Life & Death

The newest addition to our growing family - ISLA MAEVE ABBOTT. She is so precious and beautiful and I satisfy my maternal needs whenever I get to hold her. This is Mandys fourth baby, bring on the meds....just kidding! Mandy is so calm and organized, she is a wonderful Mom. Isla is a very calm and peaceful baby. She always looks like she wants to say something or is in deep thought, with the best expressions!Our dear, beautiful friend MaKenzie Hanover passed away on Memorial Day (May 30th) after a year long battle with brain cancer. We will miss her but her passing strengthened our beliefs in life after death and knowing that she has gone on to do work on the other side. We had some good conversations with the children about life and death. Jacob said the morning after we found out MaKenzie was gone, "its just weird that someone is here and then gone." The sadness that we feel for the loss of our loved ones is human and real but the knowledge that their spirit continues to live is extremely comforting and gives hope to those of us left behind.We took this picture the last time we got to visit with MaKenzie. Our kids really loved her, as I did. I'm so glad we have this picture to remember how great it always was to be around MaKenzie. The picture below is from YW camp two years ago of MaKenzie and her friend McKenna, both girls used to babysit our kids.

Anxiety No More

a little pic from a couple of years ago.....ahhh da beach!
Today is the last day of school (hold applause)!!!! I dont know how I feel about it (Bad Mom)!!!

My kids love school and I love that they love school, because I love them to love school. It creates schedule and a little bit of order in my insane life. Its not bad to want that.
Ok, so Ive had a little anxiety about the whole thing, what am I going to do with them? They get tired of the pool after 3 weeks, everyday is party central with 50, 000 kids in my back yard, the house goes to pot, they eat more, they whine more, they dont want to come the gym *big problem because I teach* ugh, just thinking about it makes me wanna sit in the corner with my thumb in my mouth - back and forth, back and forth - hee hee!

SO the positive person inside of me is thinking.....

1. It'll be fun not to have to rush out the door everymorning, with Jacob stressing out because we are late (didn't he get the memo that were always late)
2. I can actually spend time with the little darlings....no sarcasm, they are little! ...ok and darling.
3. We can go to the YMCA to change things up a bit.
4. Pool parties / playdates are rotating things, so they can go to other peoples houses also...breathe!
5. We are all SUPER excited for family reunions at the end of July into August. Devines here in Vegas, Bainbridge in Florida.
6. Oh, free movies at the theatre - although I think my kids might be getting over that now :(
7. Last but not least - GIRLS CAMP will kill a week and might kill me?

So there you have it, it's going to be GREAT!!!!
You should read THIS blog by my hilarious friend Denae and if all else fails, head to Walmart for Benadryl, Darts and a Happy Meal.
p.s. I'm sooooo far behind with my blogging posts, so much to share......coming soon!

Itching to get into Young Women

The Young Women had a wedding themed mother and daughter activity last week, and look who crashed the party. Baili can hardly stand waiting to turn 12 so she can come to young women activities. Here are pictures of her and her friend, Alexandra in wedding dresses. The guy in the last picture is a life sized board that one of the leaders brought as a joke for the girls to take "wedding" pics with their prince charming....lol

Summers Coming

Jacob and his friends wanted to come jump in the pool after cub scouts the other day. Even though its been warm lately the water is still a chilly 56 degrees but Im convinced kids dont feel it. It was really fun to watch them jumping on the blue floaty thats supposed to only be used by me, but they were having such a good time, I let them go ahead. Kami jumped in there with the boys but after a while got too cold and came and snuggled. The last picture cracks me up!

Me eyes are burning.........

from tears leaking out of them all day long!
It's mothers day and I think I cried happy tears for at least 70% of it. I woke up this morning after a long night (a four hour stint with Sam at LETICIAS COCINA with food & salsa dancing last night) to the kids singing to me. To be honest I didn't know where or who I was....hahaha! Aww how cute the kids little faces were.....they crawled up on the bed, showered me with gifts and cards. So sweet and cute! Jacobs efforts to, and I quote "tug the heartstrings", was successful and the leaky eyes began. Breakfast in bed and off to church.
The talks were awesome and the kids sang to all the moms. I ate chocolate - seriously I need to give the stuff up but thanks to "me da" in Ireland, I caved and felt I deserved it on st. paddys day because of my irishness.
Sam and the kids made dinner, yummy marinated chicken and lobster tail. Hmmmm, I dont eat lobster but I guess Sam figured for his once a year dinner, he would make something HE liked. It's ok, afterall I wouldn't be a mom without him? It's a stretch I know.......
We all gathered on the bed and watched EXTREME MAKEOVER, which now I remember why I stopped watching. The eyes are raw from the tears! So cute.......mothers day special.
So now Sam is watching "Sister Wives"..... ya I know.....and if you dont.....it's a show on TLC about a polygamist family WHO ARE NOT MORMON but for some odd reason Sams finds fascinating....this is the man I can't get to watch any movie that's not drama, drugs, cops, or psychological thriller. Go figure?
During the week Baili left me this little note in the mirror of my visor in the van. All day it made me so happy. Every time I saw it I thought of how cute she is and how much I love her and her budding personality. She is such a good girl and does a lot to help me and our family.
I love being a mom, well most of the time. Sometimes its the hardest thing in the world but I wouldn't change that I have the most rewarding job EVER!

Did you know this?

I have another blog.....GASP.....i know? Ive had it for a while. Its nothing spectacular, I started it a year ago to try to help me get motivated and love to organize my house and life. At times it has helped (kinda like a cheap shrink). Ive added projects Ive done, furniture Ive refinished, crafts to do and other ramblings that Ive had. Like today for instance, you might be a little afraid if you read my post.....I promise I wouldn't really light my house on fire but if you happen to have suggestions or a free maid service I could use....gimme a shout out!
I guess now would be the time to give you the address for this little Internet gem huh? Or I could just let you figure it out.....haha.....jk.
www.projectorder.blogspot.com

Looky Here ....

I opened up my camera to find a little photo shoot that Baili and Kami had unknown to me, owner of the expensive camera. Must be nice.....gotta get these kids busy doing chores!
Just joking.....its very cute! Note the crossed feet in the bottom center and how she posed Kami in front of the little mermaid backdrop. Baili is very artistic.

Jacobs Pinewood Derby

Jacob came home from scouts one night with tears in his eyes and told Sam and I that he had told his scout leaders he would not be participating in the pinewood derby this year because, quote "we are too busy, my dad has busy season and my mom teaches zumba now" awwww tear! I told him of course he would have a car for the race and there was nothing that would keep us from giving him the time he needed to be part of the derby.

Now, last year was our first experience of making a car together. Jacob drew on his block and then we hacked at it and let him sand it all off. I did make the mistake of putting the weights on the bottom of the carriage so when it hit the end of the race ramp, it sort of bottomed out - oops!

This year Jacob found a design he liked online and got some help from our good friend Val Hancock, who also made Ryan a car while he was at it. He was super proud of how it looked and he did really well in the race.