SAND DUNES

We went with our friends Nick and Mignon to the sand dunes over the weekend. It was actually really fun. We rented an RV and all drove together. My brother let us borrow his 4 wheelers (thank you Matt and Michele.) The kids had a blast!

The kids looking out the window as we were getting to the sand dunes. They were so excited!

There were a group of people we met up with when we got there. One of them had a daughter who was so cute and drove the kids around for hours and hours in their Rhino.

The kids woke up at 5:30 AM and were ready to ride 4 wheelers. We had a hard time getting them to eat breakfast and wait until more people were awake.
Once again Courtney took care of our kids. I really should have snuck her home.I love Boston's smile in this picture, he was loving it!
Doing what I do best:) chatting with my Diet Coke.
We drove to this Ice Cave. It was CRAZY!
The boys wanted to explore with Gentry.
But I'm a little bit of a scared wimp, and so me and Alyssa went to the truck to wait. I was glad she wasn't a fan of being in the cave. It was fun to look at more from a distance.
These are some most of the kids from our group...some of them didn't come to the ice cave.
I have to add, that I had a great time...although here are a couple reasons why camping it hard.

-Showers are not so easy
-Everything gets dirty

-I just don't like the shoes...I'm sorry but they are NOT flattering on anyone...and especially not me.
I thought this was a pretty cute pic of Boston and Alyssa. They fell asleep really early after a long day of playing.

And last but not least...on our car ride home....we took this video. If you know Gentry you know that he is always looking for some kind of prank to play on someone. Well this time Nick was the victim. Sorry Nick, but it was pretty dang funny I must admit. Gentry always teases him that when he gets scared he covers his ears...well this proves his point...although in Nick's defense he said "What would you do if you hear a bunch of people screaming.?" The kids LOVED being in on the prank. It was lots funnier if you were there:)

New Shoes

So Brock has been asking to get some new shoes lately. So on his birthday he let us know that he didn't get them, (big mistake) and he really wanted them. So we told him we would take him to pick out his very own pair. He was so excited, and he got the pair he wanted. We went to check on him that night and he was still wearing them while he was sleeping.

Gentry took this picture with his cell phone, so it isn't the greatest, but at least you have a visual:)
I have to tell a quick story about Brock's outfit. (Because I want it on the record that HE picked it out) Anyway...Brock insisted on wearing this shirt today, but after he got it on he realized it was too long and covered up his shorts. So a few minutes later he came down and this is what he was wearing. No, he doesn't play T-ball this year, he just found these pants in his closet and decided to start wearing them...and guess what?? I didn't even fight it.

Memorial Day

I forgot to take pictures until the day was basically over. We had a good time. We took the kids to see the movie Night At The Museum 2. They liked it, but I think they liked the popcorn even more.

We had my family over for dinner and swimming. My kids were in the pool from 12:30 until 6:45. With only a few breaks to eat. Can I just say that they slept REALLY good after that:)

My Dad and brother Matt brought over their 4 wheelers and gave the kids rides. They had a blast. I thought this was a cute pic of my Dad with my kids.

They had to get back in the pool to swim after riding on the 4 wheelers of course.

Happy Birthday BOYS!!

My babies are 5 today. I can't believe it. I remember the day they were born and how excited I was. I couldn't wait to bring them home. They have been so much fun, and they've taught me so much...like how to sanitize..ha ha. I think they have mellowed me out quite a bit. I've learned it's ok for your kids to pick out their own clothes...even though I still have a hard time with it.

They woke up this morning and were so excited to open their presents. I think they were happy with everything they got, because we went with what was on the "list" they gave Gentry.

Janay gave them these hats. I'm sure you are all happy to see something different on Brock. They love the hats because it has the letter "B" on the front. I told Boston it was a Boston hat and Brock said, "And this is a Brock hat!" So I just went with it.



Just for the record. I told them to sit on the porch so I could take their picture and this is the pose they did. I thought it was so cute...pretty typical of them...although sometimes there is a little more "hug" than needed and someone starts to cry. Today they were happy and excited to be 5!

Brock really wanted a skate board and he's been practicing all morning.

Boston wanted this pirate ship. He's been asking for it for a while now, so he's super excited to try it out.

What Can A Dollar Buy???

Today I took the three kids to the dollar store. Boston and Brock had survived their 5 year old shots and I told them they could each pick something at the dollar store. Alyssa lost a tooth last night so she got money from the Tooth Fairy...(luckily the Tooth Fairy remembered the 1st night.)

This is what they picked. Alyssa picked the little animals that grow in water. Brock picked a pirate set and Boston decided he really wanted this birthday hat. So far he hasn't taken it off.

I LOVE SUMMER!!!

Boston insisted on getting in the baby floaty.

Alyssa doing her super hero dive.

Brock just relaxing.

And this is why I love summer....

I wanted to write a couple funny things that have happened lately.

Last night Alyssa came into my room crying asking "Is anyone going to throw up tonight?" I started laughing. The flu has gone through my family and both her and I can't handle throwing up or even hearing anyone throw up. She has been keeping her bedroom window open at night to let the "fresh air" in....and so have I. She is my germ-phobe clone.

Then Boston and Brock were watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on TV. We had it recorded on the DVR. I heard Boston yell to Gentry. "Dad something is wrong with the TV!" Gentry must have fixed it, then about 20 minutes later..."Something is wrong with the TV again!" I went in there to find out what was wrong....it was a COMMERCIAL! My boys can't work the remote...well let me rephrase that...we don't want them to use the remote because we got a bill for ordering all sorts of channels. (They don't know what they are doing.) So they think something is wrong with the TV if they have to watch a stinking commercial...unless it's a commercial that comes on the Disney channel because those advertise all the new toys they need.

