Ice Ice Baby

I am thankful for ice. (Not Vanilla Ice). I know its weird, but I just can't drink water or soda, or juice, or really anything at room temperature. Yes I am picky. But I am thankful to have ice and a freezer that makes ice. Aren't the little things in life great.

Home is where you Heart is

Today I am grateful for my house. Its not perfect, but really what house is. I am sure many people have heard me complain about my postage stamp size kitchen, and less than thrilling master bath. But, I wouldn't move for the World. My house I can fix up. My kitchen (with the help of my wonderful Mother) I can organize and make it work. My neighborhood I can't change. I am so blessed to have the most amazing and helpful neighbors. My kids are so blessed to have fabulous friends and great schools to go to. I love it here. I believe in blooming where you are planted and we have really made this place a home, and I hope to continue living here for many years.

More Grateful

So, I knew I wouldn't finish this before Thanksgiving, or even the end of the month. With Katie's wedding and all the fun stuff I was doing in AZ I just didn't have time to blog.

I am going to throw in a quick thankful before getting back to my letters. I am so thankful that Liam finally decided to potty train in AZ. I know, I know he is so old, although he is still 3. But he just needed to do it on his own, and he did! Everything I tried failed, but in AZ he trained himself. Day and night. We had a slight scare with a scorpion in the bathroom. He was screaming bloody murder and when I checked on him he was sitting in terror on the toilet and I saw a big scorpion crawl out from under some clothes I had left on the floor and I screamed bloody murder! In my defense I was wearing slippers and didn't have a way of squishing it. My Dad gallantly came to the rescue and killed it. I was so worried after that he would digress because of fear. He was afraid, but he just made me sit with him every time he went to the bathroom after that. He has not had an accident in a week. Go Liam!

My letter today is G. I am so grateful for Grandparents. I was blessed with the most amazing Grandparents. They are amazing in so many different ways. I have learned love, kindness, generosity, and acceptance. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me and my children.

My Children are blessed to have to wonderful sets of Grandparents and I hope they grow up to appreciate the love they are shown.

F

Family and Friends.

I feel so blessed that my kids have such great friends in our neighborhood. I have also been blessed with wonderful friends in my life.

I am also very thankful for my family. I have an amazing family and love the time I get to spend with them.

And just for fun, here's the picture of my Mom and her sisters again.

My E's

I am of course very thankful for my boys. Elijah, Ethan and ELiam. I will get back to Liam on the L day.

This picture is from last December, so its almost a year old, but isn't it cute.

I love having boys. My house is loud and messy and wild but it is also so full of love.

Elijah is the best oldest brother. He looks out for a takes care of his younger siblings. He is so smart and kind. He has lots of friends and is genuinely happy all the time. He has such a kind heart.

Ethan is has such a sweet heart. He is my quiet guy, but when he talks its worth listening to. He is content to just sit and listen to everyone be crazy around him. He is sensitive and cares about those around him. He looks so much like my Grandpa on my Dad's side. He also has the same quiet, kind personality. He is so easy to love.

I am one lucky mother.

D Dancing

I am just looking for an excuse to post this picture again. It's great. but, I do love to dance. I am terrible at it, I have no rhythm, but it really is fun. I love that our family weddings are always full of crazy dancing, especially from these ladies.

I am also grateful that Chloe has such a sweet dance teacher and that she loves to dance.

C C C

C is for Chloe. My sweet happy, funny, talented, outgoing, friendly girl. Yes she is all those things and more. She keeps me on my toes. She loves to sing and dance, and currently w

ants to be Taylor Swift when she grows up. Its always fun to listen to the songs she creates on a daily basis. She has a wonderful talent for making friends. I listened to her instructing Ethan on how to make friends the other day. "First you ask them their name, then you say my name is Ethan

do you want to be my friend? Then, you can play with them." I love that she assumes everyone must want to be her friend.

