I Miss My Guy !

You know, I have to say that I have been married for 20 years now. Mike and I are the best of friends and love being together. We also love our own space. I believe that is healthy and normal relationship. Before we had kids we would come home from work. Have a nice dinner together and talk about our day. We would than spend a little time together and then we would separate into other rooms and just do our own thing. Reading, computer, scrapbooking, etc. Just knowing that he was in the other room doing is own thing was comforting. There are times to this day that I could be working on a project ( deep cleaning the girls room's) and he would be watching a game on TV. I would not see him for hours. I can hear him and hear the sounds of his feet walking to the kitchen. I can even hear and imagine what he is doing. I would hear the sounds of him opening up the fridge or cabinet. I would hear him pop open a soda. All the many sounds than men make when they are home. ( LOL)

As of today Mike, has been in California for the last 5 days. Hi brother is very ill. I want him to be there for his brother however, I can not stand that he is gone. I feel like I don't know who I am with out him. Or maybe it is just that I feel more comforted knowing that he is in the other room. I can not be myself when he is not here. Is that normal. Did I forget who I am? OOOOH No. Who am I?

I feel selfish for feeling this way because his family needs him. I don't feel like I'm the same person, the girls don't feel like I'm the same Mom. I just feel a little depressed with him gone. I'm glad he is coming home tomorrow. The girls and I are going to make him a nice dinner and they are making decorations to welcome him home..

We are glad he is coming home. Do you feel this way when your husbands go out of town? Am I normal?

Ü Sisters Ü

Ashlee and Emalee
I took these pictures the other day. I saw them and just had to share. I have to say my girls actually love each other. I hear them at night talking in thier rooms as if they were best friends. Whoever said a girl needs her own room when they are close in age is wrong. Sharing a room helps them unite and become closer then ever. I always tell my girls that I grew up in a house with 8 sisters and 1 brother. We had a set of bunk beds on one side of the room and another set on the other. As sisters we shared everything. We talked, sang, laughed and sometimes fought ourselves to sleep. What a memory. I'm glad that my girls can be close and that they love being together..

Women's Conference

I think on this day I felt a new understanding of Relief Society and the sisters in my ward. After attending conference and hearing Sister Julie Beck talk about Relief Society. I realized that the Relief Society Sisters and what the Relief Society stands for comes 2nd to being my "Mother" This is a little story she told during that conference. If you would like to read the entire conference go to LDS.ORG and read it there. It was awesome.



Relief Society should be organized, aligned, and mobilized to strengthen families and help our homes to be sacred sanctuaries from the world. I learned this years ago when I was newly married. My parents, who had been my neighbors, announced that they would be moving to another part of the world. I had relied on my mother’s nurturing, wise, and encouraging example. Now she was going to be gone for a long time. This was before e-mail, fax machines, cell phones, and Web cameras, and mail delivery was notoriously slow. One day before she left, I sat weeping with her and asked, “Who will be my mother?” Mother thought carefully, and with the Spirit and power of revelation which comes to women of this kind, she said to me, “If I never come back, if you never see me again, if I’m never able to teach you another thing, you tie yourself to Relief Society. Relief Society will be your mother.”

Julie Beck
General Relief Society President

I can Remember being Blessed!

As I was sorting through old pictures on my computer and also pulling out disc of other pictures. I sat and pondered on past feelings. I felt inspired to share this special feeling. I can remember after being married 10 years how Mike and I wanted to be a family. Wanting a baby and not being able to have one is the worst feeling in the world. I can remember sitting in our little 2 bedroom home that we first bought in Moreno Valley. I would go to the bedroom that was empty and could imagine it being filled with baby things. Blankets and toys, diapers and clothes. I would often go and sit on the floor in this room and read my scriptures. I would read and pray, read and pray. all most every night. I would imagine a little child of ours. What color hair, what color eyes, who' s smile would she or he have. I thought It didn't matter this child would be blessed. I remember making promises with the Lord of all the things I would do if he would just make me a Mother. I knew when the opportunity came, I would love being a Mother, I would enjoy it more than any Mother in the world Because I longed for it for so long. 12 years to be exact.

One day during this time I heard the words to Elton John's Song " Blessed" It was "MY SONG" I knew it was ment for me. I searched for it and put it on my play list. If you listen to the words. You will love it to. Prayers were answered and THIS trial ended. It has been 10 years ago that I have been blessed. Im so glad I can reflect and remember to be thankful for answered prayers 10 years ago.

