You Make Me Happy........

Its All New

2011-01-30T20:10:00.001-08:00

I can hardly believe that my Skyler is a year old....but there is a HUGE list of new things he can do....just in the past few weeks. He can say SO many words....Uh-Oh, Mama, Dada, NoNo, NiNight, This, More, he barks when he sees dogs, and GROWLS LOUDLY when he sees ANY other kind of animal......He is my little myna bird....when he hears a police siren he makes the same sound.......and MAN OH MAN the boy can YELL.....his Daddy thinks he is just copying me..which is probably true....I do have a very loud voice.....He is starting to take steps.....LOVES to sneak out the dog door, loves his sister more than ANYTHING...harasses the dogs like crazy by stealing their toys, and teasing them with his food....and MAN do they know that he is a WONDERFUL food source! He is a snuggle bug when he sleeps......and has started giving FULL on the mouth BIG BIG KISSES...which are my favorite....he holds your face when he wants you to look at him...in the eyes, loves to be outside....climbs on anything and EVERYTHING.....HATES it when the door knocks and the dogs freak out...he thinks he needs to freak out too.....LOVES to dance.....and gets INTO it.....eats everything and anything even though he still has just 2 teeth....crawls faster than anyone I have ever seen.....He is love....joy....and fun...more joy and happiness than anyone has the right to enjoy. We are SOOOOO blessed to have him in our family. I look at him sometimes and just have to grab him and hug him close just to make sure he is real...and he is....and he is ours....and we ADORE our little Mister! Our Sky Guy......

2011-01-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

I have been debating about whether to try to catch up on everything that has happened over the past 8 months.....but there is just too much so for now, I'm gonna do a "update" and then I will go back, and do some "journaling" Cassie is in the 5th grade now, CRAZY! Skyler is almost walking, has started talking, and is my favorite son EVER! Yes....I know I only have one! BUT STILL.......Joel still works at UOP....even though they have changed everything, and he doesn't enjoy it NEARLY as much as he used too....I hear the clock tick tocking on that job.....which is OK by me! He has also started to work as a Shot Coach...what is that you ask? Well, he has been hired to teach some young men how to shoot a basketball. He is LOVING it....and is GREAT at it....and it's pretty cool because the boys' parents decided it would be WAY more worth their money to have their kids trained and worked with one on one, rather than have them go to a BBall camp with 50 other kids....PRETTY COOL! I am Relief Society Pres, have started working....I do marketing for Estate Planning Attorneys.....FUN, LOVE my kids and spend as MUCH time with them as I can! We head to Utah as often as we possibly can......and I am constantly amazed at how fast each day FLIES by! I have been realizing lately how truly blessed I am....I have a GREAT life!

My Miracles

2010-05-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

Im a Mom. Today it's Mother's day. If last year you would have told me that I would be the Mom to two beautiful children I wouldn't have believed you....but I have learned that miracles come when we least expect them and both of my children are true miracles - as all children are. It has been an incredible year. We have been blessed more than words can say. Skyler Grant joined our family. He has brought such joy and love into our home.....I forgot how much work little ones can be...but OH THE JOY......his smile, his laugh, his little hands reaching out for me, the way he smells right after his bath....the way he looks at me when someone else is holding him....and the way he LOVES to snuggle with his Mommy when he is tired. Our little one is such a joy. And my beautiful Cassie. She turns 10 in just a few days - I find myself wondering HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I don't know...but it did. Cassie and I are finding out what it's like to both have very strong opinions about things - and while some days I think we make eachother a little CRAZY.....well the love is always there - the love will ALWAYS be there. She is my heart...she is my calm, she is my sweet, she is my imagination, she is my deep thinker, she is my good.....she is my Cassie. I often think about my life, and about why things work out the way they do...and I wish I had ALL of the answers to that question, but one answer that I do have, is that I know that God loves me....whenever I look into the faces of my beautiful children - the children I wanted more then breath.....well there is no way to question my Heavenly Father's love for me. Last year I remember blogging about how I felt about my Mother....and I want to once again thank her....for everything. I wish I were more eloquent or more poetic....but I hope she knows how I feel and I hope that saying Thank you Mom....and I Love You....just let her know how much I do...love her. And for the other Mother's in my life. My amazing Mother in Law....who raised my amazing Husband.....how grateful I am for the woman that she is, and for the son that she raised. For all of my sisters - born and in law....for the amazing Moms that they are. For the amazing women I work with in church....how they are mother's to SO many. Where would the world be without Mothers? I have to...on this most special day....thank the two TRUE Mothers.....the two Mother's who put the needs of their children before their own, and sacrificed so much....so that I could hear the words "Mommy.....I love you". Thank You Nicole and Corinna - thank you forever....thank you for blessing my life so much and for giving so much of yourselves. I will never be able to thank you enough or repay you for my most amazing gift......my sweet children. Thank You. Happy Mothers Day to all the amazing Women in my life. To Mothers.

WHEW!

2010-02-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

HOLY COW....it's been a busy couple of weeks. I knew that I would be busy as the new RS Pres. But I guess I didn't realize just HOW busy I would be....and my sweet little Skyler - well I couldn't do all I do if he wasn't such a good baby. He is such an ANGEL! I know you don't come to read this to hear about all the things that are keeping me busy, but yesterday was an amazing day....and I need a place to share it so if you want info just about Skyler....scroll down to the end - and you will find him...... So yesterday was Stake Conference - and it was WONDERFUL. The Saturday session was about the great need there is for LDS Foster Familes. Stories were shared about lives changed by people willing to open their homes and love kids......and stories were shared about lives that were ripped apart because there was no one to save and love these poor lost kids. It was inspiring and just reminded Joel and I of our goal to adopt a older sibling group.....when Skyler gets a LITTLE older. ANYWAY.....so that was Saturday, Sunday conference was great....a lot of inspiring stories....after conference we rushed home, loaded the car - after emptying our fridge....the RS sisters in the ward donated food so that we could provide a luncheon for the family of a part member family in our ward where the Mom was being baptized, the father was being ordained an Elder, and their sweet baby girl was being blessed...>WHAT A DAY for them. SO....we rushed to the church to get everything set up - and it was wonderful......we fed the family and cleaned up and then I RUSHED to a sister in our ward who was just released from the hospital....she recently had a double mastectomy and had been very ill.....so I went to visit and spend time with her.....she is as close to terminal as it gets - but she is trying her best to hold on....she is really scared. After that I RUSHED back home to get the fam.....and we all RUSHED to the Stake Center....AGAIN......for the baptism of Anna Sevey. What an amazing story for this sweet family. When I moved in the ward I NEVER would have guessed that she wasn't a member - she came to EVERY single activity.....she was just so involved and sweet - but I found out later that she had never been baptized.....anyway....like I said, her husband was ordained an Elder, her baby was blessed and she was baptized....she has 3 kids and her oldest boy, a sweet 4 year old gave the opening prayer, and I think that was the highlight of my day.....all by himself, he asked Heavenly Father to bless his family, to bless everyone who came to be with them that day....and he thanked his Heavenly Father that his family could finally be saved. HIS WORDS......it was just too sweet.....I was bawling. After the baptism, we served refreshments.......and FINALLY - I came home and LITERALLY Crashed.....Joel saved me of course....Cassie was in a RARE mood so we left her at home.......YEP....by herself! She played Wii Fit......HER CHOICE......but HOLY COW....what a DAY!.....and now for the sweet tender mercy......as I fell into bed Saturday night - and as my head hit the pillow, I said a prayer. I prayed that I would be able to sleep - that I had a huge day and needed some sleep so that I could do a good job for Anna's family and be able to handle everything (I am SO PMSing right now) . When I woke up at 6am I was in SHOCK! Skyler....my sweet little boy slept for 7 hours STRAIGHT......and he woke up with a COMPLETELY DRY DIAPER!!! Scared me to DEATH!! I was really worried about him......I mean how many 2 month olds sleep 7 hours and DON'T PEE ONCE!!! But.....as soon as I got him dressed - he peed on and through EVERYTHING.....dont' know where he was storing it all....but BOTH his legs got shaking and he just LET R FLY!!! Peed on everything and I had to change him....which was OK because I had actually slept and felt GREAT....which was my gift from Heavenly Father - because last night it was business as usual for him....up every 2.5 3 hours and SOAKED every time - don't worry he was at the doctor today and he said if it was an all the time thing we would worry, but it was probably nothing....he just slept deep - well our DR is LDS and I told him about my prayer and he said SEE....you were just being blessed - and I say AMEN to that! And for those of you who think I have just 1 kid named Skyler.....yes - I remember I have another one and YES she is still AMAZING.....she has been giving us the BEST FHE Lessons that she prepares herself, we are reading the Isiah chapters in the BOM and she actually understands and asks questions - where does she COME from? I didn't have a CLUE or a CARE about the Isiah chapters till my MISSION!! She is growing up TOO Fast - seriously.......my baby girl is almost 10 years old! CAN'T believe that! She loves her brother - is KICKIN BUTT in Karate....(no pun intended) and is rockin the house at school.....pretty much a straight A student - which means a lot because as a 4th grader she is doing 5th grade work - GO CASS!!!! And now.....drumm roll please......here is some video of skyler - he is so amazing.....the one where Joel is trying to make him smile is my favorite - it's not because Skyler smiles - it's because it's so cute to hear my big burly husband talk so silly to his baby boy.....enough to MELT MY HEART!!!! Oh....and that was just ONE day!!!!! PRAY FOR ME!!!

Barely Holdin' On!

2010-02-06T21:10:00.001-08:00

Well, it has been a CRAZY month! For those of you who don't know.....I am the new Relief Society President for my ward......yep - I was sustained and set apart last week! HOLY COW it's a big job - SO much to do.....and it seems like there is just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. I know I may seem crazy, but I am enjoying it so much. My counselors are amazing women - truly....and I am really excited to work with them and get to know them better. So.....that is my reasoning for not blogging for SUCH a long time - actually, I want to just spend most of my time staring at and holding my Skyler. He is so precious! We are having so much fun with him.....he is such a little man, but is such a HUGE addition to our home. Cassie thinks he's boring, and I suppose to her he is, but ME.....well I am enjoying EVERY SINGLE "BORING" moment I have with him! So - for those of you who have been waiting and wondering....here are a few new pictures.....and a video of my beautiful little man! If you listen carefully, you can hear his little sleeping sounds - he kind of coos when he sleeps.......Mom and Sarah can explain, but it is the CUTEST sweetest thing EVER!! Love my little man, Love my Cassie and LOVE my big man! My life is busy.....but oh so sweet!!!

The first time I saw your face......

2010-01-02T20:52:00.001-08:00

My beautiful, precious little boy is here! Skyler Grant Lynn made his entrance into this world on Monday morning at 8:01 am screaming his little head off! He weighed 7lbs 14.6 oz, was 20 inches long and his head was 13 cm around ( don't women dilate to 10 - you do the math...starts with an E). He is just SO beautiful! Joel and I find ourselves staring at him because sometimes it just doesn't seem real that he is actually here - FINALLY here and he is PERFECT!!

