Our Story

Dangerous Diva #15

2012-01-29T18:27:00.006-07:00

Abbie was drafted by the Dangerous Divas this season

Here she is in the starting line up in yesterday's game

There's #15 scoring her very first bucket as a Dangerous Diva

and hustling back on defense! (move over Jimmer)

Speaking of Jimmer, here's the kid that tells everyone that he wants to be Jimmer when he grows up. To tell you the truth, that sounds pretty good to me too, if I could only turn back the clock...and grow a few inches...and get some skills...

And the biggest fan of them all. Nearly every Sunday he notices the baskets during church and yells out for the whole congregation to hear "look Daddy, soccerball hoops!"

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T19:38:00.003-07:00

We had a very happy New Year's Eve filled with lots of fun, family, and food.

Cousin Kate doing some balloon-diving in preparation for the midnight dance-off.
Everyone shared their best moves on the dance floor and we had a full chorus from William on up: "Baby your a firework!"

Strut your stuff in 2012!
Best wishes for the New Year!

Sledding

2011-12-23T20:42:00.005-07:00

I finally took a day off of work to have some fun...

Catching some air...

Coming back down...

Whoa, did you see that?

Taking a breather...

Happy Christmas!

2011-08-29T09:40:00.002-06:00

The first day of school has arrived!

Emma and Abbie rode the bus and then I followed it to the school.

(I'm not too proud to tail a school bus.)

I met the girls at the school and the highlight of the ride...

"The bus is great! You don't have to buckle!"

We've all had butterflies in our tummies for a week but

it looks like it will be a fantastic year!

In other news - the house is finally taking shape.

Rock and cement go in and then we start landscaping.

YEAH!! We can't wait to move in and invite you all over!

Family Reunion

2011-06-30T23:29:00.003-06:00

For more Stewart Family Heber Fever click here

2011-04-05T08:42:00.001-06:00

It's Spirt Week at school.

Note the very spirited socks

and VERY spirited girls.

Trampoline + Sisters + Dallin = Broken Leg

2011-03-28T11:11:00.001-06:00

So, Dallin broke his little leg on Friday.

We got his cast on today and

don't you think he looks like Jimmer?

He does - because it's BLUE!

Obviously.

2011-03-23T16:10:00.002-06:00

85 servings of chocolatey goodness all over my kitchen.

This wily whippersnapper is the culprit.

Must be some pretty good eatin' because he is completely

unphased by the frenzied lady behind the camera.

Valentines Day

2011-02-15T10:28:00.004-07:00

This year, in honor of our upcoming trip to Italy,

we celebrated Lovers Day with an authentic Italian dinner.

Thanks to our chef, Roberto, and his lovely wife

for every perfect bite.

And thanks to our friends who made it a night to remember.

2011-02-11T08:38:00.002-07:00

We had such a good time making Emma's Valentines Day box.
He loves me/He loves me not theme is adorable.

Definitely love her!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

2011-02-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday "BIG BOSS"!

We love you so much we had a birthday party for you at our house!

Your cake was delish!

More please...

So tasty...

who needs a fork!

Christmas

2010-12-30T19:44:00.003-07:00

Grandkids with Great Grandma Wood on Christmas Eve.

Luminaries to send our praises Heavenward.

A Christmas Eve Nativity story.

Christmas Eve PJ's complete with Oobies and headlamps!

Christmas morning was a very Snuggy Christmas!

We Wii'd it up with Just Dance until we were all danced out!

And a rousing Ping Pong Tournament!

Sadly...I was the first to be eliminated - WHAT?!

Guess we're buying a table so I can get ready for next year!

Recently...

2010-11-30T11:54:00.005-07:00

Did I learn about ecosystems in 3rd grade?

If I did - it certainly wasn't as memorable. After FHE, Abbie read us this sweet little note.

" I love you all. You are the best family I could ever have.

I would never not love you. You guys are the best."

Thanks Abbie. We love you too.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T16:16:00.004-06:00

Our little characters have been delighted

with this year's costuming frenzy.

Their tag lines have been ringing through the house -

"Off with her head!" - Emma

"I'm looking for a white rabbit." - Abbie

"To infinity and beyond!" - Dallin

And William just looks so darn cute!

Happy Halloween!

3 Reasons to Use the Buckle

2010-09-23T14:45:00.001-06:00

School Girls

2010-08-25T09:10:00.003-06:00

Oooooh, I just sent my babies off to school.

We've been anxiously anticipating this

day for weeks and now,

I want them back!

-Abbie & Emma-

Give them your BEST

and have a ton of FUN!

WE LOVE YOU GIRLS!

Hey There Little Red Riding Hood

2010-07-07T21:19:00.005-06:00

You sure are looking good.

You're everything that a mom and dad could want!

We love you girls.

It was so much fun to watch you dance together this year!

Sometimes...

2010-07-02T11:20:00.002-06:00

they make me smile. Even when every towel and washcloth is mud colored.

(seriously, it's been that long since i mopped the floor)

Six little feet donned washcloths and towels and with squeals of delight, "secretly" walked my floor clean.

Aaaaaah...cute.

Hey Batter!

2010-06-09T20:17:00.004-06:00

T-ball season has arrived! And you know what that means...

fast paced action!

All kidding aside, it has its moments...

We're really proud of Abbie, she plays very well and seems to really like her team. It's kind of difficult to tell from the Blogger resolution on the video, but the delay before she hit the ball was so she could chew her bubble gum a few more times before swinging.

