Princess Pictures are back!!

These are a few of the pictures taken at the Prince/Princess Party! When the orders all came in, of coarse, I had to take a peek at them all! All of the babies pictures turned out awesome!! Thanks Amy for doing such a great job...and being so patient with the 8 little ones!! Anyone interested in booking an appointment with Amy go to her link on my blog list below -Bits of Life Photography

...KIDS will be KIDS!...

We really are enjoying the summer! We keep busy with friends, swimming, & baseball most of the time but, this is how the kids have been caught entertaining themselves when mom isn't looking:

Jacob has made yet another one of his famous sandwich's: peanut butter, hot dog, cheese, mayo, jelly, ketchup, potatoe chip sandwich!! Yummy!


HOLY CRAP! THAT'S A HUGE BOOGER!! These are the kind that make you jump out of your skin while your heart skips a beat! It's when they're just 'free floatin' like this-ya know,'out in the open', that you kinda freak out! You're frantically looking around for tissue or something other than yourself, to wipe it on! (Well, that is, unless you're a psyco mom like me who makes the kid wear it until mom can snap a picture of it for the family blog!)-And don't you just love it when the baby realizes it's there (crossing her eyes b/c it's so big she can see it on the end of her nose!) and then finally grabs it and plays with that for entertainment!!



I couldn't find Brant one late afternoon until I walked by this box that the kids had been playing with earlier. All of our kids have always been good sleepers... SO....IS BRANT REALLY SLEEPING?

Let the Taste Testing Begin!!

OK- so this year we started a new Father's Day Tradition-Ice Cream Taste Testing!! I bought ten different flavors of the creamy, fattening stuff and covered each container with construction paper. I numbered each container, put a spoon in each one and handed out a piece of paper with 1-10 on it to each 'participant'. We had THE MOST FUN! We all loved sitting together at the table, eating all of the different ice creams! The only thing I did feel bad about is that I didn't get plain vanilla for Jacob! Marty loves Dulce and Brant loves anything with Chocolate or chips or cookie dough-he's our ice cream freak! Jacob tried most of the flavors but he was looking for the vanilla. thankfully we did have a little bit (in a carton in the frig).



Chocolate, banana split, choco chip cookie dough, choco chip mint, cherry swirl, dulce de leche, malt ball explosion (I was very excited about this one b/c I LOVE MALT BALLS--little disappointing b/c the choco i.c. taste a little like coffee)and a few others were the flavors, there were ten all together.



Marty found his favorite pretty fast!!-Dulce de leche!


Brant and Marty were on a MISSION!! They "mint" business!


Jacob was so excited! He kept saying, "What?!! We can just eat all of the ice cream? -Whatever we want?! Yah hoo!"


Rissa was getting really mad that I just gave her a bite here and there, so I finally just handed her a spoon and carton!...she didn't mind that too much!


-Some flavors tasted better than others!!


In the end it was Brant who took first place...with Marty, Jacob and Rissa trailing so closely behind!! I didn't compete but I sure enjoyed the tasting part of it, too!!


Brant's room door will now be adorned with the "Ice Cream Champion" award for ONE YEAR (until next father' day)!! He also won $5.00 in coins ($1 in pennies, $1 in nickles, in dimes, ..quarters and one dollar bill). Good job Brant!!

Things we love about the DAD's in OUR life...

We love that dad can bring back such beautiful pictures from golf courses...while mommy plays referee at home with the boys!


We always loved seeing Grampa Joyner! He was always so excited to see the kids! He esp couldn't wait to get his hands on the new born grand babies!!!

We LOVE Peepa's "corny jokes"!!

Marty has always been the best at getting our kids to sleep-esp when we're 'out & about' (and not near a crib!) I have always loved watching him with our kids, esp when they were infants! I appreciate his patience...something I don't have much of!


G'pa always talked so kindly to everyone. He had a tenderness and kindness about him that is not found in many people. He was also a supportive father with lots of wisdom.




Things we love about Papa: he loves stinky feet, each grandchild of his is an..." amazing child!", he's real good at pulling teeth ("let me see how wiggly that tooth is..") and money grows on his money tree in the back yard, so he always has money on him!!!


Dad makes us laugh...


...and we love our one-on-one time with him!

