Motherhood

I love being a mother.  I know how hard it can be at times, but it's all those "other times" that make it so rewarding.  Here are a few of my favorite times...

I love how my boys give me a hug as they walk out the door and tell me that they love me as they go to school. 

I love how they get excited as I read to them at night.

I love how they jump up and down when I unintentionally make their favorite meal.

I love listening to them practice their piano, violin and cello.  

 I love listening to them play nicely together.

I love how they help each other when they know that someone needs help.

I love having movie night with them and that they actually want me to stay and watch it with them.

I love listening to them tell me of their latest accomplishment.

I love rocking my babies to sleep.

I love it when they wake up smiling and happy to see me.

I love teaching them something new and seeing that light sparkle in their eyes when they realize that they understand it.

I love how much they love their dad and how much they miss him when he gone.

I love listening to them talk about when they get older and the goals they want to accomplish.

I love it when they get their chores done without me asking.

I love watching them grow each day, even though at times I want the time to stand still.

I love it when they want to mow the neighbors yard just because they see that it needs to be done and they don't expect anything in return.

I love walking into their rooms early in the morning or late at night and seeing them kneel by their bedside saying their prayers or reading their scriptures.

I love watching them sleep when the long day is done and they look so content and angelic.

I know that the list can go on and on, but it is the simple things everyday that may go unnoticed that makes me happy that I am a mother.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was wonderful! We did alot of visiting with family. The morning started off by the boys and Ben giving me a radio for the kitchen, which I am so excited about! I had one when we lived in Tucson and I loved it! I would borrow books on CD's from the library and would listen to books as I would clean. We then went to our church and then hurried over to listen to Judd (Ben's brother) speak in his ward since he just returned home from his mission. We went over to eat at the Richardsons and talk to Jordan (Ben's other brother on a mission). And then we went over to my paren'ts house to talk to John (my brother on a mission). It was a day full of fun! And I just wanted to tell both of our moms out there how much we love them and appreciate all that they do for us. We couldn't ask for better mothers.

Photography by Caleb

10 Year High School Reunion

Last month Queen Creek High School Class of '98 celebrated our 10 year Reunion.

It was alot of fun to see many of the people that we graduated with. There were about 80 people that graduated in our class and about 25 people showed up to the Reunion. We all ate at a resturant in Chandler and had fun talking. I am the one in the pink shirt. This is a picture of members of our class that were there. I was the one with the most kids (big surprise!!:) with 5 kids and 1 on the way. You should have heard the poeple gasp when they found out. It was really funny. Who would have known 10 years ago?

I'm not good at taking pictures, but I did manage to get Traci Hawley Fernandez to stop and smile with me. We'll just have to wait and see what the next ten years bring. (And you better be there Sally! ;)

Birthday Pictures

Here are a few pictures of a little birthday party we had for Devin at my parent's house. I know it's about a month late, but that's how things go...

The first couple pictures were taken in the evening.

The boys loved helping me put candy on the cake. The cupcakes are always a big hit!
Since Devin and I share a birthday, he had the cake and I had a pie that my brother, Jared, made. It was really tastey!
As you can tell, Devin loved the cupcake!
Some presents that family and friends generously gave him! He was so excited!
All of the kids played with the geo tracks that he got. I don't know who was the most excited!

These next few pictures were taken in the morning... I think that he is waiting for the song to end.
Here are the boys singing "Happy Birthday" to Devin.

Some of the boys got together and put a present together for Devin. Here are some of the pennies and a bottle of bubbles that Devin was so proud about.



I just wanted to tell Melissa and Deanna thanks for taking me out to lunch on my birthday. It was such a treat and I had a great time! And thanks to Mom for coming over and watching the boys so I could go out. (Ben had finals that day.) And thanks for cleaning my carpets while I was out! The carpet looks beautiful! I have the best friends and family! Love you!

Some QC 2nd Ward Laurels (all grown up)

Some of us girls from the old Queen Creek 2nd Ward got together for lunch in September. We had a lot of fun talking about the good ol' days and reminiscing. And then talking about our new and exciting lives now. :) And we had a surprise visit from Dr. Alex Matheson. (A great dentist here in Queen Creek if anyone is interested.) We all had a great time growing up out here as youth and most of us still live out here!

(Maiden names only) Ruth Gordon, Sarah McClure, Courtney Schaeler, Alex Matheson, Tina Pieffer, Marinda Gledhill, and me.
Ruth Gordon, Courtney Schaeler, Marinda Gledhill, Sarah McClure, Sally Gardner, me, and Tina Pieffer. This isn't everyone, but it was all we could get a hold of on such short notice. We'll have to have another get together with everyone.

For those of you who haven't seen me in awhile. Here is a picture of my short hair!

Happy Birthday Devin!!!

Devin turns 3 years old today! I can't believe that my baby is so old!

He was actually born on my 25th birthday! You can do the math. (Sorry folks, no pictures of me today.)

Here are a few things that you may or may not know about Devin...

He is my biggest cuddlier (is that even a word?). All of my boys loved to snuggle, but nothing like Devin. If he is sad or mad, all I have to do is give him a hug and within about 5 seconds he is smiling and laughing (and sometimes acting like a puppy or kitten).

