Learn something new everyday...

We live in a beautiful area with lots of farms, horses, and cows. We were driving through them today when I saw about 10-12 horses running totally fast through some big puddles and this was my conversation with Brooklyn:

Me: Whoa, Brooklyn look at those horses running.

Brooklyn: Wow! They are running super fast and splashing a lot!

Me: Oh look, now they are all in a straight line walking right behind each other.

Brooklyn: Yeah, it's like they are in a parade.

Me: That is crazy!

Brooklyn: Yeah! That is way crazy! I didn't know horses have brains!

Happy Spring?

From all of us in bright and sunny Utah!

The Simple Life

We had the great opportunity to head up to Idaho for quick weekend getaway. Tim's brother, Jon, and his family met us in Mink Creek to celebrate little Emma's first birthday. My sister-in-law, Peggy is from Mink Creek and her family seriously lives in the middle of nowhere up this dirt road into a little canyon and their land goes on forever and ever as far as you can see. There was still quite a bit of snow up there, but it was such a warm day so we spent all of our time outdoors. I really wish I would have taken more pictures because it really was incredible. I don't even know how to describe it. There is a lot of history up that little canyon because their family has been there for generations.

This hill was up behind their house. The pictures don't do the beauty or the steepness of this hill justice. We drove the 4-wheeler up the mountain and then Tim and the kids sledded all the way down to where the little river is along the road at the very bottom of the hill. It was seriously huge!

See where the tracks stop? That's where the hill really drops steep!

This is some of their beautiful land!

Tallan would not want to get off the 4-wheeler. We took quite a few rides exploring the canyon and when he woke up this morning in his own bed the first thing he asked for was to go on the 4-wheeler. I told him if he will stop wearing diapers and be a big boy then he can have his own 4-wheeler. I said it out of frustration so I hope he doesn't remember when the time actually comes!

The boys were shooting clay pigeons and after much convincing, we decided not to let the boys show us up.

I may not look the part, but I shot the target!


Peggy and I had a lot of fun trying to make 2 cakes for Emma before we finally gave up and ordered one from the local market.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

They really live the simple life up in Mink Crik (I can talk like them too) and I loved it almost as much as my kids. I can't wait to go back and do it all again!

Welcome Home Elder Ehorn!

After two long years, my little brother is finally home from his 2 year mission in the Philippines. We had such a great reunion spending the weekend together hanging out and hearing all of his great stories. Joel was an amazing missionary and I'm so proud of his hard work and service. He truly loves the people he served and I know he bettered the lives of so many people. He gave an amazing homecoming talk on Sunday and there was not a dry eye in the congregation. We got some family pictures done in my mom's backyard by the amazing Dion Seneca. Check out her blog to see how talented she is. Here is a preview of the pictures she took for us!

The whole fam!

Siblings

Joel and Mom

He didn't waste any time getting back into the swing of things and started school already at Dixie. Now we need to find him a wife! Any takers?

More pictures of the fun weekend coming soon!

Tim had a birthday!

Tim's birthday was coming up and we had a whole night of fun planned. See, we have this babysitting swap thing going on with two other families in the ward where we watch all 8 kids (ages 5,4,3,2,2,1,8 m and 6 m) one night and then they each take a night so we get 2 date nights a month where we don't have to pay a babysitter. It's awesome! Anyway, we had the kids all taken care of and had planned to go out to a nice dinner with the our friends, the Shultz'. The big day came and all of a sudden around 11am Tallan started crying that his ears hurt. Uh oh! He was whining and grumpy all day so we had to cancel our plans. We still took Brooklyn over to the babysitter and we took Tallan and Keslie out with us to find a movie. Tallan was really mellow at this time so we thought we would try and go get some dinner. We ordered our food and a few seconds after our soup came out, Tallan leaned under the table and started throwing up! With no warning! This is not unusal for Tallan because he's been throwing up since he was born as most of you may know, but it's never happened in a restaurant before! We asked for our food to go and left a big tip. Sorry! So, Tim's birthday was a real bummer, but the next day we had Tim's parents, aunt and uncle, and cousins over for dinner and cake and ice cream and it was so yummy that is almost made up for the day before!

(The recipe for the cake will be on my food blog in the next week or so for those interested)

Happy birthday, Tim! We love you so much and couldn't get through a day without you. Thanks for all you do for our family! You are the best!

