Kai-Kai, Little Guy

8 years ago on Monday, I was nineteen years old. And, I had my first child. Before Kai, I was a very messed up teenager, to say the least. I was doing a lot of things I shouldn't have. Kai was my saving grace. My Angel. Everyday I am grateful for him saving me. He doesn't even realize how much, one day I will tell him. There is a song that reminds me of him. It makes me cry every time I hear it. Those close to me know what the song is. Happy Birthday Kai. I love you more than any words could ever describe.

Spitfire

Ashtyn may look like Tyson, but she acts just like ME!! The other day, her Primary teacher and I were chatting on the phone and she told me a story about my dear, sweet little girl. It goes like this;

Every Sunday, the Primary teachers pick someone who has been extra good and they turn off the lights and shine a flashlight above them and tell them why they are loved. Well, there was a new teacher who did not know you are suppose to shine the flashlight above them, not in their faces.

The teacher had chosen a little girl sitting next to Ashtyn and she ended up shining the flashlight directly into Ashtyn's face. To which Ashtyn yells out,

"Hey Lady, could ya stop shining that light in my face already?!"

I love her!!

Sometimes I wish..............

That my mom was here and she could hug and kiss my kids and play with them and love on them. And.... babysit them! :)

Ashtyn's Song

Ashtyn loves Kindergarten SO much! She asked me to show her video to everyone. Click on this, "Kindergarten Song" and she sings it and does the actions ALL DAY! I thought it was cute, so I uploaded it to YouTube. Here is the link...

It reminds me of a song I use to sing in church about Noah's Ark!

Moments of emotion....

Kai is turning 8 years old soon. Very soon. Too soon. Yesterday, I had one of those moments. You know, the one where you realize just how fast your kids are growing up and your head spins and you cry a little because you feel like time is your enemy??

I called Deseret Book to see if they had any "imperfect" scripture quads to buy for Kai's 8th birthday. Well, they did. I drove there to pick up his new scriptures. They are beautiful. Black leather with gold trim. I had his name engraved and while I waited, I wanted to pick out the perfect scripture case. I saw this orange one from the corner of my eye in all of its glory, I had to have it for him!


Those of you who know Kai well, know that he LOVES the little things. He is so excited for these new scriptures. He knows he is getting them since it is a tradition in our family when you turn 8 to receive them. He has not, however, seen these...yet.


Anyway, I bought the scripture case and as soon as I was handed the newly engraved scriptures, I lost it. Tears just started rolling down my face. They are even as I type this. What a baby I am.

I just am at a loss at how much Kai has matured and just totally impressed me. He is so smart and he has such a big heart. He is getting baptized on October 9th by Tyson's dad. I couldn't be more proud. It will be a bitter-sweet day for me.

Kai_Kai

 

Strip Virgins....

Uncle Ronny and all the kids

I know, the title isn't what is it sounds like. Tyson's brother Ronny, and his wife, Michelle and their three kids, Aiden, Jackson, and Vala came to Vegas last weekend. It was Michelle's first time here!!

Naturally, we had to go to the strip. We took all 4 kids,, (Kai was in Salt Lake) and we parked at the MGM and made our trek down the strip stopping at M&M World, Coke World, The Bellagio fountains and Bellagio gardens, then ending it with a stop at Ceasar's Palace. The kids were AMAZINGLY well behaved and it was a really hot day. We even got to see a bum laying on the cement while EMT's tried to figure out what was wrong with her, it wouldn't have been a genuine Vegas experience without seeing that.

M&M World



New York, New York

Aiden, Ashtyn & Vala @ MGM



At Coke World, we met the Coca-Cola Polar bear and he was the COOLEST! The kids loved him and he was very playful and fun. We also did a taste test of 16 different Coke products from around the world. There were 2 that were HORRIBLE!! There was a mint flavored one that tasted like mouthwash and one called "Beverly" from Italy that made us all gag. It was a fun experience though and I think it's a "must do" when you visit the strip.













We hit up the Bellagio fountains and afterwards, went inside to show them the Bellagio Gardens. They were the best part. Michelle absolutely LOVED the fountains and it was such a beautiful day outside. The Bellagio is one of the nicer casino's, so it was a nice break from the chaos of the Vegas Strip.








The weekend was a blast and it was a fun family visit. We were bummed that Kai wasn't with us. Next time for sure! ;)

Jackson~ism

Tyson's brother, Ronny and his wife, Michelle and their kids, Aiden, Jackson, and Vala were here visiting last weekend.

Jackson is SUCH a character.... Here is the conversation we had...

Me: "Jackson, if you show me your robot dance, I have a golden dollar with your name on it!"

~Jackson gets up and shows me his dance and I promptly go get the golden dollar and hand it to him.

~ After I give it to him, he looks at it really intensely and turns it over three times looking at it....

Jackson: "I thought you said it had my name on it?!"

LOL, it was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing for 10 minutes. Ronny quickly explained to him that it was a figure of speech.

Blessed Be

I am so blessed. Lately, I've been reflecting on all of the opportunities that I have been able to have this year. I have seen my sisters in Denver twice and me and the family are going again in October, I have spent QUALITY time with all of my in-laws this year and I have had wonderful weekends at a music festival and General Conference. I have never had these kinds of opportunities in such a short amount of time and I am so grateful.

The last year or so I have really looked at who I am friends with and who is toxic in my life. I have made some changes in that department and I have to say, I am VERY happy with them. I have some genuine and loving friends who I love and would do anything for. I don't have that constant, nagging, feeling that I am being taken advantage of or hurt in some way by "friends". I am aware that feeling comes partly from my own insecurities, but A LOT of it was who I was associating myself with. I have gained some self esteem and self worth the last few years and I owe a lot of this to my husband and my family and my dear friends who always support me and are there for me in any situation.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to these people, these diamonds and gems that I have in my life. I couldn't have progressed this much without you!

Laundry mishaps

Since the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, I am finally able to post this little story. Kai spent 8 weeks of the summer with his biological dad in Salt Lake. This happens every summer. We get a long alright.

This time, he sent Kai home with a backpack full of new school clothes. I was grateful that he did this, however, in the midst of all the motorcycle shirts and camo pants, I noticed a dark blue shirt with white writing. My heart skips a beat and to my utter HORROR, I see it is a BYU shirt!!!!!!

Jeremiah (the ex) has never, ever been a football fan or any kind of a sports fan. Tyson and I LOVE and are die-hard UTAH fans. He knows it. Out of the blue, he decides he is going to be a BYU fan and starts telling Kai to become one as well. This is BLASPHEMY.

I am NOT very happy about the shirt. Although I do have a great sense of humor, Jeremiah and I don't joke around with each other like that so I am not really use to him trying to be funny with me. I called him and he told me he was trying to be funny and to make SURE I send it back with Kai over his Labor day weekend visit. I made a mental note to make sure the shirt made it back to its rightful owner since it was the TOP PRIORITY on my list....

Fast forward to a week later. I am doing laundry and I spot the same BYU shirt. Only, this time it isn't that deep blue color anymore.... It's light pink!! I must've been clumsy with the bleach and accidentally bleached the poor shirt a totally different (and WAY more fitting) color. OOPS!!

I am still sending it back with Kai. I hope his dad has a sense of humor about it. After all, accidents do happen everyday. ;)