Independence Day

Independence day is one of my favorite day's to celebrate. I love everything about it! I love that we are celebrating brave men and women, I love that we are celebrating our freedom and country and I love fireworks, bbq and being with my family. What more can I ask for?

The girls and I went to my parents house, not expecting Scott to be there and he surprised us! That was amazing, always the best surprise. We had so much fun playing in the backyard together and the girls loved running around.

Leah was cracking us up. Not quite sure what she is doing here but she was doing it all night long!

We really enjoyed the day, the food and the company.
My parents have the best view from their backyard of the fireworks so it was really pleasant to watch them with family. Hannah always loves being at my mom's house and most of all loves picking all the flowers. All in all it was  a great day! Can't wait to do it again next year.

28 all over again

When birthday's come around I mean business! I take it very seriously. We have the birthday week in our family, (the birthday month is reserved for me only), that means that we celebrate all week long. Everything is all about that person, special breakfast's, what we eat for dinner, treats every night, gifts all week etc. I ask far in advance what Scott wants to do for his special day, hoping he will get the hint that last minute planning really doesn't get the best results. He chooses to do nothing on his day! (A huge gasp is immediately followed by a very loud WHAT?) This is just not acceptable in my book! But I had to concede to HIS birthday wishes, so I stood back and did nothing. It was difficult but it made him happy. He works so hard and the last thing he wanted to do was be-bop all over the place just to please my birthday wishes for him.

For his special breakfast he requested oatmeal. OATMEAL!? Huh? I was thinking french toast or something he doesn't normally eat since he is so health conscience. But he wanted the same ol' same ol'.  

He then started his day off a round of golf with one of his best friends.

I must say, he is one sexy golfer! He had fun and beat his friend by seven strokes! (whatever that means)

After a long nap we headed to BJ's for some pizza and pazookie! Oh yeah. I think I love birthdays more than him because it gives me an "excuse" to eat like crap and love every minute of it. hahahaha
The next day, still his birthday week, we did everything he wanted to do. Gym, pool, nap and hanging out with the family. I know it's pretty much just like any other day for me, but for him this is a rare occasion. We had fun together and he got gifts from the kids this year. A friend gave me a great suggestion of letting the kids pick out something in the dollar bins. I did just that and he thought it was cute and he loved them. Hannah picked out a camouflage sandwich holder from Leah, which he uses for lunch, and a basketball from her (more like for her). But he loved all his gifts and fun was had by all.
Scott I think I have more to celebrate on  your birthday's than you do. I am so grateful that you came into my life and are the wonderful father to our beautiful daughters. We are best friends, great companions and so much more. Without you I would be nothing. Thank you so much for all you do for us and for making me a better person. I hope you had a great birthday and I look forward to the many more we will share together. Happy 28th birthday, again! lol

Vacation

We just had a family vacation, nothing exciting, except that Scott was away from work for 20 days! That is always a great thing. We took a trip down to San Diego this year and had all these great plans of laying out and playing in all the wonderful pools and water slides that had there at the resort. Well mother freaking nature had a different idea for us. She decided that she would make the weather suck and make us freeze, considering we only brought shorts and sandal's with us. We did have fun hanging out together and watching the NBA finals. 

Our first day of vacation started off with this little beauty and her dance recital. She did a pretty good job after many death threats and bribes. She was in a foul mood from not napping and she was not having it. But she got out of her funk, luckily, and we had a great time watching her do her thing. It was a very low budget recital, but it was all free so I'm not going to complain, and Hannah looked so stinking cute!!!
We did attempt the pool everyday. Scott and I went on the water slides just to do it even though it was pretty cold. We spent most of the time either under the towels or in the "hot pool" as Hannah calls it. They were troopers though and enjoyed the below zero water every second they were in it. I think they both just really loved playing with Scott and they didn't mind the cold as long as their "Handsome Prince" was in there with them.
We went to the San Diego Zoo and it was kind of a bust. But Leah got lots of stares from the passing people because how relaxed her nap was. This was probably the most sleep she got the whole trip. She is the most amazing sleeper but I guess only if it's in her bed! She did not like the pack and play or the room. But it was pretty funny at how kicked back she looks.
People were also more disgusted with how I put my child on a "leash" instead of the monkey who was touching his man-goods, and boy was he going to town! I had to laugh since the people who were commenting on her backpack leash were also childless. They obviously have no idea that if you give a child freedom; they will run. 
But one wonderful thing that came from spending most of our time in our room was Leah decided that crawling is not cool anymore. She has known how to walk for some time now, but she did not crawl the whole time and she is practically running now. Any time spent with my family is always ideal so we did not mind too much that the weather was crappy, even though a couple days before he goes back to work it's in the 80's! So we ended the vacation at our pool. F.Y.I. there are no pictures of Scott because he decided to grow a full on mountain man beard! Maybe next time he has a vacation I won't shave my legs or armpits!!!! hahahahaha

