Junior Troupe!!

In the middle of me starting a new job, Morgan tried out for the competitive dance group at her dance studio. Its a big ordeal, and I have to say after seeing how serious this was I started to get nervous. I know my Morgie is an awesome dancer, but I aslo could be biast. Well the tryouts came and Morgan said she did awesome at the try-outs. Note: Parents could not watch the try-outs. She came out and didn't look stressed or anything. She was cool as a cucumber! Then the waiting begins... 3 days later we got the call. She was taking a bath, and when they said she had to be there at the studio the next night for results she screamed as loud as she could, and in a bathtub thats loud. She was so proud of herself. Well to make a long story short she made it, but skipped a group and went to the Junior Troupe! She Rocked it! Thats my Morgie. So to add to the confusion of work, and baseball, now comes dance classes three days a week. Thanks to a great friend her daughters are in the junior group also, she comes and picks up Morgan every day for dance class! Thanks Heather!! It helps us out bigtime! We have figured out that the best way to make it work is Harley goes to Brodys baseball practices, and I got the studio and sometime late at night we meet back up again. Its a crazy life but I wouldn't have it any other way!

J.O.B.

Ok so I have not blogged in a few months so now I will update the past month or so, if I can remember. The biggest new thing is I got a J.O.B. "I know, I know, did I really just say a job?" Yes I did, and a full time one at that! I work as a medical assistant at Phoenix Orthopaedics Consultants, and LOVE IT! I am finally back to work and it feels great. I didn't realize how much I missed having another responsibility besides my family. And I might add that Harley thinks this is fantastic! I work Mon-Fri 8-5 so its a good schedule. I have to admit that the first few weeks was a huge adjustment for me and the whole family. I didn't realize how much they (family) depended on me for the biggest to the tiniest thing. My first couple of weeks at work consisted of who is coming home or going to practice, who is picking up or taking to practice, what times are your games, whos taking you to the games, and it goes so on. Kids got locked out of the house, Brody forgot Morgan at school, I forgot those! I am happy to say I think we have everything under control. (I think)

Me Morgan Putting my hands on one of the jonas brothers handprint in Las Vegas!!!

VEGAS with the family 09

AJ at her bachelor party in the bowling alley!!!!!

AJ and Jeramie

getting married

the family in VEGAS!!

Its been way too long...

Ok so I haven't blogged in quite a while and realized that A LOT has happened in the last month or so. I don't even know where to start. Well Harley and I went to Vegas on Wednesday and came home on Saturday so we had a few days of fun and relaxation that was much needed for Harley, at least. Needless to say we are not millionares! We will be leaving for Vegas again on Saturday for A.J.s wedding. This time we get to take the kids and I am so excited for them to see Vegas. It is such an amazing place and the kids are old enough to remember the trip. The whole time Harley and I were there I kept saying "The kids would love this!" I will let you know what they thought when we get back. Well we always thought Brody would be the one to be in the ER first but miss Morgie pie proved us wrong! Last week Thursday all the kids were playing outside and doing the typical stupid things that kids do for fun, and Morgan was in a wagon that was being pulled by 2 bikes. Morgan was going to run into the back of a parked car and stuck her right leg out on the ground to stop and ran into the muffler on the car. The cut was very bad and some bystanders called 911. Brody rides a bike home and Michael who is Brodys best friend tried to carry Morgan home. Long story short, shes got stitches and can't bend her leg so its been a little difficult for her to get around. She is definately a tough cookie, and a trooper.

Pine Cabin

Wow, I didn't realize that I haven't posted anything in a long time. We have been so busy with all the kids activities, and Harleys football to add to the mix, that I haven't thought about it. Well now that I have a moment of silence I thought I would catch everyone up on the McDougalls. We had the pleasure to go up north to Pine and stay at a cabin up there with Matt, Melissa and the kids. They have a friend who let them borrow the cabin for a weekend. It was so nice to just get away from all the hussle and bussle and relax. We definately did a lot of that and went fishing with the kids but no fish. The kids had so much fun up there. They had a tire swing that the kids loved, and of course what is staying in a cabin up north without Smores!! We took Miley with us and the Rich's took Tia so even the dogs got a little vacation. Thanks Matt and Melissa for inviting us to join you. We had a blast.

