THE ALEXANDER'S

Though late, I kept my promise

2009-12-13T20:47:00.000-08:00

All my boys on baby Rockwell's baby blessing.

My little Rockwell Winston Alexander.

I can't forget Sasu. He makes sure our family is safe and happy.

It's so fun when they start smiling.

My two Indian's dressed up for Thanksgiving.

All my boys on our Rhino. Rockwell's first ride.

Halloween keeps getting more fun.

Best buddies.

I can't believe Rockwell is 3 months.

I never thought I would have 3 boys.

Slacker

2009-11-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

I know I have been really lazy but I will post the last 2 months real shortly.

A taste of summer

2009-08-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, but here is just a taste of what we have been up to.

We don't know what we are having, so here is my "neutral" bedroom, though it did turn out to be a bit more girly than boy.

Sam on his "sick" low rider befor he sold it.

Here I am at 9 months.

A family Lake Powell picture.

The boys were so fun on this ski trainer.

The boys love riding with their dad.

It was so fun to have all the cousins together.

The boys did really good walking through the temple open house.

With the kids and all my sisters. The boys were in heaven at the dinosaur museum.

Cousin Gainer is a lot of fun.

What kid doesn't love cotton candy.

The boys at swimming lessons.

Camping, Rhino Rides and Dean's B-day

2009-06-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

Everything is a little out of order, but this is what we have been doing over the past couple of months.

Dean's 3rd birthday. He was so excited to get everything Spiderman.

The birthday hug or torture.

Camping at Strawberry.

Sam and Matt coming in from a day of fishing.

They called themeselves the diaper boys.

This camping trip was freezing!

My dad came for a quick visit and the boys thought it was so cool to see him gut the fish.

The boys had a good time jumping off the kennel onto a mattress.

Camping at Moab and enjoying our yummy food.

Sam's favorite toy.

I have to admit, I do like the Rhino.

Enjoying a day trail in Moab.

Sammy's Birthday, Zoo and Easter

2009-04-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

The boys on Easter morning. Sammy was so excited when he woke up he jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to see what the Easter bunny left.

The boys at grandma's for an Easter egg hunt. The boys love having their cousin Charlie around.

Daddy and Sammy making funny faces.

I took a picture of Sammy and I didn't realize he made this funny face until after I took the picture.

Sammy loves holidays, parties, anything that involves candy and fun.

Visiting the zoo.

All the kids looking at the zebra's.

Riding the train. The boys save their money for the train rides, it's their favorite.

Sammy was so thrilled to get balloons for his birthday. He is also wearing his new favorite pajama's from his grandma.

Dean enjoying the party.

We love our birthday boy.

Sammy trying to blow out his trick candles.

Sammy helped me make his cake. He wanted a Dragon Tales cake but I was not about to make a 2 headed Zak and Weezy cake, the Dragon scale is all I wanted to take on. He loved it.

I love when the boys give each other loves.

Sammy took a picture of me, lovely.My two boys. Sam bought the boys these nerf guns for Sammy's birthday.

Sammy's favorite, balloons. I can't believe he is 4.

March

2009-03-23T16:07:00.001-07:00

It is so nice to have the snow melted and spring on it's way. The boys will spend hours outside playing. It's great.

We spent a weekend in St. George. Enjoying Zion's.

The boys found a rock to climb. They thought it was a slide.

Sammy is so funny. He loves to wear his hat, but he always turns it to the side.

Swimming at the St. George rec center. Ethan is their little buddy.

We visited the elk farm by Monte Cristo. We told the boys we were riding on Santa's sled. They really thought the elk were Santa's reindeer.

The boys on the Rino, they look so funny with their helmets.

Sasu is getting big. He thinks he is one of us.

Sam's new toy. It took a lot of convincing, but I finally caved. We have really enjoyed being outside and riding in the Rino.

Amy, Steve and kids come to visit

2009-02-25T19:08:00.001-08:00

It was fun to see Amy, Steve and the kids for a few days. We all decided Alabama is too far away.
Grandma and Papa sat with the kids so we could enjoy ourselves a little more.