Disneyland

2010-03-21T19:05:00.007-06:00

Three Disneyland posts follow. Very little writing. Mostly pictures and some fun memories.

Princesses and Fairies were obviously a highlight.

The girls lit up as they met each character.

Definately Magical.

Disneyland

2010-03-21T18:32:00.010-06:00

We were lucky enough to take a week long adventure with our girls. (Thank you G&G Stewart for loving our little men and enduring the awful illnesses. We couldn't have done it without you. We love you!)

Emma and Abbie took in Disneyland with wide eyes and grins every day. We loved walking around the park hand in hand with our little ladies. The park provides a happy adrenaline rush every morning as you walk through the gates. There's music playing, fresh flowers on the light posts and oddly happy employees wishing you a magical day. You can't help but feel a little giddy.

We loved the gigantic Ferris Wheel and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the top pick with our riders.

These girls loved everything about our really cool hotel, especially having their "own" room. Where they could stay up as late as they wanted. Our days were so long that they were usually asleep within just a few minutes. But just the idea of freedom is so good.

It was an awesome week long "date" with our girls.

We loved singing, swinging, dancing, ordering hot chocolate and cheesecake for dinner, laughing and giggling and just being together.

"Just the girls, just just the girls...and dad!!!"

California Girls

2010-03-21T18:19:00.004-06:00

We planned a trip to Disneyland recently. Upon arrival, what do you suppose was the first thing we had to do? If you know Ben, it's obvious. GO TO THE BEACH.

We explored for little crabs and built sandcastles. It was beautiful and so much fun to be at the beach in March.

Ski Emma!

2010-02-18T18:30:00.005-07:00

Emma got her shot at skiing today and picked it up right away. She showed great control, easily turning both right and left. A little more practice and she'll be able to stop too. She lasted about two hours before she tired of gravity's relentless attempts to stop our fun. Besides some awesome skiing, we also saw a Bald Eagle in the canyon; it was quite impressive.

Ski Abbie!

2010-02-17T17:15:00.003-07:00

I took Abbie Skiing today and it turns out she's a natural. Just point the skis down hill and go. If only the stopping part were so easy... Anyway, she lasted two whole hours on the mountain before enough was enough. In the end I think I was more tired than she from trying to be right in place to prevent a few of the falls. We had a great time together - it makes me wonder why I don't get around to doing more fun things more often.

2009-12-20T13:56:00.001-07:00

2009-12-14T21:03:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

When can we eat it?

2009-11-24T12:19:00.006-07:00

With much anticipation (begging), the night for

building our gingerbread house finally arrived.

This little house is a compilation of three very

different design styles but upon completion it was

deemed a great success.

Who cares if the walls are caving in and the roof is sliding off!

IT WAS FUN!!!

I GET AROUND

2009-11-24T12:19:00.004-07:00

This morning I heard Dallin talking to Will about watching a show together. When I went to check on them, this is what I found. Aaaah...what a great big brother!

Go Thomas!

2009-11-15T17:57:00.003-07:00

It's been a while since Dallin's birthday in September, but I still wanted to share this video that shows just how much he appreciated the Thomas the train set he received. Fortunately he has enough energy to enjoy all of his gifts with this same level of excitement.

They got their mother's lips

2009-10-09T17:44:00.002-06:00

I was at Macey's today and couldn't resist

these treasures from days of yore.

I thought for sure the kids would get a kick out of them.

Not so much...

The lips were met with "uncontrollable" gagging

and intense dislike.

The funny part is -

I MADE them pose for a pic anyway, because,

Hey - I like those lips and I'm the mom!!

(p.s. Dallin liked them too. He all but ate them.)

Research

2009-10-08T09:10:00.005-06:00

At 7:30 in the morning,

this is our version of America's Test Kitchen.

Dallin's Findings:

Yes, they really do snap, crackle and pop!

My Findings:

Those little dry puffs of air are hard

to catch with a vaccuum or a broom.

But, I don't mind.

I wasn't doing anything else this morning.

The Skeleton In My Closet

2009-10-01T11:07:00.003-06:00

Autumn is my favorite season.

I love the fresh chill in the air.

It makes me want to snuggle up in a sweater

and slipper socks and read cookbooks all day.

BUT, I only got as far as the slipper socks -

my little skeleton wants full time entertainment.

Oh well, maybe another day.

Happy October Everyone!

FIRSTS...

2009-08-20T14:43:00.007-06:00

FIRST

day of school!

Emma met Miss Knudsen last night.

She's so excited for 2nd grade.

Emma's an awesome student!

FIRST

tap dancing lessons.

The girls are thrilled to be tapping away!

They love dressing up and making noise!

FIRST

Red Velvet Cupcakes.

MMM...

Two Little Months

2009-08-10T11:12:00.002-06:00

This little guy has sure intensified the busy and tired

part of life but he has also brought so many

extra smiles, and giggles to our family.

Love you Will!

Abbie on 2 wheels

2009-07-18T11:05:00.005-06:00

Abbie practiced balancing on her bike a few weeks ago and then spent 30 minutes learning how to stop yesterday. With the promise of a strawberry milkshake, she rode to the end of the "Strawberry Place" cul-de-sac and back - no problem! Then did it again, and again, and again.

And yes, the strawberry milkshake was well worth it.

Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein

2009-07-14T21:23:00.005-06:00

(Reenactment takes place on the Jordan River Walkway)

Oh, I'm being eaten
By a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don't like it--one bit.
Well, what do you know?
It's nibblin' my toe.
Oh, gee,
It's up to my knee.
Oh my,
It's up to my thigh.
Oh, fiddle,
It's up to my middle.

Oh, heck,
It's up to my neck.

Oh, dread,
It's upmmmmmmmmmmffffffffff...

Update on Will

2009-06-15T09:11:00.005-06:00

Little Will came home yesterday.

As the pictures show, he's still in denial about this whole "life" thing and mostly tries to sleep it off. But you can bet that three older siblings aren't going to let him sleep too much.

Welcome William

2009-06-13T08:22:00.006-06:00

William Craig Davidson
June 11, 2009
6 lbs 2 oz - 18 inches

We were very pleased to welcome William to our family on Thursday. He surprised us with his timing and his dark hair.

He's got some great big sisters - you can see he's delighted to meet them.

Amy & William are both doing well - for which we feel very blessed.

Army Girls

2009-06-08T20:51:00.006-06:00

I took Emma & Abbie to see the Thunderbirds at Hill Field on Saturday. I really enjoyed the air show, but I think the part that intrigued the girls the most was that several of the soldiers directing traffic on base were women - or "Army Girls" as they put it. Well here are a few shots of my Army Girls:

Being loaded into the back of a C-17

Taking control of that C-17

contemplating a career switch to NASA

But space-travel isn't nearly as macho as flying Fighter Jets

Abbie looks like she's ready for the job. I just hope for her sake that these jets are a lot quieter on the inside, because the first high speed pass from an F-18 jolted her right out of her chair as we ate our picnic lunch. She has the bruise on her knee to prove it. Notwithstanding the jets that snuck up on us, we had a blast at the air show. Can't wait until next year.

Water Boy

2009-05-22T09:25:00.002-06:00

This little boy loves water! Yesterday, there were many squeals

of delight among the splashes, especially when I asked,

“What are you doing?”. The enthusiastic scream "WA, WA!!"

was the response, everytime.

I'm A Mom!

2009-05-21T14:01:00.003-06:00

The Sad, Sad Truth!

Super Soaker Saturday

2009-05-16T16:16:00.004-06:00

The kids have been begging for a water day

ever since the snow melted. So, with the

warm weather today we got out the water gear

and had a little wet fun.

Here we come summer!

Ticker

2009-05-08T11:22:00.003-06:00

Two days ago, I put up this countdown to baby ticker on my blog. I saw it on my sister’s page and thought it was cute (I want to look like that perfectly pony-tailed pregnant girl). For two days now, every time I click on my blog, there is a number unabashedly staring at me and it feels like it never changes. Only one little number change every 24 hours—Do you know how long 24 hours is?!? Today I found myself wondering how many times I will do all the repetitive daily tasks that leave me out of breath or just bone tired before a number will fall off. And then the inevitable happened – I multiplied that daily figure by 61. Now, that‘s the REAL ticker. I’m banishing all numbers from my mind and that wafer thin little girl with the perfect baby bump better watch out. I don’t think she’s going to last 61 days on MY page.

"Just For You Mommy"

2009-05-06T14:42:00.005-06:00

This afternoon, Abbie came in from the backyard,

with a gleam in her eye and a sugar sweet voice.

"I have a suprise just for you mommy!

It's a bouquet! Aren't they lovely?"
She presented me with plentiful bouquet of strawberry blossoms.

I have to say...they really took my breath away.

After thanking her for her love and the flowers

I told her what she had picked and how strawberries grow.

She turned on her heel and skipped away saying,

"Oh well".
My sentiments exactly.

Birthday Girls

2009-05-05T16:50:00.005-06:00

We had a "ball" celebrating Emma & Abbie's

birthdays this weekend.

We love your smiley, giggly, girly ways!

Happy Birthday - We love you girls!

A Moment of Productivity

2009-04-23T14:32:00.005-06:00

Isn't this just the prettiest sight?!

Yummy Strawberry Jam.
Now, all I need is some homemade bread.
Mmmmm...

Valley of Fire

2009-03-30T22:51:00.005-06:00

This last weekend we spent a day in the Nevada desert with Grandpa and Uncle Spencer at the Valley of Fire. Abbie & Dallin quickly discovered how to have a good time.

It looked like Dallin had fun playing in the sand, but later on he denied it.

Emma, however, had plenty of fun during the Leaping Lizard Rodeo.

2009-02-24T16:31:00.003-07:00

So, we took the kids to the ultrasound and had a great time

watching this little baby jump around on the screen.

And what are the chances of this kind of perfection

happening but, it did - A Boy!!

Two girls, two boys - We are totally excited!!!

Stonehenge

2009-02-09T01:37:00.005-07:00

I'm in the UK for business and had the opportunity to see a few sights before getting to work:

Stonehenge

Portchester Castle

Every cemetery deserves to have a haunted castle looming over it; it goes well with the crooked headstones.

From the top of the Keep - this view got me thinking that I ought to attend to some of those pending projects around the house before too many accumulate on the "to do" list.

At one point this castle housed 7,000 French Prisoners-of-war. It's a much happier (and I'm sure better-smelling) place today.

My Life In Print...

2009-01-13T13:14:00.006-07:00

This comic bears such a likeness to my own life

I had to give it a voice on my blog.

