the COLE side of life

This and That...

2012-01-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

A few Random Thoughts about This and That...

This last week the boys were going outside to play. There was a bug and T. ran in and asked us to kill it. C. took T. aside and quietly explained why we should not kill bugs. I wish I could recall the exact words but they went something like this..."Bugs are important and you can't just kill them. They have a purpose and we should love them." He has quite a love for the planet, how it works and all things in it.

E. is our green eater. Unlike her brothers, she loves fruits and veggies. Today for lunch, she wanted a bowl of broccoli. Not to say that she doesn't like a good treat.... For dessert, she had an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. :)

This last week was the boys parent-teacher conference. Both boys are doing great. T.'s teacher said, " T. really loves his hugs." If you know T....you know how perfectly that statement sums him up.

Have you ever heard of a Get Out of Bed Pass? We started using them last week. The bedtime struggles were getting a little out of hand over here and so I searched the web for some insight. I came across a blog about a mom who made Get of Out of Bed Passes for her son. You get a certain number of passes a night (depends on age). You can use them to get a drink, use the bathroom, etc. If you get up, you have to give us a card. Once all the cards are gone, you are not allowed to get out of bed. For us, it has been a huge hit. I am thinking of using the passes for other problem areas as well.

I told you about my mindset for 2012. I had John pick out one for himself. He chose to go with a word....his word for the year is Purpose. Our family word is Accountability. C. will be getting baptized next year and I thought that was a fitting word as we work on teaching him about baptism. I'm sure I will write more post on this subject later.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday!

7 for 7!!!

2012-01-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

7 Facts about our 7 Year Old!

1. His FAVORITE FOOD is Pizza.
2. His FAVORITE COLOR is Green.
3. His FAVORITE SUBJECT is Science.
4. His FAVORITE SPORTS are Basketball and Hockey.
5. He LOVES Reading!
6. He LOVES learning about Sharks and the Weather!
7. He LOVES playing Games!

Happy Birthday C. ! :)

2012...

2012-01-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I have been reading many post about every one's plans for this year. I love the beginning of the year because everyone is so excited about what is to be, instead of complaining about what has been. I don't look at the beginning of the year as a new beginning...I look at it as the next chapter in the story. What happened last year is still there...you take it with you, but at the same time you start a new phase. I am going into the last phase of my 20's. Instead of reflecting on what I did or didn't accomplish last year, I have been thinking about where I want to be when I enter my 30's next year. I have given a lot of thought to what I want to focus on and over the last couple of weeks, a strong feeling of what I should do has overcome me. It is not a list of resolutions...it is a simple mindset. My focus this year is to Walk with CHILD-LIKE Faith.

Faith comes naturally to me. I have always believed in a Heavenly Father, in Heaven, in Jesus Christ, in prayers and so on. From the time I was little, I felt these things to be true deep in my heart. That are a part of who I am. It was with that faith that I had some extraordinary experiences...one that set the foundation for my testimony and helped me decide what Church was the right one for me. My family didn't go to church until I was around 9....it was at this age I knew something was missing and asked my mom if we could go to church. The story of how I became a member of the church and how my testimony was cemented is very special to me and I keep it close to my heart at all times. Maybe I will share it in another post. Due to my Faith, amazing experiences and growing testimony, my Child-Like Faith carried me through many days and kept me on MY right path, when my family later chose to take a different one.

Over the last few years, I have felt my Child-Like Faith dimming a little. I guess I should clarify that statement. To me, Faith and Child-Like faith are slightly different. Faith is believing in something you can't feel or touch. My faith that there is a Heavenly Father and Savior are as strong as they have ever been. Child-Like Faith is a stronger version of Faith. It is believing in life with your whole heart. It is always believing that everything will be okay because Heavenly Father will make it so. It is believing that even though you don't understand why, things are as they should be. I was always the cup half full kind of person. I prayed about every direction I should go in life and followed the prompting whether I understood or not. Here is an example...my freshmen year of High School I was overcome with anxiety. After I couple of days at the High School I had begged my parents to let me go to, I knew something was wrong. I prayed about what to do and decided that I had to go to a different school. I was led to a charter school. It was for children with allergies and asthma. If you don't know...I suffer from severe allergies and so I took that as a sign. Charter schools were a better fit for me because I missed a lot of school due to health problems and surgeries. I only went to that school for a year. It wasn't quite the right fit. However, I met people at that school that led me to the Charter High School I would graduate from a year early and as Class Valedictorian. There I met the people that gave me my first job, two of my best friends, and a girl who my cousin would marry and have two kids with. Although this was not at all as simple as it sounds, I knew this was the right place for me and it worked out the way it was suppose to be. I could go on and on with examples like this.

Now that I am a Mom, Wife and just plain OLDER...I find myself forgetting to always trust that things will work out as they should. As a situation occurs, I panic and many times look at it as glass half empty. I'm not sure why the change and I don't think I even realized it was happening until recently. I took a step back and could feel something off. I thought, "I wish I felt like I did when I was younger." Back then I could almost feel my faith radiating around me as a shield. Then I thought..."Why can't I make my Adult Faith like my Childhood Faith." It is all in my mind set. I'm sure it is not as easy as it feels, but I hope with faith and prayer soon I will be back in sync and feel my Child-Like Faith radiating from me again. I don't want to enter the next chapter in my life without it. If I have this, all other goals that are truly important will be accomplished. Here is to taking every step this year with Child-Like Faith....knowing that the path I take may or may not be planned but trusting in the end I will end up right where I am suppose to be and that is what matters.

Love this....

2011-12-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

President Uchtdorf when speaking of Christ said...

“He promises to be with us, to come to us when we need comfort, to lift us when we stumble, to carry us if need be, to cry, laugh, mourn, and rejoice with us. Every day He offers to take us by the hand and help transform ordinary life into extraordinary spiritual experiences.”

Gratitude...

2011-11-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

"We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until it's too late for us to express that gratitude...to express gratitude is gracious and honorable... to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."
~President Thomas S. Monson

I posted this quote last year to kick off my Gratitude Challenge and wanted to share it again. I love how grateful and thankful everyone is this time of year. This year I am participating in a FB challenge to post something you are thankful for everyday in Nov. It is called the 30 days of Thankfulness. Thanksgiving has become the holiday between Halloween and Christmas and the spirit of the day seems to be getting lost...so it is nice to read the reason people have gratitude in their heart. Tonight we are having a FHE lesson on gratitude. We hope to teach our kids about the true spirit of this month and this time of year. We will be making a Tree of Thanks...then starting Thurs. (two weeks to Thanksgiving) the kids will write down one thing they are thankful for and put their leaf on the tree. I hope this helps get them thinking of how many blessings they have in their lives and how important it is to have gratitude for those things in their hearts.

