Another Wild Weekend!

What an amazing weekend we had! I had sure been missing all of my little sweeties in Utah, and they didn't disappoint. To kick it off, Jenna made us the most delicious dinner on Thursday night. Fettucini Alfredo with Garlic Shrimp...she was right, I can eat shrimp without wanting to gag...It was awesome! We stopped at their house on our way through to Riverton. )We got there to late to really socialize, but we made up for it the next day. While I was busy doing Gracie's photo shoot (which, I admit, turned out AMAZING, but I really can't take the credit, she is such a beauty, inside and out!) I also helped design her program for the baptism, and also a little photo insert for it...I loved it, that sort of thing is so much fun for me. Kennedy played non-stop with her Chambers cousins. It was so fun to have every one of them there! Four 1 & 1/2 year olds under one roof was a little crazy, though...Hudson, Katelyn, and the twins, Kade and Allie, were so very busy and kept everyone on their toes. What cuties though! Friday was crazy with baptism preparations, but Saturday was awesome. We put together a slide show of the pictures, and it turned out darling. She had asked me to speak on the Holy Ghost, and I didn't screw up my talk too much...I was so touched that she let me be such a big part of the special day. Gracie beamed all morning. I was so proud of her, she was so ready for her big day, you could tell she was taking it all so seriously. The kids had another intense play session for the rest of the day, and then we headed back to Smithfield that night. We had a great day Sunday, visiting with Steve, Laney and Rod, and then with Grandma Webb. I was just so thankful to be able to see pretty much everyone over the last two weekends. I am so lucky to have such a great family, and I love everyone so much, from Grandma right down to the littlest one, Will. Thanks to our great hosts, Kim and Mike, Wes and Meg, and Jeff and Jill last weekend. Love you guys!

Here is the insert we printed to put inside the baptism programs...I love it!

And some more of the cute shots from the photo shoot...

more Easter...

Here are a couple more of my Easter pictures. I have the cutest nieces and nephews ever, and I love to take pictures of them. Watch for Gracie's baptism photos next week!

Easter Weekend!

We had the funnest weekend! We made the 5 hour trek to Heber on Thursday night (luckily, Grandma's is a nice place to stop for a break, and a nice place to get some yummy food, and pick up the worlds best babysitter, Jami!), and Friday the games began. We went sledding/snow mobiling on Friday morning in Midway, where Jeff and Dustin practiced catching some sweet air in between hauling the sledders back up the hill. After lunch - a Train burger, natch - we met Grandma Josie and the Russells at the pool in Kamas. What a blast! There is a lazy river, big curvy water slide, and a kiddie pool. Unfortunately, my skinny little Hudson was freezing and onery (a new tooth this morning explained his rough weekend) but the rest of us had a ball. On Saturday morning, we all headed down the road to the funnest little easter egg hunt. One of Jeff's neighbors has one in his yard each year for the locals, and it was sweet. There were even real eggs, and big chocolate bunnies for those who found eggs with names on them. Kennedy is quite competitive, and loved running around the little pasture with Cortnie and Tayler. Hudson was so proud of the two he found, and would not let anyone near his basket. Heber actually has much less snow than Rexburg, and we loved the taste of spring.

After the hunt, Jeff surprised the girls with baby chicks. They were so sweet, and the kids loved them. Hudson was a little rough, but was not that interested, so the chicks were safe. That afternoon, awesome Jami watched the kiddos while the grown ups did lunch and had a blast trying on boots at Reams. Later that evening, we took the kids over to Park City to see Horton Hears a Who, which made us all laugh. After a little fun at the outlets, we had a pizza, and worked on getting some excited kids to bed.
Easter morning was great, too. Everyone was so happy with what the bunny left, and it was so fun to be together. Hudson got his own cowboy hat, and wore it happily all morning while playing with his new baseball stuff...the bat - not so good for a 1 year old...Kennedy was thrilled to get not only the Mariposa Barbie she'd asked for, but the movie and coloring book as well. Mom was happy to take care of all the Peeps nobody really likes but somehow always end up in the baskets...

After the baskets, we all headed down to Pleasantview to go to church with Grandma and Grandpa, and then we were all together for dinner afterwards. It was so awesome, Grandma Josie is the best cook, and really went all out. Beautiful table, delicious food, fabulous company, it was a great afternoon. Cortnie did a sweet little presentation about the resurrection, and then, following a little bit of really bad karaoke, we had another little easter egg hunt in the yard. It was so fun to have the whole family together for Easter, I loved it. I actually have more pictures coming...We get to go to Utah this weekend too, for Gracie's baptism. Can't wait to see the Chambers clan then!

Easter Preparations

Kennedy and I made the cutest Easter cupcakes today, they were so fun! I'm so glad I have a little baking buddy. Kennedy loves to put on her little apron and help. Her, no, OUR favorite part is always the frosting! We are going to Heber and Ogden for Easter weekend, starting tonight, and we are so excited, we can hardly stand it! Can't wait to see everyone!

