The C & C Band

The boys announced a couple days ago that they are in a band and they gave me this,

to attend their concert. The name of their band is "C & C".The concert was funny! Caden played Kameron's pink guitar and it is too big for him so in order to play he kind of bent his leg making his toe point! Carsen just pounded away on the drums. They would say... " uhhh 1, uhh 2, uhhh 1, 2, 3 ,4..." before each song. I wanted Carsen to sing in his rock star voice, but he got shy. I know you are jealous that you didn't get a ticket!



p.s. Don't mind the basement, it's a disaster with the construction about to start.
p.s.s. Mylie is a wanna-be.

Dinner with Friends

Last weekend, we went over to the Kelly's for dinner. They are our good friends that we have known for years and met while when we lived in Nevada. I taught Jen and her nieces how to do beads and do flat twists and I had a fun time doing Tiffany's hair. She sat SO still compared to Mylie- it was great!

Last Couple of Weeks

The last few weeks have been very busy. My dear uncle Bob passed away and it was a shock. He was so young (58, just a couple years older than my dad) and has such a beautiful family- my youngest cousin will be a senior in high school next year. My uncle Bob was a great man with a strong faith. He lived a great life and his example and influence touched many lives. Funerals are sad. It was really sad. Luckily with the knowledge of the gospel, I know that we will all see my uncle Bob again. The funeral service was beautiful and my cousins and uncle Tom gave such good talks. Being at his funeral with all of my extended family on my dad's side (except 2 cousins) was amazing. I love my family and I am so thankful for my heritage. Most families really are not like ours. We are close and our faith and strong belief in the family and in Jesus Christ ties us together. I am so lucky to have such loving and wonderful people in my life.

All my brothers and sisters were together for the first time in a while because my brothers have served missions. We took some pictures! Also, it was a unique experience because none of our spouses or children were there... it was different, but so fun! (Mom and Dad)

(Siblings)

Denae and I shared a full size bed at my grandma's and had some fun late night talks. One night she stole my leg pillow so I waited until she stirred a bit and stole it back!

We went out to visit my other Grandma and see her beautiful garden. It was a good trip and inspired me to come home and be more patient and let things go a little bit more.

The 4th was fun! Brett and Emily came down and we had a BBQ and set off some fireworks! The kids loved it and it was fun hanging out with everyone.

Julie!

Preston and Kim

Chad and Bennett

Pete, Kameron and Skyler

The 4 C's. Caden, Clayton, Carsen, Conner.

Flag cake!

Brett, Emily, Mylie and Carsen


My favorite 2 little 1 year olds! Cousin Wyatt is one day older than Lakin. Aren't they the cutest?!



Our house is getting ready to be under construction again. I'm excited for the changes we are making (adding walls and closets for more rooms) and for the extra space we will have in the kitchen and family room. It's taken us a lot longer to get things ready with the architect and getting the city permits, but I am thankful that we are able to do this for our family.

The adoption is slowly moving forward. My emotions have been all over the place. This sibling group adoption just really wasn't in our "plan," but I'm excited and so thankful, but scared and worried too. Sometimes, even when you know what the right thing to do is, it is really hard. Things will work out as they should and I need to have more faith, and trust His plan. I'll post a pic as soon as I am able.

Happy Birthday Lakin!

My baby is a 1 year old! I have really had mixed emotions about this. This past weekend I got rid of all my baby stuff and cried my eyes out for a little bit. This isn't even all of it!

Lakin is my last baby and it is really weird to know that I am closing that chapter of my life. Lakin has really taken on the role as "the baby of the family." Everyone is in love with him, and so far he isn't taking advantage of it!

He had a great birthday! We went to the local pool here and the kids had a blast. Lakin wasn't sure about the whole thing and was a little bit concerned about swimming for a while. He liked it a little more near the end of our "swim", but liked getting out and eating snacks the best!


He loves his new ball and liked his cupcake! He was a happy little birthday boy!


