Finishing the Basement!

I sure wish that I would've taken before pictures of our basement before walls went up, because the changes that are taking place downstairs are crazy to see! For the past 3 years we have been trying to finish our basement and we are finally getting close to having it completed. What a project it has become. Mark and I didn't want to go into debt to finish our basement, so every little bonus at work Mark has earned or tax return over the past couple of years has gone into basement work. We truly are ready for it all to be completed so we can spend our hard earned money on something else. It has been so exciting to see the changes that are happening "below" us and we couldn't be more ready to enjoy this new living space. For the past few months, we have really focused on getting everything done and have gotten the insulation, sheet rock, texturing, painting, base boards and closets completed. We are so excited. A few weeks ago, we had our friend Ryan Norby come and finish the tile work. Mark and I wanted to do tile that looks like wood flooring and we are thrilled with the results. We loved the job that Ryan did on the flooring and on the bathroom tile surrounding the tub.

It truly is so exciting to see everything come along. This past weekend we went to go and get several carpet bids. In the end, we decided to go with Ryan once again because he beat the competitors. Ryan's Uncle works at a Carpet Store so Ryan was able to get us a good deal on carpet. We are hoping to get everything installed over the next couple of weeks! We are so grateful for honest and dear friends like the Norby's for helping us out. After we get carpet done, Then its onto finishing the bathroom, dry bar and stoning the fireplace! We couldn't be more excited!

Spring Dance Rehearsal and Recital

Dance for the Spring came to a close last night at Karmindy's Dance Recital. She did a wonderful job dancing. She knew both her dances from her tap class and ballet class and it showed on both her Rehearsal and Recital night. Most of the other little girls in her class watched and followed Karmindy because she knew all the steps. What a proud parent moment when you see your child excel and enjoy doing something that they love. We are so proud of Karmindy and all the hard work she has put into learning her dances this Spring.

On rehearsal night, Karmindy's friend Emilia Pidcock came to support her and watch her perform. It was so nice of her to come watch Karmindy. After Karmindy's performance, Emilia gave Karmindy a red rose to congratulate her on a job well done. It was so sweet! I am so grateful that my kids have sweet and kind friends. I am also grateful for sweet friends.

On the night of Karmindy's recital, Karmindy outdid herself again. She loves to dance and perform and gets so excited! On this night Karmindy's friend, Madison Jackman was also their to perform with their class. (Madison wasn't able to make it the night before to the rehearsal because of a high fever). The girls did a great job. Karmindy has truly enjoyed having Madison in her dance class his year. It is so fun to do things with friends! I think all the girls were a little nervous on this night because they ended up watching their teacher do the moves through most of the dance, Karmindy included. Nevertheless, all the girls did a great job performing.

We are so proud of you Karmindy and all the you have accomplished and learned throughout this year!

Friends & Frozen Princess Night

We have been so fortunate to have new neighbors move into our neighborhood. We are particularly grateful for our friends the Albrechts. Crystal and Joe Albrecht moved into our neighborhood with their two children, Cambree and Tevan about a year ago. We have become fast friends, and they have become like family to us. I have especially enjoyed getting to know Crystal,  we have so much in common. She is like a lost sister I have always known. I am also so grateful that our kids are around the same age! All four of our kids have also become fast friends and we enjoy the time we get to hangout for "game nights!"

Today was the last day of Spring break before heading back to school, so while Kaleb and Tevan went over to the Albrechts to play, the girls came here to our home for a play date.

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Karmindy and Cambree truly enjoy being together and when Cambree got here the girls played hide and seek and then spent the rest of the time making cupcakes with Karmindy's cupcake maker. The girls had a fun time giggling and decorating their cupcakes. I love the little relationship these two girlies have. It is so fun to listen to their conversations. 

While the girls were playing, we got a special surprise in the mail. Mark and I ordered Karmindy an Elsa dress from Etsy to wear for her birthday party/Halloween this year. When it arrived, we immediately had to try it on! Karmindy was thrilled and enjoyed twirling with and singing with the pretty sparkly cape.

 After Cambree left that evening, Mark came home from work and we headed to dinner with the kids to celebrate our last day of Spring break. I happened to also know that Chick-Fil-A was doing a Frozen princess night from 5 to 8 p.m. and knew that Karmindy would love to meet the princesses from the Popular Disney Movie. Elsa is her favorite princess and I knew she would flip if she saw them. When we arrived at Chick-Fil-A it was a nut house. I swear everyone this side of the valley was there. After a while it died down but it was still pretty busy with customers and the lines to see the princesses were long; however, We figured it was still cheaper than a trip to Disneyland.! Bahaha!

