Victoria Lynn is 5!

I cannot believe I have a 5 year old! You are so sweet. You are mommy's big helper. If I wasn't around I know our house and the kids would be taken care of. You are so mature for your age. You wake up every morning and make your bed, brush your teeth and get dressed...all without being asked. I love you so much. You are going to start a full day of school this year! I am so proud of you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Who gave Benton the yogurt?!

Nice Aim Son!

Garrett was playing with Benton last night. Oops...almost missed the mouth dead ON.

Tagged Again...

How To Play This Game of Tag:Post these rules on your blog.List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself.Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

3 Joys:
*My little family...(they are all sitting around/on me right now.)
*Massages...need I say more?!
*Going out on dates/vacations with my husband...once a week is NOT enough (dates, not vacations). HA.
3 Fears:
*My children getting injured.
*BUGS!!
*Drive by shootings.
3 Goals:
*Read scriptures regularly with children.
*Win Body For Life Challenge
*Teach Alex how to swim.
3 current obsessions:
*Clean sheets...you have to be able to bounce a quarter off of them to have a wonderful night's sleep. I know that is border-line crazy.
*Dark Chocolate
*So You Think You Can Dance...I wish it were me on the show not just my friends that I danced with in College.
3 Facts About Me:
*I love the sun...you will almost always find me outside.
*I love to play tennis.
*I used to be on the diving team in high school.

I tag: Erica, Sara J., Beth T., Christine

Mustache

Alex decided to play with a pen. This is what she came up with...Nice stashe!

Elders Quorm Tennis Tournament

Last night we had a mini tennis tournament. It was a blast. After waiting for an hour in the dark we had a great match. We got to play on the JSA's new courts. We played couples doubles and it was great. Dave and Danicia, Bert and Kara, Jeni and Cade, Garrett and I all had a chance to play each other. WE need to do this more often. I love this game.

Body For Life II

As most of you know I have accepted the "Body for Life Challenge." I am half way through this 12 week program and I am losing steam FAST! I need some help. If any of you have any great, low fat, high protein recipes or exercises (weight lifing) for your butt , abs and hamstring...please share the knowledge. I have my eye on the $25,000 grand prize. This is the winner from last year. She is a stay-at-home mother of three too. Maybe that will be my picture next year!

Ants...HELP

I have a huge ant problem. Any home remedies?? I would love to try any suggestions?

My Day...

5:30a.m.- nurse baby

6:00a.m.- work-out

7:00a.m.- drink protien shake while checking emails

7:30a.m.- shower and put away laundry

8:00a.m.- feed kids breakfast, make bed

8:30a.m.- nurse baby, read my book

9:00a.m.- get ready for temple and send Garrett out the door to work at temple.

9:30a.m.- drop baby off at Mother-in-law's.

10-12:00p.m- at temple

12:15p.m.- make tuna sandwiches for everyone

12:30p.m.- naps...more reading and nursing

2:00p.m.- wake-up from naps, sit down to computer, play with baby and indulge in dark chocolate covered bluberries!

2:30p.m.- change into swimming suit and lay-out/play in sprinklers with kids

3:00p.m.- call everyone in town that is ages 2-5...Tori is desperate for a friend.

4:00p.m.- no success with finding a friend so Garrett takes the girls to the gym and I get to read.

5:00p.m.- take a cold shower and change out of swimming suit. Noah comes over to play...finally a friend for Tori! Talk to a friend on the phone.

6:00p.m.- make dinner (ham and potatoes) and eat outside on lawn with Garrett.

6:30p.m.-more Dark chocolate covered blueberries and a LAKERS game.

7:30p.m.- put kids to bed, bed time stories, songs and back tickling.

8:00p.m.- nurse baby and relax with hubby.

9:00p.m.- watch TV, read another chapter of my (clean) romance novel.

10:00p.m.- bed time...wash face, brush teeth, climb into freshly washed, crisp sheets and hubby decides he wants to chitchat!

11:00p.m.- hubby done talking because the other half of the conversation has drifted off into slumber!

Pacheco

We went to our ranch this last week. It was so nice to be away for a day. We had Kelsey, Kaleb and Kirsten with us. They had a blast swinging on our "cliff swing" and swinging off the "tree rope" into the pond. Their favorite part was riding the 4-wheeler. Kaleb would drive all the little girls around for hours. It was great! I was able to get some reading done. The orchards are looking incredible and we can't wait for our first crop to come off.

All because two people fell in love...

I met Garrett while delivering banana bread to my neighbors to get to know them. He was watching a LAKERS game and he was in a room filled to capacity with Hatch boys. Of course, he was the loudest one in the room so he kinda stood out. I got to talking with him and found him to be a handy man. I was having car problems and he offered to help. Not only did he fix my car but he let me borrow his truck so I could go to school the next day.

