Spring Break...

I know, I know, it has been awhile since I last posted but I have tried to enjoy the nice Spring weather...not!! At least I did get to enjoy a little during our Spring Break.

We started our week by going to the Zoo with Aunt Julie and Amy, Dylan and Trevyn. It was a really nice day, warm with a bit of wind...I didn't realize until the next day my sunburned arm, yes just my one left side!! I don't want to bore everyone with a mile long post, but with the pictures, it just might be, here are a few at the zoo...

A pair of my own monkey's...and the baby giraffe.

I remember this fountain from when I was a kid!!

You can't go to the Zoo without taking a picture by the Gorilla to see how big you have grown.

And you have to ride the Train of course (1/2 a minute for a buck!!!)

Avery and Trevyn got their first ride of their life on the ever-so-exciting train. (It put Trevyn right to sleep!)

A Little Baby BLING BLING!!

Today we had a little girls day!! Maci, Avery and I went shopping! We had planned on going over to the mall to make a few exchanges, look for a swimsuit, and get birthday presents. Our day turned into a 6 hour excursion, and I have to say, it was quite fun. I can truly say that Maci is definitely a better shopper than McKay, and it is much easier without the two of them together to torment each other.

One of our events was getting my little Avery's ears pierced!! I had actually thought about doing it the last time we were at the mall, but got talked out of it because McKay didn't want to be there when she cried. Maci wasn't so concerned about that part, in fact that was the first thing she wanted to do when we got to the mall. We decided on the cute BLING BLING ones (Cubic Zirconia!)

The girl that pierced them was so cute with her, and I was so amazed how well Avery did. With a couple of distractions, Maci jingling the dangling bracelets, and the big mirror above, both ears were pierced within a couple of minutes. She only cried a little bit, not even as much as when she gets her shots. I came prepared with a dose of Tylenol, her bottle, and a binky, we were off and on our way to SHOP, have a little lunch, and then shop some more.

I am glad that I have my girls that I can "Girl" time with, and I look forward to many more of our shopping excursions together. I love you both to pieces.

Future Jazz players?

Last night Dave and McKay had a little Dad and Son (and friend) bonding time. Thanks to the perks Dave has at work, they were able to go to the Delta Center (AKA The Energy Solutions Arena, I just can't get used to that name!) and play on the Utah Jazz's basketball court.

Dave usually plays pick-up ball every Friday morning at the Open Court gym, and for all of the guys that play they were invited to go and play at the Delta Center. Dave had come home a couple of weeks ago and told me they were planning on doing this, and McKay could not wait. He had asked if his friend Hinckley could go, and I had planned on going until Dave said that he didn't think other families were going. I sortof felt stupid for wanting to go, but I really thought it might be fun, oh well. Needless to say, the girls stayed behind.

Since I wasn't going to be there I sent the camera with the boys so they could get a few photos...well they left it in the car, go figure! Thanks to technology today (cameras in cell phones) they got these few pictures. A big Thank you goes out to Ben for taking them with his phone, and then forwarding them on to Dave, to forward to me, to get them on this post...

McKay had a lot of fun shooting some hoops himself. He was also able to run around the whole arena. With them being the only ones there, they had many great hiding places, and had all the rows of seating to run around.

A little backwards shot?

McKay dribbling the ball.

The basket looks a little high!

Notice the huge crowd looking on, NOT!

So what do you think? A Basketball career in our future? We'll keep dreaming! Go JAZZ!

We Got Munk'd!!!

For all of you Alvin and the Chipmunks fans out there, I hope you got your copy of the DVD this week. I know in our house it was a favorite of the kids, and I have to admit that I actually liked it myself. Having watched it as a kid (and liking it then) I took my kids to the theater when it first came out. I was a little hesitant then because I was afraid of their screeching voices, but it wasn't so bad after all. Well this week was the DVD release, and I bought it at Walmart ($13.99) we have gotten our monies worth with how many times Maci and McKay have watched it.

