The usual stuff

Brooks has been on OB nights for 4 weeks so he will come home early morning and sleep. He wakes up when the kids get home at 3. From 3-5:30 he literally is playing one of three things.....basketball, baseball/throwing or football.....every.day.

My boys don't know how good they have it.

I had no idea Aleeya took his phone outside two days in a row. When we discovered them I thought they were so perfect to capture their basketball games.

 Check out that defense stance......Brooks does not go lightly on the kids.

 Bronson TRYING to get around Daddy.

 Aleeya caught a few funny ones of Royce riding around on his bike too. Such a character.

 Maybe using Kellyn as a screen?

 I love the smile on Bronson's face.....that kid is happiest playing ball with his dad.

 Like I said, I was not outside witnessing this, but after looking at this picture I'm pretty sure what was going on........I'm 99.9% sure the game just ended with Brooks winning it and there he is doing his one leg up/arm pull victory dance he always does.

Winning NEVER gets old around here.

"I Guess It's a Girl Thing"

I didn't realize how complicated girls are.....because I AM one, and it's my "normal".

Then I HAVE girls and I realize how complicated and up and down they can be from the outside perspective!!!! It all actually makes me want to be more "steady"? or is there a better word?

I don't know.

Anyway, last Saturday Brooks had an obligation with the youth (12-18 yrs old) at our church that he needed to be to. He is heavily involved with the youth and multiple nights of the week involved with them. I realize how lucky I am to be married to a man who understands the importance of kid/parent time as well. He is ALWAYS taking a child or children with him to youth things whether it be the boys to a wrestling match/bball game that one of the youth are in, or Bronson to the youth's basketball practice (Brooks is their "coach") and most recently, Aleeya to the dance. (Brooks was chaperoning-ish, I guess)

Yes, a DANCE!!!! 

Last Saturday he was out of town for work and got home right before the activity. Aleeya had NO idea when dad called her over that he was about to ask her out. 

He said, "Aleeya, would you like to go on a DATE with me tonight?"

Of COURSE she squealed (she gets so excited over dates with him......not as much as I do though)

Then he said, "How about I take you to a DANCE tonight?"

The level of squealage was intense, spontaneous and filled to the brim with excitement.

I told her she may want to dress in a skirt or dress or something.

While she was gone changing one of the young men at our house waiting to go to the activity was commenting on how excited Aleeya was and how it probably gave Brooks a huge head!

Well, Aleeya comes out ALL decked out in her Cinderella dress, sparkly blue shoes, sparkly headband and topped off with the biggest smile ever.

Here they are before heading out to their dance date

(she asked me to cut off the Cinderella button on the front because she didn't want people calling her Cinderella and how she was her "OWN princess", not just Cinderella. Well, THAT'S a given! Make way for Princess Aleeya!!!!)

After they left I couldn't help but smile thinking of how Aleeya was having the time of her life, using that little elastic band on the side of her dress she she could pull it up and dance, and smiling at everyone using her ULTRA southern sounding "Yes Ma'am" that charms everyone, eating refreshments, spinning around and giggling through every dip from Daddy.

I texted Brooks and asked how it was going. This is the response, "It's been a disaster. I have pics."

I asked why because I was TRULY shocked and got this,

"I guess it's a girl thing. I don't know. You'll have to teach me about this."

Apparently she would NOT dance with Brooks (or any other young man that walked up and asked). She did NOT dance a single song......and Brooks KEPT asking! She sat on the side......sulking/pouting.....pick your word.

NO explanation. Nothing odd had happened, nothing was said to provoke this (according to Brooks). The young man at our house before was JUST as confused as Brooks was because he saw with his OWN EYES how excited she was to go!

It's a girl thing, I guess.

When they got home I asked Aleeya how the date was and she said 

"It was SO wonderful! And they had yummy food."

Me: "Was it the best date ever?"

"YES!!!!"

Baptized with Snow

When you are away from your children for almost a week, the only thing you think about is getting home and loving on them and wanting to be with them and needing to kiss them, yadda yadda.

While in the Detroit airport I kept hearing reports of a snow/ice storm coming in the south and Greenville was getting it the day after I got home.

I got home at night (seeing Kellyn's face was priceless. She was SO excited to see me, latched on and kept wiggling with excitement with her arms TIGHT around my neck) and the weather was still fine. I wasn't surprised that school was cancelled for the next day because things were supposed to start happening in the afternoon. 

