Picture Day!

Picture day is a day I absolutely dread...it always turns out being such a headache and a total waste of time and money. We have walked away many times without even buying a single photo due to Landon thinking he's so funny (which he usually is, just not in these cases) and his fake little smiles (he really does try, just a little too hard). However, I must say we had a handful of pictures turn out pretty darn cute this time! It was a total different setting which I think helped quite a bit...it wasn't in a store where you have 20 minutes and the photographer is trying to get your children to look at the camera and produce an award winning smile, but rather she came to us and did more candid, upclose photos which I love! She's was wonderful despite the cranky mood Binnie was in and Landon's crazy antics. Here's some of my favorite pictures of my little angels...did I really just use the word angles to describe my children?!?

My precious little Binnie...she's an absolute doll!


This was my favorite picture of Landon...look at the darling grin!


These shots are kind of fun...her chubby little toes! Landon wanted so badly to wear a tutu...I had to explain to J that your little boy wanting to wear a tutu isn't something he should get in trouble for...it's merely a fun thought, not time-out worthy!


My best little buddy ever!


Don't you just want to squeeze her?!?





J used to think I was nuts when I'd tell him it'd be worth all the time and all the money if we could just get one cute photo of each child...I think he now understands what I mean. Crazy day, but totally worth it with all the darling photos!
Oh, and yes...you're right, there's no pictures with the two of them together. For some reason they just didn't turn out too cute...I'm sure you can imagine the scenario of the two of them trying to take a photo together, if not just take a scroll down my blog and you'll soon see why the two of them just don't do photo shoots together!

Whose Child is This?!?

The other day I experienced something I hope no other parent experiences...for your children's sake or should I say safety.

Here's the scene: I am in my bathroom peacefully yet rapidly applying my makeup as to hurry so I don't leave Landon "babysitting" Binnie for too long, when I hear Binnie suddenly start squealing from in the family room. Now mind you this is not by any means an unusual event in our home, however, her squealing sounded a little more strained and muffled than usual. So, I frantically go tearing out of my room with one eyebrow painted on to find Binnie sitting on the floor and my angel child Landon, his feet firmly planted on either side of her with his little hands white knuckled, gripping the sides of her head. As I watched him YANK upward on her head repeatedly, yes, repeatedly,(I froze in absolute shock). I screamed, "LANDON! What are you doing?!?!" He looked at me so innocently and matter a factly stated, "I'm just trying to pull her head off mom."

WHAT?!?! What child attempts to PULL, rather YANK his siblings head off? I have no idea where this comes from! The poor kid isn't even allowed to watch Sponge-Bob cause it's mean, and here my child is, trying to YANK his little sister's head off!?! I don't get it, I just don't understand where he comes up with these rotten ideas. Poor Binnie. Her defense mechanism of grunting psychotically while rapidly flailing her extremities when she senses danger is no longer a deterent to him!

This picture just goes to show you Landon gets a kick out of Binnie flipping out over the simplest things...a hug for cryin out loud! (It is pretty entertaining!)

A "MATURE" VACA!!!

Thanks to my wonderful hubby, who works his little toosh off (well, not really but he likes to think so), we were able to spend a week in Cancun on his company! I used to dream of going to Cancun on Spring Break in highschool/college and of course I never had the parental units permission, so my dream of a Cancun Spring Break never came to pass. Until now! Ironically enough, the week we were in Cancun was Spring Break with the whole MTV set up, night life and all! I now understand why my parents forbade Cancun during Spring Break! Luckily enough our hotel didn't allow spring breakers so we were sheltered from the chaos and crazy scene of spring break. Ok, Ok, I'm lying. I was dying to see it all, and "fulfill" my long awaited dream, but with Jay as my traveling companion that was never going to happen. After he had convinced me how incredibly immature I was for entertaining the thought of an "MTV Spring Break" as a mother, I grew up, put on my MATURE face and had an incredibly relaxing, adult, MATURE vacation filled with laying out, walks on the beach(cute eh?)at least he fulfilled that dream, non stop eating, snorkeling, hot tubbing, sea shell collecting, boating and shopping! I couldn't have asked for a better vacation with a better companion!
You rock baby! I love you! And I'll love you even more if you take me again next year :)!!!
Here are a few of the pics from our "MATURE, adult vacation"...

Here we are outside our hotel on the beach...the water in Cancun is by far the most beautiful water I have ever seen!



