HAP HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Last week was an entire week of celebrating Allens 26th birthday.  He doesnt ever really mention his birthday too much so I always try to make it a big deal.  Because it IS a big deal.  I love him and I love celebrating that he was born!!!
We went out to dinner, a movie, shopping, to the gym ( he made me go with him at 9am on his birthday?)  he wanted to buy some tree's for the back yard, went to Park City for Sunday brunch at Stein Erickson Lodge, and just spent lots of time together as a family.  I love my husband and I am so proud to be his wife.  He is a great example to me and our kids.  He loves us and takes good care of us.  I love to tease him about getting old, but truth is.. I love him more every day and he just keeps getting sexier with age.
This week he was told by different people that he looked like, Abraham Lincoln, and .... oh shoot I cant remember the second one but it was some other tall dark haired, bearded person from a long time ago. Whoever it was, people just love Allens beard.  So do I.

PS- Allen is not a fan of cake, or sweets really at all.  So there was no birthday cake.  (dont tell anyone but I saw him eat a piece of cake while we were at Stein Erickson)
Karlee probably doesn't even really believe that it was his birthday.  Birthdays are nothing with out cake for that girl.

Zane and Baby Buffulo

Karlee talking to the baby goats " Hi little goats, whats your name?"

One of our Tree's we picked out. 

Fun Surprise!!

These look like Easter eggs right? Wrong.  They are eggs from our baby chicks that we bought last year.  Remember these guys (Baby chicks 2011)

Can you believe it.  They actually lay eggs and they really did come out blue and green and brown and yellow.  So cute.  Cant wait to eat some today.  Thanks to the friends who adopted our chicks, so nice that they shared some eggs.

Spring, friends, flowers and stitches.

I love the spring. I get spring fever and become obsessed with spending time outside. This week I think we have spent at least 3 hours in the yard just enjoying our selves... every day.

I also love the bright flowers that bloom on our corner and the tulips in our round garden.

Allens birthday is on Saturday so I thought I would try to mow the lawn/ get a tan on Monday.  So that he could just enjoy being outside this weekend and not have to do so much yard work.  Well, I wore a tank top and some shorts, mowed the side yard strip, the top level of the yard and started down to the lower level of the front yard.  The grass was so long from recent spring showers, that I didn't see a sprinkler and ran it over.  It broke and shot back at my leg.  split it right open.  The kids were both sleeping and I couldn't get a hold of anyone to come stay with them.  So being the awesome mom that I am, I left them home alone and started on my way to the insta care.  Luckily my friend Mal was able to come up to my house and stay with the kids for me.  She got there like 2 minutes after I left.

Poor Mal, I didnt tell her why I was leaving and I didnt clean up the blood in the kitchen before.  So when she got there she was so confused and probably thinking I had been murdered and kidnapped. haha JK, she thought I cut myself in the kitchen but couldn't figure it out because there was no knife.
Anyhow... I went to insta-care and Shaleen sat with me while they stitched up my leg.  Gross.  

I came home to these two girls playing in the yard.  They are best buddies.  Oakley and her littler brother Owen have been getting babysat with my kids once a week.  They love to play together.  Karlee and Oaks are about 4 months apart and Zane and Owen are 2 weeks.  Best buds.

So, I only finished like a quarter of the lawn, and now Allen has to fix the sprinkler.  I guess I created more work.  Too bad.  I'm sure his birthday will still be a blast.

Family Time.

Lately the only thing on my mind is trying to find balance with my family.  I have been struggling to feel like I am using my time appropriately and that I am giving enough attention to my kids. 

I feel like this last week has gone better. 

I made sure to plan time for school, plan time for cooking dinner, and plan time for my kids.  I know this doesn't seem very hard for some people but for me it is a huge challenge.  After work, my kids are usually napping.  I have worked my hardest to clean up the house, study for school and get dinner started during this time. The last 5 days seem to be going great.  I have been spending plenty of time with my kids, and I have still been working hard on my school work.

I decided that I needed to make the basic things into a family event.  We went on a picnic to the park on Sunday.  We ate dinner on a blanket in the front yard yesterday, and then went for a walk with duke around the block.  We met some new neighbors, and got a little exercise too.  (We live on a steep hill.. walking around the block is a challenge) 
None of these things took very long and didn't require much prep work.  I feel like if I keep that in mind when I am struggling to find balance with my family I will be much more successful. 
Little, easy things can make all the difference.  

This was on Saturday, we went to Chili's for lunch.  way better than going for dinner.

Just Barbies and lipstick.

Karlee is a girly girl from top to bottom.

Stuffed Bunny Sadness

Yesterday Allen had something after work so I was home alone with the kids all night. I thought it would be great to get some stuff done and just let them watch a movie/play toys.
I took Karlee's stuffed pink bunny, from her bedroom and put it in the wash because it is the most disgusting thing in our home. Of course, 2 minutes after I had taken it, Karlee started asking, where is my bunny mom....
I told her it was in the laundry and getting washed.

Game over.

Karlee HATES when bunny gets washed. Life ends for about 2 hours (yes we have old washer and dryer and it takes that long.)

She cried for almost the entire time.

Cutest

This guy has the cutest little bum i have ever seen.

Missing Her

Remembering the day someone died is not something I like to do.  I like to remember the days they were alive.  Its impossible to not remember that day but I try.

This time of year I think constantly about how bad I wish my Grandma was here to know and love on my babies.  I wish she was here to teach me to finish my seems, and use my quilting foot.  I wish she was here to make jam and help me put together a garden.  I wish she was here to make me laugh and team up with my mom to tell me all the things I am doing wrong. (I'm sure this wouldn't happen anymore, but I was an interesting teenager.) I want to play cards and paint, and eat PB&J's and have sleep overs.  I wish she was here to talk to Karlee.  Oh Karlee would love her so much.  I miss you Grandma Montana, Every day, not just yesterday, or this week.  Every single day.

I am so grateful to have my Mom live close to me.  She is a great Grandma to my babies and I know they will cherish her just like I did my Grandma.

2 kids in the tub

Rub-a-dub-dub.... 2 kids in the tub.

Kelly Clarckson and Matt Nathanson

My love bought me tickets at Christmas to see Kelly! It was such a great present.  The concert was on 3/20/2012 and Matt Nathanson opened.  We had a great time and Kelly was PERFECT.  I love her.

Love you Mr. Bishop... my life would seriously suck with out you.

BB Bunny

About a week ago my dad took Karlee and Zane to Spero's farm to see the baby bunnies. And then we came home with one.

I know I have a history of bringing strange animals home (baby chicks) but who doesn't love a tiny fluffy baby bunny. We named her/him Cinabun!