The Koffords

Spring Break Skiing

2010-04-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

Michael had Spring Break a couple of weeks ago and we went to Steamboat for a ski vacation with the kids. We skiied two days in a row with all three kiddos and it was EXHAUSTING! The first day was rough. Haley was tired and not feeling well and cried a good majority of the day. The second day she wouldn't let us help her at all. She did the bunny hill over and over again until they closed the lift. Conner and Braden improved a lot and had a great time too!

2010-02-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

This is our Young Women/Young Men theme for 2010 and I love it. I thought I would share it because I have had it in my head for the past few months and it has helped me to remember to BE STRONG!

It's about time, I know....

2010-02-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

So, I have been feeling like a big slacker for not updating my blog. I seriously don't see how most people have the time to keep up. Anyway, life has been busy, but I thought I would share some pictures from the last six months. -And we had our camera stolen out of our car, so this might be it for a while.....

Haley's THIRD birthday!

Conner's FIFTH birthday!

Braden's SEVENTH birthday!

Family vacation to Beautiful Lake Tahoe -August 2009

Awesome hike to Havasupai with some great friends -September 2009 (thanks for the pic, Tina)

Our first triathlon (and we didn't drown!) -September 2009

Girls Camp

2009-08-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

I just have to say that I LOVE our Young Women! Girls camp was a few weeks ago and it was so much fun spending time with them. I was exhausted by the end, but it was worth it!

Tornado at church!!

2009-06-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

So yesterday during sacrament meeting at our church, our ward clerk/policeman interrupted the meeting and said, "Everyone needs to get against the walls NOW! There is a tornado touching down behind the church!". So we all stood against the wall for about 45 minutes and every once in a while the Bishop would get up and give us an update. He was totally cool about the whole thing. We had a prayer and throughout the whole prayer it was noisy with debris crashing against the windows, and hail (the size of golf balls or bigger) hitting the roof. It was amazing how calm everyone was. We were definitely protected because less than a block away, huge pieces of fence were ripped up and windows were blown in. Our church wasn't damaged at all. -And we got to go home from church early to check on our houses! Kind of an exciting Sunday!

Celebrating out ten year anniversary in Mexico

2009-05-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Our anniversary isn't until the 22nd of this month, but Michael had a break from school, so we headed down to Xph Ha, Mexico (about and hour and a half south of Cancun)for some fun in the sun. It was such a blast and very relaxing. ...And after 10 years, we are still very in love and still totally enjoy being together.
We went down to Akumal to spend the day with some friends. We went snorkeling in Akumal Bay and saw colorful fish, a big barracuda right in front of us, several sea turtles (one turtle with two nurse sharks on it), and a sting ray. It was amazing! After snorkeling, we went back to our friends' condo for lunch. They had a beautiful view.

At the resort, there was the coolest walkway through the jungle. Every day walking to the beach or to one of the restaraunts, we would see about ten iguanas. It was fun!

One day we walked down the street to go swimming in a cenote. It was a cool little spot in the jungle and we were about the only tourists there.

.....More pictures

2009-05-14T19:06:00.001-07:00

During a comedy show, Michael was lucky enough to be one of the helpers. ...I laughed my head off!

These are the people we went scuba diving with in Cozumel. It was amazing. We saw beautiful coral, schools of huge fish, sea turtles, and a big nurse shark. -Definitely the highlight of our vacation.

We woke up at 6am on our last morning and watched the sunrise. It was so beautiful!

One last dip in the pool.

In the airport, we had to go through three stations to make sure we were free of the swine flu. They took our temperature and we had to talk to a doctor. ...All worth six days of relaxation in the sun! So sad it's over.

Gotta love Colorado!

2009-04-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

We had between 2-3 feet of snow dump on us last weekend. On Monday my kids were in shorts climbing on the snow piles. By Tuesday all of the snow had melted and it was in the 70s!

Easter with the cutest kids in the world!

2009-04-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

Projects.....

2009-01-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks I have been so busy working on projects for the young women at our church(for a New Beginnings program and birthdays)and I'm finally done!! I thought I would share some pictures since I think they turned out pretty cute. -And thank you Tagan for your help!

Skiing '09

2009-01-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

Michael had Martin Luther King day off and so we took the boys skiing. I hung out at the lodge all day with Haley, and the boys took turns skiing with dad. They had a great time! The weather was awesome and even Haley and I spent most of the day outside enjoying the sunshine. I'm excited for it to warm up again because today is freezing!!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, I don't really have anything exciting to post about, but I decided that for those of you who do check in on me occasionally, that "countdown to Christmas" post is getting a bit old.

We had a wonderful Christmas spent in Utah with Michael's family. Christmas morning was a bit crazy with 12 adults and eight grandkids, but it was a lot of fun. We may have ended up with a few presents that belonged to someone else, but we're okay with it.

For New Years, Michael had the idea of having a "Panda" themed party with the kids. We had a great time eating Panda Express and watching "Kung Fu Panda". It was a lot of fun. (I would share some pictures, but Michael has the camera)

Our poor puppy had another accident and cut his leg really bad. He came into the house with puddles of blood and had a cut that went through the muscle. We called around to different vets to find out it would be about $500 to stitch him up. -So, we decided it would be best if Michael did it. Heck, he pulled my wisdom tooth out in our kitchen, why not sew up our dog? So he did and did a great job (with the help of an army vet friend via phone and email pictures). Our dog is healed and doing well! Hopefully no more broken bones or stitches!

