Happy Anniversary

Fourteen years ago today I married my best friend. I've asked Matt a few times if he can believe it has been that long. It seems like yesterday. In those fourteen years we've been through a lot, including having three kids and two deployments, and we love each other more every day. Thank you for putting up with my crazy moods, for letting me cry on your shoulder, for being such a good dad, always working hard and doing your best, and for being you. I love you so much and couldn't imagine my life without you.

I love the way Matt is looking at me in this picture. I was looking through pictures tonight to find these wedding ones and we have had some great times. I have so much to be thankful for.

St. George

Yesterday we had a busy, fun-filled day in St. George. First we had Ashlyn's cheer competition. They are pretty amazing. We didn't go back for the awards but were pretty sure they took 1st. After the comp. we headed to the St. George Igloo for a little ice skating. Braden is the only one who has been before but it didn't take the rest of us long catch on. Garrett started out with buckets so he wouldn't fall. Soon he was on his own and doing good. After skating we ate at Wingers and did a little shopping before heading home. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and spending time with each other.

Cheer Competition

Ice Skating

Paper Airplanes

Garrett got a book on how to make paper airplanes at the book fair. They have had a blast making different planes. There are planes all over the house and I am going to have to buy some more paper.

Shondel invited us up for pizza last night. Craig and Lois were there too. We had a good time visiting and the kids had fun playing together.

He's got skills...

Today Garrett came to me with a basketball in his hand and says I know where I get my basketball skills. I said where, and he said Grandpa Lynn. He broke his record today too. Five shots in a row.

Failure

I found this blog that I Love. She doesn't sugar coat everything and make you feel like an absolute failure. She is real and I can relate. This is what I read today and again I felt somewhat normal -

I'm an average mom. I yell too much and don't listen enough. I mess up. Daily

My kids are normal too. They can be delightful one minute and talking back or writhing on the floor in a tantrum the very next.

Then I come home from work to find that while the kids were out early from school today and unsupervised, Matt was napping, the hall was being used as a photography studio.

Is this a sign of what summer is going to be like.
Does this mean I have failed as a parent. Have I done my job when I have taught them right from wrong and they choose wrong. I'm sure I am not the only mother that feels every day that they have failed in some way or another. The purpose of me starting this blog was to realize what blessings I do have in my life and to make the most of them. But I also need to learn to take the good with the bad. To continue to do my best to teach them right from wrong and pray daily that they will choose right. And when they do choose wrong to let them know that I will be here for them no matter what. I love these kids and I hope that one day they will think that I did my best and will understand the reasons for the things I have done.

The name of the blog is http://www.wearethatfamily.com/. It is hilarious.

PRISONER

I am drying off after my shower last night when I see something out of the corner of my eye. Hanging from the heater that is on the bathroom ceiling is the PRISONER.

The Prisoner - Garrett's Storm Trooper


The Culprit - Braden

He was teasing Garrett all night.

Garrett just seen me uploading this picture and ran into the bathroom, then I heard BRAAADEEN. Now he is trying to get it down. I better go help.

Lets go fly a kite...

This is the first day in a while we have all been home together. The wind picked up and Braden wanted to go to the creamery and fly the kites. Now we're off to the ball field to practice batting, then to Maria's for dinner, and for a ride looking for the elk.

My Horny Husband

This is Matt's first horn for the year. He was so excited he even washed the shirt he was wearing today so he could wear it again tomorrow when he goes.

Purple Hair

I cut my hair a couple months ago into a faux hawk with purple on the top. I redid the purple last night for about the fourth time and it was pretty bright. Today in our meeting Craig says what is that on the top of your head, does it mean anything.

BURNED

This is what happens when your lamp gets knocked over, while it's on, and sits on the floor for who knows how long.
Matt went in to go to bed and could smell something burning. Ashlyn was sleeping on her floor and had knocked the lamp over. It's a good thing we were still awake.

Happy St. Patty's Day

This morning Garrett was looking for his blue and white striped shirt. I said why don't you wear this one it's got green on it. He said I want that one because it's tricky. He is so smart and funny.

They think its Summer...

See the snow and the shorts. The warmest day in months and they go home from school, put on shorts and head outside.

My Latest Project

I decided to paint the vent cover to go with the new kitchen floor. I think it turned out great and I am going to do the rest.

This is the before picture. YUCK.

What I came home to....

Ashlyn and the neighbor girl in shorts playing in the mud puddle on the corner. It is 59 degrees outside right now but it IS still winter, and she has started with a cold.

I nEvEr KnOw...

what pictures I am going to find on my camera. Garrett loves to take pictures and some of them are quite good. Today I found pictures of his messy room, the living room, the pantry door, Braden, and Ashlyn reading. This one is of me, my back, in the bathroom mirror.

Taking Out The Trash

Tonight was Garrett's turn to take out the trash so I grabbed the camera for my potd. Of course when he saw the camera he had to pose a little bit.

Today Brenda's dog Bo died. He had a slipped disc in his back and was in so much pain he couldn't keep anything down. She was pretty sad.

SnOw DaY!

It has been snowing like crazy all day. I bet we have a foot, and I love it! This is the view from the front door of the bank. I love it when it snows an the snow hangs on the branches of the trees. This morning I got to go have breakfast at school with Garrett and Ashlyn. Me and Garrett had fun, Ashlyn just acted like she would rather be with her friends. After we ate we read a book an then I had to come to work.

Trim

I am up late again tonight trying to get the trim done. It is all cut and these are the last two pieces drying. It will be nice to have it all done. These kind of projects cause fights!

Aunt Vaunda

Aunt Vaunda was diagnosed with liver cancer right before Christmas. When they found it it had spread and there was nothing they could do. She was given two to three months to live. She lived a good two months just starting with pain a week before she died. She passed away last last Saturday and the funeral was today. It was a very nice funeral. I will always remember her for her smile and scalloped potatoes. She was always so sweet. It was nice to see all of my family and to visit.

Happy 11th Birthday Ashlyn

Eleven years...wow where has the time gone. When we had the ultrasound they couldn't tell the sex so we decided not to find out. The look on Matt's face when she was born and they said it was a girl made it all worth it. Matt was so sure we were having a boy that he wouldn't even discuss girl names with me so while we were in the hospital she was baby girl. We even went through the phonebook looking for a name. She has always been so strong...tough. She walked when she was nine months old and would never let you hold her hand. She would take stairs one by one never putting two feet on the same step. And she can hold her own with any boy. I pray that she will always have that same strong personality. This picture is not today, its when she got her glasses but I love it. She is so pretty and I always think she is older than she is. She hasn't been around long enough today to get a picture. She wanted Maria's for dinner until Makaylee called to see if she could go with them for pizza to celebrate her birthday. She is getting older. That sounded like more fun and she said we could take her tomorrow night. Whatever she wants, it is her day. I love her so much and can't imagine my life without her.

Flooring

Today we have been replacing the floor in the kitchen. The wood is the new. I hope it will hold up to the wild animals. The water in the shower has been running behind the caulk and dripping off the side of the tub, running under the wall and ruined the floor in the kitchen. Nice. Garrett had his VIP day. We wrote a letter along with Grandma Garna and Willden and went to school and read them to him. He was being such a goofball. He had to show us the handshake he made up with his friend, Treyson Hunter. It was so cute and funny. Then we had treats and we all went to the dentist. Three out of five had a cavity and will be headed back next week.

It's Late...

...and this is what has kept me up tonight. I am such a procrastinator. Tomorrow is Garrett's VIP day and here I am at 11 the night before putting everything together.

Dr. Prince

I forgot about Dr Prince today...Imagine that! Braden has had his braces on since last summer and his teeth have moved quite a bit. He had to have 4 teeth pulled before he got his braces on and they have been pulling together trying to fill the gaps. Today his top 2 teeth were where they are supposed to be so Dr Prince tied each one to the tooth behind it. Dr Prince is responsible for my amazing smile, Braden's soon to be amazing, and I'm sure Ashlyn's...if he's still working!

Call me a slacker...

or lazy. I could of at least done more than one post! I told my sisters about starting this and how bad I was so Nicole called me later, Maybe we need to have a reward for doing this so we will do it, she says. I figured I had slacked long enough and might as well give up. So we decided to start March 1st. I am actually blogging from work and have to go to the Timberline when I get done here, so this is a picture from a few weeks ago. The kids walk here after school and then we go home. This day Garrett was beat and I was taking foooorever, and he fell asleep on the couch at the bank. It is so cute, I love it.