Austin and Carrie!!!

I had the AWESOME opportunity a few weeks ago to go down to Austin Texas to visit one of my very best friends, Karine, and her family. I have missed them so much since they moved, and I was very excited to be able to spend a few days catching up and having fun with the family. And my twinner definitely didn't disappoint! We had an absolute blast! It was like old times....the two of us just being constantly silly and getting into trouble for being too loud and obnoxious. I loved every minute!! :)

 One of the highlights of the week....CARRIE UNDERWOOD! We went to her concert in Austin while I was there and we ended up with second row seats!!! I can't even describe how amazing the whole experience was! Carrie is an absolute amazing performer. She sang all of our favorites, including the ones on her new album. She is so talented, and seems like such a top notch person as well. We had an unbelievable time!!!!

The week was amazing. Jumping on the trampoline with the kiddos, talking nightly walks with my bestie catching up, laughing hysterically at the tiniest little thing, eating a lot more then we should have been allowed, and just overall silliness! It was fantastic!!!!

Love you Kariners! I miss you already!!!!! :)

Links to the Past

Everyone knows I have been up to my ears in Family History lately. And though that doesn't sound like a ton of fun, let me tell you....IT IS!! :) I have been having a blast. Especially when I find some amazing links or similarities. I absolutely love it. 

The other day we got a fabulous gift from my grandmother. She gave Emery a quilt that my great-grandmother made, her mother, my great-grandma Johnson. I had to take a picture of her on it, to capture the moment. A quilt made in the 50's or 60's, stays in the family for over 50 years, and eventually passed down to her great-great-granddaughter.

I am in love with all of this!!!!!! :)

A Family That Plays (and works!) Together...

STAYS TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!! :)

I absolutely love having fun, and working alongside, my little family! And I definitely can't resist these little faces when they are smiling or being silly. They are always so willing to help as well! :)

Love This Little Face

How can you resist this????? :)

Mr. Whistlers

The boys just learned how to whistle a few weeks ago. Not sure how this first came about, but it is here to stay! Since they figured it out, both have not been able to stop! :) I honestly hear whistling for a few hours a day. Hilarious! Most of the time it is the theme to Robin Hood, but occasionally I hear the Star Spangled Banner or another theme to a Disney show. It really is adorable. Love these two little men! They get so excited about these things!!

Our Big 2 Year Old

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY TO OUR LITTLE MISS EMERY!!!!!

I am honestly having a little bit of trouble thinking that she is already two years old. Time goes by WAY too fast, especially when you want it to slow down, when you want to savor every little moment. Somehow it rides on. Our adorable Skittles just turned 2 last week. She is a sassy, feisty, independent, adorable, kind and considerate little girl. She is a baby no longer, we are on to full on toddler stage now! :)

Little Miss E has certainly come into her own over the past year. She is super smart and wants to repeat any words that I, or Teage, or her brothers say. She also wants to repeat pretty much every action she sees, including flinging herself down a big slide, etc. :) This little girl is already trying to say her ABC's, can count to 13 with no mistakes and then skips a few to get to 20. :) She knows that she is funny and always tries to say things to make us laugh, like "Oh yeah baby!!!" She can put together puzzles with hardly any help, can put her shapes in the right place, and never misses a single thing. I have to be careful about what I say around this girl, because she is not going to forget anything! :) She also loves to sing. It is so adorable to hear her singing to her stuffed animals at night when she is supposed to be going to sleep. She will also ask me to sing something to her and start singing along with me. She can already say 3-4 (and sometimes more) word sentences as well. Smart girl! :)

Emery is so much fun. She loves playing with her brothers and always wants to be a part of the action. She hardly ever wants to sleep for fear that she will miss something (I know, I know....sounds like someone else we know!) :). And though she is outgoing and independent constantly at home, she still has a big fear of strangers, and even people she knows but isn't around a lot. She still wants to be with me most of the time, and only feels truly comfortable with all of her family is home. She actually does get a little anxious if she has to go to bed and her whole family is not at home. 

Miss E still loves water. I told her WEEKS ago that we were going to start swim lessons soon, and she reminds me just about every day. "Mommy....lessons?" "Swim suit!" She is so excited. If I want to get her to do just about anything, all I have to do is promise her a bath and she will most likely go along with it! :)

We all just adore this curious and fun girl. The boys are so gentle and patient with her, she can do no wrong in the eyes of her Daddy, and of course she is my little buddy and I absolutely love being with her.

Here are some pictures that I took of her the other day. This girl is hilarious....I couldn't get a single picture of her actually smiling nicely at me because every time I tell her to smile she gives me this cheesy crazy grin. Oh boy.....:) WE LOVE YOU EMERY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

Sewing Machine! :)

A few months ago I started to learn how to sew. It is something I have always wanted to do, and now I am! Well...a little bit anyway! :) 

Lately I have been finding really good deals at Goodwill, fixing them up or changing them in some way, and trying to make them a little more fashionable. I will never win any fashion contests, but I am trying hard and having some fun while I am at it! And I always love a fabulous deal!

These were my latest finds....both of these dresses I found at Goodwill for $1.99 each. The gray one I shortened and added some accessories. The pink one I added a  black layer on the bottom to lengthen a bit, and make a little color blocking. I have also changed a hideous pair of trousers into a polka dot skirt which was really fun. 

I can't wait to find some more treasures to fix up!!!!

9 Years

Teage and I had a pretty low-key anniversary this year, though it was still a ton of fun. Instead of going out, we just had a special dinner at home with our kiddos to celebrate 9 years of marriage. Teage bought all of our favorites.....crab legs, hawaiian fruit, and I made my yummy crustinis. It was an amazing night!!!!!!!!

Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband!!!! Love you babe!

The Wonderful Mrs. West!

Much more about the end of the kindergarten year later, but here are a few adorable pictures I took in the classroom yesterday. What an amazing teacher the boys had this year!!!!!! Mrs. West is AMAZING!!!