Ewww!

Our bugman recently came and sprayed around our house. This is what we woke up to the next morning.

I'm pretty sure he did a good job.

The End....Phew!

The end of the school year has finally come to a close for the rest of my kids. Now I officially have 2 middle school kids. Funny how I thought that would be a LONG ways away. It's making me really feel my age now. I was thrilled to have both of these teachers for them this year.

Of course there are the mandatory end of the year award ceremonies. It's neat how they make a big deal about the fifth graders moving on. As a former 5th grade teacher, I remember how bittersweet these feelings were. You are excited for them to move on, but they are the only grade level that won't be returning to that school. Some of those kids you'll never see again.

Hailey & Mrs. Norman

Noah's 5th Grade Class

So cute, all dressed up for the awards

I don't remember what set Hailey off into this mood, but I just couldn't get her to smile...not even fake one.

Noah proud of his awards.

I Feel Dirty!

I seriously have found a new hobby/passion. This hobby of baking has been taking up half my days lately . . . . and the other half taken up by cleaning it all up.

Ever since I started making cakes, I have used a MASSIVE amount of Crisco. I told Taylor the other day that in the past 6 months I have used more Crisco than I have used our entire 14 years of marriage....and then some. Not only do many recipes call for it, but you also need to slather it all over your counter and hands in order to keep fondant from sticking to it. My whole body just feels like a mess of grease and powdered sugar when I get finish a cake.....but I LOVE IT!

This cake was an assignment for my class right now.

Hailey wanted to make a miniature version of my cake. I think she did a pretty dang good job!

For the end of the school year, the kids and I made cakes for their teachers.

Mr. Games loves golf, so Noah really wanted to duplicate my previous golf cake. This time we made some additions with my first attempt at gum paste.

Mrs. Norman loves motorcycles, but I wasn't even about to attempt one yet. I found this cute idea online of a thank you note written from the student to the teacher on notebook paper.

"Little Hailey"

Despite my lack of sleep, and finishing up at the last second, I think they turned out pretty good. I even had some people ask me where I got them from. Hahaha! What a great compliment!

Hooked Up & Burned Up

For the 4th this year, we went to some friend's house to barbecue & light some fireworks.

I'm always shocked how expensive fireworks are, so it's always difficult for me to want to spend much on them. However, this year we hit the mother lode when a friend of Taylor's seriously hooked us up with some "leftovers". I had to commemorate this even since this will probably be the first and last time this opportunity comes around. However, this picture doesn't even do it justice.

The guys would line up a bunch at once.

Usually we have to ration them in order to make it last longer.

Look at the size of this thing!

This year, there were so many "illegals" being shot off in the air all around us. There was no need to go to a fireworks show at one of the hotels with these bad boys going off.

The kids had a blast watching all the different lights showering in front of them.

Jordan just enjoyed lighting things on fire.

Hailey isn't too fond of the fireworks. Not the noise but the fear of getting burned.

I love this video. Look closely at Taylor on the left. His reaction cracks me up each time I see it.

He was still a little stunned after he was singed.

All-in-all we had a fun July 4th....and generally safe, despite a few minor burns.

My Latest Passion

In February, Noah needed to make a cake for his Blue & Gold dinner. We brainstormed until we finally came up with an idea to make one look like a cheeseburger. We got so into it that it ended up looking better than we thought it might.

That being said, it turned me on to making cakes. I'm surprised at how involved it can really be and also how messy it makes my kitchen. However, I am loving learning about all the different ways to make cakes.

My family has asked to see pictures of the cakes I've made, so I decided to stick it all in one post.

The "Cheeseburger" cake

Bumblebee cake

Hailey's 8th birthday cake.

She loves coming up with ideas and seeing if we can make them come to pass.

"Baptism Dress" for Hailey's baptism day

(I was so upset I forgot to take a picture before we cut it)

Cake I made for the cake class Hailey & I took. I loved learning flowers and basketweave.

A "Tie" for my dad for Father's Day

My brother loves golf, so I decided to make him a big golf ball cake for his birthday (front).

(back)

You can see the size better in this picture.

Happy Father's Day!!!

When I was in Young Womens, we were asked to write a list of qualities that we want for the person we marry. I've kept this list in my journal since then.

