Summer Dreams

 Do you ever have things you just want to do just because?  Well, ever since I got this hat I have dreamed about sitting on my porch this summer with a glass of lemonade (with a twisty straw) enjoying life and my most beloved season.  Well, my dream came true.  It didn't happen the way I pictured it which was this.  Me all alone (or with a husband invite), glass in hand, good summer read in the other and complete silence as I watch the sun set and ponder on the beauty of life.  What really happened was glass in hand and nine children and husband surrounding me making me crazy with bickering back and forth and Emily saying things to her siblings like "kiss my butt" while other children looked at me like I'm so weird for wanting to do something like this.  It WILL happen again just like I planned....there's still a lot of summer waiting for me to have my southern bell moment. (p.s.  I love the look on Porter's face....he is right there with the rest of them!)

And now I include this picture.... just to torture the children and because kissing a hot guy in a hat like this just doesn't happen everyday (at least not with the hat anyway!:)))

Matt turns 14!

 When you have your birthday in the summer, it opens up all kinds of possibilities on what you can do on your birthday date with Mom and Dad.  Matt's pretty lucky in that regard.  We went boating on his birthday and it was a blast to have some one on one time with him.  I love doing birthday dates with our kids.  I told Matt "you have us all to yourselves.....you can tell us your deepest most darkest thoughts."  To which he replied "um... Mom, you are making this really awkward!"  O.k. so we don't need to know your thoughts....let's go play!  Even though it was a little windy and rough we still braved it.  Matt went flying and rolled the tube.  It's so much fun to be on the boat and to be able to laugh at other people's misery.  Sure do love this kid!  He's a great young man.

 We came home and as per Matt's request had white chocolate raspberry cheesecake....a boy after my own heart!

Family Reunion

This past weekend we were able to go down south to where my father-in-law is from for a family reunion.  It was a fun get away and fun to see all those places where he grew up.  He said "If you want to know why I am the way I am.....this is why."  I guess we can all say that about our past.  Here are pictures from our weekend.

How many kids can you fit in an Excursion?  A lot!

The highlight of the whole trip was when Matt caught a lizard for Ammon.  He was first named Buggy, then Mario, and now it's permanent name....Rango.  Yes it stayed with us in our hotel, traveled home with us, and now has a permanent lizard tank in Ammon's room.  He was more than excited.

Two brothers

Love that food

Porter 6 months old

To the men in my life

 Father's Day came and went but I still have to take the opportunity to thank some of the most amazing men that I know.  I am so grateful for their examples to me and to my children and the way that they live their lives.

First and foremost is the Father of my children, Rob.  The man that works so hard for this family and puts us first before anything or anyone.  He is the example that I want my boys to emulate, and the type of guy I want my daughters to marry.  He is everything to me.  (Not all children pictured....Megan was at Grandma's and Porter was asleep).

 Next my father-in-law who always makes me feel special and has from day one.  If there was anyone that was behind me all the way when I married Rob, this was the guy and he would do anything for anyone.  He would drop anything at the drop of the hat if I needed anything and has done several times. He's as good as they come.

My own father who has had such a different background in his own life and how I have learned from him so many things. I have learned how to overcome adversity despite all odds, how to stand up for what I believe in, and how to rely on the Lord.  I have seen my Dad do that time and time again and I love him for it. I feel like I have inherited his passionate side which I am grateful for as I have seen him use that own passion in his own life. I could not be more grateful for his example and for being there when I needed him most.

Lastly, my Heavenly Father who is always there for me despite my weaknesses and failures and on whom I can rely and trust.  I feel very blessed to have this knowledge.

The girly things in life

 It was the annual ballet recital that we look forward to all year.  The look on Megan's face when she got this beautiful costume was priceless and I have to say it was my favorite costume in the ballet "Little Pagoda".  This ballet isn't just your ordinary ballet recital, it is a full on ballet and is a really big deal.  We have to commit to it clear in January and I have to say it is really fun to watch how well everyone has progressed. Megan was the cutest "bonsai tree" you ever did see.  Every year I wonder if this is just all about me or if she really does still enjoy it, so at the end of the year we do a "how much do I love this check" and every year she keeps wanting to take.  I'm great with that because I do so very much enjoy the girly things in life.

Gone Fishing

 It all started with a fishing pole that this little boy saw one day while Rob and him were picking up dog food.  If anyone knows Ammon, this kid gets something in his head and it doesn't leave.  He can come up with a project while he's going to bed and be working on his idea the next morning. Like the spray painted robot that is currently in our garage, or the bad guy traps that are in our yard....or the fishing pole.

Before the kids got out of school, Rob decided that he would put aside work and take Ammon fishing.  There wasn't a happier kid in all the world.  The worms were a great hit and he treated them like pets, giving them rides in his little red wagon.

A big shout out to my most amazing husband who puts multi-million dollar deals on hold to be with his children (Even if he forgets to take pictures during his activities).

May=Crazy Busy

 May....such a beautiful month.  My birthday, Mother's day, beautiful spring, and the close of another school year.  Life is always busy.  I get that.  I also know that being busy won't change until I probably die, however the end of school just makes my brain want to explode with information overload.  I thought Christmas was bad but this comes close. The only thing that saves me, is I don't have to buy presents. I know once all the field trips, camps, and concerts are over the kids are home and summer is upon us.  Not that summer will be any less busy....but I can hope there will be some lazy summer days in there with flip flops, popsicles, and a good book. That is a beautiful thing.