We love it when Peepa goes to sleep sitting up b/c he's like a pose able doll!...Look--here we dressed him up like grandpa Edwards...hat on the head, holding a cup full of something and sleeping with his head up! If we were to add sound affects it would be the loudest snore you can imagine!





Dad, Rissa loves you!



...Brant loves you!

...Jacob loves you!


...AND SO DOES MOM!!

Happy Fathers Day Marty, Peepa, Grandpa (we miss you) and Papa! We hope your day is filled with fun, love and family!

Where are all of these animals coming from?

We have an EWOK staying with us for a week or so! He's quite the cute, smuggly little thing, and he has NO PROBLEM standing up to Max! I haven't been able to get him photographed when he does this, but he will stand on his hind legs, put his front paws up on Max's shoulder and bark at him! The kids love it! Our friends, the Galloways are in NC right now so we're dog sitting. They have raised Peanut very well! He scratches on the backdoor when he needs out and he sleeps through the night...thanks Peanut for being such a good little EWOK! We love you!


Another critter that we find roaming around the house, looking for scraps is this little Rissa-coon! She's the cutest of them all and is definately a keeper!


With summer here, I have spotted many various creatures like this around the house! Jacob, in his spare time, has been busy with his clay, making all kinds of things!! This is his Alien Snail. He wanted me to put this one on here. Before too long I'll post several so that you can see his masterpieces!

Brant goes to 'Eye Doc'

Brant's appointment with the Eye Specialist was yesterday. All-in-all the results were good. I'm glad that we finally found a practice that knows how to work with kids! I think Brant was glad too! He got to watch a movie on the flat screen and play XBOX while he waited for his eyes to dilate!

His appntmt was at 8:00am so we left the house by 7:00am to allow for traffic b/c I didn't know what to expect. We got there half an hour early so we stopped at McD's to get Brant's favorite, a southern style chicken biscuit with cheese!!

Brant did great with the doc! He was really, really not wanting to have to get his eye's dilated, so I told him that "...if they have to dilate your eyes, I'll get you a MCFLurry", his fav dessert (-and yes, I realize that both of his "favs" are from the most fattening place in the universe, but, I DO limit his consumption of these items!! He doesn't get it too often!)-so all of the sudden he was hoping for, and then excited when they put the drops in his eyes!! Some times a little bribery is so worth it to us mom's!


Later in the afternoon, Allyson and I swam with the kids and then we made these homemade Twinkie's from Top Secret Recipes! They didn't taste exactly like a twinkie but boy were they yummy!!!

We're going to miss you, Bangarts!!

Brea, Lindsay and I went to eat at our favorite Mexican Restaraunt, Abuelos! Yum! I was so thankful that we all could go out b/c they are moving to Indiana this week for three years, for Keith to finish "Pediatry school". A few weeks ago there was a farewell party for them, but we missed it b/c we were in Utah with Marty's family, so I was so glad to get to smooch and love on (that stinkin cute!!!) little Hannah and see Lindsay b/f they left! Bangarts, you'll be MISSED!! We love ya and we'll see you when the group of us take that road trip to come visit!!

Rissa, me, Lindsey & Hannah @ Abuelos...ready to eat the Chili con Queso dip & Durango Burrito!

WHEN IS the waiter going to bring me my food?!...I hope he realizes that I'm taking a penny off of his tip, for every minute that I have to wait!


Say, "Chili con Queso!!" ...never mind, we already ate all of that! Just say, "CHEESE"!!

"Lindsay, you better give me a kissy or I'm gonna hit you over the head with my spoon!" Rissa loves getting kisses from Lindsey!



Hannah: "Do ya think they saw us? We're busted! They're gonna put us in the slammer, I just know it!"
Rissa: "No, no...they didn't see a thing, they're just taking pictures AGAIN!... act normal!...just prtend like you're pooping, they'll never suspect us!"

Brea, Hannah & Lindsay, Tiff & Rissa

I've been Tagged!

5 things on my list of things to do today:
1. Go to Stake Conference.
2 Take a nap.
3. Cook dinner at some point.
4. Family B.of M reading.
5. Go to bed before midnight.

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Extra crisp Gala apple!
2. Peanut butter chocolate chip granola bar.
3. Cherries!
4. Anything with chocolate in it!
5. Bowl of cereal.

