Karlee graduates!

Ha ha, not really! She just finished 3 year old preschool on Monday.  The last day was at my house so I tried to make it feel like a little graduation.  They didn't really get it because they don't know what graduation caps or diplomas are but they still had fun. Karlee has loved doing preschool this year and going to her friend's houses each week.  Now she is all ready for 4 year old preschool:)

Aubrey made these cute graduation treats for them. They didn't turn out like we wanted because the chocolate was melting and the cookies were sticking together but the kids didn't complain.

SeaWorld 2012

My friend Meesha went to SeaWorld a little while ago and came back and said how much fun they had. We decided it would be fun for us to take a little family vacation before the baby comes and drive to San Diego for a couple of days. We made the plans and then Aubrey decided to join us.  We got to go to SeaWorld two days and we had a great time.  We went last Thursday and Friday.  Thursday was not busy at all so it was nice walking around and having hardly any lines. The weather was really nice too which is always good. Here are a ton of pictures from the trip.

at the Shamu show

the Shamu show was really cool so we went both days

a sea lion

They had a little area called Sesame Street Bay of Play.  This was Karlee's favorite place to hang out.  There were a few rides and other fun things for kids to do.

Abby's Sea Star Spin

There was a little play area for Karson that he loved.

Karson wasn't sure about Elmo's Flying Fish but I think he liked it.

We got to see dolphins up close.

Karson didn't nap the first day but the second day he was so tired he just fell alseep walking in the stroller.

Blue Horizon Show with dolphins and birds

The kids got to see Elmo and Cookie Monster

Karson cooling off and getting wet



We had plans to stay another day and go to the beach but the temperature was only supposed to be high 60's.  We decided to just stop at the beach on our way home since 60's is not laying out weather.  Karson was a little nervous with the sand and cold water but then he cried when we had to leave. 

Karlee wanted to stay and play in the sand but we only stayed about 15 minutes because we had a long drive home. I'm so glad we had a chance to go.  It is always nice to get away for a few days and just enjoy each other and not think about everyday life.

Jeff's Birthday

Jeff"s birthday was on Friday.  I think he had as good a day as you can when you are turning 32. He went to work.  Then he came home and played with the kids and got to open a few presents.

The kids and I sang Happy Birthday and had a birthday treat.

Our great friends from Utah were in town celebrating their anniversary so we got to go to dinner with them that night. Thanks to our other friends, the Rose's, we got to go without kids!  Jeff and Nick have known each other since they were little and Lindsi and I were roommates here in Vegas before I got married. So fun to see them!

My Golden Birthday!

I had my golden birthday on Monday...turned 30 on April 30th! I can't believe I'm so old?:) A few days before my birthday I told Karlee I was going to be 30 and it was so old. The night before I told her I only had one more day to be young and I was going to look so much older in the morning. She then asked, does that mean we can start parking in the front spots at Wal-Mart?? LOL! I had a good laugh and told her that mommy wasn't going to be any different the next day. I did feel better when my almost 78 year old grandma called to wish me a happy birthday and asked how old I was. When I said 30 she said is that ALL? I guess to some 30 is young! :)

I had a wonderful birthday and was spoiled completely! Jeff got up super early and decorated the house with fun 30 stuff that Aubrey had sent.  I got packages in the mail from family, treats and flowers from friends, lots of cards, and many birthday wishes throughout the day! What more could I ask for?

My mom sent this silly but cute flower arrangement that is suppose to look like me!

Jeff gave me a certificate to get my nails done at christmas and I hadn't used it yet so Karlee and I went for pedicures in the afternoon. It was her first time and she loved it!

Aubrey made this cute 30th birthday banner.

Karson celebrating mommy's birthday!

For dinner we went to Chili's for some yummy food and free birthday dessert.

It was a great birthday and we are just starting birthday season at our house. Jeff's is in two days, followed by Karson's in a few weeks and then Karlee's a few weeks later. Then only a short time after that we will have new birthday in the family! Jeff's mom actually sent a really cute card from the baby. One of the lines said, I'll be at your next party so have no fear cause this time next year I'll be out of here! All I can say is thank goodness:)

Happy Birthday!

