20 years since our first date.

This picture was taken 20 years ago. Twenty years ago I fell in love with my best friend. I was a girl of just 16 and Troy was a young man of 20.

February 11th will be the 20th anniversary of our first date. We were both so naive and clueless to what lay ahead in our lives.

Now twenty years later we both look at this picture and laugh. We aren't the same kids who were laughing and messing around without a care in the world.
Twenty years later, I am still in love with my best friend. He has given me 5 beautiful children.

There is no way to describe the love I feel for me children.

In November I flew up to Vancouver to be with Troy for a few days. This was when I was still in New Mexico and he had already started his job. We needed to find a house, so I hopped on a plane and off I went to Canada. That was the first time I had ever left the kids for more than a couple of days. The first time to leave Olivia at all. It was so much fun just to be with Troy.

We laughed.

And laughed some more.

We've grown up together over the past twenty years.

We've had babies, graduated college, moved all over the place, changed jobs, made friends, lost friends. We have made some major changes in our lives. We have laughed together, cried together. We have been happy with each other, and couldn't stand one another.

I know one thing for sure in my life though. Troy loves me like no other.

He is the most tender of Fathers. The most loving of husbands.

I am the luckiest to have him as my husband and daddy to my kiddos.

My greatest Love.

It's our 16th anniversary tomorrow. I am so lucky to have this guy as my husband and best friend.

I even love all of his obsessions.

I love his stretchy pants. (You need to say it like Nacho Libre).

Vous etes mon plus grand amour.

Es mi amor mas grande.

Lei e il mio massimo amore.

My greatest Love.

Izzie new haircut, kids and jumping?

I have the cutest little girl in the world.
I have been making her some clothes lately and just finished this outfit.

I fell in love with the fabric when I saw it. Not everyone likes it.
I don't care.
I love it.
Olivia loves it.

She is quite the little diva.
I made it so the big flower can be removed.

On to more interesting things.
Izzie was miserable this year in the heat. We would spend hours brushing her and still didn't help.
Finally Troy and I just shaved her. Izzie was not very happy with me.
I cut her a few times. Just a few!

By the time we got to her head I just couldn't go on. I was almost in tears because I had hurt her.

We were at the park and I thought it would be fun to take pictures of everyone jumping.
It turned out to be fun and funny.

Hilarious.

Rolling on the grass, laughing until your stomach hurts funny!

My wonderful husband just couldn't make it very far. If you will notice in the upcoming pictures that the children aren't very gifted with the ability to jump also.
Notice there are not pictures of me jumping.
That's because I can't.

Logan did pretty well.

Until I asked him to jump sideways.

Then this happened. He actually hurt himself.
Does that surprise anyone?

Olivia was trying so hard.

Soren was just down right hysterical!

Ella and Anna did pretty great.

Olivia was showing off her new outfit.

Here are my five wonderful kids who are absolutely driving me nuts this summer with their fighting.

I never fought with my siblings.
NEVER!

Right after I took these pictures all the dogs took off and the kids had to go chase them down.
Lot's of fighting and screaming ensued.
Bossing,
screaming,
yelling,
name calling.
I just sat back and watched it all.
I love my life!

Camp Gorham Scout Ranch

Before the yucky stuff, I thought I would show you all some nice peaceful pictures. Troy taught the Wilderness and remote first aid to the staff up at the camp. The four older kids stayed there with him and I stayed home with Olivia and 3 very rambunctious dogs. On Tuesday morning I went back up to the camp and picked them up.

I got there just intime to take a few shots of the kids riding horses and the final scenario for the first aid course. Yay me!!
Of course that means that I got to put fake wounds on the kids and make them look all injured. My kids are pro's at this now. They are always helping Troy out with his classes.

So before we get to the discussing things I will tell you how much fun the kids had riding horses. The staff were wonderful to the kids. My children felt so special with all that attention they were getting. Soren has everyone wrapped around his finger. The girls are all inlove with him and the boys all think he's the coolest.

While everyone was up at camp, Olivia and I had some peaceful quality time together. Actually it was way to quiet for me and for her. She definitely missed her playmates.

All I wanted was one good picture of the kids. Is that so hard? Apparently for Logan it is.

Now the gross stuff. This was suppose to be a stomach wound with his intestines hanging out.

I created an amputated hand for Anna. Lovely isn't it?

As a joke for one of the guys who had a fascination for pregnant women, we decided to give him one. Now that was funny to watch.

My kids love to play act these things out. This is Ella.

Anna doing a good job.

Soren REALLY goes all out for this.

Logan took the class with the staff and did a great job. Soren knew all the answers to the CPR course. He just didn't have the arm strength to do the chest compressions. He sure is a character! By the time that he's old enough to go to scout camp he will be able to teach the staff himself.

I am glad that my wonderful Husband and crabby kids are all home with me again. Back to the grind of daily life. I just have to keep Soren from trying to teach CPR to all his friends. Especially the girls.