing to the music.
He even went out on the tube once...scary for me and he didn't like the spray coming up in his face.

Gary totally abused Russ, Rick and Jade on their ride.

He never did tip them though.

Teeky kept throwing things over board and the kids had to go in and fetch them.

One of the nicer hand gestures I gave to Gary on my ride. Gary and Rick tried so hard to dump us. Jade was freaked. I asked her if he was being harder on us then he was on her, Rick and Russ and she said, "Like 100 times harder". She said she would never ride with us again. Merisa kept saying, "He's trying to get out his marital frustrations". Try as they did, they never did break us!

Russell riding the waves.

My baby taking a swim.

Just what the doctor ordered.

Nerds.

Teeky hated his life jacket. He wanted to take it off so bad at first, but then he got over it when the wind became more annoying to him than the jacket. He did not like the wind when we were going fast.

Jewelry Party

2011-07-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

We had a family party for Zoe and Aspen's birthday party where we made jewelry because the girls got there ears pierced. Alicia liked it so much that she decided to do another party with friends. Oddly enough at the first party Russell and Chase had more fun making jewelry than the girls did and at the second party boys were not invited but by the end of the party we didn't really kick them out once they wormed their way in. Well, Chase and Ryker ended up making some jewelry of their own...food jewelry. They didn't stop there either. They came and danced with the girls also, (Just Dance 2). I came home with at least 12 pairs of new earrings. Yea!

Swimming

2011-07-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Swimming at the A.F. pool with Alicia and her kids.

Brooke and Glow-la Is that Ryk or Yoda?
My Teeky was so cute. I was feeling bad that I didn't have a tube for him and that he just had to hang out around the stairs but when I tried to put him in Zoe's tube, he flipped out. He had his arms wrapped around my neck so tight and wouldn't let me put his legs in the holes. He was screaming, "Help me mom, help me" O.K. so I guess I won't buy a tube.

A"dork"able

Teeky kept saying, "Mom, watch me". He'd swing from the handrail or slide down the ramp on his belly.

Driving Home

2011-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

We always seem to see trouble when we drive home. Last time it was fires this time it was a roll-over. We watched this helicopter land on the freeway.

We played trivia the whole way home...and yes for the most part, we ARE as smart as 6th graders, (It was 6th grade trivia). Russell also brought along a book on tape...:) It was actually fairly painless. Although now that I think about it, last time he made us listen to a book on tape, he did pay us $20 each. He made no such offer this trip.

The last time was on our way to Mexico. It is one of every one's favorite B.J. stories...

He had raved about this guy Zig Ziglar and we listened hour after hour after hour. Man this guy could talk. By the time we stopped in Las Vegas all of us were Zig Ziglar'd out! We were walking in downtown Las Vegas and what do we see? A Zig Ziglar billboard. B.J. looked up and said, "If I could pee that high, I would".

I do remember listening to some fun stuff; Michael Martin Murphy and Jeff Foxworthy.

Zions

2011-07-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

I dared Rick to climb out on this big branch over hanging the river.

We loved this place so much last time that we had to go there again. Hi ya...woo cha... can you handle this? Russ found this walking stick for me. It worked out great. I paid it forward and passed it on to a lady on my way out of the canyon.

Rick bet me $10 that I couldn't say, "Cheers bub" to everyone that passed us the entire time we were hiking. I would have done it but Alicia was getting so annoyed with me that I had to give it up. Oh -well.

Crevasse fun :)

The Little Mermaid

2011-07-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

We got Lynn and Russ tickets to the Tuachan for Christmas again this year. I was excited to see that it was going to be Little Mermaid this year because I know it is one of Russell's favorite Disney cartoon's. The costumes were AWESOME! I loved the music, all of the songs the Tuachan did were so cute.

Some Real Characters

2011-07-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

SebastianFlotsam and Jetsam
Flounder

King Tritan

A little cuttle with Scuttle

We didn't see Grease but Rick couldn't resist the chance to be Sandra Dee. :)

Little Mermaid At The Tuachan

2011-07-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Leave it to my husband to make The Little Mermaid naughty.
The Gardner's

My baby

Brick Oven before the show.

Grandpa's

2011-06-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Cade doing a flip off Grandpa's tramp. Ryker trying to be cool like Cade. He is such a monkey.
Russell trying to be cool like Cade.

