10 things i love.

{1}

i love...

going on adventure bike rides with the brothers.

and finding too big to be true trees

that irene pushed over

just sitting there,

waiting for a photo op!

{2}

i love...

that izey longed to marry me

all. summer. long.

and we finally tied the knot

during one of our last pool trips of the summer.

{3}

i used to NOT love isaak's love

for thomas the train.

until i realized

how completely inappropriate it is.

and you KNOW

i love inappropriate.

{4}

i love...

how silly lover is.

and how he plays it off so well

in front of everyone else.

{5}

i love...

when pawpaw comes to visit.

and i love even more,

that the brothers love it too.

{6}

i love...

being white trash

and making budget swimming pools

for the brothers

on super hot days.

and clearly,

i'm not the only one who loves it.

{7}

i love...

my butt.

i do.

it's taken me almost 33 years to be able to say that

but i can honestly and proudly say that i do love it.

i love that it's huge.

that it's ghetto.

that it shakes the earth when i do box jumps.

or slaps me in the back of my head when i do sprints.

it's mine.

and i love it.

however,

i don't love it

when it knocks entire shelves

out of the fridge.

stupid butt.

{8}

i love...

how ocd my Lover is each night.

how he lays each of these items

on the kitchen table,

in a neat little row

all ready for work the next day.

{9}

i love...

my best friend bonnie.

(please don't be mad that i posted this. it's my favorite)

and i love this picture of her.

i wish i was your friend back then

so we could talk about all of the crazy adventures

we had back in the days

of air dried swimming pool hair

and hawaiian shirts.

and speaking of friends.

{10}

i love...

my friend rita

dammit, i'm crying.

i loved being neighbors with you,

i loved all the yummy treats you made me,

i love how you always had everything i needed,

i love how you love my kids,

i love your fun personality, your generosity, your compassion.

i love your example to me

to be a better person.

i love your triangle mouth face.

i love that you order 8 meals at a restaurant.

i love hairnets, finger condoms, and wax lips.

i love your mysteriousness.

i love how you still gave me a chance at being friends

even though i brought peanut butter cookies

to your child who is deathly allergic to peanuts.

i love your carl, your michaella, your bryndle and your hayden

more than you will ever know.

and i'll miss you all so. so. so. soooooooo. much.

good luck pretty friend :)

smiles for the weekend. from me to you.

after hearing some sad news

(that unfortunately happens more often

than anyone would like to really know about.

if you have 2 minutes,

please leave her a comment and thank her for her ultimate sacrifice)

i felt like i needed a few smiles

that i'll gladly share with you.

insert, heart warming feelings, here.

i'm so thankful for the 5 precious personalities

that heavenly father has blessed me with.

jakey.

a shy one.

but stick him in front of a flip

and he's on fi-yuh!!

oh toughripper...

watch out ladies.

koko livy.

she loves katy perry, boys, softball

boys, video games and boys.

did i say boys?

ughh, i feel sick.

jeremiah.

a softy.

but a great big brother.

sweet enough to give you cavities.

isaak keith.

he has two sides.

a loyal little dude

who likes to cuddle with his mommy

and

salute every marine

that walks past him

with the utmost honor and respect.

or.

a wild and crazy

little afghany boy.

that will destroy everything

he comes in contact with.

you just never know.

gustopher.

dirty. rowdy. mean. lovable. delicious to the taste.

is that a contradiction?

each one is so unique.

so full of spirit. and fun. and smiles.

sometimes

i think they get it from me.

but then,

i go to pick up pizza with lover.

and as i wait for him in the car,

not paying attention,

i look up to find him planking on the grass.

with people walking around staring at him.

and then i realize,

nope.

they get it from him.

happy weekend!

things i love.

i love boys on the front porch.

eating candy.

with their football, a water bottle, and a trash pile.

i love when august decides to do his own makeup.

with a red sharpie.

i love my new red shoes.

even if they are incredibly uncomfortable.

beauty is pain.

i love my sisters.

they're better than anyone else's sisters.

peacock.

i also love posting pictures of them

all fuzzy haired and pregnant.

it's good for my ego.

i love baby buns on stair rails

in the sunlight.

i love watching gus when he laughs.

it makes me laugh too.

and then i go crazy giving him 1000's of kisses.

