"How I met your mother" FLASHBACK

I realized that having a blog is great. It keeps a great journal of everything going on now, but isn't so great for the 4 1/2 years from now back until I met Matt. I have nothing written down from how we met, dating, engaged, and early marriage (pre-kids). And that just stinks, so I have decided to make it a goal to try to once a week write about one thing and document it that way. I am starting today because, really, how often can you post on February 29th. Oh and some pictures may be seen more than others. We were having to much fun together dating that we only have a few pictures of us.


Matt and I met at our University of Utah singles ward (I think it was the 15th ward) at the end of the 2003 summer. I was sitting in the back of church with my roommates and our friend Levi doing what me and my girls did best. We were checking out the guys in the ward and Levi was giving us the scoop. I had a guy that I was already interested in and so decided to sit this round out and actually listen to the meeting. While they were pointing out guys I was glancing around to see who was new in the ward and trying to come up with my own way to pass the time (short attention span). I glanced over and saw this guy sitting with a few other girls and had no clue who he was. So I decided to ask Levi. He was stumped, said he didn't know and asked if I liked him. In a sarcastic response I said, "Of course Levi, I'm going to marry that guy." (Who knew I could tell the future) That made Levi even more interested to find out who that guy was.

Later that I night I saw Matt at ward prayer and introduced myself, he talked to me for a while and then I decided to leave so I could play a little hard to get. Over the course of a couple weeks I would invite Matt to go to a bunch of things in a group and I always was told, "I can't, I have school, maybe some other time." I'm sorry, but a girl can only take so much rejection. I figured that I had my other guy option still available and didn't need to waste my time on Matt. The day after I came to that resolution was Sunday, when I walked into Sacrament meeting Matt waved for me to come over and sit by him. I was shocked. This guy never seemed interested, and now when I decide to forget him he shows a little interest back? So weird. I sat down by him and after a lot of playful bantering, I asked him what he would be making me for dinner that night. I basically just invited myself over for dinner with no hint on his part. He said that I would have to find out but showing up at 5. Once again shocked. Who knew you could invite yourself over and a guy would say okay. I should have used that idea in college. Matt made me steak and potatoes and we went to a fireside. From there we just started hanging out almost every night for some reason or another (it was never planned.)

Matt and Brynn saga to be continued . . . . . next week.

BABY Fever

I learned something new about Eston yesterday. I have known for a while that he thinks babies are fun, because he will rock them in their car seats, but I did not know that
Eston is a baby hog.

We went to visit my friend Sarah and her kids today. Sarah had her baby about 6 weeks ago, but due to my children being sick and then passing the illness on to Matt and I, we have stayed away from visiting. Yesterday was our day to finally go and see Sarah, Sammie's friend Holden, and their new baby Claire. When we got there Sammie went straight to Holden and picked up playing where they left off about 2 months ago. Eston started to follow, UNTIL, he spotted Claire laying on the couch. I have never seen that boy so excited. This even beats the time when he got to wear Sammie's dress and got his new costume. He just about jumped out of his skin he could hardly stand it. I went over to hold her and he just kept eyeing her and mumbling stuff to me about her. Eventually I asked him if he wanted to hold her and he sat right next to me. The baby was barely in his arms before he started hugging her, cuddling with her, and talking to her (all gently and soft). My friend was laughing at how intensely Eston was watching her. After a while I took her from him and told him to go play. Then I asked Sammie if she wanted to hold her and before Sammie could even get near the couch, Eston had pushed her and taken her place next to me for another turn. He probably held Claire about 5 times and every time he acted like it was the first.

Sammie was finally ableto hold Claire (that is with the help of Sarah holding Eston at bay).

Now I just have to break it to Eston that he won't be getting his own for quite sometime. I figure that my friends and neighbors can just keep him in supply of his baby fix.

It was a zoo at the ZOO!!!

On Wednesday I decided, along with a few friends, to take the my kids and Salote (a cute girl I get to watch) to the Zoo. I usually take my kids once a week to the zoo when it starts to warm up. So this was our first time since last fall. It was free Zoo day and there were a lot of people there. It was quite the trip.

Eston loved the animals and would make all the sounds for me whenever he saw the correlating animal. His eyes just lit up. It was so fun to see his reaction this time, since he is old enough to start taking it all in. I have discovered that a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a 1 year old make for an interesting combination. Salote (3) wanted to be with all her friends and constantly was running back and forth between me and the rest of the group that was strung out. She is a good girl and would have been fine if I wasn't trying to keep my eye also on our little tour guide, Sammie (2), who kept straggling and trying to direct everyone. According to Sammie there are GORILLA's all over the zoo and they come right after the animal we are currently looking at. Eston (1) was pretty good until he decided that he wanted to be like all the other kids and walk. That was were my own personal zoo came into play. I even got my first official sunburn of the year. (It's not that hard for me to get sunburned.)

