Not sure what to post.

I have so many thought going through my head. Putting them all onto a page and having that page make sense is really hard for me right now. It is late, and I am tired, but I felt that I needed to sit and post something.

Of all the things that are racing in my mind right now one thought stands out more than others.

It is this....

" I never said it would be easy, I only said that it was worth it."

Boy do I ever hope so!

Little Princess' Gymnastics Show

Little Princess has been taking gymnastics from a friend of mine for the last little while. She has set up a really cool gym in her basement and teaches to all the kids in our neighborhood. She has done a really good job and the Princess loves it. Last time she had a show I didn't take my camera because I knew it was going to be pretty dark. I have been kicking myself ever since. So tonight, I took it. Sorry for the dark pictures, but I have to share.

Just a little side note. See that necklace that she has on? Her daddy made that for her last night.

"THE" hat

This little man got a fireman's hat at the neighborhood's preparedness fair the other day. He hasn't taken it off since. It has been making me laugh for days now! He is such a silly kid!

Not only his goofy hat, and his cheesy smile, but those teeth are killing me!
That and the fact that he has been walking all over the place with the hat covering his eyes. He runs into the walls and thinks that it is just so funny!
And his dimple!

He is just so entertaining!

Snow Cone Shack Attack

What a success! You wouldn't believe how many people came to Little Dude's Snow Shack! We did spend all morning getting ready for it by passing out fliers and stuff, but never did I think that there would be so many people!

When we counted up the money to see how much he made I couldn't believe it! I just kept thinking "what kind of kid makes $56.25 with selling snow cones for an hour and a half!" Seriously! That is no joke! I can't get over the shock of it myself!

We ran out of flavors on the very last customer. We had to borrow 4 cups or so from the neighbor, and we were almost out of ice, but that was it!




I am tired, sticky, and sun burnt. But mostly I am one proud mother!

My Little Entrepreneur

If anyone if dying for a snow cone today you should stop by!

I love that he is doing all that he knows how at this crazy times in our lives. You wouldn't believe the preparation that he is putting into all this. Signs, fliers, and even a phone call to his grandpa that is on vacation to ask if we could use his ice, cups and a table.

I just can't express right now how much I love this kid!

Counting My Blessings

Naming them one by one.

Here they are. The many things in my life that overshadow the crappy few things.

- I was sitting on my couch crying in the dark. My little princess came and sat on my lap. She had no idea why I was crying. She put her head on my shoulder and just cried with me. This was one moment that I will NEVER forget. That girl is so in touch to others feelings that she can sit and cry with me. I love her, and that was just so sweet to me.

- We stopped crying and I told her one thing that I really like to do it watch out the front window for planes lining up to land at the airport. So we did that for awhile. This was something totally new to her and she was so excited to share that moment with me.

- My awesome sister in law spent hours talking to me and sharing things with me that she was very inspired to share. When times get hard the Lord sends people to help. She helped, and I love her so much for being that messenger.

- A dear friend of mine brought us dinner the other night because she knew we were a mess.

- Another dear friend brought us nice warm chocolate chip cookies first thing the next morning. I cried when I saw her because it meant SO much to me! I ate almost the entire plate by myself in less than 10 minutes.

- That same awesome friend took the kids to the school fair while I worked. The kids came home super sticky and happy! Just was summer is all about.

- I came upstairs from working and my Little Princess had picked flowers out of the neighbor's yard and put them in a bouquet in a plastic cup. She snuck downstairs and put them on my desk for me to see when I went back to work. I have been loving them all weekend.

-While working on Friday my hubby brought me a message that said we were going camping as soon as I got off work. And we did. We went to Topaz Mountain with some friends and had such a great time. We spent all day Saturday looking for treasure/topaz. We had so much fun. It was what we needed.

- Father's Day was a lazy day. I had to work and wasn't able to go to church, but I was able to decorate the garage door for my hubby to see when he got home from church.

- I got a phone call from someone super special to me and we got to visit for awhile. It was really cool to catch up with her and to hear that she might be here in a few months.

- Little Dude has had the neighbors laughing today by taking all the left over bottled water and putting it in the cooler and taking it around the neighborhood in the back of his wagon. He was selling it to everyone he saw. I missed it because I was working, but everyone keeps telling me about it and how funny it was. He came home with $1.50!

- We had some friends over to roast hot dogs, marsh mellows, and star bursts tonight. Something that we have been doing several times a week. It is the kids favorite thing to do.