His birthmom called to wish him a happy birthday. It was great to talk to her. It always is. This year has gone by so fast and it seems like not so long ago that I was in the delivery room watching him be born into this world. I am so thankful for his birthmom, and I love her so much. She is strong and brave and she really loves Lakin and wanted him to be in a loving home. It broke her heart to walk out of the hospital that day, but she did what was best for Lakin and put his needs above her own. Lakin has brought so much happiness into our home. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't proclaim my love for my Lakin and tell Pete how happy he makes me! Pete is my witness and has to listen to a lot when he gets home from work! I love you Lakin more than you will ever know! Happy 1st birthday my boy!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Daddy and my Pete the Daddy of my kids. I love you both so much!

It's a boy! It's a girl! It's a boy!

We found out yesterday that we are the family that's been chosen to adopt a sibling group of 3! The first time I saw my kids picture, I knew they were my kids. I didn't know if we would be picked to be their parents, and I didn't know anything about them! But, I knew in my heart that they were mine. I am so thankful that everything has worked out the way it has. I am so thankful for these 3 new kids and that I am the lucky lady who gets to be their mom. I've looked at their picture for a month and a half. I've prayed for them for over a month. I love these kids and can't wait to get them home. The kids here at home are so happy and won't stop talking about their new brothers and sister. They wrote them all notes and colored pictures for them. It's been neat to watch.

There are a lot of changes ahead. The next year will be a lot of work, but luckily, I have a lot of faith and hope, and love. I will learn and grow and learn to love even more. There will be very hard days. I will have to try to prove my love. I will have to prove that I can be trusted. I will have to calm little hearts and tell them over and over again that they are safe. I will need divine help, and I know that I will get it.

I also know that there will be a lot of happiness and love in this home. Laughter and fun. I have so many blessings. My heart is full of gratitude.

p.s. I will post a picture of my new kids in a couple of weeks, but believe me, they are beautiful! Blog name change.

Sum Sum Sumertime! (part 1)

This baby robin fell out of it's nest. The nest was too high to put him back in so he hopped around our backyard for a few dyas and was our "pet". His flight feathers hadn't grown in yet. At one point I caught him and the kids got some worms and I tried to feed him, but he didn't eat and we were all worried until we saw the mama feeding him later on the ground. Then one day he was gone.

Savanah promised the boys a "sleep over" in her room so here they are! They ate candy and played around until pretty late. "Sausiebear" as Preston calls her, is such a good big sister!

Carsen is an artist and he colored this picture of his Gumba. Didn't he do a great job? Looks just like him! I framed it and hung it in his bedroom.

Preston feeding Lakin! Lakin was very confused.


Pretty summer girl!

My Crawler

Mr. Lakin is a crawler! He crawls in his own special way... kind of an army crawl using one elbow. He is such a little cutie. Love you my Lakey!

Father/Son Camp Out

Last night was the Father/Son camp out! The boys had a blast and I was very proud of Pete for taking pictures! Doesn't it look like there is a lot of male bonding going on?? Preston was so excited and I am so glad he could go this year. Caden and Carsen "packed" like 3 days ago and had everything ready to go. Caden even had his safe packed in a backpack, "just in case".
Carsen told me one experience that happened to him during the trip... I guess some of the boys were playing tag and this one "mean boy" pushed him and Carsen said... "I was going to fight him, but...umm... then I just cancelled the fight."
ha ha!





On the way home down the mountain, the twins both barfed their breakfast from car sickness and all the twists and turns. When they got home I had them strip down on the front porch and run like lightening up to the bathroom for a bath. Skyler got to wear his jeans in the house! After their bath they were all crying about different things so I cuddled up each one of them and rocked them a bit and put them in their beds and told them to rest. All 3 little boys slept for 3 hours! They were exhausted, but had so much fun!

