Pictures

I have finally uploaded photos from my phone and thought I'd post some.  Some of these are from the branding party (taken by Jenni) a month ago.  You can find more of Jenni's fabulous work (and see more of the branding photos) over at Applegreen Photography.

Yesterday the city workers were doing something with the water lines on our street.  They ended up opening up the hydrant across from our house and the kids had the most wonderful time trying to stay standing in that mad blast of water!  They finally gave up and played in the street.

That's me, on the top and there's Popeye on the bottom.  Mmmm, mmm - he's so hot.

There he is again.  And that's Princess Monkey Eyes on branding day.  I love her curls.

Popeye bought Princess Monkey Eyes and I new cowgirl hats for the branding.  I totally dig mine!

There's Grand Duchess with a light saber - she's growing so fast and wants to be a part of the action. The other pic is of Princess Monkey Eyes, her friend and Thor out at the ranch.  We were feeding the calf, Daffy, that day and the kids were chasing it and then it would turn around and chase them back.  It was so funny to watch!

I need to get a new camera.  Mr. Fantastic is having surgery in two weeks and I need to take pics of that process for him.  I should post more pics of the boys - but they just aren't as cute as the girls.  :)  Okay, that's not totally true - I just rarely take pictures of them.

Really quick...maybe

here's the latest.

We had major hail damage on the north side of our house and garage. Holes in the siding and a busted roof. Needless to say - the house STILL is not on the market.
Last week it was unbearably hot but Popeye and I got the siding removed and reinstalled in 100+ degree weather on the garage.  Looks good.  Tomorrow I'll let him remove the siding from the house while I paint the garage to match and install the trim.

Mr. Fantastic has his surgery scheduled for July 13th so we're counting down the days to when we'll start making the long, numerous trips to Omaha for all that is entailed in that.  Pre-operation appointments, operation and then turning the thing on.  After that we'll have to go quarterly for adjustments.  It's a 6 hour drive, one way.  So not fun.  I'm thinking a DVD player for the van will be a must-buy within the next few weeks.

I'm done working for the summer.  Oh how I miss some of my clients.  Some of them, not so much, but there are days when I long to make a difference in someone else's life.  I cleaned my house the other day.  Spent 3 hours on the main floor.  Oh how it sparkled and shined.  The kids stayed outside.  They played in the sprinklers. They came in to go potty.  They tracked grassy wetness across my shiny, clean floors.  I told them to turn around and pee outside. 
Needless to say, I think I need therapy - or a summer camp for the kids while the house is on the market.

Popeye's job "search" is going well.  The state trooper doing Popeye's background investigation is optimistic that he'll get the job.  That is, given he doesn't dig up some nasty dirt.  not happenin'.  So that aspect of our life is moving forward.  We're excited and nervous all at the same time.

Everyone else is fine.  It's allergy season so I am not even going to spell-check this or re-read it as my head is throbbing with sinus pressure.  I just took the last Zyrtec and Sudafed today - everything else in my medicine cabinet has expired.  Guess I need to go to the store tomorrow.  Lovely.  I hate asking for Sudafed - I feel like a criminal.  And when I'm all congested like this - I'm sure I look like a criminal, too.

Anyhow.  Popeye gave me a week off a couple of weeks ago.  It was heaven.  I went to my mom and dad's to stay.  Took my sewing machine, yarn, crochet hooks & money.  I read my scriptures each morning without interruption.  I sewed 8 skirts for the girls.  I crocheted one hat for Grand Duchess.  I watch movies galore.  I helped Mom prepare for a catering job that week.  I talked with her and laughed with her and we went to the movies and saw "Letters to Juliet" (which I recommend if you like clean, chick-flick flicks).  I visited with my uncle who came through.  I bought lots of fabric from Hobby Lobby.  I had a wonderful time!  Simply wonderful.
I came home refreshed and ready to be a mom and wife again.  I had been struggling with motherhood and wife-hood for a while.  Not a lot of people know that.  I went home on Thursday morning only to turn around Friday and go back with Popeye and the kids (Stake temple day was the next day).  I helped Mom with her job on Friday night and was hit on by a young man - the cousin of the groom.  He knew I was married with 5 kids and yet he still flirted with me.  While it was a serious ego booster (Who doesn't like to be hit on my an attractive young guy? - Young being the operative word, here) - I am glad I went home the night before to be with my family to help me realize that I really do love each of them.
And for the record, I'm sure it was the tummy-slimming cami and the fake eye-lashes that had him so entranced.

So I'm home.  We've been fishing and camping and having all sorts of "fun". The kids think I clean too much. I think they should clean up after themselves so that we wouldn't have to do so much cleaning.

And now my medicine is kicking in and I must meet my bed with welcome sighs of bliss.

Still Going Strong

Today is June 5, 2010.  Precisely 11 years ago (to the day, too) I married the man of my dreams.
Oh how I wish my scanner was working so I could scan in a couple of pictures from our earlier years. 

Our wedding was beautiful.  We were married in the Denver LDS Temple.  I had a gorgeous wedding dess and Popeye wore a white tux (I wasn't too keen on it, but hey - he had to have say over SOMETHING that day).  My eldest sister said we looked like Audrey Hepburn and Kurt Russell. (Insert picture here...)

We had a luncheon following the ceremony at a country club in Lonetree, CO.  The food was yummy.  The cake?  Not so much.  I'm not a fan of fondant, but that's okay.  It's not always about the cake.

After a brief rest (NOT!) we went to the church where the cultural hall was magically transformed into a tent-like atmosphere.  The food was delicious (even though we didn't get to eat a whole lot).  The cake - absolutely decadent!!!  Oh, I'm salivating now.

And the dancing.  There was lots of it and it was fun!

And we drove away on Popeye's harley.  Sweet.  Sunglasses, leather jackets and our wedding garb.  People were honking and waving as I had my arms wrapped around Popeye's waist.  It was a deliciously warm night. (Insert another picture of us on the harley here...)

And jumping forward 11 years, we're still in love.  Sometimes I don't like the man.  I mean, he can drive me bonkers.  But then he makes up for it - like the flowers on Mother's Day, showering the kids on Saturday night, letting me sleep in when he's going on little or no sleep.  he's an amazing husband and treats me like a queen.  In all 11 years of marriage he has never yelled at me.  Not once.  And the fights are more of the silent type - and they're pretty few, too.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being married.  It's been rough. But it's been good.  We have 5 beautiful, well-mannered (for the most part) children.  We have a home and we have each other.  We are happy.

So tonight I think I should find a sitter to come over so I can take my man on a date.  But maybe we'll just stay in, pop some popcorn and watch Nacho Libre. 

Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure.

2008 Christmas Photo Shoot - I was preggo with Grand Duchess

February 2009

March 2008 at The Stanley Hotel