Cousins

When I was growing up my cousins lived across the street.. They were some one I spent most of my time with... I really didn't realize how important it was to grow up with cousins till I had my own children... I have five nieces and nephews... Unfortunately three of them don't live close but I have two nephews who do... It seems recently my nephew Grant and my oldest Hayden have become great friends....(and they even let Brycen tag along) It makes my heart so happy to see them get along and want to hang out with one another... Even though they are a few years apart they still have alot in common... They like to meet at Grandmas house and swim and ride skate boards... Their new thing is to catch lizards.. Yuk!! Hayden wants to do everything Grant does... He wants the same hair cut,clothes,sunglasses,you name it he knows what Grant would get... I think it's cute how he looks up to him... I think it makes Grant feel good too...

Then their is Garrette he is Olivia's favorite and he is so good with her... She says Garrette's her "Best Friend".. Too cute

I think family is so important ... I always wanted a big family ...I look forward to the kids growing up and having their own families to make us one big family... Their a special bond with cousins...I hope that the friendships they are building now with their cousins is a lasting friendship...I'm sure it will be

Matt's Birthday

Today is Matt's Birthday and all he wanted was cherry turnovers and coffee in bed.. So I got up at 7am and went to the grocery store... I got his cherry turn overs... The kids took in their cards, coffee and turn overs and of course woke him up...So much for sleeping in on your birthday..They were excited and couldn't wait.

Matt had to work today on his Birthday ... So the kids and I decieded to make cup cakes and surprise him with dinner and a birthday treat...We took him I Love Terriyaki and yellow cake with chocolate frosting cup cakes his favorite ....I think he was happy we came by for the surprise... The kids thought it was great...

Hopefully he we made him feel special and loved on his special day ....Isn't that what it's all about... We love you .. Happy Birthday!!!

Girl's will be Girl's

It seems every couple of day's this is what I see

Olivia in my make up ... She always says " Don't I look pretty momma just like you" and I try to contain my laughter "of course your pretty"... I hope I don't look like this...I guess I need to find a new hiding spot for my make up...

Happy BirthDay!!!

This Thursday is Matt's Birthday ... So I wanted to do a tribute to him... It may get a little sappy but believe me every thing I will say is true...

I believe that there are many people in this world that you get along with... You could even live with and have a happy life ... But I think you only have one Soul Mate.... I truly believe I have found mine....

On our first date Matt told me one day he was going to marry me... Me with a nervous laugh said yeah right, but inside I knew he was the one... We were engaged in April the same year and Married the following April in 1999... That was the best day of my life.. I felt I had married my best friend...

When we stared to have our children I really realized that he was going to be a great Dad ...The love he has for his kids is truly amazing ... There is nothing he won't do for them...

He loves to coach Base Ball for the boy's ... He not only is there for his own boy's but he really cares about the other kids on his team... He always talks about them .. When one is struggling he is always trying to find a way to help them...He really takes it seriously... (sometimes too much) but the passion he has for the game and for the kids is awesome...He really puts his heart and soul into coaching them... Every thing he does he is passionate about , he always does his best...

He is know at the Rail Road for his hard work and always there to help another coworker in any way he can...His cell phone is always ringing from coworkers who come to him for help or advise...

He has been a wonderful husband to me over the years... He always is supportive me ...Over the years we have had our share of financial ,health, or family issues but we have always found a way to work through it... It's the little thing's he does that always reminds me how much he loves me ... For this I think it has made us stronger...And don't get me wrong the man can get on my nerve in two seconds flat... But I love him more than any thing in this world ... With him I think any thing is possible...There are so many wonderful things I could say... I think some times I get so busy with everyday life and forget to tell the ones closest to me how special they really are...So today I want Matt to know how much I love him and appreciate all he does for this family... Your sacrifices for this family never go unnoticed....The kids and I truly blessed that we have you...

I Love you !!! HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY!!!

She's A Mover and A Shaker

Olivia Loves to Dance...When ever she hear any music she just can't help herself... She has to stop and shake her bum... Matt caught her in the act, you may get bored but we of course think it's adorable (although we are biased) If your bored it's ok we know her Grandparents will appreciate it...Watch out THIS GIRL HAS MOVES!!!

A Day of Fun

Yesterday We took the kids to Six Flags ... We had a blast Grandma and cousins Grant and Garrette went with us... The boy's were finally big enough to ride the rides.... Brycen really surprised us with the rides he would go on he was too fun. He kept saying "I'm getting Butterflies"

Hayden was finally big enough to ride the big rides .. I would love to show you a picture except every thing he went on went to fast... I couldn't get him in the picture... So you will have to take my word for it he had a good time.

