Happy Birthday Mckayla...

Happy Birthday Sweet Mckayla...
I hope you had a very Happy Birthday and Surprise Party!
I Love you Sweetheart!

I Have A New Love...

Today Megan and I went to the Nirvana Day Spa for a facial and a chocolate pedicure. The facial was heavenly...Carrie told me I would love it and she was right! It was very relaxing...the chocolate pedicure was just a regular pedicure only they gave you a Chocolate Martini (mine was a virgin), and some chocolate truffles...yummy!



My foot is the fat one on the left and Megan's is on the right... Nice tan marks Julie!

After our fun day at the Spa we went to lunch at Newport Bay...again may I say YUMMY!!!!
Thanks Meg for a fun relaxing day!

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane...

Yes, it's true...much to my Mother's dismay I am off again to visit my cute little grandchildren in Portland. I love my visits with Megan and her family. Because they don't live close to me I treasure the time I get to spend with them. I need to be a part of Molly and Brayden's lives. I may not get to go to every soccer game or dance recital, but I hope to be there for the important things in their lives...like Brayden starting school...yes, it is true he is going to Kindergarten! I can't beleive it. Jacob and Brayden are the same age and they both start school this year. I hope that it will be a good year for them both.
Get ready Brayden and Molly, Grandma is going to kiss and squeeze you so so much

I will miss you Hunter, Cole, Madi, Jacob, Owen and Rorke...but I will see you when I get back.
Jacob...I hope you get really good using your walker so you can show Grandma when I get home.
I Love you guys!

Happy Birthday Erica...

Today is my beautiful niece Erica's birthday...Happy Birthday Erie! I love you very much and wish I could see you more than once or twice a year. Good Luck on your new Hair Salon. I am sure it will be a big big success. I hope you have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!


Erica at her Mom's Wedding...
Erica with her 2 brothers Jake and Luke...
Erica and Jake...
Erica, Megan and Jake...

New Pictures of Rorke...

Rorke came to Book Club with Mariah...He is so cute!

Rorke, Aunt Lindsey and Mommy...
Rorke and Aunt Carrie...
Rorke and Mommy...I guess he didn't like the conversation...
Thanks Carrie for a fun night and the good food...Next time we will all do better and actually read the book. It was a fun night anyway!

Broken Tibia...

My sweet little Jacob has a broken Tibia! Poor Bubba...He is such a little trooper.
He can't get his cast on until next week so it is just wrapped. He has to stay completly off of it though, so it will be a fun time for Ty and Carrie for a little while...

I Love you my sweet little Jacob...
Playing on the playground...
You will be swimming and jumping in the pool soon!

Happy Birthday Vicki...

Today is my good friend Vicki's Birthday! I hope that you have a good day and a very Happy Birthday...you deserve it! I love you and I admire you so much!
This isn't the best picture...but it is the only one I had!

Faith...Hope...Prayer...Peace Of Mind...

Last night was one of those nights that I tossed and turned and just could not sleep. I had so many thoughts running through my head. So, my dear friends and family I am going to share some with you!
I am struggling with how to help one of my children! I don't seem to be able to find the right words to help. All I can do is just let him/her know how much I love them and that everything will turn out the way that Our Father in Heaven has planned. We just need to do our part, have faith, hope, pray and then hopefully have peace of mind! I can remember when my oldest son was so sick and was diagnosed with Diabetes, and how I just prayed and prayed that it would go away or that I could have it instead of him. Of course that didn't happen, and I have watched him struggle with this disease...he is so good about taking care of it, and never complains about it (to me anyway). I think about other parents like my sweet friend Vicki who has lost 2 boys already because of a horrible disease (Muscular Dystrophy) and I look at how strong she is and I admire her strength so much...she is an amazing woman and mother!

How many times we as parents have found ourselves down on our knees praying for our children? Wishing we could fix what was wrong...make it go away. If we were praying for a sick child, or a child who has lost their way, how strong and hopeful were those prayers?

I found this video...I will warn you that it is very touching and you will probably need some tissue...But I love this song and it just seemed to touch on my feelings! Whether your child is small or all grown up, with children of their own... you still want to fix everything and make it go away, and have the right words for them so that they can have peace of mind...In the meantime all I can do is be here and listen to their fears and let them know I love them and I understand!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppQ0QjmuEt8

Fun Day At Strawberry...