C is also for cousins. Mine, and my kids. I love how close my family is and am working on keeping my kids close to their cousins. I am super lucky to have such a large group of amazing people as my built in friends.

B is for...

Since I started this a little late in the month I need to do 2 today.

So, I was thinking what is b for. B is for baboons? banjos? bureaucrats? blonds?

As I was thinking about it the obvious answer, for me, was staring me right in the face.

Books! I have books all over my house! I read like its a bad habit. At the library I check out a minimum of 5 books at a time. I love books so of course I am thankful for books!

I was shopping with my Mom at the DI and she found this book.

Its from one of my favorite

series, Anne of Green Gables, and isn't it a gorgeous book? She was kind enough to let me buy it.

I love it!

The ABC's of Gratitude

In honor of Thanksgiving and everyone else doing it, I am going to write gratitude posts. I am going to do ABC's.

I am thankful for Australia. Or more specifically that my Parents and Grandparents gave me the amazing opportunity to visit Australia. As you can most definitely tell I loved it. Its a beautiful country with wonderful people. I am grateful for the legacy that ties my family to Australia and allows me to be a small part of that country.

Ethan Funny

Ethan said, "Mommy, I want you to have another baby."

I said, "You need to ask Heavenly Father to send us a baby."

Ethan, "Do you know his phone number?"

3 Years

Yesterday was the 3 year anniversary of the day Jeff passed away. Wow I can't believe its already been 3 years since that day. Losing someone at such a young age is something no one plans on. You always think, it won't happen to me or my family members. But it does, and you are left with so many what ifs and so many unsaid words.

My kids don't really remember him, and I am sad they won't ever really know him. His sense of humor and dedication to his family. He was also the best at choosing gifts. He had a knack for knowing just the right thing to buy. I remember how he sent me flowers when I had Chloe. He was good at thing like that. Letting you know he cares even from a state away.

Remember to tell people that you love them, and to say sorry, before its too late.

Yes she did.

Chloe, in a fit of temper because she couldn't figure out how to change the channel, threw the remote at our big flat screen television. Its broken. Its not fixable. I want to cry. It was only 3 years old.

A friend shared this link with me. http://www.safetvision.net/ Information that would have been good last week! But, I appreciate it. If, and when, we get around to replacing the tv I will be purchasing one of these. If you have kids and flat screen tvs, you should get one!

Mom and Dad, you should get one for the tv in the play room!

Tamara don't read, also known as Adventures at the Croc Farm

(My good friend Tamara is terrified of Crocs) I did warn you!

We traveled to the crocodile farm in Wydnham, a town outside of Kununurra.

Salt water crocodiles, also known as salties, are the most dangerous crocodiles. The crocodile farm is the last stop for the most dangerous of the salties. Crocodiles that bother humans and other animals, or don't get along with other crocodiles.

We took the feeding time tour and got some great pictures and videos of these amazing animals. Our tour guide was a native to the area, at least I think so. His accent was so much stronger than other Australian's I met, and we couldn't understand anything he said! He made some jokes that must have been hilarious the way all the Australians were laughing, but Kristen and I just looked at each other in confusion. He was a big guy. He was tall and had a fabulous beer belly. As he took us on the tour he had a cigarette in his left hand and was dragging a cooler in the other. If I didn't know there was meat in it, I would have thought he had his beer and was on his way to hang out! It was hilarious!

First I want to introduce you to River Farm Rita. She is the big one on the right. Rita is special because she was caught after attacking my cousin Patty's horse. The horse lived, amazingly, and Rita traveled across Australia to live out her days here at the farm.

We didn't learn about this until later that night when we had a BBQ with Patty's son Dustin. I was excited to see that I had gotten a picture of Rita with her sign.

These crocs are awesome, I will just add 2 videos for you viewing pleasure. The first is several short videos put together of the crocs being fed. The other is just the many pictures I took.

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My Dad was right. Again.

