Cj is Twenty and One!

Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter.....

she's 21 already!

boy, times fly when you're having fun!!!

twenty-one...

perspective....

Life is a learning experience every day.... 

or, 

at least it should be seeing that's what we are here for, right?...

most of the time we are running around doing those really important things like yelling at the kids to hurry up and catch the bus, or reminding them for the 1,000th times to take out the trash, brush there teeth, or only use a few towels during the week, not two a day, ugh.

you know,

 all those REALLY life altering important things that matter most!

and your running around with your head cut off like a chicken cuz there is so much to do that is sooo

important!

and then,

one little minute and a few short words can change all that!

I had the honor of cutting my beautiful cousins'  hair tonight,

I've cut it before so I didn't think anything about it...

but, she showed me a picture of Hallie Berry and said that's what she wanted!?!

now, keep in mind this cousin is a few years younger than I am,

she is gorgeous, she takes good care of herself, she was a model, just to give you an idea,

she's one of those beautiful long thick red-headed brown eyed girls, with the cutest nose and the best smile ever...

I asked her if she was donating her hair again to locks of love?

but, even at that, she's never gone that short.

"no, she said, 

 I have colon cancer and I'm going to lose it next week, 

so, I thought I'd have a little fun and have it short and spiky"!!!

she was so positive about it,

 after I picked my jaw up off the floor, we started cutting and talking.

I just couldn't believe how gorgeous she still looked even with short hair...

my heart just started to swell at her positiveness about her situation,

everything has happened so fast, she just called all her brothers and sister to tell them about it today...

It made me seemed to forget about all those REALLY important things,

you know, like the dirty socks, and all those feelings

that I feel that I need to control to be a good mom,

it was a beautifully spiritual experience cutting her hair and remembering to just focused on what life is really for and all about.

Tomorrow I don't think I'll be too worried about the kids catching the bus or mad because once again they forgot to have me sign one of their school papers.

life is about LOVE and treasuring those whom we do love,

and learning to serve and love others....

not about Spencer's socks constantly on the floor....

 so what,

 if I get to pick them up everyday for the next 4 years, (what's 4 more years, I've already done it for 15, you'd think I'd be a pro at it by now, not a grumpy old women!)

 one day,

 I won't have that awesome opportunity cuz he'll get married and then his wife will get to do that wonderful job, and I might even kind-of miss it...maybe

(after a while, of course)

I'm just so touched by Hiedi,

life is short and fragile and heck, how many times do we forget that during the day.

I've experienced enough tragedy in my little 47 years of life that I should have never forgotten, 

and yet somehow I did!

When people asked us where Lynzie got her red hair from,

we always tell them from my cousin Heidi.....

We love you Heidi,

 We will send you our thoughts and prayer during the days and weeks and months that are ahead,

 just to help keep you going during those rough days.

Thank you for being so positive and helping me remember what LOVE and LIFE is all about!

**post note, she just sent me pictures this morning of her cute hair on the way to work!
she looked gorgeous!

F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E.

This is my favorite picture ever!

It just speaks to my heart.

I'm going to blow it up and put it on a canvas...

why is it my favorite?

5 of the people I love most are in it, 

they are all laughing, 

the camera just caught them being them!!!

family pictures 2013...

So,

the other day, we finally did family pictures before our first snow storm hit...

it's always stressful to get everyone together and trying to cloth everyone to kind-of match...

Our colors were grey, blue with a pop of orange,

I had every thing planned out and every single person except Spencer and I changed their clothes right before we were walking out the door, Candice almost didn't even make it....  it was chaos, as a mom, I wanted to lose it..... all my best laid plans gone....
 but,
I just put a smile on my face and just hoped that some how it would work out,
 I was just so thankful that we were actually all together just doing a family picture!

we had a great time, we got some great pictures of us just being us!

our cute photographer did a fabulous job.

 Thank-you!!!

Of course we tried the old pyramid thingy again!
and
still couldn't quite get it!

(2013)

              

                                                                                        (2011)                                       

I'll share more of our pictures later...

but

one thing that was weird to see was this!

.

.

.

just take a look at

 which one of my girls has change from a little girl to a teenager!

LYNZIE

not only has she started wearing mascara, and doing her hair, worrying about clothes, and boys,

you know, all the important stuff,

she's quite our little diva.... 

not to mention that she is now TALLER than both her older sister!

she's changed right before our eyes this past year!!!!

it's been quiet amazing!

(2012)

(2013)

these 3 sweeties have a fun and close relationships as sisters!