Tulips at Temple Square!

We had stake sluff day today (I know, I know, but seriously, we barley get through sacrament meeting). When I took the train ride to Salt Lake this week, I was in awe of all of the tulips, and wanted to go back. My in-law's were in town, so we went to take some pictures, walk around Temple Square, and check out the Family History Museum. It was beautiful! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE flowers, so it was right up my ally! Here are some pictures from the day.

Date Night!

Thomas and I went on a date tonight!! Of course, it included a trip to Lowe's (or home depot). Ever since we got this house, I don't think we have gone on many dates that didn't include a stop for something at the hardware store, epically since we have started finishing the basement. I don't mind it, I actually tease Thomas if our date DOESN'T include a trip to home depot!
So, I thought we would skip going out to dinner, and get some ice cream. We got one to share, since he cant eat the whole thing, and I shouldn't. We get 1/4 the way down, and i am filling a chunk down in the cup (its dark, on the way home to relieve the babysitter of our kids) I'm thinking "SCORE, I GOT A CHUNK!" I dig for it, I'm proud I got it, I gloat a little cuz I got it. I put it in, chew...spit it out...darn, it was paper. "What kind of paper?" my dear husband asks. So, i get it, look at it. IT IS SOMEONES USED NASTY BAND-AID!! IN MY MOUTH!! I dry heaved and just about lost it all the way home and for 10 more minutes while Thomas takes home the babysitter and takes it back to baskin robins for a refund. NO, WE DON'T WANT A NEW ONE!
Nice diet plan! Crusty band-aids...I may have Thomas just sneak one in my food after I have eaten some.....anyone interested in the Crusty Band-aid Diet??

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Kim!! (right) (I know your loving this picture, Kim, Jess??)

Kim and I have been friends for years! She moved into my ward when she was a sophomore (right?) I picked this picture because Jessica (3rd from the right) had her bday not too long ago, and I didn't post it, so two for one. Plus, I mean, look us, we rock ;) Jessica and I have been friends for longer then I can even remember back. 7th grade? Im not sure, but Kim and Jessica are some of my really good friends from childhood that have stuck around!
Happy Birthday Spencer!! (May 4th). Spencer is my oldest brother. I don't get to see him much since he lives in Montana. He is a great role model for a young person, as myself ;)
Love ya Spence!

Happy Birthday Amber (holding up Breanna). Amber is my niece. She is always smiling and always goofing around and laughing. We love you Amber!

Happy Birthday Colton! (May 24th). Colton is my nephew and quite the prankster! He is turning into a handsome young man!

Happy Birthday Andrew! (May 29th) Andrew is my nephew, Colton's brother and Spencer's son. (you guys have a lot of May birthdays!) He was nice enough to pose for this picture, even though his crazy aunt went around taking everyone's pictures. (Although he does have a hint of "your crazy aunt Alison" look to him here!)

"The Ride"

On Tuesday, my mom, dad, sister, Kinley and I got on the front runner. UTA was running the front runner for free for people to try out. Whats better then a train ride, for free?? (Dad would say nothing.) So, the 5 of us set off at 9am to go to the station. We just miss the first one, no biggie. We wait 30 minutes for the next one. We get on, wait 20 more, then it leaves. It says that it goes 79 MPH. I wouldn't know. I doubt we got over 50, and not even that fast the whole time. It took us 50 minutes to get to Salt Lake (once we started moving). We got off and transferred to the free TRAX. It runs downtown and makes stops every few blocks. We were going to get off and shop at the gateway, but none of us knew what stop that would be and WAY overshot it. We got off, had lunch at the Lion House, and got back on to go home. We got on a front runner that looked like it was about to leave station (we saw it sitting there when TRAX came up.) We hurried and got on...whew, we made it! We waited. Forever. By this time, Kinley is beyond sick and restless, dad is making questionable comments about the passengers in a voice that he thinks they cant hear, but they can (and I am afraid we will get beat up by the guy who "looks like a wife beater".) A handicap man is not leaving my sister or mom alone (mom, are your sure there is no glue in his bag? a plug on the bus? and seriously, aren't there some fine women on this train?), the bathroom on the train is broken...people keep running up to use it but cant, and frankly there is a stench (yeah, people really needed the bathroom people!) The pregnant woman who is standing by the door that is SURE she is going to go into labor and have her water break on the train. The 85 year old woman who wanted to ride it because its her birthday. The dude who is dressed like Jesus. Long hair, long white cloak and a staff?? Maybe he was going for moses?? Long story short, my sister could have written her psychology paper while waiting on the train (all she needed was to take a psychology class!)