Lindsey and Craig were camping up at Strawberry Reservoir, and they asked us to come up for a fun day of 4-wheeling and just hanging out. We had a good time...playing Phase 10, Riding in the Ranger, eating yummy hamburgers Ty barbecued, and just enjoying each other's company...it is always fun being together.

FYI...Madi had my camera all day and took these pictures!

How cute are these dirty little faces in their helmets...What is it about little boys and dirt? Sorry Jacob half your face is missing!...
Hunter, riding the mortocycle...he is getting really good on it!...
O-Dub...trying to move a log...
Ty and Owen, going for a ride...

Lindsey, Hunter and Me going for a ride in the Ranger...YIKES!
Cute Cousins...I Love that Cole and Owen played so cute together...
Really dirty little boys...Cute though!
In the Ranger...

Babysitting...

I am babysitting again only this time it is the four legged kind. Austin and Mariah are on Vacation and so they asked me to watch 2 of their 3 dogs. I have to tell you that the lab Romus(like the Greek God Romulas) is crazy! I went over last night after work to feed them...I can't tell you how many times he stands on my feet and how much it hurts! On the other hand Cassie(or Cassius, another Greek name) is so sad (I think because she misses Austin) she isn't eating! Maybe she is just to hot with her thick fur or maybe she is just old and tired. I gave them each bones to chew on last night and Cassie did act like she was happy about that. Romus however wanted me to play catch with him with his bone...I would throw it out in the yard and he would bring it back to me...I did stay and play with him for a little while...but after about the 20th time of him jumping and standing on my sandled feet I was DONE! He is 1 CRAZY ANIMAL!
Cute but CRAZY...they have another little dog named Oscar...what happened with the Greek Theme?...



Austin and Mariah please don't be offended when you read this...I really do like the dogs...Thank you for asking me to take care of them! I know how much you love them and how important they are to you!...I think you even know that Romus is CRAZY!

What Is Better Than This?...

One Hot Miserable Day...

We went to THANKSGIVING POINT CHILDRENS GARDENS yesterday, I wasn't thankful! It was so crowded you couldn't move! I think they needed to stop letting people in! Everyone was hot and sweaty and we couldn't even get close to the water fountains to cool off...my whole purpose was to get cute pictures for a project I am working on...needless to say it didn't happen! Here's the proof!

Cole Not sure what his new smile is all about...

Too tired and hot to move...
All 13 of the kidders...just getting them all on the bench was a job...
Madi, Jacob and Owen...We just got there!
Hunter and Cole...Cole was fading fast...he doesn't do well in the heat!...
Madi, Jacob, and Owen...Jacob say CHEESE!...
Lindsey and her boys...
Carrie and her Ducklings...
We packed all 13 kids up and went to Trish's house...they all had a good time jumping on the tramp, playing volleyball, slip-n-sliding, and a big waterfight! Thanks Trish for letting us come over you saved the day!...

May I Borrow $25.00...

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year Old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the Man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an Hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?' The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you Can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then You march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about Why You are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such Childish Frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the Door.The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little Boy's' Questions.. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After About an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 And he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of The little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He Asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking, Maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long Day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you Asked for.' The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some Crumpled Up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get Angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then Looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already Have some?' the father grumbled.. Because I didn't have enough, but Now I do,' the little boy replied. 'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an Hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to Have dinner with you.' The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he Begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you Working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our Fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of Your time with someone you love.. If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily Replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave Behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Happy Birthday Nancy...

Today is my Little Sissy's Birthday...Happy Birthday Nancy!... I hope you have a very happy day! I love you very much! I will call you later!
Nancy in England...I think she is beautiful...
Nancy, Sue and I in England...Nancy said she knew how to row a boat...We went around in circles and laughed and laughed...
We had so much fun in England...I can't wait to do it again...I love to travel with my sisters...There is nothing better than our Sissy Trips once a year...This year we are going to Washington D.C.!...YAHOO!

Just Keep Swimming...Swimming...Swimming...

Owen just chillin...
Ty threw Madi up in the air...I got this shot, it is kind of blurry...
Owen, still chillin...
Madi...who now has her front teeth...
Jacob...doing what he does best...jumping in!...
Jacob, hanging out on a noodle...
Madi, in the tube...
Thanks, Ty, Carrie, Madi, Jacob, and Owen for coming over and swimming...I love it when you guys visit...