A little behind.

I really wanted to post something on Jack's birthday (Dec. 22nd, he turned 4) but you know how it goes with the holiday's, it is just crazy! So, I am going to post a birthday tribute to my little Jack-a-boo.

Jack is such a big boy. He started pre-school this year and loves every second of it. He goes on Tuesday's and Thursday's, and on Monday, wed, and Friday he is asking if he can go to school. He loves any kind of sport, and for his birthday he got a baseball and a mitt from his dad. He loves it and for the first 2 days I don't think that mitt was off his hand for a second. He is addicted. For Christmas he begged for all the of the "Air Buddies' movies" he loves those little dogs, and could watch those movies all day. Jack has a super big heart, even though sometimes it is hiding pretty far down in his chest!!! We just really love this boy. He is a light in our lives, and a joy! I can't even imagine life without this little guy. Life would definitely be more boring if there were no Jack here to keep us busy!

A little side note, just thought I would announce that #4 will be here in the beginning of July. It really seems far away, but the 1st trimester is done, so that makes me happy!!!

Thanksgiving!!

Oh how I love Thanksgiving. What an awesome Holiday where we just sit back eat lots of food, and think of things we are thankful for. WE ARE SO BLESSED! There are so many things I am thankful for, and I thought I would just name a few. First of all to start off the Thanksgiving week Margaret (my Mother-in-law) had a little fireside, and the guy that was doing the fireside got in a plane crash about 2 years ago and was one of two that survived. It was really inspiring, and he just emphasized how we need to have our priorities in order, and when it all comes down to it, the worldly things don't matter. Family, and our covenants with our Father in heaven is what really matters. So, to start off my list, I thought I would name Family first.

1. Family- What would we be without family? Here we are in a financial bind, and who saves us? Our family....who is always there for us? FAMILY. Who prays for us everyday and we don't even know about it? Family. I am grateful for my own family, my husband who is a righteous priesthood holder, who supports me and loves me no matter what, and who gave me three of the most wonderful kids in the world. I LOVE my kids, they are so important to me. It makes me only have a glimpse of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. I am so thankful for my extended family as well. I love you all so much!

2. Water- Let me just say, I wouldn't be alive without water. Probably none of us really would be. I know it is kind of silly, but I was thinking about it the other day, and we have plenty of water that we can drink, brush teeth, and then take a freaking hot bath for about an hour, and still have some to spare. I love my bath, and I am thankful for water.

3. Friends- Can I just say I have some of the best friends in the world. When we moved, I thought I wasn't going to have to clean my house, and I had everything moved out on a Friday night late, and on the way to unpack the last load at about 9:30, I found out that I had to clean. So I go and start cleaning, and before I knew it, there were 5 or 6 people helping (I NEVER even asked ONE of them, they just offered, and came).....now that says something. I have wonderful friends old and new, and I am thankful for them!

4. Gospel- What am I without the gospel? What is my purpose on earth? I am so grateful for Joseph Smith, and for the saints that lead the way before us and went through what they went through for me to have the gospel so easily. I am thankful for my Savior, for suffering on the cross for ME. I am thankful to know that I can live with my family forever because of that very suffering. I am thankful to be able to carry the light of Christ with me wherever I go.

5. Food- We all know that I am a food-aholic. I think about all the countries in the world that are not nearly as fortunate as we are, and it makes me cry. I am so thankful that we are always blessed with food. I am especially grateful that I don't have to watch my kids starve, that in and of itself would totally break my heart. I am just grateful for my life, and I have my Heavenly Father to thank for it. I hope that I can live my life in a way that would only reflect the goodness of Christ, and Heavenly Father.

Sorry, I kinda went off, congrats if you are still reading this, and have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! By the way I am thankful for camera's and I have NO idea where mine is....oops.

Busy as a bee.

Seriously, I dare any of you to challenge me when I say I have done the most since I last posted. (these really aren't in any particular order)

1st we got way sick, I could have sworn it was the swine flu, followed by a sinus infection, followed by an ear infection, which in case anyone was wondering I can still hear fluids in my ear, and it is totally annoying.

2nd Joe sprained his ankle...his first sprain ever, isn't that weird since he as played soccer his whole life, and basketball, and a little football now and then.

