For preschool I made the kids a movie of them during the year and a graduation cap. They were so cute and I will miss the ones who are not returning next year. We made some little graduation cap cupcakes.Thanks to a great year!
It is the end of school for Hannah,so we made some magnets for her teacher and gave her some "Extra" gum with the saying " Thanks for being an extra great teacher" and of course she is already bored! So far this summer, she has received some flowers from my mom to put on the porch. My mom told her she has to be the one to take care of them. they all know I would probably kill them. Austin and Hannah are very good at watering the flowers. Then Hannah has already painted two little boys toenails while they were over. This little girl always has to have something to do. Today she was so sweet and got her little brother ready for him to go play in the rain. She put on his lotion that he needs for his legs and rain coat. I decided that now that my preschool is over as well, I will be teaching them each day a new bible/BOM story.

I haven't blogged for a while as I am sure some of you have noticed. There has been some things I have learned this past month. First off I think this economy has a lot of people down so I have two theory's that need to happen. Either A. The economy needs to pick up soon, or B. Christ needs to come now!
I had to drop a tool off to my husband at his construction site. The thought came to my mind, A woman walking into a construction site is like Daniel walking into a lions den. My advice to you women, stay away from construction sites unless you really want a raunchy self esteem boost. If you can even call it that. SCARY!
I have been wanting to put down things that I am grateful for because when I am down I need to be glad for the things all around me. First off as I am writing this I am thankful for my daughter Hannah who sings at the top of her little lungs to the song "Annie" " The sun will come out tomorrow".
I am grateful to have come here and received a body. For so long I guess I felt like I had to be perfect for myself. I set myself up for no room to fall. There was no room for mistakes or error. I beat myself up when I let others down, do something that I needed to do and couldn't. I have started to understand that no one is perfect. The only perfect one has been trying to grasp my hand and so many times I get close but feel like there are too many other people out there that need him and so I will be ok on my own. I want him to help the others because I would feel guilty for letting him help me and take up someone else's time. How sad is that? Am I the only one out there that felt that way? I need to realize we are human, mistakes make us better and I am only one person who can't please everyone, who can't do everything and I have to allow room for mistakes. I want my kids growing up and knowing that there are times when they are going to fall, and that is ok, it makes them human . I want my kids to know that Christ is there for them and loves them. I as their mother, had to realize that I Too was worth it. The sorrow I felt He has felt. That he really would have come here just for me. That I am a good person who has many talents to help people. If I can't help myself and let Christ into my life then how am I supposed to help others find him. So I am grateful that I can now see my value and love the woman I am.
I am grateful for the feelings of being human. I am grateful for the good and the bad emotions that I have felt in my life. Meaning, I am grateful for joy, excitement, sorrow, pain, pleasure, jealousy, anger, happiness, fear, courage, lust, love, hope, charity, and even faith. I am grateful for my kids who can wake me up in the wee hours of the morning, because I know I got to sleep in a safe environment. I am grateful to also know I have children that depend on me and love me. I am grateful for the times of sorrow and hurt, because it makes me know that I have felt joy and love to those around me. I am thankful for times of discouragement, so I can recognize the times of joy. I am thankful for the crappy car that I have that people can hear from miles away, because I know that I have a vehicle to get me places. I am grateful for this house, even if we did buy at the worst time right before the economy went down, because I get to be in a home. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve others because it makes me feel good to know there are people out there who need me. I am grateful for friends, neighbors, and family because I know they care about me as much as I care for all of them. I am thankful for trials hard or small because I know there is something I must learn from them. I don't agree with the quote " God won't give you anything you can't handle." well guess what it doesn't matter because either way you have no choice to deal with what your given. But I do agree with this quote " With God you can endure the things that are given to you" You, just as I am, are worth it. I like to think of before this life making promises that we could do what was needed in this life. We were excited for the chance to receive a body and we were excited to help others on our way. Sometimes we forget the real reason of being here, to help others along the way as the Savior did. He helped those that spit upon him, that cursed him, and who hated him. We also need to realize that even Christ himself was tempted. We will all have temptations and that doesn't make us in the wrong. It is giving into the temptations where we will lose ourselves. Christ never gave in. He did what was needed to do. He knows our pain no matter how small they may be to the world. I don't watch the news anymore because my soul can't handle the pain of the world, where children are hurting. Where parent's can't help their children, where there is so much hunger, war, and abuse out there. I honestly think we may had little glimpses of our life and we were willing to keep those promises to help others and to do what we needed to do in this life. I found this quote on my sister in law Sheryl's blog, I felt like it was put there just for me, and it fits to what I am trying to say: "Faith is something greater than ourselves that enables us to do what we have said we will do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is uncertain."
- Gordon B. Hinckley
I believe that even though I will go through some hard times in my life, that I can do what I need to do. I can look at each day at a time and be grateful for the little things that we miss because we are so "busy" with nothing that really matters. I like to think of myself of someone who would dive into the trenches to get the wounded soldiers out, dodging bullets in a spiritual sense. To help those who are "Wounded" without judgment, to get on our hands and knees and pick them up. We are tougher then we give ourselves credit. Hey lots of us are parents, we are dodging bullets everyday!! Give your children a hug, help a neighbor, realize your individual worth to yourself and to those all around you. You, yes you who is reading this, you are Loved.

Happy Birthday Hannah!!

Hannah, I can't imagine life without you. It only seems like yesterday when I was so excited to go to the hospital to have you. I will always remember seeing your face for the first time, when they laid you on my stomach and looked up at me. I kept thinking "This is my baby!" You were so petite and when you started walking at nine months people couldn't believe their eyes. You grew so fast. You were such a daddy's girl and loved having him push you in the swing. You loved dancing around and going to Grandma's house to play with Brinley. Time has really gone by so fast! You now are such a big helper with your siblings. You love your friends and love dressing up! You always have to be entertained and you LOVE school for that very reason! You are a very beautiful girl and I can't believe how fast time really goes by. You are going to accomplish many great things in life, you are so strong and even an example to me, your mother. I love you Hannah Banana! Happy 6th Birthday!

