Kiss a 1000 frogs before you find your prince

Frogs! -Cute to look at, but not so cute to touch. (As Mykael and Eli demonstrate here.)

When Eli was shown the frog, he would yell and make this face. It was the funniest thing. So, we kept doing it to him, just for pure entertainment on our part. I love being a parent.

"Oh, just kiss it already Kael...maybe this is your prince!"

Survivor Man

For any of you who have cable and like to watch Survivor Man, you will appreciate this the most. For the rest of you....it's a funny story, actually it's disgusting but kids will do the darndest things.

Jaden LOVES to watch this particular show and for his birthday, we got him the first series on dvd. WELL... I don't know if that was the greatest idea because in the next few pictures, you will understand why. There are reasons why people do stuff like this in a "survival" situation. In one particular episode, the guy, (I forgot his name) shows you how to eat and cook up a grasshopper. Jaden decided he wanted to find out if you could REALLY do that, so the kids went grasshopper hunting. Unfortunately they were VERY successful and we had one too many grasshoppers than what they needed to try this experiment of theirs. (I finally had to tell them to stop hunting them and eating them.)

First, you take your grass hopper.

Next you pull off the head and the guts come out with it. Kind of like cleaning a fish if you can do it the right way.

Then you take a small stick and insert into the bug just like a kabob.

After that, place it on a hot rock that has been sitting in a fire and wait for it to turn charcoal black. (That way, all you taste is ash. More edible that way.)

Ashton was too eager to take this next insect, he chomped down on that before i could get a picture of the "hot off the grill" dish is so delicately clamped down on. But trust me....he ate it.

And the drink i held out for him...didn't need it. It "tasted good," he said GROSS!!!!

St. George water fun

After we moved from St. George to where we are now, they built this awesome water park a half block away from our old home. Go figure!!! Luckily, we still go down quite frequently to visit grandma and we can still enjoy it. The kids had a blast and the cool thing was Dylan was able to get in and be safe. The water level was very low. Just for the purposes of babies being able to sit and splash too.

Fish out of water

In this lovely city that i live, we have "irrigation" water that runs the deep gutters on, almost, a daily basis. ALL of my children are drawn to it like it's their second home. One day, they, and the neighbors started a "project". "Let's see how big of a dam we can build and how much water can we pool up"? Well....It flooded their yard and the neighbors behind me. But when your grass is being watered for free....who could complain?

Just do it!

I have been without internet for a time now and in that short period of time, i've been a little bored. We may all know that what happens when we are bored may not be the best thing for us, and other times....more rewarding. (although, those moments are more on the rare side.) I decided that a change was needed in myself and i've envied a particular hairstyle for awhile now but was hesitant due to the fact that i would be losing A LOT of hair all at once. I decided that the time had come and just went for it. If i gave it too much thought it would've been only a trim and nothing worth blogging about. BUT... I must say, it turned out quite well. Don't you? Angelle came over yesterday and chopped it for me. She did an awesome job and i love it. I think i'll leave it like this for a while. (i.e. i won't start the "growing out" period quite yet.)

My most common question that i've been asked, (cause i'm sure your wondering) "How did the kids react?" Well, Eli kept giving Angelle the "mad face" look throughout the entire cut. Ashton didn't really care. I'll ask him if he likes it, and he'll say yes. Dylan...appreciates that at night, i'm not whipping him in the face when i'm trying to get it out from underneath me. Mykael ran up to me after getting home and instantly took notice and said she loved it. Jaden....also ran up to me, but to tell me about his day. After awhile, me, mykael, and angelle were looking at each other wondering if he was ever going to take notice. Finally mykael decided that she was going to give him a rather large clue by yelling, "I LIKE YOUR HAIR AUDREY!" and i replied loudly, "THANKS JADEN, I MEAN MYKAEL!" he then said, "Oh, i didn't notice. I thought those were just your bangs." Jared kept telling me throughout the day how much he liked it. For any that may be considering a change, go for it!

The Lewis Gathering/ Birthday Party

I was able to go up to Idaho for a few days with the three little ones and it just so happened to be mi padre's "happy birthday" (as Ashton would call it.) A big party was planned for him and other people who celebrated the day of their birth in April.

Here are the pics from that event.

The food was Magnificent *kissing fingertips* (as Joe is demonstrating for us. For those who are asking yourself....that's bacon, not a dead cockroach.)

and I think every one in attendance had a great time. I DID! I always love getting together with my family.

