My little Joe Dirt

Ok, I am a horrible mom. I found this wig in my mom's closet and couldn't resist. Keaton had been playing around in the yard all afternoon without his shirt on because it had gotten really messy at dinner time so I just took it off. I had my sister hurry and put it on him while I tried to snap a few shots of the mullet wig on. What can I say, he makes a cute little "Joe Dirt!" I tried it on Andrew but it didn't work with him, so I only have Keaton to show. He gave us quite the laugh too. Keaton, momma loves you very much!

Girls night out

Last night my mom, sister and I went to the movies. We decided to see Made of Honor. It was a good movie. I liked it! It was nice to get out and just be with girls. My husband was kind enough to stay home and watch the boys. Yesterday was a long day. We closed on our home and the boys didn't do well at nap time. We went out to eat after that because we were all starving.
A big thanks to my mom and my sister Rachel for getting me out and having fun. The theater we went to was a little run down but the nice thing was, there was no one else there except us and 3 other women that were there. I really needed that! Thanks!

Sisters

I have been tagged. This one is kind of different because it is about sisters. Since I only have one sister this will be easy. But I also have 7 sisters-in-law. Here we go.....
1. How many sisters do you have? I have one sister and 7 sisters-in-law.
2. How old are they? My sister just turned 25 this year.
3. How far apart are you? We are about 4 years apart.
4. Married or single? My sister has been married alittle over 2 yrs.
5. Do you have anything in common with your sisters? Ya, I think we have a lot in common. This may sound strange but we love to people watch. It is a weird habit of mine and my husband thinks it is just weird. We also love to have fun.

6. What do you do when you are together? Lately it has been just watching our children play together, go for walks and just hang out. We are going to try a girl night every week so we will see how that works out.
7. Do your sister(s)have any weird habits? I am not sure.I haven't been around her too much to pick up on any. I remember she had some strange ones when we were younger and lived at home together. I read one time that my sister loves to eat the garlic at the bottom of the pickle jar. I think that is gross.
8. What do you admire most about your sister(s)? I really admire that she doesn't really get mad at Ava to much. She is a great mom, very artsy and very talented at whatever she puts her mind to. She is so pretty and just so loveable. She has a lot of friends.

9. Do they live close by or far away? My sister and her husband just moved back to Boise in December. It is so nice to have them around.
10.Any moment that stands out that you had with your sister(s)? There was one moment, I really shouldn't share but what the heck, this one is pretty funny. I was attending what was once called Ricks College and I had come home for one summer. We both shared the same bedroom and the same bed because accomidations where strange, anyways, my sister had started dating this guy Travis. Well one night, in the middle of the night I remember we both woke up and we were holding each others hands. I am sure she was having a dream about him or me about someone I knew, I am not sure. We both aren't but the funny thing was was that we just both started laughing so hard. My parents came in to see what was so funny so we told them and they laughed really hard with us. Then another time she was rubbing my stomach. Weird times, they are fun to look back on now and just laugh.

Thanks Rachel for being my sister. We sure have a fun time together. To my sister-in-law, thanks for the fun we have also. I miss you all. Let's get together sometime soon and visit.

Baby Blessings

Today in our sacrament meeting we had two babies blessed. I love baby blessings. They are so sweet and so cute! My favoirte was seeing the little baby girl dressed up in her beautiful little dress. She was so calm and so sweet. One of these days I am going to have a baby girl. I have been in a reflective mood lately. I am not sure why but I have been thinking alot about the past and things that I have done that have led me up until now. I have so much to be grateful for. The Lord has really blessed me and my family.
During our sacrament meeting I was thinking about each one of my boy's baby blessings. They were so sweet and they still are, most of the time! They are so precious and so innocent. They are so close to our Father in heaven. One can't help but feel the spirit when in the presence of these little ones. I love babies!!!

Our home is coming along. Last night about 10:45 p.m. we hear the doorbell ring just as Lance and I were about to retire for the night. We went to answer it and there was a woman with her daughter wanting to know if our house was still vacant. I think she got the picture that it wasn't anymore. Anyways, come to find out she knows alot about my husband's family and was a realtor looking at different homes. So we let them in to show them the house. It might be a good lead for Stan to build another home. They asked if we were members. I guess they kind of caught on that seeing that we have a Children's Primary hymm book on our piano and pictures of Christ all over. They were members too.

Now my children are in bed and I can sit and relax. Sundays seem to be a busy day for us. It is so nice to just sit and read or relax every evening after they have gone to bed. Tonight I am so thankful for my children. They mean the world to me. To my boys, I love you very much!

