Basement

We started working on the basement the middle part of December...when football season was over naturally :)

 We did everything up until sheetrock.  I have expressed my hate for sheetrock.  Plus I was so exhausted by that point I was thrilled to see someone else do it...and do it good!

 Then it was the rock wall, which had some hiccups thanks to our expert on mortar employee at Home Depot...but it all worked out.

 Then it was the trim and caulking

 And then......It was FINALLY time to paint.

 We started painting the friday night before Conference.  We (aaron) painted ALL afternoon until midnight.

 It's amazing what a difference paint makes.  It was wonderful to relax and watch conference.  Knowing that all the major chores in getting the basement done were DONE! 

 I finished up my rock wall the following week.  The mortar turned my fingers into huge sores....but I guess it was worth it.

 And then I couldn't resist painting a castle entrance to the play room.

Yes, there are still touch ups to be done, plus more decorating fun....but It's done!  It feels great.  I love these kind of projects.  But with kids and staying on top of normal chores it has definitely wiped me out!  I think the next big project will come when all my kids are in school :)  I'm still amazed we pulled it off and have a finished basement.  So nice!

Spring Craziness

 Between Birthdays, Easter, and Spring Break it feels like it has been one party to the next.  I think it really has been!  A couple days after Whitney's birthday we did the city Easter Egg hunt.  Me and Aaron aren't big fans and were secretly hoping it would be a bust so we wouldn't have to do it next year.  The actual hunt lasts maybe 10 seconds.  Parents are going crazy ensuring their kid gets some eggs.  There are people everywhere - chaos, just not my cup of tea!  Well, bust didn't happen.  Our lucky 8 year old won a  bike and 5 gift baskets!  She seriously robbed the place.  Every egg she picked up had a prize.  All 6 eggs!  So now we get to explain to our kids every year why they didn't win a bike :)

 We held our annual Hoopes passover that night with Bethany and Neal.  They stayed for the easter bunny that night too.  Aaron likes to hide the candy and have the kids find it Easter morning....they enjoy the hunt.

 With morning church there wasn't much time to sit around and eat candy - plus we had to have a mini photo shoot....here's the kiddios all decked out.

 It was amazing we had a family picture turn out

 since they usually end up like this:

In their Easter Jammies

 The next day was my birthday.  My amazing husband gave me the day off.  I didn't hesitate with an offer like that!  I ran, shopped and shopped... and then the next day he took me to flowrider where all my dreams came true.  We surfed for an hour and then while sitting in the hot tub afterwards, the chatty lifegaurd brought up that it was free hour, so even just a couple people could show up and surf that hour (usually have to have a minimal amount of people.)  so after a few minutes deciding where our hunger meter was at...we did it.  The lifeguard took down the middle barrier and we had the whole wave to ourselves!!  We were exhausted and bruised after 2 hours of surfing....but it was soooooo much fun!  To top it off, we splurged on delicious tucanos after.  Birthday's really don't get better than that.  In all the excitement this is the only photo I ran to snap.

 Then it was spring break.  We lucked out with good weather.  Of course that meant friends and picnics!

 To top the amazing week off we had conference.  Conference is awesome.  Everything about listening to apostles without putting on a dress I love :)  We took the kids down to the Payson Temple being built between sessions on Sunday. 

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So there you have it....now to add to all this excitement.... during all this we finished up the basement!  That will be a separate post.  Let's just say we are exhausted but happy :)

Whitney's the big 8!!

Wow, what a milestone!  This has been a very special and sentimental birthday. 

Whitney was so excited for her birthday only to have the stomach bug.  Poor girl shed some tears thinking of how she wouldn't get to celebrate in her class or do all the fun things we had planned.  Although, after watching tv all morning she started to think maybe it wasn't so bad to be sick on your birthday :) 

She chilled most of the day and just did cake and presents rather than iceskating.  She was a good sport.

This birthday has come with mixed emotions.  I feel much more accountable for what I've taught Whitney.  I'm so proud of the girl she is and am motivated by her to be a better mom.  whitney has always been my pal and my best helper.  She has made this last year doable.  She puts up with my yelling far too much and has a heart of gold with her quick to forgive attitude.  She is so excited to get baptized and be a part of activity days.  Sometimes I have to take a second look at her because she is looking older every day!  I really feel lucky to be her mom!  Thanks Whitney for being such an amazing girl!

Hailey Bo Bailey is 3

This crazy girl is 3!

 For Hailey's party we went to Dollar Tree and she got to pick out 3 things and some treats.  It was a definite win win :)

She is such a funny girl.  Sooooo dramatic!  She thinks and acts like she is 16.

Presents consisted of Puzzles (her latest addiction), PJ's, and a movie.

She loves Dora, Puzzles, dress-ups, painting/coloring and playing with her friends.  She is often into mischief!  She's the kind of kid that if it's quite.....you know she's into something!  She loves zebras and horses and pretending to be them.

I love that I can say "the rules are the rules" and she'll listen because that's what owl from the enchanted forest said on Dora.  It has been nice that she will entertain herself...mostly.  Since Ashley's naptime is the only time I get things done.

Hailey definitely adds the spice to our house.  I love her creative stories and imagination, and yes, sometimes even her drama :)  Happy Birthday Hailey Bo Bailey!

Build a Bear

Hailey and Whitney decided they wanted to go to Build a Bear with Grandma for their birthday.  We'd never done this place other than walking through and seeing all the cute outfits they have.  It was pretty exciting!  Travis was a good sport watching and helping the girls out.  Most kids would've had a hard time not doing the process too...but he was a champ.

Here's Hailey's Horsie getting stuffed.

 Whitney chose a classic bear and definitely picked an outfit I wasn't expecting....

 Hailey with her new pet.  I love that they gave them birth certificates and underwear :)  they think of everything! 

At checkout my mom got some free gift cards for her purchase....so Travis ended up getting a bear after all.  It didn't take long since he had mapped out what he would have chosen.

 So the end product was 3 VERY happy kids. 

Picture below features:
Travis and Trevor.  Whitney's Merida (didn't see that choice coming...but loving the red wig :), Horsie and Hailey. 
           Travis is not in pain in this picture...he just makes a face everytime I pull a camera out now.  Hailey however ran to the bathroom as soon as I took this.

After Build-a-Bear we played at Grandma's for the weekend.  We had fun with Jeff, Selly, and Marcus too.  He is a cutie!  Going to Grandma and Grandpa's is as good as any vacation.

Ashley's 1!

We made it!!

1 year old

 And it was definitely anticlimatic!  When your sick and honry on your birthday, and your mom is too, it's more endurance than celebration.  So I counted down the first year...and am still counting :)  At least we got some snuggles in between the fusses.

 So the real celebration was more like 2 days later.  Love this smile :)

 This past year has been quite the adventure.  Probably the hardest year of my life to date.  I feel like we endured the first 6 months well, and then when school started I just couldn't keep up anymore.  Things get easier each day.  Some better than others.  The basement project just added to the workload.  But honestly, even though I'd be seriously lying if I didn't admit it has been incredibly hard...I still wouldn't want it any different.  They grow fast, things change fast, and I'll keep reminding myself that I need to enjoy the small moments every day.

Crazy that in a year Ashley has gone from this:

 to this:

Funny and lovable things about Ashley:  She is an actress just like Hailey.  She eats an insane amount of cereal for breakfast.  She refuses to walk without my finger even though we BOTH know she is completely capable.  She refuses to walk but willingly climbs on anything...no matter the height.  She loves her dad.  She loves outside.  She loves playing with her siblings.

Our home is never a dull moment when Ashley is awake!  Happy b-day!