This morning on the news there was a clip with the actual Chipmunks announcing the release of the soundtrack and their big 'Get Munk'd' tour, with a stop in Provo, Utah. As I was laying there in bed I thought "that could be something fun to do today," and Dave was standing there saying "How gay, I won't be going to that..." so as the day progressed, I watched my usual "Good Things Utah" and Alvin, Simon, and Theodore appeared as the guests and again announced the times for their 'Get Munk'd' performances. I was still a little unsure about the idea, but thought I really needed to get out since I have been stuck inside all week with this horrible head cold. So I called my sister in law to see if she and Dylan wanted to go. The only time that worked for her was 6:00, so Alvin, Simon, and Theodore here we come!!

I called Dave to tell him that I planned a date night, with all of us. I could hear him cringing as I told him what we were doing, but told him that Brian would be coming and that we would plan on going to eat afterward. Not that he wanted to do either, he ended up being a good sport and missed the Jazz game to come hang with us. Thanks Dave, and especially thanks from McKay and Maci for holding them both on each shoulder so that they could see. McKay and Maci promised me that they would take a nap in order to go, and believe it or not I actually had all 3 of them asleep at the same time...so if anything good came out of the night, I at least got naps from all of my kids. Pretty rare occasion so I need to make sure that it is documented!! Not only was there good naps, but good food, and a night out with the fam, it was FUN!!

Here are a few pictures that I was able to get by holding the camera in the air and shooting (hoping that I would get something worth posting!) The picture at top is from the mall, the kids stood in front of the green curtain and took a picture with the guitars, then they photo-shopped the background of the chipmunks and then downloaded it on a flash drive...worked for me!!

Back in Commission...

Sorry to all my blogging friends...I have slacked a bit, but I am back. After a few technical difficulties and a busy few weeks, we are alive...and here are a few posts that I have gotten caught up on...

WELCOME HOME Steve...Sean, Grandpa & Grandma

We are so happy to announce that uncle Steve (Elder Wall) is home...as well as Grandma and Grandpa and Sean!!! They returned on Wednesday March 26th.

We all anxiously waited at the airport for their arrival. Their plane was originally supposed to land at 11:15 AM, but was delayed in Texas until the arrival at 3:40 PM. I know they were anxious to get here too!

I had a sign made at the Party store in town and had balloons along with the dozens of yellow balloons that Vicki brought to help celebrate uncle Steve's return from his mission in Santiago, Chile. We were so happy when we saw his smiling face as he came down the hallway in the airport. I think he was very happy/surprised to see everyone. The little nieces and nephews were holding the sign and balloons to welcome him home. It was fun to see the reaction from the kids especially Dylan and Maci, who were just little when he left. He says Maci is the one that has changed the most.

There is something about the feeling of having a missionary present, and to know he is part of the family, and finally home was such a comforting feeling...I know I got teary eyed, but what is new!! The reactions on everyone's faces and the stares from the little ones was priceless.

Steve was able to meet the two new additions to the family, Avery and Trevyn. I think he was pretty surprised. He was also surprised at the new addition to Dave's arm...a Tattoo, is that real?

After pictures, hugs, reaquaintances, and getting baggage, we headed to the Golden Corral for dinner. It was fun to see the change in him. I think we are all so happy he is home, as for Steve, I think he's a little sad to have left Chile. He loved it there, loved the missionary work, and especially loved the people. I cannot wait to hear his stories. This Sunday is his Homecoming so we will get to hear about his wonderful 2 year experience in Santiago, Chile.

Here are a few pictures that I captured of our fun day....(see slide show below!)


Welcome Home Steve, we are glad you are home! We love you!

Welcome Home Elder Wall!!!

Hippity Hoppity...Easter is HERE!!

I cannot believe how EARLY Easter was this year. They say that it won't be this early again for 200 some odd years...well, I can't wait!! (Oh wait, I definately won't be around!!)

