THE WINNERS ARE:

I am a little late getting to the announcing the winners. I have had 2 sick kids and it has been miserable for a couple days. Gracie is still trying to get over it. But anyways the winners are (drumroll) Chelsea, Mindy, and Kiesha. If you could get me your addresses I will mail you your surprise in the mail. If you aren't familiar of how this works, now you get to pay-it-forward on you blog and do the same thing.

Pay-it-forward

I won a pay-it-forward on Shelly's Blog (thanks for the cute gift) and now it is my turn. How it works is you let me know you want in the drawing and I will draw 3 people a week from today. If you win I will mail you a surprise in the mail- and then you get to pay it forward and do the same thing. Good luck to you all!

7 random things about me

I got tagged forever ago from Katie about 7 random things about me- so here goes:

1. I pop my knuckles, neck, back, knees, feet, toes, basically anything that can be popped I pop it. It drives people around me CRAZY. I have done this for as long as I can remember. My grandma Ila always would tell me that I was going to pop my knuckles out and they wouldn't go back in- but so far I haven't had that problem.

2. When I was a Junior in High school we went bowling for my weight training class and I got the highest score of anyone there- even the boys. My teacher, Coach Swenson, made me a trophy on a plastic bowling pin and it is still proudly on display at my parents house. (I might add this is the only thing that I have won.)

3. I had knee surgery in 2001 and after was sicker than a dog. I started throwing up on the car ride home and never stopped for days. I couldn't keep anything down including food and pain meds. I finally got a prescription for Compozine which is for nausea. So I had this horrible reaction to it- so bad that my parents thought that I was having a stroke. They called down our neighbor Rosemary- who is a nurse and she told my parents to get me to the hospital ASAP and not to bother calling an ambulance. My dad had to carry me to the car and about half way there, my mom looked back and thought they had lost me. We got to the hospital and as soon as they heard what I had taken they knew it was an allergic reaction and got some meds in me. So now I know that I can't take Compozine.

4. When I was 8 or 9 we were at Yellowstone- us kids were playing with some neighbor kids when some bufflo came stampeding through our campsite. We thought they were through and continued playing. This one buffalo started scuffing his front hoof and started charging- the kids parents we were playing with grabbed us and yelled for us to get in their trailer. This buffalo was ticked at something because he charged again and yanked my precious PURPLE UNICORN bike (banana seat and all) up with his horns and threw it in the air. It bent my spokes so I couldn't ride it- but at least we are all okay and alive. (my mom happened to have the camcorder going and recorded the whole thing)

5. I accomplished the great feat of waiting for my boyfriend on his mission- we have now been married 6 1/2 wonderful years and have 2 beautiful girls.

6. I love reality TV. Call me a loser but I do. The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol ( i am voting for David A. as I type), and The Amazing Race are some of my favorites.

7. I have had pretty easy Labor and Deliveries (I actually LOVE it). But- the after part has never been normal. Both of my girls have ended up in the NICU- Brooklyn for 6 days with a blood incompatibility and Gracie for a day with respiratory problems. Then they are both jaundice and have had to be under the lights YUCK! So I have not been able to enjoy the holding of the baby until about a week or so after the birth.

So now you know some random things about me and I am going to tag: Kiesha, Melissa, and Heidi (because you thanked Rach so much for not tagging you last time :))

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's and future mom's out there!!

I have been lucky enough to be blesssed with a mom who is not only my mom, but also my best friend- (as well as my sister). We talk to each other at LEAST once a day. Thank you mom for everything that you do and have done for me and my family. I love you so much!

I have also been blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law. Gisele is one of the most kind and thoughtful people I know and is always doing things for others. Thank you Gisele for all you do for us. We love you!

Early Mother's Day present and soccer

On thursday when I picked Brooklyn up from Preschool, she came running out with this present. She gave me a big kiss and hug and told me that she loved me- it really made my day. (for some reason the picture of it keeps turning)

It has the cutest poem on it that reads:

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leave my fingerprints

On furniture and walls

But everyday I'm growing-

I'll be grown some day

And all those tiny handprints

Will surely fade away

So here's a little handprint

Just so you can recall

Exactly how my fingers looked

When I was very small

This poem was so good for me because dealing with a 4 year old most days is HARD. We have our struggles- but she will be grown way too fast and I will wonder where those days have gone. It is good every so often to have a little wake-up call as to what is really important. Anyways-enough talking. I loved my present and I love my Brooklyn.

Brooklyn also had her last soccer game today (remember how I started the season with my big FALL) She has for the most part really enjoyed soccer- some days better than others- but here are some pictures of the game.

Gracie enjoying watching sister play

This is Brooklyn's team.
Rylee and Brooklyn (notice the grip they have on the treats)
At the end of the game they had these medals they handed out to the kids. Brooklyn really loves hers.
The day must have worn her out- because I went to check on her in bed and this is where I found her- yes that is a toilet in the background.

Congratulations, B!! Bye Brett and Chelsea

This has been a jam packed weekend- On friday we went down to my brother Brian's Graduation. He got a dual Master's in Business Administration and Health Care Administration. We went to the graduation and afterwards Brian and Sher had everyone over for dinner. It was a great day! (Even though Brooklyn was out-of-control) We are so proud of you, B!


My little brother Brett and his wife Chelsea left for Alaska yesterday to work for the summer. Her parents had us over for lunch before they took off. Brooklyn got it in her mind that she was going with them for the summer. She informed me she would miss us, but would come home to visit. We are going to miss them so much. It has been a full weekend, but a good one. I have such a wonderful family and love them all so much.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!

I cannot believe that my baby is 4 years old today. Where does time go? Some fun things about Brooklyn.

-Brooklyn IlaRee: Brooklyn is named after the Brooklyn Dodgers. IlaRee is after my grandma we lived with for 3 years before she passed away. She and Brooklyn were the best of friends and we always say that Brooklyn gave her an extra year of life.

-She is obsessed with High School Musical. She is in love with Troy (from the show) and she is Gabriella. She has full out conversations with Troy and he is her "boyfriend." I don't know how many marriages we have had for her and Troy. When we go places and people ask her what her name is, she tells them Gabriella.

-Her favorite color is PINK.

-She LOVES the Disney Princesses.

-She started preschool this year.

-She also started playing soccer this year.

-She is a GREAT big sister.

-She brings so much joy and happiness into our lives and our family.

Happy Birthday sweetheart we love you so much!