April Fools' Day Pranks

Tomorrow is April Fools! To help us get in the mood, I thought I'd spotlight a some fun pranks to play:


The Bedtime Switcheroo - Where you move your kids after they’ve fallen asleep on March 31st to another bed in the house. They’ll wake up on April Fools Day with the joke already on them! I think this one sounds so sneaky! I'll have to try it one of these years!


Got Milk? - If your milk comes in a cardboard container, add a few drops of food coloring. Afterall, it's harmless and who doesn't want to eat cereal with green milk? Or blue, or red, or orange?


Surprise Sandwich - My mom did this for my Dad when we were little. I can just imagine it...wax paper in the middle of a sandwich. The funny thing is that he ate the whole thing at work without even noticing. Maybe tin foil would provide a better zing next time?


Got ya! - My Mom and Dad would put a rubber band around the kitchen sink sprayer. So, when we would turn on the water we'd get blasted in the face! Great laughs on this one!

Do you have any good prank stories to add to my list?

Toothless Justin

Justin was so excited to lose his other front tooth during dinner tonight! He immediately called Grandpa Tooth Fairy in Utah and lucky for Justin, Great-Grandpa Tooth Fairy was there, too! He also called Grandma Guptill to wish her a "Happy Birthday" and to share his surprise for her birthday. I hope the good old Tooth Fairy in Oregon remembers to come tonight...

Do they get paid to do that?

Today was a wacky weather day. Take your pick. It rained off and on all day, hailed two times, snowed, there was sleet, and then the sun came out in-between it all. And it will all end with a chance of thunderstorms tonight. The boys rushed out to play at the tail end of one of the hail storms. Tyler came in with mud covering his eye. Now they are having a play bath. O.K., a splash war.

Why do I always post about weather? Well, I'm raising a little weather vane. Justin finds the weather section in the newspaper each day so he can give me the forecast for the day. He tells me the storm is coming in from the West and how the sun will follow those dark clouds. I asked him today if he will be a weatherman when he grows up. He thought about it and then asked me, "Do they get paid to do that?" (You know, I have asked myself the same question some days.) I nodded and he said, "O.K., do I get to be on T.V.?" I said, "Yes." After a happy laugh, he asked me, "Would I be able to see you when I'm on T.V.?" Nope. "Well, it would still be pretty good being on T.V."

Easter Weekend

We were so happy to spend our Easter weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Davis. My parents flew into Portland on Thursday night and left this morning. The last time they came out here for a visit was about 18 months ago. So, we were really excited for this weekend.



Justin and Tyler had so much fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa. They played games, sang songs, went on bike rides, told stories, etc., etc., etc. Justin told my mom this morning that he wished they could stay here forever.



On Friday, first on our list was a trip to Trader Joe's. See? I told you before...we could live there, I think. My parents brought two extra suitcases for their loot. Note to self: peanut butter doesn't pass as a carry-on through airport security. Oops!

On Saturday, we drove to McMinnville, OR, to visit the Evergreen Aviation Museum. Ever heard of the Spruce Goose? It's huge! No, make that colossal! My dad loved all the old airplanes and helicopters. The kids loved the flight simulators in the children's area.





When we got home, my parents did their own Easter Hunt for the boys.


Thanks for the fun presents! Later, we colored our Easter eggs and Justin was a pro.




Sunday morning we had our Easter Egg Hunt inside because of the rain. No big surprise! Tyler would have been happy with one egg. After he found the one with a little Tigger figurine in it, he was done. Justin was in it for the long haul.




I taught sharing time for the kids in Primary at church. My mom and dad sat in the back so they could listen to my lesson. The kids sang a welcome song to them, too. We learned about the days leading up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I asked Travis to come in at the end and share a little bit about his experience in Israel last year when he visited the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. I also asked a friend who recently lived in Israel to do a show-and-tell about some keepsakes they collected from the Garden of Gethsemane and the Tomb. Thanks, Tiffany! The kids were so reverent and seemed so interested the whole time. I hope their testimonies of Jesus Christ grew like mine did.

O.K, let's take a hug break:








Monday, we went to go feed the ducks and geese along the park trail behind our new library. We love that place and had to show it to Grandma and Grandpa.







We had a great weekend just relaxing and enjoying time together! I hope we can do it again soon! Next time it will be our turn to go to Utah.

