A sad goodbye to Elder Walker...

Well, we just recently got really close to a missionary that just got transfered.  This is Elder Walker.  Elder Walker was in our ward for 5 transfers, which is a long time!  He came by our house on the last night he was here.  We gave him a little parting gift and said our goodbyes.  The kids LOVED Elder Walker.  Not only did he give great discussions but he also gave the kids the best handshakes.  As you can see they loved them.  All you would hear is, "Do it again."  Elder Walker said that he would come back to Stockton after his mission.  I really hope that he does so that we can take him wakeboarding!

A birthday party at Gym Starts...

Isabella went to Billy's birthday party at Gym Stars last Saturday.   Gym Stars really puts on a good party.  She had a lot of fun.  Most of her kindergarten class was there which made it that more fun for her.  This is Isabella and Olivia racing.  They were neck and neck the entire time.  

Easter Mrs. Tiede style...

Well, I was able to help out in Isabella's classroom the Friday before Easter because my Mom was here to watch Chase for me.  It was a lot of fun.  She colored and measured an egg and then she had to sort and graph jelly beans.  Isabella had so much fun coloring Easter eggs.  She really wanted to do it at home but Mom flaked out on that one.  I did buy a coloring kit at 70% for next year at Target a few days ago so we will do it next year.  

I didn't even notice....

that my last post was number 400.  Wow!  That has gone by really fast!  That is so crazy to me that I have posted that many times.  So here's to 401!  =)

Are you feeling crazy?

Well, today is "crazy day" at Isabella's school.  These days are so much fun for the both of us!  =)  Even though it was crazy day I still wanted Isabella to be matching crazy.  That is the anal part of me!  So, here it is.  Isabella's crazy outfit and hair.  It is hard to see but her skirt has different loop holes on it and different pockets.  She has a crazy class and even a crazy teacher!  =)

Happy Easter...

Easter came so fast this year that I feel like I haven't really had the time to sit down and think about why we really celebrate Easter.  Even though the bunnies, candies, and baskets are so much fun I want everyone to remember why we really celebrate Easter.  This year during the morning session of Conference Jeffrey R. Holland gave an amazing talk on Christ and what he truly did for us.  He said, "One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so."  What an amazing and powerful statement for those who are having a rough time these days.  We just need to remember that we aren't alone.  You have to watch this video that was made from his talk.  SO SO amazing!! 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpFhSOdAduc

Throughout your Easter celebrations tomorrow, try and remember about the sacrifice Christ made for us and that we are never alone.  =)

Another one tonight...

Well, as you can see Isabella lost her other bottom tooth tonight.  I guess I can't actually say that she lost it because she pulled it out again!  Crazy girl!  She was so excited....she ran around the house saying, "I'm gettin' money."  It was too cute!  Then she had to call everyone and let them know that she lost it.  She went to bed a little late but I had to let her make those important phone calls.  =)

Seven Pounds...

Nope, I didn't loose any weight though I am trying to head in that direction...Brenda and I decided to get together while the boys were at priesthood tonight.  We decided on pizza and a movie so, I went and rented Seven Pounds.  If you haven't see it you have to go rent it.  It was a great movie.  Have a box of tissue next to you, unless you are Brenda, because you WILL cry!  But, you gotta see it!  We had a great evening.  To top it off she made this delicious and beautiful chocolate cake with chocolate frosting with mint candies in the middle and on top.  Yummm...my mouth is just watering thinking about it.  And about those seven pounds that I'm trying to loose.  I think I just gained seven pounds tonight.  Thanks a lot Brenda....it was well worth it!

Wow!

I had a lot of catching up to do but I am totally caught up.  I have added 10 new posts today.  Check them out when you get a chance!  =)

Weather Play

Isabella's class just finished their weather unit and they put on a play for all the parents today in their class.  It was SO stinkin' cute!  They sang two song and then they did a play with the different season.  Each row was a different season.  They started off with spring, then summer, fall and lastly winter.  Isabella was part of the summer row, as you can tell by her attire.  She had to say, "When you go to the pool all you will need is shorts, a t-shirt, and your swimsuit and your towel.  Don't forget your sunblock.  If it is too hot you can go to Baskin Robbins for an ice cream.  Have a wonderful summer day."  She memorized this entire thing!  She did awesome.  After they did the different seasons they sang two more songs about weather.   Then we went to their desks and they showed us all the work that they have been doing with weather.  I am so proud of her.  She is doing awesome!!  It was an adorable presentation.  I am so thankful that Isabella is able to be at UPS!  I couldn't have asked for a better school or teacher!

