Happy Easter

Since this year Easter is on a Sunday, our ward did their Easter program yesterday. I decided since it was our Easter program, that the girls should get their Easter dresses. I LOVE buying dresses for the girls. They also love it, especially Kylee, she struts, twirls, and flips her hair. She is quite more girly and dramatic than me or my sister ever were growing up. She must get it from Jared! :)
Here is a picture of the girls with their dad. Jared came home from all his meetings to help get us to church, so I hurried and snagged him to get a picture with the girls!

Weekly Menu

I know that I have been a big slacker when it comes to blogging. No excuses here, just lazy!

Thursday - Beef and bean burritos

Friday - Honey lime enchiladas

Monday - Sweet and sour chicken

Tuesday - Chicken poppy seed salad

Wednesday - Meatloaf and potatoes

Thursday - Taco soup

Friday - Southwest Egg Rolls

Monday - Chicken pot pie

Tuesday - Garlic chicken with bowtie pasta

Wednesday - Taco salads

Gone Painting

This last weekend, Jared and I got the great idea to paint our house!!! We have wanted to do it for a VERY long time, but it finally came to pass this last weekend, since it was a long and Jared would be home to help!! Both us have been very tired of the white walls. Especially ours because I have NO decorations up! Friday we went and picked up the paint and supplies and then got going on Saturday morning. We painted the dining room, family room, hallway, and entryway. I LOVED the color I picked. How many of you pick the color you want and then when you paint it ends up being a different color, maybe a little too dark? I found a perfect solution that has worked for me. I find the color I like and then when they are mixing it up, I have them do it half formula. It ends up being exactly the color I wanted and not too dark!!! Try it next time!!

Anyway, we got up Monday and finished painting one wall downstairs and the office. We then ran out of paint and in a couple of weeks, when we get more time, we will finishing painting the kitchen and the other wall going downstairs. Pictures will come, but I have to figure out where to hang my stuff again. Rearranging and all that!!

Update on the Pregnancy

I went in last week for two ultrasounds. Yup, you read that right. I had to go into Maternal Fetal because I had the blood clot with Jayce and they always have to do some checks to make sure I am okay and the baby is okay. I also had to get one for my doctor.

The baby looks healthy and no we don't know what the gender is!!! Jared really wanted to find out, but I need that little bit of excitement to look forward too on delivery day! There are some concerns with me. My placenta is kind of close to my cervix. For right now, they are just going to watch me and make sure everything is okay. My doctor said that if it does get close, they will have to do a c-section, which is what I have anyway, so it should be fine. I am still a little nervous. I have been nervous since we found out we were having this one. I think it is because this is number 4 and I am getting a little older!!! Anyway, here are some cute pictures of the little man (or girl!!!)

Cute profile picture with the arm up!

Both Jared and I really like this picture. You can see the baby's belly on the left and then his legs go up the other side to form a V. The legs look really long to me!! This baby was just a kicking his or her legs tons before this picture.

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies

Last night, the girls and I made some sugar cookies. My friend Jen has a GREAT recipe. Thanks Jen. They were amazing. It made a ton of sugar cookies too. I don't have a heart shaped cookie cutter, so we just did circles. Jayce wanted the frosting orange, so I guess it is a good thing that we didn't do hearts!! Anyway if you are in the mood for sugar cookies, check out this recipe. It is DELISH!!!!

The Dancing Queens

My girls just LOVE to dance. They certainly didn't get that from me!!! Kylee is a ham when she dances, quite the little performer! Jayce loves to spin in dresses, and Emily, well, what can I say about little Mayham!!! Here is a video I took of the girls dancing. You all know how it goes, when the camera is on they don't quite perform their best ever!! They were always wanting to look at the pictures and then of course Kylee and Jayce get into a fight at the end! But, at least you can get the idea!

Date Night

I gave Jared the 12 Daytz of Christmas for Christmas. I found the cute idea from here. Check it out. It is so cute!! Some people are so stinking creative!!! Jared and I are not very good at making time for ourselves very often. We do it every now and then, but not at often as I both think we would like. I thought this idea was a great way to get us doing some fun, creative dates, like we used to do before we were married.

Anyway, the first date of Christmas was to go to dinner and a movie. We invited some friends to come. We went to dinner and then went and saw Blind Side. THAT is such a great show. I think it really hit home with Jared. I think he really loved playing football in high school and had some great times. I really enjoyed it myself! It was a great feel good movie.

