These are the Days

Learned a new trick...

2011-10-02T14:10:00.001-04:00

Can you guess what it is??
Emily are you jealous?

Back to the Grind

2011-10-02T10:15:00.005-04:00

School started...wah-waaah.
The kids were excited and I was sad.
You can tell they all have first day jitters and excitement...

The Fourth

2011-09-26T12:15:00.010-04:00

Nothing is better than celebrating the fourth at the

Deseret Ranch Rodeo!
It's our own slice of Americana!

I was able to capture this gem of a photo!
Love my girl and my country!

Read Me

2011-06-18T14:53:00.005-04:00

This boy loves to read!
He is second out of all the first grade classes for his AR (Accelerated Reader) points!! Woohoo!

He got a trophy and a t shirt for completing his goal of 150 points! And he kept going by the last day of school he had 195 points! The majority of kids in his class had 30-50 points.
I'm totally bragging about this because I had nothing to do with it!
He did it all on his own!
Makes me feel like he just might be on the right track!

He was awarded his trophy by the Harmony High Baseball team. And gave the players and coach high fives down the line. Rett just might have more AR points than those jocks!...okay, now I'm just being annoying.

Good job Mr. Rett Rooster!

My Sweet Mama

2011-06-13T13:06:00.010-04:00

I have been dreading this post because I knew it was next in line...

My sweet grandmother on my mom's side past away on Easter day.
We were lucky enough to have gone down to Miami the weekend before on one of her last good and conscious days.

We love her and miss her.
Can't wait to see her sweet face again and tell her how much I love her.

Family is what it is all about and I love mine.

Her hospice room was very calming and family friendly.
Beautiful Brynn.
My amazing mom has cared for her parents with such love, patience, and empathy.
She was with her all day and many nights.
She was the only one with Mama early Easter morning kneeling by her bedside when she left this earth.

She loved her great grandchildren so much!She kept looking around the room at each face saying, "I so happy."

There are so many things I will remember about my mama. Some of them are:
Sunkist soda, her delicious tuna salad that she always had ready in her fridge, the color khaki, paddle boating in her lake, the smell of her clean organized house, how she always told me she thought I looked so pretty, Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album, her love of all things Ralph Lauren, chorizo and muenster cheese on cuban bread toasting in her counter top oven, and the first time she held Emree who was her first great grandchild.

Those are cherished final memories in that room! We love you Mama!

Soccer Champ

2011-04-27T14:36:00.005-04:00

Lil' Rye guy is playing some soccer these days...

Well, as much as a five year old that has no clue how to play, can play.

Getting some pointers from the coach.

Getting in the zone before going out on the field.

It's hot out there people! He needs his water breaks...

He even has the cutest little cheerleader! Who also cheers for her big brother...

Who happens to be Rye's best bud at church, school, and on the field! These boys are pretty intense together. They love hard, play hard, and fight hard.
The coach has learned the hard way to play them at different times because when they are
hot, tired, and crabby from playing there will be tears and arguing on the field during the game!
But they do love each other most of the time.

I want to re-live this day

2011-04-26T14:13:00.010-04:00

This guy down here planned such a fun day for us...

He loaded up the boat, boys, bait and brought along the girls.

This would look really yummy if you were a fish.

The three fishermen in my life.

Rita was a trooper with her huge honkin' vest.

They reeled 'em in while I sat back and watched. Loved it.

We caught a whopper...

Love all four of these kids.

There was a dolphin swimming by us...bottom right of the bird.

Joey docked us at a park and the kids played...
She gets her sweet pumping action from me.

Is there anything better than a happy girl?...Oh yeah, and Rita was pretty happy too.

Superman wanted to fly.

My Latin lover.

After the park Joey docked us at a fun restaurant on the water.

We ate and then the kids played in the sand.
There was a live band playing and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.

Can not believe I'm typing this...
but anytime you want to take us fishing Babe, I'm game!

Photography Don'ts

2011-04-03T18:55:00.006-04:00

With my new camera in the bag
and inspiration galore
I am ready to be a photographer.

If only it were that easy.
I am pathetic.
It is a s....l....o....w learning process.

So here are tips from a complete novice on what NOT to do.

Don't go outside by yourself with your one year old thinking you'll get stunning photos.

Don't keep calling her name thinking that will get her attention.

Don't get frustrated when everything is coming out wrong.

Don't forget to be aware of clothing craziness and
making your one year old look pregnant.

Thank you, Rita. This is exactly how I feel.

Crawler to Toddler

2011-04-03T18:16:00.003-04:00

A little over a month ago Miss Pita stopped doing this...

and this...

and she stopped walking in this...

and started being my little walker girl...

We are so happy/sad about this!

Boys Club (and sometimes two girls)

2011-03-30T21:45:00.005-04:00

Any given day these boys, Jack Jack, Emree, and Rita are playing outside.
They are quite the crew and they have a good 'ole time doing what kids are supposed to be doing...
PLAYING!

Muggles, Hippogrifths, and Hogwarts

2011-03-30T18:52:00.006-04:00

We love a good surprise and we especially love surprising the kids.
They had been dying to go to Harry Potter's Wizarding World, and by dying I mean driving us CAH-RAY-ZEE!

So Joey and I decided that on a beautiful Saturday there was nothing we would rather do than go to Costco...or that's what we told the kids.
Needless to say they were super duper excited when they saw they would be doing something other than eating samples (I personally don't think it gets better than a Costco sample in each hand!).

On their way to see their future school...

Whoop, there it is!

Platform 9 3/4. Glad we didn't miss the train.

Be still my Wizard loving heart.

Perfect little squib baby in a non-magical stroller.

Flying with the Hippogrifths...

Loving on some Rita in Dr. Suess land...

These two are best of friends...

Good job Universal on Harry Potter World.
If only the rest of the park could be as nice.
Sorry, I am a Disney snob.
Jello can never be creme brulee.

How Rita Pita Does One

2011-03-30T15:38:00.011-04:00

My sweetest Pita face turned one on January 10th.
She is our sweet baby girl and we could not love her anymore. Seriously. This girl is wrapped around everyone's finger in our house.

She loves her mama and she still loves to nurse. She loves her two fingers to suck on and she loves to have her other free hand down my shirt...it's like a pocket. She loves to horse around on her dad and use him as a jungle gym. She eats like a maniac and knows Rocky will take anything she doesn't want. She likes Fresh Beat Band and Yo Gabba Gabba. Her sister can ALWAYS make her smile. Her brothers have to have her give kisses and wave bye-bye every night or else they're sad. If she sees the front door opened at all she wants to go outside to play or go on a walk to the Clarks. She is a mild sweetie and has let me take a whole shower and do make up while she sat watching TV. She loves taking a bath in the sink and drinking the water. She's a professional dumper and will empty any purse or bag in seconds. She does not like to sit in shopping carts unless she is eating or has a toy to play with. She's my Rita Pita, my peach face, pumpkin head, and the caboose on the Snider train.
WE LOVE HER.

On her birthday we went to the only place happy enough to lift me out of my deep depression that she was turning one...
DISNEY!

She had a great time! She saw how HA-UGE a Clydesdale is.

She went on the carousel and pretended she was on that Clydesdale...

She met her favorite characters (okay, well, my favorite characters)...
She watched the birds...
and she felt as free as a bird standing all by herself...
She met Mickey face to face...
and LOVED every minute of him...
She went to the candy store...
and well, acted like a kid in a candy store...
We partied hard later on with our family...
Things started out pretty neat and tidy...
and then Pandora's box was opened...
She ended up crowning herself Best One Year Old Ever!and we agree.

Never Grow Up

2011-03-30T15:35:00.000-04:00

My kids just keep getting bigger and bigger.
Thumbs down.

