Where do I begin???... seriously!

I seriously don't know where to start. I'm going crazy with all the things that are going on in my life right now, and on top of that I feel like I've been on an emotional roller-coaster ride... AHHH! Beware for a long blog... I should just do a slide show but when I make a book of all my blogs the slide show stays behind... so sorry for all the pictures... but my kids are cute so DEAL WITH IT!

So about my emotional roller-coaster, I feel like I'm so behind on everything. I started spring cleaning this week and my house looks like a bomb went off in it. I don't know how one project leads to another and another and another... but somehow I still haven't finished the first project. Also, Jon has been working a TON lately and that always takes it out of me. I love that he is so ambitious but sometimes it's really hard on me. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but he is such an entrepreneur and won't be completely content until he owns his own business or something... and that takes a lot of work.

Also, I'm kind of freaking out about this soccer thing. Now, I realize that my kids aren't in competitive sports right now but I don't know any other way. I'm having anxiety to be on time or a little bit early to practices and games, I'm feeling like if we have to miss a practice we won't see any playing time... all in all, I'm ready to pull my kids out of sports and any other activity for the rest of their lives. I think Jon gets a little bit of a kick out of how serious I get... this is why I put my kids in soccer and not in baseball... I know nothing about soccer.

Speaking of soccer, my predictions were wrong about my kiddos. I thought that Brayden would be a little bit passive and maybe even afraid of the big crowd that gathers around the ball but Brayden has shown his competitive side and the boy has aggression! He's awesome and he absolutely LOVES playing soccer. When it's his turn to "sit out" he bugs me the entire time asking "when do I get to go in mom?", "did the coach call my name?" I'm probably being cocky but I'd say that Brayden was one of the best ones on his team! And then there is Jack, we thought he would be this fireball of excitement and "kill" on the field. I actually was nervous that he would start beating other kids over the ball... but not so much! Jack just stands away from the ball (if he is having a good day), when he isn't having a good day he lays out on the field... I'm so proud!!! So Jon and I regret putting Jack in soccer at such a young age, but the truth is, if we didn't he probably would have thrown a fit when we were at Brayden's games and practices... I swear I can't win! Anyway, we are actually having a lot of fun watching our kids grow through sports and sportsmanship. My boys are wonderful!

And then there is my angel Anabelle. She really is the best baby ever. I think sometimes she's my sanity. I can't express enough about how happy I am that she is in our family, she really is my little angel and came at just the right time in just the right way. And just what her name means, she's so easy to love... my little Bella.

Okay, now onto what we've been up to... in no order because I can't keep it all straight! First I'll talk about my wonderful father in law, Kent. Kent came to town last week to hang out with us and Jen and Ryan. We had such a great time with him and it was really hard to see him go, I wasn't quite ready to have him go. But while he was here we had a GREAT time. Grandpa Jolley is such a stud in his grand kids eyes... again, where do I start? He got here late on Wednesday night so we didn't see him, but right after school on Thursday we headed to Jen's house (Jon's sister) to see grandpa. When we got there Brayden was fast asleep in the car but Jack ran up and gave grandpa a big hug and kiss. Then it was Anabelle's turn to lure grandpa in!... and that she did! She hasn't seen grandpa Jolley since she was 2 days old... but seriously you guys, the resemblance between the two is amazing! She looks just like him. He played with "Annie" for such a long time, and when I watched them I could tell that the adoration was mutual. After the loving and kissing and hugging we went to pick up Maddie from school and headed to "Horton Hears the Who", which was SOOO CUTE! Grandpa spoiled the kids and had full conversations with Brayden throughout the entire movie! Brayden would ask grandpa questions about the movie in the loudest voice and grandpa Jolley would politely answer! I just sat back with Anabelle and laughed... my kids LOVE YOU KENT, they haven't stopped asking about grandpa Jolley... "where is he?", "when is he coming back?". After the movie we headed to Chucky Cheese, where a kid... and an adult, can be a kid! On Friday the men went golfing and had a great time, and then caught up with Jen and I at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It was nice to have Kent all to ourselves, without the kids mauling him to death! On Saturday we went to the soccer games and Grandpa Jolley was the number 1 fan! He was so proud to see his grand kids playing their hearts out! It was so much fun to have him there... argh, the frustrations of living far away! After the games everyone went to their homes for nap time and later we met up at our home to have a barbecue... Jon, the meat was AWESOME! Then we watched the final four games and just had a great time. Kent left early Sunday morning so we said good-bye and off he went. We love you grandpa Jolley.

