Welcome SPRINGBREAK!

Spring Break has arrived!!! What does this mean for us? Healthy doses of 'jamas 'til atleast 10am, leisure mornings, family walks (or RUNS to Emi's bus stop), trips to the library and park, going down the hill to visit Gamma & Gampa or maybe a spontaneous trip to visit cousins up north. YAY! The kids are SO busy and after a LONG, don't-get-off-the-bus-until-5pm, day of school we've decide this break we're just gonna RELAX and have a little FUN!!!

In an effort to NOT break the bank on our first Spring Break day we decided to support A-town's Little League fair/ carnival. The kids were so excited!



We stopped by Miss Kai-li's team to support her and steal a little jump in the jumper.





We couldn't resist the clouds of sugar spun sweetness. This is one of my childhood favorites and brings back such great memories of lazy provo summers with siblings and special trips with Dad to BYU creamery.



The kids enjoyed the shaved iced WITH an extra squirt of flavor. They were in sugar heaven. (and YES Miss Em knows her shoes are on the wrong feet, but refused to switch them... said they feel better that way?! whatever!)





Then we heard giggling and bursts of laughter and when we turned the corner spotted the merry-go-round just in time to jump on. The kids couldn't get enough!!! So I decided to jump on as well to capture some of this carefree fun in the sun.

YAY for Spring Break!!! If you have any suggestions for inexpensive activities for little kiddos let us know!

Lu's date with Daddy...

Missy Lu was so excited to take her Dad to a Royal Ball that her Girl Scout council was hosting. She had such a great time! And felt so special spending a little QT with her Daddy.

Thanks for making Miss Lu feel SO special, Mr. J!

'Ai Fanga Kuma!

'Ai fanga kuma
'Ai fanga kuma
Mou lele kife?
Mau lele kihe...
Kai e ma a Mo-se-se!

Just a funny little tongan nursery rhyme that my son sings around the house.
Moe IS our little mouse, quietly making mischief and BIG mess 'round here.

Here's Moe and one of his best-buds Miss Jada, herself:



Thanks Miss Jada! For digging in the pantry with your partner Mr. Moe in search of sweet treasure. Luckily the cupboards were bare of all things chocolate, brown/red/green/nacho cheese orange. So you both settled for the whole grain fish-ez. Uhm... YUM!

Just wanted to add... the recipe to the cupcakes below.
Super duper easy twist to the blah boring boxed cake mix
*Disclaimer: NOT diet friendly*, but I've heard of an applesauce substitute. Go ahead and try it! I'm sure it's a great alternative.

L's "SO-super-duper-EASY-yum" cupcakes:

1 box of cake mix (for added moisture look for one that adds pudding to the mix)
(make as directed, EXCEPT substitute oil for MAYO. Yep! MAYO... makes the cake super moist and yummy!)

creamy- cheese center mix:
3/4 block of cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
(soften cream cheese, add sugar and cream together)

Heat oven 350oF
Pour batter into cupcake liners until 1/3 full, add a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture, add batter until 3/4 full. Bake as directed. Frost and drizzle with dark melted chocolate.
ENJOY!!!!



Here's a quick pic on my FIRST kuma... the morning of her bday! The other reason behind all my baking goodness.

LOVE you Kuma! Thank you for first blessing me with the sacred name of, "Mommy!"

"Who, me???"...

I was in the process of creating 'Eat Me' cupcakes for our Alice in Wonderland "VERY, MERRY UN-BIRTHDAY" themed RS Birthday Celebration night... when I happened upon this little man, up on the countertop, polishing off his THIRD delectable delight.

When I asked him where all the cupcakes went he quickly responded,



"Uh... I dunno?!"



Suuuure, Mr. Moe....

Props to Rugby 7s and MY VALENTINE!!!!

I know this post is a little delayed, but we've been CRAZY busy around these parts.

V-day with Mr. J was spent in San Diego, CA.

We had such a WONDERIFFIC FANTABULOUS time with some of our close friends enjoying an entire weekend watching USA RUGBY 7s , shopping, dining without the craziness and noise of kiddos, lounging at the hotel and spa, and pretending during all this that $$ was unlimited. LOL! So FUN... pretending.