We started out at the hospital Sunday night, with the plan that they would SLOWLY start inducing her labor - They were supposed to administer a gel that would strip her membrane - they were supposed to put the gel on every 4 hours and she was supposed to have 3 treatments. They started the first one around 12 am and by 4am she was dilated to a 5! She went from completely closed to a 5 in 4 hours YOU GO GIRL! The hardest part of the whole night was waiting for her epidural. She was in SO much pain and was having such a hard time and there was NOTHING I could do to help her. I felt so helpless - and that was when all of the emotions hit. I realized that this beautiful girl, this young girl was going through all of this pain....all of this fear.......for ME! It was overwhelming. I am so grateful that Corinna's aunt was there because as Corinna's Mom comforted her, Sheryl comforted me. Once they finally got the epidural, and it FINALLY kicked in - things were ALOT easier for ALL of us to bare. Labor went REALLY fast after that and the rest was just waiting for it to all finish. We had a nurse that was MORE than ready to get off her shift and just wasn't that friendly, or helpful - but when the shift changed we got the BEST NURSE IN THE UNIVERSE!! She was this tiny little lady from India, in her mid 50's probably and she was SO wonderful! She just got right to work, helped Corinna get ready and got us all to work. Corinna and I were holding hands while she was pushing - I was the one saying......pushpushpushpushpushpushpushpushpush and she worked her HEAD off to get him here.......after several pushes, Skyler made his entrance into the world! Corinna was AMAZING......truly. They didn't hand him to Corinna, but took him right to the incubator and started to check him out and clean him up. I was the one who cut the cord - which was SO scary and amazing! I was shaking so badly I was scared I would cut him! They had me give him his bath, which was SO much fun.......and they wrapped him up and handed him to me. I wish that there were words to describe how it felt to hold my son in my arms for the first time....there just aren't words. Corinna didn't hold him until several hours later, they just let me have my time with him, and I will be forever grateful for that. they got us all done, organized and ready to go to recovery. Our nurse - WHO ROCKED and LOVED us.....put us all in the nicest and biggest room, because she knew there would be so many of us. The hospital had a room off of the nursery that I could have stayed in with Skyler, but I chose to stay in the room with Corinna. I know that it would have been hard for MANY people to do this - and harder for everyone to understand, but it was the right thing to do. Corinna, Skyler and I spent some beautiful and amazing hours together - and it helped Corinna see how much I loved him, and helped her to realize she was making the correct choice for Skyler. She said some beautiful things, but my favorite was that she didn't give birth to her son, but she gave birth to mine, and I also love how she said that he was not meant to be hers, but he was meant to be mine. With everything she had gone through, she still found a way to comfort me. She is one of the most amazing women I will ever have the privilege to meet. I love her SO much! We stayed together, in the same hospital room, from Monday morning, until Wednesday around noon - and I don't think I slept more than 4 hours the ENTIRE time.....in fact I know I didn't. I was SO exhausted and emotional, I almost lost it several times, but the Lord blessed me with the strength I needed. We signed the temporary custody paperwork on Tuesday afternoon, and we could have taken him home then - he could have been discharged, but Corinna was staying until Wednesday, and I felt and said that she brought him him, she can carry him out - and that is what we did. We all left together on Wednesday morning around 11 - and Joel, Cassie and I brought our beautiful little boy home. Again, I can't describe the feelings of joy and love. Joel and I were both overwhelmed with joy. Skyler is amazing!

SO.......we had to wait for paperwork and in Arizona, the law is that the Birth Mother has to wait for 72 hours before she can sign her relinquishment papers - which for us meant Thursday afternoon. Corinna could have chosen to have the ceremony wherever she wanted, or we could have, but she chose to have it at our house, which I greatly appreciated. It was so beautiful - seriously - it was so beautiful! When the case workers arrived they told us that the judge had signed our papers on the 15th of December - but we didn't know that until the DAY before we were supposed to sign! STRESS - but they came in and we were THRILLED! They took Corinna and had her sign all of her paperwork, which she did willingly, and then they had Joel and I go in and sign our paperwork - which was AMAZING...and then we had a beautiful little meeting - where we could each go around and talk about our feelings about our whole situation. The meeting included Joel, Cassie and I, Sharon - the case worker, Corinna's parents, sister and Corinna, and of COURSE our Skyler. It was so beautiful. The emotions were so raw and real and precious and the spirit in our home was so beautiful. I wont share everything that was said, because some things I want to keep for myself, but trust me when I say - there is NO doubt that Skyler is meant to be ours. SO - what does that mean - everything is signed. We can finalize in the next 3 to 6 months and then everything will be official official, but for now, there is no going back - it's a done deal. Skyler is ours and we are THRILLED. What does that mean for all of us going forward - No idea , but Corinna came over and we ate dinner, hung out and visited for several hours and it was lovely to have her here. She is amazing, and I miss her when I don't see her so ours is a very unique, and special relationship and I am so blessed to know her, and to have her in my life. This is a short version of everything, but for now it's the best I can do. I am MISSING Skyler, and I am getting TIRED!!! SO - here he is.....ENJOY!!!

We can do ANYTHING......together!

2009-11-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

WHEW......after a LOT of time, and A LOT of hard work, we have OFFICIALLY turned in ALL of our paper work for the adoption. We are getting really excited, nervous, scared.....you know - all of the emotions that go into adopting a baby....and we are going in with eyes wide open - ANYTHING can happen until it's all done - we are feeling VERY vulnerable, but we know we have to have faith, and believe that whatever is meant to happen will hapen. Whatever happens, Joel, Cassie and I know that we can do ANYTHING.....as long as we do it together - and the three of us all really believe that this is meant to be. Continue all of your prayers and good thoughts! We will keep everyone posted!!! LOVES TO YOU ALL!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2009-10-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN - WARN THE KIDDOS!!

What do you do on a Sunday afternoon........

2009-09-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Our family goes to church at 8am! HORRIBLE.......but we do get to have the rest of the afternoon to find things to do. We don't play with friends, go to the park, etc.....so Cassie has to work to find things to keep her amazing mind occupied. I like to read, Joel likes sports - ANY....and a great long afternoon nap....but Cassie - well the options for her a limitless! She can watch movies, play the Wii, play with her MILLIONS of toys, play with the dogs, ALL KINDS of fun stuff......but OH NO -not my Cassie - My Cassie does research papers on animals, insects, rocks, creatures of every kind. I came into the office on Monday and this is what I found! How CUTE is she! Is there ANY wonder why she is in the gifted program at school! Cassie - I couldn't love you more!!!

Karate Competition - GO CASS!!!

2009-09-28T13:55:00.001-07:00

Saturday Cassie participated in a valley wide Karate Competition. It was a competition between 5 different karate schools, and it was Cassie's 1st! She was FULL of nerves and excitement.....and had worked and practiced really hard! She did the BEST she could........and it PAID OFF! In her first event she won 2nd, and in her second event she one third! I was SO proud of her! She even got a little bit emotional - happy tears - when she realized she had won! We are just SO glad we found something she LOVES to do, works hard at, and has found success in doing it! GO KUNG FU CASSIE!! YOU ROCK!!!

Goodbye.......to a fuzzy little friend

2009-09-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

(It's me, Cassie). Last night, I buried my hamster Nibbles out in the back yard. Dad dug a big hole and I burried him with his favorite chair that he ate on because that is where his food was. I went to check on him on Friday night, and I thought he was just sleeping, and I poked him with the food bowl, but he wouldn't move so I picked him up and he still didn't move, and I smelt that smell and I knew he was dead. Midnight, my gerbil had died so I knew what that smell was. I am really sad and I will miss him a lot, he was REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY cute. When we got him he was going to get eaten by a snake, but we saved him and we have had him for 1.5 years, and the people who had him before us had him for more than a year so he lived a long time for a hamster. I am glad that I had him and I will miss him a lot, but Mom says we aren't ever getting another hamster. JUST DOGS! Love you guys! Cassie

Bad Dog!!! BAD BAD BAD BAD DOG!!!!

2009-09-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

You can't really tell by the pictures, but I came home from running errands with Holli and came home to A ROYAL MESS!! Let me just say........We usually lock Stella up when we leave, mainly because that is what her "other" family did, she is still a puppy after all - ANYWAY.....I had been leaving her alone for a few hours at a time and there had been NO problems - so, even though I knew I would be gone for a long while, thought it would be OK to leave her out - WRONG!!! Like I said, the pictures are bad - but let me explain. The "snow" is a large piece of foam board - that was SHREDDED ALL over the house - Family and Living room.......AND - for whatever reason, she thought it would fun to bring in a DIRT CLOD and chew it up and leave it in the living room - AND....don't have a picture, but she proceeded to chew up my wicker trunk that I painted and have in my living room. AND - she pulled the blanket off the rocking chair and pulled off the little fringes - AND she got to my fancy pillows on my LR couches - and pulled several tassels and beads off!! NAUGHTY DOG!!! All I can say is she is LUCKY she is a puppy - and it is SEMI acceptable for her to be a BIT mischievous - AND - she is STINKIN' lucky that she is so CUTE!! NAUGHTY STELLA!!!! But we LOVE her!!!!

Introducing - STELLA!!!

2009-08-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Here is our STELLA!! Long story short - or not so much - Misty Matthews - single Mom of 3 girls bought one little Yorkie and LOVED her! Loved her so much she decided to get another one - LOVED her too - but the dogs did NOT love eachother! LOTS of fighting - which even resulted in some blood! Loving Marley as much as they did - they wanted to find her a good home - where she would be safe and loved! Misty is my Visiting Teacher and she saw how much I loved Shiloh.....and said she wished we wanted another dog - I explained that we DID want another dog and that we had gone to the pound several times! Well........she asked if we would be interested in "Marley" - and I said YES! Marley is a purebred Yorkie - REGISTERED and everything! Anyway - we had a playdate to see how she and Shiloh would do together - and they did GREAT! Shiloh LOVES playing with her and they are HILARIOUS together. Last Sunday - they delivered her to us. It was such a HARD thing for Misty and her girls - they were SO sad to have Marley leave their family, but they were really happy to find her a home where she would be loved and not fight with her friend! It's been a week now and she has just fit right in! She and Shiloh are ALWAYS together! She is a BUGABOO and Shiloh is PATIENT......(she is not a year old yet.....still that puppy stage). She came to us with all her papers, she is fixed and has all her shots! Oh - and she is HOUSETRAINED!!! Seriously..........it's like we won the puppy lottery!!! (they are playing at my feet as I am typing this!) Yep - some may think we are crazy for getting another dog, but for us - life is better having a dog....it just is! Some are animal lovers - some are not - we DEFINITELY ARE!!! Now - you wonder how we came up with Stella.....Well, Misty's other dog was named Bella - which Cassie LOVED - she wanted to name our Stella Bella - but I said No.....their dog is bella - and we talked about Stella and Shiloh being a pair......so I came up with Bella with an "S"......so we came up with Stella! Why not just keep her name as Marley.......because that was her name with her first family - we wanted to have her be a part of OUR family......so she needed a name that WE picked for here! Her Full name is............Stella Marley Matthews Lynn! SHE'S A CUTIE!!!!