Read-A-Thon

Our new fun thing is to plan Read-A Thon parties. Actually, it's a sneaky way to keep the kids doing something good while I'm getting ready for the day. I make each of them a fun "house" in their bedrooms with pillows or blankets or anything silly I can find. Then they get a stack of fun books and away they go. And away I go...



Here is a picture of Tyler enjoying a BIG book from our new library. We go every few weeks or so and the boys each pick out 5 books each and 1 video. That way I always know how many to gather up when it is time to return them. I'm so glad they love to read.

Oh Lucky!

I feel so lucky to have two creative boys (and husband, too!) who made my birthday so much fun for me! Last week, Justin and Travis worked hard to make a leprechaun trap for Justin's kindergarten project. They even drew out plans and everything! I thought it would catch that tricky leprechaun for sure!


It's a leprechaun house. So, the leprechaun follows a trail of gold coins up the walkway and through the front door. Then he sees his friend, a decoy leprechaun, and then falls through a trick floor into the bag.



Justin came home from school Monday telling stories about how the class leprechaun, Lucky, played tricks on their class. When he got to school, his teacher was late and the whole room was messed up. A table was tipped over, the ceiling tile was popped up, all the crayons and markers and pencils were scattered around, green footprints were everywhere and there was also green toilet water. I think he liked that part the best.




Travis took me to lunch at PF Chang's and it was fabulous! We enjoyed our lunch date! Then when Justin got home from school, He and Tyler planned a party for me. We played stick the sticker on the leprechaun and built block cities. Then we did St. Patrick's Day coloring pages and activity pages. They loved helping me bake my birthday brownies. My mom and dad gave me some hilarious pajamas. I used to have that Care Bear when I was a kid. I'm including a picture so Holli and Lisa know the contest is on!



Justin decorated for my birthday dinner. He said, "Mom, I'm a genius at setting the table for your party!" He had sprinkled "Happy St. Patrick's Day!" napkins all around the table and put a holiday candle holder for a centerpiece. The boys each had a shamrock-shaped straw, too. It was definitely a party!

Which Sports Car Are You?

Travis is a Chevrolet Corvette!

You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.

He said, "Oh, yeah!" when this picture came up!

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite, and you know it.

Justin and Tyler will be so happy to know they have "Sally" for a mom and "Lightening McQueen" for a dad! I think we are perfect for each other!

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This year it's going to be FUN! I'm going to make green pancakes and green milk for breakfast. The boys are so excited to wear GREEN. I don't have to pack a lunch for Justin because he gets hot lunch for my birthday. I think I'm as excited as he is. Justin said he is going to come barging in to our room yelling "Happy Birthday!" to wake us up. He wakes up at 6 a.m. and I hope he doesn't wake up until 7:00 tomorrow. That would really be a birthday present!



Travis and I are going to go out to lunch and Tyler will play with a babysitter. I'm really looking forward to that part of the day. Then I'm planning lots of fun St. Patrick's Day fun for the boys. O.K., it's for me, too! We are going to decorate for a party in Justin's bedroom. He has a whole plan for us. Then a party with Travis when he gets home from work. Justin has been wrapping random toys and things from around the house. He wrapped 10+ presents for me. Yesterday I asked him if he ate the last banana. It was wrapped. He can't wait for me to open all my gifts from him.


I found lots of St. Pat's crafts and games online and we are going to really live it up! Funny that I'm looking forward to kids crafts. Hey, I might even bake pennies into my birthday brownies! (Well, maybe a quarter, a nickel and two pennies. Wrapped in wax paper. Come on, some of you have eaten -I mean "won"- money at my birthday parties! Fess up!) I'm realizing as I get older that birthdays have started to regain their magic. Same with other holidays. I get to have fun again with the help of my kids. 32 is going to be great!

Too Far

I'm feeling like I live just too far away. Too far away from family. Too far away from friends.

My good friend Jennie's dad passed away on Monday. He has been a big influence on my life for the past 20 years. I have many good, fun, wonderful memories of my teenage and college years that include him. I wish I could be there for Jennie this week. I'm looking forward to hearing all about the funeral and I hope Jennie knows I love her and miss her and that I would be there if I could...

