Go Fly a KITE!!!

So Ethan got a kite for his birthday from one of his friends and has been begging someone, anyone, to help him fly it. Finally one evening I decided it was time to put down what I was doing and help him .

We went onto the driveway and starting flying....I'm not sure if you've ever seen a kids face the first time they ever fly their own kite, but I forgot how cool it is. Ethan could not believe how high we got it! I could have helped him get it higher, but didn't because we weren't in a open field or anything...no power lines, so that's good. But we were still able to get it pretty high!

Ethan LOVED flying it! And Sadie loved watching!

Watching the kite soar in the air was so calming. It was kind of therapy for stress. I guess sometimes you just have to sit back, take a look at the simple things and breathe out.

Thanks Ethan.

Carnival Fun...

So last weekend we took the kids to their school's Carnival. I have to say, I was not excited to go, since last year we went and it was 95+ degrees and no shade, not enough to drink...just plain miserable. You know you have to really love your kids to put yourself through that kind of torture...

Well this year, everything seemed to be better. Starting with the weather...a nice 80 degrees. Not too hot. It was nice. Second, I learned last year that the food is not very good, so we ate dinner at home before we went. Third, the carnival company the school contracted with was much, much better. They had better slides, bounce houses, and even a mini train!

Another reason why I had lots of fun, was I had just ordered a new camera case. It's a backpack designed for camera equipment. I was super excited to try it out, so I wore it all evening. LOVE IT!

I was able to get some really fun shots of the kids...

Sadie thought the slide looked really fun....from a distance. Once we got her up close, paid the tickets, and helped her up, she immediately turned around and got off. Luckily they were nice enough to give us our tickets back...

Spencer had a lot more patience waiting in lines. While Ethan went on 4 or 5 bounce things, Spencer patiently waited for the cool obstacle course bounce house.

Spencer also held Ethan's place in line for the American Gladiator battle. I think it's pretty funny how they randomly chose their color of helmets which matched their clothes!

It was really entertaining to watch. I didn't upload the 35 photos I took during their 4 minute battle. They could barely lift the big battle sticks!

So while the boys were running from activity to activity, I played with Sadie on the playground. She loved going down all the slides...she's so brave! They were tall!

After a while we noticed a mini train. I rounded up Ethan and thought, here we go again, she will get scared at the last minute. I was wrong! She hopped right in the train and smiled and waved! She LOVED it! She loved it so much, she didn't want to get off!

My FAVORITE picture... How cool is this pic? Doesn't his face say it all?

So, I guess I haven't sworn off the school carnival. I'm willing to give it another try next year, since this year was actually a lot of fun!!!

Happy 7th Birthday Ethan!!!

So our second son turned seven on June 15th. Wow does time fly! I can't believe this cute kid is almost finished with 1st grade (we have year round school, so the last day isn't until July 1st) and will be a big 2nd grader!

Ethan is such a fun kid. He chose to have a water party with his friends this year. So on Saturday, we had 15 kids running around throwing water balloons, running through water, and spraying each other with water guns. It was a crazy, great time!

Ethan is growing so tall. He wears the same size shirt as Spencer now and is only behind 1 size in pants! The kid is going to be tall!

Ethan is and has always been my cuddler...I love that he wants to snuggle up and watch a movie, or give me hugs twenty times a day. I know whenever I sit on the couch that Ethan and a blanket are only minutes away. It's awesome!

Ethan is doing lots better now since having his tonsils out. He sleeps better, eats better and even plays better...because he can breathe better! He says he has more energy. It seemed like he had a lot of energy before, but now, wow...you can't stop him!

Happy Birthday Ethan! We love you!

Can't stop....

Ok. I'm addicted... thanks Becky and Vanessa for challenging me! Everyone has to try this!



80 words

Happy Father's Day

So I have to do a little blog about the Father's in my life. Let's start with my Father....

He's pretty much the most awesome Dad ever! I'm so grateful for him. (Even though you would have never guessed it when I was a teenager...) I hope he's having a great Father's Day down in Dixie...

The top ten best things about my DAD:

10. He has the most out-going friendly personality EVER. My Dad can strike up a conversation with ANYONE. Even if they don't speak his language. He tries anyway. He is especially friendly with employee's of Costco, Walmart, any restaurants, etc.

(The above picture is Dad receiving his Silver Beaver award in Scouting...it's quite the honor)

9. He can't seem to stay awake when sitting. Anytime my Dad sits down anywhere (except the dinner table) he immediately starts dosing off. Love it! (notice camera in hand while sleeping.)

8. He's so caring. My Dad is always doing what he can to help others out. Just a little while ago he helped out a family in his neighborhood when on a Father/Son Campout by driving their car 2 hours home for them and then going back to get his own car. Not only did he return their car to them, he filled it with gas and gave it a nice car wash.

