Happy Birthday Ya Filthy Animal...

Well, well, well, looky who we have here...

Can you believe this kid is 25? Yikes. Where has the time gone? It feels like just yesterday we were playing Super Mario Brothers on your nifty new Nintendo or sliding down the basement stairs in sleeping bags. Hope you have a wonderful Birthday, can't wait to see you guys in a few days! :) When you get here I hope you are hungry cause this little delicious beauty will be waiting for you...

Funniest Site Ever...

I don't know if it just cause I am all into cake making, or if I have a sick sense of humor, or both...but I have wasted a good amount of my day today laughing it up at this hilarious blog. Please go for your own enjoyment. Start with this page and then browse on.

Happy Fathers Day to the two best Dads in my life...

To My Dad...

I hope that you know how much I love you and appreciate your example in my life. I want you to know there are times when I am in a situation I will often think, "what would Dad do?". I treasure our wonderful memories together, and I thank the heavens I got your sense of humor! :) Thanks for all the years helping me with my homework, for encouraging me in my cross country days, for making a usually boring situation like a ride to school, so much fun, and for your weekly hilarious and inspiring letters on my mission. Probably most importantly thank you for always telling me stories about your mission and planting in me the desire to go. Everything good that I have in my life today is from serving a mission, and I owe that mostly to you. Thanks for being such a great Dad, and a wonderful Grandpa to my sons. I am so grateful that they have men like you to admire for their examples.

I hope you have a wonderful Fathers Day and that you feel loved and appreciated. Most of all I hope Dave gets off his rump and gives you a night off from doing the dishes and cleaning up...:) If I was there I would have made you this cake, because this kind of shirt always reminds me of you...I love you Dad.

To Todd,

I don't know if Thatch and Tagg will ever know how lucky they are to have you as a father. I feel so incredibly blessed that you are mine, and I am so grateful for the wonderful Daddy that you are to our boys. Honey, you are one heck of a diaper changer, midnight feeder, bath giver, tickler, bed time story teller, soother, picky back ride giver, comforter, and most of all you are a hard working and incredible father. We are so glad when Daddy comes home at the end of the day because you make our lives so much more fun! Thank you for all your diligence, hard work and sacrifice for our family. I am so thankful that our sons have you to emulate as they grow up and I am assured that they will be wonderful men, missionaries, husbands, and fathers someday having you as their example. I couldn't have asked for a more loving husband and father for my children, and I hope today you know how much the three of us love and appreciate you!

Proof that you are a great husband and daddy..

Wearing goofy shirts that I make and working hard so we can go to Disneyworld to see the boys' faces light up!

This pretty much sums it up!

As for me and my house, camping is for husbands and sons.
I can do one night, maybe two but that is pushing it kids.
No shower + No toilet + Bugs + Heat + No Sleep= Hell on earth in my book.
If you call me prissy...I will take it as a compliment. :)

Babies don't keep...

As I sit here bawling my brains out after reading this poem I thought I would share it with all my mommy friends out there...

Let Me Hold You Longer- Karen Kingsbury

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts, First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away and leave to me your past And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying, needing to be walked, When last you crawled up with your blanket, wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold. The last time that you said you’d marry me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from your past- Would I have held on longer if I’d known they were your last?

Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap, The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten, those last few days of first grade, Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.

I never said good-bye to all your yesterdays long passed. So what about tomorrow- will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond. The last time that you run barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images will represent your past. I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts…

The last time that I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight. The last time that I pray with you and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle with a book, just me and you The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson, last vacation to the lake. Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days that haven’t come to pass. But as I do, I sometimes miss today’s sweet, precious lasts…

The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test. The last time when I shout that yes, your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there. The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass, I want to hold on longer- want to recognize your lasts…

The last time that you need my help with details of a dance. The last time that you ask me for advice about romance.

The last time that you talk to me about your hopes and dreams. The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass. If I could freeze the hands of time, I’d hold on to your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning, you’ll be going far away. College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss. One last time to understand just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed. Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.

A couple of years ago while I was taking a run I saw a school bus pull up in our neighborhood and pick up the kids to take them off to elementary school. I got all choked up thinking that I only had 2 1/2 more years before Thatcher went off to school. Now I am only 1 year away from that milestone and the more I think about it the more I want to squeeze my boys and freeze us all in time. Some days I think about how I will be the proudest missionary mommy, and even though I have 15 plus years to cross that bridge, I bawl my guts out even imagining them leaving on their missions. I am trying to treasure each day I have with these little boys at home with me, even each mess, each tantrum, and especially each hug, and each kiss.

