Conference Weekend

This conference was so strange not to see President Hinckley on the stand, to hear him proclaim his love of the gospel, and hear his funny jokes. But it was amazing how comfortable President Monson looked as prophet. I was excited to be able to sustain him and the other leaders. It was really great to be able to explain this new man as prophet to the girls.

My favorite talk was from M. Russel Ballard. I think it was the second to last talk of the whole conference weekend. I felt like he was talking straight to me. Everything I have ever struggled with, especially lately as a mother, he addressed. I really felt appreciated and lifted up as a mother from hearing his words. I felt like what I do all day DOES make a difference and it is the right choice for our family.

The funniest thing was when he said that he wanted to talk to the children. Josh and I said to Kadie "Listen, he is talking to the children. That means you". And we tried to act really excited about it. Then he proceeded to say things like "pick up your toys, when you are a little older, make your bed" and a few other things having to do with helping your mother. I was cracking up with a pillow in front of my face because of the look on Kadie's face like "What is he telling me to do?" Then Josh said to Kadie "Did you hear that? You can start to make your bed!" and Kadie said "No, he said when I am OLDER dad". It was a cute thing to say...and I will give her credit because she is good at helping out already. Laney is the one we need to teach to clean up after herself!

It was a Happy Easter!!

This year, there were so many things going on! An Easter party at our church, Easter egg hunt at grammy's, Easter bunny leaving stuff all over our house! Kadie and Laney thoroughly enjoyed it. Laney especially loved all of the Candy, Kadie just wanted to be the one to find it all..so that worked out really good.

This is the only cute picture I could even get of the girls together because they were either running to find more candy, or running because they had eaten too much candy.

Easter morning started out with the girls finding some treasures from the Easter Bunny. Who knew that the Easter Bunny shopped at Coscto? Their Easter basket came equiped with lots of candy, and a GIRL shark and a GIRL killer whale according to Kadie. Laney got the shark and Kadie named her GIRL killer whale "Scott", but when daddy told her it was a weird name for a girl, she named her "Unicorn". Much better.

Kadie and some of her treasured eggs that she found at grammy's house.

Laney found the left over eggs that Kadie didn't want to wast time on. Poor Laney, we were hoping she would find most of the candy. She needs a little plumping up.

After Laney ate some (TONS of) candy, she was obviously thirsty when she began to dip her plastic egg the pool for a refreshing drink. Don't worry it is a Salt Water pool, so her dress didn't get ruined by any chlorine...oh or get a tummy ache.

I guess that this meant that the girls were done taking pictures.

I had to put this picture in the blog. If you know Kadie well, you know that she loves to play with boys, and always has loved boys more than girls (as friends...she loves Laney too). This is Cole, Kadie's "good friend" from church. She won't admit it, but she has a major crush on the little guy. Kadie has excellent taste in boys right now, I hope it lasts until she is in her teens!

After all of the candy bliss, it was good to reflect on the true meaning behind Easter. Josh and I were able to attend the temple Friday night, and it was so good to be reminded of all of the amazing blessings we can receive all thanks to our Savior. I can't even comprehend the entirety of the Atonement, but I am so grateful. It is still a lot to grasp as children, but Josh and I make an effort hoping that it will instill something in our girls. Having Kadie and Laney has also taught me so much as a mother. Of course sacrifices are made, and everyone hears about those experiences...but I never knew how much joy two tiny girls could bring to my life.

Kelli Nicole Photography

I wish I was here. This photo makes me want to be at the Eiffel Tower right now in the spring and see these beautiful blooms myself. I had no idea that Kelli Nicole Saunders was a photographer. For those of you that knew Brie Fairbanks, Kelli is her twin sister. And for those of you that know Kristin Littlefield, Kelli is her younger sister. She is absolutely amazing. Check out her blog and look at all of the portraits, I love the Mampong babies, and her images just really hit you right in the center.

Kelli is having a contest right now for one of her photo's. Click on the Eiffel Tower photo to read more about it!

Beach Babes

My good friend Loralee invited us to her family's beach house for a few days. It is in Pacific Grove, CA. It was so much fun. Just Kadie, Laney and I went. Josh had to work late nights so we figured we would break things up and go on a girls' trip anyway (and kids and babies).

Below, Laney and her sandy little bum.

