"WHAAAAT??? WE ARE GOING TO SIX FLAGS!?!?!?... AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

YEP! Thanks to our super awesome friends, The Smiths, the kids had their very first theme park experience! Six Flags!!!!! The Smiths got us all in for FREE! BONUS! I am so flipping cheap and a day at Six Flags basically would require a small bank loan LOL so we haven't ever gone. Roller Coasters are NOT Rich's "thing", so he wasn't too bummed that he had to work while we hit the rides. The kids were SO brave. I was honestly shocked. The biggest shock was that it was McKenzie that was the coaster junkie right off the bat! B loved them and did great, but he got a little woozy. Kenz, on the other hand, was in HEAVEN! I got in line with her to ride "Mr. Freeze", the super sketchy, terrifying one. She was LIVID when we waited in line for a while till we got to the sign saying she was WAY to short to ride. She was so mad I thought she would never speak to me again! It was pretty hilarious how much her little world ended when she could not ride THE scariest, fastest ride at the park! She is MY GIRL!!! LOVE IT!!! The Smiths spoiled us and all the kiddos got super hero capes before we headed home. SO CUTE!  What a day! Makes me feel bad for being so cheap and withholding life-changing fun from my children hahaha. We had an absolutely amazing time! Thank you Melissa, James, Hunter, Logan & Taelor for being so flipping cool and letting us share your family day! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

GREAT Grandparents!!!

I was pretty surprised when I got a phone call from my Grandma & Grandpa Ferrin asking if they could come stay with us on vacation. OF COURSE!!! I was SO excited! They hadn't ever met Bailey and hadn't seen Braxton since he was a toddler. We had a fantastic week with them. My favorite part- sitting around the kitchen island talking about the past. From my mom as a kid, to great, great grandparents, to ex-boyfriends, grandma and grandpa were spilling all the beans! It was so much fun! I haven't ever had this kind of time with them in my adult life and I loved every minute! Along with lots of long talks, we listened to grandpa play his sax, we sang together and taught the kids some new (old) songs, we went to a friend's high school band concert, we met Amanda and the kids for lunch and some playground time, and had lots of laughs.

The kids absolutely loved spending time with great grandma and grandpa! Bailey was constantly on Grandma's lap. Braxton was absolutely fascinated by Grandpa's saxaphone playing. He would sit in front of Grandpa on the floor, completely mesmerized, watching his fingers fly across the keys. McKenzie loved hearing all of the funny stories they told. Grandma gave us all special gifts while she was here. She gave Bailey and McKenzie scarfs that used to be her mothers. She gave Braxton some hotwheels from when her boys were little. She gave me a beautiful hair comb that was her grandmother's, and a gold necklace with a single pearl charm. The pearl she found herself snorkeling in Hawaii years ago and had it made into a one-of-a-kind necklace! So cool! I am so incredibly grateful that they took the time to come visit, make some great memories, and get to know our little family better. We love you two! We miss you already and can't wait to see you again soon!

Butterfly Field Trip!

I am so grateful for this life I live! Rich works so hard so I can stay home with the kids. An added bonus is that I can go on field trips with the kids! I got to go with McKenzie's second grade class to the Butterfly House! This is one of our favorite places to play, and we had such a blast! The butterflies are apparently St. Louis Cardinals fans! They loved my Cards shirt. They kept landing on it and laying EGGS! Weird, kinda cool, but kinda gross. The kids got a kick out of it : ) The highlight of the day was spending some one on one time with my sweet Kenz. The low light, calming down throngs of 8-year-olds who were TERRIFIED of butterflies! Really? They might as well be beautiful floating flowers... they do NOT warrant blood-curdling shrieks of terror when they fly close to your face! SHEESH!  

Fun Fact: Mormon's have a butterfly! This is the Great Mormon Butterfly
 

Fun Run & Art Fair!

The Kid's school does a fun run every year to raise money for Leukemia. Braxton has been looking forward to it since last year when Kenz and I did it alone. We had a great time! I was geared up and turning the corner for the 3 mile run and I looked over my shoulder and the kids were yelling "THIS WAY MOM! We are so tired let's do the one mile!" These are the same kids that BEGGED me to do the 3 mile all week long. WUSSIES!

After the run, and the Popsicles at the finish line of course, we went to their school district art show. Braxton's Pumpkin Art got picked to be displayed. Afterwards we played on an incredible playground across the street. It was a super fun day! I am proud of my runners and my artists : )

EASTER 2014!!!

We just love all things springtime and EASTER around here! This year the Doellman's and Grandma and Grandpa Smith came to play with us!

Amanda & I took the kids to the Eckert's Farm Easter Egg Hunt. This was a first for us and something we will definitely do again! Along with the Easter egg hunt through the apple orchard, they got to plant a seed, get their faces painted, take a hay ride, decorate Easter cookies, and play with baby ducks, bunnies, and chicks. They had such a fantastic time!

