weekend

The last few days of vacation have been one thing...rainy.

Carter had his first experience in high school basketball. He had a MSU basketball weekend and really REALLY enjoyed himself.
It felt like such a quick weekend. After work on Saturday, the rest of us went up to Billings for a little bit of shopping :) It was a short trip, but fun!
Josh and Carter went back up for more ball today and the rest of us went to eat chinese for lunch with Papa, grandma Pat, Dave, Debbie, and Brandi. :) It was great to catch up.
Tomorrow, I am hoping to get a couple of the four wheelers running. The kids just love having them going.
I can't wait for actual summer weather :) It's a coming.

Life

Life is not an emergency. Life is a gift. Just.Slow.Down

3 things

Three things I love about day 3 of summer vacation

1. Sleeping in
2.Swimming at the pool
3. More friends for the kids

My little sis called me tonight and made me feel at ease. She is coming and staying the whole time I am gone and is going to help with the kids. I couldn't be more excited or thankful. I am blessed. :)

Summer Vaca..Day 2

So, I have decided already that I DO NOT like to work when the kids are out of school. By 8:3o, the time I knew they would be up...I was wanting to be home :(

This morning, Paige did another work out in the pool and took Mia...they had fun. Kain stayed home and played on the computer. Carter got up this morning and went to the gym and then hung out with Jackson until I got off of work.

After work, I grabbed Carter and the five of us headed to Cody. I had to work out and the kids were hungry, so Paige took them all to eat and to ice cream while I trained with Jess. We went to Wal-Mart and did some shopping. It was so nice to just be together...if only for a bit.

Tonight Mia was invited by Madison to go to story time at the library in her PJ's, Kain went to Dylans, Carter went to the gym, Paige went to a friends..what the heck! I made myself go the gym and now 50% of my kids are back. I don't think I will ever get used to the idea of them being gone..If I could freeze time and keep them with me, I WOULD!!!

We decided with the Thorington's kids that this was going to be the BEST SUMMER EVER! We have decided to decorate a shoe box and it is going to hold our most cherished summer memories. We decided that on every adventure we go on, we will collect one thing from that day (a rock, a treasure, anything) and we will write on the back of it so we can look back at then end of the summer and smile at all our adventures. My plan is to take pictures of all the activities and help them do an album at the end of the summer. I already failed because we went to Buffalo Bill and threw rocks in the lake, and they waded in the pond yesterday...but from now on..I am ON IT...maybe kinda sorta.

Tomorrow, I am going to try to clean my house AND do some laundry since it is slim pickings on the clothing right now! I need to finish filling out paperwork and registrations for activities (this will all happen after I sleep in-hooray for me). Hopefully we can make a few memories and maybe, if we are lucky, I will document some of it.

School is out...Vacation begins :)

No school. I get my kids back :) Hooray!!

Today was a great first day of summer vacation...what did we do?

It started last night for Paige with some work at Chinatown, followed by some sleeping in...and then some more work at the coffee hut, and then an 1.5 hour swim at the pool..not so much fun for her first day! But, she is at a friend's tonight :)

Carter spent the night at Kalei's and was up bright and early for weight training at the high school at six. He then went to Sweets to hang with Matt and Kalei..I picked him up with enough time for him to pack a new bag and he is heading to Jacksons...social butterfly!

Kain spent the night at Dylans house and we picked him up at 3 (he wouldn't go to the pool with us today) and we loaded up his bike and went to Thoringtons. He and Hartly went on a long bike ride, played in the pond, and had a blast!

Mia and I met Hartly, Addy, Austin and Lexus at the pool..they swam for FOUR hours!! I sat and worked on my overwhelming summer schedule. We then headed to Frankos for some lunch and then picked up Kain and we all headed our to Thoringtons. Mia had an awesome story about Dana going after one of the ducks who was being mean to Addy's duck..I wish I had a video because it sounded HILARIOUS. Mia and I also played an hour of Kinect :) I love these days.

