It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

My 4th, 2nd and K kids....

Spencer showing off his Kindergarten Muscles...he was 'weight-lifting'

Is this not the face of a pre-teen...how did Noah get so old, how did I get so old!

Elijah showing of his Jedi-2nd grade moves...

Instead of 'down by the bay' I like to say 'down by the hood'

When most people hear this song, they automatically think of Christmas...I however, do NOT. I think of kids waking up early (since they haven't in three months) putting on clothes that their parents spent too much on...really $25 for a T-shirt, and shewing them out the door only to hear something parents haven't heard in 3 months...quiet...the sound of nothing! Okay, okay I am being a little dramatic but I was excited for the kids to start school this year just because that means Jim will start soon, which means we will start our 2 year of law school, which means we will only have one more year left, which means we then can start real life...somewhat...okay back to point.

No, I was excited for the kids to start school after a great summer of traveling and swimming. I must admit that when I dropped off Spencer, at the zoo mind you I mean come on, he is one of 19 kids in the NATION to go to kindergarten at the zoo, I was fighting back the tears. When I got home, I made my bed, cleaned the kitchen, and then looked at Jim and said "Now what"! I miss my boys and I miss their little feet, their little hands, their little faces but I love how they are growing up into little men, with big hearts, amazing minds, and fun personalities. I love you boys...now get to school!

35 Questions That Don't Mean A Thing But To Take Up My Time and Yours

One word answers...hmm, I will give it a try (thanks Wendee, I always think your answers are humorous, honest, and insightful. I think my answers will be annoying, dishonest and so therefore equally insightful...not really)

1. where is your mobile phone? in my purse...i think?
2. relationship? amazing
3. your hair? dirty, curly and blonde
4. work? hate it
5. your sister(s)? funny!
6. your favorite thing? shopping
7. your dream last night? weird, bizarre...so normal
8. your favorite drink? coke...but it make me gain weight
9. your dream car? Porsche
10. the room you’re in? an office with a bed in it
11. your shoes? toms
12. your fears? crippling
13. what do you want to be in 10 years? not 43...
14. who did you hang out with this weekend? my favorite 4 boys in the world and the coolest neighbors ever!
15. what are you good at? dodging questions about what I am good at
16. muffin? chocolate-chocolate chip
17. wish list item? burberry trench coat
18. where you grew up? montana
19. the last thing you did? explain a simple situation in the most complex way
20. what are you wearing? the kramer t-shirt
21. what are you not wearing? a burberry trench coat
22. your pet? still thinking....
23. your computer? a second-hand, hand me down dell that i love
24. your life? busy
25. your mood? anxious, i should be sleeping
26. missing? a burberry trench coat
27. what are you thinking about? why i am answering these questions when i should be sleeping
28. your car? honda mini-car grocery-go-getter-a-go-go
29. your kitchen? funkdafied 70's dream kitchen
30. your summer? swimming and tanning
31. your favorite color? red
32. last time you laughed? 2 seconds ago...so i crack myself up
33. last time you cried? 2 seconds ago...so i make myself cry
34. school? still paying off
35. love? my boys

A Vivid Memory of 12 Years Past...

12 years and counting...

My new red Kitchen Aid...isn't it so nice, I love it!

Jim thought it was most appropriate to get my the Anniversary Edition of Kitchen Aid for our 12 year anniversary...come on, how romantic is that!

I have a vivid memory that flutters into my mind quite frequently. It is of me praying that I would someday find a best friend; I was 9 at the time. As I grew older, that one simple prayer grew in detail. Yes I wanted a best friend but I wanted somebody to share my secrets with, share personal jokes with, shop with, blah, blah, blah...everything a best friend was supposed to be. I must admit this prayer was answered with a few people who have entered my life that definitely met all the criteria but yet, something still was off. I continued to pray and too hope that one day I would find this person and I did...after eleven years of waiting, I found my best friend. I laugh with them, I cry...a lot, with them, we share secrets, we have our personal jokes...I even SHOP with my best friend but the blah, blah, blah is now defined. I share 3 amazing and handsome sons with my best friend, we go on trips together, we eat dinner together, we do everything together...we even have had the opportunity to be married for the last twelve years together. Jim is the best friend that I always prayed for, I am just so blessed that he not only carries the title of best friend but he carries the title of husband and father. Thanks Jim, for twelve wonderful years, I love you and I can't wait for the next twelve. Let's just hope they entail a big house, wonderful trips and a really great Porsche...and oh ya, a huge, ginormous yellow diamond (remember square cut, 3 carrots?)

This One is For Marianne...

Ann and a strange Man in New York...on Ellis Island 2008 (BTW I bought my shorts in the GIRLS section at target and then I saw him two more times on the city...he was so embarrassed)

Ann and a strange boy in Chicago...on top of the Sears Tower 2009 (BTW I will never take these shorts on another trip...NOT EVER EVER NEVER EVER...and this time I was embarrassed)

Yes... there are more!

Elijah 'haning ten' over Chicago...

We have the Potter's, we have the Ford Angelia, now, where the heck did I put that Weasley?

Ya, I know...I crapped my pants and you would too...

My heaven...Michigan Ave.

I'm pretty sure that just by looking at this thing you will gain weight...shoot, I just gained a pound...

Good Gravy More Pictures from Chicago...

Jim's acrobatic skills being shown to the city...1300 feet ABOVE THE STREET!
Mom and the boys at Navy Pier
Pirate style...at the Field Museum
The skyline...which I must say Chicago as the coolest skyline!
The family standing on the shore of Lake Michigan

Yup, there is more...

From California to Colorado to Chicago...We Have A Thing For C's

Eating Deep Dish Pizza at Edwardo's or something like...all I remember is that I could hear myself getting fatter while eating that pizza ... the pizza was like 5 inches thick

Standing in front of King Tut...ya, I think we were good enough for the king!
Standing at Carthage Jail, which was a very amazing experience to see where the Prophet was martyred.
Yes, more descendants of Brigham Young...
The kids hanging in some sort of cellar...in Nauvoo

Case in point...we went back to College to Creighton. We live in the Cracks of the City, known as the ghetto...and we have Crazy boys that love Chocolate and have had a major case of the Chiggers, do you believe me now?! And, AND, our summer plans have all centered around places that start with "C" California, Colorado and now Chicago. (I would list Utah as we did spend 2 months there however it doesn't start with C but again, however, we had crazy fun there so I can at least use that).

Chicago was a lot of fun however we started with Nauvoo and gained a greater appreciation of what the Pioneers achieved and an even greater appreciation of what they left behind. We then headed to the big city and had lots of fun seeing all the amazing buildings that line the skyline of Chicago. We looked and looked and looked at even more museum's that one would care to count...okay 3! Jim's favorite was the Oriental Institute, mine was The Field Museum because it was in a building that was built for the 1920-ish World Fair, I read about it and was so excited to actually see the building. The boys favorite was when we were leaving all 3 to go swimming! We also walked out into a clear box 1300 feet above Chicago, then I had to go change my underwear. Road on a water taxi, chilled at Navy Pier and the best of all, walked Michigan Ave..aka my heaven...okay, okay more like all the shops that I love that I will never be able to buy...anything...ever! Actually I was geeking out most about Burberry but I didn't go in...I didn't want to start hyperventilate!

We then headed to Amana, Iowa which is this great little village in rural Iowa that if you ever have an opportunity, go!

All in all it has been an amazing, crazy fun, memorable summer...one I hate to end but I figure putting 3,000 miles on the red-grocery-go-getter-a-go-go is enough...well, at least until Christmas.