Does it ring true for anyone else?

(love you honey, and no offense intended :-)

2009: Year of Adventure

2009-01-01T16:38:00.006-07:00

Emma, Abbie, and I decided to start the new year with an adventure. We settled on a nature hike in Saratoga Springs.

Above: Emma & Abbie by the hot spring.

When we were finished hiking around, we noticed that there were several fisherman down on the Jordan River. So we went to check it out.
To our delight, we discovered that those fisherman have been boring holes through the ice all up and down that river.

So we went for a stroll...

...up the river and out onto Utah Lake. Which is also covered by ice (and fishing holes).

Such fun!

Some fishermen were more successful than others, we watched the guy who caught these pull one out every minute or so. We had a really fun time discovering something new. After all, it's not every day that you get to walk on water.

Little Reminders

2008-12-14T09:13:00.004-07:00

Our house has been full of the Christmas Spirit this morning

with the making of our families' favorite Christmas Slush!

It's one of our best-loved traditions.

So the trick to this recipe is remembering to stir while freezing.

While we cleaned up, I gave the girls their charge:

REMIND MOMMY TO STIR THE SLUSH

and here we have it.

Learning from previous experiences

2008-12-07T11:18:00.006-07:00

I took the kids to the playground yesterday and they insisted on playing in the sand volleyball court, to which I conceded. They had a fun time; Abbie especially enjoyed making sand smoke...well "enjoyed" may be up for debate. See for yourself - watch for her in the top left corner of the screen.

The incredible thing was how she could be seen rubbing her eyes immediately before making the second cloud of sand smoke. Dallin had a different kind of repetition going on. Apparently he was conducting an experiment to see if the flavor of the sand differed from one part of the court to another. I managed to catch one of his trials on video.

Sand and all, the trip to the playground was a success. Unfortunately, we won't have a lot of opportunities to repeat the experience in the coming months. (Of course we will eventually have sledding - woohoo!)

Easy to be Grateful

2008-11-24T15:21:00.009-07:00

Some moments just lend themselves to a feeling of gratitude.

We got our family pictures and seeing everyone

clean, quiet and smiling made my heart swell.

Seeing these sweet faces in such a state of perfection

just makes us all the more excited for...

THE ONE ON THE WAY!!!
we are so blessed.

Trick or Treat

2008-11-01T05:41:00.002-06:00

Mr. Clean, Wiggly Giraffe, Vampire & Wicked Witch

So we had a great time trick or treating last night.
Both the girls would exclaim while running along the sidewalk -
"This is the best night ever"!
Large quantities of free candy will do that to a girl.

What are we supposed to do with all this?

Mmmm...

Jack-o-Lanterns

2008-10-28T18:13:00.006-06:00

Michelle & Jean joined us last night as we sought to satisfy some pumpkin-carving cravings.

Their Jack-o-Lantern was the happiest, Emma's was the creepiest, Abbie's developed a Raccoon infestation, and Amy's was holier than most.

Happy Halloween!

We wore out our teeth from eating too many roasted pumpkin seeds and had to find replacements mid-way through the evening.

After the kids went to bed, I had time to work on my Jack-o-Lantern. The girls had seen me draw up my pirate ship design before bedtime and it seems it must have disturbed them a little bit. Abbie snuck out of bed quite a while after we put her down to seek some reassurance from me: "There aren't any pirates in Utah, right?"

The Simple Truth

2008-10-14T08:27:00.005-06:00

Emma was coloring a picture of Cookie Monster yesterday and I asked her a series of questions about the picture, one of which was whether Cookie Monster was a boy or a girl. "Of course he's a boy!" was her reply; and I followed up with "How can you tell?"; "Because he sweats, and girls almost never sweat." There's just no arguing with the truth.

Coons, Catfish, & Uncle Spencer

2008-09-27T10:50:00.008-06:00

It seems that you always forget your camera when you need it most. Amy & I took the kids fishing this morning on the Jordan River and had to make way for this little Raccoon who was determined to cross the bridge even after I had done my best to intimidate him. Fortunately I snapped this picture with my cell phone so that we have evidence of the encounter.

Angling Amy was the one to teach us how it's done this morning; she roped in a Jordan River Catfish with ease. And I got the award for whimpiest fisherman after that catfish left me bleeding. Its fin cut my hand as I removed the hook. (sorry, no picture)

*****

Last week Uncle Spencer came up to visit and he showed the kids how to cast further than their Dad. In the end he pulled in more fish than me too.

Abbie showing the proper way to keep your hands warm while fishing.

Emma keeps it cool.

I keep Dallin close so I can pass on all my fishing secrets.

Dallin's just happy to be along for the ride.

And the catch of the day: Spencer broke the tie by catching one more fish than me. Kind of like a Where's Waldo picture, see if you can find the fish.

*****

In her comment, Michelle suggested that maybe I hadn't caught any fish. Spencer & I did catch fish the day before in the High Uintas. Here's one of the beauties that I pulled in from a lake on the Notch Trail.

And here is the view of Notch Mountain from atop the cliffs on the far side of Wall lake. We saw 9 mountain goats up on Notch mountain when we hiked it that afternoon.

Happy Birthday Little Man

2008-09-26T07:57:00.003-06:00

I can't believe this little guy is 1.
It's been a great year!

Dallin, we love having you in our family.

