True Love

You know someone really loves you when they will drive with 3 young children for 19 hours to see you.

Our BFF'S came from Colorado and we were able to spend some much needed time with them. It needs to happen more often. Its our turn to drive that 19 hours next summer . . . . I can't wait!

We LOVE you Saunders.

Thank you for coming!

Of course I had to take them to shoot Walter while they were here.

Cole, already brushing the Edyn's hair! They are such good friends. Perhaps someday they will get married? 

Jerome

I just have to share this . . . . So stinkin' cute that mom of mine! My dad wrote this. I merely cut and pasted it from my email. Enjoy!

In mid-June Pat came home from teaching her high school Seminary class and found a baby robin sitting in the driveway. He was no bigger than a golf ball. She brought him into the house and dug up some worms in the garden to feed him. She named him Jerome. Most baby birds die within a few days. Not Jerome, he thrived under Pat's care. Soon he was begging for more worms than Pat could find in her garden. She began to buy fishing worms at the local minute mart. Jerome became very tame. Pat had an old hamster cage which became his home. She would take him outside when she was feeding her rabbits, chickens and sheep. While weeding the garden she would take the bottom off his cage so he would learn how to catch his own worms in the grass. Inside the house she would open his cage and he would hop on her finger. He would fly around and land on her shoulder. In the mornings he would hear her coming down the stairs and start squawking for more worms. The whole family would take turns feeding him.

The grandchildren loved to see him. He would sit on their fingers too. One day Pat figured out how much she had spent on worms for Jerome. It was over $150. Jerome was big enough to leave her care. She made sure he could catch his own worms, and at the end of July he was set free. He hung around for weeks. Pat could hear his distinctive chirps from the old maple tree near her bedroom window.

It's mid-August now and she doesn't hear him any more but whenever a robin lands in the back yard or in a tree near her garden and looks down at her, she's sure that its Jerome, just checking up on her.

They say all dogs go to heaven. So do hamsters, goldfish, guinea pigs, turtles, cats, parrots, white rats, lambs, goats, milk cows, chickens and little robins. Pat has raised 15 children. That's nothing compared with the hundreds of pets and animals she has helped her children and her 4-H kids care for.

Some day, hopefully years from now, when we get to heaven, we will see one of Heavenly Father's choice daughters surrounded by a great multitude of children, grandchildren, and hundreds of Gods creatures including one little grateful robin sitting on her shoulder.

Dirty

Two things I am morally opposed to . . . . . . out houses and aquasox . . . . and last week, I had the opportunity to use both . . . . . several times.

a close-up . . . for your viewing pleasure

Although I hate camping . . . I LOVE my family, so this years family reunion was well worth it. It was tons of fun . . . . . excluding the whole outhouse thing, the constant dirt between my toes, a screaming baby ALL NIGHT LONG, and that barf incident outside my cabin door.

My cousin brought her karaoke machine, so we were able to listen to eachothers miserable singing. I was fortunate enough to get to perform "my humps." I'm pretty sure I sound exactly like Fergie.

There is absolutely no way I could go four days without rice crispies. NO. WAY.

Of course we had another talent show. Our family is so talented its almost unbelievable. All of the amazing animal/bodily function sounds we are all able to make just cannot and should not be contained.

Fun slide . . . hence the aquasox. They were a must if you wanted to go down it.

My brother came home from Iraq after being there a year, got off the plane and then joined us for the last night. Yahoo!

I am so grateful for fun memories . . . . . and my bed, and my bathroom, and my shower.

Celebrating

There are many things I cherish in life, two of those being freedom and family. We just had a great weekend celebrating both.

I am so grateful for the many men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. I have three brothers (two who are in Iraq as we speak) and one brother-in-law in the military. Words cannot explain my gratitude to them for helping to protect our country and preserve our freedom. THANK YOU!

A fun filled Friday at Roaring Springs Water Park. Too busy having fun for pictures. This was the only one I took!

A ginormous Block Party. Over 100 people there. My sister and her husband do this every year. FUN . . . FUN . . . FUN!

Quad rides around the block.

A friendly game of Volleyball. (Not pictured: Brett smashing Bekie in the face ON PURPOSE)!

Snow-cones

Big time slip n' slide.

Apparently Lila didn't like said slip n' slide. Notice her death grip on daddy?

Baby Wedgies

Congratulations to Beadsa! She lost her 2nd tooth on July 4th! Her first one was lost on Wednesday night before we left and both of those precious teeth were pulled by Tia Bekie. Thank goodness. There are two things I REFUSE to do as a mother. 1. Pull Teeth (thank you for taking over that responsibility Tia) 2. Teach my kids to drive (thank you in advance Damon, that one has your name written all over it).

Nothing like a neighborhood coming together and lighting off fireworks for over an hour and a half!

Not pictured: Ugly Chin contest. This is something you DO NOT want to miss. I will post those epic pictures at a later date (as soon as my sister relinquishes control of her camera card).

Aaaaaaannnnnnddddd . . . once again, some VERY tired little ladies. It made for a peaceful first hour of the 4.5 hour drive home!

Next year, it would be AMAZING if every one of my 14 brothers and sisters could be there. Those of you who couldn't make it this year . . . you were TRULY missed.

Success

HEAD . . . . .

....... successfully pulled out.

As you all know, I am mediocre at most things, but one thing I totally excel at is feeling sorry for myself, complaining, and being a straight up witch.  After a severe scolding of my own self, LOTS of exercise (what keeps me sane) and realizing being happy is 100% MY RESPONSIBILITY, I think it is safe to say that I am back to my old self.  PHREW!

