No more fairy princesses.

It's hard to believe that it will be 6 years this October, that we built our home.
Mackenzie was 4 and Delanie was just bearly 2.

The both of them wanted the most girly room with lots of pink and purple and fairy princesses.
We had Auntie Lauren paint a mural on the wall, with two special princesses with the likeness of Lanie and Kenzie.
The girls loved their room.
BUT...

...As time goes by and as little girls turn into older girls, trends and likes change.

The girls have been asking if we could do something different to their room. 1. Bye Bye purple walls.

2. Lots of painter's tape is needed for this new wall.

(***Heads up-This part by far was the least amount of fun and was very time consuming. Don't get me started on Fieldstone's building and accuracy.)

3. Hello color. Bright color may I add.

4. With a little spray paint, these DI frames look fresh and new. Love them.

Drum roll please............

Ta-Da!!!
A new room for the girls.
It took a lot of late nights, but together Dan and I are finally finished.

(I have to admit, I am pretty pleased on how it turned out. The blue walls really make the white accent pieces pop.)
Mackenzie, while hugging us, told us, just how much she likes her room and just how happy it makes her.

It has to!

With all those bright cheery colors, you can't help but to be happy.

I am glad that you girls love your new room...

...now keep it clean and picked up. ;)

Here's to another 6 years (or longer.) on not having a paint the girl's room again.

Project one done.

Next project includes BLACK paint.

Stay tuned.

The Pressure.

Being a twin can be a good thing and a bad thing:

Having someone with you all the time; never alone, always having a friend.

(that can go both way; either good or bad, depending on the mood of either one of C&C)

Also, having a twin can add extra pressure... a pressure to do the same things as one another.

So, neither Dan or I were surprised to see Cassie wanting her training wheels off of her bike and wanted to ride a "big girl" bike.

A few falls and a couple of scraped knees and trying to get the balance figured out, Cassie finally is riding without training wheels.

So, now we are a training wheel free zone at our house; almost as big and exciting as the day we became a diaper free zone...

I said "ALMOST."

But being training wheel free is a day to celebrate.

Way to go Cassie!

Seeing is Believing...

Yes, I am really kissing a golf driver.

Another scary truth...

...that driver is MINE.

Who would have ever thought that I would have my very own set of clubs.

Dan has been trying now for pretty much our entire marriage for me to join him on the course...

...golf is not me...or I thought. So, the other night on our date, Dan finally got his wish.

I don't know what finally made me say "yes" or should I say "okay," maybe it was a full moon or pigs were flying high.

Either way, it was like Dan had won the lottery. He was so excited.

I keep reminding him that this was totally his idea and one day he might regret me on the green with him.

So, I have to humble myself to allow Dan to teach me just how to golf.

(I think that might be one of the hardest things for me to do. I don't allow myself to put myself in a situation to be laughed at. I hate to fail. I don't like to be wrong. Hence why I haven't golfed before this point.)

So, how am I going to get better...by actually going out to the course.

My kids couldn't be more excited to have their mom out there with them as well.

We took the whole family out to Talons Cove and got 5 bucket of balls and let the fun show begin.

During the time on the driving range, we looked out to find Carson and Cassie collecting balls that were already hit. They ran out and needed more balls. They looked like they were out collecting Easter eggs. Leave to them to make us laugh.

Here is to the game of golf and what if may hold for me.
Let the fowl words and frustration begin...
Also, never say never to anything...you might just be surprised on the outcome and learn to one day eat your words.

How to beat the Summer heat.

"It's hot!" is all I hear from the kids all day long, so how does one beat the Summer time heat you ask.

First:

Beg your mom to take you to play in the water.

Second:

Beg with "pretty please" and add "we'll do extra chores when we get back"

Third:

Run and get your swim suit on before mom and answer.

Next:

Tell you mom that she'll have more fun if she invites a friend to visit with while we are playing in the water. (How clever.)

Then:

Mom calls up a friend and plan a day at the splash pad.

(IF you play your cards right, you might even get lunch at Wendy's so mom doesn't have to cook and clean up the kitchen mess.)

AND that is how you beat the Summer time heat.

All is Happy.

All is Cool.
All is NOW Well.

Beauty all around.

There is beauty all around...

Nature.

A random waterfall coming out of a mountain side.

A morning hike up in the mountains.

The bond of a dad and his oldest daughter.

Dan was able to go with Mackenzie this morning on a daddy/daughter date "hike" with the other dads and daughters in Activity Days.

It was important that Dan and Mackenzie could take this morning and spend time together.

I know that there was no other place that Dan would want to be then on that hike with Kenzie and that Mackenzie was proud to have her dad there with her.

I know that the two of them have a special bond and love each other very much.

