Our Little "Garden"!

Chocolate Pepper (purple & sweet), Green-Bell Pepper, and 2 stalks of corn

3 tomato plants (2 full-sized and 1 cherry tomato plant)

Once again I got to plant my in-laws garden this year! It was a blast and I really enjoyed getting outside, digging in the dirt, and making their garden gorgeous! It's growing beautifully, I must say! Ha ha! Anyway, it got me to thinking how much I wish I had a garden of my own! I wanted to buy planter boxes but they are pretty expensive. My mother-in-law gave me the great idea of using good ole'fashioned $3.00 toters! So, I did just that! I bought me 2 toters, 4 large backs of Miracle Grow, 2 pepper plants (1 purple sweet pepper & 1 green pepper), 3 tomato plants (2 full-sized & 1 cherry tomato), and then to be funny I planted corn. I really didn't think they'd come through but, I looked outside and we have 2 stalks of corn coming up and are growing fast! In fact, I think there's a third one that has popped through! So, I'm super excited about my so-called "garden". I treat the plants like children. I move them all over my backyard, all day long, to make sure they get at least 8 hours of sun! That's a great workout! Anyway, I can't wait to see the "fruits" of my labor!

Play Time with Friends!

If you ask Connor who he is going to marry he'll say something to the affect of, "I'm going to marry Allie in the Logan temple." Well, now you have all met the future Mrs. McGinnis!

Zoey
Connor

3 little monkeys climbing on the couch

Rylie dancing with a baby

Rylie, Connor, Allie

The human playground a.k.a. Megan!

My 2 beautiful kids!

Last week, while visiting my hubby and family in northern Utah, we were able to visit with and hang out with some dear friends. One day I had lunch with my best friend, Nicky. That night we met up with some law school friends (the Taylor's, Christensen's, Finley's, and Helgesen's). Then, a couple days later I was able to hang out with Megan and her kids, Allie & Zoey! It's always a good time when we get together. Allie and Connor are only 18 months apart and Zoey & Rylie are only 3 1/2 weeks apart so, they get along GREAT!!!!! I miss seeing all the friends that I've met over the years but, I'm grateful for any chance we get to get together!!!!

Sugar Cookie Fun!

Frosting! Mmmmm!
Cheeeeeese!

Such good helpers!

We cut out eggs, butterflies......

....and flowers!!!

Rylie was helping put together a chunk of dough she had ripped off.

One of my FAVORITE cookies is a sugar cookie! I don't make them from scratch very often because it's a lot of work but, there's nothing like homemade sugar cookies! So, I decided it'd be fun to make cookies with the kids! They were actually really good about helping me out! It didn't take long for them to be gobbled up! Yummy, yummy, yummy!!!

Easter Sunday Clothes

Rylie's new Easter dress
She reminds me of Polyanna in this picture

Connor's new Easter Sunday outfit!

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One of the traditions my family had growing up was that each Easter we got a new Sunday outfit. Often my Mom would sew my sister and I matching dresses! So, I have loved carrying on the tradition! This year Connor picked out his outfit, which I love and think he looks so handsome in. Rylie's dress was a battle to find. I could just never seem to find "the one" but, I finally found it last week and found the perfect little sweater to go with it! I love dressing my kids up!

Visit to the Dentist

Can you tell Rylie did not want to be there?
Trying to escape

The torture is over, now for the "good patient" baggy.

Connor is a pro at the dentist office!

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Let me just start by saying that I have terrible teeth. Yes, they are straight and I brush them a whole bunch. However, I think think the dentist is running out of places to fill cavities and I've had 4 or 5 root canals. Mike, on the other hand, has perfectly healthy teeth! Only 2 or 3 cavities to his name. So, I promised myself that when we had kids that we would do EVERYTHING in our power to help their teeth stay healthy. So, from the time they were 2 we've started taking them to the dentist every 6 months. So, Connor has been at least 6 times and is totally used to it and is very brave. The dentist says he has very, very strong teeth. Must've got it from Mike. Connor used a binky for quite a while and we worried about an overbite, etc. It has straightened out quite well. Rylie had her first dentist appointment. She freaked out, as expected! She was scared to death! Her teeth checked out well and look great, except for the fact that she STILL has a binky but, it's almost gone! So, I hope they continue to have healthy teeth because I don't want them to go through what I have.

Climb Every Mountain (or Red Rock)!!!!

My brother-in-law, Stephen
Stephen
Connor, Laura, Rylie

Connor

Rylie, Allie, Jacob, Kristen

(Connor refused to be in the picture, thus the above picture)

This is us at heart! Goofy as can be!

My sister, Stacey, and me (Laura)

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What can I say? I love every excuse we can get to take the kids out and go hiking, or wander, or go on little adventures. The weather has been wonderful so, we took advantage of it and went wandering the red rocks of St. George. The kids had a blast and couldn't wait to go find the next cave or hill! Stephen was the most brave with Jacob following his every move! It was a bit windy and coolish but, over all, it was perfect!

Let's Go Fly a Kite!!!!

Laura & Ben, flying their kites
Laura trying to help Jacob

Connor, Melinda, and Melinda's sister

Rylie was more interested in the ball

Stephen, Kristen, Connor, and Jacob

Connor & Jacob

Elena

Laura & Jacob

Connor did a great job flying his kite!

Rylie finally took an interest in flying her kite

Melinda & Laura Laura & Melinda

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Not only did I get to see my sister and her family this past week! I got to see one my favorite mission companions and her family!!! We met at a park and had pizza and flew kites! There were 7 adults and 9 kids! It was a party for sure! We had such a great time and, as usual, Melinda and I laughed our guts out!!! It was so good to laugh and be goofy for a while! So much fun! Oh yeah, and the kids had a great time too!