Mom/Son Dance

The kids school does dances and last Thursday they had a mother/son valentines dance. I asked Brody before I got the tickets and he said " Yeah sure mom, you can hang out with my friends moms while the boys hang out together" so anyways I got the tickets and the day comes. I had volunteered to help decorate the gym for the dance so I had been there earlier to decorate. I get home and tell Brody to get ready and he tells me he doesn't want to go anymore. He says that none of his friends are going and he changed his mind. I had offered to help out during the dance so I had to get ready anyways and go up there. Harley told Brody that he had to go with me and that he couldn't back out on me. So he gets ready and is grumpy because he doesn't want to be there. We get to the dance and start helping around with things and Brody helped out with us in the beginning but 15min into the night he takes off when he sees some of his friends there. He ended up having a blast and I got to join him on the dance floor the rest of the evening. He was soaked with sweat because he danced so much. He also got to have his first slow dance with me! I love it!! He is such a sweetie, and told me that hes glad he went. I realized though through the whole ordeal, that my boy is getting to the age where hes too cool for mom. I can appreciate that he is a honest boy with me when it comes to things that happen. He also getting to where he is asking questions like "Whats a booty call"? I left that one for Harley to answer. I am just glad that I got atleast one night with my boy thats growing up so fast.

Harleys football game update.....

Me and Morgan taking pictures during halftime

Heres a few pictures of Harleys first football game. They lost but played a good game. Harley of course plays like its the NFL and takes everything so seriously. Hes so hard on himself and thinks he should be playing like he did in highschool or even better thanks to all the years of watching and learning while sitting on the couch all weekend long watching football. I have to say if thats his other love I can deal. LOL Anyways, they had a good time and I think Harley is excited to get back in the game. Brody thinks watching Harley is fun. He always walks up and down the field coaching Harley from the sidelines. He always says to me "dad plays so serious" and he thinks its hilarious. We seem to find it a little humorous, and actually I kinda like it when he gets upset. Morgan of course thinks its boring and sits and asks me what time is it? how long is the game? when is it gonna be over? That poor girls life consists of watching Brody play all his games and practices. And now she has dads games too. But shes a good sport too and cheers them on. I think she secretly likes it but acts like she doesn't. She has been begging me to sign her up for softball so she will be starting that in March. Shes gonna get her chance to play and let Brody watch her. Not to mention the dance recitals and lessons that he sometimes gets stuck watching (as Brody would put it). I tell them that they'll appreciate it one day, and look back on all the good memories those moments made. There has definately been some stories and injuries that they'll always remember!

Harleys 1st football game tonight

Well tonight will be Harleys 1st football game in 16yrs. He was asked a few weeks ago to start playing flag football and of course those of you who know Harley will never turn down a sport, especially football. He grew up playing football and played in high school and after high school he quit playing and lived vicariously through Brody!! Well now its his turn to shine! He is so excited to play tonight. He will come home from practice and say "you should of seen me tonight, your husbands a stud" and then I usually say "of course you are, thats why I married you". LOL It makes him happy!! No matter how old that man gets he will never grow up, then again thats one of the many reasons I love him! I think Brody is just as excited to watch Harley play as Harley is. Brody will finally get to watch his dad in action! I will let everyone know how the game turns out and post pictures tomorrow. Lets all just pray Harley doesn't get hurt tonight. Pease NO injuries!! Good luck Daddy Puffin!! Love you

SuperBowl Party

Well as all of you might know by now the Cardinals lost the Superbowl but it was one heck of a game. There was definately a lot of screaming and yelling going on. We had so much fun just hanging out with great friends and great food. During halftime we all went outside and all the kids got a ride on Harleys motorcylcle. Needless to say now Maddox wants a motorcycle for his birthday and he's only three. Scott made his own jersey and I have to say he did a great job. The girls also made some of their own shirts. During the last half of the game we had to send Scotty Guest outside far away from the tv since we seem to notice a theme happening. Every time he watches the games the Cardinals don't do so well and when he doesn't watch the Cardinals rock. Well by the end of the game poor Scotty was all the way at the park down the street. Sorry Scotty :( He did say he could tell what was going on by all the screaming and yelling from all the houses in the neighborhood. Hopefully next season the Cardinals will go all the way and take the SuperBowl. Thanks everyone for such a good time!

