What we bought on Ebay...

Most of you know that Matt has had quite the little/BIG obsession with eBay. There was a time in our lives when the most random of things would be shipped to our house...no joke...For example...I came home one day and found an enormous package on our door step, way too heavy for me to pick up. Matt's reaction to the massive box, "oh good the industrial strength power washer I ordered from eBay arrived". In Matt's defense I have thoroughly loved having the industrial strength power washer, but wasn't expecting one to arrive on my door step. And it wasn't just the buying I had to watch our for, Matt was into selling on eBay as well. Back during Matt's eBay obsession, if I wasn't seen using an item in our house at least once every 48 hours it was liable to be up for auction the next day on eBay. But I thought this crazy obsession was over and done with. So when Matt yelled up the stairs to me one night,"Hey Aim, get down here and have an open mind". When I came down stairs and saw that he was searching eBay for a Mini-Van I thought Matt had completely lost it! But as I looked at the car he was right...it was the price range we were looking at, and it had all the features that we wanted. In our defense it was a dealer selling it on eBay so we did all the transactions through the dealer but yes we did have to click on the "buy it now" button.

I can't believe we own a Mini-Van!!! No matter what angle I take this picture it still comes out looking like a Mini-Van.

Call us what you want we deserve it...hypocrites, sell outs, ect... We swore we would never be a Mini-Van family. But here we are eating our own words. I called my Dad when we were thinking about the Mini-Van purchase. Our conversation went like this..."Dad I'm a sell out, I swore I would never buy a Mini-Van". His response, "Aimee come on your just getting older, more mature, more practical". My response to him, "Dad you totally just gave me the definition of a sell out!" I tried to tell my Dad my integrity was on the line. But after I got off the phone I realized I needed to just suck it up and get the Mini-Van, because that is what works best for my family right now. We have only had it a couple of days and it really is SOOO convenient to use, and we can each bring as many liquid beverages as we want (it honest to truth has 17 cup holders). Even Matt, who you would think could never been convinced a Mini-Van is the way to go, is really impressed by all the "bells and whistles". We love our new Mini-Van...but just for the record we both cried a little when we signed the papers (JK).

Summer Days

I can't believe we have had weather in the 80's lately...LOVIN' IT!!! Here are some pics of us enjoying a perfect Summer evening at the park...

Any tips on how to stop a thumb sucker? And how weird is Brock's technique?!

It was so random...some lady had like 3 massive birds and she was letting/encouraging the kids to hold them. Calee of coarse now wants a bird.

Good-Bye 1999 Explorer

Well it finally went! I wish I could say it has been a good car but I would be lying like crazy. We had to put in a new transmission at 69,000 miles (yeah I know huh?!), it has had so many weird things go out on it (2 of the doors don't lock or unlock...yeah I know). I have had to call upon neighbors and friends for the use of their cars when mine wouldn't start for whatever reason. Finally this little Explorer gave out for real (at 93,000 miles...I know huh?)...I was driving down a residential road going maybe 25 miles per hour, and the car just started to shake and went totally dead, I had no power steering and no power period. I coasted the car to the side of the road, it was still shaken', put it in park and yelled, "hurry kids get out!". Side note: A long time ago I saw a friend's car have the engine go up in flames (Oh yes Lindsay...I still remember that day in the Target parking lot!)...Maybe I didn't need to be quite so dramatic, but I wasn't taking any chances. The diagnosis...Crankshaft sheared off front of motor, major engine damage, advise customer (that would be me) needs replacement engine, customer (me again) declined repairs at this time. Dang straight I declined repairs are you kidding me? So good bye Explorer we had a lot of good memories in you, but not enough you were still too young to throw in the towel like that!

Now here comes our new dilemma what car to buy next? A SUV (gas guzzler), a Mini-Van (Yikes, we swore we would never own one), a Cross-Over (possibly too small)? Yeah we are totally drawing a blank with this one, but we have to make a decision soon!


This is the only picture I could find. This is when Matt and my Dad drove from Utah to Virginia in the Explorer.

Getting older...

My birthday was last month. I was lucky enough to have my Mom in town! I had a great day!! My Mom spoiled me, Matt spoiled me, the kids spoiled me (I loved all the extra hugs and kisses I get on my Birthday), and friends came by with cards, yummy things and beautiful flowers! I felt pretty darn lucky! So it really came as a surprise (after my Mom left town) my friends threw me a surprise birthday party. How cute are they!!! I had such a great time...I didn't get home until 3:30 am the next day! These gals sure know how to party!

Brock 18 months...already!?!

Where has the time gone? Brock has brought such an element of sweetness into our lives...it's hard to think of a moment without him, but it's also crazy to think about him being 18 months already (July 19, 2008)! Thank goodness he is the most amazing snuggler any Mom could ask for so that makes it a little easier to see him get bigger...come to think of it I have a house full of fantastic snugglers, the kids sure know how to suck up to us! Along with turning 18 months another milestone comes our way...the NURSERY at church. The thing is, Brock and I don't spend a lot of time apart...Oh Brock was just fine in the nursery, it was me in the hall wanting to get back in. Brock gave me a little tender mercy on the first day he was legal to go into nursery...during sacrament I was of coarse walking the halls with our little Brock and as we were looking and talking about all the pictures on the walls Brock said "Jesus" for the very first time (as he was pointing at a picture of Jesus)...I soon felt much better and realized he really did belong in the nursery singing the sweet songs and learning about Jesus with other toddlers his age. Thank heaven one of my best friends runs the nursery and does such an AMAZING job!...Really not one moment is lost in there, she even reads a book pertaining to the lesson during snack time! So Brock is in FABULOUS hands and I am so grateful to the wonderful people that run the nursery in our ward! Brock has been going to the nursery now for 3 weeks...and it has just been a coincidence that they were short staffed 2 of the 3 weeks and I "had" to volunteer to stay (I totally jumped at the opportunity)...but the 1 week he was in there without me, he did fabulously...and I booked out of Relief Society to greet him at the door, but Matt had the same thing in mind and beat me to it (this kid pretty much has celebrity status in our home). So it's official Brock is growing up on us!

Here are his stats at his 18 month check up:

Height: 34.75" (97%)

Weight: 27 lbs. 2 oz. (50%-75%)

He's still perfect!

Brock's 18 month pics...

Here is a picture of our little man after church today. The afternoon church really messes with the nap schedule!