Moments Like These

Daily I have countless moments where I feel like screaming and ripping out my hair (see previous post). But I have many more moments throughout my day that bring a smile to my face. Moments like this where my children are happy playing and laughing together.

I love the simple things that bring my children such joy. Like looking out the window together at the black birds that are overtaking our yard.

Moments like these take my breath away. I have two perfect children, and I am blessed to have them in my life.

ANOTHER one of THOSE days. . .

It's just one of those days around here. Last night, I didn't feel like cleaning the kitchen up after dinner. There's my first mistake. I decided it could wait until morning. This morning while I am cleaning, I send the kids to their rooms to play, and for once they were playing nicely. In the middle of cleaning I notice it's quiet. . . a little too quiet. So run to see what kind of damage is being done. Isaac and Ainsley had found travel sized soaps and lotions, and proceeded to work together to decorate the guest bedroom. Shampoo, lotion, toothpaste everywhere.

First step was to give Ainsley a shower, she was covered in shampoo. Next step clean up the room.

While I am cleaning the bedroom I notice it is too quiet again. Lucky me. . . Isaac is in the bathroom, putting makeup on himself and the bathroom mirror.

Time to go clean another mess.

Rough Riders

Last night we went out for our first baseball game this summer. I forget how much fun we have, and wonder why we always wait so long. We bought the cheap lawn tickets this time. Perfect price, and perfect seats for our family. Even the weather was perfect. The kids had a blast running, and rolling down the hill, where we sat. They also spent a lot of time glued to the chain link fence, watching the game. The best par was filling our stomachs up with some good overpriced ballpark food.


The kids trying out their "free" Rough Riders hats.


Isaac with his "Home Run" ball. Okay we didn't really get a home run ball, not even a foul ball. But one of the park workers gave BOTH of the kids balls that had been used during the game or practice. But to Isaac his ball really is a "home run" ball (see the movie Everyone's Hero), and he loves it. He even slept with it last night, and he has yet to let it go.

Of course a closeup of my sweet, messy, little girl. Today I get to tackle the ketchup and mustard stains on her white skirt!

And since I always have upclose shots, of Ainsley's beautiful eyes. I wanted one of brown eyed boy. I love looking at his eyes. They always seem so dark, for his fair skin. . . and I love it!

We had one super fun night at the ball game, and I have big plans on hitting up a few more games before the season is over!

Wilkins Reunion

The first few days of our Arizona vacation were with the Wilkins family up in Northern Arizona (St Johns and Eager). Lots of time spent outdoors, hiking, canoeing, swimming, barbecuing, playing. . . just the way we like it. So for those of you that aren't family. . . sorry this post will mean nothing to you, but it's our family and we sure love them!

A day isn't complete without a picture of my messy little girl!

Ainsley getting to know her grandma (my mom).

Sorry Maddie (my cousin). . . only picture I (actually Mike took this one) got of you!

My Cousin Rajae and Aunt Jeanne. Rajae is going through beauty school and will do awesome!

My cousin, Shannon's boy, Preston.

My youngest cousin Mitchell (he is a year older than Isaac). He is the funniest kid I know, and I kept trying to take his picture, and he was never thrilled about that. Seriously one hilarious little boy!

My cousin Flint, posing for the camera.

Another good picture of Grandma and Ainsley, after it rained on us during our hike in the Catwalk.

My sister Lindsey and her husband Jared. Ahhh what a cute couple!

My cousins Lynnae and Michelle. . . two good lookin' girls!

Mike, Ainsley, Grandpa and Marilyn.

Another good one of Flint. I am proud of him. He just graduated, and has grown up so much. It was fun to see him again. He has always held a special place in my heart. This guy can quote almost every movie out there, and can talk for hours about movies. He does one mean Fat Albert!

Cousins Dallin and Wade

Mike in the FREEZING water, that I refused to even get close too!

Finally meeting up with Isaac. He went with Grandpa (my dad) and was way ahead of us. From what he could tell me, he had a blast.

Ainsley's first canoe ride, with Daddy and Uncle Bear (Jared) rowing. She was loving it, and was a little sad when her turn was over.

Isaac, not so much loving his first canoe ride. . .

Another one of Mitchell. He really is one handsome boy!

Sorry Michelle, I know you didn't like me taking your picture. . .but I needed one of my hot cousin!

Cousin Cody, one cool guy!

This picture of Lindsey and Jared CRACKED me up!
Another picture of Preston. He made this face every time I tried to take a picture.

Cousin Spencer. He is another funny kid. He was having some kind of imaginery Kung Fu battle. . . I think he was winning.

This is my cousin Ethan. I swear it's like looking at a blast from the past of his older brother Carl. . . with blonde hair. I really couldn't get over it. In all honestly he used to drive me nuts when he was younger (I was also kind of a punk teenager), but he is SO FUN to be around now. I love the guy!


McKay didn't want anything to do with me taking pictures but agreed for ONE!
My sisters Lindsey and Janalie. Love these girls!

My cousin Shannon, I sure miss having her around.

Another one of Dallin and Wade. These two were inseparable.

Grandpa and Marilyn.

My cousin Mason was more than willing to pose for pictures. He is what you would call a camera hog, and I loved it!

My cousin Dwight. . . who I adore. I am so proud of him for working so hard. He also almost has a license to pilot helicopters. Amazes me!

Isaac loved these two boys, Cody and Orson (my brother). Isaac still talkes daily about the next time we go to Orsons house. Cody was GREAT with Isaac too, and was wonderful at bringing him out of his shell.

The Wilkins siblings. Uncle Carl, Aunt Becky, Marilyn, Uncle Roy, Grandpa, My dad (Wayne), Aunt Ruth, Uncle David.