I had huge stress today when I was working on the summer schedule. Four very active kids makes for a very very full summer. I think Carter has a total of seven camps and then games on top of that! It is a change this year because I am also working two mornings a week.(but better than the five or six I have been working)

I am not sure how we will get through the busy days, but I know one thing for sure...I will cherish the lazy days..the freedom..the smiles...the laughter :)

Mother/daughter campout

Who can say they actually got to stay in the Draper Museum of Natural History? Mia's girl scout troop! We got to spend an amazing night on Mother's day weekend there learning about the Plains Indians and so much more!

This is the second time the girls have been asked to be a part of something so amazing! The first time, they learned about nocturnal animals and had a live owl there! I was blessed to not only be with my most wonderful daughter, but my friends and their kids too! We laughed, we danced, we got "double dream busted", it was truly a memorable time! We had flashlight scavenger hunts, crafts, story time, games..I can't say enough about the wonderful staff and our troop!

Sweet Natalie snuggling in for the night!

Kenna Making me laugh! :)

My Sweet Hartly B.

Chilling before bed :)

The one who makes my life full of smiles, love, and joy. Darci and I were texting (nearly side by side) and laughing with joy at the memories we created with our girls, and ourselves for that matter.

vacation!!!

so, I am lying here on the bed of our vacation home in Malibu..reflecting....

1. on how wonderful my parents are to take us places, spoil us, enjoy us, laugh with us
2. on vacation mindset. I have stressed less, enjoyed more, laughed more
3. on my amazing kids. I love that they all will be in the bathroom at the same time, or huddled together on the bed watching tv with their arms around each other, or playing games with bowls and a bouncy ball...the list goes on and on
4. on my friends...they check on me, text me, tell me they miss me..makes ya feel good
5. on my sisters. I love them. Am blessed to be able to send them texts with the random things of life.
6. I WANT TO STAY HERE FOREVER.

lost__________if found please return to ME!!!

I have been missing my laptop chargers (both laptops) for TWO weeks..not one, but two..

I am missing the cable to my Cannon

I am missing the cable to my Panasonic

I am missing the 16 gb card

I am missing my two favorite tank tops that aren't made anymore by modbe

I am missing a christmas present for Jackie..it is somewhere

I am missing Mia's birth certificate

I am missing one of my favorite havaianas flip flops (just one)

I am missing my favorite pink flower for my hair

I am missing more than 50% of the makeup I buy

I am missing my favorite black tunic top..haven't worn in at least a month

I am missing 2 heat tools for card making..

I am missing...my MIND!!!


Ok, I think the point has been made. Every year I say, this is the year..the year of ME getting ORGANIZED..it NEVER happens! I don't have that gift. I lose everything. I lose my phone at least twice a day, my debit card once a week, checks I need to deposit ALL the time, clothes, stamps, everything that I touch..like magic dissapears!

If anyone..anyone has any suggestions..call me at 555-LOST..it's my hotline.

a better tomorrow.

So, it is 10:45 and I am listening to Carter get food...again. He is obviously growing and can't seem to sleep because his belly is always empty. As I sit here and think how amazing he is..I think about how UN amazing I can be.

I thought it would be easier as the kids got older. All it means is that their problems, clothes, appetite and schedules get bigger. :)

I never forget how blessed I am, but some days I need a time out..from myself~I am by no means a perfect mother and lose my cool, and in turn have to ask for forgiveness. Jamie and I always have the conversation about the refiners fire. I must need lots of refinement. Most days I pray..help me be better today than I was yesterday. Most days I nail it, other times I miss miserably and feel like an EPIC failure.

I wonder why I hang on to the failure for days?

I just hate that I get frustrated by small things when I look around and see how blessed I am to have only the challenges I have, which are minor.

