A Hidden Post!

I found these pictures in my drafts (today is 2/16) from when we were at Roger's parent house. I don't remember what I was going to say but thought I would share the pics anyway.

Levi LOVES getting bundled up to go outside. That is a real smile peeps.


They made a sledding hill.

and a snowman. Rory is wearing Levi's snow clothes.

Yummy!

JT made honor roll

the kids love raking!

and Jt loves building

16, 32, 48

Yesterday was my 32 birthday. When Roj and I went to bed, he came in and snuggled close and fell asleep within seconds. Close as in arm under my pillow and breathing on my neck. I can't fall asleep that close and in fact, we have a King size bed because I can't sleep being close. I can handle hand holding and that is about it. I thought, good grief, I am 32 years old today and maybe from here on out I can sleep cuddling. Why not? That made me start thinking about being 32 and how that may be 1/3 of my life if I take after my mom's side of the family. Only 1/3!!

That made me start thinking about 1/2 of my life ago because there is no point in thinking about 32 years ago. I can't remember that. At 16, I did the normal things. I started "dating" and driving. I lived in a home with my mom, stepdad, 1 bio brother and sister, and 5 step siblings. I shared a room with one sister and we were really close. I had my own cat and some fish. I worked as a hostess at Outback Steakhouse. I was in the choir. I ate chicken fried steak everyday at school (and had it for my bday dinner last night). There was always some sort of drama going on.

Thinking back on highschool, I realized I forgot how unpopular I was then. I knew everybody and was friends with everybody but aside from my boyfriend(s) and family, I wasn't real close to anyone. I had a best friend since birth but we were not super super close in public settings. I remember days walking around at lunch not really knowing who to sit with. My best friend had other friends, my siblings had their own friends, even my boyfriend(s) had his own friends. When I did find people to sit with I often felt like an outsider. I dealt with depression.

At the time, if I were asked what I thought life would be like in 16 years, I am sure I would have said married, a bunch of kids, a marine biologist that works with sharks. I fulfilled the most important part of that and am living a life I always thought I would.

16 years is so long ago and so much has happened for bad and good. My sister died. That was never supposed to happen. Sorry, did I really just go there. I will stop. I never meant for this to be a sad post. I don't have a sad life. I have a great life with an awesome husband and amazing kids.

Life changed when I went to college. No one knew I was a dud in highschool and I became more popular. I had a lot of fun and went even overboard Freshman year. I am not proud of who I was then either.

I started liking myself after getting married and having kids. I finally felt like I knew who I was and what my role in life should be. I became even more confidant in myself and even liked myself.

When I moved to Irvine, I had it all. Great family, great friends, great hobbies, great self esteem. I was never happier. Rory asked me yesterday what my worst year was and I answered quickly 7th grade. She asked me what my favorite year was and I took some time and answered 2008. Life was calm, peaceful, and fun. I felt loved all around the board.

See why it was so sad to leave Irvine? I know life will be great here too I am sure but Irvine was where I found happiness and fulfillment.

I can't imagine the next 16 years having as much change as the last and I don't want it to.

I fell asleep in Roger's arms last night and I might do it again sometime.

Poor, Neglected. . .

Blog/5th baby/whatever you feel neglected by me. We have had such major life changes in the last few months. Not only did we have before mentioned baby who was 12lbs 15 oz at his 2 month checkup. . .

but Simmy started riding a bus! Just Simmy because Kinder is full at the local school.

Roger got a new job up here in Boise. We stopped by Robyn and Grey's house for a week which as turned into 6 weeks and counting while wait to close on our house. Great Grandma Lucimae has been living here too, Chad was here for a few weeks and their live in help for Lucimae. We have really packed ourselves in here.

I spend a lot of time with these 2 bugs.

and we spend a lot of time with grandmas. How cool is that??

Jt really loves his little baby brothers and is so amazing with them.

We have had a holiday here and everything

I miss my crafts big time but was able to use Robyn's sewing machine to make Rory's robe.

In the next week or so we should close on our fixer house and then we will get to work. The previous owners foreclosed and took everything!! We were able to get a great deal I love the huge yard and location.

