I am listening to the house that built me (by Miranda Lambert) while I post. Who can't relate to that song? I remember the last time I was in the house I 'grew up in'. I was so busy working that I didn't even know that we were moving that day. I came home from the pool and half our ward and family were there loading up the truck. When the whole house was empty, I laid on my bare bedroom floor and thought about my mom laying those little carpet squares in a pattern that made them look like a rug. I remembered the cold tile that was under it and the ugly shag carpet that used to be on top of that! My mom painted my bedroom and hung wallpaper in it when she was pregnant with my sister...then when I was a teenager...we repainted it and hung a boarder together. Wierd thing is that I have woken up before...with my eyes still closed...and felt like I was in that room.

Well....now I have my own house. I don't know which house that I have lived in has "built me" more. The past 4+ years in our current house have really been some years when I have felt the growing pains of change and adapting and struggling and learning.

...these people make any place home....

My friend Alice in our ward had a face painting booth at the swapmeet on Juy 3rd...the kids went to the rodeo looking like that. They would have gone to church that way if we let them!

Our 4th of July was fun! As you can see...Brandon fired of the grill...we had burgers, hot dogs, and squash on there. My parents and Grandpa Newbold came up. Connor was blessed on the 4th! On the 3rd, Brandon, my dad and grandpa and the 3 older kids went to the rodeo. My mom and I shopped the two dollar stores (out of the 3) that were still open. Then we went to Dairy Queen for Blizzards. We drove over and parked by the Taylor Stake Center and watched the fireworks while Connor slept in his car seat. The firework show wasn't the best...but the ice cream and conversation helped make up for it.

We had a luncheon in our back yard on Sunday. I didn't take any pictures of that. Just imagine people and food! :)

July is a super busy month in this town. Next weekend (over the 24th) will be packed with rodeos, family reunioning, a parade, a little bit of craziness and some fun...after that...we are off to Durango, CO for a much needed family vacation!

That Ragged Old Flag

My brothers instilled in me a love for "The Man in Black"....good ol' Johnny Cash! This is a performance he did...I have never heard THIS ONE before.

I think it's about time I try to do a little update here.

 It's been about 3 1/2 months since I have gotten out of town...and you all know how stir crazy I get. I haven't really left the house much either. It's either time to feed Connor or the other kids or something or I don't have anything clean to wear that fits. :[ BUT...all in all....things are good. We're all healthy and plugging right along!

Here's a little taste of what's been going on:

~visits to the dr.
~kids playing outside
~kids climbing the trees...(they use the branches of our apple tree as "monkey bars" and they literally swing from limb to limb.)
~laundry, laundry and more laundry
~kids playing in the kiddie pool
~Brandon tending the garden (the corn is almost taller than Adelin now...and we have about 20 giant sunflowers that I can't wait to see in bloom!...there's other things in the garden too...besides corn and sunflowers...and weeds!)
~Connor is growing....he's getting fat and bald!
~dishes, dishes, dishes
~Brandon had a birthday on the 21st (the day after Father's Day)....he's now 33 years young!
~Adelin now rides a two wheeler bike
~Kaitlyn got 6 stitches in her chin a week ago from a fall she took on her bike
~Weston can finally peddle his tricycle
~Connor smiles and it is SO cute! He even giggled in his sleep while I was holding him the other night.
~I made 23 cutely covered Book of Mormons for the Young Women in my ward (they were given to them at girls camp)
~Brandon's been playing soft ball with the ward

....Weston said something funny to me that I have to share so that I can remember it later!
I was making pancakes and he opened the drawer and told me "I'll get the big getter-out for you." And he pulled out the spatula! (I wasn't sure if I had heard him right so I held up the spatula and asked him what it was and he said "a getter -out")....reminds me of something from a Jeff Foxworthy joke. :)

I am meeting a friend (Shannon who I haven't seen in years!) at the Show Low pool today. I am lucky to have wonderfully amazing teenage nieces who are willing to come help  me with the kids.

Oh...one more cute thing the kids said. Addie said that she can see Weston's imaginary friends. :}

That's all for now!

"Knowing who you are changes what you do."

~Bonnie Parkins

Connor's 1 month stats

10 lbs. 4 oz.

23 1/2 inches long

95th percentile for height...75th for weight

This kid poops and barfs like crazy! Imagine how big he'd be if he didn't barf and poo so much! I almost made it through today in the same clothes...but he GOT ME after his last feeding!...oh wait...I take that back...I had to change my shirt this morning because it got baby poo on it :}

He sure is cute though!

kids watching a movie in boxes (they called couches)....and cute Mr. Con-Man!

Kaitlyns 1st grade program

Kaitlyn had her first grade program on May 20th...the same day Brandon had his knee surgery.

I got to go to the program (along with Adelin). Thankfully Brandon's knee was still numb so he could handle the kids, plus his mom came over to help.

At the program, the first grade classes sang songs that all had little hand motions to go with them. It was very cute! I don't think a mom can ever tire of seeing their child perform something! (okay...unless they were doing a terrible job...) Kaitlyn was very cute and kept looking at me with a shy little smile.

After the program, we went to her classroom!

Adelin was wondering where all the toys were!

Kaitlyn loved her teacher Mrs. Taylor and is

really going to miss her. I still hear her quote facts that

Mrs. Taylor taught her!

And here's Brandon...all bandaged up!