Tonight Cache was trying to "Wash his pretzels off in the bathtub."  
Translation:  Wash his freckles off in the bathtub.

This afternoon, we stopped at a gas station for a bathroom break and somehow I shut my finger in the door.

Because my finger was in the door, it was blocking a sensor and wouldn't unlock.  I wasn't sure if my finger was attached, because I couldn't feel it, Devin was frantic and  so was I.  Finally  he just opened the back door(to try and crawl in and force my door open) but when he opened the back door, it released my finger, Intact, only bruised.  Biggest scene I can remember making in public. Oh wow. We laughed so hard. The: "That was really scary, so glad it's over laugh."

 

I guess we needed that laugh, because today we watched dear friends bury their baby daughter.
The pain of this trial is incomprehensible to me.

They had an incredible peace about them, I'll never forget. We are so incredibly, grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
And the hope and promises that it brings.  

I'm sure they were bolstered up by angels today.

My mom always said COMMUNICATION is SOOO important in marriage...

So, since I'm already sorta leaning on the edge of inappropriateness with the gun picture, I thought I would just take it another step further and share the following story.

We walked in the door from the Gym 15 minutes before the missionaries were coming by to share a message.  So we played tag team, I started dishing up left over soup for supper(Thanks Becca boo!) while Devin hopped in the shower, then we switched.

After my lightning fast shower and dressing, I had the fans going and was doing the finishing touches in the mirror WHEN I hear:

"Amie are you going POOP?!!"

Instantly I was just annoyed. Devin has a fun habit of making a really big deal, comment about EVERY bodily function that occurs in this home, either by saying "Whoa!" or usually just by imitating to the best of his ability.  Nay toots every time she bends over, or her belly is poked, so this happens in our house constantly. And sometimes I think he is inmature.  Anway, yelling this across the house was still another level for him, so to give him a second chance I snapped back:

"WHAT?!!"

Devin: " Are you going POOP?"

Now I'm really annoyed, the windows in our house are OPEN, to help the dinner smell AND the missionaries were 2 minutes past due, so probably walking up our steps... I didn't know what to say to demonstrate to him how innapropriate I thought he was being so I just Yelled very meanly:

"Devin, It's NONE of you BUISNESS!"

 Then I hear him drop something and come stomping toward the door.  How dare he?  What If I was?  He is really coming to CHECK to see if I am?  And he opened the door to a very perturbed wife holding a bottle of mascara and giving him the death look.  We both stared each other down for a moment me with I'm gonna kill you look and Devin looking curiously amused  as he always is if I'm mad about something...(which usually makes me madder.)

"Amie Why is it NONE of my business if you want some SOUP or not?"

We laughed so hard when the mis communication was corrected we couldn't even stand up....

If I was a really good writer I could make some really neat analogy that would turn this gross, silly story into something very meaningful, but I'm not, and so we will just leave it what it is... a memory.  One of our biggest fights EVER, almost occurred over Poop and soup! 

"He who takes offense when offense was not intended is a FOOL."  
Brigham Young

And while I'm recording memories here are our latest slew of memories caught on camera... some weeks and months old.  I just took a blogging Hiatus of sorts I guess.

 Home made rocket ship.  Sky and Cache even loaded Nay up for the trip to the moon.

"Mom I gots all my weapons."

 These weapons are very important to Cache these days.  Bat phone, drumstick, broken plastic airplane, "whup"(whip),  And he ties them all on with the all important "Power belt."

I should never wonder why Cache and Naomi's favorite is hand's down their Daddy-yo.

This is Devin complete with Superman cape.  Flying to the moon.

                                                                                                  




Just a perfect way to spend the first sorta warm evening of the spring.  I could stare at a fire for hours.   


Plus Devin looks extra handsome in the light of a campfire.  At least I've always thought so:)

Nay and La La sitting on their fav
stoop with their blankies today.

Love these baby girls. When they see 
a the camera they always say: "CHEE!"
and tilt head and pose...

Cache being Cache.

Happy Birthday Sammy!  My baby bro is a teenager!

Love you, miss you.

get to know the Spratling in me

I have nothing to blog, but I just thought I would share this GEM of a  picture. Just for you to understand a li'l where I come from...  These are my younger siblings Christmas morning this past Christmas in Oregon.  They are modeling what Santa left in their stockings.
  Love Them. Yes even Ash will now be packin heat. Haha! No I'm sure my mom didn't let her take this with her back to college. So now when you think why is Amie so...awesome, crazy, backwards... whatever it is, maybe now you'll know why. 
In reality, my family is not a bunch of back wood hicks, although that would not offend my dad to be called that... They don't shoot everything that moves and have never shot supper from the kitchen window. Maybe the window of the farm truck... but never the house.  And my dad is very big on gun safety and responsibility.  He keeps them under lock and key and not displayed on the fireplace mantel. He made us all take hunter's safety at a young age. I just thought I would stir a few people up with this picture. Is this what Christmas morning looks like at your house? 

