When will I ever learn

to keep my mouth shut.

Within 45 minutes of telling a friend that Jack was doing really well with wiping himself after using the potty. I found this.



Reality check.

At least his buns are clean and this is clean toilet paper.

She liked it

Here's the happy girl eating her cake. She really liked the spots.

Her day started off pretty good. She got to pick out these balloons all by herself. She reminded everyone that they belonged to her with frequent, "My bawwoons."

She and Jack enjoyed spelling her name with this puzzle.

A package from Grandma Shirlene arrived at lunch so I let her open it. We read this book throughout the rest of the day.

Olivia got lots of snuggles.

This toy did not even make it out of the box before it was used to make music.
It is a favorite of Jack's now too.


Beautiful day for a great, spunky little girl. She sure makes us smile.

Will the Birthday Girl like it?

We'll see when she wakes up from her nap.

(I find the green eyes a little scary myself. I may have to eat them.)

Minty Fresh

I'd like to think that Addy is taking her oral hygiene seriously.

However, I think she is just enjoying the minty taste of the dental floss.

This is for you, Katy.

I should be cleaning out our office to get my house organized. But I don't like that reality. So I am going to ignore that guilty tug at my mind and follow up on a request from my friend. She wants to see pictures of a warm place. And since I had to scrape ice off the inside of my windshield to take Jack to school today, I could use the reminder too.

Ah yes, sunny day walking along Paradise Island. (it really is called that. I am not making it up)

This is called the Cloisters and it is originally from a 17th Century French Monastery before some really rich person had it brought piece by piece to be reassembled in the Bahamas.

The Royal Towers at Atlantis.

(plus a shot of the really cute bag I made for the trip. Thanks Camberly!)



The One and Only Beach Club.
(I promise you will love this link.)

I hope you feel warmer, Katy.

While we were gone

my parents came to watch our kids. They had a blast and the kids didn't notice we were gone until we got back. (But that is a whole different story)

Addy dressed herself in this outfit. I love the pink and red beret. I think it really pulls the whole ensemble together.

Jack wore his pajamas most of the time. A battle that my mom and I both don't think is worth fighting. He wore clothes to church and school but when at home, why not?

Glad to see that life is the same whether we are here or not.

Did you think to pray?

Now that Jack attends Primary as a full-fledged Sunbeam he gets to attend Primary Activities.


He attended his first activity while Ryan and I were on the island.


My mom told me he was given a prayer rock ( a rock that you put on your pillow so that you will remember to say your prayers each night) which made me slightly nervous since Jack has a pretty good arm and I was anticipating broken windows. However, when I got home, I saw that it was a small rock, the size of a quarter, with the letter "P" written on it.



This is what he does with it . . .


He picks it up and hits himself in the head saying, "Uh oh, I forgot something. I need to say a prayer."

And Repeat . . .


And Repeat. . .


I am pretty sure that is not what the Primary Presidency had in mind.