Mommy Vacation

I didn't write about my mommy vacation but I thought I should now. I had looked forward to this trip for at least 1 year. Every moment when I thought I just might loose it I thought, its okay I am going to visit my parents all by myself for 5 days. Just knowing that one day relief from life was coming helped me get through each day. When the time finally came it was better than even expected. I slept!!! I slept till at least 11:30 one day. It was truly amazing. We shopped, we ate (at really really nice restaurants), we went to see Grease and met Taylor Hicks, we shopped some more, we sat in the jacuzzi, we did what we wanted when we wanted. I can never thank my parents enough for my vacation from reality. They just might have saved me from loosing my mind. I am so glad that we all got together for our little girls + dad trip. I recommend it to all!

We went to Idaho (swan valley) for the 4th of July which is also Talan's birthday. We had a lot of fun. The boys love riding their dirt bikes and 4 wheelers. It was definitely a fun filled weekend for all. We had few mishaps which is odd for us. Usually all of our trips are full of mishaps and multiple problems. Its actually a wonder we ever leave the house. Last time we took the trailer and 4 wheelers out Matt lost the keys to the trailer which lead to going into town for bolt cutters. I hope one day we will be able to look back and think all these happenstances are funny! Anyways, Talan turned 3!!! I can't believe my little Talan is growing up. We all wore our army gear for the 4th to show our pride in America. Tyler looked like a little military man in his army garb while shooting his water gun. Talan was so excited for his presents the anticipation has been building for weeks. So when it came time to open presents I though he would be so excited over his much anticipated power glide scooter. No, no, he showed the most excitement over the card his Grandparents gave him which played music when opened and a chap stick we gave him. Why is it that the dumbest of things always captures the most emphasis?? Anyways, the kids loved the fireworks. I do to. I think there is something super special about fireworks. Oh well, a new day, a new dollar as my dad says. Back to real life.

A little late but Tyler's 6th birthday

Anyone want to bowl with us??

We went bowling the other day with our friends Cindi, Chase and Aiden. My boys LOVE to bowl. It was kind of a last minute decision to go so when we got there the kids were a little wild and crazy. The pure excitement of going to the bowling ally, getting their shoes, and balls was just about to turn into a mothers agony. Kids were running all around, up and down the ally throwing stuffed animals high in the air. Lots of loud is the only correct way to describe it. That is all fine and dandy normally but mixed in the bowling ally with us is a bunch of serious league bowlers who think they are just about God's gift to bowling. Now do you see the problem? I swear I have never felt such annoyance and dare I say hate in the air from people who do not know us. I could tell we were ruining their "sport competition" before we even started to bowl. Now, I am not going to lie, 3 children have kind of put me over my edge at times. I don't know if it is that we had the last 2 so close together or if 3 is just the number for us that makes life difficult but it is near impossible to keep track of all children at all times. I had Trevin glued to my hip and was running around trying to help Tyler, and Talan bowl. Tyler is a great bowler. He really does well and he is at the age that he understands the rules and how to play. Talan is well, besides just being Talan (a menace) he doesn't care. Even if he knows the rules he doesn't quite care enough about them to follow them. So while I was helping Tyler bowl, Talan did what he does best. He caused a scene. He had grabbed a spare bowling ball and threw it down the lane that this league was using. Just to help you picture it, he is little, the ball is heavy so, it is not a quick accident. It was like watching a disaster in slow motion. That ball was probably going a whopping -5 mph. It took at least 1 minute of slow rolling till it hit no pins. I quick started apologizing and scolding of Talan and the people lost it. It was like I had ruined their life. I offered to pay for another game and they would hear nothing of it. Nothing I did could make this problem go away for them. So finally after all solutions offered I walked away. By walking away I mean turning back to the seats directly behind theirs. Thats right, since we were still bowling we were right next to them for the rest of our bowling experience. I could hear them talking about me and us. It made for great fun. So, next time you go bowling, you should look to see if were are anywhere in sight. If we are, run! You don't want to bowl next to the Mower boys of mischief.

