BIG NEWS!!!

I'm in love! I met a guy and he's handsome and sweet and we have a lot in common. He's amazing! I met him when I was at the park...

It was a particularly boring Saturday at our house, so I decided to ride my scooter (it's cute AND eco-friendly!) to the park.

I was just enjoying the beautiful day when this cute redhead came up and started talking to me.

His name is Ryder Hoffman-Clark and he just moved into town with his parents. He recognized me from seeing me at school.

We have so much in common! He's family-oriented too! I know it sounds weird...talking about having children to a person I just met, but he brought it up. I was talking about my siblings and he was all like, "That must be great...I wish I had a brother or sister...I want to have a big family when I grow up." So I agreed.

I started flirting with him, but he was so shy!

I kept coaxing him and he kept pulling further and further away...Ugh! I was starting to get really frustrated.

So I basically just asked him, "Look dude, I really like you...I think you're super cute...do you like me or not?" He told me he had never had a girlfriend...and he had never even kissed a girl. His parents were kind of strict and never let him date.

That was no problem with me. I had never kissed anyone either...but from what I have seen on TV and heard about from my older siblings, there's really nothing to it. So I was just like, "This can be a learning experience for both of us, right?" I really hoped he would be receptive...I mean, I just completely put myself out there...I'm not really sure why either...it just felt right.

He looked at me with his big eyes with so much sincerity. I was falling fast.

So I flirted with him a little bit more and he was a lot more receptive.

So basically I just went for it...I leaned in, closed my eyes and puckered...and somehow our lips found each other...it was magical. It was wonderful...just like the movies. I swear, I think I'm in love.

I couldn't help but caress his cheek. He definitely liked that. *Swoon!*

So I did the unthinkable...I had just met this dude and I was asking him to be my boyfriend. Can you tell how nervous I was? I know it sounds crazy, but I really REALLY like this guy!

Then he gave me another kiss...this one was better than the last one! Whoa baby! It reminded me of that song, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" by Thompson Square..."It was the best dang kiss that I ever had, except for that long one after that..." Hehe...

That continued for awhile...

Then we hung out in the park all day. It was just like the movies you guys...we even frolicked through the grass! It wasn't quite a meadow...but still...

Then we got to talking again and he told me he would really like to meet my sister and the rest of my family...

I told him my mom would love to meet him, so I invited him to our house for dinner.

Okay, this is the one thing that sucks. Apparently his parents have money and he drives a smoggy, gas-guzzling sports car. Ugh...

I got home and ran into my mom's arms...and cried a little bit because I had to ride in a car (ok, I'm kind of whiny, so sue me!)...but then I told her about Ryder.

Everyone was kind of surprised. I get it. I leave for the day to hang out at the park and come home with a boyfriend! I can hardly believe it myself...but that's how it happened for me. This picture cracks me up...Gracie has this "brown chicken brown cow" look on her face and Garrett is like, WTH?

But...my eternally cool mom runs to the kitchen to whip up mine AND Ryder's favorite meal...Autumn Salad! Yay! I don't think he's a vegetarian, but at least we like some of the same foods.

When we sat down for dinner, he fit right in...he was talking about working out and Payton, Garrett and I were listening to him...Mom was reading a book and Mason was talking to Aunt Shea about fishing of all things, but that's ok. He didn't seem to mind.

Then he did the sweetest thing...he went up to my mom and was like, "I know this is all happening so fast, but your daughter is so special. I really hope it's okay with you that we are exclusive." *Swoon, swoon, double swoon* How freaking adorable is that?

Of course, my mom told him she would be more than happy to allow us to go out, but she had to go and mention that if he broke my heart, I have brothers...and a twin sister that could probably very easily kick his ass....Great mom, great. Ugh! Thankfully he laughed...but then he did the strangest thing.

He asked for my mom's autograph. He said his mom was a huge fan of her books and she would flip out if she knew he got to meet her. Hmm, I guess that's a good thing...already have an in just being the daughter of a famous author! Sweet!

This picture isn't crucial to the story, but it fully depicts how absolutely gorgeous Ryder is! *MORE SWOONING!!!*

After dinner Mom let us go hang out and we cuddled in the hot tub...and we JUST cuddled, dirty minds!

Okay, maybe not JUST cuddled...but just cuddled and kissed...we just keep getting better and better at that!