Here is a recap of my 30 days of Thankfulness..Day 1 through 7.
1. Allergy Medicine.
2. My third born son, Mr. K.
3. Sleep
4. Friday!
5. An amazing and uplifting day at Time Out for Woman.
6. The Sabbath Day
7. A little boy who has taught me that when you have a problem, you don't just run from it, you come up with a plan and do your part to solve the problem.

Fall Bake is ON!

2011-11-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

Caleb Cream Fall Bake is now accepting orders.

To Learn More visit...http://www.calebcream.org

To place an order visit...http://calebcream.org/fborder.php
***Note the dates have changed to Nov. 7 through Nov. 21st.

Double the Birthday Fun....

2011-11-02T19:13:00.001-07:00

Little E and Mr. K's birthdays are five days apart. That usually means they celebrate together. This year the theme was Halloween Mickey and Minnie.

On E.'s actual birthday we celebrated by going to the boys' school for their Round Up Party...we had dinner, got books from the Book Fair, the kids danced and we got to visit a petting zoo. E. loves animals and loved getting to see a baby pig. The night before we had bean burritos and rice for dinner (E.'s favorite meal) since we were not going to be home on her b-day night.

The Sat. in between their birthdays we had their Mickey and Minnie Party. E was not feeling well and was quite grumpy until we got to the presents... That seemed to cheer her right up. We had..Hot Dog, Hot Dog,..Hot Diggity Dogs, Mickey's Magic Bag of Chips and Minnie's Cauldron of Chili. There was also a little candy buffet and Mickey and Minnie Cupcakes. The kids played hard, enjoyed their company and LOVED all their birthday presents. We now officially have little girl toys and the kids have some new winter pajamas (mom's favorite presents).

On K's actual birthday (today) we had donuts for breakfast, a fun birthday play date with all his little friends, more cupcakes, more presents, a happy meal from McDonald's and watched Cars 2.

The line of the day...
Me: I now officially have a 2 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old and 6 year old.
T.: And a 34 year old. :)

It was Double the Birthdays, Double the Presents, Double the Celebrations and Double the Joy (and double the exhaustion)!

Happy Birthday to My Princess and My Prince!

Birthday Flowers...

2011-10-30T10:10:00.001-07:00

On Friday, our sweet princess turned 2. I will post more about her birthday celebrations later. I did want to share a quick birthday story...

I love flowers. I usually have a new bouquet every week or every other week for my kitchen island. I will admit my husband does a great job making sure I have flowers and I have never bought them myself. On Friday, John asked E. what she wanted for her birthday. Her response, "I want flowers". This weekend the flowers on our kitchen island belong to our sweet girl. She got her very first bouquet of flowers just for her birthday...a special halloween bouquet.

Puppy Love...

2011-10-25T09:05:00.001-07:00

Last night at dinner..

T. asked, "How old do you have to be to have a girlfriend?"

I believe he has a crush on a little girl in his class.....they start so young. :)

"It is what God gave you time for"..

2011-10-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

I was reading the talks from conference. This quote stuck out to me today...

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”

I found myself feeling a little overwhelmed today. My mind was racing with thoughts of preparing for Caleb Cream, getting ready for a double birthday party, Halloween, School PTA responsibilities, Soccer x 2, Piano, School Work, House Chores, Doing Preschool with Kyle and Emma, Etc.. And then making sure after all that the house is cleaned, they are all bathed, scriptures are read and prayers are said. I wondered how I was going to do all the mom stuff and still do the stuff I need to do...like my part time job, our new business adventures, decorate for holidays, etc. I wondered (even though I knew I'd do it anyways) if some of the stuff was worth it, such as soccer, being apart of the PTA, etc. When I read the words, "It is what God gave you time for", it gave me goosebumps and stopped me dead in thought. It was the reminder I needed today. Motherhood is the toughest job in the world, but the most rewarding. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me one of his highest callings and for reminding me today that is the most important calling I have.

Lessons from a stranger...

2011-10-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

I love blogs. My favorites are blogs from extraordinary people that teach me true life lessons through their own life. One of my favorites is called Sharlie's Angels. She is a remarkable woman who has strengthened my own faith and testimony. Her latest post gave me goosebumps and I think everyone should read her words and learn from her.

http://sharliesangels.blogspot.com/2011/10/some-say-im-dreamer.html

Caleb Cream's FALL BAKE!!!

2011-10-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Caleb Cream's FALL BAKE
November 4th -18th

November is almost here... It is almost time for Caleb Cream's FALL Bake.

What's that? Caleb Cream will be having it's first fall bake sale (2nd semi-annual bake sale). Bake sale items will feature cupcakes, cheesecakes, etc.

Best of all, we will deliver the goodies to you.
75% of proceeds will go to FAAN and 25% of proceeds will go to......

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Caleb told us about a few illnesses/charities he would like to help. John and I then discussed a few more with him. We talk about Children With Cancer (Hope Kids), Malaria, Homeless Children, Children who have heart issues, CF and more. After a few days, Caleb came to us and told us he wanted to help the children with lung problems. He was referring to CF and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

For more info. on the foundation visit http://www.cff.org/.

Look for a flyer/brochure and updated web page with more info. on the causes and a list of items to come soon.

Caleb Cream
One little boy. One severe allergy. One big hope.

Fall Break....

2011-10-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Fall Break Highlights:

Cleaning. Playdates. Trip to the AZ Science Center. Halloween Costume Shopping. Buying new books to read (for the kids). Baking. Night at Grandma and Grandpa's. (Dad and mom date night) Movie nights. Crafts. First trip to the ocean . Football on the Beach. Sand Castles. Finding Sea Shells. Walking along the boardwalk at sunset. Trip to Birch Aquarium. Watching a Shark Feeding. Talking to a Shark Expert. Watching Seals play. Baby vomitting in the car on the way home. (I guess that is more of a lowlight) Lots and Lots of Reading. Spending time with Family. Soccer. Relaxing. Learning.