While the boys went on their camp out, Lakin (who wanted to stay with mommy) took the girls out to dinner. We went to the Macaroni Grill and they sang "Happy Birthday" to Lakin in Italian! He got a free cake and I even gave him a few bites. He was very concerned about the cake and candle! Lakin will be a 1 year old in a few weeks. Boo Hoo.

The Concert

Kameron and I went to the Taylor Swift concert last week. It was really fun! Kameron was dying of happiness! She kept hugging me and telling me "thank you" and saying that she couldn't believe that it was Taylor down on the stage in real life!

I bought her a t-shirt and one of the glow pens and a key chain and some pictures to hang in her room. It was a fun mommy/daughter date and it was cool because there were a lot of moms there with their daughters. Some dads with their little girls, and that was cute too.

Taylor swift is a cute girl and you better believe I was rocking out and singing along to all the songs! Especially "Love Story" and "you should've said No" It was seriously a great show! It was a little cheese-ball here and there, but that was to be expected. She started off a few songs like... "My first day of high school, I felt..." or "When you're 15, you can fall in love, and definitely get your heart broken..." and after one song, I had to laugh because she made a heart with both her hands and put it in the air, and then to her chest and the audience did it back! Now Kam and I, for fun, will make hearts with our hands to each other and laugh... but, you know you want to try it... c'mon go for it, just make the heart!

During the last song, a waterfall came down and that's how the show ended with her going under it and getting all wet! Kameron told me later that she read that it's been Taylor's dream since she was 10 to have a waterfall at her concerts, so there you go! We had a fun time. Go Taylor, rock on!

Preschool Graduation!

Caden and Carsen were adorable at their preschool graduation. They said their parts perfectly and were so cute up on the stage singing the songs! They have been going to Miss Roxi's preschool for 2 years now and have loved every minute of it. She's such a great teacher and so good to all of the kids. I plan on having all my little kids go to her! The boys are going to do one more year of preschool. They are ready for kindergarten, but they have a late b-day and I would rather have them be the oldest in their grade and a little bigger, instead of the smallest and youngest. I just signed them up for a new preschool for next fall- I hope it's as good as Miss Roxi! miss Roxi only takes kids for 2 years, so it was time to go... but in a year, she'll have to watch out cause Preston will be running full speed at her house ready for some fun!




Here they are with their good buddies, Nick and Ryan

Adopted

One of my husband's hero's is adopted too... Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon.com

Maya Bear

That's Mylie's nickname.

Usually I don't really like the nicknames that Pete makes up, or calls the kids. I recently had to put my foot down when he started calling Carsen, "Roberto". Carsen's middle name is Robert, but why turn it Spanish?

Then there is "Eli J", which is what he calls Preston. It does kind of roll off the tongue, but random nicknames could get confusing to a young kid! Preston doesn't care, he answers to any call, but sometimes Pete will shorten "Eli J" to just "J" and that is going too far. Preston's middle name is Elijah. "J" has nothing to do with anything.

I like "Maya Bear" for Mylie. It really matches her personality. I usually just call her, her name, but when Pete calls her his nickname I don't cringe and it is actually pretty cute. I have even found myself calling her "Maya Bear" a few times.

Mylie is a sweet little girl, but she can definitely hold her own with all her brothers and she is experimenting right now with hitting. It's kind of cute watching her little body get mad about something and then she tries to break the rules and hit someone, but I have to be the mom and remain unimpressed and do a little disciplining. She is far too young for really anything, but she is learning that we don't hit and if we do, that we need to take a break and sit on "time out" which is the stairs for 1 minute. Then afterwards, we say sorry and give big hugs etc. I have a feeling she is going to be full of drama as the years go by and at times it might be a bit of a challenge to help her learn to channel all of her emotions. This prediction could end up being totally wrong but I can't help to wonder about the little person she will be. She is beautiful and she loves to hug and cuddle. She also has endless energy when she gets in a wild mood and seems to never get hurt as she head dives into me or the couch or the floor. She also gets really nervous. Our recent trip home was kind of hard for her. She was scared of everyone and didn't smile for like 4 days straight! I've watched her flirt with my friends toddlers and she is so outgoing, almost scaring the poor boys. She is a fun one and I am so glad that she is my girl!

