The Greatest Show on Earth

Wow! I remember the circus being awesome when I was a kid. It just keeps getting better. My sisters and I used to love it, so it was cool sitting with one of them, enjoying it with our kids.

It is seriously amazing what people can do to their bodies and the will they have to do those things to their bodies! There is a certain point at which you would think the human body cannot position itself in anymore. These acrobats showed me otherwise. I was amazed at what they could do. They are seriously human pretzels. The funniest moment watching them was when Madi looked at me and said, "That is just sick." It really was!

Ok seriously, I am discusted at what my children ate at the circus! We decided to stop at Taco Bell to grab a cheap, quick bite to eat, so we wouldn't spend a lot of money on food there, because you know how expensive it is. Grandma Michele gave Madi, Zach, and Ryn each a ten dollar bill to spend on something fun. Thanks, Mom. They loved it. I couldn't believe it though. The cheapest thing was $10 and it was a freakin snowcone. The snowcone was in a cute, plastic clown cup, but still! So, Zach bought that, and Madi bought some cotton candy with a clown hat attached to the bag. That was ten bucks too! Those people should be ashamed of themselves, but it was worth it to see the kids' happy faces!

I had to have a treat too, of course. So, I got my favorite, mint chocolate chip ice cream in a waffle cone. I guess Madi and Zach didn't want their snow cone and cotton candy anymore, because they snatched my icecream out of my hand as soon as I sat down! Nice.

Nicole wanted dip-n-dots. So, she went to go get some of those for her treat. As soon as she sat down, Madi and Zach invited themselves to that too. Sick.

The break came. Madi, Zach, and Ryn were thirsty. So awesome Uncle Cam went to go get them a drink, and he not only came back with Sprite for them, but a huge bucket of popcorn!!! I had just finished telling them that they didn't need any more treats, because they had eaten enough!!! I guess I spoke too soon.

I am absolutely disgusted with all my children ate, but if you would have seen the smiles on their faces, you would have justified it too.

They ate:

• disgusting taco bell with sprite for dinner
• some snowcone
• cotton candy
• my icecream cone
• Nicole's dip-n-dots
• popcorn with sprite

The sad thing is, is that I only planned on them having one treat!!! So much for not spending too much money there! It was a great show, and we had so much fun. The kids and myself were amazed at everything we saw. Thanks for taking us, Cam and Nicole. We love you! The best part of the whole night was when Zach said, "This is the best night of my life!" I guess all the treats were ok afterall.

Good Food, Good Friends, Good Fun!

Friday night, I got together with my girlfriends from highschool from the class of 96 and 97! I can't believe it. We are 30 and loving it :) We went down to Gateway and ate at Thaifoon Taste of Asia. It was yummy. If you like Asian food, I would definitely try it out. It is so fun to see how much we have all changed, yet how much we are still the same. Thanks, girls for the laughs and good times. You all look beautiful!

Thank You

Because of my sister Nicole's blog, I was inspired to write about the same things that she was. She lead me to read this blog: http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/ . I am sure a lot of you have already read about it. I noticed the story in the paper a while ago, but I never took the time to read it. I wish now that I had. It is about a woman who lost her 14 month old baby in June. It is tragic but amazing. Her words and thoughts are beautiful, and she has touched so many lives. She has asked us all to write down the little things our children do and our favorite things they do. After reading her story and Nicole's post, it made me realize I need to love, admire, and treasure every moment with Madi and Zach, good or bad. Their little personalities and their love amaze me and make me so incredibly happy. Here are what I call Madi and Zach moments that I will treasure forever....

Madison

The light within her that creates this amazing level of energy

Her bright smile

Her contagious laugh

Her beautiful skin

Her blue eyes

Her love of family

Her love of the great outdoors

Her love for learning

and her ability to learn anything she attempts

Her amazing mind

Her goofiness

Her loud voice

Her reminder to me to be silly

Her excitement for life and her love for the little things in life

She is such a strength in my life.

Zachary

His sweet spirit

His sensitive spirit

His little laugh

His crooked smile

His bright blue eyes

His run

The look on his face when he accomplishes something

His love for family and friends

His love for the great outdoors

His willingness to still cuddle and hold my hand

His kisses

His willingness to forgive after being hurt

His imagination

His willingness to try new things

His little voice

His goofiness

His reminder to me that life is delicate

He is such a strength in my life.

I now challenge you to do the same thing for your little ones...

Back To School

It is amazing for me to think that both of my kiddos are now in elementary school! Madison is a big 2nd grader, and Zach is off to Kindergarten. They have been so excited to start. Madison has been looking forward to "the big sister" role in looking out for her little brother. She has informed me that everyday when the bell rings after school, she will run around to the Kindergarten doors and pick him up. So cute. My kids are definitely growing up, and unfortunately all that means is... it is time for this old maid to get a job!!!

