I got tagged!

This is my first tag - hooray! :) This is a toughy...

3 joys
1. My family and friends. Logan and Kade are the two most important boys in my life. They both drive me crazy at times but I love them and would be lost without them. I am very very lucky to have both my side of the family and Logan's all right here in WA. Now we will never be allowed to move away... Kade can grow up with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins right here - how lucky is he? I didn't have that growing up and think it's so great that he will. I love my amazing sisters - they are each so different and I learn so much from them. Super sappy but we are best friends. My friends are also amazing and help keep me sane. I have some that have been my friends since kindergarten and of course ones who I've met throughout the stages of my life. I am blessed by these friendships and look forward to cultivating new ones!

2. LAUGHING!! I love a good belly, oh my goodness I am going to pee my pants, I just snorted laugh. I love being with people who make me laugh and have found that you must be able to laugh at yourself. Otherwise, life would be really, really boring. :)

3. Nature and being outdoors. I love being outside!! I love seeing the different seasons. I love finding cool new places and exploring them. I wish we had more sunshine here but love when it is out in full form. :)

3 Fears
1. That something will happen to myself or Logan and Kade will be left all alone. I saw something on TV awhile back that has completely haunted me. Short version - something happened to a mother and her toddler was left alone for days until someone found him. I will stop there because just thinking about it gives me anxiety. :)

2. That something terrible will happen to Kade. I don't need to elaborate on that one. :)

3. Clowns. Super creepy and would not have a place in society if it was up to me. :)

3 Current Obsessions
1. Peanut Butter. This has been an ongoing obsession throughout my life. I eat it every day. I think it is fantastic and could go on almost anything. Thank you Grandma Frances for starting this love affair I have with Peanut Butter.

2. Yoga and Swimming. Swimming to me is more then exercise. It has become extremely theraputic and makes me feel as if I could fly. Yoga makes me think about how our bodies really are a gift. Plus it is pretty cool when I can finally do something in class that a couple weeks before I thought - "What the?! You cannot bend that way!!"

3. Like Kedra - the show, So You Think You Can Dance. Being raised with sisters who are all dancers I have a real appreciation for all different styles of dance. Myself, I am a ballet, tap, modern dancer dropout. I knew I was doomed when my toes would cramp up just from trying to point them. The adjective "graceful" will never be used to describe myself. :)

3 Random/Surprising Facts About Myself
1. I came "this close" to marrying someone else...

2. I used to have quite a few body piercings back in the day...

3. Before I became one of the "oldies standing in the back trying desperately to hang onto their youth" I used to go to concerts all the time and go in the pit and crowd surf...ahh...the good old times.

I'm now tagging
1. Shauna
2. Janelle
3. Jenny

Zoo party and a circus? Lucky Kade.

Kade turned 2 on the 28th of June. I can't believe I'm a mom of a two year old... That Saturday was hot hot hot so I was glad we were able to have his zoo birthday party at my parents. We had kiddy pools, sprinklers and a slip n' slide to keep the kids nice and cool. After we dragged them out of the water (they wouldn't get out by their own free will) we went on a hunt to find the zoo animals (stuffed animals hidden in the living room). No animals were harmed during this activity.

Kade and his friends - drinking the pool water was a big hit. Gross.

Happy Birthday Kade! He blew out the candle without spitting on the cake! Way to go buddy.

A couple days later we went to the circus in Monroe. We were a little skeptical and weren't sure what to expect - it looked pretty ghetto. But we all had fun and Kade would not get off the pony ride. He chickened out as we approached the elephant - he was HUGE! Logan was relieved since he was worried about him riding it anyways. I thought it was funny that Logan was more worried then me - doesn't happen that often... :)

Dean, Mary, Darren and Evan - sharing in the circus excitement with us. Although the circus turned out better then expected, I still think clowns are creepy. Especially in Monroe.

Recitals, Birthdays and Rock Band Oh My!!

Friday, my amazingly talented older sister held her very first ballet recital for her dance school. She blew us all away with her choreography, teaching skills and solo. Especially the splits in the end. Yah - that's what I said - splits! I can't remember the last time I could do the splits... I tried ballet when I was little but my toes would cramp up every time I pointed them. Needless to say I quit. But I am glad she stuck with it because she is a beautiful dancer and great teacher. Lydia (her daughter) was equally amazing and we couldn't be more proud!!

