Busy with projects...

Here are a few of the projects that have been keeping me busy lately:

Baby shower gifts for my sisters


These were so fun to do! I wanted to use a Mason jar but had to get a little bigger of containers to fit there stuff. I just rolled up the outfits and tucked them down inside. Then put all the other things in and made it fit! Wal-mart sells those cute labels with ingredients for a girl or boy on them. It added just an added touch of "cuteness" to a plain old jar!


~Filling dirt area with gravel~
(Still need our trim in, and giant edging rock- pictures later)

~More Sod laid in the backyard. We still have
more to do, plus add our sandbox , and dig our fire pit.
(I will post pictures when it is all finished)



Weeding the garden, building squash trellis's,
and picking our spinach. We have already gotten to enjoy it several times!




~ Taking the kids to a magic/ illusionist show. Seriously I wish I had pictures! Their faces were classic. Especially when the girl got sliced in half,
when he made a bowling ball fall out of a flat piece of paper, and put a kids head in a chopping block! Their faces showed complete shock! Savanah almost cried when she thought the boy was going to get his head chopped off! It was so much fun!


These are just a few things we have been up to these past several days!
Life is beautiful, wonderful, and great!
To bad time couldn't slow down so we can enjoy it even more!
What's been keeping you busy?

Grandma, can you stay for fifty-seven days?

Life has been crazy busy for us this last little while! We have been lucky enough to have my mom come and stay with us from last Saturday until Thursday. We are so grateful for her. She is a wonderful grandma and truly loves her grandkids. The kids were so ecstatic to see her. Savanah kept saying "Can you stay for fifty-seven days grandma?"

Saturday and Sunday we just relaxed and barbecued. Monday, we had booked a room in Mesquite, Nevada and couldn't check in until 3:00, so we just hung out in St. George and shopped until then. We also got to walk around the visitor center and temple grounds a little bit too! It was so beautiful! I miss living so close to the temple.


When we got to Mesquite, it was a scorching 114 degrees. It was nice to have a beautiful pool to lounge by and soak up the sun!(the only thing missing was the cabana boy to run errands for us and fetch us drinks~ha) The buffet was great there. For those of you who aren't buffet fans...man you are missing out. (who doesn't want to gorge on all the food they can eat, especially with things like prime rib, gyros, and fresh salads and fruits?)

My mom let Beau and I go out while she watched the kids. It was nice to have a break and just walk around and relax with Beau. Then Beau watched the kids so my mom and I could go out (score..double whammy for me!That hardly happens) My mom and I watched a live band and had a good laugh watching all the drunkards dancing. I was giggling so hard that I am sure I looked like I was a bit "loopy" myself!

Tuesday morning we just relaxed and laid out more by the pool. Beau was so nice to play with the kids the whole time so my mom and I could just relax and enjoy the weather. We got back and got a babysitter for that night and the three of us adults went to "The Incredible Hulk" (O.k. Loved it!!!)


Wednesday we spent the day relaxing. I surprised my mom with a pedi-mani for a late Mothers Day gift. And later that night we walked to the Green Show and watch the actors sing and dance!! The actors walked around selling "lollies and sweets, only for a dollar" in their British accents. So I got great footage of my kids saying it too!










We had such a great time with my mom! Thank you so much for coming. This is her third time in 2 years and we are grateful for family who takes the time out of their busy lives to visit!! We hope you had as much fun as we did and we can't wait to see you again in a month!!

Happy Birthday "Buckets of Love"

First of all...look at this amazingly fabulous cake that Beau's buddy Tim Stevens and his wife made him! I could not have done this!! Thank you so much!! Beau loved it and refused to eat it because of it's perfection! HA It really is beyond fabulous! Thank you guys~ it was such a GREAt surprise!!

Now to warn you~
WARNING THE FOLLOWING POST MAY NOT BE FOR THE WEAK IN HEART, OR FAINT IN STOMACH !!
(please give caution to gushy, romantic, love sick notions, of affection from me!)

Sorry...I hope I didn't make any of you vomit from the title of my post. Beau and I use to mock people who used really weird terms of endearment. I heard someone once say "buckets of love" or something like that, and mockingly started to call Beau, Buckets. But it stuck and we have called each other that every since!

Since my honey is now the BIG 32 (old, I know...he could practically be my uncle..haha!) I decided to post 32 things that I love about him. It is hard to narrow the millions of reasons why down to just 32, but I will try!