The bigger kid's favorite part of the day was holding the baby animals. Bailey was totally freaked out and Dylan was pissed because Amanda wouldn't let him choke out the bunnies LOL. I wish I had a pic of Bailey's terrified "THAT RABID 3 OZ BABY CHICKEN IS GOING TO RIP MY FACE OFF" face. I would have also liked a picture of Dylan smiling innocently at the camera while Peter Cottontails eyes were about to burst from his skull! Ohhhh the joys of little kids.

I just love this picture and I love my Rilea Girl! (Yes, Pand, I stole this pic off your FB page.)

On Saturday we went to our friend's house, The Shepherds. Every year they put on a humongous Easter Egg Hunt in their amazing backyard, for all the kids in our church. The kids got SO many eggs! They were so excited! Oh, the random picture of B... Amanda introduced us to Savers, an awesome thrift store. Braxton bought a whole bag full of old school micro machines, which he didn't even know existed until now. His mind was sufficiently BLOWN that he got all of those sweet cars for two bucks! Braxton is now a huge Savers fan! Afterwards, we decorated eggs with Grandma! It always looks like a unicorn threw up rainbows afterwards, but it is an Easter must!

We got all dressed up for church and took pictures of the kids in their Easter duds before they ruined them haha. The Easter program at church was beautiful. It helped us to remember what this day is really about. I got to direct the choir as they sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." An added bonues was that my mom and sister sang with us!I had a hard time holding it together and waving my arms through the tears. The Spirit was so powerful. I love my Savior. I know that He truly DOES live, and that He knows me individually. He loves each one of us and has prepared a way for us to return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven again after this life. Without Him, we are nothing.

THE EASTER BUNNY CAME!!!

This video cracks me up! Bailey was losing her MIND when she found her basket. Matt thought she got stung by a wasp, she was screaming so loud... HILARIOUS! Also hilarious, Dylan's favorite Easter basket goodie was "BIG BOY UNDERWRRRRR"... and he had to put them on IMMEDIATELY! Bailey's favorite was her new baby Ariel. McKenzie got Hot Designs nail polish... "NO WAY! I think I'm going to DIE!" And Braxton's favorite toy was a giant inflatable punching bag. That kid cracks me up... every time he would walk by that thing for WEEKS he would not even look at it, just do a huge side punch (Hulk style) as he passed it, and then smile. MY favorite goodie was deviled eggs! Me: "Rich, how do you want me to make the eggs?" Rich: "I want them not to suck." Gee, super helpful as always sweetheart : ) I started out with a Food Network recipe. They were NASTYYYYY. So I started clearing out the spice cupboard and improvising - Shelly style! What came out were Curried Thai-Style Deviled Eggs. Sriracha drizzle and all they disappeared FAST. Everyone was really skeptical at first, but then I got responses like... "Whoa, they are actually good! Bring me some more!" (Thanks for your faith, guys) The best part... too spicy to share with the kids! YESSSS! After stuffing ourselves on eggs, we all made a huge ham dinner and ate like it was our last meal. I know, shocking right? We were filled with buttery potatoes, perfect rolls, green bean casserole, and regret! Regret aside, we all had a wonderful day together. I love you guys!!! Can't wait till next Easter!!!

Spring Break STL 2014

Spring Break 2014 = Find ways to keep the kids busy around town for a week without school.
We had a lot of fun! Amanda and the kids came to play for a few days! We went to the Rainbow Playground showroom (Kenzie forgot she was EIGHT and got stuck multiple times), we hit the outlet mall (B found a sweet Gap sweatshirt for $10!), and played at Powder Valley Nature Center. Later in the week we spent the day at the zoo with our friends! We had a great week. It always flies by way too fast though : (

Smith Fun!

We had a blast having so many people in town for McKenzie's Baptism! We took the little kids to a nature center. They had a great time! We even got to celebrate Ragen's Birthday!!! We have never been able to be at her birthday parties before now, so this was a big deal and SO much fun for all of the cousins! Of course before everyone headed back home, we had to go to Ted Drewes for some delicious custardy goodness! mmmmmmmmm!!!

Powder Valley Nature Center
My favorite picture is Mike's face talking to Bailey. Hilarious!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAGEN!!!
I love the shirtless, cake-eaters! Silly boys!

Lion's Choice for dinner and TEDDIE'S for DESSERT!!!
NO idea why the goofballs were wearing sunglasses to go out at night but the pic was too funny not to share!

Misc great pics of our time together : )
Jilly's on Ragen's Birthday, cousins introducing Grandma to "Let It Go", Lunch at the kid's school, and cousins playing outside. THE BEST PICTURE OF THE TRIP... All of the kids were riding bikes and playing outside. I was looking for Hunter... I found him and got the camera out just in time to catch him ZIPPING UP HIS PANTS AFTER HE PEED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET! I thought I was going to DIE I was laughing SO HARD!!! You can see the shiny puddle on the asphalt!

Good times had by all! I can't wait till our next get-together! I love you guys and I miss you! Thanks for being so awesome and supportive!