Your big smiles and squeals make us happy everyday.

We love you one year old!!!

Pre-School & Paint

2008-09-13T09:16:00.003-06:00

Abbie Started Pre-School this week. Her teacher is Ms. Lacy, the same teacher that Emma had. So far Abbie loves it.

We're also schoolin' our kids here at home.

We're teaching them to change the world one wall at a time.

Thanks for the help, girls.

He Toddles

2008-09-07T19:49:00.005-06:00

It looks like Dallin will walk into his upcoming 1st birthday.

Our little boy toddled at 11 months and 11 days.

Way to go Dallin!!

Vacation at Grandpa & Grandma's

2008-07-29T09:26:00.007-06:00

WE MISS YOU ALREADY!!

We had such a great time at Grandma & Grandpa Davidson's.

It was great to swim & play with our favorite Texans.

Learning to sew with Grandma - How fun!

Picnic in the park.

A Little Canyon Fun

2008-07-19T09:55:00.007-06:00

We spent a perfect evening in the canyon last week with our family.

We went to our favorite site and roasted up some hot dogs and smores.
MMMM...

Finger lickin' good!

A little "hiking" with Auntie Cherilyn

A little car entertainment

Music on my mind

2008-07-10T22:11:00.006-06:00

I was reviewing the blog today and realized that it's been two months since Amy & I went to see Wicked during that one short day in NYC. Amy can attest that for two solid months I've been singing those wicked songs non-stop; and to tell you the truth, I think Amy's starting to loathe it. Of course I don't think she has any room to complain, during those two months my spontaneous outbursts from Phantom's soundtrack have decreased at least 90%. (for which I'm sure she's mouthing "Bravo, Bravo, Bravissimo!") All I ask of you, my readers, is that if you know of another soundtrack or album that could rival Wicked, let me know and perhaps I'll get Wicked off my mind. Thank Goodness!

July 4th

2008-07-05T20:26:00.003-06:00

How many kids can you fit in a pool?

I have to admit this was the best water balloon "fight" I've ever had.
The adults stood up on the balcony and the kids lined up below.
Ready...Aim...Fire!!!
Fun for all and a bit therapeutic for the grown-ups.

Jean & Michelle came over for some badminton and fireworks.
We watched the neighbors display.
It was pretty impressive and free!

Thanks to all our friends who helped us celebrate the 4th!

Snip, Snip

2008-07-05T17:13:00.006-06:00

While Abbie got her hair washed she said,
"This is why you like to get your hair cut, huh mom".
I said, "Yes, yes it is".

When we got home - I wanted to spend just a minute to comb it.
Emma was groaning. I explained that after I had paid to have her
hair done the least she could do was say "Thank you" and let me
look at it for a couple minutes. She's quiet for a minute and then says,
"Thanks mom and you can comb it for a couple, well maybe one, ugh,
mom I just can't make myself say the rest! Are you done yet?"
That's gratitude for ya.

Night Out With Mom & Dad

2008-07-05T09:28:00.005-06:00

We took the girls to the Orem Owlz game Thursday night.
Emma has this worry that I'll say "No" to any and all of her requests.
So, instead of asking if they could roll down/play on the hill she asked if
they could "exercise" on the hill. I must be really mean because she's
always choosing mom pleasing words to put the right spin on things.
Kinda funny.

Forget looking at the world through rose colored glasses.
Emma's green ones are way better!
And they make me look HOT! don't ya think?

The girls each had $4 of their own money to spend.
They settled on cotton candy ice cream in a baseball hat bowl.
Sluuuurp...mmmm...

Bear Lake Weekend

2008-07-02T09:54:00.005-06:00

We went to Bear Lake last weekend and had a great time.
The weather was perfect. The Lake was a beautiful blue.
The family time was fantastic! The fingerpainting fun ended in tears
but we've got all these happy pics so they'll never remember that!

Cousin Sam & Abbie were quite a team.
They found a great mud puddle and stayed there the whole weekend.
They were in heaven!

Emma was busy, busy. Digging holes, building castles and motes.
They all played so hard they practically begged to go to bed at night.

Dallin and Vivian were cute little squirts!

And this is my favorite picture...
Abbie looks like she has just discovered the New World.
Well, to her, I guess she did and all she wants to know is
when we're going back.

p.s. Thanks Kelly for posting - obviously I stole all these pics from you.
I can't believe we didn't take any pictures!

Just Plain Worn Out

2008-06-25T09:57:00.008-06:00

So we've been busy lately and I guess the kids have been run ragged.
The girls keep asking me if they can put their
pj's on in the afternoon so they can take a rest.
Maybe it's time to slow down and have a little snooze.
ZZZZZZZZZ...

Our One and Only

2008-06-15T09:17:00.000-06:00

Just sendin' some love to my "main squeeze".
You are a stellar husband and father.
We love you every day of the year!!

A Little T-Ball Action

2008-06-14T21:53:00.006-06:00

Bright and early Saturday morning we were out to see Emma
and her team, the Green Leaping Lizards
(the kids picked the name), play ball.
Thought we'd share a few of the action shots with you.

T-Ball is my kind of sport.
You get to swing until you hit the ball.

Then you run to first and get to stay on base even
if you were tagged out. And everyone gets
to run all the bases and score.

Look at that form!
Notice that the ball is headed straight for 1st bases' mitt.
Way to go Emma!

What a girl!!!

