Seriously, July already?

I truly try to keep this blog up, but I have had a rough few months, personally...I admit...but things are looking up. So much has gone on the past few months, I just don't know where to start.

June...We went on a family camping trip with a few other families. We went to the Sand Dunes...and I - proclaimed camper hater - enjoyed it. I told Troy if I had a trailer I could do it MUCH more frequently. The kids had an absolute blast. The literally played in the sand CONSTANTLY for 3 days. No fighting...just playing...it was a great situation for everyone. Let's see if I can find a few photos...Here you go...



Kristin finished her first softball season. She would NOT play the infield. She actually got 2 hits, but naturally, it was when Troy and I were in Chicago. My grandma turned 80, so we got to go to Myton for her party. Here is the birthday girl and some other photos...


Jake finished up his soccer season. He LOVES to play goalie. Jon, Donnarae and Annie came to visit. We only got in 1 tennis match, dangit...but I got to take some photos of them...



Troy and I went to Youth Conference. It was amazing. We have amazing, incredible youth. We did things that we would have probably never done...hike Ensign Peak, camp at This is the Place State Park, play some game(mix between football and soccer), talk from Jon Bytheway, stroll through the Salt Lake City Cemetary with a guide and LOTS of background of the people who are buried there, photo scavenger hunt around temple square, the Church History Museum, which I LOVED and want to take my kids back to, Amazing Race and chocolate covered crickets...and TONS more...it was GREAT having Troy there to experience everything with me - thanks to family who watched my kids.


Are you starting to forgive me for not blogging???? There's still MORE! We raced in our 3rd Annual Amazing Race. We were the white team this year. It was so fun. We got to go down the Bobsled at the Olympic Park...these were summer sleds, but it is the same track they used in the olympics. Most of us never want to do this again, and I think the general consensus was that the very back is not very fun, but it is awesome to say I have done it. We came in 2nd - or 3rd - this year, 2 teams tied for first and we came in right after them - so whatever that makes us. It was fun...we played frisbee golf at a special frisbee golf park...we were given a photo at the mall, and had to find and dress in that outfit(which is why in the photo, Troy looks like a gay man.



Kyle earned his Bear in scouts. He will be 10 in just a few weeks. Sniff...sniff... Kristin graduated from Kindergarten. For her program, she had to dress up as what she wanted to be when she grew up. She chose Cheerleader...nice eh? Kyle finished up a county report. He got Juab County, UT. I could type for hours on the hell that this report was and how I think cursive is stupid - they should teach typing, the correct way to do rough drafts, etc...etc...but it's done. THANK HEAVENS! On top of all of this, I did 2 engagement shoots, 2 bridal sessions, and a wedding. I leave for girls camp next week...I am hoping July is not as exhausting but just as fun as June was.

Good Things to Come

WOW. I really needed to watch this video today. Maybe some of you do, too.

Good Things to Come

Update...

I can't believe it's May 18 (almost). Seriously, where does the time go? Troy has been out of town for over a week now. He doesn't get home until Friday night. It has been quite the adventure with him gone, although not as bad as I would have thought. The worst was Kristin vomitting for 3 days. That meant being up all night - which meant me being up all night. I have good parents who took my kids, as well as a SUPER friend, who took my 3 kids to church with her, along with her 6 kids! Naturally, they were angels for her.

My eyes are doing super. I had a touch-up done on my left eye almost 3 weeks ago. It has been frustrating, but I think they are finally at 20/20 - consecutively. It figures I would get every side-effect and post surgery problem.

This morning, after my run, Jake informed me that his science project was due. CRAP! I had totally forgotten about it. So, I did what any good mom would do, I searched the internet and found something we could do in 30 minutes. We did a comparison of nutrition values (sugar, fat, protein, fiber)actually consumed in a day to recommended per day. I was ASTONISHED! Did you know kids between 4-9 should only have 18 grams of sugar a day? I did a pretty normal day of food for Jake, rice krispies, apple juice, pb&j, milk, cookie, chicken, rice, green beans. Guess how much sugar? 102 grams of sugar!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe that? So, I definitely learned something today. I just don't know what to do, because in 1 cup of 1% milk, there are 13 grams of sugar...how can you have your kids be healthy, if they can only have 1 cup of milk a day?????? I just don't know.

