I'd like to thank the academy

Today is my birthday. And just to prove it, Kristine gave me this:



Thanks Kristine! I would also like to thank my Mother for 31 years of WAY too much information, helping to result in the clusterphunk that is my mind. Thank my fiance for putting up with my ass, and thank my kids for this:



Y'all know what Mama needs.

I'd also like to thank American Idol. Because of you, my goodnights with Jacob go something like this "goodnight over the raaaiiinnnbow, skiiieeesss awwweee bwwwuuuueee." So nice to be serenaded everynight. And while I'm at it, I'd like to thank google, because thanks to you, Mama DOES know everything, including how Johnny Appleseed died. You know, cause inquiring minds need to know.

Oh-yeah, rules of the award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.


Hhhhmmmm, I think I will do as the person who gave it to me Yeah, I linked to her 3 times, What of it? And nominate 2 more blogs, instead of 10. So, my childhood peeps, Shannon, aka Mama to a Diva who I've known since - what is it girl? Kindergarden? First? And Alissa, who I've known since freshman year of high-school. Love you ladies.

holiday busyness and vomit

Three holiday concerts...Brittney & Brooke's B-Day...Christmas Shopping for 7 kids...2 dogs...2 cats...2 horses...Holiday party coming up...Also something BIG...Tears of joy...It's a surprise.

And in other news, Rainia announced to me yesterday that we were the farting family. She also threw-up all over the floor of the stall at middle-school #2 during Kyley's holiday concert this evening. Why did she throw-up all over the floor instead of in the toilet? Because she was having to use the toilet at the same time. Poor, poor girl. And before we left she told me that her ear hurt. Who knew an ear-ache could be so severe? And I am the worst school parent ever, because when I tried to clean it up with little paper-thin brown school paper-towels, it didn't seem to work, and I almost vomited myself. So I genorously covered it up with the paper-thin school-brown paper-towels, and then coincidentally saw one of those yellow "wet floor" teepee things, so I set it up neatly at the door to the throw-up stall so that the middle school girls could be forwarned. Then I went to the office to tell them that I needed custodial assistance, only no one was in the office due to the concert. So we went back to the concert.

Kylelyn Jade Underhill

turned 12 on November 26th. In this post you will find 12 pictures of her, 12 random facts about her, 12 of her favorites, and 12 things that I adore about her.



12 Random facts about Kyley:

12) She enjoys privacy more than anyone else in the family.
11) She is extremely academically gifted.
10) She loves to sing. And is good at it.
9) She collects Nutcrackers.
8) She has a fly-away pinky toe. Seriously, the space between that toe is ridiculous. She can also pinch things with her toes and pick them up.
7) She is a very light sleeper. If you open the bedroom door in the morning, she jumps right out of bed.
6) She has a passion for reading, science, and politics.
5) She enjoys videography, writing and directing short films.
4) She writes poetry.
3) She is extremely sensitive. Her passion, love, sweetness, and intelligence have come together to create a girl incredibly sensitive to her own feelings and the feelings of everyone in her life.
2) She has an overwhelming love for animals, and has been a vegetarian for 3 years.
1) She is the weirdest person I know.







12 of Kyley's favorites:

1) Favorite Color = Dark Green
2) Favorite Song = "Fall For You" by Second Hand Serenade
3) Favorite TV Channel = Sci-Fi Channel
4) Favorite School Subject = Language Arts
5) Favorite Animal = Horse
6) Favorite Season = Fall
7) Favorite Gemstone = Jade
8) Favorite Food = Sushi
9) Favorite Book = Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
10) Favorite Movie = Phantom of the Opera
11) Favorite Career = Author
12) Favorite TV Show = Ghost Whisperer







