Princess Party

A couple weekends ago Raylee got to go on a very fun date with her Uncle Tanner. My sister-in-law, Heidi, is a manager at Lifetime Fitness and was in charge of the "Daddy Daughter Princess Date Night" being held there. That same night was our friend, Dave Fort's, 30th bday, so Brett couldn't take Raylee, so that's why Tanner stepped in. However, Raylee was so excited to go with Tanner and get all dressed up. She is very girlie in so many ways...loves to dress up, put on lip gloss, wear "princess" hair and takes her pink little purse with all her makeup everywhere she goes. Raylee, Avery and Stella looked so cute all dressed up and they loved the horse drawn carriage ride and dancing all night. It was the perfect night for my little "wanna-be Princess":)

Here are a couple of pics from Dave's 30th 80s Themed Suprise Bday party. That was the same day I had the horrible stomach flu, so I was home sick in my bed...I was seriously so bummed.

Mr. B and Friends

The last four weeks Bradock has been going to his very first basketball camp and learning all the basics...shooting, dribbling and passing. Not sure we have a basketball star on our hands, but he had a good time and enjoyed learning a new sport. Next up is soccer, which starts next month.

Throughout my life I have lived several places with the real season of winter...Missouri, Idaho and Utah. After living in those places through those bitter cold, snowy months I swore I would never live anywhere cold again...well eat my words. Now I know Payson is nowhere near being an extreme "winter wonderland" as those other places, but it is as cold as I ever want to live. I have been so cold these last couple months and being cold is just downright rotten. Especially when it is windy and overcast outside...now that's just depressing. Well, my prayers for warmer weather were answered a couple weeks ago when the kids and I decided to meet some friends at the park...it was the sunniest, warmest day I have felt here in Payson in awhile...it was heaven. We were enjoying it so much that we ended up staying at the park for over 4 hours...gotta soak up that sunshine when I can. Bradock and some of his buddies got soaked in the water fountain and decided to go shirtless most of the afternoon. My friend was getting worried that her boys were going to get a bad sunburn, but, well, I have to be honest because I never worry about that with my kids...I so wish I had that beautiful brown skin.

Monday was President's day and after spending my weekend with the dreaded stomach flu that has been going around I was itching to get out of the house. My friend, Kimi, from Utah was down visiting for the week with her boys, so the kids and I headed to Scottsdale to spend the day with them. We met up at Gainey Ranch Park and spent a couple hours enjoying the nice, warm valley weather...I'm kind of obsessed with warm weather and sunshine lately:) Both of our kids are about the same age, so it's fun for them to play together. Kimi is pregnant with her third little boy, which will arrive end of April/beginning of May sometime...she is seriously the tiniest, cutest prego girl. Here is a pic of Kimi's two boys and Bradock...Raylee was off playing in the sand somewhere. After the park we did a little shopping at Scottsdale Quarter. It was a perfect day and I'm so glad we got to spend some fun time with the Fry's. Can't wait to meet new little Fry soon:)

The Difference Between Boys and Girls

It might be a little hard to see in the pics, but Bradock and Raylee made these cute little elephant crafts at the Payson library story-time that we go to each Wednesday morning. They did them all by themselves and definitely proved how very different these two little kiddos are. Raylee was so particular about how she colored, glued and placed each piece to make her elephant look just like the one in the picture. Bradock, on the other hand, quickly slapped his glue on the paper plate and just put the pieces wherever. Raylee's definitely looks like an elephant and well, Bradock's is a little questionable...but we still loved them both:)


This is just a little side story about Raylee that I have been meaning to document because it's just so darn funny and something I hope she gets a kick out of reading when she is older. So a little while back the kids were in the tub playing around and all of a sudden Raylee jumps out of the tub and is crying hysterically. Brett and I ask her what is wrong and through her sobbing and wet tears she yells "I have a hole!" I look at Brett and we were both so confused. I asked her what hole and she pointed down to her little girl parts...poor thing just discovered she had a hole down there...aaawww the joys of parenthood. This little discovery led me into a little talk with the kids about our special parts, why boys and girls parts are different and how we don't let anyone (except mom and dad and sometimes the dr) touch those special parts and we don't touch anyone else's either.

It's a funny story, but has led me to some serious contemplating. How and when is a good time to talk children about these things. I remember having the "talk" when I was around 7 or 8 because kids at school had been telling me all about what sex was and I asked my mom and dad about it. However, I don't want my kids' first introduction to the topic of sex to come from their peers or tv or anyone else for that matter. I want it to be a topic we discuss in our home. I want them to know that it is a wonderful thing, a natural thing and a big reason and purpose we are here on this earth and not something that is dirty or shameful, but is something very special when you are married and should be valued and held sacred until that time. Oh boy we sure have a lot of responsibility when it comes to being a parent...it stresses me out thinking of all the things I need to help and prepare my kids for and then hope and pray they take what I have taught them and make good choices...no pressure or anything:)

Another Slumber Party

Seriously the best part of living in Payson is all the fun visitors we get. The Halls decided to come up last Friday and we had such a fun time hanging out. Matt's dad is building a family cabin near Christopher Creek, so we headed up there on Saturday to play in the snow. It was freezing, but the kids had a good time quadding, sledding and running around.