13 years of marriage & counting

13 years, 10 moves, 4 towns, 3 college graduations, 3 colleges, 5 pregnancies, 4 kids, 14 jobs, 1 3.5 yr long distance relationship, 3 nieces, 6 nephews, 4 vehicles, 2 forest fires, 1 vehicle fire, 3 funerals, 6 cancers, 4 Relays, 9 weddings, 1 new house, 4 insurance companies, 1 bout with Rheumatic Fever, 2 broken arms, 22 surgeries, 2 ENTS, 2 Orthopedic Surgeons, 1 amputation, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 trip to CA, OR, AZ, FL, St. Louis, Bryce, Zions, Yellowstone, Disney World, & Disney Land, 1 lost kid in the Denver Airport, 3 guitars, 6 yrs of dance recitals, 1.5 yrs of piano lessons, 1 camp trailer, 47 birthday parties, 1 car accident & 1 spring training.  Whew!  Happy Anniversary Travis!

Lots of cute pictures of Brookelyn

Last Sunday we went down to Aunt Jamie and Uncle Robbie's house.  Samantha had picked out a birthday present for Cousin Jaxton and it gave the kids a chance to play one more time before the new cousin was born.  The kids had lots and lots of fun and of course didn't want to leave when it was time.  Brookelyn was able to get in on the train table action on this trip too.

The other night I walked into the girls' room to check on them before I went into bed.  I found Brookelyn like this and just giggled and giggled.  I have no idea how the heck this could possibly be comfortable at all!

Yes, she IS in fact griping the sidebar of the crib!

I've been working on this wedding cake and 100 cupcakes.  I think I mentioned mom bought me a Cricut Cake machine.  The other day I had the Cricut out and was cutting more gumpaste daisies.  I figured even though B was running around she was being good so I could get a few done.  I only had 31 to go so maybe I could finish it up.  A few months ago she figured out how to open my drawers and learned that it was super funny to pull all mom's dish towels out of the drawer.  She has since found the other drawer full of dish towels and empties that drawer quite quickly as well.  I was working on the daisies and she was emptying my drawer.  The next thing I know she's popped up right next to me and starts watching the Cricut cut daisies.  After a second of checking out my machine she looks up at me with her cheesy little grin and says, "HI-YA!"  Little stinker!  She was so cute I couldn't help but giggle!  I got her out of the drawer after the picture but since then she has managed quite a few more trips into the drawer.  One today without pulling all the towels out (a bonus for me).  Although, she did have the idea that if she pulled everything out of the next drawer up, it's as good as stairs!  Crap.

I was playing with B's hair the other day and decided I'd try and do a couple braids in it.  I had sat her in the bathroom sink so she had access to the toothbrushes and all the hair elastics.  She was pretty good for me to do it.  She didn't hold still, but she wasn't screaming, "OWIE" like she does when she sees me coming with the comb!

Sister has decided she still really likes to play here.  I've recently busted the shoe lace back out and tied the cupboards shut.  She isn't too keen on that idea!  She likes the drum/bang noise it makes when she yanks on it though!

Yesterday sister busted out my Swiffer Sweeper.  I wondered if she'd give up and crawl while pushing it around the floor like usual.  Turns out, sister just needs something in her hands to have the confidence to walk!  She took a good 10-12 steps while holding the Swiffer Sweeper!  I think we'll just keep the Rock Band drum sticks out for her!  She did a repeat of her trick holding those!

Yesterday we went back to my mom's house to get in the pool.  The big kids were in the pool for a total of FOUR hours!  The only reason they got out when they did was because dinner was ready!

I love this little swim suit!  It was one of Sam's when she was this size.

I was impressed I got her to leave Caleb's shades on long enough for a picture!  She will usually only wear them on her neck!

Today we went back to Grandma's house to get in the pool again!  This time Aunt Cassidy's kids were there.  Sunny was perfectly content playing with the spoons and measuring cups next to the pool rather than getting in the pool!  Silly girl!

