Baylee learning to ride her horse

Baylee's friend Savanah helped her learn how to ride her horse this past month. We've bought Baylee a couple of "kid's ponies" that really weren't. Since Baylee has had a couple of bad experiences with horses she lost interest in riding for awhile. But, this summer David acquired a horse named Dollar that is a dead broke kid's horse. With the help of her friend Savannah Baylee will now go out to the barn and saddle Dollar up and ride without even letting me know she is doing it. I'm so proud of her bravery to get back in the saddle.

Look Who's turning 40 today!

Happy 40th David! I hope your day is great.

Okay, David wants me to clear up the fact that he didn't pose for a glamour shot. I got a picture of him with the kids - I cropped his face out and ran a skin glow action over his skin (which he hates - but I think its just a little bit funny) Anyway, that's how I acquired such a beautiful picture of him.

Fourth of July

I just love how the top photograph caught Jimmy doing a perfect dive into the pool. Way to go Jimmy! We goofed off and had a really great day.

Fourth of July

We spent the Fourth of July at my parents home swimming. We had a great time hanging out with cousins, eating good food, and lighting fireworks.

Just want to say thanks to Shawn for getting all the fireworks. Thanks to Jimmy because he was the biggest ham in the pool - he took on all the kids. And thanks to Mark for putting up with Braxton hanging on him. Mark pushed Braxton all over the pool and really made his day.

The Digital Switch

David and I have used an antenna located in our attic to watch TV since forever. When we heard about the switch from analog to digital we knew it would affect us because, (1) Our T.V.'s were old, (2) we used an antenna.

We ordered a coupon to obtain a converter box. We got two coupons worth $40 in the mail. We promptly kept them until they expired. They expire 90 days after you get them. I called the number on the cards and got new ones. I received my new cards in the mail on June 13th a day after the switch to digital. The cost of the coverter boxes were $50 each so I was out $20 bucks - no biggie.

By now we had been without TV for a week and I was ready to have TV back. I came home and tried to follow the instructions and hook up the converter box. All I got was a no signal sign.

I called our local antenna place and was told that I was probably in the gray zone and wouldn't be able to get any digital reception even though I had gotten analog reception just fine.

I was told that if I was located north of the canal I wouldn't get anything. Since I am located one block south of the canal I was hopeful but the guy still thought I wouldn't get reception. I really became annoyed at this point. Why did the government care if I watched TV using an analog or digital signal anyway? I really didn't want to pay for something that I had gotten for free. Geesh.

Luckily David talked with our neighbor and friend Porter Rockwell (yes that's really his name - and he is a direct descendant) who happens to live three houses to the south of us. Anyway, he was watching TV at his home using a converter box and had way more channels than he did when it was analog. I think he even said he used bunny ears for the antenna - I can't remember for sure.

Were really lucky because Porter brought his wife's nephew (who Porter introduced to me as a genius) to my home to set up my converter box. After about 30 minutes he had it working. I had way more stations to watch than I ever did before. I got all of the local stations plus three or four Spanish stations, weather stations, and just plain useless stations - one broadcasts the current weather conditions all day long. Anyway, I was really excited to get KBYU and KUED again so my kids could watch Arthur in the afternoons. They love that show and honestly so do I. I should use that little half hour to get something done but seriously I get sucked into Arthur too. Okay, I'm getting off the subject.

I just wanted people to know in my area that if you think or are told that you can't get a digital reception because your in Highland or North American Fork their wrong. You simply need to find your local neighborhood genius - give him a couple of movie tickets (which ours didn't even want to accept) and ask him/her for some help. You might need the genius to be a him because if your TV is old it probably weighs around 300 lbs (I'm serious about the weight).

Anyway, just a little shout out to the Rockwell's "THANK YOU" for helping us. By now we would have probably signed up for Dish Network and would be paying $40.00 a month for TV (they are having a special right now for $9.99 per month for 6 months and then it goes to $40.00 per month after that - you have to sign a 24 month contract). We owe the Rockwell's some cash I think. We will definately be buying them dinner.

Happy Fathers Day David

I want to wish David a Happy Father's day weekend. I made him take a few pictures in the studio today. He didn't last very long. I was excited to shoot him because of his incredible green eyes. He's the only person in our family that doesn't have brown eyes.

A Free Session

I just want to get the word out that I'm having a drawing for a free photography session. Visit my photography blog for details. I cant post without a picture. So here's Baylee. . . .

Fun taking pictures

We had tons of cousins over playing at our house yesterday. Of course the girls had to have a fashion show in the studio.

New Moon

I stole both of these from my sister Corianne's blog. I like them both.

Something to look forward too.


So funny.

What's new?

What we've been up too. . . .
David's brother Dirk and his wife Amy have been staying with us these past couple of days. They have been down from Washington to deliver their fifth and last child Steven over to the MTC. It's wierd because Amy is only 7 years older than me and her baby is now 19. Crazy. It's been fun visiting with them. We've had tons of family parties.

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. Of course we had to have a swimming party. We had just gotten there when Braxton decided to get into their pool without floaties. He could touch but didn't know where the deep end began and slid off the shallow end to the deep. I was in the pool house getting him his floaties and just walked around the corner as he went down. So I got to jump into the pool to save him. I didn't even take my shoes off. He wasn't interested in swimming after that so he and I went home to change.

Since we know that our time is limited using my parents pool we have been over there swimming almost every day. In fact I'm heading there now.

Summer is definately in full swing.

kitties again

Yep, these babies are ready for a new home. If you have a mouse problem they can definately help out with that. This batch is really good with kids too. They don't run away anymore. I think thats mainly due to the fact that Jennica and Braxton are four now.

