Happy 13th Birthday Carew!

It's official! I can admit that I must be looking older because I now have not only one ~ but 2 ~ teenagers!!!! I know I say it all the time, but it's true...I can hardly believe how FAST the time goes by...
I also find it very interesting that as each of my children grow, they develop their own unique personalities and ideas...and Carew wanted to plan his very own birthday party all by himself!!! Which was fine with me;) although I KNOW that he loved my added help with all of the FOOD!!! Let's just say that teenage boys LOVE food... and the more the better!!!
Now Carew didn't want to "play" any games... he just wanted to "hang out" and have some fun;) So the 10 of them played basketball, dodge ball, capture the flag, cops and robbers (which was their favorite where they hid all around the neighborhood and I had to drive around and try to capture them one by one), and then they came in and watched a movie and ate and ate and ate!!! Carew had ordered plenty of treats for the crew... Oreo cookies and cream ice~cream AND pudding pie (no birthday cake for this birthday boy - just his PIE!!!), bagel bites, mini corn dogs, taquitos, chips, kettle corn, soda, cookies, doughnuts, peanut M&M's, AND don't forget the carrots!!!! (I know you weren't expecting that last one 'cause I wasn't either!;)

They all seemed to be having a great time laughing and having a good old time...which I think is what boys do best! There is no "drama" or "hurting someones feelings" or worrying about "what to wear" or "who is going to sit by who..." Just good, clean, rough and tough, old fashioned BOY fun! (Can't you tell from the pictures? There was not ONE moment of seriousness whatsoever...I LOVE it!!!

And although the boys all act pretty tough, they ALL had a sensitive and caring side for the "little sister" that just HAD to be a part of it all! With Dallin and Gavin both gone for the weekend and Kierra out babysitting, Kambriella was the only little sibling to worry about and so she just climbed on up into the middle of it all and made herself feel quite at home! Thanks for being a good friend Zach and thanks for being such a good big brother Carew!!!! Kambriella says, "you are the best puppy ever!!!;)Happy Birthday Carew!!! We love you!!!!!

Music to My Ears

Kierra and Carew had their annual piano recital this past week at the Riverton Music Hall where they each played a piece that they had been working very hard on! Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I love music!!! ~ And so to hear my children developing the same love for music and their individual talents makes me soooo happy.

The theme their teacher had chosen for the recital this year was, "Religious or Inspirational" music. Carew played the hymn "The Spirit of God." He did so well, and yes, his mama was sooooo proud;)

Kierra's piece was titled "In the Garden." It reminded me of a theme song to Somewhere in Time or something similar to that. ~ And yes, it was beautiful as well, and her mama was sooooo proud.

Kami Sage is their piano teacher and does such a wonderful job with these children. She is so enthusiastic and encouraging and presents them each with an individual medal for all of their hard work and accomplishments at each recital.

As a parent, you want to see your children succeed. ~ And so to see them in an atmosphere that is so conducive to their growth and learning is so pleasing. I love hearing their "finished product" and being able to support them in all their hard work and efforts. Yes, it's fun to see them sit at the grand piano in all of it's splendor, but my favorite part of all is hearing them sit down to our humble little "out of tune" piano everyday and try with all their might to become a master over their song. The music played is truly music to my ears and I believe it brings heaven a little bit closer in our home :)

Congratulations Kierra and Carew!!! Job well done!!! :)

From Gavin's point of view...

This afternoon, Gavin and I sat down together to work on his homework. The instructions said to "Look at the picture. Write 2 sentences about what you see."
The picture had a little boy that was sick in bed with a thermometer in his mouth, a nightstand with a lamp and some medicine on it, a teddy bear tucked in beside the little boy, coloring books, crayons, and a toy car on the bed, and his mom kneeling beside him at the side of his bed.
After I had taken a second to get a good look at the picture I explained to Gavin the instructions and then asked him what he would like to write for his first sentence...
His immediate response without any hesitation was, "The mom is praying for her sick little boy."
AWE!!!!!!!!! Melt my mommy heart!!!!!!! It took me a few seconds to gain my composure before I replied to him, "Yes Gavin, you are exactly right." :)
Out of all of the things for a little boy to notice in the picture, I was so grateful that what Gavin recognized first, was a prayer. That particular thought hadn't even entered my mind and so when he said it, my heart almost burst! My heartstrings were almost tugged right out of me! In fact, I think they got tugged so hard that it busted a tear duct or something because I was totally overcome with emotion, over such a simple little thing! ~ But that is what part of the beauty of being a mother is all about. Our days get filled up with lots of "little things" that create one blessed life. Sometimes I sit back and watch and wonder just how much knowledge actually penetrates their little hearts and minds when I am teaching them, and then after moments like this, it is manifest to me that whatever the amount is... it is enough. Oh how I love my little ones, and oh how I love being a mom!:)

More potty training "toy-wet" conversations...

