Catching up!

Kaden's 2nd grade play "Go Fish" He was one of the sharks. He didn't end up singing, but he did have a good speaking part. He did a great job and loved it!

Spencer borrowed a hat to join in the fun. Ashton was afraid of the sharks

What a cute little Mako shark he made

This is the coveted "Super Star" that all the kids get when they can write their name All By Themselves. He was so excited, and came running out to show me his Super Star!

Ashton was very proud of his animals in their "lyon" He won't say the word "Line" He thinks it is "lyon" funny kid.

Ashton's preschool took a field trip to the Dentist. The kids loved all the little goodies...toothbrush, toothpaste, hooray!!

Happy Birthday Tyler!!
he turned 32

So excited...I got Tyler tickets to see U2 in concert. He has wanted to go ever since we got married. U2 and banana cream pie, he was a happy man. I love you tons!!

Holes?

Okay, I know this is probably not the most appropriate thing to blog about, but it is just cracking me up.

Tonight the boys were getting out of the shower when all the sudden Ashton (3yrs) gets this very worried tone in his voice and says, "Kaden what happened? You have a hole in your bummy." Kaden laughs and says, "Ashy, you have a hole in your bummy too, everyone does." Ashton breaks out into tears and starts crying. "Mommy, I don't want to have a hole in me, MAKE IT GO AWAY!" The boys and I have lost it and are laughing while this poor boy continued to be so disturbed. He kept looking over his shoulder behind him, puzzled at why he couldn't see it. It was like a dog doing circles round and round before it goes to sleep. We had a little talk and I think he is okay with it now, but the rest of the night he kept saying peoples names and asking if they had holes too.

Like I said, not the most appropriate topic, but Oh, the things that come out of this child's mouth just need to be remembered.

Proud Wife and Mom

This last week has been very rewarding for me as a wife and mother, although sadly it has nothing to do with me, just an amazing husband and children.

Thursday, Spencer came home and said, "Mom, I want to try out for student council. I have to write a paragraph on why I think the students should pick me. I have to turn it in on Monday." I said okay we will work on it this weekend. (by the way, there was no note sent home telling me about this ) Well, Friday I pick him up from school and he jumps in the car and says, "Mom, I'm on student council!!" (still no note). I of course am quite shocked and start asking a number of questions, one being "what about the paper you had to write?" He replied by saying, " Oh, my teacher told me the wrong day and it was really due today, so I stayed in at recess and wrote it." Still a little in shock I said, "what did you say?" Spencer said back, " I don't remember, all good stuff though. The kids liked mine the best and they voted me to be the representative for 4th grade. I have my first meeting on Tuesday. I have to be at school at 8am." (still waiting for a note, something...) A little unsure of how this was going to play out. I still hadn't heard anything from the school about him winning. Did he just think he had won? No note, news...who knows? He went to school Tuesday morning and sure enough he had won, and was supposed to be there. WOW!! I was so proud of him to have the courage to run for office. He just started a brand new school this year and I thought he would be a little nervous, not knowing anyone, but NO! I am so grateful he has the confidence to step out of his comfort zone and do something new. What this little guy lacks in height, he sure makes up for in courage!! I love you Spencer and I hope you never lose that spark and drive for life.

Friday, Ashton went to preschool and his teacher pulled me aside and said, "look what Ashton did?" She said, "I started to write the letter "A" and then I walked away to help some one and I came back to this." He wrote his name all by himself. It was a little crazy, but you could totally make out his name. He is 3 and has only been in preschool since August. I was pretty impressed. He was so proud of himself. He keeps telling me, "mom, I'm the only one in my class that has a big "A". Ashton, I love your sweet spirit. I tell Tyler all the time I wish I could strap a video camera to him to capture all his hilarious moments. I will have to post some of those later.

Monday, Kaden came home and said, "mom, I tried out for a solo in our 2nd grade musical." Again in shock, I said "YOU DID, what did you sing?" He said, " just a song from the play." Spencer chimes in with, "You know a solo means you have to sing in front of the WHOLE school?" Kaden says, "Yea, I know." (For those of you who don't know...WE DON'T SING). With great admiration I said, "Kaden, that is awesome. I am so proud of you." Although he appears to be the life of the party on the outside, he actually has a very tender heart and is a little more shy when it come to doing things in public by himself. I was excited to see him stepping, or leaping rather, out of his comfort zone. You rock little man! Kaden, You make me laugh everyday and I love you!