Emma's biggest fans

TUBS

2008-06-13T10:05:00.004-06:00

Just a couple forms of containment for this little monkey!

Summer Duldrums

2008-06-05T15:42:00.005-06:00

"Mommy, I'm bored...there's nothing fun to do..."

“Already…are you serious?”

Ok, so obviously the newness of summer vacation wears off very quickly. I told a friend the other day that I had used up all the tricks in my bag after day one. Yikes! I’m in big trouble. How do we handle the boredom?

Here are a few things we’re going to do…

Nature walks
Kite flying
Backyard and Park Picnics
Zoo
Swimming lessons
Toothpick & mini marshmallow construction
Aluminum foil play
Painting outside
Wash the bikes and cars
Forts and flashlights
Backyard Camping

This ought to take care of one week, but what about the rest? Good luck to all you mothers out there and let's get together soon for something - anything - before I go crazy!!!

Movin' & Shakin'

2008-05-30T09:47:00.006-06:00

Oooh - he's such a cute kid

I just want to grab him up and tickle him.
Mind you there are other days he's
not as charming but today he's all smiles.

Getting ready for T-ball

2008-05-27T12:39:00.003-06:00

Yesterday afternoon Emma, Uncle Adam, and I played "catch" for a little while in preparation for T-ball season which starts next week. I coached Emma on throwing the ball, explaining that she needed to step forward with her left foot at the same time that she released the ball. She grasped this concept pretty well and is indeed good at throwing, catching, and batting. After a while, she turned to me (with Adam behind her) and asked which was her left foot. After I replied, she proceeded to step backwards with her left foot and throw the ball over her head straight to Adam. I'm pleased to know that she is paying attention to my guidance. I suppose a little twist to the routine can make practice a lot more fun. Can't wait until next week. -Ben

Days 2 - 6

2008-05-25T08:40:00.005-06:00

After my initial half-day in Pisa, there wasn't as much sight-seeing time between our scheduled meetings, but we managed to squeeze in a few of the attractions.

On the roof of Il Duomo, Milan.

Zurich waterfront

Waiting for the Rathaus-Glockenspiel in Munich.

Heidelberg Castle

Leaning buildings in Amsterdam

Continuation of Our Tour Out East

2008-05-21T22:11:00.021-06:00

We drove from NY to Maryland Wednesday night and showed up on Brian & Kelly's doorstep about 1 in the morning. We spent four fun days with the Stewart family. This trip was extra special for me. I loved every minute I got to spend with my husband, my "little" brothers and their wives. Family is the best.

We visited Annapolis, Maryland - taking in the brick architecture and sidewalks of downtown, walked along the dock, did a little souvenir shopping, and ate some seafood at a local pub. It was a bit of a soggy day but that somehow added to the charm of this old seaport city.

We had our favorite Superhero, Sam with us. What a trooper. This little man tromped all over with us smiling and talking the whole day. We love you Sam!

The excitement in DC was Bri's tussle with one of the most manly, female security guards I've ever seen. Bri accidentally brought her soda past an unseen No Beverages beyond this point line. oops - She made it in though and we all enjoyed a tour of the Capitol.

Ben with Brigham Young in the Capitol.

A few views from the top of Washington Monument.

At the Bottom.

At this point, the girls ditched the boys. They did some more more sightseeing and went to a ball game. We went to dinner and a movie.

Welll - this is a lot of pictures and it still doesn't cover it all but you get the picture. It was a trip we won't forget. Brian & Kelly - Thank you for having us in your home. We will also remember catching frogs on our walk, delicious breakfasts and dinners, and a new favorite -Hi Chews. Love you guys!

One short day in NYC

2008-05-21T13:43:00.009-06:00

Vacations remind me of an amusement park ride (a really big one). You wait in line and gear yourself up for a LONG time. You get in your seat, buckle up, take a breath and you're off...zipping around each corner at breakneck speeds taking on enough G forces sure to render you unconscious. And before you realize you've begun you round the last corner, slow to a stop, exit the ride and it's all over. What a thrill!

We had such a great time in NY and DC! We got home over a week ago and I think I'm still wandering around looking for a day to day "rush" equivalent to that of our trip. Adam & Bri you are great traveling companions and Kelly & Brian you are great hosts. And most of all you are all great brothers and sisters. We feel so lucky to have spent this time with all of you. Thanks for all the fun.

A BIG shout out to Grandma and Grandpa Stewart for "vacationing" with our kids at your house. They had a great time. We couldn't have done it without you. We love you!

After the all night flight we hopped in a taxi and drove to Sarabeth's for breakfast. It is a perfectly delightful little place. I had a pumpkin waffle topped with roasted pumpkin seeds, sour cream and strawberries. Delish!

On to Central Park - what a beautiful place for nannies to take other people's children and spend the day! I loved Central Park - such a pretty place with lots to do and see.

Next stop Grand Central Station. So, this is not the most flattering photo but it demonstrates the acoustic abilities of a pretty neat building. I stood in one corner and my sister-in-law, Bri stood in the other and we whispered to each other in this incredibly loud and bustling building and guess what, her voice traveled up over the arch and I could hear her. Pretty cool. We also shared a fantastic piece of cheesecake from Junior's. Mmm..

We did a bunch of other fun stuff but the highlight of our NYC day was definitely WICKED. I could go on and on. I'll spare you in this post but if you talk to me about it prepare yourself.
WE LOVED THIS SHOW IT WAS INCREDIBLE!! We're already looking forward to seeing it again.