I sometimes, like I said..need a time out to reflect on how blessed I am. How to laugh at the ridiculous things that happen in my house on a daily basis. My house is filled with love, LOTS of laughter, even more humor and I forget that. I get pulled down into this attitude of focusing on that "one bad thing" or that "one bad comment" someone said..Its a total waste of time. So tomorrow, I pray, I am better than today :)

Christmas Break OVER!!??!!

It just wasn't long enough. I love the time with the kids and man, were we busy this break. The bummer was that there was LOTS and LOTS of puking. We got a super bad stomach bug and everyone felt it in one way or another. We also shared with my sisters, mom, and Mia's friend Madison :(

I am immensely thankful for my family. I LOVE playing games. We are a game family. We played Catch Phrase, Trivia, Uno Attack, Farkle, Life, Loops, Headbands, Guesstures to just name a few that I think of. We also played many many games on the Kinect. The best part was having my sister home from Laramie, Mush,FINALLY getting whole family pictures, and SOCK WAR!!!

I am typing this thinking about Carter's birthday....which is today! I can't believe it. I will post separately about that AMAZING kid..but wow, he really is!! Tomorrow, just the two of us, are going to Billings. I am so excited for a day with just him. :) It doesn't happen near enough and I am happy that we are doing it :)

I am going to get pictures of our Christmas up here soon. :) Happy New Year!!!

RRP2 (We have the same eyes)

I love this picture of Kain and me. He makes me smile with his wackiness. He makes faces nearly every time we take pictures. I think what I love the most about this picture is that our eyes match! He is the only one who has true blue eyes like me.

Sometimes I feel like I am at the end of my rope..he knows how to push..how to poke...how to irritate, and I want to throw my hands in the air and scream (I do sometimes) but I get Kain. I love him more than he even understands. We have a thing, Kain and I. I love you to the moon and back. He hates my kisses, doesn't like to snuggle me anymore, rolls his eyes when I dance in the car, but he knows...I know..we both love each other to the moon and back.

RRP1 (We are not farm people)

We are not farm people..We do not have a barn, a huge pasture, horses, ducks, a pond..All the things Dana has that Mia LOVES!! We are blessed to have Dana who is a huge part of our lives..She isn't an aunt by blood, or by marriage, but she is an aunt in EVERY way.

She comes to the kids events, sets up playdates, listens to all the stories of our lives..everyday..and really cares. She knows what all four of my kids are doing on any given day and loves them and supports them.

I appreciate it, love her and don't take a second of it for granted.

This day, because Mia begged..in the rain..Dana took her on a little horseback ride. As you can tell by the picture, Mia was thrilled. She loved it! She had some hand me down pink boots she bought from Dani and Kenna's yard sale and her bandana and she was ready to go. Life is so good, and it is moments like this that I know she will remember forever..and know how loved she is.

So..

So Ginger just texted me and asked why she couldn't post on my FB, my answer..I have no idea :) But the conversation went something like this after that..

Me: I am supposed to be working on homemade Christmas gifts and I am blogging and facebooking instead.
Ginger : Now you are texting too. I am supposed to be sleeping because I have to get up early to work on evaluations
Me: It's called ADD. I can't help but do many things. Evals = barf.
Ginger:It can be a gift and a curse - ADD
Me:It gives me all my creativity and causes me to finish nothing at the same time
Ginger:Pefectly put! I hope you finish up soon
Me: and if I had to do an evaluation, it would say "I went in to observe your class, and I got sidetracked by your sparkly necklace, therefore, you are awesome"
Me: (this one in my head) Did she really fall asleep, just like that? I wonder if she has worn that cute scarf she got at Kohls the other day..I still owe her for Costco..What time did she say the kids next games were...Did she get my email..about the Mary Kay..Did she see the holiday Minute to Win it..I need to get on that if we are doing it as a family for Christmas..also....

Russian Roulette Blogging

Ok, So...I am so far behind that I am lapping myself. I know I will never, ever, NEVER, get to all the pictures I take, and they certainly won't be in any sort of chronological order..it just isn't me..not in the cards..

