So So So Much to Blog about

Just a warning, this post is majorly long and boring, so turn away while you can. This summer has been SO busy for me; I barely have time to think straight let alone blog. It's not like life won't go on if I don't blog about every single thing I do, but I have never had a journal before, and since I use this as our family journal, I really don't want to leave out the important things that happen that mean something to me. I’m afraid I am only going to be able to update like once a week or so, hence the super long posts.

We will start at last Wednesday when we had a little farewell BBQ for Janice and Greg. Mandy and Holly and their families came too. They are headed to Kentucky where Greg will be a CFO of a hospital. This is a huge move for them, and although we will miss them-we know how excited they are and what an awesome opportunity this is for their family. Thank goodness for blogging, we will be able to keep in touch with every event even though they will be so far away. Pictures were taken at the BBQ, but of course not by me. I was too busy doing other things. The only step left in their big move is selling their house here. If anyone knows someone who needs a nice house at a nice price, both of which are hard to find in this area, you will know where to look.

Thursday I met up with my friend Lindsey who is currently living back east, but is visiting the area. Her girls are darling and we had a good time. Heather also came and it was good to sit out in the nice hot sun and let the kids play in the water. Whitney was going to come, but she is pregnant and was not feeling well, so she didn't end up coming. (I hope you are better Whitney!)I helped my mom with a few family reunion things, and that was Thursday. Once more, pictures were taken, but not by my camera.

Friday my kids were SO very excited to finally get to go to the new Rec. Center here. We went with Mandy and Janice and their kids. I am SO glad something like this is finally available. It is so nice and was so much fun for all of us. Hallie is my little daredevil, going on everything and running from one activity to another. It made me a little nervous because there were so many people and I could hardly keep track of her. Gavin on the other hand is cautious in every way. He stayed in the little kids section with little floaties on his arms and he was very easy to keep track of as he went down the same slide over and over for the hour and a half we were there. Kayler stayed at my Grandma’s house, and I am glad to report he was a very nice boy. We will take all 3 kids when G.J. can come to help me.

That evening, I had just gotten everyone bathed and cleaned up and Mandy called for a swimming party at her brother's pool. We had nothing else planned, so we grabbed some pizza and headed over. Kayler thinks he can swim underwater…not such a good idea-it took Me, G.J., Mandy, and Brett to keep him occupied and happy. Gavin felt safe as long as he had a lifejacket, tube, and water noodle to hold on to. Hallie was the same little water dog as usual. It was a super fun and relaxing evening and we truly appreciated the invite. Of course, more pictures were taken, but not from my camera. Having 3 kids to keep track of leaves no time for pictures. I have decided I have got to figure out a system to where I can take pictures, have fun, not let my kids drowned, etc…lol

Saturday was filled with grocery shopping, errands, work at the ranch, visiting our dog-who is currently living at the ranch (the ranch is Rim Ranch, which is on Diamond Mountain-G.J.’s parents live there) and then G.J. and I went on a date. We had a babysitter for 3 hours. We went to a wedding reception, played Wii for awhile at my parent’s house, got a shaved ice, and headed home. Pretty lame date, but it was good to have a little break, and we have great girls who do a good job babysitting.

Today was church and now I am trying to prepare for the whirlwind of a week I am about to have. I have like 97 things to do for church, my house, my kids, a family reunion, camping, wedding receptions, bridal showers, etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. It’s freaking me out a little at how much I have to do, but hopefully it will all pull together nicely.

My kids have done and said the funniest things this week, but unfortunately since I don’t even have time to breathe, I don’t have the memory to blog about them. The only two things I can remember have to deal with deodorant and water bottles. Hallie was watching me put on my deodorant. She asked what it was for and I told her. Well she left but came back into my bathroom a few minutes later and said, “You know mom, I am getting pretty old and growing pretty big, I think I need to start using deodorant.” I told her I would look for some little girl deodorant. Well I found some Degree “Girl” deodorant at Wal-mart. Hallie was THRILLED to say the least. Gavin was pretty bummed that there wasn’t any “little boy” deodorant, so I gave him some of mine, it had a blue label that looked pretty “boyish” and he was happy. I have watched them several times the past couple days smelling their armpits, and each other’s armpits. They are just so cute sometimes.

The next thing is this water bottle I have. There is quite the story behind my water bottle and my water drinking. I am always thirsty, and I can drink like 2 or 3 gallons a day without a problem, and then I wonder why I am up all night peeing. Anyways, my kids love my water bottle, and so when I went to Wal-Mart, I noticed they had mini bottles just like mine, and so I bought each of the kids one. When I gave the bottles to them, you would have thought it was Christmas. I got so many excited “thank you's” it just warmed my heart…lol. They were down right precious chugging their water from their mini water bottles just like mine. I did take the time to snap a picture of the water bottles. So enjoy.

My next item of blog business has to do with little girl hairdos. I was looking at my friend Cassie’s blog, and I noticed a link called http://shedoeshair.blogspot.com/ Well, it is tons of super cute ideas for little girls’ hair. I LOVE to do hair. When I was little, my mom never ever did my hair. It's not that she neglected me or anything, she just didn’t know how. I didn’t want to go to school ugly or fugly as my brother called it (fat + ugly = fugly) so I learned how to do my hair very well by the 3^rd grade. I could pull off a dang good French braid and all sorts of creations. Hallie was born with a head of hair, so from the time she was tiny I would give her a snack and sit her in front of a good cartoon and experiment. As she has gotten older, I have had lots of super cute creations. Although I am not fishing for the compliments that do come along with her cute hairstyles, it is nice to have people notice that I am taking the time to make my little girl look nice. I always want her to look and feel pretty. If I could only take the same time on my own hair, that would be nice, but something tells me that braids and 4 pig tails wouldn’t look that good on me anymore! Some people ask how I get her to sit that long and how I come up with ideas. Well, the new blog I found helps a ton, as well as laying awake at night dreaming up creations. As she has gotten older, she isn’t quite as patient with me. One day she turned to me and said, “You know mom, I don’t always have to be the prettiest girl at school.” I have to let her go with just a plain pony tail A LOT more often now…Here’s a quick pic of her latest cute hairdos, as well as a pic of the 2 tools that help me a ton-the topsy tail tool, and the automatic twisty braid tool.

One LAST item of business, I have had a ton of random people say that they have found my blog one way or another. None of them have blogs themselves, so they can’t leave comments. So, for those of you who read this who don’t have a blog or Google account, I have now made it possible for you to leave comments. I would love to hear from you!

I imagine my next post will be next Sunday, so brace yourself for another super long one. Have a great week, 4^th of July, and I hope you are enjoying summer!