Day 1

2008-05-19T17:18:00.005-06:00

Every now and then I get to travel somewhere on business. So today you get to play "where in the world is Ben Diego?" So let's start...what has a view like this?

And bells like these?

That's right! You are so smart. But did you know that the only thing that keeps it standing is 3.4 million tourists annually doing this?

It's true!

Even the cathedral leans if you hold the camera just right.

This is my family's old house in Tirrenia (just outside of Pisa), 1990-1992. This is where I spent my days during those two years. (two blocks away)

And here is Marina D'Pisa, just up the coast from Tirrenia.

Thank you for humoring me on a trip down memory lane. Have a nice day.

A New 'Do'

2008-05-01T09:03:00.006-06:00

Amy got her hair styled yesterday and I can't resist showing off my gorgeous wife. Amy I love you loads & I love your new look.
Have a Happy Birthday!

Backyard of fun

2008-04-26T17:31:00.004-06:00

Now that spring is here, we're getting our backyard ready for some good times. Last week we enjoyed singing "ring of fire" around our new fire ring.

Emma and Abbie also got their joint birthday present a week early: a trampoline!

So far they absolutely love it.

Poor Dallin is stuck inside. What's the deal?

Nap Time

2008-04-26T17:25:00.003-06:00

I put Dallin down for a nap and checked up on him after 20 minutes. This is what he gets for preferring his belly to his back.

Springtime at the Zoo

2008-04-13T14:05:00.009-06:00

In past years we've always baked ourselves going to the zoo in July or August, so this year we took advantage of a cool day in the 50's to go to Hogle Zoo.

Emma and Abbie seemed to really enjoy all the animals. However, on the ride home we asked them what their favorite part was and they said "Cotton Candy" in unison.

Notwithstanding Cotton Candy's allure, here's some evidence that Abbie really enjoys leopards, especially the kind that come up to the glass to look for tasty treats.

I've never seen the camels do anything in the past. This time however, being cooped up in the same pen together all winter long finally brought these two to a breaking point.

Emma does not measure up.

Unfortunately, I do.

Dallin enjoyed his time at the zoo too. He wasn't very impressed by the animals, but sure likes to get out with his "peeps".

Peace Out

Maiden Voyage

2008-04-06T09:47:00.003-06:00

Emma can't be held back anymore! Not unless we are willing to run after her.

Now I'm looking forward to going on some family bike rides together.

April Fools'

2008-04-02T12:09:00.005-06:00

The first surprise here: this is what we had for dinner. The second surprise: there's no sugar in these cupcakes and my kids loved them anyway.
Imagine the shock when I served cupcakes for dinner and it got even better when Ben put ketchup on his. I told Emma she could taste the frosting. She looked up at me and said - "hey, this tastes like food". APRIL FOOLS' - no cupcakes here - meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Mmmmmm.
It was a fun little surprise and incredibly easy.
We'll do this again on another silly day.
RECIPE:
Meat Loaf
1 pound lean ground beek
1 packed Lipton golden onion soup mix
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
3 T ketchup
1 T worcestershire sauce
1 egg
Potato Frosting
3 cups mashed potatoes (instant is easiest)
Food coloring

Heat the oven to 375. Line muffin tin with 12 foil bake cups.
In a large bowl, mix together all meatloaf ingredients until well combined. Divide the mixture evenly among the lined cups. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until cooked through.

Divide the mashed potatoes among three small bowls and stir a few drops of food coloring into each batch. Spread a generous dollop on each cupcake.
Round it out with some mixed vegetables and enjoy.

Let there be peace on Earth...and let it begin with somebody else

2008-03-31T22:00:00.001-06:00

Tonight, for FHE we talked a little about being peacemakers in our home. We role played a true-to-life scenario and had what we thought was some measure of success in comprehension.

After closing our family powwow Emma and Abbie had some minor disagreement. We gently reminded them..."Oh remember, we can choose to be a peacemaker in our home". Their response to each other..."I'm not gonna be the peacemaker - YOU be the peacemaker! - No YOU" and so on.

Ben and I couldn't help ducking down behind the couch and having a hearty chuckle. And hey, on the bright side - We don't have to plan a new lesson for next week!

Oh Boy

2008-03-30T21:21:00.005-06:00

Dallin is six months old! With age comes ability.
This little man has mastered holding his own bottle. Now, before you are appalled at my mothering - I still cuddle him and feed him his bottles. But, I must admit a baby with a
few "skills" makes a mother proud and comes in handy on occasion.

Dallin also cut his first tooth this morning. Poor little guy -his gums are red and swollen on top and bottom. He's gnawing on everything he can get his hands on and there's a pool of drool wherever he is. It's lovely.

We love this boy to pieces and feel so blessed to have him in our family.
Love you Dallin!

Spring! + Snow?

2008-03-30T11:46:00.006-06:00

Now that Winter is officially over, I'm celebrating by playing in the snow. Part 1: I went snowboarding twice this week. Yes! Part 2: We made the most of some good packing snow and put up a 7 foot snowman.

Emma & Abbie also built their own separate Snowgirls. Each was taller than its creator too. They made their Daddy proud. When we were done Emma told me it was the best day of her life. Up to that point I was pretty pleased with our creations, but that comment made my day. Thanks Emma.

