silliness

Here are a few silly/funny things about our weekend at my brothers in SLC...

Pucca was convinced this was a castle. During our walk through at the visitor center, she kept referring to it as such- even to the sister missionaries. They kept trying to correct her- but that was a lost cause!










This picture was taken on the edge of a drop off- at least 100ft down a rocky cliff to a stream below. I was trying to get all the kids (cousins) in the picture and without thinking- I kept telling my brother to back up...uh duh! We ended up just clicking some pix and that was that. Having that many children on the edge of a cliff- we were just pressing our luck!



I think we wore poor little E out! Sunday evening...Tricia was braiding her hair before bed and she fell asleep...in the middle of getting her hair done! And it was only like 5 minutes...definitely one tired princess!








It really was a great week- the cousins were fun and no major fights erupted! A miracle of sorts for our family!

less than 3 weeks

Can you believe that in less than 3 weeks- our kids will be in school! The twins in middle school and Pucca in 1st grade. This summer passed impossibly fast!

We are starting the standard 'going back to school' routine:

• hair cuts (and highlights for the twins)
• new shoes
• school clothes (the girls got a good start with some bday money)
  
• back packs
• school supplies
• open houses and back to school parties
• finding lunch bags, cooler packs and tupperware
  
• enjoying the last days of summer (heading davey next week)
• figuring out school routines, schedules etc (the LPS packets started arriving yesterday)

I don't remember summer passing this quickly when I was younger- maybe it has something to do with the perpetual maternal clock that seems to be spinning way too fast and sounding its alarm indicating my babies aren't babies anymore and my time with them at home is more than half way through... OR maybe its just the old saying holding true- time truly does fly when you're having fun!

Home

We're back! The girls, my mom and I spent last week in SLC visiting my brother and his family. It was really alot of fun! We hadn't been to Utah for about 5 years...and being there for Pioneer Day, visiting Temple Square and going to a Temple Open House were great for the kids. Not to mention spending time with the cousins!

Here are some pix:










Cousins at Temple Square; Pucca and 'her friend"; 6 kids in a tiny pool- life guard PLEASE!; the fam (minus 2 little ones) at Oquirrh Temple Open House



The week was full of laughs and fun...for example:


On the way out to Utah last Thursday we decided to stop in Vadeuwoo...a really cool rock climbing park in Wyoming. The girls and I were walking around looking at the large boulders, finding animals and talking about how beautiful everything was! And this is what my mom found...a rock that looks like a butt crack! IT REALLY DOES! I really think it should have a little plaque that identifies it as Butt Crack Rock...giving credit where credit is due!










Visiting family is always fun- but it always feels so good to be home!

Heading West...tally-ho!

The girls, my mother and I are headed to UTAH...we leave bright and early Thursday morning. (Actually, we are going to GI town tomorrow evening...sleeping at my mom's and then leaving before the sun comes up!)

Confession time:

I haven't started packing. I took out the suitcases yesterday- looked at them all day and finally decided that it was just too much work so I'd wait until today. Um ya- they are still sitting out...empty. Maybe tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow...The girls have piano lessons (all three girls-pucca started lessons this summer). I have an AD meeting I have to teach and its at my house- so I should probably pick up a little. I need to make a Davey run...which isn't hard just time consuming. I need to get an oil change. The girls wanted to rent a few movies for the portable dvd players (they're still not sure about a 12 hour car ride). They also wanted to stop by B & N to spend some bday gift cards.

oh ya- and the sister missionaries are coming over for dinner. Then we head to GI town.

Did I mention that I spent most of day in Omaha at the cannery today and they girls have softball tonight? wonder when exactly I was thinking I would have time to pack...hmmmmm...

Owell- all part of being a mom. Utah here we come!

not sure how the blog accessibility will be...put I'll be sure to post some pix. Its always entertaining getting my mom and I together!

500

This is my 500th post - holy smokes!

In celebration of such a wondrous event, I was wanting to do something, um, uh well celebratory!

So I thought of all the things I could do...

• 500 things about me (um no thanks- way too much info for you)
• 500 reasons why I love ...not even sure where that one was going
• the importance of the number 500 (?- couldn't find one)
• 500 represented in different languages (might be interesting)
• random photos of 500 off of a google search

In the end- I decided to just link some of my fondest posts...the ones that represent our family to the fullest!

theres this one, this one,this one and this one and then this one...nothing like a little cyber blackmail!


Happy 500th!

Roses are red...

Why is that fresh cut flowers always seem to make your house more cozy and happy?

I was running errands yesterday and picked up two dozen roses. Some are on the coffee table, some in the guest bathroom and some on my bedside table. They just add something to your home- I can't quite explain it!

I encourage you all to treat yourself! HyVee is having a rose sale...50 cents a stem...and there is a huge variety of colors! Otherwise- hit the farmers market! Sunflowers, zinnias, lilies- oh MY! Pucca spotted some pretty pink, orange and white zinnias at the farmers market last week and they are now adding sweetness and color to her newly arranged bedroom. Almost a week later and they are still beautifully formed!

I always thought those designers on tv were full of crap when they would tell the homeowners NOT to have fake plants or flowers- always use REAL. I totally agree now! Its not a constant thing around here- but when I spot pretty blooms at a reasonable price- I can't help myself!