3rd SUPER DUPER fun Halloween party at my buddies house. Games...good....food....good....company...good!!!

4th Plan and take care of a Halloween party for Kylee's kindergarten class, which is not as easy as it sounds....for me anyway.

5th Joe went back to school, so we never see each other anymore....well, we do, but not as much.

6th Since Joe went back to school (which I am very glad he decided to do) he has been searching for a job for 2 months, and hasn't had much luck, which leads me to my biggest news yet.

7th WE MOVED!!! Yep, two weeks ago we decided to put our house up for rent, and a day later it was rented out by this way cute couple. We are now living with Joe's parents for a while to try and save money before we get into MAJOR debt. I am still going to be doing hair a few times a week at my house, it really worked out well. BIG NEWS EH? We just moved in this last weekend, and I can't find anything, hence no pictures of anything, but hopefully I will find things and make my blog a little more interesting and up to date!

8th Oh and one final thing that just came to mind....I have a new niece. Jeni had her baby a few weeks ago, a little girl named Kamiryn (think that is how they spell it) I can't wait to meet her....whenever that will be.

Almost disaster

Well, we had an almost disaster today. I was downstairs just minding my own business, and Jack came down asking for lunch. I told him lunch was in a few minutes, and that I would come up in a few. He then told me. "I can have pizza and I know how to work the microwave." I said "YOU BETTER NOT!" I told him to just wait for me and I would do it in a minute. Well, a couple min. later Jack came running downstairs saying, "Ky, MOM, you guys gotta come see this" so I ran up the stairs only to find my whole house totally smokey, and when I say smokey, I mean I really couldn't see my ceiling. I ran to the microwave and turned it off. Then I yelled to the kids to get outside, cause I literally could not breathe. They ran outside. I got a fan turned on, and had to basically lay on the floor cause it was so smokey. I was freaked out. Okay, so here is what happened. Jack put a piece of pizza in the microwave and set the timer for something over 30 min. There was also a plastic food cover in the microwave he didn't bother taking out. Well, the pizza got so hot it started on fire and started to set the other little plastic thing on fire. We are lucky the whole microwave didn't blow!! SHEESH! SCARY! That little Jack really knows how to keep me busy. Here are the pics

Yes, this is/was a piece of pizza

This show 29:45 still left on the microwave had I not stopped it. YIKES!

So Proud!

This is a tribute to Kylee post. I am so proud of her. She started school last thursday (kindergarten) and she is doing awesome! The first day was pretty rough, she held onto me, and wouldn't let go (crying the whole time). It was hard for the both of us, but I didn't break down until I got home. I was too mad at her for clinging on to me the way she was at school. Second day was a little better, and then it has been pretty dang good since then. She did say one thing to me after the first day of Kindergarten, she said "Mom, kindergarten wasn't as bad as I thought!" She is a funny girl. She really likes her teacher, and so do I.

Today she had her first soccer game ever, and let me just tell you my first thoughts as the game started..."I shouldn't be this frustrated watching this, but I am" The first touch of the game all the girls started going the same way, which was the wrong way for our team, and we pretty much gave them a goal. They were pretty proud of themselves. Kylee was kinda like "what? where? Huh?" She just didn't seem that into it. Oh, and before the game started she said "Mom, why did you sign me up for soccer, I don't want to play!" Then, for some reason, it clicked in the second half, and she had 5 of the 7 goals that our team scored. They did awesome. She just kept going and going, I was so proud of her. I am sad cause I didn't have my camera, cause Joe took it hunting. But she did AWESOME! I atribute it to having her Grandma and Grandpa and aunt Barbara show up for the second half. They should come every time. So, when the game was over she couldn't stop saying "I LOVE SOCCER, can I play every day? Do I have a game tomorrow? I want to play right now!" So, she loves it and I am glad that she does. Pictures of her first day of school will be coming soon.