I wasn't going to go to church today.

I didn't feel super good this weekend, and Cache and Nay were up late(Eating late night Tamales at Marta's).  Devin has National Board reviews, so early morning church, alone with two tired crankies and a tummy ache... seemed a bit pointless to me.  When Cache and Nay are tired in church they don't sleep on my lap like others. They start throwing things: hymn books,toys, themselves and punches.  They were both born with an incredible right hook. 

 I felt good about my decision.

But inevitably this morning, as I lay in bed, happy with the out look of the day. In to my head popped the faces of several good friends, who are single moms.  They have many more responsibilities and children than I do, and they are always, always, at church. 

Darn you good examples.

I went to Church...

• In sacrament meeting I looked over and saw two bare feet.  After scolding: "Cache where are your boots? Where are your socks?  Cache shrugged his shoulders and pulled out an extra pair of underwear out of his pocket.  ??? I still don't know where his socks went. 
• Naomi got her head stuck in a chair and I couldn't get it out.  Nice accompaniment to the Young women singing: "Be still my soul."  Also a lovely bruise left on her head from trying to get her out.
•  Naomi layed down spread eagle in front of the door to the chapel as everyone was filing into the other wards sacrament meeting... very much in everyone's way.  But in her mind they were in her way and glared gave everyone the stinker face, and tried to kick or hit anyone that stepped over her.
• We spent the last two hours of church just roaming the halls, and trying to block out the ever lingering thought: "Why did I come to church today?" 
  
• Then Naomi pulled my skirt down to my knees....  I think the only person that might have saw was Trent.  OH well, we're sorta family right?  Not really.. we'll pretend. aaaah.  

I'm glad I went to church.  There is always, a hidden blessing.
The blessing from today is that in 20 years I remember days like today and enjoy 
sitting through quiet church that much more... 
actually I imagine I'll miss it.

Getting stuck places is becoming Naomi's new favorite pastime...

I think I need to invest in some more Vaseline.

         
                         Naptime...

So I've been a little anti-blog lately,and my family has began protesting and "gently reminding" me.

Here is a video for Grandma's to hold you over till I post again.

excuse my annoying mom voice...

 

Are You Watching?

We love the Olympics around here.

I have my parents to thank for that.  It was the only time in  15years they ever bought a new T.V, because we needed a better one for the olympics!  I don't know who Devin has to thank for it, but I will tell you one thing.  No tears came out of Devin's eyes on our wedding day or even on the day our children were born, I don't think( i was kinda into myself and new baby those days). The only times I can recall seeing Devin shed an emmotional  happy tear:  a highschool basketball game when a kid dunked it...  I look over and Devin is blinking and trying to not wipe his eyes, oh and one other time at of all things an amazing Jump rope competition, (those kids were incredible), AND finally during an Olympic commercial!? Something about watching people push human limits. I love seeing others succeed.   So even if no tears,

Are You Watching?! 

What me and my rain boots did today...

{Actually what  Cache, Naomi and I did while all wearing boots today...}

It's a snow Nay!

We built our little friend after
 supper. Thus the reason it is
 short, because it was dark
 and we were freezing! 
 Naomi kept throwing all her
 snow stuff off, so we just
 stuck it on our li'l friend and
 then realized the spitting
 image we had created. 

Then inside for "warm" chocolate. 

is your blog magic too?

I had a suprise on my front steps this morning...

(note previous post)

First thought: "Wow, my blog is magic!" Actually I thought: "NO way!"

Second thought: "I'm so embarassed someone bought me shoes that I posted. They probably felt bad for me.

Third thought: "oh well, I LOVE them!"

Fourth thought: "I can't believe this. Who would do this for me?"

I narrowed it down fast. Someone who knows my shoe size: my mom, sisters, or devin....(I've been told i'de make a good CIA agent.)

One phone call solved my mystery.

It was Devin.In the ballroom with the candle stick...jk.

And I ruined his valentine's surprise. (woops). My excuse: "I didn't even know we gave more than candy on Valentine's day!" He wanted me to put them away till Valentines day and pretend surprised... BUT I suggested a better idea might be that I just wear them every day UNTIL Valentine's day...

He agreed.

Cache took these pics. He even told me how to pose. He always asks if he can use my camera when I get it out. I tell him no, because it might break. But today I said: "Okay you want to take pictures of me in my boots?" It was really fun. I think he is pretty good for a 4 yr. old. Maybe picture taking will be one thing him and I have in common, since Devin and him have everything else in common.
I asked him: "Cache is my hair look good?"

Cache: "yah mom, it's really POKEY."

haha! It is true. Especially that left side. It's sticks out about a foot further than the right today.

Thank you Devin. I'm gonna make you an extra tastey supper.

Egg rolls?