Three funny things....

1. We were in the car (just Craig, Jordan, Logan and I) and Craig was talking about a guy in Portland that was in the news who was affiliated with the Nazi's in the 1940's. Logan asked what 'affiliated' meant and to simplify it a bit, we told him that the guy had ties with the Nazi's. He got a disgusted look on his face and said, 'What kind of Moron would wear a Nazi tie!?' A classic! This story will be around for years!!

2. We drove to The Dalles (about an hour away) last Saturday for Logan's soccer game. It was a little bit cold and windy there and I was getting blankets and chairs out of the back of the car. I only had three beach chairs and figured that two of the boys could sit on the grass on those bleacher cushion things. We have two nice ones with backs and buckles and Javier looked at them with a very confused look. Finally, with complete seriousness, he asked, 'Tell me why we need life jackets at a soccer game?' It was hilarious! I guess you had to be there!

3. Corey loves the commercial for Snickers candy bars with the old Viking guys singing 'Green Sleeves' in the car. He gets weird and starts singing it sometimes, making up half the words. The other day he was singing and said the word 'menstrual', several times. Finally, Jordan stopped him and said, 'Corey! The word isn't menstrual....it's minstral!' Corey, of course, argued a bit (because who likes their younger brother telling them they're wrong!) When he realized what he'd been saying, all three of us could NOT stop laughing and had tears in our eyes. Way too funny! (especially since in this house, I don't think the word mentrual has EVER been used!)

So... for the last 5 weeks, I have been the lone woman living in a house with 7 men. I use the term 'men' loosely, even though 6 of them technically are!

Now don't get me wrong. I'm very use to being the only female in the house because really, that's all I've ever really known. I grew up with 4 brothers and I'm raising 5 boys (and an extra one this year) so... I get it. I get that boys are different than girls.

But seriously. Is it still funny - after at least the 27,000th time - when someone farts or burps?? They look at me and say "You wanna laugh Mom... come on... just laugh!" Really guys, it's just not funny anymore. Is a boy incapable of hanging up a towel (on one of 10 hooks in the bathroom) after he showers and possibly even use it more than once?? (please note that there are approximately 56 showers going on during any given week!) Do they really need a new glass EVERY time they get a drink, which is at least 5 times a day (x that by 6 boys!). Is towel slapping really that fun?? I mean... when it leaves a welt, doesn't that hurt? Can I dry my hands from doing the dinner dishes before you tell me you're starving and need something to eat, RighT NoW?? Can you possibly cram ANY more into the laundry basket in your bathroom?! I know why you do it guys... because no one wants to bring it down to the laundry room! Sheesh! Are you attached somehow to the empty shampoo bottles in the shower? Just wonderin'.... And how do you know SO many facts about the NFL and NBA players? It is impressive but what about turning that homework in that was due last week?! How do boys remember jokes?? It's got to be a guy thing because I can't remember a joke - the whole joke - an hour after I hear it!

I feel like I walk around the house some days, just shaking my head in wonderment and fascination at these creatures I live with!

After all is said and done though... I wouldn't change what I have for anything! These guys make me laugh, out loud, literally, every day. They amaze me with their political and business minds (something I, as a female, lack). I LOVE it when their friends come over because we all just hang out. They are so easy and comfortable to be with. I absolutely love how we seem to communicate through movie lines. It works! And it is wonderful how just putting some food in their belly, turns that frown into a smile.

Believe it or not, I get comments, often, from friends and strangers, about my situation. It's about half and half - they either feel sorry for me or think I'm the luckiest girl in town. I'm just here to tell you that I'm the luckiest girl in town!

WeLCoMe JAVIER!

We have a new son from Spain! We went to Dad and Linda's house last night and Dad took this picture of us all. Isn't it amazing how much he looks like he belongs to us??

We spent Saturday at the river with a bunch of friends - he went in a boat and tubed for the first time (Javier is completely wiping out on the tube here)! And we had a rousing game of Ultimate Frisbee and just had a great day. He was amazed at the Columbia River and Mt. Hood - they don't have anything like this in Spain.

Jacob and Jordan had a party for him that night and wow!...the girls are going crazy for this guy! It's pretty funny to watch them flock around him. Maybe the American boys will learn a thing or two about being a gentleman and polite and treating these young ladies with respect! It will be interesting to see who rubs off on who.... our lazy American ways or the suave Spaniard ways!

Soccer and water polo practices have already started and school starts next week. So...life will get crazy and hectic one more time!

Last weekend (June 26-28), we had a YW trip to the beach. We went to Pacific City (our favorite place) and couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! There is a huge mountain of sand that people climb - it's a killer -but look what you get to see when you make it to the top! It is absolutely gorgeous!









We played the Human Knot game, which I'm sure you've heard of, but for the purposes of our beach trip in the first place, it was perfect. They learned about teamwork, unity and integrity.
Bishop Craig and a dad of a young woman went as our Priesthood and we had a fantastic few days. Thirteen of our 16 girls were able to go - we flew kites, went to the tide pools, visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory, played games, stayed up late and of course ate way too much.









Craig just celebrated his 45th birthday on Monday, the 30th - we had a BBQ with our good friends and it was a relaxing, fun evening. We've shared 20 years of birthdays with these friends and it's crazy to look back at all that has happened in our families during that time. Thank
goodness for good friends! The boys and the neighbors entertained us by putting their forehead on a baseball bat and turning around 20 times and then trying to run to our pool. It was hilarious! It doesn't take much to keep us happy. Crazy guys!
We are getting an exchange student on August 23rd,
from Madrid, Spain! His name is Javier and he is 17 years old - the same age as my twins. He'll live with us for the whole school year and just be a part of our family. We are really excited! This will be another new adventure for us - we like to keep things crazy here!

