Note to self

Are you kidding me? I really have not updated the blog since July?!?!?!?! 000ppps

Since the 3rd of November I have had to attend 2 funerals. The first was for a 2 year old little boy. It was heart wrenching to watch his mother go through that pain! It was so sudden and it was definately time for him to return to his Father in Heaven. The morning of his death when his mother went to take him out of his crib he looked at her and said, "All done?". She thought he meant sleeping and she said yes and took him out. Wow! The veil is much thinner than we know.

The second funeral was for a 31 year old man. He has been battling cancer for several years. In the end it was the flu and pneumonia that took him. You see 4 years ago this man joined the church and he had taken his family to the temple and was sealed for time and all eternity. That brought so much comfort to his wife. She is a beautiful person with an amazing testimony! The last thing he said was to her, "I love you and I am sorry that I am giving up."

So here is the thing. I have learned many things as a result. Well at least reminded of some things. We have to hug our children, kiss them, and tell them we love them many times each day. Be more patient and kind not only to our family but friends and neighbors, too. Here is the thing that I made mental note of. At both of these funerals they are blessed to have tons of pictures. I am not taking enough pictures of my children!!! If that were me today I would not have that blessing. I am now saving my pennies to get a camera that I can fix this problem with.

These 2 families are so very blessed to have Eternal families. They are going to be together again!! How comforting that is for all of us!

Being a mom

One of the best parts of being a mom is I get to witness and aide in the growth of my children's testimonies of the Gospel. I am trying to set the right example for my children. Sometimes when I leave to go to the Temple I worry about them. Are they going to fight, is the house going to survive, are they going to be doing things they are not supposed to. What I have neglected to do is concentrate on what they are seeing me do. I love to be at the temple!! When I come home I guess it shows. The other day Grant and I were driving in the car by ourselves and he said, "Mom, I can't wait until I am 12. Then I can go to the temple, too. It will be so cool." Wow!

The other night Jaycee and I were laying in bed and she was the only one still awake. It had been quiet for about 5 minutes and then all of a sudden she said, "Mom, I don't have to be scared. The Holy Ghost is here with me and He will always protect me. As long as I make good choices and don't fight with Holly and Grant." Tears in my eyes, I told her that is absolutely right. She was asleep shortly after that.

Things like this sustain me through the days when all they do is fight, mess up the house, and are disobedient. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I love being a mom!!!

Better late than never

Here I am, yes it is May already, and I have not updated since March. What the heck is that all about? I don't know either. I still have to put Jaycee's birthday pictures on here and Courtney's now. geez, I am a slacker. :)

Things are good. Tomorrow Courtney is getting her Taylor Spatial taken off her leg. It is straight, the same length as the other, and strong. She is so excited!! The rest of us are too. It is so difficult to go through. All of the kids have been troupers.

The trip here was really something! Our flight was to take off at 9:35am. When we got to the airport we found out the flight had been canceled and we were rebooked on the 1:05pm flight. Then about noon they delayed the flight. It was crazy and we did not get here until about 3:30. It is all good!!

From the mouths of babes

Joe came to visit this weekend. He asked Jaycee to go see if all the water got drank. We had bought some at the store and that is what he was wanting. Jaycee went to the kitchen and I heard water running. I didn't think anything of it. She came back in the room and told Joe, "Ya there is still water in the sink!" I thought I would die laughing. It was so honest!

Rebekah's birthday

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

I am slow I know it, but Bekah turned the big 4 on Feb 22. It was an everything Hannah Tanna birthday. As Rebekah says it. She had a great time. Not unlike Grant and Amber's birthday she had found out every one of her presents ahead of time and she was just excited to get to finally play with them. She did not know what Grandma and Grandpa gave her. Hannah Montana jammies. She wore them for 2 days straight before I could pry them off her little body.
I don't know why her birthday makes me so sad. Ok I do, she is getting older and I don't want my baby to do that. I guess I have no choice in the matter. She always tells me though, "Don't worry mom I am still your baby." Good thing too!!

Entertainment at the orthodontist

A couple of weeks ago Amber had an extra orthodontist appointment. We took Rebekah. They have a different pair of sunglasses at each station and Bekah tried on several pairs.

There is also a hat rack in the corner. She tried on a couple of them. There were 2 she would not even touch!! One was a crocheted hat with dread locks attached and the other was a turkey that sat on top of her head. Who knows why. It was so much fun to watch her and everyone present was very well entertained!! She always makes me laugh even when I am upset.