Will I ride the train again you ask? Well, probably not. It wasn't faster, by any means. To pay for all my children and myself, it would be more worth it to drive. MAYBE if I was going to go out with some friends and we didn't care when we got there and when we came home....MAYBE. But, probably not!

Kinley is still sick. I was thinking it was motion sickness from the train, but we got home and she had a fever. She has been up every night since with a fever and a sore throat. Poor thing, she got what Kaden had last week. We don't have time for Hailey to get it. Testing is next week for Hailey and Kaden. We get out of school May 22nd. They have 15 days left of school. Then, I will have a 3rd grader, a 1st grader and Kinley will be in her first year of pre-school! Seriously, where did the time go!?

Im an Aunt....again!

Thomas' brother and wife had a new baby boy yesterday! He is so cute! They named him Aurthur Everett Duffy. Aurthur was born at 3:50 a.m., April 23, 2008. He weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was a little more than 20 inches long. Congrats Robinson and Bobbi!! He is adorable!

A whole lot of nothin'

I feel like lately I have been so busy. Thinking back, I don't really even have any evidence for my self-proclaimed swamptness (yeah, that word means, the feeling of being over scheduled or swamped.)
We had our enrichment birthday party last week. I only had to pick up cake and ice cream and show up to set up tables and chairs, then clean up. We had a speaker on organizing our lives spiritually and physically. She motivated me to get rid of stuff and get my home in order. I have just the top shelf in both kids rooms left before I have their rooms done. So far, their rooms are the only things I have done. It amazes me that when I focus on getting rid of junk, the rest of the house explodes. I have so far to go before I feel that I am where I want to be. Spiritually, I almost don't even know where to start. Baby steps I suppose.
I started my weight lifting class this week. We had to sit and listen to the rules and the lady talk. This will go on for 2 more classes. I cant wait for the yakking to be over and just to go to lift.
I signed up Kaden for T-ball and Hailey for machine pitch baseball. That starts in may.
We have been busy doing our basement. We have come so far, yet have a long way to go.
Anyway, I thought I would put up an update. Hope all is well with everyone

Holy April Birthday's!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY (April 4th)! Amy is my sister-in-law. We went to California together last may, and had a great time (Aaron). She is always happy and always making me laugh. She is a great friend and I am glad to have her at family gatherings!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALLAN (April 5th)! Callan is my nephew. (Amy and Aaron's son). He had a super-fun sleep over. Kaden got to go...I don't know that they "slept" much because on the way home, Kaden fell asleep! We love ya bud!

Happy Birthday Aaron (April 5th)! Aaron is my nephew. This picture is 2 or so years old. Aaron likes to dodge my camera...but no fear, I would have pulled out the picture of him NUDE sitting on his little hot wheel with perminate black magic marker ALL over him. Aaron is now 13, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Beverly (April 10th)! Bev is my sister-in-law. I don't get to see her or her family much. I thought I was going to have to post a few year old picture of her (and Curtis), but they came down this weekend. Bev and I used to love to watch mini-series together...ahhh the good ol days!

Happy Birthday Preston (April 16th)! Presto (yes, I meant to forget the "n") is one of my 5 favorite brothers. He is a lot of fun to be around. He is searching for Easter eggs with his daughter Arden. I love how much he loves being a dad. He is so fun to watch around Arden. Happy Birthday Preston.

Happy Birthday Curtis (April 22nd). Curtis is my nephew. Curtis spent the entire night attacking me and Thomas with a pillow...didn't stop when I carried him upstairs and threatened a head in the toilet. He has the most amazing eyelashes you would ever see. They are so long, dark and curly. I remember going to the swim park with them and he actually had water trapped on his eyelashes. Happy Birthday Curtis!

Happy Birthday Tiffany (April 27th)! Tiffany is my sister-in-law. I love being around Tiffany. We are taking the women's weight lifting class together. I am so excited to get to spend more time with her! She has 3 amazing children, and is the wife of one of my 5 favorite brothers!