When the COUSINS came to stay

From cousins

Smores for breakfast gave us the energy to dance the morning away.

Which were just a few of the fun things we did

when the cousins came to stay!

I Have Dreams

lots and lots of em'. and ever since I was little, owning a candy store has been one of em'.
Let's face it, I'm addicted to the sugary stuff. Yup, sucking on a soft peppermint puff as I type.


Back to that dream.....
If I had designed it myself, my candy store wouldn't look a thing different than Powell's in Boise.
It's filled with every delicious thing you can imagine, really.
From it's sparkling ceiling to its shiny floor, this bright, colorful sweet tooth lovin' store

....is MAGICAL!
I wish my pics. did it justice.
Which brings me to my next dream....
to someday learn how to take a decent photo!

Her current fave

Here's your current fave, sis. I thought I'd paste it here so you can log on quickly, listen, and enjoy it,

any old time you want.

Now just do me a big favor, my little lady, and promise me one thing,

you'll always remember......

This mama thinks you're amazing, just the way you are!

On The Charts

At two and a half months, Mr. Max is ON THE CHARTS! His beefy 9 lbs. put him in the 5th percentile. When we're out and about, people still comment on the "brand new baby." Yup, he's still new, just not as new as THEY think. He's a fussy little man and always wants to be held, good thing we have lots of arms that want to hold him. He has oodles of red hair covering the top of his sweet head, which we love to smooch, along with his chubba, chubba cheeks and teeny, tiny, toes.

Oh, Mr. Max, you sure have turned our easy, breezy world upside down and ALL the way around, but really.......

we wouldn't have it any other way.

From Max

Beiber Fever

From Owen in boots

Earlier this summer, Beiber performed on the Today show. Owen happened to be watching. He was completely enamored with Beiber's performance. Wide eyed, swaying to the music, he looked my way and asked, "Mom can I grow my hair long, long like Justin Beibers? I want it so long that I can shake it", he says while tossing his head to the side in a super cool manner, just like Beiber. Since that morning, Owen's snowy strands have been a growing. His unusually large head is a helmet of unruly, thick, blonde locks. I am afraid it doesn't look great, but who am I to crush a dream like that?

P.S. Grandpa and Grandma came to visit. Owen followed Grandpa around all day, becoming his new shadow. He sure enjoyed trying on, wearing, and walking around in Grandpa's clunky boots.

Those are some rather large boots to fill, Mr. Owen. Your grandpa is a special guy, one of a kind in my book.

But if ANYONE can fill his shoes, I think YOU CAN!

Pretty Cool

"Would you like a snow cone? I can MAKE you one!"

Miss Avery was given a snow cone machine for her birthday. If ya come visit, you'll be hard pressed to avoid the above question. Instead of setting up her usual lemonade stand this summer, Avery's sitting on top of the world making and selling her snow cones.

Because in the world of our "sweet and spicy" six year old,

snow cones are pretty cool!

Boastin'

From Payton Main St. Mile

I would NEVER brag about Payton entering downtown Boise's Main St. Mile race in the 5th and 6th grade girl's division and as a fourth grader taking...

1st place!

Nope, I would never brag that she won several fun prizes including a $100 gift certificate to Bandannas running store where we'll go get her some smokin' hot new running shoes and her first real, "running attire."

This super proud mama would never brag...

Boast' juuuuuust a little...

but never brag....wink, wink!

Swim Team

From Payton swim team

Another exciting Summer Season of swim team came to a close.

From Avery swim team

The girls had a lot of fun meeting new friends, learning new strokes, and earning a plethora of colorful ribbons.

From Robert swim team

Even the dads were able to participate. At one of the meets they had a parent relay. After seeing Bob jump in the pool like a freak and Brent enter with a back flip, I didn't think their team had a chance. With the aid of their kid's mad cheering squad.....they were led to VICTORY and pulled off a WIN!

We're already looking forward to next summer and Mr. Owen finally being old enough to join the team!

How Do I Love Thee?

From Anniversary

Let me count the ways...

You know what they say the difference is between a couple who doesn't stay together and one that does? The couple who stayed together........

JUST KEPT TRYING.

Although there's a million and one reasons why I love Bob, here's a list of 14 in celebration of 14 years of TRYING!

1. He likes to be needed, and boy does this girl need him.

2. His family is his priority, and we know this.

3. He's smart but would never be condescending or make anyone feel "dumb."

4. He calls me several times a day. His upbeat, chipper voice is a bright spot in my day.

5. He perceives us as a team and takes part and helps me with EVERYTHING.

6. He hides sweet notes for me to find every time he goes out of town.

7. He is a much better cook than myself and makes dinner often.

8. He enjoys life and works hard to make ours FUN.

9. He is a good friend and would do anything for others.

10. He's hot......just sayin'.

11. He is witty and funny and makes me laugh daily.

12. He loves my family and never judges us in spite of our many inadequacies.

13. He sets lofty goals, and I enjoy watching him achieve them.

14. He goes the extra mile on my birthday and holidays to make me feel special, and most importantly.......loves my ridiculous, dramatic, nerdy self!

Bob and I celebrated 14 years of BIG LOVE last week. These pics. were taken in easier times when we celebrated an anniversary by aimlessly roaming the streets of downtown Boise. After dining at our favorite restaurant and purchasing a few things at our favorite downtown shop, we retired to a little bench outside a local bar and listened for free, to the live music blaring from it's doors. We did our fare share of people watching before Mr. "no display of public affection" let me make out with him on that bench, a couple of long kisses without a word of complaint. It doesn't take much to please this girl, and that night on the bench without a care in the world, laughing and smooching Bob, is one I love to remember.

We're currently living in a tunnel, at least that's how it feels when you're up most of the night with a newborn. You know long, dark nights and tiresome days while the rest of the world goes on around you. Because of this neither Bob nor I had mentioned a thing about our anniversary, and seriously, I was hoping, crossing my fingers tightly, that somehow overly tired Bob would forget. I wanted him to be completely surprised when he came home to a romantic dinner, a house without kids, and a night to ourselves. I wanted to give him a gift he had been without for weeks, needed desperately, and would have paid top dollar for.........SLEEP!

With the help of amazing, selfless friends, I pulled it off. One took the older kids all night, and the other took Max. Although we ended up missing the kids and wondered really if we could leave Max till' the next morning, at 10 p.m. we forgoed driving to get him and relished in a night of uninterrupted sleep.

14 years later, I love Bob more today than ever. I know how ridiculously cliche that last sentence sounds. But, there's truth in that old cliche. As we grow older and wiser we realize love is so much more than physical attraction or simple, good times in a relationship. Love is what lasts. Love is what is left after all the ups and downs, trials, and rough times. Love is why and how we stay together, it is what sustains us. At least it is for me, because believe me I've had my moments of extreme frustration when I've felt like throwing in the towel. There's been times when Bob and my differences seem overwhelming and because of them I've selfishly thought we just couldn't make it. But I never quit, because I LOVE him. The good times most certainly outweigh the bad and even though in no way, shape, or form is our marriage perfect, I believe LOVE is. It's an action, and it isn't always easy, but continuing to TRY makes it worth it in so many ways. And I've grown to realize over the last 14 years, LOVING Bob has made me a much better person.

So, next year we'll celebrate our big 15th. It will be interesting to see where life takes us, and how this next year will unfold. Until then, I vow to do two things, LOVE him.....

and JUST KEEP TRYING!

AHHHHH...

From The Lake The Lake!!!!!