Steve got a haircut

So we decided that since the business is slow and we want to do everything we can to drum up new business the first thing we need to do is work on the appearance of the plumber. He needs to be clean shaven with a nice haircut and most importantly he needs to smell good!! After really having to work hard on getting Steve to "clean up" he finally agreed. Everyone had suggestions on how he should cut it...Josh wanted him to get a high and tight (military cut), I wanted it to look like when we were first married...just nicely cut but him still have some hair, Steph wanted him to grow it longer so she could straighten it, Jared and Jarom could care less and Justin wanted him to have a "cool" do. So in the end, this is what we came up with.
..let us know what you think of his new look...the kids love it!! I could live without. By the way, he did shave it off after we snapped a few shots. But it was fun while it lasted.

We're going hiking!!

So last night, my hubby tells us all that we need to go to bed because we were going hiking in the morning. Uuuhhhhh, what did you just say? Hiking? Did you forget that we live in Arizona and that my car thermostat registered at 113 the other night? Yes, I said NIGHT which means it was hotter in the daytime. Yeah, he said...we're going hiking. Great!! I mumbled to myself. The kids were ecstatic!! They all rushed off to bed. I on the other hand stayed up watching Nancy Grace til 1 not really thinking he would get us up to go hiking and lo and behold...he did. Now he was nice and let us sleep until 8:15 or 8:30 but still...It's July for goodness sake!! We live in the desert!! By 8:30 it's too hot for even the snakes and the scorpions!! So we got all dressed up in our best hiking wear and left. He had planned this with another family and when we got there I find out that the woman of the home would not be joining us!! Excuse me? I got all ready for a hike I don't really want to go on and Jana isn't joining us? I Dont think so!! I will stay here. Why do I want to go with 2 men and 10 kids if I really dont have to? After getting a little bugged with me, Steve did let me stay...he took all of the kids though. I was shocked...not that he took the kids but that Jarom (the baby) did the hike too. Not that it was a major one but he hiked South Mountain. I haven't even done that!! Oh well, whats so great about a hike anyways? Oh, I know...the peace I get at home while their gone!!

The Beetles

I've often heard about the Beetles in Arizona but never really gave them much thought since I had never really had an encounter with one myself...until last week. I sent Jared out to give the dogs water and all of the sudden I hear him screaming at the top of his lungs...Lady, Lina, get in here...quick!! Lina, get in here....LINA!!! I was sitting here at the computer as I usually am, and when I heard the panic in his voice I got a little spooked. The first thing I thought was "there's a snake." JAAAARED!!! What is the matter??? I asked. (With a slight panic in my voice now) He said, "mom, there's this huge bug out there...it's going to eat them!!!" I said, "Jared, give me a break!! It can't be that big" Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am deathly afraid of roaches!! So the next thing out of my mouth was...."what kind of bug was it?" "I don't know mom!! But it's huge and it has really long antennas!!" "Was it a roach?" I asked. "No, I don't think so" he said. "What does a roach look like?" he asked. Great!! I thought...he doesn't know if it's a roach. But we don't and never have had bugs so I wasn't too worried about that!! And then suddenly this rush of braveness came over me!! "I have babies to protect" I thought to myself as I walked to the kitchen to look out of the door. He pointed to the general area where he saw it and said (with a quiver in his voice) "Its right there mom and it is really black!! and Big!!" Of course by now, the whole family was at the door with me and suddenly from under a piece of bark from the tree came these huge, long, disgustingly black antennas!! And then came the rest of it...oh my gosh!!! He was not exaggerating....and if you can imagine the loudest scream you have ever heard and magnify that by 10, then you might be able to imagine what it sounded like in my house when we all saw it. Instantly I yelled, go get the camera!! And someone get me my flip flops!! But by the time they got them for me, he was gone. Immediately, I called Steve and told him about this huge creature crawling around loose outside. I told him it was about as big and as black as Jaroms flip flops and he didn't act too interested!! I informed him that I was hunting it down and would show him the proof. Well, I looked all dang day and couldn't find but at the end of the night, Justin went into the garage and lo and behold he spotted it!! Here is the nasty bug that haunted our thoughts all day!!Is that not the most disgusting thing you've ever seen?!?! We thought so. So maybe it wasn't as big as Jaroms foot but we guesstimate it was about 3 inches...it's body. Those freakin antennas added another 3...gross!!! Oh and by the way, Steve didn't kill it...he threw it over the fence and said..."a bug that big deserves to live". So later that evening he was back on our porch. Of course, he let it live yet again...just stuck it in the trash can outside and said "if it escapes this time, he really deserves to live"...So here we all sit, in fear for our lives on a daily basis while this monster of a bug lurks outside of our walls. Heaven help us all!!

