Fred!

So much time has passed! I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by. So, I suppose we will start with the newest addition to our family. Fred!

Fred and Colten have been the best of friends since they were in 5th grade. Due to circumstances beyond Fred's control, he and his 3 siblings came to live with us for 3 months in the early part of last year (2010). Although everyone else left after 3 months, Fred stayed with us for a total of 11. He truly became part of our family. In December we were told it was time for Fred to go home. He left right before Christmas. We missed him dearly. By early spring we were asked if Fred could come back. Sometime in May he returned. Things got a little complicated for a while...but, the bottom line was he didn't want to leave. Finally, on August 29, 2011 we became Fred's permanent, legal guardians. Now, Fred is officially home! We love him. He is an amazing young man, with a smile that can brighten the darkest day. We are so blessed to have him be a part of our family!

My Garden...

Ok...I have tried, repeatedly, to grow a garden. I either start to late, forget to water it...or both! Needless to say...I have never found success. Last year was the closest I have come. Last year we purchased two tomato plants from Costco (LOVE that store!). The Cherry Tomatoes grew like crazy...it was like candy to our family. The larger tomatoes were, as usual, done too late into the season and were literally baking before they could ripen.

So, this year we tried a new approach! We started several different vegetables from seed and planted 5 tomato plants. We planted them in planters built up off the back patio...John put in a great drip system...I turned to my sister Marian for some last minute advice and ideas ( a HUGE THANK YOU to her!!!)...and voila! WE HAVE A GARDEN!!! I am so excited to eat things from our garden I can hardly stand it! So here are some pictures of when it was first planted at the end of February and then some I took just a week or so ago!

Christmas 2010

So, this obviously shows exactly how far behind I am with life in general! Here it is almost May of 2010 and I am just now getting around to writing about our amazing Christmas Vacation! My brother Gabriel, my sister Rachael and I decided that since it would be our first Christmas without Mom being around to share it with...that it was only appropriate that we all spent Christmas together. It was something she had wanted us to do for a LONG time...and sadly, there were always an endless supply of "excuses" why we couldn't seem to make it happen. So, although she wasn't able to be with us in person...there is no doubt she was with us and enjoying the FIRST time she had all of her children and grandchildren together for Christmas!

It was a vacation we will never forget! We had such a wonderful time. We played in the snow, went to the movies (taking up more than two rows I must add), went out to dinner (that alone was a memory not easily forgotten! Imagine...19 of us--11 of them children ranging from 15-4!), went sledding, went snowboarding, played games, had Nerf gun wars, played more games, watched football, ate sooooo much great food, had an allergic reaction to peanuts, and I lost count of how many people came down with the flu! However, we had the time of our lives...and look forward to the time we can all be together again!

Way Behind!

I cannot believe how much time has passed since I have even looked at our blog! What an embarrasment to the blogging world! However, in my own defense...our lives have been crazy! I have a great deal to catch up on. However, before I spend a great deal of time getting into that...I want to share (brag) about the FANTASTIC pictures we had taken of our family(thank you Chels...you did an amazing job!), back at Thanksgiving. WOW, that is embarassing! Better late than never...right??

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!