What Princess Are You?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Lake Powell!!!

We just got back from our amazing 7 day houseboat vacation at Lake Powell thanks to Good Things Utah and At Your Leisure!!! Back on Memorial Day I won this trip and it had seemed like the day was never going to come! It was a long drive but when we got there it was amazing! The houseboat was more amazing than I would have ever imagined (4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a full stocked kitchen)! There was 6 couples that went so we had a great time! I was worried that 7 days was going to be so long to leave the kids but with the day it took to get down there and then the day to get home the time flew by! I haven't ever in my life had that much time to just do whatever I wanted!! The weather was beautiful the entire trip! We went boating everyday, it took a week but I finally figured out how to wakeboard! It didn't happen without getting lots of bruises and a really sore back and neck to remind me how not so easy it is to learn a watersport even though everyone we went with made it look like a piece of cake!! I was just hoping to make it up long enough to get a picture (thanks to Brooke I think I will have a picture that makes me look like I have been waterskiing for years!!:) The people we went with are amazing at this kind of thing and were doing jumps and flips! I guess when you start waterskiing at 5 years old you would have to be amazing! I had never been boating before or to Lake Powell so I was not sure what to expect. We found a beautiful spot to park our houseboat for the week! It is hard to put into words what an amazing week it was, so hopefully you can see by the pictures!!! We have so many fun memories from this trip that we will always remember!! It was one big party!!!!

Our Little Photographer!

Carlie likes to take the camera lately and just take random pictures of anything around the house. It is pretty funny to go through the pictures afterwards and see what she has taken! Sometimes I see some pretty interesting things. These are just a couple of the pictures I found the other day when I downloaded pictures!!

Carlie's First Day of Kindergarten!

Today was Carlie's first day of Kindergarten! I can't believe she is already in school. She is in the same class as two of her friends and she said she made a new friend today! She said she loves Kindergarten and can't wait to go to first grade! Let's just get through Kindergarten first!!

"Monkey Munchies"

We have fallen in love with Jon & Kate plus eight! It is a show on TLC about a family with one set of twins and then a set of sextuplets! It is so amazing to see how they live and handle eight kids!! They are amazing and it is so fun to watch. They make things sometimes and one episode they made "Monkey Munchies", also known as Muddy Buddies. We of course had to make it afterwards, it is so good it is now our new favorite treat!!

Monkey Munchies

9 cups Chex® cereal (any variety)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

The "PHASES" of our lives!

We went through the Barney phase, the Wiggles phase, the Doodlebops phase, the Hannah Montana phase (this was the most fun because I didn't mind listening to the music) and we have finally made it to the JONAS BROTHERS PHASE!!! Any of you with kids obsessed with the Disney Channel will know who I am talking about! I didn't ever imagine my five year old in love with a boy group already!! Carlie told me the other day that she still loves Hannah but she thinks she really likes the Jonas Brothers now! It's already beginning and we still have a long ways to go! I can't even begin to imagine what the next phase will be!:)

24th of July Tradition!

The kids and I went up to the family cabin (on my Dad's side of the family) today. Lance had to work so it wasn't a very fun family holiday!! Growing up my family would go up every 24th of July and have a BBQ with all of the extended family. It has dwindled down over the years with people getting married and passing on so it isn't the same but it is still fun to go up and enjoy when we get the chance. When I was little I loved to swing on the big swing out back. It is still there so now my kids love to go on it everytime we go up. It is a fun tradition to carry on!!

Weekend Getaway!

We went to our favorite place for a weekend getaway, St. George, Utah. Lance had to go down for work to visit a client so we went along for the ride. The kids loved swimming in the pool, it felt like it was 200 degrees with the humidity!!

Blogging 101 - What NOT to do!!

This is a portion of one of my friends blogs. I thought it was so true I wanted to post it on my blog as some good advice to follow.....

Blogging 101 -What NOT to do!
Yes, this is unsolicited advice from yours truly, but I think it's about time someone addresses the issues.

#1. Don't get green with envy, Blenvy it's coined, while reading other's blogs. According to CJane, "It usually comes from reading a blog that emphasizes my insecurities." Well said blogger guru. I couldn't agree with you more.Please remember that each post is just a moment of that person's day/week. Instead, just be happy that something amazing happened to your fellow blogger. Be inspired by them! If you really feel the need, use that insecurity to make a change in your own life and do something similar.

#2. If people don't update their blog roll by adding your name under 'Friends & Family' don't get your feelings hurt. It's simply a nice gesture, forgotten. Seasoned bloggers rarely even look at their sidebar anymore - let alone update it frequently.

#3. Never ask yourself, "Is insert blogger's name mad at me? She doesn't comment on my blog."I realize that there is probably an expectation of family and friends to read your blog. However, don't expect anyone to read your blog and don't fall into this negative thinking.You've got to understand that every blogger is on a different commitment level. You have your newbies who are completely addicted and spend every possible moment blog-jogging. To the end of the spectrum of your more seasoned bloggers who have developed their routine and only take the time to read their top 10 favorites. It's hard to imagine, but some people get completely burned out and need to take breaks from reading others blogs now and then.

#4. Don't feel left out. Now that you have a more intimate look at your friends lives (in real life), they might post outings that you weren't invited to attend. Please do not let it eat at you, make you feel left out, or that you're not an important friend in that person's life.Life is crazy, busy, and things happen spare of the moment. You don't know the whole story as to how the event got organized and why certain people where invited and you weren't. You are special and you are important to your friend! Just let it go, or better yet, plan a fun get together and be sure to invite her. You'll feel much better!

#5. Guilt is overrated. You will come across some AMAZING moms. Honestly, I've been blown away by so many of you and your creativity and dedication to your family. Again, don't feel guilty or envious of these genetically gifted women. Instead, be inspired to make some changes in your own family. Use their techniques and strategies to empower yourself.

#6. Keep it real. While posting on your own blog be sure to allow yourself to open up and not only share your glamorous side, but also your self portraits, your struggles, and your hopes and dreams. You will find that bloggers are some of the most unjudgemental, forgiving, and loving people you'll have in your life. Use this positive energy to help you get through the tough times as well as celebrate the good ones.

Have a Great Day!!

Another Fun Tag!!

Thanks Brooke for the fun idea!
What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had just graduated from High School and was working at ZCMI (where I met Lance). We had worked together for the last year but didn't start dating for a couple more months!

What were you doing 5 years ago?
Carlie was 6 months old and we went to Indiana and visited family so they could see her. I have forgotten already what it was like to have only one child!

What are 5 things on your “to do list” today?
Clean my bathrooms and the rest of my house, go to Target, make dinner, go to the gym and get my hair done.

What are 5 things you’d do if you had a billion dollars?
Pay off my house! Hire a maid (for me and all of my friends)! Pay off my parents house and remodel there house for them with all new things. Travel wherever in the world we wanted to go (taking whoever wanted to go with us and paying for them too). Take Amelia to Europe!:)

I TAG: Everyone.

Tuesday Tell All - Shaping Up!

We joined Lifetime Fitness the beginning of the year and we love it! I just started doing Group Fitness. It is a lot better than working out on your own and I feel like I get a lot better workout. I have become addicted to the spin class and then there are a couple of other classes I take during the week. I think I do better having someone yell at me and push me harder than I would push myself if I was alone! It is fun to workout with friends also, it helps getting up in the morning knowing that there are other people expecting you to show up!! The trainers are amazing! I don't know how some of them teach 4 or 5 classes a day! I am ready to take a nap after one class!:)

4th of July in Tridell Slideshow