He loves playing trucks with his big brothers, but what little boy doesn't.

He loves music! I give piano and violin lesson and I find him regularly "practicing" his piano or one of the boys violins because his is in need of repair and is packed away. When I walk into the room, he just gets a big grin and says "I'm practicing!"

He loves to sing. Among a few of his favorites are "Popcorn Popping", "In the Leafy Treetops", "Once There Was a Snowman", "Rain is Falling", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and the all-time favortive is "A, B, C's".

He can memorize songs so fast. We had a singing FHE and everyone picked out a song and we sang their song. One of the songs was "Follow the Prophet". About a week later, I heard Devin singing that song! We only sang the song that night and here was singing..."Adam was a prophet, first one that we know..."

He knows his whole alphabet. I didn't know this until one day several months ago he pointed out letters to me and was telling me what letters they were. I was shocked because I haven't worked at all with him! So now Ashton and Devin have contests with the flashcards to see who can say the letters first.

He loves to go on walks and bike rides with his Dad. Especially to the park. As soon as Ben walks through the door, all the boys are asking to go for a ride!

He loves books! Some children sleep with stuffed animals or blankets at night. Not Devin! He sleeps with books! He gets about 3 everynight and looks at the pictures and then tucks them into the covers with him and goes to sleep. Funny kid! That can't be comfortable! He loves for Ben to read the stories to him or tell a "famous Dad story."

He loves to count things. He is always saying, "Let's count this." It could be crayons, strips on a ribbon, cars or anything he can get his hands on.

And last, but not least! He is completely potty-trained and has been for quite a long time. It has been 8 years of diapers and now nothing. It is so great! I guess that he's not my baby anymore...

Happy Birthday Devin! We love you! You bring us so much joy and laughter!

Doesn't it look good!

On Monday, my Dad called me and asked if I wanted to go with John and him down to Thatcher to see Brittany and baby Mayley. I was so excited! Devin and Ashton went with us. It was so much fun to see them. Don't I look like a natural? I think that I will need alot of practicing holding a girl before I will ever have one. So that means I will have to hold Mayley alot!

abc Tag

I was tagged by Jenn

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Ben
C- Cake or Pie: Pie
D- Day of choice: Sunday (Ben doesn't study on Sunday)
E- Essential Item: hair tie (I love ponytails)
F- Favorite Color: red
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: both!
H- Hometown: Queen Creek, AZ
I- Indulgence(s): playing violin and piano (it's a stress reliever, I do it everyday)
J- January or July: January
K- Kids: 5 boys
L- Life is incomplete without: the church and my family
M- Marriage Date: May 14
N- Number of Siblings: 6 (3 brothers and 3 sisters)
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: disappointing someone
Q- Quotes: "everyday in a new day"
R- Reason To Smile: my family
S- Season: Fall
T- Tag Three: Brittany, Eevi, Janae
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I love getting my feet tickled
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: both
W- Worst Habit: Being too busy and wanting everything done perfect
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasounds
Y- Your Favorite Food: ice cream
Z- Zodiac: I don't know for sure

Tagged by Janae

WHAT WAS I DOING 10 YEARS AGO?
Ten years ago I was a Senior at Queen Creek High School. I was working 30 hours a week at Olin Microelectronic Materials in Human Resources.
WHAT WAS I DOING 5 YEARS AGO?
Five years ago we were living in Mesa off of Dobson and Broadway. The twins were 2 years old and Calvin was about 5 months. I think that Ben was at ASU at that time (it honestly is all a blur!). At that time, my sister Brittany and her husband Wes were living in our same subdivision and we would do something everyday. It was a fun time of life.
WHAT WAS I DOING 1 YEAR AGO?
One year ago we just barely moved to Tucson and our new house. And I was searching for a school to put them into. Ben was traveling inbetween Tucson and Phoenix doing his air conditioning business. It was an adventurous time, but we loved it.
WHAT WAS I DOING YESTERDAY
Yesterday the boys and I cleaned the house (sadly, it's not clean today). My brother, John, surprised us and ate lunch with us. He was down visiting from Holbrook. Ben helped his brother, Travis, move. Then we went over to the Richardsons and visited with Ben's Aunt and Uncle that were visiting from St. George. After that we came back home, Ben did some studying and I took a nap trying to get rid of a headache that I had all day. During the evening we had a BBQ and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores in the campfire. What a day!
FIVE PLACES I'D RATHER BE
Out of medical school and residency. Does that count? Anywhere fun with my family. There are so many places I would love to go to with them.
WHAT I’D DO WITH 100 MILLION DOLLARS
Pay for medical school, invest and give everyone of mine and Ben's brothers and sisters and parents 1 million dollars. Wouldn't that be nice!
FIVE FAVORITE TV SHOWS
Who has time to watch TV? :)
MY MOST MEMORABLE THINGS RIGHT NOW
My goodness! What a question! My husband and boys! Family is what it's all about! Is that too generic?
FIVE PEOPLE I’M TAGGING
Anyone who reads this!