My kids love every holiday and it seems like they love it more when there is someone in costume to help with the celebrating...like the EasTer BuNNy!!

This year we went to Costco to see the EasTer BuNNy...and I conveniently brought my camera along. We also brought along Maci's little friend Sydney. They were both very scared and would not stand by the EasTer BuNNy. McKay had no fear. I did a little convincing and bribery (I had to get photos!!) and they finally stood there, still a little unsure. Then all through the store they kept saying "I wonder if the EasTer BuNNy is still there." Surprisingly enough, he was still there on our way out, so we got a few more pics, this time with Avery and McKay played around to see who could jump the highest...I think the EasTer BuNNy had that in the bag.

We went to the city Easter Extravaganza (that wasn't anything near Extravagant), they ran out of food, and prizes, and was a waste of time to say the least. The next night we colored easter eggs, then made sure the kids were in bed so the EasTer BuNNy wouldn't hop past our house.

The kids woke up to a note from the EasTer BuNNy himself saying he didn't want to hide their beautifully decorated eggs, instead he hid fun-filled eggs and sent them on a scavenger hunt. Maci's reward was the new Disney DVD "Enchanted" and McKay got "Legos-Star Wars", XBox game. They were both very excited.

We went to church later that afternoon, and then had dinner at grandma Vicki's. Thanks mom for the yummy food. The boys (Paul, Brayden, Kaiden, McKay, Dave, JJ, Jess and Dad) played football outside while the girls stayed in and watched "Enchanted". We visited with Grandma Rena Mae and Norm and had a fun Easter day.

Dave's parents are still in Chile, picking up Steve. They fly in on Wednesday and we cannot wait to see them all. Sue is planning the annual Easter Egg Hunt for the following Saturday, and my kids cannot wait...

6 Months Already!!

Oh how Time Flies by...I cannot believe Avery is six months old. I remember when I was pregnant and just about to have Avery...Our countdown at that time was Dave's little brother coming home from his mission. We said "Avery will be 6 months old when Steve gets home"...well, he gets home next week. How crazy!!

We haven't had the chance to take her to her 6 month Dr. appointment, not until April 24th, so I don't have any stats. I do know that based on the way she loves to eat (anything and everything) and by the weight of the carrier, either that or I am just getting weak...she has gained some weight.

She is a very happy-go-lucky baby. She loves her brother and sister, her mom, and especially her daddy! Ever since Dave's trip she has had a hard time with other men...it started when my brother in law, Paul, who she has adored, watched her one night and she just freaked out. The second time was when my brother Jesse came into the room, and she lost it. It has been the weirdest thing. Hopefully she will get over it.


She loves to put everything in her mouth, loves to eat her sweet potato puffs, and the sight of a bottle gets her all excited. She loves to have the blanket by her face to sleep, loves to play with her toes, loves to be outside, and loves when she gets the attention, which is most all of the time.

Just recently her voice has started to sound a little hoarse, Dave thinks it is from her little bouts of screaming, especially when wanting our attention. Every morning when McKay leaves for school he kisses her and says, "I hope you get your voice back today." He cannot keep his hands off of her. We all feel so lucky to have her in our family and we Love her to pieces.


We got to celebrate her 'Happy 6 months old" day by Shopping in Park City!! I thought we should train her early with one of my Loves... We spent the later part of the day with Aunt Amy and cousins Dylan and Trevyn. I have to say, I won't be doing that anytime soon with my kids...needless to say the babies were the best behaved, and I did get some really good deals!! Happy 6 months, with many other shopping days ahead of us.

Here is my baby, and she will always be my Baby!! Thank you for being such a good baby girl, I love you Avery Mae!!

Where's my Pot of Gold?

