Buckaroo

The other night right before bedtime, I found this cute little scene in our living room. So as sneaky as I could be I tried to capture the moment. And then a song came to my head... one that I love and that sums up perfectly my boys and their dad...

"Drivin' through town just my boy and me

With a Happy Meal in his booster seat

Knowin' that he couldn't have the toy 'til his nuggests were gone.

A green traffic light turned straight to red

I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath.

His fries went a flyin', and his orange drink covered his lap

Well, then my four year old said a four letter word

It started with "S" and I was concerned

So I said, "Son, now where'd you learn to talk like that?"

He said, "I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?

I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.

And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.

We got cowboy boots and camo pants

Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we dad?

I want to do everything you do.

So I've been watching you."

We got back home and I went to the barn

I bowed my head and I prayed real hard

Said, "Lord, please help me help my stupid self."

Just this side of bedtime later that night

Turnin' on my son's Scooby-Doo nightlight.

He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees.

He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands

Spoke to God like he was talkn' to a friend.

And I said, "Son, now where'd you learn to pray like that?"

He said, "I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?

I'm your buckaroo, I want to be like you.

And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.

We like fixin' things and holding momma's hand

Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we dad?

I want to do everything you do; so I've been watching you"

With tears in my eyes I wrapped him in a hug.

Said, "My little bear is growin' up."

And he said, "But when I'm big I'll still know what to do."

"Cause I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?

I'm your buckaroo, I want to be like you.

And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.

By then I'll be strong as superman

We'll be just alike, hey , won't we dad

When I can do everything you do.

'cause I've been watching you."

--by Rodney Atkins "Watching You"

Analogy

There are days when it rains, when it pours, and in our case yesterday, when it hails too! But after all the rain there is almost always, a rainbow. Life brings it's down pours of trials, tests, discourgements, dissapointments, hardships... but 'somewhere out there' there is a rainbow. Maybe a phone call from a friend, an answered prayer, a moment of peace, a glimpse of bettered understanding, laughter from a child, a goal acheived, an uplifting conversation with a loved one, a reminder of a promised blessing... there's always a rainbow that makes our lives a touch more brighter. I thank God for rainbows.

The Great Outdoors!

It was NICE today, can you believe it?! It feels like those days are very few right now, and I am aching for some good sunshine, and actually feeling the warmth of it's rays! We tend to feel stuck inside with all the wind, rain, and chill.... but I think the seasons are finally starting to change. Today we took advantage of the the weather while it was sunny.

These boys were the highlight of my day! I would have jumped on the Tonka truck myself to join in the fun, but.... well getting bigger has it's disadvantages. It just felt so good to step outside, stay outside, and actually enjoy it.

BUBBLES!!

Who doesn't love a good bubble bath!

It's flu season and we've taken our turn with the virus. Kleenex is everywhere, movies constantly playing, blankets and pillows lying all over, kitchen messy, and the laundry keeps piling up. I think we are finally recovering, just one last person in the family left, Carson... and I think he is coming down with it today. To all those who have had to take a part in the 'Season of Cold n' Flu'... hang in there! It soon will pass.

B squared

Cami just finished her last game of AAU basketball today. Her team never won a game and scored only one basket each time. Only 3 of the girls have ever made a basket, (this is including practice). And only half of them could get the ball to barely touch the net when shooting. LOL! But she had so much fun, loved learning the sport, and improved a ton by the end of the season. In hind site, I think I would have waited at least another year before I put her in AAU bball, becuase they just don't have the strength or aggressive intuition for sports at this age.

Here is her team: The Grandvew Tigers!!


And this week I had another birthday. One more year until the big 3 - 0!! It was a wonderful birthday. Breakfast from hubby. Morning Temple session. Lunch with dad and family on his lunch break. Shopping with mom without kids, (Thank you Jeremy :). Delicious dinner by hubby. Movie with kids. And WINCO maple bars!! Cards, birthday wishes, gifts... I was overwhelmed and touched by all those who thought of me and made this day special. Thank you to all and God bless!

Another Move

Yes, it's true. I sadly have to say, another one of my friends has moved. Honestly? I feel like I'm a child hanging on to a mother's leg screaming, "Don't go!" The Morales' are some of the dearest friends and I treasure their friendship. It has been difficult for me to say the least, probably because our whole family is attached to them so much. Cami, Alex, and Carson consider them the best of friends. I started looking through the pictures on my camera and found some photos of the kids over the past few years that I'd like to share.

Aiden and 'Carken', haha! That's how Aiden says Carson's name, too cute! But these two are such fun little boys and get so excited when they find out one or the other is coming over.

Here Carson and Aiden found and raided the goldfish together, haha! They are just alittle over 1 yr old here.



Alex and Olivia were a surprising pair. For some reason they became such good friends. Probably because Olivia can hold her own and puts up with Alex so well, and Alex soaks in all her sweet attention. They take care of each other. They would save seats for each other at church. And if I dare say, they even gave a smooch here and there to each other. (Not that we knew about it at the time! And I'll be keeping more of an eye on this kid from now on ;) I can't get too worried I guess because I had a little 5 yr old boy propose to me at that age, haha! But the friendship betwen Alex and Olivia just melt my heart!


And there is this sweet Lindsey. She has been such a wonderful friend to Cami. Cami and Lindsey have been in the same class at school for the past year and a half. They are like sisters it seems. And they loved how the teachers would accidentally call one the others' name. Cami has expressed so often, how much she loves Lindsey and wishes they could live together.

Cami, Lindsey, and another classmate on a Kindergarten field trip.