Easter Bunny

Kennedy and I have had several in-depth conversations over the past several months (pretty much since the day after Christmas) about what she wants the Easter Bunny to bring her. She wanted to make a list (!) but since he only brings ONE toy, and some treats at our house, I told her a list was not necessary, we could just tell him what she wanted her one toy to be. There has been much deliberation (so hard to narrow it down!) but she had made up her mind - Barbie Mariposa - so, I took the kids to see the Easter Bunny in Idaho Falls on Tuesday. Kennedy was so excited! I was worried about Hudson's reaction, since Kennedy was terrified of the E.B. at her age, but he was actually excited when he saw it. He made his cute little bunny hopping action with his hand and said "Hi!" Darling. They both sat on his lap, and Kennedy placed her order. The picture would have turned out much cuter if the lady taking it hadn't been such an idiot, but I'm pretty excited there are no tears. I love being a mom, and being able to do these fun things with these two cuties!

Preslie's Photo Shoot

My niece Preslie is the cutest, chubbiest little baby, and I have been dying to take some naked pictures of her, and I got the chance this weekend. It was SO fun for me. We did some in her cute little bikini, too, and they are priceless. She is at the cutest age, sitting up so well, and so smiley. I had to share these pictures!

Kennedy's Dance Performance

Kennedy danced on Friday night at the competition my aunt Lori hosts in Idaho Falls, and she did so well! She knew she had quite the audience, so she came out just grinning. My parents, Jenna, Nate and Preslie, and Jami were there to watch, along with Hudson and me. We were rewarded for being there, she was so cute, following along while not taking her eyes from her adoring crowd. Thanks to our awesome family for the effort, we had the best weekend with them. Saturday was Rexburg Day, and we hit all the local hotspots, including the awesome new cupcake cafe, and my fabulous D.I., where many deals were found by all (luckily Dustin got called out for that part, he can be such a kill joy while deal-hunting...) Saturday was hair-coloring/movie night, with Jenna cranking out the foils, doing me, my mom and my cute cousin Vicki, who it was so fun to have over. I made them all watch Bourne Identity (my favorite movie) and my mom kept up easily with my running commentary, which I thoroughly enjoyed giving. We were also very entertained by a special talent of Nate's...

A truly great weekend!

She Got Moves...

We just got Kennedy's dancing pictures yesterday, and I had to share them (again). She loves to dance, and is so good...the way she moves her hips is scary good...maybe a little too much VH1?

This year, they have worked with them on smiling while they dance, and she is a natural, it is unbelievably cute. She is SOO very excited to have Grandma Josie, Grandpa Jay, and Jenna and "Press" coming to watch her on Friday, she absolutely loves the spotlight. I can't believe this is her fourth year of dancing with aunt Lori's studio. She was still a baby when she started, not quite two! I have loved every minute of watching her, I really think she has a bit of natural ability, and, although Dustin is harboring the secret fantasy of her dropping dancing like a rock as soon as she can pick between that and sports (no offense to Lori, its just that she is the only dancer he likes to watch - okay, maybe me sometimes :)- and sometimes he is forced to undure multiple numbers while waiting for hers), I hope it lasts.

Kennedy's Playdate

Kennedy invited a little boy from her preschool, Jacob, over to play on Friday. She has been bugging me for a while to have him over to play, and man, was it a success. Talk about two peas in a pod. He showed up in full cowboy dress, right down to the chaps, and I knew they were going to have a good time. He was so darling, so polite! He actually asked me if I wanted him to call me "Shelli or Mrs. Chambers." Yeah, I felt old.

No Nursery for Hudson

So, I was alone with the kids at church again yesterday*, and after sacrament meeting, I just couldn't face taking Hudson to sunday school by myself, he is so wild, so I decided to try Nursery. He is only a couple of weeks shy of the 18 month mark, so I thought I'd get a jump start. He was fine, playing with the toys, so I went to Sunday School. About 45 blissful minutes later, I hear a crying in the hall, and my heart sinks as realize I know who it is. Before the nursery leader can peak in the room, I'm headed out. He is a mess, sobbing, and completely traumatized. He lunges for me and buries his face in my shoulder. The nursery leader apologizes, and says "he just hasn't stopped crying since you left." Talk about guilt. I try to comfort him in the hall for a few minutes, but he is still trembling. I'm not sure what kind of torture they were inflicting on him, but it was pretty bad, apparently. Just then, Dustin comes sneaking up the back steps to our class room, still in his work clothes, just like the threatened-with-his-life husband he is ("if you get home from work before church is out, and you don't come, or come and get Hudson from me, you will be sorry"). Hudson resumes the sobbing as soon as I hand him over to Dustin! The poor guy is just exhausted. Luckily, after he is gone, I am able to go the Relief Society without incedent, but still feeling very guilty. The good part of the day was that Dustin had a delicious dinner, complete with salad and dessert, waiting for Kennedy and me when we got home...Nice! Also, Hudson was sleeping soundly, and promptly forgave me when he woke up. I don't know if I dare try again next week...wait, yes I do..

*ok, now that sounds like Dustin is inactive or something, and he's really not. It's just that for the last 3 or 4 weeks, he has been on a trouble truck, and just happens to get called out right before church every time. Hmmm, sounds fishy...

Shelli's journey into blogland

Well, well, well. A blog. I decided I am sending way too many pictures of my kids to people who may or may not think they are as adorable and perfect as I do, so now, you have to come and get 'em! I never thought I would have a blog, but I LOVE reading my friends and family's, so here goes. I am in front of my computer playing with pictures way more than I should be, anyway, so now everyone will be able to see what I do instead of laundry...

Love Shelli