Crazy Cousins

2011-03-30T14:31:00.003-04:00

Aleksi came into town for the holidays and stayed a night at our house with Max and Cassie.
I love them. So much.
They make us so happy when they are here.
Enough said.

Aleksi and Cynthia (who came down with Max and just might be one of the funniest people I know)...

Max...it was late...and cold...and we were delirious...

Cassie can not take a bad picture, no matter the time, or circumstance.

Look at this guy! Could he be any cuter?!
He will be leaving for his mission sometime this Summer or Fall.
Oh, what will we do without him???

And this is why we love him! Because he does stuff like build Legos with the boys...

And draws lightening scars on foreheads...
We love Aleksi, Mitchell, Cassie, and Max!!!

Christmas Auction

2011-02-11T16:33:00.010-05:00

We celebrated Christmas on New Year's Day with my family. Such a good time!
My mom had the idea to do an auction instead of a gift exchange! And it was so much fun!
We all had play money and everyone came with an assortment of things, new, used, thrifted...whatever! And then we bid on all the items.
In the end we ended up with a Pampered Chef chopper and a Chick-Fil-A gift card. There were some really great things but Joey and I were holding out for the mystery items...we're risk takers like that.

Edesse, Emree, and Brynn couldn't love eachother more...

My little bro, Evan, the artist...

My Aunt Maria with Pita...

My parents spoil all the grandkids and give them whatever their heart desires...

Can't wait for the Auction next Christmas!

Emree's Big Ten Chop!

2011-02-11T13:55:00.013-05:00

Emree decided last Summer that she wanted to chop her hair...I somehow managed to convince her to wait until her birthday! She had waited and waited and the day was finally here!

She had a sleepover with her two very best friends...

Her hair wouldn't normally be this long, but we decided to grow it out long enough to
donate it to the
Pink Heart Fund.
Some sick little girl or mama will be getting her luscious locks.

Our Nana Banana wouldn't have missed this day for anything!

And we had out Tias Chi Chi and Maria here too!

Emree getting ready to go!
My dear friend, Shelly, is an amazing stylist and was so nice to do the cut!

Here it is all ready to go!
Her hair was pretty thick so one big pony wasn't going to be a good idea!
So she had three cute ponies!

No turning back now!

One down!! Two more to go!!

Emree was DY-ING!!
I was in shock at this point and could only snap away.

A lock for each friend...
Shelly cleaning it up...
Emree wanted it just like her American Girl doll Nellie. A clean classic bob.
My cute short haired redhead!
She couldn't stop moving and shaking it...
It was a great day!
Happy 10th my sweet girl!!

Happy Christmas!!

2011-01-27T16:32:00.008-05:00

Yay! Christmas!

Rett feeding the reindeer their glitter oatmeal..Yum!

Christmas Eve pj's! They love picking them out every year. Rett and Rye both insisted on How To Train Your Dragon pj's.

There is nothing like Christmas Eve with little ones! Such excitement!

Rita loved playing with her nativity. I was setting it up every time I turned around. But nothing broke this year! Hooray!

Okay so here is where my surprise comes in! Christmas morning we are woken up by the kids at around 6:45, which wasn't too bad! We gather around the tree and Joey casually brings me a gift and says it's for me and that I could open it if I want to. We always open our gifts after the kids, but he said just to do it...so inside was this bad boy

He had it all charged up and ready to go! I of course cried...and he might have shed a tear too (Not joking! Sounds silly, but we were just so excited!) It was a complete surprise! I never told him that I wanted one! But inside I was dying for a nicer camera! He just gets me!

So I started snapping away! From now on I'm hoping for better pictures on this blog! I am clearly a beginner and have A LOT to learn! But at least "Auto" works great!

The present opening commenced... The kids exchange names and give each other a little something. They REALLY love this. They love picking just the perfect gift!
Santa brought everyone what they wanted!
Rett received all sorts of Harry Potter goods...Emree books, jewelry, clothes, make up...

Rita didn't know the difference in amount of gifts between her and the other kids...
If we have one more train Christmas I might just open my own train store... At some point he'll move on, right? I'm waiting...
We're slowly catching up!

F. I. V. E.

2011-01-27T15:39:00.012-05:00

Rye Rye turned five on December 13th. He has turned into such a funny kid. He loves hard and when he's cranky watch out! He is definitely his own person and I love that about him.

F-favorite foods are waffles, mickey mouse chicken, homemade wheat bread with butter and honey, and macaroni and cheese.

I- interests are riding his two wheeler, playing with Rett and his buddies. He loves to watch movies and can quote them. He picks anywhere from one to ten toys to sleep with every night. Always something different. I love to see what he picks out. He then brings them to bed and puts the covers over them.
V- very funny. This kids just makes us all laugh. He doesn't even have to try and we are all just dying. He is also very sensitive. He doesn't have to get in very much trouble to have a complete melt down and be in tears.

E-enjoying every minute I have with my Rye Guy because before I know it he'll be six!

The Beehive State

2011-01-27T14:33:00.006-05:00

Oh Utah!! It was such a fun trip!! So many highlight and so little pictures...

Our flight left at 7:30 am!! So you know how that goes...I basically didn't sleep the night before because of packing, tying up loose ends at home, and pure excitement!...Our flight out there consisted of Heather and I talking non-stop, Rita being a dream baby, and a complete psycho sitting in the window seat. I will sum her up by describing her as a ghetto mama who pretended to only speak Spanish and then shot up while sleeping and looked at Heather and said, "YOU WOKE ME UP! YOU KICKED MY LEG!"... meanwhile Heather has the tiniest legs on the planet and had not moved an inch. I should know because I was looking at her while we were talking. When exiting the plane I yelled adios to her and I just wish I could say adios to the image in my head of her checking out her teeth and hair in the reflection of her iPhone before disembarking....So the trip was off to an eventful start!!...

Yay! We've arrived and Aleksi picked us up at the airport!! It was such a happy reunion!!

Rita feeling like a big girl in her forward facing car seat. We didn't go back to rear facing after this trip. She officially started her big girlhood.

Poor peach head spent most of the trip trying to just sleep. But it never lasted long. We were always getting her out to shop, eat, change, shop, eat, visit.

Aleksi's house is adorable!! Seriously they have done such cute things!! Her roommate Cortney is super creative and crafty and has made such amazing "Anthro" looking things for the house! It was decorated for Christmas and we just loved staying there.
Aleksi read Rita this book and it seemed Rita really liked it until we noticed she was sleeping...
On our way somewhere...poor girl has never been in a car seat so much!
A few houses down from Aleksi this kid was making a snowman the day before. I couldn't pass up the chance to take a pic with Frosty before... well, you know...RIP Mr. Parson Brown.
We had to get Aleksi in on this action before it grew too late. She hates when I try to set her up, but I think she had a thing for this fellow...
The entire trip I kept make dumb comments about the mountains. They really are so big! I just am not used to seeing such things! They make me dizzy!
Breakfast one morning with the darling Munns girls at Maggleby's Fresh. Is there anything better than bottomless french toast and delicious omelets???
Rita lovin' her some french toast. Let me just comment on her hair clip. I purchased it while I was in Utah at this fabulous event. Lots of vendors that sell on Etsy and that craft THE CUTEST things were participating. I have since lost it (and by "I" I mean Joey). I am crushed about it and have looked high and low to find it. But I believe it to be lost at either Bass Pro or Chick-Fil-A. It is seriously one of those things that keeps me up at night because my heart aches for it. I know, sounds dumb, but I just really really liked the darn thing.
But Rita is just as cute without it.
Our drive by of the Salt Lake Temple. It is just a beauty.
Leaving for the airport we snapped a couple pics before we both had red noses and mascara running down our faces.
Such a fun time!! I did not get ONE picture of my glorious reunion with Catherine and Myriam!! I had so much fun eating and visiting with them! They're houses are warm, inviting, and beautiful! I love you both soooooo much!! Guess I'll just have to go back so that we can snap a few pics!