memories

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you have of me. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.
I'm writing an autobiography for my kids and I think this will be great for them to see the different memories or things that I may forget or not include...I am going to add all of your comments to the end of my autobiography.
~~~~~For those who don't have gmail or a google account-just click on Name/URL under Choose an Identity. Type your name in there. You don't need a URL~~~~~

It's coming, It's coming

I am having a really hard time getting Josh's song downloaded to my playlist. I might just have to find another way...until then, enjoy this way cute picture of Steph and Josh all dressed up in his Army gear...he is out in the field this week and when he was packing to go she got ahold of some of his stuff...I told her to give me her best warrior face...this was the best she could do. Glad we're not counting on her to scare off the enemy!!
Here Josh is telling me I have gotten way to happy with the camera and I don't need to snap every second of his life!! But judging by the grin on his face, he loves every minute of it!! Dang, My kids are cute!!

Born to be Wild

I've always said that Josh was the wild child, our rebel, our hoodlum, etc. But I am going to have to say that Jared totally has Josh beat. Jared is all boy!! If it involves getting dirty, getting loud, or getting in trouble you can count him in!! Not that I am proud of his actions at all but sometimes you just have to chuckle. I mean, last year, his teacher called or sent home a note at least once a week and I am not lying when I say that one time it was 4 times in a week. The primary presidency had to have a meeting with all of the parents because they are too wild in primary, his scout leader called today because she has had to put him on time out for the past 3 weeks, his baseball coach could hardly handle him this past season. But we just don't know what to do. I mean, he isn't bad by any means...he is just all boy (full of energy). He respects his elders, would never talk back or say anything disrespectful. He just doesn't stop long enough to listen to what they are saying. He has not always been like this...it really just started last year so I am hoping it is age but for now I would have to say that he is definitely the Wild Child. So today's song, Born to be Wild, is for Jared...If only we could bottle up all that energy and drink it (or sell it!!).

I hope you Dance

When one gives birth to a child they envision many things...have many dreams, goals and aspirations for this child...and though this is true with boys there are just some things you feel stronger about with the birth of a girl. There are certain things a girl needs or doesn't need...they need protection, they need security...they do not need their hearts broken and they do not need to cry. And if anyone does these things to a girl, especially if it is the girl you brought into this world, you just know you will severely hurt them. There is just something about a girl that does this to you. So todays song is just for Steph...I swear the writer wrote it just for her from me. The first thing that popped in my mind the very 1st time I heard this song was my baby girl. At the time it came out she was only 2 or 3. But my every wish, my every dream, my every hope, my every prayer I had for her was in the words of this song. I mean, who doesn't want these things for their daughter. I want her to never be afraid to experience the beautiful things in life but never think she is greater than them. I want her to know that just because some things may not end up how you like doesn't mean you shouldn't try them. I want her to live life to its fullest but not be naive about it. I want her to know that I want the world for her. I love you Steph and I hope you Dance!!!

You've got a friend in me

As I said in the last post, I didn't have to think twice about which song I would pick for each kid. And anyone who knew me in 1996 knows that I saw "Toy Story" a minimum of 4 times a day!! This was Justins favorite movie!! He was 2 and a half at the time and knew that movie like the back of his hand. He idolized Woody!! Woody truly was Justins first hero. He had a lifesized Woody pillow, a woody doll, a Buzz Lightyear (or 2), a Mr Potato Head, the dinosaur, a ton of little soldiers, etc. So when we weren't watching the movie we were watching Justin make his own movie...Toy Story was his Life!! In the beginning we thought it was the cutest thing in the world...but after the 500th time of watching that movie it gets a little old. One thing that never got old though, was this song...I have always loved it and it brings back some great memories of that time in Justins life. And anyone who knows Justin now, knows that this song really does describe him. He is kind, loving, loyal and a great friend!! So this ones to you Justin!! We love you and will always cherish those memories of you.

