Summer begins...

Summer has begun!

The first day of summer, or weekend of summer, was spent with my husband. We had a blast... it was so nice just the two of us. The kids were in Texas visiting with my grandfather. They had a lot of fun. Colby's schedule just changed, he now works days and gets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thrusdays off, it has a been an adjustment, but I think it is going to be perfect. We have spent a lot of time together, time that we have lost in the last couple of years with what life has brought us. I am definitely not complaining, life has been really good to us lately, or should I say the Lord has been really good to us. When the kids came back, we went to a couple of movies and went on bike rides every night.

Taylor on her bike.


Me posing of course on my bike.

It was awesome. This last week, we went to Woods Canyon Lake. That was a lot of fun. It was like out of the movies, it was so perfect. There was a couple of times where I felt like I needed to pinch myself. I took two naps! I am really enjoying our family and the age of my kids.


Bub at Woods Canyon Lake.

We went on bike rides, rented a boat, and did some "fishing", if that is what you want to call it.
All in all we had a lot of fun! It has been a great start to a long and restful summer...


My Husband, Officer Holt. (I love saying that :)


Kennedy enjoying her bike ride!


Marley does her "trick", isn't she so cute?


Our Family Flag... we have some more stuff to add since the last time we used it two years ago!

Twins turn 10...

Yes, you read that correctly, they are ten! Can you believe it? I can't and I am the one that gave birth to them! They are such a blessing to our family... they are two of the most loving children that I know. Colby has really grown up now that he is the "man" of the house (his father keeps reminding him of that). He is always worried about me and does anything to make my day easier. Taylor is a minnie me, so of course she is a delight! I love these two so much and can't imagine my life without them. I feel so blessed to be their mom.

take me out to the ball game...

Little Colby up to bat.

Playing 3rd... minutes before walking off the field.

Okay, so some people just don't get the Holts... come spring time, our lives are centered around baseball, professional and little league. Little Colby has been on two leagues this season, and being a "single mother" has had its challenges. But he has really grown up a lot and he has been playing on the major division in Laveen. Being the youngest on the team has been interesting, but Colby has been doing a really good job proving to people that he belongs with the older boys. It might have something to do with the fact that Colby has been playing ball all year round since he was 3. Yesterday, he played in a tournament at St. Agnes. His team placed second (poor coaching) and I realized that my son inherited my husband's temperment. He was so mad at his coach that he called a time out, walked off the field, threw his hat and glove in the dug out, and was close to tears. Of course it had something to do with the fact that he woke up @ 6am after playing the night before until 10 pm, played 4 back to back games that started at 8 am and it was now 4:30pm (no break, he ate pizza in between innings), and the temperature was 90 degrees. He was toast! But I am NOT going to give him an excuse, he was totally out of line and was showing NO sportsmanship... when I walked back from seeing what was wrong with him, my husband asked, "What was wrong?" I simply replied, "You, he is you!" Some people might avoid putting this story on their blog, but I am not... the Holt kids are not perfect and I am not going to pretend that they are! I wanted to beat him in front of everyone for his poor attitude, but thought that might be a little more embarassing! This morning it's funny, but yesterday it was not. The worst part is, I didn't think they would get that far in the tournament so I didn't put sun screen on, oh my goodness! You should see me, I look like a tomato! Anyway, long story short, we got in the car and I looked in the back seat to yell at him (or "talk" to him rather) about sportsmanship and the kid was asleep! What can I say, I might have walked off and made a scene had I been playing baseball all day and I was watching my coach make poor decisions that were costing us the game too! Maybe he gets it from me!
Okay, so now the professional baseball... my parents are season ticket holders for the Diamondbacks! Woot! Woot! So our lives this summer will be consumed of sunflower seeds, noon games, water bottles, cheering crowds, nooners (from the Duck and Decanter, a sandwich shop people!), the old man that sits in front of us, and of course fireworks. Bring it on! I am ready for my summer centered around the Diamondbacks! Let's go D-Backs, let's go!

Alice...

Kennedy was in the"Alice in Wonderland" play at her school. She was just awesome! The play was awesome and all of the kids did a wonderful job. As I watched her act in front of all those people, I was so impressed how calm and confident she was. She truly made me proud. I am so grateful for her, even though at times she and I battle, she is going to be a strong young woman. I am so grateful that she has the opportunity to attend such an amazing school. There are so many different opportunities that are going to come her way and I know with out a doubt she is going to make history!

Blessed.

I have been very reflective the last couple of weeks and trying to pay close attention to how blessed I am. I don't really need to go in great detail, but it feels really good to know that my Heavenly Father looks out for me and my family. We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. We never get to go to church with my parents, so we joined them in Vineyard Ward for Easter Sunday. It was nice and worked out great since I didn't have to teach the Young Women on Sunday. I am so grateful for my family and their examples to me. Well anyway, 5 1/2 weeks left... do you know what I am talking about???????

Is it summer yet?

As I have always been taught that trials only make us stronger, I find myself afraid to ask the question, "How much more?" I am afraid because I don't feel like I can handle much more. In the last year, every time I "survive" a tough time, right around the corner seems like another one just waiting. I don't want to sound like I am complaining (but I am) and I know that everyone has their own battles that they are fighting, but when is the stress going to be lifted from me? I said something today to a friend of mine, I said, "Sometimes I wish I could just go back to my life as a stay at home mom. Things were simple, life was easy, I had less stress." Hopefully I am not offending anyone out there, but I do yearn for those days when all I stressed about was what I was making for dinner, getting the laundry done, paying the bills, finishing my crafts, getting kids ready for school, taking care of kids, walking in the mornings with Lucinda, mopping twice a week, deep clean, magnify my calling, taking kids to baseball and dance, and grocery shopping. Now I get to still stress out about all of those things above, plus work full time which requires me to leave my house at 6:30 in the morning and returning at 5:00 on a good day. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to stay at home with my children for 8 years, but life is ever changing... now I get to be grateful that I have been blessed with the opportunity to get an education, work (with so many out of a job, I hate to say that I am not grateful for mine:) and to have a job that allows me to still spend time with my kids. I am getting to a place now where I am ready for summer I guess... teaching is like being pregnant, at first I get so excited about what to look forward too, new kids, new year, and by the end of the nine months I just want it to be over with. AIMS is next week, and things just get really stressful around campus. I just have to let it go...

Train Tracks...

Colby finally gets braces! Here are so funny photos that I took of him today... I have never kissed a boy with braces before... we are going to be like two teenagers because I get mine put on this summer! Craziness!