The last couple of days I've been getting stressed out really easily with the kids- it seems they're ALWAYS hyper and running around screaming. I know they are not- but a lot of the time they are! They must have cabin fever from all this smog and rain. But when I uploaded these pictures it reminded me they are sweet sometimes :) and I love them so much and am so grateful for the chance I have to stay home with them- even when I don't know it.

Homemade play dough!

Kyson gives the long, hard kisses. He is sooo funny. He says, "I'm daddy, you're a princess!" This little guy is hard to stay mad at.

Lola is the newest addition to our family! She is a 7 week old bull-mastiff (bulldog x English mastiff) We have been deciding for a long time to get a bull-mastiff and when we saw a local breeder had the coloring and gender we wanted at a good price, we couldn't wait. I know you're thinking we couldn't resist the puppy face- but really I'm in LOVE with these dogs as adults too. They're so gentle and sweet and lazy (yet great protectors). I'm also sooo excited because we also got a FENCE for the yard finally- to keep her in and the kids safe too.

Here she is in her crate the first night- she LOVES it.

She also LOVES to cuddle- the logistics of this will become more complicated as she gets bigger, but I don't mind :)

Here's a short clip on the breed:

This December marked our 7th anniversary! The time has really flown by and I can't imagine it with anyone else- I'm a lucky girl to have snagged such a sweet and supportive husband, and loving father to our kids. He works so hard to provide for us the things we need and want- I don't express appreciation to him enough! Once I wrote him a list of all of the things I like about him- I hope he will take it out and read it again, they're all still true.

Here is a vintage Polaroid photo circa the morning of Dec 6th 2003- taken by the creepy bed and breakfast lady:

...maybe I should back up a little- don't think I've ever told our story here. I'll make it kind of brief. I met Tyler through a group of Bountiful friends- at the time he was rooming with "my missionary's" brother, Matt. A few of them were going to Vegas- at first I said I didn't want to go ( I was dating a couple other people at the time). Then at the last minute I decided to go. On the trip there were "the girls" (Emily, Laura & Me)

And "the boys" Tyler, Josh, & Matt.

It was all fun and games- Tyler and I pretended we accidentally had a real margarita and got married. I think the other kids really believed the drunk part :) Tyler said he knew this trip he wanted to marry me.

I took a little longer to figure it out, and poor Tyler got dumped a couple times (our friends didn't even believe we were really engaged when we finally were!) We dated for 6 weeks, only about 2 of which were exclusive before he proposed, but 6 months later this was the end result:

When you know, you know :) Love you, Ty!

At the first of the month Papa came to visit after a work training in Vegas. It was nice to see him and the kids had a blast with their papa. It's amazing how Kyson remembered him (they haven't seen him in over a year- so Kyson wasn't even 2 last time), we think it is because they get to talk on the web cam. On the first night the boys were so excited to have him they wanted to have a sleepover in the basement- the only catch is the guest bed is only a twin...a long and memorable night for all of them I'm sure :)

It was the first time Papa met miss MiaJolie, I think they like each other though. Here she is kicking back watching Clint Eastwood with him.

Sunday morning- tired but happy.

It was SO hard to get them to sit still- we'll have to take another when Nana and Papa come in January!