More pics

This is obviously from when we went to see Mary Poppins. So great!
This was at Staton Island. Nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle and just relax for a bit.
This is the view right outside our hotel window. We all chose to squeeze into one room so we could save money and stay right in Manhatten.
This was the cutest litlte restaurant/coffee house. It was where they filmed a scene from You've Got Mail. Awesome food!
This was the view from the top of the Rocks. It's a new building they built which is actually taller than the empire state building.

New York New York!

I know most of you who read this know I went on this trip 2 months ago - but I just can't seem to catch up these days so at least I'm getting it done now right?
Gosh - I love visiting this city! I was lucky enough to spend almost a week in New York City with 5 other girlfriends: Caroline, Missy, Aimee, Liz and her sister Polly. All of us were kid free and living it up! Even though it was just nice to be away from kids and the everyday grind, life in New York is so different than my everyday life, so I guess that is why it's so fun to visit. If I go on vacation I usually prefer to head to a beach and just be lazy for a while, but this was really cool too. I had been there a couple of times before, but a few of the girls hadn't been there before so that made it fun and it was all the better because we had Caroline, a true New Yorker there to guide us around.
Holy cow we packed everything in - my feet were just aching every night from all of the walking that we did - but it was well needed since we seemed to stop at every pastry/cupcake shop there was. We didn't hold back man we definitely had our fill of cheesecakes, canolees, cupcakes, lemon bars, brownies, rice pudding - you name it we had it!
While we were there one of my favorite things was seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway. Honestly, at first I was not super excited to see it since I had seen the movie like a million times, but it was totally awesome and I loved every second of it. It was really cool to see all the 9-11 stuff as well. I loved going into the church that was the only building close to the towers that didn't have any damage to it. It was the central station for the police and firefighters during the cleanup and has since been turned into a big memorial, very moving. Another great highlight was of course the shopping. Who doesn't go to New York without doing a little bartering in China town. That was so fun. We also got the chance to go and see the temple. It was very beautiful and unique because from the outside it just looks like any of the other buildings, but with a steeple and Moroni on the top. You walk into a foyer and you either go to the right to the church building part or you go to your left and enter the temple. Really cool.
The best part was definitely just spending time with the gals. They all still live farely close to each other in Utah and I'm the one who moved out of state and so I miss having those friends around that no matter when the last time you saw them you are still best friends, pick up where you left off, and you can completely be yourself around. Love you guys!
My camera was broken so here are a few pics I managed to have Liz email to me - thanks Liz!

Happy Easter!

We had a great Easter this year! On Saturday we got together with a few other families and had an easter egg hunt, played at the park, and had lunch. It was the perfect day for a picnic. The kids all had a blast finding easter eggs. Brady and Cole made out like bandits and after some coaxing decided to share their loot with some of the girls that weren't so crazy and just went around picking up the colors of eggs that they liked instead of anything in site. (Gosh somedays I really wonder how my life would be different with all girls instead of all boys.) The next day we went over to Tyler's parents trailor for some lunch and a treasure hunt. Tyler's parents went all out on this treasure hunt. Tyler's mom had been writing clues all week for it and the boys loved it. We are so happy that they come to live by us for a few months out of the year.

Happy 1st Birthday Max!

It's happened again! Another year has gone by and Max has turned 1 year old already! It's always so fun to watch them dig into their cake for their first birthday. Max was a little hesitant at first, but after a few small licks he quickly figured out how yummy it was. Then of course it was all over the place and he had to end up in the sink for a bath.
Max is such a smiley kid! He started walking about 2-3 weeks before his birthday and is really motoring around fast now. He finally mastered how to go up and down the stairs safely so I can rest a little easier about that but, now if we could only get him swimming my nerves will be much calmer. He loves loves loves to be outside. He gets grumpy an hour or so before dinner and the only thing to solve it is by letting him go outside to roam around, eat the rocks, and watch the older boys play ball.
I was sad when I first found out that I was having a third boy, but now regret feeling like that because Max has been so much fun and just fits right in with the rest of them!

Cole's Friend B-Day Party!

Here are the boys celebrating Cole's birthday with a few friends. Tyler took on the task of taking 5 rowdy boys to the bowling alley. They had a great time and even bowled like three rounds. (I love the pic of Brady sticking out his tongue in concentration.)

Happy 7th BDay Cole!

Last month we made a super quick trip to Utah for my nephew Jordan's mission farewell. We drove up on Friday and came home on Monday, so we were only there for the weekend. It was a loooooong drive, but worth it. Jordan gave an excellent talk on the Holy Ghost. It was cool to see my boys and how they look up to Jordan as an actual missionary. It seemed to give them a better understanding of what a missionary and going on a mission is all about. The other day when Cole had earned some money his grandparents asked him what he was going to do with it and he said he was going to save it for his mission. I am glad that is something they look forward to doing.
While we were there we also celebrated Cole's 7th Birthday, since we were traveling on the actual day. It was a really fun get together with all of my family and Tyler's side of the family too. We stayed at my mom and dad's house and since there were not any other cousins there to play with - my parents got to play game after game after game with Brady and Cole. I think they played monopoly for like 3 hours on Sunday afternoon. On our way home we even got to stop and say hi to Katherine and Paul and Dylan. So short trip, but great visit!

Cole's Golf!

Cole played really well in a golf tournament on Saturday and finished with his personal best and 1st Place! Grandpa Monsen had taken him to the course to practice everyday after school all week and it paid off because Cole played great and had lots of fun too! He got to experience his first time playing in the wind and rain so that wasn't too fun, but he played through it. Way to go Cole, we are so proud!