We took a boat ride to this little island to snorkel and as usual I was terrified. Without fail, every time I get in the water to snorkel I hyperventilate. Literally I can't breathe, if only you could hear the colorful words coming out of my mouth as I emerse myself into the depths of hell, but luckily you can't make out the words with the snorkel shoved in my mouth. I never let go of Jay. He always tries to swim away but my grip is more powerful than his swim. It was incredible snorkeling with sting rays, star fish, baracudas, blow fish, and hundreds of fish to the point you couldn't kick with out touching one of the little freeks! It scared the pee out of me, for real...I'm a firm believer that fish are attracted to urine...so I was constantly checking my back in fear they would start nibbling!



For those of you who have been to Cancun, you know this is one place that really looks like it's post cards! I've always associated Cancun with MTV and Spring Break, but it's so much more than what MTV makes it out to be, the water is unreal! (By the way, I was never allowed to watch MTV growing up so maybe that's why I have such a fascination with it!) Here's the view from our hotel...it was awesome so we rarely left the hotel grounds!



Here's Jay, being the manly man he is, he caught this little shark (or at least he like to think so). He was pretty stoked and I was one proud wife!



This is when I wished Landon had been with us...he would have been in heaven with little SQUIRT! (Thanks Mom, Dad and Em for taking such good care of our munchkins!)



Here are our travel buddies...they were a blast!(The owner of Jay's company whose name is also Jay and his super cute wife Kristine, Jay and I, Kelly (another gal from his company) and her husband Daren all traveled together.) We all had such a good time together!



Thank you honey for being the hard worker and incredible man you are! XOXOXOXO!

Sun and Fun...or shoud I say Trouble!!!

Yea! Today was such perfect weather! Landon had his very first T-ball practice today and he absolutely loved it! He is playing with a few other boys from his Sunbeam class and he is just thrilled! He wore his new "T-ball pants", no they aren't the real thing, I haven't been able to bring myself to buy him tight little white pants, so he wore his new wind pants and yellow "T-ball shirt", nope...not the real thing, much cuter!

Landon, Binnie and I spent the day together outside...pulling weeds, stirring the dirt and bark for our flower patches and eating popsicles! It was so much fun, Landon was in heaven after 3 popsicles, no shoes, and digging in the dirt. It was Binnie's first taste of summer literally...she loves the bark, to eat that is. She's terrified of the grass so she spent her time in the bark. She was so content chewing on bark that she sat there for 3 hours totally content...without sunscreen.

Yes, I am the failure of a mother who totally spaced putting sunscreen on my children...they are absolutely fried! (I really hope my mom isn't reading this, she'd kill me) Binnie has no hair to protect her little head and so her noggin is totally rosey. Landon keeps telling her how burnt she is and how bad it must hurt. I just hope he doesn't look in the mirror! He'd freek if he saw how red he is! I am trying to talk Jay into staying home from church with Binnie, so we'll see how that goes, but I don't think he's going for it.

Anyhow, as we're out in the yard, Landon hears a motorcycle and his little burnt ears begin to perk..."here comes the yellow power ranger mom!" I look up to see a man decked out in a yellow jacket, yellow pants and yellow helmet on a yellow crotch rocket. Landon was speechless! He stood there in awe grinning from ear to ear as he came face to face with his hero...the yellow power ranger! (It was our next door neighbor Kayla's man coming to pick her up for a date, but I with held that info. as not to spoil his excitement) the moment was priceless!

Last laugh...Landon is such a good helper and is so protective of Binnie, so when he turned around to see her with a mouth full of bark, he hustled over to her, picked her up (underneath the arms as we have practiced), and CHUCKED her onto the grass and I mean CHUCKED! She flew through the air and face planted into her hell...the grass!
She wigged out and Landon stood there like the little hero he was. He stood there, proud of his strength and quickness, not even questioning his actions. And, well, I was laughing too hard to even begin to speak let alone explain out how wrong and not ok it is to chuck your little sister. Sometimes it's best to just bury your head and act like you didn't see a thing!

Of course all of this happened on my watch while Jay was on his bike ride. So, I am all to blame, but what an eventful, fun day it was for the kids and I.

These are the days we stick to our motto: WHAT DADDY DOESN'T KNOW...CAN'T GET MOMMY IN TROUBLE!!!

Tag... I'm it!

I was tagged by Chels and Whitney, so here it goes girls!
Here are the rules:
A: Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves
B: At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names; then goes to their blogs, leaves them a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and invites them to read your blog.

I'm not sure how crazy I might sound if I list my 6 but for most of you they may not be total shockers!