Dean was so tired he fell asleep on the bar stools.

We wish Steven and Luke lived closer. The boys love their cousins.

The adult table, almost.

Past month fun

2009-01-22T14:46:00.001-08:00

A little out of order, but here is Christmas morning. It was so fun because the kids really enjoyed everything about Christmas. We very much enjoyed the whole day.

The boys loved being with their cousin Gainer in Arizona.

Temple lights in Salt Lake. It was so cold but worth it.

Ali and Matt came to visit and the boys had a great time with their new friend Nash.

You can always find something fun to do in the cold, snowy weather.

Just over a month late

2008-12-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, here they are. At least I did it, right? It's Peter, Wendy, and our lost boys.

I still can't believe Sam wore the green tights, what a man.

I let the boys pick their costumes. Sammy the "stinky skunk," and Dean the elephant.

Sammy's preschool had a party pony. The boys loved it.

My cute boys at the zoo.

Standing in line for the train, it's their favorite.

Dean with his little girlfriend Armani

Doesn't every boy do this? The baseball bat and underwear picture.

I can't get the boys to leave their blankets.

Sammy was pretending to be a girl and wanted long hair, this is what we came up with.

Backtrack

2008-11-20T15:17:00.001-08:00

I decided to backtrack a couple of months simply because I forgot to add these pictures.

Sammy's first day of preschool. I still can't believe I have a kid old enough to be in school. He loves it and can't wait to go. His favorite thing is show and tell. It's been a good thing for both him and Dean. They never are apart. Dean enjoys his alone time with his mom and Sammy enjoys his special time to do his own thing.

Enjoying Jim's ranch. Can you tell Dean hasn't had enough sleep?

Sasu is getting huge. He weighs over 80lbs. now. Sam has really gotten into training Sasu with the help of his brother. He has built jumps for him. It's crazy how high he can jump.

The boys on the 4 wheeler. That is all they want to do at the ranch.

Disneyland

2008-10-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

My parents planned a 3 day trip to Disneyland. We had the best time. The kids got to spend time with my mom and dad. They were also thrilled to see their two cousins Gracie and Gainer. We had a great time and were sad to see the trip go so fast.
The first night my mom took the kids to Build A Bear at Disneyland. They kids still take them everywhere. Sammy even took his to show and tell today. Dean built an Eeyore dinosaur and Sammy built a Spider man doggy.

The kids did great on the airplane. They loved looking out the window. They also got a kick out of the little bathroom.

Sammy was just tall enough to go on all the rides. He did not like the kid rides because he said they were too scary, but he loved Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.
Dean thought it was so cool to see Mickey. His favorite show is Mickey Mouse Club House. He couldn't stop smiling at Mickey.

We got to Disneyland right at opening. The kids did great. We made it until about 7:00 each night. The second the boys got into bed they were out.
My parents got Dean this Goofy hat. He wore it the whole time.

It was great to see my parents. It's hard to be away from them all the time.
My cutest niece Gracie. She is going to be 6 in December. They boys miss her the most. She was like a little mother to them.
My sister Rachel. We went on a raft ride at about 6:00. She got soaked and was freezing the rest of the night.
The new Woody ride was really cute. Sammy loved shooting at all the targets.
Dean is driving his car.

We went to Cold Stone the other night. Dean was enjoying his cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears.

We went to Disneyland enjoying the 70's weather and came home to snow. I was dying but the kids didn't mind.
Dean loved riding in the bus. They kept singing, "The wheels on the bus..."
I was lucky to get some picture out of Sam.

Hopefully this made up for my lazy last couple of months.

Being a Lazy Blogger

2008-09-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no recent pictures. We are all doing good but sad to see summer slipping away. I will be sure to post soon.

These are my kids 2 yeas ago, Crazy how fast they grow.

August adventures

2008-08-15T12:48:00.001-07:00

We ran the Provo half marathon last weekend.
These are my faithful running partners. Thanks Natalie for pushing me.