- My Little Man has been learning how to say please and thank you, and has been saying thank you for almost everything. It is just so cute.

- I expressed my grumpy thoughts the other day and got such heart felt comments and emails. It means the world to me that you all are there for me. I cried just reading all of them. I don't know how to thank you all enough! It really is helping to get over my pitty party and the prayers have been felt! Thank you!

- Also we are all healthy and well. Getting through our trials and trying to find the solution and the lesson that we need to learn. All in all, we are a happy family.

My heart-

It hurts.

If I were to write a list of days in my life that were pretty crappy this would be the #2 worst day of my life. Maybe #3, but for now lets just say #2 because I am feeling pretty sorry for myself right now.

While I understand and fully believe that trials are sent one's way to help better that person. There is always a lesson to learn. I get it, I promise. But can't everyone agree with me that when something REALLY crappy happens to you your first thought is why me? Well I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I have thought that today.

As far back as I can remember I haven't had the best of luck. Since I have been married that lack of luck just doubled since my hubby has just about as crappy luck as me. Together we totally avoid black cats crossing our path, never bet in Vegas, stay clear of the number 13, never walk under ladders, and always carry a 4 leaf clover in our back pockets. It only helps for short periods of times though.

I am rambling. Partially because I want to vent but I don't have the nerve to say (or type) what has happened at our house today. It sucks really, really bad, and just thinking about it makes me a sobbing buggery mess all over again.

I do need to clarify though. I fully believe with ALL my heart that what ever kind of bad luck we may have, this is something that I signed up for when I agreed to come to this earth. I did that because I had faith that my Heavenly Father has a better plan for me and my family. Every time something this crappy happens to our family, something better always comes along. I may be hurting now, and I may not understand now why this is happening, and I may feel totally picked on, but that doesn't mean that I don't trust my Heavenly Father.

One more thing, to my hubby. I love you more than life itself! I would walk through all the crappy parts in our life together 10 times as long as we get to hold hands through it all. You really are the world to me, and please don't think this is your fault. I think you are the best, and life will only be better because of all this.

Ok, now that I am that slobbering mess, I must end. Maybe sometime I will share whats going on, but for now, please keep us in your prayers. They are really needed!

My Cute Nieces

I am so excited to have my cute nieces over here to play today. They are such cute girls! And are getting so big! When they showed up this morning looking super cute as usual I grabbed my camera so I could capture all their cuteness! Well some of it anyway.

I love being an aunt!

Mischief of One Kind and Another

This kid had quite the day yesterday exploring the world around him (aka getting into mischief). I had put him into my bathtub to contain him while I took a shower (I can't be the only person to do this so don't laugh, he can't get out!) While there he stood up and grabbed a bottle of bubble bath from the counter. It had never been opened but somehow he figured out how to open it. He dumped it all down the front of him. The entire bottle!

Then a few hours later I found him like this.

He had found his sister's chocolate treat and helped himself. He put the entire thing in is mouth wrapper and all. He wasn't too happy with me when I took it away. This picture doesn't do it justice though. I didn't take a picture of the floor and the toaster that he was playing with (yes, he got into the cupboard and was playing with the toaster too). Crazy kid was a mess yesterday!

Sunday Adventures - Great Salt Lake

This summer I have decided that we need to take the family on more adventures. Meaning hikes, exploring neat places around us, or anything really that will help to get out of the house. We started off this last Sunday by taking the kids to the Great Salt Lake. Our friends Matt, NaTasha, and their kids and Brandon and Cherie and their kids went with us. It was really fun! Windy, but fun! Here are some of the many pictures that we took. (I say we because there are two pictures that I didn't take)

We had so much fun! I have some ideas for where we are going to go for the next couple of Sundays so stay tuned for more adventures.

Cougar? Really?

I was loading my kids in my car this morning and while I was putting the car seats in, some random car almost backed into my driveway and just sat there. I was letting my kids play in the driveway until I was done. The people just sat in the car and just stared at me until the kids were in the car. I was a little creeped out by it.

I got in the car drove to the end of the circle and there were TONS of cop cars at my friend NaTasha's house. When I pulled out of the neighborhood I realized there were cop cars at every entrance of the neighborhood too. I started to really worry about it. When I finally got ahold of NaTasha she told me there was a cougar in her back yard! That explains why those people thought I was crazy for letting my kids play outside. I had NO IDEA!

