Silly, Crazy, Funny photos of.............

the crazy funny little people that keep calling me mama!!!

This is what happens when Daddy has electrical tape and is left alone with the baby.....

The kiddos thought the sparkles off Rylies new book bag was really cool. I picked the kids up from school and Rylie was sooo excited because everyone loved her bag.....she says "it's like i'm popular now, everyone loved it"

 Just one of those sweet things I love finding!

 Katelin was in her room playing and I went in later and discovered what she had been in there doing.....she had everyone arranged nicely on her bed!

 Another creation of Katelins.....really I have no words, not sure what the poor little giraffe did! I believe she was just trying to tie him up not strangle him!

One of the kid's favorite past times......beating up daddy.....

This is what Katelin looks like when she is stealing more watermelon when she is supposed to be eating more of her dinner! 

 Evan watching daddy using the hose.......sure love that cute little tushie!

 Mommy doesn't drink coffee but Grammy does and Katelin was having coffee time like Grammy has! She also wanted me to take a picture of her feet.....silly girl!

 And this is what happens when Rylie and Abby have a shaving cream fight....

Oh, didn't you know that we really had a little girl not a little boy......poor kid, already being dressed up like a girl.....it's crazy how much he looks like Rylie did as a baby!

Owen with a little mohawk.....I love it! 

Daddy bought Owen some sparring equipment from a garage sale......just what he needs?!?!



From one extreme to another..........

That is how it felt on Saturday! I got up at 6am to get ready for my first 5k....a 5k I desparately wish did not exist but it does. It was the 1st annual Kade Meyer Celebration Run/Walk.....and it is a celebration of the life of Kade Meyer. A little boy that I never knew but he is so near and dear to my heart.

You know you hear sad stories all the time about kids and they all break your heart but sometimes there are certain ones that just won't leave your heart or your mind.....for some reason they affect you a little differently that the other stories.

Kades story is one of those for me, maybe because he lived in my community or maybe because it was such an unexpected tragedy that just shouldn't of happened even though noone was at fault. Just over a year ago shortly after school started Kade and his sister were leaving school crossing the same street they crossed everyday and Kade ran out between 2 parked cars and was hit by a car going just 25mph and had no way of seeing him. I remember watching the breaking news and thinking how scary but thinking that he will be okay. But he wasn't okay, he didn't make it. My heart broke for him, it also broke for his sister and his dad and I was devastated for his mom because as a mom I cannot imagine the pain and the heartache she has to feel every single day.

I feel honored to have been able to be a part of something in his memory, I plan on partaking in the run every year, it goes to a scholarship for a senior at our high school. A senior that has shown compassion because Kade had been awarded a compassion certificate at his school the prior year. I think of Kade often, he is forever a part of my heart and when my kids are driving me CRAZY all I have to do is picture his sweet little face and whatever there doing just doesn't seem so bad. I was brought to tears the morning of the run to see all the people there, almost 1000 people walking/running to honor a very special little boy. I'm brought to tears while typing this and I pray I never have to know this kind of pain.

If you want to read more about Kade or learn about the run go to http://www.kademeyer.com/ !

Kade....

 The morning of the run.

 We took Evan but not the other kids....he was a good boy, just chilled in his stroller!

 Chet and I crossing the finish line, my mom's knee was acting up so her and Evan ducked out a little bit early!

As soon as the run was over I gathered the kids and went to Christopher's bday party, attempted to get to Katelin's soccer game but missed it and so went home to get Rylie and myself ready because we were going to the Taylor Swift concert with Abby and Angie. I tell you what that girl puts on a darn good show!

2 years ago both our families traveled to St. Louis so the four of us could see her in concert and the girls were super lucky....AJ(Abby's dad) was able to get them meet and greet tickets. It was pretty awesome to see the girls getting to meet their idol.

Her autographed picture.

Meeting Taylor in 2009!

Taylor in concert Saturday night.

 The girls all ready for Taylor.

 My girl and I in 2009 ready for her first concert.

 My girl and I on Saturday ready for Taylor again!