She recently learned how to climb on the table. She thinks it is great! Here she is dancing on the table being a daredevil. She really reminds me of her birthdad in this video. We got to know him well and just love him.



In these pics she reminds me of her birthmom, my good and dear friend. So loving and sweet. Mylie will be a wonderful mommy someday. I love watching her play with her baby. I love you Maya Bear!

I Love Moms

I had a great Mother's day! We started off the weekend on Sat. by going to a "Celebrate your Birthmom" walk! I blew up a blue and red balloon in Honor of Preston and Mylie's birthmom's- those are their favorite colors and Lakin's birthmom's favorite colors are black and white so I just blew a bright yellow one up in her Honor!
We walked around the Provo High track a few times and talked about the youngest 3's birthmom's and something we love about them, or a fun memory of them. The kids ate donuts. They had the cutest adoption t-shirts for sale and I wanted one, but they sold out of all the adult ones before we got there!
The kids favorite part was the candy cannon ball. A couple of guys would shoot candy through the air and all the kids would dive for it. Mylie got a sucker and I let her eat it. She was the happiest little girl! On the drive home I got emotional while talking with the kids. I am so thankful to my babies birthmoms. I love them all so much for getting my babies to me. Mylie and Lakin's birthmom's both sent me a text for Mother's day- I promptly replied to them right back with a happy Mother's Day too and I Love you!




Pete and I went on a date to MadDog Cycles and we got new mountain bikes! I'm so excited. I love riding my new bike- I rode it all the way home!
Later, we went out to dinner to the Olive Garden!

This is my mom. She taught me all I know about motherhood. I mostly learned by example and watching her quiet selflessness each day. I love you so much mom. Forever.

Anyone who has followed my blog at all pretty much knows how I feel about being a mom. I am so thankful for each of my beautiful kids. They are each a blessing and bring me so much happiness. You love those you serve. It's a big, all encompassing love, and runs deep.

“Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world.” David O. McKay

Elder Russell M. Nelson on motherhood:

“During my professional career as a doctor of medicine, I was occasionally asked why I chose to do that difficult work. I responded with my opinion that the highest and noblest work in this life is that of a mother. Since that option was not available to me, I thought that caring for the sick might come close. I tried to care for my patients as compassionately and competently as Mother cared for me.

Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. “Motherhood,” they wrote, “is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."

On Mother's Day, I got breakfast in bed and lots of cute little cards. Kameron sent me this ecard... we are going to the Taylor Swift concert together in a few weeks.

I love you Kameron, Skyler, Savanah, Caden, Carsen, Preston, Mylie and Lakin with ALL of my heart! Forever and always!

Planting Flowers

One day, while C and C were at preschool, and Mylie was still taking her nap, I planted some flowers with my boys. Lakin didn't know what to think of the whole experience. He was even a little unsure about touching the flowers. He is so cute and would look at the flowers on his lap, and then look at me with his big beautiful eyes... I love that little boy!

Preston loved it and is such a busy little guy. I helped him not to kill the flowers with all his "helping" and he was excited to surprise the kids when they got home from school, and show them what he did.

Haircuts

Preston's hair grows so fast. I wish Mylie's would grow! His hair has been harder and harder to comb with the length so I decided to do twists. He looked adorable and I did contemplate letting him grow dreads, but on a little boy, it just wouldn't be a good idea, with keeping them clean etc. So the twists were fun for a few days. Today was haircut day and I gave the boys a buzz for the summer. I even gave Lakin his first little cut and cut off his puff in the back. Enjoy the pics.