I am constantly posting about Liam, but really he is just at such a funny age. So I remember when Katie (my youngest sister) was born my Dad made a comment that if they didn't give her a name that started with a K like me and my other sister she would feel left out. I thought that was silly. Well, here I am many many years later dealing with that problem. As I said earlier Liam is learning to write. So I thought, hey let's teach him to write his name. I wrote it out for him on a piece of paper and he immediately started crying. He was so angry that I forgot his E. So, I wrote ELiam instead and he was happy. I guess he does feel left out that both his brothers have E names.

Liam

is seriously going to drive me crazy! Well, crazier than I already am.

Yesterday I was sitting at the kitchen table playing on my laptop with Liam sitting happily next to me playing with a small pile of coins. I counted the coins he was playing with. A few min. later he came over, opened his mouth, and said, "Mommy I ate money". Well, if you read my previous post you know he seems to want to eat everything metal, so of course it was easy to believe. I started to panic because I have heard that its bad to swallow pennies, and 3 of the coins were pennies. I don't know why exactly maybe the copper or something? So I frantically asked for the coins back, which he had hidden. Yes, he had hid all the coins. So, I made him bring them all to me, I counted them, and none were missing. I took them all from him and put them away where he couldn't get them.

Is he really only 3? He seems to enjoy making me panic!

On an unrelated note, he is teaching himself to write. I figured this out when he wrote E's and L's on my tile with permanent red marker. He is a bright little thing.

Farm Traditions

And Sunrise on the farm.

The day after our Lake Argyle tour we headed to the farm super early. This isn't as crazy as it sounds, we were still very jet lagged and waking up at odd hours of the night. I was able to get some pictures of early morning at the farm.

There are a few family traditions that must be done at the farm. My Grandpa lived on canned beans and canned peaches while he was working the farm. So, we each eat peaches and beans in honor of him. I honestly don't know how he lived on that.

Grandpa also likes us to run around the farm. I think for us to see how big it really is. Of course, I didn't make it all the way around, but we did drive around the farm. I had to try out driving on the left side, so I took a turn driving the rental car.

The jumping pictures at the farm are also part of the tradition, but we took those on our first day out.

We made a point to see the farm every day we were in Kununurra.

My sister really is gorgeous, isn't she.

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Lake Argyle

According to Wikipedia, Lake Argyle is the 2nd largest (by volume) artificial lake. It was created as part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. But I believe I covered that in a different post.

We were able to go on a river boat tour of Lake Argyle on our 2nd, or maybe 3rd day in Kununurra. It was so beautiful, but I am partial to this type of landscape over more forest like environment.

We learned about how high the water can get during the wet season, which is during their summer. It can get pretty high. They have these white posts that measure where the water is and last wet season the water was almost to the top.

Throughout the shoreline there were these tall skinny brown mounds. The tour guide told us these were created by termites. Termites are a huge problem in this part of Australia. Their electric poles, and houses, and other things are made of metal because of the major termite problem. If you look in the middle of this picture there is a tower shaped lighter brown mound. That is a termite mound.

The lake has around 35,000 fresh water crocodiles (freshies). The tour guide told us freshies do not attack humans unless they are being threatened. For instance, if someone were to jump in the lake and land on a freshie it would fight back. I got some great pictures of crocodiles.

Then, we got to swim in the lake. I can now say I have swam in a lake with 35,000 crocodiles. Wow. It was so great!

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We took the sunset tour and saw the most beautiful sunset. It was fabulous. I was very impressed with the pictures I got as well. I love Australia, like I haven't said that before!

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Back to Australia

I have a super bad case of Laryngitis, seriously have never lost my voice this bad. So, since I can't talk, I am supposed to be resting my voice and can't yell at my lovely children, I thought I would get back to posting.

I posted previously about the farm. This post is a continuation of the the farm. We were there for several days, afterall, that was the whole point of the trip. I loved the farm and the whole outback area. It is so beautiful there. Of course, I was there during their winter, and man was it hot. I can't imagine how it is in the summer.

