Car pictures

So here's the pictures of the car from our wreck. I'm not possitive but I think this dent in the back is from when we spun into the fence. I'm pretty sure its totalled but I won't know for sure until the adjuster can get out and look at it at the tow yard.

Tea Party lunch

So, I'm still trying to catch up on my pictures. This was a few weeks ago. Shayne and Gabe had a tea party for lunch. It was so cute they even had a rose in the little vase. They really were so fun to watch. They had applesauce, chicken noodle soup, nilla wafers, and fruit snacks.

Birthdays Part 2

I threw a surprise party for Matt this year and invited a few of his friends. He isn't huge on his birthday but I could tell that he was really excited. We combined Payton's party with his that night because Matt had to leave town for work the following morning which was Payton's birthday.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY PAYTON!!!

Here he is unwrapping his presant. He thought it was so cool that he could rip the paper and not get in trouble.

....and here he is trying to get his birthday presant back from his BIG brother. Sad, huh. I rescued him, just after I caught the moment, of course.

This was a cute car that Matt had found for a good price at Big Lots last minute for Payton. I didn't even know about it until he brought it in at the end of the party. I have to give Matt props for it though.

Birthdays Part 1

November 12th was Matt's Birthday and I had planned to take some pictures of the kids and I to frame for his nice desk at work. However, his company merged with another just weeks before his birthday and he was moved into tighter quarters for a while. Meaning he had to share a desk. Well, I finally decided to go ahead with the idea and here are the pics that we did...
Oh the black spot on my knee is from some funky fruit or something that fell out of the trees. When I knelt down to set up the camera on the timer I must have landed in it and didn't even know it was there till I saw the picture. It was hard enough to get them all to sit still, not to mention smile for one picture I wasn't gonna try another.

This picture is one of my fav's now cause its one of all three and when you have three as close and little as these its rare to get them all in one spot at once. I even put this on a mouse pad for Matt's shared desk too. :) oh well.

These two have become so close. They still have their moments where they fight but they really are best friends right now and I'm so grateful for that. It took very little coaxing for them to huddle together for the "cheese".

Shayne Elizabeth. What a pretty smile. (ya I know I'm biased)

You'll notice there isn't a picture of Gabriel by himself. He decided he wasn't gonna take one! He's very decisive like that.

Payton Michael. Yep thats a leaf he's eating, but it stopped him long enough for me to take a picture so I overlooked it momentarily.

Fall and Halloween slide

So I decided to put all the pictures from the Fall and Halloween together on a slide show. Perhaps I'm just not all that bright but I still can't put slide shows on my blog. I did it when I first had my blog but for a while I haven't been able to. Oh well, I have the link if you wanna see the pictures:
http://www.slide.com/r/lBZcjvEs6T_rchRygnOC2r66FRUHVH1s?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Hope you enjoy!!
Ahhh its good to be back! ;)

What a life...

Ok, so I thought I was back before and then I wasn't. We finally got the Internet thing worked out at our house so I can get on and post on my blog now. However, it may be a week or so before I'm back in full swing. Allow me to explain the chaos in my life lately.
We went out to California for Thanksgiving and brought back all the rest of my belongings from when I lived there and on the way home I got in a car accident... UGGH!! So far all I can say is that I'm very grateful that we're all ok. I had Shayne and Payton with me and Gabe was with Matt in the moving truck. We'd split up so I could drop off a package for my cousin in Kearns, UT so Matt had gone ahead towards home. Well, I dropped off the package and was leaving the neighborhood when a car full of teenagers came speeding toward me. They had lost control of their car on the corner and they "fish-tailed" until they collided with my car! It was probably the scariest thing I've ever been through. Our car spun till we faced the opposite direction that we'd been coming and stopped. The airbags deployed and the kids were screaming! They were so scared! Now here's the kicker, at least 3 of the 5 teens in the other car got out and fled the scene. I was hurt bad enough that I couldn't move to even get to my kids and I was naive enough to think they were running to get help. This was not the case. The police later tracked them down and they were arrested.
As for us, nothing was broken and we were all very lucky, very sore but very lucky. I was in so much pain when we first crashed that I couldn't move. I was so sure that my back or hips were broken. It was pain to rival childbirth for sure! It turned out to be badly strained muscles thank goodness but the first 24 hours were a trial. Other than that I only suffered bad bruises and bumps. Shayne and Payton also only had bruises and bumps which was so fortunate. They were my greatest concern and I couldn't even get to them to make sure they were ok or to comfort them. The car is totalled we're quite sure, though we haven't heard from the claims adjuster yet. Overall, like I said before, we were so blessed. It was an eye opening experience and all week I've been so grateful to be able to hold my kids every day.
As for my house... well, we unloaded the moving truck and I've slowly been trying to go through boxes of things as much as my poor body will allow. So it is quite a mess here and I'm so eager to get things back in order, at least as much as possible, so that life can go on. I have pictures from halloween, fall, some from Thanksgiving, and now from the accident (for those curious) to post. My goal is to get all caught up with everything by Christmas... so wish me luck!

