our BESTEST friends!!

One of the FIRST things we did when we got to Utah was visit our bestest friends . . . the Ostler's! We sure love you guys!!

Brett and Andrew ( 2 months apart), Justy and Ben ( 3 months apart), Ellie and Gracie ( 3 months apart), now we think they need a 4th so Brik has a buddy!


Brett and Andrew met in swim lessons at 2 years old and had the most amazing connection! We are all sure they were buddies in heaven. In fact, they often referred to each other as, "My brother from another mother!" :) They still consider each other best friends and are hoping to room together at BYU and then head off on missions to the same location so they can be companions together . . .Who knows . . . Justin and Ben were nicknamed "Trouble One and Trouble Two" when they were just a few months old! They are peas in a pod and love all the same things - army, guns, Wii and especially blue ice cream!!

Ellie and Gracie had a fun time getting to know each other all over again. Obviously they took to each other quite well!

Not the way you want to start your day.

Setting: 7:30 am in Matt and Jen's bedroom. Gracie is on the floor watching cartoons. Enter Matt.

Gracie: Dad, where'd you go?
Matt: Out running.
Gracie: Why?
Matt: So I can keep up with you when you are 15.
Gracie: (chuckling) Dad, I'm almost 16!
Matt: (scared speechless, had no response)

The Painted Ladies

We've had a million butterflies pass through our backyard over the last week. It's been just amazing! We counted well over a hundred in a matter of about 3 minutes. We read about them and found out that they are all headed north to Washington. What's so great about Washington? Why not stay here? I like butterflies in our backyard. Gracie, who's been around boys maybe a touch too much, had no qualms about catching one, and then showing it to anyone that would listen, while the wings where frantically fluttering about. Didn't bother her one bit. Nice job Grace. You made your brothers proud.

Baseball!!

I love baseball season. I know lots of moms out there just dread this time of year. Not me. I can hardly wait to be out in the sun on beautiful Saturdays and warm evenings during the week. I love sitting on a blanket, on the grass, cheering my guys on. I love watching little guys make great catches and then watching their dads lose all control and yell, "That's my boy!!" I love the chance to learn inner grit when you've struck out three times in a row and then have to walk back to the dugout and hold in the tears, and head right back out on the field. I love the snack shack. Yep, I do. I love how my boys can talk for hours about line ups and discuss who should play where. I love hearing them promise each other that when they are in the "bigs" (aka major league baseball) they will only sign a contract if they can go together. I think that's my favorite.

I don't love the nervous belly I get each time Brett walks out to the pitching mound. I'm a wreck inside for him even though I know he loves it. I don't love that the first two Saturdays were absolutely FREEZING. We called it "Utah cold." Not good. I don't love that my sweet Matty is just exhausted from coaching two baseball teams for the 4th year in a row. Poor guy is just pooped at night! Thank heavens he loves baseball too!Don't you love that these are the only two pictures I got of our first two weeks of baseball. Not one picture of Brett, Ben or Coach Matt. I'll do better. I have LOTS of baseball games to watch . . .

The EBF-25!

Happy Birthday Ben!!Ben had two major requests for his birthday this year. He wanted an EBF-25 and an afternoon at Boomers. Have you ever heard of the EBF-25? It is THE most powerful Nerf gun on the market (according to Ben). The thing requires 6 D batteries so you can imagine just how heavy it is. It fires about 30 bullets, nonstop, and brings the greatest smile to Ben's face. He thrills in hiding behind corners and the opening fire as you come near him. Every single visitor that comes to our door has been showerd with bullets as a welcome. It's lovely.Even Gracie has learned how to handle it now and she's a pretty good shot. Boomers is a go-cart, miniature golf, video game, laser tag type of place. Tuesdays are the day to go! We were the ONLY people there for most of the day and Ben was in heaven.I even got a few rounds of laser tag in. I think it was the first time in my life that I've played laser tag and I loved it. Of course it was just Brett, Ben and me in there, running around like crazy and shooting each other. I think I would have been scared to death if there were other people in there!

Matt and Gracie rode this a hundred times while we played laser tag. Gracie could have gone another hundred!

We finished the day off with Ben's choice for dessert, flan!! (What 7 year old wants flan for his birthday?) We love you, Ben!!!

I guess it was a bad hair day. I didn't know.

Tonight as we were saying our final "good nights" to all the kiddos, I walked into Brett's room and sat down on his bed. He put his hand on my arm and gently said, "Mom, I hope tomorrow is a better hair day for you!" :) Didn't know it was a bad hair day. I wish he had told me a little earlier!

Yes, I was driving and yes, I took the picture!

So when was the last time you were able to hit 120 mph and actually had your camera ready to prove it? I'd say it was a pretty good day for me! :) Yes, I was driving when I took this picture. Yes, it was last week! We were late for scouts!
What do you think? My boys LOVED it!

Now, to explain. (Just don't tell the police . . . ) My speedometer has been a little fritzy lately. Often times, when it's early and cold outside and we are racing down the freeway late to church, my speedometer would read 20 mph, my car would be going about 70 mph ( i think!) and my heart would be racing 100 mph. We were completely out of sync. I think my car was trying to tell me something. :)

During a leisurely drive on a warm afternoon, my speedometer clocked in at 120. Ca-ching. I was hoping I'd hit 120!! The funny thing was that my heart rate was much slower! What was up?

I've come to a rather profound conclusion. And no, it's not because my awesome-retired-police-detective-father-in-law got me out of a ticket a few months ago! My speedometer was working then! Life wants us to slow down. I actually like not knowing how fast everyone else is going. I find myself driving UNDER the speed limit which is not normal for me! Why is that? It's funny. I think I'm enjoying things a little more and am not so prone to race around. I still have a million places to go and get all the kids to, but the "getting there" seems to be more fun.

I'm sure we'll fix it soon, but for now, I'm enjoying the slow lane . . . Try it sometime! Just cover your speedometer for a quick trip to the grocery store. (Although I'll deny that I ever recommended it!) Let me know how it goes . . .