tulip fields

A day at the tulip fields with Ethan, Gracie & Rylee

the need for a schedule

The last few weeks in my life have been very busy and some would say CRAZY! I have found myself to be tired, short tempered and just not very happy so it's no wonder that the kids are acting the same way. I realized that we have been on the go and spending a lot of time out of the home that the kids are just kinda being passed along. There has been no set meal times or nap/bed times. But the killer for me is having all of the grandparents around telling my kids "yes" when I say "no". Don't get me wrong I love the fact that my children have so many grandparents in their lives and I love watching them get spoiled.....after all isn't that what grandparents are supposed to do?!? But after weeks of ice cream before dinner and "Grampy says I get to stay up late" I think it's time to get back to the rules!

So today starts our new schedule, a lot like the old one we're just going to follow it now :)

easter in medina

The kids and I went up to my Aunt's house in Medina, WA for Easter. Jake had to work so he stayed back and spent the day with his family. Ethan went up a day early and got to spend the night with my Aunt Nene and her Grandson Riley. Ethan and Riley are about 2 years apart and have so much fun together. When Gracie and I got there she got right to work helping prepare all the food for Easter brunch the next day. The kids woke up to great big Easter baskets and then it was time to get dressed before the entire family came over for the annual Easter egg hunt. My Aunt's yard is just perfect for this kind of thing and everyone had so much fun. When we got home Jake had hid eggs around the house and sent the kids on another hunt. It was a great day!

grammy

I lost an amazing woman in my life my Grammy, Shirley Ann Hall. She lost her long and very hard battle with cancer on March 25th, 2010. She was an incredible person who gave way more then she ever wanted back!

It is no secret that I am my Grampy's girl. From the very start I am told that in my grandfathers eyes I could do no wrong. So it was also no surprise that when Shirley entered his life I was jealous! I did everything I could to make her go away, but she never did. I was a pretty bad child and she put up with a lot from me and my sidekicks, who shall remain nameless but you know who you are Mr JAG and Mrs Graduate.

No matter what I did she was in love with my Grampy and was not going anywhere. I guess she knew I would grow up and out of the terrible 2's ,3,4,5,6,well you get the idea. So she grew on me and in years turned out to be one of my very good friends! I spent a lot of time gossiping with her about our crazy family.

She was there for every major event in our lives and even for the little ones!

She will forever and always be the best Grammy my kids have ever had. They loved her so much! She gave them unconditional love and support and for that I will forever be greatful.

I wish I could hear her laugh, see her smile, smell her cookies right out of the oven , feel her hug or taste her sticky buns one more time. I wish I could tell her I love her but most of all I wish I could have said thank you. Thank you for loving me and my family. Thank you for choosing my Grandpa, for choosing to wake up every morning with him for the last 27 years!