Conversation between sisters....

Lolo:  Look Mom, I am doing my chorgings (chore-jings)
Mom:  Good job.
Diva:  Lolo, it's NOT chorgings, it's CHORGES (chorge-jez)
Diva:  We are doing a good job on our chorges, huh Mom.
Mom:  (stifling the giggle) Yep, you are doing awesome!

I wish I would have had a audio recording of this, because it was so cute with their little voices!

Hell has frozen over...

It's official-my bachelor of a brother has found a bride!  I will be honest-I never thought I would see this day come.  Ty is kind of a playboy, but Tanya has changed his bachelor ways.  We are all very excited and we cannot wait!  Tanya will bring a new, fun element to our family.  PLUS, she has two adorable kids that my kids are excited to have as "real" cousins (as Diva says).  Congratulations Ty and Tanya!  We love you guys and we couldn't be more excited !

Who are you and what have you done with my daughter

So today I had my kids complete their chores after dinner and Diva steps right up and announces the SHE will unload the dishwasher and that LOLO can wipe down all the chairs and cupboards (picture hands on hips and a little neck twitch).  She really took charge.  Lolo finishes up, or at least says she is finished when I hear Diva let loose on her sister...."YOU ARE NOT FINISHED!  YOU DID NOT DO A VERY GOOD JOB!  (Turning to me now) MOM, she needs to get back in here AND FINISH THE CHAIRS.  Why do I need to do everything-she won't do anything, and she won't do it right.  I am gonna have to finish it.  Uggghhh."  I felt like I was having an out of body experience.  Side note-Lolo knows how to manipulate the system and Diva picks up the slack because of it. I didn't intervene, I just watched as Diva took charge and Lolo, amazingly, got back in line and finished her chores.  Maybe I should give Diva a raise...Better yet, I need to figure out how she got Lolo to finish her chores without any groundings involved. 

Love Day...

Today is LOVE Day.  So in honor of Valentines Day, HAPPY LOVE DAY to all of you!
May your hearts be full of love and gratitude for everyone in your life.

Cue Pomp and Circumstance

I have a graduate on my hands.  Yes, that's right, Belle has graduated from puppy school.  HOORAY!  After 8 weeks of intense training, she is now ready to be a Guide Dog, a Rescue Dog, a Guard Dog, a chef, a babysitter, a hunter, a chauffeur, and a trainer.  I KNOW!  Amazing!  And all for just a wee little fee.  We couldn't be more proud of her.  Last night was her graduation and the pups all got to play games, have relay races and win dog biscuits.  It was a lot of fun and not just for the puppies.  You should have seen all the video cameras that were there.  I will admit I did bring my camera (and you will see all the fantastic shots that Sporty took of her in just a moment-I know the suspense is KILLING you.) and I did record one spot-I couldn't resist capturing the moment where Belle walks up to the teacher, gets her diploma and comes back to me-sniff sniff, tear tear.   I cannot believe she is ALL grown up-7 months old.  Boy, it seems like yesterday we brought her home and I was sleeping on the couch with her all curled up on my chest.  Now, she would cave my chest in!  Love this dog!

Again-this is Sporty's work.  Here we are all lining up to get ready for the relay races.  That's Charly the Boxer next to us-they were buddies. 

Let's go Belle

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Can you see Ollie, the Maltese?  He just got neutered so he had to wear that awful cone-poor puppy, he also had on a sweater...

This is Yaeggar (sp?)  I fell in love with this German Shepherd.  He is beautiful and he and Belle were best buds.  They loved to sit by each other. 

Belle and Cassie were the finalists for the "Stay" competition.  We actually had to leave the building while the teacher threw tennis balls past them, called them, whistled to them-we watched through a window.  Eventually Belle sat up and she lost.  We did get a big dog biscuit, though.

Her diploma! 

I highly recommend this puppy school!  They are great to work with and they are great to help you over the phone and answer any questions you have.  Not to mention that they know what they are talking about!

Tender mercies...

It's stuff like this that remind me why I love being a mommy...

...and as I am posting this my kids are all fighting in the kitchen.

Catch up

So I have posted a few entries...I wish I was better about blogging, and even better about being an interesting blogger (that's a whole other insecurity-jk).  But when you have four small children, a dog, a cat, a husband who is gone a lot, well, you type away when you can.  So, if you are interested, then keep on-a-scrollin' down.

Oh yeah, hem, hem, as Delores Umbridge says, I think our colds are FINALLY starting to go away.  I know I just jinxed it.

not enough attention

Z-man was feeling a bit down when it was Diva's birthday, so here he is, pouting.

Happy birthday Diva!

February 3rd was Diva's 6th birthday.  And just like Lolo, she shares a birthday with a very important member of our family.  My Uncle Gary (we refer to him as Grandpa Gary) and Diva get to share this special day.  We love him very much as well as his sweet wife, Aunt Ann.  

Diva's arrival was a long, emotional wait.  Here is a brief background-I had Sporty by emergency c-section.  When I became preggers with Diva, I was told I could deliver her by vbac (not a c-section).  However, at my big ultra sound it was discovered that I had issues with the placenta which would not cause any problems until the birth.  The decision was made to have another c-section because I would bleed out and a possible full hysterectomy would have to be performed.  WHAT?!?  So, was I nervous?  Uh, just a tad-bit.  Well, the big day arrived, and not only did I NOT have to have extra surgery, I never even bled (which my OB had anticipated).  Miracle?  I think so.  Power of Priesthood blessings??  YOU BET.

So I had this BEAUTIFUL little girl who weighed in at 8 lbs, 14 oz.  OY!  She was a sleeper from the start:  4-5 hours at a time, then at 7 weeks she slept for 12 hours at a time.  It was awesome!  She was healthy, I was healthy, and flash forward 6 years and here are pictures from her family party.
*WARNING* Picture overload, again.

My sister-in-law is narrating this little documentary.

Of course, she had to have the Barbie cake. 

Love this girl!

Can you see the snotty nose?  This is what we have been battling for a couple weeks now.

Cousin A 

Cousin K, Lolo, Cousin A, and Diva

Ty, Tanya, Cousin C

Aunt Heidi, Cousin H, Grandpa Roger, Cousin A

Grandpa Ted and a very enthusiastic Trevor

Aunt Lyndi and Cousin A

Grandpa Roger's posterity

I was trying to get these two to hug, but I kept missing the actual hug.

Missed it again.

Finally got it!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Go Team GO!

I may be the world's worst mother when it comes to signing my girls up for dance, tumbling, more dance, etc.  BUT, when there is a cheer camp at Trevor's high school (also my alma mater) then I am first in line.  The girls went to practice for three days and then they got to perform at half-time of the basketball game.  They were so cute and they had fun!

Here they are walking in...

Here is their actual performance...

Here is to our future cheerleaders... I think I just heard a gag coming from a few men in the family...

So excited

Before I post some "real" posts, I had to share...Just got my OFFICIAL email from RAGNAR for the Wasatch  Back Relay, and I have signed my waiver and chosen my run(s).  I actually got excited!  I am runner 8, ya'll-at least for now.  I have another downhill, which I love, and a few minor ups.  So unless someone else wants to battle for that spot, then....8 is GREAT!

Double sigh..

Baby it's cold outside-I am talking frost bite, lose the end of your nose if it ain't covered up, COLD.  AND, I have caught the cold that my chitlins have been fighting for at least a week.  Oh, sigh sigh.