Welcome Baby Ashlynn!!!

We have been waiting and anticipating the arrival of my neice, Brittany's baby Ashlynn...And she's finally here! She is the most adorable little angel and we already LOVE her!

Ashlynn with her proud mama!

Ten little fingers...

...and 10 tiny toes...all accounted for!

Dyl was so excited for Ashlynn to come out of Brittany's belly...He couldn't wait to hold her!

Uh huh...We're goin' on a sleigh ride!

I absolutely love the fact that Dylan can experience a little bit of the country life once in awhile. There's always somethin' fun goin' on at Grandma & Grandpa's!

Getting ready to PARTY!

Because I'm not crafty and wanted to do something fun for Dyl's 5th birthday party, my little sister, Ashley, helped me make these adorable invitations and party favors. Of course, when the parents said how cute they were, I proudly took all the credit!

Grocery Store Buddies

Children's Garden Preschool took a trip to the Smith's grocery store. I wasn't exactly there...But it appears Dyl was a complete angel!

Interview With Dyl

1. What is something mom always says to you? I love you!
2. What makes mom happy? When I get my clothes and get dressed when you don't tell me to
3. What makes mom sad? When I don't listen to you
4. How does your mom make you laugh? By pulling funny faces
5. What was your mom like as a child? Like a sun
6. What is her favorite thing to do? Play games with me
7. What does your mom do when you're not around? Work
8. What is your mom really good at? Driving
9. What is your mom not very good at? Old Maid and Go Fish
10. What does your mom do for her job? She eats gum
11. What is your mom's favorite food? cheese fries
12. What makes you proud of your mom? I'm proud of her working and taking care of me
13. What do you and your mom do together? go to karate
14. How are you and your mom the same? Jesus made us that way
15. How are you and your mom different? Jesus wants to go white, brown, white, brown
16. How do you know your mom loves you? Because I'm the best son
17. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? To watch the circus!
18. How old will you have to be before your mom will let you kiss a girl? 99+200

Valentine's Cookies

One of our favorite Valentine's traditions...

Groundhog, beaver...who cares about the small details!

Dyl came home from school and told me it's Beaver Day today. "The beaver sticks his head out of the ground and looks to see if his shadow is following him and then he goes back in the hole to rest till summer." When asked what happens if the "beaver" sees his shadow Dyl simply said, "That means it's gonna be a long time till he'll poke his head out again!"

Love...It's a beautiful thing!

"Mom...I love you all the way to Mexico and even Tex-tas. I love you all the way to where Jesus lives and even 180 plus 80 plus 99 seconds!"

Twist!

Ain't nothin' like an old fashioned game of TWISTER!

Bringing the Beach to Snowy Utah

Grandma Dorothy & Grandpa Bates live in Manhatten Beach, California and the ocean is on their doorstep. Dyl's dad helped him package up some sand from the beach to bring home to snowy Utah. ...More to come on his little vacation as we get pics and stories...

Missing my babe...

This past Thursday night Dyl left to go to California as his great grandmother Asleen passed away. I knew it would be a great opportunity for Dylan to meet his relatives on the Bates side and spend some time with them. Dyl left today to come back home and called me when he was in Mesquite, Nevada. This is how the conversation went:

Dylan: Hi, Mom! You really, really, really missed me, huh?

Mom: I have missed you so much, bud...But I hear you had a great time!

Dylan: Mom, you missed me so much that you wanna cuddle forever when I get home, huh? You really, REALLY missed me!!!

No onions for me!

Dyl was eating onion rings for the first time. He took a big bite and I asked him if he liked those onion rings. "I love them," he replied, "but what is this little surprise in the middle? If it's an onion then they shouldn't be hiding it in there 'cuz little kids don't like onions!"

Hot Fireman!

Children's Garden Preschool went on a field trip to the fire station. Dyl was the only one who got to try on the fireman gear and boy was he excited! Doesn't he melt your heart?

Boys will be boys!

Chase and Dyl advised me they were going to "clean" up my living room. Leslie and I were sitting up at the table just chit-chatting away. I looked up and the boys had moved 1/2 of the furniture up into the front room and the rest to the sides...And they were bringin' the 4-wheeler in from the garage to see how well it would work in the house since there was snow outside...They thought they were really tough!

Deep Thoughts by Dylan Findlay...

"Mom, I think we really need to buy a cat scratcher. Hmmm...We probably should go to the pet store first and pick up a cat!"

Procrastinating Christmas Postings...

Ok...So I slacked on Christmas blogging big time! I was going to post pictures and post daily activities but then I got behind and never got it done. So, I guess I'm going to sum things up in this one posting.

This year we invited Jack into our home. He's from the book "Elf on the Shelf" and we had so much fun with him this year. We went with Tracy and Leslie to Barnes and Noble to buy one for Chase and one for Dylan. They had dark-skinned ones and white ones. Somehow between switching bags and switching cars we ended up with the white one and Dylan was NOT happy! He wouldn't even look at the book till we got the real elf from Chase, which he named Jack. At nighttime when Dyl was sleeping then Jack took off to the North Pole and reported to Santa how good he was each day. Then he would come back and hide somewhere else in the house for Dylan to find him. This was a fun new tradition and Dylan had so much fun with Jack!

Dyl went sledding and loved shoveling the snow. We're lucky to live in Utah where, at least most Christmases, we at least have snow on the ground. Our neighbor John Stover came over with his 4-wheeler a few times and shoveled our driveway. Dylan had so much fun riding on with him to complete the task.

Dylan decided this year that he wants to be a Salvation Army bell ringer when he grows up. Every time we went to a store with a bell ringer Dyl couldn't wait to go put his money in the box, realizing that he would be helping other kids to have toys for Christmas.

Dyl, Chase and Shay helped Tracy and Leslie make Christmas candy and boy were they helpful!

On Christmas Eve we went over to my friend Denise's house and enjoyed opening presents and eating the prime rib dinner she made. She's always so good to us!

On Christmas Day Dyl woke up to some fun stuff from Santa, including a sled, trucks, a firestation, a farm set and a bubble gum machine, just to name a few. Mom was psychic 'cuz, before Christmas, we went to the bank and took Dylan's money to open up a savings account as to remove most of the quarters from the home! Dyl had $94.66 worth of coins from his bank!

After opening up presents we took a trip to Idaho to spend the rest of the weekend at Grandma & Grandpa Findlay's house. Dylan couldn't wait to give grandma and grandpa their gift...A great big red popcorn machine he'd picked out of the JC Penney catalogue. Anthony and Chase helped put it together and then Chase and Dyl made popcorn for everybody...

Call in the fashion police!

Dyl dressed himself today...Need I say more?

The Diet Coke Police...

Ok...so I know I'm way behind on blogging but I had to just add a little tid-bit 'cuz I know I'll forget by tomorrow. I didn't sleep well last night and, by morning, was dragging big time...and I needed CAFFEINE to get me moving! Dyl was getting ready for school and I was working and I asked if he'd run down to the fridge and get me a Diet Coke. "Sure, Mom!" he said with all willingness. A few minutes later Dyl plopped a large glass of cold milk on my desk. "Here, Mom...Milk is better for your bones. Diet Coke is bad for you." Good thing Diet Coke is the worst thing I drink!

On the 8th day of Christmas...We got warmed up!

Yummy, yummy, yummy...hot chocolate warms my heart,
It's freezing cold outside...hot chocolate is just the start!
Marshmallows, more marshmallows, I always ask for more...
Pile on the whipped cream...this stuff I sure adore!