Three days until we get back to school and our normal daily routine....

Peace and Quiet...

2011-10-04T10:56:00.001-07:00

John walked into the bathroom this morning to find Caleb sitting on a closed toilet with a book in his hand. He asked Caleb why he was reading in the bathroom. His response...

"Because I wanted to read somewhere in peace and quiet." (The joy of being the oldest child)

Breathe...

2011-09-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have seen this illustration on a few blogs.

Don't you love how true the words are?

Just Breathe!

Riddle Me This. Riddle Me That....

2011-08-31T16:00:00.001-07:00

C. had to write a four line riddle for his homework this afternoon. There was a group of animals on the paper and he had to choose one to write a four line riddle about.

I'm black and white
And have stripes all over.
People think I'm a horse,
But I'm not.

What am I? Not a horse but a zebra of course!

This led to a fun afternoon of playing Riddle Me This and Riddle Me That...
Here are a few of my favorites :)

I'm tall and bald

And loved by all.

Who am I? ha...ha...

I just turned 5.
I am short and skinny.
I love my big brother
And my mommy.

Who am I? Ha..ha don't you love how he said big brother.

2060....

2011-08-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

My wonderful husband has been inspired to create a clothing line that is modern but represents the values taught by our faith.

Why is his clothing line called 2060?

Long ago an entire people were perched on the brink of extinction. Their enemies gathered to destroy them, but they would not raise arms against them. They had made a pact with God to never take up weapons against another. As their enemies gathered against them, they argued that maybe they should break their pact if only to protect their families. But their children objected, reminding them of the promises they had made. These children offered themselves up instead, for they had not yet taken the vow upon themselves. They were young, not old enough to be considered men, they were striplings. Some 2000 (which grew to 2060 as more joined) went out to fight for their families. In the battles that followed, all were injured but none died. Their faith was their shield.

Will you join their ranks? Check out his site....http://www.2060clothing.com/

Bittersweet Thoughts...

2011-08-22T19:08:00.001-07:00

My chest is heavy today. As the week progresses, I know it will only get heavier. It is like bricks are being lowered on my chest and each day the pressure gets stronger and stronger. Breathing becomes difficult and I know I have to try hard to fight through it. I know I will because I know that is how life moves on. The pressure is lighter every year but I know it will always come. The end of this week my sweet T. turns 5. His birthday is one that I hold extremely close to my heart. It gave me my sweet, beautiful boy and truly taught me how amazing the gift of life really is. As most of you may know or maybe you don't, T. was a twin pregnancy. We lost Baby B in beginning of the 2nd trimester. I think I have sat down to write these words a hundred times. I have tried to write them on paper, on my blog, and a few other places. Every time I start, I am afraid to let the words escape me. Each word holds an emotion I do not want to let out and share with the world. Over the last five years, these emotions have consumed me and lately have been trying to escape my body as I no longer have room to contain them. They have come out in anxiety, anger, tears, physical pain, physical illness and more. Maybe if I let them come out in words, a burden will be lifted.

I went into labor with T. August 26th. I knew I was in labor, but would not admit it to myself or my husband. The truth was I was afraid to go to the hospital. I didn't know what to expect and knew that giving birth to one, meant letting go of the other one. I held out as long as I could. John finally called sitters for C. and made me go to the hospital. When we got there I was dilated to a 7. I think Heavenly Father knew I needed time because he slowed the labor down and T. wasn't born for 12 more hours. During that time, I tried to focus on the task at hand and not let my mind wander to places it didn't need to go at that time. A doctor came in to check me and had a concerned look on her face. In panic, I made her tell me what was going on. She told me that she could feel something she shouldn't and needed to go speak with another Dr. When she came back in, she mentioned nothing of what had happened. John and I asked her if everything was ok. I could tell she didn't want to explain what she had felt but knew she had already said too much. She explained that after reviewing my chart and talking to another Dr., she learned that this was a twin pregnancy. She had felt tissue and other parts that she thought were apart of T. , but were just the other baby. I will admit she worded this much better than I just did. My heart dropped. My worst fears had come true. When you lose a twin baby, you continue to carry the baby the entire pregnancy. As one baby grows, it causes the other baby to slowly disappear. Sometimes, there is tissue and such left that gets pushed out when you are in labor. Trying to keep my mind on the task at hand was no longer an option. When it came time to push, I was a mess. How could I welcome a baby into the world when that meant letting go of one I would never know? When T. made his appearance into this world, my heart contained both joy and sorrow. If you ever wanted to know if you could feel two strong but opposite emotions at once, you can. As I was watching them check out T., the Dr. was cleaning out the remaining tissues and such of the other baby. I remember beginning to cry. The nurse told me that if I wanted to hold my new baby, I needed to stop crying. At that moment, I had to turn my full attention to my new gift from Heaven. When my healthy baby boy was placed into my arms, I completely understood what a miracle carrying a baby from embryo to infant really is.

Over the last five years, I have tried to block out the sad memories from that day, but I can't. They go hand and hand. This year has been one of the hardest so far. I cried the weekend before T. started school because I knew I should be getting two ready. This last weekend was his birthday party. I watched as he ran around the backyard with his friends. He sat and ate dinner with one of his good friends from school. As I watched them sitting side by side, I wondered what it would be like to see them sitting side by side, celebrating their milestone birthday together. Every night when I lay my head down to sleep, my mind vividly creates the images from that night five years ago. I can feel the pain in my chest. It physically hurts. I can see myself watching T. constantly because I was afraid something would happen to him. I can hear him crying. He cried everyday for the first five days after he was born. My heart ached because I felt like he knew he had entered the world alone.

I'm not sure if writing these words, will ease my mind and let these thoughts rest. I don't think they ever will. I do know T.'s birthday is one of the most important days of the year for me. The pain that comes with that day is severe but the joy that comes from it is wonderful. An amazing spirit was given to me that day. He taught me how precious creating life is and how precious nurturing that life is. He loves people unconditionally and has a spirit that is as pure and caring as they come. His face is the only thing that gives me the strength to be brave and embrace the date of Aug. 27th because it gave me him.

First day of School and the Lunch Mishaps...

