Hi Dad

Let's play a little game, Dad. Can you tell what's different about me?  I'll tell you all about it when you get home!  

Love, Lilah

My Baby is Growing Up!

Each day Neeley grows older,
As each minute passes by.
I haven't noticed her maturing,
My how time does fly!

Today she graduated pre-school,
Dressed up and oh, so proud.
She knew all the words to the program,
She smiled at the crowd.

I know one day I'll see her,
And not recognize at all.
She will have gotten older,
And so very very tall.

Many other rights of passage,
Experiences of which she'll tell.
I can't wait to be part of them all,
In all, she will do well!

Rising Star Pre-School

Teacher Trudy Thompson

Teacher Chalese

Lagoon Day!.

The Pink Ladies and their Man!

Jeremy taking care of his girls!


Jeff, Britton, Clint, Austin, Dad

Kayla and Chase

Neeley and Kayla on their favorite Dumbo ride.

Ari, Xanthe, Freestone, Jake and Kayla

Michelle, Jake, Mom, Golda and Circe

Our littlest pink lady, Lilah!

Golda, Neeley, Ari, Kayla

Growing up Jeremy never knew there was such a holiday as Memorial Day because their family has always called it Lagoon Day.  This year we were a little scared we would get rained out, but when there was a little break in the weather, we decided to brave the tradition after all.  With short lines, a great lunch and cute kids in rain coats it ended up being one of the best ones on record.  With Golda by her side, Neeley finally tried out the lady bug drop and the tiki boat.  She said they were fun but wants to wait until she is five to give them another try.  Kayla is our fearless one that would go on Wicked if you let her!  Both of them love the "Dumbo" ride the best! Lagoon Day just wouldn't be the same without our whole family there and chocolate chews. A combo you just can't beat!

Important things in life!

I was just making my to do list of some important things I'd like to get done around the house.  I started to think about how easy it is to let them slip through the cracks.  I like to be really organized but tend to be a procrastinator of sorts.  I sometimes like that because the things that you think you should really do but don't get to seem to fade away, where as the things that really need to get done stay forever.  It helps you weed out the things that really aren't necessary in life.

In case you are wondering, my list is: clean out garage, clean winter cloths out of the girls closets, organize the food storage room, complete putting last years pictures in the computer scrapbook, and get a binder together for each kid to put their cute drawings and papers in  and of course there's laundry.

I just wish that some things came with annoying beeps that come faster the more urgent the task becomes.  Kind of like that smoke detector that kept me awake all last night.  You bet I'll get that done today!!

By The Way

I forgot to mention in my garage sale post what I am in search of these days.  I would love to find a step for step aerobics.  Nikki and I have been going to aerobics at the stake center and the days that they do step they never have enough for everyone.  So if you have one or see one in your travels, please buy it for me if it is $10 or less (preferably less of course!).  I know Nik would love one too!

A typical Saturday at our house!

Many might think of Saturday as a day to clean the house, a day of soccer games or a day working in the yard but at our house we call it "Slushy Day"! Some time around when Neeley was two we officially declared Saturdays as Slushy Day and ever since then we have made it a habit of getting slurpees on Saturdays. It is really the only day of the week the girls really keep track of.

Along with our slushies we love hunting for bargains. Today was one of those days. We woke up at 7, threw on our cloths, put the girls in their car seats with some cinnamon toast and we were off to hunt for garage sales. I am not sure what it is about garage sales that I love so much. Maybe it is somewhere to go early on a Saturday, maybe it is the thrill of the hunt as you drive around looking for signs, or maybe it is the bargains you find there. Throughout our marriage we have been known to find a bargain or two at garage sales. Like the mother load we hit when we bought our first home. We found a couple that had bought everything a year earlier but had then decided to sell it all to go on the road in an RV. We pretty much furnished our first home from that garage sale and everything was all a year or less old. I think Jennie and Ryan have a few of these things left in their basement. Another great find were the girls play houses in the back yard. Then of course there are all of the girls cloths (I love getting jammies at garage sales because I hate to pay full price for them) or some new toys. Neeley has really caught on to the garage sale concept. She asks all week long if it is the right day for a garage sale. I think she loves them because she can usually pick out something fun. Today was a pretty slow garage sale day. I am not sure if the weather or the holiday scared lots of sales away but we didn't find very many. We got so into looking for them that we made our way all the way through Syracuse, Layton, Kaysville (they won with the most sales but lost with the most JUNK), Farmington and on to Centerville. I am sure you are thinking now that there is no way we could have saved very much considering the gas we spent which you are probably right. Once we were out we just didn't want to go back home!

When I stop to think about it garage sales are a really silly thing. People putting out their junk for others to pick up as treasures. We have had our own sale before and made some pretty good money at it.  It is one of those things you have to experience a bargain before you really understand the thrill!

