March Madness Baby!

Every year we do a John family bracket for March Madness. We always have a lot of fun with it. Since we were with Courtney and Jared for most the beginning of the games, we also did a bracket with them. That is Randy's way of making everyone want to watch the games. Of course this game he didn't have to make me watch! The TV has a little blur... but if you look closely you can tell its our own Noah Hartsock in the first round of playoffs. Gooooo Cougars!!

Randy was so fun to watch! The game was quite exciting and if he wasn't on the edge of his seat, he was standing in front of the TV so no one else could see! Luckily, BYU won this game! We did pretty good in our brackets with the Geislers, however we both lost big time in our family bracket! It was a crazy year in basketball... and we can't wait for next year!

Sharing Jada's Special Day!

We felt so lucky to be in Utah on Jada's fourth birthday! We had a fun little party with the Buttars/Lowders/Geisler crew! As always, it was great to see everyone again. Our last visit was in December for Brian's funeral so it was good to see them under different circumstances.

This was our first time to meet Elijah Brian Buttars, Brians son who was born a couple weeks after the funeral. Isn't he adorable!! He looks so much like his brother Cole and like his dad! Here he is loving on his grandma Jan. It was great to see Colette and the kids again and to see how well they are doing.

And here is more of the clan! Miles, Chelsea, baby Nixan, Jordan, and Kelli.
I love this picture of Ashton! She is lovin' her cupcake! She actually just sat there and licked it over and over again! Whatever works!

Playin' the GREENS on St. Patrick's Day

The day after we got to Utah was St. Patrick's Day. We decided to take the kids miniture golfing. Look at these cool kids! Gabe, Austin and Avery... they were too cool to stay close to us! I had to run over and find them to take their picture. But I heard there were quite a few hole in ones!

Ashton enjoyed playing around. She is at the age where she doesn't want any help, including showing her how to play. Who knows, maybe she will come up with a better way to get that ball in the hole!

Here's Jada waiting patiently for Addie to hit her ball. Addie actually did pretty good, I mean, look at that form!! She probably gets that from her mom.

And here are Jared, Courtney and Randy- the spectators at this event. Randy and Jared did find another day to get away to a real golf course. This day we just laughed at the stories about another time when Court and Jared were miniture golfing and some guy fell into the water!

Hangin' with the Geislers

Here is our sweet Geisler family that insisted we stay with them. Gabe, Jada, Jared and Courtney. I have to admit I was nervous. I didn't want to interupt their schedule... not to mention bringing all four kids... but it didn't take long for all those worries to go away. Our kids got along great and we felt right at home. We LOVE our Geislers, and think of them as family! As you can see, Ashton decided she needed to be in this Geisler family picture!

I had to take a picture of Jared and Ashton because they became buddies. She always walked up to him and had him hold her. It was so cute!

Our first night we went to check out the mall, and the Easter Bunny was there. Here is Gabe and Avery rockin' it with their awesome bunny ears!

We were so excited to get Addie and Jada together! Their personalities are so much alike and we couldn't wait to see how they would be together. We were hoping that they wouldn't clash but that it would be a good thing... and I think it was! They became good friends. We got a few good laughs from them but for the most part they were great. Luckily Jared and Courtney are alot like Randy and I!

Up, Up and Away!

For spring break this year (yes, I have some catching up to do on my blog!) we went up to Utah. Randy and I kept going back and forth on what we should do. My youngest brother, Joe, was getting married in SLC that weekend, and in the end we decided to take the whole family. The kids were so excited. This was Ashton's first time on a plane, Austin and Addie both rode once but before they were two years old, and Avery was four the last time she rode on a plane. They couldn't wait!

As soon as the stewardist saw the kids, she grabbed them and brought them to meet the pilot and sit in the cockpit. That was such a treat! What a great way to start off their first trip to Utah.

We took turns as to who sat by who and also who got to sit by the window! Austin was the first in the window seat. You can tell how special he feels!

They couldn't wait to take off. For the most part, the kids did awesome! We stopped in Denver both times, and the second leg of the journey was always the hardest for Ashton because she wouldn't fall asleep on the plane. Besides taking off and landing, our kids LOVED riding on the moving sidewalks in the Denver airport. Oh man, did they love it. Addie really surprised me... she jumped on and off those things like she had always been doing it!

Oh... to be a kid again!

We had our friend, Addison Peck, over the other day and the kids decided to have a little dance/gymnastics "class". I had to tape them! Addison got a little shy when she saw me recording but warmed up after awhile. Oh, to be young again and have so much energy!! It's always fun to walk in and see all the kids playing nicely together. Even Ashton was showing off her moves!

Lunch at Gum-Gum's

It's so easy to get caught up in the every day mundane parts of my life. Mornings are so crazy getting every one ready and making sure they catch the bus. On Mondays and Tuesdays after the bus comes, I have to rush to get Addie ready for school. Once I drop her off Ashton and I run crazy to get grocery shopping and errands run before she needs a nap and then its time to pick up Addie. On Wednesdays we babysit sweet little baby Kate so by the time Thursday comes around I'm pooped! However, my conscience has been getting to me and I have always felt bad for not spending more time visiting my grandma. So recently the girls and I have been taking my mom over to have lunch with my sweet grandma. She has always been such an important part of my life and I hope that I am as involved with my grandchildren as she has been with hers. She will be turning 85 this March and I feel so blessed to have had so much time with her and that my children are able to know and love her like I do. My oldest nephew came up with the name "Gum-Gum" and it has stuck with all the great-grandchildren.

Addie and Ashton get so excited when we pull up to the driveway and they start yelling "Gum-Gum" because they love being there. The only bad part is that Avery and Austin aren't with us. Every time I let the girls know in the morning that we will be going to Gum-Gum's, Avery and Austin beg to go! But once summer rolls around we will all be able to go! Spending time with family is much more important than the dirty house we come home to on Thursdays. I bet you can guess what I do ALL DAY Friday!! :-)