Counting down to Christmas

2008-12-12T11:41:00.001-08:00

We don't have an advent calendar, so I decided to do these cute candy ropes that my sister told me about. You get a long piece of saran wrap or cellophane, place 12 pieces of candy in a line, roll up the candy, and tie a ribbon between each piece of candy. Tomorrow we will start counting down to Christmas by cutting off a piece of candy for each day.

One Of The Things That I Love Most About Colorado......

2008-12-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Once there was a snowman tall, Tall, TALL.....

(ONE DAY LATER)

In the sunny SUN sunshine he melted SMALL, Small, small.

2008-12-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Are you a snob like me?

2008-11-12T16:22:00.001-08:00

As I was driving home from the mall last night feeling guilty for the amount of money that I spent on face soap and lotion, I realized that even though my husband is a student and we don't have a lot of money, there are some things that I am willing to spend money on. I am okay sacrificing in some ways (I really am!), but some things that I am just a snob about. Here are a few......

1. Paper towels have to be Viva. They are so thick that I can scrub the carpet with them. I once had a neighbor boy ask if we throw them away or reuse them.

2. Skin care. I've spent way too much money on soaps, lotions, toners, serum, etc... My current favorite is Murad (thanks, Syd for introducing me way back when).

3. Diapers (which we currently don't have and might never have again!!!) have to be Huggies.
4. Campbells soup, not the generic kind.

5. Dog food. I don't know why, I just think our little puppy deserves the best.
6. Candles. The cheap ones just don't do the job. I prefer something like Salt City or Yankee.
7. Schools. This isn't a splurge, but when we were looking at houses, Michael called me a snob because I insisited that we have our children in a particular school district. So maybe I am a snob, but I also want the best for my children.

I think of myself as pretty frugal but these things are just some of my splurges. I want to know what you splurge on or what you are a snob about.

Proud Mommy!

2008-11-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's probably very sad that this is the most exciting thing that I can post about, but our dog has pretty much been my life lately. He has been a lot of fun, but SO much work. Yesterday he learned how to go through the doggy door! I no longer have to let him in and out fifty times a day. Yippee!! I'm definitely a proud and happy mommy. (By the way, I have great kids and I'm proud of them too!)

2008-11-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

Summer

2008-10-16T10:53:00.001-07:00

I was going through some pictures from this past summer (when I was on a blogging break) and thought I'd share some. We spent a weekend in Glenwood Springs for a little vacation and while we were there we took a beautiful hike up to Hanging Lake. I would highly recommend it for anyone in the area.

Is it bad luck?

2008-10-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

What's up with our family and broken legs? Braden, Haley, and now our puppy have all had a broken leg in their first few years of life. I've felt like a terrible mom!

Tip of the day.....

2008-10-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Make sure when you send your husband to deliver a meal to someone, that he knows what the meal is for. Today I had Michael run a meal over to a family in our ward, and when he got to the front door he said, "Congratulations, I understand you just had a baby". Unfortunately, it was for a woman who just got out of the hospital after having a double mastectomy. He felt so bad and stupid! I'm almost positive that I told him why we were taking them dinner. He really needs to listen better!

2008-09-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Michael and a friend (Jeff) from dental school hiked a fourteener and had a great time. I think it was good for Michael to get away from the stress of his residency for a day. It has been really hard for him to be back in school.

We're back....and with a new addition to the family!

2008-09-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

I think I'm ready to get back into blogging again.... and what better way to start than to announce the new addition to our family. Last Saturday night we got the cutest little puppy ever! His name is Baker (we think) and we all love him. I've spent a lot of time outside waiting for him to pee and poop and we've had a few messes to clean up, but overall he has been such a good little boy. I'm sure there will be more pictures to come.......

Break from Blogging

2008-05-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

I know I have been such a slacker with my blog lately (this year, really), so who knows who is still reading this right now. But if you by chance are still checking in on me every now and then, I just wanted to let you know that I won't be blogging for awhile. I feel so bad lately because I don't seem to have time to update it as much as I probably should. The next few months will be busy for us with getting our house sold (hopefully) and moving to Denver. -But when I decide to get back into it, I'll send an email out to all of you. Hope you all have a great summer!

Get-Away for Mom!!!

2008-04-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my wonderful husband, great friends who helped with my children, and a great friend (Sydney) who talked me into applying for a grant, I was able to have a little get-away to St. Louis. We went for an Alliance of the American Dental Association (dental spouses) conference that lasted four days. The conference was pretty good, but mostly it was just fun to hang out with Sydney, Cassie, Lindsey, and a bunch of other fun women. The San Francisco Giants were staying in our hotel, so of course we had to get a picture with some famous people.

One afternoon Sydney and I went for a little walk to see the arch, spent $3.50 to go to a Cardinals game, and took a train to a mall for lunch and shopping. I just loved spending time with Sydney! It was fun to dress up and attend the Presidential Gala the last night. There was a silent auction and we had fun bidding on a couple of the items. Both of us were relieved when we were out-bidded.
Oh, and one night at about 4am, we were awakened by our beds shaking and the windows rattling. Who would have thought that there would be an EARTHQUAKE while we were in St. Louis? ...Pretty crazy!
It was so much fun to get away, and so nice to come back to my cute family, a clean house (thanks, Michael), and Haley with a new haircut (we're not sure who cut it though).

2008-04-13T19:05:00.001-07:00

I am such a happy girl when it's nice outside and I can spend time with my family enjoying the beautiful weather. And oh how I love the blue skies here in Colorado! I think I once heard that next to San Diego, Colorado Springs has more blue-sky days than anywhere else in the country. We had a fun day last week playing at the park and flying a kite. I LOVE spring!

