Random June Pictures

Holy weeds!! I mowed these suckers down last week and look at them. I can’t believe how bad they are here. So I spent 3 hours this morning garbed up with a 3 gallon backpack on and sprayed over 7000 square feet of area. I don’t know where they came from…all of a sudden they were just here and I need them to be gone. We are prepping to get some grass seed planted. I hope by next week…then I won’t have to look at this anymore.

Mike, with Brandon’s help, has got his shed framed up. It’s exciting seeing things slowly come together.

My little garden this year. We have three 12x4 raised beds but only planted in one. I planted 9 tomatoes (probably too many for that space) and some peppers. Past the raised beds are a row of raspberries and strawberries that are actually still alive. Randy gave me some of his and I hope they turn out!

This picture is showing off my skill at putting together the drip system. I am so glad it is finally done...I have the callouses to prove it too!

This snake we found in our backyard!! We heard Carson screaming, that is a totally normal thing lately, from inside and didn't think anything of it. When he came in to tell us what he saw Mike said he wanted to see. I went with him and was very surprised to see a huge snake.

So we called up Brandon and he came over and checked it out and told us it was harmless. He said it is good for keeping the mice down.

All I know is that I don't want to accidentally step on that thing!


Morgan had just woke up from a nap and wanted to snuggle with daddy. I love that little sleepy look.

Here she is ready for swimming class. The klds and I all went to a swim class for two weeks. They boys did one for there age and Morgan and I did a mom and tot one.

This picture doesn't show what is really going on. Morgan is such a little momma. She has Carson lay on her and she will pat him. She will say, "Hold you baby". It is so cute.

This picture is adorable. If you can see her tongue is sticking out.

We took the kids a few weeks back to go bowling and play at our fun center.


June has been really busy for us. A lot of working outside and playing with family. The weather finally feels like summer so we look forward to what July is going to be like.

Colsterlicious Turns 6

My oldest turns six!!! And wow, was that day crazy! It started out at the swimming park at 10:45 am for swim lessons. Then Jaime and the kids showed up so we could all play together there for awhile. Well, we didn’t leave there until 3:30 or 4:00….(it could have even been later I don’t quite remember now) and we all got fried! Yes, I did put sun screen on us but I need to remember to reapply here.

Being outside for so long drains you and by the time we all got home I knew we had stayed too long but it was fun. (I am still peeling from my burn.)

This was Cole’s request this year…a piñata. Mike took it to a whole new level though by getting a life size batman that scared the crap out of the little kids. Both Morgan and Kaden were horrified at the life size piñata. (In the picture below you can see that it is actually bigger than Cole!)


Cole was a mess after the water park. He was burned, over stimulated, tired and somewhat crazed for the rest of the evening. He had an emotional break down over a few minor things that evening but we managed to work them out.

Here is the birthday dinner of choice. Pizza, salad with hard boiled eggs and apple juice to drink.

All the kids got a chance to hit the piñata a few times. That thing did not want to break…maybe because it was so full of candy!! Mike and TJ went a little overboard with filling that thing but the kids loved it.

Grandma Comes To Town

Elaine, Michael’s mom, came up and visited with us for a week! It was so fun to have her stay at our house for part of that week. The kids enjoyed her and I LOVED having the company. She is such a good woman and has been through a lot in her life time. It is always nice when grandma comes.

Also, in the picture is Tommy. He did not come due to health problems but we hope one day he will be able to make the journey.


While she was here she went to church with us and came with us to the kids swimming classes. Not to mention, she let me abandon her with the kids for a few hours one of the days so I could go and do some coupon shopping. (Thank you again Elaine!) She is so easy going and such a help it was a nice break from the normal routine.

Here she is with all her grandkids. We love her and look forward to the next visit from her…maybe grandpa will be able to come too!

More Fun Pictures at Grandma & Grandpa's House

Grandpa took the boys out and taught them how to fly a kite.

Mom made that cute little outfit for Morgan. She also helped the boys make paper dolls with her machine. Cole really enjoyed the process.

This little girl gives the best kisses and hugs. Its fun to capture it in a picture. (Thanks mom)

Here Morgan is in time out. Mom had to take a picture of it because she thought it was cute and it is! I will tell her to go to time out and she will! In fact, she will stay (most of the time) until you tell her to come out. She is so obedient.

