Why I {heart} this photo

It was the summer of 2008. My grandpa passed away that winter and I was home for my summer visit. I have fond memories of the time I spent with Grandma that summer...

One day, she pulled out her photo album and told me stories behind the pictures. This picture is one of my favorites...the courtship of my grandparents :)

May 2013 part 2

May was so jam packed that I'm doing a part 2 :)

Braden went to the 8th grade semi-formal dance. He mentioned he danced all the fast songs and broke out some Gangnum style. He went with his friends and he had a great time. In the middle of the night, he came down with the flu :( Then that same flu made its way through our whole family :(

Paige participated in her first golf tournament last Saturday. She's gotten serious about golf this year and she participates in the First Tee program of Phoenix. She loves it and she placed 4th in her age division. Parents aren't allowed to talk to their kids at all when they are playing. They have to make their own decisions on how to play each shot, keep their own score and another girl's score they are playing with. She enjoys it :)

and so does Heston. He loves golf. Aaron takes him to the course by our house to practice his short game. He has to be 7 to play in the First Tee so he'll start this summer.

Golf buddies :)

Paige earned the Presidential Fitness Award again this year. Now that she's 10, she had to run the mile in 9:19 this year. It took her a few tries but her persistence paid off. The shuttle run was also a challenge for her this year. That had to be done in under 10.8 seconds. She would practice at recess to get faster. She stuck with it and passed it, I was so happy for her!

May 2013 part 1

It's been a while! We had quite a few things in April and May that have kept us busy. SUMMER is here and we are sooooo excited! We decided to try planting a little garden this year. It produced a few little tomatoes and onions and then it just didn't like us anymore. It didn't like me...I'm horrible with plants and gardens! I killed a ficus tree that a teacher gave me as well :( We'll try again next year!

Soccer season at school just ended. Braden recruited his best friend Tyler to play this year. They had an inexperienced team so it lead to some frustrating moments for him. I think he learned (I hope) some things through the experience...
and he's getting really good at ignoring me :)

 Heston has never had a big birthday party. His birthday is in August and right when school begins and I have been a slacker about following through with a big friend party. So we decided to have an early birthday party for him. He invited all the boys in his class and then some. I rented a room at the McQueen rec center and it has to be hands down one of the smartest decisions I've made in a while :)

It was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Party theme that Paige and I planned, Heston loves the Ninja turtles. I have no pictures of the cute games we made, the fun popcorn mix we made for each boy or of the gifts Heston received. A Pinterest worthy party? Far from it.

It was insanity at its finest and the boys had a blast :)

Just as I was telling the moms about how the boys couldn't possible destroy the place, a ball was kicked up to the ceiling and one of the tiles got jacked up :)
I really have to give Paige some serious credit for this party, I couldn't have done it without her. She's creative and she knew just what those boys would love. She should start a party planning business! Thank you Paigey! :)

Aaron and Braden swept in with the pizza (after all, that's what ninja turtles eat) and took a turn with the kids too. It was a family effort for sure. We all slept well that night :)

My only request for Mothers Day was some pictures with my kids

It was a good day :)

inner voice