Sometimes the little things are the Best things EVER.....

There is nothing better than being able to Avoid Drama by using such a simple little thing...Caller ID. I can choose to answer and have a Great conversation with laughter OR simply ignore and save myself the heartache, stress, or the waste of my time. Isn't that what answering machines are for anyway...to take the unwanted calls?

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE to chat on the phone. Just ask any of my friends. I'm sure they on several occasions have used that simple little piece of joy to "ignore" me as well. We all have those moments. If you don't have Caller ID, call your phone company and get it. It's a MUST!

Now if only I could get that limo window put up in my Expedition. Then I could really drown out the DRAMA! lol

Now I remember why we only do family get together every so often...

It was a pretty crazy 18 hours here in the Bechtold house. The kids LOVED having Grandma Gail and Aunt Laura here...mom and dad....not so sure.

No matter how much one expresses how well you have to watch 6 kids, they still just don't/won't get it.

No, you can not leave glasses/soda cans just anywhere. They will be drank or dumped.

No....you can not just take a drive around the corner leaving a 2, 4, & 5 year old ALONE in the backyard. Not just any backyard, but we live in a Country Club which means on the golf course, with the fences that kids can WALK RIGHT THROUGH!
Especially when there is a big lake on said golf course and a pond right against the neighboring fence and yours. *You are not Allowed Privacy Fences except for 3/4 of your side fence.* (I'll find a pic to show what I'm talking about)

No...it is not a good idea to leave the 8 yr old in charge of the kids while you leave to drop off your 52 yr old DAUGHTER around the corner so her friend can pick her up. (Why said friend couldn't come into the country club to pick up Aunt Laura...we have no idea) Then to have the 8 yr old sitting in front of the door to make sure that the younger kids don't go out the front door. Yep...they left the front door unlocked. (we have a double deadbolt for a reason)

When somebody tells you that they do not wish to hear about the details of a very sad and tragic story (which we heard about when it happened) involving a young girl, her mother, and somebody who broke in and was waiting in their apt. PLEASE LISTEN! I have enough Anxieties of the safety of my kids. (and like posted above leave my kids alone the next morning with an unlocked door)

And people thought mama bears were protective. I have never been more in AWE, shocked, and PROUD of my husband when he let his mother have it for actually doing the things above and putting our kids lives in jeopardy. I will say she was so remorseful and apologized over and over again. Which we accepted.

While I know that Grandma Gail and Aunt Laura Love these kids deeply...I can now answer the question that was asked of me in the Grocery store by Aunt Laura. NO if you lived closer I would NOT TRUST you to watch my kids. I trust very few and those few know who they are. There's a reason that Brad and I don't go on many date nights. Having 6 kids, 8 and under is not easy and that's coming from somebody who birthed and is raising them. Would I love more children... you betcha, but if we did....I'm starting to think Date Night may just be have to be in the Backyard. Hahaha.....

My little man is trying to crawl.

Here he is. I will have to get some video of it as well.

Mommy and me date....

So Brad and I have been talking lately and decided that the older girls and I need to start spending some more one on one time together. So today Aly and I went to breakfast together, then to Barnes and Noble, and then to get mani/pedi's together.

Wow....it was such a BLAST! I never knew what a Great conversation that an 8 year old and I could have over breakfast and how much more I could learn about her. Or how much fun it is to skim all the books in the book store and giggle at pictures. Not to mention going over colors and talking about how fun and relaxing it was to get our nails done together. I can't wait till next weekend to do it again. Next up is Kayla!

She has so far requested Breakfast and will let me know what else sounds like fun. I can totally see this one telling me the batting cages or something like that, and let me tell you...I would love that as well. =)

Vertical Gardening.....

We decided to do something different this year with the Tomatoes, Peppers, and Strawberries. The tubes are filled with 600 strawberries, and the buckets have 4 tomato plants each. We are working on a pepper bucket. Those pics will have to come soon. For now...here's part of our vertical garden:

Spring Cuteness...

Noah playing out on the deck while the girls played on the grass.



It was so nice and hot out, we let the kiddies play in the sprinklers. And yes...they are wearing bathing suits under those shirts. Just trying to keep the sun off those shoulders. =)

Happy 2nd Birthday Sierra!!!

Little Miss Sierra is 2! My baby girl is so BIG! I can't believe 2 years have gone so quickly.