So....time. I wish I had more!

Wow. I remember when we first moved to Santaquin when Kennedy was 4 and Louis was 2. I remember talking to my sister and a few of my friends and they all wished that life would calm down and how they would give anything to have a night at home with NOTHING scheduled, that it would be fabulous. Well, at that time I had NOTHING going on. I would have given anything to have something to do at night. We used to go to Wal Mart just to get out of the house and feel productive. I longed for those days, watching sports, being the carpool mom, etc.

Um. Can I have a re-do? I'd like to change my answer. I'll stick with the boring nights at home and endless games of Uno and watching Toy Story 2 653 times a day. Mmm kay? Thanks.

Holy snap! Don't get me wrong here. Don't get me wrong. I love my children, I absolutely love watching them play sports, be active, improve their skills, become awesome little people. I just feel so badly for Cole. We spend most of every day sitting in the car driving the dudes from one place to the next.

I do know that it was my choice to put them in a school 20 minutes away (with not bus). I understand that. I also know that it is my choice to put them in these sports. All of which seem to need to have practice at the exact same time in three different cities. But oy!!

So, let me just give you a little glimpse into our afternoon/evening yesterday. You don't need to feel sorry for me, just laugh! Because I did it to myself!! I am!!!

2:30- leave for Spanish fork to pick the kids up from school. Come home.

3:30 - 4:15 do homework, after school snack, get all sports equipment ready for the evening, drinks packed, double check to have all sports equipment. (of course we left like 10 things home)

4:15- leave to get KK to soccer practice in Payson.

4:30- 5:15- watch KK at soccer practice, because it would be stupid to go home and turn around and come right back.

5:15- Leave soccer practice early, to get Louis to football practice on time and get KK to softball tryouts on time.

5:30- Get Louis to football practice just on time. Leave to get to Spanish Fork on time for KK's accelerated softball team try outs.

5:45- Arrive 15 minutes early to softball tryouts that...oops started at 5:30 and no one told me :) hehe. So....watch KK try out (all the while sick to my stomach and saying non-stop prayers that she will do her best...she is dying to be on an accelerated team).

7:00- Tryouts are over. They ask her back for Saturday morning (yay, I think :) ) Head back to Payson to try and catch a glimpse of the little stud practicing football.

7:30- Practice is over. Head back to Santaquin where I stop in to check on my Young Women at their activity that I am supposed to be attending (but somehow, I just didn't have time !! ) Thank heavens for a very understanding President!! Socialize with them for a minute. Realize now that I haven't fed them dinner. Oops. Taco time, here we come! Head home for dinner, shower and all of that good stuff.

Tomorrow? Wash, rinse, repeat.

Notice I didn't mention Cole at all. This is all I'm going to say. Bless the car DVD system and the itouch. Without them, we wouldn't make it! :)

So, next time I talk to you if I seem a little harried, don't worry! I'm not ;)

Rodeo, baby

As part of her Junior Miss responsibilities, Kennedy got to ride in the rodeo. Basically, they just shove a bunch of cute little pageant girls into the back of a truck and ride around the arena...she loved it!! This was the first night of the rodeo.

The second night we decided to go and actually watch the rodeo and watch her in it as well.

The kiddos loved it!! It was cheap fun and Cole only got completely lost once. I would call it a successful evening ;)

We met our friends, The Short's there.....

My little rednecks. Gotta love 'em!

Why do I love this picture so much?

Louis cheering on Patrick, Ross' cousin. He won the bareback.

Lookin' lovely and workin' it at the rodeo. That's how I roll.

Cousin Fun

Ross' brothers were in town this past week from Minnesota and Texas. We were so excited to see them and their families. We had a chance to hang out with them and do lots of fun stuff!!

I now realize that these are in no sort of order, so....deal!

Ross, Kennedy and Cole along with Grandpa Don and Grandma T took the cousins four-wheeling!! I wasn't there, but I hear it was fun!! They went to the racetrack in Payson.

Love this picture. Cole and Claire workin' it!!

Staying cool in the shade! It was soooo hotttt!!