Hmmmmmm it's 108 degrees outside.........

2009-08-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

So what would you choose to do when it's 108 outside! Well for me and "friend" that's an easy one! Why not do yard work for 2 days straight! YEAH.......THAT'S THE TICKET!! Holli and I were both thinking that our yards needed a lot of work, and we figured that we should just go ahead and get it done! We thought if we started early we would be OK with the heat.......we were, but for about 10 min! As always, I forgot to take before pictures.....but with the piles you can get the idea. We trimmed and shaped every tree in both of our yards, cut down two HUGE out of control "Mexican Birds of Paradise" in my yard and staked a tree in her yard and removed a dead one...... when we were done we both felt like our yards looked AWESOME - but seriously - we both had heat exhaustion and headaches for about 3 days! Worst of all - we went swimming when we were done - I forgot to put on sunscreen in my hurry to get to the pool and I got FRIED!!! I got so burnt I didn't sleep for 3 days! Anyway - job well done - if I DO say so myself.......and next time.........WE ARE PAYING THE LANDSCAPERS!!!!

Lead Me, Guide Me.........

2009-08-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

WE finished! Cassie and I have been reading the Book Of Mormon every morning for the past two school years.....well, we have read every morning since she started Kindergarten, but we started The Book Of Mormon again the first of last school year.........and wish I could say that we read every day, including weekends and holidays - but alas.....that is not the case. We have read every school day - and have not missed. Cassie and I both feel, and learned from past school years that the day is just not the same if we don't read.....she likes the "Scripture Power" she gets and feels like she has a better day - I as her Mom love knowing that I sent her out the door with a prayer and scriptures...."Teach a Child..." Today, we finished. Cassie reads to me out loud and I follow along.....and sometimes help. I seriously believe that her reading is as good as it is because of reading the scriptures. She can sound out pretty much any word she comes across, and her comprehension has improved A TON because she is paying attention to the stories. She and I have had some AWESOME discussions about the Scriptures and the Gospel because of the topics we come across while reading. Reading the Book Of Mormon has been a true blessing for our family and I am really excited for us to start the Doctrine and Covenants - Cassie's choice. How blessed are we to have The Book Of Mormon and all the other Scriptures to help us and to bless the lives of our Children. I LOVE being a Mom! These are the GOOD days.....the GREAT days......the OH SO REWARDING days!

Thank You.........

2009-08-12T11:23:00.001-07:00

Hey Babe.........thanks for lovin' me! We have been through A LOT in our 16 years.....but I wouldn't trade them for anything! I love you.....and I thank you!

We have loved, we have fought, we have laughed and we have cried - and OH HOW BLESSED we have been! Here is to another 16 and MANY MANY MORE!!!

For our anniversary - Joel and I got eachother a Wii!!! We boxed and bowled last night and had a blast!!!

SMILE!

2009-08-04T09:11:00.001-07:00

Haley is SOOOOOO CUTE!! I tried a MILLION times to take pictures of her, but as soon as she would see the Camera and I would say SMILE HALEY......she would close her eyes and scrunch up her face! These are just a few of my favorites! I took these in about 5 min........you would think I would get at least ONE picture of her with her eyes open......NOPE!!!! HOW CUTE IS SHE!!!!!!

Here is a picture of me now that it's over!! I have started to recover......A LITTLE BIT!!!!

Haley's Feet - OWIE!!!

2009-08-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Haley is just about the cutest little booger EVER!!! How did she burn her feet you ask? Joel took her home from church, and on the way home she took her shoes off - like a typical woman! Joel went to unlock the front door, Collin opened the car door, Haley got out......but I forgot to mention......it was 112 degrees that day - it was 2 in the afternoon and here in AZ - you can get 2nd degree burns on your feet in 35 seconds! Joel got to her as fast as he could, but her little feet were BURNED! I got home from church and was changing her....and she kept saying OWIE.....but I couldn't see an owie.....till she showed me her feet and I just FREAKED out! I got the burn creme and ice to stop the burn.....and while the blisters were big......I kept them covered. She healed SO fast! She wouldn't walk on her feet on Monday, but after that she would NOT be stopped! The blisters broke, but the skin stayed on .....which was a GOOD thing.......and after a few days he skin peeled off and her skin underneath was healed. WHAT A BLESSING!! I was SO worried! We were very blessed that it was not worse than it was.......I am SO glad she is OK! Whew.........WHO KNEW you could get that bad of burns! We do now!! POOR BABY!!!

I'm A SURVIVOR!!!

2009-08-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Joe and Wendy have A LOT going on......Joe works full time, goes to school full time, is building 8 houses....one of them his own, AND has 3 VERY energetic kids.....well 2 VERY energetic kids - and 1 who is fairly calm! ANYWAY......I came up with this GREAT plan! Since I am not in Utah to help....why don't I just bring your kids to AZ with me for a couple of weeks! That way, you guys can have a little bit of a break, and spend as much time working on the house as you can without worrying about finding anyone to tend for you! They accepted! SO - I headed to Arizona with a FULL van.....and 4 kids! WAHOO!!! We made it in one day.....with me as the only driver and let me just say - by the time I got home I was READY FOR BED!! We had so much fun while they were here, we had no major disasters, and I think that for the most part we all had a lot of fun. We spend our days swimming - and let me just say - Lynlee is a FISH! She has NO fear - she jumped in with the big boys! Haley was sort of nervous at first, but after a few days she was jumping in, going completely under without gasping, and was LOVING it! My favorite part was when she would pinch her nose and stick her face in the water! She wanted to be like the big kids! Joel took the older kids to Makutu's Island.....an fun big indoor - Swiss Family Robinson type of tree house, we went to the movies and paid a visit to Chuck E Cheese's. And in the second week Cassie started school - at her new school! There was poop played with ( thank you HALEY), Scribbles on the wall, every single little toy chewed on, burned little feet (poor Haley), tears from EVERYONE.....including me..........laughs from EVERYONE....especially me.....LOADS AND LOADS AND LOADS of laundry, chicken nuggets and mac and cheese and GALLONS of milk consumed........TONS AND TONS AND TONS of hugs and kisses ALL around! And one Bubba who is MISSING her sweet Nieces and Nephew......missing EVERYTHING about them.....including the mess! I am glad Joe and Wendy got a break.........and I am SO glad that I got to spend time with those sweet babies!!

Recap........

2009-08-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

So - there are just a few of the highlights of our Summer in Utah. We did SO many fun things - made SO many fun memories and REALLY enjoyed escaping the heat of Arizona! One of the highlights for both of us was when we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. Cassie has wanted to see the inside of a temple for SO long, and it was just a really neat experience for us to be there together. Cassie was amazed at how beautiful it was, and her favorite room was the Sealing Room. She and I got to spend some time in there alone talking. It was a really neat experience. Cassie had so much fun having sleep overs with cousins, going on adventures with Mom, tasting for the FIRST TIME......the fry sauce from Ripples....which she now claims to be the BEST she has ever tasted! I was able to make two batched of triple berry jam and a two batches of salsa! YUMMY.....Joel was VERY excited to have some Jam back in the house - and I LOVE LOVE LOVE salsa - so it was nice to re-stock the shelves - THANKS MOM for the help!! We both had SO much fun and were sad to see it end....but all good things must come to an end! It was another great summer in PARADISE!!!

Timp Cave

2009-08-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of the Summer for Cassie was to hike to Timp Cave. Debbie's crew, Sarah and her boys, Jake and Allison and Brian and Cassie decided it would be a BLAST to hike to Timp Cave! They left EARLY in the morning and just had a ton of fun! Everyone said that Cassie kept the tour guide VERY busy with all her questions (shocker), But they also said she made it VERY interesting and actually had a lot of knowledge already about caves - (another shocker). Her school had gone to Kartchner Caverns.....a cave system here in AZ and she really enjoyed that so she was excited to see another cave! It was VERY cool inside.......Cassie was very sad when it was over, but she was SO glad she got to go!!

4th of July!

2009-08-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

This was the FUNNEST 4th of July EVER - OK - well, maybe not EVER - but it was a GOOD ONE! My sister in law Cindy did the BEST 4th post EVER......so I will just recap - Everyone in the entire family was there - except for Joel which was a TOTAL bummer! Cassie and I missed him A LOT but he just couldn't get time off from work - like he said - someone has to work so you guys can play - what a GREAT guy!! Anyway - we all got together at Mom and Dad's house for a BBQ.....YUM! We all got really festive with the doo dads and trinkets - from head bands with dingle stars, face tattoos, hats, all the fun stuff! The boys got their tanks ready for "TANK WARS". Which is always a big hit! Holli and her family were able to be there and her kids TOTALLY got into it! After the food and tank wars, the family had a very informal Flag Ceremony. Brian and I shared the Declaration Of Independence, and a patriotic poem, then the family sang the Star Spangled Banner and said the Pledge and then the real party began!! Sarah came up with the idea of a rousing game of Steal The Flag! We grew up playing.....so it was a BLAST!! 4 hours later, SEVERAL bumps and bruises - and a broken nose......Well the whole gang from the littlest ones to the biggest ones joined in and it was a BLAST! After the game it was time to head across the street to view the "Stadium Of Fire".....PERFECT seats thank you very much! And of course - to finish off the night we had the "Culdesac Of Fire". Everyone had purchased HUGE packs of fireworks from Costco so it was another 2 hours of firework fun! I just can't even tell you how much FUN it was to spend the 4th with EVERYONE! GREAT memories! Who knows how many chances we will have to all be together, but when we are blessed with the opportunity, I am SO glad we make it count!!

Fun at the CABIN!

2009-08-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

Jason and Debbie are SO great to invite the whole clan to their cabin! WHAT A BLAST!! It was SO beautiful to be up in the mountains and away from it all. The kids played and got dirty, we sat around the camp fire and told stories, I spent a lot of time taking the kids on 4-wheeler rides, and the next morning Jason took a few of us on a LONG 4-wheeler, dirt-bike ride around the mountain! EVERYTHING was wonderful......except for the DREADED POOP SHOOT!! It's a compost outhouse - and really isn't that bad......but hey - it is what it is and it is NOT my favorite part of the cabin!!!

SUMMER!

2009-08-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Cassie and I so much fun in Utah this Summer! SO much to share! I think I will just take it one at a time - rather than make one GINORMOUS post! But.......I DOUBT these will be in EXACT order! HERE WE GO!!

Cassie and I, and Mom and Sarah and her two boys went to the Manti Pageant. It was Cassie's first time to go to the pageant and I hadn't been for YEARS! We enjoyed the BBQ Turkey Dinner that the Stake's put on - SO yummy! The Turkey was the BEST!! We found some great seats - right across the street from the Temple, and we enjoyed the Pageant so much! They did an AMAZING job! The Temple was BEAUTIFUL and it was a wonderful Summer night.....It was an AWESOME night!!!

The Last Day

2009-08-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Cassie had her last day at San Tan Elementary School. She learned SO much and made a lot of good friends! We both loved her teacher Mrs. Cavanaugh! She was SO good for Cassie in her first year in the CATS program (Chandler Academically Talented Students). When you are a parent, you just PRAY that your kid gets a GREAT teacher - Cassie did and we are SO grateful for her! Thanks Kathy for EVERYTHING!!