Dean loves his dog Sasu.

You can see me just about ready to cross the finish line.
It was really fun to have Sam and the kids there cheering me on. It made the finish that much better.
My good friend Paula. We used to live next t0 each other when we went to BYU.

Sam took the kids to Lagoon for his dad's company party. I wish I could have been there to see them enjoy the rides.
Their cute cousin Charly.
Our good friends had puppies about 7 weeks ago. The boys beg to go over and see them. This boy puppy is Dean's favorite.
Dean would not let poor Sarge go.
I was with Liz trying to shop. The kids found many ways to entertain themselves.

Where did July go?

2008-08-08T08:23:00.001-07:00

The kids celebrating my 25th birthday.
Sammy loves birthday's more than anything in the world.
Sam was pretty excited about me being 25.
I am with Darbie (Mikey's girlfriend) and my sister-in-law Lizzy.
I know, I can't believe I am in my mid 2o's. I had a great birthday though. Sam took me to sushi, which I loved and later went shoppinng. I had a great couple of days.

Us at Lake Powell. Our family pictures never really turn out that great.
Have you seen the wake kite yet? It was pretty cool to see the air these boys were getting. Keep in mind Sam's foot is still broken.
The boys gathering their candy after smacking away at the horse.
We took the kids to Kangaroo Zoo. We miss having Steven and Luke here. The boys have a lot of fun together.
Me and some girlfriends celebrating a girls night.

The boys loved the water weenie. Dean was so funny. He never really laughed or smiled during the ride, but when it was time to get off he threw a tantrum because he wanted to go more.

Sam with Sammy surfing again.
Sam with Dean.
Even I caught a few good waves.

My boater boys.
Dean likes to pretend like he is a lion.
Being a mom and having these two boys are the best.

Our best little hamster Max died. The kids were so sad. I let them decorate his box and they later helped daddy bury him in the backyard. The kids tell everyone he is in a box in heaven with President Hinkley.
I think the boys spent the most time on the jet ski's. Sam let them drive and they went fast.
The girls. Isn't Anna the cutest? She is only 10 months and has hair past her back.
The boys love their aunt Lizzy.
This face sums up our whole trip.

4th of July

2008-07-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Sam bought the boys some fireworks at the grocery store, they couldn't wait for the sun to go completely down so they could light them up.

Sasu loves the water. We learned he will jump at the water coming from the hose. It's pretty fun to watch how high he can get.

Sammy loving being in the canoe fishing.
Little Dean has even fallen asleep while fishing. He is just like his daddy. He loves being outside and begs to go camping and fishing.
We let Sammy take a picture of us at the Real game. At least he got us both in the picture.
This was right before I bought Dean a churro. After a little sugar he was good for the rest of the night.

We spent the weekend in the Uinta's at a secret spot. The campsite was beautiful and it was awesome to be right on the lake. It was so fun to be with the family and take the kids fishing. Sammy caught a fish on his Spider man fishing pole. He thought it was great until Sam wanted him to touch it.
Our attempt at a family picture.
The trail was so bumpy and rocky. Sam didn't mind, he was in the height of his glory driving his truck.
The kids wrestling with their uncle Matt.

We got to watch the fireworks show at the Real game. The kids love soccer. That is their uncle Mike's doing.

Boating Time

2008-07-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

We love boating. One of our favorite things to do in the summer.
Sam taking the boys surfing. Sammy is always asking to go surfing with his daddy.
Dean is learning to like surfing too. Our kids really don't have a choice with Sam as their dad.

The kids love to wear their life jackets and be on Papa's boat.

Finally a picture with all of us.

Jeff and Liz came over for a BBQ after boating. After eating I guess the boys wanted to swim. They all jumped in with their clothes on.

St. George, Birthday's, Pony Ride, Camping

2008-06-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

We have had quite the busy month. We love spring and summer because the weather allows us to be outside and enjoy the outdoors.
Tom and Carolee invited us to stay at their house in St. George. It was really nice considering the bad weather we were having. Sam and Tom went on a "man date" and bought matching shirts. I refer to Sam as a "ten year old with a pay check."

