Happy St. Patricks Day!

This morning I had all my boys home for breakfast and to search for gold. (Connor had a fieldtrip that he forgot to bring home the permission slip and TJ just lucked out when I let hime sleep in and go late:) Our family has a lepreachan that leaves us gold candy every year scattered around the house. He also does little tricks like turning our milk green! I tell the boys that we have a leprechaun that likes us because of our Irish heritage, I guess:) It is so much fun to watch my boys scurry around to find the gold and then talk about Leprechauns all day! Everyone went to school sporting some green so as not to get pinched!

Connor and I are headed out to lunch together--we are having our own fieldtrip:) He felt kind of bad that he missed the big day out, but happy to get to sleep in. And Lupis famous pizza with Mom--is better than a bus full of sweaty kids, right?!

Our traditional green breakfast, complete with milk that somehow turns green when it hits the glass! Weird!

Bridger is not too sure about that green milk:)

But Coleman downed it!

Last night my older boys were telling my younger ones all about our St Patricks Day traditions and they were getting so excited! They could hardly sleep and insisted on finding the one book we have about a little Leprachaun named Liam for their good night story. It made me laugh because this holiday is really not that big of deal--but little ones are so easy to please! I love it:)

I am looking forward to our Irish (sort of) Dinner tonight.

On the menu:
Corned Beef (in the slow cooker now)
Colcannon--potato and cabbage dish I grew up on--so good!
Scones
Ginger Ale-yum!
Green Salad

Sugar Gems (sugar cookies frosted with green icing and sprinkles)


I love creating happy celebratations for my family!

I know it is silly but it serves a purpose...it makes life fun. My children look forward to every little holiday and tradition we do. I think it helps them feel special and loved and that makes it all worth it!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

xo

Slice of the South...more HIlton Head :)

I was going thru my pictures and came across this wonderful day of bike riding in Hilton Head that I never posted. I have to say that I really love the South...even the beaches here are dreamy. I am a bit homesick lately for Utah and my family, so it is good thing for me to think about the beauty around of the South. I really do love it here, I just wish I had some family around. Am I convincing any of you to join me out here in the South yet??


The entrance to the public beach....pretty huh? On each side were big porch swings and wooden adirondack chairs just begging to be enjoyed. I loved it.

Bridger loved this tandem bike with his Daddy! Although most of the time he would forget to pedal and was just along for the ride.

Cannon loved his little seat on the back of my bike.
He was so fun to have right there all day. I could hear his cute little chatter about everything we passed. Going one direction on the beach was bliss, but when we turned around and were going against the wind...phew that was kind of hard. My legs were burning at one point and I remember Cannon telling me that he was tired!

I was thinking really--lets trade places:)!

Coleman


TJ


After a long ride on the beach we cruised around the island and Brad treated us to a cool drink and pastry at a coffee shop.
I loved the big trees drenched in spanish moss.


There were some crazy trees.
I wished my Dad was there to tell me what they all were. He knows that kind of stuff!

Connor

This was a seriously beautiful place.

I can't wait to go back!

Beach Bums

It is offical...I am in love with this place! Hilton Head Island is heavenly!

What is it about the beach that is so...good for the soul?!

We are now cozy in our hotel room enjoying Monday Night Football, but this morning we were up at the crack of dawn with 5 boys begging to get to the beach.

So that is where we spent our day and it was PERFECT!

Our activities included:

Early morning football in the waves

More digging

What a happy surprise that in the middle of October, it is still warm enough to swim!

Oops, TJ dropped his head:)

The boys spent hours diving for sand dollars and builing sand castles.

Coleman had a cute little pet crab for a couple of hours.


We finished off the day with a walk on the beach (with the football, of course) before retiring to our room to cheer on the TN Titans!

I had a very tired little three year old at the beach this evening, who is now bouncing off the walls at bedtime! Why is that?

Up tomorrow: a birthday boy! Yeah!!
Well, I am off to snuggle my baby boy and try to remind him that he really is tired!
TN is up by 14, mayble I can talk the boys into turning the game off and hitting the sack?? Wish me luck!

Hilton Head Island

We rolled into beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina last night and as soon as we checked in we headed for the beach.

We got there just in time to enjoy a gorgeous sunset! The image of my 5 boys running and laughing along the waterline with this amazing sunset as a backdrop was MAGICAL!
I didn't have my nice camera to capture the shot, but I am sure that the picture in my mind will last forever!

(My little point and shoot does better with still shots--very slow shutter speed:)

This sweet lady offered to take our picture but I didn't want to stop the boys from their play , so I just grabbed my honey. She told us she had one condition for her services...that we kiss for the shot:) "Easy Peasy" as my little Cannon likes to say!



One thing I know ...boys love to dig!

