The Reason I let Hubby...

...do the GROCERY shopping: CLOSEUP:

These are a couple of Brian's REAL receipts from Albertsons last week! EACH receipt is for 15 boxes of cereal! Brian really is a mastermind on how to get the best deal on things. If we do the math, that's 30 boxes of cereal for only $10.80...and a TOTAL SAVINGS of $127.60!!! We have 2-3 more receipts (and a whole lot more cereal) that look exactly the same (could only buy 15 boxes at a time).

Now it's just figuring out where to put it all.

We're gonna miss this...

Swim lessons are over for the year. The girls have done a GREAT JOB! They both love the water!

Kam:

Bryn:





Gavin (not in lessons yet, just hangin' out). Gavin actually HATES water! The other day when I told Gavin it was bath-time, he told me "NO MOMMY, it's NAP-time!" So, the below picture was monumental! However, it was taken about 2 minutes before I had to jump in after him! I was closely watching him play next to the kid-pool when he all of a sudden slipped and flipped and sunk face-first quickly to the bottom (only about 2 feet deep, thank goodness). I jumped in immediately and pulled him out. It didn't really help his fear of water. All day long he kept repeating "Mommy, water GETCHYOU!" I got a few strange looks when I was sloshing out of there fully clothed SOPPING WET! I sure love that little boy, I'm so grateful that I was there to see it happen so I could react quickly. I look forward to getting him into lessons and hopefully over his fear.

Getting more creative...

The neighborhood loved this one!

The girls took turns holding the sign for one another. Kambria wanted to sit in the stroller so she could have shade. Gavin wants to do whatever "issies" (sisters) are doing.

Bryn's cartwheel:

Kam's cartwheel:

I think several people got a chuckle out of this one! What will they come up with next???

Honk, if you have a heart...

The girls kept themselves very busy today:

"Honkers" got a star on the chart, and the "non-honkers" got a frowny face. I told them that the non-honkers probably either didn't see them or didn't have a horn to honk...seriously, who wants to disappoint those sweet faces??!

(Hopefully the neighbors' babies weren't napping during this 2 hour "experiment.")

Hip Hip...

This is what it's like...

...to shop for school clothes with a GYMNAST!

Yes, she had to do a handstand with EVERY piece of clothing that she tried on (in a very small dressing room by the way). Can't say I'm not proud. =)

It's all about the Eyebrows...(Part 1)

...actually, it's all about HIS eyebrows!

Note to self: If I am ever feeling down...just take a look at these expressions!

(Not sure when "Part 2" will take place, but there are HUNDREDS more to choose from!)

My hope...

My hope...
...is for my children to know how much I care for them, as I know my mom has always loved and cared for me.

My hope...
...is for me to be able to spend a WEEK at my children's homes (when they are older), and have them still not be ready for me to go home. My hope...
...is to someday go to a concert with my girls (as my best friends) and scream until we lose our voices (and a little of our bladders, from jumping up and down). Actually, I hope to have that fixed by then. Too much info?

My hope...

...is that when my children are married and have their own families, that their kiddos (and spouse) will tell them "Happy Birthday" AT LEAST 100 times each (and mostly sing it) on that very special day!

My hope...

...is to not live far away from my grandkids. But if I have to...I hope they will know me and love and miss me as much as my kiddos know and love and miss their grandparents!

All is well...

After this post, we were on a mission to find Gavin's beloved blanket (he actually had 2 to begin with, but just 1 was all that we were asking for!) Brian found the exact blanket at the store and brought it straight home! Gavin grabbed the blanket immediately and wrapped it completely around himself (in 95 deg. weather) with the most serious, don't-mess-with-me face. He stood there frozen for several minutes. I think he was in shock. Bedtime was much easier that night. The next day when I took the girls to gymnastics, we found the other one at the gym, and then later that day Brynlee found the last one behind our couch! YAY! I took this picture a few minutes ago. I have been cleaning closets all morning and I thought Gavin was still playing with the girls downstairs. I went in my room and found him just like this on my bed. He can finally rest easy again. The only problem now is that he thinks he needs ALL 3 at ALL times!

An answer to our prayers...

...is what this lady is to us, and today is her Birthday!!!
Dear Shana,
I couldn't have chosen a better wife for my brother...actually I DID choose you for his wife! You can thank me later. =) I was so tired of all those lame girls Todd would date, and he was tired of me telling him they were lame. He finally told me to just find him someone that I would approve of. I took this challenge seriously. You came immediately into the picture. I didn't know you at the time, but I KNOW that it is help from Heaven above that you became my partner at work just at that time. (It really didn't make any sense at the time that we were put together.) Willow Drive Rocks! ;) I quickly came to know that there was a Higher purpose in that decision. As I got to know you I knew that you guys would be PERFECT together! Todd was immediately smitten. The rest is history. Ask anyone in our family and they will tell you that you really were an answer to our prayers! Love you Shana! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!