Girls trip!!!!

My girlfriends and I get together at least once a month and this year, after talking about it for years, decided to do a girls trip. We went to Las Vegas this year for very inexpensive, that always rocks. Anyway, we had so much fun just being silly girls.

You can't go to Vegas and not take a picture with a trashy show girl in torn fishnet stockings, so classy!!! 
My friend Kelly(on the left) and I have been friends since middle school and Ashley and I have been BFF's since we were five! We have all had so many fun memories together and this trip topped it off. I know it was much needed for me. I love my family so much but I had so much fun just being Vikki again. 
We stayed up until 4am every night and laughed so hard! We were deliriously crazy and were able to talk a lot, without time restrictions, that was very nice.  We were not trying to look smart here, just had to take out contacts from crying/laughing so hard. 
I loved being with the two people in the world who I can totally be myself around. (Don't read too much into this thinking that I don't have fun with my husband, I do, but this is a different kind of fun.) Vegas is such a trashy city and I'm so glad I had two people to make fun of all the drunk retards with. 
I am very lucky to have a great husband who was willing to let me take off for a few days on his vacation so he can play Mr. Mom. He did get to spend quality time with the girls and it was much needed.  But I am also blessed with two best friends who I love more than they know. They are always there for me and my shinanigans, never judging only loving me more for my flaws. I love how we are each so different and yet so similar. We can completely be ourselves around one another and we always have a great time.

Girls day out

I am lucky enough to have a husband who doesn't mind me going out with my girlfriends once or twice a month. He stays home with the kids and does "everything" I would do. I think it is so funny though that when I walk in the door I get screams and cries. Happy screams and cries like "Why did you leave me? Don't do that again!" Don't get me wrong, they like their dad, but I honestly think they can't live without me. Dad does things, let's just say different than me and I think they don't like it. I often hear Hannah telling him "No mommy does it like this!" It cracks me up inside because when I get home and see the look on his face it is priceless! He knows I do a lot around here, but I think he always appreciates me a little more when I get home. He knows that the whining and screaming and all the other glory that comes with being a mom can get to you by the end of the day. And it cracks me up that he is ready to hit the hay and looks so tired and exhausted after just a few short hours! (I'm sure many of you mom's can relate!) I am truly grateful that I have him and he knows that I need time for myself so I can stay sane. He works so hard for us often doesn't get the time to himself like he insists I have. And I am so blessed to have two little girls who literally melt to see my face, as I do theirs. But I am also happy that I have best friends who I get to hang out and have so much fun with while completely be myself.

Beach trip..... finally!

Ok so don't laugh but, we finally took our kids to the beach! I'm not sure why we haven't been before. Maybe it was living in Arizona or just not wanting the kids to get sand crotch. Either way, we have been missing out! We had so much fun and so did the kids. When we left the house it was cold, like 75 degrees, that is cold to me. So we didn't plan to go in the water but we did get wet from the waves.  

It turned out to be a gorgeous day, the water was really nice and the sun was shining. We can't wait to go back to go all the way in. Hannah loved the water, Leah didn't but she loved the sand. To my surprise she did not eat any of it! She loved to crawl around in it and had fun digging. 

I should have listened to my "home-girl" Tyra Banks and always be aware of the camera because it looks like I'm sitting on the toilet! hahahaha

I loved this family day and I can't wait to go back soon. 

And the day ended perfectly with my favorite food. A hickory burger, onion rings and a chocolate banana shake from Ruby's! And I finished every last bit of all my food and shake. Got to work out hard to eat like ya want to, so worth it. It was so yummy and the kids loved it too. I think I may have go more often now since we all enjoyed the great food, darn.