High School Graduation

Last night was Borah High's high school graduation. My cousin Kevin was graduating and we thought it would be good to go out and support him. My sister Rachel, my grandmother and I piled into my car and headed down to the Taco Bell Arena for the big event. I can't believe it has been almost 11 years since I was there on that same floor awaiting my diploma. It brang back a lot to memories for me. Those were the good ole days indeed. I was suprised on how short it was. That was a good thing because those things can go on and on. All you are there for is to see friend/family graduate and then go. I think my cousin Kevin was really surprised that we were there. I am glad that we got to go. Afterwards we all went to the WestSide Drive-In for some food. We were all starving and it smelled so good. I ordered a small cheeseburger and look what I got...

It was so huge. Only sad thing was was that I ate the whole stinkin thing, plus tator tots and an Oreo shake also. I was really hungry. Every now and then I will get these huge cravings for food like that. We went with my cousin Chris, his wife Karen, and my Aunt Sheryl and Uncle Michael.It was so nice to get out and feel like myself again for awhile. I was able to leave my kids at home with Lance and enjoy an evening out with just the family. It was so much fun. Thanks to everyone who made it so much fun. I love you all! Thanks Melander's for the fun evening. Kevin, Congratulations!!!!! You did it! We are all so proud of you. Now you are officially an adult. Welcome to the real world.

Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day weekend we just hung out around our home. We didn't plan anything this year because we just wanted to stay home and be together as a family. Saturday we helped lay sod at my grandmother's house. We went to to different BBQ's and then went to bed early. It was so nice. Adam and Annie (Lance's cousin and family that just moved to Star from Provo)invited us over for a BBQ. Thanks Spiels for having us over. On our way home we passed Doug Attwood(the second counsler in our bishopric)and he called us up on Lance's cell and had invited us over for another BBQ. We went and spent time with them. Also another great family. Thanks for the fun evening. It was so nice to be with you all.
Sunday was pretty low key. I went to a fireside that night with our youth. I love my calling with the Miamaids. We are really small in number (about 4) but we have so much fun. What a great opportunity to serve with all the leaders that I get to associate with. They are so much fun.
Monday we spent with my family. It was a beautiful day. The weather was great and the kids got to run and play outside all day. Lance went golfing with my dad and some other family members and that took about all day long, so it kind of felt like another day. My cousins, aunts and uncles came over later in the evening for a BBQ also. I don't know what it is about Memorial day and BBQ's but I think after this weekend we are all BBQed out! Here are some fun pictures of our weekend. We hope you had a great one too

A rainy day

We finally got a rain storm. This is the view out my back window of our home. It was so beautiful. The weather was still warm and there was a slight breeze. It was one of those days you wish you could just sit and watch the clouds come in. There was thunder and a little bit of lightning, it was beautiful. I love storms. I miss the ones in Arizona. Those were amazing ones. When the monsoon season would roll around I was outside watching it almost every night.
It has been a while since we had any rain. I love the smell of it, the way it just washes everything old away and makes new. Keaton liked the thunder. Today he went through the house warning people about the storm that was coming.
This evening when the sun was trying to peak through the clouds I was able to snap a couple of shots of the amazing contrast in color of our trees against the dark sky. It was so pretty.
It got me thinking today about the storms I have been through in my life. Some of them I try not to go back and think about and some I can close my eyes and see them as if they happened yesterday. One of the most trialing times of my life was the pregnancy and birth of our first child Madalynn. Some days it hits me really hard and some days I honestly still feel numb from the whole experience. Maybe that is the way Heavenly Father intended it to be for me. Even though we didn't know her, we were able to feel of her spirit for the short time we got to be with her in the hospital.
There is a part of me that somehow passed away when she did. I can't wait to meet her and get to know her. I wonder if my boys knew her. Where they together before they all came to our family? Do they really know her? I am sure there is a momma up there somewhere rocking her while I can't.
Other trials that have come and gone have left impressions upon my mind. The miraculous life of my two boys whom I love more than life. It amazes me just how fun life can be. They present me with new ideas all the time.
I have decided to start a quote wall in our kitchen and write down all the funny things they do and say. It is hard to remember all of them when I don't write them down. Keep posted, I will write them all down for you.
I am so thankful to be alive and to be me. Sometimes I have really struggled with myself but the more I live and the more I learn from my mistakes the better I can become. My poor husband has put up with alot lately. Thanks Lance for trying to understand.