Kylee Skiing

Last Saturday, my dad decided he wanted to do a "Beginner's Day" skiing. My sister-in-law hadn't been for years and I have been wanting to take Kylee. I was about Kylee's age when I first started skiing. We went to Alta (by far the best resort, no snowboarders allowed). And that is nothing against snowboarders personally, Jared is a snowboarder, but when you are a skier, at least for me, some snowboarders are out of control, just like I am sure that for some snowboarders, skiers are out of control.

Anyway back to the story, we went and rented some ski's for Kylee. They were TINY!! She was so excited and kept asking when we were going to be in the mountains. Well, it was kind of a frustrating day, she liked it, but would get angry and throw a few fits. We just went on the rope tow for a few hours to get the hang of skiing and then at 3:00, the lifts are free until 4:30. We went on the lift once and that was it for Kylee. She wasn't quite ready, but when we got done with the lift, she wanted to head back to the rope tow. She loved that. By the end of the day, she was going up the rope tow herself and skiing down the hill herself. She didn't want to stop and eat a snack, have hot chocolate, or even go the bathroom. She just wanted to go fast down the hill.

The first part of the day I used a hula hoop to hold her back and help her down the hill. She kept telling me to let go so she could go faster. What a crazy gal. She was upset when we got home and had to take the skis back. She wanted to keep them for the next time we go skiing.

Here is a picture of Kylee getting ready to go. She was not very patient waiting for me to get my skiis on.

I always thought it was so stinking cute to see little kids skiing and now here I have one of my own!
Tyler, Christine, and me! Don't look too closely. I couldn't get my pants to button up, so I hope there are no pictures that are a little revealing!!
Kylee coming down the hill with my dad.
My dad and Kylee going up the rope tow. This was sure a workout! By the end of the day, my arms felt like they were going to be pulled out of my sockets!
Don't I look so very graceful on the rope tow!! I HATE these things!!
Me skiing backwards trying to teach Kylee had to do pizza slices to go slow!
Christine looks fabulous on the rope tow!
Me trying for the first time to go up the rope tow with Kylee. It was a little tricky!!!

Weekly Menu

Here is what we are doing for dinner for the next two weeks. Anders, if you want the grocery list, let me know!!!

Wednesday -Outback Chicken
Thursday - Meatballs
Friday - Pizza and Breadsticks

Monday - Crockpot Chicken Rollups
Tuesday - Roast Beef Sandwiches
Wednesday - Chicken and Broccoli
Thursday - BBQ Sandwiches
Friday - Pizza

Monday - Chicken Noodle Soup
Tuesday - Meatloaf (or Pasta and Breadsticks)

My Girls

It is so AMAZING to me how different each child can be. Let me show you, Kylee is our independent little one who has to do EVERYTHING herself, even her hair.

Jayce is my tender-hearted little one, who tells me she misses me when I come walking out of the bathroom!

Emily is our tough cookie. She can really hold her own against her older sisters. With some of the cousins on my side of the family, she is known as the little one, but not to be underestimated!! I just had to show you a video of Miss Emily.

New Year's Resolutions

So, I finally decided to put up my New Year's Resolutions. I kind of forgot about some of them by the end of the year, so here they are as some of my resolutions.

1. Read scriptures every morning and pray every morning and evening.
2. Read 1 book a month, 12 books a year.
3. Organize pictures to be put on DVDs
4. Make quilts for girls (butterfly and flower) for their NEW room downstairs!
5. Exercise at least 30 minutes 6x per week
6. Go to temple once a month
7. 1 planned date per month with hubs
8. 15 min uninterrupted play time with kids each day
9. Craft night every Saturday night
10. 3 free meals a week (meaning, eat healthy during the week and have my treats on the weekend!!)

Let's see how I do this year!!!

Welcome Home!!!

Well, we have been home for about a week now!! I am STILL trying to get into the groove of things. For those of you that don't know, we (my dad's ENTIRE family, 41 people, except for my kids and two of Andi's kids) went to Cancun just before Christmas! We had so much fun and I was sure relishing in the fact that we were childless that I completely forgot to take pictures, well, that and the fact that we got down there and realized our batteries in our camera were completely dead!!!

We were able to do some fun things, we went to Chi-chen Itza, XelHa, Cozumel, and also got to be lazy and lay by the beach! A couple of the days were a little overcast and a bit chilly (warmer than Utah for sure!!) but we had the best time and really enjoyed the warm weather, the beach, and especially the pina coladas!!! I tell you what, I just cannot get enough of pina coladas (sin alcohol of course!!!)! I really need to find a good recipe so that I can drink it and close my eyes and imagine myself back on the beach in Cancun!!

