Sister's Keeper

So I went to this movie tonight and cried my eyes out as I thought about this family and about my own family. I love all of my sisters and would do anything for them. This movie is a tearjerker for sure and there was not a dry eye there! I love movie's like that to help bring life into perspective and maybe one of our lives will run short. It is so important to live for today and forgive and forget the past. I am so grateful for these girls and the great times and memories we have and share everyday! I love how Stephanie is so simple and compassionate. I love how Brielle is so great with my kids and lets them know how much she loves them. I love Molly for the way she gets me and knows what I mean even if I don't say it correct and how we both laugh anyway!!!!

Sisters are the best and I hope my girls realize how the bond between sisters is so special. I hope they grow up with great memories and secrets that we have!!!!!!

Lucas!

So here is my most handsome nephew ever!!!!! I love him to pieces and he is the happiest baby !!!! He is always laughing or smiling at you and tries to get your attention. He has the most awesome helmet designed by his daddy and is a huge Cardinal's fan! He is always decked out with a GQ look and has to fight off Whitney for mauling him! We are so grateful that he came to such a great family and that we can share his sweet spirit!!! Love you Lucas!!!!

Cousins we miss you!!!!!!!!

So sad to say goodbye!!! I am horrible at goodbye's and these cute little girls have moved from Arizona to San Antonio now. They have been staying at Bobba's and going to school for the last year and now have a new school to go to. They have brought lots of laughs and fun to all of their cousins. They are so special and it has been fun to watch their growth in size and speech. We are so grateful to have such a close family and that our kids have great cousins.

We always had our Colorado cousins growing up and their parents were great to make sure we saw them often. Now our kids have their San Antonio cousins which I hope they will see often. We are on our way for the first visit the end of July and my kids can't wait. It helps that there is a lot to do there and we won't have a hard time visiting a lot!!!!!!!

We love and miss you tons see you soon!!!!

Tina!!!!!

So it is my sweet cousin NINA's birthday and it is just a joke about the title. Mya has called her Tina for awhile now and it kinda stuck-not at her liking. So a bit about her and that she is one of my dearest friends and I miss her lots because she lives in Wyoming. She is a gem, always full of fun and excitement, advice and happiness. I have always been close with her and even more now because we had our babies together and had lots of new mom questions. I love her wit and the humor she has in life. She has always "got me" and knows me inside out. She has unconditional love for all and would give anything for anyone.

She came to stay with me for about 3 weeks this past March and we had a GREAT time. There was a clean house, great meals, and usually happy kids. I guess that is what you get with 2 mom's! She is walking in the 3 day in August and I can't wait to go to Colorado.

I hope she has a great day and is pampered by all around her. Love ya lots!!!!

hAPPY fATHER'S DAY

Happy Father's day to all the men in my life! I am so lucky to have such great examples of great fathers growing up and living with one today.

I had a great childhood and my dad was always there. He was a hard worker and always took us places and made sure to tell us he loved us all the time. We almost always went on the father daughter camp out and he made it so fun. You can always count on a lot of pit stops because he could never pass up letting us pick a treat and he does the same with his grandchildren. He would always drop us a few bucks when we went somewhere just to make sure we didn't go without. He loves to sing and never went a day with out "Good morning to you, good morning to you how is my sunshine today?" I will never forget that! He still does the "Have I told you that I love ya today?" and also to check in and see if we need anything. He is a great example of a selfless man, always putting others first and we could feel that my mom and us kids were his first priority. He is loved and known by so many people and has a very tender heart. He definitely lives each day to the fullest. We sure love our dad and papa and miss him lots as he is away this fathers day!

I am also proud to say I had 2 great grandpa's growing up who also were very involved in my life. They came to all the major and minor events and were always very kind and loving in their words. My grandpa just passed away last year and that has been very hard as we were very close. He called me "Abber" and was always genuinely concerned with how we were. He was sick just before I had Whitney and said how I looked tired and if he could do anything for me. The 84 year old man was asking the pregnant but young 28 year old. He was a terrific grandpa and I am so grateful for him because my mother had a great father and a awesome example of perfect grandparents. I miss him lots and am glad he is with my grandma today!

