New family rule = 4 new holes

So when Jason and I got married and started discussing parenting rules and such, we decided that 12 years old was when our girls could get their ears pierced. The decision came about mostly because that was our family rule growing up. As time passed, and I really started thinking about this rule, I started to regret that I had ever said anything. I really didn't care about waiting until 12. The only issue I had was responsibility for their own ear care. So then I talked to Jason and asked him if he was really set on age 12, for ear piercing. No, not really. So we came up with a new family rule: You must be atleast 9 years of age for ear piercing.

I casually mentioned this new rule to my girls one day. They were very excited. They pestered me (gently, as not to upset) every day until we finally did it late one night at Walmart.

The girls are carefully listening to ear care instructions. They are totally nervous... but way excited too.

Are we having fun yet?! I don't think Rylee is.

I did it!

Look at that face. Rylee said she was squeezing her hand so tight it really hurt.

Ahhh, that wasn't bad.
She kept saying, "Mom, why did you say it was going to hurt. It didn't hurt."

Two beautiful girls with new acessories.

Another School Program

Rylee had another school program. It was about the "Nifty Fifty". (You know, the 50 United States.) It was written by a 6th grade class in their school. They sang songs, did dances and had cute costumes and skits. Rylee participated in a dance and did a solo part in "This land is your land" song. She did a great job.

The Bestest Friend EVER!

This post is long over-due, but I still wanted to post because it was so much work (we had fun too)and so appreciated...

My good friend Kristin a.k.a. Krissi, flew from Post Falls to come see my new house and to help me get organized and decorated. This was an especially sweet gift because she had just worked hard helping another friend get settled into her new house and because one of her daughters got sick right before she left. She came on a Friday morning and left late Monday night. As she stepped into my house, she immediately started unpacking boxes and helping to decorate my kitchen. Just having my kitchen decorated made it seem more like a home (instead of just a house).

In the time she was here, we did non-stop shopping, unpacking, organizing, putting together, hanging and decorating. Here is just a little sample of what we accomplished over the weekend...

Decorated kitchen cupboards.








My kitchen utencils have never been so organized!








Here's a bookshelf in my front room. I like the way Krissi arranged the books on the shelf.










Here's my closet. Notice all the nice baskets. We got them on clearance at ShopKo for 70% off original price. A lucky find!










We cleaned and organized the kid's bedroom's and closet's. Here's Treyson's new bed. He is so proud of it and actually has kept his room/closet fairly clean since.







Well sort of.










Broom/mop organizer for the laundry room.











This was Krissi's inspiration. She thought I needed a laundry room shelf (and a place to hang clothes). She was right and it's been wonderful to have. (Krissi- notice the clean counter top. Now that's something you didn't get to see while you were here.)








Organized kid's clothing in the laundry room closet.


















Out of all the stuff we did together, Krissi might say that the greatest accomplishment was me FINALLY deciding on a new bed for Jason and I. I drug her to every furniture store in Boise (or that's what it probably felt like). I'm still awaiting the arrival of the new bed. I hope I just LOVE it, cuz it was a hard decision to make. :o)

P.K. or Post-Krissi: These are some of the things I've done since Krissi left. It helped so much to get that jump-start and motivation to keep going.

I hung pictures, a clock and other decorations including this one, in my master bathroom.












I decorated the top of my armoir. This is the view from my bed. I like looking at our wedding picture and being reminded that we used to kiss... just kidding.









And I FINALLY purchased 2 livingroom chairs from Target. (This was one of those long decision things too.) I accidentally erased the photo, so you'll just have to come see them in person.

Thanks so much Krissi. You're the bestest friend EVER!

Piano Recital

This was Rylee's second year in piano. Her teacher, Katie, was a highschool student in our ward. I loved it because she only lived 4 houses down (from our old house) and she only charged $20 a month! What a perfect combo. Rylee played "If the Savior Stood Beside Me", "Scripture Power" and "Minuet". She did a good job memorizing and performing all her pieces. Way to go Rylee!

