With Love

From Us, to You!

Hello!

You need to go visit her.

She is giving away one of these

and one of these

WAIT! 

Hold The Phone!

If you enter, it decreases my chances of winning!  Dang, we really must be friends!

Good luck!

(I charge a small prize fee of half your loot if you win.)

5 Seconds

The other night Kyah was sitting at the kitchen counter and snapped a door off one of her toys.  She asked me to help and I fixed it for her.  She thanked me by giving me a hug and saying "Best Mom Ever!" (Which she has never said before - to ANYONE.)  My heart was overfilling at the thought that even if only for that 5 seconds, my two year old thought I was great.  It's amazing what 5 seconds can mean.  In the constant worry and guilt that is associated with having had to work their entire lives, that 5 seconds is a life raft.  The thoughts that crowd my mind and haunt my dreams that I have missed their childhood, the cute things they say, the influence I should be, the MOM they are missing... all of those thoughts go away, if only for 5 seconds.  They are lucky to have a Dad that loves them endlessly and who has had more opportunity to be with them, but, Oh how I MISS THEM!

I will always cherish those 5 seconds whenever I can get them and I will learn to be better about playing with them more and worrying about the mess/bills/groceries less.

Since her first time saying, she has said it 7 more time (exactly), but who's counting?

Grandpa's Last Ride

This is my Great-Grandpa Z. You met him here. Last Sunday, the 31st he "moved" back in with my Great-Grandma. He lived 97 fast and furious years. He worked hard, he played hard, he loved the gospel and his family. I have never known anyone with the tenacity, strength or work ethic that poured out of my Grandpa. He loved to make the grandkids scream/laugh. Whether it was swerving into a bush or putting on a silly wig, he was a GREAT grandpa. I will miss his sweet face.

I will forever be grateful for the blessings of this place and the opportunity to be an eternal family.

I can't imagine having to go through this past weekend without the sure knowledge that I will be able to see him again and that he is having an amazing reunion with my Grandma.

Much to our families surprise and excitement, this beauty was sitting in front of the church when we showed up for the funeral. No one had requested it or was even aware that the funeral home had such a car. The funeral home had taken it upon themselves to bring it out, knowing my grandpa was such a "car" guy.

If he couldn't go in one of his own, I know he would have appreciated this. The car was beautiful. On the trip between the church and the cemetery, we passed Grandpa's house, the driver pulled in to let Grandpa come home one last time before proceeding on. It was the hardest and best part of the weekend.

I love you Grandpa, give Grandma a kiss for me and I'll see you soon enough.

Potty Training

That's right, we are working on potty training. Wish us luck! Maybe we can turn that frown into Mom's smile when I don't have to change anymore diapers. Actually, Kyah started out as a great sport, she stayed dry until 4 in the afternoon, using the potty the whole morning. It's starting to look like that day was more of a fluke than the rule. Oh well! Guess we'll keep trying.

Any advice?

Deja

This is our friend Deja. She has been a guest in our home for about a month and a half. Her family moved into a place where they couldn't take her, so I volunteered to let her stay. Depending on where her family moves in the future, she may be ours forever. My kids, who have always been timid around dogs have done a great job. Jaxon still has his moments, but Kyah has been completely won over. She loves her, she asks about her in the morning and she pets her head as she lays in bed at night. Anytime Kyah sees a picture of her she says, "Deja good puppy." I am so grateful that they are friends and that Deja came fully trained. We are finally making use of the built in doggie doors at our house. I will keep you updated as to her full time residency, but thought I should introduce her to you.

Growing...

These are my babies... they look like babies, right???

What's that you're saying?

No?

Well, I guess you're right.

My sweet little girl went from this ... a rollie pollie bundle of smiles, (she was such a little chunk)

to this... a tall thinned out girl who speaks her mind and has more attitude in her 2 year body than I do at 27. She is amazing! If I can get that stubbornness and persistence aimed at the right direction, all my worries will be over.

And this sweet little face ... it breaks my heart. I can't believe how much time has gone by, while I haven't been looking he's grown up...

Into this ... He is kind and he is diplomatic. You can try and get him to have a favorite - he won't. If he loves me, then he loves Dad and Grandpa and Grandpa and Nana and Papa and the list goes on. He wants to be a "construction builder" so we can all live together in one place and he won't have to miss anyone. I can't think about kindergarten this fall or I'm sure I'll have a panic attack.

I sure love these kids!