Chelsea turns the big 3-0 today. I hijacked her blog for a minute to wish her a happy happy golden birthday. In honor of her birthday today, here are 30 of the many memories i have with her.

1. spraying freesia (bath and body works worst scent ever) in my room
2. playing house with ashley when she was a baby
3. sister swimming...not just us but lauren/alexandra and ashley/meghan
4. early morning seminary and coming home to blow dry our hair
5. trips to old mcdonalds with the kids
6. seeing celine in vegas
7. nauvoo with the parents
8. decorating for your wedding after your shower while the boys played basketball
9. all the time spent at the washington swim club
10. painting karlee's nails and giving her a sucker to keep her still
11. dressing up karlee in all her cute clothes when she was a newborn
12. eating at cheescake every time i came down...adams peanut butter
13. driving to utah for family vacay
14. NC-UT-NC-MO...too much moving
15. summer you lived in utah
16. living in west valley and not knowing a soul
17. driving the sentra and the accord for that matter
18. high school musicals
19. mousey and black rat with Alison G
20. disneyland with the little tykes
21. driving to colorado for brittany's wedding
22. karlee's 1st bday party
23. awesome bangs and early 90s hair
24. shopping trips to raleigh
25. tennis matches
26. all the family pics
27. kicking me out of the bed when we were little
28. waking me up in middle of the night because your nightgown was off
29. all the craft projects
30. all the fun vegas trips

I have so many fun memories of growing up and being a grown up with such a great sister. Happy Golden Birthday! Hope your 30s are the best ever. Love ya! Aubrey

Easter 2012

After one holiday is over Karlee always asks when and what is the next holiday. She was happy to find out we get to do lots of fun things for Easter.  Here are a bunch of random pictures from the last few weeks.

The kids on Easter Sunday in their new clothes.







Karlee hunting for eggs at the playgroup easter egg hunt.

Karson at the playgroup hunt.

dying easter eggs

Family easter picnic in St. George.  The kids weren't too excited to meet the bunny:)

Hunting for eggs in St. George.

Jeff and Karson on the carousel in St. George.

Karlee found her basket in her closet this year.

The kids checking out what the bunny brought.

Aubrey and I made spring wreathes when she was visiting.

Gender Reveal

I have to admit waiting until I was almost 23 weeks to find out the sex of the baby was pretty hard.  I have a ton of friends pregnant right now that are due this summer and it seems like they have all known for weeks what they are having. Eventhough it was hard it was definitely worth it to wait and find out with a gender reveal cake. 

Jeff and I went to the ultrasound 2 weeks ago today.  I told the tech we didn't want to know the sex so she told us to close our eyes when she was looking in that area.  At the end of the appointment she put a picture of the baby and wrote down what it was and stuck it in an envelope that I had already addressed to Aubrey.  She sealed it up so we didn't have a chance to peak and we mailed it off to Salt Lake.  A few days later Aubrey got the envelope and she was the only one who knew what we were having. She then got to work (along with her friend) on this cute bear cake to take down to St. George this past weekend. 

WE ARE BEARY EXCITED FOR THE NEW VOCANA BABY!!

Karlee was so excited to find out if she was having a sister or another brother.  Karson still doesn't really know what is going on.

 It's a BOY!!

It was so fun finding out with Aubrey, my Grandma and Grandpa Mathis, my aunt and cousins, and Ashley, my parents, and Jeff"s parents on skpe and facetime.

We are so excited to have another baby boy!  It will be so great for Karson to have a little buddy to play with.  Eveyone keeps asking me how Karlee is taking it.  As soon as I saw the blue I actually looked at her and wanted to make sure she was okay.  I know she is a little disappointed.  She said, mom I thought it was going to be pink.  She also went up to Aubrey and asked why she didn't make the cake pink.  I think she still thinks Aubrey has something to do with deciding what the baby is.

It didn't take her long to dig right into the cake though!  We have talked about it and she is happy for a baby brother.  When the baby comes she will just love helping and holding the baby that it won't matter if its a boy or girl.

Thanks Aubrey for the fun gender reveal!!