I've begun another 365 day journey around the sun...

I'm now another year older and hopefully wiser. I got the chance to celebrate another birthday this year with my fabulous husband, my boys and friends. It was great.

Kelly surprised me the morning of my birthday by bringing me breakfast in bed. It was really quite the surprise, because I thought he'd already left for work. Instead, he took Thursday and Friday off, just to spend time with me. Talk about a fantastic birthday present!

We hung out during the day and he took me into town to pick out what he wanted to get me for my birthday. Kelly bought me a Zune for my birthday, and what I got to choose was the color. I of course chose Red. I was so excited, I started to get a little teary eyed.

After that we came home and loaded some music onto the Zune and hung out for a while, until it was time to leave for dinner. We made plans with some of our friends to go and have dinner (with out kids) at Tucano's in Orem.

We were on our way there and Kim called and said that there was a party of 124 people that were already there and we couldn't get in until around 9. I was bummed, but it didn't ruin my day. Instead we went down to the Brick Oven in Provo and ate there. They have the best salad bar, and their pasta is pretty good too. So it worked out just as good.

We had a great night and I owe it all to my darling husband. I can't thank him enough for making my birthday one of the best ones I've ever had. Thank you again, I love you!!

I Got Tagged By Shelley

How To Play This Game of Tag

Post these rules on your blog.

List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself.

Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

3 Joys...

Taking pictures

Yoga and meditation

Edward Cullen/Twilight

3 Fears...

Snakes

Loosing my boys/family

Drowning

3 Goals...

De clutter my home

Go to the Temple every month

Get out of debt

3 Current Obsessions/Collections...

Scrapbooking

Scentsy

My Fly Lady Routine:

Monday- Weekly Home Blessing

Tuesday- Finances & Paperwork

Wednesday- Grocery, Errands, & Garbage

Thursday- Laundry & Clean Bathrooms

Friday- Catch-up what didn't get done the rest of the week. It doesn't all get done every week, but it's a guideline that I try to stick by.

3 Random Surprising Facts About Me...

I don't like chocolate

I love organizational items, but am not good at getting anything organized

I want to be a photographer

Tag! You're It!

Jill

Morgan

Melissa

Emily

Kris Anne

Watering The Flowers

Watering has become one of Landon's newest favorite things to do these days. Anytime the water is turned on the hose always ends up in his hands. He loves to spray the flowers and water the lawn. And occasionally his brother... oops!

Happy Birthday Landon & Carter

I can't believe it... Landon and Carter turned 2 this year. How the time has flown. It's hard to look back and think that 2 years has already passed.

We did a small party this year for their birthday. No big dinner in the hot afternoon heat like last year. This time we did pizza from 5 Buck, cupcakes, and ice cream sandwiches. We had it at a park near our house, in the evening. So it was a lot cooler and low key. I loved it, and I know that the boys loved it too. At this park there is a ton of grass to run around and 2 different play grounds. One for big kids and one for younger kids. The kids played the whole evening, and were exhausted by the time we got home. It was great!

Their Birthday guests included: Grandma & Grandpa Johnson, Grammy, Morgan, Great Grandpa Spencer, Dalton, Zach, Favorite Aunt Candyce, Charelle, Kalen, Dustin, Kim L., Trae, Tristin, Alma, Cecil, Russ, Shelley, Trent, Alivia, Ethan, Derek, Kim T., Abby, Ian, Mom and Dad.

They got lots of great toys (Aqua Doodles, trucks, a bus, an airplane, cell phones, lots of animals, Doodle Pros, crayons, blocks, play dough, a basketball hoop, and so much more) that they love, and clothes that they needed so bad. They played with their lawn mowers while we were at the park. I guess they couldn't resist all the grass!

They also got two brand new kittens for their birthday. They were delivered to us that morning with bows on. They are sisters, and I picked them out for the boys shortly after they were born. (Kelly wasn't too happy about it. I conveniently forgot to tell him we were getting them. Oops!) So far it's been a little of a struggle maintaining the boys all the while trying to potty train two kittens. I hope it gets easier, or they might be finding new homes. We haven't named them yet so if you have any good suggestions, pass them on.

Thank you to everyone, for helping Kelly and I survive these first two years with the boys. I know that it's because of all your love, support and help that we've survived. We love you all and are so thankful to have you in our lives.

What A Ride

Landon's buddy Ethan has one of those old horses on springs that we all used to ride as kids. You remember the ones hooked onto springs, that you'd jump on and they'd rock back and forth and up and down, until you finally bucked yourself off because you got rockin so hard and fast. Remember those ones?

Well anyway, Landon loves Ethan's and rides it every chance he gets. I can't believe how great his proprioception is. Carter gets on it and hardly even moves. Landon on the other hand goes crazy and stays on. He's not yet bucked himself off of it, or lost his balance. It amazes me.

I love to see how happy he is when he's on it. His whole face lights up and he laughs and hysterically at himself. It makes me laugh!

Summerlicious

Summer isn't summer with out friends and Popsicle's. Alivia and Shelley bought all the kids Popsicle's from the Ice Cream Man that travels around our neighborhood all summer long.

The kids were so excited and all sat on the grass enjoying them, until someone saw a bug crawling along the ground. Of course at that point they all had to go and check it out.

After that excitement wore off it was on to the swing set, where they played for the rest of the day.

As Dr. Seuss said, "Today was great. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." I look forward to all the other ones. I love you boys!

