*L*U*C*K*Y*

Happy Birthday Johnny Boy! Wish I was in Arizona with you right about now. Soak up some sun rays and bring back with you the smell of orange blossoms. -AND- If you have Nielsen's Frozen Custard, just lie to me and say you didn't. (I can only suppress so much jealousy at any given time)

Hijacked

Maxers often likes to borrow my camera for a spell and photograph his favorite model. Usually I end up with the most random shots of the back of Sadie crawling away from a crazed photographer and I end up erasing them much to Max's dismay. Today was a little different. I guess I'm not the only one in the family who likes self portraits. I love this picture, it's something about his eyes...

I would say about 95% of the time Max is wearing mismatched socks or ones with holes. I'm glad he picked a good day to capture his feet.

i love u max!

Two things:

1. This is a self portrait of me and my current obsession. Dark chocolate and peanut butter anything. I'm sure right now you are thinking that I'm a weirdo for taking pictures of myself and a cake, but I don't care. I had to document it's lovely deliciousness and the fact that I made it! MMMM HMMMMM. I am literally counting down the hours that I can devour this wonderful in oh so many ways cake. (it's actually the only cake I like) 23 hours and counting....

Here is another look at the awesomeness I created with a little help from Bakerella.

2. Look who is starting to stand on her own!! My little Sadie is getting closer and closer to walking freedom. I read somewhere during one of my blog stalking sessions that you spend the first year of your babies life trying to get them up and mobile, and the rest of their life trying to slow them down! I think I'm nearing the rest of her life stage. Tear.

Jack's big day

A few months ago I sat down Jackson and asked him if he wanted to have a birthday party or his baptism on his birthday. Without hesitation, he answered GET BAPTIZED!! I was pretty impressed with his answer considering my boys talk and plan their birthday parties years in advance. Just ask Max what kind of party he wants when he turns ten and he'll fill you in on all of the details.

A lot of religions baptize their children at a very young age. Latter Day Saints believe in baptism at the age of 8 which we call the age of accountability. It is an age that children should know right from wrong and thus be held accountable for their sins. By being baptized, we covenant with God to take upon Christ's name, keep his commandments and to serve him. If we do these things, the Lord will bless us for being faithful. I was amazed to see tremendous growth in Jackson this past year and truly see that he was ready to take this big step.

Jackson is a pretty hands on kind of a guy so I let him plan everything down to the last detail. He asked his Nana and best pal Andy to give talks, have his Grandma and Grandpa say prayers and chose three of his favorite songs to sing. Here is Jack before the big event.

Jackson was thrilled to have both sets of Grandparents fly in for the occasion.

A proud Mama and one excited son.

I'm glad Max was here for all of the excitement. He now thinks that he might want to get baptized.

Father and son dressed to the nine after the baptism.

I'll never forget the service, it turned out to be extremely sweet and memorable.

Seriously, what didn't happen this weekend?

I am a list person. I've been known to make a list of lists that need to be made. Yep, that is me, I need something to check off so I can feel like I've accomplished something. Shower, check. Brush teeth, check. Wipe my fanny, check. OK, I'm not that over the top. Anyways, here is a list of some of the many things we did this action packed weekend: (not in order of importance)

1. Had visitors! Both sides of Grandparents flew into town for a few special days. Thanks guys!

2. John took Thursday AND Friday off. I can't remember the last time he took off work unless it was for a true out of town vacation.

3. Jackson turned 8 and had one heck of a all boy Mad Science birthday party. (yes I deserve a pat on the back for taking on 12 boys for 2 1/2 hours and nobody was injured in the process)

4. Max learned to ride a two wheel bike!! Go Maxers!!

5. Haircuts.....goodbye floppy mops, hello buzz cuts.

6. BBQ - two to be exact. I l-o-v-e BBQ weather.

7. Smashburger. Nuff Said

8. Retrieving a remote control helicopter off the roof with no broken bones.

9. Our family was introduced to buttermilk syrup. If I could I would change it from a topping to a beverage. It's that good people.

10. Last, but not least, Jackson was baptized!!!!!!!!!! (this will get it's own post later)

And what would a post be without some pictures to show?

