Jeff, at the dunes

My HOT, HOT Hubby!!! He is just so adorable!! I love him.

Finally, some pics!!

Pictures from the dunes!! Too fun!! We had a blast!!

Playing "Catch-up"!!

Wow!! Time really does fly! :)

We have pretty much been up to life as usual. Last week Ryker had his 6th Birthday!! We told him that we would do whatever he wanted.....of course, that was "Chuckee Cheese"! (That's where Jaxon picked for his Birthday, and all the kids loved it)!! Here are some pics.

It was really short notice, so we just invited Tawna & Nate and their kiddos.  They all had a blast!!  I made Ryk-ee-dog a chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting!! It was his favorite!!  Good times!!  I can't believe that Ryker is 6 years old already.  He is such a big boy!!  My Favorite things about Ryker are:

1.  He is so very sweet

2.  He is also a fighter

3.  His ability to concentrate on video games and block out anything and everything else!

4.   He loves to eat (as long as it is cereal, chips, crackers, pizza or spaghetti)

5.  He adores his Daddy!

6.  He rides a bike like a pro

7.  He goes to sleep so nice at bedtime (after he has eaten whatever snack he snuck into bed with him)

8.  His unmatched "sneakyness"!!

9.  He is so smart

10.  He minds so well

Bonus:  I love that when he says he loves me, he almost always includes "Bigger than the whole universe and hotter than the sun!!"

I could go on and on....but I won't.  He is just an amazing little man and I am so very blessed to have him in my life!!!  

I love, love, love you Rykerman!! 

(Bigger than the whole universe and hotter than the sun!!)

Home again, home again

Well, we made it there safely.  We played safely.  And we made it back safely!!  We had so much fun!  All of the kiddos played and seemed to really enjoy each other.  As did us adults.  Good conversation, good riding, good weather and good food!  All of the ingredients for one super fantastic weekend!!  We had such a blast.  We even managed to get all of us out to "the Wall".   We all rode/drove out there and then watched as those who were crazy enough went up the sand mountain appropriately named "the Wall".  Actually, it isn't as scary as it used to be.  I think the years of people visiting and playing in all that sand has worn it down.  I, personally, haven't been up since last March.  But, I wasn't up for it yesterday.  Jeff did take each one of the kids up though.  Totally illegal, I know.  All of the kids had such a great time playing out there, it was nice.  Usually within a few minutes of being out there, they are ready to head back to camp or to go do "something fun"!  But they ran around and played like mad.  I don't know who's idea it was (though I am pretty sure it was Megan's) but, they all climbed there way up the Wall.  It was too cute. ( I got some pics on Jake's camera.  I will see if he can email them to me.  )  They looked like a line of ants.  Even Tawna made it up.  She is a tougher chic than I, it definitely would've killed me. But she did it!  I even got to watch Jeff on a dirt bike.  I watched with mixed feelings.  It was awesome to see him ride (it's been all about quads since I've known him), but at the same time scary because I know that they are so much more dangerous.  But, he looked awesome and seemed to enjoy it, I think.  All in all, it was amazing!  We missed those who weren't there, but we will have a great trip in February too.  I will post pics soon!  Glad that we made it back safely!!  There was that part where Justin & Becky's rail lost a tire, but no one got hurt, it simply fell off (while she was driving it)!  Scary!  She handled it like the pro she is though.  Good times, good times.

Weekend Get-a-way

Today, we are getting ready for a big family trip.  I mean BIG.  All of my brothers and sisters (with the exception of Robert & Jennifer , Taya & Kevin - and their kiddos) are going to the Imperial Sand Dunes.  This is actually only Summer's 2nd time to go.  But her kids have been a lot and love it and I believe she will too.  We do this at least 3 or 4 times a year and I always have the same thought:  How hugely lucky we are that there is an activity that we all truly love to do.  We all love to ride quads and camp (camping at the dunes is soooooo much better, it is not near as dirty).  But, I really believe that we are lucky.  How many families with 6 biological kids, 6 in-laws and 19 (I think) grandkids can say that there is an activity that they all enjoy doing together??  Even Granny and Grumpy love it.  I just think it is awesome!!  We don't get to go as often as we would like, but it is so much fun when we do.  I know that we will miss everyone who isn't able to make it on this trip, but everyone (minus the kiddos) will be there for the adult/couple trip in February.  That's going to be a great trip!!  We have made cookies, pancakes and chicken salad.  We still have to make mac 'n cheese, salsa and cheese and pimento spread.  We usually make all of the food that we can ahead of time so that it is easier/more relaxing while we are there.  Plus, less dishes to have to wash in the toy hauler.  I am so very excited.  I just pray we get away with an incident/accident free time!!!  Feel free to pray also!  

