While the cat is away...

...the mice will play!

When we were serving together in Malta, Todd would have to go up to Catania every six weeks for "zone leader conference". I know that this was really just a giant sleep over with all the zone leaders from around the mission. He would fly up and spend the night and then come back the next day. Every time before he left I would tell the rest of the zone that 'when the cat is away, the mice will play!', Todd would hear me saying that and roll his eyes, but I think deep down he really was scared of what we might be doing without him!;) Well, it has become a tradition that whenever Todd goes out of town now this is what I say to him for about two days before his trip. I think it still puts the fear of God into him, maybe not...but it is still fun to say! So here are some of the things that the mice are doing while the cat is away this time...

Plenty of jumping...got to get the energy out of those kiddos!



Tonight after Enrichment several of my friends are coming over for a Lost party. You have got to love this show. I cannot wait! All I have to say is if Kate is pregnant with Sawyers baby, I am going to be TICKED. Jack + Kate FOREVER!

Till We Meet Again...

On Sunday January 27, the President and Prophet of our Church passed away. At 97 years old it does not come as a shock, but it is still sad to see him go. President Hinckley has been the prophet for most of my life. I remember when he was sustained as the prophet and listening to his powerful testimony. I remember sitting in the Marriott center at BYU and listening to him talk about modesty, and earrings and looking around the room and watching countless young BYU students take out their 2nd earings when President Hinckley said that we should only wear one. I looked to him with hope the General Conference after September 11th, and received peace when he spoke of the future. I have heard him speak in person four times, and each time my testimony of prophets today on the earth was strengthened. I took that testimony and bore it to the people in Italy and Malta who believed that the Heavens were closed. I have showed my sons pictures of him and bore testimony to them that we have a prophet of God on the earth that loves us and encourages us to be better. I love President Hinckley. I am happy that he has been reunited with his sweet wife and others who surely welcomed him with open arms. What a wonderful reunion he must be having! Truly, he has fought a good fight, and finished his race.

“In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” ~Gordon B. Hinckley

It is true...

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

I know, I know....I just can't help myself!

1) What i was doing 10 years ago: January 1998? I was in my senior year at my THIRD high school...thanks Mom and Dad (just kidding! :)) Applying to BYU and Ricks College. Being a typical boy crazy 17 year old teenager.

2) 5 years ago: January 2003?? I was on my mission in Malta. My companion was Marilee Randall. Around this time Todd and I JUST started to be good friends, after serving together for about 9 months. It was a great time.

3) 1 year ago: January 2007...you know honestly nothing really sticks out about this month one year ago! LOL. I was still in survival mode from having a five month old and a 21 month old...and that pretty much sums it up!

4) Yesterday: Hung out all day with the boys, cleaned, and then went out to dinner for a girls night with my good friend Teresa.

5) 5 snacks I enjoy: Harbo gummy candies, anything chocolate, diet coke (is this a snack?), M&Ms, and Kozy Shack Pudding.

6) 5 things i would do if i suddenly had $100 million dollars: Pay off our house and student loans, Pay off my parent house, Go as a family to Italy and Malta, Buy a new wardrobe after I lose all the weight I am going to lose, pay for lots of peoples missions.

7) 5 locations i would run away to: ummm is this if funds were limitless, cause that changes things quite a bit! Italy and Malta...c'mon now! Ummm Boston cause it is my all time favorite city, maybe Cabo San Lucas cause I have always wanted to go there.

8) 5 things i like doing: shopping, cooking, blogging, playing with my boys, throwing parties.

9)5 shows i like:
Lost, The Office, The Hills (yes I am 16), American Idol, anything on HGTV.

11) 5 things i hate doing: cleaning the bathrooms, taking both boys to the grocery store, folding laundry, saying goodbye to family after a fun visit, taking out the trash.

12) 5 biggest joys of the moment: running every night on my treadmill, looking forward to our Disneyland trip, Todd has an interview with MIT, tomorrow is Friday, and hearing my boys planning together in the other room! :)

Now I tag anyone who read this! Ha!

Don't Knock Dr. Atkins!

For those of you who knew me in 2002 you will be happy to know that Dr. Atkins has again come through for me! Just like I knew he would!

Since low carbing it and running/walking each night for an hour on the treadmill I have lost 15 lbs. since January 1st.

So here is to this weight loss journey of mine, and to Dr. Atkins, my long, lost, reliable friend.

More updates to come!...

Something to Think About...