Aleksi was the best little hostess, driver, shopping partner, bed-sharer, and helper-outer EVER!!
I love you more than you'll ever know!!

I need to update!!

2011-01-24T20:49:00.001-05:00

Wow! I know how bad I've been at posting, but I have lots of excuses!!! I need to become better at it! And I will try my hardest! I have lots to blog about...My Utah trip, Rye's birthday, Rett's school performance, our super fun Christmas which may have included a big surprise from Joey, Emree's BIG chop, and my Rita turning ONE!!!

For now a few random pics from my phone will have to do!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Off to Wonderland!

2010-11-13T14:56:00.004-05:00

Halloween 2010
Alice in Wonderland

I really didn't know if I was going to be able to pull it off this year! Rita is a busy little baby! She was like a ticking time bomb every time I started working on costumes! I would just try to get as much done as I could until she couldn't take it any longer. I did have help one morning from Emily who let me sew away while she watched Rita at her house. It was a glorious 4 hours and I was able to get my Queen of Hearts costume done... Thanks Emily! I owe you!

The camera was in some weird manual mode so this picture is gross. Yes, I almost cried when I realized it because our family photographer had already left to dress her cute little Jack of hearts!

ahhh, now these colors are a lot better...

Emree: "You're late for a very important date!"

Seriously we love going to Disney for Halloween. No one does it better.

Joey always remains in character. No matter what.

Emree made the prettiest little Alice.

Rita made the cutest happiest bunny ever.

The King and Queen.

And can I just tell you how many times I laughed walking behind Joey. The hat made him so ridiculously tall. You couldn't miss him.
The things this guy will to do please me...tights, makeup, wigs, huge hats, uncomfortable costumes, is there a limit??

Disney brings out characters during the Halloween party that aren't out during the year... I was excited to see this witch. Do you know what from???
Well a BIG FAT CHECK on Halloween!! Yay!!

YIKES!

2010-11-07T21:39:00.004-05:00

So it was brought to my attention today by a really *special* friend that I seriously needed to update my blog.
I knew I needed to, but I just kept putting it off and putting it off. Ugh.
I just wish the pictures would upload themselves!

So I'm playing catch up!

Rett turned 7! He had a great birthday! We went to a Disney hotel, swam, ate, and played in their arcade. A perfect night for a 7 year old!

We said goodbye to Mitchell for two years. So. Sad. well it would be sadder if he wasn't going...
His farewell was amazing and I can only post a picture of him with the kids because Joey and I might have been crying like babies during his talk and might look swollen and red in our picture with him....
I seriously feel like he's been gone six months and it hasn't even been two! It's going to be a looooonnnnggg two years. But his letters are great and we are having fun writing him.

Rett started playing flag football for upward! Yay!
And I'm happy to say that he scored his first touchdown this past Saturday! It is really funny to watch these boys play. They all look a little confused when the ball comes their way and flags get pulled by people that aren't even close to the ball. So funny.

Rita is growing and she just needs to stop it! She crawls all over the place getting into all sorts of things. I forgot how busy those babies are! Something is getting broken on a regular basis and she is getting really good at finding anything that is on the floor that can go in her mouth.

And she is turning out to be quite the blondey!

School Daze

2010-09-25T17:12:00.002-04:00

So school had to start and as much as I was dreading it I'll have to admit that it has been nice getting back into a routine.

Can. Not. Believe. Emree is in the fourth grade!

Sweet Rett is King of first!

And drum roll please...

PRE-K for Mr. Rye!!

Let's be honest...I was nervous, really nervous about Rye Rye going. He does not like Primary and lays on the floor, falls asleep, and can be really cranky in there.
I thought this might happen at school
BUT...
He LOVES it!!!
They really pull through when you need them to. Tender mercies...
I do miss my comic relief during those three hours that he is gone. Though, they are a really quite three hours...

Last Hurrah!

2010-09-21T09:27:00.008-04:00

We surprised the kids on their last weekend of Summer Break with a stay at Disney's Contemporary Resort...I promise Rye was excited! He was just a little cranky from being woken up in the car...
SURPRISE!

In our room we immediately put on suits and went straight to the pool...

Good times were spent in the pool with a great slide...

and a really fun splash pad. Can you tell?

The next morning Emree and I had a little photo shoot in the bathroom showing how fancy everything was...
Then we were off for a yummy character breakfast!
Rita's scrunched up smile is my favorite!
Hooray for Mickey! Rye is giving him some extra love...We had such a great Summer and we're so glad we ended it with a bang!

Sunday before church...

2010-08-02T16:36:00.002-04:00

Sure we were a few minutes late but it was totally worth it! Too bad Joey was already there for meetings...but that's what Photoshop is for, right?! and to make me thinner

love my little chicks...

and Yay for matching girls!!!

Emree loves Rita

2010-08-02T16:25:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned how much Emree loves Rita??? And how much Rita loves Emree??? This girl is AH-MAZING! She will whisk Rita right out of my arms and go entertain her whenever she gets the chance. The other night Emree called me into her room asking me to come look at her doll and this is what I found....The two of them cuddling so cute! I'm so glad they have eachother! I can just wait until Rita's getting into all sorts of things in Emree's room because she thinks Emree is so cool...Emree might not be laughing then.

Wet and Wild

2010-08-02T16:08:00.002-04:00

This girlie loves her bath time...

And I love her clean little body after... so cute!

Tough to be Rita

2010-08-02T15:50:00.008-04:00

Going...

Going...

GONE!

Summer isn't Summer without Miami

2010-08-02T15:22:00.002-04:00

We love going down to Miami during Summer! And let's just say I did a horrible time documenting this trip...sorry.

We visited Chi Chi and Maria's condo on the way down...So fun!

The kids basically spent tons of time in the pool while we were down there...made me happy to see the kids playing in the pool that I played in growing up!
Happy girl Pita...

Emree relaxing...

Sweet boy Rye Rye...He kind of looks like his floatie...

Emree and Rett playing all sorts of games they made up...
We had so much fun down there! Swimming, eating yummy things, visiting family... We loved it!

Who could ask for more?

2010-08-02T14:50:00.005-04:00

After swim lessons were done we were ready to start playing! So we hit the beach! It was Rita's first time! It was so fun....but good grief was it a lot of gear for me!! It was such a perfect Summer day though...wish I could have frozen time.

Rita trying to make sense of all of this...

Rett had fun digging...

Rye was a crazy man... He, Rett, and Emree literally spent almost three hours jumping the waves! Needless to say they were exhausted the ride home.

Emree said she was dying to get in the shower because of the chunks of sand in her suit...but this girl does love the beach!

Swim lessons can be embarrassing

2010-06-25T16:36:00.006-04:00

This is where we have been every morning for 10:00 am swim lessons. Initially Rett and Rye were in one class and Emree was in another. It didn't last because on the second day Rye threw up in the pool and everyone in all the different classes had to clear the pool for thirty minutes!

I WANTED TO DIE!!
I was already sketchy on how Rye was going to do....leave it to him to show me who is boss. I couldn't leave either because Emree still had half an hour of her swim class left after every one was allowed back in. So I spent my time apologizing to everyone that had wasted their morning getting ready only to have it ruined.

Once I decided to pull Rye out all my anxiety was gone and classes for the rest of the session were great! (deep breath)
Rett is officially a swimmer!...
So funny with his goggle face...
Toy time after swimming...Rett said they were baby toys...ummm that could be because most kids are younger when they take this class...

Emree learned different strokes in her swim class... She was nervous at the beginning, but ended up really liking her teacher and doing races...

