so much to do with so little time!!

This December we've been so busy! Enrichment came and went and I would have to say it went rather well. Now we have moved on to helping with our ward party on Friday and then the Harding family party (I'm in charge) on Saturday. Then school performances for 3 kids! so one more week of running around, I didn't even mention I still have Christmas shopping to START for mark!!! Lots of fun with so little time. I just pray that kids will stay healthy enough for me!! (lakota had the flu a week ago and I'm just waiting for the next ones to get it!) So there you have it our up coming week!

Christmas Cards...

If you would like a Christmas card and an update on our family please send your address to my e-mail!! I don't have a lot of your new addresses and would like them any way! thanks- lauraharding2000@msn.com

YES WE ARE CRAZY!!!

So my sister Stephanie and I went to the mid-night showing of Twilight!!It was fun to sit and talk, much needed girl time! I like the movie but it was not what had expected. Half way through is when I got into it and really enjoyed it. I don't want to spoil it or give the wrong impressions so that's all you'll get out of me. I think Stephanie was a bit more tired than me because she has a newborn at home but I think both of us enjoyed ourselves!! Don't worry i plan on seeing it again with mark!

Halloween party

My mom every year put on a party for the kids so I wanted to share the pictures from that day- here you go!

Birthday Snow??

My birthday was on the 12th, and I don't remembering it ever snowing!! But this year was a bit different! A birthday on Sunday you really don't have much of an option to go out so instead I put my self thorough torture and got the kids dressed in full snow suits and sent them out to play! ( i also had to take them off and hang them by the heater to dry!! BY MYSELF, NO HUSBAND HELP!happy birthday to me :)) They had fun but as for me the getting ready and clean up was not a welcomed idea!!
So now 26 years old, but I think 4 1/2 kids age me 6 more years so how does 32 sound-yea that sounds about right to me!!

Itty Bitty Ball!!

Here are some of Payton's highlights from his sport days!! I can't tell which sport he like more, 'cause he loved them all- or so he says!!

Order Up!

So just about 20 weeks ago I put my order in and yesterday we went to get the confermation! Yes you read right, IT'S A BOY! I don't know who is more excited the girls or me. Well everything else looks great and the baby is grown right on track, so my due date has moved now to March 2. Sounds good to me less time being preg-o! If you have any cute boy names please send them this way!!

Happy Birthday Makayla!

Makayla turned 6 on October 4th. She had a pizza party with some of her friends. We ate pizza, decorated cupcakes, painted finger nails and made foam pumpkin faces! She couldn't stop talking about the presents she was anticipating!! She had a ton of fun and now is a year older! Happy Birthday Makayla!!

GO BIG BLUE!!

So Lakota started to cheer at her football games, and it has been a lot of fun! She love to get together with the girls. She has grown up so much to Mark and I! Payton also love to go to the games. Daddy and Payton get to play football too!

Lost Updates!

So I think I have slacked on my posting so heres a bunch at one time!!
Addison turned 2 on Aug. 23 so as a fam we went swimming!



Next we decided one saturday that we need to have a big weekend before school started so we took the kids and some cousins to float down Provo River. As a first timer I had a few rought spots but not too bad, the hard part was stopping at the end!


Next school days: Lakota was so excited that we didn't get any pictures of her. Lakota started second grade, Makayla started morning kindergarden and Payton tuesday and thursday morning pre-school!

Last but not least- Payton had a field trip to the fire station. Mark got the morning off from work so he could go!! All mark had to tell me was how all the other parent said how cute he was. With his dark hair and olive eyes, thats all he kept hearing. Payton love the fire station. His favorite part was trying on the clothes and the obstical course!! TOO CUTE! Payton is my JOY!!!



So there you go, our last few week in fast forward!!

What I'm up against!!

So starting this next week I'm on over load until I have a baby, well maybe after that things won't slow down!! Well just to give you an idea of whats to come take a deep breath and read!

Tuesdays:
Pre-school from 10-12 pm
Pick up Makayla at 12 pm
Pick up Lakota at 3:30 pm
Cheer for Lakota at 4:00 pm
Dance for Makayla at 5 pm

Then Thursdays
Pre-school and cheer

*September 18 field trip with Payton (parents have to attend)
*October 4th Makayla's 6th birthday- most likely a party as well!!
Then after all the cheer clinics Lakota will start cheering at games on Tuesdays and Saturdays!!
Payton in October will start itty bitty ball on Tuesdays at 5 as well as Makayla still in dance. After Lakota is all done with cheer she will then start piano. I have also signed up to help out in both Lakota and Makayla's classes for the Halloween parties as well as Payton's class. Oh don't forget I am hosting super saturday novermber 1st!!
I am in charge of Mark's family Christmas party- 8 married adults plus kids- I am in charge my Mom and Dad's gift from the kids of Christmas and yet again Enrichment and the school kids Christmas parties!! Lakota's birthday in January and yet another party, then baptism in Febuary, and don't forget the family celebration for that as well. At this time I should have about 4 weeks left to my due date. (If I make it with all this going on!) So then new baby, blessing and family celebration, then comes school graduation! Never mind about what Mark and I have planned I'm just hoping to make it through the rest of the school year with all the field trips, parties, homework and all the extras!! Then the new baby days, WISH ME LUCK!!

number what??