2008-03-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

We just went for a quick trip to Salt Lake for the wedding of JJ (Michael's brother) and Natalie. Those two are a perfect couple and JJ couldn't have found anyone better. It was a perfect day! JJ was happier than I have ever seen him, and the sealing was really neat.

All day long, I was wishing I could get married again. ...Mostly just the honeymoon. They went to Cancun for a week. Doesn't that just sound awesome right now? Anyone ready for a vacation like I am?

2008-03-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

Oh how I miss the YMCA! Since living here in Colorado Springs, the YMCA has been one of my very favorite places. I try to go every day, but haven't been able to for the past three weeks because of a minor surgery I had. I have no idea when I'll be returning, but I just really miss Maryann and Lou in the Childwatch Center, I miss the old people who are so cute and I think mainly come for some socialization, and I REALLY miss getting a good workout in. ....What am I going to do with myself????

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

2008-03-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

I know I have been a terrible blogging slacker lately, so I apologize. I haven't been on the computer much at all these past few weeks. I just wanted to jump on really quick and say Happy Easter. I just love this time of year when the flowers are blooming and it is warming up outside. I think Spring is definitely my favorite season and I hope you are enjoying it too!

Skiing with the boys

2008-02-19T20:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we took the boys skiing and had a GREAT time! It was Conner's first time and it took a couple of hours for him to get excited about it, but he ended up having a very fun time. Braden was awesome and SUCH a trooper. He was feeling so confident that he even took his Dad into the trees!
We had Haley with a babysitter all day, so it was GREAT to spend one-on-one time with the boys. My favorite part was riding up on the lift together and racing down the hill with the boys between our legs.
It was an AWESOME day!

Never ever, ever.......

2008-02-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

I have been reflecting lately on many of my embarrissing moments and came up with a "Never" list for my post today...
1. After nursing, Never answer the door before remembering to button up your shirt.
2. Never go swimming in a tankini with pads that aren't sewn in all the way.
3. Never go to the bathroom with the bathroom door open and a view to the neighbors backyard.
4. Never assume you are going into the right apartment, even if things aren't looking very familiar.
5. Never mix up "organism" with "orgasm" when typing up your husbands study notes.
6. Never assume that you are going to have an internal ultrasound and get all the way undressed for it.
7. Never nurse in the mens dressing room, even if you think you're the only one in there.
8. Never sunbathe on a long lounge chair when 8 months pregnant.
9. Never assume that your swimming suit is on under your clothes when undressing.
AND....last but not least.....
10. Never, ever, ever lock yourself out of the house naked!

I seem to have quite a few embarrissing moments, but LOVE them!
And last week my sister told me a halarious story she had heard....
This woman had an appointment with her OB/GYN and hadn't taken a shower, so she decided to spray some deodorant spray down there to freshen up a little. When the doctor was checking her, he very awkwardly said, "Pretty!". She thought, "what a pervert", and went on with her day. Later on when she was going to the bathroom, she looked down and noticed that she had sprayed her daughters glitter down there instead of deodorant spray!

Yummm!

2008-02-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

+
= Yummy!

I'm a big fan of Nutella and have tried it on just about everything (toast, bananas, graham crackers, crepes...), but this is my new favoite. Too bad it isn't low fat and I can't eat just one!

Don't become a victim of identity theft......

2008-01-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to post something about preventing identity theft ever since I found out that someone (who broke into my car and stole my purse) was using my personal information. I have spent a lot of time over the past few weeks learning about identity theft (how it happens and what to do if it happens to you) and it has been an eye-opener to me. I can't believe how big of a problem it is and how easy it is for someone to steal your identity. I know some of these suggesions are no-brainers, but some were new to me and could be very helpful in preventing identity theft. I'm not one to be pyranoid about things, but I just don't want any of you to ever have to deal with this. It is a huge pain and very unsettling to know that someone knows everything about you and is using your personal information....

STEPS TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT (from the NACP):

-Don’t put outgoing mail, especially bill payments, in personal curbside mailboxes. --Use United States Postal Service mailboxes instead, or, better yet, drop off your mail inside a post office.
-Use a locked mailbox with a slot at home, if at all possible.
-Don’t put outgoing mail in an unguarded “out box” at work.
-Don’t write your account number on the outside of envelopes containing bill payments.
-When you’re out of town, have the post office hold your mail for you or have someone you trust pick it up every day.

-Make sure nobody is standing right behind you when you’re using an ATM machine. He or she may be trying to photograph your card number and password with a camera cell phone. Always shield your hand and the screen, even if no one’s right behind you.
-Pay your bills online using a secure site if that service is available.
-Don’t give out your credit card number on the Internet unless it is encrypted on a secure site.

-Examine your credit reports from the major national credit reporting firms at least once a year to make sure no one has established credit in your name or is ruining your credit after stealing your identity. The recently enacted Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act requires that each of the three major credit reporting agencies provide consumers with a free credit report once a year.
-If you have to give out personal or financial information from a public phone or by cell phone, make sure no one is listening or wait until you’re in a more secure location.
-Shred all financial statements, billing statements, and preapproved credit card offers and the like before throwing them in the trash. Cross-cut shredding is best. No shredder? Use scissors to cut documents.
-Minimize the number of identification and credit cards you carry with you. Take only what’s absolutely necessary.
-Cancel all credit cards that you have not used in the last six months. Open credit is a prime target if an identity thief spies it in your credit report.
-Write to the Direct Marketing Association to have your name taken off direct mail lists. This will stop the dangerous flow of preapproved credit card offers to your address. This is where to write:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
-Call the credit reporting industry at 888-567-8688 as an extra measure to stop credit card and insurance solicitations from coming to your home.

