The Dog's a boy, too!

BLOOD!!!!

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

Blood Orange that is.

And he likes it!!

But it makes you wonder doesn't it....

The rest of the story...

2012-01-26T00:26:00.003-05:00

Here's the rest of the story pictures of when my sister was here. All the cousins had a good time. Some more that others. {Rozi and Tim played so well and had a great time!! Benji, and Haliegh.... not so much!}

While my sis was here we had a chance to go to the temple. It was nice! I always love going there and being able to feel the spirit and to learn. It was a nice chance to hang out with just the adults as well without having all the crazies around. {bless Taylor's heart {she's my baby sitter... she took on 7 kids all by herself!!}

Rozi and Tim decided that our horse needed to dress up for Halloween.

Pour girl was so tired at dinner. Rozi really took a liken' to Steve. It was cute to see the way he acted around her and how gentle he was when he was holding her... maybe I could see us with a little girl.

Here is Rozi and Tim. They both have such great imaginations. They had so much fun with their little games and the things they did.

Believe it or not Tim on only ONE month older than Rozi, and that's only because he decided that he was done cooking early and was born 10 weeks early. You really wouldn't know that seeing the two of them stand next to each other.

In this picture is Benji, {obviously} and Boon is behind him. Rozi is holding Haleigh and Tim is sitting next to them. James and Tommy are in the back. I think this is the only one I could get of all the kids

Because this is what the rest of them look like. Benji is a camera hog and likes to be front and center when I pull it out.

Here's a good one of all of them except Benji.

Ooo here is one of them all together but nobody is looking at the camera.

If I would have looked a little closer through my view finder I would have centered this and it would have been a good picture.... but really 7 kids. 8 and under.... with the majority of them under 6. I was happy just to have them all on the same block...

We tried to get a picture of Benji and Haleigh together. They too are just a month apart and Benji is twice her size... apparently I grow them big.... it's all the crisco sandwiches I feed my babies.... Anyway, we tried to get a picture of them together but they just would not have it.

Clearly they are too close to each other even now.

It was fun having Erika and Nick here for a little bit. It was sad to say goodbye, but soon enough we will be moving closer and hopefully visits will be more often.

My Day

2012-01-25T04:58:00.002-05:00

{Prompted by Cocoa at Chocolate on my Cranium}
A typical day for me....

I usually wake up at 6:00-ish {after Steve has to poke and prod me to wake up} and I usually find Tim snuggled up next to me. Most of the time have no idea when he came in. But I like the snuggle time with him. Tim likes to play on his own. He has a great imaginations and can play for hours in a corner by himself, so the little extra time just with him is nice. I will wake up and read my scriptures, out loud, because Tim likes to hear me read the scriptures to him. {I can also hear Benji starting to wake up.}

After my own scripture and prayers, and a bit of time in the bathroom to get ready, I will then start getting breakfast ready. I am trying to be better about making breakfast for Steve before he leaves. Many of my breakfasts I will prep the night before so it's easier in the morning.

I will get Benji out of bed and get him a cup of milk and hold him for a bit until he is ready to run. At this time the boys will roll out of bed and then we will have family prayer before Steve leaves for the clinic.

Then I will start cleaning up and helping the boys get their chores done, and start prepping for school day.

While Benji eats I'll usually eat with him so he is not at the table by himself.

All of our morning prep is done between 7:00-9:00, and right at nine we start our school day.

From 9 to 1-ish we are doing our school work. I usually through a load of laundry in the washer and will pick up the school room while the boys are busy. It seems never ending to be picking up their room!! {they play sleep and school all in the same room}

After lunch the boys will finish up what ever is they need to do, and I will start dinner prep. I also do a clean up in the kitchen and try to find time to vacuum.

In the afternoon I will fold laundry while I have one boy read to me.

Benji goes down for a nap between 1-2 and I will send the boys in their room or outside to play.

At 3:30 I am back int he kitchen to really start dinner. Making dinner seems to take longer these days as I always have helpers. If they are taller than 3 feet it's a good help, if they are shorter than that I am usually pulling him off the table and out of the cupboard while I am trying to get dinner ready.

We eat at 5, or when Steve gets home.

After dinner we clean up the house, the boys usually have to clean up their room, so I will clean the kitchen and pick up the living room. And I will try to do any breakfast prep for the next day.

At 7:00 I will read a book to the boys and at 7:30 we have scripture reading and prayer as a family. The boys go to bed at 8:00.

I am a night person. I will watch a little TV, and be on the internet for a bit. I will also prep for school for the next day, and answer any emails that need to be answered.

I try to get to bed by 10:00... but usually it's more like 11:00 or 12:00.

Then I do it all again.

{But I can already feel that today is not a typical day.....}

I.am.sorry.

2012-01-21T01:24:00.000-05:00

I am sorry.

Three pretty easy words to say. They are short words and separately they are just words, but when you put them together they make a very powerful statement.

I am sorry.

Sometimes we say them so often that the words will just roll off our tongue with no meaning to them at all. It's just something we say after we bump into someone and then keep walking in the other direction.

I am sorry.

And then there are those times when we have to be humble enough to look someone in the eye and apologize for the wrong doing that we have done.

Those three words may not be big, grand words but sometimes that is what needs to be said.

I was wronged and all I wanted was to hear those words. To know that the person was sincere. I want to build a friendship again, but I can't. I didn't realize how important those words were to me. I didn't know that I needed to hear the words 'I am sorry'.

I have a hard time trusting someone who can't apologize.

I have realized that an apology will not come.

I have also learned that I need to make sure that I am humble enough to apologize when I need to. That I make amends and that I do it completely. Time does not heal all wounds when one is unwilling/can't apologize.

I am sorry.

There is such a big impact when those words are used, and used sincerely.

I am sorry.

At the beach... in January

2012-01-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

My sister came to visit me! I was so happy to have visitors. She brought her husband, and 3 kids. So yes, there were 7 kids in our small house. But all the cousins had a great time together.

Our first excursion was to the beach. Erika and her family live in Utah... and not only is it a land locked state... it is also January and it's cold.

So off to the ocean we went.

I love that Tim has the boogie board around his ankle... he is very serious about having it with him... even on the beach

This is a great picture of the two of them. I love the way the sun is shining on them. {Tommy and James are at a birthday party, so they were not there to join us}

The seagulls were around looking for a hand out, and this guy was talented, he could catch the cracker in mid-air.

My cute sister and her husband getting ready for a swim. I thought the water was a bit chilly, but they both enjoyed it. Erika once jumped into Lake Michigan for a dollar....ONE dollar on a dare.... I like to be warm.

Here are all the kids trying to get the birds to eat out of their hands, which they did!! These birds were brave and got really close. There were no fatalities, but my niece Haliegh did get bit and needed a band aide.

It was a lot of fun having them here for the week. There is more to come!!

Mine looks better than yours...

2012-01-15T23:27:00.000-05:00

This is what my Sloppy Joes look like.

Don't they look pretty!! So colorful! I love when my food is colorful. I have a hard time eating that are beige, it just doesn't look appetizing to me.

Do you want this great recipe?? You'll have to head over to Simple, Healthy, Tasty {my friend Tammie is the mastermind behind the recipes} This recipe is Sloppy Veggie Joes

Go make something colorful tonight.... or tomorrow night for dinner.

Not Like Lot's Wife

2012-01-03T11:10:00.002-05:00

Do you remember the story of Lot's wife? Lot was living in Sodom and Gomorrah and God told him to leave because it was so wicked. Lot asked God to save the city if there were even a few people who were righteous, and unfortunately other than Lot and his family, there was not even one other righteous person in the city. So God told Lot to take his family and leave the wicked city that he was in.

Lot and his family left and Lot's wife turned to look back at the city. Had she followed the Lord and looked forward she would have been safe, but instead she turned and looked to what was behind her... what was in her past.

So at this new year I'm not going to look back as what was. I am going to look forward to what will be. I am not going to forget the lessons that I have learned, but my eyes are forward to the future.

We are planning a big move this year. Steve will be finishing up school and we are going to head back west. And while I won't miss Florida... at all! but I will remember the things that I have learned here. I am looking forward to making new friends and putting down some roots and have a white picket fence.

I have a few goals that I am going to work on, and I haven't done too well in the past, but I think that was the reason is that I was like Lot's wife and was to much in my past.

So this year I am going to start fresh, and new and make some realistic goals that I can really work on and achieve.

1- I am going to get up in the morning and be productive while the house is quiet. I am going to get up to pray and read my scriptures, I am going to make breakfast for my family. *I will do this on our school days... weekends and breaks I'm totally taking advantage of!*

2- I am going read along in the Relief Society manual.

3.I am going to work on my homemaking skills... making bread... creating and sticking to a menu... making our home feel peaceful and a place where the spirit can dwell.

4. I am going to try to be more girly. Being in a home with a bunch of boys I sometimes get lost in the sea of blue, and dirt. I'm not exactly sure yet how I am going to do this but I am going to make it a point to dress up a little bit, I think I'll feel better when I do.

Four things... that's it. I think I have some things that I can work on that are actually obtainable.

I am going to keep my eyes forward while remembering the lessons from the past.

Here's to a great 2012 with all the adventures and excitement to come!!

Since he was 3

2012-01-02T00:27:00.000-05:00

When I tell people that James has been wanting to play the violin since he was three I get all different kinds of looks.... pretty much the "yeah - right" kind of thing.

But here is at 3 playing his "violin"

He has come a long way from "play" the toys and humming the music to actually playing the violin. But he is getting it and is getting better and better. I hope this is something that he sticks with for a long time.

He is a boy.... and when he is not worried about other things like legos, and sticks, and dirt and stuff... he is pretty passionate about playing his violin.

2011 Year in Review

2012-01-01T01:53:00.000-05:00

Holy Moly!!! This year went by so fast!! I seriously blinked and it was gone! {please tell me that you think so too!!}

January 1, 2011

We have had a whirlwind year!!! Here is a look back!

1. Benji turned one in August. He has been growing so fast! At 10 months he was walking/running and at one year he was tipping the scale at a whopping 30 pounds!! He loves to eat and can't get enough of anything.

2.Tim is 5 and dirt seems to be part of his wardrobe. If I can't find him I don't need to look any father than the dirt pile in the back yard. Poor Boy has had more bumps, bruises and scrapes this year than ever before. He is working really hard on reading and is the sweetest boy who will be friends with anyone.

3. Tommy is now 7 and had a great StarWars birthday that is still talked about. He learned to ride his two wheeled bike and lost lots of teeth. He is such a clown and says the funniest things!

4. James' big news is that he turned 8 this year and was baptized. He also started Cub Scouts. In April he did a project for the Science Fair and won first place.

5. I am still here at home, and have learned really well to ignore the chaos unless it comes with death screams. I am working in the Primary as the Secretary and have gotten back into spinning and do that 3 times a week.

6. Steve took Part One - Boards and passed! Starting in January he will start his final year in Chiropractic school. He has enjoyed what he has learned but is excited to be in the clinic treating people. He is working on a technique that he will be using called Upper Cervical.

7. In December Steve and I ran the Tough Mudder. A 12 mile course that had 25 obstacles and lots of mud! We finished it and look forward to doing it again next year.

8. In October we decided to take a family trip to North Carolina and found some cabins on a working farm called Randell Glen. It was so fun to just hang out as a family without any outside technology. We fished, and hiked, and took care of the animal. So far the best vacation that we have taken.

9. We are in our 3rd year of homeschooling and are still enjoying it very much. We have been working our way through the Periodic Table and saw the downfall of the Roman Empire.

10. We have had NO broken bones and only one set of stitches.

December 31, 2011

2011 was a good year but I'm glad that it is over. I am looking forward to 2012 and all the changes that are going to happen.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T00:48:00.001-05:00

Christmas day was ~~early~~ magical!!

It was late night with friends Christmas Eve as we giggled over gifts and paper and wrapping, and ate all the left over goodies. {and falling into bed at about 2:00}

Christmas morning I was startled awake by James who was informing me that he was awake and that Santa did in fact came to our house and that he would be really quiet and won't wake anyone up while he opens his presents.

In the groggy state that I was in I told him that nothing can be opened until the brothers are awake too.

Apparently I was not clear enough about that.

Ten minutes later he came back to tell me that Tommy and Tim were in fact awake and they were going to open presents.

I rolled my body out of bed and pushed Steve out too. The boys were ready and they were going to open present with our with out us.

It was nice... even at 4am

It was small but it was really nice. And when it was over we hunkered down and watched a new movie that James got. I fell asleep again as I was snuggled up next to Tim.

It was a wonderful Christmas. I love the simple, small Christmases that we have had, and I will always remember our time in Florida.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-28T00:53:00.000-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house....

The baby apparently didn't like the ribbon, so he took it upon himself to fix it. As I was getting up to thank him for his help, he giggled and ran away.... I took that to mean he changed his mind about the ribbon.

My poor Jello creation did not turn out what I had imagined.... it was a complete disaster!

James, Tommy, Benji and I went to the Ward Christmas party. Poor Steve and Tim were sick so they stayed home and played the Wii. Just so all know... Benji did get fed but then he went around to each table to see who would feed him.

Santa did come to take last minute requests.

James....

Benji was less than enthused... rather upset actually.

Steve decided to make a trifle, and it turned out perfect! I made an angle food {from scratch} and Steve made some custard {again from scratch}

On Christmas Eve we had a big dinner with some good friends and the Missionaries.

After dinner, dessert, and clean-up all snuggled down for Steve's annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"... in a Scottish accent

{and even Elder Rumsey was enjoying the story}

All my babies!!! I love them all so very much!

