Fun with Uncle Dan & Adam

Sack of Potatoes- Morgan is currently having the turn being the potato, and Brooklyn is whining for her turn.

Happy Birthday to Daddy and Uncle Dan

Birthday Banana Cream Pie instead of Cake. YUM YUM!!

Tyler gets the Golfing lesson

Me pretending I'm happy that my picture is being taken.

Brooklyn placing the balls into the hole to "help" the putters.

Brooklyn on the attack, to get the balls, and chuck them across the coarse!

Morgan hitting with all her might!

Grandma helps Brooklyn try to use the putter instead of throwing the balls.

Grandma and Grandpa laughing at brooklyn chasing down the balls.

For the past week and 1/2 we got to enjoy having my two college brothers here for their summer vacation. We got to have lots of fun especially with Uncle Dan while Adam and his buddy did some extra surfing. Dan was a hit. I had to intervene on occasion to give him some space, otherwise all 3 kids would have dominated his every moment here. Their favorite was "game time," blanket rides, and "sack of potatoes" ( small child buried in a blanket as a sack and a big person carries them and runs around the house, then plops them on the couch)! Excellent way to break a sweat and totally exhaust yourself! We got to go to the beach to watch Dan surf, and then for Dan's 24th B-day, we celebrated with Daddy's and went miniature golfing. Golfing was hilarious and a total joke as far as an actual "game" would be considered, but the kids LOVED IT! Brooklyn was obsessed with the balls and couldn't get to them fast enough. As soon as she could break loose she was on the prowl for the balls and would either chuck them across the course or put them in the holes where she knew they belonged. It was a great memory and I'm so glad that Dan, Grandma, and Grandpa C were there to share in the fun.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Where to begin when I want to think of all the ways and reasons I want to celebrate the man that I love... and the person who is my everything. This is a picture of you on our wedding day and one of my favorite pictures of you. Your smile is electrifying and your expression reminds me of how happy I was then and even more now, happy that you are mine! One thing I have realized about being married to you is that you are a pretty simple guy and with simple acts of love, appreciation, and understanding, you are pretty easy to please. Thank you love, for being this way! Here is a list of the top 25 wonderful things I love about you... and am so grateful that you are alive, in my life, and the Husband and Father in our home!

1. Masculinity- You are a guy through and through and its nice to have a "real" Man in my life!
2. Physical Strenth- You are Big and Strong and my protector... I always feel safe when you are around.
3. Courage- You are never afraid to stick up for truth, virtue, or your views. You are strong when most give in, or tip-toe around being a MAN!
4. Persevering- You never give up, you persist, you keep going, you continue even when life is dificult.
5. Emotional Strength - You are so much better than me at not letting emotions interfere with logic.
6. Ability to see the "whole picture" of life and situations objectively
7. Think Logically
8. Task Master!!!- You are great and making lists and getting things done that are on your list.
9. Honest- You value integrity- and strive to maintain your integrity and other's trust in you.
10. To the Point- You don't mince words, which often can be taken harshly- but I appreciate your candid nature in "calling it how it is."
11. Backbone- Through our years together you have developed quite the backbone to take on situations that may be difficult or uncomfortable.
12. Strength of Character and Opinion- I love that you know who you are and what you think, and hold confidence in that knowledge of yourself.
13. Uncomplicated- You are simple and by simple means you are easy to please.
14. Get over things Fast- You are not a "woman" and you can let things go easily once discussed, you are not petty, catty, or gossipy.
15. Bond Easily- you don't make everything a crisis, you are upfront with anger, and don't overanalyze everthing.
16. Provider for family- You embrace your role of provider and find personal achievement of the responsibility of providing for your family and find happiness in doing so. THANK HEAVEN FOR THIS! Many men fight it, shirk it, or try to push it off on others.
17. Responsible- you take responsibility for your mistakes and for your own success.
18. Driven to fix and help- I love that you want to "fix" things, problem solve, achieve- be it small or large you are a "get it done" type of guy.
19. Leadership and Devotion- You work at being a leader and being devoted to your work and family.
20.Chivalry- you are a gentleman at heart- and you respect women and treat them with tenderness and respect.
21. Willingness to get out there and fight the junk of the world to provide and protect
22. Sacrifice- you are willing to sacrifice any and all to make me happy - even when sometimes unreasonable or unfair (lucky ME!)
23. Put together nicely - Great physique- Tall, Dark, and Handsome
24. Spirituality- You have developed an incredible commitment to truth and the gospel and teaching correct principles to our family.
25. My best friend- you are there for me through and through- the truest and safest place for me to be me, and to work through and overcome that which needs so much work... I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday Love!!! You are my universe, and I couldn't be more happily married to you.

We love Birthday Parties!

Happy Birthday Avery! Avery is a 2nd cousin and someone we have lots of fun with. Avery's party was a big hit with an Awesome clown. Clowns are not always that "fun" but this clown kept all the kids attention for at least a full hour. I was totally amazed. Some of our favorites were the great bean bag games, balloon sword fights, play ground entertainment, and mommies getting to have chit-chat. I love getting to watch the excitment in the eyes of my kids when they find out we are going to a birthday party. There's something so great about birthday parties and getting to go... it is always a highlight of the week when they happen! At this particular party, the face painting topped it off with excellent treats and goodie bags! Thanks Avery... We love you!

Morgan goes to Kindergarten!

Tyler walks Morgan to school.
Tyler realizes his buddy is gone.
Tyler after his nap, and his buddy is still gone!
Tyler wanting to go to kindergarten!

It's here! My baby is officially big! Today Morgan started Kindergarten! Jared took his lunch break during her start time so he could be with us, which made it extra special and extra emotional for me to send our baby off into the world together! This may sound silly to all you mom's out there who have school aged kids, but for me it was exciting and horrible at the same time.

When we first got there we got to do a few fun activities together with the parents and the students, then Mrs. Calderon read us all a story called "The Kissing Hand." Its about a racoon who didn't want to leave his mother to go to school. He was very sad and concerned to leave his mother. To help him be brave, she gave him a special kiss in his palm to take with him, and told him to put it to his cheek if ever he needed to feel his mother's love. (sniff sniff) Well the little racoon used his kissing palm, and held it to his cheek all throughout his day at school, and when he returned home he gave his mommy a big kiss in her hand, and said "I love you mommy!" I don't think there was a dry eye of any mother in the room, and I could tell many of the dad's were choke'n it back as well.

The part that ended it for me is when Mrs. Calderon made us all do the kissing hand. We were then asked to kiss the palm of our little 5 year old and have them kiss ours as we separated for the day. That's where I lost it. As I walked down the hall with Jared, the tears just fell. Trusting her in the hands of the school district and the influences of the kids around her.

There was a double whammy for me when I got home. Little buddy Tyler having to deal with his feelings of not getting to go with sister, and not having his playmate throughout the afternoon was very disapointing. I tried to soften the blow by taking his hand and sitting him on my lap and reading to him, then taking him to his room to play cars. This seemed to apease his sad feelings long enough to get him down for a nap. As soon as he woke up he was once again very disappointed that she was not home yet. He got his socks and shoes on as fast as he could to be ready for the walk to go get her. Above you can see his pictures of walking Morgan to school, and then a little later the realization that she is not around as much to play.

I still have a lump in my throat, and can't seem to write about the subject without crying all over again, so to make it short and sweet it was an exciting and emotional afternoon, and one I will never forget.