SO BUSY... YET SO FUN!

(Warning:  This is a long post - so much to talk about: Spring, Dates, Basketball, Broadcasts from Utah, California, Germany and Books!)

It's SPRING!  I LOVE Spring!  And Monday was GORGEOUS - so we went walking with friends at Beckley Park (aka. the Egg Lawn)!

These crazy kiddos were walking backwards...?!

Maple, Kotten Kandy and Taffy

Little Jelly Bean loves his Kotten Kandy!

Kotten Kandy also decided to take a short break from school work on Tuesday and draw a beautiful Spring day... Isn't it pretty?!

Wednesday, Scott and I found ourselves kidless.  (Kotten Kandy was at work and Fig Newton went to California for a week with friends.)  So Scott and I celebrated by eating out at Texas Roadhouse and visiting about being "empty nesters."  We also spent time at Lowe's dreaming and pricing things we need to make our home better!  It's a strange stage of life we are in right now.  But at least I get to experience it with my best friend.  Scott is patient, passionate, dedicated, humorous and truly amazing!  I'm blessed!  And it's fun to hang out with him and spend time with him!  I love him!

Friday night we went on a double date.  It was the highlight of my week!  I was sooooooooo excited to see the movie Beauty and the Beast.  It was great!  I loved it!  I love musicals, Disney and romantic stories!  Soooo - was there any question I would like it?!  After the movie we ate dinner at The Blaze - Pizza and then played Compatability.  (It's a fun, silly game - but does it mean anything that Scott and I always lose?!)

Double Dating with your daughter and Taffy was super fun!

Taffy, Kotten Kandy, Me and Scott

My cute, eternal date!

Saturday was Kotten Kandy's basketball game.  They played against our good friends in Lagrange.  So it was hard to just cheer for Shelbyville....  We decided we were equal opportunity cheerleaders and hecklers!  :-)  Kotten Kandy loves playing basketball - but she is embarrassed that she turns so red when she plays.  (I actually think it's kinda cute!)

"Mom?!  Really?!  How embarrassing!"

Fast Break!  Yeah, that's my daughter!

And she really hustles!

She likes defense best!

She shoots!  She scores!  Way to go, Kotten Kandy!

The team!  Thanks, Ryan, for being an awesome coach!

Playing with besties is the best!

Apple Jacks, Kotten Kandy, Guarana, Rice Krispie and Chex

And after the games these cute girls worked hard, played hard and built lasting friendships!

I love these girls!

Sweet Tarts, Rice Krispie, Kotten Kandy and Maple

And Saturday night is one of my favorite semi-annual traditions - the General Women's Broadcast!  And Chinese food before hand!  And best friends!  And learning/listening to our prophets and leaders!  Who could ask for anything more?!  (My favorite speaker was Sister Canton.  Kotten Kandy liked Sister McConkie and Key Lime Pie [who watched it in Colorado with her grandma and aunt] liked Sister Burton! - Isn't that amazing that there is something for everyone in the Church?!)

YUM!  (The egg drop soup really hit the spot for me tonight!)

These two couldn't stop laughing...

especially when Kotten Kandy hiccuped like a drunk.

Waiting for conference to start in 1 minute....

We all took tons of notes and enjoyed spending time with our daughters!

We really missed Kiara Lea!  Mil and G.J. are so lucky to have her!

I just finished re-reading Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.  It was way better the second time...  I was able to get so much more out of it.  And like the first book in the series I had forgotten a lot and was able to re-remember why these books are some of my all time favorites!  I'll probably re-read them again and again in the future!  

And I finished reading Letters for Emily by Camron Wright.  I really like this author.  He also wrote The Rent Collector and The Orphan Keeper.  Letters for Emily was sweet.  It was short.  But it was full of good advice and stories.  I definitely recommend it.

So Fig Newton is in California with a few of her Thai friends.   She's gone to Universal Studios and Disneyland.  She has had soooo much fun!  YAY that she sent me pictures to share:

And here's a bit from our German daughter...  We really miss our Lollipop!:

Hello everyone,
I know it's been waaaay to long and I miss you so much. I will try my best to keep you updated more often. Anyway the reason I've been so busy is, that I got a scholarship. Basically what I do now is to study at a University Campus besides school. I'm in first semester Business Administration. Next week I'll attend a seminar on psychology from an economic perspective. I sometimes feel like I'm studying to much as classes are also during weekends. But I have a couple of things to look forward to. My birthday is in roughly two months and I'll be flying to Rome. It's not my first time in Italy but I'll see the capital for the first time. I have to think about my Colorado Grandparents whenever I'm  looking at pictures of the beautiful city. As you can see my weeks and the holidays are packed but I still need to fit classes for my drivers license in. Today is my first Saturday off in weeks and I will go out with friends to enjoy the weather that's been clearing up lately a little. I'm glad I can be part of you life while reading in sunshine sentiments. But is there anything else going on in your life's right now? Maybe we can skype soon.
Love and miss you

AS TIME GOES BY... IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED

A lot of little memories this week:
Selfies with Kotten Kandy:

St. Paddy's Day:

I made homemade green rolls, and green wild-rice soup!