And I especially love the faces of this fat little guy. I can't get over how cute he is.

And to all a Good Night!

Pomegranate December

2011-12-27T01:36:00.001-05:00

The one good thing about December in Florida is the fact that we can be outside sans shirt to enjoy bright red pomegranates! I love these delectable fruit!

Christmas Trees, Blocks, Floors, and Benji

2011-12-23T01:18:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago we went to a friends house to have dinner, she had a gal come over to watch the boys while the adults talked. Everything was great until Benji and the floor got into a fight... clearly the floor won. It was quite sad. {and I felt really bad for the gal... he fell on her watch and she felt so bad about it}

The black eye looked really good... definitely one for the books.

In other news.... Benji can fit more than I want to into his mouth.

But he is oh, so cute. He is so fun!

Technically this is his second Christmas, but it's like his first with how in awe of everything he is.

The lights are fascinating for him.

I'm glad there are lights at his level for him to enjoy.

Every Christmas that Steve is around there are always choice words that are said while the tree is going up. And this year for good reason.... After plugging in and out and trying to figure out the cause of the problem no solution was found... so we have a striped tree this year.

It all makes for good memories.

Dear Santa

2011-12-22T02:00:00.000-05:00

Tommy has been busy writing letters to Santa. He has been asking for "spy stuff", Legos, books, and even "sprouts for dad"

Here is one of the letters that he wrote to Santa..... He makes sure to draw his stamp on so it would get to the North Pole

It's pretty cute.

Although.... he has written at least 2 letters a week to Santa.

Since August!

LegoLand

2011-12-22T00:43:00.000-05:00

The first part of December we were able to go to LegoLand. It was great. It had opened in October and we went just a few months later. Going to LegoLand this time was way better than the first time. And thanks to the FAITH Co-op, we were able to go for a whopping $5 a person!!

It was a fun day! And although Steve wasn't able to come with us, we had a really good time!

Getting close, and getting so excited!

Once we got close the boys needed to climb on something.

Practicing a force choke.

I was in awe the whole time I was there at what one could make with legos. When I pull out the legos I always have such a blank as to what I should build... apparently possibilities are endless!

I love this picture of the modeling lego firemen! I think they are getting pictures taken for the calender... which I will totally pre-order

Clearly someone did not check his restraint.... he stood up pretty much the whole ride.

James is driving the boat... it's a lot harder than it looks.

After getting stuck twice and going the wrong what nad needed help turning around again, he finally made it back.

Tommy was happy to press all the buttons that were on board.

Tim was able to do a little driving, which he was really excited to do.

He drove all on his own, and I think he loved having the wind blowing through his hair.

Tommy and James were able to go to "Driving School'. It was really cool they had a little road way set up with a round-about and stop signs and stop lights.

James was a much better driver on the road than in the water.

Again... in awe... a car built in legos!

Benji did really well. While we waited in line for the other boys to ride Benji would get out of the stroller to walk around and play. He was really good all day.

This is great picture of James, I love the pure joy that is on his face.

My adrenaline junkie boys. All were tall enough to ride the roller coasters and so it was... off to all the roller coaster.

I love this look in Benji, he's not totally sure what to do with the dinosaur.

It took him a good while before he would touch it, and then he was so very careful when he did.

Once all was deemed safe... he was ready to conquer the beast.

This is a funny ride... It just went up and bounced on down... there was nobody in line so the boys just road it again and again... And the kind woman and her child road with them over and over.

We found a friend that was the sames size as Benji.

It was a long day. Made even longer by the fact that my poor body still hurt. But after a power nap all was well.

The boys also needed a quick nap, as they were worn out as well.

My crazies and I. We had so much fun!!

We went into one of the stores and this is what I found... Ever single lego! Binds and bins of Legos!! Every size, and shape that you could want.

One last time for a force choke... Darth is a strong one and the boys will have to practice hard to take him down next time. {Did you notice Tim??}

We don't buy a whole lot of souvenirs but we do get the smooshed pennies. They are a fun reminder of our travels.... and they are only 51 cents! you really can't beat that.

A couple parting pictures of our great day!

I was sad that Steve missed it.... but I am happy that we had such a fun time. They boys were tall enough for all the rides and rode them until the park closed. I'm sad that LegoLand is 2 hours away... it makes it a bit far to go to often... I hope we will be back before we leave.

{parenting tip #54.... put your number on your kid just under the sleeve on the arm. That way if someone wanders away, you can get a call right away. This is especially helpful for those that walk but don't speak... although I never lost Benji, this would have been good for Tim... as he was the one that wandered away... twice!}

Zenni Optical Offers You....

2011-12-20T03:45:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you in the market for a new pair of glasses? Maybe a gift for yourself or someone else.... Oooo or maybe getting ready for a new you for the New Year.

Head on over to Zenni Optical and see all the fun and festive frames that they are offering. Zenni Optical has so many frames to choose from. And you can even narrow your choices on the left hand side to find the exact eyeglasses you want.

I found some gold ones I think that they are so festive, and as an added bonus they are only $24.00!! They are so affordable!

I found so many choices for kids for when I need to buy new frames for James. And because they are so affordable I can even pick up a some cute frames for my sister as well. {oh, and all the frames come with free Anti-Scratch coating, and when you are buying for kids that is definitely a bonus!} And I am happy to say these are cheap eyeglasses but they don't look like it!

Why don't you head over there right now and take a look around I am sure that you can find many things that you like, and come back here and let me know what you have picked!!

And if you buy now they are offering free shipping on any purchase over $50

8 is GREAT!!

2011-12-16T23:39:00.000-05:00

We have one very special boy in this house! My James is 8 years old!! Being 8 around these parts are extra special!

First at 8 young boys get to start going to Cub Scouts. James was so excited. I wasn't so sure that all the stuff we ordered for him would come in time. But it did, about an hour before he left for his first scout meeting a box came with his shirt, kerchief and manual came.

He is looking very official, and was so excited to start. He is going to make a great Cub Scout!!

Also when one is 8... {and tall enough} the lucky boy gets to go to ride roller coasters with dad. Apparently my boys are adrenaline junkies and like that sort of thing. Unfortunately Steve didn't get any pictures of the day, but I don't think it will be soon forgotten by James. He had such a rush with each roller coaster he rode with his dad.

The highlight of the week though was the wonderful day of James' Baptism. James made the wonderful choice to enter into the waters of baptism.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints children are not baptized as an infant but at the age of accountability, the age of 8.

Steve had the privilege of baptizing our oldest.

All in white, and looking great.

James and I... look how tall he is getting.

I am so proud of him and the young man he is growing into.

After a great talk on baptism by Aunt Michelle, James was taken into the font by Steve. I didn't any pictures of the baptism, but I would like to say that it was perfect, and the spirit was so strong and felt by everyone. After the baptism Steve, and some of our close friends stood in a circle and gave James the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Here is a picture of the family... I would like to think that we are normal... but that wouldn't be any fun. {Steve, James, Tommy, me, Aunt Michelle, Benji, Tim, Tyler {Michelle's son}

Here are my 5 handsome boys that I get to live with every day. I love them so much.

The day was finished up with sushi and cake. {and Tommy picking his nose}

James is am so proud of you. I am so happy that you are growing into an incredible young man and that you made the wonderful choice to be baptized. You make me happy and I am so happy that you are in our family. Remember to listen to the Holy Ghost and you will be able to navigate this world and end up on top. Here's to another year and growing older. Happy Birthday James!

{as a funny side note... Benji just about fell into the font. It would have made for a great story. Fortunately for us there was plexi-glass in front of the font to keep all people from falling in. This day it saved Benji}

That was one Tough Mudder!

2011-12-07T00:44:00.001-05:00

Back in June a good friend, Bryce, of our was talking to Steve while I was watching Bachelor Pad with his wife Brittni. I should know better than to let the two of them talk to long beyond earshot.

The next thing I know Steve comes out with a silly grin on his face and informs me that Bryce has talked him into running a race.

Let me pause here to say that Steve has never run a race before. He has told me many times that he only runs if dogs are chasing him.... or the Army tells him.

So I laughed at him... sorry but I did.

Because this wasn't like any old road race that was a 5K or even a 10K.. oh no.... it was 12 miles and had 25 obstacles.

Bryce had talked Steve into running the Tough Mudder.

Well, running a race like this is on my bucket list,{#39} so I was game. The only thing was that I was not in shape {and nither was Steve} so Bryce offered to help ~~train~~... motivate us.

{oh, and I need to mention that Bryce also talked another friend into doing this... Jason. And then... he went on to create a team 30 strong}

After injuries and busy schedules and kids and sickness.... we made it to race day.

So December 3rd. We packed up the car full of people and made our way over to Tampa.

Bright and early... getting ready.

Walking up to get our packets there were over 15,000 runners that day. There were herds of people that were started every 20 minutes from 8:00am until 1:00pm.

Here is the group that we rode up with. {Jason, Steve, Me, Aaron, Richard, Bryce} In the beginning... when we were all clean.

We have not yet discovered what we have signed up for

Do you see that..... that in the distance. That tractor in the background. It just dumped a half ton of ice into a pool of water. I can assure you that it was cold.... very cold when one is forced into it.

That's my number. {it was put all over my body}

I really can't believe that we are doing this!! But I am so happy to be sharing it with Steve.

It was fun to see all the costumes that were sorn.

There were many that were dressed in the bear minimum.

The rest of this picture is not so family friendly. But he was happy enough to pose for the picture.

Our start time was 10:20, after some WOO-RAH's we were off.

At first it didn't seem so bad. And then... oh man. This race was so fun!! First the Tough Mudder support the Wounded Warrior program. And it wasn't a timed race, and that I liked. Everyone out on the course was so willing to help who ever needed it.

Except the guy who said he would catch me and didn't....

I was so proud of myself. I ran every step!! {very slowly but I did it} and I conquered every obstacle!

It was amazing!

We did it!! we earned our orange headbands!!

This is the original team of 4 we started this journey together and I couldn't have done it with out these guys. They hauled my butt over every one of the obstacles and made sure that I wasn't too far behind. We trained together in the beginning and finished together at the end.

It was the best thing I have ever done and I was so happy to do it with such great friends.

Until next year when we do it all again.

{the next day I couldn't move!! it took 3 whole days to recover from this. i am excited for next year knowing a little better what to train for.i think this will be a yearly thing.}

Wrong Feet

2011-11-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

I was in a rush to get out of the house to run a couple of errands before Benji went down for a nap. I saw Tommy leave the house still in his pajamas and no shoes. Him I caught... Tim... wasn't so lucky. As I was making sure Tommy was dressed, Tim slipped right by me.

When we were walking out of the store I finally noticed what Tim was wearing. He to was still in his PJ's but he has put a clean shirt over his jammie shirt. And I was happy that at least he actually had shoes on, but when I looked at them a little closer I noticed something... not only are they on the wrong feet... but they are two different shoes... on the wrong feet.

I'll be sure to take a second look at all the boys before we leave the house next time.

I found my Limit

2011-11-28T23:41:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I do too much, most days I feel like I can conquer it all. Recently though I have found my limit.

To start crossing things off my bucket list I started on Bachelor's Degree {#2}. So I was signed up and was working away at it. I am looking to get my Bachelor's degree in Business Management, {and then hopefully a Master's Degree in public relations}

I was really nervous to go back to school. It has been more than 10 years!! I was really scared that I was going to fail and not do well.

The first class I took was good. It took some time and some learning, especially on writing papers. I enjoy writing, but having to write within a structure was hard. I was told that I had to write a paper APA style. I had never heard of that before. What the heck is an APA paper?

My second class was a lot harder. Not because it was a hard class, but because of all the reading that I had to do. And it was a lot of online reading, so it's not like I could take a book with me while we were at the park. So all of my reading and my school work had to be done when the boys were in bed. And that was my problem.

I had to do everything after the boys went to bed, so all the online reading and for this class I had to write 4 papers. I wasn't getting to bed until 1 or 2 o'clock... in the morning!!! I was always tired and it was hard to focus on being patient with the boys.

I was also having a hard time wanting to serve others. If I was asked to do something I would, but I wasn't going out of my way to be actively engaged in serving others. I was having a hard time finding time to read anything except my school work. And I missed blogging.

I did do really well in my classes I got a 92% in my first class and a 94% in my second class. I also did really well on my papers. {Perhaps I will even share them here}

I really enjoyed learning, and classes I was taking were interesting, and one day I will continue. One day when they boys are not so little, and can manage more on their own.

I learned that I do have a limit. I can't do it all.

I also know that I can do it. I don't need to be scared to fail at school.

I did find my limit, but I also found the confidence I was lacking to tackle something that I was afraid of.

What has Benji been doing?

2011-11-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

What has Benji been doing lately??

Come... take a look...

He has been rearranging my cabinets.

Decided to become a nudist.

Become very aware of the electricity that is being used, and always needing to turn it off.

Become an advocate for the pets and see to it that they have plenty of food

He is also working "undercover"

Has decided to take up janitorial services.

Checks to make sure that the food is rotated properly.

And when it's not.... he take matters into his own hands for disposal.

He makes sure that any unattended chocolate is safe for human consumption.

This boy is hard at work every day!! I'm not sure what I would do with out my little helper!!

Always check the Weather!!

2011-11-21T10:56:00.001-05:00

I am part of a Homeschool group called FAITH. It's a great group of women and families. To raise money for our group we were held a yardsale. It's kinda become an annual thing. Boxes and boxes... bags and bags of things were donated and they yard was set up and we were ready to go.