And she loved jumping off the diving board at the end of every class...

I'm so glad we did it, but so glad we don't have to haul ourselves over there anymore.
And most importantly no one has to look at Rye Rye and call him the "Throw Up Boy".

FHE Summer Dance Party

2010-06-25T16:23:00.002-04:00

We cleared the furniture and got down at our dance party! It was the hottest club in town that night!

We lined the "dance floor" with lights to set the mood. This is Lillie showing off her best moves...

We discovered Rett had awesome robot skills...

Emree (a sweaty girl!) and Porter...

Joey loving on some Rita...and yes those are killer red velvet cupcakes in the background.

Let's get this party started!!!!

2010-06-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

Aloha Kindergarten

2010-06-23T08:29:00.002-04:00

Rett went to Hawaii on his last day of school for a luau. Complete with passports, tropical attire, and an airplane ride. I know, only the best for our kids.
Mrs. Moschouris was great and Rett had a great Kindergarten year!

2010-06-23T08:05:00.003-04:00

We visited Disney's Animal Kingdom for one last fun filled day before school let out.

Rye pet the animals...(more like brushed their booties)

We were able to see how big a Rhino is compared to Rye Rye...scary.

Rye had an African jam session. This kid loves to drum.
A crowd was gathered looking at the trees. We didn't know why...And btw Rye took the next series of pics! I can't believe how good he is at framing everything!...Can you tell in this pic what people were looking at?
The tree lady!! Who looked like a spider when she came out and behind me!!!!...

Here's me DYING of laughter at the tree lady (sorry I couldn't even try to be pretty because I was laughing so hard!) and Rye Rye taking the picture! All on his own....It all happened so fast and Rye was snapping away. I just thought it would be of my left arm or that my head would be cut off, but he got it perfectly! And I died laughing again when I saw the pic and how great he did!
In line for the safari. Yay for Disney!

In honor of Toy Story 3

2010-06-23T08:01:00.002-04:00

photo entitled: You Got A Friend In Me
photographer: Rye Rye

She likes her walker!

2010-06-23T07:57:00.002-04:00

I love this little walker. All four of the kids have scooted around in this thing. I will probably cry when we get rid of it...

She likes to play in her room

2010-06-23T07:44:00.002-04:00

Love her sweet face!

I. Live. For. The. Weekend.

2010-05-25T10:12:00.001-04:00

Aren't weekends the best??
We had an amazing one this past week...

these three crazies came up...(Missed you Cassie!)

Some playtime on the dock...
Aleksi does Emree's hair remind you of a trend??...

Rett loved this...

Rye looks like he loved it, but was scared to death...

Rett taking Aleksi for a ride...

Mitchell you're going to salivate at this pic when you're on your mish and you want to be in the water...

love him...

we also had Rett's last game of the season...(big sigh of relief!)
LOVE his Beyonce pose here...

Sweet Emree and silly bandz...why didn't I think of those???

this picture was taken before he hit the ball and made it all around the bases! Woohoo!

Thumbs up!!

squeeze. her.

Just might be my favorite picture ever! She really is sunshine for my soul...

Love Emree sneaking in the background...

1000 kisses a day is not even enough!

Someday Rye wants to be as tall as Mitch but for now this will do...

Season ending banquet at....The one-and-only
CATFISH PLACE! Yay!

love...

So happy to have his FIRST trophy!

Hanging with the neighbors...Porter Ports...

Crazy Caroline...

he has a sweet heart...

Lillie lillers...

They make up some weird games...

garbage can volleyball...

garbage can high jump...

looking back it was a great weekend and I can't wait to do it again...
how many days until friday??

(I just love this picture!)

Aren't Good Morning smiles THE BEST???

2010-05-19T10:20:00.001-04:00

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I can do anything good.

2010-05-19T09:28:00.000-04:00

THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER!!

LOVE HER!

I love you cherry much!

2010-05-17T12:59:00.000-04:00

Sweetest cherry girl ever!

I decided we needed a picture before getting in the car to go home from church. It didn't work out so well.

Rita's face makes me laugh every time I see this first one... How did I get so lucky to have two beauties???...

Rye's point of view

2010-05-17T12:15:00.000-04:00

I have to delete pictures from my camera on a regular basis from Rye snapping away...These are some I found today that he took all by himself, seriously.

He takes them of himself...

the house...

and his trains...

Ball games...

2010-05-17T11:56:00.001-04:00

Rett was given the game ball for making some good plays (or maybe it was just his turn...lol). And we were so happy because he's been asking about it for weeks!!

Rita likes

2010-05-17T11:53:00.001-04:00

shopping...

and looking at herself in the mirror...

Marching to the beat of his own drum.

2010-05-17T11:47:00.000-04:00

Here is a sample of two of Rye Rye's outfits from this past week. And he wears it all day...

Yes, that is a life jacket.

Rett loves me

2010-05-17T11:27:00.000-04:00

Rett's sweet Kindergarten class did a cute little Mothers Day program and was followed by a "Spa Day" where the kids did all the work. It was so cute he massaged my hands, put stickers on my fingernails, rubbed my back, and served up some tasty treats. It was adorable and precious!

I completely forgot that I had my Flip with me and missed out on recording the most adorable performance of
"What a Wonderful World".
All the moms were crying and this made it hard for Rett when he looked at me and saw tears coming down my face. I could tell he was starting to choke up and was worried it would be another performance that he couldn't make it through....
But he just closed his little eyes, fought back his tears, and kept singing away....
The other moms thought he was just really into the song but I knew my sweet boy was being brave.
So if you could just imagine this big kid with eyes closed, moving his head from side to side, doing the practiced hand motions, and singing along...
my heart melts when I think about it....

What are the chances??

2010-05-17T10:49:00.000-04:00

That three out of my four suck their middle two fingers on their right hand!! Isn't that crazy?! A couple weeks ago little Pita found her fingers...things have been very quiet lately...

The Pie Man

2010-05-17T10:42:00.000-04:00

Mitchell makes amazing pies...He shared this recipe with me. It was delish!

Blueberry Pineapple Pina Colada Pie

Spring Fling

2010-05-12T12:19:00.001-04:00

Okay, is Spring Break not wonderful??!! Especially after our unusually cold winter here in Florida! So here is our wrap up...

Easter in Stuart...

Miami...

Visits with great-grandparents...

Naps...

Beach...

Movies...

Laughing...

Chicken & cheese with sun sauce...

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Take a peep..

2010-04-16T10:26:00.000-04:00

Easter with my peeps...

sweet family and one crankster...

two pretty spring chicks...

love those spring babies with their big eyes...and love the fish eye lens...

flowers and bunny ears growing out of our heads...

basket full of deliciousness...

the Easter Bunny one night and the Tooth Fairy the next!? This is one magical house!...

not just an egg hunt, but coloring books too!...

and trying to make this Easter last for the next two years...

Credits to the photographer...he also made an amazing stop motion that I want to post...

Getting Greens

2010-03-23T18:16:00.001-04:00

Just seconds ago...

Me: "Rett, what do you want for dinner?"

Rett: "I don't know, (sigh) I'm tired of salad."

Me: ?????

Funny boy.

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Slave Labor

2010-03-23T17:53:00.000-04:00

The kids begged to wash my car today...let me think about that...

YES!

Free labor, me telling them they missed a spot, kids that don't know better and think this is fun...SCORE!

And me? I cuddled with Rita Pita...

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Rodeo, what?

2010-03-23T13:52:00.000-04:00

On Friday I couldn't wait to post about the Deseret Ranch Rodeo that we were attending. Joey is now working out there and that means that our kids are allowed to participate. Weeks ago we signed Rett up for the mutton busting...and for weeks we've talked about it with him. He was so excited!...we thought.... and then when he was the third in line to do it what do you think he did????? What do all my kids do????THEY CRY!!! so he backed out....boo...