Karmindy enjoyed watching the princesses sing, "Let it Go!" and enjoyed meeting them in person. I think the movie has come that much more alive and real to her after meeting them! We are so glad we could indulge Karmindy's small obsession with the Movie, "Frozen."

Easter Weekend

For the past several years we have gone down to Southern Utah to celebrate the Easter weekend with our Families. This year we decided to go down on Thursday and we stayed with my sister Kamberee and her hubby Tyler and their son Karev for the weekend. I am always so grateful to her opening her home up to us and letting us stay. We always look forward to going down to Southern Utah in the spring because the weather is always warmer than it is up here in Northern Utah and it is so nice to be able to get away from it all and have some much needed family time.We didn't do too much on Thursday after we arrived but visit and catch up with Kam and Tyler and Karev.

 On Friday morning, we headed down to Grandpa & Grandma Frisbey's house in Santa Clara, Utah. When we arrived, Bob and Laurie had hidden some eggs around their yard and in their house for the kids to look for. They had hidden pink and purple eggs for Karmindy and green and blue eggs for Kaleb. The kids had a great time searching for the eggs. They both got ten eggs with $1 in each egg. They were pretty thrilled with their money eggs. After the kids had their egg hunt, Bob and Laurie let the kids color some eggs. The kids had fun spending time with their Grandma and Grandpa Frisbey.

 After the egg hunts and coloring eggs, we headed to eat lunch at the Pasta Factory on the Blvd. in St. George. Mark and I sure miss the Pasta Factory and their yummy pastas, raspberry lemonade and their yummy bread sticks. We always look forward to visiting southern Utah to get a taste of our roots! We met Rex and Misty and R.J. there for lunch. It was nice to see Mark's brother and spend some time with him and his family and Bob and Laurie.

On Saturday Morning, we took it easy, slept in and then got up and got ready for the day. After getting cleaned up for the day we headed to Grandpa and Grandma DeMille's house in Hurricane. We had a yummy picnic with my parents, and siblings. We missed having Tiffany, Ryan and Kenley there. They are in Hawaii because Ryan is stationed there with the Army for work.

After the picnic, we all headed outside to ride shoot balloons out of Grandpa's grape vines. Kaleb brought his airsoft guns and Dad got out his BB and pellet gun for all the kids to shoot. After shooting we went for four wheeler rides, scooter rides (Uncle Karson's scooter), and Uncle Karson's girl friend, Brittany's go kart. The kids all had fun, and even the big kids enjoyed themselves!

After having fun shooting, four wheeler rides, scooter rides and go kart rides, Grandpa and Grandma had their tradtional egg hunt. The kids always look forward to my parents egg hunt and look forward to trying to find the Golden Eggs. My mom hid 2 gold eggs this year and one Silver. Kaleb, like every year, was stressing about getting the golden egg (because the golden ones have money in them.) I had to reassure him that it would be fine. He was happy when he found the 2 golden eggs. I was proud of him because he gave one to Karmindy to have. He was so thoughtful! I am very proud of  Kaleb and the awesome big brother he is to his little sister.

We sure had a great weekend with both sides of our family. It was nice to spend time with all of our brothers and sisters and our parents. I feel very blessed to come from such a great family like mine. I truly look forward to seeing them now that we are all older and have our own families. It makes the time so worthwhile and precious!
On Sunday morning, we all woke up and the kids raced downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny left them. Kaleb, Karmindy and Karev were so excited to see that the EB had came! They were happy with their treasures!

I am so grateful for my own little family. I am truly grateful for the knowledge that we can be an eternal family and I am grateful we can have an eternal family because of Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice and atonement for us! We had such a great weekend! Happy Easter!

Spring Dance Comes to a Close!

Its hard to believe that Karmindy has taken dance for a year now! Today was her last official day of Dance for the year! Karmindy has been so fun to watch over the course of this past year. She has gained more confidence and has grown as a little dancer. In dance this year, she focused on Tap and Ballet. She really excelled at both genres and did a great job. She has improved so much from several months ago at her Christmas Recital. Her classes were held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. before she had to head to Kindergarten. At the first of each month, I was able to go and watch her and what a joy it was!

Karmindy will have her final recital next week and she is more than prepared. Her teacher, Ms. Charlee Mascaro, offered the girls a sucker for a reward if the girls would pass off their tap dance to her with out any help. Two weeks after the challenge was given, Karmindy passed off her dance. She was tickled pink and so proud. I was so proud of her as well.

Luckily, we have Karmindy enrolled for a month of Summer Classes before starting again in the fall. We are looking toward to signing her up again for ballet and jazz this next year. I am excited to see her excel and improve upon what she has already learned.

Karmindy we are so proud of you and how hard you worked this year in Dance! We love you Sister!

