Dinner for a King!

Tonight we celebrated our first Young Family Back to School Feast! We celebrated Shane as he starts his journey into school tomorrow. He was king for the day and enjoyed all the attention. We made his favorite meal of tri-tip, beans, corn and brownies for dessert. He wanted me to tell him all about his school and teacher and there were actually smiles at the thought of going to school! Crown for our Kindergarten boy, Shane!

We made a toast to the upcoming school year and the success of our little Shane.

Clothes are laid out and ready to go! He is my flip flop boy so I already worry about him and his shoes. He'll have to wake up earlier than normal so he can come to school with me. He'll have to learn new rules and make new friends. There will be many adjustments but I know he'll do great.

As I reflect back on the last 5 years I don't know where they have gone. I remember that first glance of my baby's thumb in the hospital room and thinking wow, if his thumb is that big he must be a big baby! Well today he seems huge and ready for Kindergarten. Too grown up to play at home all day. Too grown up to not get dress til noon. Too grown up to run around town with mom all day. We are starting this exciting new chapter in our lives tomorrow and Shane is so ready. He wants to go explore, learn, and make new friends as 5 year olds do but, he will never be too grown up for me to love and be proud of because he will always be my little boy.

It can't be Summer unless...

You spend endless days at the beach and... Endless hours at the county fair!!!

One of my favorite summer tradition is to go to the Ventura County Fair. It never seems to disappoint and we all have way too much fun! This year we were lucky to go with all the Monson girls and we had so much fun!

Shane loves being the big boy and going on all kids of crazy rides! I around finding what he will ride next. I love seeing him independent and carefree running around and playing.

Trevor likes to be like his big brother but sometimes he's a little unsure once he gets on those crazy rides!

The fear turns into happiness once the ride is over and he has conquered yet another ride! As Shane, he loves running around picking what ride he wants to go on next but is much more selective than big brother.

I always love the petting zoo and so does Mr. Trevor. He loves running around with the animals. This is something he has loved doing each year since he could walk.

Somehow they let both talked me into letting them ride this ride alone! I couldn't see their faces much but they said they loved going on an airplane!

Nothing beats some lemonade and all the yummy food at the Fair!

We had so much fun with Sadie and Lucy.

Finally, Trevor is big enough for some of the big kid rides but soon we found that he just wanted to watch Shane on many of the rides!

It also can't be Summer unless we go to the beach! The sun on our backs and the cold waves crashing into our feet is endless summer fun.

All the kids dug and dug which meant the gift of the sand kept giving once we got home in the bath and the car!

I love how Trevor and Lucy usually pair off.

Then Shane and Sadie pair off. All having a blast doing their own thing and enjoying each other too.

Summer days are pretty much gone. All the fun in the sun. Days at the beach and playing with cousins has come and gone. Now all we have are all the wonderful memories we have created to what was a perfect Summer.

Pause

Recently Shane has become obsessed with the pause button. While watching movies or playing a video game he is always pausing something so he won't miss a thing if and when he decides to leave. I'm beginning to think the pause button was the best invention ever if only I could pause my life! I am desperately wanting to stop life right now as I know it! Damon thinks I may be going through a mid-life crisis but whatever it is I feel like I'm sinking sometimes. I love my life and I don't want it to change! I don't want my family to grow up. I love the stages my boys are at and the joy they bring into my life. I love the time Damon and I get to spend together and how complete I feel when he is with me. Pushing pause will allow Trevor to stay 3 and always adore me. Even though he's 3 he will still have a little baby fat still on him. He will still need me to get him drinks each day and snuggle him in the mornings. If he's stays 3 he'll always need a kiss from me when he gets hurt to make it all better. I will be able to hold him forever and he would never outgrow my lap. I think life would be perfect!

Forever having a 5 year old on pause would be great too. I would always have a curious 5 year old asking questions and wanting to learn. I would continue to be the smartest person in the world along with Daddy. I would always have a baking buddy and someone willing to do big chores like doing the dishes or setting the table. Shane would never be embarrassed of my kisses if he was forever 5. Again, I think life would be perfect!

If I could push pause I would have my little boys always at my side. I wouldn't have to worry about them while they were out of my care. I would always have 2 little boys to hold my hand and play with at the park. I would continue to have an excuse to stop at 7-11 when they were in need of a Slurpee and secretly so was I. Instead I will have to let them grow and become independent of me. As much as I want to hit pause I'm excited to see them both grow. I always wonder what will they grow into. Will they really be the police officer and fireman they dream of? Will Shane live close by like he always promise? Will they outgrow my kisses? Only time will tell but for now and the many years left I will be enjoying our Slurpee's and trips to the park together, hand in hand with my two boys by my side.

only when I'm happy

Trevor has a cheerful yet somber personality. Happy but grumpy all within seconds. Some say that is what make Trevor so endearing and truly it is. I can't help but love our happy go lucky grump! Tonight he couldn't sleep and came downstairs for some snacks and to watch some TV with me. I gave him a kiss and he quickly wiped it off. Trevor is usually my lovable little guy and always smiles at my kisses and words of love.

Mommy: Did you just wipe my kisses away?

Trevor: Yep.

Mommy: Why would you do that?

And in the grumpiest tone that only Trevor has mastered in the 3 short year of his life says...

