Sunday, February 22, 2009

Football Birthday Party

Over the weekend we had an awesome Birthday party for Bear. He turns 4 this week and I thought he was old enough to appreciate a party, and Phil and I were just crazy enough to take it on. We invited all the kids around that are his age (over thirty plus his cousins) and I was just hoping that someone would show up. I was really worried because I know that it can be hard to remember that there is a party and also a lot of kids have been sick. I figured if at least one kid showed up it would be ok. The day of the party arrived and we were all ready, it was two o'clock and...... Thank goodness we had 14 kids come :D HURRAY! The party turned out great, better than great! We had plenty of games and we decorated cupcakes, played out in the back yard and then had ice cream. It was so much fun to watch the kids have so much fun. I was seriously worried that they would be bored. Some of the parents ended up staying, which I expected, because there are some really shy kids. I planned ahead though and had a fruit tray ready for parents to snack on, and we got to visit with one another and we got know them better too! It was just such a relief to have it go so unbeleivabley well! I really want Bear to be able to socialize and have a good variety of friends to play with. I think that this is a good start. We know the kids better they know where we live and we know where they live and we've met their parents. Setting up play dates is so much easier when you know who each other are. It was just so much fun, I'll definatly do it again!




















Thursday, February 19, 2009

Birthday Bash




This is one of my favorite sites! Go check it out, tons of giveaways and all that good stuff :D

Art Project

Since we don't go outside much we do a lot of art projects. Luckily the boys love to color and paint. Here we took these huge pieces of paper and traced the boys while they were laying on the papers then the boys each drew in the rest of their features.


Bears is a bit more detailed than Lyons. I must admit I did help a little but only with the bones because Bear asked me to. He did his own face though, even all of his teeth :D


Lyon is just such a cutie. He was so proud of his work and wanted to help hang it on the wall. Yes, we hang their artwork all over the walls of my house. I love to look at it all and the boys love to see it hanging up as well :D

I love my family




For relief society we made cupcakes for our sweeties, these are the ones I made for Lyon and Bear. They loved them!



Bears cupcake is an angel with wings holding a heart (in case you couldn't tell)




I was terribly ill on Valentines day so we didn't get to do anything :( The boys went out and did the grocery shopping and surprised me with a bouquet of flowers. Phil said it was Bears idea. I thought this was so sweet, I love my boys!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

I hate winter

Alright well its not really that I hate winter its a fine season and can be very beautiful. I particularly love to wake up in the morning and find a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, or watching the snow fall at night in the light on our street lamp.
However, enough is enough! I am so sick of being cold, I am 5 months pregnant, I should not be cold. Yet I am, and winter is to blame.
I once had a biology professor explain to my class, and I am really not sure why, why it is that we love the warm seasons. Something to the effect of our ancestors running around naked in the sunshine, and how our bodies weren't designed for cold weather. Well that is for sure, and right now if it were nice and hot I wouldn't mind running around outside naked. (As long as I were on a deserted island with a beach)
I get like this every year, desperately wanting to go to the beach. I love the sunshine, and I love to swim. I think I was supposed to be a beach bum, with a surf board, and my hair sun bleached and full of sand. Just the thought makes me feel so happy! Perhaps someday Phil and our family will move to the Canary Islands, with its San Diego like weather and beautiful beaches. I would learn Spanish especially if it meant living on the beach. Of course there is a downside to that, as there are those big huge scary dogs there on the islands. I guess that some how I would have to overcome my debilitating fear of dogs. Hey, anything is possible.
Oh well, sigh, for now I will simply have to wait patiently for the days when my boy's and soon girl and I, will be able to go out side play in the kiddie pool and walk to the park. Until then I will simply have to be content with my imagination and dreams of living in warm beach going weather all year round.



This is just a small piece of the Canary Islands. I think that this is really where I belong, but I was born where I was plainly and simply so I could meet Phil. Oh relax people, I know I also wouldn't have all the friends that I have now, so I am grateful to be where I am. ;)The backup plan was that Phil served his mission there so we would have met one way or another. I bet that my Mom and Dad once had a discussion on where they should move to, either Utah or Canary Islands, and Utah won. I can't be selfish if we hadn't come to Utah where would my Brothers and sisters be as far as their spouses and friends go?
Clearly I have thought this through just a little to thoroughly. Lol!

The Belly Bump


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Just because....


While sorting through my pictures on my computer I came across this one. I love this picture I am not really sure why. I don't remember ever seeing it before.....

My Mom e-mailed this to me and I wanted to share

The One Flaw In Women

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
'Why are you spending so much time on this one?'
And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands.'

The angel was astounded at the requirements.
'Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish.'

'But I won't, ' the Lord protested.
'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days.'

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
'But you have made her so soft, Lord.'
'She is soft,' the Lord agreed,
'but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'

'Will she be able to think?', asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
'Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate.'

The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.'

'That's not a leak,'
the Lord corrected,
'that's a tear!'
'What's the tear for?' the angel asked.

The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride. '
The angel was impressed.
'You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing.'

And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness,
love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take 'no' for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Family Pictures


Graves Family


Phil, Rose, Lyon, and Bear


Jason, Rebecca, and Little Taylor



Daniel and Kealy



Nathan, Ben, and Stephanie