Thought for Today

Don't believe everything you think.-Maxine

Felted Pumpkin Tutorial

Learn how to make this cute pumpkin from The Long Threads tutorial on Flickr.

Felted Pumpkin Tutorial - a set on Flickr

Wordless Wednesday

The Martha Blog : Blog Archive : How to create your own blog and enter my blog contest!

The Martha Blog : Blog Archive : How to create your own blog and enter my blog contest!

5 bouncing babies sitting in a row......

This last year our ward we had 5 babies within a couple of months of each other..They are all so adorable. It really has been fun, with all the other pregnant moms in the ward. Going to each others baby showers, anticipating each others new arrival, and welcoming each baby as they came. From left to right, in birth order:Kennedy (April 22), Jayden (May 1), Gabe (May 22), Cooper (June 5), and Ethan (June 24).
Proud mommies..... thank you Amy for the great idea of getting us all together.

What the Heck.....

heels for babies......what will they think of next...... http//www.heelarious.com/

Update on Baby Hope

Update on Baby Hope. She is 10 months old and thriving...Her Foster Parents hope to adopt her although her grandparents who never come and see her are trying to gain custodial rights. She is beautiful and very happy. She shows no signs of being born to a meth addicted mother. She is tiny and petite and just all around happy baby. Pray for her for her future is unsure....

Check out our new Get Fit Blog

http://familiesfit4ever.blogspot.com/

Almost 20 years ago!!!

My girlfriend posted this picture on her facebook of me almost 20 years ago...If you cannot tell I am the one on the right. Look at that hair. I have to say that took alot of aqua net to keep it that high!!! Looking at these I kind of miss high school. It was so fun. It really feels like yesterday. It is hard for me to believe that in 2009 it will be 20 years. Where has the time gone? At our senior prom our theme song was. Never Say Good Bye, by Bon Jovi... I remember the feelings I felt when they played that song. I thought that I would never lose touch with my friends. That we were all going to stay close. That we would all be what we set out to do....Well, Twenty years later, a college attended, a mission served, a wonderful husband, four beautiful children, many moves, alot of stress, some heart ache, a whole lot of laughter I have to say we are healthy, happy and looking forward to many more fun and exciting challenges that are ahead. It has not been easy, but ohhhh has it been so worth it. I have grown so much, not only in size...ha ha, but from the little girl pictured there. I have grown to be more open to things, and to accept things that I cannot change. I now look at things from a mothers prospective. (Mom, I am sorry for being a major pill at times.) Trust me I am getting my pay backs that you warned me about.. I have become a wife that has discovered that she is not perfect and accepted that her husband isn't either. I have developed friendships not only with my husband and children, but with others that I would never give up.. I may not be exactly what I dreamt I was going to be as a young girl, but now that it has been twenty years my dreams have changed and the things I have in my life are so much more than I could have ever imagined.
Looking back I would not change a thing.....This was my dream...

Thought for Today..

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.
— Anne Frank

Sweet Baby Of Mine

I have been Tagged!

What I was doing 10 years ago...

1. I was 28 years old with two beautiful baby girls.
2. Living in our first home on Blizzard Court.
3. Enjoying being a stay at home mom.
4. Adopted our first pet, a potbelly pig we named Jimmy Dean.
5. Loving life

5 things on today's "to do" list.

1. Take girls and Cooper to School.
2. Work at Reade.
3. Make dinner/ help kids with homework
4. Take kaylor to Soccer Practice
5. Read to Kids and go to sleep..


5 things I would do If I were a millionaire.

1. Travel
2. Buy a new car, and those in our family who need one.
3. Buy a house
4. Pre-Pay for the kids college.
5. Help Jarrod start a new business that he wants.

5 places that I have lived

1. Sparks NV. (growing up and now)
2. Was hoe Valley. (moved there when I was a freshman.)
3. Rexburg, Idaho (went to college there)
4. New Jersey (served mission)
5. Sparks, NV (with hubby and kids)

5 snacks I enjoy.

1. ice cream...
2. black licorice.
3. slurpees.
4. homemade smoothies.
5. chips and salsa.

5 people I tag

1. Laurie
2. Amy
3. Ashlynn and Brayden
4. Mallory
5. Mandy

Back To School

Today is the First Day of School. The girls are excited to be back in school. Brayden could not wait to go see her friends, she definitely is a tween. Ashlynn was nervous. None of the kids that were in her class last year are in her class. I could tell she was a little disappointed. Kaylor has team teachers. One of the girls that is on her soccer team is in her class. She did not seem nervous at all. My kids are growing up!!

For God Did Send Me

This Morning before church I was able to listen to a BYU Idaho Devotional given by Casey Hurley. For God Did Send Me. In a way it was an answer to my prayers as to why I am going through some of the things I am going through.