Gentry was asking the boys what they wanted for their birthday. They gave him a list of things they wanted and he typed it in his phone. Then an hour later we were talking to them and he asked them again what they wanted. Boston said, "Dad check your phone." I started laughing.

TRADING PLACES

For those of you who know my boys, they have very specific styles. When you are around them all day you don't look at their face because you know who is who by what they are wearing.

So this last Sunday Gentry asked if I'd get the kids ready for their bath and take off their clothes. I looked at him kind of weird because they know how to take off their own clothes. Anyway I went to take their clothes off, and they had such a funny grin I knew something was up. They had traded clothes...and it caught me so off guard. They thought it was HILARIOUS that I would ever confuse them. I can just see them playing this trick as they get older.

Happy Mother's Day!

This post is dedicated to my Mom and my Mother in law Cyndy. The two greatest moms in the world.

I wanted to tell a couple things about them and why they are so special to me.

My mom raised me telling me that if I watched too much TV my brain would turn to mush. It always drove me nuts when I wanted to watch another episode of Full House. I remember her cutting the cords to our new TV when we were little, because we wouldn't turn off the Saturday cartoons. Luckily my dad was out of town and she got it fixed before he got home. (We are all still wondering how she didn't get shocked cutting electrical cords.)....Now 20 years later I'm saying the same thing to my kids. "TURN OFF THE TV, or your brain will turn to mush!"

My mom always took wheat bread to anyone who was sick, sad or just needed a visit. She would swear it was a "cure all" bread. Guess who thinks wheat bread cures everything....yep I do. I make it every week.

I also think I inherited a little ADHD from my mom. (I think that's the only way she ever got things done while raising 7 kids.)

One of her most repeated sayings was: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." It's funny how much happier you are if you follow that little rule.

My mom is one of the nicest people in the world. She is probably one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. (You just have to get her to sit still for more than 5 minutes to find out...but getting her to sit still for 5 minutes is hard to do!) She is probably the most innocent next to my sister Jennifer:) My mom still thinks the "F" word is F A R T.

I LOVE YOU MOM!


Cyndy has been a mom to me since I was about 13. When I started hanging out with Gentry. She was so much fun. I remember when I married Gentry my mom was so excited that I married someone with a fun young mom. And she has been just that. She is super stylish and I find myself sneaking stuff out of her closet.

My kids love to hang out with her because she is so much fun and she lets them get away with murder. I joke that I have to de-grandmatize the kids after they've been with her because leaving her is like leaving a fun vacation.

When I was in highschool I went with my friend and we pierced our belly buttons. (We were planning on taking it out after a few days, but it was something rebellious for us to try.) Gentry FREAKED out and broke up with me because he did not want to date a girl with belly button ring. I remember talking to Cyndy and telling her Gentry's response. She told me NOT to take it out and if I did he would think he could control me the rest of my life. I still laugh when I think of that story. She was always on my side, and I loved her the minute I met her.

If I'm ever feeling guilty about buying a pair of pants that cost too much or a pair of shoes I didn't really need I always call Cyndy and she tells me that I NEEDED it. Then I feel much less guilty about it. She is always so fun to shop with.

Cyndy has taught me how to cook several meals that Gentry loves, and they've turned into some of my favorite recipes too.

I LOVE YOU CYNDY!

To all the other great Mom's in this world HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

A GREAT Great Grandma...

We took the kids to Gentry's grandma's house today. (Gentry's dad's mom) We let them go to the little lake by her house and feed the ducks. When we got back she fed us some yummy strawberry short cake and the kids said she was a nice grandma. They kept calling her a great great great grandma. Lots of greats.

While we were feeding the ducks Cyndy was throwing bread at Brock's head. He turned around and got mad at Alyssa, and I told him it was Grandma Cyndy...next thing I knew...it was a bread war! They had a good time.
Here are a few more pics from the visit.

Leave it to me to wear stupid stilettos...what was I thinking? The heels were sinking every step I took. (Very inconvenient:)


Gentry's dad pointed out this feather and Brock thought it was awesome. For those of you who know what a germ freak I am, YES I about had a panic attack.

I love this picture because it was right after Brock discovered it was Grandma who was throwing bread at his head. Let the war begin!:)

"I just slipped mom!"

Yesterday I was busy cleaning out the garage and I could hear Boston crying. It's not uncommon to hear them crying, so I took my time walking in to check on him. He was bleeding from the mouth and I asked what happened. He said "Mom, I just slipped." I didn't put it past him and went to get a clean wash cloth and ice. As I cleaned off his lip I noticed it was a pretty bad little cut. So I called my brother Matt (who just happens to be a dentist.) He had me bring Boston over to check it out and we decided it might be worse to give him stitches because then he would be scared of Matt for regular dental stuff. Matt said that stuff in the mouth heals so quick anyway he thinks he'll be fine. I asked Boston what he wanted to do...and he did not want stitches.

Well on our way to Matt's house Brock is telling me that Boston was pulling the jeep with A "SPUNGEE" CORD! (aka bungee cord) Hmmmm that would explain it! Boston knew he'd get in trouble because I hid the bungee cords from them so something like this wouldn't happen. I guess we are just lucky it didn't take out an eye or something.

Ready To Shave?

Brock's face makes me laugh. That is the exact face Gentry makes while shaving.

Well I'm not sure how these pictures came about. Gentry sent them to my email. Was Gentry watching them? Or did they sneak it and he thought it was cute and took a pic. I'll let you decide.