We Will Rock You

My kids LOVE music!!! Sometimes, we all just sit here and listen to music on the computer while doing our chores...we sing and dance and just have fun...and they all have their favorites. We play all types of songs: old school, country, rock and roll, wierd Al, we play it all. On Sunday, my hubby asked "what song would you pick for each of our kids and why? You can only pick one...then blog about it". I thought this was a pretty cool little idea for my blog and I could immediately name a song for each of them except Jared. For one reason or another, a song pops into my head for each of them with no hesitation. I decided I would start with Jarom. I am not kidding, since he was about 9 months he has done (or tried to do) 2 things...play the guitar and skateboard. It is so cute...he lays on his belly on the skateboard in between Josh's legs and they skate at full speed down the street..he holds on for dear life while laughing histerically. It is actually quite cute!! Some of you have seen this I'm sure. And Jarom swears he can play the guitar...whether it be acoustic or guitar hero...he loves the guitar!!! He loves all Music!! He always dances to it and when the guitar kicks in on any song he honestly plays the air guitar. Well, We Will Rock You has always been his favorite!! He knows exactly what to do on it...he hits his lap twice and then claps...over and over again while saying "we will wock you" and right when the guitar kicks in he jams out on his air guitar!! It is the cutest thing ever!! So this is what I have deemed to be Jaroms song. Stay tuned...for tomorrow, we hear about Justin.

Our Weekend so far

4th of July - up at 6:45 am with my daughter who is puking all over the place. Decide we probably won't go to our ward breakfast that I so badly wanted to go to because all I need is for her to puke all over sheriff Joe Arpaio so we stay home. She was fine all day so we figured it was probably something she ate or she just ate way too much the day before so we go to the bbq we were invited to. It was fun...lots of food, lots of kids, a pool, some fireworks (yes, we know they are illegal but for once, it wasn't our idea...it was our friends) which resulted in the cops coming due to an unhappy neighbor...I loved it. You know it's a good party when the cops come...especially when everyone there is Mormon. Thanks Art, Thanks Jana...it was fun.
Today - we decide to reassign bedrooms, of course, I want it done today so the boys start packing up their stuff, Justin gets sick and vomits all over the place, Steve is sick up in our restroom...I go buy Clorox Cleanup and have been cleaning ever since...tackled both bathrooms, mopped, went thru some junkmail, organized my food storage, etc...ahhh the feeling of accomplishment...I love it!!

the name game

So is there any rhyme or reason to why you named your kids the way you did? Any pattern or originality to it? Our family (until the last baby) all shared initials with someone else in our family. Here it is:
Julie Ann and Justin Andrew (JAW)
Joshua Seth and Jared Steven (JSW)
Stephanie Paige and Steven Paul (SPW)
Then theres Jarom Michael (JMW)....I think we need another one...don't you? He's gonna feel like a outsider!!
I know we only had 1 girl but the plan was: our girls would all start with S and our boys with J. We just had more boys than girls. Our dogs both start with L ... Lady and Lina
And this morning, my son made another discovery...everyone who shares initials just so happens to have the same color scriptures: This was totally unplanned as the grandparents are the ones who buy their scriptures for them when they turn 8. So the JAW's have blue scriptures, the JSW's have black and the SPW's have maroon. Isn't that cool? We thought so.

paper, chocolate and vanilla

Okay, so I haven't totally slacked...although I have not done a layout a week as I said I would this summer, I have made a few cards...I made this one last night for one of the many birthdays I have in July...and I made this tonight for a friend who isn't doing so well....what do you think? Although I never post them I do take a picture of every card I make. It's kind of like my portfolio. And I thought I would throw this one in just for kicks...I call this pic of the boys "my chocolate and my vanilla" They truly are my lightest and my darkest...isn't it crazy how their skin tones differ so much? I guess that's what swim team does for you...and to think...most people have to pay for a tan like that!!

SLACKER

What was my summer list again? Because I don't think I've done 1 thing on it...