The end...........

Roaring Springs - for 3 lovely months every (almost) Wednesday  was water Wednesday for us at Roaring Springs water park. Grandma provided season passes for us for Christmas and those were the most used present of the year.  We have so much fun at the water park. With or without friends we would go, go, go!  Cole's favorite is the wave pool, Kennedy's fav is the dolphin slide in the kid area,

Kate's fav is the family ride, Kyle's fav is the wave pool and my fav is in a chair watching my kids! This picture was our last day at the water park.  Along with school starting, the water park closing and summer coming to end, is the sad realization that another season has past and my kids are that much older.

We had a fabulous summer and did so many things and I really got to enjoy being with my kiddos!  I am not a mom who likes back to school and the routine and all the busyness it brings.  But this picture along with all the other ones will keep me warm in the winter with lots of memories and the anticipation of next summer!

While you were out...........

I am catching up on my blogging and not necessarily in order!  While we were enjoying our "successful" camping trip. A really bad wind storm came up!  It usually always blows hard at the sand dunes so I didn't think anything of it.  Until I got home and found my shed literally in pieces. Boise experienced 60 - 70 mph winds that night. Keep in mind 74 mph is hurricane force winds!  Well I guess I know what we will be doing next weekend!

Last weekend of freedom

WEISER SAND DUNES

In our last ditch effort  to stretch out  the last few days of  summer before school started, we planned just a "few" activities.  Friday we  finished up our school shopping and than loaded up the trailer and 4 wheelers for our camping trip.  Saturday we headed out to Weiser sand dunes. We set up camp and the minute the 4 wheelers were unloaded, the kids were off and running.  My sister and her family joined us and it was so much fun.  Coley came walking over the sand dune, helmet drooped, shoulders hunched over and wailing that his quad was stuck.  Really it just ran out of gas!

We did a little fishing and swimming in the lake.

 

We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire.  Endured a wind storm that blew our chairs into the fire and lit them on fire! - that was exciting!  It was a very successful camping trip - is that even possible?

Fair Time

The Western Idaho Fair

came to town and true to tradition I made Jake go on Family Night. He hates the fair, I love the fair.  Well I love the fair food - as if there is any other reason to go to the fair- duh?  My sisters family came with us.  My kids were in heaven, their cousins AND the fair. WOW!  We made our stops at all the FFA animals, the petting zoo and the fabulous dinosaur exhibit.  Than off to the kids' favorite part - the rides!  They rode so many rides, they forgot how many they had gone on at the end of the night. We had so much fun and got to see some of Idaho's finest residence!  Gotta love those carnies!

11 years and counting

I have said before that my husband is not big on "dates".  Just because Valentines Day falls on a Wednesday doesn't mean you have to actually celebrate it on that day. And I have said before how I am the opposite. If Valentines Day is on Wednesday than yes you have to celebrate it on that day. Well he won this battle, I gave up about a year ago, maybe longer I can't remember. Trying to block it out.  Saturday was our 11 year anniversary and we spent it with our kids camping.  Partly circumstantial - it was the last weekend before school starts and partly accidental, we had gone to California the week before and spent a few days alone.
So it was not that big of deal that "Saturday" was the actual "date" of our anniversary. See I am learning to let go of the little things (Ashlie).  Anyhow I got to thinking that it is kinda a big deal!  11 years is a long time to be married to someone and not kill them. Believe me it goes both ways, shocking I know, right?! So in honor our 11 years (and 3 day) anniversary I have 11 things I remember about our wedding day. 

1.  The whole week prior had been record lows in Sacramento, perfect! 

Wrong!  103 degrees the day of wedding

2. Jake and his brother were in 3 piece tuxedos - sweating there guts out!

3. We have no pictures without sweat pouring down both of our faces

4. I was hungry - hadn't eaten all day. On the way to the wedding,

went through Taco Bell drive through - Bean Burrito - what was I thinking!

5. While going through the drive through, I was so hot I was in the back seat, dress pulled up

and  had the air vent blowing cold air!

