Something to think about...

Be

Gentile

Be kind

Apologize

Write a letter

Keep a promise

Try to understand

Give--a soft answer

Laugh a little more

Express your gratitude

Think first of someone else

Seek out a forgotten friend

Gladden the heart of a child

Examine your demands on others

Speak your love, then speak it again

Manifest your loyalty in word and deed

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth

Forgo a grudge

Mend a quarrel

Encourage a youth

Forgive an enemy

Welcome a stranger

It is my wish that we can all take these suggestions to heart, that your Christmas will be magical, and that the New Year will be everything you are hoping for!

From our home to yours...

Merry Christmas!

Where does the time go???

I absolutely love this time of year...I simply wish, on occasion, I could figure out a way to slow down and enjoy it! My life is so busy...but, I really don't think I would know what to do if it were any different. I work full time. My husband is a full time student...finishing up his degree. We are the parents of 5 very busy children, ranging in age from 5-15. We have sports, Scouts, Young Women and Young Men, etc., etc., etc. If for some reason that isn't enough...I may be going back to school.

I love my children...I cannot believe we have gone through another round of birthdays and now they are all a year older. Riggs is now 7 and Colten is 15! I cannot believe I have a 15 year old son!! However, I couldn't ask for finer children. Each of them are so unique and I cannot imagine my life without them. They add so many smiles and laughs to my days!

I love my husband...he is my best friend. We have so much fun together. He is so patient with me...for the most part! :) As all of my sisters can agree...we aren't always the easiest women to live with. Our husbands truly love us unconditionally...sorry Marian, Rachael, and Meghan...but, you know it is true!!

I always LOVED being a "stay at home" Mom. It was one of my greatest treasures! I loved being home with my kids. Not all Moms enjoy it...some can't handle it and feel they are a better Mom to their children when they have a job that gets them away. Regardless, I miss it! However, if I needed to go to work...I couldn't have found a greater organization to become a part of! I love my job! I couldn't work with a finer group of people. I am so very grateful for my job. I am grateful that I can go to work and still spend the day with my kids. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to impact the lives of children.

Are there things that I wish I could change? Absolutely! However, through my own experiences I have learned that it doesn't always matter what I want. Some things are just the way they are. All I can do is try to do the best with the hand I am dealt. I miss my mom. I miss my son and wonder how different my life could possibly be had he not died. I wish I had family that lived closer. The list could go on and on...but, there are so very many things I have to be grateful for. Life is to short to be constantly worn down with a negative attitude...no matter how bad the situation may look that one finds themselves in...there is always something to be grateful for! ALWAYS!

Haley is 13!

Wow...how the time flies! It is so hard to believe that 13 years ago today I delivered a beautiful baby girl. We were so excited! Sweet Haley has been beautiful(inside and out!) every day of her life. This sweet girl brings so much joy and happiness into each of our lives everyday. She is smart, kind and honest (brutally at times!). She loves doing hair, trying on clothes, listening to music and dancing. She has practiced doing hair, make-up and nails on her Grandmothers and Aunts for as long as we all can remember! She is a girl through and through...but, she can play football like no other!

I cannot believe my daughter is 13 years old today. A teenager! I am so proud to be her Mom. I couldn't ask for a finer daughter...she is everything we could want and more! We love you Haley--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I can't believe my baby is 5!

Today is Gage's 5th Birthday! I cannot hardly believe my sweet boy is already 5. It is even more amazing that 5 years ago today, was one of the longest and scariest days of my life. We were living in Rexburg, Idaho. We had a normal day...busy, busy, busy. That night John and Ron had a softball game...I very uncomfortably sat through it with my Sister-in-law Karen. We never went to bed...ended up in labor at the hospital. Gage was born in the middle of the night and was life-flighted out to Primary Children's Hospital, shortly there after. The Doctors wouldn't let me fly with him, as I had just delivered...so John flew with Gage. John's amazing brother, Ron, then drove me to Salt Lake City, Utah to be with my son. What an experience it was! Needless to say, within days he had made a miraculous recovery that had astounded many people. There was no doubt we were truly being blessed...and Gage has continued to bless our lives ever since!

Gage started kindergarten this year. He is so excited! He is excited to go to bed...just so he can get up to go to school. (I am rather certain that will wear off soon enough!) He loves his teacher--Mrs. Cenzano...and she is amazing! By far, one of the best. I love this little boy so very much! He loves to cook. He loves to clean. He loves to draw and learn. He wants to be a big boy and do all the things his big brothers can do...he loves his sister, because she is the only one patient enough to do all the things with him. He loves to cuddle with his mom...and nothing makes me happier. I cannot begin to imagine our lives without him!

Happy Birthday Gage!

Meet Yang Liu!

