HOLY COW-CATCH UP TIME-AGAIN!

i just can't keep up on this dang blog-but it's really my only form of journaling these days so i need to update every once in a while-i am just going to do a BORING update post and will post pics later and maybe ONE of these days, i will get caught up on my life and actually become a regular (reader and poster) again-

here is what has been happening since i last posted (IN JANUARY!!!)

FEBRUARY-we took the kids to disneyland while we were off track. we decided to road trip it this time around and it was great (well, i thought it was, neal HATES long drives and says he will pay the $2k next time to fly)ryder was only a few months old last time we went so he LOVED it-it was magical to watch him see it for the first time. gage and boe loved it as well-they were more into the adventurous rides this time around and boe was SO happy that he was tall enough to ride indiana jones. they both loved seeing the characters and getting autographs and were good sports to go on rides with ryder. we got 5 day hoppers and stayed a full seven days-it was a good time, nice to get away.

MARCH-commemorated the FIVE year anniversary of Nathaniel's death-it's crazy how sometimes five years seems like SO LONG and other times i wonder-wow-it's ONLY?! been five years?!? i sure miss him. soccer started up again and gage started tumbling and boe started piano. busy busy but super fun. we also decided to bite the bullet-we bought an AMAZING lot in bluffdale in an AMAZING neighborhood-started finding houseplans, found a great builder and got our house ready to put on the market. we are currently 6 weeks into the experience(for lack of a better word) we have had TONS of traffic and two semi-low ball offers-but we are optimistic that given time, it will definitely sell. i am quasi suicidal-keeping a house up on any given day is a challenge with four kids, but keeping a house up to par to show with four kids is just about IMPOSSIBLE. hopefully it's ALL over soon...

APRIL-we took our annual trip to st. george over easter. this year our friends the gee's joined us. it was a blast. the kids swam to their hearts content and we did a lot of hiking and playing. snow canyon became our new favorite thing to do there, in fact, i think next time we will camp a few days there as well as stay in st. george. sharon and i took the kids to the wildlife museum, it was amazing all the exotic animals they have there. way fun trip.

MAY-celebrated Mother's day, went to the U2 concert(BEST U2 concert yet and HANDS DOWN the BEST concert I have EVER BEEN TO!)seriously AMAZING-i loved every second of it, in fact i am, as we speak, trying to convince the mister that we should drive to anaheim for the last show of this leg of the tour on June 18 (which would be my SEVENTH time seeing them!!)---he says i should make it a girls trip without him :((( he has seen them 4 times with me-he doesn't love them like i do-so i am sure there are different ways he'd rather spend his time (and money) we'll see what sorts of powers of persuasion i can pull out on him :)

GAGE-8 1/2-LOVING tumbling, almost done with SECOND GRADE-loves to color and create things, loves to read, LIVES to play with his friends, wants to start basketball this fall, is sweet and kind, has a jack-o-lantern crazy crooked smile, is still super into MJ, LOVES his DS, the Wii and TV (seriously would sit and do all three ALL day long if i let him--but i don't!)has a huge heart, is compassionate, caring and aware of others around him, is the resident "funny" kid in his class and all-around loves life. he LOVES lucy and has also started to be super nice to ryder and helps me out IMMENSELY on a daily basis

BOE-6 1/2-LOVES piano and his teacher, almost done with soccer, wants to give basketball, flag football and wrestling a go, has lost six teeth in the past three months, got a PERSONALIZED PICTURE from the tooth fairy!!! LOVES to play outside, is almost in the SECOND GRADE-has a birthday in TWO WEEKS!!! loves his little brother and sister(sometimes TOO much ;) is gaining a fast appreciation for the music of U2 ;) tries so hard to be good-is thoughtful and kind, is sweet and sensitive and STUBBORN-heaven help us! is amazing at math and doing SO MUCH BETTER with reading and is the kid that everyone loves (well, except gage-those two fight like NOTHING else ;)))

RYDER-2 1/2-affectionately referred to as "donkey" because the kid NEVER stops talking to neal and i(is super shy around others though) is my little shadow during the day and neal's at night, loves cars, loves to play outside, loves to sing and dance, loves mickey mouse, is also gaining an appreciation of bono, the beatles and MJ, loves his little sister, idolizes his dad and big brothers, tolerates his mom ;) is the SWEETEST most EASY going baby of ALL time(for the most part-has started a few tantrums but pretty manageable) can count to 15, knows his colors, shapes and the ABC's, has an amazing memory, LOVES his grandpa, is STUBBORN and independent, is COMPLETELY potty-trained(DAY AND NIGHT!!!YAY!!!) LOVES treats and sippies of milk, LOVES diet dr pepper and diet coke (almost as much as me!!) has THE best one-liners EVER (EX: mom do you have a weiner? ME: no ryder is don't HIM: well i think you should ask for one for your birfday...haha)

LUCY-10 MONTHS-WHAT?! is sweet loving and DRA-MATIC--TOTAL girl already! is still super small and petite, FINALLY made it on the charts (1%) in weight at her 9 month check-is just about walking, cut her first tooth this past week, says mama, dada, and no-claps her hands, can sign yes and more (kind of thank you)-LOVES big people food, LOVES her brothers but is still totally attached to neal and i, loves to be held, loves story time, loves to crawl around independently, can crawl up and down stairs, holds her bottle with one hand and crawls at the same time (HI-LAROUS looking!) is still super sweet and easy but definitely knows what she wants and lets you know! is SUPER fun to dress and i am LOVING doing her hair!

well, i think that about covers it. hopefully i can upload pictures one of these days and i can start posting more regularly...haha, i'm not holding my breath!