College-bound Classmate

Isabella was the College-bound Classmate in her class this week.  She was SO excited to show her class all her many things she picked out.  Everything turned out pretty good considering that Mom didn't find out about her paper that had to be filled out the next morning.  It was already 8:30pm when Mom realized this.  We worked on it until about 9:30pm and it turned out great.

Isabella brought in a few scrapbook pages, her favorite book (The Thingamajigs), and her gymnastic trophies.  She had to go through her entire paper for the class.  She read everything herself.  The best part was when she read her pets names.  We have fishy and buttmuncher, our cat.  Everyone got a kick out of that name!

Mickey Grove Zoo..

On March 27th we went to the Mickey Grove Zoo with Terri, Mikayla, Jocelyn, and Austin.  We had a lot of fun.  Terri called to see if we wanted to do something while the girls were on break.  We waited until the last day but we still did it!  

We made friends with this cute little monkey.  I love monkeys and he was so into us.  He didn't want us to leave.  

When we finished at the zoo we had a little picnic and then the kids played at the big playground.  They had tons of fun until some big kids came over who were soaking wet from the water feature and slid down the slide and then Chase went right after them.  Chase's entire booty was soaked!  We decided to leave at that point.  Then the Mom of that kid made some comment under her breath that it was only water.   I was pretty mad.  My three year old son doesn't understand that it is just water.  All he knew is that it was uncomfortable and he wanted his pants off.  I hate rude people!!!

Thanks Terri for inviting us to go to the zoo with you!  We had tons of fun! =)

All I want for Christmas is my two front....

TEETH!  On March 24th, Isabella lost her first tooth.  She actually pulled it back and forth, herself, until it came out.  It kept bleeding and bleeding.  It did finally stop.  She was SO excited to put her tooth under her pillow in her special pillow that was Auntie Gina's when she was a kid.  (My brother-in-law found it after my sister had passed away.)

When she woke up in the morning she came into my bedroom crying hysterically.  She said that the tooth fairy had taken her pillow and didn't leave any money.  I knew that this was NOT the case.  Isabella is a very crazy sleeper and she had pushed the pillow to the middle of her bed and didn't see it.  We went into her room and there she found her pillow with two dollars in it.  The tooth fairy gives you double for your first tooth!  =)  She carried that two dollars around everywhere for at least a week!  She is so proud of her missing tooth.  

A first...

Well, my kids got an ice cream from the ice cream truck for the first time 2 weeks ago.  Jazmine hooked them up!  =)  Are my kids deprived?  I'd love to know who else hasn't bought their kids an ice cream from the ice cream truck.  Am I the only one?

By accident..

For our birthday Enrichment at church last month they wanted to spotlight me as a Mom who is successful at home and in my photography business.  If they only knew how unkept my house is!  Something has to give, right?  (And, it isn't going to be the time with my family and kids.)  Well, she wanted to come over to my house and take a picture of me taking a picture of my kids.  I totally forgot that she was coming!  Isabella still had her uniform on and her hair was crazy.  Chase was in play clothes and his hair was messy too.  Well, I took them into the backyard and shot a few pictures while she was taking pictures of us and they were so cute and I actually got a couple of great shots.  You never know when you are going to get good pictures!

Sussical...

We went to see Taryn's last performance of Sussical on March 7th.  It was SO good!  I love Dr. Suess as it is and then you throw my niece into the mix and it is that much better!  =)  She was so good.  You can check her out in the video above.  When I first started videotaping I thought that if I moved it sideways that the picture would follow but you'll have to watch the first few seconds sideways and then I actually realize that it isn't working like I thought it would.  I'm better with a camera than a video camera obviously!  She is Lazy Mazy.   One of my favorite character from Horton Hatches the Egg is Lazy Mazy! 

Isabella loved the play.  She watched it the entire time.  She was so excited to take her Play Bill and have all the casts sign it.  Taryn was first of course.  Then she has to have Horton, The Cat in the Hat, and the "girl in the pink".  She wanted everyone but we only chose a few.  I'm so glad that I had my camera in my purse because I got some cute shots of it all!  

I need to go to musicals more often.  I love them!  =) 

Missing our friends...

Right after I came back from Vegas I headed on down to Ripon to spend sometime with my good friend Kaylene.  Kaylene used to live in Stockton and then deserted me and moved to Ripon.  Now she's missing us tons! =) (We miss her too.)  Chase and Caleb are best buddies and are missing each other tons too.  He got to spend the day with him and they were so cute together.  You can totally tell that they miss each other.  It was a fun day with friends for both Chase and I.