4th of July :)

{Pictures courtesy of my cousin Emma, because I don't take my camera out for nothing}

My family came down for the 4th and we were pretty excited about that. But mostly we were excited about seeing Ash Ketchum and Ry Ry, our niece and nephew. Since we Facetime a few times a week, Ashley knows who we are and was just as ecstatic to have us around. I use "us" very generally because this girl LOVES Ty. But she calls him Tyler with extra emphasis on the "-ler" part of his name. And when she comes calling, the whole world stops. Spoiled much?

{Jessica and Ashley in her tu-tu swimsuit}

{Ash Ketchum LOVES Grandpa}

{This was at the parade as the Veterans marched by with the flag. So adorable!}

Jessica asked me to make a dress for Ashley and she loved it. She'll have to grow into it but when she tried it on, she went crazy. She was dancing around and posing in front of the mirror. It was about a 10 minute ordeal of hilarious-ness. And for her go-to pose, she kinda hops, bends one knee, and kicks the other foot out while she holds her arms in second position adding some jazz hands for some extra pizazz. {She was also wearing a green top hat which I hope was leftover from St. Patty's Day and not just laying around} She's just an absolute crack up because everything she does, she does in her own way. 

{They had a rainy day yet fun was had by all. I also wanted to highlight that I bought her that little jacket and can't wait to let my babies use it.}

{And the parade while the "hosies" and parade royalty passed by.. am I the only one singing "Hello Dolly" in my head?}

And Baby Ryan.. everyone wanted to hold that little dream. He was 3 months at the time and really didn't have a say in who was holding him or not. So he got passed like a game of musical babies. Ty is the baby whisperer and he would snatch little Ry out of anyone's hands the second he started to fuss with a, "I got this," or a, "I'll calm him down." Personally I think he was trying to prove a point, whether it was "Look how awesome I am with babies! Maybe we should get one" or "Ryan likes me better than all of you, even his mom," I'm not sure we'll ever know.

{This boy wasn't feeling great cuz mom wasn't feeling great but when he was smiling, he sure meant it. This is my mom, sister and Ry Ryj}

{This is his swim attire. He never got in but he was looking the part with itty bitty board shorts and a muscle tee.}

{This is probably the one time no one was holding him.}

And I mean, I guess it was pretty good seeing Josh and Jessica and my parents. hee hee. It was fantastic getting to see them for something other than 2 seconds.

{Me in the middle with Ash Ketchum on my lap (twinners!!), Photog Emma to my right, Mumzie behind me on the right, Jessica and Josh behind me on the left, Dad and Ty lurking in the back row}

We love spending time with my family, and next week, we'll love spending time with Ty's family in DISNEYLAND!! Woo Woo!!

2 Months Along!!!

... and if they don't come out on their own, the doctor will have to do it surgically. All five of them. Quintuplets of sorts. 

Oh did you think I mean babies? Cuz I'm talking kidney stones. AGAIN.

They've been giving me off and on pain for the last 2 months and I really need them gone before Disneyland. However my dad told me that just a step above the Character Dining is the Character Ambulance ride. Of course it'll cost extra but to have Mickey accompany me to the hospital, whilst spouting off profanities, that's priceless.

The doctor was quite impressed with my timing because I went in to see him almost a year ago to the day with my first kidney stone. Ah.. the memories. In case my memories aren't as vivid to you as they are to me, go here and here for the run down.

Days

Days feel like they go so fast and sometimes so slow. Starting in January, we were anticipating summer and Seven Peaks and it felt like it would take forever. But here is it, without fail. The days keep moving. And this next little bit, we have a lot to look forward to so we'll just keep enjoying it one day at a time.

{12} days til I see my family and snuggle the bitties

{31} days til Batman - mostly important to not me

{43} days til {literally} the happiest place on earth

{71} days til I start student teaching

{91} days til my birthday 

{116} days til Matty's year mark

{135} days til Zach's 6 month mark

{172} days til my last day of school

{infinity} days til Ty gets me to go camping with him

Husbandisms 8

We were driving on the freeway on an incredibly windy day. A bird smashes into the windshield leaving feathers and other things behind. After several moments, I reach over and hit the windshield wipers.
E: I thought you were going to do that.
T: I just thought we should give him a moment of silence.

Again, we're driving on a Sunday evening and Ty is reflecting on our church service that day where a few elderly women spoke to the congregation.
T: When you get old, I don't want you to dye your hair. Those little old ladies with the snowball hair.. I have a thing for them..  they're just so cute.

I'm Not Made For This..

So Ty and I were asked to be den leaders in our ward. As usual we gladly accepted but I made it very well known that I was out of my element. 

8 year old boys? 

Really? 

We attended our very first Pack Meeting last night and it was about as noisy and overwhelming as I expected. Not to mention we played Capture the Flag, which is not my fondest memory from elementary school, and I single handedly made a little boy cry not even on purpose. 

So I guess we're off to a good start right? Here's to hoping it gets better and I look super fly in my scout shirt. 

*As whiny as I sounded, I'm happy to serve and know this will definitely be a learning experience.

Oh just some pics..

 I never take many pictures with my camera but when I do, it's pure gold. 

{Lil P playing with the felt make up kit I made her for Christmas}

{Jessica and Ash Ketchum "Christmas" morning. They waited til the 26th to celebrate with us.}

{Mumzy and I made Ash Ketchum a blanket but she wanted in on the action too}

{The sister and the niece}

{Their cute little fandamily}

{Oh just the last time I saw my bff ever} 

 .. Until the next time I empty my camera :) 

"My little baby is growing up and saving China!"

Which is exactly what the 7-year old version of this boy said when he and the Mumzy dropped me off for my first day of middle school. And now I should say the same about him. My parents, Ty and I dropped Little Brother off at the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday.

I thought I would be okay with it because back in October we dropped the sweet Matty boy off there too. But I guess something about living with a human for nearly two decades just pulls at your heartstrings like nothing you could imagine. It was emotionally straining and made me temporarily hope that we never have boy babies and maybe never have babies in general just {General Just *salute*} so I never have to send them off.

That being said,  I know that despite how hard it was for me and {especially} my parents to see my baby brother  and  their one and only boy child leaving us for two whole years, the sadness we feel will be matched over and over again by the joy he brings to the people in Texas as he shares the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Eternal Plan of Happiness.

I'm so happy for him and proud of his decisions. And I can't wait til I get used to the fact that he's not around anymore. Until then, just don't mention him or I may erupt in a sobbing mess.