Everything was set up in my yard, and when it was set up we covered everything up and left it. Early that morning I heard something. Oh... it was something that wasn't good.

Thunder came rolling in.

It rained off and on all day the first day. It was bearable and we made it through. We had a good amount of people come even through the drizzling rain. Asking around we found that nobody checked the weather report. I mean really... we are in Florida... the "Sunshine State"

That night we covered everything again as best we could and hoped for the best.

It was not enough.

We were completely rained out! All the clothes were soaked, all the books were ruined. It was a disaster!

There really wasn't anything left to do but to clean up. So we got to it. We bagged up everything. It was kinda sad knowing what was going in the bags but not really being able to do anything about it. We couldn't donate anything because it was all ruined. All the clothes would have had to have been washed and dried, the books were soaking wet, any electronics that we had were probably ruined with all the rain.

60 bags later it was done. I was so worried that the garbage man wouldn't take it all but they did!!

{Me, Lori, Brandi, Carrie, Charity, ..., Sis. Leman, Sis. Holladay}

What did we learn from all of this??? Next year someone will definitely be checking the weather!!

The Circus is in Town

2011-11-20T23:15:00.000-05:00

The Circus came to town, and so we packed up the boys and took them to the "Greatest show on Earth".

{I do realize that I cut off Tim..... Cole Bros. Circus, And it's a traditional circus}

Tommy enjoyed the cotton candy... can you tell?

They had tigers. There were 10 of them in the cage.

And the trapeze. It was a family of 4 that was flying through the air.

Of course there were clowns! Clowns are creepy, but not so much when they are real. I think it's the red nose that gets people.

And an acrobat. He was really good. It was fun watching him stack his chairs. In the other ring, there was a lady who stood on ONE finger!!!! On a ball!!! It was crazy! I can't even do a head stand, and to balance on ONE finger on a BALL... it was cool.

Then there were the elephants, I love elephants. They did all the things that the elephants did on Dumbo.

Even hold each others tail! I thought that was great... I didn't think they really did that!

And what would a circus be with out someone getting shot out of a cannon?? So big finale was just that.

It was a lot of fun, the boys had a good time, and so did Steve. {he had never been before} The food was way overpriced, but I think that is part of the fun of it, so I totally bought a funnel cake for $5!! and enjoyed every last bite.

Let them eat cake!

2011-11-20T22:02:00.000-05:00

This past week was my mom's birthday! Unfortunately... we don't live anywhere nearby, but why can't we enjoy the day too??? So after dinner we sang happy birthday to Grandma, and ate cake. It was chocolate {on her request} and it had a raspberry/cream cheese center, with a chocolate ganache frosting. {don't look to close... the ganache didn't turn out so pretty... I can't quite get it to look right}

I won't tell you how old my mom is, but I will say that she doesn't look her age, she looks MUCH younger than what she is.

Happy Birthday Mom, I love you!

Oooo, Look what I got!!

2011-11-19T22:26:00.000-05:00

It's swap time again!!

The boxes have arrived to happy homes all over the country.

I was the partner to Mamarazzi herself. And it was so fun to shop for her. To see what I got her you can go and see here.

I was having a rough day, so imagine my joy when I came home to find this at my door!

I was so excited to have a box here with my name on it. {Although... in does NOT feel like Autumn here... and yes that is a boogie board on our front porch... we still get use of them... even in November}

Look how pretty! I love the idea of the leaves... {and the pretty gold paper, and yes... I am the type of person to save pretty paper}

Look at it all. It is so fun to open all the present!

I love all the orange color. Here is what the fabulous Mamarazzi sent to me. 2 pairs of gloves, a cute wall hanging, a blanket, some foam turkeys and card games for the boys. Some apple cider, stickers and some paper plates in an Autumn theme {I usually just by the regular white ones so it's fun to get pretty plates} She also sent a pumpkin spice candle. I forgot how much I like that scent!

I love the swaps that Mamrazzi does, I have met so many fun people because of it. It's so fun to shop for others and in turn getting a box that I have no idea what is in it.

I love swaps!!!!

I think he needs his own...

2011-11-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

I posted about our Green Smoothies.... Well Benji has really taken a liking to them. So I pop two straws into my drink and will share with him. I would give him his own but I don't yet trust him with things that don't have a lid. He keeps a very watchful eye, and if he thinks that I am slurping faster than he is he lets me know.

{que, diner music from the 50's}

In the end though he has won.... it's the eyes I tell you!! And I'll had over my drink. At least I know that all that kale and spinach and beets are going to a good place.

Back up to Halloween

2011-11-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

Halloween was a blast this year! And the boys did a great job in picking costumes!

Tim is an astronaut, James is a Samari-Vampire, and Tommy.... Tommy is a failed math test. Everyone loved his costume! And as we were trick-or-treating so many teenagers commented on his costume, so next year be on the look out for failed tests.

Benji was so cute. He was Perry the Platypus from Phinas and Ferb.

He's pretty cute -huh-

And what would a secret agent be with out a nemesis?? Steve was dressed as Dr. Doofenshmertz.

For those in Port Orange they know who the AT&T lady. She's great! She stands on the corner and dances the day away.

Always dancing there in all her pink glory. Fanny Pack and all. I don't remember the last time I dressed up. It was a lot of fun.

The boys got copious amounts of candy... and being the good mom that I am I went through it all to ~~pick out my favorites~~, make sure it was all safe.

And now it sits getting picked through a little every day.

Itsy, Bitsy, Spider

2011-10-30T21:52:00.000-04:00

The boys and I caught up with a friend and had an afternoon together. I left Benji sleeping with her husband and we took the big boys to the park.

We ate lunch and the boys played on the playground, and then we went for a walk. The boys had a blast and even found a really big tree to climb! This tree was awesome!

The only bad thing about this little nature walk was the spider webs. It had just rained so all the spiders were out re-making their webs. Tim walked right into one and instantly turned into a Ninja! After he recovered we were on our way.

Then Kelly did the same thing, I have to say her Ninja skills weren't quite as good as Tim's.... But we all had a scare as we looked and saw a HUGE spider in her hair!! Me, being the calm one in the group, lead the screaming and flapping of arms to what was going one. Let me tell you how great of a help I was!!! You are all thinking that you want to take me on your next hiking trip huh!!

But really.... what would you have done???

Yeah... I'm pretty sure you would have done the same thing I did.

A Fall Trip

2011-10-29T21:14:00.001-04:00

Steve worked so hard to study for boards this past quarter and we hardly saw him, so... when fall break came around we jumped on it. A friend of mine told us about a place called Randell Glen. I took a look at it online, and booked us a cabin and off we were.

Clearly, Benji is excited to go.

After 9 hours of a car ride, we made it to our home for the next week. It was a cozy cabin that was full of everything that we need.

We got our key and headed up to the cabin. We were not alone. By the time we got the bags into the house we had guest on our porch. These dogs are huge! and pretty amazing! They are Great Pyrenees and they were so good to us. When ever the boys ran off they always had at least one dog with them, keeping an eye on what they were doing.

Benji taking himself for a walk.

I thought this was a good picture of the two of them trying to fish.

Steve was the first to catch a fish. This was one of four. We ate fish the next night

All was going well and then.... James fell into the pond. It was not surprising... I was, however, surprised that it happened so soon, we were up at Randell Glen for a total of an hour. And then.... James went to cast his line out. Next thing I know my glasses are gone. He had snagged them and tossed them into the pond.

This is what my view was pretty much the whole time we were up there.

Thankfully my camera had an auto-focus!

Benji is sharing his Cheese-it. He was sharing just one Cheese-it and the dog would only nibble what he was given and never any more. Then Benji ate the other half....

{some of our catch}

Tommy took a turn milking the cow.

Here in Florida we don't get fall. Well... not real fall. There is definitely a change in the weather, but there is no color. Look at the pretty color!!!

One of the exciting things that caught our attention was a bat. It would have been a lot less exciting if it was outside. But it wasn't it was in the house! Steve caught it and tossed it outside {my hero}

The nights were chilly so we had a fire and toasted some marshmallows. It was so nice feeling the chill in the air.

This is the house of old Johnny. Old Johnny lived here until he was 85. Do you want to know when he turned 85... in was 1995!!! this guy lived here until 1995! He was an old mountain man and lived really simply. The story goes that he bought one new pair of underwear a year and wore them all year long. He had cock fights in his little barn, and that there is gold buried somewhere up here.

Pretty huh.

Hiking along with the dogs in tow.

James decided that he needed to have a go at milking the cow.

I love this picture of the baby ducks following their mama. {if she would have walked 3 feet to the right she wouldn't have had to go down into the little ditch...}

When babies are around you always find creative ways of baby proofing. This got me thinking... companies should hire moms they can find unique ways to solve problems, and they can usually do it with little to no cost.

But I don't know why we would have to baby proof... does he look like he gets into trouble??

Up on our porch again. I don't think the muffin was big enough to share with everyone, but they sure thought so.

Tim loved going out and swinging on the tire horse.

More hiking. We borrowed a backpack thing to put Benji in. Probably the best thing that we brought with us. It would have been tough lugging that child up and down the mountain with us.

{I love his baby blues!!}

Here is the trail that we could have taken.....

Here is the way we actually went. {Steve has a hard time with the "stay on the trail" rule}

Tim made a new friend. This is Petunia. Her mom died when she was born and was a bottle baby. She hung out with the dogs when she was little and it stuck. She never wanted to be in with the other sheep, and at night sleeps with the dogs.

The boys got to try gem mining. It was actually really neat! They found a couple rubies, an emerald, a couple sapphires, and garnets. There was also a lot of quartz to be found. they spent a good couple hours here. It was really neat to see these rocks in there raw form.{oh, and that's Mark, and his sleeves fell off.}

The boys got to hunt eggs. they got to be really good at finding them.

We had such a good time. The boys were up and out the door before breakfast helping with all the farm chores. It was a great time for Steve and I just to rest. This was the first vacation that I have come back from and didn't feel like I needed a vacation from my vacation. We made some great memories, and had so much fun together!

Bravery

2011-10-26T00:47:00.000-04:00

Cocoa over at Chocolate on my Cranium has these really fun Wordful Wednesdays, this weeks topic is on Bravery...

It came unexpectedly in a very expected way. Three days after my husband completed his training and being four months pregnant with our second child, he got the call that he was going to be deployed to Iraq for one year.

When I started on this journey of being the spouse of a deployed soldier I was nervous and scared, but I soon found that I was stronger and more independent than I thought I was.

I never thought of myself as a weak person, but everything I ever thought of myself was tested the day Steve stepped on the plane to take him around the world to a war torn country. I was a few months away from having our second son. I did what most girls do, I cried. I cried at the thought of being alone, and I cried for the things he was going to miss. Crying was not going to change the situation so after I finished my carton of ice cream I got to work on the job of holding down our home front. I knew that my attitude would set the tone for his deployment, so I made sure to speak only positively of the military to others. Yes, it is hard that he is gone, yes it is sad that he is missing the birth of our son, yes I do get lonely, but this is what he, and by extension, I, signed up for. We were sacrificing so others did not have to.

It would have been easy to be sad all the time but that is just not me. I found a quote that really helped and I used it as my motto for the year that he was gone. "In times like this we question our own strength. Our ability to hang on and not crumble, it's one of the things I admire most about the army wives I've met. This capacity to press on through the obstacles, to see the mission through to completion." I am not sure where I heard this, but it is what I feel. Being an army wife has taught me to look past my own life. There is always someone else in need, and I did not need to look any farther than my feet, and the eyes of my little ones starting up at me.

I was one of the "lucky wives", my husband trusted me with the bank account and so I learned to budget money well. As a coming home present, and with Power of Attorney, I bought us a house. It was a major purchase and I did it with toddler in a stroller and a baby on my hip.

When Tommy, our second son, was born, James was only 15 months and still needed a lot of help. That did not stop me from going and doing normal family things even without a spouse. I usually got two different kinds of looks from people, the look of “how-does-she-do-it” and the look of “boy-I-feel-sorry-for-her”. At first, I felt like I had to explain myself and my situation. As time went on, the looks bothered me less. They did not know why I was always by myself, but I knew and I was proud of my husband.

There were times that I envied people whose husbands had normal jobs, who came home every night, who are there for the events in life, but when I said 'yes' to Steve deep down I knew I was in for a ride. What I learned from that year that he was gone has helped me grow into the woman I am. I am very independent, and I know that I do not ever want to live without my husband, but I can. I am not afraid of change, and I can take life as it comes and I have found joy in this journey.

Autumn Swapping fun!!

2011-10-26T00:30:00.000-04:00

Raise your hand if you like presents???

You know I do!!

Well now you can put together a great box and get one in return!

I'm a sucker for these swaps!!!

Oh well... I'll bask in the wonderfulness of a package that is just for me

5 years and counting!

2011-10-03T00:33:00.000-04:00

Tim had a birthday! And he turned the ripe old age of 5!! This poor boy has kinda been jipped out of birthdays, so this year we did as he wanted. And he wanted a Dinosaur Train party. So "ALL ABOARD!!"

Everyone passed through the "Time Tunnel"

Into the party. I saw this idea, about hanging the balloons upside down, and I thought they looked really cute. {until James, Tommy and Connor pulled them down... }

There were snacks for 'Herbivores' and 'Carnivores'.

The cupcakes were fun... they needed to have green grass for the dinosaurs to stand on.

there were a couple games that we played. I gave each pair of kids a dino-head, and they needed to hunt for the body and then put the piece together.

It was fun watching them try to find the right pieces

Then they sat on dinosaur eggs to hatch the dino babies.