In Isaiah 55: 8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

It is so easy to wallow in what we think are trials and tribulations, rather than look at is something we need to go through to become who we need to be. I want to be a stay at home mom, for some reason that is not possible at this time. Growing up all I ever wanted to do is be a mom. A good mom. When the girls were younger, I stayed at home. I also watched other peoples children. We would craft, I did a pre school co-op. We would go to play group. I started a family home evening co-op. I was busy but, doing all the things I wanted to do.

Then our lives begin to change Brayden went off to kindergarten, then Ashlynn and I needed to go back to work. Kaylor was only 18 months. It was so hard, not only to leave my children in the care of someone else, but to enter back into the work world...I have not quite recovered from that. I have murmured and internally suffered ever since. I am still trying to look at the big picture. Heavenly Father has provided me a job, where I can have peace of mind. That I am able to provide for my children, and not have to worry that we will not have food on the table. He has provided me a job, where I am off when the kids are out of school. He has opened the doors, and blessed me with friends who have helped me out in child care needs. What a blessing. There are times when I feel I am in despair and he provides a way. My life is not how I pictured it, but needless to say it is working out.

The Lord has placed currents of divine influence in your life that will lead you along the individual plan He would have you fulfill here on earth. Seek through the Spirit to identify it and carefully follow that direction that the Lord has put in your life…. Oh, how I would encourage you to weave deeply into the fabric of your soul the recognition that your life now is a part of a much bigger plan the Lord has for you. You lived part of it in the premortal existence. You were valiant there and came here because you wanted to grow and enjoy greater happiness. What you decide to do now will affect how well you fulfill that divine, personal plan He has for you. By Elder Richard G. Scott.

Please bare with my as I struggle to figure out what I am supposed to being doing. This is my first time being a mother. I have my good days and my bad. I want to be better. Thank you to all who have been good examples , who have been there when I needed you. Who have helped me along. Please know that I am here for you. We are all trying to achieve that same goal. Let us help each other. If I do not reach out to you, know that it is not intentional. That if I have offended you, or not said hello, it is not because I did not want to. I to want to be there when you need me too.

May we all make the choices now that will allow us to grow and enjoy greater happiness as we apply the four principles: Principle #1: Draw upon all of your spiritual resources, #2 Endure faithfully knowing that God will deliver you, #3 Seek to find God’s will by understanding the pattern for personal revelation, and #4: Trust in the Lord and in all thy ways acknowledge him.

Let the Games Begin

If you have been wondering were we have been...The following should answer your questions... Super Soccer Fan. Cooper has endured many practices, the heat and even the cold with a smile...
Ashlynn's team is the Geckos---They are little but pretty dang tough to beat...
Kaylor's Team is the Purple Hippos----They are so cute they run and run and run....
Brayden's team is the Blue Panthers..... They have fun and Brayden made her first Goal this week....

Cooper's Blessing

Your family and friends came to participate in your special day. I feel so lucky to be your mommy. You make me so proud. Your little smile lights up our lives and you bring so much joy into our family. Your family loves you so much, and even though you are tiny and small your personality is grand and those around you take notice. You are growing so fast, I try to absorb everything you do. I do not want to miss anything. I have learned from experience that in a blink of an eye you to will be doing all the milestones that are so important. I do not want to rush time. In your blessing your were promised many great and wonderful things. Please always remember that when you stay true and strong to the principles of the gospel you will achieve all that your Heavenly Father has planned for you. This is the only way for true happiness.

This blanket you were blessed with is very special. Your great Grandma Glad made this for us. All of your sisters were blessed with this blanket also. Your little outfit was made especially for you by your wonderful Grandma Kerry. You looked like a little angel.

Many Faces of Cooper 6 Weeks

Pioneer Day

This year for Pioneer Day we went to Rancho San Rafael Park. The girls were in Utah having the time of their life. We missed them...They were able to spend a week with their Auntie Jill , Uncle Sheldon and Cousins Cody and Derek. They swam, went shopping, visited the Copper Mine, and were able to go to a Salt Lake Bees game. While at the game, they saw the Prophet President Thomas S. Monson. How cool is that. He even waved to them.

Water Baby

Cooper loves the water.
Check out his cute swimwear. I did not know it came in such a small size.
On July 4, my Grandma Emi thought Cooper was cold, so she kept bundling him. the next day he broke out in the worst heat rash. It took about 3 weeks for it to go away. Poor guy....

The girls wanted him to go in the pool so badly. This is as close to the pool that I let him go. I was afraid all the chemicals in the pool would be not safe for him, so for now the bath is his swimming pool....

Day at the Lake

We all went up to Boca with the Carpenter Family. We all were able to fit on the boat.
Here is Brayden and Ashlynn behind the boat before we picked up speed. They loved it. My camera battery died so I did not get pictures of them trying to water ski or wake board. The both did pretty good for their time.
Kaylor loved it too....
Cousin Kate having a ball on the boat...Abram and Cooper were able to go boating too. Cooper took a nice nap...

We had such a fun day spending it with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Kevin Auntie Austin and the Cousins...Cannot wait till we can do it again....