Big Decision

Well, it is official, Joe has decided to go back to school. He hasn't been in school for almost 5 years now. He graduated from UVU (UVSC back in his day) with his bachelors in business. He has now decided that he wants to become a P.A. (physician's assistant) so, he has to go back and get his pre-med requisites. After one or two years of that, he will go to P.A. school for another 2 years or so. We are very excited that he has chosen this, but very nervous at the same time. I don't know how we are going to survive with him back in school. MORE DEBT!!!! As Joe's very wise father said, we are going to have to "simplify our lives" BIG TIME! I don't know yet what we are going to do, but we will see. I don't want to move, but I don't think we will be able to afford this house if he is going to school, and hardly working. I am quite sad about it. I am very attached to this house...I LOVE IT! Oh well, just had to vent a little bit. (Jessica B. if you are reading this, it is all your fault...well, technically it is your husbands fault for giving him the idea!! Thanks a lot! Just kidding, love ya!!!)

One of those days.

So I feel like I have been having "one of those days" really often lately, but yesterday topped them all. I think I might be losing my mind. So here is what happened yesterday....one of my children swallowed a penny...yes, a penny. I am thinking your first guess would be Mia, cause she is at the age where everything goes in her mouth.....nope, it wasn't her! Then you would probably guess Jack, cause he is a big trouble maker, and he is younger....guess again. Yep, my oldest, Kylee swallowed a penny yesterday. It scared her quite a bit, and then I tried to scare her even more (cause I didn't want Jack to think it was okay) so I told her it was probably going to really hurt coming out. She is a little bit nervous about it. So, here is my question, WHAT THE HECK DO I DO WITH IT WHEN IT COMES OUT? Is it going to clog my toilet if I leave it in there, I am pretty sure I am not going to go digging for it....SICK! So, if anyone has any advice, that would be great. You know I wasn't too surprised this happened to me, but KYLEE? REALLY? It makes me wonder what the heck the other two are going to do since Kylee is probably the best one of them all when it comes to mischievous things. OH BOY!

My little girl just grew up.

So a few weeks ago Kylee was begging to have her hair cut, and I told her that daddy would have a heart attack if she cut it short. So she changed her mind because she didn't want daddy to have a heart attack. I guess she changed her mind again, cause she came to me today pretty positive she wanted her hair short, and as much as it KILLED me, (I don't know why) I did it for her. She looks so old now, and she is ready for kindergarten. SNIFF SNIFF!!! What a cutie though!! So here are some before and afters of my little 5 year old Kylee.

Best Looking Family EVER!

(one serious group of good lookers! The best of course on the bottom left side!)

So, this last week our family went up Hobble Creek Canyon (Springville) to a place called Spring Haven. It was way too much fun. Every single person from Joe's family (immediate, you know just parents, brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews) were there, which I think brought the total to 60+ people. WOW!!! Here is what I love about Spring Haven...

-We have enough ADULTS to play a good game of soccer or volleyball, and even have subs!
-We played soccer and volleyball until 3 in the morning almost every night.
-It is a beautiful location close enough, yet I felt far away because I didn't have service, so it felt like a vacation.
-We had a family Olympics, and my team won.
-FOOD, lots of glorious FOOD, and I only had to prepare a meal once.
-Card games, even though I didn't win, they are super fun.
-Rock band...I really stink at it though.
-The GIANT and I mean GIANT slip n' slide.

There were lots of fun things to do, but the best part about Spring Haven were the people. I love being a Dayton. Joe has the most fun, amazing family ever! I LOVE IT!!!

(All of Joe's brothers, plus his cute sister!)

(All of the Grandkids with grandma and grandpa)

Kylee's Teeth and Jack's Shiner

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My poor daughter has a WHOLE in her mouth! This little girl has had teeth problems since she was almost 2. She fell off our chair, hit her teeth on the granite counter top, and that was that. Well, as you know she got her two top front teeth pulled right before she turned 5. Well, about a month and a half ago she somehow bonked her face again, and her two bottom teeth got the brunt of it. She ran up to me and said..."mom, my two bottom teeth are wiggly" So I told her to just leave them alone, but did she? NO! Well, two days ago, we were having lunch at Tucano's (thanks to my Dad and Mom for the card) and she bit into some cheese bread and said "UH-O, my tooth" so I looked at it, and it was pretty much pointing towards me. So we wiggled it and it came out. She lost a tooth at Tucano's that will be a memory. Well, then yesterday night she bit into some pizza and there came the other tooth. So, now she has no top or bottom front teeth. Luckily she is still too cute! I love her




So here is the story of how Jack got a black eye. Well, it was more like a swolen eye for about an hour and a half, and then red, and then it went a little black. We were in Cokeville, and he was playing with cousins and one of his cousins "threw" a doll at him. He was trying to throw it over Jack's head and didn't quite make it. It was quite scary, I saw Jack with a bleeding eye that looked like it was super puffy, and I though, "is his sight going to be gone?" But he is all good. It didn't last for too long luckily. I wish I would have gotten a pic of right after it happened. It was totally swollen and puffed up, it was cool! You are a tough guy Jack! Love ya!

