Our weekend...

What a crazy busy weekend we had. Did I mention fun? and emotional? Oy.. So my brother inlaw Keith, had his mission farewell this past Sunday. So we had family galore come into town which was so fun. Bart's Aunt Chris and Uncle Larry came to stay with us along with their daughter in law and my friend, Rachel and her two sweet kids Eli and Brynn. It was so fun to have them here. And I think i found a new boyfriend in Eli. He kinda clung to me like saran wrap which of course, I loved. He is such a munch. I can't believe I didn't take one picture the entire time they were here!! Rachels kids are so cute, and I don't even have proof. Your just going to have to take my word for it. Anyhow, it was fun to have them here. We stayed up way too late visiting the heck out of each other, and eating left over hot lemon bar filling (Rachel how is your mouth?) from the lemon bars I made for the farewell party. Keith's talk was full of emotion, and testimony. What a guy that Keith is. He sure has grown up so much in the past few years. I know he will give his best in the mission field. We had to say good-bye today at the airport and I was a wreck. But he was too so I didn't feel so bad. Watching KEith say good-bye to Debbie, was probably the hardest thing. It made me realize just how fast time goes. I was just a Keiths baptism, it seems like and now he's serving a mission. Bartel just got baptized, and before I know it he's going to be gone too. I"m thankful for good examples like Keith and Bart and Michael, and my brothers. I know I am going to have a hard time letting go when my time comes but, I'm fortunate enough to have a testimony of the gospel to know that serving a mission is what Heavenly Father wants his sons to do. It was so sweet to see the little nieces and nephews of Keith crying when he was set apart as a missionary and then at the airport. They really love their Uncle Keith.
So I've been puffy,stuffy, and headachey all day from tears, I'm quite a sight actually. Hopefully I will de-puff by tomorrow......Good Luck in Brazil Keith, we love you!!

Oh Man!!

So Saturday afternoon, was a rough one. Bart was at a youth activity at the lake, I was trying to clean house and rally the troops to help by offering payment for their hard work. Bartel complied and was more then happy to do his share for money. Coco was motivated for about 5 mins until she realized she had to actually finish a chore to get credit for it. So she became "ill" and was confined to her bed the rest of the day. So Bartel did her chores for her money. And I ended up cleaning her room with a trash bag. She was not happy. I didn't throw anything away, but it's she has a serious time out from toys for awhile. then there was Annie. She had no desire to help in any way, not surprising. She pretty much whirled and twirled and pulled out more stuff while I cleaned. As the day progressed, I was getting frustrated with Coco, who miraculously  was healed from her ailment but still wouldn't help out. So I'm cleaning the kitchen and Annie is on the counter and we're chatting, and I notice that a big hunk of hair is cut very blunt on the side. I am staring in disbelief, and I'm almost afraid to ask what i'm sure I already know. "Annie did you cut your hair" she is a little hesitant. And in her broken english tells me more or less "yes, with scissors" . I'm sick. I was just bragging to friends a few weeks ago that I have never had hair cutting issues with my girls!! This can't be happening. But I am grateful that it isn;t right in front like a punk rocker cut. Coco has just been talking nonstop about cutting her hair so Annie was just showing her how to get it done i guess. So I'm upset and take her into my room and she's aware that I'm upset, and I start crying (pregnancy) and I'm cuddling her and I'm crying her and asking her "why did you cut your hair Annie?" She replies " I want to be beautiful" I cry harder. I worry my almost 3 yr. old has self esteem issues..." You are beautiful" I say between sobs. She's crying now too.  So when Bart gets home I give him the run down on all he missed. I get to Annie's hair and my lip quivers again, and Annie says "don't cry anymore mom" So I suck it up for her sake. "It's not that bad" Bart says. "Just leave it". As if. So Sunday Morning I'm telling Annie we're going to make her hair beautiful and cut it. She's not happy. "Don't cut my hair mom" is repeated more then once. I have no choice. I can't let her go to church like this. Now she's crying. I reassure her it will be beautiful like a princess. She's not buying it. I finish and get her into the bath for a quick shampoo, we blow dry, and then the final result...She loves it. And she points out that we have "same, same hair" Oh joy, just like Katie Holmes and Suri.... I'm still sick....and throwing away all my scissors. "Annie, we never, never, never, cut our hair right?"   "Nope, never, never, never." Then she see's Bart trimming around his ears. "Daddy cuts his hair"....great.

P.s Coco is bugged that Annie's hair got cut before hers....I can't make anyone happy.

Her locks of love i had to cut...sniff, sniff.

