the whole family

Last night, I was feeling a bit tired by 9:30. So I shut off the lights, locked the doors and went to bed. I decided to make my rounds though and make sure all of the chitlins were snug in their beds. I checked on Justin...who has the only room downstairs...and sound asleep he was. As I made my way upstairs into Stephs room, then Jareds, then Jaroms I came to the harsh realization...this WHOLE family snores!!

February thus far

OOOOOOHHH, how this blogging stuff has been neglected. I don't know what has changed in my life from last year to now but I can't seem to ever find time for this blog! Every day I tell myself that I will update the blog and every night I find myself NOT doing it. SO, since I failed miserably to blog at all in the month of February, here's whats gone on in my world:

Steph turned 13 - should I be excited about this? Because I wasn't. I no longer have a little girl.

My baby brother got married - on my baby girls birthday!! Wow!! A married man. He's no longer my baby brother.

This is my newest sister in law, Paula. Doesn't she look sweet? She is.Along with the celebrations of the month we did have some tears. THIS is my daughters spine. If you're thinking it's a little curved...it is. So for the next year and a half to two years she will be wearing this.. What a gloomy day that was for her...perfect weather for the occasion though. This was the sky driving home that day. Crazy huh? And this is what it did to our neighborhood parks. But since we don't see too much rain in AZ, we wecome it! And last but not least... Jarom started sleeping in his own bed!!

Weather photos courtesy of my baby girl..on the drive home from getting her brace.

The worst day of my life!

My son Jared, who's 9 years old, often tells me he's bored. If his little buddies aren't home or simply can't come out and play he pouts and with much attitude says "This is the worst day of my life!!" I was talking to Tate's mother recently and she commented on how Tate says that same thing. If he calls our house and Jared can't play it is "the worst day of his life!" Or if he isn't allowed to play something it's "the worst day of his life!!". I figure it must be a 9 year old thing and they'll get over it. Today I took my baby girl to bookstore days at the JR HIGH!! Yeah, that's right, I said JR HIGH!! Isn't that horrible? I mean, this is my only daughter!! She was supposed to stay 2 or 3 forever!! When did she grow up? And furthermore, how do I stop this?! We got her schedule, PE clothes, etc... And when we walked out of there and she handed me her student ID, it hit me that my baby girl was my baby no more. And I knew exactly what Jared and Tate mean...This is the worst day of my life!!

This and that

This...

is one of the many reasons we love having mom in town. Can you say SCRUMPTIOUS?!

That...is my 30 year old cousin with my 12 year old daughter. Is she tiny or what? She paid me a surprise visit 2 Sundays ago...made my day!!

This...

is Jarom and Steph in the windstorm earlier this week...it was all Jarom could do to keep his eyes open.

That...is how hard the wind was blowing!! Look at her hair...crazy!

And this... is just a cuter pic of her in that same windstorm. She's growing up way too fast!

3 amigos...and 2

If anything in life is guaranteed, it is that Jared will always be with Tate or Tyler. He is with Tate a little more than with Tyler but that's only because Tate lives on the same street and Tyler is not always over here in our neck of the woods. But when they are together, they are all so cute. They remind me of the Junior version of these three...who are also always together. And these 3 live on the same street so when I say always I mean ALWAYS!!

Steph, on the other hand, does better in two's.

But that's alright, we'll take that one day at a time!!

without me

so Steph begged and begged me to go on a road trip with her friend for a week and half. I thought it would be too long but she insisted it wasn't. so I let her go...she has called me every day at LEAST 3 times a day!! she can't live without me...and I love it!!

Have I mentioned

Steph had a few friends over today to hang out in the pool. While out there, they decided to make up a dance, among other things.

They had a blast!! By the way, have I mentioned...Jared walks on water!!

and he can also scratch his toe while diving...

AH HAH....WHAT CAN YOUR KIDS DO?

Only in Phoenix!!

Only in Phoenix can your kids go swimming in February!!

This is how they and some other kids from our ward spent their Saturday!! Is that crazy or what?! So Sunday, I had them jump into our pool and get some rocks from the bottom of the pool. hmmmm, wonder where those came from?

12

Steph turned 12 today. I can't believe it!! She's outgrowing her childhood much too fast. I don't know why but I made this ridiculous agreement with her many years ago that she could wear makeup when she turned 12. I probably made it with her thinking that she would forget...but she hasn't. Might I suggest NEVER making a promise like this with your own little girls..because one day they will grow up and hold you to your promise. Oh, I know why I made this silly agreement with her...because in our old ward all of the girls were allowed to start wearing make up at 12 but I haven't seen that trend here in our new ward. Regrets, regrets!! So I made a rule...NO EYELINER!! (below the eye) This omits the dark eye look...I hope. Any other tips? I could really use some.

As usual, family came over for cake and ice cream and she got to open her gifts from the fam. She got lots of $$, some jewelry, some clothes, and granny in Tx made her the cutest apron. It is pink and brown polka dots and soooo cute...and when she tried it on and put her hands in the pocket, she got more $$. Wish I had that kind of luck!!

I've done my part!!

So I was going thru some pics on my computer this evening and decided that I have given birth to one of THE CUTEST kids in the world!!

Then I found this and thought "okay 2 of the cutest kids in the world"Wait...there's a 3rd!! Could it be??? More than 3!!
Surprise!! There's 5...
Yep...I've definitely done my part in making Arizona beautiful. Any objections?