Ambers and Grant's Birthdays

Birthday Month

You know most people say if I could just get through Christmas I will be doing good. Not me!! I don't know how we did this but 3 of my kids were born in February. Yep the shortest month of the year. The lucky ones are Amber (oldest), Grant (middle), and Rebekah (youngest). In that order and all one week apart. No kidding!!! Rebekah's is not until Sunday but since I have not blogged anything this month I thought I should get a head start.
Amber got to do the thing she loves for her birthday!! She rode her horse, Star, for the first time. She did such a great job getting her ready that Star did not even flinch when she got on!! I am so proud of her. She was on could nine. Best part? I got some awesome pictures out of it. :) Amber had a pretty good idea of what she was going to get for her birthday. I looked for about 6 weeks to find the right one. She asked for a blue Ipod nano. So I put the Ipod in my pocket and gave her a sack with a bunch of tissue paper in it. She pulled one piece out at a time. When she got to the bottom she took a look in the sack and all defeated like said, "It's empty". We all laughed and I said ooooppps I forgot it in my pocket. It was great. Enjoy the best pictures of her in a long time!!
We spent the day at my mom's for Grant's birthday (not by choice, I was still sick from my knee surgery). His cousins, all of them, came over and he got some boy time in. Unfortunately, Rebekah was home each time another component of Grant's present arrived. She so kindly shared the news. So he knew what he was getting also. He went through the motions to open presents but he was bored with it. I felt so bad. I will do better. He does thoroughly enjoy playing with his Gamecube though!! :) I am so glad I got my boy. He lightens most of my days and he tells me loves me all the time. According to him I am his most favorite mom in the world!! I'll take it!!!! :)
My heart swells with pride for my children! I love them so much and am so grateful I have them. This month is always a tough one for me, it reminds me all my babies are growing way too fast!

YIKES!!!

The next time I go to the doctor I am going to ask him for some anxiety medicine. Amber got her drivers permit today and she drove us home from mom's tonight. Am I the only mom who was totally freaking out when I had to RIDE not drive? I think not. When we got home I got out and got on the ground and kissed it. Amber did not think it was funny till she thought about it for a minute. She is laughing now. :)

Funny Story:

The other day Amber came upstairs and asked if anyone had a razor. Rebekah excitedly said I do. Reached into her bag she was carrying around and pulled out an eraser. LOL She is hilarious!! We were all laughing.

Inauguration Day

What an awesome country we live in. No matter what our political preferences are we all have to admit that today was a most historic day!! We have come from slavery to not so long ago segregated schools to the 1st African American President of the United States!! Awesome, no other word can describe it. I am so grateful to live here in our country where we have the freedoms we so greatly enjoy. I thank my Father in Heaven for this wonderful blessing!!

They hate it, I love it!!!

This weekend was spent with my mom. Our birthdays are only 3 days apart and so Sunday the kids and I went to dinner at mom's. Everyone was there and we had homemade Chinese for dinner. mmmmmm Sam even came over. It turned into a massive sleep over. Lorri and I stayed the night with our children. (Sam had to work today so he left) There were sleeping bodies everywhere. My four oldest children and Lorri and I played Monopoly until 2 am. It was a great deal of fun. Dad kept coming out and yelling at us cuz we were making too much noise. :) Ahhh what fun. It got to where we started laughing just when we heard his door open. Last night during the game everything kept going over Nicole's head, she was missing everything! Lorri made her put her ponytail on top of her head to help catch stuff. It didn't work! :)

Today the kids kept getting in trouble and tattling. So I thought I would share my favorite form of punishment with everyone. When my kids can't get along and I am sick of he did this well she did this crap I make them sit on the couch and hold hands until they can smile at each other and say I love you!! They HATE it. There have been times that Amber and Nicole have sat in a chair for hours before they could leave. It is so much fun. So that explains the picture! :) Try it I dare you!

New Milestones!!

Two major milestones in our family's lives happened in the last 10 days. Amber went to her first formal dance. The New Years' Eve stake dance was a formal. No date required of course. :) I am so not ready for that. I still have a year left before I have to worry about that :) She looked beautiful. We had bought a dress at DI and my mom made a jacket to go over it. Tons of fun! (Since she hates pictures this is the best one I could get!)

Then on Sunday Rebekah became a SUNBEAM!!! She was so excited and there was no crying involved! She drew me a picture during Sacrament meeting of a sunbeam. It was the most beautiful blue sun you have ever seen. She told me when she came out of class that she didn't even cry cuz sunbeams don't do that. Today she went to her first Primary activity. She came home the proud owner of balloons and a huge smile!