The evening before four wheeling we had family pictures with Ross' mom and step-dad. After that they took ALL of the grand kids to Chuck E Cheese. I'm not sure she quite understood the implications of that offer until it actually happened. She slept for four days after that.....the adult kids went to dinner with Don and Tonya while Grandma Linda enjoyed her time at Chuck E Cheese :)

Ross and Russ at Ruby River enjoying appetizers.

Cody, Allison, Don and Tonya

Traci, Russ, Devin, Andrea's cute prego belly, Cody

Cordi and Branden



The gang. Don's sons and Tonya's sons. Fun, fun night.

Russ, Traci, Ross, Em, Don, Tonya, Allison, Cody, Branden, Cordi, Andrea and Devin. (Just noticed our Prom Picture pose...we're just that awesome!!) Did anyone notice a theme....red, white and blue....we love to coordinate our outfits when we go out!!

The day before that we had breakfast at Linda's house with everybody plus Ross' only cousin, Stevie and his cute family and his Aunt Ninnie (Linda)

p.s. I love this picture. Sweet.

That just about does it. We had a great time and love when the cousins get together!! Isn't it funny how you can have a best friend who lives like 1300 miles away, see them only once every two years and just pick up where you left off?? I love it!! Thanks guys for the fun!

FIRST DAY AT A NEW SCHOOL

This year the kiddos are starting at a new school. They are so excited and nervous!! So am I... I just want them to find friends, be comfortable and have a good time!

We left our camera in Grandpa's four wheeler, so on our way to school, we ran by his house and took the pics in his front yard!!


Big Lou starting the 3rd grade

Sassy Sis starting the 5th grade (yup. Makes me feel oooolllddd!!!)

In front of the new school, getting ready to head in and start a new year!

Louis in front of Mrs. Anderson's room (that is a look of pure joy. One of his best friends is in his class. Wahoo!!!) By the way, I totally got the shoulder shove when I went to kiss him good bye. Really?? Really?? He's still my baby. I am so embarrassing, apparently!!!!!

Getting settled in...

Kennedy in front of Mrs. Jones's room. So excited to start fresh!

Slightly embarrassed that her mother keeps taking pictures. Hey!! At least I didn't have rollers and a miu miu on....it could have been worse!!

Kennedy said it was her best day of school ever. I mean ever!! Louis said Mrs. Anderson is the coolest teacher in the world. I'd call that a success. Here's to a fabulous year!!!!

My NEW Definition of Beauty

This has taken me a while to think through, but I have discovered a new definition of beauty. I wouldn't say I'm a vein person, but I wouldn't say that I am not, either. I enjoy looking nice, dressing nice, having nice clothes, just feeling like I am put together. It's not something I obsess over, just something that makes me feel good. I have always been a little (how do I say this without sounding vein and snotty)....judgemental of those who maybe don't care as much as I think they should.

Lately, I have changed my thinking. I have come to realize that there are so many kind of beauty. It's not decided in your clothes, your hair or your accessories! It is something that you find in yourself. When I see someone who has "happy" eyes, someone who is comfortable in their own skin...like it or not...when there is someone who doesn't care what you think....that is beautiful. Someone who has found happiness and loves life. That is beautiful.

Recently I have been on a quest to come to peace with my body. It is something that is very hard and emotional for me. I know...weird. Just go with me. I have never had the perfect body, but before I had children, I never had to worry about it. I was lucky and took it for granted. After the birth of my third child it came to a crashing, horrible, awful realization to me. This will be a lifelong problem for me. I will always and forever have to worry about my body. *sigh* After three and a half years of self-loathing and almost self-hatred over my body, I have finally come to realize that I'm beautiful. Now...let's be honest...I know I'm not "beautiful" in the world's eyes. But my body gave me three beautiful children, it is healthy and allows me to do everything that I want to. I have no handicaps, all of my parts work and work well at that. I might have a lot of imperfections. But, you know what? So does everyone. Some of us just hide them better than others!! Ha! I know this is a little personal and not my usual post, it's just something that has been on my mind a lot recently.

I have finally come to realize, my husband loves me just as much (dare I say...even more) than he did when I had the "ideal" waist size. I love my children more, life is happy and good and so what if my belly button will never see the light of day again or my body looks like a deflated balloon!!! Sadly it has taken me into my 30's to realize that beauty is not what's on the outside....it's in.

Yep. I'm that slow.