And I found this in the sand...I guess our boys are still proud BYU fans even though they can't win a game this year (well, OK fine, I guess they have won, once:)

Well, it is now bright and early and we are headed to the beach!! Woo hoo!

We are thrilled to find that we are only 5.5 hours from this gorgeous beach!!

Family Movie Night Recommendation...

( Movie treats ready)
Don't laugh but we are really enjoying the 'Love Comes Softly' series.

(yes that is Katherine Heigl)

My boys were a little put off by the name,

and even rolled there eyes and objected when I started putting the DVD in,

but I lured them in with popcorn and treats

and you know what...they loved it!

They were excited the next week when Netflix delivered the second DVD in the series, and are looking forward to the third one this weekend! We have been watching them as a family on Sunday afternoon and although they may not admit it to their friends, they are all enjoying these movies. I love finding movies to watch with my family that are good, clean, and uplifting.

Bottom line: Great movie for the whole family with good Christian values.

Beautiful Utah Mountains

While in Utah we spent an evening up in the Canyon-

- just 15 minutes from my parents home.
We enjoyed horseback rides, Grandma's famous friend chicken, gorgeous scenery, the cool mountain air and lots of cousins!
The perfect way spend to spend a summer evening!

I went with Mindy to her Dr apt just hours before to find out what she is having this December! Have you announced it yet Mindy? That was so fun to be there! That little one looked adorable already!!

Coleman goofing around with Uncle Matt's crutches...
Two of the '3 Amigos'(three boy cousins born within weeks of each other)
--we missed you Gabe!

The only way I could get a picture of little Jack--he had to sit still sandwiched in the saddle with his Daddy! That darling boy is BUSY!

And here is evidence that the 'apple doesn't fall far from the tree'...Wesley packing around some of his Daddy's Louis Lamour cowboy books!

Grandpa--loving those boys "big as the sky!"


and one last shot....My baby (who hates being called that) holding a baby:)
Isn't that little Logan a doll?!

oh how we miss ya'll!! XOXOXO

Rediscovering Monopoly

Brad bought the great game of Monopoly and introduced it to the boys last year on a "boys only" ski trip. They were so excited about playing it when they got home. During the move it was forgotten, but has recently been rediscovered. For some reason it warms my heart to see my boys all huddled around this game laughing and sometimes arguing, but having a good time:)

Even though it is brand new, it looks exactly like the old game from my childhood. It brings back so many happy memories of my little brother Matt and I playing marathon Monopoly games late into Saturday nights and finishing up on Sunday after church. If I remember right, I think I always lost, (he was a shrewd little businessman even as a child) but it was so much fun!

Do you remember playing this game as a kid?

It made me miss you Matt!

Days gone by :a LAGOON trip

I was going thru my pictures from the last few months so I could send them off to be developed (I know I am still old fashioned and like to have hard copies of most of my snapshots:) Anyway--I came across some fun summer pictures that were never shared. It brought back happy memories of our last few weeks on Utah. Here are some shots of a very HOT {phew} day spent at Lagoon with our three oldest...

{In line for the new ride WICKED. Coleman is a little stressed about it, can you tell? Happy to report he did it, said it was fun but refused to go again}

{Bumper Cars--I hate these things--whiplash is awful--but the boys wanted to do them over and over again}


{We were absolutely soaked on the Rattlesnake Rapids. Luckily it was so hot that we dried quickly}




{ah yes, I remember snake suckers + wet boys = STICKY STICKY STICKY}

{The Ferris Wheel--I love this ride--I think the boys were a bit bored though:)}

Fun times at Lagoon. It seems like years ago--Time is just flying by!

Kicking Off October

(A few little pumkins from last October at Thanksgiving Point in Utah)

On October 1st I searched EVERYWHERE in Chattanooga until I found this movie "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow"

( a Halloween favorite from my childhood):

I then made my Mom's famously delicious homemade hot chocolate and Brad picked up some fresh donuts with Halloween sprinkles.

The perfect treat to surprise our boys with a little Halloween family party {on a school night} to kick off October!! A spooky and delightful time was had by all!

Happy October Everyone!

Aquarium Adventures

When Brad left us in Utah to come out to start his new job, he sent the boys an email informing them that we were now the proud members of a world famous Aquarium. The boys were thrilled with the prospect! When we finally arrived we couldn't wait to go explore The Tennessee Aquarium with our new family pass!


Floor to ceiling tanks provided an amazing view for curious little eyes!

Sweet Bridger





The Butterfly Garden...and my own little butterfly ( I know, I know, he needs a haircut)



Petting the Sting Rays!


Live Tarantulas ..eek!


Swimming with the Sharks...just kidding Grandma!

Splashing in the water gardens outside!


What a delightful way to spend the day! Thank you Daddy! We love this place and have all agreed we will be back lots!