At one point, I noticed that there was some sort of commotion going on with Ashton so i went to check it out. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Look momma, Grandpa Lewis is here!" And had nestled himself up all safe and secure between my uncles legs. He truly thought that this was Grandpa Lewis. I was trying to explain to him that it was grandpa's brother, but he was convinced otherwise. I even had him take his sun glasses off to show Ash his eyes. But still Ashton wouldn't believe me. It wasn't until later when my parents arrived that i was able to show Ash that the real grandpa had arrived. By that point, time and play had elapsed enough that he didn't really care what i was talking about. (no offense to my dad.) For all he knew grandpa probably just changed his shirt.

We even had a "special guest". Batman came to entertain the party. He even came in "civilian clothes" and changed in his phone booth. (Oh wait, that was superman, huh? Well he was there too!!) LOVE YOU CORBIN!

Wait a minute..... Aren't the horses suppose to be the ones penned up?

Eli sure took to the horses like a fish in water. Maybe there's more Lewis blood in him that i had thought. Aunt Karen sure got a kick out of his excitement!

Ashton was a little more on the hesitant side, but being forced upon that large animal paid off and he actually had a good time. Once you're up there, it is quite a scary drop to the ground. I'm sure even more so if you are 4 years old.

Looking so suave in their sunglasses.

You may be asking why i would put this picture on here. It's not to show you how retarded Oliver looks we already knew that, or to see how Joe's tan is coming along on his forehead and balding head, or even to see my great flashy smile. But..., to show Susan how cute this outfit is on Dylan. I love it and the colors are great for his complexion. Good choice. And thank you!!!

...how does your garden grow?

Since posting the blog about planting a garden, i have to be honest and say that just two days ago, i am only 3/4 of the way done. The hard part was having to pull out all the nasty crab grass after tilling it. (any suggestions on how to get rid of it PERMANETLY, are surely welcome!) . After "weeding" along the fence i lost my ambition to tackle the larger garden area. It took me a few days (ok. more like a week) to get the motivation to work on the rest. It wasn't until my green thumbed neighbor 'Farmer John' (name has been changed) started planting his, that i felt pressured to get mine in as well. SO....one evening i told jared that i was going to get SOMEthing done in the garden so i could tell myself that i did accomplish at least one small task, (A much needed conviction to myself that i wasn't being "slothful", I suppose.) told Jared that he had the kids and ran out the house before any objections came hurling my way. (actually he gladly accepted the challenge.) I had been working for awhile when Mykael came out wanting to help. Ashton then came out too.
*Ok, picture this....Darkness has settled, three people out in the garden, digging in the dirt while having three large flashlights strategically placed around the designated working area, wind blowing dirt and hair into our eyes, (I should've stopped at that point but was determined to get something planted.) I'm wearing a headband with a flashlight on it,(like what spilunkers would use. You'd think i was mining for gold, the way i looked.) We're trying to make straight rows to plant little peas into. Dropping them and wondering if they landed in the little hole. AND trying to instruct little ones the know-hows of planting a garden when pretending to know for yourself. It was fun nonetheless. We got in one row of snap peas and called it quits just when the rain drops started to fall. :o)
Fast forward a few more days.....And 3/4 of the garden is planted. We just need to do tomatoes, beans, and corn then we can be "done". Oh! and i have to mention....after planting a large portion, we woke up the next morning to a "lovely" (yes, that is sarcasm seaping through that word) lovely thin white blanket of snow. Talk about depressing! I have been quoted in the past of saying how much i missed the snow, but this is getting ridiculous. (St. George is becoming more and more RE-appealing to me as we continue with this insane weather pattern.) I look forward to being able to wake up to warm sun ALL DAY LONG! (yes, i know....i will be eating those words as well, later in the year.)
In the meantime to satisfy mine and Jared's cravings of a lush and fruitfilled crop instantly, we planted inside some little seedlings that have grown into such beautiful little....sprouts. Actually they're starting to take over my extra bedroom and i keep hoping that the weather will warm up soon so that i can plant them into their new "homes" outside. (I guess this is kind of like what it's going to be like when my own little "seedlings" will need "relocating".) Anyhow...
There is still lots to do. The up-keep alone will get on my nerves, but hopefully after working so dilligently through the growing season, i will have good news of our bountiful harvest. And a great tan at that! (Cross your fingers!)