The whole way home Joey and I talked about how we need to toughen these kids up...

....love my little softies.

Naughty Lil' Leprechaun

2010-03-17T19:50:00.000-04:00

We had a little visitor today. He didn't kiss us or leave a pot of gold, but atleast he put the toilet seat down.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(This is not our toilet, but courtesy of Google images. I forgot to take a picture once again because I can't wait to clean up the rainbow sprinkle trail he leaves!)

She smiles!

2010-03-12T18:15:00.001-05:00

Cutest thing ever!!

Her first white dress

2010-03-12T11:02:00.000-05:00

My prettiest PEARL received her name and blessing in church this past Sunday. Which if you checked Aleksi's blog you know why this is her new nickname..

Our little treasure...

GREATEST FAMILY EVER!

Only in Kindergarten...

2010-03-12T10:48:00.000-05:00

do you make leprechaun traps for a project. And now he's REALLY hoping we can catch one. If "somebody" ends up scarred because "somebody" didn't catch a leprechaun DON'T BLAME ME!

I CAN'T HEAR YOU! TALK A LITTLE LOUDER!

2010-03-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

We all know this kid LOVES his guitars...he can have some serious jam sessions...

He quotes School of Rock...and listens for guitar solos in songs...

This toy (although he told me it's not a toy, it's an instrument) only feeds the beast....He couldn't believe it had a cymbal, and I couldn't believe he knew what a cymbal was...

A perfect activity with a sleeping baby :)

Swing Batter, Batter, Swing!

2010-03-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

We signed Rett up for his first year of baseball...t-ball actually.... And he's so cute in his uniform...
And yes, sponsored by The Catfish Place, where you can enjoy all the frog legs, gator meat, and catfish you can handle...gotta love St. Cloud...

I was a little nervous when he went up to bat...our kids do not like to be the center of attention. You know this if you have been in Primary or have seen them in the Primary program... So I was worried he would cry and HE DIDN'T!!! He even said after the game, very excitedly, "I felt like I was going to cry, but I DIDN'T!!". Lol, even he couldn't believe it...

sliding into home...

and he got to play pitcher and catcher...He loved it! And we did too! It was sooo nice to spend a beautiful almost Spring day out at the ball field!

Dreams Come True

2010-03-08T09:44:00.000-05:00

Yes I know Rita has dominated the blog! I will fill in on the other precious babes in my life!!

Emree's birthday was in December and the last thing we wanted to get her was more "stuff" so on her wish list for Christmas was Taylor Swift tickets and she didn't even know that she was coming to Orlando. Joey did some of his sneaky work and found out she was coming and bought a pair of tickets...Needless to say she cried when she opened them...I know we are pathetic!! All of us are criers!!...She had been counting down the days and it finally came this past Friday...

We decided Joey would take her because I can feed a baby and he can't. They had a great time! Joey did think she might have had a better time with me because we could have danced and sung all the songs...I said to Joey, "You mean you didn't do that?", then I had that visual in my head and agreed that it would have been a little creepy to see a grown man doing that to Taylor Swift songs....but I know he was doing it in his head...

EAT HER UP BUTTERCUP!

2010-02-24T17:24:00.000-05:00

Thank you Lindsay Hart for these DARLING pictures that I will treasure forever!! Look at the beautiful pictures she takes right here !

Look at those cowlicks! One of the many things I love about her!...

Happy Valentines

2010-02-15T12:59:00.000-05:00

i heart Rita part 2

2010-02-15T12:33:00.000-05:00

Look at the neck strength in this picture! Keep in mind she was 3 1/2 weeks old when we took it!

Love her funny little newborn faces...

yummy, yummy baby..

Awww, and her little naked body!!! Oh how I love her!!!

i heart Rita

2010-02-15T12:26:00.000-05:00

We sent out Valentines announcements so we had the funnest little photo shoot...then the hard part was picking my favorite...

Loves

2010-01-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

Love this little face

Love this little mouth

Love these little legs in those adorable socks

Love her little body in the teeniest of outfits...

LOVE her!!!

Senorita Snider

2010-01-25T10:47:00.000-05:00

Rita Eve Snider
born January 10, 2010
7lbs. 14oz., 20 inches

The kids came the Sunday evening and met their new sister...Rita brought them gifts and they were thrilled...

Our bigger better family

Can I just say that I'm one proud mama! I love this little girl!

Tardy for the Party

2010-01-25T10:45:00.000-05:00

Rita finally decided to come into the world! We were so happy!

My contractions started around 4:30 on Friday Jan. 8. I had them all night and into Saturday. The OB told me I would have to labor at home for a while. So we waffled all day Saturday when to actually go to the hospital. In between contractions Saturday night Emree slips and falls and hits her forehead on the door frame. Yikes! Everything was okay with a butterfly bandage...but it gave me a good scare!

Finally around 10:30pm we decided to go to the hospital...

Here I am between contractions at home.... It was a team effort...

When we got to the hospital they monitored me and decided that Joey and I should walk around the hospital for an hour and a half...They told us this at 11:30pm!!! I was already sooo tired! But we did and strong contractions were coming every 4 to 5 minutes during that LONG hour and a half!!! After the time was up I had progressed to a 6 and they decided to keep me! I became totally nervous and realized how I never wanted to do this ever again! After having the epidural not take on the left side and feeling a ridiculous amount of pain the last hour and a half little Rita came into the world! Everyone was crying except me I was beyond elated that she was here and that meant no more pain! Yay!

I couldn't believe how much she looked like the other kids...

Getting her little feet stamped...

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

Our 2009 Christmas Card

Happy Halloween

2009-11-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

"Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize"...we decided to be characters from the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney...and it was the scariest the Sniders have ever been....

Joey and the boys were the three hitchhiking ghosts, Emree was Constance the bride that chops all her husbands' heads off, and I was the ghostly girl on the shelf that beckons eerily, "hurry back, hurry back....we're dying to have you..."

Joey once again gets "Best Husband Ever" award! He looked amazing and people were taking pictures of him all throughout the park! So funny! And he didn't take anything off until we were back in the car for the ride home...did I mention it was hot and humid that night??? He must have been dying!!!

Too pretty to be scary...

This Halloween was inspired by Rett who was tired of being sweet things, the Beast last year wasn't frightening enough...

We came home at 2am and the boys slept in the next morning...Rye zonked while we were at Disney and we weren't able to remove his skeleton face...

Happy vs. Cranky

2009-10-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

Things that are making me HAPPY...

I'm going to have one of these again....
I seriously CAN'T WAIT to see her and give her tons of kisses!!!

Rye is now potty trained...pretty much...I know you're probably saying, "Isn't he kind of old?" Well, to answer, he is three (alright, four in Dec.) and had absolutely NO interest in the potty...But we have overcome!!! He has been the first child that we have had to work to potty train...and it was rough!!

This stuff actually works! Can't even believe it! My skin was freaking out! Hormones??!! But this has made it sooooo much better!! My ad will be out soon to join Jessica's, Kelly's, and Julia's....

Yum! Yummers! I discovered Archer Farms PUMPKIN pancake mix... It is Fall for breakfast!! So delish!!...

Things that are making me very CRANKY...

Stupid glucose test that I dread immediately when I find out I'm expecting, and for good reason! I had my test on Friday and I only held it down for 30 minutes!!! It was a VERY nasty ending for the glucola in my body which was then followed by an actual panic attack!!! Who does that??!! I really thought I was going to die because I couldn't breath! I was scared to death! But meany ugly nurse is making me go in tomorrow and redo...upside is she said I can try eating 22 jelly beans instead of drinking that nasty drink... we'll see how it goes...