1. I mean, look at him, he is attractive, gorgeous, handsome, how could I not be swooned by him daily!
2. He genuinely gets along with everyone he meets!
3. He is a great kisser. (I could go on and on about his kissing, but for sake of your gag reflexes, I will spare you the details! HA!)
4. He has a unique and funny sense of humor! He can come up with the best sayings and one liners and always get a crowd laughing!
5. We share the same love for the outdoors!
6. He is a good fisherman (Although I have out fished him on many occasions, he still has his own unique style of catching fish. In fact when we were first dating we went fishing to Woodrow 5. Before we had barely started our drive I noticed a dead grasshopper stuck to the back of his shirt. I went to pick it off and he quickly told me to leave it. I thought he was being funny, but when we got to our destination . He peeled it off of his shirt and fastened to his hook and used it for bait! Yes...he actually caught a fish with it too!)
7. He is very down-to-earth. What you see is what you get! He doesn't change his personality, or things he likes to appease others. He is not afraid to be himself!!
8. He is a wonderful breakfast cook. He cooks the kids breakfast every morning and all of us breakfast on Sundays! I love it and the kids look forward to it every morning!
9. He is outgoing! He will do and try anything!
10. He has a shoe fetish. (Ok, so I am sure he thinks he doesn't. But seriously the man has more shoes than me. Every time we go somewhere where shoes are, I usually have a pair or two in the cart for him. Although he still mostly wears the same three pair!)
11. He is a handy, fix-it, get to it, kind of guy! He can rig or fix just about anything. (Hence the Christmas post. He rigged up a slide to his motorbike to pull the kids around in the snow. So clever)
12. He is a HARD worker. He is always helping out other people. He is always working long hours and he never complains about any of it!
13. DID I MENTION HE IS HOT!!!!
14. He is one Hot motorcyclin' dude. He loves to dirt bike ride!!! And looks sawwweeeeet in his gear!!
15. He is a great ironer!! ( I have NEVER picked up an iron since we have been married. He is so great at it and insists! BONUS)
16. He loves to play board, card, and dice games!
17. He has tremendous faith and perseverance!
18. He bites his tongue when he sees something cute or gets mad! It is sooooo funny! I really love it about him!
19. He looks HOT in jeans! HAHA (enough said)
20. He has a strong testimony!
21. He is so supportive in anything I love or do!
22. He is a planner! He has talked about the white clouds since last year and still is planning what to eat, etc.
23. He is fun loving!
24. Did I mention he is a GREAT kisser? !
25. He is the BEST dad. And many tell me all the time how lucky I am to have someone who helps me with the kids as much as he does!!
26. He is motivated!
27. He is energetic!
28. He loves the Lord and puts him first in everything he does!
29. He sets a good example for me and the children!
30. He is a great gardener. He spends at least ten minutes outside watering the garden! It is hilarious!!
31. He LOVES TO CAMP!!!
32. HE IS BEAU!!! What is not to love about him?


Happy Birthday Buckets! I hope you have the best day ever!! We love you~

~New Photo Blog~

I finally have started my own photography blog. I have always loved photography and most people know my camera is in my purse or with me at all times! I have had lots of people ask if I would do their kids and family pictures so I finally just took the incentive to start. I am excited to build up my business and hopefully just get better and better !

My blog is still a work in progress, so be patient with me. It might take awhile to get all my pictures uploaded! Here is a small preview of the two little cutie's I got to do on Saturday!






You can check out more by clicking HERE. Soon I will have a gallery of all of the shots from there day. I took over 120 of them! So check back a few times!

~Best Dad's Ever~

There are so many things I could go on and on about my husband, that make him so great. Many things I am sure many of your husbands share! He is a GREAT dad, he is a people person, everybody loves him, he can remember people he barely knows or barely met, he is outgoing, he is easy to please, he is loving and tender, he is affectionate, he is always willing to try new things, he puts the Lord and his family first, I mean the list could go on and on. But it is the things in his life, that I won't share, that have shaped and molded him, that make him incredible!

When Beau and I were dating, as many of you know, he was very persistent. I was dating somebody else at the time, but Beau informed me "Until you are married, you are free game." I am so glad his persistence payed off, because I couldn't imagine my life without this man! Without my children having their amazing father!

Knowing some of the things he went through at a young age, and knowing of his faith to pull through at a young age, is something that touches me deeply! It has affected what kind of father he is, and what kind of husband he is! He is an amazing dad! The kind of dad that rushes to hug his children the second he walks in the door. He is the kind of father who isn't afraid to teach his children about what the world might consider trivial. He is the kind of dad who listens, observes, and teaches. He is the kind of dad that suggests fun things to do together as a family. He is the kind of dad that choses his family over his friends or activities that might not involve his children! He is the kind of father that makes me feel overwhelmed with gratitude every time I see the love he has for his children! He is the kind of dad that isn't afraid to change a diaper, wash hair, give baths, or anything else some men consider "women's work".

I couldn't have chosen a better man! He is the perfect Father! A wonderfult husband and I am forever grateful for his faith and for his love!! Happy Fathers Day Buckets!! I Love you!!

Here are what your children love about you: (In their exact words)

Savanah " When he wrestles with me. When he gets me drinks after wrestling. I love when daddy takes me fishing and when he loves me. He is the best dad and I love him"


Caleb " I dunno why I love daddy I just do. I love when he does races with me. I like when he feeds me breakfast. He teached me to ride my dirtbike good. My favoritest stuff is when he reads to me and hugs me and kisses me. Like things like that ya know?"