We had a super fun weekend out at my Grandma's house. She turned 80. It was so fun to see cousins I hadn't seen in years, and get to know their spouses and children. Who's going on July 3?

I tried a spinning class today. My poor behind is getting used to a bicycle seat. I love cycling, but I think I will stick to the road, and not on a spinning bike.

Well, I know this post is a lot about me, but it is my blog, right?

California!

Okay, this post is 2 months old. We went to California in March to use our passes 1 last time before they expired. It was a fast trip, but so much fun! We arrived in CA Thursday night, and did Disneyland on Friday, Beach and Tennis with my brothers on Saturday, and Saturday afternoon drove to Vegas to visit the Fonnesbecks. Then, home on Sunday. It was so much fun. We got a room upgrade at Embassy Suites to a penthouse sweet. The kids thought it was awesome. It was definitely a nice room, but since we were only there for 1 night, we couldn't fully enjoy it!




We played tennis, went to lunch, and then to Huntington Beach. There was a kite festival while we were there. They were amazing! There was some synchronized kiting going on. It was a short trip, but worth it just to hang out with my brothers for the morning!

The Big Bash!

Kristin wanted a Polka Dot Pajama Party this year. So, I made pajama bottoms out of polka dot material for all the girls - 10 girls to be exact. They were all a different pattern. I delivered them with the invitation and asked the girls to wear them to the party. I didn't want parents to think I was having them change at my house, so that was the easiest thing. Then, I made pillowcases with a strip of their matching pj material and embroidered their names on the pillowcase (okay, my mom did all that). A big thanks goes out to IKEA who happened to have pillows for 99cents! I gave them their pillow when they got here, and a few of my YW came and painted nails. The girls LOVED that! Then, they wanted a pillow fight. It was hilarious, and they had a blast! I LOVE the photos I got of that. We ate pizza and then opened presents. After presents we did the polka dot ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins and then the girls layed on their pillows and watch some Pixar Short Films. While waiting for parents we had a dance party. It was a blast! Kristin had a blast, and all the girls did too! They were so excited to take home their pillows! Enjoy the photos...

Kristin is 6!!!!

I can't believe it! Today is her birthday. She is having some friends over for a party in a few hours. She was excited to take some birthday pictures this morning. She got a hat for her birthday, and she doesn't want to take it off! Here are her 6 year old photos. More to come later of the big bash!

Marriage...

Okay, after teaching a lesson to my YW about journal keeping today, I couldn't not post this. It's pretty much for me and my posterity, but I'm sure you will get a kick out of it. Let me just preface this by saying that Troy and I are very opinionated. When we argue about something, we both freely tell each other what we think, but we NEVER hold a grudge. We both say our business, usually agree to disagree, and move on with life. I actually LOVE that about being married to Troy. I NEVER tiptoe around him with my opinions, and he doesn't around me. So, sometimes to outsiders they may think that we fight, but we really don't. So...that's a little preface to what happened today...

Okay, Troy has a pet peeve. He HATES it when he's about to go to bed at night, and I have left unfolded clothes on the bed. He has told me he hates it, and I really try hard not to do that. We all know that I don't get to folding clothes just to bug him, but that I'm doing 800 million other things in a day, I sometimes don't get to it. But, ever since he told me he hates it, I try not to do it. Well, I started getting a pet peeve about something that he does. He always leaves a pile of clothes on his side of the bed. Usually his pants with keys, pager (yes, he still has one, for his work), belt, whatever still attached. I told him he could keep his pile in the closet, but I can't stand walking by it every time I walk in our bedroom.

So, this morning, as I was folding clothes, I noticed that he had his usual pile. So, I calmed myself before talking to him, knowing that it never helps to yell, or whatever. In fact, I said, "Honey, you know I love you, but your pile is killing me. We talked about this last week. PLEASE move your pile into the closet."

