I get my boxer shorts at Kmart in Cincinnati - We're not going back to Cincinnati, Ray

I'm what I like to call a creature of habit. My husband calls me obsessive compulsive. Tom-A-to, Tom-ah-to. So what if I check each window in the house to make sure it's shut and locked at night. So what if I check each door in my house a minimum of 3 times each night before bed to be sure they're all locked. I also unplug things at night and I check the stove and oven to be sure they're not left on to reduce the chance of a house fire. I think that's perfectly reasonable.

And who's to say that brushing my hair in a certain pattern and a specified number of times each time it's wet isn't totally rational. That's normal, right? And washing it in the same pattern with the same number of scrubs and rinses is totally rational as well.

Doesn't everyone check on their kids before they go to sleep at night and put their hands on the kids' chest to make sure it moves up and down properly for at least 2 breaths? Everyone does that, right?

Listen, I'm a numbers person. Always have been, always will be. When I was in high school, I used to memorize friend's phone numbers by making up equations using the digits. Like Emily's number was 3861 and I learned it by this 3 - 8 + 6 - 1 = 0. Or Natalie's was 4836 and I remembered it because 4 is half of 8 and 3 is half of 6. That's normal, right? (PS, where we lived you only had to dial the last 4 numbers - yeah, small town USA)

So I ask you - creature of habit or obsessive compulsive - you be the judge.

Handy Manny

Ok, so not Handy Manny from the Disney Channel, but I do have a Handy Hubby so that's about the same thing, right? And mine doesn't talk to his tools, so I think I'm actually better off this way.

Anywho, a couple of weekends ago I was in Utah (yes, again) for our annual Day Girls Retreat (more pics to come) and while I was away, Toby replaced our sink, faucet, countertops, and put in a beautiful glass mosaic tile backsplash - with the help of Kenlynne & her family, of course. Where ever would we be without them? (Sigh)

Here's what our kitchen looked like before. You can't tell in this picture, but the countertops were ugly, the sink was a white porcelain disaster, and you can see the backsplash is just painted.

After - sort of the same angle, but more of the island in this pic

The section featuring the new (and MUCH improved) stainless steel sink & faucet - doesn't the glass tile backsplash look awesome?

And the other side of the finished kitchen. Seriously, how much better does it look?!

Decoration Day - better late than never

Audrey and I were able to go to Utah for Memorial Day (Decoration Day) weekend. I LOVE Memorial Day! I love going to the cemeteries and putting flowers on the graves. We always end up hearing some story we've never heard before about one of our loved ones. Memorial Day was super important to my Grandma Day and she drilled it into all of us that it should be a special day. She would roll over in her grave if we didn't "do graves" over Memorial day weekend.

My Aunt Afton & Uncle Sherm were in town from Georgia. They are SO fun and I love to see them and my Aunt Louann & Uncle George. We had a BBQ at my mom's house with my brother's family, my aunts & uncles and my cousins, Sara & Jodie and their kids. It was so fun to see everyone!

My best friend from high school, Emily B, went thru the Temple over the weekend so I was able to go to that as well. Most of my good friends from high school were there and we all went to dinner and then went to Emily's and stayed up until 5:30 am talking. It was SO much fun!

Me, Kelli, Candice, Brooke, Emily B, Natalie - excuse us if we look hungover - it was about 3 am when this pic was taken (can you tell I was always the odd one out being the only brunette) we all cheered together at good ol' Manti High School
Audrey is usually so happy that I had to post a pic of her being grumpy to prove it actually happens from time to time.
Future Cheerleader - can't you see it?
My Grandma & Grandpa Day LOVED to golf. Each year my brother glues a pink & white golf ball to tees and puts them by their graves instead of flowers. It looks nice and it just fits them so well. This is Steve's fam by the grave & golf balls.
Like any self-respecting 5 year old, my nephew Brayden was enthralled with the goat poop at the farm.
This will shock anyone who knows my mother - she rode George's Harley.

My mom and dad with Audrey at the farm
Me and my FAVORITE brother, Steve. I considered posting the pic we took where he looks like Popeye, but he is my brother and I'd risk a killer wedgie at some point in the future.
My mom, LuAnn with my dad's sister, Louann

My dad with his brother & sister, Sherm & Louann

My mom and dad with my dad's brother, Sherm and his wife Afton and with my dad's small sister, Louann and her husband George. Incidentally the photo was taken right by my dad's older sister Shirlene's grave.
This is my cousin Sara's little girl - she is so adorable!
We stopped at George & Louann's farm to feed the baby goats. They were so cute!

Feeding the goats
At one cemetery she was mesmerized by the pinwheel

She loved this little flag at the other cemetery

Audrey & my nephew, Kian - cute little people!

Happy Family

My sister probably won't like this post (since it has the stench of perfection), but we just had our family pics taken by an awesome photographer that lives in our ward. Here are just a few of them. Thanks Jill!

Doesn't he look like a smartie pants?

Toby will be mortified that I posted this one.

Audrey was a huge grumpopotomus all morning long.

Still adorable though!

The only hint of a smile we could capture

So serious - she gets the scowl from her father Our happy family
Another hint at a smile - both of our kids got my blue eyes
Such a good big brother!
They really are little buddies - I love it!
Our dude
Seriously, look at those blue eyes!
Again, mortification - I'll hear about it later.
Handsome father & son

Warning: It's a mommy blog

I try to keep general mommy blogs to a minimum. But I feel like it's been a while since I put any pictures up so you'll just have to bear with me on this digital timeline of the last few months.

Toby & his family @ Arches in March

An Arch

Audrey spent most of the Arches trip trapped in this backpack - luckily she learned to nap in it as seen here

No Ryans were harmed in the taking of this photo

Toby & Audrey hiking

Toby & Tysen with an arch in the background

While I know it's hard to believe, my offspring consume veggies

Tysen lost his first upper tooth. He's lost 4 of the bottom ones, but the top ones are always so much more noticeable

Audrey loves to antagonize the dog

Audrey was "mopping" and Bonzai kept trying to bite the mop - she thought it was hysterical

Apparently Tysen's water jug looked more enticing than her small sippy cup at the soccer game

Tysen's playing soccer again this spring - he's on a different team, but they're still blue & white

Tysen & Coach Ryan

Look closely and you'll see my super-cute red extensions in my hair. So fun! (P.S. I'm aware I'm not 18 anymore and that it's not 1984)

My mom and dad have been here visiting - here's Tysen with his buddy Grandpa Day

Me & My Mom - love her!