I finally got my appliances framed in with cabinets. It has made quite the difference in our home. I will have to post more pictures of the complete project.

On our way camping.

It was fun sitting by the fire all snuggled up.

Sasu is really growing. He loved camping, especially with his doggy friends Gracie and Champ.

Sam took each of the boys on the boat. The best part is he caught a fish with each of them. The boys were in heaven (Sam included).

Sammy and I having fun with the camera. We look lovely.

Dean and his Spider Man glasses.

Papa Alexander surprised Dean with a party pony for his birthday. The pony's name was Snoopy and he was the size of a big dog. He ate everything, including birthday cake. Dean rode that pony for 3 hours straight. What a great surprise.

We couldn't stop laughing as the kids were riding the horse.

Doesn't Dean look like he's 10 years old?

This is a flower I found growing in my backyard. It's great to find all these surprises since we moved in here last year.

Becca Leaving, So Ready for Summer

2008-05-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to have Becca gone. Though, I am very envious of her Navoo temple mission. She will do great.

How can you not love that face? This kid is really something. He is so full of energy and excitement. I can't believe he will be two tomorrow.

My crazy boys. They are a lot of fun together, when they are actually getting along.

Poor Sasu, he's a good dog for putting up with those boys.

This is how Sammy ends up by the end of the day. He hates being dirty or wet. I think he just likes being in his undies.

Deb and I took our achievement day girls on a little hike up Holebrook Canyon. You gotta love 8 and 9 year old girls.

Sunday after Bec's farewell talk.

I let the kids run around the gateway. They really enjoy the water and fountains everywhere.

I am really going to miss her. Especially our friendship, her little visits to the house and her fun personality.

Growing Up

2008-05-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

I feel like my kids are growing up way too fast. Where does the time go? My little Dean is so obsessed with his dino's, lizards, and let's not forget basketballs.
Do you think we look alike?
\
Best friends and worst enemies.

Dean tortures poor Sasu.

Look at that face. He is a pretty spoiled dog. We all love him and are glad he is part of our family.

Sammy is 3

2008-04-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sammy loves birthday's. He couldn't wait for his own birthday to come. He talked for months about his presents and mostly his dragon cake I promised him. Yes, I did make his cake, but if it wasn't for grandma being here to help, I may have ran to the local grocery store to pick one up.

He is definitely a spitting image of his daddy.
Thanks grandma for all the help and spending a week with us.
We were pretty lucky. We had 8th row conference tickets. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Modbe Clothing

2008-03-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of Modbe clothing? The clothes are way cute and modest. You have to check out their swimsuit line. I have 3 of their suits and I love all of them. Go to: http://jessica.mymodbe.com to see more.

Keeping Busy

2008-03-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

As you can see the boys are rolling around with the dog, pretty typical.

Our neighbors have 2 dogs . The kids and now Sasu like to say "hello."

Becca went through the temple last Thursday. She is leaving the end of May to serve a mission in Navoo.

We took the kids to the sporting expo and this is them fishing. They may have caught a fish if they only new to keep quiet and not try and hit the fish with the poles. They had a good time.

2 Years

2008-03-11T14:33:00.001-07:00

I still can't believe it's been 2 years since Gary's passing. Around this date I start looking at old photo's and thinking about the "good-old-times." It makes you appreciate the relationships you have with the people you care most about and realizing you want to make everyday count. Gary was a fun and enjoyable person and I feel very grateful cute little Gracie is here to remind us of him.

Our new baby boy Sasu

2008-02-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

We just got our dog (German Shepard named Sasu) on Saturday and if I new what I was in for I might have double thought my decision. Puppies are very much like babies. This one requires lots of attention and I am even getting up in the night. Something I have not done in a while. We love him very much though and are happy he is in our family. We just have to get past the kennel and house training and I think life will get a little easier.