I just thought that because of half the people on my blog list already know, I should tell the rest of you. Baby number last is on the way!! Mark and I waited a bit to tell because the doctor didn't find the heart beat at our first appointment, so I wanted to wait to make sure we had heard it!! The expected due date is March 7, 09.(on my little sister's birthday-sorry AmyLyn!) Things so far are good, if you could count living through morning sickness with 4 other kids! But I lived even though I still have a rough day or two! The kids are excited, the older 3 think boy while Addi thinks girl. Mark and I are really hoping for a boy, so we will have to wait and see!!

A question for MOM!!

As we drive (all of us) in the car!

Makayla: Mom how do you make a baby?

Me: You pray to Heavenly Father and ask him for a baby.

Makayla: Ya, but how does it get in a mommy's belly?

Yes, at this point Mark and I are laughing but trying not to show the kids, i was very shocked, Makayla is only 5 and Lakota 7 has never asked this!! I thought this was just way to funny!!!

Me: you have to pray a lot!

Lakota: But mom you said that I was a surprise!! How does that work?

At this point Mark can no longer hold his laughter down!! I now try to change the subject and it luckily worked!

Kids say the funnest things! I would like to know what you would say!!

A Weekend Out!

So this weekend we met Mark's brother, Dan up at Bear Lake! ( his wife Lori's family goes ever year and this year we tagged along!) The kids really enjoyed it. We played in the sand, in the water and in the trailers! Payton loved the Noon time baseball game. All the adults thought that he was a riot! Addison had a few melt down and finally crashed for a few hours. The girls mostly love to find the seashells as you can tell from the pics! They did go out on the tube but once they flipped they were done! Payton and Mark spent most of the time on the wave runners, Payton didn't want to get off! Mark took me out, but I think his goal was to get me to fall off! (i didn't). Every thing went well and we all had a blast!

BIG FAN!!!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!
(pause the music first!!down below)
Yes- I too can't wait!! I will be in line for the 4th book to come out!!( at midnight Aug. 2) And don't forget the movie!!(Dec. 12) I have read all the first 3 books 4 or more times (i can't remember!), as well as Mark! I have no doubt that I will read them again before the 4th book comes out, and even more before the movie comes out!! If you have not caught this reading wave, you better!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK SERIES!!! I have to try really hard not to become overly obessed because if I do...It will over take me! Almost there but not quite!! I will be blogging more as I get closer to the new book and movie!!

Anyone up for a bike ride??

So this past week both of my girls have been learning to ride their bikes with out the training wheels. My brother Scott came over during the day and helped Makayla. (i was in the house at the time) I was surprised to see that he was willing to help, but that is how Scott is!! Such a great Uncle. When Lakota came home form school she was upset that Makayla was more advance than she, so a healthy dose of competition helped out. By the end of the day the girls were finally getting the hang of it!! Now I wake up to MOM can we go out and ride our bikes?? Fun stuff and I am glad that they learn just as school let out, so it will give them something new to do!!! Way to go Lakota and Makayla!!! I am so proud of you two!!!

YES... I did it.....

I went and chopped off my hair. It happens every other year or so, when I need a change. So here you go!! Me minus 9 inches of dark long hair....the back of it is stacked shorter so it might take a bit longer to get to the length that I really like.( and some bright pink pieces!!) So there you go, Laura make over!!

Makayla's BIG Day!

Makayla is now all done with preschool! Graduation day has come and gone! She has learned so much over the past year, and she really had great teachers! Here are a few pictures of her day!Congrats Makayla, we love you!!!

Makayla is so excited to start kindergarten in the fall, she will be at the same school as Lakota (she'll be in second grade).

Here is Makayla after her fishing trip with grandma and papa!

She loved it!! She can't wait to go again.

Chicken Salad Recipe!

Once a month I get together with the girls in the ward for Bunco night! The lady in charge host dinner. Erin Nydegger made this recipe and I loved it because of the noodles. So give it a try...

2 cups shell noodles cook and drained
4 cups cook chicken cubed
2 cups apples, peeled and diced
2 cups pineapple tidbits
2 cups halved grapes-she used red
2 cups celery
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup cashews
Mix 1 cup mayo with 1 cup coleslaw.
Mix all ingredients, chill then serve on rolls. (I like to use croissants)

This was so good. I love the fruit in it, also the noodles, that added a new twist!!

