It really has been some time since I have blogged! WOW! I feel like we have been so super busy with enjoying our summer. We have been boating, four wheeling, bike riding, running, exercising...and you know, the usual summertime stuff. Just today, I was thinking...where did August go? I know we still have a week left of it, but I just can not believe that the kids go back to school in two days! (YIPPEE!!!!!)

We are all doing really great right now. Clint is busy with work and has been picking up some really great side jobs, which really has helped with getting the kids ready for school...with clothes, supplies, socks and undies (you know, the usual!). I have actually been busy myself! I of course am ALWAYS busy with the kids...especially trying to find my little escape artist (Rachel) at least once a week, but my work has also picked up this month...which is really great too! Brock is so ready for school to begin...he says that he isn't, but his attitude says otherwise! He has really taken interest the past couple of weeks in Clint's R/C trucks and has actually taken two trucks that were broken, combined them and made one AWESOME truck that actually runs! I can't believe how mechanically smart he already is...that DEFINITELY comes from Clint! Kory just lost one of his two front teeth and the other is not too far behind. He is ECSTATIC about school starting again...he really does LOVE school and can't wait to see all of his friends! Rachel...well, what can I say about her? A couple of weeks ago we had an episode where she cut her hair! Luckily, I was able to take her to my friend, which is a stylist and she was able to fix it and it looks SUPER cute now! She is still my little messy girl, always pulling EVERYTHING out of her closet so that she can change SEVERAL times every day. I am pretty sure she has OCD and it is something that she will hopefully grow out of.

So...I know that is a short plug into what we have all been doing, but it is late...and I just really wanted to do this blog so that you could all have something to look at other than me and Misty's birthday pics! he he. Oh...and I thought I would add some pictures from the past month. Sorry I don't have many...SOMEONE (eh hem, Rachel, eh hem) lost my camera's battery charger, so I have been without a camera...which is driving me NUTS! However...enjoy!

(Notice Tex snuggled up to Kory?) I have loved watching the kids become SO attached to my new little doggie! It seems that they are never anywhere without him! So cute!We really have enjoyed going boating this year! I LOVE doing things as a family and this has really made some great memories that I will always treasure!I just couldn't leave this one out! Here is my little Rachel...being creative with the scissors? I guess every girl has to have their turn with the them, I just hope this will be Rachel's last!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Big Sis....Misty!!!!And....Thanks to all of my family for making my day special too! Kellie showed up this morning with some YUMMY (non-fat, lol) donuts for breakfast and my Mom & Sky came and decorated my front lawn for my B-day, so so sweet! I LOVE you guys!!!!!I have to say that yesterday I was in a total panic of not wanting the day to end...because it would mean that today I would be the big 3-0, however...I am doing great and think that 30 is gonna be okay! The fact that I have my sweet sweet hubby to wish me a very Happy Birthday this morning and all three of my kids saying "Happy Birthday Mommy" makes it all the better! (Now if my little doggie would show the same sweetness it would be that much better...for some reason he is defying me today and it is kind of cute! hehe)

**UPDATE**

I just HAD to add that my day really was SO wonderful...thanks to my WONDERFUL Mother, again! Not only did she spoil us all with lunch at Chili's restaurant, but added a bonus by taking us all to Costco and telling us to each fill a cart with groceries for our birthday presents...can you say "WOW!"? I had such a great time today with my Mom and Sisters and am now ready for bed....seriously, it is only 7:00 PM, but I am EXHAUSTED!!!!

The Newest Member of the Family....'Tex'

I always said that I would have my LAST child by the time I turned 30....well, my birthday IS on Wednesday...and so, here he is!!!!!!

Isn't he SOOOOOOOO cute???? And COMPLETELY pain-free! His name is 'Tex' and the kids LOVE him! He has the SWEETEST personality! He LOVES to snuggle and LOVES the kids and SERIOUSLY we have YET to hear the little guy bark! So many have told me that Yorkies are barkers...so maybe in time we will see some action, but for now we are just enjoying our VERY mild and loving little doggie! AWWWWWWWWW!

HOT summer day

Today was HOT!!!! And what better way to enjoy...than to get out the Bonzai slide, right? Even though the water was ice cold, the kids still had a great time! I thought it was pretty cute that they came up with the idea to take the tube down with them...how creative!

Oh, and let's not forget my little miss princess that felt that the water was too cold, so she decided to hang out on the swing instead and listen to her princess music on her MP3 player...what a cutie!

Scout Camp

I just had to post this photo of my BIG nine year old boy going to his very first Cub Scout Day Camp (lunch in right hand & money in left hand)! (Man, do I feel old?) He was such a trooper this morning, having to wake up at 6:00 AM and all...but I am sure he is having a blast and I can't wait until he gets back!

Just one of the boys!

Lately, Rachel has been noticing just how COOL her big brothers really are. She has been dressing up in their clothes and doing some of the manly things they do!

A couple of weeks ago, when it was pouring rain outside, the boys decided that they wanted to go out and jump into some water puddles. It occurred to me that I didn't know where Rachel was, so I went searching the house for my sneaky little girl. I happened to be in her room and looked out the window and much to my surprise was THREE little kids...all in *BOYS* swim shorts, no shirts....jumping in the puddles. Yes...two of them were Brock & Kory...and the third was Rachel! I couldn't help but giggle...after all she did look really cute, playing with her brothers! Here are some pictures that day, after they had jumped in the puddles (unfortunately I didn't get pictures of that because once I had my camera...they moved onto something else! Darn!). They had a GREAT time that day just playing in the rain, jumping in puddles and making water balloons! (Note: I made Rachel put her shirt back on for the photos!)

After playing outside, the kids were cold and so they changed into some warm clothes...this is what they all picked out for Rachel to wear! CUTE!

I am so glad that Rachel looks up to her older brothers and even more grateful that deep down inside she is STILL my little princess!

Happy Birthday Brock!

Today is Brock's #9 Birthday....WOW! (Does that make me old? sheesh!) Brock is definitely the MOST energetic kid I have EVER seen, but also the most tender one too! I love this little guy with all my heart and am grateful for the awesome little guy he is turning in to!