WARNING: This contains mush.

For my Dad...

Something quite profound hit me on Father's Day this year. I've watched over the years how wonderfully my dad treats my mom. He holds her high on this pedistal and quietly sits below and guards her and protects her and loves her. I realized that more than it is about how he treats her, it is about him showing us (his three girls) the way we should be treated.

Lucky for me, I am treated this very same way (except the quiet part).

For Shawn...

You are my rock. I lean on you for many things...at times, too many things. You are always thinking of ways to help me, to make my life easier. You prove day in and day out that you would do anything for me. Thank you.

I love you.

p.s. What they say is true: I'm always a day (or two) late and a dollar (or two) short!

Lincoln made the All Stars!

We just got a call from the team C coach and he made the team!

He is sooo excited!

WAY TO GO LINCOLN!

You'll always be an All Star in our book!

Let's just say THE BOX WON!

Shawn got into it with a box at work...
You should see the box...
not a scratch!

For this next picture, let's just say the scooter won...(it looks worse in real life)...it's a fat lip.

and this is what the kids have been doing to pass time...while it rains!

Daily Five...
1. Summer wounds. I can vividly remember stubbing my toes in the summer and how bad it hurt, I NEVER wore shoes. I guess I can't get mad at them!
2. A fat lip. It's better than landing off your bike onto your head and getting a concussion. Remember Lincoln last summer?!
3. Making houses with cards, I love to do it, too! The life lesson is you have to be patient. I was listening to them get frustrated and the cards come tumbling down...and then the tears.
4. Famous Daves. One of my all-time favorites! Those little corn muffins...
5. Ahhhh...Summer!

All Star update...

Landon made the All Stars! (smile) We got a call Sunday night from his new coach. Landon is ecstatic! We still haven't heard anything for Lincoln (frown).

Monday Five:
1. 80 degrees! I laid on the tramp today and soaked in the sun and had a little nap! Two birds with one stone, I'd say!
2. A new scrappy tool called "The Squeeze". It's an awesome die cutter!
3. My sister, Natalie, is coming on Friday from Idaho! I'm excited because it's been a while.
4. Kids playing outside ;)
5. Jumping with Lincoln and showing off my backflip!

two tags...

I thought this one would be fun to see what my kids would say, but I got a lot of
"I don't know's"...

From Heather:

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Jaxon: I love you, Jaxon.
Landon: I love you.
Lincoln: I love you.
Jensyn: Do your chores.

2. What makes mom happy?

Jaxon: When I do something nice for her.
Landon: When we get along and be quiet while she takes a nap.
Lincoln: A hug.
Jensyn: Hugs and kisses.

3. What makes mom sad?

Jaxon: When you tell people to be quiet and you say it over and over again.
Landon: When... I don't know.
Lincoln: I don't know.
Jensyn: Calling her names.

4. How does mom make you laugh?

Jaxon: She tickles me.
Landon: When she says "Oh my tenders!" from Kung Fu Panda!
Lincoln: By tickling me.
Jensyn: By tickling me.

5. What was mom like as a child?

Jaxon: You were little and you had long hair, what kind of skin did you have?
Landon: How am I supposed to know that!?
Lincoln: I don't know.
Jensyn: I don't know.

6. How old is your mom?

Jaxon: (whispers "How old are you")
Landon: Thirty...four?
Lincoln: Thirty three. (without hesitation)
Jensyn: I can't remember.

7. How tall is your mom?

Jaxon: Ah man...erase that!...She's five foot!
Landon: I don't know.
Lincoln: Fifty feet. (without hesitation), 5 feet, I mean.
Jensyn: Really tall.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Jaxon: Eat sunflower seeds.
Landon: Take a nap and read.
Lincoln: Hmm, read.
Jensyn: Read books.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Jaxon: She cleans the house by herself.
Landon: I don't know.
Lincoln: Either watch t.v. or read.
Jensyn: Reads.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Jaxon: For us.
Landon: Her reading.
Lincoln: I don't know.
Jensyn: (Shrugs shoulders)

11. What is your mom really good at?

Jaxon: (Long, long pause)...typing words.
Landon: Typing.
Lincoln: Reading.
Jensyn: Typing on the computer.

