Sleep? too busy! I'll make up for it in winter!!

Summer has been busy, so for now i'll sum up some of what we've done so far......

I recently learned to get there early on free slurpee day so there is more than just cold syrup in your cup. There are secrets to not having your hair and makeup melt at a car show in 80 degree weather, I know them well and looked hot all day because of them. I flat out adore everything about winnie the pooh. Energy with style helps you get through the day at Cub Scout camp where you should watch your fingers, perfect your aim and be allowed a 3:30pm nap at any age. Girl Scouts can do anything, even get matching tattoo's with your mom =]

I think Defying Gravity is more of a way of life for me =]

I don't cause commotions, I AM one. ~ Elphaba

I read the books. In some weird way I relate to her so much. Maybe it's cause I grew up loving The Wizard Of Oz as much as my mom does. Maybe it's cause my mom played Wicked Witch with my girls when they were little and it was so cute to watch them giggle sooo much. Maybe it's cause my mom and my girls secretly called ME the Wicked Witch for years without me knowing. None the less i've always been curious of her. I grew up believing I am a princess, seems fitting that I relate to fairy tale so much then doesn't it. =]

I loooved seeing Wicked. I loooved sharing the excitement with my mom. I was so excited for it to start I wanted to cry.... still do just thinking about it. I've always played by my own rules and it's true some times you just gotta leap!

"Defying Gravity"

GLINDA

Why couldn't you have stayed calm, for once! Instead of flying off the handle -- !

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy now

I hope you're happy how you've

Hurt your cause forever

I hope you think you're clever

ELPHABA

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy too

I hope you're proud how you would

Grovel in submission

To feed your own ambition

GLINDA & ELPHABA

So though I can't imagine how

I hope you're happy

Right now

GLINDA

Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry!

You can still be with The Wizard

What you've worked and waited for

You can have all you ever wanted -

ELPHABA

I know

But I don't want it - No!

I can't want it anymore

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by

The rules of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes

And leap...

It's time to try defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

And you can't pull me down

GLINDA

Can't I make you understand

You're having delusions of grandeur?

ELPHABA

I'm through accepting limits

Cuz someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try I'll never know

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love I guess I've lost

Well if that's love

It comes at much too high a cost

I'd sooner buy defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity

And you can't pull me down!

Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do - together!

Unlimited

Together we're unlimited

Together we'll be the greatest team

There's ever been - Glinda!

Dreams the way we planned 'em

GLINDA

If we work in tandem

GLINDA & ELPHABA

There's no fight we cannot win

Just you and I, defying gravity

With you and I defying gravity

ELPHABA

They'll never bring us down!

Well, are you coming?

(GLINDA decides to stay behind.)

GLINDA

I hope you're happy

I hope your happy now that your choosing this -

ELPHABA

You too--

I hope it brings you bliss

GLINDA & ELPHABA

I really hope you get it

And you don't live to regret it

I hope you're happy in the end

I hope you're happy my friend

ELPHABA

So if you care to find me

Look to the Western sky!

As someone told me lately

Everyone deserves the chance to fly

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

To those who ground me

Take a message back from me!

Tell them how I am defying gravity

I'm flying high, defying gravity

And soon I'll match them in renown

And nobody in all of Oz

No Wizard that there is or was

Is ever gonna bring me down!!

GLINDA

I hope you're happy

CITIZENS OF OZ

Look at her

She's wicked

Get her!!

ELPHABA

Bring me down!

CITIZENS OF OZ

No one mourns the wicked

So we got to bring her -

ELPHABA

Ahhhh!

CITIZENS OF OZ

--Down!

