Fun weekend

Lacey-13 months

I'm trying to catch up on all of my pictures.

This is one that I found of Lacey when all the boys went on a Fathers and Sons Outing.  So it was just Lacey and I.  We went to my Grandma Bears house with all of my Aunts and cousins that could go.  We had dinner, went to a movie, had a slumber party, made quilts, painted toenails and fingernails, went on a little hike, ate yummy food and went swimming.  We all had a lot of fun!  The boys had fun too.

This all happened our Anniversary.  Can you believe that it's been 11 years!?  Crazy!  We've enjoyed everyday, with many more to come.

Lucky

There are those days that you just feel lucky and then there are those days that you are lucky!  I just had one of those lucky days! 

I just won $50 worth of product from Banner Boutique.  I entered a contest  here and I won!  Yea!

So go and check out http://2momstalk.blogspot.com/  They are always having fun giveaways!  They are from the makers of Cutest Blog on the Block.  They are super nice ladies that live in my neighborhood! 

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.

Gila River

A few months ago, after we went to the Gila Valley Temple Open House.  We stopped by Uncle James and Aunt Larissa's  (my brother) house in Safford.  They have a really nice place and it is close to the River.  So we drove down to it.  There is something neat that boys find with rocks, sticks, frogs and water.  All the boys, including the grown ups ones loved throwing rocks and sticks and catching frogs.  James even threw his dog, Dally, in!  Larissa and I just stood back and laughed at how much fun they were all having.  We don't need much to keep these kiddos occupied!

Calvin searched and searched for that frog!

Carson and Caleb loved having contests to see who could skip the rocks the furthest.

Calvin finally caught that poor frog!

Lovin the rocks and water!

Apparently, Devin dressed himself, but he still looks cute!

I don't know if James had more fun or all the boys...

The Gila Valley Temple

We took a quick trip and went to the Gila Valley Temple Open House.  The boys all loved it!  It is definitely a beautiful temple!  Here are a few pictures we took.  We took more of the boys, but they didn't turn out very good.  I think they were trying to fly or something in the pictures!  Boys will be boys...

Calvin-all grown up

Calvin was recently baptized.  Here are a few pictures taken before the big day.  I can't believe how big he is.  He is such a good boy and so helpful.  Everyone loves Calvin!

Our Miracle

I truly believe that miracles happen everyday.  Sometimes they are little and sometimes they are earth moving.  The other day I witnessed a miracle!  It was one of my busy Mondays.  I did about 10 loads of laundry and cleaned the house and a bunch of other stuff.  I was busy!  The boys were going to be getting off the bus in a few minutes and I was getting ready to pick them up at the bus stop.  I only pick them up on Mondays because right after school they have piano lessons at my Mom's house.  Anyways, Devin and Lacey walked outside to get in the car.  I was right behind them with the piano books.  Devin climbed into the car and didn't know Lacey was following him.  The door shut right before she could climb in.  I heard her scream and I went running.  Her poor little hand was shut halfway in the door and the door was shut all the way!  I ran and opened the door.  I swear I thought that she broke every bone in her little hand.  It makes me sick just thinking about it.  Her hand was literally bent in half!  I ran into the house and held her as I sat on the stairs.  I prayed hard to know what to do.  Devin came in the house and when he saw her hand, he looked like he would throw up!  He was heart broken.  He wanted to help do something, so I asked him what he thought he should do.  He said that he wanted to say a prayer for her.  We knelt down at the bottom of the stairs.  It was the most touching thing.  I held Lacey, who was still crying, while Devin said the sweetest, most simple prayer.   He asked that her hand would feel better and that she would be OK.  He said this little prayer through tears and sobs of his own.  After he said "Amen" is when the miracle happened.  Immediately after the prayer, Lacey stopped crying and I literally watched her hand go back to normal.  It was amazing! There was only a small bruise line across her hand.  I couldn't believe it!  We offered a prayer of thanks and went on our way.  Lacey used her hand as if nothing ever happened!  It was truly a miracle!  I know that our Heavenly Father watches over us constantly and is aware of everything we need.  I am so thankful for a quick answer to our prayers.

Happy Mother's Day Briana!

Thank you for all you do for us...We love you!

Ben, Caleb, Carson, Calvin, Ashton, Devin, & Lacey

Lehi Days Rodeo

The beginning of March we went to the Lehi Day's Rodeo.  Some of my brothers and sisters went along with their kids.  So we did an impromptu shot of the cousins.  We are missing a few of them, but it was fun.  The kids did the greased pig race and chicken catch.  And Colton actually caught a little chick!  My brothers, James and Jared did the grocery race and that was fun to watch!  We were definitely exhausted by the end of the day! 

Hiking at Pickett Post

Back in February we took a day trip to a few places.  The first place we went to I didn't get any pictures of, but it is an amazing cemetery near Florence.  There is a little ghost town named Adamsville.  The cemetry there is so old!  The gravestones date back to the Civil War era.  We may be a weird family, but we love walking around cemeteries.  There are so many untold stories that it fasinates us.  And there is always such a peaceful feeling there.  Anyway, this cemetry is not maintained by anyone, with one exception.  There was a lady there that comes down and works for 4 to 6 hours a day cleaning and trimming trees and putting flowers on the gravestones.  We were able to talk with her and she said she has been doing this for about a year!  What a sweet, giving lady! 

After the Adamsville cemetry, we drove to Pickett Post, just outside of Superior and went on a hike and had a campfire.  We had such a fun day, and just about wore ourselves out!  Here are a few pictures of the hike...

Happy 70th Anniversary!!!

Last month, Ben's Grandparents celebrated their 70th Anniversary!  We had a huge lunch with all his Aunts and Uncles and cousins.  It's always a lot of fun getting together!  Grandma and Grandpa Richardson are amazing!  Grandma is always smiling and happy.  Grandpa has such a gift that he can make you feel as if you are the most important person in the world.  We love them so much!

 Here are Grandma and Grandpa with their kids.  (Ben's dad is in the blue shirt.) 

Preschool-Sight Lesson

Devin loves going to preschool!  Here are a few pictures of his "Sight Lesson".  I thought the whole "eye" thing was really clever.  He was so excited to show all his brothers when they got home!