Fourth of July pool party

How many people can you fit in the pool?


I thought this was pretty cute of Tyler (typical, too). Sorry that I didn't catch Nathan jumping - I got distracted by something...

Car update

Not to worry. Broke in to my car with the help of the custodian at work. His tools: a coat hanger. Car is fine, I am fine, keys are fine. Love my co-workers:)

A fabulous way to start a new job...

Today is my second day working at Southern Nevada Water Systems purification plant at Lake Mead (2nd day of my 3rd summer there). However, this is also my second day without my car, my wallet, my debit card, my book, and my library card. Let me explain:

I locked my keys in my car at work.

Imagine my embarrassment as I realized at the end of the day yesterday that my keys were in my locked car. Then imagine my dismay when I also realized that the spare key is off in the mountains somewhere on a week-long campout with Dad and the Young Men. So, I headed off to the Hyundai repair shop to get a new key, then back to work to reclaim my car. However, the new key didn't work. What a shock.

So, I tried to be optimistic as a got a ride to work. I thought, sure it pays off to work in a place where there is a whole department of mechanics devoted to working on/repairing the company "fleet" - there must be someone that can get into my car. Little did I know that the day would be spent with one humiliation after another.

My supervisors asked around and tried to call favors left and right but no one seemed to have anything with which to open my car. And all day I got visitors offering consolation, rides home, and saying, "So, you're the one that locked the keys in the car?"

Finally, Jeff the mechanic had a slim jim so we all jaunted out to the hot parking lot for the grand opening. We found out, however, that foreign made cars have different locks. Stupid foreign made cars. So after several tries, my car was still unwilling to grant us access.

Jeff was very kind and offered to work on it later this evening before he left. Once again, I hitched a ride home and have no car. Here's hoping that someone will be waiting with my keys in hand tomorrow morning...

New Book for June

Here I am needing help with another project. I have made a goal to read at least one fiction book and one non-fiction book each month (along with daily scripture study of course!) I am currently working on The Count of Monte Cristo (unabridged) for May/June. However, I just finished my non-fiction choice of Aqui y Alla en Yucatan, a book about the Yucutan during the late 1800s. My dilemma is that I need a new non-fiction for the month of June. Any suggestions? Biographies, history, how-to's, etc, I enjoy it all. Thanks for the feedback!

Hair Scare Ended

This picture doesn't quite do it justice, but a family friend, Torrey Barlow, did a GREAT job with highlights and cutting my hair. I was so nervous to get it done but she was fabulous and I would recommend her to anyone! Thanks Torrey!

FHE Bikeride

We went for a bike ride after dinner and ended up at Brian and Susan's for a visit. Not bad pictures for a cell phone, eh?


Maddie on the ride.


Candid Dad shot. I almost killed myself for this shot as we were still riding down the street.


Check out those feet! (Are we surprised?)


Aubrey pointed out the squash they are growing.


Tyler and Aubrey climbed in the backhoe (or whatever it was) and made "the biggest smile they could do. Ever."

Help!

This is a plea to all my blog readers (however few you may be). I am in need of a new hairstyle! have been wanted a change of hairstyle for some time now and, let's be honest, I know nothing about coloring, styling, etc. My hair is very fine and somewhat curly (which makes it ultra frizzy and frustrating). Here's my hair now:



Okay, so I'm sans makeup and this photo doesn't actually give my hair very much credit (plus I look drugged up), but that is the point of this post, right? My hair is very fine and somewhat curly (which makes it ultra frizzy and frustrating). I'm not looking for a complete color change; maybe just some highlights and cut/style suggestions. If you know of any good (and affordable) stylists or just have any suggestions, pictures, comments, etc it would all be much appreciated! Thanks!

Trip to the Lake

Mandy and her friend Nicole are in town for the week and they invited us to go the lake with them. We fed popcorn to the fish down at the marina (not as many fish as usual today) and then went down to a beach to swim. It was a lot of fun!


I told them to look like they were having a good time. Smart-alecs.


Maddie had a special moment with a carp.


She's so pretty. I love her.


You wouldn't want that monster suckin' on your toes.


Mandy taking pictures.

Um...good question.

I'm babysitting for a family and this is a conversation that took place:

Briggs: How old are you?

