HE is Risen.

We celebrated Easter like anyone else who believes in Jesus Christ, his death, and resurrection. Our family is truly grateful for our Savior and all that he has done for us.

After church the kids had an Easter egg hunt and later we had an Easter Dinner with Dad Dudley and Wilde, uncle Bon, and the family. Here are a few pics of the hunt!

Dad sitting with Jace watching Sage attempt to find her 12 eggs. Sage kept on asking for hints... Dad would not really give any. Although this was frustrating to Sage because of her lack of patience, she eventually found them all.

"Look Mom I found one on top of Gumba's cage!"

Ashton was so excited to start looking for eggs he only took one of his shoes off. Funny Boy!

Sage looking for eggs in her new spring dress.

A Day Away

What do you get when your husband helps a friend out and does a complete engine swap? You get a day away in Salt Lake City at a bed and breakfast! Curtis and I had the opportunity to stay at the Armstrong Mansion for an evening. It was sooo neat! The house had so many neat features! Everything was so intricate and hand carved. We loved checking out each individual room and learning about the houses unique history. I would recommend staying there to anyone who wants to experience a bed and breakfast in SLC for a decent price. Oh and of course the breakfast was superb. Here is a link for those who wan to check it out!

http://www.armstrongmansion.com/


Curtis in one of the jacuzzi s. This particular one was in the Febuary room. A private spiral staircase leads to this jacuzzi located at the top of the turret, the highest location in the Mansion.

The photo above Curtis and I, is a picture of the Armstrong Family. Large family don't you think?? Mr. Armstrong was an amazing man too! Look him up.

Look at the ceiling molds in this house! Isn't it amazing! Everything was hand carved and painted and was modeled after the Anne Victorian style in England.

See those neat stairs! Again everything hand carved. Mr. Armstrong did a lot of it himself.

Curtis and I sitting in the hallway next to a picture of the mansion.

oh and if you are wondering why we are dressed up, we were planning on going to the temple that morning but could not find parking that lasted for longer than 2 hours. Busy day at the SLC temple! And thanks to everyone who made our little getaway possible!

SURPRISE!!!

Saturday the 16th was Curtis's Birthday and I decided to throw him a surprise party. Curtis does not like suprises. In fact not knowing what is going to happen or what he is going to get, drives him up a wall. But I on the other hand LOVE surprises and I especially love giving them. So all week long I did my best to keep everything from him. I prohibited anyone from contacting me via email so that Curtis would not stumble upon any of my plans. I was also careful not to charge anything to my card until the day of the party so he could not find any clues. All week long Curtis tried to get me to tell him my plans. But I held out (which is hard for me to do).

In the early evening our family drove to Mom and Dad Dudley's house. We dropped off the kids like we always do when going out on a date. Then I insisted that I should drive. Curtis LET ME! I never drive when Curtis is in the car so that was almost a bit strange. Then I started driving around trying to kill time until everyone was in place. When I got the text indicating things were ready, I made him close his eyes and drove to Classic Skating in Orem. So you may be asking, "Why would you have an adult party at a place that was dominated by Junior high kids?". Well Curtis worked at Classic as a DJ for years and LOVED the job. I knew he had not been skating for a long time and thought it would be fun. As we walked in, his friend Jake who had also worked there announced his entrance calling him by his name, "DJ Studley Dudley." Curtis was surprised that there were so many people there and we had a blast eating cake and brownies, skating, and socializing. Thanks to all that attended! Curtis had a blast. And thank you Curtis for letting me surprise you.

Some of the non-skaters. As soon as I dropped the kids off at Mom and Dad Dudley's, they got the kids back in their car and headed over.

My dad being cute as always. He is pretending to skate with "Little Doran" (that's what my Dad calls Jace.)

Curtis getting ready to blow the candles on his cake. I made him wear the hat:). Such a good sport!

Jeremy Dudley trying to teach Ashton to skate! Such a good Uncle! We love Jeremy.

Dad helping his little girl skate. Sage had an absolute blast and now wants skates of her own.


Curtis and Jake. The X DJ's. They were amazing DJ's back in the day. And Jake's DJ announcement as Curtis was coming in was priceless...

Curtis and Jason Dudley, brothers, and friends.

Becky and Curtis Dudley... So I have not been skating since high school... so I was flailing more then I was skating. Curtis on the other hand skates extremely well.

Sage's School Program.

Not long ago Sage participated in a school program where the school sang songs and danced dances from countries all over the world. Sage had the opportunity to represent our own country, the United States of America as a cow girl. She was adorable. She new all the songs and got to dance with Corbin, one of her crushes. Here is a picture and a video. I apologize that the video is sideways and of poor quality. I used a crappy camera to take it and it does not self correct and I don't know how to fix it. Curtis is working on getting me a better camera:)

Ashton turns 1, 2, 3, 4!