Whip cream fill-up.

My chubby in the tubby.

Ryker's First Game

2011-06-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

Rick teaching Ryker to bat. Practicing
Ryker is the best batter on his team. He cracks it way into the outfield every time.

Teekie At The Park

2011-06-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

Up the down slide...wait that sounds familiar...no it's, Up The Down Staircase. Oh-well it still applies. My monkey hanging on the bars.
Dad teaching Teekie to rock climb.

Teekie in a turtle.

Jump shot.

Father's Day

2011-06-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Rick and the kids played Settler's and Wii all day.At Grandpa's for dinner. Teekie is wearing the shirt we made for Rick for Father's Day. Each of the kids wrote Their favorite things dad says or does, favorite thing to do with Dad, favorite place to go with Dad, favorite feature, favorite attribute, etc. They also wrote him a special message on the front. The Shirt says, "Handsome Like Dad". We gave it to him along with his Father's Day video.
Rick teaching Teek to Bat.

Lyman taught himself to play the guitar while he was in Iraq. he brought it to Mom's and he played and we sang.

The Dad's

Cookie Rookies!

2011-06-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

And that's the way the cookie crumbles...or should I say melts into one huge cookie mess! I probably didn't need a close up but here it is...GROSS!

Welcome Home

2011-06-21T08:05:00.001-07:00

Cute Lexi, worked so hard on these posters. Pull-up and Izzy Busy Bear.
Slymie was the first one off the plane. We stayed in the back. of the hanger till the last minute and then we pushed our way to the front. I had the perfect spot on the front row to capture him.

Lyman high fiving the TAG

The long awaited reunion...Mel is so cute. She did so good on her own.

Lyman seeing his babies for the first time.

2011-06-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

Soldier to soldier. Rick was so cute he actually teared up watching my mom and Lyman hug.

Mom missed her baby boy so much, she was bawling like a baby.
Jadey and Lyman

Ryker and Lyman

Me and my lil' bro. Slymie

Bruce And Lily's Visit

2011-06-14T06:13:00.000-07:00

Playing Michael Jacksson with Lily Bruce, Lily, Juliette and Liam came to visit for a week. It was fun being able to see Liam in the flesh, and getting to know Juliette a little bit better.
We got together at Mom's for Memorial Day and ended up turning the family room into a dance floor. After that I told Bruce and Lily that we HAD to do Michael together...
Bruce took Dan, Amy, Mel and I to Brick Oven for dinner, (Yum)! I made myself an amazing salad! After Brick oven we came back to our house for some Michael, as I suspected, Lily LOVED it! Since returning home she has spent $500 on a Wii and Wii accessories. :)
The next day Julie came down and drove up to Sundance with me to spend some time with Bruce and Lily at their cabin. I brought Ryker with me because he and Juliette get a long really well. They had fun playing on the big tree swing. Later that night we went back to mom's for round 2 of the Wii this time we broke out Just Dance 2 in addition to Michael. I haven't been a huge fan of it, but changed my mind while playing with my family.
Julie and I snuck out for a little bit and went to a luau up in Alpine. It was amazing, hoards of food, entertainment, tons of people. It was fun and yummy. I couldn't eat very much though because my Mom was at home making Lomo saltado and that is my FAV!

Just Dance

2011-06-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

I took Just Dance 2 to Lynn and Russell's on Sunday. Teek came in from outside and grabbed a controller, jumped in front of Aspen and Scott and just started shaking his groove thing. He was so cute. Here he is starring intently at the screen. Teeky getting down with his bad self!

Teeky Gets Tubes

2011-06-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally decided to take the plunge...poor Teek has had ear infections since he was born and I have put off getting him tubes because, well at first because he was so little and it scared me, second because I didn't want him in the hospital for a third time, (after the NICU and his RSV/Pneumonia stay, I just felt bad for him), then Rick was scared and didn't want to do it, but the poor kid just couldn't get rid of the ear infections and a couple of weeks a go both ear drums burst. Both his ears were just draining goop for a week and a half, (goop that smelled disgusting). So I decided it was time. Teek did not like his wrist band. This is him scratching around it. In the waiting room with his coloring book and crayons.
Dad getting him dressed for his surgery.

More waiting...at least it's in a toyroom this time.

