Who Are You?

Hey everyone I got this in an email so I decided to answer on my blog.

(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Been to Canada
( ) See someone die
(x) Been to Mexico - to visit my sister Becca who lives in Cozumel
( ) Been to Florida
(x ) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost - on a double date with my hubby, my brother Brad and a girl he liked out in the middle of the reservation. Thank you Brad for your good sense of direction.
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country - as a kid my family lived in Georgia for a year
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean - Atlantic when we lived in Georgia, Pacific on family vacations with Darren and kids
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers - with my tomboy sister in hopes she would play dolls later...why did I always have to be the cop?
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke - on a cruise with my sisters, sister-in-laws and momma
( )Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Done something you told yourself youwouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage cameout of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe - where can I get my hands on some of this?
( ) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about - this needs to be added to my to do list
(x) Blown bubbles
( ) Gone Ice-skating - add this too
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors - add this too

1. Any nickname? One I never cared for in highschool.
2. Mother's name? Shauna
3. Father's name? Marion
4. Favorite drink? Sonic Cherry Limeade
5. Tattoo? No
6. Body Piercing? Ears
7. How much do you love your Job? I love being a mom!
8. Birthplace? Rexburg, Idaho
9. Favorite vacation spot? Oregon Coast
10. Ever been to Africa? No, but alot of my letters were and (gulp) a few of my phone calls too since my sister Alena served her mission in Zimbabwe.
11. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? yes... double chocolate chip with milk
12. Ever been on TV? Yes, on the sports minute once in a while because I was a highschool cheerleader.
13. Ever steal any traffic sign? no
14. Ever been in a car accident? Yes, rolled my eclipse after hitting a deer
15. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4-door
16. Favorite salad dressing? ranch
17. Favorite pie? cherry
18. Favorite number? don't have one
19. Favorite movie? My Fair Lady
20. Favorite holiday? I love all holidays/special out of the ordinary days.
21. Favorite dessert? Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing and a BIG glass of cold Milk
22. Who has loved you the most? My Husband, Parents
23. Favorite day of the week? Monday because I get so much done around my house.
24. Favorite brand of body lotion? Jergens almond cherry smell or B&B Magnolia
25. Favorite toothpaste? Crest with Scope
26. Favorite smell? Johnson & Johnson baby lotioned offspring, any one's roses
27. What do you do to relax? Read

Okay I tag Megan, Pam, Katie and Kristin. Your turn!

I've Got a Sweet New Nephew...

...and Asher is his name. He was born last Wednesday to my brother Randy and sister in law Kristin after a marathon labor.

These are the days when I so miss living close to family. Isn't he beautiful? Thanks Katie for the pic, I totally stole it off of your blog. Looking at this picture makes me incredibly baby hungry. Yikes! Watch out Darren! :)

Easter Weekend '08

My parents came for a visit over Easter weekend. We played a lot, ate some good food, colored and hunted eggs and saw some sights. First stop...the annual Easter Pageant and the Mesa Temple. This was a first for all of us.

As the cast was moseyin' around before it started Parker honed in on the Roman guards. The first guy let him hold a sword. He pretty much lost interest in looking up and smiling at the camera at that point.

I have no idea who these extra two kids in the picture are. They wanted their picture taken so bad and who knows where their mom was. The Centurion thought they all belonged to me so he posed with all of them until I took the picture and then he went on to the next kid who wanted a picture so I missed that photo op.

I had to beg Lexi to come with me to get her picture with these girls.

My kids and Grandma and Grandpa Wells

Ward Easter Egg hunt

Playing ball at the park with Grandpa

Coloring Eggs

Parker, Alexia and Elijah with the family Easter basket

Our family on Easter Sunday

Grandma and Grandpa Wells Lexi in her Easter dress (gloves and purse from Grandma Stewart) Grandpa told her to act like a lady..."How do you do that?" Thanks for coming Mom and Dad! We had so much fun with you that weekend.

Playing Catch Up

Okay so I'm a little behind...again...well you know how it goes. Let's get reacquainted shall we? I must post pictures of Easter weekend for the grandmas so that's up next.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Elijah Cole Stewart (aka Wijah Coe) turns two years old today! I can't believe my baby is already two. April Fools day is a pretty appropriate birthday for this little guy if you know anything about him. He's a tricky one I'd say.