2011-08-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Today was the very 1st day of school for Mr. T and the first day of 1st grade for C. Mr. T's class had a drop and go policy. No parents were allowed in the class. T ran into his class while I was hanging his backpack and didn't look back. I had to say goodbye through the door. He was so excited for school. I expected tears but got only smiles. C ran right into his class too. He has a teacher that is new to this school this year and was very excited about it. He had a couple friends from his class last year and was instantly making new ones. I did get to go in his class and take a picture of him at his desk. After school we picked up two tired, but very happy boys.

Quote of the day: "Mom, school doesn't make me feel scared. School makes me feel happy." - Mr. T.

Of course the day didn't go off without a few hitches. They each had a crazy lunch story to share when they got home.....

T.'s Lunch Mishap: First, I should inform you that the kids eat their lunches in class. When T. went to get his lunchbox today, he didn't know which one was his. Apparently, three other kids in class had the same backpacks with the same lunch boxes inside. Two of the kids even had very similar lunches. T. couldn't tell the teacher what lunch was his. He ended up eating a school lunch. What are the odds of them all having the same lunchbox? First thing I did when he got home from school, labeled everything. His backpack did have his name it, but I guess they didn't see that in the chaos of the first lunch of the year. Tomorrow, he will get to eat the lunch he requested for his first school lunch....chicken nuggets, ranch, pretzels, Capri sun and fruit snacks. T. is the pickiest food person in the world, so even though he got a school lunch, all he ate was the bread from the sandwich. :)

C.'s Lunch Mishap: Since today was the first day of school, notes informing parents of a peanut-safe classroom didn't go out yet. A couple students in class brought PB&J sandwiches for their lunch. C. had to eat lunch in one of the kindergarten classrooms. He said he ate really fast. Ha! Ha!...guess that is what happens when you have no kids to chat with. Needless to say, a note went home to all the students in his class informing them peanut products were not allowed to be brought for lunches or snacks.

So, except for lunch, today was a success. Hopefully tomorrow they both get to eat the right lunch in the right spot and make it a perfect day.

(Please forgive the lack of details, any improper grammar or spelling...I am trying to type this really fast so I have a record of it somewhere before I forget.) :)

Go, Go, Go...

2011-07-25T12:30:00.001-07:00

Mr. T just finished reading his very first book to me. He read Go, Go, Go from the Read with Dick and Jane series. I'm not sure who was more proud, me or himself. :) It is nice to see our site word flash card pratice is paying off.

Way to go, T.!

34...

2011-07-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of time but I wanted to do a quick blog post to honor my wonderful husband on his birthday.

34 words off the top of my head that describe John...

1. Husband
2. Father
3. Son
4. Priesthood
5. Smart
6. Creative
7. Insomniac
8. Reader
9. Manager
10. Thoughtful
11. Trivia
12. Graphic Designer
13. Programmer
14. Basketball
15. Mountain Dew
16. BBQ
17. Cook
18. Loving
19. Violin
20. Helpful
21. Movies
22. Writer
23. Fun
24. Sweet
25. Loud
26. Critical Thinker
27. ADD
28. Talker
29. Unstylish :)
30. Brother
31. Uncle
32. Friend
33. Family
34. Love

Happy 34th Birthday, Babe!

The Birthday Curse...

2011-07-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

At the end of this week is my husband's birthday. I have always been really big into birthdays and try to make them week long events. For some reason, every since we have been married those weeks have been more sour than sweet. We call it the "birthday curse". The very first year we were married, John's truck got towed on my birthday and we spent the day trying to get our truck back. The week of John's 30Th birthday, his grandma died. We have also had bad car accidents, family members in the hospital, really bad news, more car trouble, house trouble and so on. Every year, we try to make up for the bad event that happened the previous year. This year I have already started celebrating John's birthday. I am hoping to get in some good moments in case "the curse" decides to make an appearance. Here is to beating the birthday curse. Don't worry, if it appears, I will blog about it. :)

Foods E can no longer have...

2011-07-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

Miss E was diagnosed with an egg allergy today. These are foods she can NO longer have:

Eggs

Eggnog

Bavarian creams

Breaded foods (some)

Broth (some)

Candy (some)

Caesar salad dressing

Drop Cookies

Creamed foods

Cream pies

Cream puffs

Crepes

Custard

Doughnuts

Eclairs

Egg rolls

Egg noodles- no chicken noodle soup

French Toast

Frosting

Hollandaise sauce

Ice cream

Mayonnaise (anything with mayo..pasta salad, coleslaw, etc.)

Marshmallows

Marshmallow Creme

Meat or fish cooked in batter

Meringue

Pastas (some)

Pretzels (some)

Pudding

Ranch dressing

Simplesse (fat substitute)

Soufflés

Tartar sauce

Waffles

Anything fried or batter-fried

Weekend That I Love!

2011-07-01T07:31:00.001-07:00

Fourth of July weekend is one of my favorite weekends in the whole year.

It holds the day my grandparents were married and the set the foundation for the great family I was born in to.

It holds the day that all Americans come together to celebrate living in America and the freedoms it provides us.

Last but not least, it holds the day I had my first date with my amazing husband.

Happy Anniversary to my Nana and Papa!

Happy 4Th of July!

Happy Date-iversary to my wonderful husband! I love you, Babe!

Why is the Sky Blue?

2011-06-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

It amazing to me, how much my children have the desire to understand how everything works and why things are certain ways. T is especially like this. He thinks a lot about things and is our "Why is the Sky Blue" type of question asking kid.

Here are some of his questions....

Why do we always have to choose the right? Why can't we sometimes choose the left.

Why are we here? I know Heavenly Father made us and our mommy had us, but why? What is the reason we are here?

Why are tostadas called tostadas? There is no toast in them.

Then who made space and how? (after discussing that Heavenly Father created us and the earth)

How do we talk? We open and close are mouth but how does it work?

How does the T.V. work? (meaning how do shows just appear on the screen)

Do you have a child who wants to know all the "who's" and "why's" of the universe?

So, Why is the Sky Blue?

A clear cloudless day-time sky is blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. When we look towards the sun at sunset, we see red and orange colours because the blue light has been scattered out and away from the line of sight.

