Twenty-Eight

So far 28 has been wonderful!!! My day started off with a 2 mile run followed by an hour of zumba. Then for lunch I got to go out with some of my girlfriends (Amanda, Johanna, Cammie, Erin, Melinda, Rene, and Kim). They spoiled me with presents and kindness, I am very blessed with wonderful friends. We followed lunch up with a trip to the yogurt place.

After some great conversation and lots of laughs with my friends Andy and I got to go 4 wheeling together. Thanks to my wonderful friend Amanda who loaned us the 4-wheelers and who also babysat my kids! Andy and I had a blast!!!! We were out for over 3 hours, we found all kinds of cool trails and covered all of White Mountain. It was so exhilarating and freeing to fly on top at of the mountain at 45MPH and to climb steep hills and jump off of crazy bumps; I loved every minute of it (minus the wind). We even climbed to the top of Pilot Butte. To top off the super fun 4-wheeling trip Andy and I got to enjoy dinner together as well!

It was almost 9:00 when we picked up the kids. When the kids were all in bed we watched a movie and went to bed a little to late considering my early morning the next day.
So 28 turned out to be one the best birthdays I've had in a long time!

Pillot Butte they we climbed to the top off-

It was so windy up there, it about knocked me over!-

We even saw some flowers, which is a very rare thing in Rock Springs-

Behind Andy is the rickety ladder we climbed up to get to the top-

Notice anything different?

One of Maddie's friends came to school today with brand new pierced ears so Maddie came home and said can I get earrings. I figured why not, she would look way cute. So we did it, she didn't cry or even flinch, she picked cute silver flowers and was excited to go to gymnastics right after to show everyone her new pierced years!

While we were there the lady could not believe I had never pierced my ears. I've always kind of wanted to but just haven't. So at age 27 I finally pierced my ears. It was fun to do it with Maddie.

Halloween Party

Andy and I went to the Hunter's Halloween party Friday night. I was so glad my mom was here to help me create a costume and to watch our kids so we could go out. It was a ton of fun with a real palm reader and a DJ and tons of yummy food.
We had to introduce ourselves at the party as our characters and Andy stood up and said, "I am...More uncomfortable than I have ever been in my life" He was a good sport, he even danced for a second when they dedicated the 'Walk like an Egyptian' song to us.

Wonderful Weekend

My weekend was really relaxing for once! Friday there was no preschool and no school for Maddie because of Parent/Teacher confrences. I went to Maddie's bright and early at 8:30AM. Her teacher only had the nicest things to say. She is in the highest reading and math group, she's way above the average scores on her testing, and she's not even being distrupting with her talking and laughing. We are so proud of her.
Straight from the confrence I went to the gym where Cammie kicked my butt and I can finally walk normal again today. From there a enjoyed a long lunch and chatting with my friend Kara. And to make it even better, Andy had totally cleaned the house while I was gone.
And beleive it or not it keeps going. Maddie and I spent a couple of hours at the mall shopping, followed by all of us going swimming at the new indoor pool/splash park/lazy river/water slide/rock climbing wall. The kids had a blast!

Saturday turned out to be pretty awesome as well, I think it's due to Andy being home on the weekends. We went to Maddie's soccer game (it was cold!) and she played like a champ. She scored a goal in the last minute of the game. We all went out to celebrate at Applebees for lunch. At 9pm a bunch of us girls went out for ice cream followed by a late movie.

Sunday at church I spotted Garen doing the actions to the songs (which he never does at church) and then he actually got out of his chair and participated during Sunbeam class (also something he has never done before). It was a good Day.
I payed for my weekend fun late Sunday night as I vacuumed and cleaned and cut and laminated and set up for preschool, but it was worth it.

And just some random pictures since I didn't take any this weekend:
Sophie putting on my makeup-

Garen enjoying preschool-

Sophie enjoying preschool-

Cutting it down to the wire...literally

So my preschool started today and we got the electricity hooked up about 8pm last night. Yes we were cutting it close on finishing the basement in time, but I got it set up and ready to go. It only took several late nights of painting, painting, caulking, painting, cleaning, painting, setting up, and did I mention painting!
Here's a look-
center stations-

playroom-

cubbies and classroom pets-

reading corner-

group circle time area-

some of my morning class-

And I was very proud of Garen. He struggled going to the CDC preschool this morning, but the teachers said he participated in some the activities which is a first there. Then he came to my preschool in the afternoon and did awesome! He played with friends, did all the activities, and even ate snack (he has refused to eat in front of people lately)

Maddie loves second grade! When asked if she had a good day she replied, "it was an AWESOME day!"