For the love, I can not find these suckers anywhere!!! Target...no, Publix...no, Walmart...no!! If anyone finds these PLEASE tell me where!!!!

Our Haunted House

2009-10-12T08:52:00.000-04:00

Thought I would treat you with some pics of our "boo"tiful house...
What is really scary is I didn't take a picture of everything!! I heart halloween...

Serpents, Lizards, Tail of a Rat

2009-09-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

I put my Fall decorations out at the beginning of September and while I was doing it I kept eyeing my Halloween decorations...I decided to just go ahead and put them all out at once. Because of this I've been so into decorating the house for Halloween. I literally would not mind at all if my house could look like the Haunted Mansion at Disney for the next month and a half!!! And a visit to Martha online didn't help either...I have been inspired!!! NOBODY does it better than Martha!!...

Large cat silhouettes are being made to put in unsuspecting places...

Hilarry has been glittering pumpkins for years and I've always wanted to join in the fun....and I finally did, except mine are black...so scarrrry!!...

We now have a bat wall also...

On our kitchen table we also have a witch's brewing station with old bottles labeled with spine chilling ingredients...

While decorating Rett looked at me and said,"Mommy, stop decorating it's starting to freak me out."....I think that's a sign I need to stop!! I surely don't want my kids frightened to be in their own house!!

The best Halloween book EVER for kids....We have spent so much time sitting together to find spooky skulls, bats, scorpions, frogs, etc.

Although all the pages are beautifully spooky enough to be framed, this is by far my favorite...I want to walk down this street and go trick-or-treating...

Busy Busy

2009-09-12T07:52:00.000-04:00

To get ready for the baby there were some things that needed to be done...

-get Rye to sleep in Rett's room on the trundle.....check
-move Rye's clothes into Rett's room....check
-rename Rett's room to "Boys room".....check
-go through bags and bags of boy baby clothes and give away....check
-move Rye's old furniture out of his old room, take pics for craigslist...check
-get Emree new furniture to replace dressers that will be used for baby...check
-move empty dressers into baby's room and set up matching crib...check

WOOT-WOOT!!! We did it!

And you wouldn't believe the furniture that we found for Emree's room!!! After some redecorating I'll post pics...
sooo cute!!!

And the baby's room...I have some ideas running through my head, one involves using this vintage chenille bear....

I'm huge

2009-09-03T12:48:00.000-04:00

I took a picture of myself the other day and couldn't believe how huge I am at 22 1/2 weeks! I had to post because you will die!!!...

I'm a little nervous about posting this....

So here it is...

Me in all my glory....

Where I wish I was

2009-09-03T12:17:00.000-04:00

Something about this time of year makes me want to be here everyday...

Tears and Teachers

2009-09-01T11:42:00.000-04:00

It was sad leading up to the first day of school. The week before we would say, "This is the last Monday of Summer." and then the next day "This is the last Tuesday of Summer." and so forth...We made the most of it and went to Disney three times that week...yay!

FYI I don't let my kids know how much I dread school to start. So I put on a happy front for them, otherwise they would hate school and I would convince myself to homeschool them and instead we would go to Disney everyday. Probably not a good idea!

And then the dreaded (atleast for me) day came...

This is what Rye and I thought of them leaving us for seven hours...

We do miss them. But they are so happy loving their teachers, making new friends, and most importantly learning about things other than Disney!

In memory of...

2009-08-20T17:07:00.001-04:00

I will never forget you...my sweet love...my addiction. You made it fun to shop again. I don't know how I will live knowing you are in AZ with other women and not in Miami with me. I will long to search through your racks of clothes, shoes, bags, spanx, and jewelry.....Whyyyyyy!!!!.....
R.I.P.

Faves

2009-08-18T14:16:00.000-04:00

I have a few faves from the trip...at the visitors center at the temple....

Love a good family picture!...

Love this one of the boys! Such a sweet moment!

Before taking this picture Rye was TOTALLY cranky!! I said he could only have a milkshake if he smiled...He REALLY wanted a milkshake...

My favorite family picture taken with my phone! Thought it turned out pretty amazing!...

This little gem was a highlight of Joey's...he spotted Anquan Boldin, who played for FSU and now plays for the AZ Cardinals, at the mall...after worrying whether to or not to approach him and take a picture I convinced him just to do it...I can only describe him as giddy afterwards...

The Oven

2009-08-18T11:09:00.000-04:00

Yay! Our Summer trip to The Oven a.k.a. Arizona! F-U-N was had by all!

It started with Rett and Rye's first plane ride and Emree's first that she can remember! Can I just say PERFECT children on the plane! Thank heavens because I was using the barf bag!! Who does that??!!

We had dinner at Yummy Oregano's with Hil and Preston that night. We were on FL time and Rye fell asleep at the table....it was hilarious! Then it was a row of Par-Tays...we had the lingerie shower. Such a good time and it is fair to say Preston is a very happy man right now! The next evening was the bridal party dinner...also a fun night...let's just say I made quite the statement with my newly acquired spray tan. The statement was I am a big loser and enjoys when people are laughing at me...

The next event was Hilarry and Preston's wedding day! So exciting! Prayers were answered and the spray tan took a chill pill after a good scrubbing in the shower! It was a beautiful ceremony where Joey and I cried like little girls...Hilarry looked Beautiful! Then it was a luncheon at Sweet Cakes...
After the temple ceremony it was time for Girlie Fun! We all had our hair done for the pictures and reception...we were set up in a sweet conference room to relax and talk! So fun! Emree was as happy as a blue ribbon hog at the county fair!!
The reception was at Sanctuary on Camelback mountain...Gorgeous! I had so much fun with old friends! I have missed them tons! The food was fab! Afterwards we showed them how to break it down Hialeah style...We asked for bootie music and the DJ played "Baby Got Back", poor poor DJ we felt sorry for him because he didn't know what bootie music was...
So have I ever told you how wonderful Joey is???? Well he is!!! Not only did he watch the kids day after day while I got my lingerie party and spray tan on but, he then surprised us with a Grand Canyon Train ride! Anyone who knows my boys knows they Love trains! It was seriously Amazing! You don't get how awesome the canyon is until you see it for yourself! We gazed, took pictures, ate lunch, hiked down a bit, and enjoyed such a memorable day! I did have some panick attacks because it was a looonnnggg way down from the edge of our hike and Rett seemed to have No fear...scary...turns out he is quite the little hiker boy! The day was all summed up by Rett, who looked at me as we were heading back to the train, and said sweetly,"I love this place. Thanks for bringing us here."....Melted my heart!!! Would do it again in a heartbeat! Thank you Joey!!!

Lets Catch up!

2009-08-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

After a great school year our Summer started at the beginning of June! We were soooo happy! It came at a great time, three weeks before school let out is when I started to get very sick :(...

Emree then had her fifth year dance recital! They gave her a special trophy and medal! Once again so grateful to be free from any responsibilities for the Summer...

Her dance was to "Here Comes the Sun". She loved saying she was in Modern. She felt like she was on SYTYCD...

Later on in June the kids and I escaped to Miami. It was such a pathetic getaway. My Dad's Dad past away the day I went down, sad. And then I was so sick and drained of ANY motivation that I was horizontal the whole time. Luckily, the kids love my parents (thanks for babying me!) and their house so they were well entertained. And saddest news ever!!!...Last Chance closed in Miami!! Talk about a devastating blow!!! What will I do???!!!

One of the days Catherine, a childhood bestie, came over. She is prego also and so we laid down, chatted, and ate greasy food. The kids swam, watched Goonies, and played DS. The one day we did leave the house was that day when we took the kids to get pizza on Main Street. We had fun talking about the good 'ol days....when going to Main Street meant checking out the boys and not yelling at kids for getting soaked while getting the change out of the fountains!!!....