Until then we will hold tight and enjoy being in a 4 generation home with amazing people, get to know our ward and neighbors better, excel in school and get bigger or smaller depending on who in the family you are talking about.

Rory is getting Baptized

I wanted to make sure everyone knows that Rory is being baptized this Saturday at 4pm. Come if you can but know that we will not be serving refreshments after if that is a deal breaker:) We will be blessing Michael after so in a way that is its own special treat.
Much Love
The Titmi

A little tricky

I want to get caught up on my blog to this point but I also want to keep Michael's announcement on the top and keep things in somewhat of an order. I am going to start back with May's happenings and set the post time to previous to now until I get caught up. So even though Michael is on top, scroll down to see what I have posted- if I post :)

Michael Grey

If you have not heard from any other source which I really can not imagine, Michael Grey is here! 8 lbs 3 oz 20 in easy peasy entry into our world. I was induced 8 days early to keep from having a giant baby and he ends up being our smallest. There is not much of a story. I decided I did not want to feel anything this time around and I didn't. Such a huge difference than any other labor and delivery I have had but this time I just really did not want to feel anything. Everything went as smooth as can be and the healing is going really well.




Just Simeon and Rory were in town to visit him in the hospital. Josh and Levi are up in Idaho with Grandma and Grandpa.



Chad was a major stud in the whole process. He watched my kids so we could go to the 5am induction and watched them all day. Let me tell you, Levi is a handful and I don't just mean his multiple poopy diapers.


Next week school starts, Rory is getting baptised and Michael is being blessed. I need to go lay down.

Dragons!!

Sew SewSew SewSew SewSew SewSew SewSew SewSew SewSew Sew

That's what I did for the rest of our stay at Lena's. We came home and I sewed for hours until Rory's birthday party. Actually, I was still hand sewing heads on up until the kids came to the last event. My kid's were SUPER helpful and helped with the dragons, Levi, and the house.

When our Dragon hunters arrived we had a feast.
We then chased Dragon tails (aka- bandannas in the back pocket of the last person in line)
They then swung from a rope to try to knock down the bucket of water balloons. Crazy loud fun!
The Dragon hunters dug for Dragon eggs.
I really don't like pinatas. Instead they threw fireballs (bean bags made out of a fire fabric that Rory helped make) at a box with holes hidden under the paper.
Sadly, there is no pic with the dragon showing on box but here he is.
After not finding the dragon on the hunt, the hunters came back to the tables and called for the dragon.
What showed up? Baby dragons to adopt. Lots of them in lots of colors. Sadly, I was one short in the making so Rory did not get to make one. She understood how much time they took and that it was time for the party.
They gave them hearts (that Lena made), eyes, and stuffing. It took a long time to stuff!

We then ate cake. This was my first time using fondant. This guy looks a little spooky but much cooler than if I tried to just use frosting right?



This party was very simple except for the VERY not simple dragons that took sooooo many hours and the cake. I don't think anyone could have talked me out of them anyway :)

Scary 4th

We were at Roger's sister Lena's house for the 4th of July and Roger, Chad and Blane were invited to work on the fireworks show. We all showed up for a picnic dinner and set up and it was soooooo hot hot hot.

I was intrigued with how the set up was done as I had always wondered. I bet most people all ready know but they set the explosives in tubes and they run and set them off in succession.

Because of the wind that day, they set up the tubes to point away from the crowd so the wind could blow them to the best place for people to see.

While they set up, the older kids were able to jump!

JT

Ben

The girls

Rory

Then we had to wait for it to get dark enough to light them off. I think it was close to 945pm by then.

They also had to wear fire clothes to be able to set them off

The families of the people setting off the fireworks were able to exclusively sit closer to the fireworks and supposedly have the best seat. The wind changed and as soon as they started going off we found ourselves in a dangerous situation. The grounds around us were being lit on fire and people were having to stomp them out. We had 3 adult females and 8 kids in our group and the kids were getting scared and and the women were anxiously watching every firework coming our way. At one point, I was watching the sky to make sure nothing fell on my head when Lena was stomping on fire inches away from my back. We took off for our vehicles to watch the rest of the show which was fantastic from farther away. They guys REALLY enjoyed themselves being so close and setting them off but I am sure we gals and kids will never get that close again.