I love this....

Fireman's Award Banquet

He got the hottest fireman of the year award....again. ;) Love him and couldn't be prouder!

A night out.

Joe trying to get in our picture.

Joe, Mariya, Stephanie, and Justin. We had a fun table and I happened to know Mariya so it was nice to see a friendly face. We had a great time!

This years award dinner was held in a sky box at the BSU football stadium. We had a beautiful view of the city and had great company. Of course they served chocolate cake which I gave up for lent so that was fabulous. Apparently my husband needs to take me out more because I wanted a mint that was on the table really bad. When I told Mark how much I wanted to eat it because I couldn't he started laughing....I guess it was fancy butter. Thank God for all the firemen who give so much of themselves to help others! I love you Mark and couldn't be prouder to be your wife!

Ash Wednesday

So. It's that time of year...Lent. I have chosen to give up sweets. It will be hard and may only last a day but I plan to stick with it. I was going to give up sugar but I know that sugar is in most things and I'd probably eat it without even thinking of it. It will be healthy snacks for me! My heart couldn't be happier!

Ash Wednesday at mass


Oliver did not want the priest to put the ashes on his head. He kept moving, hence the ashes on top of his head instead of forehead. :)

I Pledge Allegiance

Please pardon the chocolate face...

Robie Creek 2010

Stop•Don’t•Don’t Stop

Robie Loves you, but are you ready to make a commitment?

We all have a tortured internal dialog during our relationship with Robie; it takes all our will power and strength to overcome. There’s that voice in your head, telling you, you should go for a run, or on
second thought, why bother, it is just too hard to train for HER. You know her voice, it is a constant
sound, a pounding in your head. train / don’t train, run faster / don’t run so fast, don’t eat that
donut /eat that donut, stay on the couch / get up and go for a run, LOSER!
You say I will do what I want to and she says over my dead body.
Yes I will!
No, you won’t.
Will.
Won’t.
Will.
Won’t
You say you’re not the boss of me!
She says Yes I am.
No you’re not!
Am too
Am not!

I’m your Daddy,
No, you are NOT my Daddy.
And so it goes, it is a push / pull, bitter / sweet, agony / ecstasy, love affair with the race and the
mountain. She will try and seduce you; charming her way into your heart, letting you think it will
be easy. But, as we all know, Robie loves you, but will she let you go all the way?

I'm IN! My second year of Robie Creek. I'd like to say that I am already in tip top shape but alas, I am not. But watch out! I am officially in training and going to do the very best that I can. I know it's not about who finishes first which is AWESOME to know but I'd really like to be fit and do a decent race just for me. I will attack that mountain! To the very best of my abilities. So I must go now and run, no eat, no run, or sit on the couch, or run, or eat chocolate, or run......Ha! I crack myself up!

My Valentines

A week or so ago my daughter told me she had to tell her dad a secret. Something she wanted to do for me for Valentines Day. Yesterday I got to find out exactly what that secret was. While I was in the shower my kids drew me two of the most beautiful pictures. (I will be putting them on here.) Then I walked in the dining room to see they had made peanut butter, jelly, and honey sandwiches for lunch. Did I mention there was candle light??? Thank you babies for the most delicious candle light lunch I have EVER had. I love you my little Valentines!

Thank you Mark for being the most wonderful husband ever. I am very blessed to have you as my husband and father of my children. You are the greatest! Love you!

Meeting Cinderella

Marki Lyn and ballet Cinderella as Marki calls her.

A Girls Day at the Ballet

My birthday present this year were two front row tickets to the ballet of Marki's favorite princess, Cinderella. It was so exciting for me to spend this time with my daughter. I really needed this time with her. Just us girls. Here we are getting ready to take our seats...She looks like her daddy in this picture!
Her ballerina dress.

Getting to our seats.

Everywhere she went she had her dress twirling about. At the intermissions she would come out here and dance her own ballet.

Standing in line to get pictures taken with Cinderella ballerina. The proof of a mother's love is how long they are willing to stand in line for this. Your mother loves you an awful lot!!! Marki and this little girl starting dancing together.

When the ballet started Marki was in complete awe. I loved watching her wonder and amazement at the beautiful dancers. I would lean over and tell her which character was which and she would say, "I know mom!" The step sisters were hilarious. They were actually men dressed in drag and they pretty much stole the show. They had little girl dressed as mice in the ballet and Marki desperately wanted to be one of them. It was a beautiful ballet as well as funny. Marki did a great job sitting still and she just loved it. She loved how the ballet dancers danced on their toes. When we got home she showed me all the new moves she learned and I'll have to tape them. It is just too cute.

Thank you, most wonderful husband, for yet another amazing gift. You are the greatest and I will always remember that time with our daughter. She is quite fun to hang out with. She's quite simply the most amazing girl I know and I'm proud to be her momma!

Pictures with Cinderella still to come.........

Sitting on the terrace for lunch. We met up with Irene and Cheyenne for lunch before the ballet.

Loving the hot chocolate.

Cheye. Always posing:)

Marki putting a garnish in Cheyenne's hair from her plate like a flower.

Mini Monet's

Reading up on colors.

Amy and Oliver.

My friend Amy and I met at the library so Marki, Levi, and Eisley could go to mini monets while Oliver got some reading time. The kids had a blast. Then off to Eisley's house where I got to visit while our kids played. Then Amy watched the kids while I ran some errends. She kind of had to...my kids would not leave! They all were having such a great time. Even Oliver gave me the cold shoulder and wouldn't leave. We had a great time Amy and I loved catching up. Let's do it agian soon! Thank you!

So Proud

Wednesday night is skating night for the kids. This particular Wednesday, Marki's friend Pieces was celebrating her sixth birthday. The kids had a blast and we had the most delicious cupcakes ever! As soon as Marki got on her skates she was off. She didn't want to come off the ice and you could tell she was having a blast. My kids amaze me.
This boy is going to be one big hockey star like his dad. He LOVES to skate. He didn't want to come off the ice either. They had a lot of fun and love their Wednesday night skates.

Skating. She was so amazing to watch.

Enjoying cupcakes. Brandon blew me a kiss right before this picture.

The birthday girl opening gifts.

Chocolate.

Spidermen.

Tyler, Tracey, and Pieces.

Thank you Lord, for this good food....

Oliver is now able to say our prayer before meals. When Mark and I came home from snowboarding we were super tired, hence the mac and cheese and hot dogs, and sat down to eat when all of a sudden Oliver starts babbling something. I look over and he has his hands folded in prayer saying Grace. Followed by an Amen. We say grace at all meals but this particular busy day we rushed right in. Usually Marki and Levi are ready to say the blessing but this dinner Oliver reminded us to thank God for all our blessings.