God Bless America!

2009-06-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons why I love this country. How in the world do you put into words the love you feel for your country? Well.......I am at a loss. I know that every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner I cry - because I am overwhelmed at how blessed I am to be a citizen of this Country. I think of all of those who have given their lives to gain and to protect the freedom that I enjoy. I think of those people who do not have the freedom that I do. They can't worship the way they choose, work the jobs they choose, have the families they choose....they can't even CHOOSE! I love this time of year. It makes me stop and think about how truly blessed I am to live in America. I hope that as we are all having our BBQ's, enjoying fireworks and parades and family fun, that we stop....just for a moment and think about how blessed we are to live here and recognized the sacrifices that were made so we CAN enjoy ourselves. We may not like everything that is going on right now - we may not like the direction the government is going, we may not agree with ANYTHING that is going on politically.....but still, we are free, for today, and I for one will be forever grateful for the freedom that I enjoy. GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME!!!

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!! DON'T GO!!!!!

2009-06-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

This is SO not like me.....but Joel and I had the RARE opportunity to go to a movie, and we thought something funny was in order - WE MISSED THE MARK BY 1 MILLION MILES!! DO not, under ANY circumstances - WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY on LAND OF THE LOST!! Joel LAID across the seats to sleep.......I just kept waiting and waiting and WAITING for it to get better - IT NEVER DID!!! Joel and I BOTH wanted to walk out.....but didn't tell each other....so we just put up with it! Seriously - this is the WORST movie in HISTORY!!!! If you thought the previews were funny.......well you saw the ONLY funny parts of the movie - so DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!! SERIOUSLY!! Not even $1 at REDBOX!!!!

122 - That is just WRONG!!! SICK AND WRONG!

2009-06-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

After dropping Cassie off at Karate yesterday, I ran to the drug store - it was the last day of school for her, so I thought some movies were in order. ANYWAY - ran in to Walgreens - and was there for about 40 min....you know me - can't resist a good look through a fun drug store! When I got in my car I just about DIED - LITERALLY!! It was SO hot that I could BARELY breathe!!! The thermometer in my car said........122 DEGREES!! Do you have any idea what 122 degrees feels like? OH MY GOSH!!! It was 109 outside....yesterday - FUN enough.....but 122!! That is just SICK AND WRONG!!! Well......we decided to NOT watch movies.......but went swimming instead! Ahhhhhhhh that nice cool water felt SO good! Cass and I had the pool almost completely to ourselves......(how many parents have their kids out swimming at 10 at night). Needless to say - we slept in this morning.....but this is just one more reason I am SO stoked to HEAD TO UTAH!!!

Horny.............The Toad!

2009-05-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Made ya look!! I decided a few days before Memorial Day that our little family needed to GET THE HECK out of the valley......and head for the mountains......YES - there are mountains here in HADES!!! We drove up to Payson - AZ of course......and had SO much fun! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express....and this is a plug for them because it was REALLY nice. The beds were VERY comfortable.....it had a fun pool and spa - A whirlpool tub which Cassie loved to play in, and we got a roll away bed for Cass so EVERYONE was comfortable ! And can I just say the Breakfast they provided was FABULOUS! Fresh eggs, bacon, biscuits, sweet rolls, cereal, milks, juices, fruit - it was really nice! AND FREE!!! We got lucky because there was an arts and crafts fair, and Joel found a new business opportunity! Which he is SO excited about - and which I got dragged in to because it was something I LOVE - JEWELRY!!! I will keep you posted later on this........We had a picnic in the mountains - and hunted for rocks and "creatures". Cassie found a dead snake that she thought was BEAUTIFUL.....and thought was a stick at first......but was really excited for me to see it. FUN FOR ME!!! Then she caught a Horny Toad......it TOTALLY blended in and looked like a rock so we missed it at first, but when she saw it - she ripped her shirt of and caught it and was SO excited! Believe it or not, I thought he was actually cute - maybe she is rubbing off on me! The batteries in the camera were LOW...so I didn't get many pictures, but we got LOTS of memories and came back feeling closer and TOTALLY refreshed!!

The meanest thing........

2009-05-22T20:50:00.001-07:00

So other than "I HATE YOU"......what is the MEANEST thing your kid(s) have ever said to you? I mean something that REALLY hurt your feelings - even though OF COURSE you couldn't let them know that........Mine is....."I wish I had a different Mom". OUCH!!!! Do you think she has even the SLIGHTEST clue how bad that one hurt!!!! She looks harmless enough doesn't she!!!

You Are So Beautiful.........

2009-05-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

This Saturday was Cassie's 9th Birthday. A HUGE hug and thanks to all of you who called or sent her something - it means the WORLD to her! We had such a FUN day! She invited 9 friends over for a pizza and ice skating party! It was fun because she invited friends from all of our wards, and all of our homes (we moved 4 times in 4 years......lots of friends to make!) We had such a fun group of girls! I couldn't believe how EASY it was for those little girls to skate!! I sware they have rubber bums......when they would fall they would literally BOUNCE right back up! They all picked it up REALLY quickly and I enjoyed watching in the 50 degree ice skating rink!! It leaves me to ask the question again - WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? Yesterday she was my little baby girl, today she is my BIG baby girl! I am so proud of her. I love everything about her! Happy Birthday Cass! Mom and Dad LOVE YOU MORE............

Who Doesn't Need One Of These?

2009-05-13T16:08:00.001-07:00

Come ON! Who doesn't need a green and purple wide mouth Parana sponge eater? Cassie went to the pottery store and painted this for me for Mother's Day! What Mom wouldn't want one of these? I LOVE IT CASS!! It will look PERFECT in my oh so carefully decorated un-cluttered kitchen!! Who need diamonds or gold when you can have one of THESE!!!!

To my Mom......To all the women who influence my life!

2009-05-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

I recently finished reading a book - Big Stone Gap - which I really enjoyed. It's a cute story about a woman who looses her Mother....at least that is part of the story. As I was reading, I came along a paragraph that made me cry, and made me think of my Mom. "The terrible things that happen to us in this life never make any sense when we're in the middle of them, floundering, no end in sight. There is no rope to hang on to it seems. Mothers can soothe children during those times, through their reassurance. No one worries about you like your mother, and when she is gone, the world seems unsafe, things happen unwieldy. You cannot turn to her anymore, and it changes your life forever. There is no on one earth who knew you from the day you were born; who knew exactly what to say when you were hurting; and encouraged you to grow a good heart. When that layer goes, whatever is left of your childhood goes with her. Memories are very different and cannot soothe you the same way her touch did. "

Even now.....whenever I am sick, Joel says.....do you want me to call your Mom? There is SO much comfort for me just in her voice. I remember as a little girl, my biggest fear was that something would happen to her....(a very rational fear under the circumstance with my dad). I remember saying that if ANYTHING were to ever happen to my Mom, I wouldn't want to live anymore!! I still feel that way in my heart. My sweet Cassie has been VERY emotionally drawn to me lately.....and the other night she was trying to figure out HOW we could die at the same time......."Grandma should live a really really really really long time, and You should live a really really really long time, and I will live a Really Really long time....and when I am ready to die, we can all die together - that way we will never have to not be with each other". She hugged me and started crying.....and of course - NO ONE CRIES ALONE.......but I was so touched by her feelings. EVERYONE loves their Mom! Maybe it's the unconditional love, maybe it's the constant and unshaken Testimony of the Gospel, maybe its all the amazing knowledge and loving advice, maybe it's like the book said.....that someone knows you from the second you were born, which means they just REALLY get you, maybe it's the differences - and the trying to figure the whole relationship out, maybe it's the knowledge of prayers offered and tears cried on my behalf, well.....whatever it is, I am ETERNALLY grateful for my Mom - for EVERY reason.....for ALL the reasons!

And......I have to add - I am ETERNALLY grateful for ALL of the "Moms" in my life. My amazing Mother in Law - who works TIRELESSLY........at EVERYTHING! Who has been a constant source of support and love, who sets an AMAZING example of missionary service, who still has TONS of get up and go and takes the time to share herself with my daughter - who adores her! For my sisters and sisters in law (Friend you are in this group)- who have so generously shared their beautiful little ones with me, who are such wonderful examples of Motherhood. It's amazing to me to see how perfectly each child was placed....how different each child is, but how PERFECT their moms are for them! For all the Moms who have shared their time with me, and listened to me wonder if I am a good enough Mom. From the strength and support we share with each other. For my Grandmas.....My Grandma Smith whose influence I feel daily in my life. My Granny Meadows - at times made me wonder if she even liked me, but for some reason made it very clear that she LOVED me, and for my Grandma Howard - who accepted me perfectly. To all the amazing Mothers in my life - Happy Mothers Day! THANK YOU! For your constant and wonderful influence in my life.

And to my Amazing Mom......Thank you for giving me life, and THANK YOU for making it good!!!

Where did she go?

2009-05-08T09:11:00.001-07:00

Do you ever look in the mirror and ask yourself the question........WHERE DID I GO? or WHAT HAPPENED TO ME? I guess I ask this question because once again - I have been HIT IN THE FACE with the reality of how FAST time goes by!! My nephew Darren is already on his mission - and I remember comforting him after getting CLOBBERED while trying to play football with the BIG boys.....my nephew Jordan is graduating from HS soon.....and it seems like just YESTERDAY he was telling me how BIG my hair is! Cassie is almost 9 years old and almost done with 3rd grade! Joel and I have been living in Arizona for almost 5 years.......which is 2 more than I originally committed to! Joel and I have been married for almost 16 YEARS!!! HOLY COW!!!!! Babies are growing up.......life marches on.....and I look at myself and wonder - WHERE DID I GO? I still FEEL like the me.....the old me....or should I say the YOUNG me....but when I look in the mirrior.......even though it is not ALL bad......well I can't help but wonder - WHERE DID I GO? On the LIGHTER side of it all........I am glad that I am still here to look in the mirror and wonder.....I am SO grateful for the life and love that I have....I am blessed....but I can't help to wish in my heart that time would SLOW DOWN.......even just a little bit!! For the new things with us......Cassie is LOVING Karate....Joel is working hard - And TONS - I am enjoying all of my various "projects". We are looking forward to Summer in Utah......and are just enjoying our lives.

HA HA HA HA HA GOTCHA!!!!!