UPDATE: I'm adding this on Memorial Day evening. Crazy enough we only have the two black kitties left. My phone has been ringing off the hook and the three tabbies have all found good homes. That's why I love KSL.

Anyway, their really cute and sweet.



Yes, it's time to find these cute little things a new home.

Happy Birthday to Braxton. NOT.

In primary today they asked if anyone had a birthday this week so they could sing happy birthday to them. Braxton raised his hand and told them that his birthday was today. (Note: Braxton at least once a weeks announces that today is his birthday - this is something that has been re-occuring since he turned four last month.)

Anyway, they brought him up to the front of the room and I guess he wore a birthday hat and they sang happy birthday to him. Also, they let the kids pick a little b-day gift out of a bucket. Someone mentioned that they thought it might not be Braxton's birthday today. I think someone thought it was strange that his twin sister was sitting quietly by her teacher not saying a word. She knew it wasn't her birthday. Anyway, they took him out into the hall to see the primary secretary who confirmed that it was not his birthday. I don't know if they took his toy or present away or not. He came home with a few stickers and a handout but that could have been from his teacher.

On the way home he told me that today was his birthday and that we needed to make him a cake. Later in the day he found a cake mix in the pantry and brought it to me for his birthday.

I heard this story second handed so I might have mixed things up a bit. I did find it funny though. If the primary presidency doesn't watch closely (they must have forgot they sang to him last month) they will be singing happy birthday to Braxton every month or maybe every week. He'll clean out their birthday gifts fast.

What's Happening. . . . . . .

All of the kids plus David is now on antibodies to treat strep throat. I kept thinking we just had a long lasting virus that wouldn't go away. Finally, I took my kids into the Doctor today and was shocked that it was strep. I'm going in tomorrow for my strep test. I too have a sore throat and swollen lymph glands on the side of my neck. It's wierd because were all functioning fine but just at a lower productivity level than were used to. It will be good to get this behind us before summer starts.

Speaking of summer. . . .I cannot believe its here already. Boy I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I need to stock up on the crafts and suncreen.

My parents sold their home with the swimming pool so that's kind of a bummer this year. Luckily they don't need to be out until the middle to end of July. We will be spending the entire month of June enjoying their pool. It will be quite the adjustment taking my kids to the public pool again. Who knows my kids might enjoy the public pool more than a private. Lots of kids, splashing and there will definately be a larger shallow end to play in. But, I bet we just fill up the old turtle sand box with water and swim here in our yard. I know, I know. . . . that won't help improve their swimming skills at all.

David's gotten several baby horses in the past few weeks. Their so fun to watch. We welcome anyone to come and see them. But, we do require that kids wear shoes and young children should be accompanied by an adult. We had a 4 year old boy wander over to our home Sunday night. He decided to go into our yearling stallion pen (the most dangerous pen to go in - except for our stallion pen). The boy had no shoes and was wearing pajama pants. All of a sudden we heard a loud noise and looked over just in time to see this kid scale the fence like a monkey as all the horses were boxing him into a corner. He finally got caught on some wire and David had to lift him up and over the fence. Luckily he wasn't hurt but it scared him and us to death. I don't know why he decided to go into their pen instead of just look through the fence.

I'll try and post some pictures of the baby colts tomorrow. They really are adorable.

Orchard Shots

My sisters, Camille, Cori and my cousin Brenda and I took our kids to the sweetest apple orchard yesterday to take pictures. It was soooo much fun. Jennica was still not feeling well so I didn't get a lot of her. Today she is sporting the biggest cold sore (poor thing). Braxton didn't get a lot of pictures either just because it was so much fun shooting the girls in their dresses with the vintage doll stroller. If you want to see more of our pictures check it out on my photography blog.

Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to tell my Mom happy Mother's Day. I just love my Mom. I'm going to list just a few of her characteristics:

1. Compassionate
2. A very good listener
3. Non-judgmental
4. Forgiving

Mom always worries about others and is always behind the scenes helping people. She doesn't like a lot of attention or fanfare. But, I'm going to give it to her today. Happy Mothers Day Mom!

The Kid's and I played with the Camera today.

My kid's (with the exception of Braxton) really hate to get their picture taken. So I bribed Baylee. She was able to take some of her own shots if I got a few of her. So that's what the last picture was about. Braxton will do anything I ask of him just to get his picture taken. Problem is he wants to be in Jennica and Baylee's pictures too. Jennica absolutely just won't. I got one of her but it wasn't real great. I didn't want to leave her out so I included it. I posted more on my photography blog.

How to learn how to digital scrapebook

I found this site that walks you through digital scrapebooking. It's so great to know how to do this. You can make birthday invitations, handouts, scrapebooking pages etc.

Go to www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/tutorials.shtml for some quick lessons. You will need photoshop elements or photoshop CS2 or CS3. I recommend checking ebay for some great photoshop deals.

No time to post

Wow, I usually post sooner than this. Here is a sneak peak of our neighbors the Phillip's family photos. David and I went to highschool with Stan and Lori Phillip's and it was great to have them in our ward. I just loved this picture of their three youngest boys.

Last Weeks Snow Storm

I'm posting this picture to remind myself how much nicer the weather is this week compared to last. This picture was taken last Thursday. Ya gotta love April. 70 degrees to 25 degrees in the matter of 24 hours.

Baylee's learning a dance to thriller

At Baylee's school they are putting on a dance festival. She has to perform a dance to thriller. I wanted to show her the original thriller music video for fun. Brings back good ole junior high memories. The first time I saw this music video was in 1984. I was in the ninth grade and Mr. Hyde showed it to us in his class. Make sure you turn off my play list before viewing. I think they are celebrating the 25 year anniversary of Thriller.

Thriller - Michael Jackson