Taming the Insanity

Wordle . . .

This was fun.  I saw this on another blog and thought I'd do one.  I love the big words . . . girls . . . football . . . I also seriously love that seriously is in there.  Fabulous!!

Time Flies . . .

I can't believe it is already September . . . where has the time gone!  And, why do I always say that??

Football is in full swing.  Saturdays are LONG . . . but the girls are loving it.  They look great this year - the uniforms are adorable and the girls are really picking things up and look fabulous.  It is fun to watch how much the girls have progressed over the years.  Want to see how cute they are this year??  I knew it!

 

   

 

 

Seriously - how cute are they??

I'd like to tell you about all the fun and fabulous stuff we are doing - but, it is football season.  Really all we do is football and cheer . . . thank goodness we love it!

". . . even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest."  Exodus 34:21 

Fun on the 4th of July . . .

Crazy days of summer . . .

They are here!  It is hard for me to believe that we are only a month away from cheer and school both starting.  Where has the summer gone?? 

Things here are as busy as ever.  I started a boot camp class this week . . . every muscle hurts . . . and I mean HURTS!!  But, it feels good to hurt like this, in a sad and sick way.  LOL  It means I am accomplishing something . . . something I really want. 

We're also gearing up for VBS for the next two weeks.  I have to confess . . . I haven't been good in the planning department this year.  Things have been so busy . . . but I am confident that things will come together . . . God is good!  Our theme is super cute . . . luau!!!

We also are gearing up for our vacation!!!  YAY!!!!!  I can not wait!  We are meeting Jeff's sister and her super cute and fabulous kiddos on the Oregon coast for 5 nights!!!  I am so looking forward to it.  We've rented a house that is close to the beach . . . and our plans are to just hang out and enjoy our time off!!  We got to hang out for a day or two last year and had so much fun.  I am definitely looking forward to this!  Here are some fun pictures from our trip last year!

Beautiful sunset

Cute cousins

Cute sisters

I am so looking forward to this trip!!!

We also have cheer-a-thon coming up - and planning and getting ready for our season . . . lots of work ahead of us . . . but our new uniforms are absolutley AMAZING!!!  I can't wait to see all the girls ready for the game!

Cute cute cute!!!

Summer . . .

It's here.  And I love it!!!  I love having the girls home.  I love staying up late watching a movie with them.  I love coming home to their creative little adventures (as long as they aren't too messy!!).  I love camping and doing fun family stuff.  I just love it.

This year, we have an added element of "love" for our summer fun!

A POOL!!!!!  Jeff calls it a redneck pool, but it is a pool none the less!!!  It is 15' wide and 30' long and pure heaven!!  The girls have been in it almost every day - even when the water was freezing!!  They assured me with their blue little lips that they were fine!!  LOL 

To go with the pool, we also had concrete poured.  And not just a little.  QUITE A LOT!  It too is super fabulous and beautiful!  I never thought I would be so in love with concrete!  It is gorgeous!!

Here they are pouring and making the lines.  I really really really really wanted stamped concrete . . . but, someone who will remain nameless said NO!!  Something about being too much money or some such nonsense!  <SIGH>  So, our good friend (who's company did the concrete) came over and helped us figure it all out and suggested the lines for character.  I love love love it!!  Here is a picture of our big patio . . . but the concrete wraps around the whole house and can I just tell you . . . I LOVE IT!!!

Now we just need to do something about all this dirt!!!!!

We have such a busy weekend ahead . . . we have our huge fundraiser dinner for the Stampede tomorrow night . . . RaeAnna is in a play this weekend (yes, opening night is the SAME night as the dinner) . . . we are shooting a video for our cheerleaders (no, I won't be in it, don't worry) . . . I also have to get the two big girls ready for camp . . . oh!  and get VBS planned!!  I just need a few more hours in each day.   

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34

Remembering . . .

He has been on my mind all week.  It has been a little over a year since we lost my dad (1 year, 3 1/2 months).  While I think of him almost every day, it doesn't usually hit me like it has this week.  I think maybe with this being the week of Easter . . . it just reminded me that he isn't here anymore.  He loved Easter.  He loved HUGE celebrations (hmm . . . maybe that is where I got it from) . . . he loved family . . . he loved his grandchildren . . . he loved everything about this time of year.  When I was little, every year we would go to my Tio Juan's ranch.  They would mow down a pasture and we would have a HUGE Easter egg hunt . . . followed by a HUGE celebration, with food, family and just fun.  We all looked forward to it every year.  It was a time we saw many family memebers we didn't see often.  It was a time of rememberance and celebration. 

This time of year is also the start of trout season and my dad LOVED to fish.  He loved everything about the outdoors . . . which he passed on to his children.  We even moved far away from family so we could be closer to the mountains . . . he was passionate about the outdoors. 