My dad's dad is a great example too! He taught my dad a lot and a positive attitude is what I value most. Whenever you ask Papa how he is he says FANTASTIC!!!! How could a 86 year old man feel fantastic who has lost his wife, has diabetes, and lives alone. Well he is and has a huge involvement in our lives and is at every birthday with a card or gift. He had come to the hospital to visit after each baby I have had. He loves people and is also very into music and singing. He cherishes the babies and has a nickname for all and remembers every persons birthday. Now we had A LOT of people in our family Probably about 80 and he knows every one's name and usually middle names too! We love him and are so blessed to have him for our Old Papa!

I am also grateful for Adam's dad and what a great involved man he is in his life. He has taught him great things and he is a better dad to his kids because of him.

Now on to my great husband and the father of my children. Happy Father's Day! You are a fun, happy, helpful, loving and positive dad. You are adored by our children and they can't wait for you to walk through the door each day. They cherish the "battleing", fishing and back yard duties that they share with their dad. They sometimes call you "crazy, dad, Adam, da da, or Hey" , but you answer to all and are most times very patient with them. They love you to the stars and back, and are your best friends. Thanks for being you and the special memories that they will cherish when they are grown. I love you so much!

Sweet times

So last night we come home from a date and I am getting the baby fed and changed and Adam decides to go out back and dig up some weeds while it was cool. So I am sitting at the table and watching Jaxson help his dad pick up weeds and Mya roaming around ---no cares in the world for this gal!!!!! A couple minutes later I see all of them with their backs to me over by the back wall lined up and Mya is folding her arms! I watch to soon find out they are praying and had just buried a bird! I was touched to see the cycle of life/death and the great opportunity that my sweet husband chose to teach them. Jaxson was so sweet as he said the bird flew his spirit to heaven. Kids learn at such a young age and I was so grateful to witness this moment! Sorry no pics I was busy watching!

Sunday!

So here are the cuties on Sunday ready for church! I love a matching bunch of kiddo's! Don't they look cute!!!!!

Sunday is one of my favorite day's and I get to spend lots of time with my family ! We get to sit in church and be uplifted by great words of encouragement. Today we had 2 great talks, one was a powerful one about mothers and the divine calling that it is. The other was about being in the world not of the world. Great info and words to help us be better people and parents.

We also got to go to both sets of grandparents and spend time with them. On the way to my mom's we were asking Jaxson about having another baby. He immediately said yes and he wanted a boy to be named "JINGLE FET"???? Star wars anyone? We promptly said to keep thinking about names and that it probably won't happen for awhile-don't get any ideas here people!

Love my family and the precious moments we share!

Sleeping kids--SHHHHHHHHHH

Well this is what we found when we went to our room last night. Jaxson had gone to bed and said he will take Mya too. We were just finishing our movie and told him we would be right in. Well we found them together in our bed not theirs. It was too late and I felt bad for not tucking them in sooner. Sometimes a sleeping child and their sweet look makes everything better. I love these two and that they usually have been playing so nice and being good friends.

Good night!

Falls

So this little angel had a little mishap yesterday and fell of the counter. She didn't really cry much and was acting kinda funny. Then she wanted to lay on my shoulder and go to sleep. I was very anxious and worried and took her to the ER to get checked.

Well a quick X-ray and check by the good ole Doc and were out of there. I was holding you and you were so happy and babbling by the time we left.

I think you just wanted a special date with your mom.(or maybe grandpa needs to have super glue on his hands to hold you)

You are a sweet little baby and we are so thankful to have you in our family. Things like this give us a bit of a wake up call to take everyday to the fullest and enjoy every laugh, smile and hug!

