Season come and go...

We celebrate many seasons at our house: Winter, spring, summer, fall, and of course football and basketball. There is another season however which just ended and has left me exausted and I am sure a few pounds heavier. You may think I am referring to the season of turkey and pie, and while I am truly thankful for all that I have been blessed with, I am talking about our birthday season.

With seven of us in our family we have a birthday every month from July to early December. That means at least one birthday per month and sometimes two. Lots of cake, ice cream, and the following child-planned menus:

Peyton's request: Doughnut, Mac and Cheese, Root Beer, Pizza, and chocolate cake and frosting.

Nate: Chocolate chip pancakes, Subway sandwich, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting.

Mase: Sonic sausage and egg croissant, turkey and cheese sandwich, fish tacos, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

Cam: Doughnuts, hot dogs, spaghetti and strawberries, and lemon cake with lemon frosting

Marra: Doughnuts, McDonald's Happy Meal, hot dog, strawberries with vanilla yogurt and a cheese stick. Pink cake with pink frosting and pink sprinkles.

As part of the birthday privileges comes a "do nothing day", at least you don't have to do your chores, and if you're lucky mom will even do your wash (Nate and Mase).

Somehow in all the celebrating Steve and I missed out on the "do nothing day", but I guess someone has to go to work, do the dishes and laundry, and get the kids to school on time.

Next year for the big 40 we will get our day the way we want it.

Life is good,

we are a year older, hopefully a little wiser too.

Now on to Christmas...

...oh and basketball (it is the never ending season around here).

I should be...

...cleaning the bathrooms,

...putting the last bit of laundry away,

...straightening the family room,

...taking out the garbage,

but I am not.

I am sitting at the computer wasting time until I pick up the kids from school.

I am tired.

I know lots of people are tired, I am just one more.

Fall is here, the kids are in school, and the weather is GREAT!

I am loving my part-part-time job.

Yes, after 15 years of being a stay-at-home mom I am working outside the home.

I teach a preschool class two mornings a week.

Nice for Marra so she can meet children who are not her older brothers.

Great for me because I get to do what I love, teach.

Other than that life is the same,

house still needs to be cleaned,

dishes need to be washed or put away or both,

grocery shopping,

laundry,

homework...

the list goes on.

I did add one more thing...

I started to teach my two youngest boys piano.

Crazy I know, but trying to find the time to drive them to and from piano, and wondering what their teacher must think of me for not forcing them to practice as much as they should.

It is easier... for now.

I also bought Nate a guitar DVD so he can teach himself to play.

I love a house full of music, even if the count is off and slightly out of tune.

Summer...

...summer has gone,

and I was a little sad to send my kiddos off to school, (now that is a first). Somehow we all survived the first week.

Nate is a sophomore and ready for drivers ed, girls, basketball, girls, seminary, a little more basketball, girls, and hopefully a little learning in between.

Mase is off to his second year of middle school, and one year closer to being the "big man on campus". His size helps him to blend in with all the existing "big men". I think by the end of the year he will be able to share shoes with his dad. Oh how I hate to buy men's shoes for a 12 year old.

Cam tells me "fourth grade is the best, it has lots of science". When not consumed with all things that can gross a mom out he is excited for soccer, basketball, friends, football, anything to keep him moving, and always plenty of math and science.

Peyton was so eager for second grade getting him to sleep was more challenging than usual. While I was trying to get him to sleep he told me..."I already have my clothes ready. I am going to wear my 'awesome' shirt. Everyone will see my shirt and think that kid is awesome, and I will make friends just like that". (SNAP)...

...I'm sure it worked.

That left Marra the lone child at home...

That is until next week when she and I go back to school. Marra will learn, I will teach. Marra will be with friends and play, I will be teaching some fabulous four-year-old the fine art of getting ready for kindergarten.

It should be another great week at school.

Still kind of miss these guys.

I used to be..

...good at keeping up with life and the things that go on around me. I used to be good at updates for my family & friends who are so far away. Now that my parents have an up-to-date computer and broadband, no more excuses. I need to pick up my game.

I also used to be young. Yes I blame it all on age.

We have had a busy summer and with school only five short weeks away I wonder where all the time has gone.


With that said here is a glimpse into our summer in between basketball camps and scout camps.










A little slip-n-slide.













A little baseball with dad.
A near miss with a flying bat (Thanks Josh Hamilton).












Hoping to get on TV.
Who knew a flying object would get you on TV sooner that a cute sign from a six year old.






"The Bat", which landed one row behind the boys, before security took it back to the dugout.














A free date night with The Eagles.
I loved the box seats!











Basketball skills champ

and a happy 7th birthday.



Now on to a 15th birthday party and a mini-vacation with some friends. I may have to throw in some school shopping, but I still have a little time. Right?

