What's on your iPhone?

I finally downloaded my pictures off my phone into my iPhoto library. I don't think I've ever done this before and I had lots of laughs seeing the random pictures on my phone. Since my phone doesn't produce quality pictures, I rarely use my camera and when I do it's usually to send Michael a text showing him what the kids and I are up to while he is at work. Some of these I find worthy for my blog, mostly because they each have a story behind them and it brings a smile to my face. So get ready for story time, here we go.
It's a rare moment when Anna sleeps in the car, usually she is singing or talking or wanting to play a car game with me. It's a rare moment when it's quiet so when she sleeps in the car, it is photo worthy.

 In the Springtime we did school at the park, the boys were so distracted so Anna was the only one able to concentrate and get stuff done.

 Anna went through a phase where she loved Hello Kitty bandaids and put her belt around her ankle.

 When I see fish, silly fish like this one, I always take a picture and send it to my friend Kelly. I know it will make her giggle so she gets my fish pictures texted to her.

 I took this picture and sent it to Michael because it is a big deal when Jadon volunteers to do chores.

 On Easter Sunday we went to In & Out with all the kids and as we were in the drive through we see this out the window. How does one explain this to their kids. It just felt so wrong seeing this on such a holy day.

 Kids getting along and having fun, definitely an iPhone moment when you don't have time to go grab your nice camera because by the time you get back the moment will be over and they will most likely be fighting.

 We love Bass Pro Shop. When we go there Anna loves to play a pretend game on the boats like we are going on a trip. We go from boat to boat and each boat takes us somewhere else. I think we've been to Hawaii, Africa, and Flagstaff on these boats. Who knew you could have so much fun at the store.

 We celebrated our nephews birthday at Golfland. It was a fun summer night. Our nephew is getting so big!

 This picture is one of my most favorites. This was taken on May 17th, my birthday when I went to the local restraunts to get my free meals. I snapped it as the boys were walking back to our picnic table. For some reason, I just love the candid moment, I remember they were deep in conversation. This is my screen saver on my phone.

 Another fish, this time a grumpy one, texted to Kelly of course.

 My 4th of July meal. I still remember it because it was so very good!!!!!!

 Chicken butt, I texted this one to Kelly too. She laughs at the things that make me laugh. I think all my text said was, "does my butt look big?"

 Pepper on a hot summer day. I felt exactly the same way as him.

 Anna did my hair, doesn't it look pretty? I texted this to Kelly too. She is my texting buddy.

 Getting dressed up for some imaginary play time. He looks like he belongs in the middle east.

 I don't even like fish but I sure have several pictures of them on my phone.

 See what I mean!

 I have no idea why I would take a picture of Anna's Zhu Zhu pets?

 My happy place, must have a picture of my happy place.

 I caught a fish, a tiny one, but it's a fish. Michael grabbed my phone to take a picture of this epic event.

 Driving home from a weekend up north. Pepper wanted to help navigate.

 Anna got her ears pierced at the beginning of July in celebration of her Gotcha day. 6 weeks later when she was able to change her earrings, I took her back to Claire's and we picked out some new earrings for her and ate some cookies from Paradise Bakery. It was a very special mommy/daughter time.

 Our chickens went to live at a new home. Here they were on move out day. I can't say I miss them at all but it sure was fun having them.

 Notice the rubber bands on his wrist, they were on there for about a week. You never know when you might need some ammo.

 Not many people can say they have a picture of Kurt and Brenda Warner on their phone. I went to her book signing at Berean Christian Store and it was a good book, I finished it in 3 days.

 Mind you, it was triple digits outside and they are dressed like this? I have no idea what they were thinking! I guess this is what you wear when you have an air soft war on a hot summer Arizona day.

 The kids are memorizing their states and capitals. I enjoyed watching them work together on this particular morning.

 Park fun!

 And last but not least, these are the books Camden checked out from the library. You surprised? I'm not.

And there you have it, that's what's on my iPhone. What about you?

is this normal?

Every once in a while I ask myself a certain question as I walk around our house and see some odd things, that question is- Is this normal? I'll let you be the judge but I think I already know the answer. Our family is anything but normal and I'm actually just find with it. I don't think I've ever met a "normal" family, each family is unique and wonderful in their own way and ours is certainly no exception. So this is what I'm talking about. 

