The Simple Life

surprise...

anthony woke up and crawled straight to the kitchen...he remembered about his balloons!

his cheesy grin! always so happy!

i love these colors together! banner printables from house of 3.

birthday presents, one in the tissue paper is from grandma and grandpa.

he's ONE...

and time goes by too fast! we love him soooo so much!

all ready...

it's late, i am done cleaning the house, and i have everything ready for anthony's 1st birthday tomorrow! we are having it at the park close by right after church. i wanted to have it in the backyard, but with all these mosquitos here we would get eaten alive! poor anthony already has! if the girls leave the front door open he sneaks outside and plays in the flower pots and they attack him!

Can I take a picture?

After I took pictures of my kids after church, Gulianna said to me...

"Mom, can I take a picture of you, you look beautiful!" ahhh thanks Gulianna! I let the girls take pictures at the gardens so now they always ask if they can take a picture.

Sure...if this is the only way I can get a picture of me since I'm always behind the camera...

I painted my toenails and washed my hair...therefore I was late to church that afternoon. 

 
 
 
 

my favorite necklace!

 

PS my hair is long, I wash my hair two times a week, before I would wash it three. And I haven't actually "brushed it" with a brush since maybe high school! I comb through it once, after I wash it.

true story.

We've had a busy couple months, non stop with family visiting and birthdays and summer fun! Getting ready for Anthony's first birthday tomorrow!

Summer days...

Isabella, Gulianna, and Presley playing in the pool at Candra's birthday party!

Uncles...

Rene and Anthony were on their way to California, so they stopped in to visit for a couple hours. I almost can't tell them apart when they have sunglasses on and are practically wearing the same thing. Almost.

Isabella loves all the attention she gets from them, being tossed around and thrown up in the air! Gulianna is a bit more shy, she wants it, but then she gets scared!

Anthony always sits like this! Little froggy...

Dream cars...

On my way to Salt Lake for some shopping by myself... and I had to laugh, because right in front of me were my two cars that I love, both black! In high school I really wanted a black 3000GT. Couldn't ever find one, I bought a green camaro instead which later I traded for a black firebird. I would love to have a new camaro now...black of course! We said we would buy one when they came out, of course our finances and common sense say no :) We are finally past the point of wasting thousands on car payments, it's not worth it. Having a vehicle that is paid for and runs is good enough!

*And then I passed them just like that...because I have more power than them with my hemi!

Dad's home...

 as soon as Levi got home from Idaho, {he's been gone for a while, back and forth helping his dad clean out the shop and moving trailer loads down here} we went to the gardens and had lunch. We haven't seen him much since he hasn't been working at the dealership, a couple hours, to a day here and there when we are lucky...it's hard with him being gone.

 
 

This is why I carry my camera every where... so that I can capture THESE moments...
 
it's not like every day we get to see Isa be nice and loving to her brother!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

see...more pouting... 
 
 
 
 
cooling off the kids with water from the fountain...he's telling them how it's done in Italy :)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Gulianna's 4th birthday...

 All year long Gulianna's been saying that she wants to have "an aqua birthday party." At first she wanted a princess party, or a Tangled party, but then she kept insisting on an aqua birthday party. That is her favorite color!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

She was sad because one of the balloons got loose and flew away!

She's also been waiting to open her presents...last month we were at the mall at stopped in at the Disney store {like last year!} and I saw that they had towels and swimsuit coverups on clearance again. She's already outgrown her one from last year, so I had Levi sneak and buy her one, she was already looking at them, I showed her the tinkerbell one, it was purple just like the one that she got last year, but a different style, and she immediately turned to the aqua one, and it had Ariel on it! She said "oh I wish I could get this aqua one!" So I took her to Tai Pan and looked around, while Levi bought her the Ariel swim towel and the cover up. I told him to hide it, but as soon as he came in looking for me, she spotted the bag. Then she got all excited, and I told her it was something else..."no dad bought me the aqua swim thing for my birthday! he did!" "No he didn't!" ahhh! so much for a surprise! 
 
She was excited for her candles and her birthday cake, but she got shy when we sang happy birthday to her!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"ahhhh! baby wipes for my birthday!"

 
 
"the Ariel towel!"

 
Isa tried to take away her second present, she thought it was for her...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Colton and Claudia stopped by later, with a present from Grandma Cherrie. Gulianna got a cute little purse with some money in it from Grandma Cherrie, and a heart necklace that she likes to wear every day.

Somewhere in between playing around...Isa ended up in her swim suit, too funny!

