OH BROTHER!

Unique is one way of describing my brother...I prefer "ONE in a MILLION!!"

... I'll even stand by him in this hideous Halloween costume he wears every year!

When I was younger, I could not say two nice words to my brother, and vice versa...it took our parents moving us back to Arizona my senior year that changed everything. It was HIM or no one...He became my best friend weather HE liked it or not. And...we have been friends ever since. Ya know, I'm not sure if he knows it, but he has been there for me like clock work and for that I could not be more thankful!! He has never missed an important event in my life...BIG or small...and he's even managed to teach me a few things along the way.

He has blessed my life with family...
With Humor...

(shirt says Recycle My Sister)

He gave are family joy with Far...
And what kind a brother doesn't just have one of these laying around?

Bud, thanks for all you do...thanks for loving my boys! Thanks for giving them all pocket knives and telling them to use them :D...Thanks for coming over at 11 at night to set up my elliptical. Thanks for always being there for Mike and for not only being a friend but a brother. Thanks for talking me off a cliff my first day of school. Thanks for laughing at my jokes, even though they ARE funny! AND Hazer, thanks for being worthy to help give me blessings when I need them. I LOVE you. I love your family. I love that you live so close and that I can see you and your family any time of the day. I feel blessed to have you and your family be a part of of my family's life...what an example you are to me...who knew it would turn out so wonderful? How great for us!! I love you!!

It's all my Dad's fault!!

All growing up (and still to this day) I am convinced that it is my Dad's fault I eat the way I do...

Example:

*"cake has egg's and milk in it...you can eat it for breakfast!"...
*"the best time to eat ice-cream is on the way to seminary, it won't melt in freezing cold!"...
*"would you like to have bread with that butter?"...
*"the more dough-y it is, the better!"...
*"If I'm gonna die, I'm going to die eating what I like!"

THUS, I eat nothing but JUNK! It has been a way of life. I am now realizing I don't need to punish my self, it's all my Dad's fault :D...until TODAY!!

Me: "O, please make your lunch."
O: "I did"
Me: "You did?", "What did you make?"
O: "My lunch."
Me: "Can you show me?"
O: "Sure!"
...1 juice box, 1 chocolate covered granola bar, 1 ding dong, 1 star crunch...
Me: "Where is your healthy food?"
O: "I ate it!"

Like Mother, Like Son...
(thanks dad...I LOVE you!!)

Question?

This is how I think of Crate...quiet, sweet, loving...

Today was a BIG step for me. Crate received a call from a good friend at school asking if they could go to a rec center and play while his mother went to work.

Initially my reaction was NO WAY!! I am not a big fan of "playing with school friends". Not because they are bad, but because I don't have the opportunity to meet their parents, see where they live, know how they behave... I am just an over protective mom I guess...no, I just AM! no guessing. So I looked at those BIG BLUE AMAZING EYES and thought...he's not my baby any more...We have taught him well and it's time to put that trust into action...even if it includes trusting others...which I'm not very good at.

So, off he went...panic in my heart, a SMILE on his face. "Thanks Mom"...and the door shut. Tears are streaming down my face...WHY?

They grow up so fast, I haven't aged at all...

My boys are my LIFE. They are my everything. They make me who I am. I know that they will one day grow up...just not ready for that to happen TODAY!

I {heart} You!

I guess you could say we had a typical "Valentines Day"...that is for a family of 6. I went grocery shopping, picked up the boys from school, did homework( all of us), took O to basketball practice and by the time we "SAT" down it was time to get up and make SOMETHING for dinner...a "YOU CHOOSE" menu...Not a great day.

BUT then I came out to the parking lot and saw THIS...my van, heart attacked by a "TRUE ADMIRER"...what a perfect ending to a not so good day.

Michael, I love you! I love the way you LOVE me! I love that you constantly put our family first and do so with such joy and happiness. You are an amazing man...an example to all you come in contact with. You are constantly choosing to serve the Lord and by doing so our family has be blessed in abundance. You are a true example to me and the boys and for that there are no words. You have taught our boys well, and seek to find every moment a "teaching moment" and I LOVE that about you. You honor your priesthood and because of that I personally have been blessed. Having sons who are following your example and in your footsteps is a pleasure to watch. I love seeing bits and pieces of YOU in each of THEM. You make me want to be a better person. You have no idea how much joy and love you have given me over the past 16 years. I truly love you...you are my everything and I can not thank the Lord enough for crossing our paths. You still make my heart skip a beat, you can make me laugh when laughing is the last thing I want to do, you know when words won't help, but being held says everything. You are more than a girl could ever wish for and how honored I am to be by your side.

I LOVE YOU!!
BE

Baby It's Cold Out Side

A few weeks ago it was FREEZING...well for here anyway. The boys would NOT wear pants, coats, hats, gloves...they didn't NEED them...but soon, oh less than a half hour of being out side, I had 3 whining boys complaining "HOW COLD" it was out side...they are TRUE Arizona babies!!

9 (and counting...)

What fun Ian and all his best friends had, as he celebrated his 9th birthday at Jump Street...

A special family celebration was held on his birthday night.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

TODAY I have my FIRST one of THESE!!!

I am beginning to remember why I didn't like high school...

...and who would have ever thought that THIS would have made it easier :D!!! (and no, it's not their music, though don't knock it...I used to have all their CD's back in the day!)

ok...this did help the studying a little too...thanks mom and dad!!

Enjoy the Journey

When life starts you off like THIS...You may expect THIS along the way...

But these are the JOYS of having IAN in our home!! Happy 9th BIRTHDAY Ian...It's been an amazing journey!! We love you!!

LOVE,
Mom

Until We Meet Again...

In LOVING memory of are Farley
1998-2011

we'll miss you Far

"Like, gag me with a spoon!"

WARNING: What You Are About To See Is Controversial, and May Be Offensive To Some Audiences...

But, not me! :D...So, as embarrassing as it is to admit...my boys have a "problem" when it comes to AIM...their bathroom stinks up to high heaven and back!! **mothers of boys know EXACTLY what I am talking about!**

I have tried EVERYTHING and more, and nothing has worked...so, back to the Internet to gather some helpful tips. I found a web site that said I should get one of these...

and take it around to "SEE" where the problem may "lay"...Luckily, I have a dear friend who owns some of these and let me barrow hers...(now I'm wondering how GOOD of a friend she is for letting me see how NASTY my house is!!) But alas, I went around the boys bathroom and was totally grossed out!! Let me just insert here that THEY thought it was totally cool...BOYS!!
(WARNING: if you want to be sickened by what you are living in, take a black light to your home BUT you will never walk bare foot, sit on the floor, eat off the table or cook on your kitchen counter AGAIN!!)

After an hour of scrubbing with bleach, no water, just BLEACH, I sprayed this...

and tada...gone! the smell is totally gone...YEA for me and just so you know, you are all welcome over and I have a bathroom you can use now, just FYI...

as for the boys...they have been banished out side with the dog!