all for the love of the flag.

i have a small problem when it comes to decorating 

for the 4th of july.

what to do.

and i really feel the need because its one

of my favorite holidays.

its so, you know, americana.

and you know my love for americana.

(if you didn't, you do now.)

so this year i brainstormed

and decided to not spend any money and use what i have.

i came up with this......

i just pulled all the red, white, and blue dishes i have

 and grouped them together.

it works, right?

i just need one more little blue dish.

drats.

maybe the d.i. will pull through for me.

happy july everybody.

i know, i know,

my table is off center with my buffet.

i just noticed.

the last few days i've had a few people say to me,

"soooo, how many weeks left?"

and its akward for both of us when i have to say

15.

#5 people, cut me some slack!

i'm not that big, am i?

told ya.

(read previous post to understand snarky statement)

the eldest got a trim as well but it just wasn't as exciting.

but he does look handsome if i do say so myself.

she cut it!

ok she didn't,

but our haircutter did.

are you wondering who i'm talking about?

its eliza!

8-9 inches to be exact!

she wanted it, she demanded it,

and she couldn't be any cuter!

wondering why i don't have any pictures yet?

well apparently short hair makes you free as a bird

because i can't get her to sit still long enough for a pic.

i'm going to lure her in with promises of mac n' cheese

and then snap away!

oh i can't wait for you to see it!

you're gonna love it.

what the?

 how did fathers day slip by me without a single picture?

well it was a great one anyways.

we hosted the entire broken family

consisting of 

carmacks, baldwins, woottons, and waltons.

all of my dads kids were together so 

that was nice for him,

and the two wives get along so thats a bonus.

we ate and chatted and tried in vain to name

this little bambino of mine, nothings sticking,

yet.

all in all it was great day.

sam was just excited for the meatsticks.(bad name i know but soooo yummy)

he asked how many he could have and i said,

"as many as you want, you'll be a dad someday so dig in"

i normally have to limit the beef intake on him

cause the boy likes red meat.

so to all of you dads that read my blog,

happy fathers day yesterday!!

oh none do? tell them for me won't ya?!

wow, i just read over this post and it is pretty lame, 

but i really felt like posting something.

too bad.

tiny dancers big night out!

well the night we had all been waiting for

came and went.

eliza had her recital for clytie adams

ballet school.

the program was all about utah.

sounds like a sleeper,  i know, but it was so well done.

our little eliza was an indian.

she absolutely loved it.

the night of the dress rehearsal she said,

"i love it on the stage."

great.

her carpool...

all lined up and ready to go!

eliza was the first little indian

to pop out of the tee pee.

(pic. taken @ dress rehearsal, don't sue me.)

after the big performance.

all smiles, for a minute.

this was the last picture she would take.

she completely melted down after this.

i think it was a combo of tired, and being sad it was over.

we all loved cheering on eliza, even her brothers.

way to go tiny dancer, until next year!

help, i'm tapped.

calling all blog geniuses....

my layout is lame.

my colors are colorless.

the look of my blog make me want to poke my eyeballs out.

do you see where i'm goin' with this.

someone help me and my blog.

pretty please?

with sugar on top.

and a cherry.

and a gumball.

someone put a fork in me......

'cause we're done!

oh, except for the one last bedroom below

for the baby.

but don't you worry,

i've got it all worked out in my head!

behold ethan's room.

we still have some accessorizing to do

but for the most part he's in.

the color is gray.

his choice. but i like it.

next up...emma.

again, lots of accessorizing still to do.

i've ordered some brown and white 

polka dot fabric to make curtains,

a memory board, and a pillow 

so that will really add to it.

she has a ton more space so she is thrilled!

and last but certainly not least....

i give you eliza's room.

she got the same paint color as she had before,

first because i love it, and second because

 i love her bedding and didn't want to change it!

she is happy to be settled and thinks

its great that she got a new room like

everyone else!

wow, i'm tired.

but so glad its done!

now we can play the rest of the summer

without these projects hanging over our heads!

bring on cherry hill, summer va-cay's,

 and the baby!(and his room!)

all for the baby.

so the bedroom shuffle has begun.

ethan to playroom,

emma to ethans,

eliza to emmas,

baby to elizas.

wow, who'd a thought a little 1 pound 8 inch baby could reek such havoc!!

josh painted 2 bedrooms in 24 hours, he is my hero.

every time i propose these ideas i'm just sure this is the one

thats going to put him over the edge, but no.....

he plugs along.

i really love him, have i mentioned that before?

oh, and i thought i was a reasonably clean person,

but the shizzzzz found under my kids beds is giving me the creeps.

2 bedrooms down,(almost) and 2 to go!

i'll post some pics when we're done.

wish us luck.

3 bullet points for today.

1. i was lame to think that pregnancy at 34 would be as easy as pregnancy at 28.i still love it.a lot.
2. so you think you can dance is awesome and i love it. a lot.
3. i am done with the rain. even though i usually love it. a lot.

summer break day 1 & 2

day 1.

establish chore charts.

ethan gone with friends all day.

emma gone with friends all day.

sam on a sleepover with gramie.

eliza on a sleepover with gramie.

house is quiet...all day. 

day 2.

establish that chores are done off the established chart.

ethan gone all day.

emma gone all day babysitting.

sam, still on sleepover.

eliza, hang'n with me.

house is still strangely quiet.

i could really learn to LOVE summer break.

bring on day 3.

weekend update

i'm going to need you to try to not be jealous.

on saturday night we went to the real game.

its one of our favorite things to do.

thats not the best part.

utahs own david archuletta sang the national anthem

and then did a mini concert after and we were

lucky enough to get to go on the field for it.

are you drooling yet?

he is a shrimp. 

he needs some meat on his bones.

our friend got ethan a ticket as well for his

birthday and for tending!

thanks davey!

sing it david......

a saturday night at real......nothin' betta!!

i hope you all had a great weekend!

graduation, baseball, and parties.

6th grade graduation.

i was fine.

i was happy .for him and for me.

this is a good day. right?

until....they all stood and sang "Lean on Me."

ouch.

the turn of the tassle complete.

hugs for the last teacher to ever

tell you she loves you.

on to 7th grade.

crap.

next some baseball for sam.

he is a good little player.

he had and awesome double.

all star try outs today.

wish us luck.

the rest of the night was party time.

ethan party hopped until 10:30.

emma went to a late night and had a blast.

and the littles(sam and eliza)

had some friends over for a late night as well.

bring on summer.

we're ready!!!!

when you see this guy......

wish him a happy birthday!

happy birthday babe!

i hope you know how much we love you.

i couldn't ask for anyone better 

to walk this crazy road with.

you take such good care of us

and we would be lost without you.

you still know how to have fun....

you can rock aviators like nobodies business....

your dancing abilities melt be like butta'......

and babe....

you seriously still got it goin' on.

happy birthday.

love. me.

wait a minute...say it isn't so....

the eldest is 12!

how can this be. 

it seems like yesterday that i held 

this sweet baby boy 

in my arms and he made me a mom.

he has made me so happy and proud to be 

his mom everyday, since then.

he is such a good brother, son, and friend.

he helps me out in so many ways,

probably more than any 12 year old should have to,

but he (usually) does it willingly.

just the other day he said to me,

"mom if dad is out of town when you go into labor, 

i'll go in and help you have the baby."

i have never known a kid that always wants to do

the right thing like ethan.

how can it be that i have only 7 more years

with him living in my house?

there are times i want to make time stop

and yet i can't wait to see the man

he is going to become.

i love you ethan,

happy birthday.

i hope its a great one.