Jeffs' Family Christmas Party

We had the 2nd annual Jeffs' Family Christmas Party on Saturday night. It was lots of fun with some twists and turns. Jared and I went up the cabin earlier in the day to get things ready. My parents left around 3 to come up, but called about 3:30 and said they had been in an accident. They slid into the other lane of traffic, hit a pole, and went into a ditch. SCARY! They are fine, just a little shaken up. At the last minute, we changed the party to my parents house. It was a LITTLE crowded with 41 people! But loads of fun! We had dinner and then started the service auction. I think we are a group that is a little overwhelming!! I hope that everyone had fun. We had lots of fun thinks auctioned off and it was a pretty crazy moment!

Weekly Menu

Anders, this one is for you!!!

My sister was over today helping me finish some advent calendars that I HAVE to get done for the party on Saturday. When she was over, I had just finished planning my menus and getting my grocery list together. She told me that I ought to post them and also post a grocery list. She said that she would love something like that, already planned for her and then she just had to go grocery shopping, so, here ya go Anders!!!

FYI, I plan Wednesday to Tuesday, over 2 weeks, because all the grocery stores around here start their sales on Wednesday, that way I can go grocery shopping on or near the first days of the sales. Also, Fridays are pizza day around here!!

Thursday - Shredded Pork Salad
Friday - Pizza
Monday - Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday - Hawaiian Haystacks
Wednesday - Beef Stew
Thursday - Luau Chicken
Friday - Pizza
Monday - Finger Lickin Chicken
Tuesday - Beef and Broccoli
Wednesday - Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Anders, here is your grocery list
2 pork roasts
brown sugar
Worcestershire sauce
oregano
powdered ginger
salt
chili powder
garlic powder
dried minced onions
red enchilada sauce
Minute rice
chicken bouillon
garlic
oil
lime juice
cilantro
onion
green chilies
black beans
tomato juice
cumin
tomatillos
buttermilk
mayonnaise
sour cream
dry buttermilk ranch dressing
green onions
sugar
jalapeno
sirloin steak
cornstarch
broccoli
carrot
beef broth
soy sauce
chicken breasts
red wine vinegar
basil
pepper
ketchup
honey
Tabasco sauce
cream of potato soup
cream of chicken soup
mixed veggies (I use frozen)
thyme
frozen deep dish pie crusts
pineapple
celery
potatoes
beef stew seasoning
cheese
Italian dressing

Update

I know that it has been awhile since I have posted. Holidays are super crazy around here!!! We had an amazing Thanksgiving up at my aunt and uncle's house and then headed to Moroni to visit Jared's grandparents. We got to go out to Grantsville and visit Jared's parents on Saturday and then we headed to the Jazz game. FRONT ROW TICKETS! It was soo much fun! We got to go to a super fancy smancy dinner upstairs and it was just great! We sat right by the Jazz bench. I don't EVER want to go to a game without have those tickets again!!

Monday was Jared's birthday and we had 2 parties for him! I just love parties. I guess at my dad's office I am known at the party girl!! :) I am planning a Christmas party for my dad's side of the family. We are doing the service auction again and I am way excited!

Jayce started in the TLC program, which is the speech therapy classes at the Elementary School. She talks, but she doesn't say her sounds right and I LOVE this program. Kylee did it for about 9 months a few years back and it helped her SOOOOO much. I got Jayce right in and know that this will help her. The teachers are so great and Jayce loves the fact that she gets to go to school.

Dojads

Last night, my mom put together a Girls Night Out for the girls on my dad's side of the family. A few of her friends do this about twice a year and she has been wanting to put one together. Can I just tell you how much fun this was!!! I don't know if my mom told everyone, but it is called Dojads (Daughters of Janny and Dayle)! Cute name huh!!

Anyway, we got together and my mom had put together some "outfits" for us to wear. We all picked a bag that my mom had and when we opened it, there were different "outfits" that we got to wear for the night. I was a cowgirl. I got a cowgirl paper vest and a hat. Some of the others were a robot helmet and breastplate, party hat and money sign necklace, grass skirt and flower necklace, red fuzzy hat and blue boa, eye mask with gloves and a scarf, 2 reindeer and Christmas necklace, princess tiara and ring, elf hat and belt, Indian hat and necklace, purple eye mask and necklace, pirate, eyeglasses with big nose and mustache. IT was so fun!!! Then we had some good food and just visited.