On our way home we went to the bank to cash in our change jar for the year.  For our wedding we got a jar full of money that we used on our honeymoon.  Ever since then we have filled our "honeymoon" jar each year and cashed it in on our anniversary to do something fun.  This year our anniversary came and went and we never bothered to cash it in until today.  When we got home Jeremy gave some money to the girls.  It is really fun to give cash to kids.  I love to see their reaction.  As you can see from the picture, Neeley was tickled.  I love how kids at this age can't grasp the concept of money.  You can let them choose between 1 $100 bill or two $1 bills and they will choose the two $1 bills thinking it is more.  So we had a little math lesson on what each is worth.  Then we told her all of the things she could buy for the $6 she had.  She finally decided that 6 slurpees sounded like a good option.  But we only had four people in our family so that would leave 2 left over.  So she thought about it for a minute and decided that Ari and one other cousins could have one too!

Yum? Yum?

My first time eating rice cereal.  Yeah Mom, what a blast!?  First you shove this foreign spoony thing in my mouth.  And I don't know what you are thinking but this stuff isn't even edible!  I knew that before I even tasted it because I saw my big sis Kayla almost cry when she tasted it and the look on your face wasn't much better.  I used to think you were a good cook because you've cooked up some pretty good grub in them juggy things you've got.  But now I am not so sure.  Oh, and what's all this fuss about anyway.  All those pictures and video??  Just to document my sisters gagging me by shoving that spoon down my throat.  I think I'll just go back to eating my toes.  At least they have some flavor!

Come Back Summer!

We were having so much fun with the warm weather that we want it back!  It is like Mother Nature is taunting us!  The girls loved running through the sprinklers.   Well, actually, we are pretty lame and don't own a sprinkler head so we just ran through the hose.  But who cares what it is when it is hot and your having fun getting wet.  Neeley loves to ride with Dad on the mower.  It actually rivals Lagoon as far as rides go!  Lilah just chilled in her shorts and t-shirt, enjoying her freedom from warm sleepers!

Blessing an Angel!

Lilah just looked up at everyone during the blessing and smiled and cooed.

Jeremy and his mom, Marlene

My sister Charlotte and her son Ryan

My sister in law Circe

Our nieces Lexi, Golda and Ruby

Brother in law Clint and Nephew Ward

Me and my mom and dad, Gloria and Dave

Brother in law and master griller Mike

Our nieces Hannah, Kimmi, Elizabeth, Nikki and Haylie

Lilah's baby blessing was a success!  The weather (thankfully) cooperated!  We nearly doubled the attendance of our small ward and gave over half of the testimonies!  I am so thankful to have family that will come and support us.  I was looking around at all of the commotion that was going on just for one little tiny soul!  Someday Lilah will realize just how loved and blessed she is to always be surrounded by so many people who care for her!

It was so neat to see her surrounded by so many worth priesthood holders.  The strength that encircled her is something to marvel at.  It is really special to witness one of our most precious ordinances and to have her Daddy be able to perform it for her.  I was overwhelmed by the spirit the second I walked in the chapel and saw everyone there to support us!

After sacrament meeting we all headed over to our house and had a barbeque.  Mike graciously took over at the grill and did a fine job while the rest of us picked a shady spot under the trees and stuffed our faces.  The kids had a wonderful time playing ball or whatever else they could find to do and the adults got to catch up on everyone else's lives.

(BTW, I did finally get my laundry done, HOWEVER, it has already accumulated again!  I guess the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem in the first place.  Right???  Please say there is hope!)

LNAA

"Laundry Neglectors of America" is a new association I have decided to assemble.  If any of you would like to join our meetings I could use all of the support I can get.  Will anyone be my sponsor?  Based on my laundry habits, I think a meeting once every 2 months is plenty (that's more often than I do now! ;)  During our next meeting we will be talking about how to get the cloths from the washer into the dryer without mildew.  After that we will discuss a new way of sorting that is so easy a 4 month old can do it!  Registration will start immediately but if it is anything like a do laundry, you can just toss this invite in the corner and respond in a few weeks!

 

Look at me!

Lilah is four months old now and I thought you may like to see what she is up to!  Just the other day I was playing with her on the floor and she rolled right over!  I was so excited to be there to see it.  She then proceeded to cry and roll around like a turtle on it's back (only she was on her tummy)!  I love when babies do that!

When I put her to bed she wiggles her way up to the top of the crib and sticks her little nose in the corner.  She has really started to move all over the crib!

Lilah has the cutest little personality. She always has a smile for you and loves to talk back.  Her favorite is if you blow raspberries at her.  She will always blow them right back!

She is a good little sleeper and hardly ever makes any fuss.  She'll sit in her bouncy seat in the kitchen and just quietly observe everything.   She loves it when Neeley and Kayla play with her!

It always amazes me how quickly you grow love for little babies.  I already feel so much love for her.  Having three girls is so much fun!

All I have to say

WHAT THE FREAK IS THIS ALL ABOUT???!!!!