6.  Jake kept our wedding night a secret - we stayed in a B&B in downtown Sac

7. I can't remember what we had to eat!

8. I said "I do" before it was time to say it - pretty anxious I guess!

9. Jake couldn't get my ring on because it was so hot and my fingers were swollen

10. All my friends and family were there to support us

11. Thinking over and over "Oh my gosh, I am marrying Jake Jones"

(we have known each other since 6th grade)

Good thing I married Jake Jones!  Things haven't always been easy and we have had our share of trials but we have a great life and are happy to have each other!  Love ya Jakey!

Powder Sugar

Urine

Lunch Meat

Dannon Drinkable Yougurt

Mayo

What do all these things have in common?

THEY HAVE ALL BEEN ON MY FLOOR TODAY!  And they all have happened in less than 2 hours.  So why am I blogging it?  Partly to get myself away from the CHILD that spilled them and partly to try and find some humor in it. I clean and clean and clean and than clean some more and there is always something more to clean.  There ought to be a rule that after so many spills a magic fairy comes and cleans up the mess for you. I need to be thankful that I have children to clean up after but today I am not feeling it!

The grass is always greener

  For those of you who have known me for a long time, know how much I hate my hair, I have struggled and fought and fought and struggled with it pretty much since I can remember. I have tried every hair product, every technique, every chemical, every concoction known to any hairdresser, friend, relative or mankind for that matter.  Most people tell me I am so lucky and they would kill for my hair.  When was the last time you saw any model ( besides the late 80's early 90's -the one and only time my hair will ever  be in style), one TV host, one movie star, that has natural curly hair like mine.  Here let me answer that for you,  Z E R O!  The frizz, the body, the frizz, the curl, the frizz, the frizz, the frizz, it's the death of me.  About 5 yrs ago,  I was able to find, through a friend, a hair dresser that had natural curly hair.  She has helped me find some product and a cut and  how to deal with this mess of hair.  She has been a god send and for once in my life I actually started liking my hair. Until now! 

The old saying of the grass is always greener on the other side has often been explored in my life and most of the time I come back to the conclusion of actually no, the grass ISN'T always greener on the other side. Oh wait....shut the front door! On this hill, the grass IS greener on the other side. So green it has been a life changing experience.  So much I am blogging about it.  Enter Brazilian Blowout!  No this has nothing to do with my bikini line.  It is a super charge condition treatment that works almost like a straightner, but with NO chemicals.  This is a picture of my hair, when it was wet so really all you see is the curl, which I have come to be okay with.

OK so now, are you ready........ the second picture is my hair (not a mannequin as Kate asked) after the "Brazilian Blowout". This is JUST blown dry with fingers. No pulling it start with a paddle brush and blow drying the heck out of it, no flat iron, no smoothing cream - noda! 

Can you believe it?  30 years and I finally have flat straight hair!  I know most of you are rolling your eyes but seriously, this hill is greener on the other side for this chick!  THE CHICK WITH STRAIGHT HAIR!  I'm just saying............

a little late

Oh Kyle!  Why will you never smile for me!  I always get the refusal smile or some sort of funny face!  Oh well, I still think he is cute! I am happy to report the mohawk is gone and yes it was gone Sunday morning  BEFORE church!  I love him with this short hair. It makes him look younger and with his  NINTH birthday that just past, I am wishin' all those years back.   Nine years ago, dang!  This giant boy was making his entrance 4 weeks early and could fit in his dads baseball hat when he was born!  Boy how things have changed!  He has been has tall as me for some time and wearing  a bigger size shoe than me and just growing up all too fast.  As with all my childrens' birthdays, I always like to reflect back on all the cute things they use to do and say. Some are clearer than others, but I hope between the scrapbook and the blog I am able to capture most of them!  

In honor of his 9th birthday, here are 9 things that I absolutely love about Kyle!

1.  He is  a mamas boy!

2. He loves to read

3.  He has a very sweet and caring heart

4.  He will try lots of different food and likes most of it

5.  He loves playing with his brother and littlest sister

6. He has a great smile - on the rare occasion I get to see it

7. He doesn't judge people

8. He very forgiving 

9. He is very laid back and easy going

Kyle is a great kid and I am so very blessed to have him in my life. I love ya Ky Ky!