Just Hanging Out

2008-02-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

I am so bumbed, my camera lense is scratched so the pictures come out a little fuzzy. Lesson learned, don't let your kids play with your camera no matter how much they whine. I still can't believe how fast these boys are growing up. Sammy will be three in April and Dean will be two in May. They both talk like crazy and learn something new everyday. I have to be careful of the things I say because they like to copy my phrases. Sammy loves to put together puzzles and color while Dean is still into trucks, balls, and picking on his older brother. These two boys would be lost without eachother. We all can't wait for Spring so we can go outside and enjoy the outdoors. These snow storms are getting old and we are in desperate need of sun. Hopefully not too much longer.

Holidays

2008-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful holiday spending time with our families. The kids loved hanging out with their cousins. Sam and I feel very grateful for all our blessings and our good family and friends, especially during this time of year.

Sammy stayed up with his dad making caramel roles. They were really yummy and Sammy felt pretty good about himself.

Sammy with his cousin Steven. Don't even ask about the mask.

Sammy and Dean with their cousins Steven and Luke.

Becca and I at the Nutcracker. Thanks Denise for the fun girls night.

My grandma Alexander and I.

My "cheesy" Dean.

My dad with the grand kids on Christmas morning.

Trying to do some Christmas shopping with all the kids.

Dean loved his toy horses.

Sammy got new art supplies to go with his art easel.

Sam got a little carried away with the electrical tape.

Winter Wonderland

2007-12-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of our backyard after last week's storm.

The kids were loving the snow.

Little brothers

They love to give each other loves.

Say "cheese"

Sam was trying to move a washer in the snow. After a big slip the washer fell right on his face. After about 30 stitches his face should heal great.

Fun and Exciting Week

2007-11-19T09:40:00.001-08:00

Sam's brother Mike left Wednesday to the MTC. He will be serving his mission in Des Moines Iowa. We already miss him like crazy.
Having dinner Tuesday night.
Classic bath pictures.
I was able to spend a few days in Rexburg with my sister-in-law Becca and soon to be sister-in-law Shauna. My mother-in-law watched the kids and I got to enjoy a few days with the girls. It was really fun and I loved college life when I was in it, but it also reminded me how grateful I am to have that part of my life over with. Thanks for the fun girls.

Better Late than Never: Halloween Pictures

2007-11-09T09:19:00.001-08:00

Sammy was Woody and yes, Dean was Piglet. Sam and I both thought he was man enough to pull off a pink Piglet costume, be everyone still mistaked him for a girl. He makes a pretty funny looking girl. It was a lot of fun and the kids thought they were in heaven with all the candy they got.

My Funny Boys

2007-10-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

These kids don't have to do a lot to make me laugh. They are really becoming great friends and it's so fun to watch them play and interact together.

Lost my camera for a while/but now it's found

2007-10-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry, haven't been the best blogger. My family was here for a week, which was a ton of fun, we finally finished our basement meaning a lot more unpacking, and to top it all off I lost my camera for a few weeks. Hopefully there will be some new updates soon.

TN Jensen Ranch

2007-09-25T11:08:00.001-07:00

Our last big "outdoor" weekend before winter begins. We spent the weekend at a ranch over 10,000 feet. You feel like you are in a different world because you are in the middle of nowhere. It's beautiful, especially right now that all the leaves are changing. The best part is seeing all the wild animals everywhere. We didn't see any this time, but the Jensen's say they always see bears.

Can you believe this view?

The story of my life, Dean was not happy Sammy was trying to get on the four wheeler with him.

Just relaxing and enjoying the fresh air.

He is getting so big. I love he can say "cheese."

My little man Dean.

Dean with his aunt Becca.

The boys with their aunt Lizzy. She was great to take the boys on so many four wheeler rides.

The kids were in heaven with all their tractor rides.

The man lift, it was like a roller coaster ride.

The kids did not want to get off.

A couple of weeks ago we went to the zoo. Can you believe this white alligator? It came right to the window. I was even scared.

