another fun story about my youth

check out my friends blog and our adventure camping alone in the woods at 16. It involves deadly reptiles, rabid animals and scary dudes!!!
http://theboysquad.blogspot.com/

More Birthday Trauma!

I wanted this picture to be last but Kaitlyn hasn't taught me how to do that yet!!!!!

Age 1


Age 10

My sweet little boy who was born into this world against all odds is turning 14! I don't think I've cried over it like I did with Jacob because everyone always assumes he's 15 or 16 anyway so 14 seems like an okay number in comparison.

From the time he was welcomed into this world he has been smiling. He would laugh at the word cheese and crawl to the edge of the bed and dive not knowing if anyone would be there to catch him.

He has an amazing spirit and oozes personality. He makes friends everywhere he goes (usually girls) and loves to have parties at our house.

Not a day goes by that I don't find myself laughing at his sarcastic comments and humorous musings. As I was driving back from the store getting all the stuff for his candy gram I was struck with the immense love I feel for him. I would clone him if at all possible.

Happy birthday my sweet Zach. I love you!!!

Today I got to see my new little nephew and he is so cute. He belongs to my husbands younger brother and I must say, he is definitely a keeper. We went to dinner at a Brazilian grille where they walk around with various meat dishes on skewers and serve them to you. They brought 18 different dishes and chicken hearts but we of course turned our noses up at that. They had the most delicious grilled pineapple glazed in brown sugar. If any of you have tips on how to make that I want them. By the time we were finished we were rolled out the door. I didn't think we'd ever eat again but Zach downed a huge ice cream sundae with some friends an hour later and the girls had a little party with some friends and empty the entire shelf of snacks we bought today. Sometimes being the mom of teens is tiring (and expensive).

Ultimate Power

Tonight I was invited to participate in the Citizens Academy. Imagine me, armed and ready to shoot. I would get to work with the police dogs and wear the fun suit with padding, I would learn how to handle semi automatic weapons and how to take down criminals. I would get to go on ride alongs and watch them take down suspected gang members (That can't be too exciting in my tiny little town). I would run the paintball course and I am an amazing paintball person. I would learn all about different narcotics and how to discover is someone is on them. It is so exciting!!!! But, alas, I am pretty sure my Dr. is not going to sign the forms so it is all a pipe dream. But for one brief moment I had my fingers on the trigger of ultimate power. Plus, my husband has informed me that he doesn't think it is a good idea for me to be armed, something about me being a hot head.

Walabis

Who would have thought that at the Salt Lake County Fair you could hold kangaroos and walabis? The kids were so excited that I had to pay the $10 photo fee. Then I of course took my own! Of course we had to finish the day with an ice cream at the newly opened Iceberg down the street.

I Love my Job

Zach was hired to break up cement and do some general labor at a neighbors house today. He came home asking for a sledge hammer which made my hair stand on end and me running to see what exactly he was hired to do. He was doing a great job but I could see that it was a lot more work than everyone originally thought and there would be no way he'd be done before the people came home. To make a very long story short, I stayed and joined in on the cement breaking, hauling, weeding, and over all manual labor. After the first time I found my hand stuck between a cement brick and a hammer I started to wonder exactly why I was doing this. It occurred to me that while I was exhausted, dirty and bleeding I was thoroughly enjoying my time with Zach. Working side by side with him is always such a great chance to bond. I love to hear his insights into life and his laugh when he sees me struggle to get dirt out of my hair. I love the way he says "thanks mom, I sure appreciate you helping me." I love how he tells me what a great mom I am and how he bets his friends wishes their moms were there for them as much as I am for him. When we finished I was almost sad because I realized that before long he won't need me to help him in a neighbors yard or to figure out a math problem. He won't come to me any longer when he has questions about friends or choices they're making. He'll be on his own and will be making his own decisions. I guess I can only hope that the hours I spend with him sweating side by side will pay off and that he'll be prepared for life without me.

And so it begins

We started k12 today.I thought I'd share how we really look when doing as opposed to the fairy tale version I have in my head.
My work area which seems to have been taken over by the laptops for kids to work on as well. I guess I'll "work" when they graduate!!

the girls always end up on a floor somewhere doing their work. Today it was my office. Their school stuff is in the cubes behind them.
Tired of the noise Zach retreated to the guest room and my sewing table to review his math. What a good kid, he isn't even in school yet.
Jacob is working on his kindergarten game in our lovely computer area. We need a new set up!

These are all the boxes we unpacked.