Playing Catch UP...

OK...so I realize that I am a few Days behind.

So this is what I am going to Do...

Catch up...Quickly.

Day 11...Siblings...

Keli

Reggie

Blaire

Love em to pieces.

KELI

Keli is the kindest person you will meet.  She is always looking for ways to serve. 

To sum her up in one word I would say, that she is a "server". 

 (Is that even a word?  Not like a "waitress" server either.)

Once when I was in college, she was just newly married and I got deathly ill...

She came and picked me up and let me puke in her toilet and

sleep on her floor while she nursed me back to health.

Another time in College she dropped off Zucchini bread, the recipe and more zucchini so I could learn to make it myself.  She still wont admit that it was her, but I know her writing!

It was Delicious.

Last, but not least, one of her biggest acts of kindness has to be welcoming me and my small family into her home when we first moved to Vegas.  We lived there for a few months.  I can't imagine how some days must have drove them crazy, having us there.  But that is her (and her Husband) They

SERVE.

Reggie...

Well Reggie...is a man of many words,but some of them you may not hear.  He is the best example of a human being anyone can try to emulate.

Reggie has always been a fun brother and a good example to me.  I remember he was always there,teasing Blaire, but not really drawing attention to himself.  He would come home from school and go straight into his room and do his homework. Then out to "free style walk" with his friends. 

Reggie just seemed to always "get it".

One night we were out on the lawn in front of our house and

we were having a good conversation. 

I remember him telling me that if I do what my parents ask me to do,

I will have all the freedom in the world, because I was obedient.  What a life lesson to learn!

Freedom comes from being obedient.

We had lots of fun talks.  But those talks had to have the right setting. 

Late at night as we were trying to go to bed after I moved to Logan or one rainy hike up Logan canyon

 (one of my favorite memories).  He always has a good listening ear

 and a kind word.  One word to sum up Reggie? 

That's tuff but I'd have to say...

WISE

Blaire

Wow. Blaire. Well let me just say this.  If you want to have a good time and feel good, just call Blaire.  She can make ya laugh with her simple demeanor and assured self.

Blaire has always been my friend.  We were the last two kids at home. I just remember how much fun it was to be home, with just her. Sure we had our fights over "who's hair dryer it actually was",

and other teenage girl stuff. 

But I would NOT change it for the world. WE had a blast! She is so kind and innocent,

yet really ready to have a good time and LAUGH. 

I have many memories of us singing Disney songs and just hanging out together laughing.

She is Fun,

I remember a trip to California with just her and my parents and we laughed and played on the beach for so long!  It is one of my favorite memories.  Just laughing and playing in the water all day, boogie boarding and getting a tan.  Love that girl.  To sum Blaire up in one word it would have to be...

FUN

Day 12

What is in my bag

Well I only carry a purse, and I have my

wallet of coarse

Diapers (I am a mother of 2 children still currntly in diapers)

Wipes (What good is a diaper if there isn't any wipes)

Post it notes

a Pen

and last but not least...

A squirt gun.  Seriously. 

 I don'tknow why it is in there.  But what Mom shouldn'thave one of those? 

 They are a staple arent they?

And that is it.

Day 13

This Week

This week has been crazy!  It feels like the last week has been over 14 days straight. 

 NO break what so ever.  I am tired and have to admit it has been a week of tears.  But that is good.  Cause before this week. I can't remember they last time I even cried.  Thanks to a good friend who was there for me when I neeed her, I was able to get it all out late one night. 

Crying is a good thing.

It's kind-of like a colon cleanse of the Brain...

Well, lets see...To sum up the week, I made breakfast every day, changed diapers, layed kids down for naps, cleaned the kitchen a million times, swept, vacumed (Andrue likes to help with that...I am greatful) Made lunch, played "horsie" giving the kids a ride around the house on my back (my knees are a bit sore),  Changed diapers, watched Tangled ( a million times...I have to admit...I love it), Made dinner, did alundry, put the kids to bed, played a ocasional volleyball game, had a big birthday bash for Andrue's big number 2, took the kids in for their DR appointments...all three got shots, Carlee is 9 months and healthy as of this week, Andrue is 2 years and has an ear infection I didn'tknow about as of this week and Audrie is the bravest 4 year old I have ever met!  She barley flinched when She got her shots.  Before we went in she said she was going to be so brave.  When I told her that even brave kids sometimes cry...she looked and me and said..."NOT this ONE!"  And she didn't.  I did though. Then I went for a run...and that is where we are at now...

Day 14

What I wore...again....LAME

Today I wore my capris and a burnt orange shirt.

