GOD BLESS AMERICA!

First of all I have to say this... I just love the 4th of July.. I love seeing everything decorated in red, white & blue, I love the parades and seeing the American Flag being displayed all around, I love the fireworks, and the lump I get in my throat when I hear the patriotic songs on the radio or while seeing the American Flag blowing in the wind. I love living here. Thanks to all those who have fought to make this such an awesome place to live and thanks for the freedoms we enjoy

We had the funnest day. I had bought matching shirts a month back (well.. close enough, when you have this many shirts to buy finding sizes in the same shirts gets tough). So we whole up bright and early and got everyone ready for the day. We have been to the Huntsville parade every year for probably the last 10 years but this year we got word my cute Grandpa was going to be in the Deweyville parade so we decided to go see him.

It was a tiny parade.. seriously! You blink.. you miss it! It was cute though. After the parade Great Grandpa's friend who owns a plane flew over about 8 times dropping bags of candy. Kelly, Wyatt, Kolton, Grandpa & Hanna were the ones who caught a bag. On the way home from Deweyville we stopped at the Perry City celebration. They had lots of kid booths so I went to go buy tickets for the kids and some nice guy gave me about 20 of them because they were leaving and weren't going to use them. Yeah! The kids had a blast... they did music chairs, bean bag toss, fishing, duck pond and then the 4 got tattoos on their arms and faces (we are still trying to get them off). Even Kolton did the bean bag toss and won a yoyo.

On the way home for the afternoon we stopped at the store to buy stuff for lunch... Kelly cooked burgers on the grill (the best burger I've ever had), we cooked corn on the cob, had grapes, chips and lemonade. It was so fun to spend the afternoon with my sweet little family. Did I tell you Kelly made burgers and they were so yummy? Kolton went to the park with some friends and we just hung out here until evening.

Later in the evening we headed up to Huntsville for the fireworks. That is our favorite place to be especially on the 4th. We like to get up there about 6 and just spend the whole evening. We had a blast. The kids walked around and played with friends & cousins and we just relaxed. Kelly's family came & Steve & Erica too. It is one huge party.. we take snacks & blankets, the kids take balls & frisbees. They light the fireworks right close to where we sit and play patriotic music during so it really adds to it all. It's always kind of sad when the day is over.

Happy Birthday Jasmyn!

Our baby turned 6 yesterday.. She's getting so big! It seems like just yesterday we met her for the first time and was holding her in our arms. Wow.. What an amazing experience! It's so amazing how you bring someone into a family and realize they were meant to be there. Thanks for being a very important part of our family Jazzy.. we love you!

Happy Anniversary!

June 5th we celebrated our 16th year Anniversary. It is also the 18th Anniversary of our very first date. Kelly took the day off work and we started the day with an early morning dr. appt and then came home, grabbed the kids and spent the day in Logan (our very favorite thing to do around here). We hit the Chinese restaurant that we like to go to, the park to let the kids play for a while, then the cheese factory. We grabbed some cheese for Grandpa and stopped by to visit him on the way home. There we visited and helped plant more of his garden. What a garden! It was a good day! It was fun to spend the day with the kids (Kolton is still in Cali. with Grandma & Grandpa). Love you kel! Thanks for 18 awesome years!

The Newest Members Of Our Family

I have been wanting chickens as long as we have been married. Orville (Kell's Dad) orders baby chicks every year. This year he grabbed a few for us and kept them under a light until they were old enough to be out. That's when we brought them home. Kelly built a cute little coop, now we just have to work on the run. I love, love, love my chickens! They are already showing their hirarious little personalities

What's Wrong?

I have felt so melancholy lately and I'm not sure why. Is it because school is going to be out in a few days and the thought of my baby being in school all day next year breaks my heart? Is it because my oldest (also my baby) is going to be in high school and my 2nd (also my baby) is going into Jr. high? I think it's all of the above.. I can't stand the thought of my kids getting older. Why can't they just stay this age forever? I love the ages all my kids are at right now.. it's perfect and I don't want it to change. They are all out of the baby, so dependant, no sleep stages but not into the high school, dating, grey hair (us, not them) stages either. It's just perfect.

Mother's day came around and listening to some friends talk about kids growing up made me realize how quick it's coming. One friend was saying she misses the little homemade gifts her kids made when they were little. That really hit home.. those little gifts have always been my very favorite and I have saved every single one. I look forward to them too. I can't imagine not getting them anymore either. I am going to have to have a talk with my kids and tell them no matter how old they get I still want hand prints, macaroni necklaces, poems, tissue flowers and colored pictures for Mother's Day.. even if they are grown & married with 3 kids.

So to all you Moms (and Dads) out there.. enjoy your kids! Enjoy every single day. They grow up so dang quick. I know mine are still considered little but they will be grown and gone before I know it.

The Princess Has Spoken!

Yesterday I was in my room and I could hear Jasmyn talking to herself while playing in her room. I peeked into her room and she looked up in surprise. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was a princess and she was playing princess diarrhea.. (silly girl! she meant princess diaries)

Spending Time With Grandpa

We rode up to "The Ranch" yesterday to spend the evening with Grandpa. It was his birthday Sunday so we took up some hotdogs, terryaki chicken and a carrot cake so we could celebrate with him. He's always so much fun to be around. No matter what he's always so cheerful and always has a song to sing for everyone. After doing a little yard work we ate and then sat around the fire and visited.

Working As A Team!

Every spring we spend the whole month of April burning and doing yard work.. This spring was no different (other than Kel got the burning permit towards the 1st of the month instead of the last so we were legal :) We spent a few weeks working hard out in the yard. Although it is a lot of work we really have a good time... especially the 4, no wait the 5 (including Kelly) that LOVE playing in the fire

That Really Hurt Charlie!

I really don't have anything to write about right now (not because nothing interesting has been going on, come on.. we have 5 kids :) but because things have been so crazy that my mind is mush! So I'm going to post my very favorite video.

I laugh so hard my guts hurt every time I see this video. I have been fighting a little bout of pneumonia the last couple weeks and everytime I watch this video (which is a few times a day because I love it so much) I go in to a coughing fit, but I just can't get enough.. I love it! I think both of these boys are absolutely adorable! It's so cute that his baby brother actually gets a kick out of it. It seems the more he screams the harder Charlie bites. He is totally amused. I also love the look on both of their faces.. especially the big brother when he decides that it really hurts. He's trying so hard to be tough. It does too! Have you ever stuck your finger in a baby's mouth only to have him (and I say him for a reason) bite down so had it makes your eyes water? I have. They bite hard and it only gets harder when they know how much pain you're really in.

I heard about this website on Fox 13 news the other night and right now it's my favorite website. There are some really funny videos. You'll have to check it out!