Trippin'

Got my SD card back so now I can post the fun that was 8 hours in the backseat with Lila & Ethan.  It wasn't all crazy, the kids were actually so good about reading, sleeping and guzzling soda and treats.

We hitched a ride up north for my nephews baptism over Memorial Day Weekend and had to pay a visit to Rancho Zamora, my sister's home.  These horses are what the kids live for. Emry learned to run them and oh my goodness was she in heaven.

Animals abound here.  Rabbits, horses, dogs, cats, peacocks & chickens.  My sister Margo is an animal lover through and through.

 

 

Ethan spent hours using some tool he found to dig pictures into a dirt mound.  He was so proud of his masterpieces he made sure I snapped some pictures.

My sister is a great cook and made delicious enchiladas the night we arrived.  Home cooked food is so appreciated after food on the road.

 Sleepover at Uncle Aaron's house.  The kids had no trouble sleeping, I however blame my super comfy supreme mattress at home for turning me into a mattress snob and therefore not getting one good nights sleep. One night I came back from the bathroom in the middle of the night to find one of the big dog's taking up half my couch.  I didn't have the heart to move him so I just curled up in a ball and kinda went back to sleep.  Heavy emphasis on kinda.

Giddy about being together and having crepes for breakfast.  Us Mitchell kids grew up on crepes and the kids love them as well.

Lunchtime!!!!  The dogs always cracked me up, so hopeful, just waiting for food to drop.

Emry was taught the proper way to clean the horses hoofs, such a cowhand that girl.

 Get this boy some vegetables STAT.

Until next time..................

Sweet 16

 Gosh, wasn't it just yesterday we were celebrating 15 years?  Oh how the time does fly.  Remember last week you were joking how you couldn't afford to divorce me?  You were joking right?  Either way, it's reassuring to know we're in this for the long haul. I Love you. Always.

Happy Birthday Shauna!!!

I am sending birthday hugs, wishes and kisses your way.  Thanks for being such a positive influence in my life for the past 11 years.  If I didn't have you I wouldn't have a best friend.  There is no substitute, no one that could take your place.  Let's be honest, no one that would put up with me and all the growth I've had to do over the years.

 

I have watched and learned and gained so much from emulating all your lovely, patient, giving traits.  You are a genuine person through and through, someone who literally brings light into others lives.

My first experience of the lengths you would go to for a friend was when you offered to go with me to my sister's house during a crisis.  You were in the middle of making a gorgeous turkey dinner and you had food strewn all over your kitchen.

I couldn't believe you were willing to drop it all and be with me, I knew I wouldn't have made the same decision.  Lucky for me I've had your example to help me learn to drop my life for a while for others.  I've seen you time and time again go out of your way, serve, help and comfort others and it is truly humbling to see.

I love watching you be a loving mom, a devoted wife and a cherished friend to everyone who knows you.

I am truly blessed to not only know you but have you in my life.  Have a wonderful Birthday!

For Rylan

Rylan, Kyra, Aaron, Jasine & baby Zaden

My nephew Rylan was baptized into our church on Saturday.   I am not that big on traveling in the car for long periods of time & being in cities where I don't have all the Frozen Yogurt places mapped out, but the kids & I hopped in with my mom to drive to Sacramento over the Holiday weekend to support him.

I know my mom loved listening to me read Time Life for kids, American Girl, the kids fighting over who was taking up the most room in the backseat & hearing us shout out "Cake, Cherries, Cashews, Curry, Cauliflower" while playing the food game for 8 hours.  (My favorite car game.  You take turns thinking of all the A foods, then B foods, etc. What's not fun about that?)

Marie, Margo, Aaron, Mom, & Nielsen         We missed you Netty, Ty, Kyle, Adam & Dad

Aaron's daughter Kyra, my Lila & Emry, Margo's Adelys, my Ethan & Margo's Ezra.  Ethan's sporting the 'saggy pants underwear hanging out' at church look.  Totally appropriate Ethan.

 So I must admit these are stolen pics.  Surprise, surprise I accidentally switched SD cards with my sister so my planned 'Roadtrip' post will be up whenever I get my card in the mail.  If you think I know how to get pics online think again.