So, here is what I have decided to do..play picture roulette...I am going to just open a random, and most certainly unlabeled folder of pictures..pick one and talk about it. I think this makes TOTAL sense!!!

I am not going to write out Russian Roulette Blogging every single time so I have decided on RRP1, RRP2, and so on..This is going to be fun..I can just feel it.

While we are on the subject of fun. In the category of fun, is my use of the "......." This is so not grammatically correct, but they make me happy. It is how I can write, and not edit..and change subjects..and not complete sentences! MAN, that makes me happy!

While I am on an ADD tangent, I will add that the following random things make me happy (these are mindless things, and me not listing my kids, my family, my friends, and all that jazz is a given - they are above the mindless list)

1. Crazy Core Skittles. I love them and could eat a giant bag and not think twice about it.

2. All things pink. I had to add that one because I am sitting in my awesome black, white and pink scrapbook room:)

3. Infinity Scarfs..Can't get enough of them and wear one with casual clothes and it totally dresses it up.

4. Hair flowers, but not gerb flowers( I like these, not love) handmade..different ones. They are a life saver while growing out my hair for Locks for Love.

5.Diet Coke...love.

6. Game shows. I have a 75 year old soul apparently

7. The quiet that happens in the middle of the night.

8. Crafting blogs..that only add to my ADD.

There are more, but my tangent has kept me from my new RRP plan..and so I am done!

Christmas Presents and the milk to cereal ratio

What does this picture of cereal have to do with my Christmas Presents? Well, you are about to find out..

Today, I started to sort my Christmas gifts..Four kids..four small piles..trying to make it even for in amount..even in size..even in price...it just doesn't work.

So far, at this moment, things are a bit lop-sided. I got out my piece of paper and wrote down what each child had from each person (since I did extra shopping for grandparents) and what I discovered...is that I need to do more shopping..oh so sad for me..

I was telling my friend Vanna about my predicament after school today and she said it best..I say Christmas shopping is like milk and cereal..You get a bowl of cereal and eat it. At the end, you realize you have a bit of milk left..so you add more cereal. Then, you need more milk because your cereal needs a bit more. Over and over.

The same applies to shopping for gifts. You get one more gift to balance here, and then one more gift to balance here. In the end, you have more gifts than you intended to buy and want to pull your hair out when you look at the checking account balance.

Vanna texted me later and asked what I was doing, I said "trying to figure out my milk to cereal ratio"

So I lost my laptop

I lost my laptop...It is mini, but it isn't that small..what the heck. I had to get out the big laptop, which is great, but NONE of my pictures are on this one!!! Blogging is never easy for me..I don't like technology. Technology doesn't like me...Well I like it, but I would like someone else to assist me!

Another season almost over for Carter! I can't believe it. He is amazing. Truly

I have to take pictures this next weekend...if my camera returns from Panasonic (see my love/hate issues). Thankfully, I have found some great picture of carter on wyopix that I can have copies made...makes it easier to get good pictures that I may or may not scrapbook...

I have so many thoughts running through my head all the time, I don't know why I can't seem to get them down here.

Paige found out she made All-Northwest..it was harder to get into this year and she made it. She also just found out she made All-state. She is at state drama right now, I can't wait to see the pictures. The community play is this week. Wow.

Mia..is starting a book club. This makes me so happy since I have been in the same one for over ten years!!

Kain, finally stood up to the bully, punched him in the face and it is better..for now anyway!!

Me, I have been working at ton at Southside and LOVIN' it. I love the staff,the kids, the whole deal..it makes me happy!! :)

I have done NO decorating, no wrapping, haven't completed my shopping..so that is nice!!

I did have a very successful craft fair..the is actually NICE :)

December is here and I know this month is actually going to scream by..I need to get organized..

Procrastinators unite..tomorrow.

Free Time..