Cafe Fresh

So, here is the sitch, I WAS SO MAD yesterday. I am feeling a lot better today, my attitude has changed, but let me tell you the story. My and my bestest friends from High School (Janel, Shannon, and Angie) decided to get together for lunch yesterday because they were all in town. Well, they chose Cafe Fresh (on State Street in Orem, that used to be called fresh food junkies cafe) anyway, they go in to get a table......there was basically NO ONE else in the restaraunt, and they started putting two tables together so we could sit together. One of the girls that worked there came over rudely and said "You are ruining the organization of the restaurant, if you need to move a table you need to ask!" WOW, how rude right, so everyone was like "okay, sorry" so they were seriously giving us mean looks the whole time, and telling our kids to not touch things. So I finally said "is it okay if we open this door and let our kids outside in the little eating area outside, or is that going to ruin 'the organization' of the restaurant?" They said it was fine. So the kids go outside to play, and while they are playing they are coming to the door and putting their finger prints all over it. I didn't even think anything of it. So when we were about to leave, one of the worker girls went over and started cleaning off the windows with windex, and she was totally disgusted that our children left finger prints all over. So I didn't realize as she was cleaning the outside of the door, Jack went and put his finger prints on the inside where she had just cleaned, so I was trying to get him not to, and the girl comes in and looks at the door and says "OH MY GOSH!" Like how could you let your kid do that.....so that is when I BROKE. I said "are you kidding me" I was soooooo mad that she would act like that...if you are going to be bugged at me, freaking wait until I am gone to let it be known....there is NO one else in your restaurant, the economy is way bad so you should be kissing my rear end that I am in your cafe. But no, she was a TOTALY BRAT! So she wouldn't look at me, so finally I said "is there a comment card or a manager that I can talk to, I am TOTALLY disgusted about the way that we were treated today" so the snooty girl says "I am a manager" so I was like "then you should know better. Anyway, after I yelled at her for a minute, (which I probably shouldn't have yelled, but I was pretty darn mad) she was so rude, I finally said, "who is your boss?" and she said "what like you are going to call him?" and I said YOU BET I AM! And I did. He was very nice, so I feel bad for saying this, but DO NOT GO TO CAFE FRESH! The girl told me it was not a "kid friendly restaurant" and that it wasn't "chucky cheese's" Oh she was rude. So, that is my day in a nutshell. It was fun being with my friends, but believe me we will NEVER be going back there!!!! Thanks for letting me vent!

I am feeling so blessed!

I have been really having a rough summer, no money, too many fun things to do (remember no money) It seems like things just keeping piling on. My washing machine broke down ($250.00 later) I got pulled over and got a ticket (more money that we don't have down the drain). I think I have really been feeling sorry for myself, thinking (questioning) why Heavenly Father is letting all this happen. I know that is really stupid of me, I hate when people question, and I was one of those people. Then reading the book lone survivor, and other things like the 4th of July have put my back in my place. I am so grateful to live in this country. To have men and women EVERYDAY fighting for MY freedom, and comfort! Then I go and read my cousin Tessa's blog and I am even more humbled. Tessa is in Africa, and she is working with children there. If you read a few of her post, you can get an idea of what she does everyday. I think I am addicted to her blog now. She see's so much, is learning so much, and is teaching me so much! I am soooo blessed. I think everyone needs to read her blog. My kids are so blessed, I am so blessed, even in my worst moments I am SO EXTREMELY BLESSED. I ate so much I was sick this weekend, I have a HUGE bed to sleep in, I have a home, my kids love me, and I love them, I have a wonderful husband, we are pretty much healthy ALL the time, we have good medical help, and it is close. I could go on and on with blessings, but I won't. GO READ MY COUSINS BLOG!!!!

