Richard's New Love

While looking through my more recent pics for some great blogging material, I noticed a folder "BGE". I don't recall labelling any of my pics with these wierd initials. Then I had an AHA moment! It wasn't me.....it was my husband and his new love affair with his BIG GREEN EGG. If you see me at the store, and my shopping cart only has meat in it, this is why. After months of strategically leaving brochures around the house, telling me how great my grilled chicken could have been, how all his friends have one, I finally caved. The man works hard....I guess he deserves one toy now and then, right? So here is his pride and joy, in its first moments of grilling glory. Thanks to Neal for the great photography! Makes you want a juicy steak, huh?

Making The Most of a Warm & Windy Day!

We have a great collection of kites in our attic thanks to the Grandparents. The kids are always asking to fly them on windy days, and this spring we have had our share of windy days. In fact. I am pretty sure we've even had some that are TOO windy. Dallin was at a boyscout campout, and just as a disclaimer.....Gretchen just came home from gymnastics practice-hence the wierd short shorts and wild hair! ;) We went over to the elementary school because we could use the field and the playground! It took about 2 seconds to get our goldfish and shark in the air. Just another beautiful, fun day with the family in Middle TN.

I LOVE this Birthday girl!

I LOVE that she gets so excited about birthdays, cake, presents, surprises, and friends to share it with.

I LOVE to get her just the right birthday present and ALL she wanted for her 8th birthday was a "big girl" room makeover. No more fairies, flowers and pastels. The #1 room makeover item: a hot pink moonchair.

I LOVE birthday cake & so does Gretchen. We both know its puts the P in party! She asked for a rainbow cake. I just couldn't bring myself to do all the food coloring in the cake mix, so I did a skittle rainbow and marshmellow clouds.....and she loved it, cause she is easy to please, which I also love.

I LOVE her sweet friends! She had a group of the most adorable friends over for a rainbow art sleepover. A couple of her buddies gave her an awesome decorated art supply box full of goodies, plus little pet shops, glitter makeup, cool stickers, and more.

I LOVE great friends that make her smile.

I LOVE little girl makeovers. There is nothing better than blue eyeshadow,bright pink blush and sparkly lipstick applied by your friends.

Happy 8th Birthday Gretchen!
I LOVE YOU!

Gretchen's Baptism Day

Gretchen's baptism was this past weekend. She has been looking forward to this special day for such a long time. She shared her baptism day with another little boy, who happens to have her exact same birthday too. His grandmother said it was meant to be! It was a beautiful baptism with great talks for these 2 special kiddos. They both had lots of friends and family members there to share in the day. Gretchen told me afterwards that she definitely felt different and all new inside :) I love this sweet girl and am so happy to have her in our family. She brightens my day in so many ways. She is a loving and smart little girl. I am thankful she chose to be baptized and very thankful to be her mother. I love you sweet girl!

More Sledding Fun In January

AAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Getting some air on his homemade snowboard

Why do my kids who have knocked teeth out insist on going head first?

Sledding Fun In January

My 2 speed demons sledding behind the school

Dallin made himself a snowboard out of an old skateboard and a pair of old sneakers.....seems to be working so far.

Face first might not be the best idea for this kiddo

Happy Halloween!

The famous Taylor Swift

"I'm just a golfer" says P-Man

D-Man and his best bud as NeRdS!

We had a busy halloween weekend. We started with the church chili cook-off and trunk or treat. Only Gretchen and I braved the chili. She ate 2 bowls, so whoever made #16 you have a new fan. The kiddos had a great time with their friends. Even Rich and I dressed up as a couple of friends in our ward....Rich and Matt are twins split at birth, in looks and brains. ;)

Then we headed out Saturday morning to participate in the 1st annual Mostly Fun Run 5K. Kuddos to our awesome friends for setting up a great candy burn-off challenge and even making us super cool tees to wear. And everyone was a winner!

We had a fun filled evening of trick or treating on Sat night thanks to the same awesome running friends. We were able to bring candy for the cause and visit their neighbors since they were the only ones in town holding beg-o-ween on Sat instead of Sun. Evidently all our town had the same idea because we saw every kid in a 20 mile radius that night.

Here we are enjoying the FUNtastic evening of people watching by the fire pit and glad that our
halloween was full of treats!

Intrigue Invitational part 2

The start of this post is after this one....sorry they posted backwards.

All that hard work pays off!

Intrigue Invitational

One determined gymnast waiting her turn on the uneven bars

I love to watch this girl on the beam....she has great form.