2009-04-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

Picture if you will........Jessica laughing her FOOL HEAD OFF for well........about 20 min!! Let me set this story up!! When Joel first moved to AZ, someone told him to ALWAYS check his shoes, because sometimes scorpions crawl in and will sting you when you stick your foot in....so Joel - no matter WHAT shoes he is putting - always shakes them out. Last night, we were sitting on the couch chatting - and he was getting ready to go running with Shiloh. He had his shoes - and was shaking them out - and the idea hit me......GET HIM and GET HIM GOOD!!! Why you ask- because for whatever sick twisted reason - NOTHING is funnier to me than someone getting scared!! So - with a look of HORROR on my face - I started screaming and pointing.....as if a scorpion was falling out of his shoes.....you have NEVER....NEVER EVER seen Joel jump off the couch faster!! He was......I guess a mix between grunting and yelling.....his arms were out....and he was squatting - like he was guarding someone in basketball.....spun around TRYING to figure out WHAT THE HECK my problem was....Cassie JUMPED A MILE ( so I considered it a twofer!). I started LAUGHING.....and he realized what had happened...he wasn't really mad, but he kind of sat on me.....and I continued for the next 20 min to have a laughing FIT!! May not sound too funny - and I guess you had to be there - but TRUST ME....IT WAS PRICELESS!!! And just to add......Joel is SUCH a good sport - and SO STINKING EASY TO SCARE!!!! *Cute Joel is the little guy on the right......cute Sean is the little guy on the left!! Just LOVE this picture of Joel and his big brother!!

WHEW!!!!

2009-04-19T19:29:00.001-07:00

MY FAMILY CAME FOR A VISIT!!! It was the perfect visit! The only bad thing about it was that it was WAY too short.....and it ended WAY to soon! I spent most of Yesterday just being sad......just because I miss having them here....but I am also SO happy because I was so blessed to have them come! I love my family! I am SO grateful for them!! What is better than memories made!!!

I just can't even describe how WONDEFUL it was to have them here! The house was full of noise, laughter, crying, kids and fun! It felt like a house should feel! I woke up and got ready every morning to my Cannon coming in to say "hey bubba" then he would get on the scale and boldly tell me he was "sirty four pounds Bubba!" Every time I looked like I was going somewhere he would say "I go with you Bubba!" before he would go to bed each night, he could come in a sit with Bubba......I loved EVERY SECOND of it! The girls were SO stinkin' cute! Sidney was the perfect little snuggle bug! She was a SWEETHEART! And Savana was darling! It took her a couple of days to

figure out when Bubba was teasing her....but she did and I just have to say NOTHING is cuter than her sweet little giggle! It was amazing to have Debbie and Mom here. We laughed, we talked, we cried, we just spent time together and enjoyed eachother! I LOVED having them here!

The kids got to go with Joel and Jason to Makutus Island on Saturday afternoon before we died eggs. The guys were such GREAT sports and the kids had a blast!!

Easter was FUN! The kids had a blast coloring eggs.....Cannon broke his by just plopping them into the dye....the girls had fun adding sparkles and stickers to their eggs and we had fun helping. They got up in the morning and found all of the inside candy eggs, and then went outside to look for the eggs they colored. It was a beautiful Spring day, couldn't have been prettier.....we all went to church and Sacrament Meeting was wonderful, I had to teach in Relief Society and it was really fun to have Mom and Debbie there to support me.

We went to the park A LOT! The kids had so much fun playing with eachother! Debbie thought it was FREEZING - GIVE ME A BREAK!! It was in the high 60s and the low 70s but it was fairly windy...Debbie, Mom and I enjoyed just hanging out and watching them play.

The amazing week ended with us all going to Cassie's school carnival! they had bounce houses, a hay ride and the various kids carnival booths. The kids had SO much fun and it was really a great way to finish up an amazing week! Cannon and Sidney got to go inside the big Fire Enginewhich was REALLY cool!

What a WONDERFUL world!!!!

2009-04-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am constantly amazed at how my beautiful daughter's mind works. Cassie is just amazed and enthralled by EVERYTHING that Heavenly Father made. She wants to know how EVERYTHING works and LOVES to learn about anything and EVERYTHING....especially new things. Cassie is in the CATS program at school....Let me just say that I think EVERY CHILD.....GIFTED OR NOT should be given the extra opportunities for learning that Cassie has received. ANYWAY....Saturday (between conference sessions OF COURSE) Cassie was able to go to the CATS expo...where all of the CATS teachers in the district do a variety of displays, science stuff, dissections, experiments....EVERYTHING to interest someone like Cassie. She had SO much fun! The sheep eyeball dissection was for the 7th and 8th graders....but Cassie talked her way into it and LOVED it. She enjoyed the squid..... and JOY OF JOYS....brought home the "beak".....BOTH with no gloves.....at least at first.....She had a blast "digging" for treasures, having a bubble around her, and visiting with "Einstein". I have tried to figure out what it was that made her the way she is.....well obviously she came that way....but Joel and I, from the time she was TINY just really tried to figure out what she liked and what she was interested in, and just really encouraged it. Even though she was our little girly princess......we loved that she loved her bugs, insects, animals, dinosaurs....and basically, we just really encouraged her to be her. And what an amazing HER she is!! It is a JOY to see the world through her eyes......AMAZING!!

SORRY MOM!!!

2009-03-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

The other night, I went in to help Cassie wash her hair. She likes to use my shower, and LOVES to play with the extra hose. ANYWAY.......for whatever reason, the shower sprayer got away from her at EXACTLY the same time I opened the shower door......and YEP!!! I got SOAKED!! It seemed like it took her forever to finally catch the flying hose......and I of course was yelling....she was panicking......and then......she caught it, the spraying stopped....she looked at me SCARED TO DEATH - as if I was going to KILL her......it was silent for a few seconds, and then we BOTH started laughing our HEADS off!!! Needless to say - Cassie thought it was MUCH funnier than I did - but we both got a good laugh out of it. This is the picture she drew so we could remember the experience. Ahhhhhhhh KIDS!!!

Ostrich Festival

2009-03-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

Cassie and Joel had SO much fun at the Ostrich Festival. Cute Cassie - with all of her elderly friends in our ward went around asking people if they were able to go to the Festival, and telling them how much fun she had. I don't know what it is about her - but she is really drawn to the older members of our ward. She always has been. In our first Mesa ward, for whatever reason, all of the Widows and Widowers.....and there were several.....would sit on the long back row in the chapel. She would go one by one shaking their hands and talking to them....and she would sit and visit with them until church started. She LOVES them - and they love her. Anyway.....these are just some of the pictures from the festival.

Just one of those days........

2009-03-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

It's 9:30 pm...and I am sitting here at my computer - in an empty house. Today has been just one of those days. We got off to a good start. Got up, went "garage sailing" and found some GREAT deals - which I always LOVE. About an hour and a half in - I got SICK.......REALLY sick - so nauseated that I wanted to just PUKE.....but I didn't. I had Joel and Cass get me home - as fast as possible.....and I went to bed - and slept for almost 5 hours. I have been really fighting with a nasty head cold gomboo thing - and now the stupid H. Pylori Bacteria and MASSIVE antibiotic treatment.....(which is what made me sick oddly enough - weak stomach that I have). Cassie and Joel were great. They were VERY quiet while I slept - and Joel did the grocery shopping for me - because he knows I hate it -and he knows I wasn't feeling up to it. ANYWAY....Saturday is Daddy Daughter Day - so Joel decided to take Cass to the local Ostrich Festival. It's an annual thing for us - they have gone every year since we moved here - so it's a tradition. It closes at midnight.....and we have late church - so I don't expect them home any time soon. I OF COURSE will be waiting up for them - I can't sleep until my family is safely home. So I am sitting here at my computer - have looked at every ones blogs......looked at Facebook and STILL don't understand why everyone likes it so much.....so got off it almost as quickly as I got on.....I am watching some stupid scary show on TV which is DUMB since I am in my house ALONE. I do have Shiloh here who is sitting at my feet - licking my toes - WHICH FREAKS ME OUT!! I am thinking about you all - how grateful I am for my life - thinking about my upcoming surgery - feeling apprehensive but excited......wanting to go to bed - and am looking forward to church tomorrow. So - it has been "one of those days". but I really am glad to have had it.

My Best........FRIEND!!!!

2009-03-09T20:12:00.001-07:00

I have a best friend. In fact, we actually call each other "friend"......rather than our names.....when I call her I say - HI FRIEND.....and she does the same. I am thankful for my friend - EVERY DAY. Why I love my friend - well - mainly because she gets me.....she REALLY gets me. She understands all my moods - good and bad - when I am FREAKING out - and acting like a crazy woman - she KNOWS that it's best to just LAUGH...not take it personally. She is there for me ALWAYS and NO MATTER WHAT!! When I call to find out what she is making for dinner....to get some ideas - she shows up a few hours later with dinner for ME. She comes to my house when I am out of town during the holidays - brings her kids and takes MY Christmas decorations down - because she knows how hard it will be for me to leave my family and come back to AZ and see Christmas still up. She brings me a Cherry Coke from SONIC....with the good ice - when I don't feel good, when I am in the middle of a project, or on the days that I just NEED a Coke!! She makes me laugh - like almost no one else can. For whatever reason - when the two of us get together we LAUGH!! (And she will KILL me for the pictures I have posted). She reminds me of what is important....and lives her life thoroughly and loves INTENSELY. She is LOYAL to those who are blessed enough to have earned her loyalty. She cries - ALL the time - with everyone who is crying, and for whatever reason there is to cry. Which makes me laugh - and sometimes cry with her. She loves to sit with me at the park and be the park "Moms". Making sure the kids are ALL getting along and behaving themselves (the LANGUAGE!).Speaking off Moms.....she is ONE OF THE BEST!! She is DETERMINED to raise her kids to be GOOD STRONG UPSTANDING people.....and they are WELL on their way!! She loves her husband FIERCELY......and truly adores her "lovey" She has a great testimony....and works hard to live the gospel that she loves - she wants to be a better person, tries her best to be a better person every day, and makes me want to be a better person. Did I mention that I am not just lucky to have her for a friend.....she is my COUSIN!! I grew up with her....I am grateful EVERY SINGLE DAY that I was blessed to have her in my life. I want her to know that. She is my friend for ALWAYS and NO MATTER WHAT!!! Love ya FRIEND!!!!

Birthday Thank You!

2009-03-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

I just want to thank EVERYONE who sent me a Birthday wish....with the DARLING songs from Neices and Nephews......and songs from their parents (while lovely....not quite as cute). From Holli's family calling at 7am To Sarah's beautiful rendition of the Primary Song......in all the languages no less......to Joe, Debbie, Pam, Mom, Dad, Brendan, Leslie , Kendall and ALL of you who emailed, called - or sent love in all the amazing ways you love. Holli - thank you for an AMAZING Birthday Lunch......who could ask for a better friend!! Joel, for the Roses, the email, the phone call.....and for the love you send me every day. Cassie.....for all the birthday hugs and kisses......and for the wonderful home-made card/present - best gift EVER!! Thanks to my Visiting Teachers - who brought me flowers and bubble bath - what a GREAT combination!! Thanks to Liz whose words were PERFECT.....Thanks to Brendan for reminding me I'm OLD......Thanks to Mom for giving me my life - and for making it good!! Thanks to EVERYONE of you who bring meaning to my life - and who remind me once again.....how BLESSED I am to have the life I have......so today, I celebrate my Birthday with ALL of you.....THANK YOU for loving me.....and for reminding me how GREAT it is to be blessed to have had another birthday!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

It's my party and I'll CRY IF I WANT TO!!!

