Fourth of July Weekend!

The girls have been wanting to camp in the backyard forever, so we thought it would be the perfect time... (especially since we are going camping for real in a couple of days... for more than one night... out in the wild... no electricity or running water... so nervous!) They had so much fun. We roasted smores in the fire pit and had a blast setting up "camp". I regretfully wasn't going to fit in our little tent, so a graciously decided to sleep inside:) Well long story short, they ended up coming in a 1am because a storm came... Oh well. We spent the 4th at my sisters for pool and BBQ and then went to Mike's parents house for dessert and fireworks! I love the 4th!

Kate's B-Day Party!

This was Kate's first official B-day bash! We did a Hawaiian Luau. I decorated our house and backyard all Hawaiian complete with blow up palm trees. Ive decided I need a sensor button- I can't just semi decorate, I have to go all out. I think it took me 4 hours total to decorate for an hour and a half party!:) Oh well it was worth it. She had so much fun with her friends and even her Grandma Jani and Uncle Jeremy were there. We had pool games, water balloons, limbo, pizza and beach cupcakes (graham crackers crumbled on the icing w/ little umbrellas. They had a blast! Happy Birthday Kate!

Meet Whitney!

Brad and Sara have been waiting for Whitney for awhile now and we are so happy she is finally here! They adopted her from Ghana, Africa. She arrived last week and she is the most precious thing in the world!! We are all so in love with her. She is so sweet and is doing so well adjusting. She has lots of family close by that is so excited to finally have her here. This is last week when we met her for the first time. She just gave us loves without even needing to know who we were. Its like she already knew we were family and we loved her!

Bahamas!!

We had such an amazing time on Mike's company trip. The Atlantis was amazing. We stayed at the resort most of the time, except a couple boat outings with the company. We did the water slides the rest of the time. It was so fun. We felt like kids. That's all we wanted to do. They was even water slides that went thru of tube surrounded by sharks. It was a blast. So fun but so happy to be back where we don't have to spend a couple hundred dollars a day just on food.... it's soooo expensive!! Thank heavens for State Farm or we would have eaten protein shakes all day!

Last Days of Kindergarten!!:(

So I had to come to grips that Kate is no longer a baby anymore (I know, its taken almost 6 years). I can't believe that she is going to be in first grade. I can't imagine having her gone ALL day! :( She is such a sweet heart! They did a Hawaiian dance at the dance festival. It was so cute!! I can't believe how fast time passes...

Kindergarten Field Trip to the ZOO!

So much to see and sooo many crazy 5 year olds!! I had so much fun with Kate at the zoo. It was fun to see how she is around her school friends. I've never been so exhausted trying not to loose anyone's kid in the midst of what seemed like a million children... wow I needed the biggest diet coke and nap after!!:)

Meet Roxy

So the dog thing didn't work out so well... don't worry we found him an amazing home!! So we promised the girls that we would get a smaller, less likely to chew everything, poo and pee on the floor kind of pet. SO we settled on a cat... and we are so happy!! Roxy is soooo much easier than any pet we've had (including goldfish)! She is so sweet and so spunky! She is constantly being carried in a baby blanket or stroller. She is so patient with the girls... good thing because they treat her like a baby doll!! She falls asleep in random places. Her favorite... someones lap... especially Mikes:) She loves him. Which is so funny because he wanted nothing to do with a cat (so tough) please, he is like putty! She is so fun! I highly recommend a cat instead of a dog!!! No offense to all you dog lovers!:)

Still Alive!!

Seriously so ashamed that is has been so long since I've updated!! Mike had to back up all our pics so we could make room for more and well you all know how long it takes us to do stuff involving any form of technology... So here are some random pics from the past while... going all the way back to Easter...(so pitiful)...
Indoor Easter egg hunt at Aunt Kim's house- cold and rainy again...

Salt Lake Half Marathon 09

I ran the Salt Lake half this year with my good friend Andrea! We had so much fun training despite the snowy weather right up until 2 days before the race!! We finished in 1:50! That's 10 minutes faster than my last time. I love running. Half marathons are the perfect distance.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Kate had her first Daddy Daughter Dance at school. She was sooo excited to go to a real dance. It was 50's themed. They had so much fun. Mike even picked her up a wrist corsage which she thought was just so fabulous! Good thing Mike will be her date for the next 10 years. So not ready for real boys... so scared!!

