Happy Birthday BraeLynn!!

The Big 10!!!!

I can't believe you are this old already. My sunshine girl from the very moment I saw you. You still bring so much light and joy to our home. You will always be our "munchies"

Brooklyn was able to come this summer just in time for her birthday. They are a match sooo made in heaven.

Beach cake. And yes that is gramcrackers not brown sugar and some people suspected! eeewww. But for just deciding that morning what kind of cake i was going to make- not bad! I just love this girl, what a joy to be her mother. Now we can't have a party without Jackson demolishing the cake.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Plead Ignorance

Oh my gosh, I am sitting here at my kitchen table looking at recipes. I am in clear view of the neighbors swing set, where Jackson is playing. I look out to check on him and I am blinded by his white bum as he is PEEING OFF THE TOP OF THE SLIDE!!!!!!!! Do I run out there and yank him off? No, then it shows that I know what he is doing. I HAVE to plead ignorance on this one folks. Holy Crap Jackson!!!

Random

I miss my family out west. It has always been something we five sisters talked about, letting our children play together when we grow up. For not seeing each other often they sure get along great.

Jackson and Mar Mar- his eyes crack me up My brother Matt dressed the girl up and then they went to the store acting all "in the hood"

I love having a little pool at the house- The kids have had a blast.

Out at the Cotton Farm

Random pics means random thoughts-

I have been thinking about this for a while now, Faith. With life as it is right now, I have tried very hard to have faith and hope and all that good stuff. I have had faith that certain things will happen pertaining to our circumstances if I keep the commandments and so forth. But the more I read the scriptures and think about the subject, I think having Faith is more about having Faith in whatever the Lord decides and not holding on so tight to what I want. I'm having Faith that what I want to have happen- will be. It's not like what I'm hoping for is unrighteous, or far fetched even. But I need that have faith in the whatever happens., happens Knowing the Lord knows best. This is a LOT harder to do than we seem to talk about sometimes. But I have a feeling that learning about faith will NEVER end :)

"Going to work"

Jackson comes up to me and say's :

" Mom, I going to work k?"

"Umm, OK Jackson. What are you going to do for work?"

"lawn mower Mom"

He actually stay in straight lines and does the one handed turn like a pro!

And yes, he has on his favorite outfit, AGAIN- ahhhhhhh

Thomas lives in Kentucky

I love that the train comes through town, so does Jackson. i pulled over the other day to let him get a closer look- he was in HEAVEN

Empty nesters

The little birdies are gone. What a fun thing to watch from beginning to end. But it's nice to have my front porch back!

Sad Day

I know I only have 4 children that I actually gave birth to, but there are four more that I feel just as much love for. They moved in across the street almost four years ago. And they have all been inseparable sense.

They moved last Friday, and it's just not the same around here. Aaron said Sunday as we were sitting around the dinner table "it feels so lonely around here now." And then after dinner Aaron said "dang, and now we don't have any dessert!" Aaron always counted on Mira to have something sweet over there, because I never have treats.

It's going to be weird for a while, not having them so close- and the kids are missing their other siblings. I am missing my friend, and Aaron is sad he didnt play golf more with his friend. (funny boy)

I really can't say any more- I will start crying!

Kentucky Storms

One of the first things I fell in love with about living here is the thunderstorms. The way the sky gets is just amazing. I went to go running yesterday and ans I ran around the corner I happen to look up and saw this

I thought it would still be ok for a quick run but when I got to the top of the hill the wind came at me and it was the kind of wind everyone in the south knows to be afraid of- tornado like winds!

So I ran back home and watched the craziest clouds come in and the storm rage through.

These clouds kept circling and rolling forward then backwards (that's a little wicked!)

Just a good ol' thunderstorm came out of it.

Babies!

We have been watching these birds every day and I have to say- I have had some neat thoughts watching this beautiful life process. First of all, SO CUTE!

I have watched the mama bird fly in and out as she has prepared the nest, laid the eggs, and kept them warm. She helped them hatch by peeling off the shell and then taking it away to clean out the nest again. She picked off the "stuff" and cleaned them up, kept them safe in the rain storm. Then she has been working non stop to feed them and keep them safe and warm. In and out she fly's. Knowing just when to feed them and when to just nestle in and keep them warm. When does she find time to eat for herself ? Busy busy all day long.

I think of how all us mothers are just like this. We are all doing our best to tirelessly care for our babies and make sure they are safe and warm, fed, and safe from the storms.

Life is beautiful.

And......

Jackson found the ice cream in the freezer. Dang

Sweet Hubby's Suprise

I love porch swings, Aaron built me one for the back deck when I was pregnant with Jackson.

Aaron built me another swing for the front porch, guess that means.............

.

.

That he loves me. Because I'm sure as heck not having another baby!

Did I getcha? :)

I SPY, with my little eye something........

SPRING!! Look what came to our tree right by the porch

I thought it was such a neat spot they picked to build the nest. It's snug, gets just the right amount of sunlight and yet has a little awning of leaves to keep a little shelter. It's the best lot on the block!

Funny

Braelynn to Jaron " I think P.E. Is way more important than art and music"

Jaron to braelynn " NO, ART is because I get to make mom pressents like a happy sun"

Umm, OK

Went to wake up boys this morning and couldnt find Jackson, until I turned on the light...

A Jackson Funny

I was singing Little Bo Peep to Jackson. he says " little boy poop mom?" hahaha

And...............

This is his latest stunt. He sits straddled on the mailbox, just waiving to people.

...and yes this is the same outfit he had on in the pictures couple days go. He wears this like everyday.

Proud Mama

McKenna had her BETA induction last. Academic honors- I am so proud of her. She has worked so hard for her grades. UNLIKE her mother used to. :)

Oh Woe Is Me

Thanks to Jill's post tonight I am inspired to end the last 30 minutes of this day on a good note. Jackson is testing me like none other. And I am pretty sure my neighbor hates us. (he tried to tackle her newly planted tree)

Went to the store and he was horrible. I can always tell its over the top bad when people give me that look like, "She shouldn't be a mother". Now, I'm used to the look that says, "boy you have your hands full", that one I can handle. But the other just hits my self esteem super hard.

Loosing my temper at night because I have been holding it in all day, is not the way to go out. But I did it anyway. But what I am grateful for (here I go Jill) is that I got the chance to cuddle and kiss him before he fell asleep so he knows I love him.

And I do, because he makes me laugh way more than cry.........

I walked out side and saw this. I mean he was laying here long enough for me to think, "what the heck", realize what he was doing, pull out my phone and take the pic. He is playing dead. It's one of his latest gigs. And he will lay there until someone finds him.

Not kidding, eyes closed and all. ......now thats funny He was giving me a thumbs up because I told him he did a good job at playing dead. "cool mom" he says

And his other gig lately is to climb up top the car and dance around the roof. He first started this while in AZ visiting my family. He freaks out a lot of people doing this. But I reassure them by simply saying, "Oh, Don't worry, if he falls he'll just bounce" Yeah that wins me the Mother of the year award! But really, he will bounce.

I had to snap it fast so he wouldn't see me and think that I was condoning this kind of behavior. I had to hide my face from laughing as well. Yet another reason our neighbors hate us.

So, as I have a whopping 15 minutes left of this day, I can honestly say I feel better about my little hellion and am ready to see what tomorrow brings.

(I hope your not reading this Mira because you are still watching him tomorrow for me! haha)