Ali's Shower and our Girls' Trip!

This weekend my mom flew me and Ali to Salt Lake so that our families could have a baby shower for her. It ended up being weird timing with the close of our house, but I pried myself away from all the work and chaos and went. Shauna picked me up at the airport and we went to lunch, shopping and got ready for the shower. I am so lucky to have such a sweet mother-in-law!




Heidi came over early and I was happy to see her. She looked beautiful and her baby is due in only two weeks!! Ali and my mom and sisters arrived later, along with many of our other Mugleston and Hillstead family members and friends. It was a wonderful shower and she received many cute PINK things! Aren't she and Heidi so cute prego?! And Todd and Natalie's baby to DIE FOR?!







So the shower was Friday night and on Saturday we woke up bright and early and set out for Las Vegas. We planned to stay at the Mirage, and our goal (more theirs than mine) was to find some SUN and WARMTH by the pool! It was so much fun driving over together and cracking up at each other! Our road trip even included a ticket for mom... which she managed to get just about an hour and a half into the drive. Classic!



So we did lay by the pool a lot, we ate at the Paris Hotel, and road the NY, NY roller coaster (not ali or mom). We shopped at the outlets, walked through the Venician to see the Gondolas, ate twice at California Pizza Kitchen and I will admit, gambled and LOST $22 in blackjack. (as indicated in the picture below - those machines are RIGGED)

I think my mom had fun and truly enjoyed her 50th birthday celebration with her girls. We are SO, SO lucky to have her, she is the rock of our family.. the glue that holds us all together. She is an incredible woman, whom I look up to in so many ways. Plus, she is fun! And it was another great trip for the family history books.











P.S. I couldn't have gotten away without some serious help on the part of Tyler, of course, who was an angel to send me on my way, and my friends Wendy and Jill and babysitters Heather and Bailey... I feel like this is the Grammys ... but it is true. THANK YOU ALL!!!

Ooops I did it again...

After I re-did my big red hutch I swore myself off of refinishing furniture. But this week I was at Savers and found this desk for Ashley's room for $12 and couldn't resist. Comparatively speaking this was easy and Ashley is happy even though she really wants it painted "colorful stripes". I did the little pedestal legs pink to coordinate with the hardware but I don't know if looks dumb or not. What do you all think (if you think I should do them white be honest, it's just another can of paint). I am liking that fact that I got her a new desk for so cheap and the beauty of this furniture is that she can color on it, ding it up, etc and I lose no hair.




p.s. I just spoke with my mom and sisters about it and they said I should do the legs white and find a cute chair to paint pink. Brilliant, I like that idea. Time to head back to Savers I guess! :)

My handsome missionary brother

I received these pictures today from Drew who is still serving in the Baltimore, MD mission, Spanish speaking. Right now he is in the Annapolis area and loving it! I can't believe how handsome he is ... and manly he has become. We haven't see him for over a 13 months now!

My growing up girl

When I get pictures back like this, I find myself staring at them and wondering where the time has gone. My pretty little girl is growing up so fast! Ashley holds a special spot in our family because she is our only girl. She adds color and emotion and compassion and beauty to our home, like only a daughter/sister can! I love her so much!

Fun at the Zoo

Jake and the cow
Maddie and I, together at last
Luke and the monkey with a red behind (ha ha!)
The kids and a Rhino
Maddie and I from behind

My Happy Birthday

I turned 29 this week and had a great birthday!

My celebrations began Tuesday night when my dear friend Jilly took me out for the night. Her sweet daughter Katie took my kids until Tyler could get home for them, and our night was a joy! We went to dinner at a great new place (for me) called Pita Jungle. It wasn't anything like I expected and delicious! Then we went and did a little bargain shopping and to the movies!! I am so thankful to have a good friend like Jill who is supportive in so many ways! THANK YOU JILL, I HAD A GREAT TIME!!


On Wednesday my sister Maddie arrived for a visit and brought a lot of freshness and fun into the whole week for me! We went to the zoo, to lunch and for pedicures on my birthday, out to eat at Pita Jungle and IN and OUT and Logan's Roadhouse and Sonic.. eeww - AND to the gym for a cycling class (it's not all input!). Yesterday she helped me clean our new house (we move in two weeks) and she has just been SO FUN to have around!! It really makes me wish I had a sister or MOM close!! But we've already beat that dead horse.



Of course my kids and Tyler remembered my birthday too. Ty made waffles in the morning, got me some new running shoes, and took me out kitchen table shopping and to PF Changs. And the kids hooked me up with a clearance box of Valentine's chocolates. Wow! All in all, I felt very grateful for so much love in my life.



The pretty jewelry Shauna sent me... I've worn it all week.

Modeling the new apron my mom made me!

I think I received more fun mail and phone calls this week than I do the rest of the year combined. Which reminds me, I want to share that my adorable father-in-law Steve called to wish me a happy birthday from the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Salt Lake (where he volunteers time playing the piano) and serenaded me "Happy Birthday to you", and "Forever my love"!! I put the phone on speaker and Maddie and I were dying, it was very cute.

My 1st grade drummer-boy

Tonight Luke had his very first drum performance at school. When I read the program I was surprised to find that he was performing with only two other friends in his class, and he wasn't a bit nervous! He did great and I will try to upload the video again tomorrow - didn't work tonight. He must have gotten his drumming skills from his grandpa Mark! P.S. I also got him his first suit for church last week and couldn't move the car until I'd gotten a picture of his handsomeness. Where has my baby gone?!

First Solar's Spring Training Event

Last weekend Tyler's company hosted a Spring Training BBQ Lunch and took us all to see a game. It was a lot of fun and one of the first times we've gotten together as a family with the families of those he works with. They were all really nice. His building is located near the fields but they had arranged buses for us to ride over on which was fun for all. They also gave everyone a big goody bag with FS hats, suncreen, baseballs, blow up bats and treats. They thought of everything.