Ashton had a great birthday yesterday. First thing in the morning he opened one of his gifts... he got pants! I have never seen a boy more excited over pants. Then he spent the day helping me bake and decorate his cake. Finally in the evening Grandpa Wilde and Dudley along with Uncle Bon came over to help celebrate. He got new clothes, a backpack, new cars and toy story figures, and a few CARS Party Supplies. Here are a few pictures of the festivities.

Ashton asked for an Oreo Cake this year. This is what mom came up with.

Ashton Blowing out the candles.

Ashton not understanding why one keeps on lighting up again....

Ashton and one of his favorite people, Uncle Bon.

Opening Presents

Trying to blow up one of his presents.

Dad finally doing it for him... it was hard to blow up.

Ashton going absolutely nuts with the punch balloon. Thanks Uncle Bon!

Blessings all Around!

On February 6th of 2011 Curtis gave Jace Mervin Dudley a fathers blessing. Both family and friends were there to witness our little handsome guy receive his blessings. Curtis did a wonderful job and we enjoyed visiting with all those who attended.

Jace in his blessing outfit provided and chosen by Grandma Wilde. Thanks Mom!

Me and Jace after the blessing chilling together.

Our Family has also been blessed with the opportunity for Curtis to adopt both Sage and Ashton. this is something Curtis has been thinking about for a long time. He has wanted this from the first day he found out that it was possible. He loves Sage and Ashton and has considered them as his own kids since the beginning.

The judge, Judge Taylor was a very tall man. He was very kind to all of us. Just as we sat down Ashton blurts out to the judge that he knew that if he was not quiet that the judge would throw him in jail. The Judge laughed and told him that he would never do that. Despite the judge consoling Ashton, I don't think Ashton believed him, because before we left Ashton said, "I was good so the judge wont throw me in Jail." Ashton also made comments on the judge robes, letting the judge know that it was warm enough in the building and that he should take the robes off (He thought it was a coat).

Sage sat quietly holding some daffodils that Connie (A family Friend of ours) gave to her. We were asked a few questions by the lawyer and the kids were asked a few questions. Then within 10 minutes it was all said and done and the kids were legally Dudley's. Curtis's father was touched and shed a few tears welcoming the kids into their family. And of course Mom Dudley was tickled pink. My Mom (who drove all the way back from Montana in one day to be there) gave the kidos hugs too. It was a good day. Thanks to everyone who came to support the kids and us. And thanks to Curtis for loving me and the kids enough to claim us as his own... We love you Curtis.

When Mom is Away, A Child will Play

I have a camera. It is a old camera that takes four double A batteries. I love the camera because although its old it takes GREAT pictures. But lately the camera has been strangely running out of batteries quickly, as though the camera has just been sucking out the juice 5 times faster. Well I think I have found the cause to my mysterious battery issue. As I was uploading my last set of pictures a few caught my eye. This is how I imagined this event took place.

Scene: Mom and Dad are upstairs enjoying a nice quiet Sunday together. Meanwhile the two older children are downstairs bored and up to no good.

Ashton: "I'm bored Sage. I have already gutted the cupboards, jumped on the couch, eaten my lunch where I am NOT supposed to eat, and yet I feel empty... I feel like we should be doing something else to fulfill our roles as small children."

Sage: "Look what I found Ashton!!!!! Let me take a picture of you bored."


Ashton: " No fair I want a turn!!"

Sage: "Ok, Ashton go ahead. Take a picture of my glorious self right below the family picture... do you think Mom and Dad can see us through that picture?"

Ashton: "I think we need to get a closeup Sage. Such beauty must be documented at every angle."

Sage: "Ok Ashton, now its my turn again. I want to take your handsome picture with Jeremy's coat behind you. Just maybe that will help mom and dad remember to bring it to family dinner... although I doubt it. Nice marker on your face. Did you do that yourself? Its marvelous!"

Ashton: " I don't know Sage... maybe we should not be doing this.... I'm starting to get worried we might get in trouble"

Sage: "But Ashton I can take your picture with Star Wars!!"
Ashton: "Well by golly never mind then! Check this face out! Gotta love Clone Wars".

Sage thinks to herself: "Ok let me document Ashton leaving the crime scene... that way I wont get into trouble and it places Ashton there and me in the other room.

Ashton: " Wow, playing with Mom's Camera is fun!!! Don't forget to leave it on!"


Note: They did not get into trouble since i discovered it weeks afterword... however I did get after them for eating in the family room and gutting my cupboards. The coat btw... was forgotten.