Celebrity Collage

I came across this by looking at another post. As for if I look like any of these women, I just don't see it. What do you think?

Watching movies together

Yesterday we went to Kung Fu Panda, a must see if you love Jack Black, which we do. Court laughed at about every joke (it is kind of cool that he is old enough to get most of the jokes), Tate laughed a bunch too and was even cracking new jokes, and Gentry was laughing so hard he started crying. Isabel slept most of the time on Gentry's lap and Peaches was by herself until she got tired then came and sat on my lap. I just loved seeing my family have a good time together.Now I've been thinking about the first time Gentry and I watched a movie together. It was the first time we got together. Gentry had invited me to his apartment to watch a movie with him and his roommates. When I got there, there were two other girls already there. I tried to figure out what kind of a set up this was. Had Landon, Pete or Chad (Gentry's roommates) invited them over? Had Gentry just asked a bunch of people over and he wasn't really interested in me? It was just about now that I notice a huge wipe board with about 25-35 girl’s names and phone numbers, all written in cute hand writing. Each girl trying to make their name stand out in some way. Landon says to me, "You should write your phone number up there, so we have it." I look him straight in the eye and say, "If Gentry wants my phone number he can ask me for it and write it down himself." I asked Amber (the friend I brought with me) if we should just go and while debating that, the other two girls leave. "What movie did you rent?" Amber asks. The answer, "Congo" …
Looking back I think how stupid these guys were. I mean COME ON Congo? It isn't exactly going to win points with any girl. If they wanted action they should have rented a romance movie. If they wanted to be close, maybe a scary movie. If not sure where you want the evening to go a comedy is probably a safe bet. But Congo? Really boys…
Seating arrangements are made. Amber sat on the couch with Landon and Chad. Gentry and I on a HUGE, UGLY orange chair (really I wish I had a picture of this thing). I don’t remember the movie other than it was stupid, but I do remember that Gentry didn’t touch me the whole night. Not even his arm brushing up against my arm while eating popcorn. It was a strange first outing. I’m glad it wasn’t the last.

Lazy Days of Summer

We have not had too many lazy summer days, but today was one. I still woke up early to go work out (if you can call walking on a treadmill and doing a couple arm and leg exercises working out). Feed kids, painted stain glass window cut outs, played on the internet, and Wii. Lazy! I loved it.
This is a picture of Peaches' toes painted.

She loved them so much that she had to keep her eye on them while watching Enchanted.

Izzy in a cute dress and hair bow.Tate snuggling up to Daddy.

Skip the Garden, Find a Foutain

Friday was spent at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. It was lovely, but lets face it, HOT! To hot with three young kids. Remember, Court spent the day at Cub Scout Camp. I love to garden and I wasn't overly impressed. It was named in the top twenty greatest garden in the US, but that just makes me think I wont be going to too many gardens in the future. Don't get me wrong, we had a good time but that was the company. We could have had that much fun at the mall. For me, that's saying a lot. The favorite spots of the garden was the fountains. Tate was soaked, and here he is trying to get a little drink. I kept getting the girls wet by putting my hand in and wetting them down.

Let's just face it. We would have been better off just finding a fountain.

We went from the garden to pick Court up. Then on to Chucky Cheese. I kind of felt like I had to make it up to the kids for the long day. I think I scored big with this. Turn out to be a fun day.

Courtland

Court is at cub scout camp for the day. When I picked him up yesterday I asked him a couple open-ended questions with really no response. For example,

me: What was your favorite part?

Court: All of it.

me: What kinds of things did you do?

Court: Lots.

me: Like???

Court: Lots.

me (teasing): I guess you wouldn't want to go back then?

Court: Mommy. (as he rolls his eyes)

So I think he has moved into the tween stage. The in-between being a little child and a teenager.

I can't believe he is so big.

Growing up I had always wanted to be a mother. When we found out I was pregnant, it was a dream come true. For nine months we fell in love with our growing baby. I didn't think it possible to love him more. But the moment I heard his cry for the first time I was overcome with emotion. I had a rush of unconditional love flow over me. The adrenaline of just giving birth combined made me start shaking uncontrollably and I started bawling. Everything was just too much. Gentry carried Courtland over to me so I might hold him but I just couldn't. I wanted to get myself under control first. But after a few minute of trying to, I still was a wreck. I took Court in my arms and just felt love. Love for him, love from Heavenly Father, love for Gentry, love from my parents, love from Gentry's parents, so much love. It was something so special, and I will cherish those memories for my whole life.

As Courtland grew, he has always brought us much pride and joy. He is smart, loving, beautiful, spiritual, sensitive, helpful, obedient, and has a real desire to do what is right. His personality makes him fun for me, his old mom, to want to be around. I love you Court!

Here are a couple pictures of him from the past two years.