Max requested hair "like Sadie's," but we were not willing to go that short.

The Fam before the baptism.

Love this girl.

Side note: if you ever want to impress a bunch of 8 yr. old boys, just whip out a blow torch.

............or a Laser Beam.

Go Max, Go!

Sadie trying to pop my bubble.

It's going to be hard to top this birthday weekend extravaganza. I guess it's all downhill from here!

This week I will be recovering from all of the action. Time to make a list of ways to relax and still take care of the fam.

It took her 10 months

I knew this day would come, I just didn't think it would come so fast. I am not ready, but I guess I will just have to deal. Sadie is over us taking pictures of her. She is sick of me following her around with some foreign black rectangle saying her name over and over while lights flash. I guess I can't blame her. Just take a look at these....she is not happy!

I can just imaging what she is thinking right now...

"Mom whatever that look and noise you are making is not funny in the slightest. In fact, you are a big dork and I can smell your morning breath from here."

"Seriously guys, how many grumpy faces do I have to make before you get it. I am so not amused."

Yes, yes it is, thank you for asking....

I'm going to give myself another little pat on the back because:

1.Yes, this will make it twice in a row that we had time to take pictures before church -AND- we were even early to church.

2. Yes, I am trying to show off my !!New Bed!!

But first, lets go back to the number one yes. Our whole family got extra dolled up this Sunday to celebrate Easter. Easter? Yes, I know it is a week early, but next week will be Conference, so we will be watching church on the laptop and will have no one to dress up for but ourselves. For those of you not LDS, Conference is a bi-annual event where we stay at home and tune into sessions of church aka Conference held by our church leaders in Utah. Don't Jack and Max look extra manly in their pink shirts? They picked them out, promise. You probably didn't notice, but I'm the only one not wearing pastels. I searched high and low in my closet, but don't own anything in the egg dye color family, sorry!

Now onto yes number two: Jackson is turning eight next month and has decided to get baptized. Being baptized in our church is a big deal and so both sets of Grandparents will be flying out for this momentous occasion. I seized this opportunity and easily manipulated John into getting a king size bed! (so we will have two spares for visitors) I'm so glad we upgraded to a king...I've never slept so good in my life!

I love this last pic for so many reasons. It captures my kids personalities all too well. Jackson is a little over stimulated, Max is not even going to pretend to be enthused, and Sadie is wishing someone would rescue her from her crazy bro's. Happy early Easter everyone!

You must like William Hung a lot......

Question:

Who has two thumbs and just ran 6 miles? (an all-time best!)

Answer:

This Girl!!

To some this might not seem that big of a deal. I am however not much of an athlete and this is the longest I have ever run before. I'm currently training for a half marathon in June - 13.1 miles of pure running bliss. (insert a hint of sarcasm in your voice and reread that last sentence) Every Saturday I am suppose to up the mileage of my long run so by the time June rolls around I am ready. Hopefully there will be more thumb pointing/ bragging posts to come. Wish me luck!

Pre Church Pics

That's right, PRE as in before as in we were ready with enough time to spare to snap some shots of our cute little thing. She hasn't let me put a bow on her head in I don't know how long, so I had to document it!!

And this my friends, is why trying to get pictures of multiple kids never works.

Back to solo shots of my favorite model.

I'm glad we got these beforehand because by the time we got home, the bow was lost, Sadie had yogurt on her dress, and I had the ever present dried snot shoulder. I hope everyone had a great Sunday!

In case they missed you too:

I've been slightly bitter this month because I never got a sweet little knock on my door from a Girl Scout selling heavenly goodness pre-wrapped in a box. This all ended yesterday when I drove down the freeway and saw the most welcomed billboard of all time. Little did I know that there is a Girl Scout Cookie locator for Minnesota and Wisconsin!!! Can I get a woot woot? I nearly dove off the road with excitement!!!!

Anyone that missed their favorite solicitor too can find out where to get their cookie grub on by going here:

www.girlscoutsrv.org and click on cookie locator. I know where I'll be this weekend from 10-6pm. Gander Mountain in Maple Grove, see you there?