On My Birthday

Today I am just grateful for all of my wonderful blessings.  I have an amazing husband and 3 beautiful children.  I was born to the best parents in the world and raised with great siblings.  I have a wonderful extended family and married into a wonderful one as well.  I have two of the best best-friends a person could ask for and a slew of wonderful people in my life. The Lord has blessed my life fully and in every way.  I am truly spoiled!

Exciting things for me...

I was just invited to appear on KSL's Studio 5 to show my Book Exchange Party I did with my two best friends last year.  It was so much fun and a great experience.  To see the video click here.

I also just started a blog for my vintage clothing store, Betsy & Joy.  This will be a place I can show case the items I have for sale and blab all about the things I discover relating to vintage and style history etc.  I'm always wanting to share the things I learn or find and will now have a forum to do so... check it out if your interested.

First Day of Kindergarten

I've been excited and dreading this day for weeks.  We got ready early for school and Ashton wasn't sure if he believed me that he had to wear a uniform and that the other kids would be too.  He was super excited about his school supplies and reorganized his box a few times until the glues were all on one side and the rest on the other.  
When we got to school Ash got quiet and was more concerned that dad was going on a fishing trip then going into the class.  When we entered he went straight to his cubby we had found on orientation day and hung up his backpack.  We then found his seat and he sat down to begin tracing his name.  I kissed him goodbye and tried to get out of the building as fast as I could because I could hardly hold the tears back!
We had to really ask him a lot of specific questions to find out how it had gone. I don't think he felt that it was too different from preschool... until we did homework.  Having to write his full name with the first letter capitalized and the rest lower case was a strange request - he didn't see why he couldn't write it the way he always does.  
So far each day has been great and he is happy to go to school.  He can't get out of the car fast enough.  We're hearing more about friends and recess and still having to probe about class, I knew that would be the case with Ashton!  Mom's doing better too - no tears today!

Makeup Artist

I think Reagan's caught on to mom's new makeup obsession:

Our Staycation

A free picture slideshow by Smilebox

For Hell Week this year I decided to do a little staycation for the kids.  On the first day we hit Thanksgiving Point's Ancient Life Museum and the Children's Garden.  The kids loved all the the things to see and touch.  Ashton and Colten could have played for hours in the erosion sand box.
  On the second day we met up with our friends the Hardings at Hogle Zoo.  The two older boys (Ashton and Carter) were more interested in reading the map than anything.  I think Reagan was overwhelmed with everything to see and all the people.  She was really quiet and wanted to stay in the stroller most of the time.
  On the third day we went to This is the Place, Heritage Park.  It's a pioneer village made up with lots of original buildings from the Utah valley.  I loved going there as a kid - I loved all things pioneer when we moved to Utah.  My kids really liked it too.  They loved riding the trains and the ponies. We had  a little adventure when we tried to leave.  My camera case that had my keys in it but not my camera, went missing.  We ended up getting a golf cart to ride around the park until we found it...Ashton was really worried we were going to be stranded.

Two Older Brothers?

Riding in Style

This is my new bike!  I love it.  It makes me feel young and free, even with the kid trailer attached.  I just need a basket or bike bag to go on the handle bars...

Kids riding montage