With school officially out I couldn't be happier.  I have a lot of people, when they talk to me about my kids being home, ask if I'm ready to have that many home for three months.  My answer is YES! Bring it on! I love having them home with me and I love how carefree summer can be. Yes, it is probably going to be our busiest summer yet but I'm ready.  Here is what May was for us....

 May has consisted of running...trail running to be exact and because I am a complete klutz, I tripped on a rock and went down.  Luckily Rob was there and just happened to turn back to see me flat on the ground. It hurt but I was excited to show my kids how tough their Mom is.

 May brought an extremely excited child to earn his Weeblos badge.  I think Rob did a great job on the painting however I'm not how excited Jacob was.

 May brought brotherly time together. I try and picture how they will be when they get older.  I'm sure they will be the best of friends and there will be no fighting what so ever.

 May brought field trips. I worked it out so I could go to the farm with this cute nine year old.  This is our bus picture.  I kept thinking of all the field trips I could have chosen....it was really smelly but so fun to hang with my girl.

 May brought more brotherly time.  I'd have to say these two are pals and Brandon thinks it's because he doesn't talk, thus can't be super annoying.

 May brought accomplishments and pride in a job well done.  Riley was a part of the robotics club this year again and was able to compete at Lagoon.  He and his friend placed first in their school and I got to spend the whole day with him going on rides that made my adrenaline pump harder than it has in years.  There was no ride that I said no to.  I told Riley it was an act of love to brave some of those rides, but it is a day we won't ever forget.

 May brought beautiful sunshine EXCEPT for the one day that we needed it to be warm.  It rained really hard most the morning but got better by the afternoon thank goodness.

 May brought beautiful flowers on some great trail runs that I was able to go on.

 It also brought a fund raiser for our youth.  What is this you ask?  Emily and her friend did a glow stick dance for the fundraiser to Michael Jackson's "Smooth criminal."  I'm still singing the song in my mind.  I never thought I'd see Emily do something like this and it was really fun.

 May brought crazy hair day at school (I think that is what it was?) Party, party party...that's what May is all about at school and don't get me started on how I actually feel about that.

 May brought concerts and songs of "Hot cross Buns" on the recorder.  If you look very close you can see Megan in pink on the front row.

 May brought my baby turning five months old and a smile that can light up a whole room.  I love his cheeks!

 It also brought a 5K for a good cause that Rob and I ran for our date night.  I wanted to puke by the time I was done.

May brought running with my bestest friend again!  How I have missed this lady and the many runs we have taken together.We always have something to talk about, complain about, or just plain laugh about.

 May brought piano recitals for these four that have given me so much grief about taking lessons!  You will thank me someday people.

 May brought memories of those we love that are no longer with us.  My Dad sent me a picture of him and my Mom sitting on their newly purchased gravestone which made me shed a few tears.  He then sent me this quote by Elder Maxwell "In the grammar of the gospel, death is not an exclamation point, it is simply a comma."  I'm so grateful for this knowledge and for unseen angels that I know are there helping to raise these children.  I always tell my children that I am sure that Mom Andrea got to choose who raised them and how honored I am to be that person.

 May brought a hike with the family even though we had to go back and leave this guy with Grandpa and Grandma.  He can't quite handle the big back pack yet.  His head is pretty heavy to hold up!

 I

 May brought boy's best friend. Maggy and Ammon hang out together when the kids are in school.  I've seen him take her for a walk in the backyard, tie her up, sit with her for hours under the trampoline, and put a glow stick around Maggy's neck.  Ammon also informed me that Maggy is teaching him Spanish.  What a good dog.

 May brought awards...and a lot of them for my kids.  Riley not only placed first in his robotics, but he received the presidents award for academics. Brandon also got a straight 4.0.  So nice to have smart kids.

 And now summer has started and so we have enjoyed a little park time....even though I was sad that after lunch most of my kids wanted to leave.  What happened to those days where I could sit for hours reading a book while they played?

The first week of summer has also brought camp outs.  Riley went on his 11 year old camp with his Grandpa and Rob, then the next weekend Rob took all the boys (minus Porter) on a Father's and Son's camp out.

We've already been to the pool and Porter was a real champ.  I wasn't sure how that would all work out but we were able to fit in a couple of hours.

Summer has brought a lot of loves and hugs from this guy and my favorite thing in the whole world is to hold his chubby body in my arms.

The first week of summer consists of a phrase "What the heck am I thinking?" as I, in a weak moment signed up and paid for a full marathon in September.  Because I won't be able to fit in training like I would normally, I have decided to increase the intensity when I am running.  I've been doing a lot of miserable hills and dragged Jen to do speed work with me at the track.  I have no idea how this is all going to work out and I may be experiencing my first DNF.

The first week of summer has brought lots of treats....this one being my new favorite...chocolate cake with a creamy mousse filling,with crushed heath bars. Oh yum!

We also had girls night out while the boys were camping.  I took these pretty little ladies to dinner and boy was it good!

The first week of summer brought a 10 mile trail run with my main squeeze.  Nothing quite like fresh spring mountain water (it was filtered).

And lastly, the bug catching has begun.  You know you live with a three year old boy if he takes his most recent catch of the day (a huge dragonfly) and tucks it under his arm and falls asleep....Priceless!
More summer adventures ahead! Welcome Summer!