"Smiley" Takes her first steps

"Smiley" is FINALLY walking! She has been standing on her own in the middle of the floor for a couple of months now. She's finally decided to start walking. Through this process she had many moments where she would start to take a step and then she'd see how excited we were and sit down. Everytime she did this I would call her "Chicken Little" so now that is "Energizer's" new name for her.

The other day I heard him talking to her in a different room from me. He was saying, "come here Chicken Little."

Good Times! I've always had the fear that my kids would end up with a bad nick name, I never thought I would be the one to actually be the the one who gave it to them.

Thanksgiving

As time gets closer to thanksgiving, I wonder why big life changing things always happen at this time of the year. I wonder if Heavenly Father (with his sense of humor) decides that he wants us all to be especially grateful at this time of year for the things we do have. That he humbles us to the point where we say, look at all the things we take for granted.

I have just been sitting, watching in awe, as the people around me are faced with bad news after bad news, and trial after trial. Watching them have to deal with what comes, wishing there was a way for me to stop it all, or take the burden from them. Then being reminded that it is somehow, all part of the plan. And that although it becomes real easy to question why, and to be heartbroken, I am still filled with a sense of peace. There is someone who will bare the burden with us, and sometimes even for us. The Savior does not abandon us.

My testimony as been strengthened so much in many different aspects. The people who surround us are there for a reason. We are given to each other as a gift to help each other through the trials. (the trials we signed up for) And though I feel as though I am lacking in the helpful department, I am forever grateful for everyone around me who help me through my trials. Thank you for your faith, and your incredible examples, and especially your love.

"Smiley" turns the big 1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my "SMILEY" girl! I can't believe how fast one year goes. Halloween is probably going to be her least favorite holiday, because it will always steal thunder from her birthday! This year though, I think I can speak for all of us when I say it's our favorite. We all had a blast. We had a party to which we invited everyone we know... who lives close. I'm kind of bummed though because I didn't get any pictures of me or my man in our costumes. Oh well!

Our kids were troopers. Being the "air head" parent that I am, I forgot to bring jackets for the kids, and they were freezing, but they insisted on walking by themselves, holding their own buckets, and it wasn't even until the end that they started letting us hold their hands in between houses to warm them up a little bit. Funny kids... they really take their candy seriously!

In tribute to my "Smiley." The decision process to have her was a very difficult one. We had a really hard time deciding to have her, because our financial situation is not the best. We decided to get pregnant anyway. During the pregnancy my oldest, "Energizer," was going through a hard time. I was having a lot of difficulty keeping my patience with him, and I spent many countless nights crying, wondering why I was having another baby when I wasn't feeling sucessful with the ones I already had. Heavenly Father always gave me just enough peace to last through those stressful nights. When "Smiley" was born, and placed in my arms for the first time, I was overcome with peace. Ever since then, no matter what is going on in our day, whenever I pick her up I just feel peace, and calm. I don't know exactly what it is about her that does that for me, besides the fact that she's got a wonderful personality and can make anyone smile. (hence the nickname) All I know is that every day I thank Heavenly Father for the wonderful blessing he sent to me, and I apologize for not trusting that he knows better than us all.

Happy Birthday sweet baby!

Snow Day!

On this fine BLUSTERY day, we had lots of FUN in our frontyard! I love snow, I have always loved snow. Bob always has wednesday's off, which was very conveinent for today, because there's enough snow to stop us from going anywhere so we are just having a really fun day!

Energizer has a Baby

So today in between conference sessions our kid's were going a little crazy so we had a little wrestling party. At one point Energizer got a little carried away and went right over his dad and hit his head on the foot rest. He didn't hit hard enough to cry, but he decided that he needed a bag of ice to "cool his head off," He got the ice and was wearing it on his head for a while and then he got bored, so he decided that he needed to put it under his shirt. Then he was walking around saying, "Look, look I have a little baby. There's a little baby in my tummy." then he dropped the ice out of the bottom of his shirt, a nd it fell to the ground to which he starts saying "wah wah," like a little baby. So apparently he had a baby today. Such a clown!

First Day of School

Energizer started Kindergarten this year. It's so crazy. I remember when he was a baby and I thought that time would go so much slower than it did. It's AMAZING! I feel as though I blinked and he's already in school. When I picked him up from school I asked if he had a good day and he said, "Well, no. It was too long." GOOD TIMES!

Pioneer Day

I think this is the first year I got

to celebrate Pioneer Day.

Here's the fun stuff we did with our Ward.

