Intended and Unintended

Before I start this post I know it has been a really long time since I have updated. So to put it in a nutshell we moved to Arizona for a few months and then to Utah were Matt got a job with a tax firm. There, you're caught up. Here are a few pics from then to now.

Cousin Time

Grandma took them to the children's museum where they learned about bats!

At the Tulip festival 

Cinco de Mayo party with the Idaho family

Pinata time. Blake did a lot of the work making this pinata.

Okay, so now to get to the real post. Being a mom of small children you expect messes. I expect my kids will get dirty, in fact I want them to get dirty. You might think I am crazy, but I want them to explore and  play in the dirt or make mud pies. I want them to enjoy being kids. Sometimes, we will do activities that I intend to make a big mess, but it is worth it to me if they are having fun and maybe even learn a little something. I believe little kids learn through playing and having fun. However, with life and small children there are loads of messes that are unintended and frankly catch me of guard. Here are a few examples:

Intended mess: letting the kids cut up paper and glue them into whatever shapes and objects they want. 

Unintended mess: Blake cutting Tyler's hair

Intended mess: Setting the tent up in the living room on a cold day. Bringing every pillow, blanket and stuffed animal to cuddle with. 

Unintended mess: Lacey hidden from view behind the tent, playing in the fire place ashes.

Intended mess: Letting the kids play in shaving cream drawing pictures and letters. Getting hands clothes and table smelling like daddy. 

Unintended mess: Tyler sneaking into the hot pink food coloring and dumping half a bottle into Blake's shaving cream pan. He was hot pink from his fingertips to his elbows for several days.

Then there are the times when you are trying to clean up one mess while unbeknownst to you another one is being made. For example I was having a problem with a slow drain in my bathroom sink. With out getting into the whole story it went from slow to clogged. I tried taking matters into my own hand just to get sprayed with gross water from the pipes.

doesn't that look gross!

While I was dealing with that Lacey was getting creative with the dish washing soap.

This particular day had been a long day. FYI- The ashes, and the clogged pipes happened on this day. When I walked into the kitchen, I had no desire to clean another mess so I poured a little bit of water onto the floor and we had a slip n, slide party. I think Matt was a bit surprised to come home to a tent in the Living room, clogged pipes in the bathroom (fyi- use baking soda and vinegar to unclog), and his wife and kids sliding in the kitchen. I guess life just gets messy whether you plan those messes or not! 

Happy Halloween!

THE SCARY GHOST

"FRANKLINSTIEN" with "FAT HAIR"

CUTE (but oh so Grumpy) CLOWN.

Trick-or-Treat

To make some long stories short...

here is what we have been up to, in a "few-ish" words.

Moved to Colorado Springs. Love being close to Bryan and Jen and their cute kids. Matt is finishing up school. He and a colleague have started their own Law Firm. Young Mens. Young Womens.

Blake had a birthday! He started preschool. Loves preschool. Mom loves the age 4. It rocks. No seizures since we have moved to Colorado Springs. Knock on wood. 

Tyler had a brithday. Loves to pretend. He is currently Larry Boy. He reminds us every 5 minutes that he is Larry Boy. Was funny. Now not so much. Best Friend is still Blue Puppy. 

Lacey loves to make messes. And make more messes. Here favorite messes are in the bathroom. Q-tips everywhere. Cotton balls everywhere. Mommy's shampoo in hair. Head in Toilet. Loves to wear hats and shoes. 

pretty sure the person who belongs to the head in the background helped with the green streaks in the hair.

Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit. Hikes. Garden of the Gods. More birthday celebrations.

 Grammie and Naomi came for a visit. It snowed. Snow men. Snow Angels. Snowball fights. Snow down shirt. Snow melted. Thankfully warmed up again.

Lacey is 17months. I need to buy some more winter clothes for her since she is wearing a 3-6 month coat and boots that are 3 sizes to big. 

THE END

Glacier National Park

WRITTEN BY: BLAKE & TYLER

 Going camping while roasting marshmallows. Madelyn is doing that to her face because she is tired and doesn't want to yawn.

 I am thinking there is ice, but it is actually cups.

 I am looking in the minoculars

 Daddy is thinking about his umm.... his orange jacket. 

 Uncle Scott is thinking about climbing up the mountain.

 I am walking over the log.

 Grandpa is thinking about the water because it is fun. Tyler is throwing rocks.

 Tyler got a mustache because he ate a marshmallow.

 Going on a hike with Grandpa and our cousins. Why am I wearing a yellow shirt? Oh no no no. That is Dallin he always wears the Yellow shirt.

 Grandma is reading the Pooh book to us.

 We are fishing at this lake. It is cold. 

 Every body is climbing up the mountain and taking a picture becuase we are going on a hike.

 Mommy and Daddy are kissing because they got married before we went there.

They are thinking about going on a hike and they are smiling because they are. They are not scared of anything. They are thinking about the trees because they like them.

Film Festival

My brother Ben came up the idea that my family have a film festival where we all make a movie and upload them to a blog. Check it  out here.

For a Wonderful Father

It's official

Matt is now an Attorney. The last step of becoming a lawyer after you have passed the BAR is to take an oath. They had a ceremony in Down Town Denver where Matt took that oath, so now it OFFICIAL! We were so happy to have Matt's parents come and share the occasion with us.  Thanks to my mother-in-law we have pictures of the event.

I couldn't help but laugh (inside of course) at one of the speakers when they addressed those who had just passed the BAR and said that they were now finished with Law School and with taking tests. So not true. We still have one more BAR to take and 6 months of school left.
Nevertheless, Matt has worked so hard and I am so proud of him and all that he has achieved. Through it all he has continued to be a wonderful husband and father and has always put us first. We love him so much.