The FINAL final

Let us take a moment and REJOICE, Jed is taking his last final tonight FOREVER!
(Unless he decides to pursue further education, in a LONG LONG time from now. Heaven help us!)

Reasons to Celebrate:
#1 Jed is now a legitimate PE (if you don't know what that is and would like to, email me)
#2 Joshlyn did not end up in Sparks, NV (the location of the state mental asylum)
#3 Jed will see his children more than 2 days a week
#4 Joshlyn did not harm anyone, permanently, in the making of this degree
#5 Jed does not have to work 40+ hours a week and take 5 college classes anymore. How did you do it pet?
#6 Joshlyn will now be able to go places in the evening
#7 We can have family dinner and that means real food.

You get the idea.

Coming next...grad pics and PARTY!
Any ideas on how to keep the children from going crazy through a 3 hour ceremony?

The Dawn of a New Stage

Jara's new big-girl bed in all it's glory.

After a year and a half she finally gave up the crib.

I couldn't force to part with it for two reasons. #1 reason: When I started taking it apart, about a

year ago, she sat down and cried tears of deep sadness and clung to the bars. It seemed cruel to

take something she loved away from her. Especially since, #2 Reason: She spent 13-15 hours a

day napping and sleeping in it with no struggling/fighting/crying nada. I'd tuck her in after she

climbed in by herself and that was that. No mother in her right mind would ruin such a good

thing.

So, here we are, a month after sleeping consistently in her twin mattress we upgraded it into a

"Fancy Fancy" bed complete with lights, stars and tulle.

Sweet Dreams

It All Comes Out in the Wash

Besides the usual random objects that tend to make their way into the washing machine, for example, loose change, Kleenex, and chapstick Here are some of the more interesting specimens I’ve retrieved within the last month…

Screwdriver-Right before bath time Jack was running naked, screaming and flailing to avoid the tub. He was wielding the screw driver and I needed a quick hiding place. He tends to become attached to dangerous of objects.

Shoe-Jara takes everything off and deposits it in the basket, so occasionally random shoes will get mixed up with clothes. Surprisingly, this particular shoe came out shiny and fortified, apparently it agreed with the washer. Which is not always the case, i.e. sparkly, princess shoe with feathers.

Diaper-a used one at that! Oops Guess what? It stayed in one piece and maintained its integrity, must have been one my husband changed, he’s a good "roller." Is it bad that I didn’t rewash the clothes? Oh well, it was just the kids clothes in that load. Hahaha

Magazine-this was retrieved before blast off, thank goodness. Somehow it got mixed up in the laundry basket, a result of the basket being too close to the toilet I believe.

Baby-don’t worry it was just Jara’s stuffed donkey that was PURPOSELY put in. Ill-tempered donkey, smells as bad as he behaves.

Clothespin-my washing machine is trying to tell me something-"save energy, avoid the power sucking dryer" which can not dry as many towels as you can fit in me. My washer has no agitator, so I can fit A LOT of clothes in. However, the dryer has been on it’s last leg since 2004. One day it will rebel against my overloading.


I am grateful for my washing machine, may it continue to lead a happy and productive life and not die on me in a cloud of smoke (unlike washer #1) in spite of my abuse.

Spring-The Season for...

Claritin

My beautiful cassias in full desert bloom. Can you smell the allergies?

Photo-Ops

With children who do not want to sit quaintly in front of the picket fence.

The MASTERS (golf)

Who needs Tiger when you have a dueling Jack?

Baseball

Spring training

Egg hunts

This one had stuff in it so she was properly pleased.

Egg dyeing

For the first time, I finally got brave enough.

Chocolate

When isn't chocolate in season?

And of course,

THE CC Fair

Animals, friends, family, fun and food

Family Pictures

Here we go...

During Wheeler Family Fun this year we took pictures. I love how they turned out especially since it was monsoon like conditions.

Don't let the ugly work boots distract you. In the flurry of getting myself and the kids portrait perfect I failed to neglect one minor detail.

Photos by: www.iheartphotography.showitsite.com

6 Years Ago...

Was this day...

Our Joyous Occasion

Princess for the Day

Jara has only one girl cousin and EIGHT boy cousins on the Wheeler side, so when they get together it is tiaras, feathered shoes and princess dresses, while riding bikes and playing on the swing set of course.

Princess Tessa and Princess Jara

Finally someone Jara's own size for the thigh burner, I mean teeter-totter.
(I love the scary look on Jara's face in this picture.)

Enjoying the wind free day, the first in many

Poor Jack, the banished boy for the day