{ the day of dread }

I've dreaded this day from the time Sophie Lynn was born. But I knew, like most mothers that it was inevitable.

Today, my sweet Sophie girl cut her own hair. No, not with scissors. . . .with clippers! It took everything out of me not to burst into tears, good thing I've had 2 years to prepare, right.




I guess I should be grateful . . . it could've been worse.

{ Crafting }

For my birthday 2 years ago Logan got me a really cute magnetic calendar. I made cute months for it but other than that I haven't really done much. So when my neighbors were making these really cute Halloween countdowns I got an idea to make some cute numbers for my calendar since I don't usually write a ton on it.

I think it turned out pretty cute.

{ So You Think You Can Dance }

Last year I did many posts about So You Think You Can Dance (aka Shooby in the Hammer home) but this year I liked everyone so I didn't have to use the power of the internet and the blogging world to sway the votes in my direction.

That doesn't mean that we weren't into it as much as every other year though. It was an incredible season! When we found out the tour would be coming to Salt Lake, we had to figure out a way to get there.

Last night was the big night and I think the longest day ever, waiting for it to be time to go! But the time finally arrived, and we weren't let down in any way.

We went with our friends, Texie and Jena. (Logan, such a ladies man)

{So excited we could hardly contain ourselves!}

When we got there we had to get a shot in front of the famous SYTYCD backdrop.



{Hot Mama's}

It's one thing to watch the dances on TV but it's a whole different story when you are watching it live! Here were some of my favorite dances:

{the door dance with Twitch and Katy, by Mia Michaels}

{bleeding love with Chelsey and Mark, by Tabitha and Napolian}

{ Argentine Tango with Chelsey and Joshua}



{ Bohemian Rhapsody by Mark (one of my favs)}



{The whole cast!}

It was an incredible night! Special thanks to our sweet babysitter who came up all the way from Salt Lake after a full day of work. You're the best, Aunt Codye!

themaryspecial

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

{ Sister'y love}

For the past 2 years (since Sophie was born really) I have wondered when my kids would actually start liking each other. Having them so close brought it's challenges, but I always assumed that at some point they would become really good friends.

Well I've waited patiently and I think that time is close at hand. They have started playing together a lot more. They love to play Mommy and Baby, or Mommy and Puppy. They like the same shows and the same toys.

This month Ayden started going to school Monday-Thursday. I didn't think it would effect Sophie the way that it has. Every day on the way home from taking him to school she cries "Mommy, I wan Aaa-sean, Mommy" over and over again. She hates taking him to school and she misses him like crazy when he's gone.

Here's a little video clip just to give you an idea. . .

What a cutie.

{ Beware of Aunt Mar }

This morning we headed down to Salt Lake to help Logan's brother Colter put in his yard.

The kids were playing so well and they didn't want to leave so we decided to do a swap. Hadlee has been wanting to come have a sleepover with Sophie ever since the last time Brandt slept over so Ayden stayed there and we took sweet Hadzee drew with us.

As we were driving away she said, "Aunt Mary, I wish I could have holes in my ears so I could wear earrings like Sophie."

That's all it took! Moments later we were here:

{All ready to go with reinforcement in hand}

{So brave!}

{a little shell shocked, but hanging in there}

{Happy as a clam with her new beautiful purple earrings!}

So beware, if you leave your daughter with me. . . she may share Hadlee's fate!

ps I sound so tough, but don't worry. . . . I asked.

{ Oh the Feel of a Deal }

Sometimes it's hard to beat the feeling of getting a really great deal. Texie's husband Kirk works on the base and she has the great benefit of shopping at the commissary. Yesterday we were talking about groceries and their ever increasing price when she remembered that this weekend is the case lot sale. So I was fortunate enough to get to tag along and what a sweet thing that was!

Just take a look:

That's right! What would you pay for:

32 Juice boxes
12 pancake mixes
12 taco seasoning packs
6 boxes of corn bread mix
6 boxes of augratin potatoes
12 boxes of poptarts
4 bags of Nilla Waffers
24 water bottles
3 boxes of granola bars
2 boxes of cereal bars
8 boxes of fruit snacks
18 boxes of cereal
2 pack of Spray & Wash
170 Electrosol tabs
2 boxes of Nutter bars
24 snack packs
8 boxes of Little Debbie treats
8 rolls of paper towels
and 4 family size boxes of purex

$200? . . . $300? Not me, I paid $107! Man I love a great deal!

{ blogging fun }

I've been going through my blog and really appreciating what a neat thing this is. How cool to have a record of our lives over the last couple years.

It was fun to see the pictures of my kids and how much they've grown.

These are the first pictures I posted of my children a year and a half ago when I started blogging:

And here they are today, man how they've changed!

I'm so glad that regardless if I can ever get my butt in gear with the whole scrapbooking thing. . . at least I have this a record of our lives here in Layton.

{ Utes vs Aggies }

My sister Jenny and her husband Trevor are going to school up at Utah State. So this weekend we got to go visit them and go to the football game! (go UTES)

We met at their house for a tour and dinner.

{look at their cute kitchen!)

After dinner we headed to the game. At first it was toasty warm in the sun!

But as the sun went down, so did the temperature which means I got to sport my Utah sweatshirt!

{Jenny, still supporting the Timpanogos Timberwolves. :}

We are so stoked to have Jenny and Trev close by so we can still get together with them often. They are so much fun! Thanks for chillin with us guys. . . we love ya!

{Oh ya. . . did I mention, GO UTES!}

{ Oh the beauty }

I'm sure you've all heard me say how much I "hate bugs and dirt". So I'm sure it goes without saying that I'm not much for gardening of any kind.

Usually twice, sometimes three times a year, we get a huge crop of strawberries though. Not only are strawberries delicious, I also think they're beautiful.

So for a brief moment a few times a year, I actually get outside amongst the bugs and dirt and appreciate this beautiful earth we live on. The fact that it can produce something so beautiful with little help from us, is a special gift that I truly am grateful for.

{not to mention we always enjoy filling our bellies with a few of these!}

{ making pizza }

Here's an interesting little tidbit of information about me. . .

I love making pizza.

I like my homemade pizza better than any pizza from a restaurant, especially my
bbq chicken and my chicken/bacon alfredo.

Well, I decided to try and share my love of pizza making with my children and make it a
family event!

First we had to make the dough for the crust...

We decided that we would top this pizza with a canadian bacon/ pepperoni blend.

While the dough was rising, Sophie was busy sneaking some pepperoni. I'm surprised we ended up with enough for the pizza!

By then we had lost Ayden's attention, so Soph helped me put on the toppings ...

Then she waited ever so patiently for it to cook...

And VOILA! A delicious pizza for us to devour!

Did I mention I love making pizza...

{First day of school}

Here's a shot of my big boy heading off to his first day of preschool! He's been so excited to start school again.

Sophie thought it was her first day of school too. She walked around all morning with her backpack on. I even had to make her a lunch.