six minus three plus two

So this weekend the hormone scale swung the other direction. The boys all went to the snow. Alex and Kaleb went to winter camp at...... Lassen Pines! Yes a shout out to my Inger girl. Ryan went with two buddies for an overnighter and a day at the snow. So my husband thinks out loud, " Maybe Ashley would like to go to a friends house?" No she wouldn't . She quickly invited two of her good friends here. LOL totally not what he had planned. Being as I would be gone in the evening I am sure he was so excited. I walked in at around 10 and he was reclining on the couch, zoning. The girls had just put a batch of brownies in and from the sound of the high pitch giggling they weren't going down any time soon. I laughed and crashed out on the couch next to him. Well surprising things happen. At around 11 those girls were out cold. I guess that is what happens when you run an engine full out as fast as you can. It comes to a screeching halt.
I hope the boys are having a great time at camp. Kaleb was a little sad. O.k. he was completely a mess when they left but God is good. His counseler was none other than the amazing Gary Warner. One of the alltime best guys I have ever met. He and Darin are good friends and he is very loving. I just hope Kaleb realizes what a gem of a guy he has. Alex is fine. Alex is the same kid who went to Hawaii for a month with my parents. It was tough but I knew he would be fine .. Kaleb is his daddy's boy. If my mother-in-law reads this I am sure she is having flash backs to Darin on a bus to camp and her in the bushes. LOL That makes me laugh! Not being mean I just know once they get there they will be having fun. Oh and mom frustrating moment when I realize that yes all my boys will be warm and have plenty of clothes, I left their Bibles and notebooks at home. I panicked when I realized this and called Darin who convinced me I wasn't the worst parent ever and the kids would survive.. Well thats enough for now.

Life is fun.

Life is fun.. not just funny but fun. When you take time to look at life and people around you, you tend to laugh. My husband and I were peeping toms on our neighbors the Parker's. They were just talking out in the street but it was fun watching their gestures and facial reactions. I love where I live. My neighborhood is like a free flowing circus. Kids engaged in different activities, right now I see two boys playing basketball, several boys heely-ing and skateboarding, dad of cute girl throwing a softball with said girl, neighbors intermixing. It is amazing! Most of the time if I am dressed for public, my neighbors comment on how nice I look and I laugh to myself because they usually see me dressed in home clothes and slippers. My hair is usually in a lame pony and no make up. I don't care, they love me anyways. We have a casual standing dinner night, Taco Tuesday. Anyone is invited and we all divvy up the mixing. It is usually at our house because we are pretty casual. We usually pop over to Parker's for a tivoed show like AI or Lost. The Bettes' have movies on call. I mean we just ebb and flow so lovely. 9 or 10 at night the phone will ring with a late night offer of something fun. The kids in the summer spend the night in rotating shifts. We do head counts as we go to bed to know who we have. Moonlight walks at midnights in summer with kids in tow. We still have the occasional child meltdown and mediation is required but what would you expect with kids who spend so much time together they are more like family. Not really bragging just taking time to appreciate the blessings God has given us. That is what I am appreciating today in the here and now. May you look around and realize the fun in your life and how you are blessed.

My boy loves his daddy!

So this cute scene is what I saw while I was hard at work cleaning and cooking for my sweet family. ( insert reading/stalking my new favorite blogger, http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/.) My youngest and quite energetic son Ryan had climbed into his daddy's truck to do his reading. Mind you it is a lot quieter in there than in the house where mom is rocking out to 90's music. He is also probably noticing that his daddy has been really hard at work and focused on his new love ( creating counter tops of magnificent presentation) . So what better place to find solace and peace of heart and mind than in your daddy's truck.

Yep that profile looks vaguely familiar. I too have locked myself in my van when the darlings of my life were a little to loud and busy. I was still on premises to mind hazards but could answer the phone without saying " I can't read your mouth, whispering while I'm on the phone just frustrates both of us. Stop it and wait til I'm off. No, you can wait. Ugghh never mind, nice patient person on the line I'll have to call you back ." Any way back to the sweet sentiment in my line of vision.

Good to see him slow down and enjoy a good book like his mommy would love to do about now. Loves to my Ryan.

