FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL JITTERS FOR JOSEY...

Josey was a little nervous on his first day of school...can you tell?

WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE...

"You are my daughter and I will always love you-sometimes I will be wrong, you will be right and vice versa-We will argue...we will make up- Your heart will be broken by some awful teen age boy...it will heal-Kindness and compassion towards others will come back to you- each day is a new day for me to get this parenting thing done right...some days I will succeed, others I won't- passion brings joy- hard work brings success-cherish your friends- there will be times I will give into your requests, and others times I won't-you will make good choices in your life...you will make poor ones...you will learn greatly from both- we will shop together- we will get pedicures together- I can't stop you from growing up- you are my greatest accomplishment- life is so much more than money and things-cherish memories and keep traditions-anything worth doing, is worth doing all the way-life is not always fair- you are my daughter and I will always love you." Happy 9th birthday to my sweet little Riley girl . You are the best thing I have ever done...I am so glad I had you!

THE GRAND CANYON...

Our visit to the Grand Canyon was amazing except for the fact Easton started running a one of those random fevers kids run. I don't like to give medicine for a fever (I know I am a nutcase but a fever means your body is doing exactly what it should be doing) but just this once I doped him up on Motrin so we could enjoy our visit. We watched an Imax movie and afterward Easton said "Mom I think I caught the fever again." Now I know why the Grand Canyon is one of the seven wonders of the world...this place is so beautiful.

A GOLFERS WIFE...

Only golfers wives know what it means to be a golfers wife...Some people look at what we do and think wow how awesome you must have it made and some people think we are crazy for doing what we do. For those people who think we have it made...we don't and for the people who think we are crazy...first let me say I have thought that many, many times but let me also say...and what is your job? We continue to do what we do because this is what we want to do. Tyler gets to go to work everyday and say I love what I do...and he means it.How many people can say that. I also love what I do...I get to stay home with my kids everyday because his career has allowed me to do that. My friend Angie is one person who knows what I am talking about. Her husband Eric is also a professional golfer. She and I have been friends for a very long time. We had our kids together on tour and even though we only see each other once every five years ...we can talk on the phone a couple times a month and when we do get together its like we were never apart. We have laughed together and cried together. We have gone thru the ups and downs of life as well as the ups and downs of our husbands careers. So to my one friend who knows what it is like to keep on keepin' on when it comes to being a tour wife...I love you Angie....The picture below is of Angies kids Sara and Amanda with Riley, Easton, and Josey.

A VISIT WITH GRANDMA AND GRANDAVE...

These pictures were taken while visiting with Grandma and Grandave. The kids had a blast. They are crazy about Walter the bird. How cute is that first pictures? It is one of my favorites of the entire trip. Grandma and Grandave,Diana, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Bill, Grandma Eunice and Grandma Helen we miss you very much and wish we could have stayed longer. We love you all very much...

HE JUST CAN'T BE STILL...

Easton just can not be still...and I have the proof to show it. Every picture I take of him is just slightly blurry...just not quite sharp. And you know what he talks all the time as well. As a matter of fact sometimes I ask him to just please be quiet for just five minutes so I can think. So today when I took him to the pediatric dentist I talked to him during the car ride and asked him to please be still. The reason I asked him this is because our dentist likes to give gas just to clean their teeth. Well me being the nutcase I am of course thinks this is outrageous just to clean their teeth so of course I don't allow them to give it to them just for a teeth cleaning. So after Easton was done the lady came out and told me that he definitely needed the nitrous oxide because it would be a lot easier on him. So I told her that I didn't think it was necessary for him just to have his teeth cleaned. We went back and forth and I guess the dentist overheard so he came out to put his two cents in. I was told that not only did he need the gas but he needed two tanks of it. So I told him that I didn't think it was good for him. I was told it doesn't hurt him and besides it is a naturally occurring element. I should have come back with "well so is mercury, Just because something is natural doesn't mean it is good for you. You can also imagine their shock when I only allow them to do ex-rays once a year instead of twice. They try to tell me I might miss a cavity. Well since Riley has only had one and Easton hasn't had any I think my odds are good that I won't miss anything. Needless to say I left there P*****. Do these morons not think that I want what is best for my child. I am very aware that it is a naturally occurring element. But you know what I really don't think God meant for us to inhale it in that high of a dose or else we would all be walking around feeling that happy feeling. I am sure that if he is given the gas he will not suffer brain damage. My main reason for not wanting it to be used on him is because I really don't like the euphoric feeling it gives him. Tyler and I both have very additive personalities. Not to say Easton is going to have an addictive personality but I do remember the first time we went to this dentist and they did use the gas for a cleaning(because I wasn't aware) he came out and told me "mom I feel so good, can I take some more of that stuff"...he definitely liked the feeling. I really feel that god gave these kids to me to love and protect and I take my job very seriously.The dentist also told me that Easton needed to have his adnoids and tonsils taken out because he is a mouth breether and by taking those out it would make put his toungue in a better position so his teeth would come in better aligned. (this is a child who has only lost six teeth) Okay that one put the icing on the cake. I have been married to Tyler for ten years and I don't think I ever once heard him breathe out of his nose and his teeth are fine.Needless to say I am going to look for a new dentist, one who may not neccessarily agree with me but one who respects my wishes...after all they belong to me.

A FEW FROM LAKE TAHOE...

I am sooooo behind with my posts. It just seems like there is never enough time in the day to get everything done. We are officially home from our seven week journey and what a journey it was. It is a trip I will cherish for a lifetime. Thankyou tyler for driving the entire length of the trip and for putting up with me as co-captain. Thankyou Riley, Easton, and Josey for letting me take as many pictures as I wanted and for just being you. I love the four of you more than you will ever know. These are a few of the pictures I took while we stopped in Lake Tahoe to visit Pops and Grandma Jean. This place is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We love and miss you two very much...

SNOW IN SEPTEMEMBER...

Look what we ran into on our drive from Reno to Lake Tahoe. It was definitely a little scary in the bus...35,000 lbs and no snow chains. Luckily everything was fine. Looking at these pictures gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling you get at Christmastime when you hear the song walking in a winter wonderland.

A LITTLE STOP IN RILEY OREGON...

A few pictures of the kids while we stopped in the rustic town of riley oregon.

TODAY I'M A LITTLE HAPPY AND A LITTLE SAD...

Okay today is my 32 birthday. I know I should be happy. One day all aboout me.Yeah right! Aside from the just another year older thing I am a little sad because today its been four years since I buried my mom. If my mom were alive she would have probably bought me clothes or some workout attire. But today that is a gift I will never recieve. (sniffle, sniffle)As I was looking back over my scrapbook I came across a page about Josey. It read..."If anyone ever needed a miracle it was me. My mom had just died two days before my 28th birthday. She was my rock and I was devastated. When she was sick I prayed so hard for god to heal her. I can remember making deals with him...if only he would heal her I would never ask him for another thing as long as I lived. Well she wasn't healed. I remember being so angry with him questioning the reason he needed her so soon. I don't know why god didn't heal my mom but what I do know is you were the miracle I prayed so hard for. You were sent to save me. To make me look forward to life again. To help me see the good in the world. No God didn't answer my prayers the way I wanted him to. That's because he has a better plan. The reason I know this is because he gave me you. You are my miracle." I know it's a little deep. I know god gave me this little guy but I also know my mom had a lot to do with it. I can just see her now standing with God looking over all the little ones to choose from picking out Josey for me. I can just picture her giggling to herself at how quirky he was going to be for me. I believe Josey is and always will be her gift to me. Thanks mom you always seemed to know just what I needed.