"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom."~Abraham Lincoln

It seems that in the busyness of every day life it is so hard at times to just take time to your self. I cannot count the number of times I have wanted to sit and blog about something amazing that happened in my day. Like around Easter when i found out that my Stepdaughter is going to have a baby, when Nathan turned 7 and looked like such a grown up little man when he chose to wear a suit to his birthday party. Over spring break we took the boys to the aquarium at the beach and Zakary insisted we played on the beach even tho it was freezing. The girls were at the beach with Grandma and Grandpa and Kaitlynn was getting driving lessons in the dune buggy. Or when Bekkah's Powder Puff Derby car won best paint and she was soooooo excited. It was an Oregon Ducks car =]  My favoritest of all tho was when I took my mom to go see Wicked the musical. We are both wicked witch fans and our fifth row seats were nothing short of amazing!

So why today do I make the time to blog? Today I feel like my emotions are much bigger than I am. Today is Memorial Day. I went to the different cemeteries where grandparents are buried, our first stop was to Willamette National. My mom's parents are there. We seemed to time it just right that we got there as the 21 cannon salute went off and the jets flew overhead. It was a neat feeling to be there for that. There are so many flags, it really is an amazing sight. Even though Memorial Day is meant for those who our in memory, I think about the people that are sacrificing so much to keep us safe. Now don't get me wrong, I have more appreciation that I could put into words for our military who have fought for us over the many many years. Without them I wouldn't have my very own senseless corner of the world wide web to dump my thoughts into, to say the least. I have a friend who is serving in Africa right now, and it was him that I thought of most today. He is far away from his wife and kids, only gets to talk to them every once in a while, and is risking his life every day to help keep us safe and free here at home. If my grandfathers and friends would never have made the sacrifices they had and continue to do, I wouldn't be able to tuck my little ones into bed each night knowing they will be safe and sound. I wrote that friend an e-mail right before I started this blog entry. I wanted to tell him how thankful I am for what he and all of the soldiers do for us. My Girl Scouts wrote letters to the boys in his unit, I'm sending them tomorrow along with some much anticipated Tagalongs. I wish I were delivering them to his house so he could share them with his kiddos, maybe I'll keep a box out and hopefully he will be home soon to do just that. Freedom isn't free. such a true statement. For all of those who have fought and continue to fight for out freedom I cannot say THANK YOU in big enough letters. I wish all that are away a safe and soon return home to their loved ones.

I do not know who the man is in this picture, but I have a feeling that the words he is reading from that piece of paper are meaningful enough to make some tears fall.

And to you I say.......... (insert mouth fart noises here)

Ever have one of those days? you know the ones where your mood just tells you to stick your tongue out at the world. I seem to be having quite a few of those lately. However I have some very adorable little faces in my life that make me smile, as I'm sticking out my tongue. Speaking of those little faces one of them isn't quite so little anymore. She is turning fourteen in just a couple days. We have now graduated on to inviting boys to our birthday party as well. Wow how time flies. Most days I don't feel old enough to have a kiddo that old, but that's a good thing, right? I'm excited for her. As much as I don't want her to be so grown up it really is an amazing feeling to see her get so excited. Our Friday evening will consist of a house full of teenagers and who knows what kind of shenanigans, it's gonna be good times. When I was fourteen my mom let me invite boys. She also got me a cake with black licorice icing that gave us all black mouths. It was fun and I never will forget it. I hope she has as much fun at her party, and no I'm not getting anything with black icing. You know for all the things in life that make you want to stick your tongue out there is always so many more of those little things that make you just smile. We will see if I survive this weekend........ I hope so, after all it is cookie season and what doesn't kill me really does make me stronger.......... monkey ears and all!

And to all a good night!

I have to say I think today was the best Christmas ever. It was at my house this year, also a first. I decided to make it "themed" so we had a pajama party. Lots of yummy food, presents, paper ball fights and all of us sitting around in our pajamas so very comfy. I can't forget to mention the nerf guns either =]

I decided that I wanted to focus on my children this Christmas. I wanted them to be able to wake up Christmas morning, unwrap their presents and just hang out in their p.j.'s all day. Without having to leave home and rush somewhere. So we did just that and Christmas came to us. Everyone wore there most comfy p.j.'s, we all ate way too much and had the greatest time ever.

