One Long Week

This past week was a long one because we don't have swim lessons anymore and that sort of broke up our day, so we had to find other things to do. Monday Ryker had a dentist appointment, just a check-up and he did great and has some good looking teeth. He was so excited for his Lightning McQueen toothbrush and bag of goodies.

Pretty much this whole summer every Monday for FHE we have gone swimming. It is fun to swim as a family. And who am I kidding, I can't swim with the kids by myself- Amelia is crazy busy. So Pa (Shauns dad) bought an underwater camera and boy howdy did they have fun with it. Are their any pictures of me....not no but HECK NO.

This is Ryker jumping into the water off the diving board.

Yikes... sort of creepy Millie. She doesn't enjoy being dunked under water. Shaun is sportin the goggles rather nicely,

Tuesday Shaun was doing some yard work and Ryker has to help the whole time. I was going to run to the store and asked Ryk if he wanted to go and all serious he says "Mom you can go, the boys HAVE to stay and do work. We have lots of jobs to do!" I love that he enjoys "working" and I hope he continues enjoying it =)

So it is bloody hot and what do you do with 2 extremely busy kids. Well you take them to a pet store of course. Let me back it up and second. Shaun and I dislike animals very much, but yet we have these 2 animal crazed kids. I mean I gag when I go to any animal store, the smell is nasty but I can deal with it if it entertains my kids for awhile. Ryker really wants a crab.

Millers LOVES cats. She will find a picture of a cat in a book and sit and giggle with excitement. We lucked out and they had some cats for sale at PetsMart and when we got to the window and she saw them she started freaking out with joy. I wish I could have video taped it, she was so funny. This picture doesn't even capture her true bliss.

We have to tie our chairs together so Amelia can't pull them out because she likes to climb up on them then onto the table. Naughty naughty. One day I left the room and heard sneaky laughter. I come back into the room to see what was so funny and Ryker climbed into her sit and she sat in his chair. They thought they were so clever.

Amelia is obsessed with books. I love watching her read.

Ryker has had a sports class every Friday all summer long, so on Friday after his class it was cloudy- but still blazing hot and I thought I would take them to Freestone for a bit. The minute their feet hit the the concrete they saw those ducks and were off. After I took this picture I had to book it myself to stop them from jumping into the pond/lake- whatever it is.

They loved those ducks!!!

Here is the latest little outfit I made for Millie. Not my favorite but still cute.

Her headband is always crazy and she loves walking around the house wearing any ones shoes.

Well we had a long but fun week, I can't believe summer is almost over and school is just around the corner.

Crafts on the Cranium

So here is my latest "Wish List" for crafts I would like to accomplish. I really really love sewing and I've made Millie tons of skirts and dresses (just finished another one tonight-will post pictures soon) and want to venture out, so here are some too cute for words-projects!!

Are you serious with these!!! I like freaked out when I saw these. I think I love having kids because they are my excuse to have toys. I'm planning on making a Ryker doll and Millie doll for Christmas!!!

I want to make this one for me. You thought I was kidding when I said I LOVED TOYS!! Not mention this doll and I have the same hair style.--Ratty.

So I've always wanted to make my kids blankets, but when they are babies they are bombarded with blankets including the 2 from their grandmas, which they love. I want them to have a quilt they can use when their older so I hope to make it bigger to fit a big person. This quilt is simple and I think it will be fun to go and pick out several different fabrics.

Like I mentioned before I'm going to be an AUNT FINALLY , this fall/ winter. First I have my sissy in law Missy having their first baby in November then my brother and Shannie are due in December. So it is a 2 for one deal for me =) Missy is having a boy and Shannie is having a girl (which I predicted for both of them I might add) when I saw these cuddly fabric blocks I knew I had to make a set for both of them.

We are going on a trip at the end of August so I thought this pillow was so stinkin cute. I ALWAYS travel with a pillow and this way I can store some things as well. I'm actually planning on making one for Ryker and if I have time, I will make Amelia one too. My kids LOVE their books.

Last but not least- FELT FOOD. I've seen this and totally thought it was the cutest but Missy really lite the fire under us and demanded we made it, so I found the cutest patterns from a place on Etsy. www.buggabugs.blogspot.com is the link and holy cow she has several felt food patterns. So over the next few weeks this is what we will be working on.