-Use traveler’s checks instead of personal bank checks.
-Examine all of your bank and credit card statements each month for mistakes or unfamiliar charges that might be the sign of an identity thief at work.
-Make sure you know when your bills and bank statements normally arrive. If one is late, call to find out why. It may have fallen into the wrong hands.
-Use direct deposit, whenever possible, instead of a paper paycheck.
-Don’t have new checks mailed to you at home; pick them up at the bank.
-alert if you get a call from someone purporting to be from your bank who asks for personal data to update your “records.” This is almost always a scam. If you’re in doubt, hang up and call the bank yourself.

-Commit all passwords to memory. Never write them down or carry them with you.
-Don’t give out your financial or personal information over the phone or Internet, unless you have initiated the contact or know for certain with whom you are dealing.
-Don’t exchange personal information for “prizes.” Ask to have the offer put in writing and mailed to you so you can consider it more carefully.
-Give out your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary. Treat it as confidential information.
-Identity thieves have been known to take Social Security numbers from medical charts in hospitals, where the numbers are frequently used as patient identifiers. ---If you’re hospitalized, tell your doctor or nurse to be careful with your chart!
-Destroy the hard drive of your computer if you are selling it, giving it to charity, or otherwise disposing of it. Don’t just erase the hard drive; physically remove it.
-Keep your personal information confidential and learn as much as you can about the various kinds of scams being perpetrated to steal your identity. The newspapers are full of tips.

-Don’t carry your Social Security card with you. Keep it in a safe place at home.
-Don’t carry automotive insurance policies in your car. Keep them locked up at home.
-Don’t keep your car registration in your car. If possible, carry it in your wallet.
-Keep your wallet in your front pocket so a pickpocket can’t take it. Hold your purse close against your body through its straps.
-Burglar-proof your home, then burglar-proof what’s inside your home, especially your financial records and important documents (put them inside a locked filing cabinet or safe).

We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet!

2008-01-29T07:36:00.000-08:00

What and awesome man and prophet President Hinckely was! I am so sad that our dear prophet has passed away, but so happy that he is now with his sweet wife that he missed so much. He has inspired me and motivated me to be better. President Hinckley will always hold a special place in my heart.

My FAVORITE snack

2008-01-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share my favorite snack.... I love these Kashi pumpkin flax bars so much lately. (They were on sale yesterday and I bought 4 boxes!) -Good source of fiber and protien and so so yummy!

One funny child!

2008-01-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

Conner just totally cracks me up, so today I thought I'd share some funny pictures of him......

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a very long while since I have posted anything (and very annoying for those of you who are regular blog-stockers), so I apologize. We had a very nice Christmas and are excited about a new year.
So, we have some GREAT news (drumb roll)...... Michael has been accepted into the orthodontic residency program at the University of Colorado for August of 2008! We are so excited and I am so happy for Michael. It will definitely be tough to be back in school (no paychecks), but hopefully it will be worth it in the end. Michael has always wanted to do ortho, so I'm excited that now he has the chance.

Mom, I fit in your suitcase so can I PLEASE come with you?

2007-12-04T13:36:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas

2007-12-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

Oh my, I am getting really behind! I need to do some quick catching up....
A few weekends ago I was able to get together with three great friends for such a fun little vacation in Las Vegas. It was so great to spend time together and to have some relaxation time without the kids. My favorite things were: eating (LOTS!), staying up late talking, sleeping in, seeing Ka (Cirque de Solei), getting beauty treatments at the Aveda Institute, and just catching up on each others' lives. I sure love my friends and am grateful for their friendship! (BTW, thanks Syd for letting me steal your pictures)

2007-11-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

I'm in Las Vegas last weekend and get a call from my husband that went something like this:
Michael (in a very shaky and upset voice): "I haven't wanted to call you, but I have a problem...... (I'm thinking that maybe one of our children cracked their head open or something).... I can't find Conner".
When he called, he had already searched our entire house a few times for about 45 minutes. He continued to look (me calling every few minutes) for the next hour and a half with the help of neighbors, friends, and the police (who called out for a helicopter). Finally, thankfully one of our friends found Conner hiding in our bathroom standing between the shower curtain and liner. He had been standing there for almost three hours with his pants down. His Dad had given him a cold shower the day before for pooping in his pants, and we think he might have been scared to get one again so he decided to hide. He found the perfect place where it was very very difficult to find him. The friend that found him saw his little fingers through the crack in the bathroom door. ....Can you believe that he stood there for so long, and with his pants down. It was a crazy and terrible morning, mostly for Michael (poor guy!). We are SO glad that everything turned out okay.

What a cool Grandma!

2007-11-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

My Grandma Monson is the coolest 93 year-old that I know. Ever since I can remember, she has had silly glasses. Her collection has definitely grown over the years and my kids know Grandma Monson as "the grandma with the funny glasses". We had a nice day a couple of weekends ago attending the temple and visiting Grandma. I love my Grandma and admire the amazing person that she is.

Halloween is OVER, Yippeee!!

2007-11-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here are our favorite parts about Halloween 2007.....
Braden: Trick-or-treating at Mrs. Huff's house (kindergarten teacher) and handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters.
Conner: Trunk-or-treating and winning cupcakes at the Cake Walk at Tim and Brittnee's church party.
Haley: Eating WAY too much candy. She's only one, but definitely knows and wants candy when she sees it.
Michael: Also eating WAY too much candy (complained of having a sick stomach last night in bed because of all of the candy). Watching our boys hand out candy.
Zipporah: Seeing my cute kids all dressed up and excited, but SOOOO glad that it is over. Glad for an empty schedule the next two days. We were SO busy with parties that it just got very exhausting. ....Hope you all had a fun Halloween.