Post of no intent

Well I thought surely I could post without picture. It just feels boring . Most likely because I get to hear myself 24/7 in my brain. Well it is a beautiful, sunny day in California and my sweetheart is working hard away on custom, concrete countertops. They are beautiful! ( pictures to be posted later) Alas the the production part is noisy. I on the other hand am sweating it out over on the computer. I know, one would think that man could bring me something to dab my brow and dampen my thirst! Training is still in progress on that one. Really when he gets on a project it is like his mistress. ( so if he has a mistress is out there that means you are loud, dirty and causing my husband to mutter! ) :) He spends little time with me and really barely holds me accountable. Really am o.k. My sweet little ones are back in school, that means schedule and practice and the dreaded homework. I don't get it. I did homework well when I was in school, but heaven help me I hate doing homework time now. I either am bored out of my skull or haven't a clue what they are asking for. Project time is when I really shine. A few years back I had effectively shoved my son out of the way so his "CA Mission" project would just be the best, when from over my shoulder he asked " Mom, why do they assign us projects for our parents to do them?" The all knowing husband quickly left the room chuckling. I relented and allowed him to hand me pieces. Actually he had some very good ideas we implemented and we ended up working together. I got an, I mean he got an 'A'. I think that is why I take over. I like being praised. I know, not my time to be on a glory train, but truth is..... that is the beast I am. Well time to go cleaning.. yes just the thing to fill up a womans desire to be appreciated, cleaning bathrooms and washing windows! Don't know how I'll break away to blog again. This sounds quite appealing.

Ashley's 8th Birthday

My sweet daughter, Ashley, turned 8 years old and decided she wanted a spa party with her friends. We had such a blast. About ten girls showed up in pajamas. They had sparkling cider in plastic stemware with strawberries and glass charms. We had bubbling foot baths to relax in.

What is better than drinking some bubbly and soothing your tootsies. Ryan, Ashley's ten year old brother dressed up and served the girls drinks, bon bons, and chocolate covered cherries. They also munched on fruit kabobs.

Ashley, Gillian, and Aubrey relaxing and posing.

Next was facial treatment time for Ashley, Aislin, and Gillian. After scrubbing with facial cleansers, they put on simple face masks and cucumbers. We completed the treatment with mani/ pedies.

This is after a hard night of relaxing! Oh and the none slumber, slumber party! It was definitely a hit of an evening.

Anniversary Weekend

Darin and I celebrated our 13th anniversary. We crack up because we have really known each other for 20 years but married for 13. I can honestly say that man has made me so very happy and I praise God for our marriage and friendship. For our anniversary we stayed home and our children went away. It is a fun way to spend a weekend. Home where you have everything you need and in a town where you know where everything is. We sleep in, get coffee and spend Black Friday watching people and listening to crazy stories. We just enjoy each other. He is truly my best friend. I could spend hours and hours with him. Some of the things we have seen together are hilarious. Darin and I at Penny's . We ran into Jessica at the mall and Darin is cracking up that she took our picture.. later that night we went to Walmart and played Walmart bingo. Look it up! Its hilarious. We also played Spy. Where you seperate and one tries to sneak up on the other. Darin totally had me till I ditched him. We text the entire time saying if we can see one another while staying out of sight. I know random, but it is fun! We are both twelve years old at heart.

And of course the night out to dinner. Jennifer Bettes was decorating so we stopped by and she shot a picture for us. We love our extended family.

Thanksgiving

So I know that I am way behind on my blogging but that is my style. Nothing and then swamp you with blogs. We split Thanksgiving this year. My in-laws usually are back in VA this time of year but they came back early. It was so nice seeing everyone. Here is my niece Kylie and Ashley playing. The other cousin pictures were blurring due to the action content. After an early lunch we headed to our house were we met up with my family. Actually they all showed while the kids and I were down at the school playing with our neighbors. My husband was smoking the turkey so I was free to play. Our other fambors ( neighbors we love like family) the Parkers had her family up so we played wall ball. We were supposed to play football but the boys couldn't hang. ;)

Sean and his brother-in law bullying the kids in the wall ball line. Nathan figured since he was in the military he should lay down the rules. See the littlest kids, Ashley and Aislin taking them on.

Ryan was clarifying the rules to Jess because her father neglected that area of her child raising. Such a shame! Sean in the background being very mature and manly. Cause he's a manly man!

Alex and Nolan going for it! Sean and Nathan still talking smack. Good thing they are all grown up.

Finally the men having a ball. Sean and Nathan are intense! Their father-in-law was in the court to help make the correct calls. Apparently he still wanted to play football based on the ball in his hands. The rest of the day was very nice and mellow. My family came over and ate. We hung out and then it was our anniversary weekend. Starting with my parents taking the kids for the weekend that night(so sweet !). That will be next on the blog list.