Double Digit Day!!

Happy 10th Birthday Ireland!!

I can't believe how fast the last decade has flown by. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding my first born in my arms. My little girl was born at 4:32pm she was 6 lbs 11 oz. and 20.5 inches long. My how things have changed...here are 10 reasons I think my daughter is the greatest:

1. She has an awesome sense of humor

2. super friendly

3. very compassionate

4. she is a great helper

5. very smart and artistic

6. she can cook really well- she bakes excellent brownies

7. I love that she is part tom-boy but that she isn't afraid to be girly

8. she is very brave and will try anything

9. Her self confidence is awesome

10. Her smile (braces and all) is contagious =)

Ireland has such a special way of just lighting up a room- she has the type of personality that is just a pleasure to have around, I have always gotten complimented on how well behaved and awesome she is, and I couldn't agree more. I don't know what Rich and I did to deserve such an amazing little girl, but all I can say is I feel very blessed to be her mom.

Happy Birthday Peanut, we all love you very much!!!

1st Day of School at Minshew Elementary

Last week was a very bitter-sweet week for me- The kids started school- which I think is so great for them, the hard part was letting go of my "babies". The twins started kindergarten and I was so sad to see them go- they have been with me since the day they were born and I think that because they were pre-mature I've always been a little more protective of them, and the fact that I know that there will be no more children after them, it made it a little bit harder for me. Most people send their kids off to school gradually, with twins it's all at once. I had such a fear of feeling all alone once all my kids were gone for the whole day. The first day was somewhat difficult but the night before, after the kids went to bed, I cried my self to sleep so that I could get out all of the tears so I wouldn't cry when I dropped them off.
We got to the school, walked Ireland to her locker so we could help her decorate it (with Zac Effron magnets) then we walked her to her class, gave loves, wished her a wonderful day and said goodbye. (She is a pro at the whole school thing now that she is in 4th grade, she was super excited to start).
Then off to the kindergarten hall- I wasn't sure just how Spencer or Kaston would react- they were so brave- they put their backpacks in their cubbies- Kaston's is a "soldier one" as he calls it (camouflage) and Spencer's is Joe Jonas- whom she adores- she is very proud of that backpack- Then they looked for their name on a table, they each found their own name very quick and easy, they both gave me big hugs and kisses- Spencer didn't look nervous at all, she was just really happy and Kaston had a small look of concern but he was very brave and didn't let his nerves get the best of him, I took a few pictures gave a few last loves and left. Once I got in the car I actually felt relieved. I think I was afraid that they would have a hard time with me leaving them, but since they were okay, it made me feel okay.
Now we are a week into school, and there are moments when I feel a little lonely, like I'm missing something, but for the most part it has been pretty good. Going grocery shopping is a breeze & I am able to start a project at home and actually finish it. It's nice to have a routine and I love hearing about the kids day and seeing how excited they are to learn so many new things. As scared as I was for the first day of school, I think things are working out just fine, and- I am getting better at not feeling guilty when I say that having a break is actually a pretty nice thing.

***My Baby Sister, JENSEN, is 16! ***

Happy Birthday Jensee!!

We all love and miss you and wish that we could be

there with you!

I can remeber the day that mom told me that you were

going to be born....Christmas day, 1991.

I was so excited, all I wanted my whole life was a little

brother or sister. Fortunately, I was blessed with a little sister-

God knew that you would be the best for me-

you have been such an amazing sister and have become

a best friend to me. I love you so much and I can't believe that

you are 16, what does that make me, at least 25 =o)

I hope that this day is one of the best days of your life!!

& now that you have your license-

Drive fast & take risks- hehe

(I'll let mom be the one to tell you to drive slow & be safe)

**Happy 30th Birthday Meag-E-Poo**

Today is my best friend's Birthday- She is turning a whopping 30 years old! Now she's an old fart like me. I so wish that I could be in Utah to help celebrate such a big birthday. If I was there I would go and pick out the ugliest, most random balloons- it's tradition- and then I would get a good cake with whipped cream frosting- none of that lard crap- and then give her a big ol' birthday hug. But.... since I'm not there I will just have to send her all my love and wish her the best birthday ever- well at least a really great birthday, it can't be the best if I'm not there =)

I love ya Meag! I hope that your 30's will be your best years ever!! You are an amazing friend, I would not have made it through many tough times without you. You are an awesome mom, daughter, sister, wife and the most wonderful friend that I could ever ask for. You deserve the very best that life has to offer, so... on this, your 30th birthday, that is exactly what I wish for you.

(how do you like the picture- it's the only one I have of you on my computer- I have a huge box of actual pictures, but that would require me to scan one in, and as you know- I'm just not that skilled with the computer yet.)