Future Class of 2023 or 2021 :)

2011-06-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today Mr. C had his kindergarten promotion ceremony. C's school seemed to fall into our hands and he was blessed to have one of the most amazing teacher's in the world. I truly cannot express how much I admire her and her devotion to children. C has learned so much this year and has gained a love of education that warms my heart. He has even decided he wants to graduate high school at the age of 16 (thus 2021) so he can start college early to get his PH.D and become a Marine Biologist. What kind of 6 year old thinks like that? Not only has his academic success impressed me but the school focuses greatly on character development. I love that they are teaching them to be good people. At an award ceremony held at school on Wed., C. received an award for showing outstanding character throughout the school year. C knows he does good in school academically (just ask him) so I am grateful he is learning that being a good person is an important part of life and you can be rewarded for it. I am proud of all he has learned and look forward to what the future brings. C is an Eagle Scholar. Watch him SOAR!

Hats of to the future high school graduating class of 2023 and college graduating class of 2027. :)

You're Gonna Miss This...Or Not!

2011-06-08T19:13:00.001-07:00

Moments I will miss...

The boys playing Ring Around The Roses with E...watching them spin and laugh until they can't stand it.

T and K sitting on T's bed playing a game.

T and K running around the house with capes on their backs pretending to be superheros and believing they are invincible.

C discovering a passion for the ocean and its creatures.

C teaching his siblings nursery rhymes.

Each child singing primary hymns on the top of their lungs as they shower.

K and T trying to recreate projects C made in school.

T asking, "Why do we call Tostadas..Tostadas? They don't have toast in them. " :)

Me yelling at the boys to do something and hearing E repeat their names after me.

These not so much...

A hole in the playroom wall due to a curious little man.

A little man waking up from a nap very grumpy and taking out his aggression on his brother by hitting him in the face.

C learning how to use the computer and sneaking on during hours the rest of the house is sleeping.

A t.v. crashing to the floor at the hands of a young boy.

A brother accidentally kicking his brother in the face and busting his lip.

A little diva who took her diaper off after waking up from a nap. The diaper contained "#2" and the diva spread it all over her bed sheets.

Children who think the bedtime you set for them is just a "suggestion".

A little boy who knows how to use the restroom but sometimes can't be bothered and creates puddles of water on the floor.

***Yes all these moments happened this week. :)

The Longest Day ( The Longest Month Part 1)...

2011-05-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

There is an episode of the television show Home Improvement show called "The Longest Day". If you watched this show, I'm sure you know the episode I am talking about. It is the one were the middle son, Randy, goes to the Dr. and they find a lump in his neck. The doctor runs test and the Taylor family is nervous as they wait for the results.

The last few weeks I have found myself a character in our family's version of the episode. Our show would be called The COLE side of life and the episode would be titled "The Longest Month". It would take me forever to type the whole episode, so I will try to just give you a quick overview. Caleb got sick with what seemed to be a cold. The cold seemed to last longer than usual and the symptoms started to increase. They included afternoon fevers, severe fatigue, weakness, weight loss, stomach aches, night sweats and neck pain. The pain in his neck got really bad and it began to swell. That took us to Dr. appointment #1. Dr. examined him and diagnosed him with a bacterial infection in the lymph node. He was put on an antibiotic for a week and told he could go back to school when the fevers were gone for 24hrs. and the pain minimized. Caleb returned to school three days later. He seemed to be doing a little better for two days. Then on a Fri. night, he was miserable again and the fever was back. Then Dr. appointment #2. The Dr. was not happy with Caleb's appearance and symptoms. A bunch of tests were ordered and a list of possibilities presented. One was the possibility of a future biopsy. To here your child's Dr. say the word biopsy feels similar to having all the air taken out of you. They did the blood work in the office, ran a t.b. test and sent us for a chest x-ray. Everything was done STAT. Not a very comfortable feeling for a mom. Luckily, I had a scared child to comfort and had to push the worry away. He was also put on more antibiotics. Most of the blood work came back good. His SED rate levels came back high. This is a non-specific test that rates the level of inflammation in the body. The doctors said all that really told them was that Caleb was sick The test also showed he was anemic. As word of Caleb being sick spread, we received a ton of support and prayers sent up in Caleb's name. The more prayers I heard about, the better Caleb's neck seemed to get. Prayer truly is powerful. The lump in his neck was pretty much gone. The Dr. still wanted us to see and ENT to rule out any problems. He said Caleb's lymph nodes seemed back to normal. WOOHOO! The neck problems are gone (his neck still aches sometimes) and the fevers have faded, but the others symptoms are all still there. Caleb starts the medicine for anemia tomorrow. We tried starting tonight but he was too tired and tears took over. You have to take the anemia meds with orange juice and Caleb HATES orange juice. The doctors are hoping the anemia meds help and the symptoms begin to fade. He has to go back for more blood work in a week or so. If he gets better, they will just have to do blood work occasionally to make sure his anemia levels are better. No one is sure what happened or is happening. The thought is that Caleb got some very bad virus (like mono, but not mono because that test came back negative) and that caused a bacterial infection in his lymph node and anemia. If he doesn't get better then they have to find out why he is feeling so crummy and what is causing the anemia. That means more tests. I guess our episode of "The Longest Month" is more of a two part episode. The happy ending to episode #1 is no biopsy and the cliffhanger is we are still playing the waiting game.

Thank you to all who prayed for us and Caleb. I truly believe those prayers kept us from a biopsy because the lump was not going away until the prayer chain began. Hopefully, the episode ends soon and we have a happy ending like the Taylor family got on Home Improvement. If you could continue to keep Caleb in your prayers it would be appreciated. Yesterday, he commented that sometimes he feels so sick he was afraid his body would be too sick and he would die. Today as he tried to take the new meds, he cried and asked why he got sick. He then started to blame himself, thinking it was something he did. Not fun times for a mom. I'm sure this is nothing serious but it is still hard to watch your child not feel good and not be able to help.

Stayed tuned for The Longest Month Part II.

Caleb Cream Spring Bake 2011....

2011-04-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Caleb Cream Spring Bake 2011 has come to an end. We still have a few orders to complete this week and a couple orders that still need delivered but we have stopped taking orders. Caleb's original goal was $400 and I am proud to say that he doubled his goal and then some. The support and orders far exceeded anything we expected and we are grateful beyond words. People have asked me many questions about Spring Bake, peanut allergies and so on. Here are a few of the questions and answers.