 

 
Claudia got her some cute hello kitty pajamas and a little hello kitty back pack!

 
 
 
We had a good day with Gulianna, we were happy that Levi came home for her birthday! I can't believe that she is four now. She's always been very smart, very aware of everything. She's a good helper to me, she watches out for Isa and Anthony. She always says her prayers and reminds us to read our scriptures. She looks forward to going to her class on Sunday every week! She loves to dance and can't wait to go to school. She's been that way since she was tiny! As soon as we move, we will fit her in to a preschool and find a dance class for her...she asks me every day!

the Gardens...

 Today we had lunch by the waterfall. So much more fun that at home! I love coming here to the gardens...I wish this was my personal property...on a smaller scale of course. I love all the space for my kids to run free. We spend a lot of our time here, rather than our boring backyard. I only wish that Levi was home to come along with us.

My girls love to run and roll down this hill, Isabella trips and falls EVERY TIME, right at the beginning! and she gets mad every time too...I can't help but laugh :)

 
 
oh...she tripped a second time, going too fast!

 

as soon as I let Anthony out of the stroller, he heads straight for the water! 
 
Lunch time!

 
 
 

my crappy little umbrella stroller that I need to replace so bad...

the wheels turn and get stuck...but at least I have something! I don't have room for a bigger stroller in the durango anyway...but most days I think it would be nice to have a decent double stroller :)

the pink pouch on the left holds a a couple diapers and wipes, then I have extra water and our lunch in the polka dot bag, and the other pink one holds a bottle of water.
 
 
 

We saw a cute little bunny on the trail...

 

playing in the water together...
 

my Gulianna...she loves aqua sooo much!
 
 
 
 

love these colors together...so inspiring! {and they match Isa's shirt too}
 
 
yes...my girls made this water mess by turning the water spouts out of the fountain and onto the pavement! They like to run with their hands cupped with water and spill it onto this bench and pretend they are writing on it with water.

This is my favorite place...the secret garden.

 
This is Gulianna's favorite spot...she always says "welcome to my princess castle!"

 
 
 

Oh...Gulianna...she's hot and tired here...
 

And my Isabella, climbing up on every thing!
 

I love this picture of Gulianna...I know she's day dreaming of a princess castle!
 
 
We fed the koi.

I also found a dead bloated frog on the grass, so I went back and threw it to the fish...sure hope one of them didn't choke on it and die! oops!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
always on the run!

 
 
 
his little Mowgli walk...

 
 
 

"He's getting away mom!" she's always so protective...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Birthday cookie...

Gulianna couldn't wait all week, just for this little cookie! She talked about it all week, saying "I'm so excited to go to primary they are going to sing to me, and then give me a birthday cookie and a bookmark!" I was hoping they would too...I know sometimes they let them pick out a little toy or something, but she was right! Levi got the same thing for his birthday a couple weeks ago too...hence all the excitement!

 

So tired...

Some body put this huge boy in my bed! When did he grow up???

 
I took one photo, then he turned around...

 
 
 
Poor kid...it's 1am and he's still not in his pajamas...he went to bed at 10:30pm. Usually I have him ready for bed...today has been one of those days...Lucky for me my girls finally went to bed 5 minutes ago!

Good night!

or good morning...

4 years old...

Gulianna turned FOUR on the first of August! 8 days ago! Levi was in Idaho working the whole week before her birthday and we didn't know if he was going to come back for another week, but Gulianna kept saying, "I hope dad can make it home for my birthday party!?" So he drove down Sunday night, and we celebrated Monday night. {Things didn't go quite as planned, I ended up watching the neighbor girl from 8-3:30, so that took up all my time trying to prepare a last minute birthday party.} Originally are plans were to just have a birthday party on her birthday, but then we weren't sure because of Levi's schedule, we were going to have it the next weekend...any way.

We had it and she had fun!  I'll post more pictures soon! {yeah...I've said that one before.} ha. ha!

 
 
And I still never posted photos of both Gulianna and Isabella's birthday parties from earlier this year and last year...I did have intentions of doing it last month, but my external hard drive has not been working...and now I'm scared that I may have lost all of my photos and files...please I hope not.

Just add water...

So I've been thinking about posting this for a couple of months...just comparing this year to last year...and how this year we didn't plant any flowers in our pots outside, just because we barely have money for bills and food...you know the usual...and then last week, whadda ya know...this little orange flower popped up, along with some roses and other flowers too in all the other flower pots.