7. He LOVES to take pictures. I grew up on film. I never recall one birthday, Christmas, or any other significant event where the camera was not present. And it was usually the video camera combined with still pictures. MANY, MANY pictures. You will never find him without his camera. Thanks Dad...I love photography because of you.

6. He's usually late. Why is this something I love? Because now I know where I get the habitually late problem. Always late, but worth the wait? Of course Dad you are worth the wait!

5. Rubbity, dubbity dub. This song was sung to me my entire life while bouncing up and down on my Dad's knee. We now sing and play the same fun activity with our own kids.

4. A Good Grandpa. My Dad does his very best to be to all of my kids events. He even drives up from St. George to attend their 2 hour birthday parties.

3. An inspiring organist...My Dad knows 2 songs on the organ and figured it justified buying a 6 foot by 7 foot console pipe organ. (which takes up most of his family room in Eagle Mountain) He has taught me that if you have a dream...go after it...BIG!

2. He's so GIVING. Example...I was talking on the phone to him and telling him how the school called to tell me Ethan had been stung by a bee (this was a couple years ago) and I was gone shopping and I didn't have a cell phone so they couldn't get a hold of me. I felt so guilty. That night my Dad showed up on my porch with a new cell phone for me.

1. He's my DAD!!!!

I love you Dad and Happy Father's Day!

Ok. so let's go to my Father-in-law. Here are the top 10 reasons why I love my Father-in-law...

10. He is a wonderful Grandpa! He is always so much fun with all the kids and they love visiting him in Grandpa's den. 9. He's a Guinness! He knows everything about everything! He has helped us with more house projects than I can count...sink installation, ovens, dryers, dishwashers...he just knows everything!

8. My number 1 back up technical support. Whenever I have a computer issue, Dad is always there bailing me out! He is incredible on the computer and understands all that computer language stuff. Thanks Dad!

7. He has a great sense of humor. I'm always getting the most hilarious emails from him and at dinner he share the funniest stories.

6. He is a very selfless person. He is always thinking about others. Recently he generously gave to all of his children...just because. Wow.. so cool!

5. He is very FAIR. Everything is very fair with Dad. I really appreciate that. There is not one child who gets more than another for any reason. He is very careful to evenly divide everything...food, soda...etc. (Matt told me these stories from his childhood)

4. He's a great planner. Dad is always looking at the future and thinking 10 steps ahead to what is next. He is the most financially prepared person I know! Who else do you know that pays off their home at age 40 with six kids? Cool...I know.

3. He loves camping. I'm glad to have a Dad who loves being outdoors and going on camping trips. Years ago he got a HiLo camping trailer and took such great care of it. So now, we get to enjoy the outdoors in the same trailer!! Thanks DAD!

2. He raised my husband. Dad must have been an excellent father when raising his children, because I LOVE my husband and the person he is. So thanks to you Dad I have the love of my life!

1. He's MY Father-in-law!

I love you Dad and Happy Father's Day!

Ok. Now for the Grand Finale...can you handle it? Here are the top ten reasons why my husband is "da bomb"....

10. He's the only Dad I know who makes up crazy songs about each of his kids and sings it to them practically every day.

9. He never misses one of the kids events...soccer games, etc. He bends over backwards to make sure he is always there for them. In fact this year, he even coached Ethan's soccer team...to have the patience to tell eight 7-year-olds how to play soccer...if that isn't love and dedication, I don't know what is!

8. He lets his daughter pile stuffed animals over him and "tuck" him in....repeatedly.

7. He loves taking the kids on hikes, camping trips, and all kinds of fun outdoor activities.

6. He has a really super soft spot in his heart for Sadie...I think the sweetest thing was when Sadie was born and the way he held her...as a fragile little princess...ahhh.sigh, just so tender and sweet...

5. He is such an amazing, dedicated provider. Matt works so hard at his job everyday. I'm not sure how he handles it every day....I think I would go crazy!!!

4. He takes time to really teach the kids stuff. When the boys need help with a project or are interested in the project he may be working on, Matt always steps aside and guides the boys through projects. I'm continually impressed with how he really teaches them, instead of just doing it for them. (which of course is much faster and easier.) Like when he was teaching Spencer to mow the lawn. He walked him through everything step by step, letting Spencer try everything himself...that takes some serious patience people!!!

3. He makes a point to spend quality time with each kid individually. Every Saturday Matt takes one of the boys out to lunch to the restaurant of their choice. It's their time to just hang out together. The boys look forward to this every week.

2. He's such a great example of service. Matt always seems to get callings in church that are pretty busy and keep him gone on Sunday's. He never complains and is always willing to do what's asked of him. He takes the boys with him to deliver reimbursement checks every Sunday.

1. He's mine!!!

Happy Father's Day Matt! I love you lots! You're a great Dad...thanks!!!