Right after Ryder left, my older sister, Kayla came over. When she wasn't talking about painting, she was pumping me for info about Ryder...I think Mom put her up to it. I assured her that I wasn't keeping anything from anyone.

So that's my big news! I'll keep everyone posted!

Busy, Crazy, and Structured

It's been awhile since I've written anything, but I've been busy! I have so much to tell you! Ok...so...since it's been so long...first off...I'm an auntie! Eek!

My brother, Keaton and Evie had a little baby girl! She is the cutest little thing ever! She looks exactly like Keaton (hopefully minus the big nose), and she has Evie's gorgeous green eyes!

Isn't she beautiful? Her name is Brandy. She's gorgeous and everyone loves her, but I heard Mom and Aunt Shea joking about what kind of gene pool they must have been dipping out of when they picked Evie's father...red hair, green eyes, dark skin with a red tint...now a pasty white blonde baby. Yeah, have you seen my mother? I think I know where the pasty white gene comes from...but anyway...

Leo aged into a toddler as well. Isn't he so cute? Being family oriented, I spend a lot of time with him.

I love Leo so much! Well, Mom and I get into arguments all the time because I want to spend as much time with Leo as I can, but she is a major perfectionist about her morning routine...I know it like the back of my hand...because if any of us interfere with it, we're stuck finishing it out. So...

My Mom's Toddler Routine

1) As soon as the toddler wakes up, get them out of the crib and put them in their high chair and feed them their breakfast.

2) When they're done eating, pick them up and change their diaper.

3) Then, change them into their everyday clothes.

4) Then give them two forms of social interaction...snuggle, chat, tickle, toss in the air, whatever.

Isn't Leo so freakin' cute? Anyway...

5) If they have to learn how to talk or walk, go ahead and teach them after the other morning stuff.

At that point, she just lets the toddlers play until lunch time. Sometimes she plays with them, but most of the time she and Aunt Shea write.

They make sure and work on something every day in order to keep up with the bills. They're not really workaholics, but they may as well be. I guess I shouldn't complain though. I have never really wanted for anything and I've never heard either Mom or Aunt Shea talking about not being able to afford something...but I have very frequently heard them lecture all of us about the importance of living within our means, making our own money, the importance of hard work ...blah, blah, yak, yak...

Like I mentioned before, once we get home from school, Mom and Aunt Shea make us work on our homework right away...

Payton and I have a hard time focusing on homework when we're both at the table, so Mom made me sit on the floor...

After we finish our homework, the next structured family event is dinner.

I use the term "structured" loosely...my mother certainly tries, but there is very rarely anything very structured with our family.

Then after dinner, we all help by cleaning up.

After dinner, we all go to our respective hobbies. Garrett and Gracie generally either watch TV or play outside...

I play on the computer or help take care of Leo...

Payton works out...

Mason plays an instrument of some sort...we just LOVE it when he plays the drums...he's a good musician, but dang!

Mom hugs EVERYBODY...she's like a drive-by hugger...

Then, Mom & Aunt Shea were aging into elders...

Mom still looks kind of young, even though she looks like she's frowning in this picture...I would say this picture is evidence that there is a little touch of red hair in the family, but the only hair color visible in this picture came out of a bottle...

Aunt Shea also looks good for her age...the only wrinkles she has are on her forehead...she says there are four of them...one for each time after the first time that mom decided to have another baby. Har, har, har. She jokes, but I know she loves us. Growing up in our family, you have to have thick skin...sarcasm is used very frequently.

Garrett & Gracie entered into their teen years...

Garrett is handsome and skinny as a rail...he's also really helpful with Leo...even though he and Mom have gotten into it because he always wants to wake Leo up and not adhere to Mom's schedule.

Mom looks like she's ready to bite his head off...she's not much of a morning person.

Gracie grew up to be a bit pudgy, but she's still gorgeous. I think she looks like that singer, Adele.

Payton talked Gracie into working out with her...

Gracie agreed, even though she struggled to keep up with Payton....

It actually paid off because Gracie lost a bunch of weight...

As for me, I just keep trying to be as much of a help as I can be...

I take care of Leo...we're really close...he loves his big sissy!

I've also taken it upon myself to start learning how to fix things around the house to make it a little easier on Mom & Aunt Shea.

Oh, and Kayla FINALLY got married...here's a picture of her husband...

He's pretty good looking, I must admit...

Also, Evie is pregnant with her and Keaton's second child! Yay! I love being an auntie!

So yeah, that's pretty much it for now...