Tuesday, Tyler was up all night writing an ebook for his OVER EXPOSURE site and then released it the next morning. He did such a wonderful job and I am so proud of him. I am constantly amazed at all he can juggle in that brain of his and still function. He is a great writer and knows how to capture his audience. He works so hard for our family, spending countless hours with little or no sleep. I want him to know he is the most A*Mazing husband and father ever!! I love you!

As a mother I have days, weeks... when I question how I'm raising my children. "Am I doing this right, or that right? Am I spending enough time with each one? Am I teaching them all they need to survive in this crazy world? Then I wonder, " is any of what I'm teaching sinking in?"
This last week was a little testament to me that maybe...it is. It is my privilege and honor to have these 3 boys call me "Mom."

School Time

All ready for school!
Spencer is starting 4th grade this year and Kaden is in 2nd
They are both so handsome and I am proud of all they have accomplished.
I love you two!!

We went to the kids school a few days before to meet their teachers and see their classrooms.

Ashton's 1st day of school

Ashton started his first day of Preschool today. He was so excited to be big like the boys. He filled his backpack with a book, a drink and bagel, (for snack time) and of course he had to have a cold pack. He told me, "mommy, I want my backpack heavy like the boys."

He was all smiles until we got inside the front door of school, and then he wanted to bolt for the door. His teacher Mrs. Stewart was so great with him and they played with dinosaurs as I quickly made an exit for the door. A little apprehensive about how he would do on his first day alone, I waited for a phone call...and nothing!
When I went to pick him up he was beaming from ear to ear and came running out telling me how much fun school was.
The next day of school we drove up to her house and he said to me, " Mommy, I do it all by myself!!" He wanted to get out of the car all by himself and go running into school alone.

How quickly they grow up and become independent. It is so sweet and yet a little sad to watch him grow up. I know it is my last time doing all these mile stones and I am trying to engrave them all in my brain. I have to say it is priceless to watch him head off into school. His little legs are running, backpack bouncing, and he is waving and smiling all the way to the door.
I love it and I love you Ashy!!

Disneyland...Beach...San Diego...SUMMER!!

We went to California for about 6 weeks because I had to have a surgeon fix what the Doctor here did wrong, so we made a little vacation out of it.

Hanging out in San Diego

The boys loved these swings made out of tires

Huntington Beach with Tyler's family

Love these Boys!!!

Little buddies--Dawson, Spencer, Lake

Oceanside Beach

Disneyland

Ashton and I went on a boat ride around the pirate island and the whole time he was telling me about when he was a Pirate. 'Mommy, when I was a pirate this was my Island and my ship. I would fight the bad guys with my sword." "Mommy, when I was big like you I was a pirate and I fight."

waiting for the fireworks to start

We had such a great time this summer in California, even though I had to have surgery again. At least we were out of the HEAT here for a little while, but we sure missed Daddy.

4th of July and summer fun

Bring on the Water...it's summer time!!

Cousins playing and having fun

4th of July in Old Town

We took the kids to the parade in Temecula and they had a blast waving their flags, seeing the horses, old cars, and fire trucks.

This was my favorite moment. Everyone had their hands over their heart listening to the Star Spangled Banner and Ashton was saluting, just like the men in uniform. It was very sweet!

We are so grateful to live in a land where we are free!!
In God We Trust

10 Year Anniversary!!!

We went to Cancun on our Honeymoon and loved every minute! Tyler surprised me with a trip back to paradise for our 10 year Anniversary!!

Our boat ride and the view from our hotel window

Royal Solaris Cancun, Mexico
This was our home for a few days...Not too shabby

We went to a wild animal park/nature aquarium called Xcaret.
We were walking along a path and this was just sitting on the side of the road
there weren't any gates and wall keeping the animals fenced in. They just roamed around...pretty cool!

riding a turtle

These things are huge!! An actual turtle shell and turtle. He reminded me of Crush from Nemo.

The water is crystal clear, the sand is white and feels like powder, and could it get any more tropical and humid? A far cry from our dry desert in Arizona!

There are old ancient ruins all over Cancun

This picture actually was taken straight, the house is just that slanted. For once we felt Tall!

This part of the Island is so amazing. There is an underground tunnel that is filled with water and it runs for over a mile through the park. We swam and snorkeled through the tunnel and saw all kinds of fish.

This is a church in the park

We watched a show that night in a huge theater reenacting ancient customs, traditions, and games. Everyone was given a little candle and then they came and lit the wicks so the whole theater had these little lights.

This was the last day of our vacation, our actual Anniversary date. It was pretty crazy to think back and realize we were here 10 years ago, and how far we have come. One incredible journey with my best friend, with an eternity of fun times to come. Ty, I love you tons!! You are the BEST!