Surprise Friday #2

So, I was lame, and forgot the camera for our second Surprise Friday of the summer!!! Ryan and I took the boys to see Cars 2 on opening day!!! It was so good and we even were able to get a free Cars puzzle with each ticket stub!!!



We all really enjoyed the movie and Hudson did just fine! Carson and Dallin both thought it was AWESOME!!!

Surprise Friday #1

For our first Surprise Friday, I surprised the boys with a trip to a local "kid's" art studio called Art Beast. It is geared towards kids from 0-7 years of age (Dallin still had a good time) and has lots of fun, hands-on things the boys could do and make! 

 There was even a replica space shuttle (drats, I didn't get pictures of the outside of the shuttle)

 Another use for #10 cans!!!

The canvas' that the boys painted were Father's Day gifts for Ryan (will post that soon)!

Almost Beethoven

Well, maybe not yet, but these boys sure are playing well! They started piano lessons in April and had their first Piano recital on June 12th! I know they were both nervous about getting up in front of everyone to play, but they did great!!!

 Carson played "Old MacDonald" 

Dallin played "I Hope They Call Me On A Mission" 

 It was nice to have Gramps, Grandma Robin, and Uncle Loren there to support the boys! 

 They survived!

 The boys with their piano teacher, Sister Heather Clark

Dallin is now a 4th Grader

Dallin had an amazing 3rd grade year and it is due in large part to the influence of an amazing teacher! She new just how to encourage and motivate Dallin to do his best! We have seen him become a confident reader, leader in the class, a whiz at multiplication and division, enjoyed art and music classes, and who could forget his love for P.E. Congrats Dallin on such a remarkable year!!!

Yippee!!! 

 Dallin and Ms. Jewell

The boys counting down the last minute of 3rd Grade!

Congrats Dallin, we are so proud of your accomplishments this year!

Carson Graduates Preschool

Carson graduated preschool on June 6th! He is now officially a Kindergartner! I can't believe how quickly the last few years have gone! Carson enjoys learning and has an inquisitive mind. He also has a great capacity for memorizing and retaining information! He has learned so much these last two years!

Cutie patootie!

 We truly enjoyed the school he attended and his teacher, Ms. Nancy! She is a phenomenal teacher! She has so much love and compassion for the little ones! We will definitely miss having her in our lives (well, at least until Hudson is old enough to attend)!

 Gramps was able to come see Carson's advancement

 I'm so proud of him! He's such a smart cookie!

 We love him (Dallin was unable to be there due to school. Hey I already had received a truancy letter so I wasn't about to pull him out).

 Carson and his best friend, Maya

 Carson and Ms. Nancy

Congrats Carson!!! We are so proud of you!

Mary Poppins

This past Thursday evening (June 2), I surprised the boys with a date night to see the Broadway musical, Mary Poppins that is currently playing at the Sacramento Community Theater. Even though I had to pull some serious teeth with the oldest to get him to dress up (he thought we were going to another play at the local high school and couldn't understand why I asked him to dress in something more than shorts and  t-shirt), the night ended with smiles all around!

I seriously LOVE this musical! Ryan and I saw it on Broadway in New York a few years back and when I saw it was coming to town I knew I wanted to take the boys to it! They enjoyed the songs and even asked if they could buy Mary Poppin's umbrella so that they could fly! Funny boys!!! They have also been singing many of the songs! I love it!!!

Happy Date Night to you,

Hudson is Walking

Today Hudson decided he wasn't content crawling around anymore! He has taken his first steps! Check out the video from this evening! He has taken a few unassisted steps throughout the day, but this is a video of him really walking! Not really ready for him to be walking (he is only 8 months).

http://youtu.be/C9TP1bzNpEk (for some reason I can't get the video to embed so click on the link and you should be able to view it in you tube).

Why can't he stay my baby longer? 

Stand A Little Taller

"We are all children of God, and there is something of His divinity within each of us. We are of the family of God, with such a tremendous potential for excellence...

You will find your greatest example in the Son of God. I hope that each of you will make Him your friend. I hope you will strive to walk in His paths, extending mercy, blessing those who struggle, living with less selfishness, reaching out to others.

The prophet Moroni declared, “In the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way” (Ether 12:11). You have the witness of that faith. You have the testimony of that faith. You have the example of that faith. Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier." 

President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Quest for Excellence," Ensign, Sept. 1999, 2-5. (Emphasis added by me)

So, I have had a lot on my mind since Mother's Day and since this is a place for me to record my thoughts I just wanted to share that there is nothing wrong with me in my desire to improve myself (key word here is myself not Sister Somebody or Sister SoAndSo). 

This desire to improve my talents, learn new things, strive towards making my home a comfortable/clean/organized space once originated with the idea that I needed to be this perfect mormon mother (being a convert to the church I assumed that there was a certain standard for how one must be or act). I have since realized that we are not perfect - there is no perfect mormon mother example. But the very purpose for us being here on the earth is to work at being more like our Savior - so I have focused my desires on this knowledge, trying to be the best daughter of God that I can be. 


I have heard many women counsel me to aim a little lower, or to not worry so much about things that are important to me (like a clean house or doing crafts or writing Thank You notes). As a Type A person, I realize I add extra stress to my life because of my personal drive to be better. Sometimes this may stress me out but for the most part it helps me to improve upon my weaknesses. I have accepted that this is who I am and I am okay with my quirkiness and nuttiness. 


Well this past Mother's Day I have finally realized that although others may be fine with aiming lower it isn't in my nature to do so. I'm not comparing what I can do and give to what other's can do and give - I do not feel that my way is better than someone elses, it just simply works for  me. I am working on MYSELF!!! I will continue to follow the counsel of our past prophet and current prophet and apostles in that I will strive to work on me and aim a little higher, stand a little taller, be a little better. 

More Freedom

I am looking forward to having more freedom to post about my family! This blog had started, a few years ago, as a place for me to "journal" about what we've been up to. I am looking forward to getting back to that. It truly is a place for me to document the day to day things we've been up to (some exciting, some mundane, and some down right frustrating). So, feel free to read along to my nutty thoughts and the things that we've been up to. Oh and comments are always welcome, in fact, they are so very nice! 

Going Private

Hello all,


I will be making this blog "private" by the end of the month. If you so desire to keep up with our family, please send me an email (either at my personal email - for those of you that have that one, or orangepeanut@gmail.com). I have a lot of updating to do, as our littlest one is getting so big and the other two are up to some pretty fun stuff!!!! 

Giveaway over at Orange Peanut

Don't forget to check out the giveaway happening over at orangepeanut.com

All you have to do is leave a comment and you are entered into the drawing!!!!

Check out my new website

Dear Orange Peanut Followers,


I just wanted to let you know about some exciting things happening in my blog world. Today I launched my new and improve "business" blog over at orangepeanut.com . Go check it out and if you are so inclined, show me some support by following that blog. 


This blog (kanzlerthoughts.blogspot.com) will become a place for me to "journal" about my family and will be made private in a few months (if you want to still have access to this blog send me an email and I will add you to my reader list).


Thanks for your support in this new adventure.