The concert was at Arrowhead and I got home about 1 am as soon as my head hit the pillow Evan woke up and was not happy.....I finally got him back to sleep at almost 5am so I was basically up for 24 hours straight. I won't complain though......I was tired the next day but I have 4 beautiful happy healthy kiddos and for that I am forever greatful......no matter how tired, how cranky or how frustrated I am I am always always greatful for all that I have been blessed with!!!

Family Vacay Day 4: Silver Dollar City.....Again!

The tickets for SDC were good for 2 days and we had to leave early Saturday to get ready for Daniel's wedding so there were a few things we didn't get to do, so since we could get in again we thought we would go back for a little bit.

We always have to start with a group picture.....

 Daddy and Evan on the train.....

 On the carousel.....Rylie and Owen pretending to not have fun because they think they're too old for this but I know better (especially since they didn't have to ride it but they chose too....shhhh don't tell them I told you!)

Oh, sweet freedom.....probably Evan's favorite part of SDC, he was free from that darn stroller and playing with sand!!!

Cousins....Rylie, Katelin, Owen, Mikayla and Kaylynn.

Our final stop....the plunge again....yes, all my kids wanted to go again.... even Rylie! So Michelle kept in eye on Evan so we could all go and she snapped this picture......if only you could have seen the kid's faces, Rylie's was priceless!

Oh wait, you can......they sell those things out there and this one was too good not to buy....

If you click on it you can see it bigger and really see Rylie's eyes buggin out....too funny!

We left SDC about 1pm, stopped in Ozark and ate lunch at Braum's and hit the road and did not stop until we got home (except for a liquor store near our house, trust me....Daddy earned it!) The big kids slept most the way home.....the little kids slept not a single wink the entire 4 hour drive home....boy were we glad to be home and out of the car!!!


The kid's in their Silver Dollar City shirts.....

Family Vacay Day 3: The Wedding

Well this was our whole reason for going to Branson in the first place.....Chet's little brother Daniel was getting married! It was a gorgeous wedding so Congrats to Daniel and Alison.......we wish you a lifetime of happiness!!!

My beauties all ready for the wedding!

Introducing.....Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Farage.....

 Mmmmmm....cake!

 Almost 10 years of marraige and still as happy as a couple of newlyweds!!!

And Evan takes the lead with Zayne following a close second......

Family Vacay Day 3: Silver Dollar City

So we had decided NOT to go to SDC......because we had already spent a lot of $$$ and we didn't know if it would be worth the cost with our non dare devil kids (amusement park not exactly paradise to cautious kiddos)! Chris and Michelle were going with their crew and offered to get our tickets so we decided we would give it a shot!

I'm glad we did....my kids surprised me with the rides they went on and we all had a lot of fun!!!

Group Picture!

 An unfinished chalk drawing!

 They've been thrown in jail........

 Uncle Chris and the twins joined them, looks like Brandon's the warden!

 Walking across the wobbly bridge.....Katelin did not like it, I ended up carrying her!

 A stationary horse.....much better!

 Can I get one of these for home??? I'm just kidding.....I think!

 Evie spent most his time in the stroller and he was such a good boy!

 This ball was cool, it had water all over it causing it to spin.

 Owen and I rode the Big swings together,

 then I rode the elephants with Katelin!

 This was the mine ride, Owens in the car in front of us with Brandon....even Evan got to go on this ride (he's on Daddy's lap)!

I don't do roller coasters so I stayed behind with the little ones.....Michelle, Chris and Chet are in the front and Tiffany, Jessica and Brandon are right behind them. Owen wanted to ride on this one until he saw exactly how big it was and what it did (it goes upside down 5 times).....he wasn't big enough anyway!

 This was another one......Chet didn't like this one!

 What happens when you give a 3 year old funnel cake?

 Love this........sisterly love!

Evie during some free time out of his stroller......

and sweet baby Zayne....my great nephew is seriously a sweetheart!!!

I mentioned my kids surprised me with rides.....we went on one little roller coaster "fire in the hole"....Katelin and Owen loved it but Rylie wasn't so sure but they all rode the plunge with me and I was shocked that they loved it! It is just like the Viking Voyager at WOF, I saw a bit of shock on Katelin's face after the "plunge" and she clung to me for a while but she liked it and went again the next day! My big butt is covering Rylie and Owen in this pic but Katelin's face was pretty good.............