I only like kisses when I'm happy!

Maybe I should get him an ice cream with a cherry on top so life can be good again. Whatever the case may be his happy yet grumpy personality continues to make me smile and give him kisses even if he doesn't want them.

knowing how to have fun!

After spending too many days in the heat we were all ready to hit the beach and go to Ventura! A car full of 5 kids under 5 is always quite entertaining but it's a crazy I love and sometimes miss. Spending time with our Texas cousins is always a blast! Lucy and Trevor are the crazy 3 year olds! As you can tell they enjoy being together. They both find joy in making others laugh so they are always entertaining each other. Trev and Lu were thrilled to be going round and round together and all on their own help each other's hands. Too sweet.

Life is always more sweet with Thrifty's ice cream. Please notice Damon, that we decided to eat OUT of the car for the wonderful colorful flavor of cotton candy!

Baby Daphne was the star in my boys eyes. They adore babies. When bath time came poor Lanae didn't have much room with all the kids there to "help." Trevor was off getting a bath toy or something and missed the picture. I cannot believe how perfect little Daphne is. We carted her all around and there was never a peep from her. We took her to the beach, fair, long car rides, dinners, and parks and she was always happy as can be.

No trip to Ventura is complete without a trip to Santa Barbara. We have to always stop at the same candy story I always had to stop at as a kid.

People always think our kids are twins. 2 sets of twins, YIKES! When alone with them all I'm always asked if they are all mine or how I do it! Shane is 8 weeks older than Sadie and Lucy is 8 weeks older than Trevor. I think we tossed about a dollar worth of pennies into this fountain! The simple joys of kids.

Even though our kids don't get to see much of each other when they are together they sure do know how to have fun. They are full of spunk and fun.

We were lucky enough to "celebrate" Fiesta Days while shopping at a favorite store in Santa Barbara. Who could resist colored eggs full of confetti?

Breaking them on each other and making a mess of State Street!

Sadie had to pick a lot of it up in her little bag. Surprise for Grandpa when we got home he got a mess of confetti on his head!

Poor Allie missed out on a lot of fun. She got pink eye after Hunter was born and had to stay home for a few days. The fun continued once she was there. One day Lanae bolts out the front door to catch the ice cream man and I'm pretty sure she should win mother of the year award. She ran 6 blocks in flip flops to finally catch up with him and send him back to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Being with family is always a blast but is usually filled with so much fun we are so tired once it's all over. I miss all these little darlings like crazy. I hate being so far from the ones we love but when we are together we sure do know how to have fun!

Showers and a new Baby

When my baby sisters was first pregnant I was so excited to throw a shower for her. The best part all 3 older sisters were able to be together and throw a ultra summer shower and we had a blast doing it. The theme Summer Boardwalk.
Loved all the maternity pictures around. Cyndi and Tara's friends helped out a ton with all the food, it was all so yummy.

Can't welcome the sweetest little nephew into the family without tons of candy!

The shower was on Saturday and then Cyndi was induced on Tuesday. It was nice going shopping, playing baby, getting things put together and waiting in excitement for the big day!

I don't know why I brought my point and shoot for such crappy pictures! I love how the ice cream cones turned out. The kids loved us bringing them home too.

Shane and Trevor were so excited for Baby Hunter to come. Shane made him a card before we drove out to California and picked him a present out at Target. They both love new babies!

The big day came and all the sisters couldn't be more excited. Poor Cyndi was at the hospital for 16 hours before he came! We tried to liven things up in the boring delivery room until the contractions came.

Helping Cyndi visualize herself having a baby!! Good thing no one came in while we were playing. I guess we will never grow up. We thought that was as close as we'd get to the delivery but we were happy to find out Craig and Cyndi wanted us all (plus mom) in the delivery room. It was so amazing to be a part of it. Since I have had c-sections I have never gotten to the delivery part. I pushed for about 5.2 seconds with Shane. Seriously you people that have babies with only your husband in the room I don't know how you do it! We all had a job and we were all needed! After over 2 hours of pushing my newest little nephew was born.

Hunter Frank Broadhead. I will never forget how he came out a screaming. He let out the biggest cry and as soon as he was on his mommy's chest he instantly stopped. More beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

I love all his dark hair! He's a great combination of Cyndi and Craig. He is too precious.

I love all these babies in the family. All 3 of my sisters have had babies this year and it has been so much fun! We welcome little Hunter into our family with love.

Best Place for Boys!

Nebraska is pretty much the best place for little boys. They run around doing boy things having their days and nights full of dirt, frogs, adventure, and bugs! Even better it doesn't start getting dark until 9:30 so to top it off late bed times too. Needless to say, my two little guys were in heaven. While in Heaven on Earth or ask most call it Nebraska guns were made out of sticks. Hundreds of frogs were caught. Some frogs were large.

Some frogs were small.

We made it home with 9 frogs. I thought most would die but all 9 lived! We bought a home and bugs and the boys loved them. Damon and I weren't excited to spend over $5 a week on bugs but it only lasted a week before the poor little guys died.

Days were spent running around with cousins and playing by the North Platte River.

Best of all one 3 year old little boy learned how to drive a car! He was proud as he drove in between those lonely roads around the corn fields.

Life couldn't be better for little boys then on the farm and in the wild. Having adventures with cousins and carefree summer days.