1. I have a couple issues with fear. However, they only come out at night...before I go to bed each night it takes me at least 10 minutes or so to lock up. I go to each door,(after I have poked my head out to make sure the neighborhood looks alright...free of anything unusual) unlock them (because they're always locked)and relock them, sometimes up to 2 or 3 times just to make sure they're locked. I check behind shower curtains, doors and in the kids closets as well as my own. I check to make sure the main windows are locked and my children are still breathing. If I have any question I smother them with kisses until they stir or wake up. I hate anything scary that causes me to fear more. (Maybe it's a little OCD cause I have some other weird, hidden quirks similar to this.)

2. I absolutely love coke slurpees!!! We usually have a slurpee run 3-5 times a week. Landon and I have been known to drive around the valley hopping from 7-11 to
7-11 to find the flavors we crave(coke for me and either banana or pina coloda for Landon)and slurpees that are just the right consistency. ICEE's just don't do it for us, it has to be a slurpee. I could live on coke slurpees and 7-11 nachos. (Yes, the ghetto ones, I LOVE THEM!!!) For those of you wondering if it wears on your teeth to have that much sugar that often, no, it doesn't. I have never had a cavity!

3. I read this on a friends blog so I'm not the only one who likes this, so don't think I'm disgusting. I love cleaning out ear wax, suctioning snot, cleaning the nasty gunk out of Binnie's belly button and picking their noses. Nasty? Yeah probably, but I absolutely love immediate results and every single one of those will give you an immediate result! I am helping them hear better, breathe better and smell better. Don't worry, Jay does all of his own bodily cleaning, I just pick at the kids.

4. I know a lot of people are in to odd numbers, even numbers etc. Well, I am a 5 minute interval kind of girl. I will stop something I'm doing, such as blogging on a five minute interval. For example, if I need to get off the computer to go to bed and it's 11:34 I will wait until it's 11:35 to log off. If I get caught up in something and I miss 11:35 so it's 11:37, I will wait until 11:40 to log off. Jay hates it, cause the 5 minute interval quirk gets in the way of daily life sometimes, appts., mtgs., etc.

5. I have never had any kind of facial routine. I don't use expensive cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliants, creams or whatever else their is to use. I use the $2.99 clean and clear cleanser from Target and whatever lotion is closest for my facial routine at night. I have heard so many friend who use so many different facial products at night and I've never been one to do so. I'd rather spend my money on makeup I guess.

6. Unless we're really, really close and we have gone on overnighters together or Jay has pulled it out in attempt to embarass me, you probably haven't met my blankie. It is my free therapy. I absolutely adore and love my blankie! A couple minutes of sniffing my blankie and I can get through the roughest day. If I have ever felt lonely or upset growing up, I would just lay down and smell my blankie and life just seemed so much better! It is the most comfortable, calming, incredibly smelling blankie in the world! I want to sniff it just thinking about it. I've had it since I was 18 months old, so you can imagine what it looks like and I don't wash it very often for fear it will fall apart. I know it sounds like I've lost it, but I couldn't sleep without it. It really is so relaxing and comforting to have it next to me at night.


As you can see I have passed my love for blankies down to my little munchkins! They cuddle with, smell and can't sleep without their blankies too! Jay thinks we've all lost it, he's just jealous he doesn't have a blankie and our blankies get more lovin than he does!

Well, now that I have made myself out to be a freek, now it's your turn. I tag...anyone else who's reading this and hasn't yet done it themselves!!!

BBQ Buddies!

Last weekend we got together with some friends to BBQ and Landon actually found a little friend who loves his choke hold hugs and overwhelming attention!


I know, I know, amazing! Landon has so much energy and is so intense that he has the tendency to scare little kids with his energy and roughness. It was so entertaining to watch Landon and Natalia run around outside in the freezing cold with Melinda's scarves on...


Landon was in heaven with little Natalia! Definately a memorable night...yummy food, entertaining company and many fun memories!!!

Reminiscing Weekend...

A couple weekends ago we got together with Jay's highschool buddies. They are all old and married with kids :), so they weren't as energetic and wild as they all once were, but nonetheless we had a great time and some good laughs! It's so fun he still talks to and gets together with friends from highschool. To me it seems totally foreign because I don't talk to anyone from highschool let alone see anyone. I rarely run into anyone from highschool and if I ever do run into someone I duck and pray they don't notice me. I know a lot of people love hanging out with friends from back in the day, but I wasn't that close with a group of friends to do so, so it's fun Jay does.
It's fun to see everyone's kids when we get together especially when you knew them when they were young and single. They all have darling families and are doing great things!
What a handsome group of men eh?!?