Hawaii!!

We took the girls to the Big Island of Hawaii for a week. We had sooo much fun! We went with my parents and two of my sisters and there families. It was the Stampin up trip this year. My girls were the happiest they have ever been. It was so fun to see Hawaii through their eyes. Everything, including little drink umbrellas, was exciting and just so amazing.
Airplane- girls were sooo excited!

Birds in the Lobby- daily stop to see them

Pool fun!



The girls loved the beach! Even the salt water!


The dolphins at the Hotel

Rainbow Falls

Volcano! Notice the Steam in the background!!


Best Buds!

Kayak trip to Captain Cooks island. A pod of dolphins were swimming around us!



Shuttle Boat!

More Dolphins

Snorkeling! Kate loved it!


The gorgeous hotel!


Going Home:( Waiting for the red eye flight! We all look so exhausted!

Facebook!

So I really know I am 2 years behind all technology. So I finally got a facebook! Please feel free to give me tips! I am so clueless.

V-Day!

We had a romantic evening for four on Friday for Valentines Day. I had Mike take the girls out and I decorated the table for our heart shaped pizza dinner! It was so cute, they were so excited to come to the "fancy dinner" we frosted cupcakes and had a weekly movie night. I have so many fun memories of Valentines Day when I was a kid.







Love Birds

Tender Mercies!!

Yesterday and Today we had the privileged of having Elder Ballard come to our stake conference! It was the best Valentines date we have ever had. I was so over come by emotion at the adult session. We were sitting on the second row just feet away from him. You just can not help but know that he is a man called of God. To just be near him gave me so much strength and a needed spiritual boost! I couldn't wait to take the girls to feel that spirit too. Only to come home after the adult session to Bella waking up with a 103 fever, and what looked like pink eye! All I could think of was that Mike or I would have to stay home with her and we all couldn't feel that spirit again as a family. All night long I prayed that Bella would be well enough so we could all go. I woke up before her just waiting to see if she would be ok. Sure enough, she woke up happy and healthy with no signs of sickness! I was so grateful! I jumped out of bed and couldn't wait to go. As all Stake Conferences are, it was so crowded and noisy. I just kept thinking please help Kate know that this is a special man and feel the spirit as only a 5 year old can. Towards the end of his talk, Kate leaned over to me and showed me a paper that said I LIKE. (She is just learning how to spell) she wanted to know how to spell Elder Ballard. So I told her how, and she concluded with Love Kate LeBaron. I thought that it was so cute. She then told me she wanted to go give it to him. My first thought was no, there are too many people here and she wouldn't be able see him after. I told her she could maybe mail it to him. She said no mom, I want to give it to him. So reluctantly I told Mike after the meeting to take her up and see if she could get close enough. Next thing I knew she was standing right next to him handing him her letter and shaking his hand. Tears ran down my face as I saw my 5 year old shake an apostle of the Lords hand. She had so much faith that this man she had only seen on TV was someone special. She was beaming from ear to ear and continues to be floating around our house. It was one of those moments as a mother I knew that there was a reason I was there and that Heavenly Father wanted to help me plant that seed into the heart of my child. It was such a precious moment that I will never forget. I am so grateful that prayers are answered in small and simple ways, but make a monumental difference in our lives.

Men are from Mars...

Mom: "Kate when we have a baby don't you think we should have a boy?"
Kate: "Mom, you do realize boys have weird bums don't you?!"
Mom: "Don't I know!"

Kids say the Darndest things!

So I really wanted Kate to understand what the inauguration was about. I wanted her to remember being part of history. Keep in mind that I usually like nothing to do with politics or anything associated. We don't talk usually talk about it. So with that said, I was explaining today while watch all the coverage of the inauguration about why today was a historic day.
Mom: "Kate that is our new president, his name is Barack Obama"
Kate: "Is that the guys that lies?"...

