I've been Tagged!

Basically I think this is a blogger game that my friend Christina incorporated me in by "tagging me." I hope this is an interesting read! Thanks Christina!! Also congratulations...the baby is close to coming!

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning

B. Each player answers the questions about themselves

C. At the end of the post, the player tags 4 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know they are tagged.

10 years ago I was: In my Senior year of High School counting down the days till I graduated! And getting ready to leave the nest to attend Brigham Young University! Man has it really been that long ago!

5 things on my to do list today:

1) Make Apple Pies(Yummy)

2) Host Midweek(playgroup)

3) Make sure Natalie potties(Yes, she is "potty trained" her words, I think she pretty much is since she has only peed once this past week and that was over night in her pull up!)

4) Blog: Check that off, I'm doing it right now!

5) Clean up after Midweek! We had a good turn out and lots of kids means lots of mess=me cleaning up!

Things I would do if I became a billionaire: Seriously that is a ton of money..what to do?...hmmm. Well depending on how the money was obtained, I would give 10% to tithing or put 10% of it towards other funds such as fast offering, missionary, temples etc. Then I would Sell my home and buy a beautiful mansion with a skyline view of Cincinnati! Then I would buy a plane and hire a pilot(Mike, I would totally hire you!) so I could take the kids anytime and visit their grandparents and other family. Not to mention being able to take vacations or fly family here to see us. I of course would invest it so I could maintain my billionaire status. Maybe buy a Gymboree franchise or two! I would let my husband retire so he can work with his hands making things like he loves to do in his free time. Our siblings would be helped out in different ways according to circumstance: Such as Genel getting a live in Nanny or two to help her with her triplets coming; we would buy houses for those without, help those without jobs with employment, and give generous amounts for them to invest or use as they see fit. Our fathers could finally retire, we would set them up how they would want! My mother-in-law could finally quit work and be able to visit her grandchildren whenever she wanted. And I would have my 8 children I want! Jeremy could not complain since we would have the financial means to take care of them!

3 of my bad habits:

1) Watching movies or TV till the cows come home!

2) Surfing the internet...doing nothing productive

3) Procrastination: seriously I'll have to do something about that...maybe tomorrow...

5 places I've lived:

1) Oregon (till 18)

2) Utah (for college)

3) New York & Puerto Rico (1 summer for work)

4) California(1 summer for work)

5) Kentucky (we say cincinnati but I must face reality!)

5 jobs I've had:

1) Carl's Jr.

2) Stevensons Geneology Center

3) Pinkerton Security Grave Yard Shift at Symantec

4) Joe Vera's Hostess/Waitress

5) Office Manager for Alarmtek

Something most people don't know about me: Seriously there are too many things to choose from...let me think...hmmm...okay this I can share without being judged too much: I day dream/dream about saving the world or being some sort of heroin that always makes things right, saves the day, while finding some sort of love interest! LOL, sounds really cheesy now that I've written it down. Don't worry, I'm not crazy, the guy usually always resembles Jeremy...honest...alrighty judge me if you must!! I will not give up my dreams!! Some day I will write them down, sell books and become a billionaire. Please refer to the question above about what I would do then!!

I tag Lisa, April, Holly, and Shawna.

Valentines Day

I just had to share this video of Natalie playing with her valentine present!!
By the way, Happy belated Valentines Day!

The Diaper Cake

So, I have always wanted to make a diaper cake. Today, after a little research and calls to my friend Heather, who is amazing at crafty things, Natalie and I made one.

Of course I took pictures and decided to share our beautiful creation with anyone interested. I was intending to add more stuff on it, such as a taggie blanket, a crinkler, baby lotion, onesies, socks, pacifier holder, tag block, tag ball, and burp cloths...but in the end I thought simple looked much nicer!

We will put the other things in a seperate gift and this can be the centerpiece at Jills Babyshower today!

I used a pack of size 1 diapers(44). Instead of rolling them I overlapped and wound them around a papertowel roll with string. In the middle I put desitin!

Once the cake was structured I wrapped it in tissue paper and decorated it with ribbon. I also made the round cardboard piece it was on prettier with pink paper.

Remembering stamps my mother gave me last christmas I pulled them out and stamped "princess" and "pretty in pink" around the bottom ribbon.

I added bows to cover the tap used and to add a little flare!

Natalie is my little helper! I pushed down the tissue into the roll with the desitin and now I am just waiting for when Heather comes to get me to put the Flower headband on the top! I will update tonight with a picture of the finished product!

Alexis' Birthday Party!! Woo hoo she's two!

Alexis blowing out candles

Heather Mike and Alexis

On wednesday for midweek we went over to the Erwin's house to celebrate Alexis' birthday. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast. It has caused me to reflect on Birthdays.

Considering as of late we have had a plethera of parties, I'm beginning to think we have too many friends with kids!! Just Kidding! We have had tons of fun going to John's, Spencer's, and Carter's parties! I am starting to feel the pressure to perform up to par as we approach Brayden's first birthday! Hopefully I can pull something off!