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Jaxon: I'll be right back...she sucks at nothing.
Landon: I don't know.
Lincoln: I don't know.
Jensyn: I don't know.

13. What does your mom do for her job?

Jaxon: Typing words and making stories.
Landon: She used to work for a doctor, type for a doctor.
Lincoln: Type.
Jensyn: Types on the computer.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Jaxon: One second... (Asks Shawn)
Landon: I don't know.
Lincoln: Ribs.
Jensyn: Cookies!

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Jaxon: When you're doing good at sports.
Landon: That you're good at reading and baseball.
Lincoln: I don't know.
Jensyn: All she did for me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Jaxon: She would be one of the actors of General Hospital. (hee hee)
Landon: Probably...um London on Suite Life of Zak and Cody.
Lincoln: Hannah Montana.
Jensyn: Hannah Montana.

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Jaxon: Read.
Landon: See movies.
Lincoln: Tickle me hard and play catch.
Jensyn: Take naps.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Jaxon: We're both in the family.
Landon: We both like baseball.
Lincoln: Same color of hair, kind of.
Jensyn: We have the same hair and sometimes we do the same stuff, oh and we have brown eyes.

19. How are you and your mom different?

Jaxon: I'm a boy and she's a girl.
Landon: You read most of the time but I don't, but I love to read but I'm way too busy to read.
Lincoln: Um...different shirts.
Jensyn: I go out and play with friends and she usually stays inside.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Jaxon: She cares about me.
Landon: She hugs me and kisses me.
Lincoln: Says I love you.
Jensyn: Because she kisses me.


...maybe they know me better than I thought?

From Maren:
(About Beauty)...
True confession: I used to hate the natural color of my lips, but I'm over it!
My Foundation: I hate foundation. But I love concealer.
My Blush: Whatever hand-me-downs I get from my mom!
My Day Cream: I use Mary Kay, 3-in-1 cleanser and moisturizer.
My Lipstick: I love Mary Kay Brown sugar and cream and I like Maybelline, caramel.
My Essential Beauty Product: lipgloss.
My favorite Make-up product: I love Lancome, but it's too expensive!
My Perfume: Amarige.
My Nails: They're growing out! I've stopped biting them!
My hands: stubby.
My Feet: awful. I need a pedicure...BAD.
Women I admire for their beauty: Any woman with confidence.
Women with the best Sense of Style: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston.
My ultimate dream: A day spa!
My favorite fashion Publication: People!

Thanks for the fun, it's been a while with the tags!

Saturday Five:
1. The sun was out! I layed on the tramp and soaked it in!
2. A fun movie...Kung Fu Panda-funny. I just love Jack Black.
3. A peaceful baptism.
4. A fun girls night in last night!

and a spiritual one...
5. Peace of mind that only comes from the Spirit.

p.s. The boys tried out for All Stars today! They did a GREAT job, I am so proud of them. They tried their very best!

rain or shine!

so it's another rainy day and my kids are a little obsessed!
They eat, drink and sleep baseball!
They are a little worried about the rain, though. They REALLY want to go to Cherry Hill.
Jaxon asked me-'What if it never stops raining?' and I promised him it would. Now I need someone to promise me!

I guess while they're busy, I'll go snuggle up and finish my book!

rain, rain go away...

p.s. If you're wondering where Jensyn is, she's resorted to the garage, playing dolls with friends. Whatever works!

2 "graduations"

Jensyn "graduated" from Kindergarten
and Jaxon "graduated" from 5th grade...

Here she's singing "I love YOU" and pointing right at me! It was soo cute!

Receiving her diploma! My angel girl is growing up! and headed for all day first grade!

This is Jaxon with his buddy Braxton!

I actually missed his program because he told me it was 9:30 instead of 9. I was pretty bummed!

Five on a Monday:
1. sleeping in!
2. taking the summer off of work! yup, that's right! I'm taking the summer off!
3. planting pretty flowers and pots.
4. work and then play. My kids will get used to this if it takes all summer!
5. Ben and Jerry's. I'm discovering all the wonderful flavors. Our favorite last night: "Chubby Hubby"-so good!