5 things I would do if I suddenly became a billionaire:
1. Pay off all debt
2. Put a lot of money in savings & invest some
3. Buy Marty a new car and buy myself an extra car - Jeep Wrangler
4. Share some with family members
5. Take a trip to Argentina, Hawaii & Austrailia

5 places I've lived:
1. Columbia, SC (several different locations throughout my life)
2. Ephriam, Ut
3. Litchfield Park, AZ
4.
5.

5 jobs I've held:
1. McDonalds flipping burgers (only for two months)
2. Harbison Recreation Center (w/kids-after school & summer camp)
3. SC Student Loan Corp
4. La Petite
5. Last but not least a MOMMY

5 things people don't know about me:
1. I have struggled with my weight my whole life...oh, wait!...that's no secret-everyone knows that!
2. I am in love with Jack Sparrow!
3. For as long as I can remember, I've always had this desire to jump up as high as I can, stick my feet directly in front of me and land directly on my butt! Some of my girlfriends from SC wanted to help fulfill this dream, so at the "going away sleepover" that they gave me b/f we moved out here, they covered the living room floor with couch cushions. It didn't totally get rid of this desire, but it was quite fulfilling, it must say!
4. I am also in love with...EDWARD (Twighlight readers understand)!!
5. I tend to use a lot of hairspray b/c of my BALD SPOT! When I was in my mother's womb, I rubbed my head on her pelvic bone, causing a huge lump to form on the top of my head (the reason mom always put hats on me as an infant). When I was three years old, the man that lived next to my Nana (Dr. ? ) did plastic surgery to remove it, leaving a scar (bald spot) in it's place.
PS--Marty is fully aware of Jack & Edward and has come to terms with it! He knows that he's the #1 man in my life!!

I now TAG Jenny, Cara, Denise, Darla & Kathee

Nothing NEW to post, lots to be THANKFUL for!

1-I'M THANKFUL FOR...
...hairspray...

...and water...

...and Shampoo!


2-I'M THANKFUL FOR SIBLINGSMy brothers and Marty

Marty and his brothers and sisters


3-I'M THANKFUL FOR MY GRANDMOTHERS!
Marissa (can anybody say, "nap time"?), me, my dad and his mother, Ruth. I have always looked up to my grandma! She so willingly and lovingly took care of my grandpa for so many years while he was ill! When I think of grandma, I think of her soft, shy voice and expressions. I think of their famous spaghetti! I think of King Vitamin Cereal and cold, cold milk that she would make from milk powder (never fancied it too much, but we'd eat it so we wouldn't hurt her feelings!)! I remember summers when Sara, Julie and Jana would come to visit and all of us (girl cousins) would spend night after night at her house...and she tolerated us...welcomed us even! And last but not least, one of my favorites, I think of grandma's soft, soft arms!! My grandma has the softest arms and even to this day, when I take a trip home, I look forward to sitting by her and snuggling so I can just squish 'em!! She's always been a good example to me and I love and appreciate her so much!

Four generations on my mother's side! Me & Marissa, mom and Nana (Gloria). Nana is a little "fire cracker"! I love that she is now in her 80's and still traveling to China!! She's always had a taste for fashion and always looks great! She's known around the south for her sequence hat that she looks fabulous in and moon pies and TAB can always be found at her house! I also think of Zebra gum and the magical, amazingly animated stories that she would tell us when we were little, about the Fairies that lived in the woods across the street from her house! I am amazed at her spiritual strength and love for the Lord. I am truly blessed and thankful to have her as a grandmother!

4-I'm thankful for the Canines in my life!
I love our dog, Max! I'm so thankful that he's so patient with Rissa! She's always pulling his tail, ears and even goes for the gums every once in a while!!


"Scooter-Booter". I got Scooter when I was in the 9Th grade. I found him in a bush at the church, with his head in an opened milk carton! He was only a few weeks old when I brought him home! He passed away only a week after we got home from our Christmas visit to SC, Jan 2008. He was there for me through all of the 'high school drama' that takes place in a young girls life! He lived a "dog-on" long time and was a great friend!!!


5-I'M THANKFUL FOR MY HUSBAND!!

I'm thankful that he holds the Priesthood.
I'm thankful that Marty takes time to be involved. He has always felt it important to take one-on-one time with each of our kids.

I'm thankful that he tells me and our children he loves us on a daily basis!