10 things I LOVE...

reading a good book
Waterton
puzzles

ice cream (especially homemade and from Cold Stone)
HOT showers
Suduko
brushing my teeth
an event to wear red lipstick to
swimming
(pg 13 rating) climaxes

this is me loving my latest puzzleI know, get a life!

Lazy 5 Ranch

Sunday Landon's family, our family, with Kevin and Robin all went to the Lazy 5 Ranch. It is a safari drive through park where we viewed over 750 animals from all over the world. I'm not really sure what the name implies, but I really enjoyed sitting back in the car taking pictures of the kids, looking at animals. We opened up the van's side doors and watched the animals up close and even a bit too personal. Animals that really left an impression on the kids were the emus. Emus are the second-largest extant birds in the world and can reach (6.5 ft) in height. They have brown soft-feathers and Tate nicknamed them birdie-velociraptors because of how they moved very quickly and the way they came in for their food. It made me a bit nervous.

In this picture Peach seems to be imitating the water buffalo, but she was just yawning (good timing on the picture Gentry)

I love this picture of Tate just hanging out the car looking at the animals. I am surprised the giraffes aren't over weight because they were feed so much food from all the visitors. This summer I could really take on the trait of a giraffe in that it has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which is between 10 minutes and two hours in a 24-hour period, averaging 1.9 hours per day. I am barely getting more than that, but I need SO much more, try 8-10 hours a day.

My favorite animal was the Bison. I have been to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump in Canada numerous times and driven through the buffalo reserve. But I have never had an experience like this where I was sitting in the seat next to the open side door of the van when a bison/buffalo came up to us and started eating from our bucket of food. He/she let me pet him and wasn't easily spooked. I am not sure how this park makes it all work because the adult bulls can express a high degree of dominance competitiveness during mating season, fighting for the female bison. Lots of times these fights result in injury or death. And with animals that can grow to be 11.5 feet in length, up to 6.5 feet in height and up to one ton in weight that seems like a scary time to be sitting there with the door open.

Discovery Place

Enjoying this beautiful day in Charlotte.

I got a membership to Discovery Place, Charlotte, today. What a fun place to go. We learned about the rain forest, saw fish and a huge octopus, touched some sea creatures in a tide pool, went to a puppet show, watched trained rats play a basketball game, and saw a dinosaur exhibit.

I wanted to get a good picture of the group, but instead I got this one. Tate! :)

Isabel woke up for a quick picture and then fell right back to sleep

After we were pooped out we grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the park. There was an awesome fountain area for the kids to play at. I knew right away that I would have three soaking kids on the drive home, but all the fun was well worth it. Courtland and Tate had the BEST time

We love spending the summer with Kayson and Taydon

Kevin and Robin

Kevin and Robin are my parents-in-law. They flew into Charlotte last night around eleven. Today we spent the day doing fun. We had breakfast all together this morning at IHOP. Even Gentry and Landon were able to come.

Then it was home for naps (for Kevin, Robin, Taydon, Kayson and Isabel) at least. And then off to the Reed Gold Mine. It is the site of the first documented gold find in the United States back in 1799. We went into the underground mining tunnel on a tour and our guide had a cute Southern accent and all. We ended to excursion by mining for gold where we got two gold pieces. I was thinking I could start another gold rush! :)

We had a really good day. Tate and Peach couldn't get enough attention and I think Kevin and Robin had a fun time too. I wonder what Kevin must be thinking considering he has never been East of Colorado.
I have been blessed to be in their family for almost 12 years now, and even though I call them, Kevin and Robin even Grammy and Grandpa Ramsay, I love them so much and think of them as another Mom and Dad.

thank you Michelle

Peach is a water baby. She has always enjoyed going to the pool. At the beginning of last year she would only play on the steps but it didn't take long until she was jumping off the diving board with her water wings and telling everyone she was like the little mermaid with her long hair.
After writing my post today I feed the kids an early dinner and we headed to the pool with plans to come home, tub and bed. The water was a bit cooler than usual so everyone laying in the sun and enjoying the heat. I glance over to the kids to check on them and my eyes go directly to the pool where Peaches is completely submerged under water, kicking. I yell something to get every ones attention while laying Isabel on the cement and debating whether I should jump in or if someone else is going to get to her quickest. Michelle, one of the Platinum wives, is going for her as quick as possible, Court jumps in the pool and is swimming to her as fast as he can, and Tate is going in too holding on to his noodle. Michelle got there first, pulls her up and she starts coughing water. Then says, "I want my bink." I hold her and wrap her in a towel and she tells me again she wants her bink. Then I see it. The bink is floating on the water in the middle of the pool. It can float, Peaches sinks. I can't believe I handled things with such calmness. We are now having bathes and then to bed. I'm glad everyone is ok.

Could I BE any more tired?