So my days pretty much look like this now:

6:30am-get up

8am-pick up Garen's friend and take them to the CDC for preschool.

8:30am-get Maddie to school

9am-my preschool starts 9 students and Sophie joins in

10:30am-my friend brings Garen home from the other preschool

11:30am-first preschool session ends followed by 30 min. to feed Garen and Sophie lunch and lay Sophie down for a nap

12:15pm-second preschool session starts-9 students

2:45pm-preschool ends, eat lunch since lunch and breakfast were missed

3:30pm-Maddie comes home from school

4:00pm-piano, soccer, girl scouts, or gymnastics depending on the night

7pm-maybe dinner if I got a chance to make it

8pm-kids to bed

8-11pm-clean up, set up preschool for next day, etc.

Carrol Came

My Best Friend Carrol stopped in today on their way to Ohio. They only got to stay a short time, but it was so fun to see her and her family!

Missing Sara

I've been thinking a lot about my sister today because she got on an airplane this morning and flew her family to North Carolina. I feel sad that I can't just get in the car and drive three hours to make it to one of her kid's birthday parties or to try and snowboard down hills on sleds, or just hang out with our crying babies all night! But I know North Carolina holds great things for her and her family. Love ya sis.

Goodbye to a dear friend

I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends here in Rock Springs. Amanda and her family headed out on a new venture of going back to school. Amanda was my park/craft/babysitting buddy. We met at the park at least 3 times a week to play, she was always helping me with projects, and babysat my kids everytime I had to be somewhere. We miss her and her family very much already!

A goodbye lunch-

I got to have Amanda's girls (Milan and Eden) for two days while they moved all their stuff out to Laramie. It was so fun to have them and reminded me that I don't really want 5 kids. :)

A goodbye party-

The girls-

The guys-

Movie Night

Wednesday night I got to go see the new Twilight movie with friends. It was a fun night and the movie is my favorite one so far! You've just got to embrace all the drama and hype that is Twilight. :)

Date Night

My wonderful friend Amanda insisted that Andy and I go out and she took all 3 of my kids for the evening. First Andy and I hiked up White Mountain for just over an hour. We hiked into the Rock Springs waterfall (more like the Rock Springs trickle). It was nice to explore a little bit of the Mountain next to our house.

The waterfall is behind us-

This is what Rock Springs looks like from White Mountain-

After hiking we had a lovely dinner at Bonsai. It was very yummy!!! Thanks Amanda for taking my kids!!!

My Birthday/ Flashback Friday

I didn't take any pictures on my birthday so I just threw in a blast from the past of my 13th birthday-
Jennifer, Jana, me, Alisha-

I really had a great birthday on Thursday. It feels weird to be 27, it just feels like I should still be 22 or 23.
My morning started with a yummy breakfast made by Andy. Sadly right after that Andy had to head to work and would be gone till about 9:30 that night.
At lunch time my wonderful friends planned a lunch and pools outside for the kids to play. Thanks Amanda, Rachel and everyone who came! My friends are way to nice! We came home to give Sophie a little nap. Next we headed to Sports Authority to do a little shopping before Andy looses his discount with the job change.
Then we headed out to the park for a Relief Society activity. The kids played at the playground the whole time and I enjoyed more yummy food. There was also a pinata and it being my birthday I got to take the first swing at it and I managed to knock it to the ground-oops. I guess no one else deserves to smack the pinata on my birthday. Throughout the day I also enjoyed some enthusiastic "Happy Birthdays" from my kids but most came from my little preschooler Carter. I saw him 3 different times during the day and he would yell "Happy Birthday Miss Emily" everytime. It made my day!
When Andy finally got home he hung up my new curtains in my bedroom and in the family room even though he would have rather went to bed.
It was a fabulous birthday!

Flashback friday-My 7th birthday

Since I share a birthday with my dad, and this birthday was probably a Sunday; we celebrated in my dad's bishop's office. I remember feeling very special sitting in my dad's chair opening presents.

Flashback Friday

Everything about this picture is awesome! The headband, the outfit, the socks, and the car!

Flashback Friday-ballet recital time

It's time for Maddie's ballet recital, so here's a look of some of my past recitals-
clogging-

got to love my not so graceful leap-

I'm not sure why I am posing with a chair, a little awkward I think-