Qualities I want for my eternal companion:

1) Believe in church
2) Active in gospel
3) Gentleman & treats me well
4) Treats me as equal
5) Compassionate
6) Testimony of gospel
7) Has same goals as me
8) Taller than me!
9) Loves children
10) Will accept me for who I am & loves me for it
11) Gentle
12) Will strive to keep our family together
13) Will take me to the temple
14) Expects me to be worthy and strives to be also
15) Wants to serve a mission
16) Will support me in all decisions I make
17) Loves my family
18) Wants to be with me for eternity
19) Accepts adversity as it comes & strives to use it for good
20) Holds the priesthood

As I look over it, I realize that Taylor has everything I ever wanted in a husband (even #8!). I love how he interacts with kids. I am so grateful that he is the father of my children. Our family is so blessed that he holds the priesthood and strives to always be worthy to use it. I love you Taylor...my big, strong man! Happy Father's Day!!!

Taylor & Jordan - 1996

Taylor & Jordan - 1997

Reading to the boys - 1999

Hailey & Taylor on her blessing day - 2001

Christmas - 2003

Taylor & Benjamin - 2005

I have to also honor the father of my husband. I absolute adore my father in-law. He is always so supportive of us and welcomed me into the family from the very start. We always joke that I'm his favorite daughter in-law (although I'm the only one) but I always feel like he really means it. He's so fun to be around. I can tell he loves being a grandpa.

Bill, thank you for your love of me, my children, and always showing your love for your wife and family. Your example means a lot to me.

Family pictures - 2008

Bill & Marijke had no idea Taylor snuck up behind them.

Bill & my niece Rachel - 2009

Bill & Benjamin - 2005

My relationship with my dad has really evolved over the years. Growing up, he always seemed very serious. I realize now it was probably because he was trying to support 7 children. I am so grateful for his dedication to the gospel and support of my decisions throughout my life. My children love it when he's around. He can act just as goofy as them sometimes.

I love you Dad!!!

Dad always kisses Mom in front of us. He really showed us that it was good to show your children affection.

Easter - 2009

Dad's 60th birthday party at Taco Bell (his favorite "restaurant"). We threw him a surprise party here, and he was able to run the drive through for a bit as well.

Dad playing with Ben & Clara in the kiddie pool - 2008

Finally, I am grateful for my Grandpa Bill. Since Grandma Cherie passed away, my relationship has grown immensely with him. He has the best sense of humor (definitely where our family sarcasm originated). I am so thankful for his love of my husband and children. Even though he's their great-grandpa, my children think of him as "Grandpa". His strength through adversity, not only through my grandmother's health problems as well as his own, has shown me that I need to keep more of an eternal perspective on these physical trials.

I love you so much Grandpa!

YOU are my favorite.....and not because I'm your favorite granddaughter.

My favorite picture of Grandpa & myself

I hope all the men in my life had a relaxing Father's Day. I love you all!

Balance

Taylor asked me the other day if I thought I had balance in my life. Huh?

Oh......okay I get it. He's noticed that I can't seem to get my head out of these books to do anything around the house. I'm trying, but it's like a drug pulling me back to either stay up super late reading, go up to bed earlier than normal to read (thus ignoring my husband), or doing basically the bare minimum around the house in order to have more time to read. I told him he should be thrilled to be telling me to stop reading and not staring at the TV.....because reading's good for you right? No comment......just a stare.

So, I decided that I need to do one of two things. Either I hurry up and get through these stinkin' books, or I can just make sure he doesn't ever see me reading.

Only 800 more pages until I have a "Balanced" life again........

......not that I was anywhere close to being balanced before.

Hypocrite

I've rolled my eyes at the parties, the standing in line for the first copies of the DVD, the constant oohs and ahhs over Edward. I had no idea who Bella, Edward, Jacob, etc. were and didn't care one red cent to find out about them. I figured it was an adult version of Harry Potter, and I can't stand Harry Potter.

So I'm a big old hypocrite. A year later....maybe it's two.....I'm jumping on the bandwagon.

One day, someone offered us a copy of the movie. Fine, I thought, I'll see what all this hype is about. So we watched......Taylor pretended to snore through the first half. I was intrigued pretty much from the start and had to tell him to shut up. Then it started to pick up and suddenly there was no more snoring from the peanut gallery. I LOVED the movie. I'm pretty sure he liked it too. Can't wait for the next one.

Now I've borrowed the book from a friend and I'm glued. Poor Benjamin is getting neglected.....at least till I'm finished with the book.