Words can not explain but I will try...

I have been really reflective the last few weeks and especially the last few days. I feel like I have been, and continue to be on, a spiritual journey. It's been a very enjoyable one. I feel like I have really grown to recognize the spirit in my life, whether it's just a presence or promptings. In the process of all this I really have opened my eyes to how incredibly blessed I am. I mean, I know I am blessed and have a good life, but actually really standing still often, and really taking it all in. First of all I am blessed to have this wonderful gospel in my life. Without it I don't think I would have much direction. I have a wonderful husband. Through all of our ups and downs I really feel we are truly connected and in sync, I love him more than words can say. He is the love of my life. I learn everyday how wonderful he is by watching him put me and the kids first and very rarely thinking of himself. I have 2 beautiful children that when I look in their eyes I can truly feel the love they have for me. I know that may sound selfish in a sense, however because I love them so incredibly much, it is a wonderful feeling to look into their eyes and feel it with a connection that will never be broken between us. I am a better person because of my children. I have absolutely wonderful parents who taught me to be a good and honest person. I can't even begin to explain the love I have for them. I have amazing in-laws. I'm not just saying that I really do. I know that a lot of people aren't as lucky as I am. They are truly loving and giving people who my kids and I are so lucky to have in our life. They raised and amazing son, and I am reaping the benefits of that. My brothers and sisters...I have the most amazing bond with my brothers and sisters. I could list each and every one and name the reasons why, but I have 6 of them. This wouldn't be a post, it would be a book. I love them so much. And my friends, I have a few friends that I have had since the beginning of time. They are such wonderful people and have truly touch my life for many years. It is so nice to have life long friends that you can share things with and grow together. These are just a few things that I have had on my mind lately and felt I needed to share it somehow, and I thought this would be appropriate. I am truly happy in my life, and I know not everyone can say that. I know there are times in my life when I wasn't happy, and knowing what unhappy feels like makes me very aware of my blessing of being happy. Thanks to those of you who read this....these are truly feelings from my heart.

He's growing so fast!!

My little guy had baby cereal and bananas for the first time this week! I can't believe he is old enough to start eating baby food. The last 5 months have flown by!! It was so cute he was trying to suck it off the spoon. Once he got some and tasted the sweetness in the bananas, he looked at me and it was like he said with his eyes "Mom! you have been holding out on me, this is awesome!!" Needless to say he had been chow'n down on his new found food and enjoying it thoroughly.

Happy Fathers Day!!

We had a wonderful day yesterday. Once everyone was up in the morning the kids and I gave Dave our Cards and gifts. The kids got him a little book that is titled "I love my daddy because..." it is so cute. Andalyn immediately jumped up on daddy's lap so that they could read it together. I got Dave a book by one of his favorite authors and a HUGE (in size) book that is the 100 wonders of the world. Dave loves stuff like that.

We then went to church and enjoyed listening to the wonderful talks that the speakers prepared on fathers. Once church was over, we headed over to Dave's parents house to have lunch and to spend some time with Grandpa Cashdollar on Fathers day.
We then headed down to my parents house to have dinner and to spend some time with Grandpa Petersen.

It was so nice to celebrate all the fathers in our lives yesterday. Happy Fathers Day to all I hope you all know how much you are appreciated!!

Andalyn's first sleepover

We have been trying to arrange for Andalyn's Aunts Tiffany and Nicole to come up and play, and have a sleepover. Well, since Andalyn was so sick we had to postpone it 2 or 3 times. So we finally had them over Wednesday night. We had lots of fun things planed. They had an absolute blast. Andalyn LOVES Tiffany and Nicole.

Here they are playing in the water at the park just up the street from our house.

After the girls were done playing at the park in the water we headed home to make some cupcakes. Here's a few pictures of the girls each taking turns mixing all the ingredients.

Once all of the cupcakes were done it was too late to have any so we decided to wait until the next day to frost and sprinkle them with fun little candies. The girls settled down and spend some time watching Andalyn's favorite show "Max and Ruby". Then it was off to bed.

The next day was full of fun. We continued with the cupcakes. The girls got to frost their own cup cakes. This is the first time I've let Andalyn do it all by herself and she did a great job. Here are a few pictures of them frosting their pink cupcakes.

mmm...mmm... "I'm a good cook"

"All done mom"

They continued on with the fun by playing restaurant at Andalyn's table and play kitchen. It was so cute. Nicole and Tiffany played so well with Andalyn. A little while later Grandma and Montana decided to come join the fun. Stacy and Marc went on the pioneer trek that their stake was having this weekend, so my mom was watching Montana.

What a ladies man he just got to spend all day with a bunch of pretty girls!! Here's Ryan just hang'n out while we all eat our lunch.

I can't get over how darn cute these two are!!!! :)

After lunch we all headed over to Cal Fit to go swimming. Here is Andalyn showing off her new swim suite. She loves her blue suite!!

"Come on Montana I'll show you were to go"

All of us in the water. Yeah right I was going to get into a bathing suite!! :)



Ryan got tuckered out with our day of fun, here he is lying in the sun. :)

He did however wake up long enough to say goodbye to his Grandma before the day was over.

"Bye Grandma"

This was such a great time for all the girls. I'm so glad that we were able to have Tiff and Nicole over for the night. Like I said Andalyn needed it after being cooped up in the house for 2 weeks. Thanks girls for coming over and playing with Andalyn!!

