Let's Play Beauty Salon

Rachel before she gave herself a haircut.














Rachel after some time in her homemade beauty salon.
"Why did you cut your hair?!?"
"Because my hair kept getting in my eyes."











Rachel after going to the real beauty salon.
"These people went to school to learn how to cut hair" I told her.














Thank you, oh thank you Master Cuts.

Silver Lake

Nathan called today and said he was going to be home early so I obviously started thinking about what we could do.




















I have been dying to go hiking so we thought we would head to Little Cottonwood Canyon and hike to Mary Lake.




















Unfortunately, we didn't know we would need snow shoes. . . so we walked around Silver Lake.




















The kids thought it was an excellent adventure because we had to climb over lots of snow. I never once heard and "I'm tired." In fact, when we suggested that we go back because of the snow they begged us to go forward.




















We had a great time.

Mrs. Baxter

In August I will be regaining my official title of Mrs. Baxter as a teacher at Wasatch Elementary. I will be teaching a class similar to the class I had the first time I taught for students with "emotional disabilities". It sounds like I will have 11 students ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade. I think I will like the school. I have only heard really great things about the principal and her willingness to be involved. Nate and I considered our options for next semester and we have taken the first one that worked out. We feel good about it and for the most part Nathan will be home with the girls while I am at work. Nathan will be able to finish up at Weber State and we'll have a little breathing room after he graduates so he can get a job he really wants. On a personal note, I am looking forward to stretching my wings a little. I hope that I have learned something over the past few years that will make me a better teacher this time around. Onward and upward!

Happy "Your the Best Dad Ever!" Day

This day is the day the Dad's get to do payback for all that us mothers made them do on Mother's Day. I guess that means I won't expect Nate to be helping me put the kids to bed tonight. Just the same, I am glad to celebrate with him. He is a wonderful Father and friend. I couldn't get by a day without him. He is absolutely adored by our children. They have him up on a pretty high pedestal and he lives up to their expectations. "Dad's the Best!" is a regular cry at our house. It's the truth.


Now, a call out to my own fabulous Father. How you put up with me as a teenager/young adult I am not sure. I know my ditsy driving must have really tried your patience but I was never truly afraid to come home and tell you about my latest mishap because I knew how you would react. I knew you would help me and I knew you wouldn't freak out. Your quiet way of guiding my life has been a blessing and I love you very much.



Finally, to Tom, my wise and patient Father-in-law, thank you for teaching Nathan so much about being a good father. I know much of who he is was nurtured by you. Your a wonderful Father-in-law to have. I chose well.


Happy Father's Day!!!!

Slightly Distracted

I have really been slacking on my blog. Why? Well, it's summer for one thing. We tend to let the kids stay up late and sleep in late which takes away from my free time to blog. We have also had a few things going on that have been anxiety producing for me. . . nothing serious. I have just been unable to focus. Mostly, though, I bought some digital scrap booking software for my birthday and I have been scrapping my heart out. It is awesome. It is so freakin easy to use. I can make a scrapbook page in twenty minutes that used to take me an hour. Plus, you can get almost all you paper and elements for free on line. There are an abundance of designers who want you to come to there web page so they give lots away for free. I'm hooked. It may be a bit before the brillance of it wears off. Here's a few of my recent creations. I got the free down loads for the paper and elements from Shabby Princess. Just go there and click on the downloads link. Shabby Princess has about ten free kits that are really cute.

You Got to Know the Lingo

Emily is making some great efforts to speak to us these days. It's nice and makes life less frustrating, but you have to know her lingo.

Hi Be (Hi Ben)
Dayday (Rachel)
Meme (Emily)
Dink (Drink)
Boobie (Blankie)
nana (of course, banana)
ba (bath)
toose (shoes)
She also touches her fingers to her mouth which means FEED ME NOW! She has perfected the words
Mom
Dad
HI
Bye
Dog
Bear
Meow
Ball
Barbie
MINE
NO
Give me money (haha, just kidding. But I am sure that will be coming soon)
Emily is a daddy's girl. Every day, around five when Nate is supposed to be coming home, she starts looking out the window and saying "Dada" over and over and over. I love this age, when they can say enough but not too much. It's lovely.

It's the Best Day Ever!

Last night I dreamed that the new issue of The Friend arrived at our house. When I looked at it I saw that Sponge Bob Square Pants was on the cover. "Thank Goodness" I thought. Maybe Sponge Bob isn't so bad for my kids. I mean, The Church seems to like him. Then I woke up. Dang! I guess I will have to continue to live with that worry.