Hope you all had a Great Sunday !

Our Idea of School Picture Day !

Haylee and I decided that we were NOT going to buy school pictures anymore. Every time I order them we are disappointed with something about the pictures. Either the lighting or the pose is horrible. If your going to pay the money for that they are asking for they better be professional. So we decided that we would treat "School Picture Day" a little different. We got up early, got all fancy, with a new outfit, curly hair, lip gloss and went out side and did our own picture day before school started. This was allot of fun. She still had the excitement with all the other kids taking pictures at school but with out the cost. She was still able to take her pictures at school so that she can be in the year book and class picture except we just didn't buy them. This way we have perfect custom pictures. For those of you who don't know this. Haylee can not stand when I fix her hair. It is a battle that I can never win. She has a certain style that she likes to wear and it usually looks close to a plate of spegetti. I choose my morning battles with her. However, this day was fun for me. It has been along time since I was able to fix her the way I want her to look. SHE LET ME, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT. Now, Emalee and Ashlee's school picture day came and went. They didn't tell me or show me any information about picture day. So who knows what they looked like that morning. Another reason why I don't buy school pictures. (darn them girls)

Haylee's 9 years old pictures 4th grade year.

Gotta Love these Cousins!

A Couple of Sunday's ago we all decided to go to church together in my Sister Carla's ward. Otis and Jason, my brother in laws sang a song in sacrament together so we went along for the support. We met at my sister Allison's before leaving for church and snapped a few pictures of the cousins before church. They all looked so cute and clean.







Family, one thing I try to impress on my girls is that Family is so important. You will always have your family to support you and be there when you need them. Here is just a few of the cousins. There are actually 18 couisns on my side alone. What a blessing it is to have each one of them in our lives.

Top, Ashlee, Briana, Emalee
Bottom, Braiden, Brooke, Ava, Haylee
They all make me happy !

My Toe and my Hubby

Time is moving to fast. Well, I havn't blogged in a while because I have a very sore toe that has been hurting me. I have been keeping it elevated to prevent the throbbing. Mike and I tried to move a desk and a credenza up a flight of stairs. Stupid me was wearing flip flops. I was trying to guide the desk up while Mike was pushing it. He pushed a little to fast and sure enough it went right up my toe and tore up my big toe toe nail. I looked down at my toe and it was standing straight up. I let go of the desk and screamed. I noticed mike holding this desk he was sweating and shaking saying " Help me" SO I had to ignore my toes and continue to help him. Once we got it to the top of the stairs and into the loft. I walked away crying.. This has got to be the worst feeling in the world. yikes. My poor hubby feels so bad. He has been doing everything and anything for me. It has been nice. Im realy milking this one. I have not had to cook dinner or do laundry. Al I have to do is make a face and he comes running. Im beginning to think it is worth the pain. He is a good guy. Hope your all having a great day !
ps. I think he knows Im milking it he is beginning to roll his eyes at me when I ask him for things. This is a fun game. !

WOW, What an adventure

Today Mike decided we were going to take a drive through the "Tonto Forest" Little did I know it was going to be an adventure that I would end up in tears. We started on this road called Apahce Trail and we drove and drove until we hit a dirt road that, sure enough Mike decided that we would take that dirt road. We drove through a switch back winding road that was not even enough room for one car. One side of my van was a wall of mountain and the other side was a complete drop down. YIKES, What the heck. I just put my trust in him I figured he wouldn't put me in any danger. yeahhhh right. theres more..

We finally drove for 15 miles on the dirt road and then, the gas light goes on. We are low on gas, I said nothing to him just looked at him like, " You have got to be kidding" Luckily, we were close to Apache lake that had a boat dock and he found the owner of the place who told him to drive down to the boat docks and he will give him some gas that he will have to poor into the tank. So we drove down the dirt road. There is nobody in sight at all, He parked me in the van beside a building and the guy told him to follwo him. Ok, so he leaves me sitting there, I start thinking horrible thoughts, What if he is chopping Mike up in peices, and Im sitting here waiting for him. So I start looking around and I dont hear or see anything or anyone. I started to cry, I was so afraid. " Why, would he put me through this" I waited and I waited what felt like forever. I was thinking I should call Allison, my sister and tell her to take care of my kids Im not ever coming home. What would my kids think? Am I going to die? Who will tell me girls I love them? So many thoughts. went through my head. Than I see and hear Mike coming with the gas can. I was relieved. I know I sooooooooooooooooooooo over reacted but this is just the stuff you see on the news. Couple exploring the Apache Desert get trapped and are found chopped to death...

