Happy Birthday to me!

For my birthday this year my mother and sisters and sister-in-law all pitched in to fly me out to Utah with Greer and Jag to spend some time with the "girls!"  We had a good time and spent a lot of time bonding.  For entertainment purposes I am going to list 31 things about me that you may not know, or every want to...

1.  I play the violin

2.  I danced in college (if you want to see our Nationals video go to my face book page)

3.  I love ding-dongs

4.  I love playing cards (and beating Rusty)

5.  I am a very touchy person, I love hugs and touchy stuff

6.  It is a good day if I put clothes and make-up on, I love to stay in my PJ's

7.  I love Biggest Loser

8.  I couldn't survive without Wal-Mart

9.  I am anal about my house and I clean it daily

10.  I won't go to bed with dishes in the sink

11.  I love doing yard work even though I get injured all the time

12.  I love to color but only with markers (new ones, preferably)

13.  I love the snow and seasons (weird that I live in AZ)

14.  I wish that I could tan, but I only burn

15.  I don't like shopping online

16.  I lose my phone or wedding ring at least once a week

17.  I hate talking on the phone

18.  I love bike rides (when the weather permits)

19.  My favorite ice cream is Baskin Robbins Pink Bubblegum (nothing can beat it)

20.  I love brownie batter (not a fan of the cooked brownies)

21.  I am a natural brunette

22.  I don't like jewelry (I barely even wear my ring)

23.  I love family time (nothing beats hanging with the fam)

24.  I love to decorate 

25.  My favorite color is green

26.   My lucky number is 5

27.  Age doesn't matter to me I don't care how old I turn

28.  I am a big fan of plastic surgery

29.  I love vacuum lines in the carpet

30.  I hate to dust!!!

31.  I love the smell of Pine-Sol

Extras-  I love the smell of gasoline, I love Americas Next Top Model (like you couldn't tell from the picture), I am a huge fan of reality T.V., I would love to have a mini-van, When my kids are happy and playing well there is nothing more peaceful in the world, I hate reading, I love to get a good back-scratch.  There are so many things that I am thinking of but I am only 31...  Maybe next year I can think of different ones.

Thanks to everyone who gave me love on my Birthday!  

Valentines Day 2009

We had a great day today with the family.  The kids woke up to a little gift from Cupid and they enjoyed coloring all morning.  I  must admit however the best gift to give Jagger is a helium filled balloon, he will play for days with them.  Then we had brunch at Grandmas house.  Roll-ups with all the fixins'  the kids love being at Grandmas because it means all the cousins and lots of play time.  Afterwards Ali and Macy and Lauren and Hailey came over to play so needless to say the kids were not hurting for entertainment.  Grandma then watched all the kids at night so that the adults go go out to play.  However to get to the more important part of Valentines Day one must always mention their "one!"  My one so happens to be a special soul.  It is hard to describe someone that has been there for you through the ups and downs and the merry-go-rounds of life.  I think back to when I first got married and thought "Wow, I was just a baby."  I have grown so much and learned and experienced and there has been one constant through that all.  My Ryan!  He is thoughtful and caring and goes out of his way to express love and endearment.  Regardless of where he is he makes sure that I feel special and loved.  It is hard to come across these holidays because of how truly thoughtful he is.  I am always thinking of something creative so that my gift stands a chance next to his.  So on this day I just want to express my love for "my love" and let him know that I adore him and have grown to be only half of what he can make a whole.  Thank you for all of your acceptance of me and for our beautiful children.  Life can only be moving in an eternal motion and ahead I see rainbows and butterflies.  Love to all on this special day!

P.S. I added some oldies but goodies of Ry-Guy and I.  Plus Tanner is the BMX champ.  The boy does not even try shows up for meets borrows someone elses bike and in his jeans is smoking the competition at the races!  Way to go!  Seriously he is a natural, first place!

Food for Thought...

The time to be kind is now

The place to be kind is here

We needn't be told the way to be kind

For the way to be kind is clear

But it's good to pause and remember

In the heat of our stress and drive

The very best time to live

Is while we are still alive.

The time to be happy is now

The place to be happy is here

The way to be happy is to make others happy simple enough, I fear

But the simple things we are apt to miss

As we struggle and fret and strive

Forgetting the very best time to live

Is while we are still alive.

During this season of love I pray that we hold each other a little tighter, that we speak a little softer, that we remember that life is short and time flies by.  We will look back on our lives and only certain things will matter to us.  I think that everyone knows what those things are and we need to always remember how blessed we are.  I am trying to be kinder, more forgiving, less quick to judge and softer around the edges.  We are all a piece in the making and I only pray that someday I feel worthy to be called a timeless masterpiece!

Funny kiddos!

I am sitting tonight coloring with the girls and the following conversation takes place...

NAVIE- Mom, you are a good colorer it is because you are old.  All old people can color good.  The older you get the better you are at coloring and since you are 40 you are almost as good as  Nonna!

BLAKELY- Navie, Mom is not 40 she is 50 that is why she is getting better at staying in the lines.  Once I am 50 I can stay in the lines too.

NAVIE- Well the best colorer is still Nonna, because she is the oldest!

Sorry Mom but at least they didn't guess your age.  Wow, my birthday is just around the corner and my children have aged me 20 years!  I need that TLC show "10 Years Younger!"  Maybe they could teach me to scribble so that my children think that I am in my 20's wouldn't that be great!  Or at least I could get the Botox that I have been wanting.  My children have been making me laugh a lot lately.  After having a fourth child and all of them barely two years apart things around here have been hectic thank heavens for laughter!!!

I wanted to post a few pictures of how weird my children sleep.  Navie will NOT sleep in a bed she refuses to sleep by any windows.  Therefore she sleeps on an Elmo couch on the floor and half under the bed.  Blakely sleeps in the bed but will never sleep the right direction.  Trust me when I tell you that you never want to share a bed with her.  Not only that but she is a teeth grinder and that is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves to hear people grind their teeth.  Jag won't go to bed unless he can sleep with some of his balls and his "bubble gun." It is not a bubble gun it is a Nerf dart gun (thanks again Jaimie and Jon this kid is obsessed) he will not go anywhere without it and he cannot cock it himself so I do ALL day long.  Did I mention that I do that ALL day long seriously ALL day, when can they make a gun like that that a 2 year old can do himself.  Plus he has not succeeded at shooting until he gets them stuck on my ceiling and I walk around with a towel jumping trying to knock them off!  Boy that kid is crazy right now.  Don't worry all you moms out there I do go into his room at night and remove all the "extras" from his crib!  I love these kids and enjoy seeing their personalities grow and mature daily.  Slow down though because time is growing fast and I am trying to soak it all in!  I love you all.....

AZ Cardinals

We still love them we always will.  It was actually a great game and we had a great time with friends watching it!  The Cards really gave it their all and we appreciate that.  I hate to see losers at the end of such an important game, but someone always loses.  This go around it just so happened to be us.  Thanks for the great season and we look forward to many more to come!