We met the man who rents the farm. Australians are big on nicknames. I love it. His name is

Jono. That is not his real name, I can't remember what his real name is, but everyone knows him as Jono.

He took us on a tour of the farm, and all the farms surrounding. That was very fascinating to me. I am including a slide show of the pictures I took of the farm and surrounding farms. I wanted to try and get pictures of each crop that is grown in the area.

After the farm tour we went to Jono's house for a BBQ. The food was wonderful and his family was so nice. His wife is so sweet and he has 3 of the cutest little kids. Their house is amazing, the

flowers were gorgeous. They also have dogs, chickens, a miniture horse, and various other animals. My kids would have been in heaven there.

Ithink Australian's are the nicest people on the planet, and I just loved them.

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Dear Liam

Please stop eating things. I was really hoping the latest xray would show the screw is no longer in your tummy. I was happy to see it wasn't, but I was less than thrilled about the 2 staples you swallowed. I promise, I will not starve you, you can have real food!

Psych

I am a Psycho (fan). Its almost pathetic my obsession with this show. I own all the seasons and watch it over and over. So, I added a nice little countdown clock for the Season 6 premier. They delayed it this year by 2 months, how will I ever survive!

Ethan's Birthday!

I am interrupting my fascinating Australia post for a happy birthday to my sweet boy. Don't worry I'll get back to it.

Ethan turned 5 last week. My awesome, amazing friend Stephanie helped me plan his birthday part and it was such a fun party! We had a Super Mario Brothers birthday party. There are pictures to follow, I haven't downloaded them yet. I made Mario and Luigi hats for the kids, and the girls got princess crowns. We played throw the fire ball at the bad guy, Blake made a huge Bumbo and the kids threw balls in his mouth. We had a Yoshi Egg Hunt. We put spots on Easter Eggs and hid them in the backyard. Blake made Mario Ghosts out of balloons and we played red light green light. Etc. I will post all the pictures so that you can really see how creative Blake and Stephanie were! Stephanie had the ideas and Blake executed them so well! I don't have an artistic bone in my body.

Ethan is such a sweet guy. He is so quiet and kind. He never starts the fights, in fact, usually the fights in our house are all about who gets to play with Ethan, and who gets to share a room with Ethan. He is so loved. But how can we help it, he is so sweet. He doesn't speak much, but when he does its worth listening too. His personality is so similar to my Grandpas. So quiet. He also looks exactly like my Grandpa. I was shown a picture of my Grandpa at 2 years old and I would have sworn it was a picture of Ethan if I didn't know better. Grandpa passed away in Jan, and having Ethan be so much like him, is only a good thing. He was a wonderful man.

We love our Ethan! He seemed to have such a great birthday and I can't believe he is 5 years old!

The Stuff Legends are Made of

Family Legends I mean.

Here is a pictures of my Grandpa on the farm.

Now if I have anything wrong, feel free to let me know.

Kununurra, Western Australia.

It took 2 days to get to Kununurra. We had a 4 hour flight from Sydney that got into Darwin late that night. The next day we took a 45 min. single engine jet from Darwin to Kununurra. Now, I have to say it, Darwin is not my favorite place. It’s probably because we didn't do much there except sleep in a cockroach infested room. Now, if you know me, you know I am freaked out by bugs of any kind, but most specifically cockroaches. They are disgusting! Our night in Darwin on the way back I was sharing a king sized bed with Kristen. A huge, and really it was huge, cockroach fell off the wall onto the pillow. Kristen and I shrieked liked little girls and ran from the room without brushing our teeth. We used a water bottle and spit in the bushes outside. My recommendation if you are ever in Darwin, do NOT stay in the Darwin Airport resort. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, but that does not make up for giant cockroaches stalking you while you sleep.