Easter and Trevin's 1st B-day

Easter Sunday was Trevin's big 1st birthday!  I can't believe my little guy is one.  It is so great!  As a birthday present to his mom, he slept through the night for the first time ever.  I can't think of a better present except for the jeans he asked my mother in law for which, he didn't get!  If you are wondering, Trevin asked his Grandma Mower for a pair of Seven jeans size 25, dojo cut.  We are still waiting Vickie don't you worry we know you will come through for us sooner or later.  Tyler and Talan were so excited to dye eggs and to go on an Easter Egg hunt.  I love having kids they make holidays so much fun.  Matt and I stayed up the night before getting everything just so.  We put together the Easter baskets, stuffed the eggs, got food prepared, and put together the sand box that Grandma Gould got the kids for their birthdays this year.  We were so excited to get the kids out in the sandbox with all their new sand toys.  We wake up and it is snowing!  There is no way we were going to play in the sand.  Yeah, all that lack of sleep for nothing.  That seems about right don't cha think?  Talan got his army four wheeler that he has been begging for.  Both Tyler and Talan have popped a few tires off the ground so far.  Its a good thing it has a kill switch on it.  I can already tell that kill switch is going to get its fair use.  Tyler is holding out for his dirt bike.  It has to be just perfect for him.  I swear there are days when I wonder how such a girlie girl like myself got 3 boys well, really 4.  I don't know if I would even recognize myself if I went back 10 years and saw myself through a window.  All this outdoor stuff, camping, 4 wheelers, Moab, I would probably laugh and say yeah right keep dreaming.  I guess all that matters is that my family is happy and whole.  A family that plays together stays together.

More Pictures

More Motocross

Weekend of Wonder

We had a fun weekend.  We decided that it was warm enough to go camping and take out our four wheelers.  The kids couldn't be happier with some dirt, toys, and a campfire.  They love every part of camping.  We had to leave the decision up to Tyler because he had to choose whether he would be okay with missing pajama day at school.  Not only is it hard to miss pj day because Tyler absolutely loves pjs and would probably live in them if possible, but he has uniforms.  So, any chance you get to dress different is super exciting.  Tyler's teacher told us to take pictures of the wild life.  Unfortunately, we only saw a skinned deer that had already decayed and all you saw were the bones and some fur left over.  Tyler insisted we take it's picture.  I thought about posting it but thought for those faint of heart I should be careful.  So, if you know my husband at all you know he is kind of a country boy.  We pulled into a small campsite to enjoy our weekend to ourselves.  Well, not even 5 hours later two cars with a trailer pull up.  Matt is beyond annoyed at this man and what we assume to be his wife.  Well, they get up and leave early in the morning but left their camper.  We thought well, I guess its not that big of a deal.  Later on that day after a fun day of riding, playing, napping, eating, everything good in life.  A small neighborhood drives up all with camper trailers and start squeezing next to us.  By the end of the night there was at least 10 other cars all with some sort of RV trailer next to us.  We might as well have been in a KOA.  We went home and got dressed and showered in 30 minutes for Talan to go to one birthday party and Tyler to go to another.  Talan was really sad to go because he wanted the toy he was given.  Oh the age of being 2 and not understanding birthday parties.  From the parties Matt and I met up and a parking lot and headed up to Denver for Motocross.  My children loved it.  I would recommend it to anyone who has boys.  They all had their eyes glued to all the dirt bikes.  Even my husband who kept gasping for fear the guys were going to wipe out.  It was a fun weekend.  It was what a weekend should be, full of fun!

Army Ball

The Army is unlike any experience that we have ever had.  We have learned from it and I'm sure our learning curve has yet to peak.  We went to our first ball this last weekend and it was quite the experience.  Matt was tasked with taking care of the General that was attending the ball so basically, he was a servant for the day.  He had to get him drinks, escort him around all day, pick him up from the airport, take him to meetings, pick him up and take him to the ball, etc.  I figure, if he can do all that for the visiting General, he should do it for me.  You know, massages every night, dinner on the table, everything at my beck and call.  Wouldn't that be the life.  Anyways, the ball has a wide variety of people who attend, one girl was I kid you not, wearing her wedding dress.  Another girl, was in something you would see from Target or some store like that.  They had a professional photographer there, it was like a weird prom with people of all ages.  It was fun, definitely an experience to remember. 

Make them work work make them work!

Every time I ask the kids to help with the dishes they fight over who will get to do them.  I figure I should enjoy this period of time and document it because it will be short lived.  I love having them help around the house it makes me feel like I am not totally messing them up!  Although, the other day Tyler asked me if he did chores how much I was going to pay him.  I think I need to work on the doing chores just because we all pitch in around here.

Monster Truck Jam

We took the kids to the Monster Truck Rally.  It was so fun.  The boys especially Talan wouldn't take their eyes off of the trucks.  It was really exciting for them.  Now Talan and Tyler play monster trucks non stop.  I love watching the boys play together because it makes me feel like the boys are friends.  I would encourage anyone with little kids to take them if it comes to your area.  It was well worth it!