My 38 lb. 7 year old...

this little, petite, pigeon-toed munchkin turned 7 ! 
too crazy! and yet very believable by the way she is talking and attituding:) 
Here she is in her overnight sock curls or these- which I LOVE...(thanks Lindsie* for telling me about them)

birthday breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries and yogurt, mandarin oranges, cinnamon toast and hot chocolate.

the sock curls...

such personality...wow.

really, i want to make a cool looking cake...but not this year:)  it was yummy though! {blueberry cake with lemon icing} 

the birthday invitation...whooooooo. I think Ruby's favorite part of the whole deal was delivering these!~

Ruby painted this picture of 'toothlis' (Toothless, from How to Train your Dragon)

real dragon eggs to hunt for in the yard (the kids were quite disappointed when it was only side walk chalk...they wanted real dragons babies!)  and dragon masks to fight and play in..

{searching for eggs...went a lot faster than i thought}

the whole crazy crew....  yep 15 of them,  one was missing from this pic.

all kinds of weird dying dragons games...

and more games...

and dragon food (muddy buddy's, only because its a favorite in my house and i didn't want to make another cake), we had to eat like a dragon, no hands...

frozen dragon-fire ice cubes...that melted in their drink

and even though i said 'no presents please' on the invitation...everyone cheated and brought a card or gift...the cards were way cute, and my point was to not make people feel obligated to bring something, so it all worked out i guess:)

one of Ruby's favorite gifts was this lego set from grandpa lee!

amongst all the craziness this week, ruby's real and friend birthday, me working two full days in a row and other 'stuff', my aunt and uncle took us out to eat while they were in town ...it was so yummy and fun.  we ate at the anasazi  grill. got to cook our own meet right in front of us at the table.  and topped it off with chocolate fondu...  thanks for the night-out you guys!..it was so fun seeing and talking with you!  we love nights out....with adult conversation:)

our Spring Break...

Sadly we didn't go anywhere spectacular for Spring Break...we went up north! ha ha! {so ordinary and lame}...but we love to see our family and Ruby adores her cousins and would rather see and play with them then visit Disney Land or something. (maybe not rather but it's close:)  Ruby got to celebrate her early birthday with her cousins Sunday night when we arrived.  For her spotlight she played the guitar.  Just some random, cute, strumming. 

I worked a full day on Monday at a dentist office in Ogden (thanks Jami), and my parents got in a lot of lovey time with the kids.  Probably too much.:) 
 Tuesday I had a Dr. appt. at the Huntsman Cancer Institute to address this problem...moles are all still clear though!-nothing needing to be removed or biopsed!  yay!

Charlie was obsessed with this book!!  It was around when I was litle and I remember my Mom reading it to me.  He wanted this read CONSTANTLY to him.  I had to hide it a couple of times because it was getting annoying...{.in a sort of cute way}

I was able to meet up with some friends while in town...
yes, we are standing in front of a Chik-Fil-A playground...its sad, the places you eat out when kids are in-tow.!  ha!  I love this dear girl Nichole and her amazing husband Jake and their cuter-than-ever baby Isaac.

Wednesday we got together at my sister-Tiffanys, for a 'playdate' in the morning for a couple hours.  It was great.  I love getting with my sis's.  We missed Jaimilyn though!

Thursday Marty came up on the shuttle from George and we picked him up in Salt Lake and then met Ryan and Becca {Marty's bro} for lunch.  Such sweet hugs from cousins that don't see each other often enough anymore!  :( 
Crossing our fingers that we get to meet up with you guys in Cali in May! 

We had some good 'Grandma Sugar' time as well.  We did another little candle blowing ceremony for Ruby's birthday that hadn't really happened yet.~

Thursday night we went to the temple and out to eat at Paradise Bakery for my Mom's birthday.  It was real special.  Michelle and her husband Jared couldn't come because of sick kids but everyone else with spouse in tow was there....I love it! 
 I have a wonderful family. 

We did sealings together...Marty and I got married here in the Bountiful Temple and haven't been back much to this Temple, so it was pretty neat. 