It's not like Carter has much free time. Football turned into basketball with a Sunday break in between. But this last weekend, there were no games! It is rare, and the kids always enjoy a bit of sleeping in and hanging out. After church yesterday, Carter and Kalei were shooting hoops when they saw the sidewalk chalk and decided to do a little artwork. It was impossible to get the right angle to read it..Carter wanted to climb on the roof and stand on a ladder for the proper aerial veiw. Kalei said.."ok, I am going to sit on a pillow on the rim and you can raise up the hoop"..I opted for neither of these and just stood on a ladder (short one) and took these pictures. I love that in a video game/technology world, the boys like the simple things. Kain and Mia were out there helping them too..Our fall is almost over and its fun to see the kids enjoy these last few days! We did enjoy our no game weekend..this next week, we start the games again! :) Go Carter!

It says Carter + Kalei = Love...NERDS!!!

Could She REALLY be 16?

The answer...yes!

I have mixed emotions about this. She is amazing, kind, funny, witty, and truly a joy to be around. But 16...SIXTEEN

I love that she still acts silly. That just last night she was trying to convince Carter to dance ballet with her and she would run and dive into his arms..and he, being the good brother would catch her.

I love that she cares. I love that she doesn't act like a teenager. I love that church isn't just something she has to do. I love the way she loves her siblings (for the most part). I love that she sees when I need help. I love the way she makes me laugh by telling me stories about her day. I love that her teachers love her. I love that she loves music. I love that she still thinks I am pretty cool. I love that she is loyal. I love that she sings like no one is listening. I love that music moves her. I love that she wears dresses. I love that she is one of a kind in a world of cookie cutters. I love that well, she is Paige..because I could go on forever.

I hate that she is growing up. I hate that time feels like it is slipping through my hands. I hate that she talks about college. I hate that her time left with me is short..it breaks my heart.

I have this time left..I will cherish every single stinkin minute. :)

big sigh

Somedays are easier than others. Somedays all the kids get along great, have a wonderful attitude..and then there are the other days. The morning where everyone gets up late.
Paige needs her hair braided, and did I mention I made 8 homecoming olympic tshirts and capes, and 2 more shirts for her, and a hairbow in the last 2 days? Mia needs hers braided and she can't find her shoes. Kain didn't do his homework, and I forgot to wash his clothes, and we had a huge blowout and I sent him to school with tears in his eyes, and Carter won't eat breakfast....that was this morning. Big sigh.

I knew everyday wasn't going to be a cake walk, but sometimes, it gets totally overwhelming. I love them all so much and woud walk through fire for them. At times, in certain circumstances, I feel like I have. It's all part of the job description..right? I wouldn't trade one of them for the world, but it's hard sometimes. Big sigh. Maybe a massage will work? Pedicure? Nap? Book? It's time to chose one of them :)

Brothers

When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life

Brothers..the joy, the laughter, the pain.

---Growing up with no brothers, I guess I didn't understand brothers until I started dating Josh. His relationship with his brothers was a strong one. Yes, they would fight and argue about crazy things..pick on each other, and point out every quirky thing the other ones would do...but they were also fiercely devoted to each other. They would stand up for each other and shared everything...talk about cars, music, family, girls...you get the drift.

---I wondered, as I held Carter for the first time..what would he do? What will be become? When Kain arrived, I wondered the same things. I still wonder. I look at these two amazing boys with the world at their feet and know the possibilities are endless...but what I love the most is the relationship they have..the good and the bad.

---Tonight the boys were throwing the football to each other for a long time. I walked out in the front yard and smiled. Brothers are built in friends. It's someone to talk about school, sports, share you-tube videos with, play video games with, someone to play ENDLESS games of chess with. (this list could go on forever)

---On the other hand, someone who knows EXACTLY what to say to get under your skin, who knows the words that hurt the most, who bugs you, throws things at you, screams at you..you get the idea.

---I wonder if they know how lucky they are, and I already know the answer. Not yet. Someday they will. I pray that my kids will always be close, that no matter the miles or the circumstances they will be able to be there for each other. I have told the kids a thousand times. "friends come and go, but family is what makes it all worth it"