boys

A few weeks ago I went to pick Luke up from his friend's house and we found him at the kitchen table dead asleep, doing a puzzle.

Sweet dreams, little man.
And on another day when I went to pick them up I found a clan of super heroes.
Adam, Jace and Luke

And another day I got a call from a neighbor saying that she just saw the funniest parade going up the street. Ty-ty, Luke and Tyler.

Taking pictures of the boys while sleeping never gets old for me.

Adam, Luke & Ty-Ty

The Best Day

I still remember the first time my mom took me to a concert. It was Paula Abdul in 1993. We felt so grown up. I love the music (yes, even Paula's music). A few months ago I thought I'd lost all the desire to really rock out like a teenager at a concert. But the Britney kicked off her tour and, as Brit's most loyal fan, I couldn't let her down. Britney did not disappoint me. It all came SCREAMING back to me why I love it all so much. The energy when everyone is there for one performer and knows all the songs is amazing. I wanted Cameron learn at an early age how to love it and even more importantly, to learn that her mom loves it.
So we got together a group of mommies and little ladies and made a night of Taylor Swift.

Lizzy, Cameron & Gracie

Cam & me at California Pizza Kitchen for dinner

me, Katrina & Julie in the car

50 of our closest friends having dinner at CPK

(and yes I ran into 2 separate friends from high school there - GO HAWKS!)

Gracie, Lizzy & Cameron taking pictures of themselves

Katrina, me & Julie - CoOLesT MoMs eVEr!!

Julie & Katrina - I just loved this because its a great shot of both of my dear friends.

me & Julie

The incredible view of the back of Cameron's head got a little out of control when Cam started headbanging to be just.like.taylor.swift.

" Taylor made her way through the crowd and said hello but little did we know...."

I was a little camera happy

Gracie, Lizzy & Cam in front of the tour busses.

I can't imagine a better way to spend time with Cameron (other than reading our scriptures, obviously). We danced and sang and people watched and ate all night. Many times during the night she literally beamed up at me and said, "Thank you so much for bringing us here! I am so happy right now!" And I learned a lesson about how important it is to not only teach her polite manners but to teach her how to let her hair down and dance! It was the best day. And I'm leaving you with the lyrics from a new favorite song. I'm going to tear up just reading it. THANK YOU TAYLOR!

The Best Day
I'm five years old, it's getting cold, I've got my big coat on

I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you,

I run and run Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides,

look now, the sky is gold

I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall

But I know you're not scared of anything at all

Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away

But I know I had the best day with you today

I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean

I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys

And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away

And we talk and window shop 'til I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school

But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you

Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay

But I know I had the best day with you today

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger

God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, he's better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run

And I had the best days with you

There is a video I found from back when I was three

You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me

It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs

And Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall

I know you were on my side even when I was wrong

And I love you for giving me your eyes

For staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew, so I'm takin' this chance to say

That I had the best day with you today

My boys got shot(s)

We had an appointment for the boys to see the pediatrician for their Kindergarten checkups. Being the all-knowing mommy that I am, I decided to not tell the kids anything at all about the appointment. I called them home from friends houses at 1:00 and bathed them and slathered them in baby lotion (totally off topic, but someone needs to tell me when the cut off for dowsing 5 year old boys in baby lotion...think I'm approching) and picked out two matching without being too matchy (have yourself a set of twins and you'll know what I mean).
Frantic Adam: "MOM! You STILL haven't told us WHERE we are going?"
Cool as a cucumber Mom: "Don't worry about it muffin. Get in the car super fast and I'll let you play your Nintendo DS."
We left the house and started the trek northward to see Dr. Valentine.
Luke: "Really Mom, we past the store. Where are we going?"
Mom: "You will love it! They have suckers and sometimes stickers. It's so much fun! Just don't look up from the video game till the car stops please."
They did figure out that we were going to the doctor but I had a backup plan to say it was only for Luke's cough. We got in and got them weighed, measured, blood pressured, speach test, eye test. The appointment went fantastically. Dr. Valentine is heaven sent. Then we were told to wait in the waiting room again for 'immunizations' that must be some code word that kids don't catch on to. My boys went out and checked on the fish and sat to play DS when Adam's name was called to go back to the torture chamber. I told Luke to stay put and babysit the fishies. Once inside the torture chamber Adam's angelic little face looked up and said, "what are we doing in here Mommy?" With a pit in my stomach I didn't answer, just helped the nurse tackle him and inject four shots into his toothpick sized legs while he screamed. But the nurse let him pick out some really cool star shaped sunglasses to wear out.
Back out in the waiting room Luke was nervously pacing and then Adam came out the door with four band aids, bawling hysterically while wearing ridiculous star sunglasses. Poor Luke took one look at me and then at Adam not really sure what to make of the situation. Keep in mind the room is full of kids awaiting a similar fate. I pick up Luke while he still hasn't caught on and I hear Adam yelling across the room "LUKE!! DO NOT GO IN THERE!! THEY ARE GOING TO SHOOT YOU!"
It was stressful for all involved and I suspect traumatic for all the other children in the waiting room. But I have the sweetest little scene of my boys walking out of the office bickering over who got Scooby Doo band aids and who got Spiderman all with tear streaked faces wearing star shaped sunglasses.
Luke: "Mom, you really tricked us about the doctor didn't you?"
Mom: "Yea, I got you good."