"... might we ask ourselves what our children know? From us? Personally? Do our children know that we love the scriptures? Do they see us reading them and marking them and clinging to them in daily life? Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? Have they heard us not only pray with them but also pray for them out of nothing more than sheer parental love? Do our children know we believe in fasting as something more than an obligatory first-Sunday-of-the-month hardship? Do they know that we have fasted for them and for their future on days about which they knew nothing? Do they know we love being in the temple, not least because it provides a bond to them that neither death nor the legions of hell can break? Do they know we love and sustain local and general leaders, imperfect as they are, for their willingness to accept callings they did not seek in order to preserve a standard of righteousness they did not create? Do those children know that we love God with all our heart and that we long to see the face—and fall at the feet—of His Only Begotten Son? I pray that they know this." - Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Prayer for the Children," Ensign (CR), May 2003, p.85

I got this quote from a friends blog. I think about these things all the time. I am trying to be the mother that Elder Holland describes here so beautifully.

Well I know that Thatcher knows that I pray for him, he hears me pray for his safety and for my sanity when he dumps maple syrup all over our couches and carpet! Just kidding...kinda :)

Yay!

Todd just found out today that he was invited for an interview for the LFM program at MIT! This is a great step in being accepted and it means that he has made it through the first cut for this grad-school program! We have been keeping our fingers crossed, so we are very excited! Good job honey!

Happy 2008!

We had fun bringing in the New Year with friends on New Years Eve and New Years Day. There was plenty of food, football and fun! :) There was also plenty of games of Mafia played and we were introduced to the Wii. Todd now wants one (even though I did ask him if he wanted one for Christmas and he didn't back then!). He might return the kid carrying back pack he got for a new Wii. Wii will see...:). We hope you all have a wonderful 2008!

Also in the spirit of New Years resolutions we have a new addition to our living room furniture...

...if you are singing "one of these things does not belong here" from Sesame Street, I don't blame you. It does stick out like a sore thumb, but this little friend has been on my wish list since I cannot even remember when. I LOVE IT! I can walk/run while watching all my DVRed shows, it doesn't get much better than that.

And another thing that has been on my wish list for a LONG time...

We will be going at the end of February. For those of you who don't know, our boys are obsessed with Mickey and friends. Thatcher and Taggart might go into shock or have slight aneurysms when they see the mouse in person. We can't wait! Doesn't seem that your childhood just comes alive again after having kids, only better?

We Wish You A Merry Christmas...

We hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas and it was so fun to see Thatcher and Taggart having such a great time! We are so grateful for all of our blessings and especially at this time of year for our Savior Jesus Christ, whos birth we celebrate and whos life we honor and try to emulate. We are so grateful for His perfect life which he freely gave that we may be together as a family forever. It has been a wonderful Chrismas!

On Christmas Eve we had a few families over that we have become close to during our time here in Tucson.




We set up the "jumpy jump" (as we call it) for all the kids and let them have at it. It was really cute to see them all laughing and jumping. They were all SO excited for Christmas and Santa and pretty much were WIRED the whole night...it was fun.





The boys in their Christmas jammies.



The Loot...




Taggy riding around on his new trike.


Thatcher has been wanting some games. Here he is with Candyland that Santa brought him. That Santa is so smart!


Taggy is OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse. Here he is with a Mickey Mouse that he got from Grandma and Grandpa Monson that sings, "hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.


And here is Thatcher dancing to that Mickey Mouse song...


Todd wanted a kid carrier so we can port around one boy so we can know where one boy is at all times when we go on walks, picnics, ect. and have more hands for the other one!


Todd got me and the boys crocs for Christmas...they are so comfy!


Thatcher was bouncing off the walls all day!


Sitting down for Chrismtas dinner.


The feast...


Thatcher riding his new bike.

A Sister in my parents ward was kind enough to give Thatcher and Taggart two Super Hero capes that she makes and sells. They are ADORABLE. Thatcher has been wearing his today and acting the part of a Super Hero...which includes jumping off the couch, or "flying" as he calls it.






It's been a long day for Daddy...

We Finally Did It!

We finally cut Taggart's hair! I saw the last pic that I posted of him on the blog and realized that he could pass for a girl, and that was it! Chop! He looks so cute, and so much older. Our little baby is no more. We took some pictures of the boys in their little Christmas church outfits yesterday by the tree. Getting two little boys to stand still for a picture I have learned can be quite the task! Taggy thinks for some reason when we say smile, we mean blink and close your eyes. So half of the pictures turned out with his eyes closed.

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Has anyone ever wondered WHY they play "These are a few of my favorite things" at Christmas time? I didn't think that The Sound of Music was a Christmas movie? Anyway, these are a few of my favorite things about Christmas time...


