So I was thinking every two months is ok...right?

At least it is better than annually. :) So baseball at our house has come and gone. Satchel was really bummed when the season ended. He loved playing catcher and it was a position that picked on his own and is actually really good at. Andrew like coaching his team and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of Clayton (a friend of ours) and Robert (one of the parents). Gehrig liked playing and was always excited for his games but didn't see a lot of action since the kids are all pretty young.

My trip to Idaho was fun. On the way there Stephanie hit a poor beaver that was trying to play "chicken" on the freeway. I was able to get some reading in and a little shopping. What could be better?

Women's Conference was so nice. I love hanging out with Keli and we have 2 days to just hang out and laugh. We heard some really good talks and I ended up talking a lot of notes. We were also able to do service and get to know new people from all over the country.

(Baskin Robbins was having 39 cent scoop night...we HAD to be there...even if it was super cold and windy.)

The babies ended up having surgery. Andrew had to work so my mother-in-law came with me and my father-in-law took Emma. Both boys were so good. Everything took so much longer than anticipated so I worried about them being hungry but they did such a good job. William even fell asleep waiting for his turn. While Grandpa had Emma they went to get her nails painted. He paid to have them put little flowers on her thumbs and she was over the moon. She talked about it non-stop for days and keeps asking Papa when they are going again and if they will paint her toes this time. :)

William would not let that bowling pin go for the longest time. :)

Cute little Murphy was crying when they were doing his little exam before surgery...but still happy.

Summer started at the end of May. We have had a pretty relaxing summer so far....is that a nice way of saying we haven't been doing much? We have been to the splash park up here, gone to the zoo, gone to the movies, worked in our yard...and that is about it. They have swim lessons coming up though so that should provide a little variety for them.

Just this past Friday we had the opportunity to go see Toy Story 3. A friend of mine, Alison took our babies for us and I was "eternally grateful". :) hehe I am SO funny. Truthfully though it was nice to not have to wrestle them in the theatre AND it was the first show that Emma actually sat through without getting bored. In fact, she has brought it up for the past two days saying that she wants to go again to see Buzz, Woody and Jessie. Personally I think it was the popcorn and drinks that sealed the deal for her. LOL

I know it has been forever....

What can I say...the weather is nice and baseball has started. :) I guess to keep y'all updated I should tell you what has been going on in our neck of the woods.

Well, at the beginning of April (the 3rd to be exact) William and Murphy turned 1. They decovered that they are HUGE fans of icing and that the cake isn't that bad either. It also happened to be Easter weekend and General Conference. So, needless to say it was busy. There were eggs to dye while all the men went to the priesthood session and then on Sunday the Easter Bunny came by. The boys were excited about their skateboards. Emma loved her new princess shoes and thought that she should just wear them as "every-day" shoes instead of dress-up. The babies got a little toy for their sandbox (their birthday gift from us).

Shortly after baseball started for Satchel. They had two pre-season games and a tournament. Now the regular season is starting. Andrew is coaching his team and it has been really fun to be a part of it. At times none of the kids want to listen and you want to go crazy but on the whole they are really good boys and it is fun to be able to cheer them on. Gehrig has loved being able to practice with the older boys too. He is pretty good. I can't wait to see him play...which will start after Satchel's has ended. Needless to say our yard will be neglected until summer begins and baseball ends. :)

Other fun stuff coming up includes a little get-a-way for me this weekend. A friend of mine that use to live in our neighborhood is driving to Idaho to visit her sister. She invited me along and we are going to make a girl's trip of it for the weekend. Next week BYU Women's Conference starts and should be a fun and spiritual couple of days.

Well, I hope you all are doing well.

Satchel turns 8....

(I was taking pictures for the program for his baptism. I think this is a keeper.)

Well I am officially the parent of an 8 year old. I don't know what it is, but just the thought that he is eight and has been baptized make me feel like I should be 10 years older.

(I told him to look "thoughtful" and this is what he gives me.) :)

It was kind of a crazy time leading up to his birthday. I think Andrew and I were all too aware of the little time we had left before we knew he would be fully accountable for his decisions. We wondered if we had taught him enough and I guess we will never truly know.

He is a very sensitive, loving, helpful boy. He has always been very mild-mannered and kind to others. Now, I am not saying that he is perfect, because I know we all have our days and so does he. I am saying that he generally just tries to be a good boy and succeeds most of the time.

(His birthday game.) :)

His birthday was on a Saturday this year. In the morning we gave him his present from us (a board game...what else would Andrew want to give him?). :) Gehrig used his own money to get him additional guys for his game. I was really proud of how generous that was of him. So most of the morning all he wanted to do was look at the figurines and play with it. In the afternoon we went to his favorite place "with lots of food".... Chuck-a-Rama. There they ate their fill and Satch was so happy when the servers came over and sang Happy Birthday to him. After lunch we went to Hastings and let Satch pick out a movie and he chose to buy the first season of He-Man. It is kind of fun that he is watching what we grew up with.

(Birthday kisses at Chuck-a-Rama)

The following weekend was his baptism. On Friday we were making cookies all night for the people that came. Saturday morning we woke up at 6am to get ready and meet Grandma Rino and Breezy for breakfast. It was nice to be able to hang out with them. The kids loved being able to go out to breakfast and the fact that Grandma and Breezy were there only made it better.

(Passing time while waiting for our food. Who knew jelly packets could be so fun?)

(Shouldn't she be illegal? She is too cute.)