So I thought I would take this opportunity to post MORE stolen pictures.  Why not right?  I am pretty sure being embarrassed on my blog is what my family lives for. 

Awwwww, Adelys and her boy friend.  That's two words, Boy and Friend.  This isn't posed at all, they're actually bird watching.

Margo's other son Andrew and his girlfriend Morgan.  One word.  Girlfriend.  So this isn't exactly embarrassing as they both look cute but it was the only pic of Andrew on the memory card. Funny, there were hundreds of the horses and the dogs.

 Margo & Al at the baptism.  This is the story of Women's lives.  We try so hard to explain to our men exactly what they should do to make the photo (meaning us) look good.  We know best of course.

Clearly her advice worked!

Oh Nielsen.  My handsome bachelor brother who spends all his days surfing.  He knows ocean currents like the back of his hand..........babies, well.........

Even Zami's not safe.  Posture is of the utmost improtance Zami, do you wanna be a hunchback when you're old?

Emry my love. I've posted so many darling pictures of her I am sure she won't mind this one.  She's not really believing everyone telling her how good oysters are.

This is the best I could do for me.  Just talking to the horse, I am a modern day Dr. Dolittle, no big deal.

And that's it.  There is far more damage I could do, but I still want a Christmas card and someone to leave my kids to.  They are my family after all & I love them dearly.  I didn't get frozen yogurt the whole long holiday weekend & if that's not love I don't know what is.

Standing Room Only

I never stood up for myself when I was young, way too shy.  You could have taken advantage of me, walked all over me & gotten away with murder as far as I was concerned.  I had no backbone, what was I gonna do?  Internally I knew I was a good person & knew the difference between right &wrong, but I never would have verbalized it, much too scary.

I've come a long way since then and now have a hard time shutting up.   Thankfully others do it for me.

Emry came home from school the other day lamenting the fact that a girl was being picked on at her Junior High for being gay.  Was she gay?  I have no idea.  But that's beside the point.  The point is my daughter knew it wasn't right and went on and on about how mean and wrong these kids were.  How it was none of their business and they had no right to talk about her in any way that was negative.  She was really upset.

I was proud of Emry for sympathizing with the picked on girl, but I had to let her know it's not enough to mentally disagree, she must stand up to anyone that is bullying others.  Standing up to others doesn't mean you yourself become the bully, just reminding people to be decent and considerate of others feelings.

I'll be the first to admit my kids are loud & rambunctious, have no shame or filter (super fun combo), feisty and sassy, and seemingly fearless.   Although it drives me nuts at times I know the same attributes that enabled Emry at 5 to jump off a bridge into water way below that most adults wouldn't attempt & willingly let snakes be wrapped around her neck are the same attributes that will give her the strength & courage to stand up for what she knows is right.

I am sure Emry will be in many similar situations in her life.  Where she has to rely on her gut, her conscious, her instincts and The Light of Christ to guide her.

I know Emry has it in her to step up, to speak for those like me who wouldn't dare speak for themselves.

I have complete faith that she will rely on what she knows is true & what she's been taught.

If I was in need, she's the first person I'd pick to have my back.

Sugar & Spice

Lila's been bugging me for 2 weeks to make chocolate chip cookies.  It's my own fault as I've passed on quite the sweet tooth to all my kids.  Chocolate Chip cookies straight from the freezer are her favorite, she likes em frozen and crunchy.

I have a hard time saying no to Lila because the girl is so darn sweet.  She loves puppies and Nancy Drew, Pet Shops and swinging, stuffed animals and dress up, singing and doing gymnastics all throughout the house, and best of all she's extremely obedient.  I know with Lila I just have to ask once.

Lila is 9 going on 5.  What I mean is she is so young and innocent.  All of her stuffed animals have names and she notices immediately if one of her millions of little toys goes missing from the playroom.  Much to my chagrin she vetoes everything I try and put in the goodwill box.  She loves all of her little toys so much.

She also plays so well with her cousin Kiera who just turned 5.  They love all the same things so it works out perfectly.  Jeannette and I are always so amused how in sync those two are.

She also really, really loves reading.  

Obviously.