We're in BIG Trouble...

Last week Kim, Abby & Ian came over to play. Kim and I were working on a scrapbook layout for our scrapbook club, and the kids were running around, playing with toys, and watching shows. It was great. Everyone was getting along, no one had been crying, it was a perfect play day. Or so I thought. I should have known that it was too good to be true.

Landon, Carter, and Abby, had been playing back in the boys room for a while. When all of a sudden Landon comes out and says, "Hi Mommy" with brown marker all over his face and feet. I immediately got up from the table and walked down the hall towards the bedrooms, knowing what I might find.

You see, I had used a brown marker a few days prior to write in a card, and left it on my night stand. Sure enough, I walk into my bedroom, and they've colored all over my bedspread, pillows, and themselves. I freaked, and I think I heard Kim's heart stop as she walked into the room behind me.

I surprisingly was pretty calm. Kim immediately felt bad, knowing that Abby had probably been involved. Don't get me wrong, I was upset... but for some strange reason at that point in time, I just thought to myself, it's ok. What's done is done.

Kim went and found the marker in the boys bedroom, where luckily they hadn't colored on anything. We put them all in Time Out, and proceeded to pull off my bead spread and the pillows to see if we could get it out. Kim scrubbed my pillow shams really good and it mostly came out of them. The bedspread however we tried and tried scrubbing, and it lightened the ink, but we couldn't get it completely out.

Landon in Time Out

Carter in Time Out

Abby in Time Out... It cracks me up that even

through she knew she was in trouble and in

Time Out she still cheesed it up for the camera.

I even called a dry cleaner in the area, and he was honest with me and said he could try and get it out, but there's a 90% chance that it wouldn't all come out. Especially because of the material it was made out of. So, we quit trying to scrub it out too.

Although, I was mad at the kids. I can't help but put it on my shoulders. Had I not left the marker on my night stand, this would have never happened. Maybe that's why I didn't freak out, who knows. I guess overall it was a good learning lesson for me, and I proved to myself, that I can stay calm even when I am super mad at the kids for doing something so bad.

Rugrats with new Hair Cuts

I decided to get the boys hair cut last Wednesday. I took them to my neighbor Tiffany Brown, and she did a fantastic job! (I would totally recommend her.) The boys were getting their birthday pictures taken on Thursday and their hair was out of control.

We got to her salon and Carter did not want to sit in the chair. Once I put him in it, he immediately started to cry. So Landon being brave took the first turn and was so good. He was a great big brother and set such a good example for Carter. After Landon was done, Carter sat in the chair without crying, and was good the rest of the time.

We got home and I gave them a cookie and some juice for being so good. This was the end product, cute hair, and messy faces and shirts.

Tubby Time

Tubby time at our house is something the boys absolutely love. They run to the bathroom door and stand eagerly at the side of the tub. Sometimes trying to jump in fully clothed. They love bubbles, playing with their toys, and especially pouring water on each other.

Landon is more comfortable in the water. He loves to lay down in it and thinks it's funny to put his ears under water. Carter on the other hand is a little more afraid. He doesn't really like water on his face and likes to lay in the water, just not put his ears in.

Landon

Carter

When it's time to get out, I always ask them if they want to be a ducky or a froggy. Most of the time Carter wants to be the ducky and Landon gets to be the froggy. They look so cute in their towels, with their little faces sticking out.

Ducky Carter

Froggy Landon

I love you boys! You make me smile all the time, and I am so lucky to be your mommy.

Our 1st trip up American Fork Canyon this year

Landon, Kelly & Carter

Ethan & Landon

Landon

Kim & Ian
The Johnson's & The Tolboe's

Our 1st trip up American Fork Canyon this year

The Johnson Family

Derek & Abby

Shelley

Abby

Kim

Our 1st trip up American Fork Canyon this year

Last Sunday after church we decided to get the Devey's and Tolboe's and ride up the canyon. Kelly's been itching to go camping for so long, and all it's done is rain. So when Sunday came and the weather was nice we decided a trip up to roast hot dogs and marshmallows would be great.

We all loaded up and headed on our way. The Tolboe's rode with us and it was a slightly tight fit, but we did it! Kelly decided to purchase a season pass, and was beaming with joy. We drove around looking for a spot, and got a little discouraged. At first we drove all the way up to the lake and didn't see anything. So we headed back down and a spot had opened up. Derek jumped out of the van and ran. Luckily he beat another group there that was headed for the same spot.

We unloaded and started a fire. The kids immediately went towards the gushing river, which made me a nervous wreck. There were lots of little rocks that they found and loved throwing them into the water. They were all really good and listened when we told them to they were getting too close. Which made me feel a little bit better.

We had hot dogs, and DJ salad, chips and drinks, and then for dessert we had smores. Not the traditional ones though. We used chocolate chip cookies and marshmallows instead. They were great, a little sticky, but that's to be expected. The kids loved them... dirt and all.

After we ate everyone went on a little walk over the bridge and up the mountain a little ways. The boys loved it. They ran around and picked up rocks and sticks. They're going to be just like their daddy, with a great love for the mountains.

When it started to get a little cold, we decided that we'd better head home. We cleaned up and the Devey's took off, and as they were driving away, I though to take a group picture. Sorry guys, I tried to stop you, but I was too late.

All of us had a great time, and can't wait to do it again.

Abby, Kim & Ian

Landon

Carter & Ian

Trent & Shelley

Ethan