The beautiful bay view from our room. The pool was awesome, waterslide, waterfalls... funny thing is the first thing we all said was "Man, the kids would have SO MUCH FUN!". For another occassion I'm sure!



Enjoying a little Samoan Siva during half-time. ONLY with Rugby! Loved it!



Checking out the New Zealand All Blacks!



And maaan... Line, we were REALLY rooting for Mexico. I was feeling really bad for them 'cause they were gettin' whooped. But atleast they got a goooood stretch in.... just in time to RUNNNN back home- good thing it wasn't too far. lol! Just playin' girl!!!! You know we were cheering for Gussies Amigos.... your bro was crackin' this one all day long. I'm sure next year their stretching will pay off. LOL!





And it was sooo cool watching the USA WOMENS RUGBY team run out on the field to compete against England. They were Tiiiiiight! I've never really been into Rugby, or sports for that matter... but watching these girls on the team made me appreciate the skills require for such a sport. So cool!!!



And this guy was a crack up. He jumped over the fence and TRIED to get up on his team when the redcoats dragged him from the field. MODED. But secretly, if that were my team, I'd IMAGINE doing the same- only I'd be lifted by the team in the air like I somehow had something to do with their victory. Like- served their pellegrino. hahaha!~

We had such a great time! It's been a loooooong while since we've treated ourselves to a weekend- just the adults, enjoying eachothers company.












The perfect postlude to the weekend was a YUMMMLICIOUS breakfast at Richard Walkers Pancake House , just a stones throw from our hotel. It was definitely worth the 30 min wait outside, in the RAIN!





Thanks Toki's and Moa's for such a fabulous weekend. And for all the babysitters that made it possible.

ALLLL that LOVE.... and a STAR!!!

Phew!!!

I am E X H A U S T E D!

After spending and entire weekend + Monday in San Diego with Mr. J and some of our closest friends (I'll post on that later), I jetted off (in my trusty mini-van) to join Jane in Vegas for the WPPI convention.

What an AWESOME experience that was. I met SO MANY photog greats: Bambi Cantrell , Jerry Ghionis , Charles & Jennifer Maring ... the lists of greats continues. I'll go into more detail later. (My eyelids are struggling as I type. LOL!)

I just wanted to post pictures of the SWEEEEETEST, most genuine photographer whose work continually inspires me to reach HIGHER, and be BETTER. So cool!



Ms. Jasmine Star herself!!!!

A little lesson in BOREDOM! and some COOKIES!

When I was in Third Grade I won a contest. My first ever. For being the TOP Christmas-catalog-fundraising-seller of the ENTIRE school. Truth be told my salesman pitch and motivation didn't just happen... one LAZY afternoon I muttered the words, "I am SOOOO BOOOORRRREEED!" to my Mom and was sent to walk/ hike the ENTIRE Sherwood Hills to sell items from the fundraising catalog.

EVERY afternoon after school.

For a WEEK.

Yeah, I thought- COMPLETE TORTURE.

I laugh at it now, but at the time I was completely mortified that I'd be FORCED to sell stuff DOOR TO DOOR (SO totally would not happen in this day and age... especially in A-town but we're talking PROVO, UT). Anywho- So imagine my surprise when my name was called over the PA system announcing that I was the TOP seller and that I'd won a PANASONIC AM/ FM Stereo Cassette BOOM BOX. I was the talk of the town... my mom stood and told her ENTIRE RS (yeah, another OMGosh!), My dad- his associates and of course my bro's and sis's friends heard so I got all the ego stroking to last FOREVER. I was pretty proud of my FORCED efforts to win the contest! FAST FORWARD 20+ years...

Guess what I hear from homegirl Lu????

Yep! You guessed it. Salo had a friend over the other night and the first thing I hear from Lu is "Mooooooooommmmm, (added complaints, then the dreaded) I'm SSSSOOOOOO BOOOORRRRREEEEDDD!".

Coooooollll!!!! I think to myself remembering that time WAY BACK!

"I have JUST the thing for you!

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

ARE

ON SALE~!!!!!





and guess what you'll be doing for the next few weeks??????"