I was intriged by this so I attended our FHE that Monday and Garrett happened to be giving the lesson. All I could think about was, "this guy has the bluest eyes and whitest teeth I've ever seen, and the sweetest testimony to boot." The rest is history.

We spent everyday together. I took him to Arizona to meet my dad and attend his baptism and he took me to Mexico to his family reunion....all before our first kiss!

A year later he proposed on 02-02-2002 by bringing me to his condo where he had my favorite dinner from MACARONI GRILL waiting by candle light. He gave me roses and got the ring out and asked me to marry him on bended knee.

We were married and sealed a few months later in the Salt Lake City Temple by my great uncle Mark Benson. My colors were red and black. Everyone dear to us attended. It was the windiest day of the year and I almost lost my veil a few times, but it made for some great pictures.

We spent our wedding night in SLC and Granny Walker picked us up to take us to the airport. We got the BIG thmbs UP when we got out to the car. We then spent our honeymoon in Hawaii. It was magical.

Six years, three kids, and eight moves later...I am more in love with him than ever.

Ugly Face Tag!

You can't be shy!

Now I tag...Laurice, Dejah, Rachel, Beth, and Cindy

My Mom

Happy Birthday Mommy!!!!
My mother is hillarious. My sister posted some pictures that describes my mom to the T!! Enjoy! Click on the "Happy Birthday Mommy!!!" to see the pics.

Beauty Parlor

This week the little girls got invited to our local salon for "Princess Day." The girls got to dress-up and get their hair, make-up and nails done. They danced and got crowns and treats too.

Luncheon

We started a tradition years ago where all the girls get together to sit down and have a pot-luck lunch while the children play. It is a wonderful time to chat, swap recipes, cleaning tips, parenting advice, etc. This helps us stay sane, and is something nice to look forward to. I didn't get everyone in the picture but you get the idea.

Random Tibits

I bought Benton a BUMBO chair, and I LOVE it. He can now sit up to the table with the rest of us at dinner time. He was too small for his high chair and unable to support himself so we invested in the BUMBO. It is hillarious ...so cute.

Garrett got attacked by a dog at his farm. It touched some bare wires and got shocked so Garrett, being the tender hearted guy that he is, went over to see if the dog was alright. The dog was MAD and thought Garrett was the culprit. Thus, clamping down on his leg and NOT letting go. Poor Garrett. He had to get a tetanus shot later on.

Tagged by Laurice

Tag! 20 Random Questions...

1. Where were you born?Calgary, Alberta

2. Where would you live if you would live anywhere?The beach, for sure.

3. What's you're favorite book?Twilight Series by far!

4. What brand of make-up do you use? MAC, Bare Minerals, Mary Kay

5. What do you do to cool down when you are mad?Walk it off.

6. Favorite quality in you're significant other?Tender Heart...you have to really know Garrett to know it...he tries to cover it up.

7. Do you play an instrument?Flute, piano, organ (kinda)

8. Have you ever had braces?No…picture perfect...according to my dentist.'

9. Do you have a birthmark?Nope.

10. What's you're favorite indulgence?Good quality chocolates.

11. What was the last movie you watched?Baby Mamma...don't bother going.

12. Who is a good friend you've lost touch with?Sonja Huso

13. Favorite place you've vacationed?Cancun

14. Do you know a foreign language?Spanish and a little French

15. Do you like your handwriting?Most of the time.

16. What was the last piece of mail you opened?My new swimming suit.

17. What's the most random article in your purse?Sunscreen...my kids FRY in the sun.

18. Have you ever flown 1st class?No

19. Are you still friends with your ex's? No...we dont' go there.

20. What is something random about yourself?I cannot go to bed until everything is picked-up and put away.

I Tag...Meghan, Jen W., Jill

The Men in my life...

My dad came for a quick 24 hour trip to visit us. I love that he makes time for short trips to just check in on his children. They mean a lot to us.

Garrett sat down to play UNO with Tori last night. She whooped him!! It is so sweet to see "Daddy" pay close attention to his daughters and give them one-on-one time with him.

Graduation!

My first baby graduated Pre-Kinder today. I can't believe how much they grow and learn in such a short time. Tori was awarded the "Class Leader" with her certificate of achievement. I am one proud mama.

Impromptu El Paso

On our way out of exercise class Jeni, Danicia and I decided to go to El Paso...that afternoon. We ran home, showered, packed up the kids that would not be attending Father-and-sons that night, and hit the road.

Our first stop was the Outlets...

then the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for some chocolate dipped strawberries...

then onto dinner at Texas Roadhouse...

then we went to Target...and everyone scored somthing great...

And after a nice evening of bubble baths...Dove chocolates...and a chick flick...we hit the sac. In the morning we cleaned up, hit WalMart and then we were on the road again.

Alex, Remy, and Tori crashed the last 30 minutes of the trip...too bad it wasn't the first 2 1/2 hours...but

the babies had a grand time...especially the ride home.

And that was our trip to El Paso.