Let's BUMP it UP!

Two years ago, I thought my life was over! I know....dramatic, but that is truly how I felt.

We were approaching a move from one of the most beautiful places in the country to podunk-ville and life felt very blah!

The husband was re-starting school and that 2-year time frame seemed VERY long and VERY far, far away.

However, (almost) 2 years later so much has changed and we have so much to look forward to!

After 5 semesters we are excited and thrilled that Devon will be graduating the end of this month with his BFA in Graphic Design...

Yay!

Taylor will be getting baptized the same week of graduation...

Yay!

And, last, but not least...I am PREGNANT! (Thus, the lack of blogging. I am 13.5 weeks and almost through this first trimester) I know...4 kids, wow! We are super excited and can't wait to meet this little one in October!

Yay!

My mom would always say..."When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I guess she was right and I am so excited to finally get to taste that lemonade!

{{As a funny side note, we recently were asked to make a vinyl wall lettering sign that said 'when life gives you limes, make margaritas' So maybe for graduation we'll be making VIRGIN margaritas...ha ha}}

Luke turns 6!!!

It's hard to believe that 6 years ago, today, I was lying in a hospital bed awaiting the delivery of this sweet little boy. I remember the night before he was born, tucking Taylor into bed and singing to her for the last time, as an only child, and feeling unsure about having two kids and wondering if I would love him as much as I loved her. From the moment he was born, I was in love! Luke has brought so much joy into our home. He is kind, thoughtful, creative, silly, and fun! He loves to play with his legos and creates AMAZING airplanes and ships from his mind. He loves to talk, ask questions, and play Star Wars Wii with his brother. It has been such an amazing year watching him learn how to read, growing up and riding the bus to school, and making new friends. Once you are Lukes friend, you are a friend for life! He keeps his Grandma entertained by all of his creative energy and list of things to do...he is always on the go! His favorite things to eat are Spaghettios, Panda Express, and Ice Cream. Luke, we love you so much and we're so glad it's your birthday! Happy Birthday, Bud!

10 years ago, on January 15th, I married this adorable guy! Life now is so different, yet so full.

Back then it only took me an hour and a half to wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry. Now, I'm lucky if I get it all washed, folded AND put away in the same day.

What was once a bedroom for 2, is now often shared with one extra small one in-between and another one who arrived during the middle of the night to sleep on the floor.

Mornings are filled with laughter, chocolate milks, the sound of toys clanking, and morning cartoons.

Driving in the car consists of buckling seat belts and tons of questions from the back.

A date night now costs $20+ or more than it used to, but now has more meaning and need than it did before.

Although all of these things have changed, for the better, our love for one another has grown. You are still my best friend. The one I still want to talk to about my day, good or bad. The one I still kiss last goodnight. The one who will watch GLEE episodes with me on our Anniversary. Thank you for the best 10 years of my life!

The Story Behind the Picture

Imagine being 5-years old, building Lego Star Wars Battleships, playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii, watching Luke Skywalker discover his father is Darth Vader over and over again, and re-enacting Jedi Knight light saber fight scenes with your 3-year old brother.

Then, one day, your Graphic Design father realizes he has the greatest idea in the world...design a Star Wars family Christmas card. All you can think is...COOL!!!

Now you just have to convince mom...hmmm...

Mom is very skeptical about the idea and not sure if it is "Christmas" appropriate, but is eventually convinced when dad tells her he will do the light saber colors in red and green.

You had always wondered what it would be like to live in space, fight with a real glowing light saber, and be friends with a talking robot.

Once the card is finished, you spend hours looking at the card and imagining your life as a real Jedi Knight.

Mom still can't believe we sent them out to our friends and family, for real, but deep down thinks it's pretty cool too!

You have the coolest dad in the entire world!

Blogging Back To Life

About 4 months ago, I sat down at the computer to post about my awesome Edward-Inspired, 30-Something Birthday Party (courtesy of my adorable hubby). I got distracted, returned to post, and discovered my picture cartridge was missing! It had been sitting right next to the computer and when I returned, it was gone! I figured it would show up and I would post about my birthday when it did. However, it has never re-appeared! So, all I have to show for my birthday are these two pictures taken from my cell phone.