Okay okay

So, I am horrible about blogging as of late. It has officially been the longest period of time in between posts that I have ever done. A MONTH! WOW! There have been a lot of fun things going on, so I just feel like I don't have time to do anything on the computer. Summer is always crazy. We have...been working in the garden pretty much every day (which is down on Geneva road, so it isn't like I can just be in my back yard you know) Kylee started soccer camps, so we are there early mornings, summer fest, Lagoon, we just got back from Park City for a family Reunion on my side. We have been having a blast. I have been enjoying lettuce from the garden, I have been trying to come up with different ways of making salads good. I grew some cute little green onions too. The peas are almost ready to pick, which is probably my most favorite garden item. I have been taking some pictures as the garden progresses, I will post them later. Summer fest was fun as always, Mia liked the rides.
Lagoon was perfect except for the rain a couple of times, but like we are going to let a little rain ruin our day. Kylee and I were on a little boat ride when it started pouring rain. It was kinda fun, and it didn't rain for too long, and it wasn't cold, so that was good. Jack's favorite ride was the new dragon ride that goes backwards and forewords really fast, and also the bumper cars. Kylee's favorite I think is either the merry-go-round, or the green swings. (she is a little more of a wimp than Jack when it comes to rides.) Mia's favorite was the small world boats. You know, the super annoying ones withe the bell, yep that is the one, and yep my child was the one rining the bell the whole time. FUN!!!

Park City was so much fun. We had food, went swimming, went on a hike and found a super old graveyard, obviously went on the alpine slide and coaster. Had a little talent show, played soccer, overall it was so much fun. My dad and mom paid for pretty much everything, and also gave the kids a bunch of stuff! They went WAY overboard. Then as we got back on Sat. we had another family reunion with my grandparents (Cuthbert side) at the Scera Park. It was really fun. The kids had a blast popping balloons for money, and hitting the pinata. On my way to the party I was in such a hurry that I got pulled over....dad-gum-cop! I got a stinking ticket, and as he is pulling away he says "have a good day!" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Thanks for the ticket, yeah, I'll have a nice day. So, that is what I have been up to for the last month. See ya next month.....JUST KIDDING!

I am alive...I think.

So, it's really been a while. I haven't even been that busy, I just didn't have much to report on, but now I do. I am just going to do a little update on our family since I haven't blogged in awhile.

Kylee...Kylee is hilarious. She really is getting to be a "teenager" she has some attitude, but most of the time it is pretty funny. She is starting to say things like "I believe you are forgetting something" and "I am completely sure, hello!?!" Oh boy, oh boy, is all I have to say.
The other day our neighbor friend decided he wanted to ride a bike like Kylee (who decided to teach herself how to ride a two wheeler) so she decided to try and help him. She is pretty much holding up the bike for him. FUNNY! Yesterday Kylee "graduated" from pre-school.
Her teacher, Mrs. Steele, had a very fun graduation planned for everyone. The kids all dressed up in their Sunday best, and she even made graduation caps for them. I have been so impressed with Mrs. Steele. We really love her, and we are glad Jack will be starting with her in the fall.



Jack...Jack is just a funny bugger. Anything that has to do with poop, or hitting, or balls, or anything the least bit revolting just seem to drag Jack in. We went for a little hike for memorial day, and anytime there was any sort of poop on the ground he was there looking at it like he was making a discovery. He is really into the movie the Labyrinth right now, it is hilarious, he will make me say this with him...he will say "you remind me of the babe" then I have to say "what babe?" then he says "the babe with the power"...."what power?"...and so on OVER AND OVER!! Funny boy. A couple nights ago he just started crying, the crying just got worse and worse. I went down and his eyes were open, and he was screaming....crying, but he was totally out of it. I tried to ask him what was the matter, but he wouldn't respond to me, just cry almost like he was in pain. It was so hard. I prayed to know what to do, and just thought...leave him a lone, let him come to by himself. So I did, and slowly he came to. He doesn't remember any of it. Well, the same thing happened last night. I have been googling it, and I think it is NIGHT TERRORS....I am so sad. I don't know how to deal with this kind of stuff. Any help would be great!