Today as the girls were leaving, one of the mom's made these darling cupcakes for the girls to say thanks to all the girls! The girls were so excited for the cupcakes! I had to take a picture of them and Karmindy with her cupcake because they were both too cute!

Fun with Neighborhood Friends!

With all the new homes that are being built in our neighborhood and ward, we have been truly blessed to have some amazing families move into our little area of the world. One family in particular that we have become fast friends with is the Albrecht Family. Crystal and Joe Albrecht moved into our neighborhood this past year and our families have just meshed. Their two kids and our two kids are about the same ages and Crystal and Joe are also our ages. It has been so fun to get to know them. Our kids play great together and it has been so fun to be able to get together from time to time to play games, have BBQ's and just hang out. Crystal has become one of my very best-est gal pals and I truly enjoy hanging out with her and spending time with her. We have a lot in common and have enjoyed many a afternoon crafting, watching reality tv, and working out several times a week in the mornings. I am so grateful for our friendship and love when you meet a friend who inspires you to be a better person. Crystal is "my person."

This past week, Crystal was working and Joe was headed to a Jazz game and so they needed someone to watch their kids. They asked us and we were happy to help them out. After school, Cambree and Tevan came over and the kids hung out all afternoon and evening. For dinner, we splurged and got pizza and bread sticks from Little Caesar's. 

The weather was nice enough to eat out side and the kids enjoyed that. After dinner, the kids played until I took them back to their house for the evening to get ready for school the next day. The boys had fun playing the Xbox/mine-craft and the girls enjoyed playing dress ups, putting on makeup and giggling and teasing their brothers. 

It was a fun night for my kids to have their friends over. We are so grateful for the many wonderful friends we have in the neighborhood we live in!

 

Museum Of Natural Curiosity

We had the opportunity this week to head down to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi and check out the new Museum of Natural Curiosity as a family. Mark was able to get tickets to go to the Museum through work since Adobe has connections with Thanksgiving Point. We were excited to go and check out the Museum before it opened to the public. We had a fun evening spending time with one another and checking out all the that Museum had to offer. The kids loved the different learning areas and enjoyed trying all the exhibits. I think their favorite exhibit was Kidopolis. Kidopolis was a  mini city and the kids could do interactive activities throughout the city. After we checked out the Museum we headed to dinner at Chick-Fil-A, a family favorite. I sure love spending time with our little crew!

Odekirk Cousins

Two years ago, while helping out with Kaleb's 1st grade field day, I started talking to another mom who was also there volunteering for her daughter. I came to find out that Her name was Amber Odekirk. Amber's daughter, Lina and Kaleb were in the same 1st grade class. It was amazing how our conversation flowed and we had so much in common. As our conversation continued, we talked about where we grew up. I mentioned I was from Hurricane and she grew up in South Jordan/Riverton. Amber mentioned she had family in Southern Utah and then brought up that her maiden name was DeMille. I told her my maiden name was DeMille as well and that I grew up in Southern Utah. Long Story short, we figured out that both of our grandpas were brothers and our Dad's were 1st cousins, making us 2nd cousins. Seriously, what are the odds? We laughed and laughed that we were family and marveled at how much we had in common and were amazed how our paths had crossed. Fast forward 2 years and we still have stayed in touch and get our kids together from time to time.

While my kids were off track and Amber's girls were on Spring Break we decided to meet up for lunch at Amber's new home in Saratoga Springs.After lunch, we headed to a nearby park to let the kids play, while we caught up and talked. I love and cherish the time I get to spend with my cousin. I am so thankful for this unique opportunity to get to know my extended family better.

Jumping at Airborne

When the kids are off track, I try to plan one fun activity a week for us to do and get out of the house. The kids really look forward to getting out of the house and enjoy having something to look forward to. The kids both love going to Airborne(a trampoline jumping place) in Draper, Utah and had been begging me to go. I surprised them at the first of the week and promised them we could go if they helped around the house, did their chores and did their reading and some school work. It didn't take much to convince them to help out so they could go. 

Kaleb ended up inviting his neighborhood gal pal, Adilynne Hagen. He sure loves having Adilynne as a friend and they have been very good little friends since Kindergarten. Karmindy also wanted to invite a friend so we ended up meeting her friend Jake Simmonds their. Jake and Karmindy were in Preschool together at Small Wonders Preschool, and I have gotten to know Jake's mom Kerrie, pretty well. She is such a sweet friend and it is always fun to be able to go and let the kids play and talk and visit with another mom.

We all had fun at Airborne. We let the kids jump for about an hour and then headed to McDonalds for ice cream sundaes afterwords. The kids had a blast and I enjoyed visiting and catching up with Kerrie.

We sure love our fun times while being off track!

The picture above is of Kaleb with Adilynne Hagen and Karmindy with Jake and Stella Simmonds.