Growing up

2007-09-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the upside down picture, I couldn't figure out how to flip it.

We just got a pass at the Discovery Gateway in Salt Lake. The kids just love it. There is so much for them to do and it's fun to watch them explore and learn. I have to watch Dean though, he is such a bully and picks on all the kids smaller and even bigger than him. I even had a mom chew me out because Dean tackled her son. I just told her sorry, even though deep down I wanted to tell her that her son is a whimp. The Discovery Gateway has all these fun costumes for the kids to wear. Sammy liked the cow costume best.

I walked outside and this is what Sammy created. He told me it was a tractor. Pretty creative for using pieces of chalk and scraps of wood.

Sammy's new obsession is painting. I might have a future artist on my hands.

Allridge Family Reunion

2007-08-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

Our family spent the weekend in Island Park Idaho. It was fun to be so close to Yellowstone and in cooler weather. We are lucky to have such good family.

Sammy and his cousin Kendra on the little motorcycle.

The kids were fascinated with the bears.

Dean would not leave his Uncle Dave. It was nice to have a full time babysitter.

We went to a rodeo and Sammy liked the bull head.

Me and my boys. My favorite things in the world.

My best friend. He's the best.

Some of Sam's younger siblings. They make the family fun.

What would I do without my sister-in-laws?

Dean with his Uncle Mike. He just got his mission call to Des Moines Iowa.

My little buddy. Now that he talks like crazy, he really is my main source of conversation. He's the best.

Thanks grandma Allridge for the fun reunion. We love you.

You gotta love the pink cowboy hat.

Life Over The Last 2 Months

2007-08-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been quite the slacker, but a lot has been going on and it's the summer, so I finally decided to buckle down and recap the last 2 months. Enjoy.

Dean turned 1 on May 24th, Happy Birthday!

We love the new boat Allen. This is how we have been spending our weekends.

Katie's beauty school graduation.

Swimming at a resort in Chandler for Katie's graduation. I was able to leave Sammy at home and go with just Dean. It felt nice to have just one baby again, I think Dean liked all the attention too.

Celebrating the 24th of July at East Canyon. Sammy loves squirting people with his squirt guns.

Yes, my baby loves to eat dirt, sand, even snails. Welcome to my life.

At the petting zoo in Pioneer Village for the 24th.

My kids love Popsicles.

I am learning to enjoy yard work, this was my latest project.

Lake Powell.

Lizzy and Sammy.

Sam and Sammy surfing behind the boat.

Sam surfing.

I can do it too.

My little family.

Celebrating my birthday at Lake Powell.

My birthday pinyata.

Dean thought it was funny to wear Elmo's head.

My boys.

The kids loved their island.

Progress

2007-06-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am happy to say there is progress in the works. The house is coming but we have had a mess with our plumbing and electrical stuff. I guess that is what you get for buying a 60 year old house. We will be officially in by Friday, so hopefully nothing too crazy will happen before then. In the meantime, I think my kids will have a nervous break down because they have become quite fond of living with grandma and grandpa. I am lucky to have such great in-laws.

Moving

2007-05-31T11:05:00.001-07:00

We are officially moving on Saturday. I have been busy getting boxes, packing, getting more boxes and packing some more. Plus, it is a lot more difficult to pack when you have to plan it around naps. Our house will hopefully be livable in the next couple of weeks so thankfully the Alexander's are letting us bum off them until we can move into our house. We can't wait to have more space and a nice place to call home.

Oh, congratulations to our two high school graduates. We love you and wish you the best.

Sam's brother Mike with our grandma and grandpa Alexander. They are the new State Champs in 4A soccer thanks to Mikes 2 goals. Mike is sending his mission papers in a month and we are so excited for his future.

Katie is graduating from beauty school on June 7th. It's the best to have another hair stylist in the family, too bad she is not in Utah. I am excited to see you at graduation. Can you believe my little sister is graduating? Where has the time gone?

Little Boy's are the Best!