For those of you interested, I am not sure what the blog-to-book site was called.  I will ask my mom and post it later.  It really was good pricing and I think it is awesome to be able to put your blog into a book, hard cover and all (if you want).  It kinda makes me feel like a writer.

:) haha!!  But, I guess that I am the writer of my life.  That's kind of fun!!

Randomness...

The other day my mom was online checking out how much it would cost to make your blog into a book and we priced my blog out.  It was actually really cheap, which is cool.  But also, it tells you how many pages your book is...sadly mine is not very many pages.  How is that possible??  Well, I have come to the conclusion that I have been blog browsing more than blog posting.  And since my original purpose for starting a blog was that I may have some success at keeping a journal, this is now one of my New Years resolutions.  To be a better blogger.  I remember thinking to myself, 'oh, that's not important' or 'no one wants to read about that'!  But, I need to write it down.  If it is significant enough that I am thinking about it, then I need to record it.  So, with that...

I sometimes have someone cross my mind or find myself thinking about some specific person often.  Regularly, I ignore these feelings, convincing myself that it is just randomness.  Every once in a while, though, the nagging wins and I contact who ever it is.  Every time the nagging wins and I contact said person, there was a reason.  Either they were having a hard time, or needing to talk to someone, etc.  So, I have decided to pay better attention and stop talking myself out of following my thoughts/persuasions/feeling.  I don't know if any of that makes any sense to anyone else but me, but, I needed to write it down.  

Other than that tid bit of randomness, not much is going on.  I have been feeling very grateful lately for my hubby!!  He is such a good man.  He is so involved with the kids and not only makes a point to spend time with them, but actually enjoys spending time with them.  He loves them so much and it shows in everything he does.  I love that he loves them so much and that he is so good at making sure they are good to me.  He makes sure that they don't talk back to me, etc.  And that is a plus, because sometimes it is hard to keep telling your kids to treat you well.  ya know?

Things to do this week:

Get my gym membership figured out

Finish all of the mounds of laundry

Teach myself the 2nd page of I heard Him come

Organize the kids rooms/closets

Husband tag!

HUSBAND TAG!!!  Someone tagged me with this so long ago, I can't even remember!! Sorry, but better late than never, right?? 

1. How long did you date before you got married? 8 months

2. How long have you been married? 9 years

3. What does he do that surprises you? Cares so much about people.  That would probably shock some of you, but he does.  He also loves to spend time with the boys and hates it when they are away.  Every once in a while he will take me out and do whatever I want, way fun!  I get to pick the restaurant, the movie, etc.  It's so fun!  Very thoughtful.

4. What is his best feature?  His amazing dimples and the smile that accompanies them

5. What is his best quality?  He is hilariously funny ; a really hard worker

6. Does he have a nickname for you? Always babe, sometimes baby

7. What is his favorite color?  Red, definitely red.

8. What is his favorite animal?  Dogs

9. What is his favorite food? He loves Mexican food, but he has to have a love of noodles too, being married to me

10. What is his favorite sport?  He doesn't watch, loves to play though, football and quads

11. When and where did you first kiss?  February 1999, at my apartment at EAC.

12. Favorite thing to do as a couple? Uh......I don't know that I can say (we had 3 kids in 2 1/2 years!)  Just kidding.  We love movies and riding quads!!

13. Do you have any children?  Refer to question 12.

14. Does he have a hidden talent?  He has a great voice.  I think that I may be the only person who has ever heard it though.  And he can fix anything!!  It's truly amazing!

15. How old is he? 31 and just gets better all the time!  (Tim McGraw song, you should look it up)

16. Who said 'I love you' first? He did, but I reciprocated very quickly

17. What is his favorite music? Rock

19. Do you think he will read this?  If he knew it was on here he would.  But, he looks at the blog every once in a while, so he may.

A little bit of Christmas...

This is what our Christmas tree looked like this year.  This picture was Christmas morning, before the kids started in on the presents.  I have never decorated our tree quite like this before, but it was a fun change.  I really liked it.  I got to add some pink and blue which thrilled me to pieces.  Living in a house full of boys doesn't leave pink as an option very often!!!! I have more pictures to download from my camera.  Soon...soon.  Christmas was great this year.  We had a potluck style dinner, we thought that we would try out a new tradition in our family this year, because we were all turkey-ed out!!  It was really fun.  We didn't make any desserts though... hmmm... that will have to be improved upon next year.  Santa found us at our new place and left exactly what the kids had asked for.  He is so smart. He ate the cookies the kiddos left out and drank all the milk too.  All in all the holiday was a hit!  Hope you all had a great one too.  More to come later...