I'm so thankful for the father God gave me.  While we didn't always agree . . . he always loved me with everything he had.  And while I wished sometimes he did some things differently . . . he made me the woman I am today.  He taught me to love with everything I have . . . even when it hurts to.  And when I get knocked down . . . he showed me how to get back up.  He taught me the important things in life . . . to love God with all my heart . . . family is everything . . . kindness . . . how to bait a hook . . . to appreciate beauty in whatever form it comes in . . . that people can be hard and mean, but love them anyways . . . that there is nothing wrong with passion for life . . . to be proud of my country and know that we are only free because of the brave . . . be proud of where we come from and who we are . . .

These are the things about him I never want to forget . . . and the things I most want my girls to know about him:

• He loved the Lord . . . he even went to seminary when he was young . . . many of his childhood friends called him Preacher . . .

• He loved us . . . really loved us
• He loved his grandchildren . . . they brought out the kid in him and made him happy, especially when he struggled with that

He served our country . . . and was proud to do so

I miss you dad.  A lot.  Thank you for everything . . . for making me who I am today . . . for loving me, espeically when I made it hard on you . . . for loving my children with everything you had . . . for teaching me to be strong and independent . . . but mostly, for teaching me to be forgiving (which I'm still learning) and showing me how to love. 

Happy Resurrection Day!

Easter blessings from our family to yours.  I hope that today has a special meaning for you . . . more than chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and egg hunts . . . I pray that you truly know your Creator . . . your Savior . . . the Great I Am . . . the greatest Conqueror of all . . . and if you don't . . . my prayer is that one day you will.  His love, grace, mercy and restoration are unending . . . and always amazing.

Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Easter from all of us!

Busy . . . Busy . . . Busy . . .

  Anyone who knows us knows . . . we are a busy family!!  Too busy sometimes.  This past week has been no exception.  We have been going Cookie Crazy here!!  We have been pimpin' cookies like crazy in front of Save Mart!  Here are some pics of my little cookie monsters!

This is RaeAnna and her best friend Jessica at our first ever cookie shop!!

And here is super cuteness - she is a cookie selling machine!  How can you say no to this adorable chunky face!?!?!

Both girls have done so well!!  RaeAnna is going for 500 boxes and Erika is trying for 350!  I'm hoping with our extra sales this week, they will make it!!

Aside from cookie mania, the girls were part of Missoula Children's Theater's production of Robinson Crusoe last week.  This is the second year we've had MCT and they are just so awesome!  They come in on Monday, hold auditions, cast that day, and practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday they have a dress rehearsal and a performance for the school and then Saturday they have two performances.  It is amazing what a great job they do!  It is really fun for the kids.  Both years the girls have been cast and they loved it!  Here are some pics of my little thespians!

Erika was a chameleon and RaeAnna was part of the Frowny Face Tribe.  They had so much fun!

This picture cracks me up . . . this is how they usually are!!!  Erika is mad RaeAnna is trying to put her arms around her.  <sigh>  Sisterly love . . .

And here is Erika, at Cold Stone after.  My mom and Eddie came and took us out for treats after the performance . . . she conned Grammie into a waffle cone . . . and a larger size!

This week is proving to be just as crazy!  Someone, teach me to say NO!!  LOL

Hot hair . . .

So . . . for the last two days . . . I have been not feeling well.  I have been incredibly grumpy (not that I think anyone has noticed, ha ha) and yesterday I woke up with a migraine . . . it stayed with me all day.  The 4 Excedrin Migraines and 6 Diet Pepsis helped take the edge off . . . but it stayed all day.

Today, I woke up and felt SO much better!!  And, my hair tunred out fabulous!!  That doesn't happen very often!

Actually . . .  it doesn't happen very often that I take pictures of myself. 

Um . . . don't mind the messy counter behind me.

Serious temptation . . .

This is my dining room right now . . .

 

Boxes and boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  We need to deliver these . . . quick!!

But, I love what they say on the sides of them . . .

and

and

Shew!!  I feel so much better about comsuming 7000 calories worth of Carmel de Lites and Thanks-A-Lots!! 

For Christmas the girls got Jeff tickets to the a local hockey team, the Thunder.  They love going so he decided to take us all as a family - he usually goes just him and one of the girls.  Well, there weren't any good fights - but we had so much fun!! 

Here is Erika while we were waiting in line - I'm not sure what I love more - the Thunder hair or the motorcycle jacket!! 

Me & super fan!

Me & the other ultimate fan . . .

So much fun!!  I'm trying to convince Jeff we need season tickets next year!! 

I'm off to sort boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes of cookies!!