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Well today was a great day! I really love spending time with my family. We had a great day at church and everyone was on their best behavior. We had great talks on being a mom and being in the world not of the world. I am truly blessed to be the mom to these 3 sweeties!@

I am amazed at the amount of things they know and tell me. My came home and said I make a good choice not a bad one K! I am so proud of them and the great people they are becoming and I am thankful to their teachers and aunts, uncles, grandparents who have a hand in this.

I love them and their matching clothes and how helpful they are with their little sister.

What a great day!

More Nauvoo

Here is the beautiful temple at night what a great shot from my photographer husband out his driver window!

So on Sunday most everything os closed so we went to the temple grounds and across the street is this beautiful statue. I don't remember the exact saying, but it was Joseph saying goodbye to a beautiful city a beautiful people as he rode away from nauvoo forever. This town that he help build and his family whom he would never see again. What a powerful place!

The kiddo's posing at the handcart. Mya was having a great time!!

The whole fam at Carthage. Also a amazing place to see how quaint the jail was and the room where they were shot at and the window that he fell to his death.

Up the steps

Up the stept again! Sorry!

Bathtub Anyone????

So her is my bad mom/practical proof that babies can sleep in a bathtub! She slept wonderful and was a bit surprised when she awoke! She had no idea where she was but loved the greeting of the camera. Can you tell? I love this little munchkin but she doesn't sleep well with others, so bathtub was the only option. What a memory!

Nauvoo

Here is my happy girl at the evening performance waiting patiently and giving her daddy lots of smiles! She was so happy after such a long full day of sightseeing.

The Blacksmith was very cool and made a horseshoe and a ring out of a nail for the kids. J was very impressed but really wanted the horseshoe but didn't get it because he wasn't just baptized-Shucks!

Here are the kids at the play/puppet show, Anna Amanda it was super cute and they even got to have a photo with he characters. We didn't know till later that all of them were missionaries and J and M waved to them as they were walking the streets back to their red brick house!

Mya in the Smith mansion looking at the kids room. I wasn't supposed to take photos Adam later told me oops!

Here we are at the grave sites for Joseph and Emma and Hyrum. Very solemn and lots of bugs!

Mya moments

Well she was happy most of the time. We stopped off at a pizza place from the airport and she thought riding the Merry-Go_Round was the vacation. She rode it at least 10-15 times in a row. We left and were in the car to Nauvoo and she fell asleep with a Styrofoam cup in her mouth J tried to take it out and a piece broke off in her mouth!!!!!!! I kept saying get it out and he said I can't. Her mouth was clamped down and finally I had to go back there and get it out. She is so sweet and pretty sleeping!

Uncle Butch and Adam Day 9

Here is Adam and his Uncle proud as can be at the river where many of fish were caught!

The deal is he can leave me for the day as long as we get to go shopping at the outlet one day. He fulfilled his promise and had a great day with his uncle. They caught 25 fish each and Adam was in HEAVEN!!!!!

He had lots of stories to tell when he returned and said his uncle even fell in the river right before they left, getting all of his dry clothes soaked. SO funny and what a great bonding time!

Days 5-8

So day's 5-8 consisted mostly of waking up putting life jackets on and off to the dock to see what was waiting in the lines from overnight. One morning all of the poles were lucky and Dad and Uncle Butch were gone to the river. Mom was the only one available to get them off. Mind you that I am not a big fisher girl and I only throw out the line!!!! I never never never touch the bait, hook, or fish for that matter! I however being the great, fantastic, super duper mom that I am put all of that aside and was going to help them. Well I grabbed the first little guy and it squirmed like the dickens getting me very freaked out! I had the pliers in hand and couldn't get the dang hook loose. I put that one back and attempted the next, once again no good, finally the third and I decided the cut the line but leave the forsaken hook in their lip. If I kept at it they were for sure going to die from surgery my yours truly. All of them were cut free only to be placed by the youngin's in the cage! I re hooked the lines and they put on some new minnows and were as gleeful as ever!

Most days it was in and out of that back door with bathroom breaks, tattletales, or a need of a snack. They played all day long while I read and read and fed the baby and read some more. All the while of course supervising my sweetie's fishing their hearts out!

