where have i been....

wow! it feels like i have'nt posted a real entry in a while. we've been busy...Today was our last swim class for the boys. you can see Jo-Squish rose for the occasion! I tried everything short of tossing him in the water to wake him but he was not waking up. However, as soon as the class ended he was bight eyed! of course. Colby is getting better. The first week I was in the water with him, the second week he was alone with the instructor...well, lets just say that by the last class he was'nt a screaming mi mi!!! thats a plus...right? in this bottom pic you can see the shear terror in his face...Jamser gets to move up to the next level in his swim class! he's doing great!

in other news...we have had a visitor...eewww lets just call him *Ratatoullie* OMG!!! he was huge!~how scary! I woke up to find him....i was so retarded! I threw a box over it until Gramps could come and save the day!

Look at Jo-Jo...in all his 11 month old glory! he's going to be *one*! i can't believe it. he was just a little (well not little) baby....they grow so fast.

here is a page for my design team at my little scrapbook store. I am teaching classes now and you be pleased to know that i am making alittle money doing it! it's about time i started supporting my habit....i really do'nt like this pic of me but it was taken for the design team. That was my challenge for this month. work magic on this pic. I am quite happy with the outcome.

you will never guess what I was doing at 5:30am on Wednesday morning...I hiked up Cowles mountian!!!!! and made it to the TOP! i felt GREAT! what an accomplishment for me, since i am not that out-doorsy...hee hee. Janette took these of me when i reached the top!

OMG! I gotta have these....

this is a sneek peek of the new *love, Elsie* line comming out!!! Oh, she is my *FAVE* scrapper! i gotta get it! the first two are *Lola* and the other is *Riley* perfect for my boys!

highlights

as much as we butt-heads, i love this beautiful boy! he sure has his highlights...he's such a great big brother, always plays so nice with the babies...helps when he can and is ALWAYS good for a hug or a *I just gottta tell you something...*
i can't believe in less than a month he will be a second grader....where is baby of mine?....he's all growed up. 7 years old. second grade. wow

*bumble bee soccer*

so we had our first games on Saturday! how funny and cute! I have to say...Colby is a *superstar*!!! His game was first at 9:00am

he can bend it like Beckham.
even Jo-squish enjoyed the game!then it was James turn! he is a he** of a goalie!


this was right after he stopped a GOAL!!! his *safety dance* he's so funny! with all the theatrics! i can't imagine where he gets it!

he's really good too! I am officially a *soccer mom*

Later that day we went to a party for Liam, who lives down the street! It seems we are very popular this summer. 2-3 parties every weekend! keeps us busy!

here is Colby channeling his inner Jack Johnson.... and Jo-Squish singing alongthen there was cake and it was blue...two of Colby's favorite things.....he was in *hog heaven*Later that night, there was a dance contest! James was cutting it up!!! He actually won! his prize....$5.00 he was extatic!we finally got home close to 10:00pm and the kids hit the deck in seconds! what a crazy day

soccer star!

Colby's first soccer practice was a hoot! all the kids lined up and kicked the ball...thats it. I don't think they will be ready for the game on Saturday....The coach did'nt even show them how to play. oh well, Colby looked like a *champ* next to theses kids...they could'nt kick and run at the same time. i guess it will come with practice. their colors are blue and yellow. I came up with the name *the bolts* because we're Charger colors! everyone liked it so now we are *THE BOLTS* Colby is really loving it! As soon as we got his uniform he wanted to put it on! so cute.
can't wait for the game! James game is at 10:00 and Colby's is at 9:00 i'm glad i'll get to see both of their games. Grumps is doing James team and I'm in charge of Colby's. this should be interesting!

soccer shoes...

"i'm ready to put on my soccer shoes now, mommy" so we do, "i'm ready to get in the car now mommy" I say " Colby, soccer practice does'nt start for 3 more hours..." he is psyched! today is our first practice with a game on Saturday! James too! we can't wait...obviously

independence day

we started off our day with a *bang* at 6:28am. kids. So after my coffee we loaded up the car for a fun filled 4th! I made my famous *Chinese Chicken Salad* which Jason affectionately refers to as the *smelly salad* i like it and it's a hit at EVERY party! I also brought the *now* famous *bouncy pool* ! this thing has definitely paid for itself in FUN! I should start charging people for it's use! I've taken it to 3 party's so far and each time it rocks! Our first stop on the *party train* was Christy and Brentt's house! (love them) Where the kids decorated their bikes and scooters in the best 4th swag and proceeded to parade down the block to the park! the neighbors were lined up in their driveways cheering on the parade! too cute!

then we paraded back and had bouncy pool fun and BBQ! We were there until 5:00pm! WOW! this is Leah. James and Leah like each other very much...they snuck off to have a private picnic in the yard...how sweet...we managed one nap yesterday, around 11:30am...no naps for the other 2, but they were good! I could'nt believe they were still standing! They played hard.

then it was off to Matt's house! for a little pool, BBQ action! the boys were so good and played in the pool with the dogs!

the boys were palying catch with Cooper! that dog was crazy in the water! she loved the boys playing with her!

Jo-Squish got *love* from everyone! He was in *Squishy Heaven* ! Matt's sister Alisha and her husband Brian moved back home from Vegas! yeah! glad to have them home. it was a good time. We missed you Jas. then we went to watch the *fireworks* with Grumps and Nana. Everytime we would see a red one Colby would say "that's a Spiderman one" or if it was green or purple he would say "thats a Green Gobblin one" we did'nt get home until 10:00pm!!!! Before the fireworks were over Colby said to me "Mom, I think I'm ready to go to sleeply time"....what a long but great day! Happy 4th!