12 Things I adore about Kyley:

12) Her intelligence. She amazes me on a regular basis with the things that her brain can process and the genious amount of knowledge she has.
11) Her good behavior. She is so good. All of the time. The worst offense she commits is if we catch her reading after "lights-out" time.
10) Her good nature. She is pleasant, and fun to be around, and rarely argues with anyone in the house.
9) Her sense of self. She never follows the crowd. She knows who she is, what she likes, what she believes in, and is not afraid to be herself. Even if it goes against the status quo.
8) Her fearlessness. She is so brave, standing up for what she believes in (see number 9.) but it goes even further. She will sing loudly in chorus, stand up on stage in talent shows, Try out for school positions, and speak up in class, asking and answering questions, even if she isn't sure of the answer.
7) Her ideals. Her sense of fairness and equality are so noble. She is the most just person I have ever met, even if that means self-sacrifice for the greater good. She would never cheat in a game to win. Things have to be fair for Kyley and the people around her. And she gets very upset if the're not.
6) Her passion. She carries her passion for the things she feels strongly about to the highest level. If it's within her power to do it, it will be done.
5) Her compassion. And empathy. She truly feels and thinks about others. I don't know how she holds it all in that amazing heart of hers. It must hurt with the amount of sorrow and love she feels for other people and animals.
4) Her curiosity. She wants to know about everything. There is not a topic that she finds boring. She is much more entertained by the history, and discovery channels than VH1 or Disney, which is what people her age watch.
3) Her beauty. Yes people, unlike Kyley I am a little bit superficial. And oh my god, my daughter is gorgeous. Looking at her sometimes brings tears to my eyes because I can't even believe that I helped create this perfect creature.
2) Her sense of humor. Her keen intelligence enables her to be so incredibly funny, coming out with these witty remarks that just crack us up. She has a sarcasm that anybody can adore, and a comeback for every comment. You know how you think of things after-the-fact, and have this "Oh I should have said that" moment? Well she actually SAYS it, on the spot. She is just so funny.
1) Her extreme weirdness. Face it, we are all weird. But Kyley is not afraid to be herself. She is just so silly and fun. I adore her.







Happy Birthday Kyley. I thank God for you everyday. A lot of people would say that eighteen is too young to have a child, but it worked for us baby. You were the beginning of my life. I can't even imagine where I would be if it weren't for you. Because of you, I am who I am. Everything I have ever done good in my life is for you and because of you. We have been through a lot you and I, and I owe my life to you. You saved me. I became what you needed, and to this day, as your needs change, I become a stronger, better woman as I try to fill them. Trying to be the person that you need me to be has created me, formed me, and I am so grateful to you. Thank-you Kyley.

Happy Birthday Rain

My dearest Rainia,

This post is coming a little late, because after your birthday, we all immediately got sick, and have been in bed until today. By all of us, I mean everyone except for Rick, Brooke, and Andrew.



My sweet, sweet girl,

You turned 10 years old this year. TEN!!! I cannot believe how the time has flown. You had a growth-sput this year, and are no longer the shortest kid in your class. (You are the 2nd shortest) You take a girl's sz. 8 in clothes, and you LOVE to wear dresses and skirts. Every year you have asked me to cut your hair short (somewhere in between your chin and ears) except for this year. You asked that it grow-out until the wedding. You like for me to curl your hair, and were so excited when I recently put subtle highlights in it. At 10 years old, you love HighSchool Musical. Your favorite character is Corbin Bleu's character. You have poster's of him in your room:



Your room is also plastered with posters of Chris Brown and the Jonas Brothers:





You love to play internet games on your computer, and also love your myspace page. You are extremely creative, you love drawing, painting, crafting, and making amazing things out of nothing with Brittney. As an example, the two of you recently made a new outfit for every Bratz doll you own out of toilet paper. But your favorite toys at 10 years old, are your Bratz, and your Baby Alive dolls:




Your favorite food is spagetti, and you say that you don't like cheese, although you love to dump it on your spagetti in the form of parmesan. You also don't like mashed potatos (What is wrong with you girl?) Your favorite color is, and has been for as long as I can remember, red. You love your cheerleading lessons with Brooke, and you love music and dancing. Your favorite song is "Say Goodbye" by Chris Brown. You love your cat, Pheonix.



You do well in school, not just academically, but you are also helpful. So much so that you were recently awarded the "citizen of the month" award.




You don't really enjoy reading though, you would much rather watch Disney Channel. Your best friend is Jazmynn, and she has been since you were both in kindergarten. You have a sleep-over with her at her house or ours almost every weekend. Your true soulmate though, is Brooke, and the two of you often disappear together. You can be found on the trampoline, not jumping, but laying together looking up at the clouds talking for hours. Or in our woods, taking pictures of each other, and building forts.





You are such a bubbly, energetic, happy, loving member of this household. When you get in trouble, it is for telling people what to do. Your nickname is Lil Mama, because you just can't help yourself, you HAVE to put your 2 cents into everything. You need to tell everyone what they should be doing, including Rick and Myself. If we take too long at the store, or if we need to go somewhere for the business, etc. We know that you will be the only one calling us from your Grandma's house to find out what we are doing, when we will be home, and do not forget (insert what we should not forget here.) You love to keep track of everything on the family calendar, which is filled with your handwriting, writing down everone's appointments. Yes, those are your X's and hanwriting all over that thing.



