Jill

We love having Jill live with us. Not just because she likes the same USA shows as me or that I was able to go visiting teaching with NO children or that she will run errands with me (and my 4 boys!) but those help :)

She watched all the boys while I went visiting teaching one day and as I was headed home they were heading out to get ice cream cones. So Jill turned around and I jumped in the car. Here are a couple photos from after ice cream. The first one is from the 4th of July at the Ranger game with Ben asleep on her- see she is the BEST.
**I wrote this months ago but couldn't get it to post with photos.









I don't know why I didn't get any photos of the 2 big boys. They probably were too fast getting inside and getting cleaned up :)

July 4th

Happy 4th of July! (just a little late)

Bryan's brother and family came up from San Antonio. They came over for dinner on Sunday. Monday we went to the Bennett's for swimming and food before going to the Ranger game. I can't remember what we did on Saturday, probably something luxurious like yard work.

I have photos on a real camera but I am on the couch and my camera is in my purse in the car and I can't be bothered with that.

Isaac on the way to the Ranger game



Austin, Ben and Jill at Ranger game



Jill holding sleeping Ben



Ben asleep



The game was good. The fireworks were good. It was a good 4th.

I Apologize

Sorry. I gave some siblings a hard time (via the blog) about not blogging. And even posting photos they have texted to me. And here I haven't posted in a while. Truth is I have TONS of photos, especially on my phone, that I could post.

Some reasons I have not blogged:
1. I'm lazy.
2. I have 4 kids, so does that cancel out #1?
3. we have been busy, see #2.
4. I had a week not that long ago that I was only home one day and I did a little laundry but sewed most of the day.
5. I'm getting excited about taking all the boys on a plane ride in a few days, so my mind is occupied with mental lists of what I need to pack- I have NEVER flown with so many kids.
6. The splash park is a must with my Sonic drink and so that means I can't blog if I am drinking my Route 44.
7. I've decided that sewing is a priority these days. Maybe I should rephrase that, getting fabric ready to sew is a priority.
8. I don't want to move so many photos from my phone to instgram (see #1).
9. I only blog for myself and Dad and Matt but Matt hasn't emailed any photos for a long time so I don't feel so bad.
10. I will blog soon. Maybe not until I'm in Cali and everyone has gone to Brazil- but no promises because I always think I will have more time in Cali than I actually do. Plus, Bryan is coming back to work so me with 4 very active boys and no dad to wrestle with them or take over when I am done is going to be challenging. Why am I excited again?

Photos Sent To Me Via Text

I appreciate the people I blog stalk for blogging since my siblings don't. I thought Matt would appreciate these photos. I've been trying to blog a little more Matt. I will try to get on the desk top to blog the photos I have on my little camera. But the phone blogging will have to do.

I have more from Jill but I think I already blogged them. Jill and Katie/Ryan are great at sending me photos (hint, hint family competition).

Ryan was bored in the car






Caro having a bath in my parents' sink



Edie with curls, apparently pigs fly




Edie walking Bosco




Mike's lunch one day




Joanna in her car, Mike doesn't send many photos :)




Isaac wasn't happy when Jill and Katie took my 3 older boys somewhere when we were in California for my mom (end of May beginning of June). He did get over it and was happy.



Isaac's feet in the cup holders when he was mad.

My Hair

I generally like my hair. Lately it has been falling out, a lot. I'm used to loosing a lot but this is ridiculous. And after each kid it changes. After Ben (maybe after Isaac I can't remember really), it couldn't decide if it wanted to stay curly or go straight-er-ish. I have noticed it more lately. For proof of how crazy my hair is I took photos this morning BEFORE doing it, AFTER sleeping on it wet.

This is right side, the pretty side.




This is the left side, the very confused side.



See, CRAZY. And I don't know what the back looks like. ever.

While the boys fall asleep...

I play on my phone quietly.

Sometimes I have headphones on listening to Pandora while I play.
Words With Friends, so if you could try to play about 9pm Central Time during the summer that would be appreciated. And 8pm Central Time during school.
Catch up on FaceBook.
Emails- read and reply (hopefully)
Blogs- but it seems like not so many people blog these days, I believe that my sisters still have a brother serving a mission in Brazil that would love to read their blogs and see what is going on in their lives hopefully with some photos. Just saying.
Look up houses, I think I need to put the trulia app on my phone.
Or like last night, photos to instagram.

Here is a small sample of what I did last night.

Jacob's graduation celebration

The day after my mom came home from the hospital we headed to Bakersfield to celebrate our oldest nephew graduating from high school. His mom really knows how to organize fun for a large group so we knew it would be a fun weekend.
Friday was Magic Mountain. I have a few photos from that.
Saturday was swimming in the backyard and a bounce house and a bounce water slide and then white water rafting in the early evening. Oh, a piñata and Rubio's before rafting.

We had such a good time with all the family. We can't wait to get with them again.
















After all our fun, we loaded up the mini van and started our long drive home at 11:40pm. Crazy, I know but the boys were asleep before we hit the freeway. I drove for the first few hours, which was good considering I was already tired. Then Bryan drove, I drove and I drove some more, then Bryan drove the last "little" stretch (which seemed to take the longest).
The boys did pretty well considering how long of a drive it is and we were leaving fun for boring home :)

Grateful

The last few days have been good. My mom came home Wednesday afternoon. It's almost like it didn't happen. Except she isn't going to work and she is taking things a little easier and she is encouraged to "rest" more than she is used to. But she is home and talking and laughing, maybe more than before, and eating and still thinking about going to Brazil.

Bryan made pulled pork for her welcome home dinner. It may have been some of the best he's made (the best I've eaten, maybe). We spent the night Wednesday and Thursday morning. Now we are in Bakersfield for some fun with the family there. Everyone but Bryan's brother and little family are here for Jacob's graduation from High School!!! I am feeling older. How can I be 25 if my nephew is old enough to graduate from high school, the same nephew that turned 8 the day before I got married.

Anyway, back to normalcy. Because it wouldn't be normal if we came all the way to California and did not see Kim and family. And Kim knows how to have fun. So it is Six Flags today. White water rafting down the Kern river tomorrow. And then the long drive back to Texas.

I have been feeling very grateful. Grateful that I have a husband who understands and encourages my needing to be with family, so much so that he drove the whole way (but an hour) from Texas to California when we had such little sleep the night before. Grateful that my mom is still with us and she is herself. Grateful for my testimony that we can be together even I things hadn't gone like they had and the power of prayer. Grateful for my family and friends that have been here for me and my family.

Here are a few photos from the last week and a shout out to Jill for taking most of these and texting them to me.







Love my Dad






Adam started playing Words With Friends


Dancing to Squirrels In My Pants- loving the satellite radio