Olivia was crazy about the kiddie rides

She really loved all the characters that walk around she would have to stop and hug and kiss every one....

Over all we had a great day and can't wait till we can do it again... Of course Matt and I need a little time to recover ...

Olivia's Binky

Is there something wrong with this picture?

Yes I am well aware that she is three and still has her Binky....I have tried to go cut the end off, loose them all, make her throw them all away, have the Binky fairy come to take them away, give them to a new baby, and every time I give it back to her... Thank you for all the suggestions I truly have tried every one of them...The girl will just make me crazy till I give it to her.. I know I'm weak but I really have tried I just also need my sanity.... Sometimes I think she will eventually get rid of it . How many kids do you know who go to school with one? Then I worry about her teeth every girl has to have a beautiful smile...She does have one you just can't see it all the time...And imagine the orthodontic bills...(let's not go there) When she starts in her I want My Binky chants even the boy's go running to find it just too shut her up...I am tired of looking for Binkys every nap and bedtime ...That's the only time she is supposed to have have it... So she says shes tired all the time ...(smart girl if you ask me) Once again I'm going to try to get rid of it once and for all ... If you have any suggestions I am still open to them... But if you still see her with it please don't remind me of how I have let her win... I 'm picking my battles... And I will tell you , If you would like to take her and break her of this habit then be my guest... I bet you will bring her back within 30 mins. of her saying... I want my Binky!!!!

Guess Who?

Guess who came to our house?



Last Week

This Week

You Guessed It the TOOTH FAIRY !!! Brycen lost his first tooth last week and the second one today... He can't wait to go to sleep tonight... My baby boy is growing up too fast...

Kid's Say the Darndest Thing's

A few weeks ago Hayden fell and hurt his wrist I took him to the med clinic to have x-ray's (don't you know it always happens on a weekend and when Matt is at work) The Doctor said it was a possible hair line fracture , she would let us know in a few day's .... This is the conversation I over heard yesterday.

Neighbor to Hayden : Hayden how's your wrist I thought you broke it

Hayden to Neighbor: No just a Air Line Fracture

Too cute I couldn't help but bust out laughing along with the neighbor of course he didn't even know what he did...

Camping

When I was growing up my family went camping every summer... When I married Matt he had did the same and we of course thought we should continue the tradition...

Every summer we have taken the kids camping last year was the hardest .Olivia was at the get in to everything stage and of course it was hard to keep her clean ...

The boy's didn't have much to do but ride bikes and that gets old after three day's so we came home early.....

This year was a different story the boy's have discovered fishing

Brycen caught his first fish

I know you can't see it but he didn't care how big it was "it was at least 5lbs and he fought all day to catch it"

Hayden caught a 3lb catfish and he was thrilled

I have heard him tell the story may times and every time it's a pound bigger and took a hour longer to catch than it really did ..Of course I have the pictures to prove it.

We had a great time we all found plenty to do ,Olivia and I did a lot of floating.

The kids did great this year . No whining it's to cold ,what's in the water ,the bathroom stinks... This years camping trip made me look forward to many more years of camping with the kids

Even though were only gone the weekend I'm finding that two night's is enough in the dirt... And not just because I'm a girl even the boy's said " It's so nice to be home and get a shower" . Maybe in a few years we will be able to get a trailer now that would definitely be my kind of camping...

New Blogger

So I have wanted to start a blog for a while now... Every time something happens or the kids say something cute I think see I could have blogged about this... A few months ago I set up a blog page and wouldn't you know it I lost my camera ... You can't blog without pictures ... So thanks to my wonderful husband (and a lot of complaining) he bought me a camera...

So here I am starting my blog and can you believe it I can't think of a thing to write.... I can't think of anything funny the kids did or anything on the list of things I had to blog about.. So bare with me it may be a slow start but my life is pretty fun and I always have a lot going on ...

So if your willing to hang in there on my life's journey's then I'm sure there will be day's to laugh and day's to cry and definitely day's you will say I'm glad that's not my kid...

I want my blog to be about just everyday thing's that I go through . I want something for my children to remember all the fun we have and sometimes hard things we will go through ... My mom always told me "Life is what you make it" and I like to think I've made a good life for myself...


Welcome To Life At MandyLand !!!

Olivia said while taking this Picture

"Peace out Dude"

To Be so Carefree

When I was little I remember the summer day's felt like they would never end. We would play outside all day and it didn't matter how hot it was or what we were doing we had not a care in the world..

I was reminded of this yesterday watching my little one play.. She didn't care she was in her undies or that she was playing alone she just jump in the water like the day would never end... To be a kid again

One day I'm sure she will not be thrilled with these pictures but I hope she will remember the time in her life when life was carefree.