Aisy = haha, I'm still awake!!! Mikey = I have done wrong, I'll repent now.
I love that my kids are best friends, most of the time. When it is 10:30 at night and they were put to bed at 8:00 pm and I come in to find them still awake and playing, I wish they didn't have so much fun together...or maybe I just wish we had 3 bedrooms. To get them to sleep, I have told them there is a troll in the basement and the first one who talks will have to go sleep with the troll. This is sure to cause some type of psychological issues for them in the future - but for now, it is the ticket to peace and quiet at bedtime.

I need to post my favorite story that perfectly depicts my children's personalities - before I forget it amongst the case law. This happened in my parent's stairway in Utah. Mikey and Aislynn are walking quietly down the stairs and I hear Mikey say, "Shhh I hear the monster we have to zip our lips and lock them!"

So they both do accordingly and take a couple more quiet steps. Then, Mikey turns to Aislynn who is one step behind him and says, "I will go down first to see if there is a monster because I'm braver." He gets about 3 steps down before Aislynn barrels after him in an outrage.

She looks right in his face and yells, "Let me tell something to you" - pause - "I'm braver too and I can do the monster if I want!"

Always calm Mikey turns to her and says, "Sis, I am a gentleman, I will go first to make sure there is no monster." And yet, Aislynn is still furious and jaded - "I can do the monster if I want!" Then she rushes down the rest of the stairs.

Gentlemen and Players beware. Headstrong Princess on the loose. As for the ladies, snatch up this sweet and cuddly guy while you can...or his mom just might keep him forever.

I think I am finally out of the finals coma and now heading into the summertime rush. The kids have day camps in the mornings while I do my clinic work at school (I handle real cases - the clients are kids so they don't complain much about my lack of experience...just Guardian Ad Litem or Attorney roles for children in need of assistance and juvenile delinquents) - I am supervised by a professor/attorney so it's not too stressful that I am going to ruin someone's life.
Then, off to the gym to work off those extra finals pounds - plus swim lessons in the afternoon, if they take a nap then I do my CASA (volunteer case worker) or Zero to Three (federal juvenile court program) work- only 35 files for that role, but at least I can do most of the work from home and I get paid! Then I have a night class that is twice a week too. Luckily I have a husband who makes it possible for me to do all of these things. He is such a great support.

YW camp activities at least once a week since I'm camp director and additional leader meetings at least once a week for that, plan my lesson for church every Sunday, take kids to the doctor, travel to Utah and northern Iowa to visit family, have graduation and birthday parties, attend weddings, pack for the inevitable move (we don't know where we are going yet, but will move at the end of July) MAN, I need a break from Summer!

WITH ALL THIS, I have not had much energy to take pictures. This makes me sad, for I LOVE pictures. Also, not much time to read, my other love. But, here's the few I have taken in the last couple months to give some update!

Omaha Zoo with Jeff, Gma Becky and Gpa Tim!

$1 goggles from target that lasted Mikey 1 day

Camel ride at the zoo - only available memorial day to labor day - let's take a spin!

Jeff's graduation - Andee, Steve, Ethan, Mikey, Buck, Mom, Jeff, Hutch Elise, Aisy, Dad, & me (in jest I am actually wearing the same outfit I bought myself to wear on my high school graduation day under my gown...fits a little tighter this go around!)

Our favorite cousin and nephew - Ethan is soooo big now, and I heard him say "dada"

Mikey's improvised party - with spider cupcakes by grandpa tim (the kids ask me every day where aunt elise is at...she's quite the favorite)

THE BIG 50th party, great planning dad, it was the bomb. This photo is missing the star of the night, Jeff aka Nacho Libre. I need to get the video - hilarious. You may notice my hair is shorter -- or not, the only people in Utah or Iowa that did notice also knew I was getting a hair cut. I mentioned it to buck on the drive home and he still can't tell the difference. I thought cutting 5 inches off was a huge difference. guess not.

We also had a bday party for Mikey with the Bucy fam, but those pics are on Mary's camera. Per Mikey's request we had a BIG water fight - his first - and dad won, he pulled out the hose.