We sung happy birthday and he blew out all 5 candles.... {that we had to go to the store for}

Then spiderman made an appearance! It was a good day.

Happy birthday my dear Tim! I am so happy that you came into this world. A little quicker and sooner than I would like but we made it out ok. You are a joy to our family. You are a great little brother and a great big brother. You always have a smile on your face and you make me giggle even when I try to be serious. I love snuggling with you in the morning.{except when your feet are in my face} I love you dearly my Tim!

My totally COOL cousin!!

2011-09-23T00:41:00.000-04:00

This is my cousin Jessica. She's really cool.... on so many levels! She is working down in Antarctica. Yeah, you heard that right. Antarctica!

She went last year and kept us in the loop of what was going on through facebook. This year she has decided to blog.

I love my cousin. I remember bits and pieces or doing things with here growing up. But since we have both grown up it's been fun getting to know her as an adult.

She is a pretty amazing person. This is how I think the story goes... Sometime last year {or the year before} she was perusing Craig's list and came across an opening for "Food Service" down on McMerdo in Antarctica. So like any crazy 20-something she applied for the job. After globe trekking to get there she finally got on the ice.

She was there for 6 months during Antarctica's "summer" before coming home to be a white-water rafting guide {Call me crazy.... but I think she likes adventure..}

Anyway she is back there again and this time she is blogging about it. You can read about her adventures here at Bottom of the Globe, top of the world...

She is a really good writer!! You will enjoy it!

Oh, Tommy.

2011-09-18T23:09:00.000-04:00

I was looking through some older pictures and I realize that I have a TON of good pictures... you know good pictures like the ones I can use when he starts dating. Good pictures... like the ones that when he has a wedding video these will most definitely be on it!!

He fell asleep eating chocolate.

He is fixing his bike.... with no pants. {you will see that this is a trend}

We were painting, again with no pants.

Tommy was trying to steal the lightsaber.

This is how he needed to eat his blueberries. He put them on his fork one at a time and then ate them off.

Coloring.... again with no pants. {this is a great shot!}

This is how pumpkins are suppose to be tested.

This poor boy has no butt... nothing stays up.

Again... pantless

Let me explain a bit... he was in a little preforming group and they had a break for dinner. Rather than have him drop food on his white shirt I took it off. It was a good idea in theory. The picture is better!

He never did learn to use the peddles.... did you see the shoes?

He is torturing the ants... it's a boy thing.

Look how little they all are!! Well you can't really see Tommy with his finger up his nose.

Tommy eating a cookie.

Poor boys, he got a helmet stuck on his head.

Dad was playing with him when a rouge wave came up. Tommy got a mouth full of salt water.

Tommy was playing with lotion. It got everywhere!!!

Believe it or not, he tried to get more in there!

See... no pants.

He needed a costume for the day, and this is what I came up with 5 minutes notice. {he's not wearing pants}

I did not put him this way. This is how he fell asleep. I don't think he will ever live this down!

Look at all that blond hair!!!!

What do you go to SeaWorld for?? Shamu right?? Tommy missed the whole thing. Poor boy was just too tired. {I made him wear pants this day}

Tommy is so funny and I always find such funny pictures of him. Love you Tommy!!! Can't wait to show your girlfriends!!

SWAP!!!

2011-09-13T23:10:00.000-04:00

You know Mamarazzi right?? Well you should.

She like to host swaps and I love playing! They are so fun. Mamarazzi pairs us up and then I send a box full of fun stuff to my partner and she sends on to me. I have been paired with some great women and have made some great friends.

This time my swap partner was Camie Rae. She is a really cute mom!! She has two boys and a much waited for baby girl.

I have really liked getting to know Camie!

Do you want to see what I got her??
Well.... you'll have to go and see. {actually I did have a picture but some how I deleted it...}

Here is what she got me!!

It was so fun to open my package from Camie! The pretty blue paper was such a good idea. I had a hard time picking a favorite color... I really do like all colors! For this though I picked turquoise.... {and pink and green}

Look at all the fun stuff!!! A cute vase with some flowers, gum, fun nail polish, post-it notes, wipe off wall stickies, a spatula, chapstick, a cute necklace with matching earrings and bracelets, and my most favorite thing... and apron. I have a love affair with aprons and I love the way this one wraps all the way around!

I was not to happy with the post office though.... not only did the guy wake the baby with how loud he was banging on the door, but the USPS also broke a cute little jar that had vinyl letters that had "Mommy's secret stash" on it and it was filled with candy.

{this is not the first time that the USPS broke something that someone sent to me.... we are not on good terms the postal service and I}

I love office supplies!!

The nail polish is sparkly! And the hair stuff she made!

I love swaps! It's just so fun to get a package in the mail when you have no idea what is in it!

Thank you Mamarazzi for another great swap! And thank you Camie for the great box!!!!

There are no dead cats...

2011-09-13T00:08:00.001-04:00

So.... we have Netflicks, and I have been staying up late {on the weekends that Steve is gone} and I'll watch some TV. Lately I have been watching Horders. Have you ever seen this show??!!

Really it's quite sad. These people have floor to ceiling stuff! Some is from the person shopping, most things are still in bags. And there are some that it's all garbage! It's really gross.

The really gross ones are the saddest. They have a ton of garbage and usually under the garbage there are dead animals!

I can kinda understand that. A lot of the things that I have bring back memories, and I feel like if I throw the thing away I will throw away the memory that I have.

I have a tendency to buy stuff to do crafts and then I never do them but then I feel bad about throwing things away because I spent money on it.

I can say that after watching that show I have a desire to clean the house and make sure that my piles are not just under control, but that every thing has a home.

So far I have not come across any dead cats.... and that's a good thing.

Guess Who????

2011-09-07T07:09:00.002-04:00

Lets play a game. I like games, do you??

I found a bunch of pictures of the boys, so lucky for you we get to play a guessing game. {*answers are at the end}

1}

10}

13}

14}

How do you think you did? None of them are Benjamin.

It was fun for me to look at all these pictures because I see Benjamin in all of them. I love going back through all the pictures and remembering.

I love being a mom to all 4 of my boys!

Here are the answers. 1}James 2}Tim 3}Tim 4}Tim 5}James 6} Tommy 7}Tommy 8}Tim 9}Tim 10}Steve 11}Steve 12}James

Hurricane Irene

2011-09-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

We were ready. We had water and flashlights. We had gone to the library and picked up some extra books to look at. We made sure our 72 hour kits were ready. We had a full tank of gas.

And then we waited. We waited for hurricane Irene. We woke up Friday morning to rain, a lot of rain. And then it stopped. About 3 hours later it was raining again and then.... that was it. The sun came out and the streets dried up.

James had some allowance money that he wanted to spend so of to the book store. {I love that my boys love the book store and the library so much!}

The evening still was still clear so we put dinner on hold and went to the beach.

We were going to walk on the beach but the surf was coming all the way up on shore and there was no room to walk. So we hung out on the ramp that takes us down to the beach.

So much sand was washed up to the ramp.

Look at the waves!!

The boys were still able to have fun

Do you like Tommy's pirate face?

I decided not to get Benji out of the stroller because he likes to run. And he is heavy. And I can't take pictures if I'm holding him.

Did I mention that at a year he weighted, 27pounds!!! We grow them heavy at our house. {he measured 28 inches...}

It was fun going out there and seeing what a hurricane can do even miles off the coast.

Mother Nature is awesome!!

This is the other reason I wouldn't let Benji get out. The waves came right up to the ramp!

It was really neat to go out and see the rage of the ocean. It is one powerful force.

I am grateful that Hurricane Irene missed us, but it was a good run through to make sure that we were ready.

One year and Bald

2011-09-01T07:40:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to my baby!! This year flew by!!

I thought this was a clever idea. Benji has started making truck sounds so putting the cake in the back I thought was cute.
{We ended up having Benji's birthday 2 weeks later because Steve was gone, and then Benji was teething}

{take a look at that hair}

He is wanting more cake... and he didn't do to bad in the mess department.... probably because I didn't put frosting on it.

Remember I said to look at his hair.... Steve is now shaving it off. He does this to each of the boys...

Benji was wiggly so Jason helped out.

It took a little bit but I think he looks so cute now.

Oh.... look at all that baby hair. It actually was a good thing, his baby fine hair just kept getting tangled.

I seriously can't believe how fast this year went by!!

Here's to another year Benji! I love you!

Boys are noise with dirt on them

2011-08-30T07:15:00.000-04:00

Boys and dirt just seem to go hand in hand. I love it!

This is "Toady" and he was a pet for about 3 ~~grueling~~ hours before Steve helped Toady find a safe home.

{We are all thankful that Tim didn't put Toady in his pocket}

Look!!! They made a pond for Toady in the back yard. The boys even dug a hole so the pond is deep enough for Toady to swim in.

We are in a rented house and tried to keep the boys from digging holes... it was easier to give in, and gave them some dirt to play in. Looking at this I am really thankful that we don't have a basement!!!

Boys are noise!!! Boys are dirty!!! I love it all!!

It's all Green

2011-08-27T23:57:00.000-04:00

I always thought Tammie was pretty, I envied her, and her sister's hair, I mean really.... why can't I have hair like that!!

Anyway... Tammie has a really great blog, it's called Simple, Healthy, Tasty. She has some great recipes that are healthy. Her family has chosen not to eat meat or dairy. Now that doesn't mean that her meals are bland... oh no! She definitely has Main Dishes, and sides, but my heart lends itself to the sweet side. Her deserts are fabulous!! And I love that I don't have to feel guilty eating them.

One of the recipes that she has on her blog is the Green Smoothie. Here is a conversation that I had with Steve about it.

Me: I think I'm going to try making a green smoothie for the boys and I.
Steve: Why?
Me: Well... because... it has spinach in it, and you can put kale in it too, and it seems to be pretty healthy.
Steve: Huh... Ok, I don't think the kids will like it.
Me: You are probably right but then we'll know.
------The next morning----
Burrrrrrr {that's the sound of the blender}
James: Mom, what are you making?
Me: Just a shake
James: Can I have some?
Me: Sure.
James: Huh... this is pretty good, what's in it?
Me: Just drink it all and then I'll tell you.

Tommy and Tim had some too, and I spooned some for Benji since the drinking through a straw skill hasn't come yet and they all really like it. I had some left over so I put it in the freezer, because it separates, and when it does you can see all the spinach.... When I pulled it out it was the consistency of sorbet. So I put it into bowls and the boys got it like that too. Which then they thought they were getting a treat. Because I added the lemon to me it tasted like a berry lemonade. {I ran out of spinach really fast this week and am now doubling the amount of spinach I buy.... hopefully next year the ants won't eat our spinach!} If you are going to try eating Raw, this is a good way to start.

Here is another recipe that I tried. Veggie Bean Burgers, these were really good. I love a good burger, but you know the heavy I-ate-waaaaay-to-much feeling you get after one? These don't offer that. They are really colorful and smell so good when they are cooking. And for all of you tasters out there... You can actually taste these before they are cooked. I am all about easy to make meals and these took me about 15 minutes to put together.

I don't know yet if I'm ready to commit all the way to this lifestyle, we are taking it slow. We are now eating more vegetarian and when we do have meat we view it more of a side dish instead of the main part of the meal. I like knowing that Tammie's blog is there and that I can see all the great HEALTHY recipes.

To peek your interest even more Tammie is having a giveaway on her blog right now an ebook with her recipes that are at an easy to reach place. This on is Salads, Sandwiches, Sides & Soups. {go take a peek}

I think eating healthy is the easiest think to do to change your lifestyle, and it doesn't have to be bland and boring! Thank you Tammie.

SWAP!!!

2011-08-25T21:17:00.000-04:00

I have been waiting all summer for Mamarazzi's Swap, {and honestly quite sad that she didn't do a Red, White, and Blue Swap... but summer at her house got crazy fun and so I've moved on :)}

So here we are today and it's that time again. This is one I haven't done so I'm really excited for!!

Horray for SWAPS!!! They make the world happy! {or at least the people who are getting some really fun mail anyway. }

A day in OUR life

2011-08-21T23:13:00.000-04:00

{I had hopes to having cute pictures of my boys looking studious but that didn't happen... it was one of those days...}

I do have people who ask me what my day is like, and what do I do.... and how I manage the day with homeschooling and home... so here you go.

6:00-6:30ish - I start hearing little ones getting up {why... why are they up so early???}
7:00am - Everyone {me} is up for family prayer before Steve leaves for school
7:00-9:00 - We have breakfast, and chores, scripture reading, the boys get dressed, {Benji runs amuck}
9:00-12:00ish - Devotional, and pledge and school {Benji will go down for a nap and then he joins the chaos} {during this time I also will toss in a load of laundry or a quick wipe down of a table.}
12:00 - 1:00 ish - we have lunch
From here until 4:00 it's free time.... but it also time to finish up all the things that didn't get done. There is practicing the violin {for James} and any school work that needs to be done. Also this is the time when I plan my errands for, or any playdates.
Then comes the nightly stuff.... dinner, shower, ect.

Wow.... look at this there is a lot of time that is not accounted for. I really need to change that!

So there is our day in a nutshell... I really am busy all day... but now that I am her sitting and thinking about it I can't tell you what I do.

I'll do this again some day and will have written it out better.

"Not" Back to School Pictures

2011-08-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year.... school picture time. I HATED school pictures. There was even one year that I had to have mine done again because they were so bad... I'm not a big picture person.

I think school pictures are dull, and boring. You sit and look at the camera, and 3.2 seconds later you are done and every kid has the same pose.