My mom had sent around invitations and in our invitation was a name of a person that was coming to the party and we were supposed to tell something about this person, something nice and good. It was really fun and we found out some fun things from each other!

My cousin Alex is an esthetician and she had brought some wax to wax my other cousin's eyebrows for her wedding. Well, it just turned into a line of people wanting to get their eyebrows waxed. I have never done that, but always thought I should. I jumped right in and got mine waxed. What a great night!

Thank you so much mom for putting this fun night together!!!

Kylee and Jayce

Today I took Kylee and Jayce in for their 3 and 5 year well care visits. Such a chore I tell you what. How do mom's of twins do it!! Kylee is 37 lbs (36th percentile) and 41 inches tall (23rd percentile). Jayce is 36 lbs (90th percentile) and 39 inches tall (87th percentile). You can tell which side of the family each girl comes from!!!

Both Kylee and Jayce had to get shots today and that is so traumatic for them. We went to lunch afterwards for their hard work!! All 3 girls fell asleep on the way to lunch, about a 10 minute drive. I guess that doctor's visit wore them right out, and Emily didn't even get her checkup!!

Yummy Treat

Wednesday night we had Young Women's and the girls learned to do makeup. Most of them already wear makeup so it was fun to learn some new things. They did each other's makeup and then we had this yummy treat. I have made it before and thought it was really weird, but it turns out really yummy. If you like toffee, you might just like this and it is super easy.

Saltine Cracker Toffee

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan with tinfoil. Place soda crackers (whole) on the tinfoil so they are touching each other and cover the cookie sheet. In a saucepan, melt 1 cup of butter and 1 cup brown sugar. When it starts to boil, boil for 3 minutes EXACTLY. Pour over the soda crackers and use a spoon to coat all the crackers. Cook in over for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and pour 1 bag of chocolate chips (I used semisweet and it was still delicious!) over the crackers and butter. Let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes or until all the chips are melted. Once the chips are melted, spread like frosting. You can then put other things on your toffee like coconut, nuts, or m&m's. I just leave ours plain. Put in the fridge until hard and then break apart like toffee.

Is It November Already?

Where does the time go? I have been horrible about blogging and everyday I wake up and think today is the day that I will do better. WELL, TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!

Here are some pictures from Halloween. I don't know what the girls were, but they loved dressing up!! I practiced some face painting on the girls and this is what happened. Jayce was a fairy and Kylee was a butterfly.



My in-laws had a Halloween party and both girls wanted butterflies on their faces. It is fun, but it is a pain to clean off!
Here is Halloween. I am not really sure what Kylee and Jayce were, but they loved it. Emily was out little dragon, and that is good representation of her!! She is such a terror sometimes and we sure do love our girls!!

Kylee has been getting into my makeup lately and putting it on herself. She even does mascara. Pretty darn good for a 5 year old.

Happy Birthday to Kylee and Jayce

We have had a CRAZY week. Kylee and Jaycelyn's birthday are a day apart. I hope that it gets easier as they get older. I was a bit overwhelmed!! This year, Kylee wanted to have a friend party, so we decided to have a family party Tuesday night with cake and ice cream and then Wednesday, Kylee had her friends over for a princess party! It was lots of fun and the girls (and boys too) had a blast. I was a bit worn out after the party and put the girls to bed early and also went to bed and CRASHED!!

Here are some pictures from the party. I took some pictures, but whenever I took them, they were so out of focus like either I was moving or they were moving. Megan pointed out to me that I needed to have it on Auto. So, I won't post any of the bad pictures. Kind of ticks me off!! Anyway, here are some pictures from the party.

Here is a picture of the cake for the family party. It was cupcakes in the shape of a tiara. This was so fun and easy to make!!!

Kylee bugs is now 5 years old. Can that be possible? (See how the camera is out of focus.)
My ragamuffin turned 3!!
Kylee got a Hannah Montana stage for her present!!
Here is the cake I made for the friend party! (I am all caked out!! Anybody want some? We have lots of cake and cupcakes leftover.)
The girls getting ready to party. Karaoke here we come!
Jayce's favorite princess is Snow White. Gracie gave her a Snow White doll that she calls her Snow White baby!!
Kaydrie loved little Blakey!
Miss Pop star herself!! She had a really hard time sharing the microphone.
Jayce EATS the microphone!
Let's dance girls!!
Thank you to all that came. Kylee and Jayce had a blast!