Soon...

This will be my feet soon...we are working towards pointe shoes...I am stoked!

Wish me luck (and a high tolerance for pain!)

Crazy8

I just loaded up on summer clothes for my kids...check it out! Crazy8 is a "child" company of "Gymboree." Their stuff is nice & the prices are good (especially the sale prices). Right now you can get 25% off using the code "C8Friend" or "C8Family" + get free shipping off $75 or more. I am all about shopping online - any time I can avoid dragging 4 kids around a store is a bonus for me!

Three Years

Today marks three years since my mother lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. Three LONG years - I miss her so much. I love this picture...this is right after Holly came home from the hospital and my parents were actually in the MTC at the time...but on her p-day my mom made sure to take some time out of packing and preparing to hold her newest grandchild. She loved her family so much - we were so lucky to have such an amazing Mom/Grandma!!! She must be doing some amazing things across the veil because she sure did amazing things here (and in my humble opinion she wasn't done yet!)

Mareid Black Horton

More fun for Mark

Friday and Saturday (while Ammon, Holly, and I were all sick incidentally) Mark and the young men headed down to Goblin Valley for a camping, hiking, and biking trip. Sometimes I wonder if I knew what I was saying when I agreed to support Mark in his calling as YM president!!! I'll get back to you on that one in another month. That's how long I figure it will be before I can get out of the house. Each child gets sick and it takes a week to get better...4 kids = 4 weeks. Ugh.

Very Ceremonial

Last weekend we were fortunate to be able to go to SLC to hear our good friend (and distant relative) Jan Bigler perform an Organ Recital. Her playing was very impressive, and what made it even more inspiring was the setting. We were in a Presbyterian chapel surrounded by stained glass windows, a wood-beam ceiling, and a massive organ up front. I admit I was a little nervous when we walked in and we were the only ones with little kids in the audience, but with a little bribery from some swedish fish they behaved themselves and became more cultured at the same time! Thanks for the invite Jan - it was fun to see you and we loved your music!

Mixed Emotions

I tried to trim this clip and only upload the essential part...but I was having issues with Movie Maker. Anyway...It's Official! Mark's parents have received their mission call. Five more months until they leave for the Orient. Right now I have very mixed feelings about this. I know it is right, and I know they will be blessed, and I know it's where they are needed...I just will miss them so much! I am so lucky to have such great in-laws. I'm especially grateful for his Mom who treats me like one of her own when I miss my own mom so much. I guess I'm hoping the blessings will make it to our little family too because we are giving up some great grandparents for 18 months!

Mark said we should save our pennies and visit them over there...Yeah right! I'll be glad just to make it to Disneyland later this year :)

Cute little guy

So Ammon isn't walking yet (which I am sooo OK with), and you can tell in this little video clip he's perfectly happy to sit down on the job! I love his dancing moves!

Mark's Triathlon

I'm very proud of Mark - he completed the Blue Mountain Triathlon last weekend! We drove down to Monticello (exciting, right?) Friday night, he raced Saturday morning, and we drove back home Saturday afternoon. It was a whirlwind trip (if you can call 9 hours in the car a whirlwind)! I was sad it wasn't nicer weather...I pretty much froze while he was racing. I had to sit in the car because it was too cold and windy to be outside. I did brave it to try and catch a few pics / videos, but other than that I was glad I had my iPod to keep me company. The race was xx skiing, mountain biking (his best & favorite event) and running. Way to go honey! Oh I should at least mention that it was fun to stop in Moab for dinner - we tried Eddie McStiff's and enjoyed it very much. AND I am grateful that we had so much one on one time - that IS rare these days. When he asked me if I would go and support him again, I said "ask me later." I think that's still my answer for now!

The Finish Line:

A great Valentines!

We had a really fun weekend! Our friend's Paul & Tiffany and their girls Addie & Sydney came down from Logan and stayed with us.

We all went to the Draper Temple open house Friday night. It was beautiful, and the best part was walking through with my kids & seeing it through their eyes. My girls especially liked the Brides' Dressing Room, of course! Josh & Ammon were mesmerized by the beautiful chandeliers. Then we came home and put all the kids to bed so the adults could stay up late, eat yummy valentine treats, and play games. I forgot to take a picture (this photo came with the recipe), but I made this chocolate fruit tart. Mine actually had strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and kiwi. It was so pretty and tasted amazing (if I do say so myself)!Mark & Paul really spoiled Tiff and me on Saturday! They made us a delicious breakfast of crepes & pumpkin waffles, then sent us off to get massages (aaaaahhhhhhh!)I came home to a beautiful boquet of long-stem red roses & pink carnations from Mark (my favorite!) Wow! Then they swept us off to lunch at the Olive Garden...YUM-O! I had this shrimp dish that was to die for...along with a super sour & delicious Margarita. Mmmmm!

Thank you Mark for a wonderful day! I felt incredibly pampered and very loved. I love you!

This is Ammon Saturday night. I put a chair in front of my PC so he would stop pushing buttons...he is frustrated and still trying to get to it! I love his expression in this photo :)

And last but not least, I saw a beautiful, huge male pheasant almost exactly like this in my backyard this morning! We have a bird feeder out there and he must have been picking at the seeds that fell on the ground. I was able to get within about 3 feet of him. I made eye contact but as soon as I lifted my camera he flew off! What a treat!

Why my legs hurt!

So I've been back to ballet class for about four months now...feeling pretty confident and some-what in shape...and then I had to go and do this to myself! I did this 50-minute workout for the first time this morning and WOW...it was awesome! I am already getting sore, which makes me really nervous for how I will feel when I wake up tomorrow! I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a little ballet experience...but get ready to have your lower body worked over! btw this is on sale at Amazon for only $6.99 right now