2007-05-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

They are just the best little buddies. Thanks mom for the matching shirts.

Sammy likes to get into my jewelry, Sam doesn't know about this.

Enjoying his Popsicle while watching his Uncle Mike play soccer.

We went to the zoo for Dean's birthday. Can you believe these turkey's are just walking around? The boys loved it, they were in animal heaven.

How do they measure up?

The monkey's were the kid's favorite.

Sammy thought he was allowed to get in with the giraffe's.

Dean can't get enough of his cousin Charly. He likes to smother her with hugs and kisses.

If you look close you can see the bears fighting in the background, it reminded me all too well of my boys.

We had such a good time at the zoo. The boys were the perfect age and I think it's their new favorite place.

Sam is Graduated!

2007-05-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

March 4th, 2007: Graduated with his MBA from the University of Utah

The whole family at the Little America for lunch before Graduation. Sam's brother Johnny was also graduating with his Bachelor's in History. Good luck in your Master's program Johnny, Rach, and Charly.

Sammy had a good time walking with his dad.

The boys conked out during the graduation ceremony.

Dean was so proud of his daddy.

I am so proud of you Sam. Happy day.

Thanks Allen and Denise for all your support. We love you.

It was fun to have you with us mom and grandma. The kids are going to miss you.

Life is so exciting. This was such a fun weekend. It was great to have my mom and grandma here. It's always fun to get a little spoiled and have extra babysitters for the boys. The boys loved their grandma's around. Sam has really worked hard for this day and we couldn't be more proud of him. It was so fun to see him walk and accept his diploma. He really made the most out of his education and soaked all of it in. This was such a wonderful opportunity and it's crazy it's over. Congratulations Sam and we love you.

New House and Weekend Boating Trip

2007-05-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

I purposely didn't show pictures of the inside yet. It is such a mess as we are currently ripping out floors and patching up walls. It's just a cute little house and we love it. We (the kids mostly) are especially excited about the big backyard. Something we have been in dying need of since Sammy started walking. Though, I am going to have to start learning how to garden, weed, and take care of fruit trees. I am always up for a challenge.

Dean with his grandma Alexander. The kids actually do really well with their life jackets on. Something they better get used to.

Not too bad for an old guy.

Almost ready to land his back flip.

Have you ever surfed behind a boat? It's so fun and the craziest thing. You actually surf on the wake the boat creates without using a rope.

Sammy is definitely our boater baby. He begs to get on grandpa's boat and loves to help drive. He never gets boared of being on the boat.

Sam's parents; Allen and Denise.

April Recap

2007-04-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit slow posting pictures of the kids and family. Here are some pictures from the month of April. I can't believe how fast time goes by, does anyone else feel this way too?

We took this right before the new owners drove off with it. Sam was pretty sad to let this Malibu go, but he quickly got over it because Sam's dad bought a brand new one. Now you know what we will be doing all summer.

My sister-in-law Becca. She's at BYU-I. The kids and I sure miss her.

Easter afternoon. Enjoying our Easter egg hunt at grandma Allridge's.

Dean and his aunt Lizzy. Enjoying one of Mike's soccer games.

Sammy's first time flying a kite. He thought it was the coolest thing. Thanks cousin Charly for the fun birthday gift.

Easter afternoon.

Dean loved his new chew toys (the Easter eggs).

Crazy and Exciting Life

2007-04-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I have posted anything, so I will give a quick up-date. Dean started walking last week, very exciting and lots of fun. Sam got a job. That is some of the greatest news. 5 months of stress on Sam's part paid off. Sam is also graduating with his MBA on May 4th. 6 years of school seemed like a long time but it has flown by. Last, the most recent news is Sam and I bought a house. Yes, it happened so fast but we felt really good about our decision. Totally crazy, but we fell in love with it and we can't wait to close and begin tearing apart the inside and making it into "our" house. Tons of stuff on our plate over the past few weeks, but we are so excited for all these changes and can't wait to see what else is around the corner.

