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

Camping on the Tramp!

My kiddos and I sleeping under the stars
I think they were a little overly excited to be sleeping outside. They have been begging and begging. I finally agreed, and obviously they couldn't control themselves.

I guess the truth was going to come out sooner or later that Madi and I are warewolves. This is Madi howling at the moon. My transformation was just beginning!

They were trapped inside the net around the trampoline. Maybe I should have left them there and ran for my warm bed inside!

We had so much fun sleeping on the trampoline. It was a beautiful night. It took them a while to settle down, because they were so excited. We had a good laugh at the pictures I was trying to take. It is hard holding the camera backwards and taking your own picture. I thought they would be scared of the dark, but they loved it. They even had me turn off the back light, so they could see the stars better. We sang songs (sorry neighbors) and laughed. Zach kept trying to convince us that he could see the l]Little Dipper. We just congratulated him. I can't even see the Little Dipper. We kept sliding down to the bottom, because the grass is slightly sloped. We were a big cuddly mess on top of eachother. Finally, Madison said, "I am so tired that I can't keep my eyes open." We fell asleep and then at 5:30 am on came the sprinklers! I swear I checked the timer to make sure they were off. I guess I didn't do that great of a job. It took us a minute to get out, because we had to zip open the enclosure, grab our pillows and run. We all jumped into my warm bed. In a way, I am thankful for those sprinklers. I actually got about 3 hours of sleep being in my own bed. It was a lot of fun, but let's just say that I will do my best to put off sleeping out there for a good while!

For the Love

For those of you who think I am the cutest thing ever, I hate to ruin that vision you have of me! Erin, you told me to put this on my blog, so I did. I hope I don't regret this. Most of you are aware of my seizures, so I thought you would all get a little kick out of this picture.

They are only wires for an EEG. My doctor is hoping that I will have a seizure while I am hooked up to the monitor, so she can record my crazy brain activity and hopefully understand my seizures a little better. They used SUPERGLUE on my head and forehead to hook up all of the little leads. Who does that? They did that, because these wires have to stay on my head for 3 days. They don't want them to fall off. I would stay away if I were you, because I cannot shower for 3 days either, unless I want to get electricuted.

It truly is no big deal. I just look a little strange. I am doing so much better since I have been on my newest seizure medication. Let's hope my luck lasts. If I happen to have a seizure in the next couple of days, it is only because my mean doctor instructed me to not take my meds for a few days in hopes that I will have a seizure while hooked up to this ridiculous thing. I will be okay. I always am, thanks to all of you!! Hope you got a good laugh. Don't come to my door, because I will not answer it :) Love you all!

Happy Father's Day, Dad (Papa)

Celebrating Father's day for me is quite easy, because I have such a great dad. He puts everyone other than himself first, always makes us laugh, and is simply always there for us. Thanks for everything, Dad (Papa).

My parents took Madi, Zach, and I to Gateway to play in the water. I don't know what I would do without them.
Zach kept trying to push Papa in the fountain! He almost did.
Of course they had to have their hair done too. I think it accentuates his mohawk quite nicely, don't you?