We did spend the day in downtown Darwin and walked over to the beach, but well, it wasn’t that exciting. Our 2^nd trip through Darwin we got some beautiful pictures on the beach that I will share later.

I said earlier that I loved Sydney and could live there, and I really did mean it. I loved the city atmosphere and the pier and the beautiful weather and the people. It was amazing.

But, Kununurra felt like coming home.

There is a tradition in our family to take a picture under the Welcome to Kununurra sign at the Kununurra airport. Unfortunately, for us, the airport is being remodeled and they took down the sign. I am sure this is a great thing for Kununurra and the airport will be awesome when it’s done.

We were disappointed not to get a picture, but absolutely thrilled to be there. I have heard so much about this place and its people, and the farm it was surreal to finally see it. We did get pictures at eh Kununurra sign. So, here's proof we were there!

Kent rented a car and we headed towards our hotel. In Kununurra we were able to stay in an apartment-like building which had 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, and living area. It was the most comfortable place we stayed in Australia. We got there too late to see the farm the first day, but we made it to the grocery store and were able to make a wonderful spaghetti dinner. After eating out so much, home cooked food tasted fabulous.

Now, I haven’t talked about the prices of things yet. Let me tell you, it was a shock. For instance, I am a huge Diet Pepsi addicted. I admit it, and that’s the first step right? Well, I shop sells pretty well and never pay more than 2-3 bucks for a 12 pack. In Australia a 12 pack runs around 13 bucks for 1. That is just 1 example to give you an idea what we were up against. To add insult to injury, the US dollar is weak, so we lost around 20 cents per dollar. Now, before I sound like I am whining, I just wanted to show how grateful we were to be able to prepare our own meals for a few days. Every other meal I have shared with Kristen, and it was great to not eat so much, maybe I should make sharing meals more of a habit.

With jetlag rearing its ugly head, we crashed around 7 pm that night and were ready nice and early the next day to see the farm!

I can’t explain exactly the feeling of actually being there. My entire life I have heard about Australia. I have heard the stories of the tree my Grandpa slept under. How he ate pork and beans and canned peaches, all about his life in the outback of Australia.

It took an hour and a half flight to Phoenix, 1 hour flight to LAX, a 14 hour flight to Sydney, a 4 hour flight to Darwin, and a 45 min. flight to Kununurra. We were finally at the farm. It is family tradition to take jumping pictures at the farm. After all the travelling, we finally made it and we are jumping for joy!

The farm is so amazing and beautiful.

I have hit a bit of writer’s block. I think it’s because I was trying to write about Kununurra all in 1 post, but that just isn’t possible. There is so much I want to remember and write down. So, we’ll start here, and I will post more later




.

Australia Trip Ad Nauseam Post 1

This is going to be long. I am writing this for my reference and memories, so if you don't read it, as the Aussie's say, "No worries."

So, I am going to start at the beginning.

I get asked all the time why Australia. I will start by sharingthe story. It all started back in 1965. My Grandfather, his Brother, and Uncle were given the chance to homestead a farm in Australia. How did some men from Arizona get this opportunity? Well, another relative heard about the farms and suggested that they apply. The Ord River Scheme in the early 60's built a Dam and created Lake Arygle. It also allowed for irrigation to the 30 farms that were created. The original purpose of the farms was to grow cotton. (To read more about the Ord River Scheme click HERE) My Grandfather was an elementary school teacher, who also was a cotton farmer. Because of his experience with farming cotton and his eloquence as a writer he was given this chance. Unfortunately the cotton failed. It could not survive the pests in the Australian outback. The farm went on to produce, among other things, sugar cane, until the processing plant was shut down, and alphalpha. Currently it is growing rice, because of the abundance of water. My Grandfather and his Brother are currently the only original farmers to still own their farms. They are stubborn and stuck with it through all the hard times.

So, this leads us to now. I have heard about Australia and the stories of living on the farm, under a tree my entire life. I feel like it is a part of me and it is most definitely a part of my family

history. So, thanks to my Parents and Grandfather, Kristen (my sister) and I were given the opportunity (finally!) to visit the farm.