This was taken about a month ago while we were in AZ visiting.

Sammy's 2!

2007-04-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I have a 2 year old. Time goes by so fast. Sammy had a really fun Birthday party thanks to Sam's parents. For a few weeks prior to his birthday he told everyone it was going to be his birthday and he was turning 2. When the day finally came he was so excited he couldn't keep from smiling. It was so cute. He loved the attention and especially his toys. My parents gave him the cutest little Radio Flyer bike. He can ride it as long as we tape his feet to the pedals. His favorite toy from the Alexander's was his dinosaurs. He didn't even want to finish opening any of his other presents. This party was a lot of fun and it is so cool to watch Sammy grow and get smarter. He's starting to talk a lot and is really able to express himself. Being a parent is the best. Happy Birthday Sammy!

Pictures from Sammy's Party

2007-04-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

We didn't have any candles, so we improvised.

Sammy and his two aunts Lizzy and Becca

Sammy insisted everyone wear a birthday hat.

Can you see his top teeth coming in? It explains the drool on his shirt.

Sammy stole some licks of his cake.

Blowing rasberries, his new favorite thing.

A little cheesy.

MY CRAZY BOYS

2007-03-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

His "Sponge Bob" face

His "Davy Crockett" hat

Sammy's sun glasses

My little piggy

ST. GEORGE AQUATIC CENTER

2007-03-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

Sammy wanted to jump off the diving board

Dean is quite the water baby

They are really starting to look alike

ZION'S NATIONAL PARK

2007-03-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

The kids loved how close the squirrels got. We hiked to the top of Weeping Rock.

Dean was getting sick of his stroller and Sammy loved climbing the rocks.

Dean loves that binki. The hikes were so beautiful, our favorite was The Narrow's.

My boys, Sammy had those sunglasses on the whole time.

Spring Break Trip

2007-03-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

We had a great Spring Break. We figured that Sam might not ever have another long break once he get's a job, so we better take full advantage. We spent a week in Arizona and a few days in St. George. Sammy and Dean loved their cousins Gracie and Gainer. They would play all day long and were so cute. They ran around laughing and making plenty of messes.

My mom opened a gymnastics studio and we took the kids. Sammy went to his first gymnastics class and loved it. After the class they played on a blow up jungle gym. Dean wanted to join in as well. They never get enough playing.

Sammy and Dean are so lucky to have such great grandparents. They love them and Grandma and Grandpa are so good with them. There is nothing better than to have loving, supporting family.

Winter Returns

2007-02-27T20:38:00.000-08:00

These were taken just 1 week ago at the park. The Sun was bright and shininig. My 2 crazy boys. Sammy enjoys the swing, but if you could see Dean's face, he was a little green.

Just when I thought winter was over it began again. Classes at the University of Utah were cancled because the roads were so bad. Sam didn't mind because he got to come home early. It's a good thing he has 4 wheel drive. It's days like these that make me wish I was in Arizona. I am totally ready for stroller walks, swimming, and playing in the park. Me and the kids are starting to feel like hermits. Our apartment is shrinking and we can't wait for the summer to come.

These are some pictures taken inside our apartment today, you know because we are stuck inside all day. We have to find other things to keep us occupied.

2007-02-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

Our Boys

Sammy and Dean are getting so big and starting to really enjoy eachother. We have to be careful not to leave them alone for too long because Sammy has a real problem of smothering his brother. Even though Sammy is bigger and stronger, Dean figured out a way to defend himself. He grabs a hold of Sammy's hair and does not let go. He has the grip of a pitbull. We love these boys and feel grateful they are part of our family.

Welcome Max

2007-02-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

We want to welcome our newest member of the family!

Max Alexander

Adopted Febuary 19, 2007

10oz. 4in.

Sam felt the kids needed a pet. We don't have a backyard for a dog, Sam strongly dislikes cats, so a hamster was the perfect fit. Sammy and Dean have had a great time and love chasing him around the apartment in his ball. I have actually grown fond of him as well. The joys of being a parent.