The Happiest Place on Earth...

Well we are back! It was one heck of a trip, and we loved every single minute of it. It was so fun to be together as a family relaxing, and having a blast! The best part about Disney World is seeing the kids faces light up, hands down best part. Here are just a few pictures to wet your palate and get you excited for the depute of the montage (mostly for grandparents and family I am guessing! )I am working on. 923 pictures + videos. Seriously. We take this Disney World biznass serious. So I need some time to work on that, but in the mean time....

This is what the kids woke up to the day we left. I went with kinda a pirate theme for our vacation since we were staying in a pirate themed room...they LOVED the whole pirate thing going on. Arrrr Matey!

All excited and pirated up ready to go!

On the plane doing some puzzles to pass the time.

We're HERE! I shot this pic from the bus from the airport to the resort.

Waiting in line to check in at the "pirate hotel" as the boys called it.

Our pirate room. I cannot say enough how much the boys LOVED this hotel and the room. Every morning while we were getting ready to go the boys would play on the boat beds and jump from bed to bed playing pirates. It was SO fun. Such a cute theme.

Our first day at the Magic Kingdom. I love this picture of Todd with all of his Disney buttons.

The all time favorite ride for little boys, Buzz Lighyear. I rode this 15 times. Seriously.

Couldn't get Thatcher's attention away from Buzz long enough for a picture...

Here we are with Zurg at the end of the ride with the boys behind bars.

Our first night it rained. Here we are on the boat ride over to the Wilderness Lodge for dinner.

This is how Tagg spent most of the trip, on Todd's shoulders.

Dumbo!

Todd and Thatch on Dumbo

We had a character meal almost every day. It was SO SO SO fun. The boys LOVED them. This was our first one at the Crystal Palace with Tigger, Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore.

Already getting sick of me saying "boys look at mommy and smile!"

Todd and I goofying around while the boys took a nap in the stroller...

Todd on Big Thunder Mountain. Love it.

A cute little kid play place by Splash Mountain for all the kiddies to play while their bigger siblings go on Splash. Thatcher LOVED splash, he couldn't get enough of it, so Todd and I took turns going on it with him and the other person would play here with Tagg.

A highlight of the trip was when Thatcher was chosen by Jack Sparrow to be apart of his little pirate act. Thatch was thrilled and it was really cute. I have a cute video of this that will be on the montage.

Thatch on the carousel.

Me with Tagg (who you can't see) on the Speedway. Everyone who knows Tagg knows that he is a tad bit OBSESSED with cars. So you can only imagine how this ride went over...

Something I do not want to see again for 12 years...

Cinderella's (or Mickey's according to Tagg) Castle. We watched the fireworks in a perfect spot right infront of the castle the second night of our trip. The boys loved how the castle changed colors and they loved the firework show. They couldn't stop talking about it.

Tagg posing with stitch topiary. Epcot had this beautiful topiaries all made to look like the disney characters.

Todd and Thatch infront of Test Track. This was an AWESOME ride!

Todd and the boys trying out some games at Epcot.

Thatcher inside the shark from Nemo. The aquarium, Nemo ride, and Turtle talk with Crush were really cute and so fun for the boys, they love Nemo!

Todd with Scar from the Lion King.

At Epcot they have this really cute part called Kidcot where at each of the countries you can color a mask and add a little charm representing that country to your mask. The boys really liked this. One funny story from doing this was when we got to China Thatcher said "Tosur" (I am not sure on the spelling) to the girl working the Kidcot station there, who was Chinese and she thought that was SO funny.

Lady and the Tramp in Italy. They have got to come up with a better Disney story to represent one of my favorite countries. I mean, no disrespect to Lady and the Tramp, but dogs for Italy? C'mon now.

Thatch and Tagg taking in Oktoberfest in Germany.

Having brunch with the Playhouse Disney characters at Hollywood Studies was a favorite part of the trip for sure! The boys LOVED it.

Leo from Little Einsteins

June showing us a dance.

The Block Party bash parade with all the Pixar characters.

Us at the Toy Story Mania ride. This ride is SO fun and SO cute! We rode this 6 times. We all loved it!

Thatch being goofy

The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom

On the Safari...we went first thing in the morning and saw TONS of animals.

Animal Kingdom's version of Dumbo...Tagg loved it.

The boys with Pluto and Goofy

Having brunch with Donald, Mickey, Daisy and Goofy...