Could she be any cuter? Here she is saying, "Oh Leah - you are so funny. You are my favorite Aunt." Okay, maybe not but she is still cute. Amelia was crawling around like a crazy animal on Saturday. I can't believe how strong she is. She will be walking in no time. Sorry Alisa and Brien. :)
Okay - this is almost too creepy for words. I wish we had a clearer shot of the doll on the left but my bro-in-law looks EXACTLY like this doll from High School Musical. Lydia got it for her birthday and I started laughing so hard that I almost snorted. Not good. Creepy Eric, but I love it.
Happy Birthday Lydia! She is getting so old!! For her birthday party she wanted to invite a few friends and have a sleepover at a hotel. Swimming, pampering - can you tell she's a girl? So cute.
The after party. Doing what we do best. (Okay maybe the rest of the fam...) Isn't my mom hot?! Hope those genes will kick in one of these days.

Well...that was our weekend in a nutshell. :)

Father's Day with Family

On your mark, get set, go!!! Could my niece be any cuter?

She humors him. What a good cousin

Football!!! One of the most coordinated kids I've ever seen!

Nana and Kade after another trip to see the turkeys

We spent Father's Day at my parents this year. It was such a beautiful day - the kids couldn't wait to get outside and neither could the adults. I am so thankful to have grown up with such a caring father. I know I gave him a run for his money but he tried his best to show his love and support in the ways he knew how. I still look to him for advice, guidance and counsel and love how he is such a great grandpa (papa) to Kade. I love that the first thing Kade wants to do when we go to my parents is to have Papa take him to see the turkeys. :) He survived raising four emotional, irrational red-headed daughters which is an amazing feat in itself. He is a great Dad. This is where I get even more mushier (slightly gagging but I'm sincere) - Logan is an amazing dad!! I LOVE how he makes up games, songs and silly things for Kade. Hearing their stomping footsteps as they chase each other upstairs and Kade's uncontrollable laughter as he's pelted with a pillow fills me with even more love for these two important boys in my life. :) I'm grateful for a husband who takes his role as a Father seriously and wants to be a good example to our Little Kid. Love you Logan. :)

Ghost of High School Past

Okay, I have this same recurring dream a lot and it just haunts me. I am back at my high school and I have just realized that a. it is finals week, b. I have been skipping so much that I can't find my locker and I've forgotten my combination and c. I cannot remember what my schedule is or where my classes are. I am running through the halls, in a panicked frenzy and I know that if I don't pass my math final (it is always either math or science - evil, evil subjects) I won't be able to graduate. I wake up freaked out and just can't seem to shake it (at least not for a couple hours - usually around the time Curious George is over). Why is high school haunting me? Is it Karma for all those days that I skipped and went to my boyfriends house or got slurpies with my friend Kristen? I have no idea. All I know is that I hate them and they are even worse then those awkward ex-boyfriend dreams (come on ladies - you know what I'm talking about - can I get a holla?!) Why can't I dream that I can fly or something normal like that?

Where's Mommy's Little Piggy?

This week has been busy and full of friends. Tuesday Kade's little friend Isiah celebrated his second birthday at playgroup. I watched all the kids devouring their chocolate cupcakes - frosting up to their elbows while my sweet little Kade played with their toys. Sigh. I never thought I'd wish for my child to eat sugar loaded junk but when you have to roll the waist of their pants to keep them from flashing their diapered buns you hope they will eat just about anything. What can you do. He'll be drinking whole fat milk till he's 30 most likely.

Down With Peer Pressure

So, I finally gave in and started a blog. At first I thought it was a little self-indulgent - do I have something important enough for others to read? But then after hearing friends talk about it - I decided to join the band wagon (I feel so weak and dirty) and start one for our family. So, I am creating this in the mind set that it will be fun to share pictures of Little Kid and if you want to skip my random ramblings - no hard feelings here. :) Part of me knows this is going to be yet another thing to keep me up way too late while I enjoy the peaceful quiet as our little punk rocker sleeps. Oh well - what can you do?