After leaving this place that has gotten so much rain it is officially no longer in a drought,

After Ethan threw up in his plate of food because he ate way too much food way too fast here, (Yes there were plenty of other eating customers who got to see it also.)

After we changed the biggest blowout that ashton has ever had, stripped him down, and cleaned up the car seat here,

And after we stopped and turned the car off on the freeway at midnight while we waited for them to get the semi truck that was on fire under control when we were only 30 minutes from our house.....
WE ARE FINALLY HOME!!!!

Pictures from our trip to come but right now I need to just do nothing.

We had our first swim meet of the year, or ever for that matter. I enrolled the boys in swim team this year because they seem to love swimming so much why not see if they enjoy it as a sport. We have been practicing for about 3 weeks now and I have noticed a big difference in the boys swimming actual strokes. So today was their first meet. Landon complained the whole time about how he didn't want to swim and the races were dumb and blah blah blah. Typical Landon. I have no sympathy for him because 1) he has never tried it and 2) he just didn't have a good reason not to want to do it. During his his relay race he decided he just wasn't going to go in. Well since other teammates finish times were on the line Jared just gave him a push in thinking once he is in the water he will start swimming. Well he did but back to the starting point. So they had another kids start swimming. Then Jared promised a ring pop to him. So when his turn came up again he swam. Not only did he swim but he passed two other kids in the process. He is pretty fast if he would just stop whining about it. Unfortunately we don't have video of the relay race. The following video is of his last race of the day, the freestyle. He was crying right before he went in the water. I know we are mean parents but I justify by saying we are preparing them for the real world when they will have to do lots of things they won't really want to do. Sounds good right?

Ethan on the other hand ate up every second of it. He is a really great swimmer. Although he slows himself down a little since he just can't wait until the race is over to see how he did. He takes lots of looks back to see how he is doing. He did great in the video below finishing 2nd in his heat.

A few pictures of the day. It is a long day sitting out there from 7:30 am until about 2:30 but we brought some games, there was a playground, and the kids liked watching teammates race. I also told Jared it was kind of nice that we weren't just sitting at home playing video games or watching TV. Every time I tried to take a picture of Landon he thought he would let me know just how he felt. Ethan was all smiles though, and Mackenzie just had to throw a nice pose in there.

Pick your battles

This is what happens when I choose to fight the battle. I get my little girl with some cute piggies complete with bows looking like someone took the time (or at least won the fight about taking the time).

When I choose not to fight I get this. One rough looking girl with a cheap headband worn in a way it was never intended for looking like she rolled straight out of the "09" zip code of town. (those from Bakersfield know what I am talking about)
So much to Jared's dismay, this is one battle I will fight. I may roll out of my house in the clothes that I slept in, with my greasy hair under a hat, and not a stitch of make-up on but my only girl will not.

So Long, Farewell......

No matter how many times we do this it never gets any easier. We have said goodbye to many great friends over the years we have been married. We lived in Provo when first married and when we left for dental school we left many great friends along with my sister and her husband for San Antonio, TX. I was so mad we were leaving. I was sure I would never meet better friends or have as much fun as we did when living in Provo. Of course I was wrong. We met so many people and made such great friends while in San Antonio that when it was time for Jared to graduate I actually hated to leave. My only comfort was that most of our great friends were leaving or had already left. So now that we are here in Bakersfield I thought chances of us having to say goodbye to friends again would be slim. We were no longer living in an area surrounded by families in school so why would people need to leave. (logical thinking I know) Just over a week ago we said goodbye to the Mckeon family. We will miss them. My boys are already asking when they are coming back from vacation. The picture below was taken the on the last day of school at a pool party. I love that they are all smiling and laughing just enjoying their last gathering for awhile.

Austin, Tanner, Davin, Ethan, and Landon

I am also throwing in these random pictures.

Mackenzie after a full day of swimming

Landon's newest sign for his bedroom. Spelling obviously needs some work.

A little while ago a friend posted a link to this blog when talking about what inspired her. I have been following it for months now waiting for a happy ending. Well the happy ending finally happened. I don't even know these people but I feel like I do from reading this.

http://www.famofcookies.blogspot.com/

It is a great reminder to me of how blessed I really am and that things are never as bad as I think they are. Make sure you have some tissues ready. If you want to start at the beginning start reading from the October 31, 2008 post.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHTON! (one day late)

This year just flew by. I really can't believe that he is one. Ashton has been such an easy baby and so much fun. He is extremely animated with all of his jabbering which makes listening to him so funny. He is on the go all the time and just like all my other kids has decided now that he is mobile he does not want to really be held at all. So he is no longer a snugly squishy little boy. He is standing by himself but is still pretty lazy when it comes to actually wanting to walk. He is into everything, emptying any cupboard or drawer that he can open. He thinks he is pretty funny most of the time since he brothers and sisters always laugh at everything he does. We all love him so much!

I decided to make a caterpillar for his cake this year and thought the one from the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" would be cute. I made the cakes the morning of. Big mistake. I usually make them a day or two before and freeze them, but I ran out of time. Then I ran out of frosting. I thought I colored enough red but I didn't and I didn't want to make another entire batch just for a little bit of red so I thought if I just took a picture from above then you would be able to notice. Although I am pretty sure you can see how jacked up it is. Oh well, I wasn't making for anyone who was paying me so I just left it. I wasn't too happy with the way it turned out but the kids all thought it was cool enough so I guess I should be okay with it.

Ashton actually got the idea of opening the presents but then just wanted to play with the paper once he ripped it off. He got one of those ball popper toys that shoots the ball up with a little air and then it rolls back down a track again. He thinks it is great but I think my older kids just might like it more than he does.

All three babies (beckham, owen, and ashton) playing with toys. I think having these three all so close in age is going to be a lot of fun in a few years!

The Last

Jared making Ashton's very last bottle and most likely the last one ever.
Ashton getting anxious
Contemplating this moment
Enjoying!
The poor kid got a double whammy this past week. We took his bottle away of which I do not feel sad about. I only feel sad because it means that he really is no longer my baby baby. Also he has a nasty habit of throwing his binky's in the trash, drawers, behind beds, and anywhere he can find a spot in the pantry. One night we were unable to find a binky anywhere when he went to bed. I have never looked so hard for something in my life. I wasn't ready for him to be done. He is a very loud kid and those binky's really do come in handy. Alas, I lost the battle and he has been without them for a few days now. He did end up finding his binky in the pantry somewhere and he seemed pretty pleased with himself. I probably would have just let him have it but Jared said we went this long with out one we should just be done with them. So the bottle and the binky are gone. I am sad and all of a sudden I am a little baby hungry.