Happy Birthday Lyssie Loo

October 30, 1989 my sweet sister Alyssa was born.  Although me and lyss are 6 years apart we have always been friends, we have so much in common and always have.

When we were much younger Alyssa wanted to copy everything I did.  If my mom bought her something that she really didn't like all I would have to do is say I thought it was cute and she would start wearing it.  She always wanted to try and look like me (who knows why) but she was always so sweet.  The funny thing is is that I am the one who looks up to her now!  She is such a good wife, sister, friend, daughter, photographer and soon to be mommy.  She has so much energy and is so good at making people feel good about themselves.  

It breaks my heart that I cannot be with her on her birthday because I love her so much!  I pray that Justin will be able to get into law school in Arizona so I can see her more:)  

Here is a picture to show off Alyssa's fun and crazy personality that she has had since the beginning.  My mom always said Alyssa was an easy kid!

Alyssa is not just my sister she is my best friend.  She is always boosting me up and making me feel so good about myself.  I think she should have been the older sister!  

She has made 3 visits to me in Arizona in the last year and I love the time we get to spend together.  

Me and lyss have had soooo many good memories together especially over the last 5 years and I know that will continue forever!  I feel so lucky that I get to be her sister but I would like to think that even if we weren't blood we would still be such good friends!

Lyssie Loo I LOVE YOU!  I hope you have a great 20th birthday because you deserve it!  You are so wonderful and I am so sad I can't be with you on your birthday but I hope you know how much I love you and how important you are to me! 

Fire Station Tour

Today we got to take all the kids to tour the fire station.  I was thinking that Emerson wouldn't be that into it because he is still so young but he loved it!  When we were walking to the car he kept saying "more fire truck mom!"  They all got hats and coloring books.  

Madden was so sweet the entire time.  He just looked around and didn't make a noise!

We were trying to get all the kids to line up for a picture....wasn't going to happen!

Emerson was so happy climbing in the fire truck.  He thought he was so cool.  

We survived!

By the middle of saturday I thought I wouldn't make it through the day!  Mike went to Mexico with some friends from school and I stayed home with the boys.  I thought I would be fine by myself since I am at home with the boys all the time anyway.......I was WRONG!  

Saturday was the hardest day I've had since becoming a mother!  Everything that could have gone wrong did.  Emerson who is normally a sweet, easygoing child was a TERROR!  I don't know what was going on with him on Saturday but he was not himself.  On top of all of his tantrums and destruction and problems, my phone wouldn't work because Madden stuck it in his mouth for 2 seconds.  I could write a novel for all of the things that happened on Saturday, it was that bad.  

Luckily my wonderful friends saved me!  I had several come over to hang out that night and keep me company and a couple more bring me flowers and ice cream.  I felt so loved and supported.  It was so what I needed that night and they were all so kind!  I was starting to feel so homesick during the day and felt so alone.  If I was in Utah I would have my family to help me out or at least keep me sane.  I am SO grateful for these awesome people in my life who made my day so much better on Saturday!  

Anyway, we survived and Sunday was much better, Mike came home!  I am so glad Mike went on his trip but I am even more glad he is home:)  All of these fun experiences make us stronger, right?!

Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Last night we got invited to go to the corn maze with a few friends.  Emerson had lots of fun climbing on hay bales and throwing bark all over the place.

Our little family at the pumpkin patch

This was so funny!  We thought Emerson would have fun going on a ride in one of the cows.  He didn't want to go by himself so Mike went with him.  We thought they would just go around in a little circle but they actually went through a little bit of the corn.  The cows moved up and down and the guys that went with the boys looked so uncomfortable.  I enjoyed watching Mike and Matt take the boys on it way more that watching Emerson on it! They looked like they were getting whip lashed pretty bad:)

Here is the group: the Jones, The Burns, The Harmons, The Gronemans, Us and The Mcclenaghans. In front of the corn maze.  

Emerson liked getting another pum-pum (pumpkin).  They had a haunted maze right there too so anytime a chainsaw carrying scarecrow would walk by, Emerson would get scared and run over to us.  We went to dinner after and it was a fun night.  Good company as always!