It's really a bummer! You'll have to imagine me decked out and dressed for the 80's in hot pink leopard pants, crimped hair, giant hoop earrings, blue eye shadow, netted gloves, and a shirt that says "Like Fer Shur!"
Besides Edward, we had other special visitors for the occasion....Michael and Anne! I'm sure you can imagine Michael's lovely eye rolls and sarcastic chuckles as we clicked pictures of me next to Edward, listened to the New Moon soundtrack, and ate my delicious Edward cake (courtesy of my wonderful hubby...a.k.a, Devon) and yes, it was delicious!!

Michael enjoys teasing me about my little obsession with the Twilight books. With this in mind, a few weeks ago my cousin Christie posted about a sweet video on YouTube about wives and their obsession with Twilight. Immediately, Michael texted me and asked me if I had read her blog for the day or not. I asked why and he said "because it is soooo you." Automatically I was intrigued and went to view her blog, watched the video, and laughed so hard!

Watching this video made me realize that I needed to get back to blogging. More over, I needed to post about my awesome Edward-Inspired 30-Something Birthday party and share this video with all of you Twilight Junkies too!

So, here's to great birthdays, being 30-something, and enjoying fun little thrills in life!!!

Blake the Caveman!

Being the mother of two boys is ALWAYS exciting! There is definitely never a dull moment around our house...

From wrestling to mud pies, crossing streams in the toilet to nekkid time, spitting to playing with electricity, and much, much more...I thought there were no surprises left...I was wrong!

Yesterday, Grandma offered to watch the kids while I taught my 3rd class at the gym.

When I arrived home she approached me with a funny grin on her face and told me she had to tell me something.

That evening, as she was walking past the front-entry way, she noticed a little Blakey with his pants down peeing in her in-door tree.

Yep! Not the toilet, the tree!!!

I don't know what his obsession is with peeing on mother-nature, but just the other day he started pulling his pants down, outside the post office, to pee on the grass...luckily, I caught him in time and we ran to the restroom.

Evidently, after he finished relieving himself...Grandma kindly sat him down and discussed with him where we do and don't pee and the only times we are allowed to pee on mother-nature.

I'm sure his little brain was just laughing at her as she spoke to him and immediately began scheming plans for his next target...ha ha!

Like I said, never a dull moment around here!

2 Adults, 3 Kids, + 1...

A few weeks ago we took the kids to the fair. It was probably one of the grimiest and creepiest fairs I have ever been too. Most of the carnival workers looked like they had spent most of their life strung out on Meth!

In their most husky voices, they would shout out invitations to play "throw the dart at the balloon" or "throw the ping pong ball in the fish bowl" and then give you the best toothless grin you can imagine!

Anyway.

We decided to let the kids take a couple of shots at throwing the ping pong ball in the fish bowl. After 50 throws, one ball finally landed in the bowl and our prize was 3 Gold Fish...yippee!!

You would have thought the gold fish were actual GOLD...that's how excited the kids were. Devon and I just looked at each other, like, "oh great," now what?

We rushed our 3 fish home and dumped them in a fish bowl (thanks to Grandma).

The next morning...one fish was dead...the tears over this poor fish were excruciating!

The kids blamed us for not having any food to feed them and made us promise to buy some food at Wal-Mart (stupid fish!)

We bought some food and a air thingy for the tank.

Kids were happy, 2 fish were still alive...all was good!

The next morning...

"Mom, my fish is sleeping with only one eye open and we can't find the other fish..."

As I approached the bowl, I noticed that the fish was floating strangely in the water and realized it, too, was dead.

As I announced it was dead, tears began to flood from Taylors face..."oh, no, poor fishy."

I was extremely confused when I couldn't find the other fish, but figured I would let Devon figure that one out later.

Moments later, Luke shouts "I found the other fish...it's on the floor...and IT'S dead!"

More tears!!!

All 3 fish died. Stupid Fair. Stupid Fish!

So. Now we have a new fish. A lazy, blue, beta (named Feather) who is, 2 weeks later, still alive. Luke comments every morning how he can't believe our fish is still alive.

I can't either!