Better late than never...

I think I have said that before.

Oh well, I have tried to post this several times and it never sounded just right.

I will just speak from the heart...

Happy Father's Day to my dad. A man who is never short on words, and has never met a stranger. I love his strong popeye arms and his bear hugs.

To my angel father-in-law, who left this earth life far too soon. He is watching over his children and smiling at all of their accomplishments, and sheds a tear in their trials. He left a 5-year-old boy with a few vivid memories and a lasting impression of hard work, integrity, honesty, and a strong testimony of faith.

Steve, the man of my life & the man who still keeps me laughing and enjoying the journey together as parents. The dad who is always willing to "play ball" even when the doctors have told him no more (pretty sure his knees will not last through grandchildren).

Most of all I love him because...

...he gave me all of these.

Love you all and I am so thankful for the many parts you play in my life

Mother's Day has come and gone...

...and I for one am glad.

I am a mother of five great kids and a wife to a fabulous husband, but I must confess Mother's Day is not the best day for me.

Don't get me wrong, my kids and Steve do many great things to feel loved all day long. I got breakfast in bed, yummy dinner, a new purse, and topped the day off with cheesecake. Who wouldn't feel loved?

No, I do not like Mother's Day for one reason...

Mothers Guilt.

Having a whole day to celebrate a magical person I could never become is hard. Going to church and listening to talks about all the "perfect" moms is difficult, and hearing the song "Love at Home" drives me crazy (I have been known to walk out of the meeting when that song starts).

I am not a "perfect" mom and by the standards set on Mother's Day I never will be.

After years of crying on Mother's Day I decided this year would be different. I decided to focus on my family and that made all the difference.

I enjoyed the microwaved pancakes Cameron and Peyton made for me with out any help from dad. I cried as the kids sang a song at church just for the mom's (no it was not "love at home", I may not have made it through that one), I smelled the flower Marra brought me after church, I smiled as I read the note from Nate, I hugged and kissed all my kids, I acted surprised when I opened my present (Marra told me all about the purse the night before), I even cried when the kids gave me my card which sang "You are so Beautiful to Me".

I did alright.

I did get grumpy at times, but it beat staying in my room all day.

It is my first year, next year will be even better.

I am blessed to be a wife and mother, a role I am constantly trying to improve upon. I am not "perfect", but my family doesn't seem to care.

Now on to Father's Day. It IS my favorite day of the year.

March..

A month can change many things…

winter to spring…

longer days…

rain, with a chance of tornado…

new job…

new time zone…

city to the country…

“fresh air” (pretty sure it’s a cow, and not too fresh)…

cement slab to 18 acres of grass…

dry to humid…

new schools…

old friends…

tears for friends left behind…

HOME.

Home to fields and woods to get lost in.

Home to the roots we planted many years ago.

Home to grow.

Home to TEXAS.

…goodnight ya’all.

To ride or not to ride...

I love a good amusement park. I love fast rides and slow rides, and rides that take me high above the crowd, and rides that keep me close to the ground. Given a choice however, I will pick a bumpy, heart pounding rollercoaster every time.

My favorite is the old wooden rollercoaster. While waiting in line you wonder how it is still standing and will it hold up through your ride. I enjoy the modern rollercoasters as well, the ones that take me on fast, tight turns with long drops and the endless loops. I love the twinge in my stomach while we hang over the edge waiting for the drop, my body slamming from side to side with each turn and finally floating in every loop. To me the roller coaster is the ultimate thrill ride.

I have also been known on occasion to enjoy the Ferris wheel. The smooth constant turn of the wheel giving all its riders a chance to catch their breath, talk, get away from the crowds, and enjoy some nice views.

When I was twelve years old my soccer team won a tournament. Each player was given a ticket to the grand opening of the new rollercoaster at Lagoon. My team was excited because we would be the first to ride the “Colossus”. On the day of the opening our coach promised $10 to the player who rode the “Colossus” the most times in a row. I was up for the challenge, and for awhile many of the girls kept up. Around the 10^th and 11^th ride, one by one each girl dropped out of the competition. Ride after ride I was ready to go again. Finally on the 24^th turn I sat alone on the ride, I won. With $10 and a headache I met up with my team at the Ferris wheel.

You see life right now is a bit like an old, bumpy rollercoaster; the climb to the top is slow, the thrill of the drop is small, bumping from side to side is painful, and the ride can give me a headache. I catch myself longing for the smooth, constant turn of the Ferris wheel, for its even course, and I wonder if I’m on the right ride.

Then suddenly a small drop or a new loop lets me float above the crowd and I’m reminded that I’m pretty sure I’d miss the ride.

The Ferris wheel will have to wait.

Sometimes I need a little reminder...

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."

-Marjorie Pay Hinckley