I picked the girls (Maci, Madison and Morgan) up from pre-school today and was greeted by three very excited girls. They talked about the leprechaun and all the treats that he had left for them at Mrs. Grays house. There conversation was more of a plan and where they were going to look first for their "pot of gold". Maci then asks me where I think he has hidden her pot of gold...I precede to tell her that he left it at her school. She argues a little with me saying, "No mom, Mrs. Gray said that there would be a pot of gold at our house and we have to find it." I am thinking to myself, yes please let me know when you find that pot of gold... (curse Mrs. Gray)!!

Madison came home with us while her mom was out, so as soon as we pulled in, they both run into the house and go for flashlights. I don't know where they are going to go looking!!! After searching in all the bedrooms and downstairs, they come to me again asking where I think the pot of gold is...I again explain that the leprechaun went to their school just like he did for McKay the day before. Apparently that wasn't good enough...Maci asks, with the phone in her hand, "What's Dad's number?" This is the message she left...

Maci: (talking excitedly and very fast) "Hi dad, I was just wondering if when you get home you can take me, Mckay, you and Madison to the mountains and go hiking to find the pot of gold...by the rainbow okay bye!"

A few minutes Dave calls back, she answers and again says her message...she then hands me the phone...Dave says, "what the heck is she talking about?" Exactly...when you find that pot of gold, please send it my way!!!

P.S. There was no pot of gold left here!!

Princesses on Ice..here we come!!

I was very excited when I heard that the Disney on Ice: "Princess Wishes" was coming to Salt Lake City. I thought it would be a perfect date for Maci and I. After seeing a commercial on TV I told Dave it would be fun to go, he told me that he could get discounted tickets through work...that got me even more excited, but he assured me he would not be going. So, I rounded up my friends and their daughers and planned our mom and daughter date.
(Marci & Morgan, Amy & Lindy, Tanya & Madison, and Gwen & Brinley)


Our original plan was to leave around 11:00 AM, maybe take the TRAX into Salt Lake City, grab lunch and then go to the 2:30 PM showing...what?!@ our tickets are for the 11:00 AM show?!!! Good thing I glanced at the tickets the night before, or we would have missed the whole thing...thanks ladies for understanding my goof-up (actually the ticket guy's goof-up)!!


We started our morning a little earlier than planned, so what do you think could happen next? Oh yeah leave it to me to forget our tickets!! Good thing we got to the Maverick when I remembered...will we ever get there? Sure, and with plenty of time...So lets take a couple of pictures of our sweet princesses before we go in, okay so I got to take 3 and my camera battery dies!! URGH!! could it get any better? Yes it does indeed!!!

Thank you Amy for sharing your camera and pictures...the rest of the day was Magical, how could it not be after seeing Tinkerbell, Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan, Mickey and Minnie, and of course Goofy. But best of all, the excitement on 5 little girls' faces was truly the best.

After the show we went for lunch at The Lion House (thanks for the suggestion Amy). I had never been there, and the food was yummy. After lunch, Gwen and I decided against paying the ridiculous amount of money for any souvenirs from the show, instead we drove ourselves to the Disney Store and both Brinley and Maci picked Belle and Beast dolls. I really had a great time, it was good to get out with the girls and most importantly have a little mom and Maci time together.

Hey, Princesses Don't Cry!!!

They Eat Popcorn...

and smile their big Princess smiles!!

I love you Maci, thanks for the fun day!! You will always be mom's Princess.

We Survived!!!!

I am SO happy to announce that we SURVIVED our 13 days!!
Welcome home Dave, we sure missed you!!

12 Days...Almost There!!! (actually it is 13, eek!!)

First off, I want to say Thank you to everyone that has been checking up on me. I am happy to report that we are doing well especially with only 2 1/2 days left!! I have tried to keep us busy to keep our minds off the fact that Dad isn't here to keep us company. I have occasionally heard "mom you are really nice" and "I like when dad is gone, cuz I get to have a lot of sleepovers." I must admit though that I haven't kept with a strict schedule at night, which I unfortunately have paid for the next day with grumpy kids.