Well, then he argued with me about how his pile wasn't bothering anybody. I told him I tried to do his request in regards to unfolded clothes on the bed, and I'm now asking him to do the same. His argument, was that since I didn't sleep on the floor by his clothes, that it in no way affected me. My point was that we compromise...I do something for you, you do something for me. Well, he left the room thinking that he had won.

So, naturally I was angry. So, I took all of his clothes that I had just folded and hung up and THREW them on the floor on his side of the bed - unfolded and unhung. I put all the rest of the kids clothes away, and proceeded to get ready for church. While I was getting ready, I heard Troy come in, and pick up his clothes. Nothing more was said. During Sunday School, we came home to add potatoes to the roast (and of course, Troy checked the Jazz score). On the way home, Troy said, "You're pretty funny. I was laughing my head off when I saw all my clothes on the floor. I was going to text you during sacrament (I was reading my scriptures on my iphone) to apologize." I was just silent and he asked, "So, do you forgive me?"

Absolutely.

I love that man. And our marriage. And how I can always tell him exactly what I think. And that he will always tell me exactly how he thinks. 12 and a half years of marriage has worked out just great! Can't wait for more!

Almost May...

Where on EARTH did April go? Wow...haven't blogged in ages...just trying to keep my head above water! My SIL had her baby last Sunday...unfortunately I will have to wait until they are here Memorial Day Weekend to take some photos.

Jordan and Wyatt - the boys I have been playing tennis with - have just gotten 2nd place at Regions and go to State next weekend. So excited for them!

All my kids are off-track. Weather here is crappy...which makes it difficult to keep both the kids AND me happy...we are doing good so far, and only have a little more than a week to go.

I am having Lasik re-done on my left eye Friday morning. Kind of irritated about it. I would rather be doing other things...and I am worried I will have as hard of a recovery as I did before...please pray for my eyes!

Planning Kristin's 6th birthday party next week...even though Haley's birthday isn't until November, she keeps telling me who is invited...Makenna, Lucas, Annie, Nora, and Ella...you have been warned.

Jake finally has his two front teeth. I will work on getting a photo.

Kristin got into a Chinese Immersion 1st grade class next year. For half the day she will be taught in only Chinese. I know she will do great.

Kyle is getting so big...it kind of makes me sad...

Troy is leaving me...for 2 weeks...for work...to go to Texas...NOT looking forward to it. He leaves on Mother's Day...there should be a law against that. Feel free to invite me to dinner that day.

That about sums up my life lately...I will really try to get on here more often...

Favorite Photos of Chicago...

This is actually the beginning of historic Route 66. I had NO CLUE it started in downtown Chicago.
In the summer, this is a fountain, in which water flows from this persons mouth - like they are spitting water out...
Outdoor amphitheatre. They do free concerts here in the summer...I LOVED the architecture of it all.
Chicago Skyline from a nightime boat trip.

I am totally in love with this photo. Don't know these people...just turned out to be a good photo.
More cool architecture.
"Na-Na Na-Na...Dude looks like a lady..." Yes, this is a man...and if you want to dress up like a woman, that's fine, but feel free to shave your legs...
This is the top of the Sears Tower, which is now called the Willis Tower. They have a plexiglass room that you can stand in and look down. It was scary.

Troy and I just BARELY missed the segway tour...too bad...
The Cloud Gate...LOVED this...it is shaped as a jelly bean.
This is the underside of it...it is so awesome.




This was REALLY good pizza. At LEAST a pound of cheese per slice, but SO good. 1 slice was just great for me...

A baby?

Troy and I flew into Chicago on Saturday to visit some sites, and visit Jon and Donnarae to photograph the birth of their baby..well, it's now Wednesday, and still no baby. I think tonight may be the night though...I think the contractions are starting...

Anyways, we decided while we were waiting, we would take some maternity photos...doesn't she look absolutely amazing? I think so...anyways, if you want to see more, visit my photography blog.