The morning of the fourth our neighborhood had a bicycle parade for the kids. It was REALLY cute! There were a bunch of kids and they had music, popsicles, and red,white, and blue everywhere. It felt like pleasantville. The kids loved it!...

That night we kept it low key and had a yummy dinner with good friends at our house. We did sparklers with all the kids and the Melicks and Sagers brought over fireworks. With fireworks around the lake and the ability to throw up at my own home it was a fab fourth!

This brings us to our BIG ARIZONA trip! The highlight, for sure, of the Summer...which isn't too hard because we didn't do much but stay home! The poor kids have been such troopers!

Fresh Start

2009-08-11T18:21:00.000-04:00

Well, it's about time! Now that I managed to lose all family and friends who use to check my blog I can write whatever the heck I want! Oh, you just wait 'till I start venting about everyone and anyone who annoys and has ever annoyed me! Wouldn't that be fun (and quite extensive)!? Well, I will spare you that, or maybe save it for another time!

In all honesty I took a much needed break. I really couldn't have cared less about this blog and about almost everything else. I was just surviving. There is a reason for this, BIG news.....We are pregnant!!! Woohoo! About half way through!!! Yay! Anyone who knows me knows how sick I get and this one lived up to my reputation. Boo! So that's why the nonexistent posts....totally understandable, right?

Now I'm back and feeling much better! I have some more energy to waste on this time sucker! Love it! So glad to be back and doing something other than throwing up! Can't wait to fill you in on our oh-so-busy (not really) summer!!

Spring Break '09

2009-04-18T18:11:00.000-04:00

Woohoo! Once again we went down to Miami for a few days during our Spring Break...we had a good time even though little Rye Rye got a little sick sick...103temp!!

This is at Nana Banana and Popi's house....

We went to the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Science and saw an IMAX movie and played in the museum for an afternoon...my kids were excited to be in a museum like one of their favorite movies...

The inside of a cockpit...The kids could have stayed in there for a while...

Rett was excited about seeing dinosaurs and kept saying how his friend Jake would love them...

Popi being "hands on" with the kids...

Rye riding a tractor that they had explaining farming..it was really cute...

Rett up in some sort of tree thing...

Emree making the most insane bubbles...we've found a talent...I think we could go to Vegas with it...

The other highlight after coming back home was going to the beach...I don't go that often but, it was such a beautiful day and we had so much fun that we're craving it again...

Playing Hookie

2009-04-18T17:49:00.000-04:00

My kids have not missed one day of school this year for being sick but, for reasons like going to Disney, many... Here is one day when Eric and Karen came down with the girls and we played...

There is a barber shop on Main Street where, for free, they spray confetti and pixie dust in your hair...So fun!...And it looks scary in pictures but, by the end of the day it had fallen out of their hair...
These two silly girls...

Pretending to be Anastasia and Drizzela (sp?)...

Soooo much better than school!...

Louis blessing

2009-04-18T17:24:00.000-04:00

We went up to Gainesville the beginning of March for little Louis blessing.

We went to a park and celebrated my mom's birthday with the whole family. The highlight was we shared a pavilion with this large black family that was having a get together. They had a little boom box and provided a nice soundtrack to our activities...Sexual Healing, Let's Get It On, and Secret Lovers... An evening we will never forget!

Rye swingin'...

Emree and Edesse...
Karen made yummy brownies...

Yay! A family picture...I'll take one of those whenever possible...

ooooh, pretty ladies...

Fun weekend!

Joey and some guys....

2009-04-18T17:15:00.000-04:00

Every year Disney does ESPN The Weekend and they have all sorts of stuff going on and they broadcast all sorts of shows. Joey went to a couple this year...I know, terribly exciting...

This is joey with some guy that has a radio talk show that Joey listens to everyday while working...Joey said people were jealous of this picture...oh yeah, me too babe....

Joey with some guy that played at Texas...hand symbols gave it away...
Joey with some other guy that Joey said is built like steel...babe, you could soooo take him...

Glad he went and that I didn't have to go with him!

American Boy

2009-02-24T10:41:00.000-05:00

Kanye West has a white three year old look alike...

I LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY!!!

Special Day

2009-02-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

Emree was baptized on February 14, Valentines Day. I think she'll always be able to remember it. We had so many of our family and friends there to support her and to share the special occasion with us...

Her baptism dress is a very special dress loaned to us and has been worn by over 100 little girls! A list has been kept and Emree's name has been added...

Bets were going if Joey was going to cry...He managed to do the best he could...She is our sweet little girl after all and is growing up soooo fast...

I did not fair so well...I was an emotional wreck...I'm sure everyone there thought I was crazy, and I am...I am crazy for this little girl that can't possibly be eight in my head, but yet here she is eight and accountable!! Needless to say I wished I had medication that day...And worst of all she wanted me to say the opening prayer...Seriously, it was painful for all that had to endure it!! Notice the tissues in my hand in this picture...

We had a good time with family and friends...Rye is soaking wet in this picture and had a baptism of his own in the water fountain...

On the ride home Emree said, "I feel so fresh!"....Let's just hope that feeling lasts forever!!!...

The Great Outdoors

2009-01-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we decided to start the New Year off with a bang and go camping...woohoo! We went with 5 other families. We were so excited...umm..well Joey, Rett, Rye, and Emree were excited... Across the lake we live on is a Boy Scout campground so we were, literally, 5 minutes from home if I decided to back out (which I didn't, but it did cross my mind). I decided to pretend this is what Tent City (which is where we all supposedly will be living when things get really crappy) would be like...

This is the Sagers new tent...I think it might be the Taj Mahal of tents...Not too shabby to call home. I think it even had granite counter tops inside, crazy!...

Rett and Rye had been ready since that morning with backpacks packed and flashlights looped to their belts...

The kids LOVED the tire swing...note-to-self, must make all old tires swings to entertain children for hours...

The Olsens brought their Rhino to the camp and gave all the kids rides...the Rhino was constantly going...we also brought our dogs and they were constantly chasing after the Rhino...We didn't know which was going to give out first...The dogs ended up losing and were EXTREMELY exhausted (they never behaved better!) after a days worth of running at full speed...

Joey said if I went camping he would take care of the meals...I must say it was really nice to just sit by the fire and hear the boys doing all the work...I think that should carry over in Tent City too...

Had to take a picture with the chef...he did such a good job on the food...and I thought he was cute!...

Some of the girls, including Emree, occupied themselves by coloring by the light of the lantern...so fancy!..

We stayed up late talking and making s'mores by the campfire...isn't that some sort of law...

The next day we hung out...Rye was in the mood to chow down some popcorn...and little Haylie did a face plant in the dirt, so funny! She had clumps of dirt on her eyelashes...

Some of the boys brought their guns, including Rett. He was given a bee bee gun for Christmas and had to show his skills...yes, we are Republican...

Cindy Olsen had so much fun with the kids and really is like a big kid herself...she dug some holes, broke out golf clubs and golf balls and let the kids have their own little course...They loved it..., note-to-self I must have Cindy to keep me entertained in Tent City...

It was a lot of fun and we are already planning another one. There was a certain family reunion going on during this campout so, hopefully, next time we can convince them to join us!

8 is GREAT!!!

2008-12-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

I don't know how it happened but, my baby girl turned into an 8 year old crazy girlie...

This little red head is such a smart, sassy, funny, sweet, and good girl... Emree looked like the birthday girl in this skirt that screams PARTAY!...

She has such a fun day and was able to do whatever she wanted...So she decided that she wanted to take some of her friends to the movies and to the ice cream shop....

They had such a great time and loved the movie...They became totally wired on all the treats...

Then it was off to the ice cream shop....

She had, according to her, "the best birthday ever"...