I have been trying to re-do some of the rooms in my house. Or rather should I say that I am trying to finally get to them. Here are some of the things I want in my room. I want a monogram with the letter "C" est. 2002 between the two windows in my bedroom like this picture. I then want a quote something like this or "always, forever, and no matter what" or "When I count my blessings I count you twice" with this font that I love.

Since my brother Chad will be leaving with his family soon for residency, my mom wanted us to get together and take family pictures. She gave this to me for mother's day! Thanks Mom! I am so glad to have her and my mother in law in my life. They are two women that I look up to everyday.

Tomorrow my little girl will be 6 years old!! I can't believe how fast time goes by. I will get more into that tomorrow. Faith is 9 months old and thought I would put up some pictures of how fast she has grown. She loves to eat people food and screams at the top of her lungs if she sees anyone eating and she isn't. She is crawling and pulling herself up on everything. She will walk with you if you hold her hands. As of yesterday, if she starts to put anything in her mouth that isn't food and I say "FAITHY" she holds it out for me to get, as if she knows she is in trouble. She still cries herself to sleep at night but her siblings love to throw things in the crib to shut her up. She says "da da" " ma ma" and I am trying to teach her sign language. Yesterday I was showing her the sign for "Milk" and I swear she looked at me and said "milk" lol. She likes playing Baby bumblebee with the preschool kids and is barley getting that concept. She gets excited when people come around her and play, and if you sneak up on her she giggles and hides her head in your shoulder thinking the person is trying to play a game with her.

From Brea's Blog- a reminder. Thanks!

To realize
The value of a sister/brother:
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.


To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.



To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.



To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.



To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.



To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.



To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.



Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.



To realize
The value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

Happy Birthday Holly!!! One of my dear friends had her birthday!! Everyone came over to my house to watch "Bride Wars" Trent made it possible so that we could have real snow cones and theatre popcorn. We had some pizza and sang to Holly. Holly LOVES ice so I thought snow cones would be appropriate. Shelley made a yummy chocolate cake that she is incredible at, I have been craving it since my birthday!! Lyndee made her yummy ice cream cake that I have been craving since her Lyle's party! It was so nice to be with the girls and laugh! We painted toes and enjoyed it when Shelley and April showed up in their wedding attire. Holly and I had to run and get our veils to fit in. We shared with those who didn't have veils! Thanks once again for Lyndee taking awesome pictures and letting me use them~ Thanks Cameron for babysitting so Holly could get out, and letting us steal her on her birthday!

This story is for my mother in law. She wanted a story of something symbolic. She is serving a mission at Martin's Cove. Her phone keeps dying right in the middle of our conversation and I told her I would email the story. Since I know she will be checking my blog I decided just to share it on here, since she doesn't have an email address :) The story is what I remember of it. A woman told us this story and I am sure you have already heard it before.
" There was a girl who wanted a pearl neck less so bad that her mother took her to the store to buy some fake pearls. Her father came in to tuck her into bed and asked her what they were. She was wearing the pearls and told her father they were her pride and joy! Her dad kissed her goodnight and left it at that. The next day came and went, and it was time for her Father to tuck her into bed. This time he asked her if he could have her precious pearls. She was so upset he would even ask, she told him those were her pearls and she would not give them up!! Night after night the father kept asking " Can I have your pearls?" Each night the same reply was NO! Finally one night the little girl thought that if her father wanted them so bad she would give them up. She gave her Father her precious pearls, and when she did he held a box out for her. She opened the box and saw real pearls." The moral of the story is that we all have weakness's, sins, or wrong doings. Sometimes we hold on to them so tightly when the Father has his arms stretched ready for us to give them up. He simply doesn't make us, we have to let it go on our own. When we do we receive true joy and happiness. There are many things that this story can be remembered by, but all I know is that each one of us is a real pearl to someone who needs us. Kind of like the quote to the world we may be one, but to one we may be the world. What a good quote for mothers on mothers day. I think of this life as a war. We have people falling in the trenches with bullets being shot all around our heads. Are we going to run and save ourselves from the dread? Or are we going to jump in the trench, lift up our own and help him to his feet? reminds me of "Onward Christan Soldiers" This life how easy is it to turn our backs when we see someone hurt, or doing something they shouldn't be? How easy is it to gossip and throw our own stones at people we may know? WE may know a friend who has made a big mistake by going out of the bonds of marriage and has no one to turn to. We may know people with addictions and are too scared or too lazy to help them up. Whatever it may be I am so glad that we were given the opportunity to not have to judge. I wouldn't want that burden on me. One of my favorite pictures is of Christ holding the black sheep. I have had many eye opening experiences where I realized I was the one who needed the changing and that I was judgmental. When we strip ourselves of the pride we all have then we can truly see that people out there are wonderful people. I believe this life is to get on our hands and knees and pull each other out of the trenches and up on their feet without judgment. For those fake pearls we may think make us happy, what great joy to know there really is REAL joy if we allow it. Too many people are afraid to talk about such issues, but I think we need to if we are going to get better. Hopefully you have surrounded yourself with good people who will carry you when you need it most. I can't find the picture that I once saw of Christ sitting down holding the black sheep.

Today while shopping, I overheard a little old lady telling her husband what cute kids I had. Just then Faith turned around in her seat and pulled Austin's hair. Real cute.... Later at the checkout stand a man with an eye patch came up behind us. When we got to the car Austin looked at me and said " Mom I saw a pirate in that store!"