Their youngest is adorable little Tyler. I don't have a more recent picture of this little guy, but his smile is unavoidably contagious! Jeremy and I like to see who he would rather go to when one of us is holding him. Tyler would almost always go to Jeremy. So naturally they have a special bond ;).


We will miss the Morales'. BUT.... I have a positive. They are only 30-40 minutes away! So I refuse to say good-bye and am determined to keep in touch :O] But until then, I need to say...WE WILL MISS YOU!! :' )

Sweeties!!

What does Valentine's Day mean?

SWEETS!!!!

Above: Cupcakes for Cami's class party. It's funny, I'm not a big fan of those candy hearts. But some way or another they end up in our house around Valentine's Day.

Below: And who DOESN'T have chocolate on Valentine's Day! Jeremy made some homemade chocolates with Carmel, Marshmallow, and Grahmcracker in the middle. Delish!

Valentine's Day is also about SWEET guestures to show someone you love them. Jeremy brought home these gorgeous roses, for me AND Cami. That made Cami's day and mine of course! Oh, we love you Jeremy!

Even the sweet guestures from friends touched my heart this year. What would we do without such treasured friends!

Alex requested some kind of fun lunch for V-Day. Since he has quesidillas almost Every day, we made a special touch this time :)

We also had fun this year plastering decorated hearts around the house. Lol, Cami's goal was to have 300 done before Valentine's day! Haha, let's just say, after day three we felt like we had enough. :)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

The Power to Freeze

Today I woke up in an altered state, to say the least. And before rushing out the door to get my daughter to school, cereal and pee ended up all over.... of course. I'm not here to vent, but to say, I wish I could freeze time. After I got home, and my husband stayed alittle longer at home to help with the kids, I went for a run. And when I got done I went to go see what the kids were up to... and this is what I found. FREEZE!

Oh do I love these kids of mine! It was time for lunch and Alex just took care of it. He got him and his brother a hot dog, some pears and juice... even no spills!! I know I can't freeze time, but a picture can freeze this moment in time for me to cherish. To remind me that they are here for ME! And that there is NO OTHER place I would rather be.

All Boy and Some!

Oh how we love this adorably, goofy, and fun-loving kid!This last week, Alex turned the big 5!! And every year I continued to be amazed at how much this boy grows and how much sweeter he is becoming.

He loves to make others laugh. He gave his sister 5 dollars of his birthday money from Papa King, just because. He loves to snuggle. He is like a jelly filled donut! Wonderful from the outside and even sweeter in the middle! But because he is a boy, he carries around all the wonderful, (and sometimes exhausting), attributes of a boy!

Like any other guy, big or small, he loves anything with wheels. So naturally he requested a Monster Truck Cake. For a moment I had a grand desire to whip up a riducously, awesome 3-D cake! But that soon faded, and we came up with this.

Haha... oh what a sad sight. But the most wonderful thing about it was, that he loved it all the same! Later that day though, when he was talking with Grandma Ellie he said, "Grandma you should come down next year so YOU could make my fabulously fantastic cake!" I just laughed right then and there!

Alex had a wonderful birthday. Filled with new toys like swords, guns, all the COOL boy stuff...

And a new football uniform from head to toe! Thanks Grandma Ellie!!

Alex soaked up his special day. Grandpa Cheeto came up that night to wish him a happy birthday. Then Grandma Cheeto took him out to lunch the next day and showered him with more love.

You are such a wonderful boy Alex! We love you and Happy Birthday!

A ColorFull Feast!

Who wouldn't love playdough right? Well, except when you find your little one gnawing on a chunk, or when you're on your hands and knees trying to get it out of your carpet because you weren't watching your kid very closely (aka ME!!) But aside from all that, I really do LOVE playdough! Homemade, store bought, edible, it's just fantastic. It's an activity that forces you to be creative.

So with that said, Grandma Ellie got the kids a gigantic set of playdough for Christmas. And I finally broke it all out for the kids to play with while I got my bills paid. After about 30 minutes the kids were inviting me to the table to join them for a feast.

What a vibrantly, colorful feast! I dont' know why, but those bright colors lifted my spirits from the daunting bills that come every month. We all enjoyed our plethora of fruit and vegetable salads, pizza, and pasteries. What an 'unedible' treat! ;)

You Will Be Missed

Our dear friends Ben and Corinne are moving. If you ever meet this family, you would count yourself blessed! They are such wonderful people and they will truly be missed.

Last night they had us over for pizza and 'moving'. (We chatted mostly :)
The gang of kids ran around the house leaving their last bunch of noise within the walls of their home.

Cami got a picture of all of us together.

And of course here is the true blue US!

I love these pictures, because it captures the fun we always have together!

I will miss this, but I will also never forget it.

NumBer sEveN

Cami had another birthday. It's hard sometimes to make it happen because of how close it is to Christmas... and because of her gigantic birthday plans. This year she asked for a Cowgirl party. Let's see...

Every Cowgirl needs a pair of boots!

And as for the cake... well that is Grandma Ellie's forte!

Grandma Ellie did and amazing job! Cami LOVED it!

And another accessory that a Cowgirl needs is a hat... and even better when it's pink and all glamoured up with bling! (thanks to Grandma Ellie, we found these pink hats at the dollar store!)

StoRytiMe!!!

Cami requested a pin the something on something.... I played this game on almost every b-day party I had. When I was sixteen we played, "Pin the Lips on the Boy".

PiZZA!!

PRESeNTS!!!

WISHeS!!!

DanCe!!!

And then a couple days later... an ice cream cake and more presents with extended family!

What a celebration! Happy Birthday Cami!