And just in case anyone cares; I am caught up in calling my family members on their birthdays and having natalie and I sing happy birthday to them!! Sorry for being late Mark, Kelly, and Isabella!

Enjoy the video and pictures of Alexis' party and some of the others!

Natalie, Ellie, and Alexis having fun.

John's Party at Chuck E Cheese in November

John eating cake

Natalie playing on one of the rides(they were given a cup of tokens to enjoy all the fun rides and games there).

Okay so Aunt Melanie was visiting at the time. But I didn't like any of the pictures of her and Brayden because she was using him to cover her...so here is another cute picture of Natalie!

Spencer's Party was in January at Todder Otterville but I forgot to bring my camera so I need to get pix's from Heather!

Carter's Birthday Party: Emily and Carter with his cake

Amber, Heather, and the kids!

Jackie, Kauti, and Erika with their little ones!

Natalie and Ellie enjoying their baseball cupcakes

Carter opening his gifts with all the eager kids waiting to attack whatever he opens!!

Girls will be girls!!

Natalie's wonderful Aunts helped to expand her dress up clothes from a few things to many new fun fairie wings, outfits, princess dresses and other essentials. And she loves it!! Who knew I could have such a girly girl!

Well, I thought I should include some fun pics to express my appreciation, and so others can see just how gosh darn cute she and her friend Ellie are when they dress up!

Natalie as Tinkerbell

Ellie as Sleeping Beauty w/wings!

In Memory of Grandma Mac

I took a few video clips of Natalie and Brayden with Grandma Mac originally for Jeremy since he couldn't be there. I thought I would share it with others who would enjoy seeing her beautiful smile once more.

I have two other videos but this one is taking so long that I will not be posting them. But I did want everyone to know that Natalie does end up hugging her! Also, the other one is her and Brayden...SO Adorable!!

We love you Grandma!!!

P.S. Video didn't load...I'll try later!! Still not working!!

Grandma receiving the flag at Grandpa's funeral

Grandma with the Flag

Jeremy, Natalie, and Brayden with Grandma Mac

Our Family with Grandma Mac

The holiday season is over!!

With all the anticipation leading up to the Christmas season, I find it unbelievable how fast it went by. To explain let me point out that we didn't get pictures taken, christmas cards sent(thanks for those who are on top of that-we enjoyed your letters!), gifts sent(sorry Trevor!), and did little to truly enjoy this Season to the fullest.

Growing up my family had tons of traditions set that we did every year. Christmas carol with a group of family friends in the back of a truck, decorating the christmas tree with our own ornaments, deliver christmas baskets to friends and family, enact the manger scene while dad reads the scriptures(although this one has become tedious as we all fight for who gets to be Mary, Jesus, and one year even an angel(sorry Lani!)), playing games and talking till our eyes could no longer stay open, opening up pajamas and cousin gifts christmas eve, and even to stay up all night christmas eve helping mom finish wrapping presents!

This year Jeremy and I were put to the test...we had Christmas here in Kentucky with just us and the kids and were given the task of helping to make there holiday season fun filled and meaningful! Daunting task for one who is used to others cooking, and planning the activities!!

We normally switch of going to each of our parents for the christmas season. This year we couldn't make it to the McRoberts because my brother Mike was getting married on the 28th of December in the Washington, D.C. Temple. We did see them in October for Grandpa Mac's funeral, and for thanksgiving(minus Jeremy) so we were able to see Grandma Mac before she passed away last week. We love you guys!!

I think we did a decent job of what we did with our children this season. When we came home from CA we were surprised to find the house all decked out with Christmas decorations. This was a surprise from Jeremy! He always does a great job(he even took it all down!). So Natalie helped me decorate the christmas tree while Brayden watched from the exersaucer. We also put a nativity in Natalies room and let her play with it, and explained what it represented. We kept in tradition by reinacting the Manger scene with our friends the Erwins who were nice enough to invite us over christmas eve, as well as carol to a family and brought them a meal. When home the kids opened pj's and one cousin gift and off to bed! I staid up finishing up things(such as wrapping the Hello Kitty backpack natalie had to have and we finally broke down and bought Christmas eve!).

Christmas day was fun filled with natalie handing out the presents and enjoying all the fun gifts we received. Thank you to all our family who spoiled us this christmas season!! But enough of my ramblings...I know you all are scrolling past this to see the pictures! So here they are...then I will post about my Brothers wedding!

Natalie and Brayden in the cute outfits Grandma McRoberts Made them(Note: cute smocking on Natalie's dress and the sleeves of Brayden's shirt have been fixed!)

First snow fall 12/5/2007

Natalie and Brayden in the Christmas outfits Grandma Bevans Bought them.

2nd Snow fall 12/14/2007

Jeremy and Natalie in a snow fight

Natalie choosing an easier target!

Brayden getting snow balled!

Sisterly hug after the fact!

Ward Christmas Party
Brayden's First Santa Pic

Natalie and Santa

Posing with Daddy and gifts from Santa
Mary and Joseph on their donkeys
Our Nativity

Christmas Morning in their matching pajamas