Brooks had a field trip to the Mac Farm out in Maricopa on Thurs. She asked if I could come and help and so I said sign me up. We had to be at her school by 9 so we got an early start. We had to get all the kids where they needed to go. My kids went to Julies and Avery and Finley went to Stacis. It was a hectic morning but with the help of Chad we were not late. So I didnt know what this farm was about at all. Dont most farms have animals? Not this one, we looked at crops and tractors. It really was fun except for the hour long bus ride. This green tractor is from the 1940s which I was rather impressed with. I was so glad that it worked out to go this time. To often I cant do things with her like this because of the other 2 kids. Brooks packed my lunch for me and it was dang good. Thanks B for inviting me and wanting your mom there. Im glad she is not to cool to have her mom hang out with her. Since I know that you will be reading this soon know that I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Avery and Finley

This picture is from a couple of mothes ago but I just think its so cute!! Its so fun having all the kids close so that they can grow up loving their cousins and always spending time with them.Last week Michelle and Ricky went to San Fran and I was able to keep their girls for them. We got them on Sun. night and had them until Thurs night. We had a ton of fun playing. It was my first week off from work and I feel like a load has been lifted. On Mon I needed to be out of the house about mid morning for a few hours so we decided to go to Chuckie Cheese. I could not help laugh at my self most of the time I was there. I was like the crazy lady who people look at and think, all those all yours? Michelles girls are pretty mellow so it worked out ok. As for Tylee, she did real well playing ski ball because she just walks the ball up to the hole and drops it in. I think she also entertained herself dumping all the salt and pepper shakers out. We made it home safely, no one was lost in the shuffle and most importantly we had a good time. They were awesome and didnt give me a hard time at all. Avery and Tate kept each other busy as did the younger girls. Thanks for letting me keep them Chell. I love your girls and am happy to do it whenever.
Here are Avery and Tate playing a little DDR. I made them stop for the picture but it was rather comical to watch. Is it bad that I just am amused by her and dont flip out as she is doing things the workers probably didnt approve of?

Londons Run

Yesterday I had the opportunity to help out with Londons Run. I had London and the Solomon Family on my mind all week. We are blessed to be able to see their strength on a weekly basis. They are an amazing family who have been such a great example to us. We had not been in the ward very long when London died. We had the opportunity of attending her funeral and have been better people because we were there. The Solomon family have taken what could be the worst thing imaginable and made it a growing experience for all of those they are surrounded by. I sat up for hours one night last week and read all of the journal entries from London and her mom. When I finally went to bed Chad asked me if I was getting sick because I was sniffling so bad. So Sat morning at 615 we met at Schnepf Farms and helped the runners get registered. What a good experience for me!! Their were so many people there to help support the event. I was so excited to see the turn out. I ran into a friend of mine who I had not seen since junior high. She walked up to me and said" Laura is that you"? It was Carrie Knight who I was such good friends with all through elementary school. She told me that she had lost her little boy to cancer about 2 years ago. They have set up a foundation to help out in the hospitals for pain management for kids who are going through fighting cancer. Right after I walked away from her I bumped into Becky Bethea. She had just finished running and couldnt find her husband. It has only been a month since she lost her little boy. I dont know if it happened for a reason for her, but I know that as we cried and hugged things became alot clearer to me. I find it amazing that there are people who can be so strong in such huge trials. So as the week ended I have a bit of a different outlook. You just never know. So many people are dealing with struggles in their lives. I am grateful to have had these experiences because it has solidified in my mind how short life is and can be. I am determined to be better in every aspect of my life. It has been made clear to me that my kids need me more than doing hair. Being a mom is a privilege and I am excited for it to feel even more that way.
They had tons to do for the kids. Tate wanted some nice balloons painted on his face. Not a ball, balloons. Way to make your dad proud buddy. Oh ya and with sparkles.Here is our wonderful photographer Chea with Wayne and Taryn. We love these guys!We were there till about noon and then we came home and got busy riding on the track. We literally were outside from dark till dark. We went out that night with our friends Eric and Jennifer Lamb. We ate at PF Changs on Mill and then went to the Improv. I will have to say I have never been there and it was awesome. I have not laughed that hard ever. I had tears rolling down my face the entire time. The week was crazy but good. Im ready to be the mom of 2 sets of twins and an 8 year old. Michelle and Ricky are going to San Fran and I have their kids for the week. I am really excited to just play all week and not work. Tate can hardly stand himself because Avery is sleeping here 4 nights. Sorry this was forever long. I just wanted to get all my thoughts out.

Our week in a nutshell....