I do want the boys to have pictures every year, I just want the regular ones.

So here we go......

James... 7 years old, 2nd grade.

He really likes books, The Magic Tree House is his favorite series. He loves science and history.

Tommy is 6 and in 1st grade.

He is quite the ham and loves to make people laugh. He likes to write stories and is really good and just about everything. Currently he is writing a paper on cavemen.

Tim is 5 and is starting Kindergarten.

Tim loves to learn and is excited about learning his letters and learning how to read. He loves his GeoTracks and will build the most amazing tracks that you will ever see!

He loves to laugh!

Benji is 1{yeah!} and he is in the grade of Getting-into-EVERYTHING!

He likes to run the house. When it gets quiet we know we need to go look for him. He likes to eat, open doors, eat, pull the pots out of the cupboard, and eat.

Here are the boys, I think we all learn a lot from each other, and we all have a really good time.

This is what most of the photo shoots look like... crazy faces, babies running away, and a dog that needs to be in the picture too...

Every now and then the timing is right and I can get them all.

Here's to a great year!!!

{the dog was feeling left out so I took one of him too.}

When is it my turn??

2011-08-12T00:54:00.000-04:00

For the past 11 years I have been following Steve around. We went to Monterey when he joined the military to learn a language, then to Arizona while he was in training. Then I waited at home with two babies while he was deployed. After that we settled down in Roy for a bit before uprooting again and going back to Arizona for a couple years.

While we were there Steve went overseas again. Once he got back, after some prayer and fasting we uprooted..again... and came to Florida so Steve could go to Chiropractic school.

Pretty much everything has revolved around Steve and what he is doing and what he wants.... and I guess that's the way it seems.

I often get asks "When is it your turn?" When is it my turn to do something that I want to do? When do I get to have something for me???

Well... I can honestly say that I have that right now. My turn is waking up to at least one little boy needing to be snuggled in the morning. It's getting to see that first smile of the day when I get the baby out of bed. My turn is getting to take care of my family, making dinner and doing laundry. My turn is getting to see the excitement in the eyes of the boys when they show me a new lego creation, or drawing that was made.

I love my roll as a mom and wife. I enjoy it.... mostly. I don't live life through rose color glasses, and having to 7 loads of laundry in one day because the boys tried to recreate the Great Lakes in the bathroom and it didn't go well is usually followed by me grumbling as I am folding towels... but I do love the day to day going ons here.

I enjoy the adventures that we have been on because of Steve. I support him because he supports me. Because of the things that he has done, I have been able to stay at home with our kids. He is choosing a profession that will continue to support our family so I can stay at home, and provide for us well so we can live the lifestyle we would like to.

I do have dreams and there are things that I want to do, but right now... this is my turn, this is my time in my life and this is my journey.

I am happy for it.

ONE year old!!!

2011-08-11T08:38:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that my baby is a year old??? This year has gone so fast!!! Lets take a little walk down memory lane....

Born 8-9-10 {what an easy birthday to remember}

He was pretty strong and learned early to lift his head.

Here is at one month. All cute and curled up. I love the way the light is shining on him.

Month 2... look at those cheeks!

Another at 2 months. I seriously can't get over these cheeks!

Here we are at 3 months his eyes have changed from that dark smokey blue to a beautiful blue, these eyes will be killer!

Here is at 4 months, he is getting so much bigger and so fun.

{can you believe that it's November!!! it was warm enough to do diaper shops}

Merry Christmas with a 5 month old.

Those eyes, and that dimple.... yeah... he's a cutie.

At 6 months he is sitting up and just waiting to get into things.

I have a hard time saying no to this... I mean really....

7 months and sitting up really well.

I love this look that he is giving to the monkey.... I was hoping he would like the monkey, but that has yet to be determined.

I love this picture of him!!! Look at those eyes!! 8 months came and went so fast, and Benji was turning into a ninja baby.... he was able to crawl really quietly and would sneak up on people.

Here he is at 9 months and not only is he pulling him self up on things he is pulling things off of shelves and bookcases... oh the joy!! The funny thing is... he will squeal and crawl away really fast as you come over to get him.

At 10 months he started walking... a surprise for us because all our other boys didn't walk until after a year... getting him to sit for a picture was really hard. {there was a plane in the air so he took a moment to look at it... I took the time to take the picture of him being somewhat still}

I love my fat baby!!! At 11 months... he is definitely not starving. His ninja skill have improved and I think he has super hearing too... every time the dishwasher, or refrigerator open he comes running.

Happy birthday baby!! I love you. It has been a joy to have you in our family. You keep us all on our toes. Your smile brightens a room and you laugh makes us all giggle. I know your brothers think you are a little bothersome now, but that come with being a little brother, they do love you and take such good care of you. You are so sweet and fun to snuggle... when you will let me. You are too busy trying to run with the big boys to let me snuggle you much. This year has gone by way to fast! Here is to many more!!!

Happy first year!!!

Just with some cards

2011-08-06T22:07:00.002-04:00

James learned how to stack cards and so well does he need to do next... stack some cards. After many tries... and having to put Benji down for a nap, he wasn't much help.

Clearly he is excited!!

I let the boys loose

2011-08-06T00:39:00.000-04:00

We needed to go to Orlando for an appointment for Benji, but well.... it didn't happen. So to make the best of a bad situation we went to the Orlando Children's Museum. It was a good way to break up the day and a way to let the boys out to run before the hour drive home.

There was an exhibit with guitars, it was really neat to see all the different kinds and the progression of it. James is here with the largest -working- guitar. It is 43 feet long. {and touch-able, which James liked}

I thought this was a cute picture of Benji, he is watching his brother play.

Tommy and Tim in the hurricane machine. I think they are getting a trial run for this hurricane season.

Tim loved it, he liked the wind whipping his hair around.

There was a giant chess board so James and I played a game. It was fun and I think that James like the life size pieces.

I thought this was funny.... there was a flight simulator the the boys both tried. While they waited for their turn we watched many kids crash.... as did the boys. It was fun and they liked it but Tommy didn't even get off the runway before he crashed, James did a bit better, he actually go in the air, but shortly after he took a nose dive into a pond. Then there was this older gentleman... he must have been a pilot because he was actually good at it. And this man had waited a good half hour to sit and have his turn... I wonder how many times he wanted to take over the controls when the kids were flying and save the air craft.

It was a good day, we like museums and it's always an fun time.

Curriculum

2011-08-01T23:30:00.000-04:00

This year I decided to buy a curriculum.... kinda. I got the second grade bundle from the Creative Thinking Co. I am really excited about this year! {we have already started...... and so far so good}

I posted about his earlier but I'll let you know again.... I have boys who really like to read, I didn't feel that buying a curriculum that had them reading preselected books would be right for them. I don't want to feel like I have to have them stop reading what they want to read what is "required".

Last year I was putting together my own curriculum but it was starting to take a toll and I was hitting road blocks with how to teach things... in what order, and I was getting flustered.

With CTC I seem to found what I was looking for while still getting to keep what I want and what is working.

We are also doing Story of the World, and love it. We have taken it slow and really enjoyed the history.

Do you want to see how I have it set up???

Each of the boys have a binder, which the boys decorated with a collage, it was really fun watching the boys cut the magazines and to see what caught their eye.

Then I have a list of what we will do daily {math, language arts, spelling, ect.} and then what we will do each day as well {science 2 days, history 2 days, art 1 day} That way they can see what we will be working on each day. Now this list is still a work in progress... to see what days are going to lend them self well to what we are doing.

There daily stuff is set in the front pocket of the binder, and this stuff they can work as quickly as they would like. If they want to do 5 pages of math on Monday, then that's ok. But until it's done they need to work on there daily stuff a little every day.

Then I have tabbed pockets for each day with there daily stuff put in it. This they can only do on the assigned day. {Tommy would do EVERYTHING on Monday just to have it all done} So this way they are working every day. When they are done with the assignment they put the paper in the back pocket so I can take a look at it. We also do a lot of stuff.... mostly LA on the white board together.

James {2nd grade} and Tommy {1st grade.... but doing 2nd grade work} have the same thing in their binders... minus math which is different} Tim is working through reading and writing. He does do History and Science with us, I just help him with anything that he needs to write. The boys love Magic Tree House books so on Friday they can get on the website and get stickers for the passports, they are wanting to read all 48 books by the end of the school year {which I know they can do}

I am using Hooked on Phonics for Tim {Kindergarten} to learn how to read. I'm not using the CD's I just sit with him and we do it together. I am also using the 2nd grade HOP for James. He is a good reader, but I'm hoping this will help make him a stronger reader, especially when he reads out loud.

Of course we have Benji too... and well... we just work around him. He hangs out and squeals at every one {you all ma thank Tim and Tommy for teaching him that}

I feel really good about this year, and am really happy about how things are going. The boys really like the Critical Thinking stuff and are enjoying our schedule.

Back to School

2011-07-24T22:10:00.000-04:00

We have been back at school for a week now. And we are in a good routine and things are getting done. I thought I would post a couple pictures of what our "school" area looks like. We really do school all over our house depending on what is going on. We start in the living room for History and Reading, and we are in the kitchen for Science and Art, and we are in the room anything that is left over.

As I'm looking at these pictures I'm realizing that this really only shows a small part of it.

We have a 5 foot table that the boys will sit, stand, jump, bounce at. We may at some point get desks, but for right now this is what we have. Some shelves and little drawers. Each of the boys has a drawer where they put the things that they think are special or what ever, nothing in the drawers gets thrown away {until it's too full and I make them go through it...} I tried to do the Workbox System I think it's good in theory, but it didn't really work for us, and we don't have the room. Although, I have done something similar that I will tell you about in another post. Anyway... the magazine boxes are now used to hold.... magazines... workbooks, extra paper, lapbooks, pretty much anything else that will fit inside that we are using but I need to be out of the way.

What you don't see is that off to the left is a GREAT BIG white board {3'x 6'.... we had to cut it down to fit in the car} I was saving and saving to get a big white board from Staples when a friend of mine told me to go to Lowes and get it there. Low and behold I got a 4x8 piece of whit board for $12!!!! {instead of the $280 that Staples ~~would have ripped me off for~~.... wanted me to pay.

And from there if you turned a 1/4 turn to the right you would see the beds. Fortunately it's a big room so we are not squished at all!

We have a couple filled bookshelves... and these are not all of our books... I rotate them out so it's pretty fresh every 6 months or so. {the rest are under Tim's bed} I love books, but I am trying to buy any more. {we will have to move them you know} so we use the library quite a bit. I look forward to one day having floor to ceiling book cases just filled with all sorts of good things!!

There was a map above the book cases but the boys liked looking at it to much.... so it came down to make it easier to find the places that they were looking for. Tommy has started an Art Gallery by his bed, so I think I'll let him expand it to this wall as well.

I wish it looked like this all the time, but alas, it does not. That's ok though, I'll take a clean area twice a year.

{the dinosaur is Phil and he sit on the table to watch it. I'm not sure what he is watching for that is just what I have been told, and he is put there every night}

11 whole months!!

2011-07-19T22:40:00.000-04:00

{this is a bit late...}

Can you believe that the baby has been here... in my arms 11 whole months!!! It's gone way to fast for me!

I am debating weather or not I want to do some 1 year old pictures with him next month... I feel like I would pay someone to have pictures of Benji walking out the door. He has his mind made up on what he is going to do and there is no changing it.

I tried to get a picture with the monkey... this is the best I could get. I don't think ke likes it much.

Please tell me that some one else can see the wheels turning in his head... This boy is always on the move, and getting into EVERYTHING.

He has his own agenda.... I think our days would go smoother if he would send me a memo every now and then.

{I love this picture of him, what a cute little guy I have!}

Benji, I love you more every day! I'm glad you are a part of our family... and in less than a month we are going PAR-TAY!!!

What's it called??

2011-07-17T00:55:00.000-04:00

What is that fruit called that is yellow?

You know.... the one that most kids like?

Babies like it because it's soft and easy to chew.

You can eat it alone, or in a a split form, or even just dipped in chocolate... {that's the way I like it}

Most little one start calling it "nana" first.

Not this little one.....

He calls it a "mama"

Adventures on Anasazi Ave

2011-07-14T07:02:00.001-04:00

Many... many moons ago I lived in a little town called Logandale. It is a quaint little town in the middle of the desert. {How I love the desert}. When I lived there it was a close-nit town with lots of kids. I'm going to take you on a walk down memory lane.... well... more like a walk down my street called Anasazi Ave.

We'll start at my house which happen to be the first house on our side of the street. We happen to move into a sea foam green house. Our family of 9 moved in and brought even more chaos to the street. We came in all ages so there was plenty of everything going on at my house. We never locked our door, and we often had extra kids at our house for dinner.... depending on what the mom's up an down the street were cooking.

Next house was a brown one, and really.... I'm not sure who lived there.

Now there were two boys in the next house, now they didn't actually live on Anasazi, but they were part of the crew so we'll throw in Jason and Justin. Jason was my age and I had a little crush on him probably the whole time we lived there. But, I think every girl my age had a little crush on Jason. Anyway... they had horses and a small basketball court. Jason taught me how to shoot a basketball. We would run through their yard every day to catch the bus. And Jason's mom only had one request.... DON'T EAT THE POMEGRANATES! She liked to make jelly with the fruit and didn't really like all the kids eating the perfect pomegranates. Confession.... every now and then I would grab one and run home. I just couldn't help myself!