When Mike got into the car he looked at me and said, Ok, Babe, we are ready to go home ! He knew with out me telling him that I needed to be reasured that we were safe and on our way home. The way home was pleasant, we laughed,talked and enjoyed the scenery. I guess because we have been through it once on the way up. We knew when it was going to end, we knew what to expect along the way.
Makes me think about lifes trials. We can handle things when we are assured that the Lord, husbands, family, friends, are on our side.. We know the outcome will be good, if we put our faith and trust in the people who loves us the most...

Thanks for the lesson learned my dear sweet GUY!

Monday

Moday, Monday, A day to get the house back in order from a house full of kids this weekend. I enjoyed having them all here but at times its hectic.
Just a thought, when you want to clean out your pantry for the next grocery shop trip. Invite the kids from the neighborhood or family over. Pull out a big huge bowl and add the left over chips,crackers,pretzels,nuts,chocolate morsales,and anything else you can find.Set it on the counter and you have just become the "Best Mom in the Neighborhood" It's the little things you do to make them love you.
Now, Im ready to grocery shop my pantry is clean and empty I'm ready to fill it up.. Need new menu ideas Got any?

The Arizona House

This is our Home! We now live in Queen Creek Arizona. I Promise this is our last destination, well until the girls are grown and on thier own. We met the New Home Coordinator when we got here. He gave us our keys and walked us through the house. It was all that we expected. Take a look at the rest !

Well. It didn't take long before Mike and I got tierd of looking at the white flat paint walls. We added some red and put up some decorations that first week.

Ok, I have to share. I used to love going to my sisters Trisha's, Allison's and Carla's home and looking up at the tops of thier cupboards to see all thier little decorations. I have always wanted to do have cupboards like this. So, I copied them all and made a creation. (Well, actually Carla helped me)

this is our Family room. Mike choose a very light taupe color for these walls. If you see the blinds you will notice that the walls are not white. It was fun decorating this room. Mike actually chose the locations of things. He is getting good at this. !

These are the only rooms that are painted and done. We have alot to do. Having flat wall paint is hard to keep clean I wouldn't suggest it to anyone. Hope you liked it !

1st Day Of School !

This is Haylee off to 4th grade ! I'm told the 4th grade is the hardest for kids. No more review its all new stuff. I know she will do her best. Haylee is my Hannah Montana, Camp Rock girl. She dances and twirls around the house. Every word that comes from her mouth is from a Hannah Montana movie. It's amazing how much she knows. We found a great dance studio for her to contiue her dance skills. Her goal is to own her own dance studio one day ! SHe keeps us laughing and busy

Ashle is off to 7th grade. She is excited to be in Junior High. Ashlee is my "Rocker" child. She loves peace signs, and lighting bults, high top shoes, skulls and bones, She has a way of making all that hard stuff look cute and femine. Ashlee is preparing to be on the 7th grade school softball team.

Emalee my big 8th grader, She is getting so beautiful. She loves pretty things and like to look and feel pretty. She is a fun girl who is making lots of friends. All she had to do is carry her Stephanie Myers ' Breaking Dawn" book to school and she had instant friends. Her and her new 5 best friends are planning to come over to make " I love Edward" tshirts to were to the movie when the movie "Twilight" comes out. She read a huge book in 2 days. They she cried just knowing it was over. I love her passion for things. She sets a good example to me.

Well, there they are. My girls. Ready to take on that 1day of school. I shed a few tears as I dropped them off. They walked with confidence to thier doors and didn't look back. I was excited to see them at the end of the day !

This is Ashlee, She graduated from the 6th grade at Mountain View Elementary.She was sooooo ready to be out of Elementary school and on to Junior High School. She did well on her grades. Ashlee, Is my writer,She loves to read and write. Her entire 6th grade class had to write essays on thier life in Elementary School. Her essay was chosen to read at the graduation along with a few other stories. She did a great job and she made her parents proud. She talked about how Elementary school helped her to be the person she is today. She named some of her best teachers, She also spoke about how she would look for others at school who sometimes would look as if they needed a friend and she would make a friend out of them. She also mentioned how she wants to be a social worker to be able to make all children in the world feel safe.
" Bless her little heart" I was proud of her.