I know most of you think I'm crazy and ask "where do you find the time to do this?". Well we all have our outlets and while the rest of you are probably cleaning your house I'm crafting =) It is my therapy and if I didn't craft or have a 5 mile long list of things to do then I wouldn't have something to look forward too. It is good to accomplish little things here and their, whether it be reading a book, learning a new recipe, or completing a craft.... it just makes you feel good!!

Boulder Creek Fireflies....

Well I was waiting to get some other pictures but still haven't got them so I decided to finally do the tribute to Dear Camp LoMia!!! For starters I LOVES this place, I went here as a young women all my years except one. So I already have many fun memories here. I'm so grateful for all my old leaders now that I know how much work really goes into the whole thing. It has pretty much be on my mind for the previous 7 months!!!! =) Well I have little time to blog so here is the run down.

Group shot on the "Mona" bridge. Every ward was to choose a light source for their ward and we were the fireflies. One of the other leaders made cute cute antennas for all of us..loved them. 27 girls, 6 leaders, 7 YCLs, 3-4th yrs, 4-3rd yrs, 4-2nd yrs, 9-1st years and a partridge in a pear tree.

Practicing for our amazing skit!! We wore all black then white tube socks and did a dance to FootLoose with a black light.

You can't pull off Girls Camp with out Fabulous leaders. I love these ladies and had a blast with all of them.

Amanda, Leah, Candice, Melody and Sandy

I went with the 1st years on their hike. We were tough and ready to go. The stake leaders this year wanted to tuffin' us up so all the hikes were longer and harder than in the past. The 2nd year hike was pretty much rock climbing with out ropes or those pick looking thingys. We are glad they made it back safe and sound!! The 2nd years clothes were trashed when they got back most just threw their clothes away!!!

We are back and all the girls did great!! Only one bee sting and the weather was wonderful!!!

A little massage train action after our hard hikes!!

Ok so instead of the YCLs teaching the certification with posters and boring us all to sleep they did "Mock Disasters" All the YCLs were split up into like 9 countries and had "disasters" happen like frost bite, bones sticking out of legs, this pictures is one of our YCLs who got kicked in the head and was gushing blood. It was so gross because it all looked so real!! Great job YCLs, I know what to do now if my car blows up because of a pregnant suicide bomber...lol. Sick!!

And what is Girls Camp without a little Snipe Hunting. We only caught 2 this year so hopefully next year we will have more luck =)

It is a bonus when you go to Girls Camp with some of your crazy friends!!! Amanda went and was 35 weeks PG. What a trooper.

Candice and I stayed in an Addie with the 2nd years. Yeah we are proud to say we WON "Messiest Cabin Award" Hey this is like a vacation to us, who cleans on vacation!!! This pictures was taken the last morning as we sat outside our addie looking at all the stuff we had to clean up!! No worries we finished on time =)

Well I had the best time ever and not to mention my testimony grew a few notches while at camp. The spiritual lessons were amazing, testimony meeting was wonderful and the feeling I got while singing "We Believe" as a stake is priceless. I'm so grateful that I was able to go and THANK YOU Shaun for taking care of my little peeps and keeping the house in order. Thanks to my mom and mom in law as well.

Happy Double Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Steph and Shel!!!!

I just dug up some pictures that was on my computer and here are some goodies that I found. I love these girls to death and I am so glad I was able to grow up with twin cousins because it made for some fun fun times and many laughs. These 2 are as different as can be and that is what makes it all so fun. Happy Day Girlies!!!!!!!

Here we are at the dinner the night before Shelley was getting married.

I can't believe i'm posting this picture of my FAT face. This is us right before I had Ryker. Yes I gained to much weight .... and it doesn't help that I'm standing next to 2 skinny girls.

This is us at my Grandmas birthday party 2008 I think.

Christmas party with the hubbies and Ryk

Sad to say this was our last group picture at Stephs baby shower Dec 2008.

Well I love you both and hope to remain the best of friends even though life gets busy and pulls us in different directions. =)

6 Years ago....

Today is our 6 year anniversary!! Holy Smokes.  I'm so grateful to be sealed to Shaun and that we have 2 beautiful, yet wild children.  I know you all know that we first met back in 1st grade 21 years ago. Can you find us in this picture?? Answer below.

