Phew...

I survived the most intense three weeks of my life.

Please kick me in my hind parts if I ever

attempt a "mini-mester" class again!

These amazing flowers and a sweet love note

from my Spencer were waiting for me when I got home

from taking my final exam.

I'm certain he's as happy as I am that my class is over.

This is what I have to look forward to:

READING for PLEASURE!

I have not read a fun book since I started school

and got my calling in the Relief Society back in January.

For anyone who knows me: it has been torture~!

I'm already half done with Fablehaven 5!

(Please forward any reading suggestions my way!)

The kids have been out of school for about four days...

they are already annoying the crap out of each other.

The beautiful thing?

I just grab my book and tune them all out!

Lovin' summer!

11 Things

(Shhhh...I should be writing my school paper,

but it is an important day!)

Happy Birthday, Maddie!

Maddie arrived 1 year and 9 days after Kyle.

I was so happy to get my girl!

Here are 11 fun facts about Maddie-lu!

1. This girl loves to be called Maddie - but she's always been too shy to tell her teacher that on the first day of school, so she's always "Madison".

2. Maddie has the most AMAZING hair! Whenever we get it cut, the stylist without fail says "There are people that pay me big bucks to have their hair look just like yours!" It's the perfect color and THICK. I'm totally jealous!

3. Maddie always has scrapes and bruises on her legs. She loves the outdoors - running, biking, scootering - and has the visual proof all over her cute legs!

OH, LOOK! It's Justin again!

I couldn't resist...sorry Ty.

4. Maddie got her glasses when she was 2 years old. None of us recognize her without them. When she was bitty she called them her "pretties". It was so cute. She never fought me to wear them - ever.

5. Maddie ADORES animals. She likes them better than people. We watched "The Last Song" on a GNO together and she never shed a tear. But a movie with an injured animal....gushes.

6. Maddie is filled with integrity. I tried to sneak some food into the dollar show awhile back and she refused let me put her snacks in my purse when she saw the "no outside food allowed" sign. We all went snack-free for that show.

7. Maddie snores like her dad when she's asleep. Sorry Maddie's future husband.

8. Maddie loves hamburgers, but HATES cheeseburgers. She says it's the melted cheese. But she loves cheese crisps and grilled cheese sandwiches...go figure.

9. Maddie crushes on boys. It's darling to hear her talk about a boy she thinks is cute. She does however wear her heart on her sleeve....I forsee a few broken hearts in the future.

10. Maddie is the smiliest kid I know. She is so easy going and rarely loses her temper or gets emotional. I know, I know, it's coming! But right now - I love my even tempered,

peace making girl!

11. Maddie is BLONDE in every sense of the word and WE LOVE HER for it!

Happy 11th darlin'!

I'm SO glad you came to our family!

Justin...is that you?

This has gone on LONG enough

Hair pun intended.

Wuz up, Justin Bieber??

sorry if misspelled. we're not big fans around here.

I can almost forgive the long locks when I see this.

Look at their arms above their heads.

Oh, my holy sweetness...

12 Things

My second born is 12.

I'm not even going to try and figure out how that is possible.

Here are 12 little known facts about Kyle.

1. He brushes his teeth maybe twice a week. I threaten him every six months, about a week before his dental check-up, promising that he's going to regret neglecting his teeth and he has a lot of painful shots to look forward to. So far the threats are moot. The child has NEVER had a cavity.
2. Despite his lack of oral hygiene - he does have a new found appreciation for physical appearance. He loves to spike his hair and wouldn't think of going out without it looking pristine. He also loves AXE and sprays it on generously.
3. He loves little kids and they love him, too. On Mother's Day the primary was singing on the stand in Sacrament meeting and right in the middle of the song, Kyle starts pushing people out of the way. Thinking this was some need to be in the front row (not uncommon for Kyle) I was horrified. Then I see him gently help a little Sunbeam to the front who was stuck in the back and couldn't see or be seen. It was a tender sight. The bishop even told me he cried when he saw it. ( I think that one kind act might have helped him pass his priesthood interview today:)
4. Kyle sleeps completely covered from head to foot. Most mornings when I go to wake him, I don't know which end is up.
5. Kyle is a 'closet' snuggler. He loves to lay on my shoulder and rub my arm. I'm pretty sure I love it even more than he does.
6. Kyle dreams of playing for the Phoenix Suns and the New York Yankees. If determination plays any factor - I'm pretty sure he will do it.
7. Kyle has a rigorous work-out routine every night before he goes to bed - without fail. He does push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and other drudgery. Then he showers and goes to sleep. He has ZERO body fat and can almost beat me in an arm wrestle.

8. Kyle has an obsession with SPAM. He loves to make it himself and always breaks out a can for his friends when they come over. It's tradition now. Play basketball, come in for a cold drink and some nice greasy SPAM.
9. His favorite candy is Reese's Peanut Butter cups. But he'll eat ANYTHING sweet. How is it possible he's cavity free???
10. He has the stinkiest gas on the planet and he's proud of it.
11. Kyle races to sit in the front seat of the car all the time. He loves to control the music. I finally had to create a 'front seat rotation chart' so everyone gets a fair turn in the front seat. It was madness.
12. Kyle has the most contagious, sparkly eyed smile.

I'm so proud of Kyle and the growth and maturity he has shown this year. He's awesome! And it is so wonderful to have another worthy priesthood holder in my home. It's going to be a great year!!

I LOVE YOU, DUDE!

This is NOT okay.

I do NOT love snakes.

You might even say that I HATE them.

They terrify me.

When we lived in Washington the boys

would bring home little tiny snakes in a shoe box.

I tolerated this from afar.

This is what they bring home now

that we're in Texas.

For a practical joke they

wanted to leave it in my shower

for me to find.

My sweet, thoughtful boys.

Thanks Spencer for nipping that in the bud!

FIVE FEET LONG...

This is NOT okay.
I guess what they say is true.
Everything IS BIGGER in Texas!

My boyz

The pictures say it all...

Love these boyz

xoxoxoxoxox

Dog Days

Me and my pup.

We love us a good

Sunday nap!

Volleyball Ready!

It was SO Maddie's turn to play a sport.

This girl has been dragged along

to the boys' games for years with nary a complaint.

She has NATURAL ability.

I'm certain it comes from my side of the family.
It was a great season.
We only won one match,
(none of the girls had played before)
but Maddie LOVED
every minute of every game.
She is definitely pursuing volleyball!
Yea! You go girl!

Things That Matter

I have no doubt the destroyer gets such

satisfaction when he successfully keeps us

distracted from the things that really matter.Today as I entered Heavenly Father's House,

I did so with a clouded, chaotic mind.
I had allowed those distractions to take hold,

and had opened a small space for

despair to begin to set in.

But as I sat in the perfect reverence of the temple,

serving my sisters that have gone on before me,

and allowed my crazy mind to clear,

I felt the undeniable love of my Father in heaven
and was overcome with His peace and truth.

The things that truly matter.

I love His House.

It truly is a shelter from the storms of life.

I am so grateful for His healing touch.

I love that I can walk out of that

beautiful building changed from when I entered.

Conference Weekend

Please tell me your family room

looks like this during

conference weekend, too???

I heart conference weekend...messy house and all.

Today was especially comforting,

reassuring, faith building.

Can't wait for tomorrow!

And NO - I'm not cleaning up.

Ouch! Yea! Finally! What the...? Mmmm....

Howz about that for ouch!?!

Poor, Bubs! He "says" he tripped while he was jogging,

but we're all secretly wondering who has the

mean left hook!

(He's so tough - he says it doesn't even hurt!

But it makes me so sad :(

YEA!! Tyler (CTR faced boy) wondered why they

don't have Youth Conference for an entire week!

(I'm certain that thought strikes terror in the hearts of

all Youth Conference planners!)

He said he loved YC because of all that he learned

spiritually and how fun it was.

I think it might have had something to do with

the cute chickees.

Finally!! We found the perfect new couch!

I call the corner spot!

Kyle: Mom, can I take a bath in your tub?
Mom: No - you always make a mess.
Kyle: I pRoMiSe I won't! Please!
Mom: Okay - but NO bubbles.
Kyle: Okay.
WHAT THE.....?????
Mmmm....
Spring is truly delicious to my soul.
My daffs and tulips have bloomed.
There are popcorn popping trees everywhere.
Positively delightful.

Life Is Good

The happy couple.

How could we NOT be ecstatic?!?

All expenses paid, child-free, seven day vacation!!

H-E-A-V-E-N.

I'd like to thank Southwest Traders

for picking up the tab for our

17th Anniversary celebration! :)

(oh, and employee of the year reward)

Photo of sunset taken from our room's PATIO.

Spencer & I played ( and I lost ) a lot of card games,

watched whales & dolphins,

read, talked, and relaxed on our patio.

It was my happy place.

Spencer in front of our ginormous ship!

Our room steward was amazing!
I quickly got used to my bed being made in the am
and turned down in the pm.
Fresh towels, ice, blinds opened/ closed...
H-E-A-V-E-N!
Our favorite was coming in from dinner each night
to a new little critter created out of towels
waiting for us on the bed or hanging from the ceiling.
Little elephant looks so sweet in my shades!
Spencer had these beauties and a
sweet love note waiting for me
when we boarded the ship on Friday.
Married 17 years, March 5!
Love that bald man!
The champagne was a treat from the company...
boy did we enjoy that!!!
Jokes.
Sweet ocean view!


Little monkey friend.

Our favorite excursion was the Predator Zip Line

in Puerta Vallarta.

Photo of our ship taken from the boat while

Spencer was parasailing in Cabo San Lucas.

My babe taking off. He ended up almost 600 feet high.

Hot chick on the beaches of Mazatlan.

Thanks to all of those who held down the fort in our absence!

Thanks Grandma and Poppie for taking a week off to hang with the kiddos!

Thanks Gigi and Bubs, Leah and Shea for doing a bunch of running!

Our trip was stress free thanks to y'all!

LIFE IS GOOD!

8 More Sleeps

Only EIGHT MORE SLEEPS

until Spencer and I are aboard

this beauty!!!!

Compliments of Southwest Traders, Inc.

Thanks for being the best manager in the

whole wide world, babe!

Green Dip

Thank you, Mr. Freeze,

for causing our hot tub pipe to burst.

We can't run the filter, so instead,

we get to grow bacteria.

Anyone interested in a green dip?

I Heart...

...when my kids act like they like each other.
...when I get to go to the bathroom...uninterrupted.
...when I get lost in an amazing book - can't put it down!
...cuddling as close as possible with my babe.
...a lunch with the girls - preferably when there's a pizzookie involved.
...laughing with my brothers.
...when my kids confide in me. Especially if they're crushing on somebody!
...talking on the phone with someone I love.
...going on 'walk and talks' with Rydge.
...Downy Fresh laundry - YUM!
...a good hair day. They are few and far between.
...whispering with my kids and tickling their backs as they fall asleep.
...to re-connect with old friends.
...wogging with my bubs.
...chic-fil-a chicken nuggets dipped in chic-fil-a sauce.
...to catch a perfect expression in a picture.
...watching and rocking out to American Idol with my kids.
...when my computer works with no hiccups!
...my irreplaceable, totally awesome, family and friends!!!!

Happy Heart Day!!