The Duck Pond

Caden and Carsen had their last preschool field trip and I told them I would go with them. We went to the duck pond. I piled in 4 other preschool kids and their car seats and drove them too. Mrs. Roxi let Preston wear one of the preschool t-shirts and he was thrilled!

The duck pond was not very impressive. There were only about 5 ducks and at first they came towards us and loved the food, but a few minutes later they were in the middle of the pond fearing for their life! The preschool kids were all so excited and were fighting to get bread and cereal to feed the ducks. Because they each wanted to keep throwing the food in the water to "feed" them, some of them didn't realize that they were throwing big hunks of bread "at" the ducks! I reminded a couple kids to "slow down" and "take it easy", but those poor ducks. Then I felt a little bad because I felt like we were littering... there was bread and cereal everywhere in the water. I guess it is biodegradable and some organism will benefit from it, but the ducks were certainly scared.


They had fun and that's what it was about. Mylie and Lakin loved watching the whole thing!
They all ate lunch together. Here's C and C with their two good buddies, Ryan and Nick.

Then they ran like wild crazy kids to the play area to play. Mylie got out to go down the slide a few times and felt like such a big girl and apart of the group, it was cute to watch her. She was in a boisterous mood and being sassy when it was time to go back into the stroller.



When we got home it was nap and quiet time and I got to recover from the field trip!

Half Marathon

Guess who is running one???

It's me. I might die. It's not until August so I have plenty of training time. Right now I can only run 2 and 1/2 miles straight... I guess I need to work my way up to 13! I am scared, but it will be so good for me and it'll be fun because a lot of family members are running it too. Pete is so excited for me and can't wait to stand on the sidelines cheering me on and throw a cup of water in my face! I think he should run it too. A couple of his brothers run marathons...c'mon Pete, man up!

People who run marathons are amazing/crazy! I just don't think my body could continue to move after so many miles. I know a girl who ran a marathon and all her toenails fell off! There is something just wrong about that! I can do the half, but I know it will kick my bootie!

Also, when you register, you have to pay. It's kind of strange because why would I want to pay to run my guts out and hurt myself? They should be paying me! Well, there is no turning back now... I am registered and I am running it. Please send all luck/karma/happy thoughts my way for the next few months, as I run, and run and run.

here it is

Happy B-day Sky!

Skyler turned 10 this past weekend. 10! A double digit. Time is flying by and I really can't believe he is so old. I still see him as this...

or this...

He's not a little boy anymore, but he'll always be my boy. He told me so.


One thing I love about Skyler is his freckles. I love how he likes to save money, and I need to follow his lead! I love how he is such a good brother and plays with the little boys and makes them feel so cool. He wrestles with them, plays sports with them and they just idolize him. Skyler is such a good boy and I want all my little boys to follow him and live life just like he does, making good choices. Sky is just awesome! He's funny and has a lot of friends because people just want to be around him. Sky is my diaper hero. Whenever he is home and I change a dirty diaper, I scream his name and he comes running with a bag and bags the offending diaper and takes it to the garbage for me! I love the person Skyler is growing up to be. He is thankful, and polite, and sweet. He thinks of others and wants to help where he can. I love you so much Skyler! what a lucky and blessed mommy I am to have you for a son!

So Awesome!

Watch this!

Fun At The Farm

Yesterday I took the "littles" (5 under 4) to the farm! We had a great time!

I think Mylie loved it the most! It was so fun to watch and see how interested she was in all the animals! She got scared a few times and it was a little funny. When we were looking at the donkey, out of no where, it went crazy and hee-hawed so loud! Also, the rooster cockadoodledooed right in our faces too! Mylie would jump and run to me! She was very serious about the whole experience and listened as I made all the animal sounds.


Caden, Carsen, and Preston had a fun time too. Caden and Carsen loved the wagon ride and feeding the birds corn and Preston just ran around and loved it all. He was happy to get his own rice krispie treat- that might have been his favorite part. Lakin was happy as usual just watching everything and hanging out. Love that boy!