Christmas cards! I love getting Christmas cards from all our friends and family from all over the world! Everyday Thatcher and I go check the mail, then post the cards and pictures on our entry way door. I just love this tradition!




I spent ALL day yesterday baking. I love to cook and bake and I love to make Christmas goodies! I made fudge, peppermint bark, and Caramel chocolate dipped pretzel rods. This is such a fun time of year when we think of all our neighbors and friends and bring them yummy treats to eat!

And here are the kids sampling all the Christmas treats!



Oh, and Thatcher wanted me to take his picture next to his puzzle that he is OBSESSED with doing.

Could Be Brothers!

This is my cousin Jessica's little boy Kyler. Taggy and Kyler look a lot alike I just can't believe it! I have always thought that Taggy looks a little like my Grandpa Mason, so funny! I guess those genes are pretty strong!

Can't Wait!

Fact: Most addicting show I have ever seen.
Fact: If Kate chooses Sawyer over Jack I will write hate mail to the writers.
Fact: After Christmas I will start a new countdown.
Fact: Best.Show.Ever.

Rincon Christmas Party

Last night was Todd's company Christmas party. We look forward to it because they really put on the dog for their employees. It is always at a really nice resort and they have a wonderful buffet dinner with entertainment, prizes, and then dancing follows. Last night the dinner was yummy and the dancing was really fun. We are really grateful for Todd's company and how well they take care of all their employees, the Christmas party is just a little example of countless ways. I am so proud of Todd because he works really hard and has been doing such a great job at Rincon. The other day was his performance review from his boss and he came out with a great review with his boss telling him he is one of the best enginneers there. He also got a wonderful raise which we weren't expecting. So at this time of year we are very grateful to be working for such a great employer!

HO HO HO!

On Saturday we had our ward Christmas party. Since I am on the activities committee, I took the kids over to the church at 9:00am (since Todd was out of town until later that afternoon) and spent most of the day setting up, and getting ready for the party. My friend Teresa is the committee chair, which makes things really fun, and she did a really good job with this party. We had a musical program and then desserts and Santa after. As you can see Thatcher loved Santa, Taggy did not. Thatcher has defiantly grasped the idea of Santa, and keeps talking about him. We are getting excited for Christmas around here!

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Yesterday we got all decorated for Christmas! Todd put up our Christmas lights and we got all decorated inside the house as well. Thatcher has been so excited this year and keeps talking about Santa, Reindeer, and "Crickis lights". It has actually felt like "Crickis" here the last couple days because it has been overcast and chilly! Evey one is getting into a festive mood, time to break out the hot chocolate!


Don't fall!


"Up on the house top..."


The finished product!!

Gobble Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have had such a fun week here at our house! Grandpa and Grandma Monson and Uncles Jon and Dave came and we have had a blast! Thanksgiving was delicious. My Mom and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen getting the dinner ready and it was great to learn from her how she makes all the traditional Turkey day meals. The boys have LOVED all the attention, and have had plenty of spoiling! There have been lots of games played, trips to the park, late night movies, lots of wrestling and a trip to an old western town with a stunt show and a yummy cowboy dinner. Grandma and Grandpa bought a early Christmas present for Thatcher and Taggy, it is a mini-jumping castle for the backyard! (Thanks Mom and Dad!) They LOVE it. It is so fun to watch them bouncing all over the place. The other night I was severely out numbered as the testosterone took over and all the 'boys' had a wrestling match in the living room. I will say that I beat my 16 year-old-football-playing brother at a arm wrestling match...looks like carrying 25 lbs. babies around all day does pay off! It has been such a fun little vacation and it will be hard to get back on schedule next week, good thing will still have two more days to spend playing and enjoying every ones company! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for all the fun! It has been a blast!

Thankful Tom

It was a tradition in my family to make a shoe box turkey (called Thankful Tom) and 'stuff' him with little notes of what we were thankful for. Then at Thanksgiving dinner my Dad would read all the notes and we would guess who wrote them. It was a fun tradition. Well last night for FHE we had a little lesson about being thankful and then made our Thankful Tom. Thatcher has been having a hard time letting go of the whole Halloween concept, so I have been talking about turkeys a lot lately, but I don't think he knew what a turkey looked like until last night! He now is going around saying, 'ahhhh scary turkey!'...I keep having to remind him that turkeys are not scary and Halloween is over! I told him that turkeys are not scary, they are funny...which he replied, 'no mommy, turkeys are not funny.' Alright, I stand corrected. We are excited to stuff Thankful Tom with all things we are grateful for!


Thatcher having a 'gobbly' time!


Todd helping Thatcher color a picture of what he is thankful for...


The finished product.