11 years ago right now

If I could be teleported back in time 11 years right now...I would swearing at my sweet husband, crying to my mom, begging my best friend to track down the anesthesiologist and trying to convince the nurse there was no way I could possibly birth twins.

Our sweet little twinnies were born today and I'm having a hard time believing its been eleven years.

Kynna was born first weighing in at 5 lbs 13 oz. Seventeen LONG minutes later Kwynnie finally decided to join us, all 4 lbs 10 oz. She came feet first- I should have known she'd be a handful!

I have alot of memories of their birth, mostly funny, but the one thing that sticks out the most today- was how I felt when they placed them in my arms. I was fine- the babies were fine, but because I had them in the c-section operating room (as a precaution) I wasn't able to see them right away after they were born. They wheeled me into the nursery, the babies had already been bathed...and I just couldn't stop staring. I was awestruck. We had created these two tiny perfect angels. All 20 fingers and all 20 toes. Their perfect noses, cherub faces and pouty lips.

These little sweeties have grown into amazing young women. They are sweet, caring, hardworking, smart, loyal and a joy to have as daughters. I wish you the best today! We love you!

when life hands you lemons...

The twins had softball practice last night. So all three girls and I loaded into John's car and headed for practice. On the way out the subdivision we noticed the cutest sight! A couple of children (siblings- a boy and girl) had set up an adorable little lemonade stand on the sidewalk in front of their house. At first we drove by, smiled and waved. By the time we made it to the end of the block- we had made a unanimous decision to purchase some of their lemon-y goodness.

The boy and girl were giddy with excitement as the girls walked up with money. It was sweet, cute, adorable! I mean the sign read "LEMINADE" in the heart melting penmanship of a 5 year old...the whole scene was straight from Mr. Rockwell himself!

The sweet girl filled up our glasses to the rim. Then proceeded to thank us over and over when the Pucca told her she could keep the change (50 whole cents!)

We loaded up into the car with our citrus refreshments- smiling on the inside and out for the experience that had just transpired! It was one of those rare moments that shines happiness. Almost taking you back to a time when you could let your children run around the neighborhood and not worry. To a time where cynicism wasn't the reaction to every act of kindness. Just one of those moments of simple joy!

As we buckled in our seatbelts and pull away, Kynna remarked how glad she was we stopped. I smiled at her and said "Me too." as I took a sip. It was a precious moment to say the least.

I immediately start choking and shaking my head. Kynna starts gagging. Kwynn's face is all puckered up and Pucca refused to even taste hers. It was the worst lemonade we've ever had! I pull over a few blocks down (out of sight from the sweet brother and sister) and proceed to empty all the sweet lemony happiness down into the gutter.

Figures.

A fly on the wall

Our family may be strange...or perhaps other families are this way too. Do you ever hear or say random crazy phrases or sentences that make sense at the time- but taken out of context would leave people scratching their heads? Sounds confusing...but here are some examples.
"I bet you smelled like fart all day!"

"Oh man- I think I've irritated my fungus again!"

"So when you die- how many diamonds do we each get?"

"Dads smell like dead roses."
"Whatever you say my lovely."

"Did you know turtles can breathe out their butts?"

"She looks like yellow trash- make her stop!"


These are all things that the kids have said that I swear made sense in the moment and were funny as heck! I love being able to be home with kids...eventhough they drive me NUTZ-O! We never hesitate to laugh at eachother or the moment...its one of the best parts of being a family!

43 days left

Did you know there are only 43 days left of summer vacation! CRAZY! Seems like its just zooming by!

We still have so much to do!

1. Spend a few weeks at Davey: working on the girls' fort, swimming at the lake, relax and get away from everything!
2. Celebrate the twin's turning 11! (still can't believe it!)
3. Spend a week in Utah visiting my brother and his family!
4. Finish up softball...the girls have a game this evening! Thinking its going to be a hot one!
5. Visit my other brother in Kansas
6. Try my hand at canning...hot water bath...still need someone to show me how to pressure can!

And then all the back to school stuff...shopping, school supplies, new back packs, haircuts etc

I'm thinking there won't be too many lazy days like today...we all slept in until 8:45! I'm not going to lie- it was really nice! Who knew vacation could take so much out you!

home

Our family is home from a 6 day trip to South Dakota. We hung out with friends and had a great time.

We did the tourist-y things like Bear Country and Reptile Gardens. But we also drove through the beautiful Spearfish Canyon on some back roads, took a hike up to a beautiful waterfall, watched a small town 4th of July Parade and explored the Badlands.

One of the funniest things though- was on the 4th of July. We were back at our friend's house and I went to use the bathroom. All of a sudden I here this LOUD-house shaking-ROAR...and Amber starts yelling "Everybody outside! Quick!" Now they live on the side of a mountain in a mining town...so I'm not quite sure what the heck is going on! I seriously contemplated running out of the house with my pants around my ankles!
It seems some B-12 fighter pilots picked a GREAT time to do a low...very low... flyover through the hills. The roar of its engines echoed off the hills and amplified it. Amber was wanting us (especially the kids) to hurry outside to see the planes.

Rain and fog fizzled out Rushmore's fireworks...resulting in some pretty colored clouds. I am so glad we didn't hike 8 miles to get that grand disappointment! We did get to see a great display in Lead though!

Here's a photo collage of our trip: