Prettie Birdie...

Well, I told you I would take a picture of my girls in their cute little easter outfits that I made....

SHOOT....I LIED....

Mama always says to do the pictures BEFORE church, and I SHOULDA listened...

Romy Lin annihilated her dress with nilla wafers and the nasty church carpet...seriously...they need a good carpet cleaning over there...we should get right on that...

ANYWAYS....luckily Oakley kept hers nice and clean, so here you go world...the cute little outfits...and by the way....Romy's is the same, so just picture it smaller!!!!!

Such a Model...LOVE HER!!!

It's a Small World...Do I know you???

Yes...that's about as funny as I get...what can I say??

Welp, this is the big D-LAND post!!!  It only took me TWO MONTHS to post the six pictures I actually took.  I had ONE goal in the whole trip...to get a picture of the group which consisted of our little  family, my mom, and my grandma.  I also would have loved a four generation picture, but I wasn't going to get too ambitious...

People...I suck...I didn't get EITHER!!!

BUT...I am happy to report that we had a marvelous time none the less.  The weather was anything but perfect...cold really....here's a little synopsis of the event....

FEB 14th: Happy Valentines Day...lets leave at night so the kids sleep through it.  It worked for the most part, but we all went a little nutty when we arrived and couldn't check in for and hour or so because we got there too early.  There may or may not have been crying by MUAH....

FEB 15th: CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE DAY...oh, and rain and wind...thanks.  The nice thing about the day is that we did not wait at ALL for rides!!  It was fabulous!!  The only problem was that many of the shows, and some rides were CLOSED...wish I would have known more about "OFF-SEASON"...we had a pretty fun packed day though, but were so frozen that we left by 6PM...and we're Idaho people dang it!!!

Assume the position...

Ya...I'm "Special"...

The only pictures we got with my Mom and Grandma...you can kinda see the side of their heads....SIGH...

Oakley cried when she got off this, but once she found out Carter was going again...of COURSE she loved it and HAD to go again..."Mommy, I'm not scared anymore...I LOVE this ride!!!"  Kids are so funny!!

FEB 16th: DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!  The ONE sunny day we had...it actually was fairly pleasant weather!!!!  I have to say that is was such a great experience being able to spend the time with my mom and grandma...what a bonding time!!!  They were such troopers!!!!  I was surprised at all the rides that my kids were big enough for...Blazer could do the Matterhorn...(not that he did it) We got a fair amount of the rides in (again, that were open) and my mom and grandma took Romy to the hotel a little early to warm up, and we ran to get every little ride we could squeeze in.  It wasn't until it was CLOSED that we realized....OH CRAP...we hadn't taken ANY pictures ALL day....!!!!  UGH....!!!!  I was so hoping to see Fantasmic too, and they didn't do that show.  They closed at 8!!!!  I was super bumbed that we didn't have more time...!!!

Yes...we're white and nerdy...

It's a Small World...One of the best....!!!

You gotta click on this picture...I designed these, and even my mom and grandma wore them...They say "We Match Cause We Cool..." (yes, there is a dot dot dot at the end too,,,) cause dang it...WE ARE COOL....!!!!  We actually got a lot of compliments on them...people thought "I" was funny...go figure...

FEB 18th:  BEACH!!!  (no pictures of course...whaaaa!!!!) It was the most stormy day of all.  It was monsoon raining...heavy winds...and it was GREAT...!!  No, we didn't go take a dip in the ocean, but my kids found a TON of seashells, we got to watch surfers, and boats, and of course, we still got massively wet....mostly due to the pouring rain that was flying in heavy drips sideways...!! 

FEB 19th:  DRIVE HOME....I don't want to talk about it...

FEB 20th: STILL DRIVING HOME.....I REALLY don't want to talk about it now....lets just say that blizzards, and white out conditions were not expected....nor enjoyed...

BUT...we made it...and have many memories...even if I didn't capture them all!!!

I just want to send out a special thanks to my Mom and Grandma...It was so neat being able to spend the time together...reconnecting and bonding...I sure wish I saw them more...Thank you for all your help...we could NOT have done this without you...!!!  We also could NOT have done it without the help from Brian's parents and my other grandparents...they really helped our kids have such an amazing Christmas present that they'll NEVER forget!!! We hope we can do this again someday...and maybe even take a few more pictures!!!!

Eggggggcellent....

Easter is one of my favorite Holidays...it's so cheerful, colorful,and just reminds me of things "new". This year I decided I was bound and determined to make the girls outfits, and holy crap...I did...I'd post a picture, but I want to do them "professionally" first...so you'll just have to wait...hmmf...

I was looking forward to them wearing their adorable outfits to church until Brian mangled up his ankle playing basketball. He was shooting and came down on it wrong....ALL wrong...we're still not sure how much damage has been done, and he doesn't want to have x-rays done...whatever...needless to say I didn't go by myself with the five kids...

Anyways, I absolutely LOVE hiding baskets...or finding them...sounds pretty pathetic I know...but even as a teenager, I was excited about it...!! It's fun seeing it through the kids eyes too...just pure genuine excitement.

Once the baskets were all found, the gorging ensued. They all piled into the living room together with their baskets, and just ATE....

Romy didn't know what it was all about...she was just watching the kids at first. Next thing you know she ripped a Reeces egg out of Parker's hand, and the realization hit...YUMMMMMM!!! She then began scavenging the floor for jelly beans, spare chocolate, doughnuts, and finally peeps....the kids were cute...she had her own basket, but they didn't mind that she was all over theirs...by the end, she just laid there like she had just partaken of an entirThanksgiving dinner...meanwhile, I am just hoping and praying she doesn't have some kind of allergy to anything...LOL!!!!

Yes...this is my three-year-old in a rash guard and underpants...you choose your battles people...

I had just enough time to get the hurricane cleaned up, and vacuumed, when Papa and Grandma came over with their Easter goodies for the kids. They hid their Easter bags, and the fun began all over again. We can always count on laughter, yelling, and now farting noises when Papa is here...they thought they'd bought play dough for the kids, when in fact it was flarp....Farting play dough I guess...the kids have been...ahem...farting ever since...it's quite hilarious to be honest...the kids feel so accomplished by making such a nasty sound...and of course the uglier the better...

INTERMISSION.....(insert short nap here)

Finally we had family over for dinner and an Easter egg hunt. It was fun to see the cousins all together and enjoying the holiday....

I have to say that this is such an extreme difference from last year...A year ago Romy was still in the hospital during Easter, and it was so hard on us all.  I left for two hours to run over to the inlaws to see the kids and decorate eggs. Then I hurried back to the hospital for Romy, I remember it was the first time they were going to let me bathe her, and I couldn't miss it...then I went back to the inlaws for two more hours to do Baskets, and see my kiddos.  It was hard being away from the hospital, and it was hard being away from the kids...no matter where I was, I felt torn...not to mention I had medical issues of my own!!  It is so amazing a year later to spend the holiday whole...healthy...complete...and blessed...

Americas (not) Best...Meaning Worst...

So I go into that "first room" where they have you stand on the line and cover your eyes. The tech is going through the routine questions when she asks how long I wear my contacts. I said two months, and a bomb went off in the room...she started at me, going on about how irresponsible I was because they are only approved for a month, and how I run red lights at 2 in the morning, and one of these days it's going to catch up to me, and I'm going blind...because she has had 12 people go blind in December, several in March, and already 2 this month...!!! (I can't believe this isn't on the news...hmmmm) Anyways, I told her that I don't wear them day and night, like they are approved for, and that is why I extend them, and that I've been doing it for years...but apperantly that only made me that much more insane, just because you are doing something for years, doesn't make it RIGHT...(sigh)



I finally turned it back to her and told her that the way she was delivering her information was abrasive and attacking. If it truly is an important matter, then by all means, be aggresive, but not at MY fault...I have been going there for six years, and this is the first anyone has said anything about my two month contact wearing problem...I think I need to go to therapyor some kind of support group for my obsurd habit...(???!!) I mean afterall "I am playing the lottery, and this is NOT one I want to win.." She admitted that she was harsh, but that she just didn't want to see my demise...whatever chick...just let me see the "real" doctor...


OR NOT...

I get in there, and he asks me the same question, as if he already knew what was going on, and then told me that he'd have to give me the "speech". I assured him that I had the speech, and that she was very thorough...lol...He went on to say that she has to be the bad cop for him, cause he's a big dude, and he would scare people off...I told him I was scared anyways...

After that he asked if I wanted to just keep my prescription...I was thinking HUH??? Arent YOU the doctor??? He said that based on the first exam I could read the letters on the wall fine, so why don't I just keep my prescription. Well, why don't I just pay a real doctor, who will actually DO the exam...WOW...I told him that I had been using a different prescription on my eye because I tore a lense, and that it was slightly stronger...he looked at my eyes for maybe five minutes, and then put me back in my old prescription...

Whatever...

So that is my FUN hour and a half long adventure at Americas Best....we will never go there again...cept to get my money back for the contacts I ordered...

Put your Best Butt Forward...

 I don't know if it's just my kids, or if this is a normal thing, but they seem to sleep with their little bums in the air, and personally, it's my favorite.  I think I have pictures of almost everyone of my kids sleeping this way.... 

Here's the most recent kids we caught doing it!!

Romy Lin

Blazer...

He actually slept there for at LEAST an hour...!!  Nursery is rough on a kid!!!

And then there's the random "fell asleep while I was playing" pictures that we all love...sweet girl...!!!

Gotta love kids...they make my day!!!!!!!!!



Procrastination Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

I don't know why, but I haven't been able to bring myself to blog lately.  I am pretty sure it's due to how far behind I am...cause I'm pretty sure a TON has happened in the last few months...(big fat sigh)

I realized I missed posting about the "Party of the Year"...at least the one hosted at our house every year.  The Annual Halloween Party (a.k.a. Parents Gone Wild)  We always have such a blast.  This year we rented Karaoke, had tons of food, a great costume contest involving movie tickets and a dinner gift certificate....Oh, and Brian and I dressed up as Party Poopers...We have an awesome group of friends!!