And once again....Ruby got a pre-birthday- birthday.  Needless to say she will get two more celebrations the following week!!.  sheesh!  Those pics {of her real birthday and the-friend (too many of them) Dragon Party} to be posted soon! 
 Grandma and Grandpa made Ruby waffles on Friday morning and gave her some gifts.  Thanks Mom and Dad...for spoiling your grandkids so we don't have to as much! ha!
 Saturday we headed home after a baby shower for my sweet cousin, Katie.  I didn't take a picture of it but I made a hooded towel for her baby boy...from a great blog tutorial.  I like this pattern more than any I've tested...the hood is softer and has a more professional look to it.   We played a game that I loved- you buy a bunch of candy bars of all kinds and split the group of guests into 4 or 5. Then give each group 5 candy bars and a piece of cardstock and marker.  Each group comes up with baby advice using those candy bars.  It was hilarious and fun; and the mom-to-be takes home all the candy to eat or take to the hospital.  Such a great idea! 
It was a full and lovely week.

viva vegas and the tooth fairy visits again...

we went to vegas for a night to stay with my bro and sis-in-law- ryan and jaimi.
it was a fabulous short get-away.
they were down there with friends and rented a house for a couple nights.
they had an extra room so we drove down for a day!
YAY for people like the priors (melinda- i so owe you) for taking our
kiddos overnight.
its so nice to have friends that can take the place of family like that.
i'm used to having family around and didn't think this sort of thing was possible
 living 5 hours away from them, but alas...!
THANK you PRIOR family and thank you RYAN and JAIMI for a great time:)
we got into town late friday so we wandered around for a bit
then retired to bed about 12:30 or so-late for mr. marty and i.

the next morning we went on a jog, the four of us, and it was beautiful and warm!
with lots of blooming trees.  then we layed around and dipped in the
 pool at the rental house for a while, soaking in the warmth. 
 then we hit the strip again for some good food. 
we ate at 'wolfgang puck'...SO yummy...

i had a cuban pork sandwich with a side of greens-so tasty; and marty was in heaven with this 'best ever' burger and hand cut potato chips. and the crab cakes were delish! 

we went around to some more scenic fun places that ryan and jaimi acted as our tour guides for ...they were great. thanks so much guys!

this picture -to look like a painting- is made out of flowers...pretty cool...

the cool water show at the bellagio and we RODE this roller coaster to your left!!!!
 HELLO!!
 i am not a big fan...esp. of the incline part where it goes real slow-like and all you think about is your impending death!  i was freaked out with anxiety.  i hate rides like this
 i decided.  i screamed so much my throat hurts, really bad.  it went upside down and inside out and a barrel rolled that was totally unexpected!  sheesh!
  i'm glad i did it in the end...ya need a rush every once in a while, right? 

and miss ruby lost tooth #2 and insisted on leaving this  
note to the fairy...
"dear tooth fairy will you please send me a girl tooth fairy that is just like you if you are a tooth fairy and send me a surprise under my pillow"
how in the world did we really believe this when we were little!  it kills me that ruby really thinks a little fairy comes to her room at night and leaves her a note in exchange (in my disguised hand writing) and quarters from her own piggy bank (i know, i know but i didn't have cash on me!)
...i am dreading the day that i forget to make the exchange and she starts to wonder...then i have to come up with an excuse as to why the fairy forgot to come
...i know it might happen at some point. 
but i just love kids' simple faith- its so sweet
and it blows my mind that they truly believe in it.  i did.  it's just different to be in this position now, as a parent.  the one that makes their memories.
 so interesting.  so fun.

running and bowling and treats...OH MY!

Lake to Lake Relay 2012! squinty eyes and all! 
 we were the
 DIXIE DIRECT DAZZLERS}
-hence the arabian jewel on our heads.
this is the team- minus two...
 it was a 52 miler and we each ran two legs.
i ran 6.07 and 4.34. it wasn't too bad...

I didn't have brutal hills like these other gals did.

although i was pretty convinced my first 6 miles were tough! 
it was freezing. then hot. then i felt like i had lead feet! 
 good thing i just bore through it, when you know you have teamates waiting on you,
 you just kick it in gear... ha! 

Marty and the kiddos came to see me after my second leg...
so sweet,  i love this man and these rascals}

some pics of ricki. such form!  :)

THE FINISH LINE}
renee, me, rick and teresa
we left our house at 7 and didn't get home till after 4!! It was a long-day relay!
But it was SO great.
so glad i did it and was a part of it.
Thanks Ricki for getting it organized and Tony for sponsoring our team!!!

btw, this race was beautiful!  it started at Gunlock and ended at Sand Hollow Reservoir.  the finish line was picturesque!!  


now for some random stuff...

A new found love for Charlie...the kids have gotten to be pretty good bowlers...we went once with my WHOLE family while we were up north last time...

...and again with their cousin Emri for her 3rd birthday.

(I forgot to post this with my valentine post)...the kids got THREE packages in ONE day...for valentines!  and they were all at the post box with me-which rarely happens.
they were in HEAVEN.  it was so fun! 
SO many treats
thank you GRANDMA andGRANDPA A.
and GRANDMA  D.
and GRANDPA L. and NANA MERRY!!!:)