We were missing a couple wives...see you next time hopefully!


Landon and his new little buddy Owen...they had a blast together!

The Best Things in Life Aren't Things...

When I read this quote, it really made me sit back and think about how I spend my days...unfortunately my typical days are nothing like this, but I hope whomever reads this will once again realize how important it is to spend fun, memorable uplifting moments with our incredible children. So much more important than trying to make ourselves feel like we have it all together..clean home, empty laundry baskets, well polished kids etc. Remember how lucky we are to have these angels in our home!

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is. Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play. Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together. Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by. Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned. Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them. Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys..

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows. Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore. And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day...

Cutest munchkins ever!!!

With the sunny weather this past week...the munchkins and I went out for a couple strolls together. Yup, believe it or not I actually have been exercising for 6 weeks now! Longest stretch ever, but our trip to Mexico next month is my only motivation so we'll see how it goes when we get home. Anyhow, I took Landon and Binnie in our little chariot we originally got for Jay to take Landon on his bike rides. Well, for any of you who know Jay and his little prized posession (his bike) he has decided his bike is too fragile and precious to hook up the trailer. So, I took the kids on a walk. They absolutley loved it!!! They would just look at eachother and smile. I would have to stop to look at them every few feet cause they looked so freekin cute! Binnie just stares at Landon...she absolutley adores him, it makes my heart melt! So here's to my lazy butt getting out of the house and the two cutest little jammers ever!!!

I know, I know...

I know, I know...I need a new post. No camera and Primary is just kickin' my toosh, so between the two...nada. Sorry, it's on my list of things to do, granted these lists typically get lost before I ever get through them.

My Heritage Face Recognition!

table height="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">http://www.myheritage.com/collage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

I thought these were kind of fun...myheritage.com

Tagged!

What is his name? Jason Winzeler

How long have you been together? Married 6 years this month!

How long did you date? One Year

How old is he? 28...and has his first few gray hairs!!!

Who eats more? I absolutley do, he's definantely a light weight when it comes to food

Who said I love you first? I think me, sad huh?!

Who is taller? He is

Who can sing better? We both like to sing to the kids, but beyond that we've both got issues

Who is smarter? Depends...sports, commonsense etc. Jay is, Books, I'd say I'm the nerd

Who does the laundry? I do, until Jay finds himself recycling certain items and then he steps up and shrinks everything!

Who pays the bills? Both...Jay makes all the money and I write all the checks!

Who sleeps on the right side? Depends on how you look at the bed, all I know is I'm always furthest from the door and he has to be on my left so I can't smell or feel him breathing on me when I'm on my favored right side.

Who mows the lawn? He does, I'd like to, but I know if I do it once, it will all of a sudden become my job...I've learned not to do anything or lift a finger to anything I don't want to be doing from there on out!

Who cooks dinner? We both do

Who drives? He does...some type of masculinity thing I think

Who is more stubborn? Tie!!!

Who kissed who first? He kissed me...shocker eh?

Who asked who out first? I asked him out...sad again huh? I'm really not that forward, but my friend was going to line him up with another friend so I had to beat her to it and ask him out for myself.

Who proposed? He did, after some persistent persuasion!

Who has more friends? Through the teenage years he definantely did, but now I'd say we pretty much both have a good group of friends.

Who is more sensitive? I'm a wreck! No, but seriously...poor guy, I am all over the charts some days.

Who has more siblings? He does...3, I have...2

Who wears the pants? Well, I've already made myself look bad so I guess I might as well be truthful on this answer as well...I can be pretty bossy so I'd say I do, but I know if he heard me say that he'd just laugh at me. He probably lets me think I do to avoid the argument, but he has his ways of wearing the pants a little more discretely.

I tag whoever reads this!