Let me explain something......when there is a THREAT of a snow storm in the south EVERYONE runs to the store and buys out all the milk/eggs/bread. I forgot about that when I ventured out to Walmart and saw in everyone's carts there were those three things and a LOT of pizza. Huh.

Then there's me..........all I had was a Digital Converter for the TV. 

(Come on folks! If I'm gonna be cooped up in the house we mind as well be able to watch the Olympics!)

And cooped up, we were!!!

The snow started and later ice. The kids didn't go to school for a whole week actually, but there was only snow/ice for 4 or 5 days.

Now, I missed my kids.....I did.........and wanted to be with them.........but we were STUCK together, couldn't drive anywhere or leave......with many puddles by the door of all the wet stuff. Apparently my wish was granted to the EXTREME. ;) Brooks started working his 6 weeks of nights so when he woke up around 3 the kids would play hard with him until 5:30. (I felt bad for his co-workers, they had to live in the hospital for all those days because they couldn't drive home or get back to work. We're lucky Brooks can just walk the few blocks to work)

And of course, my kids always find ways to entertain themselves.... here is the new pillowcase down the stairs game (since we banned the sleeping bag thing after zippers kept ripping)

Playing outside in all their snow gear..........oh ......wait juuuuuuust a minute

we had borrowed a sled from the neighbors but finally Brooks and a few kids walked down to Kmart and bought a few swimming intertubes to use (it's so nice being a few blocks/walking distance from stores)

And since things got pretty intense with Dad pushing them down the hill/driveway the boys put on their helmets JUUUUUUUUUST in case.

Of course it's only fun if there is a jump built as well.

They would start up at the top and Brooks would run and push them down the hill to go off the jump faster. Here is Emerson crashing after going off the jump.

And Aleeya's crash. I promise most of the time they stayed on the tube and I DOUBLY promise we are a kind family and we love each other and would NEVER EVER want to make fun of someone after they crashed.......okay, okay, so I fibbed a little on one of those things.

And true to the southern form it started warming up by Friday to start melting the snow

 Now THESE are the kids I've raised!!!! My boys crack me up.

 I DID feel bad though because one of the school days that was cancelled was Valentines Day. That's like one of the BEST days at school as a kid!!!!!! I tried to make it was Valentines-y as I could but like I said, it's STILL not the same.

 (the kids with their loot after finding it w/ the Valentine's Day scavenger hunt....courtesy of the Vulture)

By that Sunday/President's day it was back up in the 60s and we've enjoyed the weather at that temperature and in the 70s since then. (70s?!?!?! EEEE! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!)

 I'm really really grateful and I hope spring is here now......I'm all snow-ed out. (and I'll admit, I was going a tad crazy). Fun for a few good days and then nice to have it gone and back to my bare-footed family.

The MAIN reason

As I mentioned before, the MAIN reason I flew back to Utah was to see my sister get sealed to her new husband in the temple. Here is their whole family......his/her's/and our's.

(actually this picture is missing 2 kids)

We had quite a gathering there. Here is everyone outside the temple. Obviously not everyone were able to go in for the ceremony but to come out to this huge group of supportive people was pretty neat.

(and might I add hearing "tall people in the back", NEVER gets old to me)

while there were pictures being taken I felt like I was having a childhood flashback......but it was happening that day. Here are two of my older brothers........just LOOK at their faces and the mischief on them. 

I know this look well from watching them and now seeing it in my boys.....it's the is-anyone-watching-because-I'm-about-to-do-something-that-I-could-very-well-get-in-trouble-for look.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, I was right.......throwing snowballs off the hill to see if they could make it to the road below (you see it in the distance). And guess what, they BOTH made it.......thankfully no cars were driving on it then. ;)

Obviously that little game stopped as soon as dad saw it and gave them the usual "stop that" talk......like I'm sure he gave a gazillion times over his lifetime.

There is just too much joy in this picture......and it's not even ALL CAPTURED!!!!!

The three sisters......forever and always.

We went over to a church building where my sister fed us all. It was so fun.

These two girls absolutely broke my heart though......they are the same age as Iris. My Iris is actually in the middle of these two girls in age. I look at them and all their girly, treasure-hunting and dress-up (not to mention the non-stop talking) and I think, "AHHHHH! She is SO missing out on her cousins!"

Me and three (out of the 19) of my nieces. Aren't they so pretty?!?!? They're even PRETTIER on the inside if that's possible.