Welcome Baby Kenyan!!!

He's finally here!
Kenyan Tyeler has arrived-
on August 22, 2008
7 lbs. 6.9 oz.
20.5"
8:09 am











Up until now Kaston has been the baby on my side
of the family-- not any more. My cousin Braydee had this
sweet little boy, she and Nate are now very proud parents.
She had a scheduled C-section and all went very well.

Yesterday we went to see the new happy family for a little bit, the twins still aren't feeling to well so they just looked at him from a distance, but Ireland got to hold Kenyan for a few minutes- which made her very happy. He is very sweet, and I have to say that seeing him really took me back to my memories of when my babies were born- and now in two days they start kindergarten--time goes by way to quick!!

Congrats Braydee & Nate!!

We love you and are very happy for you and your new Bundle of Joy-

Kenyan- Your Sweet Baby Boy!!!

Also......Congrats to- Toni and Craig -the happy Grandparents =o)

Happy Birthday Rich!! (last week)

Last Wednesday was Rich's Birthday- I have been meaning to blog about it, but I didn't have any pictures to post with it, until now- So..... Happy Birthday Babe! I hope you know how much we love and appreciate you!! (for those of you reading this, you should hear Rich say appreciate, he sounds very country, I think the Texas drawl is creepin' up on him)

Anyways- He had a decent birthday involving a home cooked meal- which he doesn't get that often since he is on the road so much- the kids gave him all of his presents, and then we had chocolate cake- it was from Sams club, only to find out that night that he prefers Costco cake- 11 years and I still learn new things about him. All in all, a good day for someone who is almost 40

hehe!! :o)

Rich Put What In The Pool!?

This is such a funny story.....my sweet little boy, Kaston, is so smart and is usually saying such big words for a little kid and he actually uses them correctly, with the exception to the other day.

I am going to take the long way around to tell what happened.

At the beginning of the summer I really wanted to get one of those little, cheapy, blow up pools so the kids could stay cool during the hot Texas summer. So we decided to go to Toys-R-Us to see if they had any. To our surprise they had a 12 ft x 3ft frame pool with a pump on clearance, it was originally $170 but it was marked down to $49.99, plus we had a ten dollar gift card. What an awesome purchase, it has been so much fun for the kids (and for me). The only thing is that it requires maintenance, chlorine, algae killer, etc. It does take some work for it to remain clean, so every weekend Rich takes care of the pool, he adds the chemicals to the water and then the kids have to wait a half hour until they can swim.

Well, on this particular day, Rich did the usual cleaning of the pool, the kids waited, and then.....time to swim YAY!! I got the kids all sunscreened up, made sure everyone had their goggles, towels, and swim toys. They finally got in the pool, which is 5 feet from our back door, I went inside and was only in for a few minutes before Kaston was knocking at the door frantically. I hurried to get to it, thinking "oops, I forgot to make them go potty before swimming, he probably has to pee." When I opened the door, Kaston had such a stressed look on his face, so I asked him what was wrong?? he answered.........

"Mom! Dad put the testicles in the pool and it is still dirty!!"

I tried to keep as straight a face as I could, and told him to wait a little bit for the "chemicals" to work. He now says it correctly, but I have to admit, I am so happy he didn't get it right the first time, I will always remember this and I will laugh everytime I think about it. Kids really do say the darndest things. :o)

Go Rangers!!

So we went to a Texas Rangers game, I totally love going to these games even though they don't always play the greatest. The atmosphere at a major league game is the best- we just buy the cheap seats: $6 for adults and $3 for the kids. You can take in your own food, so we usually pack a picnic, but we always have to buy a bag of peanuts- it wouldn't be a game without them.

They played the Toronto Blue Jay's this game, the Rangers lost-shocker! The only good thing that the Ranger's did--they scored a run in the 6th which won everyone a free taco from Taco Bueno- good stuff! Oh, and they have a player that went to Taylorsville High School (the high school in Utah that I went to) I can't remember his name, it wasn't anybody I had ever heard of.

We all had a fun summer night at the game- Ireland's friend, Delaney, went with us. The kids had fun running around and acting like crazy little monsters, nothing new there. =)

I just love this picture of Spencer, she looks like such a cool, hip, little chick

Sweet Siblings

How sweet are my little ones?! Even though they fight, they love each other so much. Kaston looks up to Ireland very much and he has a best friend in Spencer. The girls have a wonderful connection, they enjoy dressing up and putting on make up and occasionally ganging up on their little brother and dressing him up too :)

I tell them that they are so lucky to have each other and that they will always have someone to be there for them. They don't quite get it yet, but they will someday. My sister is only 15, but she is one of my very best friends, I am very lucky to have her in my life!!