It was delish!

We all wore green!  (Thanks to the Jets for Fig Newton and Scott's green jerseys!)

Apparently I didn't teach my eldest daughter well... She forgot to wear green.

But I'm grateful someone from work helped her out!

Key Lime Pie got to see/listen to Elder Holland in person!  She created this meme with a quote by him:

She was really on a spiritual high afterwards!

And Kotten Kandy needed to charge her phone at church.  So she decided the bathroom would be the perfect place to do so?!  Here's proof with a bathroom selfie (I thought I'd taught my daughter better than that!  JK!):

And Scott, Kotten Kandy and I played Puerto Rico tonight to unwind.  Scott is sick.  And we decided to cheer him up with a lively strategy game - of course, we let him win since he wasn't feeling well.  Right, Kotten Kandy?!

A WEEKEND (plus Monday) IN THE LIFE OF THE DeGOOYERS

Key Lime Pie got to go to a RS Activity and listen to one of my favorite people.  I always thought Connie Kelly was an amazing woman!  She is a professional speaker and I wanted to emulate her.  (Although I never did "do" that dream....)  Kiara learned a lot from her - about organization!  She also took a class about journaling!  I'm glad my daughter is learning from such wonderful women!

Kiara and Connie

Soooo... I love my house!  And spring time makes it beautiful!  Check out the gorgeous tree out front:

My House

My Tree

And we went to the temple on Friday (just Scott, Kotten Kandy, Amy and I)....  What a wonderful place to be!  And then Qdoba afterwards!  YUM!

Kotten Kandy, Amy, Raisin, Mark, Me and Scott

And look at this beautiful Thai dinner Fig Newton ate:  (I think the flower was my favorite part!  I want flowers served with my food from now on!)

Sunday we had our monthly gospel discussion!  And this time, we got to share it with the Melansons too!  They came to visit us from Colorado!  (Actually, they came to visit their grandsons, but we'll take it - since we love them!)  We love being with them!  They even stayed with us!  (Yay!)

Scott, Dave and Hammond discussing repentance.

Kotten Kandy, Amy, Raisin and Mark contributing

to the discussion on applying the Atonement.

These cute kids enjoyed the BBQ and playing together!

And Juice is getting so good on the piano!

Cookie Cake by Amy!

YUMMMMMM!

Nuts, Fig Newton, Kotten Kandy, Apple Pie, Amy and Raisin

And then there is our entertainment!  Scott and Raisin dancing:

Kiara got to have her own gospel discussion with my family in Colorado!  Isn't the gospel wonderful!?  I love these cute kids who also participated 24 hours away:

Shaved Ice and Shortbread

Key Lime Pie

And then... Kotten Kandy went on a date to see Lego Batman... with these cute boys:

Kotten Kandy, Jelly Bean and Apple Pie

ALFALFA AND GOOSE GIRL

Sooo... according to my daughter, I collect kids!  I do enjoy "adopting" and/or "kidnapping" my friends' children often!  I've never had a kid ask to be "adopted" on my blog... until now!  Meet Alfalfa!  He's friends with Kotten Kandy, Key Lime Pie and Taffy.  And wants to be a part of our crazy, weird group!

Alfalfa

I also finished re-reading The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale two days ago.  I had forgotten how wonderful this book is!  This great story has many twists and turns throughout.  Themes like loss, courage and love are weaved throughout this wonderful, magical book.  This book is amazing.  It made me laugh.  It made me cry.  I DEFINITELY recommend this book.  It's a perfectly told fairy tale!

FAMILY OF 6 - AND CRAZY TEENAGERS

This week was super fun!  We love being a BIG family!  And Teresa and Tony shared their sweet kids with us so we could have lots more crazy fun being six!  I made us take a "family" picture after church!

Sweet Tarts, Almond Joy, Me, Scott, Kotten Kandy and Fig Newton

We had a lot of fun with our extra kids.  We went to Taffy's basketball tournament.  He played really well and we enjoyed cheering him on!  (Maple played too.  And we loved screaming for her as well!)

