Saturday, January 31, 2009

Why are you so sad??


I know some might find it cruel to take a picture of your child while they are crying but I just want them to be able to enjoy them once they have their own children. I just think this is adorable!!! Brayden is so stinkin' cute when he cries. Although, I do not like to ever make him cry.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Deep Thoughts


A friend of mine brought me these flowers for my birthday. Aren't they just beautiful? I put them right in a glass with water and this is how they grew! I sometimes feel like the flower standing up. It seems that a lot of my choices are different from those around me. It sometimes feel like I am alone but wanting to go with the crowd. I still stand my ground and just watch from a safe view.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

What a mess but so cute!!

Brayden sure loves spaghetti and you can tell!!


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Look at those curls!!!



These are the sweet curls that Brayden had just last March! Bryan thought we needed to cut them off. I cried when he lost them. There is nothing like baby curls.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

It's My Birthday and Feet!



Yep, today is my birthday. Thanks to everyone who made me feel special all week. I just love you all!! I just wanted to post this pic of our feet. Can you tell which ones are mine??? Nope, not the pink ones. :)

For my birthday our children stayed overnight at a friend's house and Bryan took me to dinner & a movie. We ate at Texas Longhorns & watched Inkheart (which was very boring). We had a nice night spending time together. It gets kind of crazy around here!

Friday, January 23, 2009

That's Thomas



This picture totally captures Thomas's personality. This is just............... Thomas.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Girls' Night Out!

Tonight a group of my friends from church got together at Mimi's Cafe to celebrate the birthdays of my friends Tiffany, Karlee, and me. We had such a blast, as you can tell by these pictures. :)

(Me, Tiffany, Karlee)

(Tiffany's cute shoes)

(Robyn & Karlee *SQUISH*)

(Laura's Cute Shoes)

(Karlee, Julie, Me)

(Deanna, Melanie, Tiffany, Julie, Shawna, Melinda, Laura, Me, Karlee, Sarah)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Push Ups





This is what the boys had to show me after I was so excited that I successfully did 1 girl push up. They had to show me how a real man does a push up.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Makeovers

My girls usually do not play together but when they do they have a blast!! They both came down the stairs laughing their heads off, with a ton of make-up, and crazy hair. This is Madie and she actually has an "L" for "loser" on her forehead. Aren't they so sweet to each other?

Monday, January 19, 2009

Sweet Muffin

Muffin is such a sweet dog. It is really a big decision to go from no dog to a dog. He is a lot of work but he is a precious member of our family. The children just adore him.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Laaaaa, laaaaa, laaaaa

This is the sound we hear from Thomas every night as soon as we all sit down to read scriptures. He sings through the entire thing and will not stop even for prayers. It really is cute, even if it is disruptive!


Saturday, January 17, 2009

Winter Leaves




We have put off cleaning up our leaves until just today.  It was quite the ordeal and we filled up about 8 of the blue city bags.  Here are some pics I took of the kids having fun with the leave piles.


Friday, January 16, 2009

Growing Up...



I can't believe my little baby boy is growing up. We still call him "the baby" around here and I know we won't be able to do that much longer. Where did the time go? This morning he didn't even want to sit in his highchair for breakfast. Pretty soon that will be given away or put up in storage. Life is very hard with small children but sometimes I wish I could go back and savor every minute of the hardest times.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Katelyn is fine...


I forgot to post the next day that Katelyn's toes are going to be fine.  She missed 2 days of school because she couldn't put a lot of pressure on her foot because it would bleed but other than that she is going to be A-okay!!


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Katelyn's Little Accident


Tonight after Bryan and the kids got home from church Katelyn ran upstairs to take a shower. We heard screaming from her a few minutes later and ran up to find that the shower door had fallen off the slider and fell on her toes. Her foot could have been cut off, that is how heavy that sliding glass door is. We don't think it will need stitches but we are going to take her into the doctor in the morning, just in case. Her entire toe nail had the glass go through it. She was very brave but also on the verge of hysteria.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

My New Passion

For Christmas Bryan got me a Nikon D90 camera, a couple of lenses, and a new flash. I have been playing around with it and reading everything there is to know about photography on the internet. Today I had my first "session" with my friend and her children. Now, understand that I still have soooo much to learn but I think these turned out really sweet. Most of these are in automatic, Portrait, P, or A mode. I was just guessing on most of it.

Emma






Tyler & Alex




Monday, January 12, 2009

Sunday, January 11, 2009

POTD-14 My Sick Husband



Bryan started feeling yucky on Saturday morning or Friday night. If you know anything about my husband you would understand that this is not normal and we take it pretty seriously. (Like when he woke me up in the middle of the night with a fever of 100. We won't go there.) He has a cough and a mild temp. Last night he woke up with the chills, which he has never had before. I am trying not to say "See, now you know how I felt when I had the chills last year" but it is so tempting. Bryan was so sick that he stayed home from church and went to a walk in medical clinic. Bryan hasn't missed church due to illness since I've known him. Again, must be VERY sick. The doctor did a chest xray and he does have pneumonia. I never would have guessed. I was sicker for MUCH longer, with much more severe symptoms, and I never went to a doctor. I kept saying that I thought mine was pneumonia. Since he has his books full of patients this week he has to get better really fast. He is on a Zpack and something else. Hope he gets better soon. It's no fun having 6 kids when you are only used to 5. :)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Self Image


You like my curlers?  Last week on Sunday morning I decided to try something new.  This is what I looked like in the process.  I forgot to take an after shot.  :)

Friday, January 9, 2009

Day 12- Great Memory


As we sit around and ponder if moving was the right thing, I am reminded in this one picture alone that it was. Sure, maybe our other house hasn't sold yet and that we have 2 house payments right now BUT..... this is where we need to be right here and now. Look at the faces of these cuties. Could I have said it any better than their looks?

