PLEASE RECYCLE

If this face doesn't encourage you to recycle more, I don't know what will!

In honor of Earth Day, I thought this would be an appropriate post. I am obsessed with recycling, as my friends know, and I think I'm getting worse with age. I recently found myself wondering during church if they recycle the sacrament cups. (I found out they don't, and I'm going to help change that) All those little cups from the many wards across the world, just being thrown away week after week is abominable!

Yes-shocked is just how I feel too when I see someone throw away a water bottle, paper, or cans of soda.

When I was in 2nd grade, we watched a video that taught us "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" in a little song. I really think it made a big impact on me. My mom is also really into recycling, and I used to tease her for how extreme she could be, but now I'm thankful for her example. I also find myself thinking many times, "I'm becoming my mother..."
So start teaching your kids young-Gretel seems quite interested in my little lecture....

She's really starting to get the hang of it!

"You go Glen Cocoa-good for you, Glen Cocoa"

The slogan on the outside of the recycle truck that comes each week says, "Stop treating your trash like garbage!"
The driver of this truck, Gretel and I will be watching YOU!!!

Happy Anniversary

Sweetie pie -

I want to thank you for being such a wonderful wife and mother. I am excited for the experiences and adventures to come in the next 5 years. Thank you for your support, love, kindness, and wonderful heart. You truly are my best "bud."

Clue #7

I am the most hated possession of Johnny's. I am so misunderstood. No one appreciates me except for Johnny and maybe Caitland... (Gwen and Gretel are becoming fans...)

p.s. i picked this song just for you!!

Gretel's Favorite Things

Lately Gretel is really into jumping, and wants to jump on everything all the time. Jumping and dancing around are some of her favorite things to do. She holds out her hands and waits for me to grab them so we can jump together, especially on the bed. I don't really have pictures of this....

Also, she LOVES to get in the shower with either me or Johnny, and cries when it's time to get out. No pictures of this, obviously...(you're welcome)

She likes to get my flat iron out and squish her face in it!

She absolutely loves Gwen, and plays "chase" with her every day-they both love it!


She loves when Gwen licks her ears, too- she laughs so hard!!

She loves to wear rubber gloves.

She is really into wiping lately, and likes to climb on the toilet lid and wipe her "C-rotch" area. I caught her the other day sitting her little teddy bear on the lid of the toilet and wiping between the bear's legs....it made me really laugh, but I don't have that great of a picture of it.

She loves being strolled around the house in her doll stroller.

She loves to take off her socks and wear them as mittens.

She's obsessed with climbing on the coffee table, and I try to get her to stop, but it's hard. It's all she wants to do.

She loves her friend Avery, and especially likes to feed her.

Our Newport Beach Trip

We go to Newport Beach with Johnny's fam every year, and this year was especially fun because Johnny's parents have been building a vacation house there and it's now finished. So John and Cheryl had been staying there for a few weeks before we arrived. The rest of us were excited to see the house, and it was gorgeous. The trip was also planned around Cheryl's big 60th birthday!!

We went to Disneyland, aka my favorite place on earth!



Gretel rockin' the Captain EO 3D glasses-she liked to dance to the music during the show.

She's still too young to fully appreciate all the kiddie rides, but was thrilled with the steps! Her favorite thing to do besides jumping and dancing.

She absolutely loved It's a Small World and was just mesmerized.


She was exhausted when I snapped this pic, and had only napped briefly earlier. We had taken her on Pirates of the Caribbean. She was terrified because of the small drops the boat takes, and fell asleep in my arms quickly after her sobbing wore her out. Poor little lamb!

She LOVED the carousel!

Disneyland-I miss you already!!!

On a separate day, I went to TJMaxx/Home Goods with Cheryl. She bought this cake stand for me just because I mentioned that I liked it, and it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. I swear, she is always doing nice things like that for me. I'm lucky that I have such a sweet M-I-L.

Swimming! Gretel wouldn't touch her tootsies to the water at first. But I slowly got in the water holding her, and she ended up loving it, especially after we plopped her in her little "floatie"boat.

One of Gretel's fave things was arranging (and begging for) the candy in the movie room.

And the games too...

Having fun in the toy room!

Ellie is obsessed with princesses and dresses...

They loved eating together at their kiddie table...

and having bath time together!

and playing Cinderella!

Her signature dance move...the side-step in a circle

We thought she'd love the beach but she's not the adventurous soul we thought she was. I let her stand with me on the shore, and when the water came up and hit our feet, she screamed in fear, and was SO upset. She wouldn't let us put her down at all, and kept trying to brush the sand off her feet-she hated the feel of it!

We hung out at the park a different day, and that's always a success!

Thanks for such a great time, John and Cheryl-we wish we were still on vacay!