We made a trip to Arizona and Nevada this summer.

Here are several pictures from Vegas,

The Grand Canyon, and The Hoover Dam.

It was an awesome experience, but a very long trip.

Yes, Erik and Mikayla are both standing knee deep in snow

in the summertime. We saw several snow drifts on our

way to the Grand Canyon.

Erik at the Hoover Dam

Ricky, Erik & Mikayla at the tour of the Hoover Dam.

Erik and Mikayla at one of the rooms on the tour of the Hoover Dam

Erik is in Nevada and Mikayla is in Arizona.

This is the roller coaster on top of the New York Casino

in Las Vegas, NV. It was very cool.

Erik & Mikayla with the Grand Canyon behind them. WOW!!!

This Donkey was at the point that we walked at the Grand Canyon.
It was Angel something.

This was Mikayla's favorite Christmas gift.

Meet Mikayla and her My Twinn doll.

They have the same freckles and birthmarks.

This was a really cool surprise from Santa.

This was Erik's favorite Christmas gift.

It is a Rip Stick. A skateboard with two wheels

rather than four. An interesting combination.

He was thrilled when he opened it.

This is the kids Christmas picture for 2007.

Mommy Tag

My friend filled out this survey on her blog and "tagged me." So, here are my answers:

1. How long have you been a Mom? 8 years and 6 months
2. How many kids call you mommy? 2
3. When you were pregnant did you know what you were having? Yes ~ well the Dr. said 99% sure anyway. He said he wouldn't tell me for sure until he was holding the baby in his hands.
4. How old were you when you became a mom? 22
5. How long were you in labor? With Erik I was in labor for 8 hours. I should have stayed home just a little bit longer (I was only dialated, barely, to a 4) With Mikayla I was in labor for 4 hours.
6. What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? All of their creative and unique ideas. They have such fresh little minds
7. What’s your least favorite thing? The discipline aspect of it all.
8. Do you want more kids? Nope ~ did I answer that too quickly. Two is a perfect number for Ricky and me.
9. Have you ever taken your kid(s) on a trip? Oh, yes. Texas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi (first time they saw the ocean), and the Bahamas.
10. How many times have you been peed on? Was I suppose to keep count?
11. How many times have you been barfed on? Too many.
12. Are your kids named after someone? Erik is Ricky Edward Woole III, so he is named after his Dad and Grandpa. Mikayla's middle name is Diana, like my Mom's, also Mikayla was one of my Mom's favorite names. (Dr. Quinn) I also like the name.
13. When is the last time you had a sitter? The first week of January. My parents watched the kids for a couple of days until school started back up. It was much appreciated.
14. When your kid gets in trouble, who is the bad guy? Typically, Ricky ~ not that I don't discipline; they just take him more serious ~ quicker.
15. What is the longest you have been away from your kid(s)? 7 days (Florida trip just Ricky and me)
16. Are your toes painted? Yes
17. Last movie you saw in theater? What is a theater? Oh, wait, I saw Charlie and The Chocolate Factory with a friend of mine.
18. One thing you will not give up just because you’re a mom: leisure reading
19. One thing you did give up now that you’re a mom? Some T.V. shows.
20. Favorite Cartoon: Okay, it's not my favorite, but it is on all the time ~ SpongeBob SquarePants
21. Favorite Snack: popcorn
22. When the kid(s) are napping, you are: what is a nap ~ those ended like 3 years ago.
23. Where is/are your kid(s) now? Mikayla is sitting here watching T.V., and Erik is in his room.
24. If I could do it over, I’d do this differently: I'll have to think about this one. Nothing is coming to mind right now.
25. What is a lesson you’ve learned as a parent? Let the small stuff go. Pick your fights wisely. There is not enough time in the day to fuss over every small little thing. Some things are just not worth the frustration for me or the kids or Ricky.