After breakfast we went home to change and left for the church. We got everything set up in the chapel and had a wonderful program. Our friend and Second Councilor in the Bishopric, Christian Hall, conducted. We sang "I am trying to be like Jesus." My sister, Breezy, said the opening prayer. I know she was nervous, but she did a wonderful job. Andrew's brother Jeff gave a talk about baptism. Andrew teased him afterwards that it seemed more like an Elder's Quorum talk. :) Satchel was baptized by his Dad (with Jeff and Pops witnessing). It was so nice to know that my husband has the authority to baptize him and that he lives worthy of his priesthood. My father didn't baptize me and I can just imagine how special that would have made it. We came back into the chapel and my friend Jessica accompanied my SIL Lexi, who played her violin. Afterwards, Pops gave a great talk about the Holy Ghost and to my amazement Satchel was still attentive. :) He then was given the Holy Ghost. He asked his Cub Scout Leader (Brandon Sholly) to be there in the circle...he really loves scouts AND the Shollys. Our Primary President (Rebecca Miller) gave a few words and then Andrew got to talk on behalf of the Bishopric welcoming him to the ward. He did such a great job. We ended by singing "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and my cousin Lisa gave the closing prayer.

(William and Aunt Lexi)

(My sister, Breezy, and my mom)

Ultimately it was a very intimate gathering. From my family only my mother, sister and cousin came. Andrew's parents, brother and sister-in-law, and uncle were there. Then we had friends from our ward (Christian, Rebecca, Hollie with Anna, Renee, the Shollys, and the Shaffers). I guess I should have spread the word more, but I know that Satchel still felt loved even though every seat wasn't filled.

(Satchel and Gehrig were busy running around with their friends so we have a lot of pictures of Emma. :) Here she is with her Grandma Sproul that she loves so much.)

(All the kids)

(The Shollys with Satch...Thanks so much for coming guys.)


(Renee, Hollie, and Jessica)

After the baptism we went out to lunch with Andrew's family to Chili's. It is kind of our family's place. We usually go after the General Priesthood Session. Again it was nice to have time to visit and REALLY nice to be able to change out of my skirt...what can I say? I am a pants kind of girl. :)

(I swear they take the best pictures. :) Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lexi)

Well, it was going to happen sooner or later...

The boys have definitely rubbed off on Emma. She would follow them around and mimic little things that they said but I think today takes the cake....

We are sitting in the kitchen. I am making lunch and Emma is playing at the table. All the sudden she toots (or farts, or whatever you call it at your house) and so I look at her. We are potty training and to be truthful it seemed like it might not be more than just a harmless bit of gas. Anyhow, I look over and she has a smile from ear to ear. She says, "Mommy did you hear that? It was my bum!" and immediately begins to laugh like a crazy woman. WHERE DID MY SWEET 2 YEAR OLD GO!?! We are hopelessly outnumbered. Soon I am going to find her going potty standing up. :)

10 years....

So this past weekend Andrew and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. The years have truly flown by...at least for me. :) I am so fortunate that that love potion worked and we ended up being married. He is so supportive of all my different hobbies...after all he suggested most of them. ;) He is great with the kids and loves to spend time with them. I guess really he is just a kid himself...and I love that about him. I love the way he makes me laugh and how he is always trying to make me realize how special I am...especially when I don't feel it.

So normally we don't tend to go anywhere or do anything more than going out to dinner and maybe a movie, which really is a treat since we don't do that hardly ever and especially not alone. In fact I just heard that people do in fact still date when they are married and have kids...who knew? :)

(The Carriage Room)

We decided to go to the Anniversary Inn. We stayed there on our honeymoon. Andrew was still in school so we couldn't really go anywhere, but we loved it all the same. This time we stayed in the Carriage Room (Andrew's favorite) and the Presidential Suite (my favorite). The Presidential Suite had a balcony and we had the best view.

(Our view...I think the best part is holding onto the railing.) :)

(How cute is their little towel swans? They also gave us a bottle of sparkling apple juice and cheesecake.)

(I love how elegant it was.)

We were REALLY lucky my MIL was able to watch our kids. With five kids (and two of them babies) it is hard to find a babysitter let alone someone to keep them for a couple of nights. She is always really great about helping me out and I really appreciate her.

After we picked up the kids we took them to get ice cream. They were way excited and it was nice to see them after being away for a couple of days.

Sooooo....I am a slacker. :)

I always mean to post things on here, but forget.

Take for instance a couple of weeks ago when Gehrig came home early from school. He said that he didn't feel good and when I checked him out early from school and were on our way home I "informed" him that he needed "lots of rest" to feel better and would be laying down all day. Magically he was feeling great, but I told him that to make sure he will lay down anyway. ;)

Well, that night he kind of developed this deep cough. The next morning Andrew came in and told me that he didn't think Gehrig should go to school. I told him this and he said, "But Mom I want to LEARN!" Really, I think he realized what "being sick" is in our house....score one for Mom. :) Side note: his cough went away shortly after breakfast...so nothing serious.

Also, I mean to post pictures. I take a ton of pictures and always seem to have my camera with me. Previously I just kind of thought I would be whipping out these layouts on my scrapbooking blog and that you all would just see them there...uh, no. That never happens. I scrap what pictures I feel like scrapping at the time. Rarely are they chronological. So, I am going to try and post them here.

Recently Andrew and I had our 10 year anniversary and went on a little retreat. I took pictures of our hotel (the Anniversary Inn) which was fabulous so you will see those soon...when I download them. :)

So, I guess I am just trying to come clean so that you all can keep me accountable and say, "Where are those pictures you keep saying are coming?" and "What has been going on at the Sproul house?" I need reminders sometimes. Don't we all?

K...So, I am a total idiot. :)

I decided to redesign my scrapbook blog and thought I should try it out on my personal blog first. Well, I didn't remember to write down everyone's blog BEFORE I changed my template. So, if you decide to do it be warned that it will delete EVERYTHING. :)

Could you be so kind as to leave me a comment so that I can follow all of you again? I am lost without those links. Thanks SO much!