Keep in mind we never talk about politics, and although I didn't vote for him, I am really starting to kind of like him. So who knows where she picked up on that?

Kate: "Is he going to make us lie too?"
Mom: "No Kate, he hopefully doesn't lie and no one can make someone lie."

I preceded to tell her what a president does and why they are so important. I told her that they make important decisions like if we go to war or not. Then I had to explain what war was...

Kate: "So war is like when you are wearing a really cute outfit and someone comes up to you and says they don't like it, and then it makes you mad and then you fight? and then they get put in jail?"
Mom: "Speechless!"

If only we all looked at things through kids eyes! To Kate the worst situation would be someone telling her they didn't like her outfit. If only that were really the case.

In all seriousness, It was so fun to sit with Kate and teach her about (the little I know) of history! It must be what teachers feel like everyday. At least for me, I get so caught up in the everyday stuff and trying to teach her about the gospel, I forget about everything else. I understood what it was like today to teach your kids to be in the world, but not of the world. I then explained that although we do have to obey the laws of the United States, we are so lucky because we have a prophet who we follow without question. We never have to worry about the President of our Church making the right decisions. So we can support our country and President, but what truely matters is if we are following the prophet. It is something I really want my kids to understand. How do we live in the world, but not become of the world. Thanks for letting me vent my mom moment!

Christmas 2008!

We have been redoing our rooms so I haven't had my computer forever. So here is our Christmas 08. Sorry so long... its been awhile!

Snow Fun!


Mike riding Lindsay's boyfriend's snowmobile down the street.

Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!


Temple Square with my sister Kristin and family. We rode on a carriage ride around Temple Square. It was sooo cute. The girls were in heaven. They still talk about the princess carriage!







Christmas festivities... I played rock band for the first time, and I have to admit, I am freakishly good at the drums! With Mike singing, and me on the drums, we are thinking of starting a band, anyone interested in joining? We ROCK!! he he he.




Christmas Eve we spent at my house. We did the usually nativity, talent show and pj opening. This year Kate and Bella were both angels. Bella however decided that she wanted a baby Jesus too while Kate decided it was too hot and started to strip down during the middle of it to just her white slip. It was classic! Those girls are just like their Dad!!







Christmas Morning was awesome. It was the first Christmas we did just us. Kate got an American Girl house and Bella go a cottage and a baby. It was so fun to watch them tear into there presents. I totally remember the feeling of waking up and couldn't wait to run down stairs to see what Santa brought! Kids make everything more fun!

Addresses

So I just decided today to do Christmas cards. Could you all please email me at sarahlebaron@hotmail.com and give me your addresses! Thanks!

Gingerbread Castles

Count on a house dominated by 3 chicks, to choose princess themed gingerbread houses! This is one of the highlights for me of the preChristmas festivities! There is always more licking than applying, but it makes for some fun memories! I love that my girls are both at the ages where they will start to remember things like this. It makes me feel sad that this is the fifth gingerbread house we've made with her. Where does the time go? I love Christmas! I wish that the next couple weeks could last for months!

Bentley- Before and After...

So when I signed up to get a "puppy" I thought hey how big could it get?... Well our "puppy" is now 6 months old, and is weighing in as of a few weeks ago at 55lbs. The vet is sure he will at least double that before he is full grown... Ya "puppy"! So here are a few updated pics. Despite his size, my girls think he is their horse. Bella is constantly laying all over him. He just lays there. He is soooo good with them. Bella tortures him. Poor dog!

Ouch!

Does anyone have a inflatable donut I can borrow? I finally gave in and went to a spinning class this morning... and all I can say is ouch! My bum was sore before we were even done with the warm-up, padded shorts and all. Everyone keeps saying after a couple of classes you bum develops caulouses, well I'm not so sure if I want my bum to have caulouses, but whatever helps!! I do have to admit that I did like it. Yes mike you were right it was an awesome workout! As a runner, I have not had the best attitude towards road bikers... its just when youve been running for an hour feeling a little tired and slow, when a biker flies by on his bike, I have often thought in my head "get off your bike and do some real cardio..." (not so nice i know) but I have to admit I did really like it and I think I might be getting bit by the biking bug! I just have to figure out how to clip in and out of the pedals without killing myself!!!