Ryan and his ladies

So we finally ventured out today to my moms house. Andalyn was doing a lot better and Ryan's cold didn't seem too bad. It was so nice to get out of the house after almost 2 weeks of sick kids. While we were at my mom's Ryan got to take some pictures with some of his favorite ladies.

Ryan and his "Gwamma"


Ryan and his Aunt "Whitty"


and of course Ryan and his Mommy


He's such a ladies man. :)

Will this ever end????? Continued :)

We took the kids to the Dr. today. It's official Andalyn does have Bronchitis and some sort of Bronchitis induced asthma. Fun times!! Now she is on an antibiotic and an inhaler. And Ryan has a full blown nasty cold that the Dr. says could just stay a cold, or like Andalyn, turn in to Bronchitis or even pneumonia. Even more fun times. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, we're going to need it.

My sweet little sick girl

Will this ever end?????

Andalyn woke up in the night on Friday night May 30th with the croupy cough. Saturday it turned into a nasty cold with a cough. I too then got sick on Saturday. Well here it is Sunday night June 8th and Andalyn is still sick. I took her to the Dr. but has gotten worse since. I think she has bronchitis. I feel so bad for her. She looks like she feels terrible. Now of course if our luck couldn't get any worse both Dave and Ryan are sick now too. Poor Dave after the worst nights sleep since Andalyn got sick, had to get up and speak in church. I'm not sure where I was going with this post...maybe just to vent a little but I'm ready to have a healthy house hold again. 9 days is a long time. And by the looks of it, it isn't getting better any time soon. :(

Poopy on the Potty

It is finally happening. Andalyn is starting to go on the potty!! Other then wearing a diaper in the night she has only had one accident since yesterday morning. I can't believe how excited I get for her when she uses the potty, it's like she has conquered the world. I am so proud of her!! So proud we had a little "parade" in our kitchen. Excuse the butt cheeks and her cough she has been sick for over a week now. :)

Logan's Graduation

One Tuesday June 3rd my brother Logan Graduated from Elk Grove High School.



(This is the only picture I got of him in his cap and gown. He's such a jokester, and my dad has the beard because he is going on the treck next week.)

We are all very proud of him. We all had a great time at his graduation especially Montana and Andalyn. They got to sit next to each other in the bleachers at Arco Arena.

Congratulatoins Logan!!

After Graduation we went to Logan's Roadhouse (how appropirate) to celebrate. We also celebrated David's 22nd birthday because it was the day before June 2nd. Happy Birthday David!!!

Here is a very cute picture of Andalyn and her Aunt Nicole waiting for our table at Logan's Roadhouse.

4 Year Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday June 4th was our 4 year wedding anniversary!! I can't believe it has been 4 years already. However when I think of the 4 times we have moved both in state, and out of state, and our 2 children I think it's been a long 4 years. :) However, I wouldn't trade any of it. It has built such a great foundation to our marriage and family. We are truly happy and are so grateful for each other.

Dave and I had a great day planned yesterday. We were going to drop Andalyn and Ryan off with Grandma and Grandpa and head to San Francisco for the day. Dave had proposed in San Francisco at Fort Point so it was going to be great to go back and go to the exact spot he proposed. However, just our luck....Andalyn and mommy got sick. We had gotten sick on the Saturday before, so we were thinking we would be fine by Wednesday. Well, no suck luck. However it didn't turn out to be a bad day. We spent the day together as a family. We went to Boarders Books and spent some time relaxing and looking at some great kids books with Andalyn. Then that evening Dave's parents came over to watch the kids so Dave and I could at least go to dinner. We went to Scott's Seafood. It was amazing!! They have amazing food, a little expensive but defiantly worth it on a special occasion. We were able to spend a couple hours by ourselves just enjoying each others company. That kind of time is very far and few between with our busy lives. Dave is working like 50-60 hour weeks and the 2 kids keep me hopp'n. By the time we get them to bed at night, Dave and I are so pooped! It's all we can do to just sit down together, and watch a TV show or two to wind down from the day. Then before we know it we are in bed asleep.

As busy as our lives are I wouldn't trade this time for anything. Dave works so hard for our little family. The kids and I are so blessed to have such a dedicated husband and father to provide and do anything under the sun for us. I love you honey and appreciate everything you do and sacrifice to provide for our family. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

The Little Gym....She can't get enough!!

In February of this year we signed Andalyn up at a place called The Little Gym. It is a class that she goes to once a week with kids her age to learn all sorts of gymnastics based things. She has an absolute blasts!! Since February she has learned so many things physically however she has had great opportunity to grow socially. I can't say enough good things about this place!!


They open the class with "the big red mat" they spend some time running around in circles and doing different exercises.





Here is a cute little video of another part of the opening exercises....she gets a little distracted at one point cause her Grandma and Grandpa Cashdollar were outside of the class watching through the window. She absolutely loves to have Grandma and Grandpa there watching her...it's like she's on stage and she loves it....we may be in for some trouble with this one...she LOVES attention. :)

Once they are finished with the opening exercises they get to go "explore" the equipment in the gym.


She has learned how to do flips over the uneven bars....





She can do a "spider walk" across the bars...



She also has learned how to do frontwards rolls and backwards rolls both on flat surfaces and declined...



All in all we are so glad we found The Little Gym. Andalyn really needed a place to play with other kids and to learn new things. We have her signed up for summer which starts in 2 weeks. I think my sister Stacy is going to sign Montana up so that she and Andalyn can be in the same class...how fun will that be?! I'm so excited!! See you there Stace. :)