There were trips on the boat too! Lots of fish were caught and lots of poles were snagged and minnows murdered! Fun was had by most-???? Maybe I am not included with the fishin stuff.

Memories for sure by J and M forever!~

Big Catch Up!!!

Big catch is right!!!!So I am finally catching up and I wanted to post Adam's big fish caught on the first day at the lake. He was so proud and so were the kids. It was about 12 pounds and was quite a biter. Adam had lots of cuts on his hand from holding it and showing it off! We kept it all week but at the end he didn't have the heart to kill him so he was let loose!

Way to go babe!

9 months

So yes I did not post for my sweet baby yesterday. It was her b-day and she was feeling a little sick. She is getting more teeth and no matter what people say I think anything and everything can be related to those pearly whites!!!! I am so in love with her and her cheesy grin and husky laugh. She is rolling all over the place and trying to scoot too! She coo's and I think she said mama once or twice. Her brother and sister adore her and love to wake her up only to get lots of big smiles and snuggles. She loves to eat anything and everything. She has tried biter biscuits, Cheerios, french fries, and some crackers and loves em all! I love her to pieces and will post stats next week to see how big she is! Love ya Whit!

So Grateful!

Yes I know I still haven't caught up but I re-read this somewhere and was in deep thought about it all day! I am so blessed with a great husband and family and friends and heavenly father!

"The Bridge"

There was once a big turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During the day, the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river parallel with the banks allowing ships to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times of each day a train would come along and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river allowing the train to cross.A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the train’s light. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position but to his horror he found the locking control didn’t work. If the bridge was not locked securely into position, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger train with many people aboard. He left the bridge, turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a lever which he could use to operate the lock manually. He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train passed. He could hear the rumble of the train now and he took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives would depend on this man’s strength.Then, coming across the bridge from the other direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. “Daddy, where are you?” His four year old son was crossing the bridge to look or him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run, Run!" But the train was too close, the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left the lever to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety, but he realized he could not get back to the lever. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took just a moment to make his decision. The train sped swiftly and safely on its way and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny, broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the crushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They didn’t see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked to tell his wife how he had sacrificed their son. Now, if you can comprehend the thoughts which went through this man’s heart, you can begin to understand the love of our Heavenly Father when he sacrificed his son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Can there be any wonder that he caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His son died? And how does he feel, when we speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for us through Jesus. When was the last time you thanked Him for this most precious of gifts?

day 3-4

Day 3 was another wake up early and go to breakfast at the same little restaurant. We had homemade waffles and delicious cinnamon rolls. We then went to the Joseph and Hyrum Memorial. This is a amazing and solemn place. Both of them ride tall on their horses saying goodbye to their families and town, knowing they will not be returning. We then went to the visitor center and on to the blacksmith and the brickyard. The kids got a ring from a nail, and a free red brick. The missionaries were so sweet with them and got them involved as much as possible. We went to the gun shop and then to the family living center again to finish up.
We left and headed to Carthage where we watched a video and visited the jail and where the martyrdom occurred. They played a tape to listen to while we were in the room and I was overcome with emotion. What a spiritual time and testimony builder of what happened and what strong saints they were.
We left there and were back on the road to Kansas City to spend the night and go to the lake in the morning. We woke up and packed up again for a 2 hour drive to kids paradise. A house with grass all around, and a lake 100 feet away. The kids ran to the dock and wanted to fish, ride the paddle boat, go jet ski, and swim all at once. I replied chill for a while so we could get things settled and naps could be taken for the babes!
We were there about 5 hours when Adam came up to the back door with a 12 pound CATFISH! I was a bit shocked and praying he wouldn't want to mount it!!!!!!! The kids couldn't get enough they were in pure amazement. Mya then caught her first fish ever and Jaxson was soon to follow. I rested with Whitney and curled up on the couch with a good book.
Love the lake house, no phones, computer, or Jehovah witness at your door!!!
We ate a delicious dinner about 8pm and it was still light outside. Bad news for the kids that they didn't think it was bedtime yet! Everyone was finally out at about 11! What a day.

