Being a mother of Boys is not for the Faint of Heart...

As Isaac flung himself over the back of the seat his shoe met Ammon's nose with full force! At first Ammon just screamed! Then the blood started... This was not just a nose bleed it was a gusher! Not being the most prepared mom I did not have tissue in the car but I did have a container of wipes! Ammon was a pretty big kid getting his nose to stop bleeding. When we finally arrived home I asked Ammon for all of the wipes... Wanting to make sure they were not left in the back of the car. He had them gathered into a neat ball. He said he was keeping them for when the robbers came he was going to throw the booger ball at them! What a thoughtful brave kid I've got! Too bad they made it to the trash anyway.

Blast From the Past Aug. 2006

This was such a fun phase of Ammon... He loved these green boots. He wore them everyday everywhere... Except to CHURCH!

Pioneer Day

"In a grassy plot near downtown Salt Lake City are the gravesites of Brigham Young and others, including Eliza R. Snow, pioneer poetess and early women's leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The centerpiece of this area is a monument honoring the 6,000 pioneers who lost their lives crossing the plains between 1847 and the advent of the railroad in 1869. This historic site is open daily to the public.
Brigham Young was the second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and governor of the Utah Territory from 1850 to 1856. He was born 1 June 1801 at Whitingham, Vermont, and died on 29 August 1877 at the age of 76.
His contributions include leading the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, directing the establishment of over 350 settlements, supervising the construction of two temples, and overseeing the day-to-day details of the Church for 30 years."

I will be ever grateful for the men and women of courage... Courage to follow the Prophet, Courage to pack up their belongings and walk from the mid-west to Utah, Courage to Stand Firm in their belief, Courage to continue on after loosing a child due to unimaginable weather condintions, Courage.
I am thankful today to take a moment in rememberance of our ancestors who paved the way for us to live free as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Statement

Marc doesnt really like me to refer to him as Marc-a-roni... I dont think I am going to change or stop it. I like it! It just rolls off my lips! Marc-a-roni!

Memory Post

Tagged from Cheryl...here it goes..

1. As a comment on my blog leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

My Fearles Knight...Marc-a-roni vs. The Beast

Marc and I were weeding the flower bed the other night together. It was around dusk so things are kind of hard to see... right? As I was following this forever long weed I saw something move.... In MY mind this is what I saw.... Something big and fat and round... Dark with fur... and it moved! That is all I needed to see to classify this living creature as a RAT! A little FYI about me... eveything is either a cockroah or a rat! There is Nothing in between here. I promptly orded my "Fearless Knight... Marc-a-roni" to Kill this beast. Laughing, he went to the area the Beast was last seen and found a frog... Really a frog. The boys were trilled... For the next hour they played all sorts of games with Mr. Frog... hide and seek and swimming to name a few. Guess where the frog swam... In the bathroom sink of course! Sounds like a perfect spot to take a new found friend right?

Noah's 1st Build-A-Bear!

We spent FHE (Family Home Evening) building Noah's first Build-A-Bear. It was a really fun evening. We topped off the night at cold stone eating a scoop of yummy ice cream.

The kids sang 10 seconds of "I am a Child of God" It is so so so darling!

Jordie Pordie
Isaac

Ammon (I am just glad he has on matching crocks today!) MR. NOAH
Make a Wish
Wash it up!

Noah and "Froggie" Best of Friends!!!

What do you think?

My Uncle sent this my way today via email. I had a good chuckle about the whole idea of it! Now I am wondering if it could really work! How amazing would it be if our taxes went to people who truely strived to be in a better situation? I also think that people on welfare should be required to do something to "payback." There is plenty of service acts that could better this place! I won't go on and one but I could if I wanted to!
I want to know what you all think about this CRAZY cool idea!

THE JOB - URINE TEST (Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)
I HAVE TO PASS A URINE TEST FOR MY JOB... SO I AGREE 100%
Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their BUM, doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

Here's to you Robbie!

I never thought I would see the day that my cousin Robin would start a blog. Now that she has I wish she hadn't! Because NOW I have been tagged and to keep her bloggin' I must reply... So here is the deal:

The rules are as follows for this chain letter:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Write six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your blog entry is up.

Random thought #ONE: When I was a child I LOVED to swinging my arms in circles while running.... I think I thought if I ran fast enough I would take off like a helicopter... It never happened.

Random thought # TWO: Sometimes on Sundays I wish I lived close to my grandma Bateman house. I loved how she would take me down to her Beauty Shop and wash my hair upon request of course! The room smelled of toxic perms, hair dye and aqua net hairspray. How I loved that smell!

Random thought # THREE: I wonder if our cat MR JACK-O-LANTERN will get so fat he cant fit through the cat door.

Random thought # Four: Marc and I caught the tail end of Phantom of the Opera last night on TV... I think I will watch it with the kids this week. It seems to be a perfect week since they are calling rain!