He is celebrating for real this weekend at a family party in New Mexico, but since I won't be there I had to do something. So I whipped up a batch of cupcakes this year for his big day and we opened a gift or two. He got a new swimming suit and another outfit from Darren and I and the kids each gave him a little toy - a squeeze ball from Parker and a truck from Lexi. Melanie (his nursery leader) dropped by with a Crayola Magic set as well - what a sweetheart! We sang, he posed and we called it a party.

Where has the time gone?

I love you sweet baby boy of mine! You keep momma on her toes with your trickiness but nothing melts my heart quiet like when you lay your head on my shoulder and let me soak up some Lijah love. Happy Birthday to you baby love.

Oops...sorry about that

Okay so I've slacked a little here. Don't feel singled out though...I've slacked everywhere. Where have I been you ask? Ummm I read a book. Okay four. I'm bad about that. Whenever I read I turn off the rest of my life. So if you think my blog needs a little work, you should see my house. One of my goals at the beginning of this year was to read less. And really I was doing well with that, but then the kids wanted to go to the library and I am a sucker for a good book - or four in this case. But I'll make up for it this week. I have to because I'm having company. A good friend from Utah is coming to stay a few days with me so I need to whip this place into shape.

Now onto the pictures I promised of Alexia and her good friend Kalissa's fun afternoon at my house. Kalissa's mom Renae graciously took Parker to her house and since Elijah was napping the girls had the run of the place. They took their "List of Fun Things to do During Spring Break" very seriously. We took that afternoon and crossed a few of the items off.

First up... Painting a Unicorn and Pegasus

Next on the agenda... Making Princess Crowns

Then in honor of his birthday... Reading Dr. Seuss Books

Followed by Making Cakes in the Easy Bake Oven

With the Grand Finale being a Princess Tea Party

Give up?

Teressa, (Darren's Mom) you totally know how I think!
"I figured it out the camera strap isn't the center of the picture. I only see you and Alexia."

Anyone remember this? This is a great representation of how pictures of me usually turn out. In case you don't remember, that is the camera strap in the middle of the picture of me and my kids unwrapping my presents for my 30th birthday. I have soooo many pictures of me where one side of my collar is up while the other lays perfectly flat, or my big hair has gone wild, or one side of my shirt should have been pulled down, or I'm not looking at the camera, or half of my head isn't in the picture. It has kind of become a running joke at my house to just not take pictures of me because I'm not going to like any of them.

But then Darren told me on Sunday that he thought I was beautiful and I told him to take a picture of Alexia and I. It turned into a photo shoot. :) Okay so not really. But he really did take some nice pictures of me. I'm in the middle of the picture, I have all of my appendages, and I'm in focus. These might be keepers. Although Lexi isn't looking at the camera I love this picture of her. It captures how happy her laugh is. Man I love it when that girl giggles!
If you look at this next one full screen you can see my freckles. Normally I'm not crazy about them, but right now I have just the right amount and they are okay. I keep wondering whether any of my kids will get them. Although I have more in the summer, I do have them year round so I hope at least one of my kids will get a sprinkle of angel kisses across their nose. That's my description - my dad used to tell me they were there because I chased a cow with a short stick. :)
Ohhh Ohhh and my new shoes made it into this picture. Seriously these are the cutest shoes I have owned in a while that I didn't steal from my sister first. They were a fabulous find and such a deal t00! Love that.
Okay so this isn't my real post of the day. Up later today are pictures of Lexi and Kalissa's Girls Afternoon In. Until then.....

Smorgusborg!

First off HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY and happy birthday Craig Harris where ever you may be. I try to make holidays - even the silly ones - different from other days. That's why we started our day today with green waffles. I have been the recipient of a few pinches already this morning. Anything for a day out of the ordinary around here.
Now on to more green things. But first here is a picture of Alexia and I that her daddy took of us yesterday. What's missing from this picture? Anybody? Anybody? I'll be interested to see who figures it out.