2011-06-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

I don't think he likes this lady, or her hat! The long hallway...bye baby.
Daddy holding his baby after the surgery.

The procedure was so fast and easy. We were only in the waiting room for 10 minutes before they came and got us.

Ahhh, finally, my chocolate milk. Poor baby wanted a bottle before we left but we couldn't give him one.

Jazz N' Place Spring Recital 2011

2011-06-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Daddy giving his baby girl a rose after her performance. Brookie with her certificate and medal, she was so proud of them.
Her performance was really cute, they did a medley of Justin Beiber songs. She did a really good job, I was really proud of her.

The Pre-Show

2011-06-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

Cafe Rio is Brookie's favorite, so we took her to dinner before her performance. Jadey fell in love with Brooke's hat. She wore it until Brooke had to perform and then Brooke let her have it after the show.
Teekie was so stinking cute, he was just shoveling his dinner in his mouth, like he was a private in a mess hall.

Dress Rehersal

2011-06-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Brookie doing the Justin Beiber heart pose.

Beiber Fever
Look at that angel face. Brooke with her team.

Memorial Day

2011-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Teekie your suppose to bring flowers not take them, go put those back...crap where did they come from. Dad with his daughters

I have never seen a family act like this at a cemetary but our kids had so much fun wrestling, chasing each other, turning sticks into swords and fighting etc. etc.

Zoe chasing Teekie

2011-06-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Rick and Aspen playing tag. Doesn't everyone get that look when they are talking to Matt?
Kelsey and Addie

Wow Russell...REALLY?

The boys

Dance Festival May 2011

2011-06-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

Jade and Kenzie Brookie
Ryker

Scarpe Diem, (Scarlett)

2011-06-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

Scarlett with her new hair cut. Russell minus a haircut, (4 months and counting).

Jade's 6th Grade Graduation

2011-06-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

Jadey with her friends after their graduation. They are ready to move on to bigger and better and TALLER boys! Jadey with her Nova officer.
Lavell Edwards spoke at their graduation. He did an awesome job, I hope the kids listened cause it was a great speech all about attitude and how only 10% of what you are delt or what your circumstances are affect where you end up, the other 90% is all about your attitude, and how your attitude will either hold you back or make you soar.

Crazy Creations!

2011-05-15T19:43:00.000-07:00

So I have totally hated this light fixture in our entry way from the day it was installed. Honestly I am not sure how we ended up with it. I am quite sure I would never have picked something so ugly out... anyway, I was at Osmond Design and saw that they had put some branches, balls and moss on a light fixture. At first I was like...hum, interesting but then I kinda liked it and figured that maybe I could cover up my ugly light that way, I deviated a little from what they had and added acorns, nests and wire birds.

With the lights off you can see the birds better.
I'm sure Rick will completely abhor this, oh-well, it's nothing permanent.

This next creation is not quite as "controversial" as the,"light fixture bird nest thingy".

I think it is actually really cute. It is a ribbon bookmark. I love it because it looks old or I guess I should say, "vintage" Rick would say, That I love it because I'm a Grandma, I say, I love it cause I am a romantic, and I find it very, well...romantic.

I found a nice biography of Spencer W. Kimball at D.I. for $2 I ripped it apart, burned the edges, Tied some ribbon around it, added a few old things to it, (a pocket watch, a handkerchief and the ribbon bookmark), and tah dah! Something fun to throw on a coffee table or coffee table tray.

Karaoke Queens

2011-05-11T02:40:00.000-07:00

"You know our love was meant to be, the kind of love that lasts forever"...

THEY, were the inspiration!" Life has a funny way of sneaking up on ya when ya think everythings ok"...IRONIC don't ya think? That Steph was singing these lyrics when a year just snuck up on her...Happy 31st birthday Steph!
Energenic Emily!
Melodic 'Manda
Silly Singing Sista's...Who knew singing could be so physical...besides Olivia Newton John?

Dueting Diva's - They couldn't fight the moonlight!

Zombies On The Loose In Spring Creek!

2011-05-11T02:38:00.000-07:00

It's close to midnight and something evils lurking in the dark. Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart.You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it.You start to freeze, as horror looks you right between the eyes, you're paralyzed...

Thriller!

Thriller night!

Marvelous Monday Madness in May!

