June is here... shew, it is going to be busy!

So the work around the pool has begun and this is our second phase (Phase I was getting pool cover off and the water clear and Tod is working on that one).. we got quite a lot of planting done today.. we still haven't found the small tropical tree we want yet and we are going to need to do something to the other side of the path. We have most in pots because the soil is very sandy and they can be moved easily...

look at the goofy dog in the background :-).. Rudy fell in today, too!

I plan to take my camera to all the baseball games this week and get some pictures. We have another player's dad that takes exceptional pictures with a camera that makes mine look like some type of toddler's toy camera. I do want to post some pictures, though, so I will drag out my little digital camera and hopefully have some decent photos to post.... while it hasn't been the best season ever, it is a great group of boys and Tod has really enjoyed getting to know them. He has had one disagreement with another coach and it was over sportsmanship and inappropriate taunting of the pitcher.. not over umpire calls or if we win/loose... Tod cannot stand by while players are allowed to act disrespectful to the game or other players. He considers baseball a gentleman's sport and teaching the boys how to behave as a gentlemen while being competitive is very high on his agenda. While it was an uncomfortable moment, it was a necessary moment and we are all proud of him for standing up for his team and what he believes to be right.

I came home Saturday and this is what was in my driveway... handsome husband mowing the lawn..

Look at those big muscles.. pulled that loaded trailer up the hill by himself.. my hero!

We were driving home and a family of peacocks was running beside us... Lounge Tod...

Tuesday's Birthday Round 1

Well, today we celebrated round one of Tuesday's 21st birthday. We decorated the house with pictures of Tuesday through the years.... hung silver sparkly stars.. made big posters of Tuesday and family/friends... opened some of her gifts (her REAL birthday isn't until tomorrow).. and ate some cake. We took some video which I will upload later... we loved her reaction to her new Ed Hardy bag!

Tootie was Tuesday's nickname until she got old enough to make us stop! :-)Tuesday picked the cake.. it has keepsake rings and bracelets.... round two cake is even cooler!Utah got Tuesday this hat for her birthday (minus the bows!)...Tuesday wanted Donnie Darko (hers is missing) and Empire Records...We managed to keep the Ed Hardy bag a secret.. she knows all her other gifts, except one that her friends are getting her... girl loves a big bag!
We are such loser cake faces.. cut these big pieces, fight over icing, and then NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, finishes their cake and we all whine about tummy aches and sugar comas!

Utah is 14!!!

What a cute baby face (ignore the drool!).... It's my birthday, I do what I want...

The motorcycle gift.. that well.. landed him in the emergency room... same day...

Utah turned 14 today! We had a fun and interesting day... his baseball game got cancelled, so we had a day to ourselves! We went to the Razorback baseball game, thanks to Karen, and then out with family and friends. He opened presents and now has a friend over to eat cake with... Dad stole his gifts....

Me and the boy...

What is Tod doing in the background of this pictures... my goodness... not sure at all!

close up of Tod.. what is he doing???

WHAT?? Utah got a video game for his birthday.. crazy, simply crazy.. or TOTALLY what he asks for EVERY holiday!

Dad bought him a jersey...

the thinkin' man

at the game.. thank you Karen!!!!

Utah in his crown... being silly.. he was about 3 yrs old....

Utah and Tod's mom.... he is a tiny little thing...

Tod and Utah... his shiny new bike...

Utah's new haircut!

Big sis and little grumpy sucker face...

the girls and the boy...

Fun Weekend

Mother's Day was very special... it is always a little bitter sweet because we miss Sarah so very much and I always wonder what she would have added to each experience along the way. We also had a friend loose someone very dear... Homer Mangrum, husband, father, brother, and friend passed away on Saturday. It brought many things into perspective for me and I have stopped to realize that it is so important to make sure those we love know we love them, but more than that it is to not try to make things be the way we think they should be... stop trying to be in control and let God be in control... count our blessings and rest in God's will...

Miss you mom..

I remember the pancakes every morning...

yummy Christmas celebrations filled with music and candles...

sunrise Easter services...

shopping... listening... praying... encouraging...

expectations...

She was beautiful... she expected us to be independent...

She is such a part of who I am today... I wish I had known... I wish I had told her...

I hope she knows now...