Catch up Day1-2

Well sorry for the long lull, but we been travelin! I will re-cap the trip and pics to follow. We woke up for a early flight Friday morning late, due to Adam hitting snooze 3TIMES!!!! We managed to bust out of bed and rush to pick up my dad and get to curbside check-in. We got to security and it was our lucky day-the lady said oh, you have small children and a family come through this line---NO WAITING-- I love having a family!!!!! We did the whole take your shoes off and belt and almost everything, have people stare at you while you manage 3 kids and a stroller and 5carry on's. Yes the looks are so great, and we get to the gate to find out that the flight is late, and that the don't let people with small children pre board. Now everyone knows I am a bit of a worrier! I was stressed who should sit where, what if there wasn't enough seats together, what if I needed to feed the baby?????????? We my level headed husband said everything would be just fine. We boarded and it was just fine as he said, however I was in the only row with 3 seats together and he got the isle by us. I sat with the kids in case I needed to be indecent and we went up up and away. There was spilled drinks, snacks and many many many many needs from 3 lovely children and I look over to see a sleeping husband!!!! He soon gets passed a squirmy baby and I try very patiently to fix the cut and paste project I brought with the other 2.
We arrive!!!!! We get there get some lunch chat for a bit with the fams and discuss the need to leave for our 4 hour drive to Nauvoo. We finally get out of there at 5:30. The kids did fantastic and slept most of the way. We are starving and finally find a DQ in the pitch of night that closes in 10 minutes. We were saved and eat and move on to find our destination. Driving driving through a dark dark street right by the river. I kept have bad thought that some hillbillies were going to jump out on the road. That never happened but we did get down a wrong turn and delayed us about an hour. Love the smallest city and especially when it is so dark and there is not a single light on in the whole town!
We get to our hotel and settle in, the kids on a hide away, us in a master suite, and the baby in nothing else but-------THE BATHTUB!!!! Yes child abuse I know, but we put a blanket down, plugged the drain(fear of bugs crawling to her) and I wrapped the faucet just in case. She slept great however I had a fear the next night that the water might magically turn on and she didn't sleep there again.
The next day was up and Adam. We went to a great buffet and ate with many eyes looking our way. We got in the car a drove down the sweetest little streets until we got to Joseph's old home. We went on a tour to see some other sites, graves, and shops. We bought the kids a red brick in remembrance of the red brick store-to later find out we got one free down the road. The kids did great and Jaxson had lots of questions about the tombstones and the old houses.
We loaded back in the car and drove a bit to the shoemaker, the the bakery, the print shop. We stopped to a cute puppet show that the kids loved and were off to a cute little deli shop for lunch. We ate and looked around and got to see the beautiful temple and took some photo ops. We drove back and went to the visitor center for another great show with singing and dancing explaining Joseph's life. Jaxson was so attentive and Mya shook her booty to the music. Whitney dropped her binkie at least 10 times and I was losing patience. We took a carriage ride and went and learned to make thread at the family living center. Jaxson and Mya learned about candles and making bread too. We strolled the streets and enjoyed the beautiful green scenery and mist falling on our faces.
Back to the hotel to freshen up and on to the Polynesian fire dancing show.No time to eat and nothing open. We told the kids we would eat after, not knowing when this would end. We watched that and then following was another sing and dance program put on by all of the missionaries. It was amazing!!!!!The kids ate some snacks but Jaxson kept saying he was starving! I truly loved it curled up with my sleepy kids listening to laughter, love and feeling the spirit. It ended and we had to eat but it was 1000 at night. We drive and nothing is open still, what a surprise- we settle for a pizza at a gas station. What a fun filled packed day 3 sleeping kids on the drive back to the hotel! Jaxson even woke up to the smell and ate before hitting the sack about 1100.
What a great day!