TooTHLEsS WonDeR!.....October 7, 2010

I was out with my 3 best friends from high school tonight and I received an exciting phone call...."Mom," said Daxton, "Dad and I pulled all four of my loose teeth." "ALL FOUR? Wow!" I said.

Daxton has had FOUR loose teeth for over a month now. Sam finally convinced him to pull them while I was gone. Sam pulled three of them and Dax pulled one. I guess they were hanging by a thread. (Aren't they always when the finally come out?) I can't believe it. He hasn't lost any teeth for over a year now. It's all or nothing with this kid! He is officially THE TooTHLEsS WonDeR!

Look at that SMiLe! :)

I am sure he'll be wishing for his four front teeth for Christmas this year!

ThE RaIN ......October 4, 2010

I love the RaIN. I love everything about it: the smell, the sound, the look, and the way it cleans everything. It has a very calming effect on me. It makes me feel at peace. When it rains, I love nothing more then to open all my windows, lay in my bed, snuggle under my blankets and enjoy the beauty that sings from the Rain.

I know most people would disagree with me and the rain, but I love it. I love it for another reason too. When I was on my mission, in Ecuador, it rained a lot during the rainy season. When I first got to Ecuador, it was the rainy season and I experienced El Nino. The rains would FLOOD and I mean, FLOOD the streets everyday. We would walk in water up to our knees, literally, drenched like wet dogs, all day long. I loved to wade through it even though I was in a dress and sopping wet. In fact, para aguas, or umbrellas, were useless. At nights when me and my companion would get back to our apartment, I would prepare for bed, and then I would lay in my bed and listen to it cleanse. It was very peaceful.

Today, I was sitting in my living room, watching and listening to it RaIN. It came down just like it did when I was on my mission. It poured down, taping on my windows and striking the pavement and grass outside. The water began to collect in the gutters and the streets began to fill with a sense of Ecuadorian peace. It caused me to reflect for a moment on the many reasons why I LOVE ThE RaIN!

Aye Matte! Happy Birthday Party for Pirate Emma.....September 30, 2010

My niece, Emma, had a birthday party at the Pirates Cove. It was really fun! My sister-in-law, Andrea, went all out. She made each of the kids the cutest pirate shirts, so all the kids could dress in pirate garb. She gave them each a pirate necklace, pirate eye patch, pirate tattoos, and pirate candy to go along with their garb. It was very authentic! She also made the cutest pirate cake and pirate Oreo snacks.

The kids ate a pirate pizza feast, then took to the high seas in search of the lost treasure, they played in the arcade and dug up quite a bit of fun. It was a very fun night. Thanks Emma! We hope you had a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We had a fun time on the Pink Pearl. You sure know how to throw a pirate party.....we're glad no one had to walk the plank....arrggh!

Captain Emma, 5th Happy Birthday!

Cute Pirate Cake and Pirate Oreo treats!

Grady, Daxton, Kagen, and Hadlie in their pirate garb.

Paizlie loved the pirate treats, arrrgh!

Ahoy Mattie's.....raise your Jolly Roger to a good time!

Sam had a little too much fun with the kids in the arcade too!

Pirate Pizza Feast TIME!

Matte Dax aboard.

First Matte, Andrea, Emma's mom!

(GREAT JOB Andrea!)

Grandma Bobbi and Princess P enjoying the pirate festivities.

Matte Grady and Princess P waiting to walk the plank.

Everyone aboard the Pink Pearl for Captain Emma's party.

HapPy BiRtHDaY GRaNdMa!.....October 1, 2010

Happy Birthday Nanny, it's your BIRTHDAY!

This day is such a special one; it's birthday time for you. We'd really like to celebrate your happy day with you. Zip-a-dee-ay and heigh-dee-ho, there's something we can do. We'll sing a song that we all know,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

We love you Nanny and hope you have a wonderful Birthday! We can't wait to see you this weekend and celebrate!