*Sweet squirrel girl*...
That evening we sang her happy birthday with the family...
My Mom and Dad and my Mom's parents, Mama and Papa, came over to celebrate...
I think this is a special picture of her with her great-grandparents on her birthday....

Emree we love you and hope you had a fun day that you'll always remember! 8 is such a *special* year!!!!

Christmas Partaaays

2008-12-30T11:22:00.000-05:00

So the kids had such a fantastic time at their Christmas parties on the last day before break...

Emree was a penguin in her play that the whole Second Grade participated in...She had been talking about this play non-stop since going back to school from Thanksgiving. I was kinda happy it would be over so that I wouldn't have to hear about Wyatt C. anymore and how Reese couldn't remember his lines and so-on and so-on...
Emree with her teacher... Her teacher was practically begging parents to sign them out early and I was happy to oblige. I'm sure she was happy the play was over too...

They made us cute gifts...Emree was so happy to give me a gift that she made...she knows I treasure those...
Rett had the best time at his party. And it made me want to be in his Pre-K class...

He had chocolate all over his face, a sure sign of a good party...

They danced and danced and danced...some kids were really taking it seriously...little Lizzie is hard core when it comes to dancing...She had me tearing up I was laughing so hard... I don't know how their teacher doesn't just die laughing everyday!...

Oh wait, this is why she isn't laughing at them, she's laughing with them...LOOK at her dancing in her longjohns!!! She is hilarious!!!...

It is a proud moment as a parent to see your child doing air guitar!...All he needs is a mullet wig and he's set!...
They had so much fun! But we were so happy to get our break started!

Addicted

2008-12-30T10:43:00.000-05:00

Aleksi stayed with us quite a bit this December. We decided to put her newly aquired Annual Pass to work and went to Disney TONS when she was here... We went to Magic Kingdom and Epcot and had a blast...

On Rye's birthday we went to Animal Kingdom...

She is so much fun to have around and the kids love her! And for me it's my adult equivalent of having a slumber party day in and day out...Our conversations are embarrassingly shallow and consist of what kind of work Audrina is having done and how we should pluck our eyebrows...I love it!...

We went to Hollywood Studios for FHE and saw 5 million Christmas lights on display...It really made us feel "Christmassy"...

Yay! Christmas!!...

They had snow falling from the buildings onto the street and great Christmas music playing...The kids couldn't believe it was "snowing"!...

Aleksi even got in on the action...Can't wait to do it next year!

Cousins!!

2008-12-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

We went up to Gainesville this past weekend to see the new addition to the family! Evan and Eowyn had sweet little Louis on Friday and we couldn't wait to meet him...He is adorable and needless to say I was in absolute heaven holding him!...

The cousins had a blast staying up late and playing together...Edesse and Brynn are Eric and Karen's two precious little girls and, seriously, they are two of the cutest kids I have ever seen!...

It was Rye's 3rd birthday on Saturday so we sang him "Happy Birthday"...

All the grandkids together...My parents treasure each and everyone of them...And the kids just think the world of them.

From oldest to youngest...Emree 8, Edesse 5, Rett 5, Rye 3, Brynn 2, Louis 2 days....

Brynn and Rye had fun hanging out and "talking" to each other...we don't know what they were saying but it went on for quite awhile....

Rett had fun playing Spore Creature Creator...which is now on his list for Santa...

Emree and Edesse had their own personal photo shoot with Nana...They are so much alike. They love being together, but sometimes that can mean trouble...

And of course we can't have a family get together now without my parents dog, Ami...She's such a good girl and lets the grandkids manhandle her...poor thing!...
It was such a nice treat to see them all before Christmas...This makes three grandkids birthdays in December....Let's try a different month next time, okay guys!!

2008 Christmas Picture

2008-12-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

I know you've probably already received a card or seen it on FaceBook, but here it is again...

Wishing you all the gifts of the Christmas Season...Love, Health, and Happiness.

These are our outtakes...very similar to the winner, but with more legs...

Everyone happened to be in good moods this year! That is AMAZING!!! I'm sure it is the same for you...taking a family picture is pretty stressful...I think we lucked out this year because there were a few times that I thought it was going to turn sour...

Tried to mix it up with a different background...

Rye is giving his cRaZy smile...

It got dark really fast, but now I know for next year the potential of this locale...

Hooray! Another year in the bag...or in the mail!!!

Fish Tales

2008-12-05T09:31:00.000-05:00

The whole house was quiet the other evening and so I had to do some investigating... This is Joey's latest hobby... if anyone knows him, they know there is ALWAYS a hobby that he is involved in... but this one is great because the kids absolutely LOVE it too...

I looked out our backyard, and there they all were...on our lake dock...

Joey installed a fish feeder to train the fish to come... My men waiting for a bite...

Emree reeling in a fish...she's working hard!...

Rett checking out all the bait...How exciting!!!...

With bait on the hook he casts and begins fishing..

Emree with her HUGE catch!...

Rett with his even bigger catch!...

Emree catches a catfish and it's flopping around so she's too afraid to take a picture without the protection from the chair...

We've been having so much fun fishing that we invited some friends over to join in... Our friends...It was a beautiful evening, can you tell???...

Ya'll come on over and go fishin' with us!!!!

This explains it...

2008-11-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

My love for Halloween has deep roots from an awesome mom who made it so fun for us! She would go all out in planning and making our costumes. And of course, she would dress up as well....

I totally remember this year as a bunny and loving it! It's the closest I've been to being a "Playmate". My mom was an adorable baby and my little brother, Evan, was Mickey Mouse and Eric is self explanatory...

This was a fun year! We went down to our Playworld (remember those?) and they had a costume contest and we won! I was a mermaid (before The Little Mermaid), Eric was a table, and Evan was a dinosaur...

LOVED my costume this year and I wish I still had it. I was in fourth grade and I was Carmen Miranda...My mom did such an amazing job on this one...My mom was Shirley Temple (so hilarious!) and Evan was Elvis...

Was sick with the flu and couldn't go trick or treating...I feel nauseated just looking at this picture...

I was a girl in a bathtub this year....this was the year when most kids weren't dressing up anymore and I was still going strong...

My Mom would dress up for years as a witch and pass out candy. The neighborhood kids loved it and we would literally get hundreds of trick-or-treaters!!!....

Thanks Mom for years of Halloween fun! And the saga continues....

THIS IS HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-30T10:03:00.000-04:00

This is our favorite holiday of the year! We take it very seriously around here...no last minute costumes for us...we plan far in advance, sometimes a whole year. Each year I slave and stress over costumes! Most are homemade or pieced together from Goodwill, but every year there is one that I don't make because I would lose my mind!!!...I know, we're not normal....but we love it!....
This years theme:

Joey-Gaston, Eva-Mrs. Potts, Emree-peasant Belle, Rett-Beast,

Rye-Chip.....

Our history of Halloween counting back the years....

2007: Toy Story

So fun! How awesome is Zurg!?

2006: Wizard of OZ

Had to do it because of "Wicked"! Dorothy and the Tin Man was my first attempt at making a costume from a pattern...

2005: The Little Mermaid

I had to be Ursula because I love her and I was pregnant with Rye at the time, so I could play the "round" part extra well. And Emree made the most perfect Ariel EVER! No wig necessary!...

2004: Peter Pan

Joey was getting stopped at Disney to have photos taken with him! So hilarious...

2003: Senoritos y Senoritas

Gave birth to Rett three weeks prior...still managed to pull something together!...Our first year going to Disney for their Halloween party....

2002: Asian (couldn't find the fam pic!)

Joey used to use African Pride in his hair (pure grease) and Emree had gotten into it earlier that day....I remember her hair was like pure vaseline, even after washing it over and over again!...disgusting!...but it helped with the style!....

2001: Poynesian Family

where it all began...