1. What was Caleb's role in the Spring Bake?
First, it was his idea to do another fundraiser. We wanted to do something different then the Ice Cream Stand and thought a bake sale was perfect for the spring. Caleb told us his favorite treats and what he would like on the menu. He then chose the colors for the logo and told his dad what he wanted it to look like. Since I tried to do most of the baking during the day while he was at school or after the kids went to bed, he didn't get to help a lot in the kitchen. To make up for it, he insisted on going on almost every delivery. He loved seeing who ordered his treats and making sure they got them. The commercial was also his idea. In fact, he has ideas for a few more. His biggest role, was deciding where the money should go. He really wanted to help do more than just give to FAAN. After learning about children with cancer at school, he decided they could really use money. John and I researched different charities that helped children with cancer. We discussed them with Caleb and then he chose who wanted to give part of the money to. I'm sure he has plans for thanking all of the wonderful people who placed orders and that will be the next project.

2. Was it a lot of work? Yes. It is one of the most time consuming jobs we have ever had. I think I baked an average of 40 hours a week. That doesn't include packaging and deliveries.

3. Was it worth it?
Yes. When we first reached his original goal, Caleb was so proud. Then the orders kept coming and we new we were going to far exceed our expectations. Caleb was so excited at the possibility of how much we were going to make and then be able to pass on. Seeing your child feel like he is making a difference in the world and knowing you are helping to do so, it is an amazing thing. Caleb got to deliver treats to a child who also has a peanut allergy. He thought that was the greatest thing in the world. He asked me the night before the delivery, "Mom, we should tell his mom to make things and sell them so he won't be allergic to peanuts either". It is an amazing thing to know that my child feels it his duty to help overcome the war against his peanut allergy. It is my privilege to do my part in helping him on his journey.

4. Would I change anything.
Yes. I would ask for more help. I'm not one to ask people to help me but often disheartened when there is none. Next year, I will look for babysitters so my children are not so neglected during the baking, cutters to help cut labels, drivers to help make some deliveries and so on. I have learned that as his charity is growing, our hands are not enough. Charities are built on the hands of volunteers and it is my duty to find them. We are learning and next year we will be more ready. I would also end it before Easter. Easter is my favorite holiday and this year it slipped by under the shadow of Caleb Cream. Next year, I will make sure that doesn't happen. There is a place for both and I have to figure out the timing a little better.

5. Was it a success?
I am sure by the previous answers, you already know it was. It was more of a success than I ever imagined and I am not talking about the money. Yes, financially it was a success but it was more than that. It was a personal success. We did it. Just with any great undertaking, it taught us lessons we didn't know we needed to learn. It was a true test of my patience, faith, baking skills, balancing skills, business skills and more. I think my children learned a lot, too. They each know what charity means and have learned that even if it small, they each had their part... Even it was to NOT eat the treats :)

6. It a peanut allergy really that big of a deal?
Caleb has a severe peanut allergy. That means if he eats a peanut, it can life threatening. So no it is not a really big deal, it is a HUGE deal. Peanuts are poison to Caleb and any parent would do whatever they could to keep their child from being around poison.

7. Can't you just not eat peanuts and peanut butter?
If those were the only things we had to avoid, life would be much simpler. The problem is peanuts can be hidden in lots of foods. Many companies use the same machines for multiple products. If one product has a peanut in it, the dust can be mixed with another product. If Caleb eats the non-peanut product but it peanut dust on it, it can still cause a severe reaction. Just last week, John purchased store brand mayo. He was in a hurry and didn't think to check. When we went to use the product, I read the label (that is a habit of any parent of a child with a food allergy). The label read, may contain peanuts. It was mayo but none the less, it was unsafe. You never know what foods may have been in contact with peanuts and always have to be on your toes.

8. Will you do it again?
Yes, we will have another fundraiser. In fact, we already have the 2ND Annual Caleb Cream Cream Stand planned. Look for details to come in the next couple of months. We will probably also have a fall/winter fundraiser and Spring Bake 2012 next year. Someone asked Caleb if was going to do this again and he said, "I will do it my whole life". As long as Caleb is into Caleb Cream, there will be Caleb Cream fundraisers.

9. Do you think Caleb Cream is making a difference?
I know the money we raise alone is not going to find a cure for peanut allergies. I think we are doing are part and that is what matters. I know that many people have learned about the dangers of a peanut allergy and the effects it has on a person's life because one little boy decided to share his allergy with the world. Many people have told me when they hear the word peanut, it makes them think of Caleb. The people around him are more socially aware of the true dangers of the allergy. Children that may never have heard of a peanut allergy now know what it is and they have a face to it. Family is telling their friends, friends are telling friends, and so on. In the whole world it may not be making a huge difference but it has made a gigantic difference in our world and the effects will continue to ripple until the day a cure is found.

We want to give a HUGE THANKS to all who placed orders. Some individuals did more than that (you know who you are) and that means the world to us. Reaching beyond our goals was outstanding but seeing our child know he is making a difference in his world is priceless.

Thank YOU!

Oh! What a week when...

2011-04-18T15:25:00.001-07:00

Someone hacks into your bank account.
You have to get a new account.
You have to change all your accounts.
You have to check to make sure no other damage has been done.
You use cash for the first time in years.
You realize how much money you spend a week.
Your Master toilet breaking.
You find water covering your bathroom floor.
Six people share one bathroom.
Your children fight over who has to use the bathroom more.
Your toddler loses his mind in the store and throws a huge tantrum.
Everyone in the store is staring at you and you are praying you don't cry yourself.
Your four year old falls out bed, has an anxiety attack, pees all over himself and your living room rug and then has an asthma attack.
Your kitchen sink breaks.
The cabinets under your sink are covered in water.
You have to figure out how to wash dishes when you can only use one half of the sink.
You have to wait for the Landlord to get someone out to fix everything.
Your four year old is suddenly covered in hives for an unknown reason.
You are not able to get the hives to go away.
Your "Dennis the menace" swallows a toy.
You are hoping the toy passes to avoid a trip to the x-ray tech.
You find yourself wondering how so much could happen in 7 days.

OH! What A WEEK!

You Raise Me Up

2011-04-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes nothing gets me through a long tough week but beautiful words from a great song. This song has been playing in my head this week.

Finding Peace...

2011-03-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

Five years ago this week, my world was rocked and it was rocked hard. On the years that followed this week brought me much pain. I'm not sure what changed but this year although I still feel grief, there is peace in the grief. I'm sure when I finally meet my pillow tonight, tears will meet my face. The tears will be different this time. I guess that growth happens when we don't know it. The pain eases and peace enters. I don't think this means we forget or let go, we just accept. This year, on a day I expected to be very challenging, I was given the gift of gratitude. Gratitude to feel peace in my sorrow. Maybe the peace was always there, I just never gave myself permission to feel both acceptance and the aching feeling in my heart. I think I thought you couldn't feel both. Today I allowed myself to feel peace and in doing so my faith has been strengthened.

