Desperate for Blog Background!

Okay, so after frequenting so many creative looking blogs I've decided. . . I hate the look of my blog! It's just a free template I found on line and I would love to learn how to create my own. I've googled for directions but so far have not been able to find anything that is free. Does anyone know of a free program or how I might create my own template/background?????

Tuesday Play Group

Every tuesday, our ward has a playgroup in someone's backyard. We usually go after Rylee has her dance class and they have a lot of fun. This time, I decided to jump with some of the kids on the trampoline while they bounced around in the middle. They had such a good time that I got a friend of mine to video them playing. Of course, these kinds of games only end one way . . . somebody gets hurt. Once I was too tired to jump anymore I sat down, completly out of breath, next to the kids. They begged and begged for "just one more" and I gave in. So, I got up, began jumping again, and then it happened. Delaynee hit her nose on Cole's giant head! Game Over! This video is before that so you can see how much fun everyone was having while it lasted!

Rylee's Costume

Rylee has a dance recital coming up in May and we are so excited to see how much she has learned since last year. This is what her costume is going to be. Isn't it adorable! I love it! Her tap dance will be the "Showtime" and they are using canes. Her ballet is to "Has Anybody Seen My Gal" (I think that's what it's called, if not, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about). I don't know if they'll be wearing the hats or not but i hope so because I think it is so cute!

My Cute Kids!

We went to the Phoenix Science Center last weekend where there are four floors of all this science related games and hands on activities for the kids to do. It was so much fun! These are some pictures of the dinosaur exhibit. They were robotic so they moved around and Rylee was about to pet this one (below), but once it got close enough to her she backed away. I think it made her nervous because they looked so real!

I just love this picture of Rylee and Cole hugging! They love each other sooo much!
Rylee has the same dress and headband that Gracie has on in this picture. She was being so giggly after church that I had to get a picture of her cute, cute, cute smile!

. . . NEEDS. . .

I took our cousin Jen's advice and went to google to find out what our family needs. I went to google and typed in each of our names with the word "needs" after them and the internet comes up with some of the funnies things! Here is what my family needs. . .

Trina needs to call the garbage collection company.
Justin needs to start playing smash brothers again.
Rylee needs a less stressed out mama.
Cole needs to sit down and be quiet.
Gracie needs a family and a home.

Isn't it funny what the internet can come up with?

Baby Giggles

Here is the latest video of our sweet baby girl. I know I sound ridiculous in the background, but what I wouldn't do to hear her laugh! I just love hearing her coo and giggle!

Downtown Mesa

I was thinking that I don't take advantage of where we are living enough so I've begun today. The kids and I took a walk in downtown Mesa. There are so many shops that I would love to go into but I was afraid my kids might break everything in them so I'll have to go back another time for that. But today, there are several art sculptures along the sidewalks so we enjoyed a little culture looking for all the art work on our walk. This first picture is after the one store we did go into, a cookie shop! They were huge and delicious!

This is called "The Puddle Jumper"
The kids are attempting to immitate him.

"Nature's Balance"

"Booked for the Day"

"Betty"
We saw this one as we were driving home but elephants are the kids absolute FAVORITE animal, so we had to stop and take a picture. Of course, Cole thinks ALL elephants are Dumbo!

"The Big Pink Chair"(appropriately named)

"Walrus and Calf"

"The Lion of Flanders"

"Little Spuirt"

"Mom. . . can I keep him?"
I think this one has to be my favorite. Doesn't everyone have that story of the stray animal that we so desperatly want to keep for a pet? For me, it was the snakes I captured at the park and kept in my toy box. My dad always made us let them go at the end of the day :(