Our family had the opportunity to have a Foreign Exchange Student from China come and stay with us for 17 days...what an amazing experience it has been! Her name is Yang Liu. Each student chose an American name to go by, while they were here in the U.S. The name she chose was Niki. Niki is a 16 year-old girl from China. This was her first time to the United States. Her English was amazing. She learned English in school. Niki is an only child...so becoming an instant member of a family of 7 (then 8) was an interesting experience for her. She loved the kids and the kids loved her. We tried to give her an opportunity to experience many different kinds of food. We had Mexican Food and I will tell you, explaining what tacos, burritos, and enchiladas are, when she doesn't know what a tortilla is...was an interesting challenge! We also introduced her to In & Out Burger, BBQ, and Pizza.

We wanted to try and give her many experiences she hadn't had before. We took her to the mall...boy, did she love shopping! We took her to Costco...everyone needs to experience that! She was terrified of dogs when she got here...they were great friends by the second week. We taught her to play lots of games...which she loved! Colten taught her some card tricks...which she became pretty proficient at. She had her first experience on a trampoline. Niki was scared to death. She spent a couple days watching the kids. Finally, we talked her into trying it out. She loved it. Then she got brave and jumped with the kids in the water. You see, here in Arizona a trampoline can be used year-round. In the winter it is perfect...in the summer, add a sprinkler and you have hours of summer entertainment. At some point she was bit by something little and inconspicuous...and WOW! We ended up needing to take her to the Emergency Room! She started breaking out in all of these little welts...literally multiplying before our eyes. When Haley brought her into the house she had 1...by the time we arrived at the ER there were 14. By the time the doctor saw her...there were to many to count. Once they gave her some medications...she started to feel better and was as good as new by the next morning! The highlight of the whole ordeal was when the admitting person, after having explained that she was a Foreign Exchange Student, etc., asked her if she had traveled outside of the U.S. in the last 30 days. Hmmm...that was unbelievable!

She was introduced to the WII...but, I think Guitar Hero took the prize. She LOVED it!! She cooked us an amazing Chinese Dinner. We took her to an Oriental Market, bought her the things she needed, and away she went. She was so excited that the food all turned out so well. She explained to me that these "dumplings" (which reminded us of Potstickers) were only made and eaten for their Spring Festival. It is the biggest celebration of the year. With the amount of time and effort that went into making them...I can understand why. They were DELICIOUS!

Niki was an amazing piano player! She would play for hours...the music was a beautiful addition to our home. I have never heard my piano sound so wonderful! She was an absolute joy to have in our home. She had a beautiful smile, a contagious laugh, and complete excitement and awe about every new thing she encountered! She left this morning...we were all sad to see her go and it was difficult to say goodbye. It amazes me how quickly she fit, so perfectly, into our family...and how big of a whole she is leaving behind. She will be missed!

Jace Turned 10!

It is so hard to believe that my "Baby Jace" turned 10 years old. I think he was more excited about this birthday than any previous. I suppose it is the "double-digit" thing. We were originally supposed to be going on vacation on his birthday and having a birthday party with Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Cousins and friends...but, that just didn't work out this year. However, my amazing son didn't skip a beat--as long as he still got his "date" with Mom and Dad, he was fine. We started this tradition years ago. It was a much less financially straining way to do something fun for the Birthday Child! When you have as many kids as we do...dinner, shopping and movie just isn't always possible with a family of 7.

So for our "Birthday Date" we went to Build-A-Bear (that too has become his yearly birthday wish--he LOVES stuffed animals! HMMM, I cannot begin to imagine where that gene came from...must be John!), grabbed some lunch and went to see the new Transformers movie. When we got home Colten and Haley surprised him with lots of decorations, friends and cake! He really had a great day!

I love this boy so much! He truly brings joy to my life each day. I cannot believe he is 10 years old and going to be in the 4th grade! He is smart and athletic. I think even Colten is envious, at times, at how much natural athletic ability Jace has. More than anything else, I think my favorite thing about Jace is how much he loves me :)! I have the greatest children in the world...I couldn't be more blessed.

Will Our Lives Ever NOT Be Crazy???

Ok...I am horrible! There is no excuse. I have so much to catch up on, so much going on, and even more that should be going on--that I simply can't get to...I just don't know where to start!

We will just start! The first post I need to catch up on is Jace's birthday. I finally got the pictures downloaded off my camera, and I should be able to get to it soon. You see, we just moved...YES--again! Over two years in the last house for all you nay-sayers! If landlords would quite wanting to sell or raise the rent, we would be good! But, it truly worked out for the best!!

We are in the same ward...which we love! Same school boundaries (which only really effects Colten--since everyone else essentially goes with me!)! Same general neighborhood...which we love! Great new neighbors...great new house...great new price! We are very, very happy.

Ok...next step will be Jace's birthday, then our awesome new friend from China-- Yang Lui. She is a foreign exchange student staying with us for two weeks...so much fun! I need to run to a meeting...I PROMISE I will get things caught up and pictures too!