Look at these beauties! Darren and I (with extra special help from Lexi and Parker) planted five rose bushes in our back yard on Saturday. Roses and tulips - two things I miss big time from my yard in Utah. Now it's Monday and I can't get away without a garden update. Don't mind the big weed under the lemon tree in the background. Maybe next week it will be missing from the picture. This is a red potato plant that popped through a week and a half ago.This is that little beauty today. Notice it isn't as close up of a shot. It grew a ton over the week.
Lookee here. My carrots are trading in their first leaves for the fringy girly ones. {Sniffle} My babies are growing up.
And these peas...man they are reaching out to climb up something. Gotta get on that.
Now here is an answer to a tag from my sis in law Megan. What is in my purse? Well after weeding out all of the crumpled receipts and gum wrappers I found this...My purse contains: one dirty pair of Elijah's socks, sunglasses, two different kinds of lip gloss, nail shine, a hair tie, calculator, two cough drops, a Cafe Rio frequent eater card, picture and card holder, black and white photo of my sister Becca, a maglite mini flashlight, orbit gum, a single serving of the vitamins I am supposed to be taking, my wallet and coupons for my trip to Walgreens scheduled today.

So I must get on to the rest of my day now. It entails doing the dishes, cleaning two bathrooms, vacuuming the house, exercising, a trip to Walmart, Walgreens, a 3:20 Dr appointment for Parker, and this...

Happy Monday!

We're Incubating

Parker came in to tell me he and Lexi are going to be an Aunt and Uncle.

That poor mama bird's nest. It looks a little bare and she only has Lijah to blame. Looks like she just made do with what she had. You know expecting and all she probably thought she was losing her mind... "I could just swear I got more than this done yesterday." Lucky for her Lije has double ear infections and hasn't wanted to play for the past few days. She stays on the nest now even with the big kids up in the play house. I thought it might be that she had some eggs up there and so when they got a little too close for comfort she moved and I grabbed my camera. So I'm sharing the love...because we like you...and that's just how we are around here.

What a Difference a Week Makes

Remember these little peas?

Now they look like this!

And these radishes...?

They are putting on their third and fourth leaves!

Plus they have some new friends... rosemary, parsley, a second planting of radishes, Elijah's carrots and this little beauty...one of three red potato plants that made their entrance.

Happy gardening!

Tag...You're It!

1. Where did you meet your husband? Darren and I were in the same 1st grade class together. His mom was a room mom. She says I was a bossy little girl. The teacher told my parents at parent/teacher conferences, "I let Heidi do her thing and then every once in a while I have to remind her that I'm the teacher." Turns out my mother in law was right.

2. What was the first thing said? Probably some schoolyard teasing but the first time I said something to him that made him sit up and notice came our freshman year in highschool. I saw that he was wearing new jeans (a bunch of us boys/girls used to hang out at lunch together) and I told him that he looked good in them - code for nice hiney in those jeans. He walked with that cute hiney to the wall for the rest of the day. But...I know he wore them again on several occasions after that.

3. What was your first date? Winter Royalty dance our Sophomore year. Man that dress was YOU - GEE - ELLE - WHY, you ain't got no alibi, you ugly, yea yea, you UGLY!

4. How long were you engaged? Almost 3 months. We got engaged a few months after he got home from his mission on April 13th, 1999 and were married July 8th. I remember the date well because I bought my brother's truck and went to Provo from Ogden to pick it up and show off my ring to family.

5. First kiss? Good gravy it was sooo long ago! Let's see I think we were *gulp* 15 (don't kill me dad, I'm sure I told mom about it though) and it was in the summer after a baseball game - a good four months after deciding we were in serious like with each other. A month later I got a kiss to curl my toes followed by a three page letter in the mail from him telling me we should probably repent. That's what I loved about him - he was so GOOD! Our first kiss after his mission took about a month and surprised us both. I told him that I didn't want to go that route for a while and then after coming from UT to NM for a weekend surprise I called him up Saturday morning and told him I was home. He hopped in his car and drove the mile to my house. I ran outside when I saw him coming up the lane and when he got out of his car, I jumped into his arms and kissed him on the lips. Totally forgot we weren't going to do that in all the excitement to see him. We were goners for sure after that.

6. Where did you get engaged? A park by a stream in Ogden, UT. He had hidden roses under a bush by the stream and pulled them out after popping the question.