Random thought # Five: I really really really super duper love my Marc-a-roni!

Random thought # Six: I LOVE jeep wranglers! I had a black hard top when I was younger. When I think of dream cars a black jeep pops up first every time! It is in this jeep that I became a huge fan of the band Ocotber Project.

The SIX random people I choose are: Catherine, Gary, Marci, Melissa, Sam, Amber

My back ... plus Shingles!

SO to say last week was tough may be a bit of an underestimate! Not only was I flat in bed my dear husband was sick as well. I just wanted to take a moment this morning before life got too crazy that I forgot and THANK my Marc-a-Roni for all his help as far as the RitterB's life is concerned! You held this crazy house together! I am just so thankful for you! I love you tons honey buns!

Missouri Thunder

I absolutely LOVE the site and sound of a thunderstorm here in Missouri. The seem to come from out of nowhere and then pour buckets and buckets of water! Sometimes the magnificent power of the storms are a bit UN-nerving but most of the time, for me, they are a calming to my soul. For the most part they go as fast as they come which seems to be the result of this mornings down pour. I am super grateful for the rain we are giving. I can not imagine living in a place where you can go months and months and not see, hear, smell, feel the glorious rain! Today: I love living in Missouri!

BOMB POP

What is a 4th of July without a Bomb Pop? I think Noah was in Heaven with his first!

Lucas and Isaac

Isaac and Luke are just 5 months apart. Isaac always looks forward to playing with Luke. I am glad they are cousins!

Lake and Ammon

Ammon and Lake are just a few months apart in age. They have endless fun together. They are both looking forward to starting Kindergarten together!

The Cousin Gang!

I think it was pure luck that we were able to get a picture with all of the cousins together! They ran the whole weekend...

"This is my new cousin... and we just met today"

We had a super fun 4th of July this year! We decided very last minute to go to Marc's hometown of Peoria, Ill. for a visit. A couple of weeks ago Marc's sister Kristie married a fabulous man named Ron. We adore him! He treats Kristie with love and support. He loves her boys and it show in the actions! Ron has 2 beautiful daughters [Jasmine (12) and Naomi (9)] Together they have made a super cool family! We are happy to have them!

It took all of 4 seconds for Jordie and Naomi to become bestest of friends. They had endless fun all day! As we sat waiting for the fireworks they played all sorts of games with all sorts of kids. As they met someone new they would say "This is my new cousin... and we just met today!" It was pretty stinkin' cute. I dare say that the bond they formed on the 4th of July will last forever!

My back has banned me from blogging!

I guess my header says it all. Somewhere between last Thurday and Sunday I completely threw my back out. Using my stash of pain meds left me in a bind when I ran out this morning and had Nothing else to take. I was in a ton O' pain!!! So what did I do you ask... I packed all 4 kids in the car and took myself to the doctor. This was quite the experience! I think it could be all summed up as "PAIN" My new best friend is Dr. Haupt! She loaded me up on the right stuff! I feel really good as long as I dont stand up! For when I stand the room spins. Not to mention it is hard to consentrate too long. So conversations are a lot of fun! Lets hope for a more productive day tomorrow!

Things I love about the 4th of July...

• Its a family day!
• Yummy Food!
• Sitting on the grass watching Fire Works!
• A sense of community no matter where you go!
• Hearing Bands Play
• Giggles from children
• Love for our Nation!
• Kids waving Our Flag
• Parents waving Our Flag
• Grandparents waving Our Flag
• Reverence show for those who have served our country to preserve our freedom
• Scouts

OUR FREEDOM! How blessed we are to live in a free nation. For the freedom our children have to be whatever they want to be when they grow up.

I have a Tagger

All kids love to write their name... Right?

When they are really little they secretly sneek a pen or marker or crayon or whatever makes a mark and Tag anything that is theirs... For example. When we went to paint the walls in the boys room we found the word [ A or Ammon] in the craziest places... on the wall, under the bed, On the side of the window frame, On the bed frame itself.... you get the idea. All of our kids have gone through this phase... No they are not terrors... they are simply proud that they can write their name...
I thought we were past that phase... But NOOOOO

Here is what I found on the piano today! Today I thought dust was WONDERFUL!

I found [MOM] on the back of my car! Today I thought the dirt on my car was COOL!
I was telling Marc about this and he came back with how Isaac had writting POOP on the dirt of his truck.. Not so cool but Funny!

A GOOGLE

Let me Share a conversation I had with the boys today at lunch.
Me: "Isaac how many kids are you going to have after you are married?"
Isaac: " FOUR....Twin boys and Twin girls. That way they will always have each other to play with"
Ammon pipes up: "I am going to have 100!"
Me: "Wow! 100 is a lot of kids! That is great!"
Ammon: "I mean I am going to have the last number... Isaac said that is a GOOGLE."