Our little princess......

So after watching mommy put on make-up everyday, Sadie decided it was her turn to give it a try. This is what it looked like...


I'm pretty impressed because she actually did get the mascara on her eyelashes! And the eyeliner was on her eyelids! What a sweetheart....just very busy and into EVERYTHING! Sadie is such a curious and brave little girl....I think that combination is what keeps me running around everyday...chasing her...

Love you Sadie! But no makeup!

New Camera....let's have some fun!

So I decided that my business was ready for it's first major purchase....a new camera. And not just a camera, a Nikon D300. The greatest of the great. I spent many weeks contemplating this HUGE desicion, and ultimately decided to go for it. A little scary, but I guess you have to have a little guts in any business, right? So the instruction manual for this camera is 450 pages long! It's taking me a while to get through all of it and then try to actually apply what instructions it's giving me! Needless to say, I've taken HUNDREDS of practice pictures....and some of them are just too cute to delete...like these of Sadie....

Sorry for yet another collage, but there are sooo many pictures!!! My new camera can take 6 pictures in 1 second!!! That means I can capture every little emotion. The boys commented and said it's almost like watching a movie! It really is...it's literally a play by play!

So anyway...

Here's my little pitch....

HELP ME PAY OFF MY CAMERA!!!!!!!!!

Tell EVERYONE you know about my business, post links on your blogs, what ever it takes so I can feel better about my purchase!!!

Click here to see updated blog!!! www.pinkdaffodilphoto.blogspot.com

If you refer someone who books and completes a session, YOU will get 10% off your next session PLUS a free 8x10 print!!! And of course, the more your refer...the cheaper your session gets!!!! For more pricing details, click here to view my pricing page...

Many of you have already hired me, so thank you! I appreciate all of your business. I'm having lots of fun capturing "daily miracles" on camera and turning them into neat wall displays. I would also like to shadow some other photographers, or be a "back-up" and weddings and stuff, so if you know anyone...send them my way!!!

Thank you everyone!!!

YAY!! Up and Coming Lawn Care Professional...

So the day has finally arrived!!! Spencer is finally old enough to mow the lawn! Matt couldn't be more excited to pass this "special" manly tradition onto his firstborn! Matt has tried for several years to teach Spencer, but he just wasn't quite tall enough to have enough leverage over the mower. He's finally tall enough and strong enough. It did take him most of the evening...(as you can see it got pretty dark) to finish, but hey, it's a MAJOR milestone around our house!

At the same time though it makes me just a little sad to see my little Spencer pushing a lawn mower...(which is NOT self propelled by the way, so it's pretty tough to push.) It's so amazing how fast your kids grow right before your very eyes. Spencer did a great job and was able to earn a little cash...(to be honest with you, that's the only way we could get him to do it!)

Either way, Matt is going to have a lot more fun this summer knowing he's got someone to help him with the lawn! So now he can help me with all the flower beds! YAY!

Busy, busy, busy...It must be summer time!

So I've been crazy busy lately...

I've had lots of photo shoots lately, which is sooo awesome! But it means LOTS of time at the computer editing and creating.

Recently I took the kids out for a little "location hunt" to find some more cool photo locations. These are some of the fun places we explored.

So besides the photo stuff.. we've been going to TONS of family events lately!!!

It all started on Sunday, with my nephew Tate's 1st birthday party which was lots of fun.

Then, on Memorial Day we attended the annual Gadd Reunion. What a fun day!!! It was so nice to see everyone, especially Brian and Carrie who drove down from Washington. The kids had a BLAST playing with their cousins!

Then on Thursday Matt's parents and All of Matt's siblings with spouses attended a temple session together...that was soo awesome to have EVERYONE there. It was a really neat evening. (more on this later...)

On Saturday evening, we went to my sister-in-law's 30th birthday party.

And finally on Sunday, we went to baby Brayden's blessing. (My sister Brittany's baby)

So this week...well, we're going to try and clean out our house for a huge garage sale. Hopefully I can get around to cleaning and getting everything ready...we'll see.

Also this week I was able to babysit my cute little nephew, Brayden, while my sister finished her last week as a school teacher at Bingham High. What a sweet little nephew I have!!! Sadie got a little jealous, but quickly realized that we could play dress up with the baby so together we dressed Brayden in tons of different outfits.

He's such an adorable kid! Plus he is a super good baby! Which makes it even more fun!

Somehow this week I managed to run out in the yard for a few minutes one evening and try to find the flower bed buried beneath all the morning glory...I know there is bare dirt under all those weeds somewhere!

So, this week could prove to be just as busy as last....I think this is how summer is going to be! My friend Lara said it well on her blog...winter is the best time for blogging! It seems like summer is just so crazy...the days seem to slip through your finger tips!

So I hope everyone has a great week!