After Friday night at the Cheesecake factory, I drug my old worn out body (I'm lame, it was only 9pm) to hang out with Camille Goldy and her friends in Old Town Scottsdale. We went to a little bar where Camille and I indulged our cravings of diet coke! We had such a great time chatting and catching up on each other lives and stories. Camille's friends were a blast, and Amy aka Tequila was a riot! I rolled home somewhere around 2:00 am... what the?!?! I didn't even know that time existed anymore! Camille, are you going to move here?!?!

A week before Kent came to sunny Arizona, my parents and Sadie and her friend Heather came to town. Talk about a fun time! We had such a nice relaxing week with my parents and the additional help from Sadie and Heather. My parents are troopers because the first day they were here we put them to work! My brilliant husband had the great idea of ordering our plants and planting them while my parents were here... so they could help! So off to the nursery we went on Monday to pick up the plants... my poor family! We loaded the mini-van (yes I said mini-van... I'm going to do an entire post on my cute mini-van for all of you that make fun of me... SO!!!) with plants and trees and flowers and off we went to my house while Jon took off in the other direction for work... did I mention my husband was genius? Yes, he went to work while all his plants were getting planted! My dad hooked up the drip system and the girls went to work digging and planting and picking weeds (thanks Heather and Sadie who happen to be the best weed pickers EVER!). The kids were pretty good, letting us get our work done, and did I mention that I now have 2 palm trees in my backyard? I'm so happy! On Wednesday we went swimming at the Marriott with Jen, Ryan, Maddie, Michael, Michelle, Nick and Drew, along with the Jones clan... it was great to be out enjoying the sun... I love vitamin D! Bella also enjoyed swimming, it was her first time in her darling swimsuit out in the pool... she did a great job and enjoyed grandpa Jones. At one time he had her giggling harder than I have ever heard her before! Then on Friday the golfers went golfing (Jon, dad and mom) while the cool people hung out at the house! Actually, Heather and Sadie watched the kids for me so I could get some well deserved shopping in! On Saturday, my friend Sally Jensen called to invite me to a fun Easter egg hunt! It was so well put together, the kids and adults loved it! The breakfast food was awesome, there was cookie decorating, egg coloring, a park to play in, and the BIGGEST Easter egg hunt ever, thanks Sally, it was a blast! On Saturday night we went out to dinner and then to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant. It was incredible. I love Easter and it was a great reminder to me of why we celebrate this holiday. If you are ever in Arizona during the Easter Pageant, I recommend seeing it... it's great. On Sunday we celebrated Easter at Jen and Ryan's house and the food was delicious. I'm not confident in my cooking enough to host something like Easter dinner! Anyway, we had a great time with everyone and at 4:00 my parents headed home... wahhhhh!

So I think that covers most of my life during the last couple of weeks! It's been crazy but fun. Now I'm adjusting to having no family in town... well until tomorrow when Jon's mom, Jill, comes to hang out! And on Thursday Jon's other sister Angie will be here!!! Life is crazy, but I love all the visitors... please come, and if you come and don't tell me (BROOKE) then you are dead meat!

So conference was great, my kids were actually good and I was able to listen to a couple of great talks. I actually enjoy when the Ensign comes out so I can read about everything I missed. Even with good kids, there are so many distractions... like sleep! Jon and I really missed Gordon B. Hinckley this conference but I am assured that the mantle has been passed on to Thomas S. Monson. I'm so happy to have the gospel in my life... sometimes it's all I feel like I have, as I'm sure all of us do at times... WOW! Has this post been depressing? It's actually taken me 2 different sittings to finish it, I think I was in a chipper mood earlier, but to be honest with you, I went to go pick Brayden up from preschool and couldn't find my keys... lovely! I had to call a neighbor to go pick him up for me!!! Did I mention life is CARRRRAZY!!!!

PS... most longest and random blog post EVER! If you are still reading... well you are awesome!

PSS... somewhere during this time, Brayden had a field trip and rode a horse!...

PSSSSSSS... I didn't re-read this so sorry!!!