Moving in the Fall

Last month we went to Idaho to get all of Matt's stuff in storage there. While we were there we stopped at his mom's house to visit. While there she mentioned that she wanted to get to raking her leaves but hadn't had been able to. So we were glad to offer our services while there. The kids had such a blast with the piles of leaves.

Gabe let us bury him, which was not an option for Shayne. He thought the big piles were the coolest thing ever and had a blast jumping in to them.

Gabe and Shayne even helped us bag them up when we were done. Gabe really liked having the power of the rake though. He was so funny to watch. I'm not sure he knows how little he is. He thinks he's just one of the adults at everything.

Bathtime Fun

We have these fun color tabs that change the color of the bath water. The kids love them. I think other than Gabe's backside they're all pretty well covered here. Sorry, I guess this picture is rated a little higher than G. Viewer discretion is advised. ;) Plus I looked at them in the bath that night and realized that it won't be long at all before they won't be allowed to squeeze into the bath together.

My awaited return... to blogging

I'M BACK!!!
Ok, so let me start out by saying that I'm not dead. Its just been a way crazy and busy two months. And before much else is said, I apologize for my neglegence in keeping up with my blog. There I said it. I'm a blog slacker. For a little while there I would pop in on others blogs quickly to see what everyone was up to but simply hadn't found the time to post more on mine, then I just got behind enough that I was lacking the motivation to tackle it again. ANYWAY... there has been lots that has gone on starting with my biggest news. (and NOOO I'm not pregnant!!!) After much deliberation, prayers, and efforts I've moved in with Matt. (pause for effect) After finding out the the divorce wasn't final yet it gave just enough time and doubt for me to reconsider. I know that this is the right step for our family right now. I also know that it may be hard to understand everything from other perspectives. We have a long road ahead of us but lets hope its one that we can travel together and with much success.
Lets see, other than that its just been a matter of finding a place close to his work; moving down to Provo; and finally starting to get settled in. Plus all the in between stuff of having three kids as little as mine.
But the important thing is that I'm back and I'll try to keep up better on it now!! I hope...

Too Sleepy...

This morning after breakfast I was down stairs folding laundry while the kids played. I heard Payton on the main level of the house, in the living room, whining (not unusual since he's cutting teeth). But to my surprise when I came up to check on him he's fallen asleep at the bottom of the stairs leading to the upstairs of the house. He was just too sleepy to climb them so he stopped to rest there... it was too cute not to capture.

Cookies n Milk Update

Back in the spring, when I started my blog, I had a post with pictures from a sitting of oreos and milk. Well, I'm always proud to announce improvements my kids make, and when it comes to messes with cookies and milk it is exactly that. They went above and beyond this time... Well at least Gabe did. Way to go son!!

More of Our Vegas Trip

Alright, So either I'm way dumb with this stuff or there's something wrong here. (and either are likely) I still can't get slideshows to post on my blog from slide.com. So Here's the link if anyone wants to see some more of our trip to vegas. There are some way cute ones of the kids so check it out. Maybe I'll figure out the kinks when I have more time.



http://www.slide.com/r/BTFbHUnq6D_aodaEqj2gGPGcTa64rwrQ?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original


P.S. You may have to cut and paste it in your address bar at the top... and let me know if it doens't work. :) thanks

FINALLY... Birthday Pictures!!

