THE INEVITABLE HAS HAPPENED

Sad day for me!! Actually, yesterday was the sad day...I was released from my beloved calling as Young Women's President. I have served there for 2 1/2 years, and eventhough I know there is no calling that lasts forever (I mean, not in a ward)...it is hard to let go! I love those girls SO much! I know I fell short in so many areas and constantly felt like I was letting them down, but they were so forgiving and patient and I really believe they know how deeply I love them. I know none of the Young Women read my blog, but I'm still gonna say it...I LOVE YOU, GIRLS!! I will miss the laughing, the crying, the sleepless nights and crazy Sundays. I will miss (sorta) smelly camp and total exhaustion after Youth Conference! But mostly, I will miss your sweet smiling faces and your wisdom and your touching testimonies...you have made my life special and the last 29 months will always hold a special place in my heart!

And also, I had the best counselors and secretary I could have ever asked for...thanks, Angelita and Crissi and Sunny! You were rock solid support in a calling I never really believed I could do, I love you mucho!

I was a crying mess yesterday and I will probably shed a tear or two over the next couple of days and weeks...but who would actually expect anything different from me? :)

Anyone else realize that I have posted without photos AGAIN?! Yikes, I've got to get my hands on that camera...

The Story of My Life

Hi! My name is Amy and I am the creator/owner of this blog...just in case any of you forgot who I was! ha ha I really have been meaning to get back at this blogging thing for about 2 weeks now, but I never have my camera when I think about it. This morning I am in a blogging mood and have decided that it's okay to post without pictures! So my next post will be "pictures only" to make up for it, but I decided it was high time I just put something up here!

This is a BUSY time of year! Next week is the last week of school...not sure how I feel about that right now! I love my children dearly, but a WHOLE SUMMER?! I just need to think of more things to do with them to keep the fighting and death-threats to a minimum. For now we are all wrapped up in the end-0f-year stuff like talent shows and field trips and graduation programs. Lots of fun but crazy too! Aubrey and Gracie both wanted to do summer school, that will take up a month! Joe opted to just have a lazy summer...which he thinks means lots of video games and exploring in the woods. I think it means lots of help with chores and younger siblings. :) I'll let ya know how that power struggle goes...probably some compromising will be in order!

I haven't posted about this but I have taken on a couple of daycare kids. Two girls, 4 and 3, they are sisters. Cute girls, we love them to pieces and they have fit right in with our family. Their mom's work schedule is crazy, they spend about 60 hours a week with us! It just sort of happened, but it has been a blessing to us and will be even more helpful when Dave starts school full-time!

We had our house for sale for about a month, but I made Dave take it off the market...it was too hard to keep picture-perfect all the time!! I have so much respect for anyone that has their house for sale, it is not an easy thing! And in my defense...the first week we were up was Spring Break so I had 9 kids all day long. I felt like I was going crazy, it was just too much for me at the time. It was hard to admit that, but once we took the sign out of the yard I was nice again. :) I like a clean house, don't get me wrong...but clean enough to live in and clean enough to show are two VERY different things!

We had all my family in town for Mother's Day weekend--except Ben and Ashley. We missed you guys!! Marlise finally brought her sweet baby Gordon home for us to see, he is so yummy! Lissa and Marianne are staying all this week to play and it's been a blast...and we are waiting on pins and needles for Karman to have her baby!

So there's lots going on...I haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg, but hey...I did put up a new post!! Hopefully that has pacified my loyal follower(s)...if I even have any left after all this time! :) Watch for pictures of my cute and growing kids soon!!

Checking In

This isn't really a real post...I'm just checking in to make sure all my faithful followers (you know who you are, but I don't!) know that we ARE still alive and very much kicking!! I do realize that if my blog were a pet, it would have died and gone to heaven by now, leaving me to face some pretty nasty charges...but alas, my neglect hasn't done any real harm, hallelujah!!

So we have just been very busy and beyond stressed and running like crazies around here...hence my title, "Crazy Beautiful Life". I just don't have any documentation of the BEAUTIFUL part because in the midst of the CRAZY I haven't scooped up the camera! But LIFE is going on and we are happy and blessed and some day--hopefully sooner than later--I will post again with some photos and real news about our birthdays and springtime and moving and children. :) For now, this small assurance will have to do...we are here!

