Wide Open Spaces

This morning we traveled to Riverside (near Tremonton) for the girls' cousin Destiny's baptism (Quentin's brother Chris's daughter). What a special day - congrats Destiny! Afterward, Chris and Wendy had a potluck party at their house. They are always so hospitable - they know how to have fun and how to make people feel welcome and comfortable. It's always fun at their house. And their "country home" is the perfect party place - it overlooks a huge gully with trees, a stream, and cows and horses. It's beautiful. And the kids had a blast - they smashed the pinata on the trampoline, chased the chickens, played on the swingset and with the pool table, and then...Chris and Wendy broke out their big toys - the 4-wheelers. Each person in their family of 6 has one (well, Chelsea has a dirt bike). Even 8-year-old Destiny has one just her size. Quentin took Makenna and me for a ride, and Destiny and Kiera rode on the little one together. It was SO fun! I asked Kiera if she liked it and she said, "You BET I had fun!!" Every time we're at Chris and Wendy's, I feel like I've been on a mini-vacation. Ahhhhh.....



Kiera, Makenna, Marina & Roman


Kiera, Makenna & Destiny

Last Day!

BEST FRIENDS KIERA, SADIE & SOPHIE
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YAY KIERA!


KIERA & MRS. CONNORS

Yesterday was Kiera's kindergarten graduation program, and today is her last day. Wow - it sure has gone fast. She's sad to be done - she has really LOVED school. I'm amazed at what she has learned this year, and I'm so proud that she has a thirst for learning. She's also really looking forward to having the summer off. She's made lists of things we can do this summer: activities at the library, free movies at the theater, arts and crafts class (for Kiera), tumbling class (for Makenna), finishing clogging class and being in a parade, a few camping trips, a visit from my siblings in Texas, a "date" with Granny, and lots of bike riding, park playing, walks, picnics, swimming, and trips to the children's museums. Sounds fun - I hope I can keep up! Happy Summer, y'all!

Lessons Learned

In just 2 days, we've had 3 experiences that have taught my girls (and me) "life lessons." First, while the girls were playing outside, Makenna came in crying but wouldn't tell me what was wrong, just that "the lady got mad at me." So Kiera filled me in. Makenna picked a few of our neighbors flowers; the lady came out and said she could look at the flowers anytime, but to please not pick them. I talked to Makenna about it and we decided to go apologize to the neighbor. We did (with Makenna's little face hidden in my pants) and I thought how this was actually a good thing - she learned about respecting other people's things, being responsible, and feeling (and saying) sorry.

So now lesson 2. The next morning as I opened my purse, I saw a little girl's hair bow - a bow that wasn't ours. When I asked Kiera about it, she said she found it on the floor of the store we were at yesterday. The girls are always looking for "treasures" on store floors - pennies, pebbles, nails, whatever. But yesterday she found a bow and stuck it in my purse. I told her that it wasn't ours, and her eyes immediately filled up with tears. She said, "Oh no - I can't believe I stoled something. Will I go to jail?" I tried to relieve her fears, and I told her it didn't look like something that store would sell; maybe it was something someone lost. So our task for this evening is to return it to the store because "that's the right thing to do."

And finally the last lesson (I hope for at least a little while!).... Last night, Kiera was teasing Makenna over and over and when Makenna finally argued back, Kiera pulled Makenna's hair. I told Kiera that we don't pull hair and took her to Time Out. When the time was over and I went to get her, she was sobbing hard but quietly. She said, "I don't want to hurt Makenna and I don't want to be mean, but sometimes I can't help it. I don't know how to stop. So I think I need to go away and live with Granny for awhile." As my heart broke, I told her that she didn't need to do that, that we love her, and that she can work on not hurting Makenna. But slowly and dramatically, she went out the door, saying she wished she didn't have to do this, but she knows she needs to, that she'll miss us, etc. (I think drama and playing the martyr runs in our family). When she closed the door, Makenna and I held each other and cried. About 20 seconds later, Kiera opened the door again and said that she decided today will be her last day till she goes to Granny's house. We all cried and held each other and I knew that everything would be all right....

Memorial Day

Memorial Day.... It's always been kind of a weird holiday to me. We're supposed to honor and mourn our loved ones who have passed away, and then we turn around and have a party (BBQs, pool parties, etc). A little confusing, but oh well. :o) Like most other Americans, we also had a bi-polar celebration this weekend. On Sunday we visited my Grandpa Johnson's grave and Quentin's Grandpa Stephens' grave. Each year, the girls talk about how much they miss their grandpas and how they know they're watching over them. Grandpa Johnson passed away before any of his great-grandkids were born, and Grandpa Stephens passed away when Kiera was just a few months old. But it's nice to have a day to reflect and ponder the meaning of life, why we're here, where we're going, and how we have been influenced by generations of people before us. Deep, I know.

On Monday we had Quentin's family over for a BBQ. The weather was stormy so we ended up eating inside but later were able to play Frisbee Golf in the yard and go for a walk near the Farmington Pond. It was perfect - it smelled so good after the rain and made me yearn to go camping!!