Then I find out that my good friend Jeri had her baby on Monday. 6 weeks early. In Maryland. Both baby and Mom are doing o.k. and I am so thankful. I wish I could pop in to help Jeri with her other two kids. And make her dinner. And rock that sweet baby. And take Cyrus for a walk.

I could go on and on about those I love and miss. I do have to say though that I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to make a phone call, send an email and keep in touch through all of our blogs. All that along with an occasional trip to visit makes living so far away feel a bit more bearable.

Not for Sale

Travis and I were watching Jay Leno last night and he was showing sales pitches for different inventions. Some were cool and some were nuts. Then the audience votes for whether or not the item was "Sold" or "Not Sold". Jay Leno pointed out that while the rest of us are just sitting around, people are out there inventing things! Hmmm...I wonder what I'd invent...I've got it...it would be a laundry sorter that automatically washes and dries the clothes when it gets full. I think that would be heaven. Travis said he would invent a place mat washer that he would just run them right through and presto they'd be clean. What would you invent?

Here's what Justin invented:



It's a "Snack Hat". He made this one afternoon this past week while I was trying to put Tyler down for a nap. He cut a door in the stovepipe top where he can reach in an get out a snack. The only snack allowed in this hat is peanut butter filled pretzels. It works, too! :) I told him that I liked his idea so much that I'd buy it from him for 10 cents. He said that he wouldn't sell it to me for any amount of money and that I could only borrow it. Then he asks me, "Are you sure you'll borrow it?" Yep, I'm hungry!

ABC's of Me

A - Attached or Single - Happily attached.
B - Best friend: Travis :)
C - Cake or Pie: Any fruity pie.
D - Day of Choice: Saturday. This is our family fun day and no housework is allowed...usually.
E - Essential item: Oxiclean
F - Favorite color: Green
G - Gummi Bears or Worms: Bears. Funny, we just had these for FHE this week.
H - Hometown: Provo, UT
I - Indulgence(s): Mint truffles and bubble bath.
J - January or July: July. Fireworks, Family Reunions and Fun in the SUN!
K - Kids: 2 sweet and silly boys.
L - Life is Incomplete Without: My family.
M - Marriage Date: October 21, 2000
N - Number of siblings: 3 sisters, 1 brother
O - Oranges or apples: Bring on the apples and peanut butter!
P - Phobias or Fears: spiders...creepy!
Q - Quote(s): "When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!"-My Mom
R - Reason to Smile: Justin tells me I am SO AWSOME!
S - Season: Springtime
T - Tag Seven: Erin, Shannon, Amber, Augusta, JaNae, Kaylynn and Kim
U - Unknown Fact About Me: I've been scuba diving with sharks!
V - Vegetarian or Meat lover: Bring on the fajitas!
W - Worst Habit: Tardiness
X - X Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds
Y - Your Favorite Food: Popcorn and OJ
Z - Zodiac: Pisces

A Laugh and a Smile!

Tonight at Enrichment, we went on a Care-a-Bein' Cruise. We were all given a question to answer in front of everyone there. My question was to share a funny story about our wedding. Some of you may remember this one. It's great! After our reception in Provo, we drove up Heber Canyon in our "Just Married" car to stay at a lodge that night. On our way up the canyon it was so dark and there were not many other cars out on the road. Suddenly we saw lights flashing right behind us and realized we were being pulled over. The cop came up to our car and said, "How ya doing? I clocked you going 106." The funny thing was that we weren't really sure! Who looks at the speedometer on their wedding night? He laughed and said, "Ah, have a good night!" We've had lots of laughs about this one!


I had to include this picture of us with my friend Lisa and my Grandpa and Grandma Jolley.
Here is another one with my girlfriends, Jennie, Carin, Brenda and Lisa.

A few minutes after I stood up and shared my story, my cell phone started ringing. You know how it always sounds extra loud and obnoxious in a quiet room full of people? I hurried out of the cultural hall and found out that Justin was calling me to tell me that he had just lost his front tooth! He was so excited to tell me about how he was wiggling it and it just popped out. He told me that he wished he could lose a tooth every single day so the tooth fairy could visit him every single night. He was asleep when I got home, but Travis took these pictures to prove that it really did happen. I love it! I'll be so happy to see his toothless grin in the morning!