7. Where did you get married? The Manti LDS Temple. I would so live that day over again.

8. Where did you go on your honeymoon? This was one of those stupid decisions we made. Darren and I didn't really have a destination honeymoon. Our reception was two days after we got married so we just stayed two nights in a hotel on the way. There is very little on the way between Manti and Kirtland. We stayed in Greenriver - just so you know there is NOTHING in Greenriver, UT. We should have cooled our jets for an hour longer and made it to Moab at least. But when we got married we had $400 between us and hotels were cheaper in Greenriver. We both have said that to do it over we would have charged a trip to a card. But we have taken several trips by ourselves to make up for it - Los Angeles, Nauvoo (thanks grandmas for keeping Lexi), Oregon Coast mission sightseeing (thanks Alena for keeping Lexi and Parker), Hawaii - seven months pregnant (thanks Alena and Becca for keeping kids), Cozumel Mexico (Thanks Missy for coming to stay with Lexi, Parks, and Lije).

9. Do you have a song? In highschool - When You Say Nothing at All by Allison Krauss - Darren wanted me to sing this to him at our reception, sang something different. Our engagement and wedding - You are the Love of My Life by Lonestar.

Now you have all been tagged (cept you of course Camille - thanks for the idea). Let's see some pics people!

Dress Up Pics and a Plea for Help

Alexia loves to hear about what I was like as a little girl. This morning before school we had ten minutes to kill so she hopped under a blanket on my lap and asked what I liked to play as a little girl. Talking to her brought back memories and got me thinking...

As a little girl I was way into all things girlie. I loved dresses and dolls, barbies and tea parties. I learned to paint my nails and hide the red nail polish spill on my bedspread at an early age. I would have stayed inside helping my mom cook, clean, and create over doing outside chores any day. One of my favorite things to do for fun as a little girl , second only to building playhouses out of old pallets my dad brought home, was playing dress up. I longed to be older and loved to dress the part. My foot size acquired the ability to wear real high heels long before my age supported it. My mother encouraged my habit. She scoured garage sales and came home with the most fabulous things for Alena and I to add to our dress up suitcase - real patent leather purses, sling back high heeled sandals, hats, wigs, and silky robes - which I am sure were nighties in their former days. I actually remember the day she brought home the suitcase. It too was a garage sale bargain. Sturdy as all get out we could both jump on it and it wouldn't budge. It was big and heavy and perfect with compartments for the gray and blonde wigs we had. There was a pocket for jewelry and one for shoes too. I wonder if my mom still has it - it would make a great stair stepper exercise thingy. Anyway... it was lovely and we put that suitcase full of fun things to good use. My mother brought out her huge costume jewelry and Grandma Teuscher donated used makeup containers to the cause. I was in hog heaven.

Alena and I probably at the ages of either four and five or five and six taken in Kirtland, NM.

This picture is of me during March of 1980 taken with boxes in the background showing the packing going on to move from Idaho.
In Georgia I turned three and loved playing house. I got dishes for my birthday to use with my mother's kitchen cupboard (in the background) and put them to good use. That dress I called my "spin around dress." I would spin and it would lift straight up and twirl with me. I loved it and my mom said I would ask to wear it a few times a week.
Dressing up for Pioneer day in Georgia - July 24th, 1980 (2 1/2 years old) My mom (you just have to love that woman!)- look at that wagon - pity the girl would had to drag me through all of that sand.
The blue elf costume became a dress up staple after the Kindergarten Christmas program. - Taken one month before my 6th birthday - Dec 1983. Man those eyebrows are hot! *snort*

People who know me know I am not a "toy mama." Toys these days don't just leave any room for imagination with all of their electronic movements and sounds - and good gravy, don't get me started on video games! So now on to my plea for help. This is for my sisters and sister in laws, mother and mother in law and any aunts too. So for everyone else, unless you have something fabulous (like a wig) no worries. Alexia's birthday is coming up. I'd like to create for her her own dress up suitcase. I have one to use - it's flowery and not suitable for public display anymore, but it will work just fine. Do any of you have any "real" dress up items you could donate to the cause? Something that you could affix a note to telling her who it was from and what you used it for. I'm thinking of things that were not expensive or too sentimental and would be fun for dress up. Things that would hold up to little girls using but nothing plastic or fake marketed to little girls. You know like real heels that are out of style instead of the plastic princess ones you buy in the toy department. Or costume jewelry you will never wear again instead of the mardi gra beads that break so easily. An old purse, used makeup containers and brushes - that kind of thing. I think it would be fun if each thing came from someone different so it had a history rather than all new stuff anyone can buy at the store. Thanks girls!