2009-03-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE Birthdays. I don't usually tend to be a half empty kind-of gal.....But - I HATE Birthdays and I HATE New Years.......why you ask - because for me it's another year gone - memories that will NEVER happen again - good and bad. Time spent with those we love that will never be the same, things I wish I had done, and didn't do, one less year with my "baby girl" - as a "baby girl". Time just passes way to quickly for my happiness.......and yet....I have decided to TRY to feel differently this year. I am trying to re-fill my half empty glass.......I was blessed to have another WONDERFUL year here on this earth. I was blessed to make some wonderful forever memories with my friends and family. I saw some amazing sunsets, some amazing night skies, some amazing mornings, and had some WONDERFUL mornings sleeping in. My testimony has grown, I have learned a lot, I love my family even more if that is possible.....I have shed many tears - but BOY it feels good to have a good cry sometimes. We have our health, we have a job, we have been blessed with SO much.......SO - Even though I hate Birthdays, it makes it MUCH easier to think of all the amazing and wonderful things I experienced this year - and think of how blessed I am to hopefully be blessed with another year - full of unexpected and wonderful new experiences!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! (And of course to the best birthday present I ever got - my brother Joe....Happy Birthday Bozer!!!)

Cassie got PROMOTED!!

2009-02-26T20:32:00.000-08:00

Cassie was promoted from a white belt in Karate to a Yellow belt....and we are SO proud of her! Last night was the promotion ceremony....and I didn't know what to expect - but it was SO cool! All of the kids from around the valley were there....and they were each presented and then promoted. Cassie did GREAT...but she was bugged because her "Sifu" said that one thing about Cassie was she always has BEAUTIFUL hair...well Cassie has told me that she does NOT want to be known for just her hair (how funny is that). Anyway....it was an awesome experience - for both of us. I as her Mom am just THRILLED that we have found something that is SO good for her, that she enjoys SO much....and that she is getting really good at!! ( Sorry about the order of the pictures....they are all jumbled up but you get the gist) PRESENT YOURSELF CASS!!! KEYAH!!!

Blessed.......NOT Lucky!!!

2009-02-24T15:21:00.001-08:00

I have a GREAT friend - who came to my Infertility Support Group (that I started while living in Mesa). She has been waiting to adopt a baby for almost 4 years....I just got an email for her today saying that she has been CHOSEN!! She found an amazing birth angel - who is expecting a boy in July. They are so excited they can hardly breathe!! She is a teacher, and they are just amazing people! Miracles do happen - maybe not when we want - and DEFINITELY not when we expect them to come, but they DO come!!

Introducing "THE MOM BOX"

2009-02-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to figure out how much to require of Cassie. You know...there is such a FINE LINE in doing too much for our kids - and having our kids do to much. She already does the dishes....clears, empties the dishwasher, or loads the dishwasher - some nights she does all 3. Lately, I have noticed that I spend a good chunk of my morning cleaning up after her. It is AMAZING to me how much stuff ONE child can leave around the house. So - I came up with the "Mom Box". What is the "Mom Box" you ask? The Mom box is MY way of teaching Cassie the importance of CLEANING UP AFTER HERSELF! How it works....I have a small box - EVERYTHING Cassie leaves around the house goes into the "Mom Box". If she wants her stuff back - she has to pay me .10 for each item. If the box gets all the way full - she can either pay me $5 to get her stuff back - OR - it becomes MINE and I get to do whatever I want to with it....which means DI here I COME!! When the "Mom Box" was introduced....well it went over about as well as a pregnant pole-vaulter - but now that we have been doing it for a while.....let me just tell you - she does a quick pick up before she goes to bed - AND in case she missed anything she does one before she leaves for school (Mom Box time begins when I get back from taking her to school). I don't have to say ANYTHING to her....I just go over and tap the box - MESSAGE RECEIVED! It's so funny how small things can motivate kids! I am sure this would not work for everyone - especially if your kids don't care about money....but chances are VERY good that there is SOMETHING they care a lot about that would motivate them to not loose to the "Mom Box". VICTORY for the MAMAS!!!

Love My Valentine!

2009-02-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

So - My Valentine this year was SO darn cute!!! He surprised me - he got tickets to Hale Center Theatre - here in Gilbert! It was WONDERFUL....I tended for Holli on Friday and she tended for me on Saturday. Joel and I went to dinner - Carrabas - my FAVORITE.....then we went to the mall and wandered (we went to an early dinner so we didn't have to wait - perfect timing). We got to the theater and it was wonderful! It's a BEAUTIFUL little theater - those of you who have been to Hale in Orem, the set-up is the same, but the theater is new and beautiful. Joel went weeks early and hand picked the seats for us.....TONS of leg room - perfect seats with a perfect view....TOTALLY comfortable. The play we saw was "Lend Me A Tenor"....HILARIOUS!! We BOTH really enjoyed it! The cast was just 8 people and they were all amazing!! Joel really went out of his way to pick this date just for me - and I LOVED it - and I LOVE him!!

Upper GI - YUCKY GROSS!!!

2009-02-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

So I spent this morning at the hospital - had to have a couple of tests. Has anyone had a upper G.I.? If the answer is "yes" - I am SOOOOO SORRY - if the answer is "no" NEVER NEVER NEVER have this test...unless you ABSOLUTELY have to!! SO NASTY!! This is how it starts.......Strip from the waist up.....lovely enough.....THEN - you drink a little sacrament sized cup of rocks - FIZZY rocks......MEGA fizzy rocks - with about half a sacrament sized cup of water...to wash it down - and get it REALLY fizzing. THEN......you get the hot chocolate sized cup of "thick barium" - this stuff looks like chalk, tasts like chalk and is the consistency of mud. They say take a big gulp - OK......Gulp.....Gag.....gag......gag.....gag...."take another big gulp...."gag...gag....gag.....gag.....gag...."now drink the whole thing".....Me - "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"....them - NO....you need to drink the whole thing.....GAG/...GAG.....GAG......GAG....done. (during all this they are having me hold my breath and turn various directions while they x-ray my guts). They lay the table down....have me roll around like a log -3 times - which is NOT an easy thing to do when you are on a table that is about a foot wide - and you have all the x-ray stuff above you!! So - after you roll - they say - lay on your stomach....you do - and then JOY of JOYS...here comes the "thin barium". Another hot chocolate sized cup - FULL.....of the same stuff as before - but now it's the texture of.......thin mud. This one they say GULP........so you start gulping.......GAG....Gag....>Gag......Gag......Gag...... and you KNOW it's bad when the male nurse keeps asking if you are OK.......During this loveliness they say.......Hold your breath and don't move....gulp more - hold your breath don't move.....gulp some more. Last but not least - roll over onto your back....(thank HEAVENS the drinking crap is over). Now -I kid you not....this is what they say...."bear down like you are going to have a bowel movement.....BUT DON'T"..... Which makes me laugh - as IF I am going to have a BM on the table!!! So - you do what they say and FINALLY it's over!! YOU ARE DONE........when you go to change your clothes - you look in the mirror and see that your entire MOUTH is white - covered in dried up barium - both thick and thin........your teeth are coated and GRITTY......and your throat is burning from the fizzy crap - and FINALLY......relief - BUUUUUURRRRRRRPPPPPPPPP! After the upper GI the EKG was a BREEZE!!! Hopefully everything is OK - and I will NEVER NEVER NEVER have to do that again - EVER!!!!!

Trash To Treasure

2009-02-15T16:31:00.001-08:00

THE SONG IS MEANT AS A JOKE.....Here is another one of my favorite finds! This GORGEOUS dresser was found at a garage sale for just $10!! Now - again I didn't take pictures BEFORE I started on it.....but Holli can once again back me up - it had about 10 layers of paint.......so I stripped the paint and the varnish - replaced the handles - re-stained the wood....I had originally wanted to leave the top stained like the rest of the dresser, but the wood on top was just too damaged - I sanded and sanded, but couldn't get the damage to lift - one side looks like it had been burned. ANYWAY - I decided that since the nobs were black, that the top would look really good black - IT DOES! This dresser was supposed to be for the guest room - but I saw on a design show them use a dresser as a sofa table - so I thought I would give it a try - LOVE IT. Ten dollars - TONS of elbow grease......and some creativity and VOILA!! LOVE IT.....and I have already started my next project -and I DID remember to take pictures BEFORE I dug in!!

I'm To Sexy......

2009-02-13T11:24:00.001-08:00

So the other day I was at JCPenney - and found some GONGA deals!! This outfit Cass has on was $2.97! Can you BELIEVE IT!! Anyway.....I had Cassie go upstairs and try it on. She was taking FOREVER and I kept calling for her to come down. She had worn braids in her hair that day........when she came down - well she was feeling ALL kids of SASSY!!! She had taken her hair out and brushed it....so it was big and fluffy, and she had put on her strappy Sunday shoes. She was feeling so cute she got the camera and posed.....and wanted me to take a million pictures!! I can't describe the look on her face....she KNEW she looked good.....you could tell that she FELT that she looked good.....it was HILARIOUS......sitting there crossing her legs, posing.....I was just thinking.....well honey - as long as you feel good...that is all that matters!! What a little poser!!!

Better Picture

2009-02-13T09:34:00.001-08:00

OK - so MANY people have asked if I could add a better picture of my chair - so for those of you who want a close up look - here ya go!!

What is WRONG with people?

2009-02-10T07:25:00.001-08:00

OK - so yesterday I went to Walmart....I was SLOWLY driving through the parking lot - looking for a space. As I drove up one of the rows, a small sports car, that was parked between a suburban and a truck started backing out. I was almost right behind him, and I thought for sure he saw me....he stopped for a second, and then started backing out again....He came inches from hitting me, so I honked my horn - To which he honked his horn....and of COURSE flipped me off. I was thinking to myself - "SERIOUSLY? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I just SAVED YOU FROM HITTING MY CAR YOU JERK!". Well - that wasn't enough for him....he had to pull around to the next row - right in front of me - and continued with his lovely bird throwing routine. He flipped me off with one hand - then the other hand - then BOTH hands.....I just sat there with my hands up as if to say....WHAT THE HECK IS YOUR PROBLEM!!! He just sat there.....and FINALLY realized that he didn't scare me.....him and his fancy flying birds......so he drove off.....but of COURSE not before he came within INCHES of hitting another woman - who was returning her cart. Well....that made HER mad and SHE started to have a bird throwing fight with this same guy - he was HONKING, he was FLIPPING...and I can ONLY guess the loveliness that was coming out of his mouth!! By this time I was SO mad at this guy my stomach and heart were BOTH pounding!!! So I sat there....trying to calm down before facing the herds in the store....and noticed a young lady trying to load her car. She had purchased a huge tote - had loaded ALL of her groceries into the tote - and was trying to load the whole thing into the back of a VERY tall truck......I was thinking - SERIOUSLY....you think you are going to lift that thing by yourself? So I got out - walked over and asked her if I could help her. At first she looked at me like "who the heck are you"......and realized I really did just want to help - so I grabbed one end of the tote, helped her lift it into her truck, then took her empty cart for her. She thanked me again and again....and I just said, "No worries". Helping her was the ONLY thing I could think of doing to feel better and CALM DOWN!! But it made me think.....what is WRONG with people? Why was he SO mad at me for honking at him - to tell him to stop....so HE didn't hit me? How was that so offensive? Yep - I realize that this world is pretty stressful right now......everyone has A LOT of stuff going on - but does that give us the right to treat each other with such LITTLE respect? To be unkind - impatient - and just RIDICULOUS!! NOPE!! I hope that SOMETHING makes that guy realize how ridiculous he acted yesterday - but I doubt it......Maybe the next person will let him hit them - go after his insurance - and REALLY give him a bad day.......