Party with The Halls

Our good friends and ex-neighbors came to town to finalize the adoption of their beautiful baby girl, Paisley. I had to work that day and the only way I could get them to stay an extra night with us was to have a party for them at our house. It was a win-win situation because I love having parties anyway. Amber and I made a lot of really good food, and The Halls were able to see some old friends from the ward. As an added bonus we stayed up way too late playing the train game, eating more food, and talking, just like old times.

Sweet baby Paisley. Isn't she beautiful!

We miss you, Treycen!

Becky B, Amber, and me with our baby girls!

Adam and some of the YW. He's such a nerd!

You know, Halls, your house is still right next door and still available. You really should just come back. Please come back!

Fieldtrip to the Fire Station

For one reason or another, Brooklyn has missed out on the trips to the fire station for the past 2 years of preschool. This past weekend we were lucky and got our own personal tour though because her good friend, Sydney, has a firefighter for a dad. Fireman Shultz invited us to come up and hang at the firestation for an afternoon and we had so much fun!

Tallan was the only one who would put the helmet on and it was so heavy he could hardly hold his head up.

The kids spent the whole time making this stretcher go up and down while they were sitting on it. They even wore out the whole battery! I think the entertainment would be worth the investment in getting my own!
Tallan got hooked up to the heart monitor and we even got a print out of his heart beat!

They were good little students in the ambulance!

Thanks, Shultzy!

My First Wedding!

Check out the post on my food blog to see how my first wedding cake turned out!

Where does the time go?

I'm going to repeat the words of my sister and say "I suck at blogging"! I really do though! You would think that this past two months I have been absent in the blogging world meant that I have been able to spend lots of quality time with my kids who are all healthy and happy, my house is spotless with all the past blogging time I have now spent cleaning, I have lots of yummy dinners and treats on my food blog, and I have solved world peace. Probably none of the above are true though. It is like I have blinked and two months have gone by. I don't even have any pictures! But, here's as much as I can remember...

We spent Thanksgiving in Gilbert with my sister's family and my mom and Brian. SO fun! Did lots of shopping and eating. Spent way too much time on a 2000 piece puzzle of Las Vegas. Who knew it could take 6 adults their full attention while 6 kids were neglected for hours on end to complete the darn thing. Oh wait, I forgot it took us twice as long because my little angel boy, Tallan, pulled it off the table in one of his fits of rage. But it was fun nonetheless. Did I mention my sister and I ate a dozen Sprinkles cupcakes single-handedly? We vote that Strawberry is the best! (Jenn, I still need pictures from that week!) Thanks for a super fun week as always!

After a 12 hour drive home, I was ready to get the Christmas tree out and decorated, laundry done, and ready for the week. Tim moved his office home and we swapped places. I started back to work full time while he works from home/takes care of the kids. We switch after my shift is over and he goes into his office while I'm home. As hard as it is for me to be away from the kids, you do what you have to do. I was able to be a stay-at-home mom for 4 months, and now we are lucky we both have jobs with good insurance.

Here are a few of the fun things we did during the Holidays though...

Decorated gingerbread houses



Drove through the Festival of Lights at Thanksgiving Point with the Shultz's. (The kids took the pictures so this is what we get from that)


We had a great Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Flinders. They had a sleepover on Christmas Eve and we watched a movie about Christ's birth, had treats, read Christmas stories, and got cookies and carrots all ready for Santa and his reindeer. Tim woke us all up to open presents before 7am so yes, it is still dark outside.


We have gotten a TON of snow already this year which makes for a lot of fun being pulled around the neighborhood on sleds by the 4-wheelers. The dads and kids have spent hours doing that.


Brooklyn and Tim also went skiing up at Alta and Brooklyn got some awesome war wounds from a fall on her face to prove it.


Tallan wanted his picture taken too, but only appropriate since I gave him a haircut this morning and really messed up, so he doesn't have much hair left. Whoops!


And I can't forget Keslie. She is almost 8 months and I can't believe it. She hates baby food but will eat anything we are eating for dinner. She get her first tooth finally and survived me pulling her elbow out of it's socket and getting it put back in place. She is taking her time with mobility which works out great for me. She is such a sweet little girl though and we just love her like crazy!

We have loved all the time we have spent with family and friends. It's been a non-stop party for about 3 weeks now but we are ready for whatever is closest to normal around here.

Here's to a great '09 and being better at taking pictures and blogging!

happenings...

The snow is here...

at least the kids like it.


Keslie hit her 6 month mark.




Is she not the cutest, happiest, baldest girl you have ever seen?

Brooklyn loves being twins with Keslie...

...and Tallan is still a monkey!