Sometimes I love Timehop!

Then, sometimes Timehop reminds me that I'm still fat.

Minivan Rule: No. 1

There are certain rules you must follow in order to successfully operate a minivan with four kids. 

Rule No. 1:

Always, and I mean ALWAYS, place your eldest child next to the baby.

This rule is never broken in our van.

Well, except this one time....

It just so happens to be the one time Ryker decided to pull all the poop out of his diaper.

And wipe it on his sister.

You see, had Rilyn been sitting there, I am positive she would of caught the poop monster before the started giving out facials, however, little-big sister, Raigen, doesn't usually pay that much attention to him in the van. 

But... something tells me I am not going to have to worry about that any more.

Rilyn: Swimming {2016}

This year the kids were full of firsts! 

Not only was it Raigen's first year playing softball and CJ's first year playing baseball, but it was also Rilyn's first year on the Livingston Lions Swim Team!

If you know Rilyn you know she is not in to sports. At all. 

She, however, is in to swimming. She absolutely loves to swim! And she is really good at it, too! I am so proud of her for trying something new! My not so sporty big girl is pretty darn sporty after all!

CJ: Baseball {2016}

It was this handsome dudes first year playing baseball and he had so much fun! I am so proud of all of his hard work this season! He loved every minute of it, too!

And of course, I had to end with a photo shoot!

Is he not the cutest baseball player you have ever seen?!

Raigen: Softball {2016}

We recently wrapped up Raigen's first year of Softball. What better way to wrap up the season, than with a photo-shoot! We were able to sneak out on the field before her last game to snap these!

I am so proud of this little lady, she did  awesome her first year, so awesome that she was even chosen for the All-Star Team! 

 Go Raigen!

Boat Parking Only!

When you are a Long, sarcasm and pranks become a part of you. You can never trust anyone. Ever.

Therefore, it is imperative that you keep your guard up.

Occasionally I forget.

And I also forget that I am raising little Josh and Roxies.

And sometimes they get me. 

Good.

Today we pulled in to a popular lake-side restaurant for lunch. Josh was working and it was one of the rare times I ventured to a restaurant with all four hyenas by myself.

In case you didn't know, it is literally, a thousand degrees right now in Texas so I was in luck when I spotted an open parking spot right near the door of this packed restaurant.

I order everyone out, grabbed the diaper bag, and proceed to the (what feels like) 16 clips and latches of the car seat to get the baby out, and as soon as I turn to herd them into the restaurant Rilyn brings to my attention, "Hey, Um... Mom.....This parking spot says 'RV Check-In Only'."

I glance at the writing on the pavement, and sure enough....

 I (who, BTW was already sweating like a cornered nun) may or may not cursed under my breath while ordering all the monkeys back in to the van. Then we proceeded to drive around the parking lot in search of a new spot. 

So, since we were starving and all, I settled for a spot near the water. Which is further than I ever park, but its all they had, we were starving, and the baby was getting irritated.

Once again, I ordered my crew out and one-by-one they climbed out as I gather the suitcase I call a diaper bag and just as I get the baby out, once again...

Rilyn: "Um, Mom, this parking spot says boats only."

This time I admittedly cursed aloud and ordered them once again, back into the van. 

And just as I plop down in the driver seat I catch a glimpse of Rilyn, covering her mouth, giggling. 

Uncontrollably.

And that's when it hit me. 

THEY DO NOT HAVE STUPID BOAT-ONLY PARKING AT THIS RESTAURANT!!!

That little heifer got me, good.

Raigen's Journal.

My little best, best, best, super-best friend wrote this in her journal.

My heart is full.

-Raigen 6 years old

P.S.

She has given me full permission to read her journal. She even brings it to me almost every night and we read it together. That's what best, best, best, super-best friends do, you know.