We traveled with Kent (Our cousin) and some friends of my Grandfather's. Kent was a real trooper and amazingly patient to escort 4 woman on a tour of Australia.

We started in Sydney. I love Sydney. We arrived after our 15 hours (should

have been 14 but we spent an hour grounded in LAX) plane ride at 7am. We dropped our

luggage at the hotel and headed out to see Sydney.

We wanted to go to the Opera House first, so we headed to the train station. Kent has been to Australia before on business so we relied heavily on his knowledge. Of course, it was still overwhelming to be in a strange city, and 1 that Kent had only been in 2 times before. My first impression of Australians, and more particularly Sydney residents is that they are very

nice and helpful. On our way to the station we got stopped several times by people asking if we need help and directing us as needed. Obviously we looked like clueless tourists, but everyone was so kind.

This was the view right off the train. The Sydney Harbor Bridge. Excuse how we look, we didn't have a chance to freshen up after our all night traveling.

The pier was beautiful. My Mom had suggestion we take a ferry to Manly beach, so we did. It was amazing. I love the ocean and the beach and boats (it helps that I have an iron stomach). What was so great about the ferry was that it went directly past the Opera House and gave us an incredible view and picture opportunities.

I was able to purchase my new camera (I posted about this below) in time to learn how

to use it specifically for this trip. I had be

en wanting that camera for a long time and w

as excited to get it before. So, I took

well over 2000 pictures. Don't worry I won't inundate myblog with the pictures, but will try to share my favorites.

At Manly Beach we stopped first for Fish n Chips. Kristen and I are not historically the be

st fish eaters, so we took a picture of us actually eating the fish to show my Mom. Imagine us saying "Hi Mom!"Here we are on the Ferry as is sails past the Opera House. Its such a beautiful building with and interesting background. To read the Story of the Sydney Opera House click HERE.

While we were eating

the seagulls were having a brawl below us.

Our vote was on this little guy to come out victorious.

We also visited the Botanical Garden that first day. It was so

beautiful. We didn't see as much as we would have liked. We'd been walking all day on little sleep so we were pretty exhausted. We made our way back to our hotel after that and crashed super early.

The next day, Kent decided to do something that he hasn't had the chance to do before. Climb to the top of Sydney Harbor Bridge. If you are an Oprah watcher, which I am not, I understand she climbed it for an episode all about Australia. So, for Oprah fans, Kent walked the same steps as Oprah. His guide was there with Oprah as well.

He had to head out earlier than we were ready, but Kristen and I made it out to the Harbor later to wait for him. We walked along the bridge, which was a huge thing for me because I am horribly afraid of heights. I got some amazing pictures of the Opera House and people on the Bridge. Kent is up there somewhere!

I will post about our 2nd stop, Kununurra soon!

New Glasses!

I haven't gotten new glasses in awhile. My old glasses were the wrong prescription, so I had a hard time wearing them. I finally broke down and got some new ones. Its hard, because you have to commit to a style for years and years, and what if I change my mind! At least since I wear contacts too I can go back and forth.

Well, I decided on something very different from what I have had in the past. Here's a picture! Now everyone can comment and tell me how awesome my new glasses are, because lets face it, if they suck, well, there's no going back now.

Summer Haircuts!

Even though it is still currently 45 degrees it is almost June, so I felt it was time for Blake to give the little boys summer haircuts. Elijah asked to please have a normal haircut with long hair this year, so I took him to get it cut. I figure its his hair, he can wear it however he pleases.

Well, Blake took that into consideration when he cut the boys hair. He asked Ethan his opinion, and while I am skeptical about this, he claims Ethan asked for a mohawk. So, Blake got creative. Liam is very sad that his hair does not look like Ethan's, but little fuzzy wuzzy does not have the proper hair for a mohawk. Seriously, his hair becomes a frizzy fuzzy mess when it gets too long.