Out with the Old & In with the New

Marks sister is due to have baby number 7. With her suburban she could only seat 8. In ours you could seat 9. So we asked if she would be willing to buy ours. She couldn't be more thrilled! So as the buying process started, Mark and I started to look for a new car for us. Well the new suburbans ended up being more and with the price of gas we decided to go a different route.

A 2008 Honda Odyssey, with more options than you could imagine! Here are some of the thinks that got me hooked to this van!! 1- leather seats 2- heated seats 3- sun roof 4- 6 disc cd changer 5- dvd player 6- room in the trunk for a double stroller plus more!!! 7- duel automatic door openers, and so many other little things that would take for ever to tell about!! Marks favorite things, gas tank and the payment!! So if you are in search of something bigger and better give this a look!!

Fishing With Grandma and Papa

A few days ago Mark's parents took Payton on a fishing trip! He love it so much he could not stop talking about it! Payton caught 5 fish all by himself. Grandma and papa caught none. They took the fish home to clean and gut for me then brought them back so I can BBQ them. I do not eat fish but the kids seem to like it. Way to go Payton on the capture to your 5 fish.!

Happy Birthday Daddy~

Marks birthday was April 18th ( he turned 26). So the kids and I painted a poster to hang in our front window so that he could see. The Sunday before we celebrated with his family, cake and ice cream. Mark's mom came over Friday night to babysit so we could go out to dinner!! We went to Tacano's which was very busy, we waited for about 70 minutes just to get in! (Marks favorite place to eat so we had to wait!) I hope he had fun, I think as you get older birthdays just don't seem as fun, but Mark is not one to show emotions very much either!

Here we are painting our poster, mom colored the letters,

now the finished project~cute.

Dinner was crazy but I know he loved it!!

Don't we look great togather?

Lunch with the Girls

Today some of the women in my ward got together to have lunch. It was so much fun to get to know the people of my ward. It was really funny to see that a lot of our views on raising children were the same and I am not alone on what I feel is most important! It was great to kick back with time off from the kids and have a conversation with people my age!! can't wait to do it again, thanks girls-

A ROUGH 3 DAYS!!

Addison has been sick the past 3 days with what I guess is the flu. Throwing up, fever and all the other afflictions that go along with that. Today she is finally starting to eat and get up and play with the kids. I really don't like having sick kids because that sparkle is gone from their eyes! But today a little of that has come back. I just hope none of the other kids get this because spring break starts MONDAY, 9 day of no school!! I just pray that the other kids can stay healthy so we can get out and enjoy some time off!!!

Things I took away from Conference

Andrea Brown a sister in my ward sent me a packet to print out to give to my children, things about the up and coming Conference, games and questions to keep them listening and busy so we could all enjoy thins time together. Me thinking that it wouldn't work, was surprised to find Lakota hard at work to do as many pages as she could!! She had a great time as you can see from the pictures above.

Here are some things that hit me harder this time than ever before!!
1- Pay your tithing on matter what and the blessings will come!
2- Be a nurturing Mother- Teach your children the teachings of Christ, Have regular Family Home Evenings, (hard when you play single parent that night, but still it gets done!) Family Scripture reading and daily family prayer!
3- We are all students in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (no on knows all the answers!)
4- Roles of Mothers- Schedule time alone with each child each day as well as alone time with your spouse each week, Talk with your spouse about each child's individual needs, Give your wife a day of Reign (she already deals with so much at one time, days off are a great day for relaxation!) Have your Husband come home from work and take active in the family!
Now here are to quotes that struck me!!
* He (Heavenly Father) won't always take your afflictions from you, but he will comfort you. Prophet Monson
* Today forgive others for their trespasses, so we will be forgiven ours. Lance B. Wickham
All these things are going on my fridge so that I will have a daily reminder of how I need to work in this life time to get back to our Father and also my Family that has past on!!

Peacful Corner

I don't let Payton take naps any more because he stays up really late at night if he does, so instead we do rest time! Well today while watching a movie he was very quiet so I went to find out what he was into......well this is how I found him. I love it when my kids give me sweet memories. Payton is the smile that is daily on my face!! I love him to tears......

GIRLS WEEKEND- Park City!!!

Some of my Friends in my ward decided to go out for a girls weekend to Park City. What a BLAST!! Dinning, shopping and just getting to know everyone a bit better!!! I think for me the best part was getting to know my friends better!! Here are a few pictures of what went on!

pic #1- Andrea having dinner pic #2 the rest of us- we ordered from PF changs- great stuff!!

All of us who stayed from Saturday to Sunday
Morning (others came up the day before and left)

Hot tub Party- We were out side in the cold but
the hot tub was warm enough-

My friend Emily and I had to same swimsuit, go figure!!
WAY TOO CUTE!!! love you em!

* I had way to much fun and can't wait to do it again, thanks girls-