Happy Birthday Rhys!

The boys really wanted to take Rhys to Build-A-Bear for his 1st birthday.  He loved it! 

I took him down the aisle to let him choose his stuffed animal - as soon as he saw this bunny he started going crazy!  It was like pulling teeth to get him to let go so he could be stuffed!

The boys found a "Happy Birthday" t-shirt and insisted that we get it for Bunny.  It's pretty cute.

Then we played at the Dinosaur play place at the mall.  Rhys loves it!

Lastly, cupcakes at the park.  Rhys was covered in chocolate at the end!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!!  You are a joy!

Swimming!!

We are loving our swim lessons this summer.  Our friend Joe has been teaching the boys and they LOVE him!  Landon is now swimming full lengths of the pool with great form (or so I'm told) and Parker is almost able to swim a width!  They have been entranced with the Olympic swimmers this week.  And Rhys just loves to be at the pool!

Family History Project

I heard about this really cool company called Photobarn - they print images directly onto wood!  I saw that they offered wood blocks and immediately had a project in mind.  I worked with my Grandparents and Scott's parents to get some great photo's of our parents and grandparents when they were young.  Granny and I stayed up late one night figuring out how to link her computer with mine so she could put large files directly on my computer - it worked!  Bet you all don't have a Granny that can do that ;).

There are two photo's on each block (and patterns on the other sides) so I can rotate them every time I dust to see new pictures!  I love it - it inspires me to see where we've come from!

iPhone Pics

I thought this was pretty cute - from Landon's journal.

 Landon said to me the other day "Mom, can we make those things...you know, where the hot dog is wrapped in bread and it's delicious?".  Bring on Pigs in a Blanket!!

Rhys discovering the children's museum.  He loves that place!

Homemade Laundry Soap: Courtesy of Granny

I made my own laundry soap this week!  It's so simply and really cost effective (it is approx. $1.75 for 2 gallons!).  Here's what you need:

Ingredients:

1 bar Zote laundry soap  (Mexican) or Sunlight or Ivory.  ( Just pure soap)

2 cups Borax

1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

Method:

1. Grate the soap (I did it in the food processor). The finer the soap, the quicker it melts.

2. Add 2 quarts water (some use filtered).  Mix and heat in a large pot until melted.

3. Mix the Borax and Washing soda with 4 quarts of water in a big canning kettle and heat over medium heat until dissolved.

4. Add the melted soap and bring to a boil for 3 minutes.

Pour into a 2 gallon bucket that has a lid.  It will gel as it cools

Use ¼ c. Per load of laundry.

This soap is great!!  It keeps fabrics soft as well - no need for fabric softener.  Enjoy!

Ward Campout and Stake Picnic

We love this event every year!!

Making new friends at the picnic!

Our weekend was a blast!  

Some Random Moments

Parker found a new cool way to wear his PJ pants...hehe

Rhys LOVES to dig in my plants, but of course, I hardly every let him!  When I needed to switch out my spring plants for more hardy, summer flowers, I let him go to town.  Best day ever!!

Our friends had some robin eggs in a nest outside of their house - one day, they hatched :).

We love finding inch worms!  And that is face paint around Parker's eyes...they constantly ask me to paint them like Star Wars characters.

We organized family sports nights this year (a couple of times each month).  Families show up and we all play something together!  This night was kick ball.  Rhys was more interested in the watermelon!

Cancun!!

We had SO SO much fun in Mexico.  My Mom was able to meet us down there and it was so great to have her there.  The boys love their Grandma!  As for what we did, I honestly don't think I need to say much - the pictures speak for themselves: