Seriously??

I know all of you mama's

out there are feeling

my PAIN...

This is probably the third time this month

that I've had to view this sight.

Seriously, is it that complicated???

Time Off

Spencer's parents visited this weekend. It was so great to take some time off from the hum-drum of the daily grind and play =). We took a trip up to Brenham with both sets of grandparents (the kiddos were in HEAVEN!!)to check out the bluebonnets and the Blue Bell Ice cream factory.

There were acres of these lovely flowers!

Baby Rydge

The kids riding the milk cow at Blue Bell.
(Tyler, Rydge, Hayley, Maddie, Kyle)

Good times with Grandma and Poppie

Getting ready for the yumminess!!
Thanks for a great long weekend Grandma and Poppie!
Love ya!

MMMM.....Yummy....

I'm thoroughly basking in an

amazing thunder and lightening show,

with gargantuan drops of rain.

I'm tingly ALL over!

Love those TEXAS storms!!

Six down, three to go....

Kyle took 4th in the Pinewood!

It's our last one 'til Rydger is 8...

We have a four year break.

Hooray, hoorah!

Kyle cut this car HIMSELF!

He is a ROCKSTAR!

Tyler has moved BEYOND the whole
pinewood thing.
He's thinking this VIPER is more up his alley.
(Belongs to our cub master...
dream, on Ty.)

RO*DE*O

There ain't nothin' like the Houston Rodeo!

And if you don't like food deep fried...

You're going to go hungry.

Look at this... !!!

Oreos, Snickers, Pickles, Cheesecake, Sundaes,

...for the LOVE of all things fried!

Tyler bonding with the llama.

"Tina, eat your food!"

There were THE CUTEST little piggies.

Kyle chased this little guy all over.

We shuttled to the rodeo on a bus. Nice as far as traffic goes...

a little rough on the pocket book - someone is making a killing.

Kids snuggin' with the Borden cow. There were SO many cute animals at this rodeo. The 'newborn' area was our favorite. Day old chicks (even some in the process of hatching), day old calf, day old pigs...SO fun!
We'll be back next year!!

Rani Moment

My sis-in-law has a great saying. Whenever she does anything 'air-headed' she'll say she just had a "Leah moment".

I'm going to share one of my plethora of "Rani moments".

After nearly two hours of 'sewing' [not sure it can be called that] I had Tyler's shirt presentable for his Board of Review. (Thanks to Gigi for her help!)

I was actually quite proud, despite the fact that his rank badge was totally lopsided. However, pride comes before the fall.

Ty came home from school, saw the shirt, and in his sweet way said, "Thanks mom. Did you notice the rank patch is UPSIDE DOWN??"

Are you kidding me?

I guess if I'd paid more attention to the WORDS on the patch I might have noticed that little detail.

He tried to pass it off anyway- but his leaders sent him home to correct it by Sunday.

Kudos to me.

Rani moment.

She's Here....It's Par-tay time!

Erika's here!!

Spencer's sister, Jenn, sent her darling daughter out here to play with us for spring break! She's been here a day and I think it's unanimous...

we're going to KEEP HER!!

Erika playing the matching game with Rydge, while simultaneously playing Phase 10 with Kyle. Now THAT'S talent!

We went to ITZ.
Essentially Chucky Cheeses on steroids.

Kyle hit the JACKPOT.

Over 2000 tickets at ONE time!

If any of you know Kyle,

this will be what the Celestial Kingdom is like for him.

(That and all you can eat ICEE'S)

'Da crew. We had a great day!

Thanks for coming to play Erika!

We're looking forward to the next three days!!

(Maybe longer if we get our way! =)

Yup, I'm Cheap

Texas weather is CrAzY!!

We were 75 & sunny on Wed~

45 and raining on Thurs.

Insane.

& I'm too cheap to turn on the heat

(plus I LUV the cold)

So this is how poor Maddie resorted to playing her DS.

Thanks for popping your head out for a pic, Mad!

The many sides of Ty

I'm a personal fan of all things "Ty".

(usually involving sports or reptiles)

But I really love this side of my boy.

Ducks

Our neighborhood ducks are hilarious.

If they see you coming with a bag of bread...

they charge!

This is Rydge overcoming his fear of the charging ducks.

Poor kid doesn't even have any bread...

Totally Random

Spring Break starts tomorrow. What the hell-o am I going to do with my munsters this week?? My genius gene isn't kicking in on this one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Economical choices even better.

I was shopping at the grocery store with Rydge the other day and he asked to go see the HAMSTERS. Wha....???? When we got near the meat department he exclaimed excitedly, "there's the hamsters!!". He was talking about the LOBSTERS.

Why is it that Ty is maybe one of the fastest kids in his Jr. High, but when I ask him to do something, like answer the phone, he moves in slow motion??

My kids are OLD now. Why is sacrament meeting still a ZOO? Kyle stealing Rydge's colored pencils causing him to squeal. Kyle sitting on Maddie's skirt so she can't scoot. Kyle farting just see what kind of reaction he'll get. Kyle laying across the bench taking a nap while the rest of us are scrunched like sardines. I think I found the common denominator all on my own. I'm a genius, I tell you.

Why, why, why, when I've finally lost a few pounds this week and seen a little sucess, do I pick up a package of tasteless, nasty, chocolate Costco donuts (with 400 calories and 24 grams of fat) and snarf the whole pack without taking a breath? Note: This is AFTER eating a huge filling dinner maybe 15 minutes prior???

I'm beginning to question the genius thing. Plus, now I've used up my extra 35 WW points on the first day of the week...bummer.

It's late. Good-night.

Advice from an old married woman.

Sixteen years since we tied the knot!

Look at those shining, happy people!

Things I've learned after 16 GLORIOUS years!

**I have to FIGHT for the covers, and I usually lose.

**C-PAP machines (snoring removal devices) are a GIFT from above.

**You CAN train them to put the seat down.

**Homemade chocolate pie can heal almost all wounds.

**So can shaved legs.

**Make sure he loves your mom because YOU WILL turn into her.

**A back rub is never just a back rub.

**The sound of teeth biting a fork never gets any less irritating.

**Go to the temple!

I love to look over at my man in a session and feel the conviction of knowing he's MINE FOREVER!!

LOVE YOU, BABE!

A PATRIARCH & HIS SCRIBE

How cute are my parents?

Today my dad was sustained

as the Klein Stake Patriarch

& my mom as his secretary.

What a rich blessing this is for our family.

I'm so grateful for the worthy example they have both set throughout my life. I was truly born of goodly parents.

Bonus - he gets to give all the grand kids their patriarchal blessings!!!

What a feat!

Rydge's latest FEAT.

Playing Go-Fish with his FEET.

Do you have an A for Alligator??

Let me see...
GO FISH!!

Roles Reversed

What's wrong with this picture??

Shouldn't it be the teenager I'm worried about talking on the phone too much??