Then changed and put on my running attire

Came home, showered and now in my PJS

Day 15

My First Kiss

Yikes...really?  Well my first kiss was sometime after my 16th birthday, shortly after...

It was on my front porch on my parents Las Vegas house.

The young man was my best frined at the time...and for quite a while afterwards too.

It was a bit, ummm, strange...after all..it was my first kiss...no worries though it got a bit better.

I would like to add here...my LAST FIRST KISS...and that of coarse was with Martin.

He is my new best friend.  And he would like to say that I kissed him first, however...I don't count kisses on the cheek.  So Our first real kiss is what every kiss should ever be.  Kind-a like in Princess Bride when the narrator is describing the kiss between Buttercup and Westly to be the best kiss ever.  I wouldn't say it was the most passionate, but it was by far the best frist kiss I have ever had...which may be the reason it was my last first kiss.  We were just visiting, talking and then We looked at each other...(at this point I would have said we were dating for over a month...which for me was well over due for a first kiss...but the chase isn't my game...so I was patient)  anyway, we looked at each other, Martin reached out...pulled me in to him. Looked me in the eyes and very truthfully, honestly and lovingly said "I love you Brook" then he kissed me with a simple, but oh so sweet kiss...that that was the LAST first Kiss...

Martin and I on top of what We call "SUNSET TOWERS" the towers high up on the mountain behind the USU campus.  I don't remember exactly when this was, but it was before the last first kiss...one of our first dates was a hike to these...it just about killed me.  BUT IT WAS AWESOME! And FREEZING.  Come to think about it...this all happend in MAY of 2005...so 6 years ago exactly...this month...

Day 16

My Dreams

Well, this one could be a mile long on here...even in the smallest font...

I have many. 

Growing up I had many "Dreams" or "Goals"

I would often write them down in my journals...

Shortly after I was married I found one I had written long before i even graduated HS.

The list was a bit something like this

Graduate HS (Check)

Go to some college somewhere and play volleyball (Check)

Lassen College 2002

Have a lot of fun in College (Check)

Aftermy time at Lassen I transfered to USU...and had a lot of fun being involed in ASUSU and mainly having a good time...

The previous picture is us on the mountain in the back left of the picture...I really miss this place...

Meet and Marry my dream man (Check)

And seriously I did...speaking of dreams. I would always imagine while I was in elementary school that I wanted to marry a cowboy from WY or CO.  He would have to be strong and georgous...a lot of fun...and a lot of other things that i don't have time to write about right now...basically I was kind-of like Sandra Bollock in Practical Magic when she dreams up her future lover...that is kind-a what it felt like to me when I met Martin...

Our Honeymoon, NYC, Rockefeller Center...not the best picture...

Have a small little house (Check)

Have a small garden and a cute yard (Check)

The garden got better than this, and right before we left our yard was getting better!  We had a tree on top of the hill behind our house on our property (just behind this garden) ...when we moved in it was almost dead, but we pruned it and brought it back to life...it had a beautiful view of the valley, and a horse grazed right up to the fence by it...I dreamed of building stairs up the hill, lined with flowers, with a small grassy area and a bench, to watch the sun set...I had started the stairs when we moved...last time I went back to Logan I drove by the old houes, and the people ho bought it, finished the stairs, and put a bench there...

Start a Family (Check,well she was in the oven)

Be A Good Mom ( the jury is still out on that)

Not a good picture AT ALL...First of all...Martin isn't in it..and I looke likeGomer Piles... I do have a dream however to be like my Grandparents...they are the best example ofa life well lived.  Hard working, faithful and obedient to the gospel. They serve and mostly they LOVE.  Their home has been my one constant in life.  I have always felt like when I am there, I am home, and I know that I am loved... My dream is to become like my Grandparents.  Audrie and my Grandma are exactly 80 years apart in Age.  Audrie was born on her 80th birthday and shares her middle name.  Inez. 

I can't believe this is the only picture I have of me all all 3 of my kids...LAME!

When I found that I just thought about how great of a life I have had!  I have been able to live my dreams...as boring and as practical as they are...but I have been able to do it!  Sure there was a lot of other ones I had too, but for the most part, I got what I wanted...all through being true to myself and a hard worker...  Now I have new dreams...not much different however...

They all have to do with my family and raising good kids and having a family who actually enjoys being together...creating a family unit where all feel loved and safe with each other and that at any one moment in their life they can reach out to us or their sibilings for love, help and guidance. Creating really fun memories with them and having lots of fun stories to tell for YEARS! 

 I have a dream to become a good public speaker and somehow help the youth of this world.  I have a dream of serving a mission with my Husband...hopefully in the Philippines...and other places...but my main goal is there...they are waiting for us...

But mostly...I just dream...and I like it.