Our resort had the most awesome pool. They had a big pool with lots of slides and a small kiddie pool, all with a pirate theme. The boys cannot stop talking about this pool and we had a BLAST at it!

Yes, I made the boys have dinner with Cinderella. Thatch was totally not into the step sisters, step mother, or prince charming. But when Cinderella came around it was quite a different story! :) He told me she is his favorite princess and that she is really pretty. A little crush I think.

Todd with the boys infront of the castle.

Todd giving his impressions of Goofy and Peter Pan...love it.

We had brunch with Lilo and Stitch...the boys are obsessed with all things Stitch, who lets be perfectly honest, semi freaks me out. BUT, I hold a special place in my heart for Lilo and Stitch for one reason only...I once a long time ago taught a discussion with Lilo and Stitch playing in the background, the first time I was exposed to it. True story.

Lilo and the boys.

Here is Tagg with his "birthday cake" Mickey ears that he picked out. I was trying to kindly direct him to ears that I thought were a tad bit cuter...but he was insistent on these, so he got them.

Thatcher picked out "Jack Sparrow" Mickey ears. He kept singing "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!" He is a cute little toot, we will keep him.

I don't know why Thatcher is holding up four fingers in this picture of him in Pooh's honey pot. We didn't tell him to. Maybe it is some sort of Sunbeam gang sign and I should be worried. Or maybe it is because for every picture on his birthday I made him "show me how old you are!" and now he is scared for life.

Ummm Sunshine State? Not so much. Thanks Florida. Nice. The last two days were POURING rain. But hey, we were at DISNEY WORLD! So we made the best of it with ponchos.

The man himself, in the flesh (or plastic), THE Buzz Lightyear.

The boys on our last bus ride back to the hotel showing off their new souvies as I like to call them (mostly just to drive Todd nuts), or souvenirs for more common folk.

Our Magical Express bus to the Airport...Bye Mickey!

Stay tuned for the montage which will include lots more pictures and videos!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom. You are one funny lady, and I don' t know what I would do without your support in my life. Thanks for helping me now be a Mom, I am truly grateful for your example. Thanks for being a fantastic fun Grandma to my boys, and a best friend to me.
I hope you have a fabulous day. I hope you get to relax and feel pampered. I hope Dad cooks you a great dinner, David does ALL the dishes and doesn't leave any to "soak" in the sink over night. (yeah right!) If I was there I would have made you this cake.......and then we would eat it all and the calories wouldn't count because it is a holiday, at least that is what I would keep saying as we gorged ourselves silly into a sugar coma! I love you Mom.

What we have been up to...

"School Time"...we try to have this a couple times a week. Taggy does colors and shapes, and Thatch works on his letters, numbers, and simple reading.

We went to Keeneland a couple Saturdays back. Keeneland is a BIG deal, and they take this horse racing biz-nass SERIOUS around here. Amazon.com has a big tent every year and all the managers go and eat and drink (I'm not talking soda here kids) and then go watch the race. We didn't know too much about it all, so we were stuck in traffic for 2 hours trying to get into the area. It was nuts. We were there for about 30 minutes before having to head home to relieve the baby sitter. Nonsense. It was really fun to see this little piece of Lexington culture though.

I thought I would document the view from our day...waiting in riduculous amounts of traffic. At least it was a BEAUTIFUL day!

Thatcher lately has been making lots of "inventions". This boy is a smarty pants and it is going to be some serious trouble for me I can already tell. He learned about pulley's and simple machines from Sid the Science Kid (who says TV rots your brain?:) ) Now he is obsessed with making contraptions with pulley systems.
Thatcher also has been going around the house saying "Ni hao!" and "Tou Shur". He seems to have his Daddy's knack for picking up languages. He loves to learn new words in Spanish (Dora!), Chinese (Kai-lan), and Italian (Todd and I). He is one funny kid.

Here are the boys yesterday morning showing me how their "trap" works!

While Thatcher is our inventer and language master, Tagg is our creative boy. He loves to play with his cars and toys and make them have conversations with each other. He has the funniest immagination and we love seeing what he is going to pretend doing each day. The other day he pretended that he had a pet bird that he would cuddle and nuzzle and kiss. He kept this pet bird in an old plastic easter egg and anytime he went to do anything else, I would have to baby sit the pet bird.

Thatcher has become SUCH a big helper around the house, he LOVES to help me clean. We have been giving him more "chores" around the house, and he has been really good and doing them!

Todd and I have been staying up late making shirts for the boys to wear to Disney World. We are SO excited to go! (3 Days!)

Family shirts...

The boys shirts...