So I got my pictures from my trip to Las Vegas for my birthday!! Its taken me a couple weeks to get to it but I'm finally posting them. (Thanks, Jenny for making a disc and sending them.) So those of you anxiously awaiting them... TA DA!! (and for those of you who already saw some of them on Jenny's Blog, sorry for the repeat.)

Camping with the McKay Family

Last weekend we went camping with my sister, Noelle and her family. It turned out to be quite an adventure. We left late Friday afternoon to head to cottonwood canyon on the east side of Salt Lake but when we got up in the canyon, all their campsites were full. So we discussed it and decided to try a place that Travis, my brother in law, had camped at before. It was halarious. We went from the east side to way, way out on the west side. We finally set up camp and got a fire going for hotdogs and marshmellos at around 8 or 8:30pm. On top of our late evening the dirt there was the way dark, super powdery stuff. The kind that gets in and on everything without effort. We were all coated after about 5min there, so I'm sure that we ate a ton of it cause there was just no escaping it. But despite all the set backs we had a great time. In fact for the rest of the week Shayne asked to go back camping! Thanks for a great time McKay family. :)

Payton in the front pack... he didn't wanna be put down at all.

This was Gabe's dirty face after I'd washed it like 100 times.

Here's Shayne's face in the cleaner stage. Right after

this she got sooo dirty that you could hardly see her face

under the dirt. We would just laugh anytime we looked

at her it was such a funny sight.

All the dirty little kids... they had alot of fun!!

Here's Noelle and Travis taking down the tents.

They did most of the work thanks to my whiney Payton.

Thanks again guys!

25 in Vegas!!

I turned 25...

This last weekend I went to Las Vegas to celebrate my 25th Birthday with my sisters and like a total airhead I forgot my camera!! Luckily my sisters took lots of fun pictures so I'll try to get some from them and post them later. I had such a fun time! My birthday was on Sunday so we didn't go out that day. We went to church and came back and took naps (naps rock!!) then that evening Jenny and Mike made an awesome dinner. Mike grilled some way yummy steaks and Jen did the rest, including yummy cheesecake for dessert. It was all sooo good. Then on Tuesday night we had a girls night out with my two sisters, Lindsay and Jenny, and I. We went to P.F. Chang's (a first for me... and it was Mmmm) then went down to the strip in Las Vegas. We watched the water show outside the Bellagio and then just walked around for a while. We grabbed shakes on the way home and overall it was an awesome night. Thanks so much sisters!! I feel like I had two birthdays. Lucky me!

Gabe turns 2!!

Happy Birthday Gabe!!

Gabriel was born on July 29th 2006. He was two months early, though you'd never know now by looking at him or talking to him. He's such a big boy and so smart. I remember when he was in the N.I.C.U. he had such a strong spirit about him. He seemed so small and even frail in his little earthly body but his spirit was so strong. He is so fun to be around and brightens everyones day. He's so full of life even from one extreme to the next. I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Gabe's Birthday Party

http://www.slide.com/r/xSXgUGtd7z8rvU7ceqxzi1ccKIj_ib54?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Ok so I spent hours last night trying to get my slide show from Gabe's birthday party added to my blog but to no avail! So the best I can do is post the link on here and if you wanna see it just click on the link. :)
On the Sunday before Gabe's birthday I had a spontaneous moment and threw together a bag, loaded the kids in the car, and drove to my sister Kayleen's house in central Utah. So thats where we spent his birthday. We played and hung out all day then in the evening we took the kids bowling. It was my kids first time and they loved it, at least they did for the first 5 minutes. We had pizza before we bowled and after bowling Gabe opened presents and then we had cupcakes and played the arcades. They even had one of those three horse carousels, you know, the ones that are outside stores, only they had it inside and it was Shayne's favorite part of the night. Over all it was a good birthday and I think all the kids had a good time. Happy Birthday Gabe! I love you!

Payton and momma

I decided to put this one on here seperate from the slide show cause I was told that I hardly ever put pictures of myself on here. So... ta da. This is Payton and I at the bowling alley for Gabe's birthday. I think he was trying to say something when the picture was taken... we all have those pictures huh.

Never too tired for cupcakes...