I DID eat.....yes, I did.....like a lot. (I kept looking for kids to adopt to dish up their plates for them....it felt so weird). My sister is just a lot better of a cook then I am.

 I was also able to slip in a few games of Lightning/Knock-Out as well.

I didn't exactly beat all my nephews, but getting 2nd place to a really good ball player was like winning for me. (pretty sure this picture is one of my many airballs though).They must call this game Lightning because of my lightning-fast skills...........or not.

I really really REALLY love my siblings!!!! Here is 5 of us.......we're missing 3 brothers.

Gosh, I grew up with the best family.

After that, I drove home with my sister through Huntington Canyon.....ya know, the same canyon that was so snowy on the way THERE that they had driven into a snowbank......THAT one. It was insane how much snow, wind, etc there was.

It was cool to see all the elk though after we got out of the canyon.

I had fun meeting my new brother-in-law's 6 kids for the first time.....and quickly learned that they are better card players then I am. In my defense, I had just learned the game "Trash" though, so that justifies all the losses, right? Never mind I kept losing to the 9 and 12 year old.

Speaking of losing, apparently Blackjack isn't my game either. I was the first one out.....I can't believe I lost all ten pennies!!! (that were my sister's anyway)

I made a HECK of a dealer though after that

The next day I had to leave........good-byes really really stink.

One of my "new" nieces.

 Here is Toni.......who I think is a mini-Aleeya.

 And of course, lots of love from my sis......but it just kept feeling like there was something coming between us when we would hug. I can't QUITE put my finger on it.....

 Then a few hour drive and I got to hug one of my favorite men......my father-in-law. And it's not just because I was jealous of his velour jumpsuit either (even though I was), I would've hugged him anyway. He was so cute having my bed all heated up with 2 electric blankets.

It was a quick "hi", now-go-to-bed and early morning to the airport (which my mother-in-law provided the most wonderful smoothie and best bread ever for), but it was still nice to see them. I didn't even get to see all my family/siblings there in Utah (on both sides of the family), and that really stinks.

However it was still such a wonderful wonderful trip.

One of my highlights was getting texts from Brooks back home about the kids. The one about thinking of selling Royce on Craigslist probably made me laugh the hardest. I would always tell people he runs the house better then I do anyway.....one reason being he doesn't get winded everytime going up the stairs like I do. ;) He had the lunches packed, field trips paid for, scriptures read, laundry done and kids doing chores like crazy. In fact, Saturday I talked to Emerson and asked how he was doing and he said, "Not so good......dad made me work like HALF THE DAY!" (he's my drama king....then again, I believe Brooks put them to work too) The next day I got a text saying, "We made it to church on time. Kellyn looks like a boy and Royce is wearing jeans, but we made it." Even though he IS superman/supermom/superdad..........well.........um..........doing girls' hair is just not his thing.

I had NO idea how boy-ish she looked until I had pictures to prove it..........

Yes, Brooks actually slicked Kellyn's hair back for church......of course it dried on the way there and parted in the middle with the look of I-just-hung-my-head-out-the-window-on-the-way-here!

I got a few texts from friends at church laughing at my girls' hair......and it made me feel SOMEWHAT needed. However I GUARANTEE they were probably more quiet and well-behaved with dad there then when it's just me!!!!!

SURPRISE

Back in December my husband said he is going to make it happen that I fly home to Utah BY MYSELF. (He's the best). Why now? Well, there were two reasons, the first being that my sister was going to be sealed to her husband in the temple, and my parents had just gotten home from their 2 year mission and it obviously would be great to see them.

So off I went ........by myself. 

Did I mention no one came with me?

My awesome sis picked me up from the airport and the next morning I drove the hour to get to my parent's home. The best part? They had NO idea I was flying to Utah, let alone show up on their doorstep!!!

So there I was....on their doorstep....with camera in hand ready for them to open the door.........

and it took forever. 

I HEARD voices so I knew they were home!!!!

Then it opened and look how cute and surprised my dad was!!!!

 And there is my mom at the top of the stairs poking her head out her bedroom door.

 (I guess the reason they took so long was because they were deciding which one was MORE presentable to answer this mysterious knock on their front door. haha)

This picture just is so.......dad.