My bedtime story

Conversation had at bedtime:

Me: "Ok Hannah pick a story for bedtime."

Hannah: "No Mamma, I'll read  YOU one tonight."

Me: "Are you sure?"

Hannah: "Yes Mamma, you always read me stories now I'll read to you so you can have good dreams."

It was so sweet and sincere. So after agreeing that she would read to me I had to run and get my camera because it was too sweet to pass up. I love how her little mind is a sponge and soaks up everything, good and bad, that she hears. I'm glad that she knows how much I love her and wanted to show me the same. I love her lisp when she reads too, she doesn't have it unless she is reading.

It's been a difficult week

Our new favorite place at Disneyland, and yes, I'm sporting the "fro" a lot these days it's so much easier!

Can you tell she loves Jessie????

Having fun at a bounce house place with Daddy

And jumping around with mommy

So it's been one of those weeks. You know the kind were you really DO do the normal mom things in a day, laundry, dishes, cleaning, folding, wiping butts etc. Well my husband begs to differ. It just appeared to him that I only hang out and have fun all day because I did my "job" quickly and then played afterward. Today I was lucky enough to have a girls day with my mom, sister and my girls going to Bj's for lunch and a free birthday Pazookie for my sister, then pedicures and topped it off with some shopping. Nothing really special, but so nice to be able to do these things with my amazing children. They were so well behaved and sat there while I got a pedicure. I know what your thinking, that you can't relax, well I sure got my relax on. Leah was on the massage chair switchboard and mixing it up for me real nice and didn't make a peep the whole time. Hannah was an angel too. 

It was so nice to hang out with my sister who I don't get to see that much and my mom who is the greatest mom anyone could ask for! She takes such good care of us and loves to hang out with us any chance she gets. We have so much fun together and have a great friendship.

We also have great friends who we have so much fun with. We went swimming on Monday and the girls and I had such a great time. I really love our ward and all the great people who I get to spend time with and call friends, since those are really hard to come by.

Hannah is such a big girl going down the slide and swimming in the deep end. She has a vest on, but man what a lifesaver! I was so proud of her and loved watching her independence and bravery. She was pretty impressed that she didn't need my help. 

So I want to give a "shot out" (no I'm not making a request on 99.1 KGGI but I sound like it) to my husband for working so hard and making it possible for me to stay home with our wonderful children and being able to have so much fun with them. It was a busy week and I look forward to many many more like them!

P.S. This looks like a lot of fun times and it is but the pictures also show the good times not how difficult it is to keep everyone safe, fed and happy while trying to suck in your gut and carry on an adult conversation. He also has no idea how much crap you need to pack to make sure these princess' stay happy all day. Let's just say I need a bigger diaper bag!

Leah's party

Leah's first birthday party was a lot of fun. We just had family over and we all had a great time. She loved all her gifts, (well I did and that's all that matters really at this age), she had a fun time playing with cousins and totally dug into her cake!

I had fun making this. It's not a masterpiece but we were happy with it.

Her very own cake

She was doing fine on her own, but Scott decided to see what she would do and sure enough she loved the extra help. She was dainty at first then she tasted the sugar and went all out. It was very cute. And she pretty much devoured the whole thing!

I'm so happy that the day was perfect for my little Leah. She brings so much happiness, laughter, sweet hugs, wet kisses and tears of joy into our lives. She is such a great baby and I am looking forward to all the many more birthdays we will celebrate with her.

One year young

I can't believe this year has gone by so quickly. It makes me sad to think of how short our time really is together. My kids seem to grow faster with every blink of my eye. One year ago I was blessed with the most amazing baby girl. Leah has been a joy in our lives from day one. She truly is the best baby and I couldn't be more in love!

She is always willing to cuddle with me. Sunday's are my favorite day of the week because I have her glued to me for the whole block of church. I love her sweet little head resting on my chest.

Time goes by way too fast and I can't believe that she is already a year old.

Leah makes me laugh all the time. Her smile melts my heart and her sloppy wet kisses are the highlight of my day. 

I am so un-believably lucky to have her for all eternity. I enjoy watching her learn and grow. I don't even have enough words to say for this precious little girl. All I can really say is, I love you Leah with all my heart and I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with you.