2011-05-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

Happy 38th Birthday to our BFF! We decided to totally run with the "M" theme so we started the partay by going to Chick-fil-a for our free Mother's Day meal. Then we went and had dessert at Thai Village...Mango sticky rice! Yum-O! One of Angie's Fav's. Vogue?
Birthday Girl

Shaunna and Merisa

More Marvelous Monday Madness In May

2011-05-11T01:19:00.000-07:00

After Dinner and Dessert we went back to my house and had Massages, Mingled, and watched, Mermaids. We also got Ang a big bag of "M" gifts. Microphone, Marie Claire Magazine, Modeling clay, Markers, Make-up remover, Monogrammed Mirror...

Old Maid, Mike & Ike's, Mini Milky Way's, Mini, M& M's, Mini, Peanut M& M's, Mini Mounds, Mini 3 Musketeers, Mini Mint 3 Musketeers...

Memo Pad, Mister, Medicated Mint Blistex, Mini Mouthwash, Mini Muffin Pan, Moonlight Magic Mist, Mini Maxi Pads, Melon Wax Melts, Microfiber Head Towel, Kleenex, (Mucus catcher), Memories Frame, Mom Book, Moisturizing Bath Beads, Gift Certificate to Macaroni Grill...

...and last but not least, Must have, Mother's Milk, Medicine, AKA Dr.Pepper or Pepper M.D.

Mother's Day

2011-05-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

Russell is so in love with Tali's new baby. He told me, "Mom, this is what causes teen pregnancies, cause I want one of these so bad!" YIKES! Julie trying to torture me...I don't break easily Julie...move on!
Julie wanted to take a picture of all the mom's I was in my P.J's so I didn't want to, so I said we could if we laid down so no one had to see my jammies.

Bubbly Baby!

2011-05-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist taking a picture of Teeky's Raisin Toes. Johnny Depp and Mary Stewart Masterson may think that raisins are just "humiliated grapes" but I can't help but want to pop one of these little raisins in my mouth!All snuggled up after his bath.
Bubble trouble...I left for 10 seconds and this is what I came back to. To be fair to this little trouble maker, our bathtub generates bubbles at an accelerated pace, it's an overachiever!

Alicia's Favorite Things Party!

2011-05-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

Merisa and I threw Alicia a birthday party for her 29th birthday. We decided to do 29 of her favorite things. One of the things on the list was Macaroni Grill, so I put butcher paper down on the table and put out markers for people to write comments about her. This comment was mine... yeah, no one but me knew what illmatic meant, it's pretty hard being as dope as me. Sometimes I feel so alone, anyway...back to Alicia...
This is Merisa's message...

Alicia opening some of her gifts.

You might ask your self why Alicia is holding Ketchup, well we put ketchup and ranch down on her 29 favorite things list as her two favorite condiments.

One of Alicia's favorite things is holidays, she is extremely exuberant when it comes to celebrating them. She always makes her kids shirts for their birthdays, so we made her one. I am fully aware that it is not as cute as one she would have made, but I forgot it was on my list of things to do and only remembered minutes before the party, oh-well, I'm only one woman.

We had fun eating Cafe Rio, (another one of Alicia's favotites), and playing Micheal Jackson afterwards.

Happy Birthday Alicia!

Grandma Platt's Easter Egg Hunt

2011-05-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

All of my pictures of the hunt ended up really dark, don't know what setting I had my camera on but I couldn't help posting Dave helping little Maliya get her eggs. Russell with his nose to the corner cause he was being naughty.

If Justin's not holding a baby, he's beating up a kid. Poor Ryker.

This may look sweet, but you should see the 10 pictures before of Justin torturing my Teeky. Teek only kissed him because he promised to let him down if he did. Poor T.K.

While the men were hiding the eggs, Dan came across one from the year before, that no one had found...now who can we get to eat it?

The Gardner Meaning Of Easter...MONEY!

2011-05-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

T.K. didn't want anything to do with the Easter egg hunt, he just wanted to play outside and jump on the tramp. He did manage to find some candy to eat though. Whatever! The rich just get richer...Matt found the big money golden egg.

Russell, tried so hard to find a $50, but it didn't pan out for him. He did find a $5 and several $1's though

Jade and Brooke hunting.

Easter Morning - 2011

2011-05-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

Church is so early that we didn't have a whole lot of time to do all the Easter hoopla, but I told the kids that as soon as they ate, dressed and brushed that they could open their baskets. T.K. love this rattle sucker that you dip in candy beads, He kept, saying, "yum, that's good!"
Jadey Bug with her lady bug treats.