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Laundry is NOT fun!!

My biggest problem in the world right now is doing my laundry. I just can't keep even close to caught up. I don't even enjoy doing my family's laundry. Here is a little mound but earlier it was HUGE!!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Day 10- Changes


My friend, Julie, and I decided to have our own biggest loser contest. We started yesterday and are both off to a pretty good start. I signed up for Jenny Craig tonight and can you believe that I have over 30 pounds to lose??? I can actually lose up to 40 but I think would be really pressing my luck. Wish me luck. I wanted to post a picture of this awesome water container I found for $2 at Walmart. It holds 8 glasses of water so I just have to make sure I drain the entire thing once a day and then fill it halfway and drain it again. It's so easy to see how much water I have to go.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Day 9 - Madie!!!



My sweet, dear Madie is such a joy in our lives. She has such a sassy attitude, like her mom, but you've got to love her for being independent. Madie will never let anyone push her around nor will she ever follow the crowd. She is a true girly girl who loves to dress up pretty and try on her play make up. She also loves to pose for my camera which I LOVE!!! We have fun photo sessions and she poses in fun ways. She is really helping me with my new camera. :)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Day 8- My Handsome Husband, Bryan



Yes, I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a husband who has it all. Looks, charm, patience, muscles, etc! Don't be jealous because that just wouldn't be right. Seriously, I am truly blessed to have the best husband in the world. I still am amazed that he married me. He saw my true colors when we were dating and he still asked me to be his wife. I have always been somewhat moody but during our courtship he was being tested to the limits. I have mellowed out since then but when I look back I am in awe that he went through with it. I'm glad he did and so are our 5 children.

Bryan and I have been married 12 years so I will share 12 reasons why I love him.

#1- His looks, of course (hee, hee)

#2- He is an AWESOME dad who is so good with the kids

#3- Because he let us get a dog even though that was the last thing he wanted

#4- He lets me have an entire room in the house just for my hobby. How many other husbands would let their wives do that??

#5- He lets me be me and trusts me with money. We had to be so frugal during school and for most of our marriage and Bryan always trusted me with my purchases. Even now when I receive a package that is scrapbook related he doesn't question it at all. (Which is a very good thing!!)

#6- He takes out the trash which is my least favorite chore

#7- He goes to the Lord with his problems and questions and he waits until he receives answers. I can learn a lot from him in that area.

#8- He loves to serve in the church. I have never heard him murmur once about an assignment he has been given. He serves with a happy heart and truly loves what he does.

#9- Bryan doesn't speak unkindly of anyone. Even when I want to gossip with him or tell him how I feel about someone. He really doesn't want to feed my fire. He sits and listens but does not comment about it 99% of the time.

#10- He doesn't mind driving an old car. I love that about him. Things are not important but people are.

#11- Bryan is very frugal. In the beginning of our marriage I had a huge problem with this but as we have progressed through our marriage it has come to be a true blessing. I know that he is not going to spend our money on something frivolous.

#12- He is very mellow most of the time. We are true opposites in our personality but it suits us. We are a perfect match.

Love you honey!!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Day 7- My Andrew!





Andrew is such a joy in my life. Of course, he has his days, but for the most part he has always been sweet and very attentive. He cannot stand it if I am sad or upset. He likes to give me a back scratch or hug to make me feel better. He is such a boy!!! For Christmas he got his first basketball since our new house has a little basketball court in the front and he has been playing nonstop. I love our little Andrew.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Day 6 - My love of reading


I just finished this book, Fire of the Covenant, today and I bawled like a baby all the way to the last page. I love to read but I especially love to read stories of pioneers. Some of my favorite books include Little House on the Prairie & The Work and the Glory. I have learned so much about the Willie and Martin handcart companies from this book. My eyes are opened and I have an entirely different respect for the Mormon pioneers and all the other pioneers that traveled across the country. As I was reading this book a thought struck me really hard. I don't think I could do it. I would be the one that would die of starvation and the elements because of my constant complaining and murmuring. I only wish I could be as strong as they were. Also, they were willing to give up so much of their material possessions in order to go to Zion. I cannot even imagine their faith. I only hope that if I am ever asked to do something similar that I will do it without hesitation.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Day 5 - Me!!


This post is all about me.......

I hear all the time people say "Oh, you are so crafty". Please don't call me crafty! I'm a bit creative but when I think of crafty I think of making toys out of Popsicle sticks and sawing wood then painting it. I love to scrapbook, make cards, and now I love to make jewelry. I'm creative. :)

I love to learn new things. Right now I am trying to master photography & the piano. I have once heard it said that anyone can do anything and I truly believe it. With enough practice and determination you can accomplish just about anything you put your mind to. I have learned many things in the past 12 years and I look forward to learning many more things.

I'm very sensitive and have a sensitive spirit. Since I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 13 years ago I have made many changes in my life. One of them has been media. I have given up a lot but I have received many blessings in return. My spirit is so sensitive now that if I hear or see a bad word I literally freak out. I just cannot handle any filth in my mind. Some might see that as a flaw or judge me that I am too strict. I just feel that it is preparing me for blessings. :)

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Day 4- Meet Muffin

This is Muffin our new little boy Shih tzu. Santa brought him for Christmas and we absolutely love him. We never thought we would get a dog but changed our minds over the past year. It really is like having a new member added to your family. Muffin is our little sweetie pie, baby with a lot of sassy attitude! Fits right in!!