Earrings!!!!

Melony, Me, and Claire

Getting pierced!

So, yesterday after donating her hair to Locks for Love, Claire was going to get her ears pierced, but ended-up chickening out. No problem...we came home and she played with her brothers and friends. Then, at six o'clock, she came up to me and said, "Mommy, I really want to get my ears pierced. Can we do it tomorrow?" So, I called Melony back at the salon. Unfortunately she was going to be booked, but she said to bring her in an hour. At seven thirty last night, with Mommy, Granny, and Griffin, watching her, Claire got her ears pierced! She did wonderful! No tears, just a HUGE smile on her face! She picked little gold hearts with a 'diamond' in the center, and they look great. Afterwards we went out and Granny bought her a dress, I bought her a small toy and we got some ice cream. It was a wonderful girls night (plus Griff)! I am so proud of her!

Locks for Love!

Before

After!

Just for fun of Griffin!

Claire decided that she wanted to cut her hair and donate it to Locks for Love. She knows a young girl who she went to Kindergarten with this year, who is battling a brain tumor and lost her hair. I was explaining to her that if she donated her hair that it would go to another person who needed to have a wig. So, today she donated 10 inches of hair. She ended up with an beautiful bob and she loves it. I think she looks adorable! :)

Crazy, but oh so FUN!

Yep, having another dog is more work right now, due to house breaking, crate training, and teaching her how to walk on a leash. What is making it so fun right now is that after doing all these things with a Great Dane puppy, Buffy is freakishly easy! I'm not entirely sure if it is because we've done this before and are used to it, or if it is because she is so small? The one hilarious thing right now in the house is that Ranger...all 150 lbs. of him, is terrified of her! :) Then we add in the fact that Buffy thinks that SHE is the great Dane...all 2 lbs. of her. She barks at Ranger, barks at our neighbors dogs, barks at Eric is he comes around a corner of the house...and I'm sure that she is trying to sound fierce, but it is just cute...shhhh, don't tell HER that! :)
Well, as I predicted, June is flying by. We've celebrated our anniversary, put up a play set, got a new puppy, I am having part 2 of my leg surgery tomorrow, are having a garage sale this weekend, will be going out to see Eclipse next week, and then we've got the fourth of July! Add in Claire's dance classes, Cade's karate classes, and the play dates etc., and this summer is flying by!

Buffy!

Yep...named after the most awesome super-hero ever! AThis cute ball of fluff is the newest member of our family. Isn't she adorable? She is 11 weeks old and about 2 lbs. She is very out-going and playful. She is also torturing Ranger at every turn! Well,, this has to be short because I'm watching her like a hawk! I'll update again when she sleeps!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Yep...nine years ago Eric and I got married! It was a wonderful day and truly one of my best memories ever. So much of the day was a blur, but one thing that has always stood out was when the Bishop said, "You may kiss your bride," Eric grabbed me, and in my head I was screaming "YIPEE I'm kissing my HUSBAND!"
Now, we have five kids and our big, dumb yet loveable dog, and life couldn't be any sweeter. Our date nights may be rare, our idea of a wild night ends at 9:30, and getting dressed-up means wearing something not covered in baby food, but I wouldn't trade a moment of this life that we have made!
I love you Eric! I love you for the man you were, the man you are, and the man that you will be as we pass even more anniversaries. Thanks Chief, for picking ME! :)

Summer?

The Clan!

Just a pretty flower in my garden!

If it is really summer, then why, oh WHY is it raining so darn much! We have been trapped in the house so much for the last two weeks that it is beginning to get to me! I was able to get a few pictures of the kids while we played in the yard, and even this one of all five of them! Impressive!
So, the rest of this month is going to fly by I think. We have Eric and my anniversary, Father's Day, Claire starts dance camp, I have 'part 2' of my leg surgery, a bunch of us are attending Eclipse, and then we are at the Fourth of July when tons of Eric's family decends upon Austin. I really like having a full schedule. I have found that it makes it easier when I wake up knowing what I have to get done and by what time. Eric still calls me the schedule nazi...I guess that he is right! Hope everyone is having a great beginning of the summer as well!

My Veggie Garden!

So, now that the playset is up and functional, it was on to the next project...my vegetable garden. Eric had cut the sod in that section of the yard over the weekend, and the owner of the nearby nursery lent us a roto-tiller (so nice and helpful)! Yesterday I planted all of the veggies and then set the posts and ran the fence...we have a multitude of bunny-rabbits out here that will eat the garden if they can get to it. So, here's what I planted: red bell peppers, green bell peppers, cabbage, lettus, carrots, zuchinni, squash, ground cherries, onions, and watermellon. Hopefully it goes well. I also have a topsy-turvy tomato plant growing and a strawberry topsy-turvy full of strawberry plants and jalapenos! Now...what should the next project be???

The Play-set

Our new Play-set

Jax and Finn...not camera-shy at all!

Yay! Yipee! Wahoo! We have a play-set! Eric and our super-friend, and our wonderful neighbor spent the last three days putting up the play-set that we bought at Sam's. With all the kids getting out of school this week, and Eric going out of town tonight, this play-set is going to be a lifesaver! I am so very thankful for all the guys who helped us, and lets not forget all the women who helped me herd the kids and hold the baby. It was a busy weekend, but so much fun. Thanks everyone! We love you!