I know that these conversations about potty training are not the most inspiring things to be heard, BUT they ARE some of the funniest things that happen around here lately...and after all, whether your day is full of sunshine and roses or rainclouds and thunder...or simply conversations with a 2 year old all about the "toy-wet," it's always good to find JOY in the moment you are living, right? So, I am recording yet another funny conversation that I had with little Kambriella the other day. It was so funny the way she said it that she simply had me laughing out loud! Here is how it went:

I was sitting in the kitchen reading and Kambriella was laying on the kitchen floor coloring when she said,
"Mom, I have some good news and some bad news..."

(I giggled just at that little comment because she has NEVER said THAT before!) Then I replied,
"Well, I'll take the bad news first."

Then Kambriella said,
"I have to go poop."

Then I laughed and said, "Well then what's the GOOD news?"

Then Kambriella took a deep breath and said,
"It's a BIG one!"

I laughed out loud again and with a big smile stuck to my face I rushed her in to the potty where she successfully completed the job INTO the "toy-wet" and NOT in her big girl princess panties!
We will consider this to be another "sunshine and roses" kind of day (even though it didn't smell like one ;)
More happy potty training stories to come, I'm sure of it!!! Have a "sunshine and roses" kind of day even if life gets stinky!!! :) I love you Kambriella! You are SUCH a BIG girl!!!

A Valentine Surprise...

I guess I can call myself a "hopeless romantic" because I just get all melted into a puddle anytime I entertain thoughts of my hubby...my best friend, sweetie pie, true love, ~my eternal heart throb... So as I started thinking of what I could do for him that would be, fun AND romantic, I had an idea to surprise him throughout the week BEFORE Valentines Day! I began Monday morning by leaving a love letter, his favorite drink, and some green M&M's in a heart sack on the front seat of his car for him to find in the morning on his way to work. The fun part of the love note was the part that said, " You hold the KEY to my heart." You see, every morning for the rest of the week, he would find a NEW love letter, with another drink and more treats, and the love letter would say something different each day about him holding the "KEY" to something... my heart, my smile, my happiness...you get the idea! Well, by the end of the week, he began to EXPECT to find something in his car and so he started wanting to leave sooner and sooner!~So I would have to pull him back in ;) ... So after he was on his way on Friday morning, I busied myself getting things taken care of for the REST of his surprise! Then at about 4 o'clock I drove to his work and left a backpack full of "treats" ;) on the front seat of his car with another love letter that said, " I have the KEY to our room!" His secretary saw me outside and came out to say "hi" so I told her I was trying to surprise Clint and that after I left she should tell him to go and look in his car!

Of course the letter told him to meet me at 5:30 at the Little America Hotel and to NOT be late! We had a romantic evening together complete with rose petals on the bed, sparkling cider and chocolate dipped strawberries with a white chocolate bowl of fresh berries too. We went to dinner at their restaurant and then caught the train to the Jazz game. Even though I have been fighting off being sick all this past week, it was still an enjoyable night and so refreshing to spend some time lost in each other. When you take time to focus on your marriage, you find the energy and strength to do good at everything else that is required of you. I remember our stake president's wife once saying that they try hard to have an "overnighter" every month! I can't wait for the day when that will be possible!;)
Anyways, then last night was the "real" Valentines Day, and being on a Tuesday, we had a party with our kids, 7 fancy goblets with heart shaped kool-aid ice cubes to make our sprite "pink," heart shaped pizza, and love stories and valentines with scriptures about love on them. Clint gave me a long stemmed rose sleeve of fancy chocolate dipped strawberries and a small crystal decoration that says, "True Love." But, one of my most favorite things about Valentines Day is that Clint tells me every year that this day should be no different because he is always pouring out his heart to me and smothering my days with his love!!! I am so thankful to be married to my best friend and for the "key" that he is to unlocking my heart! Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Birthday Kierra!

On Saturday, February 11th, Kierra turned 14 years old! ~And although she really did the celebrating one week earlier, we still had to celebrate the day with "cake" and presents too!

Kambriella just had to sing Kierra a special solo song of "I am a child of God" for her gift to her too! ~And of course we just had to sing Kierra our families favorite rendition of "It's your birthday you're old now..." to the tune of "Take me out to the ball game." ;)

And this year instead of a real "cake," Kierra requested "cake pops" instead. They were fun to make and yummy too, but way too hard to put a birthday candle in!