VOILA and TA DAH!!!

2009-01-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

So I love a good project! Lately my favorite thing to do is go to a garage sale - find a good "project" for a good price, have Joel get it for an even better price - and dig in. I wish I would have taken pictures of this chair before I totally dug in - but trust me - it was NOTHING to look at!! Notice the missing leg........

This chair was for $10, but we got it for $7. The fabric was $20 a yard (Cassie picked it) but I got it for $3.....and then of course I had to buy the trim - but it was like $1.99 a yard - and I only needed a couple of yards - so you do the math. As I took it apart, I paid CLOSE attention to how it was put together......I painted the wood part black - fixed the leg....gorilla glue and nails ROCK......used my handy staple gun and fabric glue - and VOILA and TA DAH!!!!

The finished product!! Yeah - that's leopard print.....and it feels SO cool!! It's soft, but the black part is like patent leather......GREAT texture! I wasn't so sure about how much I would like it when Cassie picked the fabric, I figured it would end up in her room - or out on the curb when we have a garage sale, but I just have to say I LOVE how it turned out - and now it has found a permanent home in my LIVING ROOM!!!

KUNG FU CASSIE!!!

2009-01-24T17:32:00.000-08:00

Today Cassie and Joel went to an Karate exhibit. She got to see her "Sifu" break a stack of 10 bricks!! There was also a blind guy....who helps teach the class who broke ten bricks!! He lost his sight in the war - which is inspring to watch!

Another guy broke bricks with his head!! She has been talking about it NON stop since she got home!

What a COOL thing! I love Karate....because it teaches SO much more than just Karate.....respect, life skills, control - and for Mom the best part - SELF DEFENSE!!!

You go GIRL!!!

Cassie is taking KARATE!! Big shock isn't it.......nope! Cassie took dance for a year - and didn't enjoy it at all - but she is LOVING LOVING LOVING Karate.......and HOLY COW...talk about a work out!! Girlfriend is getting some SERIOUS stomach muscles!! We LOVE her "Sifu" He really pushes academics....is patient.....firm....STRICT......and is just GREAT!! Cassie gives each class 150%....so "Sifu" really appreciates her...he tells us after class how impressed he is with how much she puts her whole heart into it. Joel and I are both SO surprised at how fast she is improving.....Cassie tends to be not all that coordinated....but she is really getting SO much better!! We are really happy she has found something she enjoys so much!!

1,2,3,4.........

2009-01-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

OK - so I know....not everyone enjoys the gushy posts....but I am gushy (and I don't just mean my bottom!) Sunday after church, Joel told me about a couple in the ward that is divorcing after 17 years. Joel said that the guy said his wife was just making his life *&%#!!! I asked for details, and Joel didn't have any.....but I felt a little bit defensive for the wife - mainly because I am one.....but because I can see how being frustrated with ones spouse - can make it very easy to make their lives *&%#! We started talking....which lead to us "intensely discussing" some of the situations in our marriage - nothing major might I add...just the little vexations that plague ANYONE who is married ( don't you DARE try to tell me - NOT US....OUR marriage is WONDERFUL) EVERYONE - I repeat EVERYONE has vexations with their spouse from time to time. ANYWAY.....after we finished discussing.....I just sat there - and thought - MAN......he just really doesn't get it at ALL.....and then I sat there thinking some more....realizing that it was perhaps ME who didn't get it at all......In my defense - I will tell you that it is not hard for me at ALL to admit my weaknesses and faults when it comes to our marriage issues....but I hate the feeling of "he just doesn't understand me"...because after 15 years of being married....well shouldn't we be "getting" eachother by now? So....I did what we are told to do - find the GOOD things about our spouses......find the wonderful amazing things that we LOVE about them.....and for me - well it is just TOO easy to find the good. For those of you who don't know.....Joel gets up at 4:15 every morning to be to work at 5. He doesn't usually get home until after 7pm...and doesn't take a lunch....because he doesn't want to spend the money.....he takes almost EVERY Saturday and gives it to Cassie for what they both lovingly call "Daddy Daughter Day". He is in the Elders Quorum Presidency.....and helps every family move, goes on ward visits every Tuesday....teaches lessons on Sunday, and schedules the building for cleaning. I NEVER NEVER NEVER have to remind him to put the toilet seat down.....NEVER......NOT ONCE has he ever forgotten to put it down. He ALWAYS takes out the trash....without being asked.....EVER. And guess what.....after working ALL day - he will finish eating his dinner and start doing the DISHES....because he knows how much I hate doing the dishes. He is one of the TOP Executive Counselors at work - IN THE ENTIRE COMPANY....and bought me a BEAUTIFUL new home....and car in the past year. He honors his Priesthood, has a sweet and humble testimony of The Gospel, is a worthy Temple Recommend Holder, tolerates my dog, tells me ALL THE TIME how Beautiful he thinks I am. Plays with his neices and nephews....and ESPECIALLY his daughter - not because he has to, but because he wants to.......AND THEY ADORE HIM!!! Goes to the box and gets the mail every day - which doesn't sound like a big deal - but here in AZ....they don't deliver the mail to your house - and he KNOWS how I obsess if the mail is left in the box!! He is willing to run ENDLESS erands....and has even gone BACK to the store if I forgot to put something on the list......Is REALLY bad about doing projects around the house, but is SO proud of his wife when she does!! AND....if his schedule wasn't full enough - he is enrolled in school to get his degree - AND finds time to set up football/basketball contests....Play ball as often as he can.....and LOVES HIS WIFE!!! WHEW.......no wonder he is tired when he comes home at night!!! SO - as easy as it is to find the things that he DOESN'T do right - or to say that he doesn't understand me......He does - he TOTALLY gets me - and I am lucky to have him.....I hope he knows that - and if he doesn't......well..........I LOVE YA BABE!!!

New beginnings......

2009-01-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

We are BACK!! We spent more than 2 weeks in Utah - having a BLAST!! Joel hooked up with his old friends and played Ball......went to movies....slept....watched TONS of football....and just relaxed!! Cassie played with her cousins, had sleep-overs, went sledding, made a HUGE snowman with her Uncle Brian......got sick.......and had a GREAT Christmas!! And as for me - I got to go HOME!! We got TONS of snow the day after we arrived.....it was beautiful!! I got to go to a play with Mom, go to movies with Joel and others.....went sledding - YEP I even went down the hill a couple of times......LOVED the cold weather - and LOVED spending Christmas in the snow!! It was such an AWESOME time. There would be pictures....but my camera is having ISSUES.....ANYWAY - it was an AMAZING trip home....one of the best EVER I would say. WE were all SO blessed in 2008.....regardless of all of the obvious trials (OBAMA).......I am very excited to look forward and see what 2009 will bring!!! Giddyup....HERE WE GO!!!

My Daughters Eyes.....

2008-12-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

This is going to be one of those gushy ones....so for those who hate this stuff - move along.....I have considered a "Things I am Thankful For " list and I am afraid I would use up my entire blogging world space with the list...so I am going to write about one. My Daughter. I love her!! I am grateful for EVERY SECOND she is in my life. I would have waited another 7 years if it meant that I would be blessed to be her Mom. She is amazing in so many ways....she is smart - SO smart...she is funny, sweet, kind, has a good heart, LOVES to laugh, surprises me EVERY day with some smart insight into something she has been thinking about, loves reading the scriptures in the morning with her Mom - and says her day just isn't the same if she misses it....wants to spend time with me...wont go to bed at night unless I tuck her in with LOTS of kisses....is BEAUTIFUL to look at, and even MORE beautiful to know!! Has a kind and gentle heart - and LOVES EVERYONE - but thinks sometimes they exist to just love her! She has a sweet testimony and wants to always Choose The Right. I am grateful for her amazing mind - for the way she thinks about things, the way she tries to figure everything out, the way she wants to know about EVERYTHING and will spend hours reading about it and looking it up on the computer. I love the way she looks at me and tells me I look pretty - that she wants to have hair just like me - and wants to grow as tall as me.....and wants to be JUST like me! I love how she wants to grow up to be a vet or a doctor - and "you can live with me Mom and tend my kids when I have to work". I love that she believes she can do anything and be anything she wants to be (because it's true!). I love that she is a miracle, and understands what it means to BE a true miracle - and that she thinks it's PRETTY AWESOME!! I love how she loves her Dad....how she counts down the days for it to be Daddy Daughter Day - and plans their activities.....and how they enjoy EVERY second they spend together. I love how she saves her allowance - so she can go "garage sailing" with Mom and Dad early on Saturday mornings.....and barter with people to get something down from $1 to .10!! She ROCKS at bartering...and isn't afraid to say - "that is a total RIP OFF". I love how she says "I Never Knew".......as a statement -not as part of a sentence...I love how she sees Heavenly Father's world - and how she loves EVERY SINGLE LITTLE CREATURE in it!! I love how her heart is big enough to love EVERYTHING and EVERYONE.....and how she always prays for people who need it!! I love how Cassie fills my heart with joy....how she fills my world with light! I love how beautiful her eyes are....how they truly sparkle when she is excited about something.....and I LOVE that Heavenly Father picked her out just for me!!! I get to be HER Mom!! I am SO blessed in SO many ways....but when it comes to my beautiful Cassie - i just can't even MEASURE the enormity of how blessed I am!! My prayer, is that I can live to be the person she believes I am. I LOVE YOU CASSIE!!!

These Are A Few Of MY Favorite Things.......