Needless to say that we made it through the event and now I know what to do next time.

Pay Back is Awesome!!

Last night Matt had to fix something with masking tape, I left him in the front room with the kids while I did some dishes and walked out to find this. It was a little scary how good at using the tape they were.

Then they informed me that it was my turn so of course I sat down. I couldn't let Matt have all the fun.

It is funny sometimes to see what fun $3.50 will provide you with.

Growing Pains part 2!!!

There was a request from Nana that we post pictures of Eston in his Superman costume. I think she thought that I would need to amend it, with manly pictures. Sammie had her friend Salote over today and we decided to have a princess/superhero day. Every time Salote comes over we have to get out the princess dresses. So, now you can see why Eston needed his own boy costume. He was feeling left out. The other side of the costume is batman.

As for the other issue of Eston somersaulting out of his crib, we took the side off and made it into a little bed. We put the mattress that we use for Salote's naps next to him on the floor and used that to cushion his falls. The first night he cried for about 15 minutes and since he goes in and gets into his bed and just lays there. We still are trying to put both kids down at the same time once again. It was so easy before, they would go in and lay down awake and go to bed with no talking or fussing. But, since Eston's new found freedom, he just wants to go and tease her while she lays in bed. I guess everything can't be that easy. Eston is excited that he can come out on his own in the morning instead of having to wait for Matt or I.

Next battle is his pacifier. He only gets it at nap time and bed time, and gives it up every time after, but in a couple weeks we will be having him give it up all together.

Going Private!!

After a lot of thought and consideration Matt and I have decided to take our blog private. Anyone that is interested in viewing our funny moments, please reply to this post or e-mail me your info. I might need some of your e-mails. I don't know exactly how this works yet. I'll wait about a week or so. Thanks

Blackmail is going to be sweet!!!

Matt is going to kill me, but why not have a little fun. . . this is mostly for my friend Gwen, but also for everyone else's viewing pleasure. I couldn't figure out why her boy Wyatt was so fascinated in wearing his sisters clothes and dress ups. I don't think I realized the power that comes with being a big sister. Eston is around Sammie and her girlfriends all day. Even if I am babysitting someone his age it is usually a girl. With that comes frills, dresses, crowns, royalties, pretties, baking, tea parties, babies, and any other girly things that one can think of. It's crazy.

Eston was surrounded by girls today. With all of the above girl stuff going on. I don't know if it was just male curiosity or Sammie's influence, but Eston brought to me one of Sammie's dresses and wanted me to put it on. My own curiosity got the better of me. I did and he was so happy it was scary.

Matt came out and just rolled his eyes and told Eston to come over so Matt could take it off. Eston let Matt know that the dress was staying. Matt just left to his meeting and told Eston that the second he got home they needed guy time and would be playing a little Basketball. So Gwen, I now can see your dilemma. All I can say is I need to finish making my own superhero costume so that Eston can have something manly to run around in while playing with the girls.

Growing Pains!!!

CAUTION: YOU TOO MAY AGE WHILE READING THIS.
It is a little long.

When did my kids decide that they could start doing things on their own and that it was okay to grow up? They are both under the age of 3, but I am sadly realizing how fast they grow. As of an hour ago, Eston has learned how to climb out of his crib. Not so much a climb as it is a roll. He pretty much puts all his weight at the top of the crib and then leans forward doing a somersault over the rail and down. Luckily we have Sammie's bed right next to his crib. (This is because we had water problem in their room where the bed usually sits.) Now Sammie's bed has to stay there until we can come up with a solution. p.s. you will notice that Blue Baby has returned to her rightful place on top of Sammie's bed.

Although Sammie has adopted Blue Baby back into her life, she has come to the realization that it is fun to go places without MOM!! The other night my sister called and asked if we wanted to go see the movie Enchanted with her. I went to ask Sammie and she told me that I could not go and had to stay home. (Well, there you have it.) So her and Aunt Lindsay went out on a date. Sammie (without my knowledge) went into her room and put on her swimsuit skirt, her church shoes, and a pair of tights that she outgrow about 8 months ago, and came out exclaiming that she had made herself pretty, that I needed to make her hair like a princesses and that she was ready to go. We still had 30 minutes till Lindsay got there.