On the day that we left my sisters I kind of lost track of time. I wasn't sure that I wanted to leave that day or stay a little longer or which direction I wanted to head from there for that matter. I had planned on leaving around naptime so the kids would sleep in the car. But, naptime came and went and we still hadn't left. Finally I was to the point of loading the car and I opened all the doors to the car to let the hot air out before I loaded the kids. Gabe, seeing an opportunity, had followed me out and was playing in the car, which he's not usually allowed to do. I went back inside to finalize my leaving (you know, grab the water bottles, do a quick sweep to make sure we didn't forget anything, and start the goodbyes) and realized that he was still out there so I went out to check on him. When I first walked out the door and didn't see his blonde head in the car I started to worry and pictured myself on the 6 o'clock news, but as I walked by the car I looked in and found the above sight. He had found the last of the cupcakes from his birthday and pryed open the container and started in on one just prior to falling asleep. The rest of the cupcakes were tipped over on the floor (as you can see in the picture) and he was asleep with the cupcake still pressed to his face... silly boy. We all had a good laugh peeking in at him though.

War Paint!

As I was sitting on the steps watching the kids play and talking with Julie, Shayne approached me with a wet piece of chalk. Before I knew it I was her art project. She was so cute with her compliments and her praise as she colored on me, saying things like "your doing good, mom" and "you look so beautiful" and "almost done...". I just couldn't help but let her finish. After She was done with me I volunteered her to work on Julie. She returned to my face at one point making it darker and bigger then her original lines hence the reason my face is way blue-er than Julie's. We decided that it was war paint and we kept it on for several hours after that. Thanks, Shayne for my beautiful face. :)

As we posed for the picture I realized that Shayne was in it as our artist, Julie and I had our faces painted but Payton didn't quite fit... so I borrowed shayne's chalk and helped him fit in a little.

Summer fun

Shayne coloring with chalk on the wet patio out back.

She's becoming quite the artist and her imagination for

what's she's drawing is getting good too.

Julie remembered that she had a raspberry bush yesterday evening and went out and picked all the ripe ones...

Gabe was more than willing to relieve her of the bowl as soon as she finished picking.

Here's happy little Payton Michael playing in the water and showing off his teeth for the camera.

Easily Entertained...

We had a little kiddie pool set up in the yard the last couple days and it was getting pretty dirty so I dumped all the water out on the patio. It didn't take Payton long to realize the fun a person can have in a puddle... He stayed there and splashed for a long time just as happy as can be.

Here's a picture of his saggy drawers. I also took this one to show how he's already climbing and pulling himself up on things. He's mastered the first step and can just barely get himself up to the second. He's really only been crawling pretty good for a week or so. This is a lot more progress this quick than either of my other two did. He's one determined little guy.

What do you remember??

Okay, so as I was checking Amy's blog last night I found this little game. Feel free to play it if you want.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.So let's have it! Don't be shy! What do you remember? Anything funny, embarrassing, silly...

Summer cut... finally

I have been needing to cut Gabriel's hair for the last few weeks but couldn't find my clippers nor the time to do it. But on sunday after we left the cabin from our reunion we went to my grandma's house in Idaho Falls to visit her. It was there that I asked my brother, Josh, to finally get rid of that floppy hair that had been decorating the tops of his ears. In usual form, he put up a good fight and it took several of us either holding, or distracting him. I'm so glad its done, and he looks so handsome. It really makes those blue eyes stand out.

Our Family Reunion

Last Thursday we started a new family tradition. Every year, in the past, we've gone to a family reunion on my dad's side of the family. Well, we started to realize that we were getting kind of big enough with just us. So we decided to try having our own family reunion with all us siblings and our kids this year. I have to say... it was so awesome! We decided to go to Victor, Idaho to a cabin that we rented there... and it was beautiful! It had 4 really nice bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and enough room everywhere else to put air mattresses for the rest of the adults. Then the kids just scattered about on the floors of every room. We had such a great time, we went to a parade on the morning of the 4th and did our own fireworks that night. On the 5th we went to String Lake at Teton National Park. We did crafts and played games and mostly just enjoyed each others company. It was a great weekend and I hope we do it again.

The Cabin in Idaho

Our home sweet home for 4 days... So beautiful!!

Day at the Lake