B's hair is getting so long!  I left it down for a change today because her teeth have been bothering her so bad lately and I didn't want to torture her any more than I had to.

Caleb informed me he was the King and he was making "Bullet soup".

The girls got their first jeep & hummer time today.  The battery in the jeep is dead and the battery in the hummer is almost dead too.  They were perfectly happy just climbing in and out of it 100 times!

Grandma Terri got a stick and pushed the gas pedal for B so she could have a ride in the driver's seat!

After Grandma quit pushing the gas pedal she would stand up on the seat and dance!  It was too funny!

Finishing off Grandma's blueberries:

Here's the stand for the wedding cupcakes I've been working on.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  I hope it doesn't tip when I put cupcakes on it!

This is what the wedding cake is going to go on.

We've been keeping it pretty mellow here the last week or so.  Basically just staying at home.  Tonight Nash is getting to have his Cousin Clayton sleep over.  Samantha is excited that Aunt Jamie & Uncle Robbie will come pick him up tomorrow and bring the new baby & Cousin Jaxton to visit.  Sam's been DYING to meet her new cousin because as she says, "I love his face!"  Travis comes home tomorrow (yay!).  Monday marks our 13th wedding anniversary!  Wow.  That went fast.  Not sure what we'll do to celebrate yet.  Caleb has his well check scheduled for that day and I was planning to do his Kindergarten shots.  Hope there isn't too much drama with that!  We've talked about heading over to Bear Lake while Travis is home and maybe going camping.  Not sure how I feel about the camping idea - I'm still trying to recover from the last time we went camping!  Only 3 weeks of summer vacation left!  Guess we'll have to kick it into high gear to fit everything else in before school starts on Aug. 23rd!

Meet my new nephew!

My sister in law had her baby on Tuesday, July 24, 2012!  As soon as I showed Sam his picture she immediately asked if we could go see him!  She is in love to say the least!  I find him quite adorable as well.  We are very excited to go see him on Saturday!  His name is Weston and he is a big boy - weighed in at 8 lbs 14 oz & 20 inches long.  Welcome to our family baby Weston!

Witch Born Countdown!

When I went to California in March I borrowed a copy of the book Witch Song from my friend.  One of her good friends, Amber Argyle, wrote the book.  I LOVED this book!  I read it super quick & didn't want to put it down!  I've since voted for it in several categories on Goodreads.com.  Well now, the much anticipated sequel, Witch Born, is creeping up on it's release date!  You can check out Amber's blog & enter to win a signed  proof of the book before it even comes out in stores!  I've entered and am hoping to win it!  I've told Amber several times I'd gladly edit for her!  Go check out her blog & enter to win a copy!
http://amberargyle.blogspot.com/2012/07/win-signed-proof-of-witch-born.html

We take on the Ogden Nature Center & the Dinosaur Park

My girlfriend, Laura, & I decided that we were going to take the kids (seven between the two of us) down to the Ogden Dinosaur Park today.  I was looking online last night to double check address, etc. and came across a link telling me that there were a bunch of different activities you could do all summer long on Saturdays, in Ogden, that were FREE.  As luck would have it, the Dinosaur Park was on the list for free today!  Seriously, how lucky can a girl be?  

We decided that we'd hit the Ogden Nature Center first and then go to the Dinosaur Park.  I'd never been to the Nature Center & had no idea what to expect.  I was glad I hadn't paid to get into it.  It was kinda lame.  Although, I think if you went in the spring (or when there wasn't a massive drought) it would be better because there would actually be birds there & the ponds would have water in them!  The other thing I didn't like about it was that the trails and the map weren't very well marked.  It was pretty confusing and we kept ending up in places that we had to turn around and go back.  I also wouldn't recommend that you go during the heat of the day!  Because we got a late start we didn't get there until 11 am and it took us over an hour to go the entire 1.2 mile track.  It was fun and the kids had a good time (even though they complained a little bit about the heat).