 (Thank goodness . . . or all that money I spent on therapy years ago would have been a total waste).

I have also been focusing on some VERY important things, LIKE . . . . .

*Playing with my kids.  We are having a delightful summer. Swimming, watching movies, going to the park, hangin' out with cousins, anxiously awaiting the Saunder's arrival (hurry up). I am beginning to love Summer more than I love Fall . . . and I LOVE fall, so thats saying a lot.

We picked cherries tonight at my parents orchard.  Let me know if you wants some, cause there's still TONS.  

*speaking of movies . . . . Mastering "Live Long and Prosper," NOT and easy task.  FYI . . . I make fun of Trekies (sorry Tanisha), but I saw Star Trek, and I cannot believe how much I LOVED it. Who KNEW??  I may give Transformers a shot!  

*Voice lessons . . . . . simply because I don't want to be mediocre anymore.  

*Running . . . for reals this time . . . . except not on the beach . . . . (dang), but at the gym.... on the treadmill . . . and soon around my town, when I won't actually pass out after three miles and embarrass myself.  Like I said, exercise is my medication.  As I am now unemployed (Hallelujah), I have time to do this.  I did a total of 12 miles this week, and it makes me HAPPY!!!!  As a matter of fact, My sisters and perhaps a couple of my brothers are going to be running half marathon in September, so I am going to enjoy the next three months training for that.  Wish me luck.  This outta shape crazy mama is gonna need it.

I will do the best I can to keep my head out.  I can almost guarantee that at some point I will be in another crazy funk.  I guess thats just part of life.  But at least now I know that I am not alone, that I am human, and that I am striving to BE and DO better.

Funk

Have you ever had one of those days when . . . . . . .

*you wake up pissed for no apparent reason

*the thought of getting three kids ready in thirty minutes (you are so tired you can barely roll yourself out of bed), including breakfast, teeth brushed, hair combed and in the car seems more difficult than running a marathon.

*if you have to listen to one more second of crying and whining, you might curl up in the fetal position and throw a giant fit of your own

*if you trip over one more pair of shoes that someone so kindly left in the middle of the floor of the kitchen, you might just throw them out the window

*you can't remember the last time you took a pee by yourself

*just when you think you could not be anymore impatient . . . you dig down real deep and . . . . HELLO to some more impatience

*your house is filthy, yet you refuse to clean it one more time

*the thought of going to work and finishing up the ONE LAST THING you have to do before you officially quit makes you want to vomit
*If anyone crosses you, they run the risk of getting a karate chop to the face

*the mere thought of your husband breathing could send you over the edge

*you can't sit down, because if you do, you might fall asleep

*you keep eating your brains out, because for some deranged reason you want to re-lose that 8 pounds you lost

*you want to pull your hair out and scream because apparently no one is listening to a word you say

I have.

Actually, the last two months have been like this. I have been in a crazy FUNK.

I realize this post may sound a bit psychotic, but you should know by now that I'm not one to sugar coat things. Apparently one of my endearing qualities is that I am painfully honest . . . . (so I've been told). I suppose I say it how it is. That's how I roll.

I wish I had a good reason why I have been in said funk . . . . like say. . . . . pregnancy (actually, I DO NOT wish I were pregnant, but then at least I would have a good excuse as to why I have been so crazy). But I don't.

Well . . . . . I guess I do, but its just taken me a long time to figure it out.

Too much on my plate.

I just can't do everything.

I have got to relax. My kids don't need to be in every extracurricular activity. Who cares if we have peanut butter and jelly for dinner. Doesn't matter if I have a muffin top. Showering everyday went out the window a LONG time ago. Its okay to eat fast food every once in a while. Some people are stupid, and I can't do anything to change that. Quit turning on the news . . . It only gets me more irritated. Having a clean house all the time is very unrealistic. Big deal if my kids hair isn't brushed. The sound of my own complaining is just as about as annoying as my kids whining. The world does not revolve around me. Serving others really does make me happy. Who cares if I rent for another 4 years. Life is no fun when you are stressed out all the time. I don't want my kids to resent me when they grow up. Its okay to ask for help.

Now excuse me while I go pull my head out, quit feeling sorry for myself, find a better attitude, and tame my inner beast.

Summer Lovin'

Sun

Planting my first garden. Isn't she cute?

Watermelon is my second favorite food (next to avocados). I spend gobs of $ every summer on this ball of deliciousness, and all of it goes into my belly.  It is safe to say that I can polish off a whole (seedless of course) watermelon by myself in one sitting.  If you don't believe me, fine.  But I speak the truth, and I challenge you to a watermelon eating dual (I will win, no one stands a chance).

Naked babies eating McDonalds ice cream.  Another of my favorite summer (actually any season will work) treats. 

Friends with pools . . . I wish I had something to offer them, besides my sparkling personality and an occasional glimpse of my hot body. 

Pool Hair

Wedgies

Scooter Riding

(you're welcome....... for shaving my pits today).

Backyard daddy/daughter soccer.  It usually includes an amazing fit thrown by Ava. 

My Gorgeous Girls . . . . .(no, i didn't plant these, but its a chore keeping them this gorgeous, so i will give myself credit, where credit is due).

Not pictured: my filthy, neglected house (too busy swimming), walks around the loop, my non-bikini body (still working on that), going to bed late, sleeping in, and being plain lazy. 

I love you Summer.