Mia....Mia is getting one of her molar teeth, and has had a runny nose for the past two weeks. Poor little thing. She is absolutely at the funnest stage right now. I love it. She is all over the place, but she is so fun. She is starting to say things (not really for anyone else to understand but me) She says touch down and reaches for the sky. She says ma ma for pretty much anything. She points to her nose when you ask her where it is, she says d d for silky. She just runs all over and most of the time it is in a kooky way! She LOVES animals, if she sees a bird, she freaks, dog...freaks, cat...freaks. She just loves them all. Last night at the graduation Mrs. Steele's dog Charlie was walking around and she was going nutty-nuts. She was kind of mauling him, and I think he got a little short with her and nipped at her....scared her to death! Funny though.

Well, I am not going to wait that long to post again, cause that was entirely too long. Sorry, and congrats if you got all the way through it.

Consider the Lilacs of the field

Aren't Lilacs so gorgeous. Oh, and they smell so DIVINE! The only thing that really makes them more beautiful is when my babies are next to them. (I know my kids aren't babies, but let me be, okay?) My in-law's have some Lilac bushes in their back yard and we did some family pics on Mother's day. My sister-in-law Barbs took some of the pictures. I LOVE THEM! This was my favorite. Kylee is getting so old and big, she is just so beautiful! Oh, I just love my kids! What a great life I have!

Family Home Evening

Tonight was a fun night. Joe's parents, and Barbara, came over to our house tonight for FHE. Margaret wanted to do the lesson, and the treat, so we provided the house and the children to eat the treat! It was my favorite kind of lesson....MUSIC! I love music. Sitting with my children singing songs from the primary children's songbook has to be one of the best feelings in the world. It brought back a ton of memories of when I was young, singing with my family, especially my mom. What an awesome voice she had. I miss her so much. I hope I can be as good of a mom as she was. Anyway, back to FHE. Margaret decided to get a tiny children's song book for each of my kids, and a big one for us (I know horrible that we didn't already have one) I thought it was so nice. Then she brought over yummy sugar cookies and we frosted them with purple frosting. One of the songs we sang was about lilac's, and she brought some lilacs over for us, so we did purple flowers! It was a fun night. I am blessed with an AMAZING family!

A few things to catch up on.

#1-Favorite aunt Barbara always coming up with ways to make my little Mia look so cute. Lucky for Barb, Mia is pretty good about letting people do her hair. Let's be honest here, how many babies have enough hair to do this to? Aren't I just so lucky?

#2-Mia's hilarious faces when doing ANYTHING. This little girl makes the cutest funniest faces. I think she knows and loves to entertain already. This picture is of here just laying on Joe one morning in bed, so I pulled out the camera and she started making cute/funny faces.

#3-Our awesome neighbors!! Last year we had some neighbors give us some tickets to Cornbellies at Thanksgiving Point, and this last week those same AWESOME neighbors gave us some tickets to go to Farm Days at Thanksgiving point. It was so much fun. The kids loved it. We saw lots of animals, got to go for a "hay ride" and the kids got to ride on ponies. Jack got on a pony, and then started freaking out and crying...he was scared, so we took him off. Mia was pretty scared at first, but loved it in the end. Kylee just love the whole ride period. I think the funniest part (aside from Mia making her favorite excited noise at every animal she saw) was when we were standing by the Turkey's (the very angry turkey's) my phone went off, and seriously almost all of them at the same time started gobbling (you know that noise they make) it was like a certain pitch on my phone ring set them off. It scared the tar out of all of us, but then we started laughing, and I had Joe call my phone again, just to see if they would do it again...and they did! FUN TIMES!!! Thanks Denny's for the tickets.

 

Random Recipe

Here is another one. I am telling you, this one is TOTALLY worth doing because it is SUPER easy, and SUPER yummy! Meghan, even you can do this one. I decided at about 4:30 yesterday to try it, and we ate at about 5:00, so it was really easy. Once again, the pictures don't do it justice, but here it is anyway. I got it again from My Kitchen Cafe on my side bar, one of my favs. TRY IT!!!

Garlic Chicken Pasta with Spinach




6 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (this doesn't add spiciness - just the right amount of flavor)
6 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound penne pasta
1 (5-ounce) bag baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried
6 tablespoons juice from 2 lemons
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Meanwhile, combine garlic, pepper flakes and oil in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until garlic is golden and fragrant, about 1 minute.

Pat chicken dry with paper towels and cut into bite-size pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the garlic/red pepper oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat until oil is rippling. Add chicken and cook until well browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.

Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta to boiling water and cook until tender but still slightly firm (al dente). Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Drain pasta and return to the pot. Stir in chicken, spinach, basil, lemon juice, Parmesan, and remaining garlic mixture, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

EASTER

Easter, spudnuts, easter egg hunts, family fun, and more!
 

What are spud nuts you ask? Only the best donut in the world. Yesterday we spent the day making spud nuts at the Dayton house hold. They are called spud nuts because they have potatoes in them. They are pretty tedious to make, but Margaret was teaching us how yesterday. So, Me, Barb, Hillary (Joe's cousin), Kylee and Jack were all making spud nuts yesterday. So, you make the dough, let it rise, cut out the donuts, FRY-em, glaze-em and then the best part....you EAT-EM! It was kind of a tradition we started last year, cause Barbara came home from AZ for Easter last year, and we decided to do it again this year....maybe it will become a tradition...who knows. It was super fun and super delicious!
 

We also had a super fun Easter egg hunt yesterday before spud nut making. Lynn and Margaret hit a bunch...and I mean a BUNCH of yummy Easter candy, and I am not talking the nasty stuff, I am talking the best stuff like the peanut butter chocolate eggs (like the big Reese's kind, yummy) The kids had soooo much fun finding candy that after we found it all, they hid theirs again, and found it again. It was a blast. They even took a few of their candies and hid them for Grandpa after it was all over cause he didn't get any. Have I ever said I have the best family? Well, I do!

Friday night Kylee and I got to have a little mother daughter date. One of Joe's cousins (Marie Dayton) is on BYU's ballroom/pretty much everything tour team, and they had an awesome performance, and we were invited. It was SOOOOOO good. Marie is SOOOOO good, and gorgeous! She did amazing, and it just made Kylee and I want to dance. There was one dance where it looked like a girl was in a wedding dress, and she had a tiara on, and Kylee said "is she the queen of Utah?" Kylee had fun, and it was fun to spend time with her.



Of course I am not forgetting the real meaning of Easter, I saved the best for last. I know that my Savior lives. That sentence means so much to me, and I am definitely reminded of that at Easter time. I am so thankful to be a part of this amazing gospel. I love it, I love our Prophet, I love my Father in Heaven, and his Son, my brother, Jesus Christ. I AM SO BLESSED. I know I say that a lot, but I am.

Too many things.

There are so many things to blog about today. First, but probably not of most importance is, WHY DO I KEEP TRYING? Jack did it again, he cut his own hair for the FIFTH TIME!!!!
I keep trying to grow it out and as soon as it starts to get remotely long, he goes ahead and cuts a chunk out right in front. AHHHHH! I guess I am DONE! I don't think I will try to grow it out anymore. And of course as I am going to buzz it all off, Joe chimes in and says give him a mullet for a day.
I don't know why I do it, but I did, so here are some handsome before pics, NASTY pictures of my sons half mullet, and then his after pics. I like my "thug" son better than my "WT" son.

Second, I have to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband. Today is his 29th birthday... Wow, 29. I feel like we are still so young (and we really are) but when I WAS young 29 seemed so old. IT REALLY ISN'T!!! Anyway, my husband is the best. I know everyone always says that, but he really is the best. I say this all the time,
I don't there is anyone that is better for me than Joe. He is so patient with me, he is always so complementary to me, he is just a thoughtful awesome guy! I love ya babe! Happy Birthday.

And lastly, but not leastly (is that even a word) CONFERENCE!!! I just have to say, that was such a great and uplifting conference. They always are, but my kids are finally at the age where I can actually watch some of it and enjoy, and actually get something out of it. I am so thankful for our church leaders, our amazing and inspired Prophet. I am SO grateful that we can get inspiration, and direction from them on a regular basis. I am so grateful we are so close to so many temples, I know they are a blessing and they are important in my life. I feel so blessed to live on the earth in this day and age. I know I will have trials, but I also know that my Father in Heaven will always be there with me to strengthen and help me. I love the spirit I feel when I listen to conference and I really want to keep feeling that way! I AM SOOOOOO BLESSED!!!

Well, sorry about the rantings and whatnot, but there you have it. My "too many things" to blog about. I guess it was only 3 things, but it seemed like a lot in my mind!