We went into the visitor center first and got our map and signed in.  Then when we went out the door and were trying to decide which way to go, the kids found a display of birds of prey.  They had a couple hawks and falcons and two eagles (one golden & one bald).  They also had a few ravens & a couple others that I can't remember what they were.  They had this neat replica of an eagle's nest.  I couldn't believe how big it was!  We saw one at the Oregon Zoo, but I'd forgotten how huge it was!  I told the kids we could just leave all of them in the nest & they'd be fine!  There were birds nearby so they'd get food, right?  Yeah, the kids didn't like that idea!

There were two free roaming turkeys by the birds of prey cages.  This one decided he was going to come by and pretend to follow us around!

They had a "bear den" replica.  The boys climbed right in (I still had the heebie jeebies about snakes coming out of the long grass!).

All the boys (my two & Laura's three) climbed into the bear den at once and they actually all fit in there!

These two decided not to barge into the bear den (smart choice if you ask me!)

The lady that gave me my map at the visitor's center told me they had a tree house.  After a LOT of walking and several times of turning around, we finally found it!  There were actually a few things there.  There was this huge tree house thing and just to the right was an actual tree house built into a huge tree.  Over to the left in a big field was a giant tee pee too.  The kids ran and ran.  I was glad they had a drinking fountain to refill our water bottles!  I was not so happy that the bathrooms were locked!

B was happy to just sit in her stroller the entire time!  It took us over an hour to do the entire 1.2 mile walk.  She even just sat in her stroller for a good 20 minutes or so while all the other kids ran and played on the tree houses and in the tee pee!

We had packed a picnic lunch but didn't want to carry it on the trail with us.  So, when we got off the trail we turned the AC up full blast in our vehicles & had a little picnic in the trucks!  The kids were happy & so was I!  Brookelyn slept through the entire lunch time too!

While we were having lunch I was looking at Sam's hair.  I told her I really liked it when it was braided because it looked so cool.  She asked me why it looked cool so I took a picture for her to see.  She's got so many colors of blonde in her hair that it looks like we did it this way on purpose!

We had to have a bathroom break after lunch & before the kids craft.  Caleb was hiding behind the stroller in this one.

If you look close you can see Caleb peeking out the window behind Brooke's head.

The kids craft was kind of cool.  Take 1 rock, find leaves, flowers, etc.  Place Modge Podge on rock. Place leaves, etc. on Modge Podge.  Modge Podge over leaves, etc.  Let dry.  Wa-la you now have a beautified paper weight! :)

Our finished rocks:

After we finished up our kids craft we headed over to the Ogden Dinosaur Park.  Travis & I took the kids last summer and they seemed to love it.  It's not a place I'd visit enough to buy a membership, but I'd take my kids once or twice a year.  Aren't these kids tough?

We let the kids get geodes while we were there.  After Nash & Zeke had theirs cut, they walked over to watch the paleontologist at work.  This guy was so nice!  He opened the window and talked to the boys for at least 30 minutes.  He told them what he was working on, showed them pictures, let them touch stuff, answered their questions.  Seriously, this guy went above and beyond his job description today!  I think this was the boys' favorite part of the day!

After Caleb got his geode cut he wandered over to this little table & made friends with an older boy.  The boy was so nice.  He sat and played pretend dinosaurs with Caleb for a good 20 minutes.

I told Caleb to go stand by the Triceratops and I'd take his picture.  He was funny because he was totally scared that it was going to get him!  And as a side note, the kid can say Triceratops really well!

The kids had to stick their heads in all of the cutouts - even if we didn't take a picture of every single one!

This sign couldn't be any more true!

Here's a picture of the geodes the kids got.  The white ones on the left are Sam & Nash's.  The purple ones on the right are Caleb & Brookelyn's.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of Carter's.  His was black & orange!  I've never seen one like that before!

We will be going on more Saturday adventures.  This list I found has a lot of great places listed on it that I think the kids will really like.  We're going to be going to the Hill Aerospace Museum, Treehouse Museum (which they love & are always asking to go to) and the Ott Planetarium at WSU.  I think we might even try to hit the Egyptian Theater!  Here's to making the most of the rest of our Saturdays through August!  Thank you RAMPS!