Crafting Bug

So I have been following all these DIY blogs and I have been crafting like there is no tomorrow. I am running into a small problem... I have started 12 projects and haven't finished one. UGH!!! It is just one thing after another... I don't have the right equipment, supplies, etc. I don't have the time. I lack motivation at times. I would rather watch Dog the Bounty Hunter. I am a perfectionist and if it isn't perfect, I don't want to try... Oh the list goes on and on.

Will someone please come finish my projects?!?!?!?! I would love you forever!!! :)

Easter 2011

Awwwww... so so so cute!!!

So I was a little bit of an Easter slacker this year. I was super busy during the week leading up to the holiday. I didn't manage to buy dresses or a tie, I didn't do baskets, I completely ignored home decor for the season, and we never made it to the mall to see the Easter Bunny's helper. If there is such thing as an Easter scrooge, I guess that would be me. Not usually, just this year. Another reason for my Easter Bah Humbug-ness is the weather here. We still have freakin SNOW!!! Easter should be warm and my kids should be hunting eggs outside.

We made the best of what we had and hunted eggs in our living room, wore yellow in hopes of having the sun come out, attended a beautiful Sunday meeting at church, and then spent the rest of the day with my mommy, brothers, and cousin. It was totally cold, but I love getting together with my amazingly funny, totally exciting, and slightly handsome brothers and their cute families.

Again, Easter slacker... no pics of kids hunting eggs in our living room or finding their presents from the bunny and gift card from mom and dad. Oh well, I will get some awesome spring pics sooner or later. :)

April 7th

Today, my awesome husband and I have been married for 10 years!!!! It is crazy to think back on this day 10 years ago. I was 17 and still in high school, he was 19 and going to a community college and getting ready to join the Navy. Holy cow, how plans changed!!!

2001- Married in Reno, NV

2002- Welcomed our son Caden into the world

2003- Went on our first family vacation to the Redwoods

2004- Welcomed our daughter Calli into the world/ moved to Utah

2005- Welcomed our daughter Cienna into the world

2006- Bought our first home

2007- Ashley went back to school

2008- Ashley finished school/ sold our first home

2009- Moved to Wyoming

2010- Brian went back to school

2011- What will the future hold for us???

None of our original plans are in place today, except for the plan to live HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!! I love my husband/ best friend more and more each day. Most of our picture are on an external hard drive so I can't upload them right now, but I wanted to document this day!!! I am looking for many more 10 years together!

Not only cute... but smart!!!

When I was pregnant with Caden, a very wise mother told me to be sure to read to my children every night and as soon as they can read to let them read to you every night. I didn't really see the point when Caden was so tiny, but I trusted this lady so I gave it a shot. I will admit that I didn't even come close to reading to him every night until he was about 1 year old. Then we began looking at books every night together for about 20-30 minutes. He was very interested in stories and pictures, and eventually letters and words.
Caden began fluently reading when he was 4.
Calli began fluently reading when she was 4.
Cienna began fluently reading when she was 4.
I have always known they were good readers and that they actually enjoyed it, but I didn't have any idea really how important it is to understand early on. I went to parent teacher conference last week and each teacher said the same thing about my children. They were good kids, good friends, they were usually on task, they helped others, but the teachers couldn't stress to me how amazing the kids were doing academically.

Caden is reading at a 5th grade 9th month reading level- He is in 3rd grade.

Calli is reading at a 4th grade level- She is in 1st grade.

Cienna is reading at a 2nd grade 6th month level- She is in Kindergarten.

Caden's teacher just flat out told me that the kids that can't read, struggle with EVERY other aspect of school. Think about it, if they can't read, they can't figure out the word problems in math. If they can't read, they can't follow simple written instructions. If they can't read, they can't add the simple ingredients of a recipe.
I am grateful every day for that special lady that stressed to me the importance of reading to my children and listening to them read to me. If I could offer any advice to moms or dads, it will be the same, read to your children every night and when they are old enough to read to you, listen!!! Such a simple thing, but my kids will benefit from this for the rest of their lives.
Now when my children ask for 5 more minutes of reading time, or if they can read a story to me, I smile so big and laugh to myself because really... can you deny them an amazing future??? Not me...I love these kids!!!

Valentines Day

My Valentine's Day was pretty uneventful. Brian was working out of town, kids were at school, and I had the day off of work. I woke up early to set out the kids presents. They just got some flowers and candy, but were very excited to see them downstairs. I guess the most Valentines-y thing I did was my girls hair. I had made hair pretties a few days before and had to put them in cute hair. I follow a couple of hair blogs and one of them showed a ton of easy heart hair dos so I ventured into the unknown. I think they turned out cute... wouldn't you say?

Calli's heart hair

Cienna's heart hair

I took the kids to school and went home to clean. I decided that I didn't want to have lunch by myself so I invited my brother and sis  in law and my cute niece out. We visited and had a nice lunch. Then, I went to the library. I know, I know, I am pretty boring.

Brian was able to make it home that evening so he brought flowers and chocolate and a card home to me. He even made me an amazing rib eye dinner. He is such an amazing cook. We put the kids to bed and stayed up watching "That 70's show" for a few hours.

It actually turned out to be a rather pleasant Valentine's Day in the Candelaria home!!!

What I love most about my family:

Brian is so easy going and is a huge help now that I am working. He makes most meals and makes sure my kids get to where they need to be.

Caden is the best big brother on the planet. He helps me around the house and is a very responsible person. He plays nicely with his sisters and is always there to kill a spider for me.

Calli has the biggest heart in the world. She is the first person to help when someone is sad or hurt. She would honestly give you her coat and boots on a snowy day if you needed them.

Cienna is the comic relief in our family. She says and does the funniest things and can make almost anyone laugh. She knows how to take a joke and how to dish them out.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!!

University of Utah gymnastics meet

Calli and I went to the University of Utah gymnastics meet on 2/4. We got the closest seats we could buy and set out on our gymnastics adventure. We drove to Salt Lake and then rode TRAX to the gym. It was cancer awareness night and when we got to our seat there was a pink shirt hanging over it. We put it on and watched the warm ups. They even had cheerleaders for the gymnasts!!! I thought it was so weird, but they were fun to watch too. The Red Rocks started on the vault, went to bars, then beam, and last floor. They all did so good and they won the meet. Calli had so much fun watching the "big girls" and said that she wanted to buy a picture for them to sign. It was actually pretty convenient that they were doing autographs that night. We got in line early and we got all the gymnasts to sign her picture. She was one happy girl!!!

Pic is a little blurry, but I couldn't believe how high off the beam she was!

Calli's favorite dismount, she said she is going to work on that. ;)

Sporting her pink shirt!

Lets go Cubbies!

Baseball season is fast approaching! I can't even tell you how excited I am... but I will try. I am so super, super excited!!! Last year, Brians baseball team (Cubs) won the championship for their league. It was so amazing. This year we didn't know if we would be able to get our team back together. I guess people had to, like, work or something stupid like that. Anyway, we were told to look for another team to play on. I was so sad that we weren't going to be able to defend our title for one year, but we found another team to play for. Last week we got the call that the Cubbies are back together. We are missing a few of our players, but we will totally make a run for it!!! I am busting out the baseball bag with all the game necessities. Big blanket, chair, sunglasses, sunscreen, big umbrella, score book, extra baseballs, etc. You can just say I am READY!!!