Our Amazing Prophet

Last night when I heard the news of President Hinckley's passing, I was shocked and saddened to know we had lost such a kind, fun-loving, faithful and truly wonderful prophet. Someone who I felt I had connected with over the years of his ministry as prophet. He seemed like such a real, down to earth prophet who truly loved the members of our church. However, my attitude quickly changed as I pictured him in the arms of his darling wife who he loved and missed so much. When I thought of how happy our Heavenly Father and our Savior would be to embrace him and thank him for his incredible work he accomplished while here on the earth I couldn't help but think...Good for him. He accomplished so much, loved so many and led a life filled of love and service. What a wonderful day for him to be reunited with his beloved wife and our Lord Savior. Think of all the thousands and thousands of lives he touched by bringing forth so many temples all over the world and because of his diligence, his faith and his love for the Lord so many families have been sealed to eachother so they too can live as eternal families.
I think you always fondly remember the prophet who served when you were in your youth and young adult years. As I hear parents and those around me remember different prophets it tends to be those whom served at such changing times in their lives. There is no doubt that I will remember President Hinckley who served as our prophet at such pivotal points in my life.
I am grateful for his enthusiasim, his love for the Lord, his dedication to seeing the work move forth and his christ-like example. What an incredible man and what a happy reunion for our beloved prophet and friend.

Lucky Me...

Tonight as I sat and watched Jay teach Landon how to "hip-hop" dance, I couldn't help but think of what a lucky gal I am. Landon and Binnie couldn't ask for a better dad and I couldn't ask for better munchkins or hubby. They are so funny together and both end up sweating by the time the dance instruction and tumbling efforts are finished. Even Binnie wiggles and shakes when she watches Landon and daddy go nutz! If Landon hears his and dad's rockout music turn on (Sorry, Blame it on Me by Akon and Umbrella by Rihanna..the clean versions of course!) he comes racing to the family room doing summersault down the hall.
These are the moments that make life priceless!

90% and poppin ear drums!

Yesterday I took Landon and Binnie to the Dr. Binnie had a 7 month checkup and as all of you can guess, she was in the 92% for weight...90% for height...and 95% for head. Way to take after your mom Binnie! Hey, at least she's proportionate. She also received 5 shots and an oral immunization with nothing but a little whimper. Afterall she lives with Landon who unexpectedly tackles her and wrestles her so she's use to a little pain now and then. She is such a mellow, content baby. She's just an angel.
As for Landon, he started complaining his ear hurt the night before last at about 10:00pm and by 5:00am his ear had ruptured and for those of you who have had kids with ruptured eardrums you know how obvious it is when it happens. The pain will be so excruciating and all of a sudden it doesn't hurt anymore and their pillow has a large wet spot and their ear is swimming in fluid. Poor kid! So the Dr. put him on antibiotics to keep away any possible infection. He is such a trooper and a wonderful big brother. He is just all over Binnie and she is without a doubt his number one fan! You'll never see her smile bigger and wiggle her legs and arms faster than when she sees Landon walk into the room!

Christmas Memories?

Well, our Christmas was one to remember...Christmas eve we got out the video camera so it was all set for the morning and we realized we only had like 2 min. in battery time left and sure enough Jay and had no idea where he had put the charger, so we thought ok, we'll just have to take lots of pics. First thing in the morning we whip out the camera to capture the Christmas excitement when after one picture our camera failed and wouldn't take any pictures! So memories is all we really will have of this Christmas. Oh, and Bryn's tooth she has been working on for sometime finally cut through and the 2nd one soon followed. I had the craziest pain I had ever been in when Landon decided to jump off the couch onto my back as I layed on the floor playing with Bryn and my back went crazy at about 11:00 Christmas night, so between no sleep with the teether and frustration with the electronic devices a nice heavy dose of percocet for the back was all I needed to call it a day!
But looking back now, I can honestly say our Christmas was awesome. Landon came to find out that Santa makes toys for Costco and that's why his train table is just like the Costco one. My brother, my sister in law and their 2 boys were in town for Christmas so Landon's best buddies were here! We were able to make it to every family party and spend the weekend at the cabin sledding, snowmobiling and downing the hot chocolate! We are so lucky to have all our family close by and to have so many fun family traditions. It makes for a busy but wonderful holiday!
Have a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas?!?

So many of our friends have done such cute pictures with their children in front of the Christmas tree so we thought we'd hold a little photo session this morning with my so obedient and cute children and well...Bryn would sob every time Landon touched or looked at her, probably because his touch is anything but soft, but more of a choke hold. Jay couldn't make either child laugh for the life of him and Landon thought he was the only one who needed to be in the pictures. All of that combined with my limited patience and well...here's what you get! Merry Christmas!

Are you kidding?!?

I've heard everyone say how fun and easy this blogging thing is so I thought I'd give it a try and well...this is one of the hardest things I have had to figure out in a long time! My poor neglected children! Hopefully my page will get a little a little more exciting and cute in the near future! But at the rate I'm going, it may take awhile!