Me: How old do you think I am?

Bayden: 18!

Briggs: 23!

Boen: 25!

Briggs: 22!

Bayden: 20!

Me: Yep, I'm 20. 

Boen (age 7): Whoa....well, when the heck are you gonna get married?

Sydney Duck

Valley of Fire with Abby and Anthony

Abby and Anthony came down for the weekend and visited. It was so much fun! They had a good time sightseeing on the strip, eating local cuisine, and visiting Valley of Fire in the motor home. Unfortunately, I only got pictures of Valley of Fire but here are some good ones.


Us being silly.


Dad sure conquered that rock all right.


I love the orange flowers that bloom in the desert. If I only knew what they were called...


Maddie found a little cave...one of several.


Abby and Anthony striking a pose. Good thing I have such good models to work with:)


Some ancient hieroglyphs. Valley of Fire is full of them.


Maddie finding herself in another hole again.

Dying/Painting/Mod Podging Easter Eggs

Dying Easter eggs is a fun tradition in our family. This year we also painted, decoupaged and made little chicks/ducks out of egg cartons.


Sydney was very focused as she dyed her eggs.


Aubrey needed a bit more guidance but enjoyed painting her eggs.


Tyler painted and dyed. Here is a great shot of how pensive he is.


Sydney and I put the finishing touches on her blue feathered friend.


Poor Aubrey got a bit messy...but we're not surprised.

Easter Saturday bike ride

The Saturday before Easter we went for a bike ride after dying eggs. We rode up to the park and had a good time playing.


Sydney liked to hang on the "turter."


Maddie liked the turter too.


...and slide down the slide.


...and hang on the water fountain. Apparently she likes hangin' out.


We can see where Syd gets her energy. Allyson enjoyed going down the slide as well.


Little Ally likes the tire swing and the regular swings. She was going much higher than this but I didn't get any shots of it.


Mom and Allyson were a little tuckered out after the "long" bike ride.

Making Soap and Cards

I know I'm a little late (again), but here's some Stay-cation activities that we enjoyed during our Spring Break.


Card making, by Allyson. I was a little late for this because of work so I just made the kits for each card.


Soap making: fun but very precise process. I can't wait to use our soaps!


Ally looking so beautiful as she stirs the mixture.


The different scents of soap we made.

Picnic at the Duck Park

Saturday Ally, Sydney, Grandma D, Nathaniel, Susan, Tyler, Aubrey, and I decided to make good use of all the old bread I bring home from the bakery and go feed the ducks at the fishing ponds. Unfortunately, the ducks were not very hungry and we still have a ton of bread but we did have a fun picnic and a good time!


At the "Blue." The park has a blue shade cover and Syd wanted to go play there.


Tyler entertained himself by taking pictures with my camera. Not bad!


Apparently he needed to take a shot of Aubrey's cute hair too.


They did this on their own while we were walking to the park. We tried to get all four of them lined up but there was little cooperation.


Syd walked a little ways away from us and lay down in the grass. I asked her what she was doing and she replied, "Sleeping."


Aubrey wanted to sleep too but she just couldn't bring herself to put her head on the ground. She does look like a little model though!


Tyler enjoyed catching ladybugs and made me hold them for him while he played. *shudder*

Fun Friday

This last Friday we spent so much time trying to find something fun to do that we hardly realized we were already having fun.


Syd bundled up for the "cold" spring night.


Julie looking so beautiful and grown-up (or bored).


Maddie and Ally were playing with Ally's sarong and something went awry...


Playing with the sun and the sarong.


Earlier Sydney came running up to Maddie with this lovely shade of putrid yellow nail polish and said, "Maddie! Look! Maddie, look! Nayer polish!" (For those who don't know, Syd can't quite pronounce words that end in the L sound).

Here a video of Syd singing and playing the piano. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the words such as, "Nana...and Amy...and Mommy...and Daddy says....'Monsters Inc'....and I'm a princess..."

At the Park

Here are some more park pictures from a different day. We headed up to the rec center park for some family fun.


Aubrey hiding out on the slide steps.


Ally looking rather uncomfortable in the tire swing.


Even Dad and Brian got in on the fun.


This kid is such a ham.


Tyler riding the ancient turtle.