What are the chances???

Let's play a game... Called "What are the chances?"

What are the chances that these two are smelly?

...Both of them need a bath?

...Are buddies?

What are the chances that size does matter?

...That bigger is better?

What are the chances that giant marshmallow made a giant S'more?

What are the chances that Paps ate the giant S'more?

...that Paps felt sick after eating that S'more?

What are the chances that these kiddos ate too much sugar?

...will NOT go to bed with any arguments?
...they will eat about 2 more chocolate bars before the nights over?
What are the chances that the kids want to sleep outside in the tent with Nana?
What are the chances that there was giggling going on in the tent?

...that no one was tired expect for Nana?

...the kids were excited for a night under the stars?
UNTIL......

What are the chances that the only night the whole time that Nana and Paps are here that a surprise Summer rain storm comes in and has a down pour upon the tent as well as thunder and lightening, scaring the kids to run back inside the house, leaving Nana to bring in the sleeping bags all by herself in the pouring rain?

What are the chances that no other adults were home to help Nana with the upset kids?

What are the chances that the door bell rings and it was our neighbors asking us if we were missing a tent? (it had blown over the fence into their back yard!)

What are the chances that Nana will never get the kids to sleep outside ever again?

If you answered YES to all of these questions then you are right and win the right to laugh at our Summer nights with the added drama.

(I swear the tv show "Everyone loves Raymond" was after our family. Nothing goes the "easy way" with our family.)

Never ask "What are the chances?" because you might just get it!

Huh?

Driving down Main street in American Fork with my parents, we come to a red light.

I hear my dad trying to sound something out...

"oono-fa-akund"

Huh? Really? What are you saying?

"One of a Kind" Dad!

Just that easy.

Dad, you're trying too hard.

All three of us were laughing including Paps. He was in awe that he could be so dumb.

Now we have an inside joke when we are driving down Main Street and we giggle for a bit.

Thanks dad for being you!

Red, White, and Blue

Today being the 4th of July, it is the perfect time to celebrate...

...to celebrate being together as a family...

...to celebrate our Freedom...

...to celebrate Summer time...
...to celebrate just how lucky we are...
...to celebrate our happiness.
So, grab your lawn chairs, bug spray, flags, treats, and "fireworks"
(aka glow sticks this year, with us being in Cali. we didn't have time to buy fireworks. Thank goodness our neighbors were on top of things and we could steal part of their show.)
You can see by the pictures that we all had a good time.

This year, we didn't have any tears from the fear of the fireworks; not from C&C or Kinlee, or even me.

Yeap, Fireworks aren't my favorite...I just don't trust them, don't like the sound, BUT one thing I do enjoy about fireworks is the smell.

Call me crazy, I know...
But I always seem to have a good time but just watching the fireworks from a far.

Here we all are: July 4th 2010

*Pretty good picture of all of us from being not planed and in the dark. ;)

We had a great time celebrating tonight with family and friends.

Something missing...

"Look Mom, Just two wheels."

Carson wanted to "try" to ride his bike with his training wheels off.
First try and Carson DID IT.
My boy is growing up.
First it's no more training wheels, then it's shaving, next it a drivers licences, a mission...oh boy, Time is going by way too fast!
I need to stop and enjoy each day, who knew that Carson was ready to ride a big boy's bike.
I am so glad that I was able to be there and see the smile upon Carson's face as he defeated a challenge and is growing up.
A proud moment for a mama and her little (I mean big) boy.

Saturday.

All good things must come to an end...

...the vacation is over.

Let the laundry begin.

Home Sweet Home.

Friday.

What more can you ask for...

Waking up each morning to the ocean air, the cool sand, a view of the ocean right out your window; a beach get-a-way with your family.

Can you tell that one of my favorite places in the whole world is NEWPORT BEACH, CAL.

I ♥ the memories that we are making as a family.

I ♥ Opa and Oma for allowing this awesome vacation each year.

I ♥ everything about Newport Beach.

Thursday.

After all that Sun and Sand yesterday, we thought Today would be a good day to let our sunburns have a break and we headed in-land to spend the day on the town.

First stop: Downtown Disney.
The kids got their trip treats.
Had some fun photo Opts.
Ate at the Rain Forest Cafe.

Second Stop: Angel's Baseball Game.

Watched batting practise.

Got our awesome "All Star" shirts

Ate peanuts and cotton candy.

Hit the beach ball back and forth while watching the game.

Watched the crazy fans.

Cheered for the Angel's.

Sang "Take me out to the ball game."

That is one sleepy boy.

Today was a LONG day, but also a very fun day.

Tomorrow's plan: Hittin' the Beach.

Can't believe the week is almost over!