Here are a few things we have done to keep ourselves busy:
Day One- McKay had 2 birthday parties to go to, Maci went swimming with her friend and then we watched a movie.
Day Two- we skipped out of Stake Conference and made our Sunday visit/dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Wall's a little early.
Day Three- school day for McKay then played with friends in the Spring-like weather.
Day Four- school day for McKay and Maci, again played outside, went to Target.
Day Five- school day for McKay and Gymnastics for Maci, a diet coke delivery (thanks Cheree) ran some errands another Target trip, and then to uncle Mike's birthday party (it was a late night).
Day Six- school day for both, outside again, then a trip to the Dollar Tree, McKay and Maci both got to get a surprise grab bag (awesome for a buck) we got home and Hinckley called to see if McKay could sleepover for Friday!
Day Seven: school day then McKay got picked up to go to the Miller's, Maci and Mom had a really fun night with "the girls" We had friends over, ordered pizza, played games, ate treats and best of all danced to Dance Dance Revolution! Maci even got to stay up late! I stayed up even later cleaning the house for the next day.
Day Eight- (I am beginning to feel the lack of sleep) I had a baby shower/open house for a friend (day one I made invites for) It was a lot of fun. My sis-in-law called and said she was coming by to get the kids to sleepover at grandmas!! Avery and I had a quiet evening, besides the howling wind and storm blowing over.
Day Nine- Avery and I had a peaceful Sunday morning, got ready for church and was even there 10 min. early (note: I still didn't get our bench, but still got a soft seat!)
Day Ten- The kids were out of school (teacher dev. day) we just hung out at home until 4pm then went and got grandma Vicki and met Kristen and Kaiden at the movie theater. We saw "Enchanted" for the second time, at the most run-down theater. ever.
I tried to take a picture with my phone to prove it, but the majority of the seats were all torn, and it was dirty. Oh well for $10 for six tickets and bottomless popcorn, what do you expect? We had yummy dinner at Kneaders then back home to bed. It was a fun FHE, although McKay said it couldn't be FHE without Dad.
Day Eleven- that is today...school for both the kids and a lazy day for Avery and I. Now the kids are playing and we plan on going to grandma's for dinner and to play with uncle JJ. (McKay is excited to play the Wii)

So as I am listing the days here, I realized that it is actually 13 Days!! As for the next two: tomorrow after McKay's school we are going down to Amy and Brian's so I can get my hair done, and the kids can play. On our way home we will stop in at the good 'ol Classic Skating for McKay's school skate night. Thursday: WELCOME HOME DADDY!!! YEAH!!

All in all, this time without Dave has been long. I am definitely grateful for technology today; cell phones, lap top routing, and instant messaging. I have been able to talk to him twice a day and everyday I have looked forward to those calls I got from him. I am glad he has gotten the opportunity to go to these crazy places, but next time not this long. I have truly missed him and I have grown to love and appreciate him more and more. I am so lucky to have such a great husband who has missed us too, and who I hope is just as excited to come home as we are for him getting here. We love you Dave/daddy!

Is it SPring Yet??

I know that we have all been loving the warmer weather, the kids outside playing, the snow melting...Wait, only on the South facing side!!!

This is what I saw from my nice sunny side of the road (Ugly brown lawn)...

Yep, you see right...Marci is shoveling her lawn!!

She is convinced that they are the only ones with the most Snow left, and she is getting rid of it!!

And Ta Da!!! The snow will eventually melt...and Spring will surely come!!

But until then, we will enjoy the warm weather and look forward to the time when all the snow is completely melted off the north facing side of the street...Happy Shoveling!!! P.S. I felt bad, so I too went out with a shovel and helped (I am sick of looking at the mounds of snow as well.)

Here are a couple of other pictures to see how much fun we have had in the warmer weather...

The boys got a good game of Football in, Maci and Morgan colored the sidewalk, Jonah was chasing the basketball, and McKay finally using his jump from Christmas...he was so excited to call Dave to tell him that he isn't afraid of it anymore (he even caught a little air!)