And then the next house. They too had a boat load of kids. Some older girls and a couple boys. I remembering looking up to girls, I really like Emily and Tammy, they were always smiling and giggling. And the boys were younger than me but always funny. I remember Micheal was always cracking jokes. He was always with us when we would go and build our forts in the desert, or jumping the canal or something. He also had a pogo stick and a unicycle.... try as I might I never got it.The funny thing that I remember about their house is that I NEVER went in their front door. Not once... and I don't think they did either, humm... I always went through the garage door.

A couple more houses down was an older lady, Betty. She was really sweet and lived by herself. One year for Christmas we decided to doorbell ditch her and leave some goodies... Now all 7 of us had to go... that's just the way it was. So we go and leave the goodies and knock and run. {have you ever seen 7 kids from ages 13-5 try to run away quietly??? yeah, it doesn't happen} Well apparently she heard us but had no idea what was going on. So we knocked again. Nothing... we knew she was home... we kinda peeked in her window. So again we were going to ring the doorbell. This time we thought it would be best to have one person go up so my brother Hyrum was the chosen person. He went up to the door and go ready to knock... imagine our surprise when little miss Betty opened up the door before he could knock and and had a blow horn that she was blowing right in his face. We all took off down the street like banshees, leaving the goodies on the doorstep. We thought better next time than to ring the doorbell and run away... we would just hand her the goodies next time.

Another family on the street was actually bigger than ours. Due to a blended family I think they had 10 kids... and 2 Adams.... I just thought that was funny.

There was a a boy on our street... Brandon. He moved in about 2 years ofter we did... I did not care for him much.... he made fun of my nose. And then.... after we moved I came back to visit... he told me that my face grew into my nose.... yeah still bitter about that one.

There was a girl named Nadja on our street. She was nice and a cheerleader... I liked her we just had very different interests. Her mom was funny though, she really liked Neil Diamond.

I really like living there. We always had so much fun. The rule was when the street light comes on you come home.... yes you read that right... LIGHT. There was only on on our street, and it usually it didn't come on until a half hour after the sun went down. We would ride our bikes into the desert and climb he mesas. We would wait for the train to come and the conductor to throw candy. We would wash our feet in the irrigation ditch. We would dig holes in the desert {yeah I still laugh about that} and build forts in the salt trees. it is a good little town and looking back I'm so glad that we lived there.... even for the short time that we did.

I will not milk the cow!

2011-07-12T07:21:00.002-04:00

We have a dream... one day we will have a small farm. We want some acreage, we want to be able to turn the boys loose and let them run to their hearts content.

We talk often about what we will have on our farm. Everything from the types of vegetables we will grow, what trees we will plant, and the animals we will have.

You see we would like to be pretty self sufficient. I'm practicing canning and bottling. I am working on new recipes that I can use my food storage with. I am trying to cook with the seasons so I'm not paying an arm and a leg for strawberries in the winter. I'm trying my hand at once a month shopping. I'm working on having a green thumb and being pleased with the things that I ~~have not killed~~... grown.

We would like to use solar and wind energy, we hope to have a pond or a water source.

We would also like to have some life stock. Chickens of course, we would like to have the eggs and meat. We are going to have some pigs.... everything is better with bacon! And possible even a cow.... to butcher... for meat.

The boys, however, are wanting to milk the cow. Now I'm not a big milk drinker but I do like heavy cream, I like butter, and I like ice cream... all those things require milk. I am all for going to a local co-op farm and picking up some fresh milk.

The boys still want to milk a cow. I try to explain that the dang thing will have to be milked every day... twice a day. They still want a cow. Even on rainy... cold... snowy... dark days. They still want one.

But I know what will happen, people will get sick and I'll have to milk the cow. The boys will all go to scout camp and I'll have to milk the cow. Some one will break a leg or arm, and I'll have to milk the cow. Jobs, friends, girls will come and guess who will be responsible for the cow... yup... me.

I am already responsible for so many things... family, house, dog... you get the idea. I really don't want to ~~nag~~ make sure that it's getting done.

Now I know that most of you will say "oh... well don't let them go until they milk the cow" Which yes... good in theory, but how many of you give in and feed the dog because the poor thing hasn't been fed in 2 days and he looks at you with those pleading eyes. What do you do??? You feed him.

I'm just saying loud and clear right now... I WILL NOT MILK THE COW.... {or the goat or anything else we may or may not get that lactates}

Dated: 7-12-2011
{I'm just making it official.... does anyone think I should get this notarized??}

FaceBook stole my soul....

2011-07-09T21:17:00.000-04:00

I have been wanting to blog for a while now but feel like I am really grasping at nothing as far as content goes. After some thought I realize that I Facebook everything... well... pretty much everything. And because I have readers that follow me on facebook and on my blog I feel like I am posting the same thing twice.

I have been all over the interent looking for ways to over come my "writer's block" or "blog cramp" or what ever you want to call it and I'm just stumped. I love blogging about my kids, I mean I have great kids, and they are all very handsome! {Tim won't let me call him cute any more...} But I want more... from myself mostly. And I don't necessarily want to be one of those "mommy bloggers" that post all the time about her perfect life.

And although I love them I don't want people to come here to read just because I'm having a give away... although that might be a good idea. Maybe doing scheduled posts on certain days?

I would like to post more about myself and my thoughts, but I'm afraid that my mouth and the way I can not tactfully write a sentence will hurt people, so I will keep most of my mean thoughts to myself. I do have some things that I am trying to get ready but I just don't know. Will you still like me if I post stuff that you disagree with?

So I'm asking you... anyone who is still out there... What do you want to know about? Anything really... I'll be totally open and as honest as I can be. If you don't want to know anything could you give me some topics to write on?

I'm going to lay off of Facebook for a while, and try to focus more here. I love my blog and my readers and this is where I want to be. I just need some help.

What Curriculum Are We Using?

2011-07-06T23:06:00.001-04:00

I got our curriculum!!!

I am so excited for this school year!!

Last year was really good!!! And I had a really good time, and so did the boys. I made my own curriculum and it was really good {if I may toot my own horn a bit...} But with so many things going on and Benji being a bit more active and in to every thing, I needed help in the curriculum department.

There are tons of curriculum out there but I was having a hard time finding something that would fit us. Many curriculums have a schedule to keep and a reading list to pull from. While these are good for some, I need more leeway. And my boys love to read so I didn't want to confine them to the books that are on that week's reading list. or say no to the extra books they want to bring home because they need to get through the books on the list.

I have bought the Critical Thinking Co. bundle. I am so excited for this. I have things that I like to use, like The Story of the World for History, and I like having the freedom to study what we want in science. We like the Math U See program. I just needed something to pull it all together and fill in with the places that I miss.

What I like about CTC is that the answers aren't obvious. I like that you really have to think about it. I love the Mind Bender games, they really make the boys think. I like that the activities are fun and I think the boys are really going to like it.

We are starting in mid-July. It is a bit earlier than the public schools but this way we can take the extra time off in the fall and spring when the weather here in Florida is really nice. I'm looking forward to this year and the things that we have going on.

Three for Thursday.... or Friday.

2011-06-30T23:39:00.001-04:00

My good friend Evelyn has this thing.... Three for Thursday. There are three questions and you answer them... on Thursday. Well... mine are going up on Friday, because... this is my blog and I say so.

{by the way... I met Evelyn through a blog swap with the wonderful Mamarazzi. I have loved Evelyn from the moment I met her... on her blog. I love the world of the blog-o-sphere!!}

OK... and GO

Three wedding day memories...
1-I was late. There was traffic and I was 45 minutes late to my own wedding. Poor Steve, people kept telling him that I was coming.
2-We didn't have a reception. We took the money that was given to us for the wedding and used it for a honeymoon.
3-Our ceremony was the last one in the day so when we were getting our pictures taken there wasn't any other bride around.

Three guy movies that I actually like...
1-StarWars serise
2- The Borne serise
3- 2012

Three things that I will try to sneak into heaven...
1- FaceBook
2-Chocolate!!
3-Cinnamon Rolls.... {I like food!}

Three 4th of July traditions...
1- Giving the children burning phosphorus to wave around
2- Jello!
3- Eating

Three words that describe me...
1-Disorganized. {I'm working on it!}
2- I can't think of anything else....
3- Hey!!! it's midnight! give me a break!!

Three Favorite summer time desserts...
1- Ice Cream
2-Anything with strawberries
3- Popsicle

Three Fictional Characters that I would like to meet in real life...
1- The Steed Family
2-Anne of Green Gables
3-Damion Salvatore {vampire diaries :) }

Three group games I could play over and over again....
1-Fag Tag (So inappropriately named, but what else do you call it?? People stand in linked arm pairs in a circle. One person is “it” and has to tag another person who is running around. The running around person can link arms with any pair and the person on the opposite side of the new linked pair has to start running away from the person who is “it”. Of course if the running person gets tagged, they are “it” and the roles reverse.) 2-Signs (Everyone sits in a circle and each person has a self-created secret sign, such as scratching your head, patting your leg, winking three times, etc. One person stands in the middle as the circle passes their signs around. One person begins, slyly signs their own sign then passes it on by signing someone else’s sign. That person accepts it by signing their own sign and again passes it on by signing someone else’s sign. The person in the middle is trying to catch who has the sign before they can pass it on. If they catch the person before they pass it, that person is then “it”. Hilarious!) 3-The card game Skipbo

Three Favorite Summer time TV shows...
1-3 I hate reruns... I read or watch movies.

Three Pictures...

My my... how he has grown!

I don't know why I even bother to try to take pictures of them...

This is Tommy during his little graduation from Kindergarten to 1st grade.... that's my Tommy!

There you go.... some things you may never have known about me.

I've been so busy!

2011-06-29T05:15:00.003-04:00

I have been so busy and it's only going to get worse.... I love it though. I work best when I'm busy.

I have been working on many projects around here, and just taking the time to relax a bit while Steve has a break.

I have been called into Primary as the Secretary, and I'm so happy to serve the Lord in this calling. I love being in with the kids and I hope I can help get things moving in a good direction before we leave. And it's fun seeing the boys in Primary singing and stuff... they are very enthusiastic singers!

I have been working out every night with a program called Insanity. Wholy Moly it is crazy!! Steve and I have been doing it along with some friends, Bryce, Brittni, and Jason. You don't want to come over after we are done, I have to turn on the fans and open the windows because of the sweat that has just happen! I'm really enjoying it. AND!!! I can now do 7 push-ups! {yeah me!}

Why am I doing Insanity you ask??? Good question. Steve and I... and our friends are going to run a race in December. The race is called the "Tough Mudder"

This is a crazy race that is 12 miles long and has 20 obstacles! "It's Iron Man meets Burning Man."{and it supports the Wounded Warriors, so it's all for a good cause} It's totally crazy and I will probably cry, but I'm so excited. Do you want to join us??? let me know and I'll give you info to join our team.

I have been doing more.... I have gotten our school area ready for the next year. We are starting mid-July. A bit earlier than public school, but then we take off more time in the fall and spring when the weather here in Florida is so nice and it's hard to be inside.

{I had a big map hanging there but then the boys had to pull chairs up to see it real close so I took it down... not sure what I'm going to put up on the wall yet... any suggestions?}

Last school year I made my own curriculum which went well. And I really liked it. But with Benji becoming more busy and other things going on it became a bit over whelming. So I bough a curriculum but it's not what you think. It's the Critical Thinking Co. I'll do a whole other post on this. But I'm so excited to use it!

Ok, so speaking of school... and being more busy.... I am going back to school! I'm really excited for this too. I have been wanting to and wanting to and now is a good time....{I don't know why with how busy I am but it feels right} I am going through American Public University {APU} I'm getting a Bachelors in Business Management. {I am hoping to go on and get a Masters in Public Relations} It's all online and I'm only taking 2 classes a semester. The way they have it broken down is one class every 8 weeks.

I enjoy being busy, and if the boys weren't keeping me busy enough I definitely am now. Welcome to my crazy life!

What have we been doing?

2011-06-27T23:14:00.000-04:00

{Want to see what else we have been working on??}

Making Family Memories

2011-06-25T07:52:00.004-04:00

So after working hard all year on their school work, and supporting dad through yet another quarter of school, we needed to throw the rules out the window and make some fun memories as a family. I was inspired by my good friend Emily and her Wacky Wednesday...

After the boys woke up we loaded everyone in the car to go out to breakfast. Jammies and all. There were questions as to where we were going... We got to the "Cracked Egg" and found a table that would seat a crew of 6 and got down to business.

After breakfast we got back into the car. We drove to the beach and the boys were kinda disappointed that they didn't have their bathing suits.... Good thing I had them packed in a bag ready to go. With seconds there were three naked boys, putting bathing suits on. {I wish they could undress that fast when asked to get into the shower...}

And low and behold, there was boogie boards, and towels and snacks all in the back of the van. So we grabbed our stuff and walked down to the beach.

The boys took off for the water rather quickly but I saw something in the sand that caught my eye....

This little guy was rather photogenic.

Benji doesn't like the beach when we first get there.... I think it has to do with being held down to put sunscreen on him. Call me crazy but I like my babies with cute pink skin and not RED! Once that was taken care if and he was put in the water he was happy. {I guess he is a Florida baby after all}

He still has a need to taste the sand... I'm wondering if he things it will be different after each taste... sadly for him it is not.

James and Steve play in the water most of the time but he did come up for a moment to dig in the sand.

Poor Tim....

After a good 2 1/2 hours at the beach we went home to shower and get cleaned up. I had lunch ready for them. I had 6 brown bags all numbered waiting for them. Each boy got to pick 2 bags and then... that is what they had for lunch. James got juice boxes and napkins, Tim got spoons and pretzels, and Tommy got sandwiches and applesauce. So a bit of trading was had and then we settled down for a movie in the middle of the day.