My Sweet, Sweet Husband

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! I wanted to share with all of you what a wonderful husband I have and what he did for me this Valentine's Day. This morning, I woke up to my favorite breakfast in bed (crepe's and strawberries). Justin got up especially early (and he gets up early anyway) just to make it for me. I thought that was the end of it since he said he'll give me my card tomorrow when we have our date, but I was mistaken. When I got out of bed and headed downstairs to make breakfast for my kids there was a piece of paper on the counter with my name on it. It must have been there at least 30 min. before I noticed it. At first, I just thought Justin must have forgotten to give this to me with my breakfast. I turned the paper over . . . and the scavenger hunt began! With the biggest smile I couldn't erase I ran around the house eagerly searching for each clue. He had them hidden everywhere! The medicine cabinet, my sons shoe, the bathroom drawer, the washing maching, the crockpot, the china hutch, and under the table. Each clue I found had a hint as to where the next one was hidden (it took my nearly 10 min. to find that last one!) Once I had all the pieces I realized they were actually puzzle pieces since each one had incomplete words on the back. I put the puzzle together and it was a big heart with a sweet message on it for me.
I give Justin a hard time because he has such a hard time thinking of things to do for me on special occasions, but he nailed it! My day could not have started any better! I love you, Justin!

My Valentine

I have read several Valentine's day tags and even though I have not been tagged I thought I would share a little about me and my Valentine.

Justin and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary last November 23. We met just two weeks after he got home from his mission in Venezuela and he gave me his first kiss! How sweet, right!? Well, anyone who knows us well has probably heard that story and it's pretty funny. You can ask me about it if you haven't heard it, but Justin may not allow me to share it too much. Anyway, we dated for about 10 months before we were engaged and had a four month engagement. Justin was the first to tell me that he loved me (another funny story). It was just before Chirstmas break and we were both leaving to see our families the next morning. I was about to leave and drive in horrible weather to see my family and Justin was worried that I might die and he may never get a chance to tell me. But I was excited to hear it anyway!

Our first date was probably the best one we had during our courtship. He took me to go through the corn maze where he planted probably the most memorable kiss of my life. It was funny because while he was kissing me, a family came around the corner and interupted us, or atleast tried to. While I pulled away from him so as not to offend the parents and their kids, he pulled me closer, determined not to let anyone ruin that moment for him! I wonder if that family's memory of that is similar to mine?

Anyway, Justin was determined not to marry the first person he dated (advice taken from his mom) so we broke up a few times so he could date other people, which he never did. Eventually, he just accepted the inevitable, he was one of the lucky one's who didn't have to waste his time with all the wrong ones and found "Mrs. Right" the first time around! Lucky him, right?!

Actually, I'm the lucky one. Justin has been more than the best husband to me. He has been my best friend, my confidente, my teacher, and my greatest example. He is the best father I could ever ask for to our children. I can see how much he loves them and me in his face everyday he comes home from work. He is visibly happy to be with his family and we adore him for that. Happy Valentine's Day Babe! I am so greatful we don't need a holiday to share how much we love eachother, but holiday's make it convenient for an excuse to do so. I love you!

Valentine's Day

I decided to go ahead and change my template to a Valentine one. Hope you all like it! I had to redo my sidebar after changing it. Does anyone know how to save your sidebar so I don't have to redo it every time I change my background?

Rylee's Mini Dance Recital

Rylee's dance class was invited to dance at a retirement community and here is most of the dance. I wasn't sure if my blog would allow more than 2 minutes so I had to cut it off just 15 sec. from the end :( But, it's adorable and she did great. Hope you enjoy!

Elder Blair Leishman

Justin's brother, Blair is serving a mission for our church in Mexico. These are a few pics that he sent us. The first is of a women he baptized and the little girls are kids of people he teaches. I thought they were adorable so I included that picture here too. Blair has been out for nearly one year and is loving the work. His letters are full of families that are excited to hear about the gospel and learn more. He's an awsome missionary and we love hearing all his stories. He'll be serving for another year and four months before he comes home but he's loving every minute he has out there. We love and miss him but we are so proud of the great work he is doing for our Heavenly Father.

Flower Girl

My friend Britta made these adorable headbands for Gracie and I just love them! I pretty much have her wear them with everything.

"Put up your dukes, I can take ya!"