NANA AND KASIDEE


4 GENERATIONS


COUSINS (Roman, Marina, Sarah, Kiera & Makenna)


MAKENNA AND ROMAN


MAKENNA PICKED FLOWERS FOR ME (ROOTS INCLUDED!)

Yay! It's FINALLY Done! (Pretty much)

As you know from previous posts, my idea of quickly giving the downstairs bathroom a new coat of paint mushroomed into a big remodeling project. We decided to retile the floor (which was a big project in itself), then we added beadboard and a new faucet. Then we sort of got burnt out. But then I got the bug again (I love to always have some sort of project to work on) - one day I taped and prepped the bathroom for painting and then the next day I painted. I was so amazed - all three girls (even Kasidee) were content to play in the next room for several hours while I primed and put on two coats of paint. At first I worried that the paint color was too bright, but now I absolutely love it. In some lights it looks kind of purple and in some lights it looks kind of blue - I guess that's the definition of periwinkle, right? That's the color I was looking for. It's bright and fresh and envigorating. It looks like a totally new bathroom. So after the new paint, we were inspired to ditch the "cowboy" towel and toilet paper holders as well as the mirrored movie-star light fixtures. So we got new ones, as well as some new framed mirrors and a new shower curtain. I can't believe the difference. This has been a fun project that Quentin and I have enjoyed working on together. The only thing left is putting on the new knobs for the cabinets and maybe a new picture or two. And speaking of cabinets, we're still debating on whether or not to eventually repaing them matte black (they're brownish-blackish now and in need of a new coat of paint). So after that, we'll have to find a new project - perhaps converting the shed out back into a playhouse for the girls!!

BEFORE...





AND AFTER...

(P.S. The reason the mirror above the sink is off-centered from the lights is because we wanted it directly above the sink. So it kind of looks funny, but we're planning on putting a picture or a little shelf or something to kind of balance it out. Anyone have any ideas??)

A Cold and Wet Zoo Day!

Today was the kindergarten zoo day! Kiera was so excited, but pretty nervous about riding the bus. She's ridden on a school bus once, when her great-uncle Bruce gave her and Makenna (and us) a little ride around town. But she was nervous because busses don't have seat belts. Anyway, she was relieved when she found out that Quentin would be able to ride with her - he couldn't resist taking the day off to go. He LOVES being at anything he can that involves his girls - Kiera's teacher once told me that she thinks it's amazing how involved he is, since most dads don't seem to care! I know, I know, I've got the perfect husband, and the girls have the most awesome daddy! :0) Anyway, it was about 50 degrees and drizzly, but it was fun! Quentin and Kiera rode the bus and Makenna, Kasidee and I drove up separately. Kasidee slept pretty much the whole time, so she was warm and dry and snuggly in her cocooned stroller. Makenna loved seeing the animals, especially the tiger. And Kiera loved the new white alligator. Although it was crappy weather for going to the zoo and to the park for a picnic, the memories of it will last a LONG time!

What Does Daddy Do?

I can't stop laughing. Kiera called my mom this evening and my mom asked her how she liked seeing Daddy's work yesterday. Kiera responded, "It's not fair. Daddy just gets to sit around at his desk all day and do nothing. And he gets to have lunch in the break room. My school is harder than Daddy's work." Then my mom explained that Daddy works hard so we have enough money for our house, groceries, etc. and that if Kiera works really hard at school, she can be anything she wants to be. She asked Kiera what she'd like to be when she grows up. Kiera said, "A Couch Potato!"

Fun at Daddy's Work

NEW BUILDING

QUENTIN'S FLOOR

HAVING FUN AT DADDY'S DESK!


THE BREAK ROOM

Just about a year ago, Fidelity moved to a brand-new building right by the Gateway. Quentin has wanted to show us his new office, but security is so tight that he couldn't even let his family come in. But today there was an open house for employee's families to see the new building. The girls thought it was so neat to see where Daddy goes every day! And I have to admit I was amazed. Architecturally speaking, the building was so cool!! There are neat angles everywhere, there's state-of-the-art equipment and sleek, modern furnishings. And I love the colors - fresh and peaceful: soft spring green, rust-orange, blues and yellows. It just doesn't seem like a normal, blah office building. It was energizing. I'm so proud of Quentin - he works hard and loves what he does. Just ask him a financial question, and his eyes start glistening as he talks and talks and talks. He eats this stuff up. And he just loves to help people. He's got the perfect job for him.

NEW BOOKS!

Along with the Open House, Fidelity also had it's annual Book Fair, an annual event where employee's kids each get to pick a few new books to take home. In year's past it has been held at Thanksgiving Point, Hogle Zoo, and Discovery Gateway. This year it was at the Rio Grande train depot at Gateway. The girls got some new books (Yay! I have a little obsession with children's books) as well as cookies and juice. Yum. They also had a professional storyteller there as well as a magician and clown that twisted balloons into little poodles and flowers and swords. The girls thought that was pretty neat.