i love looking at old pictures

of Lover holding isaak.

or any of our babies for that matter.

i love (and miss)

my texas friends.

i love visiting my friend candace

at her beach house.

and i love that she's so beautiful.

especially when she's pregnant :)

i love when rita makes me delicious treats.

hint. hint.

i love that i have one girl.

and that she's the most beautiful girl on the planet.

not to mention totally funny and talented.

i love texas.

and i love that texas loves texas too.

i love sewing with my friend amy.

i've actually been craving it.

now i just need some free time.

what's that, you ask?

i have no idea.

i love these brothers

in their retro clothes.

i love self portraits

in the victoria secret dressing room.

i love father daughter relationships.

nothing tops them.

nothing.

i love the gospel of christ.

and

i love america.

and i love when both of these things hold hands.

it makes my heart warm.

and the best?

i love these kids.

and i love that they're mine.

all 5 of them.

One of each

I have to apologize to my children for being such a grouchy mother the last two days. I feel terrible for yelling and screaming so much and I wanted to post on my blog, one thing about each child that makes me smile, even when I'm having a hard time finding a reason to.

JAKOB - the thoughtful one

Jake brought this picture home from church on Sunday and I barely looked at it. Tuesday, in all my rage as I was unloading children out of the car, I saw it in the floor board and noticed the "Br." part he wrote. It made me smile so big because Jake is SUCH a great kid. At times he does act like he's in a different world, not paying attention or even noticing his surroundings, but he means well in everything that he does. There isn't a single thing that I could truly be MAD at him for, he's just so perfect. He thinks of things that a normal 7 year old would never think of because he cares so much for his family. He is such a great example to his brother and sister and I couldn't be more proud of the kid he is growing up to be.

KORA - the caring one

As I was trying to get children ready to go, that same day. I asked everyone to go get dressed and come down and BE READY. I was already so mad that this was the millionth time I had asked this so when all the chickens came rolling down the stairs, I was all prepared to get mad that either their shoes weren't on, their hair wasn't fixed or their teeth weren't brushed. Well, I had to bite my tongue because they all proved me wrong. Everyone one of them were dressed and cleaned and fixed from head to toe and the toes on Kora were the best part!! Not only did she change Miah's diaper, get him dressed and brush his teeth, she did the same for herself and even threw a little jazz into her step with these funky socks. In all my anger from feeling like Kora hadn't done what I asked, to seeing that she went above and beyond, I had to smile and love her. She helps out SO MUCH around here with everything and especially Miah. She acts like a little mother to him almost everyday dressing him and picking out his clothes. It's her favorite thing and I'm so grateful for the sweet spirit she brings into our home each day.

MIAH - the lovable one

Yesterday as I was sitting at the computer doing some business. I was still feeling angry because the fighting I could hear going on downstairs was never ending. All of a sudden, I start to hear this little voice coming from behind me. I had thought Miah was downstairs in the midst of all the fighting, but no...he sitting right behind me carrying on a sweet little conversation with Roscoe. It was so precious because he acted like Roscoe knew everything he was talking about and just kept on saying "ok roscoe?" He would even bend down to get his face right in front of Roscoe to make sure he was paying attention. I couldn't help but smile at this sweet sight. Of all my kids, I would have to say that Miah is definitely the most lovable. He will sit anywhere or cuddle any place with you and just love it. He's so sweet and he is so eager to say thank you and your welcome no matter where he is or who he's talking to. He's just a sweet little man.



So that's that. Once I get them all up and ready today, I'm going to take them to get donuts and then I'm going to apologize to each of them and promise to them that I'll try harder to be more patient because they are each SO special to me in many different ways and I couldn't be more thankful for the blessings they are in my life.

Things that I love about kids (mine especially!)

Here are a few pictures, recent and old that help explain to you all the things I love about kids.

I love that they have great imaginations.

(This is Jakob being Wolverine from X-Men)

They be brave when they have to, even when it's hard.

They love to dress up!!!!

They love their mawmaws and pawpaws.

They love their brothers and sisters (when no one is looking!)

They're proud of their accomplishments and aren't afraid to show it!

They have bad days too.

They sleep so deeply, so preciously and SOooOOooOOooOo quietly.

Their top lip gets stained when they drink koolaid!

Don't ya just love kids?!