Monday Musings

By the end of Mondays I am usually beat. Wait, I'm like that at the end of every day, but for sure Mondays are the hardest. They are super busy- mainly because I am catching up from the weekend fun!

Today, I have allowed the words of others to hurt & disillusion me. I hate it when I do that. On top of that, I know it's not healthy to dwell on it, and yet I find myself doing just that. In psychoanalyzing myself I have learned that:

1. I care too much what others think, and while I recognize this, I have a hard time changing what seems to be an innate quirk.
2. I feel guilt too much for the stupidest things.
3. I am a natural peacemaker and have the tendency to not "rock the boat" for fear of upsetting others even to the detriment of my sanity.
4. Soul-searching, while healthy, doesn't do me any good unless I choose to change. Easier said than done.

Okay, my pity party is over. What I really need is a vacation ALONE without anyone to NEED anything from me. I'm tired. Yikes, this is a little darker than normal! Going to bed...

Phoenix Zoo

I took the kids to the zoo today. It was our first time going but it certainly won't be our last!! I bought a yearly pass and I'm already getting hounded as to when we're going back. We didn't have enough time to see everything and we're dying to see more!

The rhinos were very exciting. Joelle's first comment was, "They have big butts, I mean buns." Yes they do. The other disgustingly cool thing for them was the size of their poop. They couldn't stop commenting on that and the fact that a bird was perched on top of the dung pile.


Joelle liked the gazelles, or as she referred to them, "the reindeers."



Good Looking Kids!

Happy Birthday, Joelle!

Joelle is now officially five- and she's been telling everyone that she's now in Kindergarten. In fact, she apologized to one of her preschool friends, saying: "I can't go to preschool tomorrow 'cause I'm too old now. I'm in Kindergarten." The other friend started crying...

Something that you should know about Joelle is that she is soooo fun to watch when she opens presents. Her true enthusiasm and joy for each and every present is infectious.
For example, this morning Tyler gave her some b-day shorts to wear, and Scottie gave her the matching top. This was her reaction.








We had her party at the park near our house. It was very quickly thrown together as we had just gotten back from CA and my sister-in-law, Jilynn had just delivered her baby girl. Jilynn was due on Joelle's birthday, so the plans were kind of up in the air. As it turned out- the kids had an entire park to play with, I didn't have to think of any entertainment for the kids, the clean-up was a breeze...maybe this'll work for other parties as well!!

That evening we went out to dinner to Texas Roadhouse, which she chose because she loves the freedom of being able to throw peanut shells on the ground. When we got back home, she unwrapped her last gift... a snazzy Barbie bike!

This is her showing me how much her muscles had grown, because now she's 5.

More Spring Break

My Grandma Grove is 97 years old...Joelle always tells her to her face that she's old, to which she replies, "Yes, I am!"


This is my uncle Tom


This is my cousin Mike-I am 3 months older than him and I used to take great pleasure in reminding him that I was older and wiser. Now, for some reason, the older part isn't as great as it used to be!

Redondo Beach, CA

For Spring Break, I took the kids to CA to visit my sister, Joleen, who lives by the beach, and my parents who don't! This day was kind of overcast and not too hot, but that didn't stop the kiddos from getting right in the water! What a great day!!



From Top: Roman, Scottie, Tyler, Mason, Mateo, Kylie, Joelle



Joelle & cousin Kylie




Scottie & cousin Roman






Scottie & Tyler w/ cousins
Roman, Mason, & Mateo




What are these boys looking at?



Joelle



For those of you who know my dad- you know that this picture epitomizes the person he is. He is a huge jokester- and this pic captures the aftermath of him playing a joke on his sister followed by his hysterical laughter...followed by an uncontrollable coughing fit. I've shown this picture to different family members and they all agree. This is the real Scott Grove.