Eston had to jump into her picture(notice his long hair, this will come back shortly). Sammie looks a little like Maren Quist (a cousin, sort of) in this pic, but that's just my opinion. The report after the movie from Sammie was that it was great and she and Lindsay needed more alone time together. Apparently Mom is going to have to take Sammie on her own date.


For the last week Matt and I had talked about giving Eston a haircut. His hair was getting long in the back and was starting to grow a mullet. So on Saturday morning Matt took Eston into the bathroom to help him out. If I had known that a haircut would make Eston look several months older than he already did, I would have kept the mullet.

You can see all of Eston's hair sitting on the counter. It looks darker there than when it is on his head. Eston is a toe head (white-blonde hair) so on his head you really can't tell how much hair he has unless you are close to him. It's gone. He just seems like a little boy now and no longer a baby. Oh well, it had to happen eventually. Eston is mad because we won't let him play with his scrap hair.

So really this all happened with in a week. What will happen next? I shudder to find out.

Valentines Baby!!!

I love my Baby!!! Just when I think he can't be any more wonderful he figures out another way to surprise me. Thanks Matt. I love you and your little toe too!!!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

First Day of School

Yesterday was Sammie's first day of school. A group of five of us got together and decided to start a preschool for our girls that we would teach. It is great when you have a group of friends that are great when it comes to wrestling 5 little girls. The reasons for starting were simple 1) because we thought the girls could benefit from it 2) to help each other save loads of money, C) to be able to focus and have one on one time with our younger children, and Z) to be able to just unwind from kids. Even though I still have Eston at home it is so a huge difference in my day. I have heard many people say that it was really hard sending their first child off to school because it means that they are growing up. NOT ME. I love her to death, but I have been looking forward to this day since it was planned out. I was able to get so much junk done. Anyway there are five girls between 3 and 2 and they love seeing each other every week and look forward to their time together.

Every parent should do something like this if they can. It is amazing.

The SNOW MAN's trip to BEAR LAKE!!!

I did it. YES, I have officially participated in making my first snowman. ( Sammie does not normally wear safety helmets when making snowmen, this was left over from another activity)


During our trip to Bear Lake, we went outside and with the help of my family we made a snowman. Here is my first snowman ( i have to say it is a lot funner, but more time consuming than just drawing a snowman in the ground). . .

Okay, now that I have that of my chest I can start from the beginning. We headed up to go to Bear Lake on Thursday. Once we got into Brigham City, we found out that Logan canyon was closed till morning. Since I have a deep love for hotel rooms (and I am lazy), we drove to Logan and stayed the night in a hotel room., instead of driving an hour home. The nest morning the roads were clear so we were able to head out. It was a nice drive and a short trip since we were able to break it up between two days (it's not bad to drive all at once either)

We spent some time out playing in the snow. We made a snowman, some people made a snow fort. We took the kids sledding on a sled attached to the back of the snowmobiles. Eston wasn't too sure about any of this, but Sammie loved it.

Matt even tried to take both kids snowmobiling in the backyard together. That lasted about a second, but it was a good effort on his part. Sammie was the only one to really go snowmobiling (that would be the reason for the helmet in the top snowman picture). . .

We also decided to do the dirty messy crafts that I am not daring enough to do in my own home (due to me cleanfreak ways) We did some pudding painting. Sammie wasn't liking it because it made her hands dirty and why would we want to do that (she is turning into me). Eston was all but too happy to go for it. His aunt Lindsay helped him and this was the finished product. He some how managed to get even more on his face and neck, and hands, and everywhere else within the 3 minutes between when I took this picture and when we had finished.

It was nice to be able to get a break from being cooped up inside because of the snow. We had a birthday party for both of my parents, since there birthdays are about 2 weeks a part and had lots of junk food. We had a great time. I think this vacation is one of the more relaxing and easiest ones I have been on in a long time. It was great because I didn't have to watch my kids every single second of the day. They were able to just play and roam freely throughout the cabin and hardly fought at all with their cousin (Jake) or each other. We had no cell phone service, no internet, no appointments or obligations to attend to. It was beautiful. I look forward to it next time.

like mother....like son!!!!

I was scanning some slides in today for my parents and trying to get everything digitized for them when I came across this lovely picture of me (age 17 months). . .

Then about 20 minutes later my friend sent some pictures of Eston that she took the day before at her home. And this is what I got of Eston (age 17 months) . . .



Thank heavens for good friends who let me kids get messy. I love it. I am too much (for my own good) of a clean freak. I'm glad my kids get these experiences somewhere. She also took pics of Sammie, but apparently she can eat Spaghetti without smearing a drop.

I have to put at least one pic in of my girl.