Here is the end result! And yes, I did take them to church like this yesterday. Ethan really does look cute!

Wellness Goals!

I am doing wellness challenge with a group of friends. If we make our goals we are planning a fun girls night out!

I am posting my goals here on my Blog to help me, and in the hopes that if the world knows it will help me stick to it.

1. Drink 6 8oz glasses of water a day
2. No eating after 8 pm
3. Exercise 3 times a week
4. Eat whole wheat, including pasta, limiting sweets down to once a week.

I know they don't seem so huge, but lets face it, I am so out of shape so I have to start somewhere!

I don't get it

Here is a list of things I just don't understand. Disclaimer: I don't intend to offend anyone, just my thoughts.

1. Missing Highschool. I hated highschool. Maybe because I was not popular or queen of anything but an invisible person in a sea of 800+ other kids in my graduating class. But, the stresses, the pressure, the insecurities, ug, I would never go back. Looking at it from this side of makes me realize how much my Mom did know, although I never gave her credit for that!

2. Reality TV. Not even a little bit. I do not watch Idol, that Dancing one, the other dancing one, the one that has (or is it had?) David Hasselhof, no dating shows, no weird island things, etc. I really do hate drama and back biting and all that other stuff. Give me a good comedy such as Psych and The Big Bang Theory, and I am happy. Although admittedly Blake and I once watched and entire season of High School Reunion on TV Land. Now that sounds incredible because it not only was it Reality TV but it was Reality TV about Highschool! But, a friend of Blake's was on the show, and I do feel if you know someone you are therefore required to watch them on reality TV.

3. Sushi. I get that its all the rage right now, but considering I can not eat shrimp, or shellfish, or other varieties of fish, I will pass on the raw.

4. Now here is where I duck for cover and refuse to answer the phone when Kristen calls (I love you!) But I do not get sports. I get playing them. They're fun! I play basketball once a week with some friends for exercise. Luckily for me we don't keep score and they don't care that I am no good. Again, I pull out the reality TV point and if someone I know personally is playing in the game I am all for cheering them on and hoping they win. I just don't understand the cheering for the home team, and basically caring whether or not a bunch of (in my opinion) overpaid men win at something.

5. This probably says something about my kids, but I don't understand why when Ethan was throwing a fit as I left Walmart today it didn't embarrass me. Hmmmm, must be used to it.

I am sure there are more but that's what's on my mind today!

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG

That is all.

Chloe

I never did a birthday post for Chloe. Oops! Shhh don't tell!

Chloe turned 7 last month. I can't get over how big she is getting, and so beautiful! I often, and lovingly, say she is my most difficult child. In a lot of ways that is true but at the same time she is my most loving and kind-hearted child.

She is a natural teacher, and a writer. She writes constantly. I have found notes slipped under my door when she is angry, or happy. When she wants something she will write me a cute little note. If she knows you, she has probably written a letter to you, but her forgetful Mother just hasn't sent them. Her 1st grade teacher told me recently that she prefers to have the special ed boy who comes in for math sit by Chloe because she is so patient and kind and helps him with his work without doing it for him. She has obviously picked up some of the teaching genes from my family.

She loves her brothers and helps take care of them all the time, even if she still hasn't given up the idea of someday getting a baby sister. In the meantime, she likes to spend time with her younger girl cousins.

One thing that has been apparent about Chloe from the beginning is her sunny disposition. She has her moments, don't we all, but most of the time she has a fabulous smile on her face and is the first person to smile and make a new friend. She loves finding friends everywhere she goes and is very loyal and loving.

I am very lucky to have such a sweet girl! Now if she could just learn to sleep....

My new toy

I splurged and purchased this camera that I have been wanting for ages. I am so excited to learn how to use it. It takes beautiful pictures!

Here are a couple of my first attempts at using the manual focus. Its so fun!