Back in the saddle again~

Okay, so that was a dorky Post Title.
Anyways, here's my first full family session of the season. See all of it HERE.

Thirty!!!

Well, I made it to Thirty!

I celebrated my big 3-0 last month. It was a great weekend,with fabulous weather and company! On my birthday, Russ took me out to eat at a Japanese Tepanyaki Restaurant (Kobe) that was so incredibly delicious! We did a little shopping then we went to see the Hunger Games—very great movie, by the way. The next day, we got to enjoy seeing Mylie dance at her first little Dance Competition. Then because the weather was so great, we invited some of my family over for a little barbeque. The kids had a great time playing together.


So I thought I would tell a little more about myself.

So here is my list of…

Thirty Random Things about Me at Thirty:

1. I am the fourth of six children and I love having a big family!
2. I have always been “short” and am 5’ 2”, although at a recent physical I actually just found out that I am really 5’ 2.5”. Half inch taller than I have always thought!
3. My favorite colors right now are yellow and coral. I have a hard time resisting things in those colors when I am shopping!
4. I am a Mormon (or more specifically, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and I am so glad I am!
5. I don’t really like to bake. I wish I did!
6. My favorite candy is Peanut M&Ms.
7. I got my degree in Elementary Education. I taught 6th grade for one full year. But luckily I got pregnant and had a great excuse to quit :)
8. I love online shopping ---probably too much!
9. When it comes to things my kids get, I really hate suckers and things that have glitter.
10. In most instances, I would prefer a bath to a shower. Nothing like a nice, long, hot bath! Feels so good on my achy back and hips!
11. I drive a minivan, and I am not ashamed!
12. I have run one marathon (4:29) and one half marathon (1:47), but if you asked me if I am a runner, my answer would probably be “no.” But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of doing a marathon again someday.
13. I really love to sing.
14. For the most part, I never text. And my cell phone is mostly just for backup. I know. I’m so weird!
15. I also don’t have a Facebook account.
16. I love, love, love my kiddos! And I love babies. I would really like to have 5 kids, but I haven’t completely ruled out having 6. Also I figure the more kids I have, the better chance I have of getting lots of grandkids someday!
17. I really like my house clean and organized. Three kids has forced me to let up a little, but I might be what you would consider a “clean freak.”
18. I love throwing things out! Filling up a bag for the DI (thrift store) brings me such satisfaction. In fact I just filled one today.
19. I am very health conscious. I always read food labels. I will almost always pay extra for the healthier version of something (i.e. whole grain, less fat). Even Bennett has started reading food labels lately. Wonder where he picked that up? I have let up a lot though, and even buy my kids Happy Meals sometimes.
20. I think kissing my kids is my favorite thing to do. I probably kiss them a million times a day. Something about those soft, squishy cheeks, especially when they’re babies. Luckily Bennett will still kiss me every day at the bus stop, even in front of all the other kids. It doesn’t even faze him. Hopefully that will last forever :)
21. I have a terrible habit of pushing snooze when the alarm goes off. I even set my clock 10 minutes earlier just so I can snooze.
22. I love lipstick! Always have, probably always will. Although it can get in the way when I want to kiss the kiddos…
23. I play the piano. I actually even was my two younger brothers piano teacher for a while when I was in high school.
24. On the weekends, I love movies and popcorn on the couch with my hubby.
25. I worked in the Software Engineering Field for 10 years. When I had Bennett I started only working 8 hours a week. Once Coy was born, I started staying home full time. I still miss that job, though.
26. I manage our finances, bills, and budget 100% and I prefer it that way. I think Russ prefers it, too, so it works out good.
27. I’ve led my Ward Choir for almost six years now. I also am the Primary Chorister, and have had that calling for almost 10 months. Doing both is a lot of work!
28. I won’t let my kids go anywhere without their hair combed.
29. I love soup. I think my favorite thing to cook is soup. I get major cravings for it when I am pregnant, which can be a problem when it is summertime.
30. And now that I am thirty, I have officially started using an anti-wrinkle cream every day. I started using it a couple months ago. I hope it works wonders :)

So there you have it. Thirty wonderful things about me. I am sure there is a lot more, but that is just what I came up with for now.

Bennett asked me the other day what age I wish I could be. I honestly could tell him 30 because there is no use wishing for things that won’t happen! I’ve had an amazing 30 years and I am excited to see what the next 30 bring!

And just in case you've made it this far, here is my birthday in pictures!

Getting ready to go out

Just a note about my big purple necklace. Mylie picked it out all by herself to give me for my present. She was so excited and gave it to me three times on my birthday. Once in the sack it came in from the store, then in a gift bag, and then wrapped properly in wrapping paper once Dad got home to help her wrap it. And she sure made sure I wore it all that next day! Luckily I snuck out to church the next day without it. She did notice and made me put it on when we got home.



Sure am grateful for my sisters (and sisters-in-law).








Russ did put 30 candles on a cake for me. Look at all that smoke! Good thing we were outside.

from six months ago...

Here are our family pictures from six months ago. I realized I never posted them. Time just flies by too fast!








I love this shot of "my boys."








Here are Bennett's official "six year old" pictures. I took them really quick the same night.







And here is a random one of Mylie that I had made up for my picture wall. It was in the same folder on my computer, so I added it on here as well. I still need to post her 4 year old photos! Maybe that will be my next post.