Brooke with her new swimsuit.

Hopefully this will fill him up...for 1/2 hour or so.

Ryker holding up his skateboard sucker.

Church was great today, Russell spoke in sacrament and did a really nice job, and I totally had a light bulb moment in Gospel Doctrine, I've been on a high since that lesson and have shared it with upwards of 10 people already! :)

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt - 2011

2011-05-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

Jadey and Teek waiting for the hunt to start. T.K. digging into his stash.

Brooke had her eye on the fun-dips and she really cleaned house too.

Russell, too cool for school, didn't participate in the hunt.

St. Patricks Day

2011-05-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

Not my traditional green breakfast but I figured Lucky Charms were pretty a per po considering the day.
I always get the kids something green and put it on the table on St. Patrick's Day morning.

Brooke's Treat - A Tinsel wig an green nail polish. T.K.'s treat - A rugby shirt.

Russell's treat - A St. Patty's Day shirt.

Ryker's Treat - Irish girls love me T.

Jade's Treat - Green eyeliner and eyeshadow.

Sister Sit Down

2011-05-08T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back in Enrichment...Our first activity in a newly split ward was to sort of speed date all the sisters...We had 3 minutes with each sister, It was so much fun to sit down and get to know everyone. Below is some pictures of the decor.

Ears and Tears

2011-05-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

My sweet twin nieces needed tubes in their ears and because my brother is in Iraq, my sister in law really needed an extra pair of hands at the hospital. After surgery, Layla was really upset and wanted her Mom, I hung her over my arm and she finally calmed down in this position.

I Heart Food

2011-05-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

I got a new Canon Rebel for Valentines Day. The manual said that you always want to shoot in raw so that's the setting I had the camera on when I took pictures of Rick's Valentines dinner but when I went to download the pictures, I couldn't view them. We downloaded this site that would let us view them but unfortunately they have words over them. Oh well, no more shooting in raw for me. I made him his favorite, spaghetti and meatballs and salad. It was quite a tedious task to get everything heart shaped, particularly the meatballs, but it was fun, he loved it.

Shaunna's Birthday

2011-02-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Getting Sheekee Toes at he Clique.
After we got our chocolate pedicures and Sheekee Toes, We went to The Italian Place for lunch. Yum!

Teeky's 2nd Birthday!

2011-01-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

We took T.K. to Monkey Island for his birthday. We went and got big cookies for everyone from Smart Cookie. He is lovin that cookie!

Teeky started crying when I took him to meet the Monkey.

Merry Christmas From The Platt's

2010-12-27T13:35:00.000-08:00

The lot of us. Hand slapping contest...Rick is really getting into it!
Rick and Ryker

Rick and Russ

Rick and Dallin

Christmas at the Gardner's

2010-12-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

Teeky got a building blocks firetruck. Russ always gets fun toys for the boys.
We got Lynn and Russ tickets to the Tuachan again this year. They are performing The Little Mermaid, hence the Mermaid Barbie.

Wat cha, wat cha, watcha want? A Watch.

A remote control truck for Ryker.

Christmas Morning

2010-12-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

Ryker and Teeky in their new football tent. Jadey opening her straightener.
Brooke got an exercise tramp.

Riding Rykers new scooter.

Brooke and Chase got into Rick's tools all summer long so we got her, her own.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-27T01:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's two months before Christmas and I am just posting last years Christmas pictures, but I lost the cord to my camera right after Christmas last year and just now found it.

Teeky with his barking puppy.

Russell's friend Chance called at 6:30 to see what Russell had gotten...Russell hang up the phone so we can finish opening presents please.
Ryker's new scooter.

Brookey's favorite is always her stocking.

Teeky discovering his stocking.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-27T01:50:00.000-08:00

Teeky with his puppy Grandma Platt gave him. We got new metal straws for Christmas so on the way to Grandma Platt's we grabbed a drink. Teeky is lovin the Dr. Pepper goodness.
Brooke and Ryker playing their Tony Hawk Shred game.

Brooke making cotton candy...thanks Santa!

Family December 2010

2010-12-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

2010-12-19T16:35:00.000-08:00

2010-12-19T16:26:00.000-08:00