This week flew by and was chaotic as always, filled with 35 hours of work for me. Trying to fit in all the other things that should be coming first at times is a challenge. Chads ball games got rained out AGAIN!! This one season is going to take forever because they have had to cancel more games than they have played. Chad didnt have young mens on Tues. so we were all able to go to my games that night. Wed nothing to exciting happened, as far as I know. I worked about 12 hours that day and was spent when I was done. My poor Tate gets so bored while I work. I do the best I can to keep him entertained but while working its a tad tricky. Wed was a challenge for us all. Tate decided to take the filling out of the couch cushions while I was tied up in my hair room. I came out to find what he thought was snow in our family room. It was EVERYWHERE. I took me a while to stuff it all back in the appropriate cushions. I got after him and thought that was taken care of. From there he moved on to shredding things in the paper shredder. Brooks lost her homework amongst other things. The list goes on with him, but its not his fault. I know that as I am working he is just keeping busy. Julie came by and he proceeded to show off for Brecken and emptied the flippin couch cushions again. So as I counted to 10 it hit me, I need to quit doing hair. And so it is, I am done. I am going to finish out Feb. because I am booked through the end and then I am quitting. Its bitter sweet but I am ready to be a full time mom and be able to channel my kids energy in the right direction!!! My kids all have a lot of energy and are so fun. I need to be able to focus on them and not base everything around my work schedule. There have been a few things this week that have made it crystal clear for me of what is most important. This pic does not do justice to the mess but you will get the idea. Chad was up in Flagstaff for work on Thurs and so it made for a long day and evening. Luckily my amazing mother in law was willing to come and help me. She took Brooks to dance and watched the kids while I worked. I appreciate her so much and am grateful for all that she does for me. I told all of my clients on Thurs that I was done and it was hard for me. I cant explain the feeling behind it, but I know its what is best for my family and I. Friday I did not work thank goodness. We decided that we were going to have a track built in the back of the lot. I am thinking if Tate is occupied there than he wont venture out as much to the neighbors houses. Tate loves to ride his bike and is almost amazing for his age. We are planning on getting him in to BMX racing so we figured a track would be a good start. Our friend Jared Price and Brandon got it going on Fri. Tate was like a kid in a candy store. Here are Brandon and Jared having lunch. Good thing Jared did because he didnt finish here until midnight. We appreciate you both and all your hard work.Tate was so excited to see the tractor working. Jared was so nice and let him hang out with him most of the day. I think he thought he was being a big help. He was hard at work driving the tractor and helping dig with his little shovel. Im sure it was more work for Jared to have him out there but he loved every minute of it and was not about to come in and miss any of the action. I think the motto must have been go big or go home. It turned out so awesome!! It takes up the entire back portion as well as the side between our house and the Kerbys. Im going to have to say I suck at riding the little fifty. Chad could not help but laugh at my lack of skill. It seems like it would be so easy but it takes getting used to . The bike is so small that its not to dangerous but that didnt stop me from nearly having incident about 10 times . Im not used to the twist throttle idea so when I would want to use the break I would give it gas on accident. It was dang funny!!! As the day went on I did improve but not much. Tylee loves being out in the dirt and going for rides. She has so much fun just walking up and down all the hills and rolling around.
The pictures do not do it justice for sure. Julie and Brandon brought the boys over and Brecken was tearing it up on his quad. Kevin and Ryland came by as well as Ted to play with us. Just in the short period of time we have had a blast. Im excited to be able to have it out there so we can ride and play all the time.

Bye Bye Hair

B has got the best hair ever. From the time she was little it has been this pretty golden blond color. We have had it long most of her life for lots of reasons. Probably the main one is its just so easy to put up for school. Another one is her dad has always told her that he loves her hair long. Every time I ask her if we can trim it she says" nope I want it long, my dad likes it that way ". Anyways I cut all the boys hair yesterday and she asked then for a haircut. We ran out of time but she asked again tonight. I asked her what she was hoping for and she told me alot shorter than what she had. We got the OK from her dad and off it went. I love her long hair but do not love to try and brush it out. I love what we came up with. She is getting old and grown up way to quickly. Here are the before and after pics in chronological order. She was so excited the entire time and was rather wiggly. She kept saying oh thats good, or no one will notice if that side is shorter. I dont think she knew we were in for a 30 min. must hold still session. She managed to hold back the wiggles long enough so I could finish.
Ok she looks even more like a 15 year old now. I know that I am biased but Im not sure they get any cuter than this girl. Brooks- I love you more than you will ever know! I am so happy that you are a part of my life. You have brought me more happiness in almost 8 years than I knew possible. I love that you are so self motivated towards you school work. I appreciate you typically keeping your room clean. B wont even sleep in her bed because she wants it made, so she lays on top with a blanket. Im not sure she gets her anal side from me but I am greatful for it. I cant beleive she is almost 8 and getting baptised already. Crazy!!!!!! I feel really old!
I love you B. Thanks for being my big helper and great big sissy.

Disney on Ice

So I forgot my camera. I know thats not acceptable, and I was perturbed the entire night because I was wanting to take pics. Owell thanks Sum for taking one for us. B and I went to Disney on Ice on Wed night. It was so good. We rode over with Summer, like sardines in her car. We ate at Neds first and then headed to the show. We had a pretty large group with us, Staci is always good at planning all these events. We enjoyed spending tons of money on souvenirs that probably cost a dollar for them and fifty for us. Hey thats what its all about, Right. I thought about taking Tate but I think he would wonder when the exciting stuff was going to happen. Plus I dont think that his dad would approve. We had a blast with everyone. I love having my alone time with B. Thanks Chad for keeping the other 2 so I could enjoy it.

Bowling

The kids did not have school on Monday so we decided to go bowling. I think for the most part we all had a good time. Amber brought her family as well. Its always fun to have them around. I think people were thinking I was crazy bowling with 5 kids. I quickly realized I think it was a bit crazy as well, but fun. We had Madison Lamb with us thank goodness. She loves babies and is a huge help with Ty. We picked up Tori on the way because Trey had boy stuff all day so I figured I would just take her to have some fun. I love Tori and think she is so cute. She had a mini melt down but some food and soda was all she needed. The baby kept trying to run aroumd, luckily the people next to us were nice. She was throwing her chicken on the their side to. Im still working on her naughtiness. It probably would have been easier to not have bowled myself, but I wanted to. I should have saved myself the embarrassment. I think I had the worst score. We even had bumpers, how does that work? Owell it was fun for everyone aside from the chaos. We followed that up with a little ice cream and we had to call it a day so I could get home for piano lessons. I picked up Jancy and her and Madison kept the kids while I went. Chad was up in Laughlin so we had a quiet night. The kids were in bed pretty early so I enjoyed a night full of peace. I think I may have needed it to. Thank goodness for the free refills this kept her occupied some of the time. Pretty sad at 18 monthes she asks for POP all the time! Is she my daughter or what?