Happy 9th Birthday Dallin!

What more could a little boy want for his birthday than to spend a whole weekend filled with fun AND all the time with his "best cousin ever?"
Well, THAT is exactly what Dallin wanted this year, and THAT is exactly what he got! Best buds!!!
Cohen and Dallin :)

I loved listening to them sing out loud together, and to hear them thank me for All the fun... they both stopped and said to me, "This is so much fun, thank you so much!!!" ~It was all worth it just to see them both having so much fun together :) ...

The opening of presents was spread out over 3 days together...some from Grandparents, then from Cohen, and then from mom and dad...the party just never stopped;)

From the minute Cohen arrived at our house the boys all had a blast playing dodge ball, basketball, and going to baseball...out to dinner, out to the movies, and out to the swimming pool...playing games, staying up late, going to church together, and of course eating tons of yummy food!!! When it came time for us to take Cohen back home, they had already begun to try and plan what they were going to do the whole ride home...and when would be the next time that they would be able to get back together! I just love how much they love each other! It makes my heart happy :) ...



Dallin's "Pokemon" cake was a battlefield of Pokemon characters and Pokemon food...

and while Dallin thought it was totally awesome, Kambriella seemed to be absolutely disgusted with the fact that there were no princesses to be seen anywhere near this birthday cake! ;)

Happy Birthday to you Dallin!!! We love you so much and are so happy that you are in this family!!!!! You are the sweetest little 9 year old in the "whole wide galaxy!" I love you Dallin!!!

Eagle of the Quarter

It's Wednesday, March 21st ~ 8:35 a.m. ~ and I am sitting in the media center at Oquirrh Hills Middle School attending a reception breakfast for my son Carew who was awarded the Eagle of the Quarter. I know it may sound a little silly, but I sat with the biggest lump in my throat and quickly blinked away the swelling up of moisture that was coming to my eyes when he was presented with his award! Here he sits proudly showing Kambriella the Eagle that is on his medal. She wasn't the only one that was thinking how very special this was! ;)

I knew that Carew would be receiving this award because a few weeks prior, we had received a letter in the mail from the school telling us all about it. We had a few different papers that we had to fill out telling all about Carew and his family so that they could read it in front of the school. It was fun to sit down with the family and talk about Carew and what things we liked about him and what some of our favorite memories with him were... but when I got to the school and sat back as the "proud mama :)" and watched his big smile and his eyes light up as they spot lighted him, I felt a great measure of happiness and deep gratitude for this son of mine who is quickly growing up right before my very eyes. Boys are sooooo much different than girls, and I feel that I have expected a lot of Carew... and seeing him in a different atmosphere surrounded by supportive teachers, and a mob of friends all cheering him on, it was very clear to see that HE is good. HE is learning, and HE is turning out to be an amazing young man.

The award ceremony was nice, and it made me grateful for the other good people in life that help me in raising these precious children of mine. His principal pointed out multiple times the pattern of repetition found in all of these good students; they each had a strong desire to do good, and had strong family ties. The award was not only for his academic achievements, but also for his "outstanding behavior and respect for others." ~And although I am very happy about his A's~ I am more delighted that he is learning how to be the child of God that he is, and the disciple of Christ that he wants to be...kind and loving to others, and letting his "light shine" wherever he goes! Thanks for being MY son Carew! I love you and am very proud of you! Keep up the good work! :)

P.S. I thought it was so funny when Carew brought this award home he asked me, "Mom, does this mean that I am smarter than Kierra?" I laughed and then said, "Carew... you're both pretty smart... but you'll still never know more than me and your dad!!! ;)

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!!!