So, one week prior to Kierra's real birthday, she had a fun and exciting weekend with her best friend Valerie. Valerie lives in North Ogden and so these two friends live just far enough away from each other that they usually only get to see each other once or twice a year. So, THAT is what Kierra wanted for her birthday this year! ~A fun weekend with Valerie! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures since my camera broke, but I can assure you that those two girls had a LOT of fun, and very LITTLE sleep! They were able to go to the temple together, out to dinner, talk and giggle...go swimming at the rec center, play "Just Dance" on the Wii, talk and giggle some more...go ice~skating, out to ice~cream, and talk and giggle again...do hair and nails, go to church together, and talk and giggle all the way back to Valerie's home! They were so cute to watch, and I have told them over and over how lucky they are to have each other for friends, because true friendships like theirs are hard to come by. They can miss each other for months and then get back together and never have missed a beat. It is great! Their plans are to finish high school, and then be room mates at college together where they will, "buy all of their cleaning supplies for their apartment from All A Dollar because it is so cheap ~and then decorate their dorm room at Christmas time with a pink Christmas tree ~and still make it home for Sunday dinners!" (straight from Kierra's mouth!) I just love this girl! She is growing up to be such an amazing young woman. She has become so talented in so many aspects of her life, but most of all, I am proud of her divine qualities that she is beginning to polish. She is loving, considerate, grateful and sincere. She is a leader, an exemplar, modest and respectful. She is mindful of others and obedient and confident. She seeks after good things and has a strength for listening to the spirit. I am amazed sometimes to think that she is MY daughter when a lot of the time SHE is the one teaching me! I really could go on and on, but then I would run out of room here so I will stop... But I just want Kierra to know how very blessed I am to be her mother! I love you Kierra Nicole! Thank you for making me the luckiest mom in the whole world! Happy Birthday!!!

Some Things That I Love...

As we enter the month of February (or should I say the"half over" month of February;) I would like to make a list of some of the things that have happened over the past month or so that give me great reason to FEEL loved. We seem to have such abundant lives and when we take time to find the GOOD and express GRATITUDE, then we can FEEL an abundance of LOVE! So, here we go!

1) Kierra has the opportunity to travel abroad this summer to go to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales! ~And with this great opportunity comes LOTS of commitment and responsibility! She has to earn the money herself and has jumped in whole-heartedly! We spent an entire weekend cleaning out our detached garage and making it into a ballet studio! She made up fliers to advertise for her "Tippy Toes Ballet Academy" and successfully acquired a dozen little girls to teach! The garage every Monday afternoon transforms into a beautiful "work of art" as Kierra and her friend Kelsee turn on inspiring music and begin to teach these beginning ballerinas! They are soooooo cute to watch!!!! (And Kambriella is the one that gives Kierra the biggest run for her money!;) The studio is complete with a full wall of mirrors, heating, lighting, seating, pink walls, a ballet bar, and a desk with handouts for parents, cash box for payments, and MOST importantly~ treat jars for the little dancers that follow Miss Kierra's instructions! I am so proud of Kierra for trying so hard to really make this work! She has also been babysitting every weekend, teaching her little brother piano, cleaning down at work with Clint, and on and on and on....We will have to share more details later, but believe me when I say that WE have been busy helping this dream of hers to become a reality!

2) Clint and I were given the opportunity to speak in our stake conference a couple of weeks ago and it was such a blessing for us! Whenever I have been asked to speak to others about something that I have a strong testimony about, I feel humbled and blessed because I am always the one that ends up learning the most. Clint was asked to speak on "Anchoring yourself individually in the Gospel" and I was asked to speak on "Anchoring our families in the Gospel." The weeks prior to speaking were wonderful times full of study, prayer, and preparation. Then, the night of the conference was one filled with the Spirit. Then, an abundance of LOVE came the week after, as our mailbox was filled with thank~you letters from gracious people in our stake who took the time to say "thank you" or how our words "touched them" or "helped them with something in their life." It was such a beautiful thing as I sat and read the letters with tear filled eyes and tear stained cheeks ~ grateful for these opportunities.

3) Kambriella is potty trained!!!!!! We all became very worried when every time we would ask Kambriella "When she would decide to be potty trained?" ~she would reply, "June 2nd!"
Really??? You are really going to wait until the day of your 3rd birthday??? Well, lucky for me, something in her clicked one Monday morning as she woke up and said, "Mom, I need to go potty." HALLELUJAH!!!! She got the "wet" part down very easily, but the poor little thing would hold the "#2" part for days being too nervous to try to go. I bought her a Minnie Mouse play set that I let her hold on the potty to remind her that when she did go, she could open it! Then, finally the day came where she decided to do it!!! And she did!!! She told me I couldn't stay in the bathroom, but then screamed for me to come and look at the "worm poop in the toy-wet!!!!" I died laughing because I knew exactly what she meant! All this time her diapers held it close to her making it get all squished up next to her, but NOW, letting it go in the "toy-wet" it was longer, "like a worm!" SOOOOO SORRY for that descriptive detail, but Clint made me promise to write it down because it was so FUNNY!!! We laughed good and hard about that one!;)

4) I love this CRAZY life of mine!!! Filled with mothering, "wife-ing," cooking and cleaning. My Primary calling, taxi-ing and scheduling. Jazz games, meetings, trainings, and work, dance lessons, music lessons, pictures and camp outs. Temple nights, date nights, family nights, late nights, and over nights. Dentists and doctors, and yes, even the flu... Passports and banquets, birthdays and holidays, weddings and parties, and new babies too. Good friends and family, people who care, young mens and young womens, scouts and homework...basketball practice, running in the great outdoors, and hugs from others. Broken cameras, outdated computers, and little kindergartners who write their name on the wall ;) The list could literally go on and on, but suffice it to say that GRATITUDE brings LOVE. I love my husband, my family, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to my core. They are why I do what I do. And I LOVE IT!!!!