2008-11-30T10:59:00.000-08:00

So - I LOVE trying out ALL of the new products that come out....it's FUN for me!! BUT.....there are a few tried and true items that I LOVE....that I HATE to be without.....They are part of my beauty/comfort arsenal! Go ahead....give em a try!!! 1st. I LOVE Jergens Original lotion - the cherry almond flavor.....such a light clean smell - PERFECT for right out of the shower - Makes my skin soft, and smells REALLY nice. 2nd. I am NEVER without Blistex Complete Moisture....it's in the blue tube - I just CAN NOT even describe how much I love this product!!! It can be hard to find - so I usually buy it in bulk. It's in the pharmacy at walmart - and costs about $1.39 a tube - LOVE IT!!! It makes my lips SO soft....and almost feels like lotion going on - almost....smells and tastes really good and makes my lips SOFT!! This is part of my nightly routine. 3rd - ASPERCREME!! This is my MUST HAVE for my purse - and by my bed...I rub it on sore knees....feet, back, shoulder and hands - ANYWHERE I have an ache and pain - it has NO smell and works REALLY good......so I don't have to take medicine to fall asleep - LOVE IT! 4th Sarna Anti Itch Lotion.....it's Pricey...in the Pharmacy.....but is AWESOME - it has a menthol smell, is GREAT for sunburn....and really takes care of winter itch - This lotion REALLY cools the skin - so I LOVE using it at night in the hot summer.....if you have itchy skin and cant sleep because of it - try a LITTLE of this and you will feel a MILLION times better!!! 5th Swiss Ives Skin Polisher - with Cocoa and Shea Butter - Find it at Walgreens - this stuff ROCKS!! PERFECT to buff away dry skin!! You have to scoop this stuff out in hard chunks - but once you add water and rub......WOW!! It lathers up - smells AWESOME - and when you rinse it off - HOLY COW TALK ABOUT SOFT!!! You skin doesn't need lotion and on legs before shaving - SILKY!!! 6th. Ban Roll On in Unscented and Secret Clinical....I use these in combination - roll on first, Secret on top - YES....it sounds excessive, but for those of you who sweat - A LOT....try this - Not a drop of wet!! 7th. Lightdays thin and long pantyliners - Can't live without these!! Perfect for staying "fresh" in the hot sweaty summer months - GREAT for light days - and you can't feel them - AT ALL....thin as heck - blend TOTALLY into your underclothes- LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!! 8th. Walmart's brand of whitening pre-rinse. If you want to get the MOST out of brushing your teeth - give this stuff a shot!! It's about $4 - HUGE bottle......Has quite a bit of Hydrogen Peroxide...you can definitely taste it - but this stuff cleans your mouth and teeth - and when you brush - your teeth are SLICK.....they feel GREAT!!! And it really helps heal up canker sores and gum boils. 9th. Vaseline hand and nail lotion. I use this every night.....really makes nails strong, cuticles soft - and I have noticed that my nails grow VERY fast when I use this and rub it in at night - PLUS it makes my hands soft and smooth!! 10th. Mary Kay Timewise Eye Creme -Since I was about 15 I have been using eye creme at night - and this is the one I LOVE. It's pricey, but I get it on ebay and get a really good deal. A little goes A LONG way - and from what I can see - works really good at fighting those approaching 40 crows feet!! LOVE IT!! SO - that's my top 10 list of beauty items I love.....there are more I HATE to be without (define-a-lash Mascara by Maybeline - ROCKIN' LASHES).....but I won't bore you with those - These are my winter survival items......LOVE THEM ALL!!! GIVE EM A TRY - and let me know what you think!!

Remember When........

2008-11-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

As anyone who knows me knows VERY well......I get EXTREMELY sentimental this time of year.....not really sure why....but I think it has to do with the passing of time - and the fact that we can do NOTHING about it.....(maybe it's the whole control freak thing) I was organizing my pictures - moving them into new albums.....and thought it might be fun to share my walk down memory lane with all of you. I love you all.....and ENJOY!!!

We are a HAPPY FAMILY!!!

2008-11-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

Sunday afternoon - Joel, Cassie and I spent a WONDERFUL afternoon together. Debbie had a fun post on her blog, and I found a really fun craft idea - that I thought wouldn't cost a lot, and would be easy and fun - SUCCESS!! We all got into the spirit of it - even Joel....(he is SO stinking cute!!) We made To/From tags for Christmas....we all decided to be creative, and do what ever we thought would look fun.....NO TV, NO Phones....just us - talking, laughing....being a Family.......Joy.

My Sad Ending.......

2008-11-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

Don't ya hate it when you have been reading a TOTALLY great book - enjoying EVERY page.....not wanting it to end....slowing down the speed of which you are reading it....so that it will last longer.......and yet - it still comes to an end? Well....it just happened to me. After SEVERAL months, I decided to go ahead and read books 3 and 4 of the "Twilight" series. The second book had pretty much turned me off - having no interest in reading book 3 let alone book 4...but after my last visit to Utah - I decided to go ahead and finish them up - LOVE EM!! Book 3 was GREAT....bought book 4 on Friday, and I am ALMOST done!! Which makes me sad, but I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed them. OBVIOUSLY they aren't written to make you think - but they really are SO much fun in giving you a way to escape!! It has been A LOT of fun reading them and just inserting myself in the whole vampire world. Hmmmmm what am I going to read next...........Whatever it is I hope it is as much fun as this series has been.....and NOW I understand what book 2 was all about!! PS....The music you are hearing is in honor of this series....the author has given her favorite music group "Muse" credit in all of her books......THIS is her favorite group......not bad at all!!!

I Voted - Follow-up.....

2008-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

SO - Barack Obama is our new President. Which is not really a big surprise....it will be very interesting to see what the next few years bring to our Country. After I picked Cassie up from school - we stopped at a grocery store to pick up a few groceries. As we were walking to the car, Cassie said - "you know Mom, God really DID bless America". And I looked at her and said "Really.....?" And she said "Yea Mom, he made it so we could vote, and that we could all be free, and we still have a democracy - he really does bless America". And I thought about it for a minute - and said "Know what Cass - you are right - God does bless America and we are blessed to live here". I was amazed at the thought Cassie had put in to this....she had told me the kids at her school were all bummed out because Obama was elected.....so she had thought about it and came up with what made sense to her. Out of the mouth of our little ones - GREAT lessons can be learned. Regardless of the outcome of this election - I am still VERY proud of America!

God Bless America!!

2008-11-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

I JUST VOTED!!! I planned and organized my institute class and Nathan so that I could be SURE to vote!! And I must say - it was emotional. Holli said I was a NERD....because when I put my ballot into the box - I got all teary...then the ballot worker asked me if I was OK - and I just said "I just LOVE America"......he got emotional, said he was a WWII vet and put his arm around me and said "ME TO YOUNG LADY!!". It was pretty cool. I got in my van, and had the radio on, ....and this is where the nerd part comes in....turned the radio off - and started singing and crying all at the same time....GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!! I think of all the people who died to give me the right to vote....reason to cry....I think of all of the people in the world who don't yet have the right to vote - and who would be willing to wait in line for DAYS not HOURS for the right to vote.....reason to cry.....and I thought of what this elections means - to me, to my family, to this country, and to the future of this country......REASON TO CRY!!! Hopping off my soapbox now....but I just have to say - I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!! Sing the words to yourself.......and see if YOU don't get teary!!!!

I ran away from home!!

2008-11-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

So.....yesterday arrived, and after a VERY long weekend of not feeling well (girl stuff).......I decided that I HAD HAD IT!!! At my house, when Mom is in bed - the house turns into a PARTY - or as I lovingly call it - LAZY TOWN!!! Not much of anything got done - despite my plans to get A LOT done. After getting Cassie off to school - I got busy. Did dishes, SEVERAL loads of laundry....and after much internal debate - decided to tackle the toy room. At our house, we have a Jack and Jill situation - one room is Cassie's bedroom, the other room we use as a toy room - and let me tell you - yesterday morning you couldn't have found 1 square inch of carpet for all the toys. It was a DISASTER.....Cassie has WAY too much stuff!! And the kids I tend think it's FABULOUS....all the toys, none of the clean up!! I grabbed a bunch of garbage bags and dug in!! It took me about 2 hours, but by the end - there was NOTHING left in the room - NOTHING!! I cleaned out the closet, and put the totes in there - so the floor is EMPTY!! I have decided to get just one tote out at a time....easier for us to manage - after all - how many kids TRULY need 7 HUGE totes full of toys? That was the morning......I got busy and did the laundry - cleaned out my bathroom drawers, hair stuff and medicine totes....MAN I had a lot of stuff that NEVER gets used......I got ready for the day and went and picked Cassie up from school.....she had a BIG report on John McCain - 5 paragraphs talking about where he stands on various issues - (let me remind you she is 8)....but she left her rough draft at school....so she started to fight with me.....she was mad at herself, but took it out on me. After a few minuets of arguing with her - I called her Dad - and let him handle her. I forgot to mention - I was tending Lizzie through all of this. ANYWAY - I got dinner ready for them and waited. Joel got home around 6pm and as he walked in the door - I walked out. (let me clarify - without sharing our dirty laundry - I was done with BOTH of them...there were other things that they did - or should I say that they did NOT do...but that is ultimately the reason I ran away). I just left....took my book - my ipod - got in the car, and left. I just drove for a while, and then went and got gas at Costco......sat in the parking lot, read my book and listened to various talk radio people OF COURSE talking about the elections today. I made a few stops, and decided I could go home again. Cassie was still at the counter working on her report - it was almost 9...but rather than say anything, I just went upstairs and got ready for bed. I was SO tired......she came up, I kissed her goodnight, and settled in with my book. I love being a Wife and Mom....there is nothing in my life I love more, but there are times I feel like my efforts just aren't all that appreciated- I know it's not true....but some days it just feels like that. Running away from home gave me just the time I needed to take a breath, think about how naughty I was being.....and take just two seconds out for myself. As I type this, I realize how bratty I sound, but I don't regret running away......it felt good and I think that we all should take the time to run away more often!! This morning I feel MUCH better....and I have more to do today than I had yesterday....but at least today I feel up to the challenge!!!

ONLY JOELA

2008-10-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

My husband makes me LAUGH. So last night he was invited to go to a Trunk Or Treat party with someone from work. Joel loves to find free stuff for him and Cassie to do - so he went ahead and took her....but the people who invited him never showed up. Now....for me and for most people in the world, if the people who invited you to THEIR ward Halloween party didn't show up, you would just bag it and come home....NOT MY JOEL!! He and Cassie just went in, made themselves at home, trunk or treated and got some GOOD stuff.....did the cake walk, enjoyed all the booths - had some YUMMY chile, and enjoyed themselves!! The sad part about it is that they were TOTAL strangers - and NOT ONE person in that ward talked to them.....no one asked them if they were new, no one even asked them who they were......WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? It just reminded me that we need to do better with the whole fellow shipping thing.....if you see a stranger - introduce yourselves!!! I love the way Joel is comfortable in ANY situation....it's good for me to see how easy it is for him to make himself at home. But again - let me say.......ONLY JOEL!!!!!

Our Civic Duty

2008-10-30T09:51:00.001-07:00

On Monday night, Joel, Cassie and I participated in helping with the Prop. 102 - protecting marriage plan. We spent the evening hanging 50 door hangers to people in our neighborhoods. We were supposed to just walk up and hange them on the door....but Cassie got scared at every door and would walk up, get about 10ft from the door, and would drop the hangers and run!! I was just waiting/watching her on the sidewalk - because Shiloh was with us and he is a CRAZY dog....so Cassie had to do the hanging.....she was almost crying, and I of course was laughing. Why is it SO funny to me to see people get scared? Not sure but there is about nothing that makes me laugh harder. It felt really good to participate and help support this proposition. It was a great opportunity for us to talk to Cassie about our country, and how important it is to be involved in what is going on. In the end, Joel ended up hanging the majority of the flyers, and Cassie and I enjoyed laughing, dancing, and talking as we walked Shiloh down the street. It was a GREAT way to spend FHE.

Halloween 2003

2008-10-29T20:50:00.001-07:00

In 2003 we had the cousins come and Trick-or-Treat at our house. It was a cold Halloween, but still lots of fun. Toby - Amy Guy; Cassie - Spider Web; Sidney - Pea Pod; Savana - BYU Cheerleader.