I wanted to see more babies, but we will have to go back as the bunny hutch was very x rated all morning. Another mom and I laughed a little bit about it. The kids didn't know the difference and thought they were "wrestling". Ha ha! We quickly moved on to the duck pond... I was done with the bunnies.


It still is a lot of work to leave the house with that many little kids alone, but I am so glad I did it, and it's getting a lot easier now that Lakin is a bit older.
Fun, fun, fun at the farm!

Brett and Emily

My brother Brett got married! Now, I officially have another awesome and sweet sis-in-law! We are all so happy to have Emily in the family. She is a lot of fun and all her new nieces and nephews just love her. (pic by D-dawg)

Carsen, Caden and Macey- I love this one!

Brett and Emily with all their nieces and nephews. (Lakin isn't in this one though)

Pretty girls! Kameron, Savanah, and Lexi

Pretty Mylie

Clayton, Caden and Preston having fun at the reception.

Happy wedding baby Lakin!

Chocolate fountain madness!


On Easter morning the cousins had an Easter egg hunt together- it was so fun to watch them go crazy for eggs!

Thursday Thought: Hug a Veteran

A couple of weeks ago, Pete and I watched this video We were outraged. It's pretty depressing, and so wrong. 22,500 veterans suffering and cheated out of their rightful benefits, so disturbing.

We wanted to do something, so we wrote our new friend Jeans a letter. I wrote one, Pete wrote one and our little Savanah wrote one too and colored him a bright and cheerful picture. We put some American flag stickers on our notes. I didn't even know if he would get our letters, but it felt a little less powerless to send them off.

Well, he got them and emailed us back. It was a short and very sweet email. He was very thankful. It made me happy. Pete plans on keeping in touch with him.

This experience has led me to want to be more supportive of our troops. I am not a very political person, only on a few issues. War is not one of them. The fact is, whether we like it or not, agree with it, or not, there are American troops out there serving our country. There are veterans home and hurting. It was really easy for me to write a little note of thanks and encouragement. I meant everything I wrote to him. I feel bad about his situation.

There are so many that are hurting and wondering if their service meant/means anything at all. I don't know all the answers, but, I am glad for what I have learned from this and for making a new friend.

The Pinewood Derby

Skyler's scout troop had their Pinewood Derby. Skyler's car did great! He came in 4th place. He was so happy and pretty proud- it was cute.

This was Skyler and Pete's first Pinewood Derby. They had never made a car before and at first I was a little nervous. I watched Pete carve away at the block of wood, until it became a wood chip. I thought they were going to have to start over, but Pete went to the scout store and got some weights and cool decals to put on it and our "wood chip" ended up coming in at 4th place! The little boys can't wait till they get to build a car and be in their own Pinewood Derby. With so many boys... we have many ahead!

During one race, in which 2 cars tied, I had an awful experience. A kid looked up and shouted in my direction at the top of his lungs... "it was a tie" with the word "tie" out came a spray of spit! Some of it landed directly in my eye! It was so gross. If it would've been my own kid, it wouldn't have been so bad, but my eye had too much foreign moisture and It was nasty.

April Fools

I just snuck into Skyler's room and painted a few of his toenails bright red!! It was kind of an intense situation because I had to pull off his sock!

I had a flashlight in one hand and the nail polish in another. I got his sock off and he woke up a little, so I pretended to just be tucking him in. I went upstairs and painted a few of Caden and Carsen's toenails, which was so easy... Then went back downstairs to paint Sky's toes! Mission accomplished!

Painting a few of Pete's was the biggest test of all, but I am good- he never even moved and I got 2 toes on each foot! ha ha! My boys will wake up in the morning and whamo! mommy got them good! No matter what kind of sneaky thing Pete tries to pull on me tomorrow, it just won't compare to him waking up with bright red toenails. Now, I have to get the girls somehow! April Fools everyone... and beware!