Georgie

Every year we take a trip with all the Wimmers. It is the highlight of my kids' entire year. We feel so lucky to have family that the loves to be together. Grandpa Larry is from Arizona and he loves the desert and is teaching the grandkids to love it too. While we were there we got to rock climb, hike, go to the sand dunes, spend time at the lake and just enjoy being together. Here are some of the pictures of the trip. I'm a horrible photographer and rarely remember to even bring my camera, but I did get a few pictures.

You can't really see it in this picture, but there is a rock climbing rope hooked up to the highest ledge so the kids (and some adults) could climb and swing around.

Here's Cameron all hooked up in her harness.We spent time at a really fun park and it was really hot.
Even in the shade it was too hot for Cameron.

Then we went to a city park that had water fountains for the kids to play in.

This is Luke and Adam warming up on the cement. I am surprised to say that they didn't get third degree burns from that cement.

Adam and Grandma Pat are good buddies with their matching shades and hats.

And here is my favorite part of the trip. Of course I always love Melissa, but this time she brought a three week old baby!!! Meet my newest niece, Natalie Louise Wimmer. Words can't express how much I love that little slug. I even bit her toes till she cried.

Adam loves the little lady too. He likes how soft her head is and how she smells. It was a fantastic trip and I feel sad that it's going to be another year till we do it again. I hope that Baby Natalie stays the same size and lets me maul her again. We love all you Wimmers!!!

Mess? What mess?

You know how Oprah says that your home should be a reflection of your soul or something nutty like that? I've never really believed that until today....

Mess? What mess?
Painting with three kids and a dog hanging on you is not a tidy process.

Nevermind all No Doubt fans

Turns out I can't make the concert. I have tickets to Taylor Swift the following night and it might just be too much to handle with Eric traveling so much. Bummer.

Calling all No Doubt fans....

Just as my boys have unhealthy obsessions with all things creepy, I have unhealthy obsessions with rock stars. Love Britney, Beyonce, Gwen, Dixie Chicks, Bangles, Go-Go's.... And those are just the ladies I love. But my love for No Doubt is more than insane. I LOVE THEM! I have seen them three times in concert. After seeing Gwen for the first time I bleached my hair platinum blond, wore red lipstick and seriously considered wearing a jewel in the middle of my forehead (cut me some slack, I was 16).

Now I'm facing a dilemma because No Doubt is having a reunion tour and they're going to be in Salt Lake on May 25th (Memorial Day) and I have only found 2 friends that want to go with me. I'm needing a posse because I'm not too sure these (favorite) friends are TRUE FANS. Anyone else out there want to go??? Please?? The tickets are $40 and I will drive.... I will buy you a Coke! I promise that Gwen won't disappoint.

Just like Jack

You know that my kids have an unhealthy obsession with The Nightmare Before Christmas but this is getting ridiculous. Adam fell (shocking, I know) getting out of the shower this morning and cut open his chin. We spent the morning in the emergency room getting him all stitched up. It was very stressful for the whole family. When we got home from Dramaville and Adam finally looked in the mirror to check out his stitches, his eyes lit up and he grinned ear to ear and said, "Mom, I'm just like Jack now!"

Disclaimer about the picture of Ad-Man: He was so tired I couldn't even wake him up for a picture. His face is greasy from the topical medicine and he looks like I beat him up. He is DARLING and this picture is just terrible!