You are so energetic, that when you talk, you bounce up and down, and my head follows your movement, so I am constantly nodding my head up and down while you are talking to me. (This must look hysterical.) You are always being told to sit down at the dinner table, because even while eating, you have so much energy that you would rather be standing. And then, after dinner, you spin, or practice your handstands in the living room. It is a normal occurance for me to tell you that I am getting dizzy watching you when we are in the same room. When we go to the store together, I hold your hand, and spin you around while we walk, because this is the best way to keep you entertained and keep you to stay with me. Internal dialogue: As I am writing this, I am realizing that this girl needs to be tested for ADHD. I have often thought this before, but it does not interfere at school or with her bahavior.



You are beautiful, and so sweet, and your smile and laughter brighten the hearts of anyone who meets you. I adore you RainGirl, and cannot believe that you are already 10.








Happy Birthday Baby! We love you more than words can say!

Jake and Josh are six!

Dear Jacob and Joshua,

You turned 6 yesterday, and it was the best children’s birthday party I have ever attended, let alone hosted. Unfortunately, only 1 out of the 16 kindergarten friends that were invited attended. It was fine though, because we have 7 kids ourselves, and Brooke’s and Andrew’s best friends came, and your cousins Zack and Megan came. So including the girl from Josh’s class, there were 12 kids, and 7 adults. Not to mention all the regular barn people. We had it at the barn, and started with hotdogs and face-painting. Then, everyone took turns riding horses on the trail. You both dressed up like true cowboys, and had a great time. After the trail rides, you all went on a hay ride through the fields of horses, and were allowed to throw hay out to the horses, which made them follow you. Sadly, the hay ride was cut short, because there was a poor injured horse in the field, which had been shot by a real arrow! Oh-my-Goodness the excitement this caused at the barn. We all watched as the horse-men applied antiseptic to the horse, and cut and pulled the arrow right out of the horse’s leg! The horse was fine, but everybody was very sad that this happened.

The Invitation


A close-up of the wanted pictures on the invitations:




You guys in the yard right before we left for the party.


Jake took this picture with his new camera (Rainia getting her face-painted)


Jake took this pic. of Nick and Andrew who are WAY too cool to get their faces painted.


Cousin Megan getting ready to go on her trail ride



After the excitement of the injured horse wore off, we sang the birthday song to you guys, and everyone stumbled over the name part, because there are two of you. You both had your own cowboy inspired cake, and then we went out to hit the cowboy piñata. The piñata actually started its life out as a “Bob the builder” piñata, because I couldn’t find a cowboy one. But you guys are WAY too old for “Bob the Builder”, so Rick covered the Bob part in red wrapping paper, and then plastered it with cowboy stickers. It was so cute. Jake, you went first to hit the piñata, and didn’t even say a word when it swung back and hit you in the forehead with all ten pounds of candy. I would have never even known it happened if I hadn’t noticed the red knot pop up on your forehead. Josh, you went second, and then a couple other kids, but it was your big cousin Zack who hit that piñata like a baseball, and busted it open. You all ran to get the candy.

Josh blowing out his candles


Jake blowing out his candles


Close-ups of the cowboy cakes




A couple pics Jake took of the pinata





After the piñata, we went in to open presents and you guys were so excited. Josh, you impressed everybody, because Andrew’s best friend Nick gave you $5. And then your cousin Zack gave you $5. And you made everyone stop what they were doing, and you yelled “NOW I HAVE TEN DOLLARS!” We were impressed because you had added it up so quickly. After the presents, it was time for everyone to go home, but you didn’t want to go home, and Josh’s friend didn’t want to go home, so all the kids played on the playground while you guys, Raven, her Mom and I walked through all the barns to pet the horses. Jake, you woke up the pig by taking his picture with your new camera, right in his face, with the flash on. Then we ran out of there because he started making some VERY loud grunting noises.

Jake took this pic of Josh's friend Raven skipping to the barn


The pic. that woke up the pig



We all spent some time on the playground after that, and finally came home. We had a sleepover with us, plus Nick and Savanna, and I set up the tents for everyone to sleep in. You guys decided to come inside with us though, and Andrew didn’t sleep out there either. We had a big campfire, and roasted hotdogs. Jake, you actually burned your finger on the hotdog by touching it right after you roasted it, but you didn’t complain about that either. You are tough boy. Josh, you spent more time inside playing your new video games then you did at the campfire. First you got Rick to play with you, then you played by yourself. Finally, you got your Uncle Sky to play with you. You did spend part of the night out with us though, dancing to the music and roasting your hotdogs.



Unknowingly, I documented Jake's injury


A few pics Jake took







Jacob, your favorite gifts were the digital camera from me and Rick, and the boots from Grandma. Josh, your favorite gifts were the “Speed Racer” video game from me and Rick, and the “Basketball” video game from Uncle Sky.

I love you guys SO much, and I can’t believe that my babies are so old.