Early Riser

I've always thought of myself as a night owl. Why? Because I think I love to sleep in. Do I? Sometimes when my sweetie lets me stay in bed and HE gets up with the kids. I love him when he does that for me. Sometimes I even return the favor. I should do it more often but I think I'm so tired because we stay up too late at night. Why is this my second post on sleep today? Because I'm plotting to change my ways. Well, really it will be "our" ways because Travis will be in on it too. He just doesn't know it yet. He'll have to read this post. Just kidding. What I mean is that I need a partner in crime to make this work. Travis will be great! Come on, who doesn't want to be healthy, wealthy and wise? I'm not talking about getting up because we have to with our early bird kids. I'm still half-asleep until 9:00 when that happens. I'm talking about waking up early on our own because we are rested and ready to start our day. I hear there is a way to do this...

My friend, Reg, passed along a link to a great article on "How to become an early riser". The gist is that if you want to become an early riser you have to change your view on sleep. The author suggests that you begin going to bed when you are really tired. Meaning you'd be too tired to read another page of your book. This bedtime would vary each night according to how tired you feel. Then you pick a set wake time. That's the key to feeling rested and ready to tackle your day. He says that if you have young kids that you can just be flexible with the "plan" and work towards the goal. Right. We'll have to tweak our plan to account for night visitors.

I have to say that this quote from the article makes being an early riser sound great:

"Think about what you could do with that extra time. Even an extra 30 minutes per day is enough to exercise daily, read a book or two each month, maintain a blog, meditate daily, cook healthy food, learn a musical instrument, etc. A small amount of extra time each day adds up to significant amounts over the course of a year. 30 minutes a day is 182.5 hours in a year. That’s more than a month of working full-time (40 hours per week). Double it if you save 60 minutes a day, and triple it if you save 90 minutes a day. For me the savings was about 90 minutes/day. That’s like getting a free bonus year every decade. I’m using this time to do things that I previously didn’t have the time and energy to do. It’s wonderful."

I think we'll start our own experiment and let you know how it works for us! Maybe I'll turn into Superwoman like Holli! :)

Call me an Owl

Yes, it's true! I can hoot with the best of them! We usually go to bed between 12:30-1:00. Then up in the night with crazy kids and early birds. I need a new plan. We "set" a 10:30 time for bed, but we are not so consistent so far. I just get a second wind after the boys go to bed. I need time to unwind and then I get going on a project or something(usually dishes) and all of a sudden it is already past midnight. I watched a human lab about sleep yesterday and the doctor said that you need a long stretch of sleep before you get into that really deep R.E.M. feel-rested-in-the-morning sleep. I need to order some of that...plus a nap.

Goodnight, Sleep Tight!

OOOhhh! I just tucked in the cutest little flowers into their new little beds! I'm so excited to see them bloom in the morning and stretch their little stems towards the sun! I was so happy that I kept peeking out the front window to "check-in" on my little ones and to "Ooh!" and "Ah!" with my boys! (I made Travis come admire them also! He's such a good sport!)



Justin is my little assistant gardener this year and went with me to the store to help me pick out our little cuties. He picked out most of the flowers himself and begged and begged for me to buy some "step-ables". These are a little boy's dream plant. They beg to be stepped on and talked to. Says so on the label. I let him pick out his favorite cute little ground cover with little purple flowers. We'll plant them on Monday surrounding the stepping stones to the back yard. He made me promise not to plant them without his help. Here are some pictures of our newly-planted little slumber party guests:




Goodnight, sleep tight!

What Not to Wear

If you are familiar with the show "What Not to Wear", you know it's all about getting rid of fashion mistakes and after throwing away most of the person's clothes they end up with outfits that the poor soul actually looks good in.

Well, I was invited to one of these parties last night. I was definitely curious but also feeling clueless about what in the world I was going to wear to the party in the first place! I felt like I had to wear the "right" outfit without knowing yet what that "right" outfit "should" be. Crazy! I thought about it for 3 weeks. Silly, but true! I went through 3 outfits before leaving my house and was late to the party because I was primping. I could just laugh at myself all night!

It ends up that the party was more like a style class where these cute sisters taught us tricks for wearing our clothes in a more flattering way and how to find clothes that fit our body types. They totally helped us feel at ease and after a fun night with friends I went home thinking that I might even consider letting them go through my closet and go shopping with me. Am I crazy? Who knows...my birthday's coming up? (Hint! Hint! Travis!)