Happy Birthday Madison-i-roni

Happy Birthday Madison! Here are a few pictures of the best daughter you could ask for. We are so lucky to have her as part of our family.

Happy 10th Madison!

*As a sidenote this is one of Madison's favorite songs!

The life of a Mom

On Thursday, Madison, my first baby will turn ten. I can't believe I have been a mother for ten years. I look back and life has changed so much. We still do a lot of the things we used to do but we also do so many more things. There are so many challenges and blessings when it comes to being a mom. I am constantly worrying about my kids. Is this a normal thing?

Honestly, I worry if my kids have friends, or if they don't like their school lunch, or if they get in trouble at school (no, not Gabe and Madison but maybe Eli). I shouldn't worry about them but isn't that what a mom is supposed to do?

Even with all the worry and challenges, I love being a mother and wouldn't change a thing. I love my kids so much and here's to Madison for making me a mother and for being such a good girl.





Happy Birthday Madison, we love you!

I will do a birthday post Madison on her birthday. Stay tuned for pictures.

Third Place!

Gabe started racing BMX in the middle of July. He would go out and race just like he would ride. He didn't realize for a long time that if you came in first, second or third you would get a trophy. Once he learned that he really kicked it into gear and came in third. Well, last night again he took third place. He was so excited and Troy was a proud Dad!

Now on his dresser sits a second trophy. If this continues Troy will have to build him a trophy room! :)

Back to school!

Today was a great day. My last child finally started school. It was so nice to be able to go to work without one or all of the kids in tow. Since I have been a slacker I decided I had better get the first day of school pictures up. So here goes:

• Madison started on August 18th. She was so excited to get back to school and she loves her teacher.

• Gabe started on the 19th of August. Gabe was a little nervous for all day school but he did so good. He also got a great teacher. We got lucky in that department this year.

• This is one of Gabes best friends, Kingi, from Kindergarten. As soon as he saw Gabe he came and gave him a great big hug.

• Last but not least, Eli started today, Sept. 3rd, at pre-school. He goes to the same pre-school he went last year. Eli was so excited to be "back-on-track". He thinks pre-school has tracks but it really doesn't. Shhhh, don't tell him!

Fun times! I am definitely relieved that summer is over and we can move on.

Jellystone

We went on our annual trip to Yellowstone this past weekend! We were affraid we might not make it this year because we were preoccupied with other events (Duh!). We had such a great time and got to see a lot of fun things. The kids loved sleeping in poppas motorhome. They fought over who got to sleep on the floor (only our kids would do that).


Here are a few pictures of the trip:

We went to Bear World. The kids loved it!






Sleeping bear...look at that tongue!


Baby bears.


This pig was named Annabelle. Everytime the kids would even get near her she would grunt. She was their favorite part of the whole trip!

Madison on her sign. We do this every year.

Old Faithful. Duh!

Eli was being his typical, uncooperative self.

Notice the name. He really thought there was a dragon in the hot pot that was going to eat him. He wouldn't go near it.

Eli was poppa's buddy.

And the token picture of the buffalo. Eli had a hard time saying it so he kept calling them "Buttafo". We liked saying that much better.

Here's to Yellowstone, next year!

Vocabulary Words

This summer we learned a lot of new words. From the time we got out of school on June 6th until we go back to school tomorrow we learned a whole bunch of new words. Some of the words we would rather not know. Others, I am so grateful I learned. Many of them, we knew but had never really learned until this summer. Here's the list:

• pancreatic cancer
• hospital
• stint
• biliary tubes
• family
• prayer
• love
• eternal families
• Fathers Day
• oncologist
• pain doctor
• the color purple
• Heavenly Fathers plan
• funeral
• viewing
• S*!t
• Wake
• No, OK, Any time.

Some of these vocabulary words won't make sense to some of you. But for the wonderful family I spent my summer with, they will understand. We will never forget these words. I am sure I missed a lot of words that could belong on the list but I will never forget this summer spent with such a wonderful family.

Feel free to remind me of some of the words I forgot!

Where's Eli?

Last week we had a little excitement around here. On Wednesday, after all of the funeral events, we decided we hadn't had enough of each other. The whole family came over to our house for dinner. We made Japanese food and Tempura. Yum! Did you know you can deep fry anything, including chocolate kisses?

After dinner, we cleaned up and everybody started heading home. First Keli, left. Then Jill. We sat and talked to Meg and Josh for another 15 minutes or so. During that time I said, "Where's Eli?" I just figured he was in the house getting into his PJ's. Why would I think that, I always have to force him to get in them?

Well, Meg and Josh left so we went into the house. No Eli. No Eli down stairs. No Eli in the backyard. Pretty soon we realize there is no Eli anywhere. Gabe told me that Carter told Eli to get in their truck. I thought there was no way because Jill would have seen Eli and brought him right back. Now it has been about 20 minutes since Jill left. Surely she would have seen Eli by now.

So I called Jill. I asked her if she had seen Eli. Her answer: "No, why?"

Me: "Are you serious?"

Jill: "Yes but let me go check!"

Turns out Eli was there. The kids snuck him into the truck and didn't say a thing. Jill even stopped and got gas on the way home.

I don't know how they did it but they got Eli to be quiet that whole time. I want to know their secret because I can't ever shut the kid up.

We are glad to have Eli back but if anybody ever wants to kidnap him again, just tell us first!