The boys really wanted to see something explode. If you have boys you get it... So I bought some stuff that I NEVER buy!!! and we made stuff explode.

I guess diet Coke is good for something... definitely not drinking though.

We got some pretty good fountains going.

I bought some smaller things of it and let the boys make some fountains too.

{Steve suggested fireworks.... I suggested not. This was the next best thing that I could come up with that would not cause bodily harm....}

After that we had some "Ice Cream" I found this totally cool recipe online somewhere for banana ice cream. All you do is peel and cut up bananas and put them in the freezer for about 2 hours. The you take them out and put them in your blender or food processor. And whola! you have bananas in the consistency of ice cream!! {I did add a bit of peanut butter because that's how we roll but nothing else!} I was impressed that it worked.

{Now you want to try it huh....}

We had a great day. It was fun to be together as a family and makes some fun memories. It was so funny seeing their faces each time we did something. It was just a good day!

Nine & Ten....

2011-06-23T06:57:00.001-04:00

So once again I get the MOTY award. If you don't know what that is.... it's ok.

Somewhere in the middle if everything going on I lost a month of Benji! I kept saying that he was 8 months when he was 9 months.... and now he is 10 months! Crazy huh!! I can't believe how fast this year is going!

{Caution.... a lot of pictures of a really cute baby!}

So here are some pictures of Benji at 9 months.... and then at 10 months...

I don't know that I will ever get over these baby blues!

I love this dimple!

To break it up here is a funny picture of Benji...

Crawling can be dangerous. I'm not totally sure what happen here. He is really good about crawling into things, but he can't get out again. Poor boy is stuck under the walker.

These are the picture from 10 months, and these what most of the pictures look like... him crawling away.

I love seeing the world through the eyes of a child. It's fun to see what captures his attention.

I can't believe he's 10 months!! Benji is so close to walking, once he is standing he'll let go and just stand there. He has taken a few steps and then falls into who ever is standing there. He is eating my out of house an home! He will usually eat at least half of my plate at dinner time. He LOVES his veggies! I'm not sure if there is any that he doesn't like because he hasn't spit anything out. He is a really good sleeper.... once he get's to sleep. The poor boy is so afraid that he will miss something that as soon as you start to put him down he will hug you even tighter so he doesn't have to go down. He loves being out side. He will crawl out the door as soon as it's open... and now that he is standing he is learning how to open the door.

They grow so fast and if you don't pay attention you really will lose a month!

His feet are always like this. And they are locked really tight. I love his little sausage toes!

Two wheels are better than three

2011-06-19T23:00:00.000-04:00

After a year of trying {and a bribe of a lego set} he got it!!!

There were a few spills.

But he got it!!

He was so excited to finally get it!!! Good job Tommy, we are proud of you!!

{I think it helped that his lego set was waiting for him inside}

Easily Entertained

2011-06-11T08:49:00.001-04:00

The other day we heard some noise out side... It sounded big. So the boys went to go see what it was.

The biggest down to the smallest were entertained. They couldn't keep their eyes off it!!

So for about an hour the three of them sat outside watching.

Do you want to see what it was??

A big truck that picks up trees. The boys couldn't get enough of it. Even Benji sat and watched... always trying to get a better view.

Our landlord decided to cut the trees down in front of our house. With hurricane season right around the corner he didn't want them to fall on the house. I kinda miss the trees.... but it's not our house...

Where is Tommy you ask?? He is in the house reading. When he gets into a book there is nothing that can pull him from it.... well ... except chocolate.

A long flight!

2011-06-10T01:32:00.000-04:00

Over Memorial Day I was able to take Benji and go to Utah to see my beautiful sister get married to a really great man. It was a wonderful day and the weather held out for her.

The day we left it was really nice here in Florida... blue skies, a bit warm but nothing to bad. Benji and I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.... {I still dislike TSA! apparently I profile as a terrorist... I got the full service treatment}

Benji and I made it to our gate and sat down to wait.

And wait we did!!!

While Florida was having beautiful weather, tornadoes were wreaking havoc in the Midwest. Although we weren't going to the Midwest the storm chain carried though to Atlanta.... and that's where our first leg took us too.

Benji did really well while were at the airport and he was able to toddle around. Now we were suppose to leave at 6:55pm. My thought was that he will ride the first leg and be some what content and then sleep the second leg. Well as 6:55 turned to 7:30.... then to 8:00.... I knew that plans were going to have to change.

He is happy while he can toddle around and is being fed.

I thought this was funny, I guess they think that having some rocking chairs makes it feel more like home when there are delays.

Finally at 8:30 we take off. And after a power nap while we were waiting Benji was ready to go once we got on the plane. He was happy enough but to be confined to my lap did not lent itself to a good time.

After the nice people entertained him for the duration of the flight... and many cheerios we finally landed.

Atlanta was a MESS!!!! It was kinda funny to watch all the people run from one place to another. Our flight was not going to leave for another 5 and a half hours!!! we just took out time as we had to walk across the entire airport to get to our next gate.

Once we made it to our gate we found a place to sit and wait.... and wait.

I did meet a really cool guy though! I never got his name but he just got a job to spend Google's money. What an awesome job!! I think I gave him some ideas to try so we'll see. So random guy that I met who flew from Atlanta to Chicago that stormy night... I hope all is going well with your cool job!

Benji was happy again once he had more cheerios. Our flight was pushed back again.... and finally at 1:30AM the wheels were up!! Fortunately on the long flight... 3 hours.... There was an empty chair so I was able lay Benji down once he finally fell asleep. Which I'm sure everyone was happy about. So I was suppose to fly into Salt Lake at 10:00pm... enough time to catch up with family and put the baby to sleep.... I finally walked out of the SLC airport at 3:10AM!!!

Man are you exhausted yet??? I am!

Fortunately for me the trip back was not that bad.

TSA was there waiting for me with open arms and ready to test the bottle that Benji was holding to make sure it wasn't explosive.

I thought this was funny, there is a smoking room in the SLC airport... the door was missing and there was just a rope across the door..... so I think they were missing the point

The trip back was all made worth it because of these little guys. Ahh yes... the Cinnabon!!

We made it home safe and sound... in one piece, and on time!

Life needs frosting!
{and maybe less TSA}

A ham named Tommy

2011-06-04T04:36:00.001-04:00

It's not even Christmas time yet and I have a ham already here. We have even named our ham... his name is Tommy. This boy is so funny!

Here are some funny things about Tommy:

*He has a secret lab that is filled with minions.... you heard that right minions!

*He has 1 million minions... and two rhinos.

*He writes notes to them daily... which I will post at a later date. But one note says that he will be gone for lunch and to keep working on the lab.

*He gets to the lab by the closet with the vacuum.... and when he goes in there he makes the noises of an elevator going up and down.

*Apparently his minions are messy and take the clothes out of his drawers.

*It's hard to see Tommy's eyebrows... And when asked about them he told me his eyebrows were in disguise.

*Another time he told me to "Feel the fur" on his eyebrows.

*He was afraid to ride a bike until his lego set came in the mail then he said... "I'm going to ride my bike"... and he did.

*He is a schemer and I will often hear him laughing to himself.

Tommy you make me happy and you definitely keep me on my toes!

{ps. Tommy please ask your minions to pick up after themselves}

Making Music

2011-06-02T04:16:00.001-04:00

He looks so much older when he plays his violin! James is getting coming along really well and practices every day. I am so proud of how well he is doing. His violin teacher would like to get him ready to try out for the Children's Chamber Orchestra next year, so that is what we are working towards.

Look at those little fingers stretch to reach those notes. Even with the squeaking {which really isn't much any more} I love hearing him play!

Sushi and a Movie

2011-05-26T16:44:00.000-04:00

We use to do Pizza and a movie every Friday night... then one day I picked up some Sushi for Steve and I. The boys were mad that I didn't get enough for them too. So The next Friday.... Sushi it was.

They ate it all and kept asking for more. Everything from California rolls, to Spicy Tuna.

As long as it wasn't touching the Wasabi they loved it.

I think it's funny that they like Sushi, but I love that this is our Friday night thing now. I guess I should learn how to make it.

Now... what are we going to watch?

He leaves a trail.

2011-05-21T22:13:00.000-04:00

This little boy is into EVERYTHING!! Ever time I turn around he is lost or stuck some where or getting into something.

He love the clementine oranges. He has a couple problems.... he can't get it out of the little bag, and he can't peel it.

He can usually manage to get it out of the bag by playing with it enough, but the peeling. Well that's another story. Usually he just bits it open and sucks out the juice.

This is him telling me he's hungry. He doesn't scream or make a noise he just follows me around opening his mouth. I know, he looks like he is fading away to nothingness....

About 20 minutes before this he was clean. He was given a bath and put in clean clothes....

Ahhhhhh...

But really... can you be mad at a face like this. The only thing left is to find the mess that was left behind and get that cleaned up.

Yes... his teeth are sharp. And he likes juice.

I can usually tell where he has been, because there is a trail left behind him as he wanders on his way day after day.

Upper Cervical Evolution

2011-05-18T00:26:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful opportunity to go with Steve to the Upper Cervical Evolution that was here in Orlando. It was wonderful!

Steve is learning a specific type of Chiropractic care, Upper Cervical.... you may have heard me mention stuff about that before.

Steve has been going to extra classes up in North Carolina every month for the past 9 months to learn this technique.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic adjustments are amazing. Let me tell you my story really fast. Tim woke up one morning with a sore neck. Through out the day it progressively got worse, until that evening when he couldn't turn his head. Thinking that he just needed to sleep he went to bed. The next morning he woke up and his neck was worse than before, he had no rotation and cried every time I touched his neck. He had Tortacallas and the doctors wanted to give him a muscle relaxer. We have chosen not to give medication to our children if there is another way. And with this there was. We called up Dr. Matt Roe, the Doctor that Steve has been shadowing, and he got Tim in. After a quick check he adjusted Tim, and with in 20 minutes Tim was bouncing off the walls.

If we had gone with a regular medical doctor Tim would have been on medication for at least a week and we would have waited for his neck to be heal, possible physical therapy too. One trip up to Dr. Roe, and Tim has been fine ever since.

Upper Cervical care is real and it works. And I am proud of Steve for graduating from the Upper Cervical Academy. {next step... graduate from Palmer...}

Congratulations Steve!!! I'm proud of you!

THere are all the graduates

And all the Upper Cervical graduates from Palmer.

These four men got closer than they ever wanted too. They drove up to all the conferences together... in a 9 hour car ride.... over night stays together.... male bonding at it's best.a

I was able to go to a few of the speakers and meet many doctors. I really enjoyed it.

Upper Cervical Care is amazing and I'm so happy that Steve chose to learn this technique, it is powerful.

I'm happy that Steve is apart of this and how hard he has worked and continues to work on becoming a grea Chiropractor.

What's in the bag?

2011-05-16T23:25:00.001-04:00

Soooooo...... I decided to clean out my bag.... I don't think I was prepared for what cam out.

Cute bag that I got at the thrift store for all of $4 and it holds a ton of stuff!!! but you never really know how much until you empty it all out.

You know those party games you play... you know the ones where the host says, "ok... everone look in your purse and pull out some thing that starts with a ...."

Yeah.. I would have that.

My, my.... how embarrassing.

There is a pile of baby stuff {wipes, diapers, formula, cheerios, toys ect.} a pile of garbage {sadly it's the biggest pile} a pile of fruit snacks... if you're a mom you know that these are worth more than gold!! office supply stuff... yup... even scissors, coupons, 47 cents, miscellaneous {hand sanitizer, tissues} and personal stuff {jewelry, Tablet, lip gloss and my little nano thing}

One day maybe I'll carry an expensive purse {one that is like $30} and doesn't hold diapers and Desitine, until then.... I'm happy as my life as a mom and carrying everything except the kitchen sink.... wait... I think I might find that in here to.

Eleven whole years!!!

2011-05-13T23:17:00.001-04:00

After meeting on the internet and a whirlwind engagement, and year after year we have made it to number eleven!! Yes ELEVEN years!!! Crazy huh! It still blows my mind some times, that we have been married for 11 years. I love this man and he is my best friend. I feel so lucky to have met him so many years ago.

We have made some wonderful memories together. Our 4 incredible boys to start with. I can see bits of Steve in each of them. Not just in their looks but in their personalities too. We have crossed the United States to start a new life. A new life that has changed us all for the better.

We have run the gauntlet in our 11 years. Things have never been bad, just hard. The military helped with that. There were deployments and many times away from each other. The struggle of raising a family alone has tested us. We have come out better because of it. We are stronger for the life we have chosen.

'our song' really fits us Carbon Leaf's "Life Less Ordinary"

I am so happy that we were married in the Temple of the Lord. That our vows were made for ETERNITY!!! I love knowing that I get to spend forever with him.

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!!! Here’s to way more than 11 more years!!

Confessing... agian.

2011-05-05T20:18:00.000-04:00

I had every intention to only air my laundry about once a month or so. I didn't thing that I would have all that much to say.... boy was I wrong.

I confess.... that I have really good intentions of making things. Like pillows for my couch. Like the cute wreath for my door. Like the Family Home Evening chart for my wall. But I have ZERO follow through. {I'm working on that} so I have all this stuff... for the stuff I am going to make.... and it's piling up on my ~~crap~~ craft table. {On the bright side.... I don't feel guilty anymore about buying things that look easy to make.... Etsy here I come!!}

I confess.... that I am a huge blogstalker! I look at other blogs and read what is there.... and dare I say it.... I look to see if they have cuter kids than I do. Please tell me that someone else does the same.