Kennedy " Guess what? I luff daddy. Yeah I love him lots. He best friend to me. I luff him lots"

And also to my own Father, Happy Father's Day! You are the best dad a girl could ask for. Your faith in the Lord and persistence in doing and teaching us what is right is so admirable! I appreciate the mornings of gospel study, family prayers, morning breakfast, family hiking/ backpacking, FHE's, family yard work, vacations, and all the things you did to help shape and make our family strong! It is something I incorporate in my own life and in the lives of mine and Beau's children! You are a great man! I am touched every time I think of how selfless and giving you are! I don't know anyone who is as generous as you! Thank you for your example, for your constant faith! I love you so much!!

I also want to wish my Father-in-law, bro-in-laws, grandpa'a and all the other wonderful men who set such good examples to us a Happy Father's Day also! We love all of you and miss you all so much!! Happy Fathers Day!

~Father's Day Gift Idea~

So my Super talented and beautiful friend Kellie had this Father's day idea on her blog. I totally thought it was so cute and decided to copy her. She had each child hold a letter, to spell DAD. I ran to Roberts to get some letters and of course there were no A's left so I got an I, a heart shape, and a U. For I love you. But of course as fate would have it, I put my painted letters and heart in the sun to dry and when I came back to get it Max (my dog) had chewed up all the pieces! ( I swear he eats everything!! Including the siding off of our old house) So in the aspect of time, I just decided to add, with photo editing, the words "I love you". I think it turned out cute, but definitely not as cute as Kellie's kids holding letter's! Seriously, check her's out~ it is amazing and soooo cute!!!

So if any of you are looking for something super quick and inexpensive, but also sentimental, to do for your husbands! This is it! The frame cost $3.00 and the prints for 3 -4x6's cost .58 cents, so my whole total was $3.58. I know my husband will love this. It is something he can put on his desk at work!

Backyard camping and the Tooth Fairy

Savanah has finally lost her first tooth! I was wondering if it was going to happen before she turned seven. And it finally happened! She was so excited to finally loose a tooth an experience having the tooth fairy visit. The kids have been sleeping in the tent so she kept asking if the tooth fairy would know where to find it. And of course she did!!


So far summer has been so fun! The kids have enjoyed the warm weather and love sleeping outside! We have had the tent pitched outside for a week and they still haven't gotten sick of it! They still follow their night time routine of reading a book they each choose, but insist on doing it in the tent instead of inside. I am just enjoying the one less bed to have to make! Bonus!!

~Deer Haven with the Lovell's~

This picture is the one I thought best describes how beautiful Deer Haven is. This is the view from where we camped. I had to take this picture because I thought it was so breathtaking!

Where Beau has been on-call for three weeks in a row, we knew we needed to take full advantage to go camping!
So we loaded up our "Sweet ride" (Don't be jealous of our minivan pullin', sweet bike towin', wanna be truck, minivan. Atleast I will have the last laugh when you are all at the pumps with your guzzlin' gas hogs! ha ha ha! j/k)

We invited Shellie and Hans Lovell and their kids to come along with us and are so glad they did. We had so much fun!!

We set up camp and just relaxed for awhile. It was so nice to be away from the chaos and worrying of all that needed to be done. The kids had fun bike riding and dirt bike riding around. We had delicious tinfoil dinners made by Betty Crocker/Martha Stewart herself! (Seriously, Shellie could make dirt taste good! She is amazing!!) Then we just sat around the fire talking and laughing. And let's not forget the thousand smore's we all wolfed down!!(Ok so maybe I am saying "We" to make myself feel better for all the ones I wolfed down!) Man they were good!

The next morning we went on a hike on the "Virgin River Rim Trail". It was so beautiful and peaceful. Beau and Hans found all the dead trees along the way and tipped them over. It was a riot to watch them. And Shellie and I proved to them we were just as strong by pushing a few over ourselves. The kids had fun finding animal tracks and rocks. It was a pretty long hike but worth it! The trees are so beautiful and huge. I couldn't stop taking pictures of everything around me.

We feel so richly blessed for such wonderful friends!! I would be homesick everyday without such amazing friends that surround us! We are thankful for all of our friendships here and look forward to many more camping trips and fun times with them!! Thanks guys!!

Enjoy this clip of our "Men" "Tree-tippin'"

(Right before I started to film, you missed the part where they were trying to push it over and the top of the tree came barreling down in between them, barely missing them. That is why Shellie and I are gasping!)

~DI Finds~

I found a set of disgusting looking, ratty -tatty, old, bar stools. I have two fold up barstools, but have been wanting something more permanent. I have seen other barstools at the DI marked at around $7.00 so I kind of assumed they would be about the same. I decided to ask anyways, since they were unmarked, and I was glad I did!! The guy marked them $1.50 each! SWEEEEET!!

I just painted them a high gloss black and applied a polyurethane coat. I am so excited! Hopefully they stay scuffed free for a little while! Yeah right huh?