Weekend at Grandma's

As most of you know, a weekend at Grandma's isn't just a typical weekend. There is usually some sort of "activity" involving animals, whether they be live or whether they be dead. This weekend, it was dead. The weekend I was away Marcus took the kids to stay with Grandma and Grandpa (his parents), mostly for help with my two little angels, but his main objective was to kill and cut up a cow....yes, a cow. He did get the killing part done, but not all the cutting up part, that's what our weekend at Grandma's was for....to finish the task. I didn't really take that many pictures of this "event", mostly because my hands were very involved this time. The men cut the meat, even put it through the grinder, but my job was to make bags of ground beef. We did get some great steaks, roasts, and ground meat out of it, but it's not exactly my idea of a relaxing weekend. **Just as a warning, the first picture might be disturbing. May I just remind you...this is my life.

Before...

After Cali found Grandpa's hunting hat

These are just a couple pictures of the kids during the past week....nothing special, just adorable!!

Cali liked this little bandana...isn't she just too cute?? Even though he can't tear his eyes from the TV, at least I got a smile. :)This is her "cheese" face whenever we pull out the camera.Reading Breaking Dawn....duh!

Girl's Weekend!!!

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to send the kids, and Marcus, to grandma's house and get away. I had never been away from my kids for more than overnight before and I was REALLY nervous to go, but I'm really glad I did. We had a really great time!! Before we moved to Oregon, we lived in a little town close to Lamar University where Marcus was in school....the girls that I went with were my friends from those times. We've stayed in touch, and pretty close, and we have a lot of fun together. There were supposed to be 4 of us, but the fourth had to back out due to a family situation...we missed her greatly!!! But we tore up San Antonio!!! Here are some great pictures, at least the ones I'm allowed to share....teehee!! ;)

This is my friend Abby driving the first leg of the trip.

This is my friend Mandy...these are my crazy friends, just wait.

The second day of our trip we went to Schlitterbahn...they were waiting in line for cotton candy!

This is just us being silly in the elevator. What dorks!

The third day we went to the Alamo...but they wouldn't let us into the basement!!! Punks!

This was our outing to Market Square to eat at MiTiera's...and it was goooooood. I can't fit it in, my mouth isn't big enough....hahaha!!This was on the ride back to the hotel on the trolly. I'm sure the driver thought we were nuts. Abby is really hard core, can't you tell?Since we had no kids, we were acting like kids. Look how much air she got!!The last night of "freedom". Cheese!!

Memories....in the corner of my mind....

Ok, so a couple of friends posted this on their blog and I thought it looked like fun. Plus, it gives me (and you all) a break from me constantly talking about my offspring. As I looked back on my years with my honey, I also want to be reminded of good times with good friends. It is about reminiscing and there is nothing I like more than taking a trip down memory lane. So, here are the rules.
1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one (or 2 or 3...) memories that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

6 Whole Years!!

Today is our 6th Wedding Anniversary!! Hooray!!

I was reminiscing about the past 6 years and I came across a disc of some different pictures from different times in our marriage. I don't have any digital pictures of our actual wedding, but I'll try to dig some up and scan them in, just to be able to share in the magic. ;)

This was a couple months after we got married. We were living in Alaska for my last semester of school and volleyball. We were called as nursery leaders...the best birth control EVER!!

This is obviously when I was pregnant with Austin. We look so young! I was only 22 and we were living in the smallest trailer house and Marcus was still in school. Can't you see the thrill on my face? I should actually blog about this picture someday!! The phone Marcus is holding was the worst phone in the world...we shot it to bits when we finally got a new one. I recommend shooting appliances that really agravate you when you're finally ready to move on...excellent therapy! PS. That's my "tough" face.This was one of the best days...Marcus finally graduating from college!! I had been putting him through school pretty much our whole marriage. (I know many of you can sympathize, but I didn't have to go through law school like most of you, thank goodness!!) One of our many trips to my parents' house in California...we don't always get to make it over to spend time on the beach, but we definitely needed it this trip. Look how white we were!Another pasty picture, but I think we were living in Oregon that winter...not much sunlight during the rainy season, and it showed!After reflecting on our time together, I was trying to remember some things from before I met Marcus. I just have to say, I know there was life before him, but I MUCH prefer life WITH him! We have made some great memories together. We talk and laugh a lot together, and having children has even added to our joy. There is a lot of Joy in the Journey here on earth...and I'm really glad I have such a wonderful husband and friend beside me to share it with. I know the eternities will be even better than this life, especially with Marcus.

I love you Marcus!! Happy 6th Anniversary!!!

I would like to have some sort of excuse for not having any new posts, but nothing good comes to mind. I haven't lost my camera, just haven't been taking any pictures...bad mommy!! We've been doing a lot of fun stuff with great people and I have no proof. We had a fun 4th of July. Well, as fun as possible with Marcus working pretty much the whole weekend, but we made the most of it. We did fireworks friday night, that's all that really mattered. We've been playing, swimming, hanging out with friends, and just being crazy! I promise I'll do better and have the camera on me 24/7. Oh well, here are some pictures I took of the kids just the other day when we were playing and being silly in the house together.

Aren't they so stinkin' adorable?

Silly kiddos

Austin hammin' it up!!

This is what Cali did when I said "Cheese"

This is Cali doing the sound of a monkey...ooo ooo aaa aaa...too cute!!
We went swimming a couple times this week, and both times I forgot my camera. Luckily the friend I was with had hers today so hopefully we'll have some more to share soon.