Katie presented a rose to each piano student to congratulate them on a job well done.

Rylee and Charity being goofy with their roses. I guess they're doing the tango.

Happy Birthday Audrey!

Cousin Audrey turned 3 on May 9th. We celebrated with cake/ice cream and presents! Her mommy Karen made her cake. Isn't it cute?! Audrey loves vehicles and loves to sing "The Wheels on the Bus".

Card Making

As a part of Amber's bridal shower, we decided to make cards for her to keep. Karen (sister-in-law) and I got together 2 different nights to assemble the card kits. We first figured out what kinds of cards we wanted to make (thinking of you, wedding, thanks, baby girl, baby boy and happy birthday), then we decided what we wanted them to look like, then made an example card for each type and finally put together the kits. Each kit contained everything they needed. As the cards were completed we put them in a cute little box (CD organizer) that Karen had purchased. I think the cards turned out great and that the card making was successful.

Here is my trusty, faithful card-making buddy Karen. We had so much fun... no children, no distractions, lots of good conversation and creative time. When all cards were completed, there was a total of 72!!! How's that for productivity?!

I've Been Tagged!

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B: Each player answers the questions about themselves
C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was 26, Rylee was 1 year, and Jason and I had just purchased our first NEW home. It was in Post Falls, ID. We had it built from the ground up. It was a fun, but a very stressful process. I guess we haven't recovered yet, because we purchased homes since, but have never had one built again. :o)

2. What was on my to-do list for today?
Take the big kids to school across town. Take Abree to pre-school across town. Shop for some pillows to go on our new leather couch...and whatever else struck my fancy for our new house. Unpack, unpack, unpack. Pick the kids up from school. (Got the shopping and picking up done, but didn't get much unpacking done.)

3. What would I do if I suddenly became a billionaire?
Hire someone to organize and clean my house. Hire someone to cook for me and my family. Buy a house/car for each person in my family (mom/dad/siblings). Go on a family cruise. Hire some one to manage my money.

4. 3 Bad habits...
-Staying up WAY too late
-Procrastinating
-Getting on my kids about messes, instead of enjoying and playing with them

5. Places I have lived.....
Boise, ID
Spokane, WA
Post Falls, ID
West Valley, UT
Twin Falls, ID
Boise, ID
Meridian, ID

6. Places I have worked...
KFC (Couldn't eat fried chicken for years...sadly I'm over it now.)
Hewlett Packard
My home

7. 3 Things people don't know about me...
-I wish I could take a pill for FULL nutrition, instead of food. I don't like to cook and I eat too many sweets.
-I have a special talent where I can squirt water through my two front teeth, several feet away. Ask me, I'll show you sometime.
-I don't get bored. I love to have quiet, thinking time.

I would like to tag; Tiffany, Krissi and Arianne.

Sleep Over & School Carnival

Instead of having a friend birthday party this year, Taylee chose to have a friend spend the night. On Friday, Taylee's good friend Kaisha came over after school and hung out with us for the night. I made a "sleep over cake" for the occasion. Can you tell who's who? My favorite part of the cake was the little teddy bears they were each holding. Aren't they cute?!

Grandma McKinley invited us to come to her school's Family Fun Night Carnival. There was a $10 entrance fee per family. That included all the hotdogs, chips, pop and carnival gaming you could stand. There was also karaoke and a .10 cent book sale going on. The kids had so much fun running around and doing all that they could do, I barely saw them.

Rylee and Tawnya doing some karaoke-ing.

Sweet Katelyn.

Face painting was one of the highlights.

"Look, I got a flower on my cheek Audrey!"

Crazy, good friends Taylee & Kaisha.

Flat Stanley's Visit

Our good friend Emilie sent us Flat Stanley for a school project. Stanley helped us move and then went about our day-to-day life with us. He baked brownies with Rylee, ate a cupcake with Taylee (for her birthday), did homework with Treyson and went to pre-school with Abree. He's probably been on greater adventures, but we were glad he came to visit us. ---Emilie, if Stanley hasn't made it back to you yet...he's on his way!