Breakfast Idea

2007-10-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Michael came home from Iraq with this new idea for a quick healthy breakfast:
Saute vegetables (our favorites are zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, red pepper, onion, and tomato)until tender. You can add some kind of ham or sausage to it if you'd like. Next mix a bunch of egg whites in a bowl (sometimes I'll put in a yolk or two). Grease muffin pans and fill half way with vegetables. Pour egg in cups almost filling to the top. Sprinkle some cheese over top and bake. (I don't know how long I bake it, I just check on it until it looks done.) Once they have cooled, freeze however you want (we put two in a ziplock bag) and then in the morning pull out and microwave. These are nice for Michael when I'm too lazy to make him breakfast. -And they are a good way to get some protein and vegetables in.

San Francisco

2007-10-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Finally I am able to upload some pictures to our blog....
Michael and I dropped the kids off in Utah with Grandparents and went to San Francisco for six days. We had an awesome time and it really felt like a second honeymoon. I love Michael so much! I wish I could have more little "get-aways" with him.

Do I really look like Condaleeza Rice?

2007-10-17T07:54:00.001-07:00

We are having problems uploading pictures, so for now, I thought I would try something new. What do you think?

2007-09-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Michael Is HOME!!!!

The sun is setting on Michael's time in Iraq!

2007-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Michael just sent this picture and I thought it was cool. This might be the last picture on our blog from Iraq!!!! He will be home soon (unsure of the exact date) and we are SOOOOOO excited!

Braden's FIVE!

2007-09-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Braden! We had such a fun time celebrating Braden's birthday, other than the fact that Dad wasn't here to celebrate with us.

On his birthday (the 4th) he had a great day. He got special treatment all day from breakfast in bed, to going birthday shopping, to lunch at McDonalds. I think it made him feel really special. His favorite part was being sang to, and he asked me for the next two days after his birthday if I would sing to him several more times. He told me that it made him feel good. Daddy called on his birthday and sent him on a treasure hunt to find a special present. That was so fun.

Today was his party at Carrabas (italian restaraunt). It was GREAT! This year I was all about easy and no hassle, so I was excited about having it somewhere other than at our house. The restaraunt doesn't open until dinner time, so we went for lunch and got the whole place to ourselves. The kids got to make their own pizzas and see how they were cooked and they had a really good time sitting along the bar watching and eating. After pizza, we opened presents and ate cake and ice cream. It was a great time, and after it was all over, I didn't have to clean up. -So nice! And to top it all off, it was super cheap! I would highly recommend Carrabas for a birthday party to anyone.

Braden is such a sweet boy. I can't believe that he is five. I really do think he is the best little five-year old ever. Today at his party he said, "I'm going to tell you who out of all of my friends I wanted to be here the most" ...and I started to cut him off because I thought that this might not be good, but he said, "Everyone. I'm so glad that everyone is here". That was very sweet. He does and says so many nice things everyday. When I ask him to pick up, I'll say something like, "pick up 25 things", and he will always come to me and say, "I went the extra mile. I picked up 30". He is a good helper and such a good big brother. He loves to learn new things and doesn't give up easily. He is a great example because he loves to read the Book of Mormon and always reminds me that we should read. I love Braden so much and feel so lucky to have him as a son. -And I know his Dad feels the same way.

2007-09-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Just thought this was a cute picture to share....

First week of pre-school

2007-09-01T19:14:00.001-07:00

What a busy week! Conner started pre-school on Tuesday and seems to really like it. Two of the mornings, he was sad when we dropped him off (in a mad dash to get Braden to a different school on time), but he was very happy each time we picked him up. It has been very stressful trying to get Conner dropped off quickly to make it to Braden's school on time and then to pick Conner up and rush to Braden's school again. I don't know if I am going to survive this schedule. ...We'll see! I go to the YMCA to work out just about every day, and this week I felt sort of bad after dropping my three children off in three different places. Am I a horrible mother?

Oh, this week we also started soccer. I feel SO busy. How do people do it with more children and older children? I was seriously on the verge of tears several times this week due to stress.

Update on Michael

2007-08-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything about Michael lately (mostly because I am waiting to get more pictures from him), but I thought I would give a quick little update....
Michael seems to be doing well. I am SO grateful that we are able to talk just about every day. I love him and miss him so much!
He is at a different base right now doing dentistry on a lot of Iraqis. Actually, most of them need teeth pulled and they don't want him to pull them, so he is trying to convince them to let him work on them. I think it's nice for him to be in a new environment and seems to make time go by faster. About a month ago, he got a small pox vaccination and ended up with cellulitis. His shoulder was very swollen and red and he got sick. Though he still has a scar, he is doing much better. He works VERY long days (16 hours sometimes) and sounds tired most of the time. I feel so bad for him, but I'm so proud of how well he has dealt with this experience.
Now for the good news....When he gets back to his home base, he will have just a short time before he gets to come home! Yippee! He should be home by the end of September!! I CAN'T wait! I feel so lucky that he has had such a short deployment and really admire people who do it for 12 or 15 months. I just can't imagine.

Holy Crap!

2007-08-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Tonight while I was cleaning up the backyard, I found the biggest spider I think I have ever seen (aside from at a zoo). I even said "holy crap!" out loud to myself. I went next-door to show the neighbors, but they weren't home, so I had to put in on the blog. Unfortunately, the boys are in bed and didn't get to see it, and I'm not a nice enough mom to save it for the morning. It was sprayed with spider killer and flushed down the toilet. I have felt like I have something crawling on me ever since. Yuck!