My morning started at 5:40 a.m. and the last of the family just headed out at about 11:00 p.m. Wow. I am soooo tired. The kids were all very happy with their gifts, I think everyone got exactly what they wanted. So the nerf guns... well my kids have 9 of them in different shapes ad sizes and every one of them were in use from about 2 to 10. That's 8 straight hours of those little foam darts flying everywhere. All of the kids, from age 2 to 42 were playing with them. And having a blast I might add. Lucky for me our house is big enough that they had an area to do it in, all having fun without breaking my pretties. Several comments were made of how they were such a big hit and everyone had such a great time this year. Which made me very happy. I was even asked what my plans were for next years theme, how kick ass is that. My youngest Zakary layed down in the middle of the room where they were shooting each other at about 7 and passed out. He's still asleep. All cozy in his bed. Still in his p.j.'s.

Christmas this year wasn't about Santa. ( all though he is a very important part ) It wasn't about the presents either. It was about family. Spending time with the ones you love the most. And that's what we did. Laughing, smiling, not worrying about tomorrow. Just feeling the magic of what today is. Like were suppose to do on this day. There was something magical about this Christmas. Now I'll admit I just didn't seem to be in the spirit at first but something changed a couple weeks ago. I couldn't tell you what it was, but it sure seemed to make a difference. I guess what you hear is true, all you have to do is Believe.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

Tonight was one of those magical moments. I was tucking the boys into bed an out of the corner of my eye I saw out the window, it was snowing. The kids have been talking about snow for days and how they wanna build snowman's with sticks for arms and put there hat on him =] I know it was bed time, but what kind of mom would I be if I didn't let them all run right outside in their pj's and catch snow flakes on their tongue. After their little fingers and toes were frozen they came in and warmed up by the fire, and eventually off to bed. It was just one of those fun magical moments watching them play and throw snow at each other, giggling and shivering at the same time. I love the little things, they mean so much =]

The Little Things

Sometimes it's he smallest things in life that make you stop and look around. My youngest Zakary was reading books this morning and found a scrapbook of his oldest sister that she had made herself. He came up to me with tears in eyes asking where the pictures of him were. I tried to explain he hadn't been born yet when those were taken, but he's 4, he doesn't get it. I then told him that mommy had lots of pictures of him as a baby too and of course he wanted to see them right away. So thee I was tearing apart my closet to find his baby book... see I've been a bit of a slacker. His three older siblings have crap books from birth till there first birthday, and all though I have everything to put Zak's book together I haven't done it. I can use the excuse of no time, which it honestly feels like I don't have, but that's not a good enough excuse for me when I've got the others done. His baby book I kept up on though. So we looked through his book, which he was very excited about. And then I carried him around the house showing him all of the photos I have of him everywhere. He was very excited. Maybe he thought the baby in all the pictures was just a baby, not him.

Life has been busy for me. Up and Down and back and forth. Sometimes it feels like the roller coaster I live on is just too much and that I should jump off. But it's my roller coaster, I'm the one driving, right? Sometimes I feel like I'm not in control or making the decisions, but I am. It can be a battle to be me, but it always seems to turn out ok in the end. A little bit of chaos hasn't killed me yet, hopefully just made me stronger and I have four beautiful children who are always able to make everything better, even when I feel like my tummy's upside down when the ride stops. I wouldn't be me without them. I've said that a million times and I will say it a billion more.

It's been four plus years since I touched a scrapbook. I think it's time I start. Maybe going through my life in photographs will help me feel a bit more grounded. And if anything my baby wont be in tears cause he doesn't know why he's not in the pictures. Thanksgiving is next week, a time to be thankful for the good things in life. I have four beautiful reasons to be thankful for, no matter what day of the year it is. There's no place to go from here other than up, I better get started.