 

I was shocked and thought it was a miracle. Nope they are just perennials, "if you would have just watered them like I told you, they would have grown back already." said Levi.

Oh...oops. I assumed that he just dragged out all the flower pots out of the garage so he had more room inside. I was thinking hello...why put empty flower pots all over the front porch and stairs, so I shoved them all on the side of the house! ha ha! Guess I could have asked...or listened when he said to water them? I don't remember that.

And they only grew back because we've had lots of afternoon rain showers all summer! But we I mean Gulianna is watering them now!

 

Water fun...

Today we went to play in the water at the Discovery Gardens...Anthony loves being in the water! He gets so excited and crawls and splashes every where, makes me wish I had a camcorder! The girls had fun too, although they were more preoccupied with drying themselves off in their Tinkerbell and Ariel towels every 5 minutes...whatever makes them happy!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

chalkboard...

I finally had a chance {sort of} to hurry and paint this frame. {chance=my girls running across the street to the neighbors, Anthony crying for over an hour, because he was supposed to be taking a nap...he's always so good about taking a nap, but right now he's fighting it, since he's teething again.} I've been really anxious to get this one started, but I had to finish other stuff first.

I'm turning it into a huge chalkboard... can you picture how cute it's going to look! $5 dolla {from the DI} make ya holla!

 
But after yesterday's trip to the park...I need a new one. I set the chalkboard right in the door way of the garage, and after backing out the Bronco, I immediately shut the garage door, forgetting to move it back in...so it snapped right in half!

I have to put a second coat of paint on the frame still...and now cut a board to fit inside the frame. So this project reveal is postponed until I git r dun!

Sunday afternoon...

Sunday drives in the Bronco. I love driving through the old part of Lehi...back roads...reminds me of driving to our old home out in Labelle.

 
 
 
 

We went to a different park today...
 
 
 
Gulianna likes to yell in that little horn thing...she has to announce what she is doing, "I'm going down the swirly slide!" Reminds me of something from Horton Hears a Who.

 

Summer days...

Playing at the park...this one is are favorite, close by our house, and not very busy. I also like it because it's away from busy roads...lots of grass to run around and play. We always seem to get lucky every time we go to a park, we usually always have it to ourselves, which we like!

Anthony's legs are getting stronger every day, he hasn't stood up by himself just yet, but getting close! He did climb up on that park bench though, I was sitting down while he was standing next to it, and then he put one leg up and pulled himself on...he was so proud of himself.

He could play in this bark ALL DAY LONG!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

About time...

Anthony FINALLY learned how to suck out of a straw today! I've been teaching him for months...but he just hasn't caught on until now! Before I would have to sip some up through the straw and then pinch it in his mouth! No more, he's all on his own now...and he sure slurped up my oreo shake from Chick-fil-A! Mmmmmm!

 
 
 
And if you've never had an oreo shake from there you are missin' out...or you can get one from Jack in the Fox Box too. Same goodness.

New ribbon jar lids...

I'm crossing off my list of projects...especially all my painting ones! I finally finished staining the little table today, that I painted the end of June! July was sooo busy! ...now I can put a coat of polyurethane on that and the two chairs tomorrow. I'm excited to paint my chalkboard too...but I have to get the table + chairs, plus a few other projects done first!

 
 
I spray painted all my lids on my ribbon jars...oil rubbed bronze...don't they look so much better than just the plain metal! Here's what they used to look like... Now they match the metal on my hutch! I want to paint that too...still deciding if I should paint it aqua or black...what do you think?

Organizing...

Got these cute and colorful bucket containers at the dollar store...to hold my cleaning products...which I only use Melaleuca...simply the best, and safe for your home and children. All natural and non toxic! Which is why I don't freak out every time Anthony pulls them out from the cupboard every hour! Most all of the cleaning products come concentrated, so you add water at home...

 
 

 
I seriously use every cleaning product! I'm telling you they are the best...especially tub and tile, it works soooo good it would probably take the black off a black person! Wait...did I just say that...well ya know what I mean. {know that I'm joking, and mean no harm} Try it and you'll know what I'm talking about!  
You have to think of Melaleuca's membership as like shopping at Costco or Sam's. But way better, because they are the best products in the world. If you don't have a membership and would be interested in knowing more, email me! at aliciavking{at}hotmail{dot}com. Now through the 16th are $1 memberships!

Library...

Trying to keep Anthony busy while girls are at Storytime...

this lasted about 2 minutes, then he was off crawling in and out of the aisles of books, pulling some off shelves as he went along!