HoNeY.......September 28, 2010

There are moments in life that I want to cherish and things my kids say that I want to remember. It's these days, days of children, that will vanish someday and all I will have left are my cherished memories.

I have to admit my kids can cause me to feel mad sometimes. However, there are times when they say the cutest things that make me smile and make me feel glad to be their mom.

Tonight Sam was vacuuming the floors and I was cleaning the rest of the house. I was upstairs cleaning and I needed Sam for something. I could not find him anywhere. I called out to him, "Sam". No, Sam. Then I walked down the stairs into our kitchen, still could not find him. Then I proceeded down the next flight of stairs, "Sam", I called. The kids were in the family room playing the wii, still no Sam. I started down the next set of stairs into the basement, "HONEY?" I called out. "Honey, where are you?" No Sam there either. I then began my accent back up the stairs; Tage walked to the top of the stairs, he looked at me with his big brown eyes and said, "Honey is outside in the garage, mom."

I smiled, laughed, and said, "Thanks Tage." How cute I thought, "Honey is outside in the garage." (He was right, Honey was outside in the garage emptying the vacuum bag.)

That made me smile for the rest of the night and into the next day. I hope I can remember the sweet things that my kids say while they are still little, tomorrow will come and I want to have a mind full of sweet memories to cherish.

Ryan and Stacey's Sealing.....September 25, 2010

Today was a really special day for Sam sister, Stacey, and her family. Stacey and Ryan were sealed to each other in the Provo Temple. Kagen and Grady, their two youngest sons were sealed to them as well. It was a wonderful experience to witness this family make eternal covenants with each other.

I thought it was very appropriate they were sealed in the Provo Temple. Bobbi and Jerry, Sam's parents, were sealed there almost 11 years ago also.

When Kagen and Grady came into the sealing room they were glowing with excitement. The spirit was very strong. It was hard to hold back the tears. They are dynamic little boys.

Lewis got to come in to witness the sealing as well. I kept looking at him, it seemed like yesterday he was younger than Grady. Today, to see him dressed in white with his family, I could only imagine him in a few more years going through the temple for himself in preparation for his mission. Time flies and I am sure it will before he attends again. He is such a great kid.

I was grateful Sam and I could be there. It really makes you reflect on your life, your family, and your responsibilities here upon this earth. I am grateful for eternal families. I am grateful for my four beautiful children and my sweet husband. I love them all so very much! I feel very blest to have and be part of a wonderful family.

Congratulations Ryan and Stacey. We are proud of you and excited this day came for you! We love you very much. We are grateful for everything you do for us. Thank you for being great examples to us. You're family is beautiful!

Jordunn, Lewis, Stacey, Ryan, Grady, and Kagen.

The BoYs!

Kacey and Jordunn.

Sam and me.

Tim, Kayla, Maezlie, and Finley.

Eli, Andrea, and Emma.

Alisha, Tyson, and Ayden.

Sam and his mom, Bobbi.

(I loved this picture.)

Sam and his dad, Jerry.

(Loved this one too.)

Bobbi and her two sisters, Vicki and Colleen.

Everyone who attended.

*Funny tidbit of information: Sam and I were late getting to the Provo Temple because we thought they were being sealed at the Mt. Timp. Temple. We were sitting in the Mt. Timp. Temple for 40 mins until we finally noticed no one was showing up. Turns out, we weren't showing up. We were at the wrong Temple....hello? Though, in our defense, Stacey and Ryan were originally going to go to the Mt. Timp. Temple to be sealed, then they changed their plans. We had just forgotten that SMALL detail. lol:)

Baby + Cake = CUTE!.....September 24, 2010

Paizlie was at my friends house being watched while I was at school with Hadlie. When I went to pick her up she was eating a cupcake, LOVING every minute of it. She was so cute! She made a big mess for Abbey to clean up but honestly, who wouldn't want to clean up that cute face?