Playing dress up with grandma's shoes.

Fun at Grandma & Grandpa's House

Original Intent

I am shocked and amazed at what I have not been taught about our American heritage! I am even more shocked and amazed that our history has been changed….on purpose! (I think enraged is a better adjective.) The things I am reading about our founders and the founding of this country is so inspiring it has brought me to tears. I WISH we were being taught this, I WISH we all knew our history. (I bet if we had been taught the truth this bull crap wouldn’t be going on right now in Washington and in our homes!)

I wanted to write about the separation of church and state phrase we all know so well. This phrase has lead us to take prayer out of school, reading the bible out of school, the ten commandments taken down in our public buildings and many more such ridiculous acts done in the name of separation of church and state. This phrase has been attached to the first amendment, even though this phrase is found NO WHERE in the 1st amendment or in the constitution for that matter!

The first part of the 1st amendment meant two things in dealing with religion. The first clause guarantees the free exercise of religion i.e. to freely express our religious faith. The second clause was to prohibit the establishment of a national church, meaning no national religion that we all had to adhere to. (Like the one the founders were trying to escape from!)

The professors of our day and politicians would have us believe that the founders, men of GOD, were trying to tell us that all religious activities were to be done in the home or in church not in public. We have been taught that the first amendment “really” means we have to keep religion out of our public life. We have been taught wrong! We have been mislead! Our history has been changed on purpose to get us away from God!

The founders intended the 1st amendment to PROTECT our religious activities and not establish a national government. They held church meetings in the Capital building for crying out loud! The founders were all men of God and were very spiritual and taught us that we would only be a free nation as long as we were a “moral and religious” people. They encouraged Christian principals. How in the world did we get to such religious intolerance for Christianity?

The court ruling in 1947 is where it all started. The court decided for the first time to not look at the founder’s original intent! They decided to redefine what church meant and to separate us from God!

I have been reading a book called Original Intent and it is blowing my mind but at the same time it is strengthening my faith! I heard a man say that he feels the same Spirit while reading the founder’s writing as he does the scriptures and I agree! I feel for too long I have been hesitant to talk about God in public or to freely express my views on life to strangers, afraid to offend. I think those days are over. I think I am ready to remind all those freedom, loving individuals, who fain offense when God is mentioned, to give gratitude to the Being who made it possible for them to do as they please. And I am ready without hesitation to remind our dear President that yes, we are a Christian nation and He is in charge, not him!

Washington Excursion

Mike is so great! He earned a free round trip and told me to go and see Cass with it sometime and I finally did. This post is all about my weekend trip with her. Cassie is 7 years younger than me and I feel we have a really good relationship. We fought all the way growing up but once I left home that is when our relationship changed. I guess we finally realized that we did love each other!

This is my sweet little nephew Maddux. I was so surprised to see how much he had grown! I am talking leaps and bounds. I have never really had the chance to bond with him but we sure did on this trip. I don't think I have ever meet a little guy with such a sweet, tender, little spirit like his. He has had a lot of physical challenges to deal with but you would never be able to tell with his attitude. I am amazed by him...he really touched my heart this last weekend.

And this sweet little thing is the spitting image of Cass! Bella was fun to watch. She is very independent and a little busy body. I thoroughly enjoyed her personality and can't wait till we can play again. I know she keeps Cassie and Tildan on their toes.
(I didn't get a picture of Tildan he was working most of the time.)

It was so green there! I could not believe all the plants and ferns and trees...it was truly a treat to see it. We went for a walk and Cassie took some pictures.



One of the nights we decided to color our hair together. Thank goodness this didn't turn out as bad as it could have. Cass being the trusting little sister just listened to me tell her what we needed to do. When we were on the last step I realized that I totally misread and we did a big no no. Needless, to say our hair only has a slight orange tint versus what it could have been. Thanks for not being too mad Cass!

Cassie and her family have been wanting to go to church so I was able to go with them for their first time there! It seems like a wonderful ward and the kids did really good. Granted sitting for an hour with a 1 1/2 year old has its challenges but I think they did great.

This is just minutes from where they live. Pretty, hu?


It was so wonderful to go and see where she lived and what her world was like. Her and Tildan were wonderful and hopefully I will be able to visit them again. What a great family. Thank you so much Cass for letting me come. I love ya!