Happy Father's Day~

WHAT? You heard me! Happy Father's Day Jason and Scott! It's only been 6 months since Candace and I got your gifts! I ran into a really good deal for Fast Lanes indoor Go Cart racing in May. I was able to talk Candace into getting them too so we could go together! Nothing like an expiration date to motivate you! Dec 31st! Woo! We almost did not make it!

Jason was the only one that had raced before. Although Scott was a Pro. Candace and I were the only girls in the race. We did pretty good too! I actually had a TOTAL blast! Who knew I was a Speed Demon? I kept up with those boys pretty darn good! As well as the other 8 dudes we did not know.

Candace and I are going to start a street gang.

This is going to be on our posters:

Giving my stud a Victory kiss before the race. What victory you say? Marrying me!

We are blessed~

I know you really cannot tell how blessed I am in this picture of Jason putting me in a head lock. But I am. We had a wonderful Christmas. We had so many special Santa's that made it a miracle! We are blessed beyond words~ Literally, I cannot breathe in this picture.

I don't think Graden can either! He is getting the royal tickle treatment from cousin Austin!

The girls had a great time at the Crazy Cousin Extravaganza. We all did!


This is my favorite picture of the night~

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Miracles

We all know that the Tabernacle in Prove burned down. It's a sad story. But with every storm there is a silver lining. Look at this picture and deny the power of Christ. It's impossible.

A Bon Voyage of sorts~

When Jason was out of work a few years back, I went back to work for Key Bank as a Teller. I am thankful they let me come back. It was a good job for me. Pay was good, benefits, "bank hours". But the best part was my co-workers. These 2 people are the only reasons I survived for a year and a half of working full time.

Andie is in the middle. She is a beautiful firecracker that makes me laugh. Get the two of us together and we are a comedy duo that cannot be stopped. She works for Dillards now. Runs the boobie holder department as I like to call it. That is what she does all day. Lift women's boobies (pretty or not) into bra's for fittings. I think it takes a special person to do that! She is getting ready to graduate from Boise State this January, then move to Reno with her equally as funny boyfriend Bob. (That's really his name, not an alias ;) I wish them both the best of luck. And when there are weddin' bells, I will make the trek to Reno to shake a cow bell at them. And maybe shout things at them too. All good of course. :)

Brock is the handsome boy on the left. To be honest, words cannot really describe the friendship I have with this boy. We ended up having lunch around the same time each day. And our break room was rather small. So we would end up eating and talking for the hour or so. It turns out we were both LDS. And he was born and raised in Eagle, ID. My mom's brother Johnny Patten had raised his boys there as well. So Brock's dad was childhood friends with my cousin Jeffery. It's a small world in the Valley.

Brock was my supervisor and boy did I like to push his buttons. He was the best boss I ever had at Key Bank. Always stood up for his tellers, and knew the business inside and out. We have maintained our friendship even after I left the bank. About once a month he takes me out to lunch. He even came to see me with Andie after I had Burke and had made him the cutest fleece blanket. (It's still Burke's favorite cause it have fringed edges)

Brock's older brother Brain passed away the day before Thanksgiving this year. He sent me a text and told me that night. My heart broke for their family. I am so thankful I was able to attend Brian's service. It was beautiful~

So last night we met at The Cheesecake Factory and had a Bon Voyage dinner for Andie. I am so happy to have these amazing people in my life. Andie is like my fraternal twin sister and Brock is the bother I always wished that I had.

Graden's Program

Man I love this kid. I mean like squish his bum cheeks love him. He is funny, and smart, and creative, and loud, and snugly, and looks just like me, and is smelly, and is my #1 big boy!

He had his first Christmas Program at school yesterday. It was awesome. 10 minutes of parental bliss. What can you expect from 3 year olds? He said his parts and sang his songs like the trooper that he is!

When I was ready to do his hair I asked how he wanted it. He said down in the back and pikey (spikey) in the front. So that is what he got.

Oh, and by the way. This is his "real"smile just in case you were wondering. ;)

When there was 2....

Before we were chasing 4 kids, we had 2. I've never had "just one". Or our "first". It's always been a different ball game for us. It's a funny thought. Scary actually. I am no superstar by any means. I struggle with my own day to day tasks. And to be honest, I really just wanted to be pregnant. I had not even given much thought to the "outcome" of being pregnant. (Cough, cough) And yet, in my own selfishness, the Lord sent two of his sweetest spirits to our home. TWO? You're joking right? That's what I said to the ultra sound nurse. Her reply? "Oh honey, we don't joke about things like that."

Why so sentimental you ask? Our computer crashed. Not crashed, DIED. As in the Motherboard fried. That is what my kids could say about me at the end of the day! ;) he he he!
We happened to have a very old hard drive that we have not used in 4 years or so. Well, like looking for a $20 bill in an old coat pocket, I started looking through old files. But what I found was priceless.

Old pictures of my 2. Of Nattie and Scooter. We don't even call her that any more. We did because she "scooted" first. Hence, Scooter. I sat and cried as I scrolled through the pictures of my girls. Most of the both of them. Happy, dirty faces, silly smiles and sucking thumbs. I really started missing these little girls. Once I had Graden they became "The Sissies" as we call them. They lost some of that "first born" glory.

I just wanted to share with you my girls. When it was just the 2 of them. To this day they are still best friends. They still drive each other crazy. They still suck their thumbs. They still hang onto the same, now grungy babies. They are still His sweetest spirits.

You see why now?

Book Mobile-Me Please.

I have been book mobiling. It's the bomb times 9.5. I like it way better than the library. I either hit it at Walmart on Fridays from 1-3 or Khol's on Saturday from 2-4. Did you know that the books and movies on the Book Mobile are a zillion times better than the ones in the actual library? Run an tell dat. HomeBoy.

Here are two movies that Jason and I have watched that were really good.

Henry Poole Is Here. Such a great movie. Rated PG. It's about Faith. We both really liked it. I think the little girl, Milly, is adorable. I also like me a Wilson Brother. ;)

Whip It. Drew Barrymore's directorial debut~ A DOR ABLE. In a grungy, funky roller derby kinda way! I love Juno, (Ellen Page). This is a smart movie. PG-13. It's about being more than who you are. And that boys are stupid.

I will put a disclaimer in there though. I get psychotic when I cannot figure out who somebody is in a movie. It kills me the entire time. The roller derby coach sounded like a Wilson Brother. Luke or Owen. They both sound exactly alike. Well, there is another brother named Andrew. He is the coach. Knowing that will make the movie less nerve racking if you see it.