When I was able to go back home I noticed all these helicopters hovering over my neighborhood and cop cars and news cars all over. When I drove by her house again she was outside. I HAD to stop to find out what had happened. Apparently they shot it with a tranquilizing gun in her back yard and it jumped the fence to the yard behind her. They were able to catch it and it will be taken back to the mountains.

While standing there talking to her the news guys showed up. Here she is being interviewed in her work out clothes. (Don't worry Tash, you still look great!)


Photos courtesy of my other friend Becky. Thanks for sharing!

What an interesting morning! I am still a little worried to let the kids go out and play though. Just incase this cougar had a friend not too far behind.

Testimony

Little Dude got up for the first time in sacrament meeting today to share his testimony. He walked all the way from the back and patiently waited for his turn on the stand. When it came his time he went up pulled down the mic and said:

"I know the gospel is true. I love my family. I love myself. In the name of Jesus Christ. amen."

He walked all the way back with this smile that he does when he is proud and wants to smile really big, but he trys to hold it back. I was proud. What a good kid!

Friends

Friends have always been an important part in my life. I have always enjoyed hanging out and being with people that I know that I can have fun with. Unfortunately when I was younger I didn't have the best group of friends. For some reason they were more important at times then my own family. I am grateful every day that has since changed. That those friends that seem to have steered me in the wrong direction are no longer a part of my life.

Since I have gotten older though, I realize that friends are still really important to me. My hubby and I like to hang out with friends and we miss them when we don't get to see them often enough. I have been blessed with an awesome handful of friends that I feel have really touched my life. I have learned so much from them and at times I really long to be around them.

Lately I have been a little emotional about my awesome friends that I have. Without sounding to "Junior high" I feel that I may have hurt some of my friends feelings recently. I can't really come up with the words to accurately explain how I feel right now, but I am searching for answers on how to know where the line is between too much and too little. I feel I can be a little bit of a needy friend sometimes and when I pull myself back maybe I do it too much. My intentions were never to make things seem awkward or even uncomfortable. I would never want to hurt someones feelings.

I'm not sure now how to make things better. How to let all my friends know how much they mean to me and how equally important they all are in my life. How much I love being able to just sit on a Sunday evening and watch the kids play or going out to dinner or even just talking on the phone. These times have always meant something to me and are totally missed.

Quick Updates

Boy oh Boy have things been a little crazy around here. In order to not get really behind (well more so than I already am) I want to just update really quick on everyone in the family.

Little Man:
This has been a big time time in his life. He has learned so much in the last few weeks! He is taking about 10 steps now. He just laughs so much while doing it! He is also talking quite a bit too he now can say uh oh, hello, hi, dad, mom, bye-bye, thank you, kitty, tickle-tickle,wow, whoa, and almost grandma. He will even say meow when you ask him what a kitty says and oo oo oo when you ask him what a monkey says. (That is his favorite) He is still really good. He is very content to sitting back and watching what is around him an rarely cries. He is pretty shy too. But when you get him laughing it is hard to get him to stop. He's a pretty funny kid.

Little Princess:
What a sweet thing she is. Determined, but sweet.She still brings me flowers ever single day. I can't believe how thoughtful she is sometimes. She has learned a lot in the last school year. She just finished her pre-school class last week and was so happy to show me what she has been doing all year. She did great! Her dad and I are really proud of her. I am amazed at her ability to draw. I have a feeling that she is going to grow up to be very artistic. She is learning how to ride her bike and how to jump rope and still goes to gymnastics every week. She stays pretty busy. Her favorite thing to do is play with all the other kids outside but she almost always is barefoot.

Little Dude:
Little Dude just graduated from pre-school last week. He too did awesome this year. He is very excited for Kindergarten. I can't believe that he is old enough to go. He is growing up to be quite the comedian. He loves to make people laugh and tell jokes. (I wonder where he gets that from? Not me for sure, but he is a lot like his dad!) He absolutely adores his little brother. Every chance he gets he wants to help out. The other day we discovered a hidden talent of his that since we have been working on. He is awesome at hitting a baseball. When he first picked up the bat I thought I would see what most kids do. But he can hit almost every ball thrown at him and can hit it pretty far too! He loves to be outside riding his bike, playing with friends, jumping on the tramp or inside with some art project of some sort.