Goo Gone

2007-08-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I think I am probably the last person to hear about great products, so maybe all of you have already heard about this.... But, I am a new fan of Goo Gone. So far I have been able to get yucky guck (probably gum or something) off of our leather car seat, stickers off of a chair, and super glue off of my bathroom counter. It is GREAT stuff!

Slumber Party in Mom and Dad's bed

2007-08-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

Braden, Fluffy, and Conner... Tonight I told the boys that they could sleep in my bed, but of course, Fluffy had to be there too. Fluffy is the class bear and Braden is the privileged one who got to take the bear home for the weekend. Today on the way home from school Braden told me that all week he has been wondering whether Fluffy is real or not. "So, do you think he is, mom?" he asked. I told him that he is for sure a real teddy bear and can be a real friend. So, we get to have Fluffy with us for a few days and we'll find out just how real he is. Kindergarten is so much fun. Every day Braden is SO happy when I pick him up and so happy to tell me all about kindergarten. So far, his favorite parts about kindergarten are:

1. the math toys (every day he tells me that that is one of his favorite things)

2. going to music, PE, and art

3. fire drills

So much fun!

Kindergarten, here we come!!

2007-08-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I sent our sweet little four year old (almost five) off to kindergarten today! Braden was such a trooper. He was nervous to be at a new school, with a new teacher, and new kids that he'd never met. Everything went well though. I didn't really get emotional until we pulled close to the school and saw all of the kids big kids outside of the school and just can't believe how fast Braden is growing up. He is SUCH a good boy, and I get so nervous for him to be around so many outside influences (paranoid, I'm sure). Anyway, we met the teacher and Braden was so brave when it was time to say good-bye. I drove away and said a prayer and thought and worried about him until three hours had passed by and it was time to pick him up. He was SO happy and so excited when I picked him up. He LOVED kindergarten. Whew! What a relief! I'm so glad that he had a good first day and is excited to go again tomorrow. Michael called and said that he had been thinking about Braden all day and was so excited to hear about how kindergarten went. Braden wanted me to take the picture of him holding his backpack to show Daddy. (Braden wasn't quite sure if he was ready to smile with this new teacher quite yet!)

Quick trip to Utah

2007-08-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

Before I start this post, I want to say that I feel bad for anyone that I wasn't able to see while we were in Utah. We only had a chance to be with family this trip. Unfotunately it was a very spontaneous trip and it went way too fast.

So I just have to say how proud I was that we made it from Colorado Springs to Riverton, UT (about a 9-10 hour drive) only stopping ONCE! With three children and only one adult, I think that's pretty darn good. We did have a long stop in Grand Junction where we had lunch and I made my children sit on the toilet until they pooped so we wouldn't have to stop for that, but it was our only stop. (We won't talk about the way home.)

We had a nice time with Michael's family. Michael's sister Nichole is staying with Michael's parents while her husband does an internship, so it was nice to be able to spend a lot of time with her. She probably got sick of me, but I loved being with her. We went swimming, shopping (at the outlets), ate at Cafe Rio (yummm!), went boating, and watched the cousins play so well together. It was a nice visit. I sure wish that we lived closer to more family.

Kylie is three months older than Haley and she sure did love being the older cousin! ....So cute!

The boys LOVED going boating and especially loved it when we got to jump in the lake.

Okay, I've been tagged and I feel bad not being "it"

2007-08-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

So, I was just going to ignore that someone had "tagged" me, but I'm feeling bad (a couple weeks later) and decided I would go ahead with this......

4 Jobs I've had
Pharmacy delivery driver
Branch Manager for staffing service
Nanny
Lerner NY sales person

4 Places I've lived
Cleveland, OH
Riverton, UT (in a house that used to be a chicken coop)
Grenwich, CT
Littleton, CO

4 Favorite TV shows
(this one is hard, because I've probably watched t.v. maybe five times since Michael's been gone)
The Office
Amazing Race (when it's on)
.....hmmm I seriously can't think of anything else

4 places I've vacationed
Europe (France, Italy, Switzerland) for 3 weeks with Michael. So awesome!
Caribbean cruise
Cancun, Mexico
Myrtle Beach

4 Favorite dishes
TACOS (fried) yummm! These can always put me in a good mood
BBQ Chicken pizza
Cafe Rio pork (salad or burrito)
Costco salad mix with craisins, feta cheese, almonds....very good, but I can't think of the name

4 Places I'd like to be
In Michael's arms (So badly)
Laying on the beach in peace and quiet
On a run... Lately I crave running and wish so bad that I could go at night while the kids are in bed
In school. Sounds crazy, but I have a huge desire to go back to school lately

Tag you're it!
Nichole K
Marian K
Yvonne H
JJ

Decoration for Haley's room

2007-08-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am not a crafty or creative decorator, but I heard about this idea and thought it sounded cute. Last night I decided to get it done and it took all of about five minutes. I printed off a letter "H" on white cardstock and then just glued on some beeds. I heard about doing this with buttons, but I coudn't find cute buttons so I decided to use beeds instead. I think it turned out pretty cute! (If you click on the picture you can see the beeds up close)

Just having one of those days!

2007-08-05T18:32:00.000-07:00

I am so TIRED today! My poor children (4yrs and 3yrs) got a little lecture tonight about how Mommy is tired of doing everything (picking up toys everywhere, making dinner, changing diapers, dressing children, doing dishes) ALONE. I want their help, but unfortunately I'm expecting a little much from such young children. It is Sunday today, and church was long. I play the piano for choir, so we get there an hour early, then I teach the Laurels and it feels like I am always the last one to leave once I've cleaned up my lesson stuff and gathered the children. Then on top of it, it's right during Haley's naptime, so she was just a pill today.

Okay, I know this is probably a terrible post because I'm complaining so much. I'm just having a "me moment". I put the kids to bed at 7:00 for my sanity and also because they were cranky because not one of them took a nap today. It seems like some days it takes forever for 7:00-7:30 (bedtime) to come. Is that terrible that I look forward to that part of the day everyday?

So, I am going to go upstairs to make myself a little bowl of ice cream (okay, maybe not little) and sit out on the porch and enjoy the cool night. I really am happy and doing fine with Michael being gone. ....It's just one of those days and I feel like sharing it.

I know it's probably silly to put a picture of myself, but my little neighbor was over taking pictures and commented on how messy my hair was. I thought I would share my "tired mommy" picture.

Happy Birthday from Iraq

2007-07-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Michael was sad that he wasn't here to celebrate Conner's birthday (of course), but was able to do something fun for his birthday. He hung a flag (a tradition over there where they keep the flag and get a certificate that says that the flag was hung in Iraq) today for Conner. He also went to a junkyard where there were old Russian planes and tanks from the last Iraqi war. He was able to have a little fun with spray paint to show Conner that he was thinking of him. ....Isn't he hot? I sure do miss him. : (

Another birthday....Conner's THREE!

2007-07-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Conner! We had a fun day and a fun water party. Conner is such a great little three year old. Since he is three, I thought I would share three things that I love about Conner:

1. He gives hugs several times a day and is always telling me that he loves me. The other day, he said, "You the best mom ever!".

2. He loves to dance in the kitchen and is always asking me to turn the music on.

3. He is very good at sports and loves to play with balls.

Out at the range

2007-07-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

Today when I asked Michael how his day was, he said, "Just like yesterday." He works long days seven days a week and so it's nice when he is able to mix things up a little bit by shooting at the range. He is so awesome! I'm proud of all that he is doing and for his positive attitude during this whole experience.

More TBall pictures

2007-07-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

It has been fun to watch Braden get more and more into T-ball as the season has gone by. He gets so proud of himself when he gets the ball or has a good hit. I'm proud of him for sticking it out, even though he wasn't very excited about it at the beginning of summer. He is such a cute boy!

Happy Birthday Haley!

2007-07-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Today is Haley's 1st birthday! I can't belive that she is already one. She still feels so little to me, but is the cutest and sweetest thing ever. I just love her so much!

We are sad that Daddy can't celebrate with us, but we took lots of pictures and I made a special book for Haley of her Daddy for her birthday.

A Frog in my shower!!

2007-07-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Michael spent about two weeks in a very small base South of Baghdad. One morning when he went to get in the shower, he found a little shower buddy. He thought this picture would be fun for the boys to see.

4th of July in Iraq

2007-07-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Michael celebrated the 4th of July on the 5th by shooting off flares on the roof of their compound. He said it was pretty cool, but missed the fireworks in the U.S.

2007-07-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am very proud of my little herb garden, so I thought I would share a picture. For Mother's Day, Michael gave me everything I needed to start the garden and it has been fun for me and the boys to see everything grow. I am growing basil (-my favorite! I love to dip french bread in pesto or have bruschetta), cilantro, parsley, and chives. This has been my first herb garden, and So fun to have fresh herbs on hand.

2007-07-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to have so much family in town. After our family reunion, we were able to celebrate the 4th of July together, which was so nice. Michael was definitely missed and thought about a lot. I got emotional everytime I heard a patriotic song. I'm so grateful that Michael has had this opportunity to serve our county and I'm so proud of him. Though it is very hard for him to be over there in Iraq, he has had such a positive attitude and I really admire that.

After the fourth, we went on a hike to some waterfalls and tubing down the Platte River. On Saturday night I had 20 family members sleep over and on Sunday we had 24 for dinner and games. It was crazy, but I just loved being with everyone. It was sad to see my sisters head back East. I sure do love my family.

2007-07-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

It has been a neat experience for Michael to train some of the SF medics. Here he is teaching a medic to pull a tooth. Yikes, I'm glad I'm not the one in the chair. Quite the dental clinic, isn't it?

2007-07-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know the name of this cake, and don't have an actual recipe. But, it is SOOO yummy so I thought I'd share.

1 white cake mix and ingredients to make cake
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
fresh strawberries, cut up
whip cream

Bake cake according to directions on box. Cool and then poke holes all over using the end of a wooden spoon. Pour all three milks over the top. Refrigerate until cold. Top with whip cream (or you can use cool whip if you must) and strawberries. Yum!

2007-07-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a family reunion in Altamont, Utah. There were 120 Monsons and we had a great time. There was lots to do and never a dull moment. We have such a great family! There was a pond out in front of the cabin and the boys loved paddle-boating. They would have spent all day out on the paddle boats if I would have let them. We sure missed Michael!

2007-07-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Aunt Nichole and Uncle Mike came for a visit and it was so nice to be with them. One of our favorite things that we did was go on a hike. It felt so nice to be in the mountains again. It is pretty hard to go hiking with Michael gone, so it was really nice to take advantage of Mike and Nichole!

2007-06-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share a picture of Michael's room. Not very big, but not too bad. -Michael, it looks like we need to send you some pictures to hang up on those empty walls!

Fun in the sun

2007-06-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

This week I took the kids to a really fun pool and they had a blast! Haley is fearless and dove into the water over and over again. Braden and Conner played together so well. They loved the water slide and Braden was always so good at making sure Conner went down first. Even though it only happens about 50 percent of the time, I love seeing the two of them having fun and happy being together.

Baghdad

2007-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Michael sent these pictures of him in Baghdad, so I thought I'd share. .....He looks like a tourist!

25 things that I love about Michael.....

2007-06-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

Since I am missing Michael terribly, I thought I would share 25 things that I love about him...

1. He makes me feel so special, like he would rather be with me than do anything else.

2. Makes me laugh

3. He is a hard worker and does a good job at whatever he does

4. His humility

5. His positive attitude

6. He is one the most easy going people that I know

7. He always turns on music. My favorite is when we dance in the kitchen. -Haley likes this too.

8. He is an awesome dancer!

9. He is the most wonderful dad ever! He plays, teaches, listens, helps, and loves our children.

10. His strong testimony and love of the gospel

11. He would do anything for me.

12. He has great taste. My favorite outfits are from him.

13. I love when he walks by me and touches me.

14. He believes in me and would support me no matter what.

15. He cares about people.

16. He is brave (especially right now).

17. He is adventurous and likes to have a fun.

18. His family

19. Such a hottie! I tell him that he "shouldn't leave the house looking like that" quite often.

20. Takes good care of himself.

21. Athletic

22. He is so silly, but mostly around me.

23. I love his different laughs, especially when he is laughing at his own joke. : )

24. He knows everything. -Seriously! He is a genius.

25. He loves me and I love him.

TBall

2007-06-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Braden had his first T-Ball game last Saturday. He wasn't very excited for the actual game, but was excited to send Daddy some pictures and get a snack when the game was over. He did a great job; hit the ball far and was quick to retrieve balls in the outfield. He sure is a cute little player!

2007-06-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

Michael has been able to do a little bit of dental work on the Iraqis, which has been a neat experience. Braden thought that it was pretty cool that his Dad had a gun on. -I think it's pretty weird! You think I would be used to the whole army thing by now, but I'm not!

Army Michael

2007-06-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

Michael thought that driving a hum-v was pretty fun. Even though sometimes it would be nice if he just stayed put in his little clinic, I'm glad he is able to get out and have some fun. I still am not sure what I can and can't say on the computer (because of security), but he is still in the same spot and seems to be doing well. Security is heightened right now, so he is currently unable to do any traveling. He is so awesome! He calls every day and always sends the sweetest emails that really make my day. : ) I sure love him!

What a week!

2007-06-13T20:47:00.001-07:00

This has been an interesting week (oh, my goodness, is it only Wednesday?!) with a lot going on and a roller-coaster of emotions. Michael seems to be doing well. Today he did dental work on an Iraqi soldier. He talks about how much trash there is in Iraq (I need to stop being specific of his wherabouts) and how there is such an extreme between the poverty and the wealth. What an experience he is having! I am done doing my worrying and being mad at the army. It took a little bit of venting (sorry for those of you who had to witness that) and eight pieces of pizza. I am SUCH an emotional eater and during my most stressful moments this week, I really did eat eight pieces of pizza in one sitting. I have done a lot of jogging and a lot of sit-ups to try and make up for that. : )
We had a strange cat come into our house the other night (Braden let it in) and it would not come out from under my bed. It was a sweet cat, so I felt bad when I had to get the broom and force it out. I got kind of mad at that poor cat because I hated the fact that I had no idea how clean it was and it was laying on my bedroom carpet! Fortunately, we got the cat out and life goes on........

How crazy that Michael is in Iraq

2007-06-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Even though I am totally at peace with the whole thing, I still can't believe that my husband is in Iraq. He has been there for about a week and seems to be doing okay. He played ping pong yesterday for two hours, so he can't complain too much. It is crazy to learn what things are like over there, like the fact that their base gets about two bombs a day. Michael says that the sirens go off a couple of times a day, but most of the bombs are shot down in the air. Still, I didn't know that the terrorists were that busy. He drove a hum-V last Friday, which was fun for him. Next week he will travel to another base (he can't tell me where until he is there) and do dental work on some of the Iraq troops. Hopefully that will be a good experience. Braden sure misses his daddy. He comprehends things pretty well. It's funny, because he is always thinking about the time difference, ever since we explained that Daddy is 10 hours ahead of us. When he prays at breakfast, he will say "bless daddy to have a good dinner" and tonight at dinner he said "bless daddy to have good dreams". It's pretty funny, but also very smart. He loves to email his daddy and he and Conner draw pictures to send him. We all miss him!

Saying goodbye!

2007-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

We said goodbye to Michael twice. The first time we woke the kids up and left the house at 6:15am. After standing around for a while, we were told there would be a 24-48 hour delay. This was such awesome news because it was my birthday and since all of the stress of packing was gone, we were able to spend a relaxing day together. Michael is so awesome! We went and worked out, went shopping, went out to eat, and just enjoyed being together for a little bit more time. The next day, we said goodbye again (a little bit more emotional this time) and he left for Iraq. How crazy that my husband is actually in Iraq. I felt so bad for him though because he really did not want to go, but didn't have a choice. Hopefully his 5-6 months will go by really fast. We sure miss him. :(

Three sweet children

2007-05-31T21:04:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite picture of the kids

Pre-Iraq family pictures

2007-05-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

Before Michael leaves for Iraq, we wanted to make sure to get some family pictures taken. How impossible it was to get all three children to smile, let alone look at the camera. We did get some good pictures of Michael and the kids.