The summer goes so fast

This visit was the most fun I have had in a year, they really helped to pull me out of my slump. We spent a few days at a water park, went to a couple of movies, played lots of board games, rode bikes, rode motorcycles, went to an arcade, did minuature golf (Zander made an excellent moving obstacle..... kinda like the windmill) took walks, talked, and spent true quality time together. I laughed more than I have in ages, I feel much more like my old self!

Then came today.....




This morning we had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to get the boys to the airport for an 8:30 flight. We have had a FABULOUS summer!!!! Too bad it flew by like crazy, when we left Adam and Aidan this morning to head to Phoenix Aiden Tanner was crying his eyes out because he missed his dad already, Dylan was clearly sad, but too big to cry, and Adam was feeling the sadness pretty badly as well. We drove down and got to the airport with over an hour to spare, so the boys decided to teach Zander all the joys of moving sidewalks. The airport was dead, andwe were at a very remote gate, so we had the place to ourselves, so the 4 of us walked, ran stood, and layed down (okay not all of us on that one) on the moving sidewalks in a circle, down and back, down and back about 20 times. Zander would not step on on by himself but he was a pro at jumping off at the end just perfectly, never fell once (though I WAS right there in case) They taught him that laying on your tummy for most of the ride and making strange noises is super fun, running the entire way is even more fun, and jumping at the end is what all big kids do!





Then came the inevitable time when we had to say goodbye, Zander took it hard, as you can see from the picture, he cried for quite some time, then for about the next 2 hours said "Dylan, Tanner, home" He sure does love those kids (Lynz included) The took off and got home just fine. Tomorrow they start school in LA, a big step and very exciting..... and we will be counting the days until the next vist! Hopefully we won't be missing our sweet Lynz for that one, it was lonely being the only girl without her!

The Boys are back in town......

Dylan and Aiden Tanner are here for the last visit of the summer, possibly the last visit in Show Low depending on where we en up moving to. They got here on Friday, and thanks to my patience in searching the web for great deals, we stayed 4 nights at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix. There is an entire water park just for resort guests, packed with huge water slides, a wave pool, a nice lazy river, and a special kiddie pool for the babies. We had tons of fun, but even at a great rate, fun like that always has to come to an end!

Tuesday we came home to Show Low, where we are all fitting nice and cozy in the toy hauler, and the kids are given the opportunity to spend lots of time with their grandparents. Yesterday Adam, Dylan, my dad, and Aiden T. went on a motorcycle ride together, of course it started pouring not too long after they left, but they still had a ball! Last night we made a campfire in the front yard to roast hot dogs and make smores, everyone has been having a blast!

Lyndsay didn't come for this visit, and Zander has been missing her a lot, he asks me a few times every day.... "sissy, where?" which is hard to explain to a 2 year old, but he is getting a closer bond with his brothers, so that is the upside. They are so patient with him, and will let him do just about anything to them.... one of his favorites is to tell them "lay down right there" and points to the ground, then he goes and gets his big truck and runs over them repeatedly, what good boys to put up with that!

Dylan and I continue to grow closer all the time, which is great. He is the nicest boy, fun to hang out with, and honest with his feelings always.

I can't waste the time that they are here sitting at a computer, but here are a few pics.

home for now :)

Here are a few pics of our new home... the toy hauler! It is cramped, but the boys have the bottom area as their "room, with a blanket that rollls up and velcros to the top as a door, I managed to get an ikea shelf unit with baskets in for each of them, which houses their clothes and toys, and a small bookshelf for them to share, as well as Zander's prized reading and time out chair Adam and I get the top bunk, which really sucks when you have to pee at 3 am, but all in all we are making it work:)

the outside view our "dining room"

The Boyz room and the "door" I made for them
Zander's side is much cleaner than Aidan's side.... what a surprise!!
Our "bedroom" Hey, at least we have a curtain!

Third grader at last

Yesterday Aidan started school at Blue Ridge, after a very busy week and a half of Adam, myself, and our "helper" Zander packing up our entire house and moving into our toy hauler in the front yard of my awesome parents (we may now qualify for "redneck yard of the week" with all our vehicles, camper with carpet to cover any mud, and scattered toys) we are finally settled in!

On Monday I went and picked Aidan up from a fun week with his dad, then Tuesday we went and met his new teacher and explored his new school. As we walked into the school we saw Aidan's ex stepmom and stepsister walking towards us.... Aidan has never gotten over the loss of that part of his family, and still almost a year later will just randomly break into tears over missing them, mostly the stepsister, Courtney, who is the same age as him and they were very close. It was the cutest thing, when the two of them saw each other they both ran yelling the other's name and met in the middle with a huge hug and jumped up and down screaming and hugging. Her mom then told us that they were actually in the same class.... more jumping and screaming, and talk of lots of fun. What a great way to start off the school year if you ask me!

On Wednesday I took Aidan to school and Courtney met us at the door to the school and they walked to class with arms around each other, he told me they have eaten lunch together and played together at every recess. He is very happy and loving third grade.