It's Time For More Fireworks!

We had such a fun 24th of July this year. Madi, Zach, and I were going to light fireworks in front of the house, but luckily for us, some friends and neighbors decided to join us. My sister, Cam, and Ryn even came over. Mom and Dad, we wish you would have stayed. It was great. I can't quite decide what the kids enjoyed the most. They loved dancing in the colored smoke bombs and screaming along with the AWFUL screamers. Those things are so incredibly loud! My ears are still ringing. The strobe lights were a hit, and they came up with some pretty funny dances to do in the flashing light. They all ran around and were wild and crazy. I wish I was a kid again. They had so much fun, but I think their favorite part was when Uncle Cam took them for a ride on the four-wheeler. Forget those fireworks!! They loved it. Thanks, Cam.

Thanks to everyone who joined us. It was a blast. We missed the rest of you!

Nothing Beats Summer

My kids think they are pretty cool. Well, I have to admit that they are. They rode in a parade with my dad on his Harley for the 4th of July. They threw candy to everyone and loved it. Zach had to put cotton in his ears, because he hates the sound of too many motorcycles. (Just in case you were wondering what the heck is in his ear). It was pretty loud, but that kid always makes me laugh.
They love that motorcycle. Thanks, Dad.

A few friends and neighbors decided to head up the canyon to cool off a little bit. Luckily for me, I have been up there with a lot of neighbors. It is great. We need to keep going!

Anyway, Jim was our one-man-band.

The little ones were chilin by the fire.

The naughty ones were hiding in the trees.

The nice one, John, was roasting everyone's weiners and marshmellows. He is the best roaster around. Thanks, John.

And, um... I am not sure what this one, Jim, was thinking at that particular moment in time. All I do know is that it wouldn't be a party without him. Thanks, Jim. You can always make me laugh.

Thanks, everyone. We had a great time.

I've Been Tagged

Ok, I have been tagged. I had to call Carly and ask her if I was the "Jen" that she tagged. There are just too many Jen's. I had to check. It was me, so here it goes. Thanks alot, Carly.

• I am: a kick ass chick, even though I am 30!
• I think: I have awesome friends and family.
• I know: God loves us even though we don't think He does sometimes.
• I want: to slap on a size 2 pair of leather pants, boots, and a bandana and learn to drive a motorcycle. (Yes, I can handle it.)
• I have: a secret wish that I was a Coyote and danced on the bar everynight.
• I wish: there was no poverty, natural disasters, disease, and war on earth.
• I hate: mean people that beat others down to make themselves feel better.
• I miss: living on the east bench by the mountains.
• I feel: energetic, independent, and healthy, things I haven't felt for a long time.
• I smell: Cafe Rio's smothered pork burrito because that is what I want right NOW.
• I crave: Cafe Rio, Olive Garden, and chocolate.
• I search: for my cell phone, shoes, and sunglasses constantly.
• I regret: eating the whole burrito at Cafe Rio everytime and eating Ranch burgers from Arctic Circle at 10 o clock at night. Who does that?
• I love: my two kids with everything I have in me. I love it when they give me a hug and kiss when they know I need them.
• I care: what happens to the envoronment and the earth with the everyday happenings of everyday life.
• I always: watch Grey's Anatomy, ER, The Bachelor or Bachelorette, and American Idol.
• I am not: going to gain that middle around my tummy ever again!
• I believe that Chris Daughtry or David Cook are going to show up on my doorstep on a motorcycle and drive me away into the sunset.
• I dance: with my kids at night to obnoxious music that Madison insists on listening to when no one is looking, like Ray Charles. What 7 year old listens to that?
• I sing: to Daughtry and David Cook, who else?
• I don't always: say the nicest things when I am angry. It doesn't mean that I mean the words that are coming out of my mouth. I seriously think a wire just comes lose in that brain of mine causing my mouth to malfunction.
• I write: down everyday lessons that I am learning from an important mentor I have right now.
• I win: absolutely nothing. I don't think I have ever won anything. It is about time!
• I never: eat enough fruit and vegetables. My body doesn't need that. There are plenty of nutrients in a Ranch burger, fries, and fry sauce.
• I listen: to crickets at night on my back porch when my kids are in bed.
• I am scared: for the day my children are teenagers. I fear that more than you can imagine.
• I am happy about: the fact that I may possibly be seizure free (it's about damn time) and driving within the next year. Watch out everyone. I am going to be on that motorcycle or little red sports car soon!

I tag: Jill, JaNece, Erin, and Molly