Kadie spent a couple hours searching for and gathering sea shells, rocks, and marine life.

Here is Kadie holding a hermit crab that she found in the water by the rocks.

Laney was too afraid to hold any hermit crab. She would hold out her hands but chicken out right as I was putting it in her palm. She was happy to just catch some sun, and proud to catch some sand, (below)

The next few pictures were in the backyard of the beach house. Loralee told me before we got there that it is like a bid sand dune and she was right! It was the perfect backyard for kids! Like a dream yard for Laney to run around and get dirty and play in the sand.

No, Laney is not spitting out her tongue at me, she is showing me the sand that she tasted.

Mommy and Laney's toes in the sand.

Princesses on Ice

I have to give a major applause to Josh for being an amazing dad for planning and ATTENDING this Disney Princesses on Ice event. I don't know if he actually knew what he was getting into when he bought the tickets for the three of us. AND...I don't think he realized that he wouldn't only be with his "little princess" Kadie, but also 10,000 other young girls dressed up like princesses with tiara's and wands and screaming at the top of their lungs when each princess emerged onto the ice.

We told Kadie to choose one Princess item as a souvenir. You wouldn't believe all that they had! Princess necklaces, tiara's, wands, figurines...

Here she is (left) eyeing some sparkly tiara's.

After much deliberation, she finally chose this light up Cinderella toy and held on tight to it all night long.






Kadie's puppy that she named "Christmas" came with us. Kadie wanted to make sure we got a picture of her too. Christmas goes to a lot of places with us.





Kadie's favorite princess of the night wasn't even a princess but a fairy. She LOVED Tinkerbell flitting around with her fairy dust and wand. I am sure that will be her choice of costume for Halloween this October.



My favorite character was Flounder.
It was hilarious watching a big giant fish with legs skate around on the ice.


Kadie had so much fun, and had a huge cheesy smile on her face the whole night. She fell asleep on Josh's shoulder on the way back to the car and slept the whole way home.

March 8, 2008

Hair be Gone?

I am ready to shave my head and call it quits...

I am getting to one of those points again. For those of you that know me well, you know that I falter often by cutting, dying, doing anything and everything to my hair and never really liking it. And it is worse when I am stressed out. I am ready for a change! My hair is still really short so I can't do much. So I saw this pic and thought it was simple, easy enough. And I like the highlights...please leave your comments and suggestions for me!

I know, I know...it is Ashley Scott. My neck isn't as long as hers, and in real life she is a lot taller than me. But just try to picture something absolutely amazing on my head...and fairly simple to do.

Thanks in advance!

What happens in Vegas...Stays in Vegas...

Not that we did anything really questionable. We had a really fun time though just being together. It wasn't too hectic, and we didn't have too many plans so we just relaxed, ate good food, and enjoyed our 3-day date!

It started out with me getting to the HUGE airport. I had forgotten how huge it is. So I just followed people to the shuttle...figured "I guess I am getting on the shuttle". When I got off I had no idea what terminal I was in or where I was? I just saw a lot of buses and taxi's so I thought I better call Josh and ask him where he wants to pick me up. When he told me he went the wrong way and that he was by the buses, I looked over and saw him on his phone in a CONVERTIBLE and yelled "STOP"! I jumped over the fence and j-walked right on over to the sweet Mustang he had rented for the week! It was such a fun start to our little getaway trip.

Just enjoying some Gellato outside the Paris hotel! That is MY Ice-cream cone, and I took it back right after the picture. :)

This picture shows Josh's awesome tan from his sunglasses. He got that burn on his drive over from Death Valley.

We went Saturday night to see Spamalot. It was so funny! We even saw John O-Hurley walk right into the set before the show. They thought that we were perfect to play the part of the sassy french castle guards! :)

We ate at our favorite little place in the corner of the Paris Hotel Restaurant overlooking the Bellagio Water show. The food is really great, and it is fun to see the watershow from up high!

We ate a ton of good food, which was expensive but fun!

(Thank you to my friend Whitney for the suggestions she gave...best food I have ever had!)

We went to a show, did a little shopping, and didn't know what else to do? Instead on gambling...we went to Gameworks and wasted our money there instead. Josh raced his heart out against a 12 year old boy and his mom and I am proud to say Josh won!

Back to the Aiport...I think my hair looks great don't you?

The End!