Hubby Tag

So this is a fun little "tag" all about my super terrific husband! I LOVE getting to talk about him!

1. Where did you meet your husband?

At my house for a movie night, senior year of high school--Spring Break!

2. How long did you date before you got married?

Well, we knew each other 3 1/2 years, "dated" for about a year.

3. How long have you been married?

We'll hit 10 years in September!! WOW!!

4. What does he do that surprises you?

Sends me cute emails or text messages.

5. What is your favorite feature of his?

All of them! I think he is one handsome dude!

6. What is his best quality?

Too many to have a "best"...but I would say one of the huge ones is that he is very kind and compassionate. He can't stand to see someone who needs help and not help them...most of them time I love that about him.

7. Does he have a nickname for you?

My Amy--I know that's not a real nickname, but it's the best I've got!

8. What is his favorite food?

Just about anything homemade! And anything he can put cayenne pepper on. :)

9. What is his favorite sport?

Track. More specifically, marathons!!

10. When and where did you first kiss?

Behind Aaron and Shannon's house, February 15, 1999.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?

Window shopping for furniture and home decor. Looking at houses!! Taking walks...with no kids. :)

12. Do you have any children?

A few...5, to be exact. Joseph, Aubrey, Gracie, Spencer, and Ellie

13. Does he have any hidden talents?

LOTS!! But if I told you what they were, they wouldn't be hidden anymore, would they?

14. How old is he?

Almost 32...and in denial!

15. Who said I love you first?

I don't really remember...probably me.

16. What is his favorite music?

Paul Simon, STING, Coldplay, Enya (yuck), MoTab

17. What do you admire most about him?

His honesty...he will ALWAYS do the right thing!

18. What is his favorite color?

Blue

19. Will he read this?

No, probably not. But he is in the room as I'm tying so I'm telling him about some if it. :)

20. I tag...

All ya'll!!

What a Hoot!

Last week I made some carrott sticks for a snack. I told Spencer to eat some and pretend he was a bunny..."No, Mom! I'm not a bunny, I'm Buzz Lightyear!". The next thing I know, he's feeding carrotts to the stuffed bunny...

Spencer LOVES to try on shoes...especially boots! These are Lilly's, he wore them around all day! I especially love that he has no pants on. That's my boy!

I know all these posts dedicated to Spencer's little antics might make it appear that he is the favorite. I don't know what I could say to prove otherwise...you'll probably just have to take my word for it. He is such a funny kid!! We get hours upon hours of laughs and giggles from him, we are so glad to have him in our family! Truly, every family needs a Spencer! Here's some of the funny things he has said/done in the last 24 hours...

Yesterday Gracie had gotten into some gum in my room that she wasn't supposed to have. Dave caught her and made her spit it out in the toilet. A little while later, Dave notices that Spence is chewing some gum...and his shirt sleeve is soaking wet! Nice...

This morning he was jumping around on our bed and being really silly. I asked him, "Spence, where did such a silly kid come from?". His reply? "From your bed!"...uh, that's sort of true, I guess! Little punk!

HILARIOUS!!

Okay, when I was at BYU one of my favorite columns in the Daily Universe was "Snide Remarks" by funnyman Eric Snider. I had totally forgotten about him and all the chuckles I got out of his material until I stumbled on his website!! He is still around and as funny as ever! And as I am a "Twilight" fan, I found this particular post of his SO FUNNY! It's a must-read, so check out the link! http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/my-rejected-twilight-screenplay/

Did you laugh your socks off? :)

2009 Does Exist

So I do believe this is my first post sans photos! Here's how it goes...we had a New Year's party with some friends, loads of fun and laughter and much good food was consumed! Now, over a week later, I find that I am the only party-attendee that did not take a single picture that evening! I guess when I host a party I only have my mind on one thing...food! :) ha ha So eventhough I don't have pictures to prove it, we did ring in the new year with much fun! If you need hard evidence, check out Janessa's blog or Sunny's blog. And probably even Karman's blog! Happy 2009!!