Missing my baby girl...

Today is day 3 that my Courtnee has been away at Girls Camp... I MISS HER!!! It is really weird to not have her here... I thought having her gone the boys would just be crazy, but it has been strangely calm around here... This puzzles me, because Courtnee is the peacemaker at our house, I think its because the boys just love to tease her and by doing so, they occasionally (wink) erupt chaos at our house.. :) However I am quite enjoying the one on one time with my boys, but man do I miss my Gunderbutt... How am I ever going to handle her going to college, if I can't even handle camp... :) I am sure she is having a blast, but secretly I am hoping she misses me too.. :)

Birthday Wishes X Three....

Today I have 3 birthday shout outs!!! July is a great birthday month...

My BF Kris.. My faves about her...


- Her glowing smile that is so contagious.
- The way we can laugh about nothing.
- She is so adorable.. :)
- She is so kind and caring.
- Her never ending talent, very inspiring to me.. :)
Still can't believe we have been friends for over 20 years.. :) Hope you had a great day Kris, love ya!


Happy Birthday to my BIL Branden... Some of our faves about him..


- He is married to Troy's adorable sister.. :)
- He loves to cook and try out new recipes, love this!
- Cute dad to Kamden..
- So computer savvy..
- Always friendly..
Hope you had a great day, thanks for being part of the fam!


Happy Birthday to my dad!! I am so grateful for the marriage my dad and mom once shared because out of that came the gift of us 4 kids.. I don't see my dad very often and I am ok with his wishes.. Our lives are very different now, and with that I am at peace. Thinking about you today dad, hope you had a nice birthday! :)

365 (Week 28)

Day 188 - 7/7/2009 My BF came into town for a visit, the kiddos sure had fun!!


So cute watching Jade & Heston, they had their own little language and they totally understood eachother.. :)


Day 189 - 7/8/2009 We stole my cute niece for the week, her and the kids were having a sleepout on the floor.


Day 190 - 7/9/2009 Took the kids swimming and they were all doing tricks for the camera. Courts pike! :)


Day 191 - 7/10/2009 The Grand, a view from the pool..


Day 192 - 7/11/2009 The boys helping daddy with the draining and filling of the hot tub.. :)


Day 193 - 7/12/2009 Love having the kids out of school, playing cards (our fave)!


Day 194 - 7/13/2009 My sister got me hooked on this, it is so yummy!!

G.N.O.

I was completely spoiled this year for my birthday, and one of my amazing gifts was a girls night out at the Grand America... We went Friday night... What a fun night.. I have never had an all night GNO, it was totally something I will do again.. We laughed until it hurt, and then laughed some more... Some of the things we did that night...

Played games




Swam


Played murder in the dark


Ate at my Favorite place in the world Olive Garden.




A view from the 19th floor.. :)



Man I love these girls (love my mom too, she was taking the picture)...


Thanks Courtnee, Kylee, Nancy, Whitney, Casey and Mom for the best GNO I have ever had!!! Can't wait to do it again.. :)

Independence Day!!!

I am a little late posting these, but better late than never.. For the 4th we carried on with our annual tradition and took the kiddos to Raging Waters... I am not sure if it was because it was cloudy or because a new water park had just opened but it was not crowded at all. As always it was MAJOR fun, and we didn't get too sunburned... Some of my favorite pics from RW..

Love this picture.


Mommy & Jaden


Court & Taelor


The look on my sisters faces is pretty priceless (notice Stockton on the other slide)..


Whitters & Cole


Casey & Macker


Shane catching some zzzz's


So funny, taking my mom & Nancy's pics and Levi's face in the back cracks me up..


Stockton was braver than me and tried out the sled slide.


Troy hanging out with the boys in the wave pool.



Just a few pics from fireworks that night, thanks Levi for our "big" show.. :)



Nancy, Cole & Jade


Marci's cute family..


Mom & Kota


Troy & Stock


Court & Taelor


Casey & Mack

365 (Week 27)

Day 181 - 6/30/2009 Lately this has been quite the addiction at our house, we love playing cards... :)


Day 182 - 7/1/2009 What a cutie patootie...


Day 183 - 7/2/2009 This was the last day of school "peace out" pose.. :) Love it!


Day 184 - 7/3/2009 Stockton & Dakota strutting their stuff!


Day 185 - 7/4/2009 Our annual trip to Raging Waters.. So so fun! Will post more pics soon!!


Jaden and Cole loving every minute of this day!!


Day 186 - 7/5/2009 This is what happens when a grown man falls asleep and his cute niece is painting everyones toes.. :) Love it Troy!!!


Day 187 - 7/6/2009 My BF came to stay with me today and brought me this gift... I am still in awe that she made this photo album for me... It is so adorable, I just can't stand it... I have been sitting here the last 2 hours just staring at it... It takes a lot to "wow" me, but Kris you certainly did... Thanks so much, love you!!!!

Mr. Braden...

Today is my cute nephews 13th birthday, a few of our faves about him...

-He is a cute big brother.
-The way he named and loves "Troy" coke..
-The closeness my kids share with him.
-His love for always wanting to know more, the information guru..
-His cuteness.
-His similarities to Troy when he was 13.. :)
-He is so smart..
-The pride he takes in his collection of Dragons, amazing how many he has.. :)
-How much he loves his family.. :)
-His sweet spirit.. :)

Just wanted to share one of my favorite memories of Braden.. The December that he and Courtnee were 2, I was tending him... I was taking care of Stockton upstairs when I hear these crashing sounds... As I went to investigate I find two adorable 2 year olds hands over mouths, cackling & giggling, hiding behind the Christmas tree.... Upon further investigation I find the result of the non stop giggling... My ornaments off of my tree, shattered all over the kitchen floor... Priceless, really... I couldn't even get mad at them, they were so darn cute...
Hope you had a great day!! We love ya Braden!!