just a few...

Just a few of my favorite gals...

holding a few of my favorite guys.

Sunday after church 

baby time

2-24-2013

christmas break times two edition

Over Christmas break we have been so blessed!

We were invited to eat dinner with our friends the Johnsons not once... BUT TWICE.

Okay, the second time we kind of invited ourselves?

It was awesome!!

Besides having excellent taste (Karen & I love the same kinds of food) the company can't be beat. Just look at these lovely gals. Somehow Larkin escaped the photo?

Lily & Hailey

Hailey & Lily

two cuties- both so funny



They like to take funny pictures of themselves & put them on facebook.

It just cracks me up.

 Caroline & Chloe- best friends since kindergarten.

Really I couldn't ask for a better friend for Chloe.

 I love you Lily & Caroline.

I really do!

 I love your whole family- we all do!

 Your just so darn easy to love.

Besides eating with the Johnson's twice-- we also ate here twice.

It's true that I haven't quite figured out all of my new year's goals. I do have a couple.

#1 goal of 2012- no more crappy cheap cheeseburgers for me!

If I want a burger- this is the place.

Tony Burgers

Rated the #1 new place to eat in Utah & the best shake in the state!

I tell you what...

This place makes all other burger places look like junk. Even In & Out Burger.



It's amazing--- AMAZING I teLL YOU.

mmmmm

What makes them so good?

The meat is fresh, a combo of beef that has such great flavor. Hamburger meat that has flavor? Ya- I had no idea either? Also- the fries... oh mama.. they double fry them. Ketchup, fry sauce & Hickory fry sauce. Need I say more?

{ Tonyburger's signature Strawberry Coconut shake}

The Johnson's & Tony Burgers

what do they have in common?

Two things we need a lot more of in 2012.

entrepreneurs

I promised trent all summer he could have a lemonade stand... school starts monday & it's supposed to hit 102 degrees today!

perfect

spt~comfort

Better late than never-

Holiday comfort is coming home on a really snowy day...and eating gingerbread men with peppermint hot cocoa... with lily & trent.

summer field trip

Today we went on our first of hopefully many summer field trips.

The Beehive House.

I love the Beehive house & have taken my kids here before. I remember visiting here as a kid when we were in Salt Lake. It's really fun.

We took Caroline & Lily with us. Brittany & her roommate met us here.

First off we went into what used to be Brigham Young's office & saw his tools! Trent was pretty excited about that. It was neat to see his initials carved into them BY. Cool. I think Brett should start carving his initials into his tools BM. Of course brother Brigham made his tools & our tools are frequently found out in the lawn covered in snow or rain....

This desk was made by him out of a covered wagon that came across the plains!

His secretary had the first typewriter in the valley.

This lovely art work is also in the office. It is really different. The women used to comb their hair at night then save the hair & yep... make this flower art work. Hmmmm.

Here we are waiting for the tour to begin.

The rooms were magnificent. This home is so beautifully restored. Every detail is fantastic.

This is the music room. I think it was my favorite. At night the adults & children would play music. Kind of like we do, instead of watching TV. That was sarcasm.

This is the kitchen. Brigham's wife Lucy kept a pot of soup on at all times for stop in guests. She was really a super mom with seven children.

This picture is fuzzy but it's the the play room. It was right next to the school room & by far the kid's favorite. The little toys are so cute.

This was another favorite. His oldest daughter Clarissa's room. This dress is her wedding dress.

She was tiny. Her foot was a size 3. Above the wedding dress is another flower hair art piece. Those pioneers were hard workers & had some serious time on their hands.

These are our two fabulous sister tour guides. One was from Minnesota the other Australia.

At the end of the tour they give everyone a lemon drop. That was something Brigham Young always did. I remember getting to choose a lemon drop or piece of horehound candy after taking this tour as a kid. Fun times.

Of course the grounds are spectacular. Everything is so green here from all the rain we are getting.

We watched a photographer taking photos of a bride & groom. We were so lucky to have such great weather on Megan's big day!! It wasn't raining at this moment, but this poor couple had to be cold & wet.

We went upstairs at the Joseph Smith building to take in the view!

This is the best view in town.

I am so amazed at how much fun we had today. Mostly in part because Trent was so good! When he was little we stopped taking him places for a short time, then started back up but always with a back up plan. Outings have always been so hard for him. But, not today! He was PERFECT.

I am so relieved- there is hope- all our hard work is starting to pay off.

I hope I didn't just jinx myself....

Brittany & Sue stopped here The Garden Restaurant for lunch. If you are ever in Salt Lake City it's a must stop for lunch or dinner. The food is fantastic, be sure to ask for a table near a window- the view is breathtaking!
We on the other hand went to my favorite bakery. Everyone picked out a treat!

Trent got a plain croissant. What?? I know I have failed as a mother...

Caroline got this yummy chocolate hazelnut thing. Oh my it was delicious.

Chloe had a cream puff with strawberries. I was seriously jealous.

Lily a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse. She just started piano & there's a treble cleft on the top- how fitting!

I had bread pudding. I am in love with bread pudding.

Next we dropped off over 450,000 pop tops at the Ronald McDonald House. It's just down the street. Our school collects these all through the year. It's a great project. The kids count & sort them in their math lessons then I drop them off in the summer.

Thanks to Lily & Caroline for going with us.

It was a great field trip day!

last day of school

Today was the last day of school 08'. Pretty darn exciting. Trent could hardly sleep last night. He woke up in the middle of the night- I laid down next to him- he turned over & in a sleep state of mind said, "guess what mom?- tomorrow is the last day of school." I know, go back to sleep sweetie. Our school has a tradition. Every year the whole school goes outside. They sing the school song, have someone play or sing the national anthem, say the pledge of allegiance, the sixth graders lower the flag- then the principal declares school out for summer! It's darling & sweet & I even started to tear up there for a bit. There is this great patriotic proud feeling in the air. I love this school.

You could have heard a pin drop- the kids were so respectful.

Here is trent with his FANTASTIC teacher! She has made such a difference in his life. Teachers are so important- especially when it comes to kids like trent. He cried & cried when we left. This is his resource teacher. She gives the extra help he needs. She is also FANTASTIC. Oh boy, I feel like I owe so much to these women. They are my hero's this year.

Chloe & one of her best pals were so sad to see the year end. Their teacher made a scrapbook at least an inch & a half thick for every kid in her class - amazing!Trent & Lily

Trent can be a tough but he's really just a softy. He insisted on walking home with me arm in arm crying. He did the same thing last year. I asked one of the neighbor kids to take our picture. Something tells me this won't last.

So- to start off our summer right we are having a little bit of easy bake oven time!

Brownies-YUM & BBQ tonight

*is school out at your house?