Back side...sniff,sniff

Final product....don't look to close Jenna

Photo updates

So much going on lately. This past weekend was busy and crazy and fun! Friday my brother in-law Keith went thru the temple for the first time and that was so great to be there with him. We love Keith. He is so much fun and such a neat guy. My kids just adore him as do I. We went camping a few weeks ago and he came up to help Bart in his off-road race, he was such a big help. we are going to miss him when he leaves for his mission, but we are so proud of him. He's setting such a good example for my kids. His farewell is the 28th this month and then he leaves I believe the following week straight to Brazil MTC.

  So then Saturday the 13th was Bartels Baptism. My parents and Carly, Kyle bug, and Dakota came down to support Bartel in this big step. My dad gave a wonderful talk on baptism. I love hearing my dad talk he's so sweet and sincere. He loves Bartel so much and vice versa. It was really neat for my parents to see their first grandchild baptized. thanks for being there guys! And of course Bart's family was all in attendance, which we so appreciate, I know everyone has busy lives, but we appreciate everyone being there. My parents left Monday morning and we were sad to see them go, especially Annie, she really wanted to go with them..stinker I guess I'm not fun enough for her. Any how, that's all for now,  

Kyle Bug and Coco 

Making and playing with play dough after school

Bartel and Bart on the big day. No, Bartel isn't overcome with emotion, he slipped in water in the bathroom and fell and hurt his arm....figures.

Annie and Coco before church. Annie is channeling Cindy Lauper with her outfitt. Girls do just want to have fun though!

Papa and the kids cuddling.

At Bartel's b-day bash!

First day of school at Spuhler Sprouts! You can check out Annie in action at school at spuhlersprouts.blogspot.com Isn't she so munchie!! I love this kid...

First day of Ballet!! she loves it, I asked her yesterday what she learned and without hesitation, she pointed her toes out and slid it across the floor. It was so cute. Sh e goes to class with her friend Brielle, there are so cute together.

My only picture of florida...and yes I know this is not Bart and I, it's our dear friends the Perkins, and the beautiful white sands beach in Clearwater....Bart was in class and meetings the whole time!! So I was the third wheel, i tried not to walk to closely behind these two love birds on the beach, I didn't want to wreck the romanticness of the moment but leave it to me, I did anyways when I announced that I had to find a bathroom ASAP.... 

Bartel and his requested "Maple Cake" funny kid, he was so specific on his birthday list : Exact titles of books, bible with his name on it, an old fashioned silver stop watch with a cover? And the best one....a diamond. What the? I don't even ask for diamonds!

Grandma Deb and Bartel

Bart changing out his traveling tires for some big honkin' ones before the race that he by the way, took 3rd place in!! That's my boy! Cute buns too!

Coco got in touch with nature up in Snowflake and was hunting frogs and lizards and snakes the entire time!!

A quick snack before dinner!

Real Quick

So I have a lot to write about and pics to publish but i wanted to ask a question first. Coco asked me the other day while I was fixing her hair, "mom, what would you do if you were a Barbie?"

I replied without hesitation " Well, first i would wake up in my Barbie dream house, and then get ready and go for a ride in my Pink Barbie corvette, then if it was the weekend, I would pack up my Barbie Motor home, and take the family camping. what would you do" She replied bitterly, " nothing, because I would be controlled by humans.."

Maybe i misunderstood the question, I thought that being a Barbie would be great, Perfect body, great legs, good hair, nice home and cars, unlimited clothes, no cleaning. Lounging by the pool, while Ken, does whatever it is he does. Now that I think about it I'm kinda jealous of Barbie, she even looks cute pregnant. When I grow up, i want to be Barbie.

If you were Barbie what would you do?

Birthday Boy!!!

I can't believe just 8 years ago we welcomed this sweet boy into our home. I am feeling a bit like a bad mom right now because I am in Florida and my Bartel is at home in Az, on his birthday! He is with his grandma and Opa, so that makes me feel alot better. Before I left we bought treats and goodie bags for his class to pass out, hopefully that will help him have a good day. when I was pregnant with Bartel I was hoping for a boy so bad. I wanted my kids to start out with a big brother, like the family i grew up in. I feel so blesssed to have this boy. He is such a good boy, he is a tease to his sister Coco no doubt, but he is a good boy. Bartel, if you read this I want you to know that I love you. You are exactly what I wanted and hoped for in a little boy. You are so sweet and kind hearted, and are always wanting to do the right thing. When you were much littler, and would get in trouble, you would always ask me with big tears in your eyes "am I a bad boy?" Never, that would just break my heart, you are always so afraid to disappoint me. But I think you are wonderful, and good. You are so sweet with Annie, you take so much abuse from her and you never get mad. I am so proud of you. I can;t wait until your baptism next week, it will be such a special day.  I hope you have a wonderful Birthday today and I promise we will party when I get back!!! Love you, love you, love you!!

Love , mom