I am exhausted! We have been keeping CRAZY hours. I already mentioned Gentry's work schedule, from noon to late but my body can not handle it. Take yesterday. The kids got up at there regular time, somewhere between 7:15 and 7:30. Gentry left at nine to knock early. There is an incentive this week to earn a GPS. Combined that with having two rough weeks in a row and he wants to get a few more sells in and that means hitting doors in the mornings. Not much happened during the day. I worked on a puzzle, cleaned some, hit Costco, kept kids feed and tried to keep the fighting down. By seven kids were in bed and trying not to go to sleep. So I started dinner for the group. I usually give the kids leftovers from the night before dinner or make something easy like Mac and Cheese. Once dinner was made I straightened things up, cut my bangs, took a shower, and surfed the net. Waiting for Gentry to be done with his day. By eleven when he finally walked in the door, I was starving! We had date night here last night so three other couples show up shortly after that and dived right in to dinner. I made chicken salad sandwiches on croissants and served it with chips and strawberries. After dinner the guys played Wii Sports and the women talked. Jacey then made fruit smoothies. Yum! I volunteered to help and managed to spill juice all over me, the counter and floor and cause everything to be supper sticky. The next thing you know it is two and everyone is leaving just in time for me to close my eyes before my head hits the pillow. And before I can get to deep sleep it is time to do it all again. I am defiantly not 21 any more.

Isabel

Isabel April

Isabel is ten weeks now. My how time flies. I have still been telling people she is eight weeks, because last time I checked .... she was. :)

I didn't want to be pregnant again. After all I have been there, done that, don't need to do it again. We absolutely wanted more kids so we were moving foreword on the adoption track. We, of course, had prayed it. There is so many different choices and agencies out there, it takes a lot of research and time just to wade through and make those decisions. All of our paper work was filled out, doctor appointments for us and all the kids done. Fingerprinted with the state. Check written and had an appointment to be turned into to our assigned social worker on the day I found out I was pregnant. I was a little disappointed. I had a different plan for us. Thank goodness God had this plan for me. I am so grateful for her.

One week old, snuggling

Big sister kisses

Isabel is learning to coo. She smiles at most people when they talk to her. Still eats, sleeps, and poops. She follows me with her eyes when I walk away. She fusses to be picked up. She is our beautiful girl.

This picture was taken today

Father's Day

Isabel has been a true source of comfort to me. Just being able to love her gives me joy. I was preordained to be a mother. I can feel it through out my entire body. I love my kids so much. I am by no means a perfect mother. I am a learning mother, and I am doing the best I can. That is all I can ask of myself.

Farmer's Market

Tate and Isabel. He can not keep his hands off her.

Jacey, Kara, and I want to the farmer's market here on Saturday. Let me tell you what. I loved it. We found all kinds of yummy food. They had fruits, veggies, flowers, and crafts. I got peaches, apples, AWESOME fresh made salsa, some corn on the cob, and garlic cloves just dug up from the ground. We ended with getting some homemade ice cream.

I want to find out the hours and maybe go more often. It would be a nice way to start a shopping day considering how much I enjoy grocery shopping (can you say, stick a needle in my eye). When I see the picture of me and my kids, I understand why I get such strange looks. I am crazy. It is a wonder I can keep track of everyone.
Here's a picture of Kara with some of her goods. She is one crazy chick. I really dig her.

I have to say something here about us all loading in the van. There is Me, Jacey, Kara, Court, Tate, Peach, Izzy, Taydon, and Kayson. If you were counting that's 9 and NO there is not that many seats available. We just make it work and pile on in. It is quite an ordeal just to get from point a to point b but what is the alternative? Stay in the apartment all day? I don't think so.

After the farmer's market we headed to Best Buy. Court had a gift certificate from his birthday that he was dying to spend. After looking around and really debating the choices, he got Dance Dance Revolution. What a perfect choice! It is a fun fun game. We came home and directly started playing it. After about an hour there was a knock on my door and who could it be? My downstairs neighbor telling me that they are having a problem with the kids stomping. At 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday. I apologized and had the kids stop, but ... what's a mom of four to do? Something has to be done. I need to talk to the office and find out what the noise guidelines are. I want to be respectful of others, but at the same time we need to be able to play. I will keep you posted. Instead of worrying any more about it we went to the pool, had pizza, got hair cuts and read more from a book together. We are currently reading The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Such a great book to read out loud to the kids. Then bed! I spent the rest of the evening playing on the internet and cleaning up.

Sunday was church. I sub'd in Court's primary class. And the kids sang to there dad. Peach was dying to go up and sing to Daddy "I'm so glad when daddy comes home... and give him what? A great big kiss!" but she just did it from where we sat. After church is just another Sunday afternoon. We drink Gentry in. We can't get enough of him. He must feel like he is getting malled all day because everyone wants to wrestle and have his attention. At five we went to a BBQ. We ate and talked till we had to leave for Izabel to eat. Who does she think she is? :) After another half hour we headed to Landon's to play games and talk some more. I am loving this summer.

First two weeks in NC

When we decided to live in North Carolina for the summer I was worried about being so far from friends and family. I am use to walking three doors down and having my sister-in-law and (BONUS) best friend right there, my mom and dad twenty minutes away, and a really incredible ward surrounding us. I wasn't sure how it would work out even just getting here. How would things go living so close to Landon and Jacey. Joanna, my middle sister, would be three and a half hours away. I didn't know if that was good or bad. Not having friends for the kids so close, and leaving our pool for the summer... scary.

So far, it has been AWESOME! The flight with Delta Airlines was the best flight I have ever taken. I flew my mom out with us so that I might have help traveling with four kids. She did more than I could have asked for. Including buying the kids rolling carry-on cases. Jacey is great. And guess what?!? The distance from my apartment to hers is probably about three doors down. I love that she wants to just hang out and is comfortable doing that. We have just had to figure out how to make the vehicle thing work so that we can go out together and I am glad that we can. I have really wanted to spend more time with her boys Taydon and Kayson. This is the perfect opportunity to do that. They are so cute! Hopefully they can become best friends with my boys. I want Taydon's stranger danger of me to go too.

My mom,and I drove the three and a half hours to visit Joanna in Georgia. It was a nice trip. I took some pics of the us. The first is Peaches and Lorali having a tea party. They played so well together and Peach loves to say "Lorali" again and again. I think it is one of her favorite words. Actually all the kids played great together. Ethan plays a bit rough, but thank goodness I have two boys who love to wrestle.

The second day we were there we took a trip to Stone Mountain. I guess it is a big tourist attraction. We had a great time even with the heat. As we pulled up the thermometer on the car said 100 degrees and then you factor in the humidity, hot! We picked a place on the lawn then grabbed a bite to eat. I ordered a french dip sandwich (but I make them so much better) and had half a gigantic cookie. YUM! Then the highlight of the trip for Tate: the train ride! It was an open-air train that took us around the mountain the whole time playing train themed music for us to sing along with. We ended the evening with watching the Laser show Spectacular. It was a 40-minute light show to music from popular movies and songs about the south like “The Devil Went Down to Georgia". It ended with fireworks.

The best thing in Georgia we did just before leaving, The American Girl Store and Bristo. I never had one of these dolls when I was little. They really came out after my time. I had a Cabbage Patch Doll named Eartha Sasha that I just loved. Even as I grew older I thought she must be real because I really felt that she loved me back. But that's another story. For Christmas this year Grandma got all the grand kids dolls. All of them but peach got an American Doll, Peach got the most beautiful baby I've ever seen that she named "snuggle baby" (really after one of Emily's dolls growing up called Sugar Baby). Anyway, snuggle baby fits the same clothes as the Am. Dolls so it was fun to look at all they had and have some lunch all together. It is the cutest little restaurant for little girls. The dolls had lunch with us.

Friday I tried to get moved in and unpacked. Saturday was the longest ever. I suddenly realized we needed to find some toys and things do keep us busy. I was left wishing badly that I could have figured out how to bring my sowing machine with me. I also realized I desperately needed more toys for the kids so that they don't just fight with each other. I can see that the summer is going to be great. We have been to the pool three times already. It is great! Smaller then ours without a diving board. It is perfect to keep an eye on everyone.

Where is here?

I know, I know. I have been told by many that I should have done this FOREVER ago, but I had way too many excuses not to. Like I am way too busy, I couldn't see the advantage of talking about my life without knowing who I am talking to, who would even want to read it, it is too much work, etc. But suddenly my life is topsy turvie and I have no more excuses, just a need to have something of my own. So here I am.

Where is here? I am in Charlotte, NC with a husband (Gentry) four kids (Courtland 9, Tate 5, Peaches 2, and Isabel 2 months) missing our dog of eight years (Coal) and wondering what am I going to do with all of my time. We are living in an apartment that Platinum set up for us with rented furniture and a rented van to get around in for the summer. Nothing about our life right now is what I think most would consider normal. Gentry works from noon till late (usually around ten or eleven). I spend my days with kids. We have been to the library, Walmart, and the pool. Today I went to a play group with women from our new ward and had a good time. I get to see other women here with Platinum often. Each Monday they have a recipe swap, sometimes they meet at the pool, and once a week they have a couples night where they all go out with spouses and have dinner together.

Since this is my first post I think it only right to answer the question, What do I want out of blogging? I want my post to be as honest and as real as possible without hurting others. I want this to reflect who I am now. With all my flaws. And I have quite a few. I don't want to set goals right now about how often I will write, because if I feel like it, I will. If it isn't a priority, I wont. I guess I will learn as I go.