Taffy is in red...

Taffy's cheering section!

He played well!  And they won two games!

And on Monday the teenagers had fun taking pictures and being silly... I got to be "one of the girls" for one shot:

Love these great girls!

Fig Newton, Sweet Tarts, Kotten Kandy

Kotten Kandy and Sweet Tarts with Maple

These crazy kids decided to take pics at a photo booth....

And this little girl makes me smile ALL the time!  I love this little cubby hole in my entertainment center... because it "fits" her so well:

Amy and Mark make cute kids!

Raisin

And Sheila sent me this cute picture when they went to go see a movie... and saw this adorable employee:

Working Girl

And after reprimanding my oldest daughter about never sending me pictures, she sent me ONE:

She's so wonderful!  And she's doing well.  She is starting her application process for BYUI, but is pretty much planning on attending in the fall.  She seems happy!  And is working hard at the dentist office and with Pathway.  I'm pretty proud of that girl of mine!

Key Lime Pie

I never take selfies.... Scott said he wanted one of me....  So here's the result:

Have a wonderful day!

A FLY ON THE WALL... IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE....

Do you ever wish you could be a fly on the wall?  I do!  Especially when raising teenagers.  I beg for pictures!  But I don't always get them.  And sometimes I read my friend's blogs hoping to be a fly on the wall into their lives too.  And what about knowing "the deep stuff?!"  I'd love to "understand" others.
Soooooo....  Thanks to Sweet Tarts (who is my daughter for the week!) I got to be a fly on the wall to a fun, little outing for these cute teenagers:

Maple, Andrew, Taffy, Kotten Kandy and Sweet Tarts

(Almond Joy is taking the picture... so not pictured....)

They saw the Lego Batman Movie.  And went roller-skating!  I'm glad Sweet Tarts takes pictures!

These two are my daughters this week!  I kinda like them - like a lot!

And I'll claim Maple as my own ALL the time!

Please, can I adopt her, Maeva?!

Taffy makes me smile...

Apparently he makes Kotten Kandy smile too... in this picture.

Almond Joy and Sweet Tarts

(I forced Almond Joy to be in a picture.)

Maple

And here's my reader's chance to be a fly on the wall into my soul.  Lately I've been thinking about friendships.  I have been blessed with a couple (read FOUR) great mom friends!  And I count myself EXTREMELY blessed!  One of my dear friends (Teresa) calls us "our tribe!"
Being a mom can be lonely even if you're never alone.  And I have discovered that I need the friendships these wonderful women and I have.  Friends enrich every stage of our lives.  And studies have shown how important friendships are to our mental, social, spiritual and physical health.
Soooo... Here's my shout outs!  (I wish I had pictures of each of my friends... but I don't.)
Thank you, Amy Bettenhausen for being my first friend in Kentucky and my best friend for the past 7 years!  I love exercising, visiting, learning and growing with you!  I love sharing our love of books and our love of each other's children!  I couldn't navigate this crazy thing called life without you!
Thank you, Maeva Coolbear!  I know we only have gotten to know each other in the past few months, but already you have made my life better!  I love sharing music education with you!  I love your cute kiddos!  And I am so excited to strengthen our friendship!  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE move closer!  (Although 1 hour isn't so far away as to include you in "our tribe!")
Thank you, Teresa Pina!  You are one of those amazing people who are easy to love and so accepting!  I want to be just like you!  I love that you share your sweet kids with me!   I love that you embrace me and my craziness!  I love that you call me "family!"  I've learned so much from you!  And I'm glad you are part of my craziness!
And thank you, Sheila Schmid!  Sheila encourages me to be a better person!  She loves my sweet daughters - as I love her great kids!  I've loved sharing special, important occasions the past few years with y'all and I love that we get to celebrate together!
I know these thank yous just scratch the surface of how blessed I am.  And I really am!  I'm glad for a support group of women who I truly love!  Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he sent these friends to me!

I read another book: Be Happy by Hank Smith.  It was ... well... happy!  I enjoy the study of optimism and happiness!  And Hank Smith teaches about happiness with wit, humor and skill in this book.  Hank Smith gives excellent advice - some of which I've already put into practice!  I've started a gratitude journal and looking for more positive things in my life.  (Hence this entire post.)  I enjoyed the book.
So I'll leave y'all with some random photos:

This picture of Karmel is for my youngest daughter....

Yes, our dog is kinda cute!

And she is VERY cute!