Imagine being Six...

2011-03-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Imagine going to a birthday party and not getting to eat the cake.

Imagine going to have a friend's birthday party who is having pizza and having to bring your own. Why? Because that specific pizza is unsafe.

Imagine your school having ice cream every Wednesday, but you can't have any because it is unsafe.

Imagine going to a family event and every child eating ice cream from the Ice cream truck but you can't eat one.

Imagine going on a school field trip that is serving cookies for a treat but you can't have one. Your mom has to make special ones to send for you.

Imagine getting a special pencil from your teacher because you celebrated a student's birthday in class and they hand out goodie bags with unsafe snacks.

Imagine never getting to go to an Ice Cream shop, like Dairy Queen, Scooptacular, Cold Stone, etc.

Imagine not crying about it, but coming up with a plan to make money to find a drug that would allow you to do such things.

Imagine learning about children who suffer with Cancer at school and thinking that your charity could help them get healthy too.

Imagine having such faith.

Imagine taking that faith and turning it into action.

Now imagine being mom and being scared your child will accidentally eat a food that is like poison to him.

Imagine being scared every time the school calls because your afraid they are calling to tell you that your child isn't breathing.

Imagine your child being upset because other kid's get something that he doesn't.

Imagine your child coming up with a plan to help himself.

Imagine having such a faithful child.

Caleb Cream is Caleb's charity. These fundraisers are his idea. He chose the treats he wanted to serve. He chose the color for the logo and told his dad what he wanted it to look like. He believes with all his heart, that by raising money, doctors will find a medicine that will allow to him eat food that is now un-safe and can cause him to be seriously ill. Caleb thinks if you hope and pray for something, it will happen. But he knows, you have to do your part first. How incredible is that? And he is only 6.

I ask you to please help me, help my son with his dream.
If you haven't ordered yet, please do so.

The money raised will benefit two great charities and help keep a little boy's faith growing.

http://www.calebcream.org/sborder.php

Caleb Cream Spring Bake-Online ordering.

2011-03-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

Reminder Caleb Cream Spring Bake starts Monday. Proceeds will go to FAAN to help peanut allergy research and to PBTF to help pediatric brain tumor research. You can order online @ http://calebcream.org/

Sickness, Sickness...Please go away!

2011-03-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

Sickness, Sickness please go away.

I don't think I can handle it one more day.

We have battled cold, flu, stomach flu, ear infections, croup, sinus infections, hives, the cold some more all in the last two months. Last night I had to take one child to urgent care after tons of slightly blood tinged, green pus began to seep out of his eye. After getting to Urgent Care, I learned our insurance company changed names and we had new insurance cards. Ugh. Thankfully, John could print temporary ones and fax them over. It was there we learned the sick child had two ear infections, pink eye in both eyes and was getting strep throat. We were up with that kid until around midnight. At 2:30, we were awaken by another child and I was up with him until almost 4. John then got up with another child twice between 4 and 5:30. The only child that slept all night woke up at 6:30 (that was sleeping in). Thanks to the change in insurance info. and it being Sunday, the pharmacy could find our insurance. So we had to pay full price for the two prescriptions. I guess we will be taking care of the new insurance stuff tomorrow. Not a good time to find out about the change. Ugh.

If it sounds like I am complaining, I am sorry. Really, I am just venting out loud.

We need sleep. Cleaning needs caught up. Work needs to be finished. Projects need completed.

And I would really like to go to church more than once a month.

So I ask you germs to PLEASE let my family be.

Sickness, Sickness...please go way.

DO NOT come again another day.

Caleb Cream's SPRING BAKE!

2011-03-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Caleb Cream

One little boy. One severe allergy. One big hope.

March is here. The weather is warming up. It is almost time for Caleb Cream's Spring Bake. What's that? Caleb Cream will be having it's first spring bake sale. Bake sale items will feature cupcakes, macaroons, etc. Best of all, we will deliver the goodies to you. Look for a flyer or brochure with a list of items to come soon.

75% of proceeds will go to FAAN and 25% will go to The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Caleb decided he didn't just want to help find a medicine to take away his peanut allergy but he wanted to help other children who face greater issues than him everday. That is why this year, we will donate 25% of the proceeds to a charity that Caleb chooses. For this fundraiser, he chose the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. For more info visit...http://www.pbtfus.org/

More information on the Spring Bake to come.

Caleb Cream Back Story...

As most of you know, Caleb has a severe peanut allergy. What does that mean? It means if he eats even the slightest amount of peanut...say dust from a peanut he can go into anaphylactic shock which can mean fatal results. He is fully aware of his allergy and has accepted that means there are a lot of foods he can't eat. As a commercial for a food he has not eaten before comes on t.v., he often ask if it is a food he can eat or not. Often the answer is NO! Since it is summertime, ice cream trucks seem to drive by our house many times a day. My kids know the sound of the truck and always watch as it drives by. Even though he knows the answer, Caleb always ask if the ice cream truck is safe to get food from yet. I know you are probably thinking, the ice cream truck sells ice cream without peanuts. Yes that is true, but most of the food is still processed in plants that make some type of product with peanuts on it. Ice cream trucks do not have peanut safe products. Today there was a cartoon on that had an ice cream truck on the episode. Caleb asked me if instead of making a lemonade stand like kids do in the summer, if he could make an ice cream stand. He wants to take the money and buy a medicine that would let him eat food with peanuts. My heart broke as he told me this. I told him there wasn't a medicine he could take but there were places that were trying to find one.

We had the 1st Caleb Cream's Cream Stand in August. He doubled his goal for the event.

The Puppy Love Controversy...

