What the Hail?

That was the common phrase around here last Saturday morning :)
When we woke up it was like any other day. Michael left to pick up some furniture in LA and the kids went out to play. Then we heard a ton of scary thunder. We went over to the neighbors to talk about how crazy the thunder was. Then all of the sudden it started hailing... out of nowhere. I jumped into their house with the kids. I realized I needed to get this on camera so I ran back to my house and got pelted by the hail. Which didn't hurt, just wanted to sound dramatic :)

The hail was at least marble-grape sized. It covered the ground in white then the rain started to pour. The video is the transitions from hail to rain.

I seriously have never seen anything like this... even in all my Alabama years. It was so crazy! When Michael got back it was sunny and most of the hail was melted... like it had never happened. I am glad that i got video so that he could see it but he was sad he missed it in person.

On the same note there was an earthquake centered in Newport Beach two night ago. I think it was a 3.6. So crazy!

This is what happens...

When you clean your house by 9am.
When you try and study your scriptures.
When your kids are surprisingly quiet and getting along.
When you have a boy.

I wish you could see all the swiffer wet jet fluid all over my floor... and my 50lb bag of flour. Thank you son. He also ripped open that box of Lucky Charms and the bag. His sister would have never done that :)

I tried to get a picture of the thread that was laced throughout my living room but you couldn't see it. You couldn't walk with out getting tangled in yards and yards of all my thread. Thank you sissy.

I guess you can't be on top of it all.... even when you thought you were doing a darn good job of it.

I am Grateful for Dads

This weekend for Father's Day, Michael and some friends decided to go hike Zions. They were gone for 48 hours and drove 16 of them, but Mike said it was totally worth it. I was glad that he had fun but even more glad that he was home. There is not a face I like seeing more than my husband's. He is definitely the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is so kind and patient with me and the kids. I am so grateful that he has such a strong testimony of the Gospel and shares that with our children. I am grateful that he likes to play with them whether it be babies, princesses, wrestling

I am grateful for Michael's dad. Not only for raising the best guy ever, but for how wonderful, loving, kind, and understanding he is. I have always felt very loved and accepted in Michael's family and my father-in-law plays a huge role in that. He's the one that made us realize that we needed to get married. He really is great.

I am grateful for my dad. He has always been so fun, loving, and supportive my whole life. He is a pretty chill guy which is quite a task when living with 9 girls. He has always been more than willing to do things with me like school projects, looking into prosthetics, urging me to do the Paralympics, and getting me a job with HOme Depot under the OJOP program. He has really blessed my life in so many ways and I think he is the absolute best dad. I love him a lot!

I don't have pictures of my grandpas but I am so grateful for them in my life as well. They have always been a source of wisdom, kindness, and love. They raised two wonderful parents that I have been blessed with. They have always supported me and been there for me in times I needed them.

I am also grateful for my Father in Heaven who has blessed my life each day in countless ways. I know that He loves me and is there for me always.

And since I am back I feel like I should be rewarded this trip to Paris.

Or at least some one I know. Go and enter! If you win and need someone to go with you, just give me a call :)

Hi Old Friend,

Remember me? I won't be surprised if you don't since I haven't been around the last FOUR months. I've been trying to come around more often but for some reason never made it. But I am going to try and be better. Maybe I'll come around weekly.... maybe. I do have a lot to tell though. In 4 months a LOT has happened: family visiting, Utah trip, friends visiting, cruise with no kids, and so much more. Do you remember this guy?

He's 28 now. That is getting old. Though he seems to stay young by playing tennis weekly, surfing on Saturday, camping (with Pierce even), and hanging out with the 12-13 year old boys in our ward. He's even built some furniture for our home, but I'll show you pictures later. One thing that keeps us busy is this little lady.

I think she can talk for 30 minutes without missing a beat. She is a very persistent question asker. She is a very smart joy schooler. She can write letters so well. She loves to write out our family member's names (unless I ask her to, of course). She even wrote out Happy BIrthday once.... and that is a big phrase when you are a little girl. She has learned to swim on her own. She is my 2nd in command and helps with a lot of things. She likes all things Cinderella, princess, pink and Dora. She loves being a Sunbeam in Primary. She loves to learn songs and sing them like princesses and robots. She loves the beach and Disneyland. But most of all she loves her pink baby Lucy, the real baby Lucy (pictures to come), her dad and mom, and her buddy.

Yep, this guy. I mean how could you not love this little boy. Even when he tries to attack you for doing what your mom says (or what you think your mom should have said). He is our crazy boy. In an hour today he had 3 major falls. I am glad that he is still alive. He likes to climb, swing, slide, and throw just about anything. He likes to find germs where ever he can and eat them. Like today at the pool when he was sucking up water off the pool deck. Ick. He likes to give you a hug and when he does he says in his little man voice "hug". That's how he says sorry too. He has become very polite but has shortend all polite words to "welcome." He can fold his arms during a prayer... about twice a week :) if you're sad he'll rub your back. If you're tired he'll wake you up at 6am, just to make sure you don't sleep in and miss anything. Because of his early rising he has come to love Dora (I'll do anything to sleep til 7). He will sing "dora, dora, dora" just like the song. Probably not a thing to brag about but it is so darn cute. He will also sing like princess Ariel. He will share with his sister if she asks nicely. He peed on the toilet today... after a little dribble on the floor (don't worry we're still months away). He goes to sleep with his nigh-nigh (blanket), quack quack (duck), and paci. Oh how he loves his paci.

Well, that is just a small update. I do have a lot more to come. Hopefully I will remember that this isn't as painful and time consuming as I remember it being. It does feel good to be back. Talk to you soon.

Carly

My kids...

Wear flip-flops!

If you know Michael then you know he can't stand things between his toes. Actually he can't stand anything between anyone's toes.

If you know me then you know my favorite pair of shoes is flip-flops. There is nothing better than flip-flopping it around town.

So I have been nervous that my kids would turn out like Michael (in the shoe wearing category). I bought flip-flops for Avery last year and she told me that they felt yucky. But she saw some at Old Navy the other day and decided that she wanted to try them. We got Pierson a pair too and they both love them. YAY for the easiest pair of shoes to put on (and for Pierson, take off).

HEY-O

Happy Anniversary to Us! (2 days ago)

Don't judge me... we forgot to take a picture all night and so we are 2 seconds away from getting in bed and I had no make-up on. Bad combo.

After Avery's Birthday...

Avery fell in love with pretending to be Mary. Our ward holds a Creche every Christmas and displays nativities from people throughout the community. They had a children's room where the kids got to dress up and pretend to be the nativity and take pictures. Avery made a perfect Mary and Pierson was Joseph.
Doesn't he make a handsome Joseph? He loved dressing up and watching everyone else dress up too.

He made a great wiseman too...

We let Avery play in the nativity for 20 minutes or so and when we left she lost it. She did not want to take off her Mary costume. We have done many Mary and Joseph dress ups at home since then.

Avery is excited for next year when we get to dress up and pretend to be Mary again.