DOGGIES FOR CHARITY

So, as if that wasn't enough fun for one day, we let the girls splash around in the Gateway fountains in the swimming suits. I wasn't sure who had more fun - the girls or Quentin! Then, we checked out Build-A-Bear and found out that today only they were letting people make a stuffed doggie for free to donate to one of three charities (the girls chose the one that gives the stuffed animals to kids who have cancer as well as their siblings). They had fun and it was a good lesson about giving!

Look, Ma - No Training Wheels!

After a season of Kiera wishing her "baby" training wheels were off her bike, Quentin finally took them off yesterday. Quentin followed her, holding on to the back of her bike seat, and pretty soon she was doing it on her own. She's been practicing in our driveway and along the sidewalk and has had a BLAST! I think she feels pretty cool being 6 and oh, so grown up!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day (yesterday) to all of the wonderful women in my life! My girls (and my honey) sure made my day special! Quentin woke up and saw Kiera standing by my side of the bed, waiting for me to wake up. He suggested she let me rest a little longer, but soon she woke me up - she was too excited to give me her gifts. She said she had 3 Mother's Day gifts for me - the first was a card and something she had made at school. When I opened the package (she said she picked the yellow wrapping paper because she knows that's my favorite color), there was a beautiful flower pin that she had made out of clay and buttons. It is so precious and the look in her eyes of how proud and excited she was made it even more special. I wore it the whole day. Her second gift was breakfast in bed!! She had made it the night before and kept it in her drawer. It was a sandwich (fishy crackers in between 2 pieces of bread - the crackers had gotten soft and the bread had dried out, with carrots in the shape of an "M" on top) with a glass of water and a little flower in a cup of water. So sweet! Her third gift to me was...a BIG hug! I am just astounded at how sweet and thoughtful she is. And Makenna kept giving me hugs throughout the day and wished me a happy birthday. She kept asking why I didn't have a cake. And Quentin and the girls gave me a gorgeous hanging fuschia plant. They also made the cutest card, with the girls' feet in the shape of hearts. The feet pictures were all over the front of the card so they looked like little flowers. I can't tell you how creative Quentin is and how priceless that card is to me! After church (where the Primary sang a song to their moms), we met my sweet Mom and Grandma at the park for a picnic. Kerry, Joey, Mischelle, Spencer and Jordyn joined us too. It was so nice to enjoy the nice weather and fun company! I just love being with my mom. She is so amazing to me. She is my best friend, my comfort, my hero. She is the most thoughtful and selfless person I know. She's always thinking of others. I love her so much! Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Girly Girls

Today was jammie-shopping day. Kiera has outgrown all of her jammies, yet Makenna's drawer is full of jammies since she gets all of Kiera's old ones. Regardless of the huge selection Makenna has, she insists on wearing a certain pair basically every night. But Kiera was especially in dire need of some new ones. So we headed out and shopped. The girls both fell in love with these Tinkerbell nightgowns and were so excited that they could be twins. I had explained all day that it was KIERA who needed the new jammies, but when Makenna looked up at me with her big blue eyes and said softly, "Me too...Or just Kiera?" I couldn't help it. So we bought both pairs and the girls insisted on putting them on in the car so they could wear them home (from Layton). They sure love their new jammies - and I sure love my girls!

Crusin' Kasidee

Kasidee's growing up way too fast. She's nearly 9 months old, but I think she should only be about 5 months old. And she's already crawling and sitting and pulling up. And she's sprouting her 5th tooth, with 2 more coming soon. And today, for the first time, she climbed the stairs. All 14 stairs, all by herself (with Daddy's hand right behind her). She was so proud.

Bathroom Remodel - continued

A few posts ago, I updated you on the bathroom remodel and was so excited that the tile was FINALLY done! (And the beadboard and new faucet also have been put in). But the picture I posted was one with the chocolatey grout spread all over. I know you've all been losing sleep at night, waiting for some pictures of the "real thing." So here they are. Quentin has worked SO hard and I am so proud of what he did. We absolutely love it and think it makes the room look so much better. A few people who have seen it in person have said that the old tile was nice too or that they can't really tell a difference or that they can't stand beadboard. *sniff sniff* But we did it for US, and we LOVE it. We're hoping to paint within the next week or two (periwinkle - I told Quentin I'm trying to make the house as girly as possible!) and I think that will make a big difference too. I'll keep you posted!

BEFORE...



And AFTER (remember - the final product will have pretty periwinkle walls, black cabinets and a nicer towel rack - I'm not a fan of the "cowboy rod" towel rack we have now!)

I guess I am plain and "sensible!"

You Are Corn Flakes

You are traditional and easy going. If something is high quality, you're satisfied with it. You don't need much variety or novelty in your life. You're happy with what you have. You're quite loyal. You're the type of person who eats the same breakfast every day... And likely at the exact same time each day!

What Kind of Cereal Are You?