Zander has developed a love/hate relationship with the big yellow school bus, he hates it in the morning when Aidan has to get on and he can't and he cries and yells "no bus!" then at the end of the day he hears it coming and yells "bus, Aidan" and runs to the end of the drive way to greet his long lost brother with a big hug.....

I have no idea how my baby boy got to be so big, but what an awesome, and pretty good looking, boy he has turned into!

What a summer!

I started this post almost a month ago, but just never got around to posting..... we have had a fabulous summer with all of our kids, we camped at little bear lake for a week, then up at Los Burros for about 10 days, somehow in there we managed to fit in a super cool birthday party for little Zander, a few movies, a little bit of relaxing and a lot of fun. I managed to loose about 7 of the 30 pounds that I NEED to loose, not that great, but its a start! We hiked, biked, and played tennis alot. Mostly we just enjoyed all being together!

There were some stressful times, I was on edge alot of the summer due to the stresses of moving, money, health issues, and this irrational fear of me leaving Zander alone for even a second after his accidental drug overdose at the babysitters house earlier this summer. I am not proud to admit that I went into a total panic one day when Lyndsay (who is the ONLY person I have trusted him with since the incident) was babysitting one day and said she was going to take him over to her grandparents house. I hardly know them, and even though I know they are good people, the thought of him going to someone Else's house just sent me into a complete fit. Adam ended up watching him so the kids could see their grandparents, thank goodness! I am really going to have to get past that one.

I had time to do alot of thinking and soul-searching, and the thing that keeps popping into my head is how blessed I am with the family I have. Adam and I are a perfect fit in every way. He truly completes me, is my best friend, loves me unconditionally, even when I spend months on end as a nutcase, and most importantly he loves and accepts me for me. That is something rare in this day and I am so lucky to have found it.

As a bonus I get to be a part of his kids lives. His kids are great. Alot of people balk at the word step kids, I cherish mine. They all 3 have wonderful, special hearts, and have accepted and loved me as a step mom. I have to admit that when Adam and I started dating the idea of his kids scared the crap out of me, but I took the leap, and have never looked back. Of course there have been ups and downs, as there is in any relationship, but I feel like all around I share special relationships with each of them. Lyndsay is our sweetheart, she is always there to help, loves Zander to death, and is often the only person in the world that can get little Aidan Wolfe to calm down and think clearly. Dylan is our clown, he makes everyone laugh, it is impossible to be mad at that boy, and he tells me often, and for no reason that he loves me. Aiden Tanner is kind of like a gentle giant. He is strong, like crazy strong for an 8 year old, but even though he is only a month older than my Aidan, he is 100% his big brother. I have seen them fight, and seen Aidan W. punch him and Aiden T just standing there.... I asked him Why don't you hit him back, and he said I just don't want to hurt him, he will calm down. What a mature and sweet thing to do for a brother! There has never been a day since we married that I have regretted blending our families, it has been a wild ride, but I love wild rides.

The boys are coming back in 2 weeks for another visit, and I can't wait to see them, we will miss Lyndsay, as she has some activities that she didn't want to miss, along with preparing for her first year of high school, but we will have an awesome time as always!

I have a new nephew!!!!

Angie had another little baby boy on Tuesday, he came in at 6lbs, 6 oz, and 18 inches.... by far her smallest baby yet! I don't have pictures yet, but mom and little baby Cole Wolfe Rogers are doing great, and back in the comfort of their home tonight! Now if my computer illiterate sister and mom would just figure out how to email me a few pics I could post them!!! Angie's 4 year old daughter was in the delivery room with mom and was so excited to see her brother born, and as soon as he was out she yelled at the Dr. "don't drop my new bother" she is such a doll! I can't wait until it is my turn to go out to Arkansas and meet the new member of the family!!

Nemo Party Time!!

We made him a special nemo shirt for the occasion





Last week we finally celebrated Zander Sky turning 2. His dad and I had a small, intimate little party for him on his actual birthday, just took him to the park for a picnic, had a few small presents so he would get the hang of it, and a practice cake.






this time it was an all out affair!! I didn't relize it, but I planned the party smack dab in the middle of my dad's family reunion, which turned out to be really fun, I got to have my grandparents, 4 aunts, and 2 uncles celebrate with us! We also had our neighbors with 5 kids of their own come over, our close friends with their 4 kids, then add in Adam's parents, the 2 of us, and our 5 kids, it was one full house, or back yard I should say!






Zander and Seth are only 2 weeks apart, and so cute together!




Zander had a ball, got way too many presents and toys, and was absolutly in love with the Dory and Nemo cakes we made. Lyndsay helped me tons with the cake... it was hot, and fondant and hot don't mix, so the Dory wasn't quite as good as we had hoped, but this was only my second time even decorating a cake at all, so I think we did well!


Eli Polland was such a sweetheart pulling the little ones down the slip n slide!
Zander sure loves giving his sissy kisses!








It is so strange to think back to his birth 2 years ago, I was completely taken back to that scary place of having to face the possibility of loosing my baby again a few weeks ago when he ingested the crystal meth from his babysitters house. I prayed, and begged god to spare my angel, and promised not to ever get mad at him for being a needy baby again!
Pull string pinatas are a great idea! Lynz found another baby to love!


Only a really nice boy would let a kid do this to him!!