I go to sit down at our outdoor table and this is what is on the back of my chair. I guess we will call it rubber band art. 

 As I'm sitting I look across our front yard and see our kitchen stool. I knew it had disappeared but had no idea I should look for it in our front yard against the brick wall. I do remember two boys named Jadon and Camden climbing the fence yesterday, I guess this is what helped them get over it.

 This picture has double meaning. First off, our oldest son loves purple. Apparently it's a popular color among pre-teen boys. Notice the purple pencil on the floor next to the shoes? Well that pencil belongs to his little sister. She loves purple too. At least the two of them have the love of purple in common. The second thing is that Jadon's shoes have been a source of many near injuries in our house because they are ALWAYS in the middle of the floor. It is very annoying. Will he ever learn?

 There is nothing odd about this, maybe we have some normalcy about us. I'm reading this book right now and I'm really enjoying it.

 And this is my pillow, if your not my facebook friend you may not have any idea what I'm talking about here but this is a picture of my lovely pillowcase that is white and soft and made of Egyptian cotton and I love it. I'll just leave it at that.

 I walk down our hallway and I'm greeted with this. Our little home scholars are learning all their capitals and states and because they have photographic memories, this is the way they are learning them. They have 20 under their belts already. They make a mommy proud.

 And as I was walking down the hall little miss Anna, who was in trouble for something I can't even remember, gave me a not so kind look. She wasn't letting her love shine like her shirt says.

 This picture makes me smile. Both boys are now doing their own laundry. It takes such a load off of me. Their future wives (not wives as in plural but wife singular, one for each of them) will thank me.

 The boys have 4 reptiles in their room, this is Spike. And I know it's not normal for a family to have 4 reptiles.

 While in the boys room, I glance over and see this. It doesn't even cause me to raise an eyebrow. The Ray boys love taking things apart.

 This glue gun used to be mine but lately the boys use it more than me for their creations. They are constantly inventing.

 What is this I see on the back patio? What on earth is being taken apart now?

 Oh, I see! I guess there are some changes being made to Camden's skateboard. I wonder what his plans are? I'll have to ask him about this.

 Before I sit down on our couch, it's always important to do a seat check and make sure you don't sit on something like this? Not quite sure what it is.

 I open the game closet and see this. I do know what this is. The kids are doing a sweet potato experiment. Any day now the potatoes should start sprouting some green roots.

 Guess what I found on the floor? That's right. Another pair of Jadon's shoes. He only owns two pairs so it makes sense both of them are on the floor right?

 I glance down at the floor and see Jadon holding a PVC pipe, we should own stock in PVC pipe because the boys are always working on some project that involves PVC.

 See these little stickers? They are all over the house. I even found one on the hand towel in our master bathroom. Will we ever see the day when they are all gone? I'm not quite sure.

 Someone forgot to throw away their peanut butter cup wrapper. Michael and I each snuck one after lunch, not letting the kids see because we didn't want to share. That means one of us forgot to hide the evidence.

 It looks like Anna is selling "fun paper cups" she made out of origami paper for $1. Any takers?

 Oh yes, the shoe horn. Let me tell you about this shoe horn. The kids all got new shoes and they require a little bit of help to get them on so they each learned how to use a shoe horn. It feels so old fashion in a kind of fun way. And the best part, Walmart has them for free in their shoe department so I got three. And I thought nothing was free anymore.

 And last but not least I go to use my vacuum and I see that it now has a new attachment. It totally blends in but the yellow and grey thing on the right side of the vacuum is actually a nerf gun attachment. Should I be afraid to turn my vacuum on? I'll let you know!

And that folks is what I find around my house on an every day basis. That's my "normal", what's yours?

a boy, his vest, and a hat.

Every once in a while I talk my kids into doing a photo shoot, today I lucked out when our middle child hammed it up for the camera. I'm so in love with these pictures. They make my heart melt.

Remembering 9-11

I had a photo shoot at Scottdale Center for the Arts on the 10 year anniversary of 9-11. They had a memorial set up inside the Arts Center and it was so moving. I captured what I saw in a series of a pictures. I'll let the pictures talk for themselves.