Shaun: Top row- blue shirt

Leah: First on the 2nd row

Shauns family moved into my ward when we were 12 and our friendship really took off from their. We were best friends all through Highschool. I actually have Shaun to thank for my "girlfriends". Our freshman year Shaun had a New Years Party and that is when I met Natalie, Heather and Megan and the rest is history.

Shaun and I May 2003- Engagement pictures

December 2003- Our first Christmas

It is kind of funny because Shaun and I have more things NOT in common than in common. I love camping, boating, riding quads and Shaun really doesn't care for it. Shaun LOVES movies and I watch maybe 3 a year. My favorite food is Chinese and Shaun's is Italian. Shaun wants to watch any and all sports and I could care less. The list could go on but in the big picture those things are not important. What is important are the few things we DO have in common which is our love for the Gospel and our Family.  Shaun and I do have one other thing in common and that is our funny side. Everynight after both of us are finished up with work or whatever we watch something funny together. We laugh at the same jokes and love to rewind funny parts and laugh till we hurt. 

Captain Hook and Wendy (our kids were Peter Pan and Tinkerbell)

Shaun also goes along with my crazy ideas. Cinco de Mayo

What can I say I LOVE this man.  We balance each other out perfectly. He is a saver and I'm a spender. Shaun is way more disiplined than I and is slowly teaching me self control. I'm alot more flexable about things in life and Shaun is learning to loosen up . Thank you for 6 fun fun years and I know that their are many more laughs to be had!!!!

Seeing Orange!!!

So I have to wake up in less than 6 hours to get ready for 4 fun filled days at Camp LoMia. Yes of course I should be headed to bed but my body doesn't know I will be getting a total of 5 hours of sleep over the next few days. So I'm wide awake but hope to be in bed by mid-night.

Well we had a great week. Ryker had his last week of swim lessons and is the best little swimmer ever. We try to go swimming at "daddy's parents" house (as Ryker would say it) as much as we possible can.  This past week Shaun volunteered the kiddos to be in a Ch 15 commercial again. It is all the weather people buckling up the kids and talking about carseat safety. So I got a few shots of Shaun at work.

Luckily it was under some shade because it was so hot outside and we were there for an hour right during Millies nap time, but the kids did great. This is Ryker during his shot with Kaley O'Kelly.

Like I said we go swimming often and we always have to end with drying in the sun and enjoying a tasty popsicle. Mmm Mmm

So one reason I'm SOOOOO excited to go to camp is because my house is being taken over with ORANGE STUFF. This is just half the loot the girls are getting, pillow cases, journals, treats, drinks, lanyards, flowers for their hair, bug antennas (we are the fireflies) and so much more. Thank you to my wonderful YCLS, Amanda and Candice. We are going to have an amazing time I can't wait!!! If you haven't been to Girls Camp as a leader, I hope sometime you can go because it is so spiritually uplifting and the best testimony builder. 

Even though I'm excited to go be one with nature and giggle all night I will miss these sweet faces!! I love my family and I hope they will miss me too!!! I'll be home Thurs all stinky and sweaty and waiting for a great big hug!!!!!!

Let Freedom Ring

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!!! I have to say, 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Swimming, eating, family, friends and fireworks!!!!  Well we wanted a full day of swimming so we headed over to the Martineaus at like 11:00 and on my way out the door I went to grab my pasta salad and I under estimated how heavy it was and SPLAT.. right onto the floor. Oh well.... I just had to laugh to keep from crying =)

Oh don't let this sweet face fool you.....she is a real sasafrass!!

Why can't both kids smile at the same time????

We have no shame....we all love goggles.

My siblings can over to swim as well so we had to play some fun games. I love the game where right when the person jumps off the diving board you yell out a "move" they have to do. I was being a firecracker.

Sarah doing a toe touch

Then Shaun was showing off his mad basketball skills and trying to make a basket from the other end of the pool.

Dora, Alicia and Diego

After hours of swimming, it was BBQ time. Yes I ate all my food plus more!!!

Millie loves her popsicles.

Sparkler Fun

Well we ended the night just sitting in the backyard and having Shaun light some fireworks he had in his old room at his parents house from like 15 years ago. We were going to go watch fireworks but Shaun gave us a good show. The kids also had a blast with sparklers!!!

Thank you Martineaus, Sellards and Porters for the fun day!!!