Energizer with his cane because he "has a hip"

Eating scruptious food

Energizer in the parade


Energizer's bike for the Parade



Diva's bike for the parade

July 4th

Energizer and Diva dancing


Diva- Jammin' out to the music

Energizer took this picture

at the fair with Grandma

Smiley living up to her name

It's really hard to keep up with blogging. Here is what we did for the 4th of July. We were really wanting a vacation of sorts so we decided to go to Utah. We went to the open house for the new temple. It was a long day, and my kids were really sick of waiting, but the temple was beautiful. It made it worth it. Then we went up and stayed with Bob's Grandma. We were in this little town that nobody has ever heard of, and they had this all day fair. Then we went to the free firework show/ concert. Alex Boye was the main preformer. He is currently in the mormon tabernacle choir, and he's really good. He was a lot of fun and the kids really loved him. In fact when we were leaving Diva was throwing a fit, and he was standing by the gate where everyone walked by to leave. He saw her crying and he rubbed her back and in his British accent said "what's the matter sweatheart?" She immediately stopped crying and just stared at him and then smiled. So we kept on walking and I said "Diva he talked to you!" and she giggled and coyly said "Yeah." It was adorable. We took pictures of him but they didn't turn out at all.

Growing Up

It's funny how when you have your first baby, you just can't wait for them to start doing everything. You want them to hit every mile stone early and tend to push them to grow up. With your second you tend to back off a little and just let them be, but still get really excited when they start to do everything.

Now I have my third. I'm sure it's silly for me to feel this way, but I am truly sad that she is growing up. I'm sad at how fast time is going by and I just really want her to stay little. She is the sweetest little baby and though I am loving to see her develop her personality, I just really want her to still be that little baby who I could just hold and love and cuddle anytime I want to. And of course she is motivated to do everything as fast and as soon as she can.

I don't know... maybe I'm just not looking forward to the terrible twos. I have one of those, and am constantly reminded of how much work it is.

Oh well! It can't last forever! But I am definately enjoying every minute.

Do I have cute kids or what?

Happy, sun bathing!

Happy and cousin. So much fun.

tired much?

Kids are so much fun!

yummy cake!

Shhh...don't tell Daddy!

Fun With Aunty

and Cousin

Happy Birthday Energizer! No party this year. But we had lots of fun at the Garden of the Gods with an Aunt an Uncle and a Cousin. Then a couple of days later we had some ice cream cake with another aunt and her kids and another uncle and aunt and thier very cute baby! and Grandma and Grandpa! So much fun... we love birthdays.

Pictures from our trip

I talked about visiting my brother, and so I figured I'd put up some pictures from the trip....finally! So Much Fun!

Energizer

DIVA

Diva and Smiley

Smiley

The Family

"My Precious"

"Everyone is doing it" so I hear. I am the kind to follow my friends off the bridge and I can't be left behind (of course)... long story short I'm starting a blog. So I'll start it off by summing up our family. I am married to the most wonderful man ever (gag me... I know) but I just can't deny the truth. We'll call him Bob, mostly because we're always feeling like we're always saying... what about Daddy? Where is Daddy? I WANT DADDY! So it'll be what about Bob. We have three brilliant and crazy children who keep life very entertaining. I'm not sure that's exactly the right word to use but we're never bored. For the sake of fun we will call these children Energizer (age 4 almost 5, boy) Diva (age 2 1/2, girl) and Smiley (age 6 months, girl.)

Recently our time has been filled with trying to decide what happens next in our adventure. Bob is going to school and working (hence the what about Daddy comment). So we've been trying to decide which school is best, where to live, and all that fun stuff. In the meantime we are enjoying mooching off my parents. (don't be a hater, you're just jealous you didn't think of it first.) Just kidding. I wouldn't exactly call it mooching eather, it's just fun to pretend to be a slacker.

Energizer and Diva live up to their fake names on a daily basis. If you don't believe me just ask their worn out Grandma or their overwhelmed aunt and uncle who's house we just destroyed. We just went to visit my Brother in another state. It was so much fun to see him and his wonderful family. His girls are SOOOO adorable. Our trip was very adventerous, and as fun as it was I think we're all glad we made back in one piece. Between having a tire go flat and spending an entire day at a Big O. (don't ever go there) Energizer breaking blinds and throwing fits because things were different. Diva running away in public so many times I actually want to invest in a child leash, which up to this point I always thought was a cruel and unusual thing to do to a child. Now I say it's better that than not having a child anymore. Diva shattering beautiful things because she liked the sound of it on the tile floor. But of course there was always Smiley who ALWAYS lives up to her name.

No really it wasn't as bad as I'm making it sound. I just outlined the highlights. Anyway... Memories.