Just a quick update on my last entry.....
JORDAN GOT HIS LICENSE!
We just got back from an uneventful morning at the DMV. Jordan passed - barely with a 75 - buy hey, it says "75 or over"! :) He mostly got marked down for driving too fast which is pretty funny because he drives like an old lady. I'm always telling him to speed it up!
So...3 down, 2 to go. I think we'll survive.

So...my blog advisor (baj) has advised that I tell this story from 'Rust world'...it's kinda long so just stay with me, or not...
On Monday, Jordan had an appointment at 10:30 am to finally get his drivers license. He first had to take the written test, so Craig took Jordan and Jacob at 9 am. (If anyone has experienced any time whatsoever at the DMV, you understand why it's important to go early... and I assume all DMV's are the same!) When they got there, they were told that his test wouldn't be until 11, so, thus begins our DMV drama... I got there at about 9:45 to trade cars with Craig.
Now, Jacob went to re-take his permit test, again, (that's another story in itself) - and at about 10 ish, his name was called. We are holding our breath and he is a nervous wreck... we watch his every reaction with the lady at the desk and then we see it... a huge smile!!! HOORAY! He passed!! A few minutes later, Jordan's name is called and he has also passed his written test! Double Hooray! Things are lookin' good for our DMV visit today!

Now we wait for the time to pass for Jordan's driver's test... the DMV is an interesting place to sit and watch people... luckily, they called him early (a couple ladies there liked my cute twins and squeezed Jordan in) and we go and move the car to the place they told us to move it. We sit and wait some more. Then, a quiet young woman comes out and I leave to go inside to wait. About 5 minutes later, Jordan calls me and says that our tags have expired! You're kidding me right?? No, he's not kidding - they just barely expired and they won't let him take the test.
He comes inside and we go up to give them his paperwork until next time. The lady says, well, you can pay $20 for temporary tags and still take the test. I think for a minute - I've already written two checks there that morning (one for each written test the boys took because they can't seem to accumulate a total for people to pay all at once) - then I decide 'what the heck' to write another check because I do not want to come back! We fill out the paperwork for the temporary tags and Jordan goes back out to the car to wait.
All this time, Jacob is with me and... we wait some more. It was about 20 minutes later and I get another call from Jordan..... the car won't start!!!!! What?? You're kidding me again, right?? We just drove it to that spot!! Jacob and I go out to the car, and it is as dead as can be. Big Giant Sigh.
The lady says maybe we can get a refund for the 20 bucks - we go in to find out and to give Jordan's paperwork back again. They say No to the refund and ask if Jordan wants to take the test later that afternoon. He quickly says, No thanks - obviously today is not the day!
I call Craig to tell him what has happened and the 3 of us go out to wait in the car. We wait, and wait, and wait. Jordan decides that this has all happened because for sure, some crazy Mexican is going to blow the DMV up and we are being spared! Finally, an hour later Craig comes to jump the car...little jetta giving Big Suburban a jump. It finally starts and the 3 of them go get the car checked out which ends up needing a new battery. I take the other car to run a few errands and try to redeem the rest of my day.
That is how we spent the majority of our first day of Spring Break... over 3 hours at the DMV! Did you notice a common theme throughout this story? That would be the word, WAIT, which is the one thing you always dread when you have to go to the DMV. The great thing is that we get to go back real soon. Why you ask??
So Jordan can take his dang drivers test!

Our pool froze and the guys (with our neighbors and their dog) were brave enough to stand on it! It was about 6 inches thick and there's probably about 400 pounds standing on there! Yikes! I kept taking pictures thinking that I'd get one with them all falling through but they were lucky. We thought the dog would pee, warming it up causing it to crack but he didn't. That would have been one great picture!

For an Art Auction that Logan is entering, he made these clay pens representing the 7 continents..... there's an elephant (Africa), a penguin (Antarctica), a fat Buddha (Asia), a kangaroo (Australia), the Eiffel Tower (Europe), the Statue of Liberty (N. America) and Easter Island (S. America). The action is in March so cross your fingers that it all goes well!

Happy New Year people! Can you believe we're a week into 2008 already? Ben keeps telling me to blog more - that it doesn't matter if I have anything profound to say or that I don't have a darling scrapbook page like my nieces, so...I'll try. We'll see what happens.

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday, as usual - loving everything about it and hating for it to end. I don't think I've ever had such protesting as I did this year when it was time to take all the decorations down! It had to be done though, right?

We had about 8 people over for New Year's Eve. We had way too much food and we played the Wii all night! I know...like one of the twins' friends said to me when he heard me and another 'old' person talking about the games... he said 'This isn't right - old people shouldn't talk about nintendo games, let alone PLAY them!' My friend Kathleen, even went home with a Wii injury to her hand from bowling - she hit the coffee table!

Here's a couple pictures from when we went to the beach in November with Joel/family and with Dad and Linda. The kid you don't recognize is Logan's friend. There's Grandpa and Logan in their baseball hat going to church, the fake fall off the top of the sand dunes at Pacific City (you gotta love that) and Grandpa and Rachel playing Mario Cart. It was a fun weekend!

We hope this new year brings happiness and contentment, and I truly mean that with all my heart.