 I wanted to get my bag from the car but he insisted he get it. I told him I was fine and started out and he stopped me. You have to understand, my dad NEVER let us walk on the snow on the sidewalk/driveway before he got to shovel it because it packed it down making it more hard to shovel. In order for dad to GET my bag, he had to shovel a path to the car.

Mom and I were more then happy to stay inside and make up a salad.....let me re-phrase that.....I was more then happy to stay inside and watch MOM make up a salad. Have I ever mentioned my mom makes the best salads? For reals. No one beats this Brazilian salad I love so much.

I even got to see my little brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why all the exclamation points? Well, because I haven't seen this rascal in 6.5 years!!!! Crazy, I know. I was number 7 in my family and he is the baby....number 8. We grew up doing most everything together and it's crazy it has been that long. Oh, and apologies for the picture.........my kids say I look freaky in it. But ANYONE would be if you hadn't seen your sibling for that long, right?

Mom and Dad even took me to the movie theater (Saving Mr. Banks) the night before. Even though it started at 9:45 (11:45 my time) I was wide awake with the "ah"-factor of going to a movie again....it's been well over a year. It's okay staying up that late though because ya know what? When you are traveling alone you CAN sleep in. And sleep in, I did.

I love it how my parents and I can go to the temple and it takes 20 minutes to get there (as opposed to 2 hours I have to drive here). It was neat to go back to the place I was married in. We had to take a picture together because we matched.

Then Mom and I headed over to my brother's house to see them. 

 Although it was a short 45 minute stop it is ALWAYS nice to see my sweet nieces and nephews!!!!

 And of COURSE my brother. Although it may LOOK like he's taller in the below picture, he's really not. We are indeed the same height......just wanted to make that clear. ;)

That night I drove back down to my sister's house to stay a few days. Literally each house I stayed at I was spoiled.....like royalty spoiled. This was my most consistent view at this house though.......Vivian sitting across from me, playing Golf. Oddly enough, she beat me more then I beat her!!!! (And I am NOT one to just let ANYONE win.....this girl has skills)

 My nieces (and their parents.....let's be honest) treated me to a yogurt date too

and then some mean games on the xbox kinect/sports games.

Normally I would've been taking a gazillion pictures, but my luggage didn't make it when I did and by the time my camera got there the screen was all messed up. So darn. But I'm kinda glad me running in the track game (while holding my belly up) and boxing my niece wasn't recorded. (couldn't move my arms in the next day) My kids probably would've disowned me after witnessing those moments.

Basketball

Bronson and Camden played together at the YMCA for basketball this year and it ended 2 weeks ago. Bummer. 

Aren't they cute?

We thought Brooks was going to be coaching (he didn't) so we had Camden play up in the 10-11 year old league......Camden is 9......and skinny......and white. Which made him stick out all the more. But he really made his presence known towards the end of the season especially.

Let me explain.....Camden is fearless and the first game he body-checked a few people then told us after he "couldn't BELIEVE" they called 4 fouls on him!!! (He may have been playing for a total of 5 minutes that game?)

BUT, towards the end of the season he was a defensive champ. I called him "The Gnat".

He really was fearless. So in this foulshot (blurry) picture you can see Camden on the side of the key next to someone who probably already went through puberty. 

 There were a few times Camden was guarding that guy and he was The Gnat.....the little thing that was constantly in that guy's face just a driving him nuts. It was hilarious.

Sorry, all these pictures are blurry but the bleachers are up on the next level and I took them with a phone. But here Camden is going after a rebound with Bronson getting the other team guy out of the way.

 Bronson, not surprisingly, was usually playing most of the game and ended up getting most of his steals just waiting for the other team to cross the half court line. Papi lives for basketball.

 And JUST in case you don't know where he is......the neon shirt helps to locate him. ;)

We don't LOVE the YMCA league just because the level of playing isn't as challenging and sometimes the teams are too big but can I just tell you, I LOVE how I can take Iris, Royce and Kellyn to their childcare (since we are members there) and go downstairs and watch the game with the older kids. It's almost like I get to watch a whole game or something........totally new feeling for me.

My Gems

I found these on my camera from this month. 

I LOVE it when I find gems like these.

Here is Kellyn BEFORE her shots in January

(she wasn't so happy AFTER)

I just love her little skinny legs in leggings! 

She's my 50% girl all the way. 50% in weight, height, head, yadda yadda. 

But OH! Look at all my girls together!!!!!!! Soon to be four....crazy.

 And what would a household of cute little girls be w/o a matching group of guapo boys?!?!