I confess... that I only eat the muffin top... or cupcake top. I make cupcakes and give the bottom to the kids... until they caught onto me.... the baby doesn't know yet.

I confess.... that I am still intrigued by this whole royal wedding thing, like what is William's last name? And if only men in the line are suppose to take the thrown... how did the Queen get the positions. How long is the new couple allowed to wait before having kids... are they expected to produce an heir right away? Will she ever do anything normal... like mop the floor, or make dinner?

I confess... that I am not here right now. We found a saintly woman who offered to take all 4 kids so Steve and I could get away for the weekend! 3 days and 2 whole nights!!! I love my kids, but I am really excited to not have knees in my back when I wake up in the morning. We haven't gotten away... just the two of us for more than one night since before Tommy was one!!! That was a really long time ago.

I've been baking

2011-05-04T11:00:00.002-04:00

I enjoy being in the kitchen, I love baking.

I love dessert! and it's even better when it's pretty!

Watermelon cake, isn't it pretty. And... it even tastes like watermelon.... the secret is watermelon jello. {which is harder to find than you think}

These are some of my favorites! They are a chocolate cupcake with a vanilla center {think HoHo} and a pretty little cherry on top. Aren't they cute!

When I get to be in the kitchen ~~without crazies hanging off my apron~~ with all the wonderful smells I find it very therapeutic and rejuvenating.... and I get to lick the bowl and have the first taste.

Kisses and Prayers

2011-05-04T01:30:00.033-04:00

Right after I had James I looked down at my perfect little baby and kissed every little finger, and every little toe. It was so fun watching him grow, and as he was learning new things there were ofter bumps and bruises. Now with bumps and bruises as a mom we bend down and kiss the knees, and elbows.

The power of a mothers' kiss is amazing. It can take a hurt little boy whose little world has come crashing down back to where it should be... and even better, any owie that has happen is instantly made better with the mother's kiss. As a new mom I just knew that that my kisses could fix every thing!

That is until it didn't.

When Tim was born at 30 weeks he was so little. The doctors took him away and I wasn't able to see him for a few hours, and it was a day before I could hold him. My little baby was in the hospital fighting for his little life and I couldn't do anything. I wanted to kiss him better, but I was only allowed to touch his ever so small hand.

I couldn't kiss him better. I wanted too. I cried as I held him and softly kissed his head. Feeling like there was nothing I could do but wait... wait for him to be big enough and strong enough to leave.

So I prayed. I prayed that he would get better. I prayed that I would be strong enough for what ever happens. I prayed that his spirit would be a strong one and that he would continue to fight for this beautiful life.

That little baby has now grown into a crazy strong willed child. He often has bumps and bruises that I get to kiss better. And my kisses work.

I prayed often before this happen. I just never expected the intensity of my prayers to be so strong as I was praying for this new spirit. When you have a sick child it's so different. Even as you pray for them you are praying for yourself to be comforted and to have the mindset of "Thy Will." The thought of having to give him back to my Father in Heaven was a hard one, and something that I didn't want to think about. But it was in that moment that the Atonement made so much sense and the power of what my Savior did for me. And if He had bigger plans for my little baby, and his mission on this earth was completed by just having a body, then I would give him back, and know that all is well.

I have learned many new things as a mom, but this is the one that really hit me.

Kisses are amazing! Prayers are answered!

He can see now.

2011-05-02T10:29:00.001-04:00

He had been squinting for a while when ever he reads.... It was coming for a while now....

I think he looks good, and he only needs them to read.

Easter has come....

2011-04-30T22:29:00.000-04:00

And gone.....

I love Easter time, and I love that I am currently in a place that is experiencing spring.... or something along those lines, anyway.

I thought I would have time to really put something together.... but even though it was it was at the end of April I still feel like it snuck up on me. So when the Primary announced that they would be doing an Easter Egg hunt for all the primary kids, I thought yeah, I'll still come out of this looking somewhat like a cool mom.

The boys were eager to start.

Benji wasn't into the egg gathering but getting all the looks from ever one he was eating up.

They let the younger kids out first and let them have a go at collecting the eggs before the bigger kids came and over ran them all.

I have found that baskets are a waste of space in my life right now, and they are hard to store. So I went the easy route and got them each a party bag, and that worked well.... this might just be our thing, rather than baskets... time will tell.

Tim went out to start getting hie eggs. He felt so lucky... he found a small bunch right together. {note Tommy in on the right hand side}

All of a sudden Tommy swoops in.......

And then like the wind he was gone. {I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy....}

James was part of the older group and came out to fetch some eggs 2.5 minutes later.

They all had a great time and it was fun watching them run around and have such a great time. I love seeing the smiles on their faces. When I grow old that is what I want to remember. Not necessarily what they were doing, but the smile on their faces as they were doing it.

It was an "Egg"-cellent day!!!! {sorry, I couldn't resist}

I spy.... fabric!

2011-04-25T21:36:00.000-04:00

I occasionally post on another blog called Cookie Nut Creations. You should go peek there and see all the cute things and ideas that are there.

Right now there is a swap going on. An Eye-Spy swap. You send send some fabric and get 200 squares in return!!!

Now I really want to do this but my track record with follow thru is TERRIBLE!!! So I'm sending you over there to get in on this.

If you are a quilter you will LOVE this, I promise!!!

He is Risen!!!

2011-04-24T05:40:00.002-04:00

He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice
He has burst his three days prison
Let the whole wide earth rejoice
Death is conquered, man is free
Christ has won the victory

This is a great time of year! I am so thankful to know that my Lord and Savior is alive. I am thankful to know that he died for my sins, and that I can live again because of the gift that he gave to me. I know that this was the plan that my Father in Heaven had laid out, that a Savior needed to come to redeem up from the fall. And because he did we can all live with him again. I know that he was in the tomb for three days, and when Mary came to the tomb she found it empty. I know that she must have been sad upon arrival not seeing his body in the tomb, but I can imagine the happiness as well that she found it empty. Knowing that this was to happen, knowing that the promise had been fulfilled, and knowing that the Savior was risen from the grave. What a great thing to know!!!

{He is Risen was written by Ceicl Frances Alexander and you can listen to it HERE}

Boys everywhere!

2011-04-20T07:42:00.001-04:00

About 2 weeks ago now my very best friend came out to Florida, because her parents happen to live here. So we did what any one would do, we dropped everything to get together. It was so worth it!!! I love having Jen around but it's so nice that we can always talk like she is still just around the corner. Like no time has passed at all.

The boys and I drove up to her parents house and after being timid for all of 4.8 seconds made themselves at home. They all took to Grandma J, and Ponka Blaine. They are such great people and who wouldn't like them.... however I think the fact that Grandma J was handing out licorice at the door helped to ease any fears.

Benji made an instant friend. Benji likes to be cuddled and what better way to spend a day then to have someone at his beckon call when he needed a hug or a snuggle.... or a piece of licorice.

From left to right we have James 7, Jon 4, Tim 4, Tommy 6, and Davy 6. They are all so funny together, they laugh, and play and talk and just have so much fun when we are together. They too can pick up like they were just at our house yesterday.

This picture I though was funny because Davy is giving a "thumbs up". I'm not sure why but in like 4 of the pictures that I took he is doing it. Oh, and did you notice the extra body... that's yet another boy. That's Jen's youngest Speed. {I hope that boy runs track some day.... or running back in football {that's a position right?}}

So did you count all the boys??? Yup there are 7! Seven wonderful, crazy, LOUD boys.

Two cute boys, and one hot mamma in the back.... hang on there! She's taken. This is my BFF, and she has a solider over seas. And besides... I totally get first dibs on her, she is 3rd Runner-up for Mrs. Utah after all.

After everyone was fed and had 12-15 more pieces of licorice, we decided to go out. Life is so fun when you venture out with a 7 boys! We went to this place called Kelly Springs. You get an inner tube and then you float down a natural spring. The water is shallow so we thought this would be fun for the boys.

There are a total of 5 inner tubes in the car. We looked pretty funny trying to get them all in here. We did take two cars so Jen had her three boys and two tubes in the other car.

Unfortunately there was a people limit on how many were allowed in the spring at any one time, and when we got there is was full. So back we went to drop off the tubes and try some place else.

We went to a place called Wikevia Springs, and it boasted of a "Natural Water slide"

I wasn't convinced that this was natural.

This place was the epitome of a "Red Neck Yacht Club" Not that I have anything against that but when there are lawn chairs in the water, girls in bikinis that were clearly too small for them and a people drinking away... what else am I suppose to think?

There was eve a DJ.... oh yes there was.

The boys all had a great time playing and making up new games and getting dirty. What a life huh!!!

Benjamin got to stay with Grandma J, who I'm sure bent to his every whim. When I got back I swear he smelt like licorice.

When we got back we showered all the boys and got a few more pictures.

As you can clearly see, Speed was not having it.

Here's one where you can see all their faces..

Because the other ones weren't crazy enough the boys wanted a "crazy" picture.

So after a tearful good-buy and a handful of licorice for each boy we set off for home.

I really miss Jen and the boys. I hope that we can live closer some time. I miss when she was around the corner and seeing her was a daily thing. But I love that when we get together it's like everything is normal and the same. I love that all the boys get along so well and that they all have a great time together.

How does your garden grow?

2011-04-19T10:28:00.001-04:00

Very well thank you.

We have been blessed to have a little garden plot at a community church. And you might remember this post when we were first starting out, and had just planted some vegetables.

We now have flowers and even little tomatoes, and some cucumbers!! I am so excited about our romaine lettuce, I don't think that I have ever had such fresh romaine!

This garden is going to be such a blessing in our life with all the fresh veggies! I only wish it was in our back yard, but I'll talk what I can get!

Look at all that green!!!

Making Money

2011-04-18T09:38:00.002-04:00

One day, when James is out in the world making loads of money... I want him to remember his very first entrepreneur endeavor.... selling rocks. It did not go as planned, but you have go through many failures to hit success. And James is now on his way!

Science Fair Winners

2011-04-16T22:53:00.000-04:00

The boys had a Science Fair with the homeschool Co-op. The boys both wanted to enter, so we have now entered the science fair world. We were going to work on them during the break.... but we were all sick, so the week before that's what we focused on.

It went really well and the boys worked really hard on their projects! I am really proud of them!

Tommy did a demonstration on Pulleys. We bought some materials and I drilled some holes and Tommy put together the pulley all on his own. I helped him research about pulleys, and simple machines, but he pulled all the information together.

James chose to do his project on electrical current. Steve helped him build his little current thing, and James collected his materials and tested each one to see if a current will run through it. He even typed up a good portion of it as well.

Tim came along to help set-up and be in the cheering sections,

Until he found something else to entertain him. Queen's "We will Rock You" sounds really neat sang into the fan. Tim really wanted to do a science fair project too.... he is looking forward to next year.

Here's the other part of our cheering section. He had a great time crawling on floor and entertaining everyone with his smile. {do you notice the extra tooth?}

The boys each had to talk to a judge and explain their project and their understanding of it.

Tommy got third place!! He did a really good job. I am so proud of him and his hard work.

James got first place!!! He did a really good job talking with the judge. He was really engaging with the judge and explained his project really well. I was so proud of James and how hard he worked on this.

I am so proud of the boys! It was a great day!!

On Driver, On!!

2011-04-15T10:30:00.001-04:00

Tim and his good friend Jon were out side playing and Tim was pulling Jon in the wagon.

They were having a grand time!!

Jon yelled for Tim to go faster. And with a smile on his face he was happy to oblige.

And then Jon yells... "On Driver, On!!" It was so funny!! I just laughed at this.

And Tim drove on.

I confess!

2011-04-15T07:57:00.003-04:00

I've have had some things to get off my chest lately... so here I am. I'm just telling you. My closest friends, please don't tell anyone....

When I was in high school... I loathed the cheerleaders. Oh, man... it was bad. I was never mean, but really... who could like all that peppy-ness? You know what it was though? I was so jealous! I really wish I could have jumped around and been that confident. I still look at them and am still jealous. Do you think that it's too late to try out??? yeah... I thought so.

We don't have cable... On the CW the "Real Housewives of Orange County" is on at 4:00.... well... was on. I would DVR it and watch it later. {they replaced it with Maury.... YUCK} I kinda liked all the catfights and the drunk ladies at noon.

I love my husband!!! I really do. BUT..... well.... with this whole Royal wedding coming up I am a bit sad that William is no longer eligible. I have always had a secret hope that we would meet in a coffee shop.... wait... I don't drink coffee.... hum, that we would bump into each other during Fashion Week... ahhh.... I trip on myself in heels. Well... that he would pull my name out of thin air and want me {and my 4 kids} to marry him. {not sure yet about the husband thing} I would love to live the royal life. Do you think there is any way I can at least get an invite??

Go on to Mamarazzi and tell your closest friends your confessions.

7 months already!!

2011-04-14T22:18:00.000-04:00

I mean really.... where does the time go. This baby is growing so fast right in front of me. I love watching him grow but it's sad at the same time.

He seems to get bigger every day I pull him out of his bed!!! His baby blues will knock just about everyone over.

His pallet has expanded to include everything off of my plate and anything off the ground.

He is very mobile now and has found his way into many things. We now have to close the doors to all the bedrooms because he gets lost.

I love the dimple that he has. And I love that it's just on one side.

He is such a happy baby! And it's really easy to get him to giggle. And he giggles at funny things.... like eating applesauce, seeing dad walk in the door, and looking at Tommy.

Until he's not...

And then he is done.