Happy Easter

2008-03-25T13:40:00.002-06:00

Easter Sunday at G & G Stewart's was a bit chilly but a lot of fun.

Cute kids - Don't you think?

I Knew Tinkerbell was Real

2008-03-17T19:20:00.007-06:00

Saturday afternoon, we took the whole family to Disney Princess on Ice. It was truly magical. Emma whispered in my ear at the very beginning. "I knew Tinkerbell was real mom! Dreams really do come true!" Abbie and Emma swooned over each princess and her prince. Young and old we are all in love with being in love.

Hill AFB museum

2008-03-01T22:40:00.005-07:00

It's Ben here checking in for my quarterly blog entry...
I took the girls to the Hill Air Force Base Museum today with my brother-in-law Jean. The museum has two hangers full of airplanes plus several more outside (probably close to 100 in total), and it's free.

The girls were really into the whole airplane experience (see their smiles above) until they'd seen about 50 or so, that's when Jet Fighters could no longer capture their attention -- not when there was lip gloss to be shared.

Oh well, I can't promise that I'd have been too captivated by 2 hours of looking at parked aircraft at the ages of 3 or 5. I sure enjoyed it though (and Emma & Abbie did as well, before and after their cosmetics break).
The End

New Convert

2008-02-19T08:09:00.002-07:00

With the purchase of new gear the conversion process is complete. Ben is no longer a skier - He's now a boarder! To spare his pride - I'll confess that I made him suit up and pose. I told him it would make for a fun memory "someday". :-) Love you honey!

My Valentine

2008-02-14T15:54:00.005-07:00

Emma has been glowing with Valentine's Day anticipation all week. She's been telling me she has a great surprise for me, saying
"Mom, you're gonna love it. I promise!"
Emma came home from school all dressed up as my valentine. What a doll! It made my day, so we thought we'd share it with you.
Happy Heart Day!

Smiley Boy

2008-02-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share this cute kid with you. He's getting SO big, almost 17 lbs. WOW!

What's In Your Bag Tag

2008-02-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

I love my red purse. Red is the accent color of my life.
It makes me feel young and a little sassy.
So, without further ado, my purse and all it's contents:

My American Express Card - What's the point in leaving home without it?
My 3 keys - That's a lot for me. I just barely added the house key to my ring because our garage door opener is temperamental and I don't want to get locked out of the house.
Walmart receipt from today - I spent a ton of money and there's still nothing to eat.
A Sharpie Marker - I LOVE writing with fine point Sharpie's.
Lipgloss - Dry lips make me frantic.
Emma's Hair Bobble
Dallin's Bink
Abbie's Slinky
"Pink Gum" for the kids.
"Spicy Gum" for the mommy.
Hand towelette - It's probably so old it's dried up inside but it could double as a tissue.
Extra Strength Excedrin - I don't drink caffeine so I pop it. Ironic isn't it.
My Happy Little Red T-mobile To Go phone - I love this phone!
My Red Change Purse - I love to let my girls throw coins in fountains so I try to be prepared.
A square of very dark chocolate for "emergencies".
My Red Wallet - full of receipts I don't want to account for.
A Parachute Army Guy...Never know when I might need him!
McCoy's card - I just purchased laundry room and den cabinets from them. Yeah!!
Dallin's Immunization Card.
And finally...The Receipt from Aspen Salon for my exorbitant color and cut, but I'm worth it right?!

Thanks Autumn, now I think I'll clean out my purse!
I'm tagging Amye, Holly, & Kelly.

Modern Convenience

2008-02-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

Ben just got home from London. He has all the fun! (To be fair, he went to do an audit.) Anyway, he toured the Tower of London and took this picture. It's where all the royals... well, you know. I just have to say - I am so appreciative of the time in which I live and grateful I never had anything do with "THAT". I love central air, microwaves, remote controls, high speed internet, Netflix, Target, Clorox Wipes, disposable diapers and on and on and on. You get the idea. GO KOHLER!!

QUIET PLEASE!

2008-01-17T15:46:00.001-07:00

I know crying comes with the baby territory but the wailing and gnashing of gums has gone on for about 5 days now and I'm about to lose it. No amount of rocking, bouncing, singing, or feeding seems to soothe. So, rather than go off the deep end I thought I'd share it with all of you. (Somehow this might relieve my anxiety).
I really do love the little fellow.

The "Good Ol' Days"

2008-01-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

So, we dug out the old Nintendo the other day and introduced the kids to video games. We had a great time playing Super Mario and Duck Hunt. It's funny after so many years you can pick up a control and still remember how to warp to world 4. We got a clip of Emma shooting ducks - I have to stand just as close as she does.

Hi Grandma!

2008-01-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

Uh Oh! Looks like we've got a thumb sucker!
We love him in spite of his bad habits :-)

In with the new

2008-01-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the end of 2007 with some good friends; playing games and eating like it might not be allowed next year. The dads and the kids watched the NY ball drop at "midnight" - 10 p.m. - and then the little people did a bubble wrap stomp to ring in the new year!

The Christmas lights and decorations are put away. The house feels bare but clean. I'm looking forward to wrapping up in a blanket and reading a few good books during this snowy January.

Here we are with this new year before us. We'll be musing over our resolutions for a few weeks...they will surely include abandoning food altogether, regular physical exertion, more zeal for FHE, scriptures & family prayer.
Here's to you and your resolutions! Happy New Year!