My New Discovery

So for years I have been trying (not very hard) to keep a journal. I have about 3 journal entries for the past year. Not doing so well. My sister told me about LDSjournal.com. It is so awesome. You can add pictures and go back and add entries about things you remember, you can do a profile with lots of fun questions about yourself. It is so great. I was wondering how I was going to keep up in my journal and blog, until I found that you can cut and paste blogging entries right into your journal! So I went back and did that with all my old entries. Now I can kill to birds with one stone and even add more detail or personal info into my journal if I wanted to. It has revolutionized journaling for me! It takes just a few seconds to keep up in a journal! You all probably have journals dating back to birth, but for those of you like me who are journally challenged, this is a great solution!!! Oh and it's free too!

Hint Hint....

Kate's Bedtime Prayers:
"Heavenly Father bless us so we can be safe and have fun on our Disney cruise"

Only too bad we are not going on a Disney Cruise. Do you think she is trying to tell us something?...

Trick or Treat!

We had so much fun this year. I decided to forgo the usual handing out candy while Mike took the girls out, and I went with them. Mostly because I did not want to hand out candy. Is that rude? Oh well. This was Bella's first official trick or treat. She loved it. She thought it was so fun to ring the doorbell. I think that would have been enough of a treat for her. She didn't care about the candy. She was a kitty, which is better than what she original wanted to be- a pirate. Luckily she loves cats and it was an easy negotiation. I love Halloween but am all partied out. Thank heavens that there are 365 days in a year!

Kate as Fancy Nancy!

For Halloween this year, Kate dressed up like Fancy Nancy. For all you moms out there who have girls, these are must haves in your library's. They are the cutest books and Kate is in love with them. They are about a little girl who loves to accessorize and use fancy words and she thinks she can speak french. They are so cute and describe our Kate to a "T" Maybe that is why she loves them so much! They sell the dress ups now at Target. She got lots for her B-day & couldn't wait to wear them for Halloween. She had a Halloween parade at school and I helped her with her class party. It was so fun to see her at school. You always wonder what your kids are like at school.

What Boyfriend!!!!?

Kate:
"Mom, can I use the computer, I have to text my boyfriend!" Said so matter of factly.
Help... I think I need to home school her. Who knows what else she is learning in Kindergarten. What a day we live in... Texting and Boyfriends at 5!

Kate's Quote of the Day!

I picked her up from school today and the first thing out of her mouth was...
"Mom, I figured out where Eden lives, She lives... all the way up, and all the way down..." "So can you take me there?"

Annual Couples Halloween Party!

For the second year in a row, my neighbor Lucy and I did a couples Halloween Party at her house. It is always so hilarious to see what everyone comes up with to wear. I almost like it as much as my kids Halloween parties! Mike and I were supposed to be Dukes of Hazard themed, minus the Daisy Dukes of course! Mike however got a little carried away. All I know is I sent him to look for a cowboy hat, and instead he came home with the hideous Cabelas hat, buck teeth, a mullet wig, and genuine Wranglers. He called me on his way home from Walmart so excited that he bought a pair of jeans, sunglasses and candy for under 30 bucks! I am never taking him shopping with me again, he might use that as the standard! Men.... He got really into character that night and had as in tears. oh did i mention the real (unloaded) pistol he had in his pocket!

Barnyard Boo!

Sara and I took our kids and my brothers kids to the Barnyard Boo at Thanksgiving Point. It was literally a zoo! We took them on over UEA. I think every other Mom in Utah had the same idea. So Sara and I had 3-2 yr olds, 3- 5 yr. olds, an 8 yr old and a 10 yr old. It was crazy but super cute. The best part was the horse rides despite the 45 min. wait. and the face painting despite the 35 min wait...

Front Porch

I luuuuv Halloween. Something about Fall weather, chili & cornbread, cinnamon rolls & hot wassil. It is my favorite time of year. Do you like how that mostly stems around yummy food! This is our front porch all ready for Fall and Halloween!