So really I guess the only other thing to report is our change of address...we MOVED....but hold on...let me clarify...we moved the day before CHRISTMAS EVE.  Folks...I don't recommend that one.  We had originally planned to move the week after Christmas, but when I went to church for the last time, I sadly had three breakdowns...it was SO HARD realizing that these people who have been there through it all, wouldn't be coming with us.  It was heartbreaking.  I wanted to enjoy Christmas, and feel happy about it, so I decided to just MOVE...and get it over with.  I am happy we did, but it was definitely stressful, especially RIGHT before Christmas.

The new house is lovely, or as my dad would say "now that's a classy home".  It made me smile.  We are getting to know a few people, and we are loving that we are closer to parents, and other family.  Its been great for our kids to get to know some of their cousins better!!!  It's not our house forever, but it's our house for now, and we love it.  We want to stay in this area, so hopefully in a couple years we'll find the forever house...

Well, we are just settling in...new school...new ward...new year...new life it seems...hopefully I'll be a little more vigil about posting...I do miss it...Hopefully you've missed me!!!!!

Build-A-Baby...???

I just love Oakley. She is really great when it comes to her sister Romy. She has fed her, changed her, held her of course, and even gets short little "babysitting" assignments when I need to do things like...oh, shower...!! One of her favorite things to do is get her dressed. The other day, she was playing with her in her room, and brought her down to show me what she had been doing...

Playing Dress-up...with Build-A-Bear clothes...HAHAHA!!!  Why play with stuffed animals when you have the real deal???  And of all the cute outfits, she picked the crop top and shorts...my little baby looks like "Redneck" Build-A-Bear!!  Don't worry, I didn't tell Oakley that...!!!  But, I HAD to get pictures!!!

She didn't like the outfit either...lol...

I'm Thankful for Not Being Bored...

Life seems so crazy lately, and I feel like I haven't had time to even stop to smell the roses...in fact...come to think of it...there aren't any...maybe I can stop to smell the fallen leaves...that are frozen.  HMMM...
Well, I have been keeping busy with all kinds of things...birthdays, photo shoots, Holidays, family, friends...the list goes on...and on it seems.  This last week I think I made the trek to Boise at least seven times...twice in one day...(40 minutes each way mind you)!!  Between doctor appointments, cheerleading, businesses, family, I just can't keep myself here in Caldwell much!!  Luckily between it all, cute little moments like these happen...

Does this look a little familiar to you??  How bout instead of a cute baby girl, its a mischievous two-year-old boy (also amazingly adorable might I add), and instead of dirt....NOPE....it was dirt too!!  What is it about my kids and potting soil??!!!  YUMMM....????

Another one of our fun adventures was Romy getting her x-rays.  I figured they would lay her on a table, and shoot a few pictures, and we'd be outta there...

Ya...not so much...ever seen one of these???

Now, this isn't Romy, and this baby actually looks about 100% more comfortable in this contraption than she was...you see they actually have to put this thing on so tight that if they move or scream (which inevitably they will cause it really is awful) their little bodies wont budge and ruin the x-ray picture.  She was so crammed in there she couldn't even move her arms that were jammed so tightly by her head that I thought they might be stuck there forever.  She was scared and screaming (told you), and just looked at me like "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME??!!"  I was sad.  I had to keep from losing it over x-rays...

Now...this would be the "PG-13" section of the story.  Proceed with caution...I wouldn't normally post my...ahem..."bosom containers" on my blog for the whole wide world (the whole 20 people that actually look at it) to see...but, frankly, it is unrecognizable anyhow!!!  This is a trick Blazer learned when a babysitter mistakenly let him sleep in mommy's room...don't worry, she learned you can never trust a two-year-old too...check it out...

He really does look quite remorseful in this last one...or maybe its the look of GUILTY!!!

Today, I am thankful for new make-up and an awesome husband who cleans carpet like it's NOTHIN'!!!

Somewhere in this whole mess of chaos my oldest son turned 9!!!  I can't even believe it...SO CRAZY!!!  We took him to Pojos as a family for his birthday...first time we've ever done that, and it was fun.  He then got a super cool tank cake, and some even cooler presents!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON...you are amazing!!

Oh, and P.S.  If you're ever at Pojos, and your kids wanna use one of their tokens for a giant gumball the size of a tennis ball...be prepared for this...

And maybe a slight sugar high??

Well, I hate to go so soon, but really, I have a lot to do...I mean it's 2:29AM, and I still have to squeeze some sleep in here sometime!!  But I thought I'd leave ya with a little face that I like to call "Popeye" (the cutest darn one I ever saw!!!)

I'd kiss this Popeye ANY day!!!

She's actually ambidextrous with her face...she can do this too...

She likes to suck up her bottom lip when she's eating her food...and don't ya love that little orange nose and orangy cheeks from all the orange baby food??  Do you think she bleeds orange??  How does that work??  Cause that color is comin' from the inside!!