My Hubby:
He has been so busy holding down the fort here while I have been gone. I have been really proud to see how well things have been going because of all his hard work. He has been really busy at work and with the EQ Pres. at church. As if it wasn't enough his mom has been sick and in and out of the hospital. He has been stressed, but is handling it all very well. He has always really liked working in the yard and since the weather is finally better he has been able to spend more time on his list of projects out there. He has even found time for a new hobby. Paint balling. Even will the bruises all over he still likes it!

Me:
I graduated from my JetBlue training class last week. No more working every night until midnight. I started my shift on Sunday and so far I like it. I am really worried about working every Sunday, but I have a feeling that it will work out. I got released at the Secretary of the Young Women Pres. and was called to be a Mia Maid advisor. This change is actually bitter sweet for me. While I will spare you the details I will say that I do know that there is purpose behind everything and that the new Presidency will do an awesome job.

To celebrate all the happenings in our lives lately we went out to a movie the other night. We went and saw Speed Racer and ate dinner there. It was a REALLY cool movie and we all enjoyed it. It was really nice to spend time together as a family!

The kids got to spend the night with their Grandma and Grandpa the other night and had a blast! It was nice for me too! I got to go to bed early and sleep in late so I could catch up on some much needed sleep! We spent the rest of the day cleaning the house and preparing for summer.

Even though there is lots going on in our lives I feel stronger as a family and am happy with all that we have all accomplished! We truly are very blessed!

Silly Roxy

While cleaning my house a few weeks ago I couldn't figure out why there were so many Q-tips all over the floors. Since I keep them in a jar on my bathroom counter I thought that it was the kids getting them out. Boy was I wrong. See this cute kitty? Well Roxy is a super smart cat, and I caught her in the act one day.


Never in a million years did I think that she was the one getting them out of the jar! That was until I saw her doing it.



This silly kitty emptied the entire jar of Q-tips that morning. I still can't believe that she was doing this! I have caught her more than once trying to do it again too! Since I have been better about keeping the lid on the jar I will now wake up to a dumped out garbage can. She will steal them out of the garbage in the middle of the night.

Forget a ball or any other cat toys! Our cat likes Q-tips!

Sending Bubbles to Jesus

I just walked outside to check on my kids. Little Dude and his friend are out there blowing bubbles. This is what Little Dude said to me:

"We are blowing bubbles to Jesus and telling him the we think about him all the time and that we love him."

I am a proud mother today!

Houston Day 2

I know it has been a month since I went to Houston, but I still have to post about it right?

Well the second day we were there was the day Kaycie and Shannon were going through the temple. It was also their wedding anniversary! It really was going to be an awesome day for them!

We spent the night in Houston so we didn't have to drive forever in the morning to get to the temple. That doesn't mean that the ride there wasn't eventful though! We had to take two cars so we would have enough room for everyone. Kaycie and I were riding in one car with my two nieces. Shannon and their friend Rob were driving in another car with my nephew. We were supposed to follow them. We go to get in the car and Kaycie asked if I would drive so she could put her makeup on. I was trying to be helpful so I said I would. I am NOT a bad driver, but all of Houston wouldn't know that. I don't need to go into detail about what happened, but I will say that I am SUPER glad there aren't any toll roads here in SLC.

We made it there safely though. My sweet friend Diane that moved to Houston a few years ago met me at the temple so she could watch my baby. This was the nicest thing ever! I can't thank you enough Diane! I knew my baby was safe in a strange city and that helped me to relax and enjoy the day at the temple. He was awesome for her too! (Really he is the best kid!) We met outside the temple hours later where I got to visit for a bit. Next time I would love to go to dinner or something, I just didn't get see her enough!

We took some pictures outside for a little while but everyone wanted to eat and the kids wanted to play. So I didn't want to bug them too much. Here are some of the pictures though. MAN! What a pretty place!

We headed to dinner at the Olive Garden and hung out in Houston some more before we left for Bay City. Kaycie and Shannon's friends decided that they wanted to go with us too so we had a little caravan of 3 cars traveling back at 11:00pm to Bay City. I got to ride with one of their friends and I had the best time getting to know her! I fell in love with all of Kaycie's friends!

We had a little slumber party at their house that night and boy was I tired!

Have I mentioned that I really miss Texas? Oh? Well I do. So much so that we are planning a family trip there in the next couple of months! I can't wait to go back.

Days 3 and 4 will be coming soon! Stay tuned.