With their spouses. . . some were MIA when I took the pictures.

The Wilkins Clan (minus three taking pictures).

We sure love our family, and had so much fun spending a few days with them. We missed not having Bucky and family, Carly and family, and Sheena and family with us. . . oops Kyra too! But wanted to let you know we love you too!

The Reason Why

I am not a confrontational person. My heart is still pounding, and I still feel a bit of an adrenalin rush 30 minutes later. . .

Every neighborhood has them. You know the crazy neighbors that like to cause drama, and always seem to be in some kind of trouble (with the law). Our new little community is no different.

My little family was outside playing to get the children worn out and ready for bed, before the last bits of sunlight disappeared for the night. Mike was in the empty lots across the street, practicing his golf moves, while the kids and I were spraying each other with the hose. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a car speed up, a little too fast for my liking. I then heard a women screaming. I then saw two men throwing punches, one of them men falling to the ground (pretty hard I might add). I yelled to Mike across the street that there was a fight and a child was standing in the middle. I kid you not, the men were throwing punches right over this child, who was not much taller than Isaac.

Mike with golf club in hand started down the street. While I watched, holding my own kids by now, as the madman that drove up, jumped back in his car and sped off. I watched Mike go over the hill and saw him pass where I had seen the action. I wasn't too happy not to be able to see Michael, so took off with the kids to find him. We met up with him as he was coming back up the hill, because he didn't see anything suspicious (the madman had already driven away).

I kept walking toward the house where I had seen everything go down. I saw two men in the yard and asked if everyone was okay. One man had a bloody lip, and massive bump on his head and his arms skinned up from when he had fallen to the ground. The other man was another neighbor who had seen the fight and was trying to help. Like me he had seen the child and was worried.

The man who was beaten was a little delirious, and really didn't know what was going on. He was able to tell me that the child was fine, and it was his child. The women who I heard screaming at them men was his wife. The madman was his Brother-in-law, who he said was VERY DRUNK. Which didn't make me very happy that some crazy guy was driving around my neighborhood wasted. Not happy at all.

As I double checked to make sure everyone was okay, asking the guy a second time if he was sure he was okay (seriously huge welt on his head), which I am not sure he really even knew yet, because he was shaking so bad. He said he was a little scared. . . I am thinking LITTLE?! As he is saying this I see a speeding car heading our way. As the man driving parked he hit a trashcan across the street, my heart sank. I looked at the injured guy and his wife and said "we have to go, I don't want my children here." We turned around and started booking it. Yelling had started up again, and I didn't want to be anywhere near there if fighting started again. As we were leaving I glanced over my shoulder and saw a police car driving up the street, and felt somewhat relieved. We will just say that man must have been pretty drunk, or just plain stupid because he kept screaming at his brother-in-law and sister and trying to throw punches even after the police man had stopped.

I feel bad for the neighbor who went over to help and stepped in front of the two men trying to calm them down. Crazy drunk guy wasn't in the mood for a mediator and got a few hits in this kind guy that was concerned for the child. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I would have been right there with him if I didn't have children of my own to worry about. I hate when people fight and my adrenalin gets pumping, and well I am just glad I do have children of my own!

Now that I have the story out, my heart goes out to that poor child. How often does she have to witness this kind of violence? What kind of future will she have? My other thought is that this kind of behavior better end now, because I am not pleased to have drama neighbors so close!

Okay adrenalin rush over, time to go have date night with Mike. . . renting a movie off pay-per-view. Romantic I know.

Graveyard Shift

I learned something new on our trip back to AZ. . . I could be a truck driver and survive!! We drove straight through and I had the "dark time" shift of driving. All it took was a few cans of Dr. Pepper and a bag of peanut butter M&M's, each way, and I was good to go.

Watching the sun rise was the highlight of my shift. If you know me well enough, you know my family is not normally out of bed before nine. Needless to say, I can't remember the last time I saw the sun rise.

I had one minor set back during my driving time. I lost my wallet in Amarillo (I am thinking I should write a country song!). I stopped for gas about 2 am. While the gas was pumping, I cleaned off the windshield. I set my wallet on the hood of the car, and the was the last I saw of my wallet. . . for a few days.

As I was getting back on the freeway I heard something hit the car, but it didn't sound too major so just kept going. The next morning I was trying to get breakfast and couldn't find my wallet anywhere. After credit and debit cards, I remembered that small noise I heard back in Amarillo. I immediately got on the phone and started calling the love stations in Amarillo. My third try a VERY nice man said, as I describe what had happened, that it sounded like "this" love station and I should call and ask for "so and so". I thanked him and did just that.

Now this VERY VERY kind man jumped in his truck right away and drove off to go look for my wallet. He called back a few minutes later saying he had good news and even better news. He found pieces of the insides of my wallet. A few rewards cards and things like that. The even better news was a sanitation worker had found the actual wallet and turned it in to. . . I actually don't know where, but the love station worker tracked it down. My money and all cards were found. The lady that now had my wallet was kind enough to use the money inside and ship it to my parents house. SCORE! I was so nervous about our trip home with only ONE driver. Luckily we will never have to know how that would have turned out!

I had wanted to use the money inside the wallet to pay the men who helped me, but they both had left as soon as the lady knew she could get a hold of me. So I will throw my thank you out there to all of the kind people who are willing to stop and help a stranger.

I have 500 pictures to sort through from our vacation, and will be posting them, throughout the next few days. Along with catching up on reading 150 blog posts from friends. Wow! With that, I am off to tackle the mountains of laundry, that has currently over taken our family room.