MVP

Last time I updated I talked about the parents vs boys baseball game on Sunday. Well we spanked the boys! We had so much fun with all the talkin smack back and forth. Brody received the MVP award for his team and we are so proud of him. Thats two MVPs now. He got MVP for his football team last season too. I think we might have a professional on our hands! I always tell him don't forget your mom when your big and famous one day makin the benjamins!! We also are still moving Cher and Scott one truck load at a time. Its going but at a slow pace. Just to let them know they have too much stuff! The only stuff left is all the straggler stuff that we have been putting off cause its just stuff! If anyone has ever moved they'll know what I am talking about. We also are getting ready for the Super Bowl which we are having at our house. Go Cardinals!! Its going to be such a great game just having our state team in it! How exciting! I will post pictures of the superbowl party next time I update.

Dance + Shopping = Fabulous Day

What a perfect way to spend a Saturday. Today Melissa, Mallory, Morgan and I went to Jadens dance competition. She did such an awesome job along with the rest of the group. They ended up getting 2 trophys but I am not sure what they were for. On the way home we decided to stop at Dunkin Donuts which is Morgans favorite food. She got her sugar raised donut and was in heaven! We stopped at Arrowhead mall and went to Morgans favorite store (Tillys). Morgan and Mallory got matching shirts and the moms had to get a little something too. (I had two $10 dollar off coupons that were going to expire so we just had to use them before they went to waste. Thats the story I am telling Harley!) but true. I think the girls made out better than we did! We had so much fun today just hanging out with the girls. Harley and Scott have been moving furniture all day but have gotten a lot done so maybe the Gwaltneys might be staying their first night in the new house tonight. Tomorrow Brodys baseball team is having a game, kids verses parents! We will have to see how that goes. I'll have to post pictures of that.

Desert Rats

This past weekend was crazy busy! Friday night I had 7 children screaming and running around the house playing hide and seek tag. Rachel had a painting job to finish and was in a time crunch so Cheryl decided to offer her skills and I offered mine. Cheryl got to help paint and I got stuck with all the kids. I guess I am good at having screaming kids around and Cheryls good at painting. Saturday morning started bright and early thanks to Brodys baseball tournament. We spent the day out in the gorgeous weather watching Brody do what he does best. I have to say that kid can play some ball!! Sunday we had 2 more games in the tournament and another great weather day. We then went to Matt and Melissas to watch the Cardinals kick some booty! Go Cardinals! I can't believe we are going to the Super Bowl. How exciting is that??? We will be hosting a Super Bowl party at our house so that should be fun. Since the kids were off on Monday we decided to go to the desert and let the kids build a track for their bikes and get down and dirty. The weather was great and we had a lot of fun digging and exploring. Brody and his buddies rode their bikes all day and were filthy with dirt and sweat by the end of the day. We grilled burgers and hot dogs and had snacks. What a great day to spend outside with family and friends. Now that the boys have their own special little track we will have to go out there more often while the weather is nice. This is why we live in Az. for days like this in January!! I don't think people back east have pictures like this in January!

Catching Up...

I haven't blogged in a while so bare with me, might be kinda long. Lets see New Years Eve we went to the Guests house for a WII bowling tournament. I didn't do so well, maybe thanks to the few shots of patron I had already had by the time it was my turn to bowl. Needless to say Rachel won, and we had a blast! Thanks Guest family for an awesome night. The next 2 days were not soo awesome! I was hungover and felt like crap. I guess thats what New Years is for. Now I know why I don't drink on a daily basis. I can't handle it and am useless the next couple of days. Our days have gone back to routine with baseball and dance. And now Harley started flag football, just another thing to add to our plates. His first practice was last night which went pretty well, besides coming home and icing his ankle while elevated in bed. I told him thats what happens when you have a mind of a 20yr old and a body of a 34yr old. We went to Matt and Melissas for the Cardinals game and had a lot of fun along with the Cards victory! GO CARDS!! We will be there again for Sundays game. We have also been going to Scott and Cheryls new house to paint and it seems like this is the longest painting job we have ever done. We are kinda sad they are moving farther away, but still close enough to go have coffee in the mornings like I do now. Maybe I have been slacking off on helping because the sooner they get done the sooner they leave. Well I tried to keep it short and simple so until next time. Ta Ta for now!!