2011-02-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Caleb has long had a crush on a little girl in his class. She is very sweet and cute. She was one of his school friends invited to his birthday party this year. Not long after his party, he told us he loved her and was going to marry her when he grew up. He then told us that he was going to tell her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. We told him that he couldn't REALLY be in love until he was A LOT older and he should wait until he was older to tell a girl he loves her. He told us that was our opinion and he knew he loved her and thought he should tell her. Of course, being Caleb, he did. That was a couple weeks ago. This morning somehow that conversation come up again. Caleb told us that some kids in class told him that he couldn't marry her because he had light skin and she had dark skin. The little girl is Indian (from India). There is another little boy in his class from India and Caleb said the kids told him that she should marry him because they match. Caleb didn't agree and apparently got into a conversation with the kids and told them it didn't matter what color skin you had. Needless to say, that is not a morning conversation that I expected to have with my kindergartner. Can you imagine of bunch of five and six year old kids having a conversation about you who you should and should not marry? I am glad Caleb knows that you don't have to have the same color skin to like each other but I'm not sure I am ready for him to start facing these issues at such a young age. Who new puppy love could be such a controversy?. I'm so glad he won't be sixteen for 10 years. :)

Night Terrors...

2011-01-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

You think when you grow up the nights of waking up with your pulse racing from a horrible dream will cease but such is not the case. When I was younger the dream usually consisted of me running from someone or something or trying to run for that matter. My legs usually could not move and my voice made no sound as tried to speak. Sometime the dreams were so real that you would wake up still in a state of fear and panic. Although I no longer dream that dream, I still have horrible dreams that leave me completely shaken to my core. Last night that is exactly what happened. I woke up about 1:45 am with my heart racing in a state of panic. My dream still very clear in my head, so clear I couldn't believe it didn't actually happen. As I sit here today and think about it, the dream seems so small and one I can't believe I haven't had before. Last night that was not the case, the dream seemed so long, full of minutes of fear and prayer. I was standing in my kitchen, although it was not my actual kitchen in real life, the phone rang. It was Caleb's school. That informed me that they had to use his Epipen and the paramedics were on there way and I needed to get to the school immediately. It was the phone call that made my heart start to race. Then, just as in a movie, I got a glimpse of the scene at the school. It was one I do not want to recall. John was returning home from where I am not sure. He was holding Emma and walking in the door. Just as my dream from childhood, my voice was hard to find. I heard my self saying that the school had called, paramedics were coming and we needed to go. It was then I woke up, my heart beating super fast and overcome with a great anxiety. I tried to wake John up but he was so tired he just fell right back to sleep. Then I had to deal with the worst party of bad dream, I had to lay there in my own thoughts as the dream replayed itself over and over in my head. Our minds are such a powerful thing and vivid dreams are one of those occurrences that will always amaze me. As I said, I am surprised I haven't had this dream before. I am a person who suffers from great anxiety and many of them are reflected in my dreams. Although it was a dream that shook me to my core, it is not one that surprised me. I'm sure it will reside in my thoughts for time to come as it is a scenario that could actually happen but one I pray never does. John doesn't remember his dreams but I never fail to remember mine. Does your mind create such horrifying movies in your head or am I the only one?

A glimpse at my children...

2011-01-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

Caleb- He has a developed a great love of reading. After his brothers and sister are put into their beds at night, he sits in the playroom all by himself cuddled up with a book. Last night he read for about an hour. It is a time of day he looks forward to. We have reading time together before dinner thanks to homework and a quick bedtime story with his siblings but this reading time is just for him. Sometimes he comes to living room to ask if he read a word correctly or to ask what it means, but those times are getting less and less. His dad and I both have a great love of reading and I am so glad it is one of his favorite things to do too.

Tyler- He is having a difficult time with meals lately. He only wants to eat what he likes and completely refuses to eat what he doesn't. Tonight he has been at the table for 5o minutes. We have all eaten, talked, picked up our plates and moved on and there he sits still. He has to sit at the table until he eats or it's bedtime, whichever comes first. Many times these nights end with him forcing himself to gag on what is in his mouth and make himself sick or secretly throwing his food in the garbage. We have tried compromising, bribing, etc. and still every night at dinner we play a battle of wills. I'm hoping it is just a phase that we will pass through soon. Until then, rules are rules and at the table he will stay. If any one has suggestions on how to work through this, please let me know.

Kyle- Today the power went out. It was out for about 45 minutes. Kyle couldn't understand why we had no lights. He went around the house trying to turn them all on. When the power finally popped back on, Kyle stood up and said, "I fixed it." He was holding his Buzz Lightyear and then re-declared, "Me and Buzz fixed it. We turned on the lights." The excitement in his eyes and voice filled the room. To him it was magic and seeing it through his eyes, it was.

Emma- She has also a problem with eating. Her problem is quite different from her brother's. Emma LOVES food but her food habits have changed over the last few days. In fact, Emma has become a vegetarian. She loves fruits and veggies and those seem to be the only items that every clear her plate. Right now, she loves apples, bananas, potatoes and fresh green beans. I love seeing her eyes light up when she sees a fruit or vegetable and then watching her stuff as much of it as she can into her mouth. It is quite the contrast from her brothers who I have to bribe to eat a vegetable.

Random thought about Chocolate...

2011-01-03T17:40:00.000-08:00

My kids have never really had chocolate candy bars or any type of chocolate candy due to Caleb's peanut allergy. Recently, we along with some family have come across some peanut safe chocolate bar and candy. All that worrying about them missing out and guess what? They don't really like it. I guess I don't need to feel so bad.

I know a lot of people who don't really like chocolate and I don't get it. Although I would be A LOT thinner if I could resist chocolate. :)

A Monday to Remember...

2011-01-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

Six years ago today, a little man entered the world. It was a Monday. Clouds covered the skies as cold wind blew through the air. In fact, it was very much like this Monday is today. Just as you would in any sappy movie, lets go back in time a few days. It was New Year's Day 2005. I was sitting in my bathtub and felt a gush of warm water. I quietly got out of the bath and got dressed. John was laying in bed and I climbed in next to him. I whispered, "I think my water just broke." He looked at me and asked me what the heck I was doing laying in bed. He then jumped up and got dressed. I moved a little more slowly, as this was my first pregnancy experience and nerves were starting to get the better of me. Soon more water begin to gush and I began to move more quickly. We got to the hospital around 11 that night. Due to heart issues, I had to receive antibiotics and an epidural very soon after arriving to the hospital. Just as the anesthesiologist started to prep my back, I began to have a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotic. My tongue began to swell, hives appeared and a tingling sensation spread throughout my body. The anesthesiologist moved quickly and got medication to counter-act the reaction. Luckily,they got it under control quickly but unfortunately I had to get the epidural right after all that. Since contractions did not start on their own, I was given Pitocin to help make things progress. About the same time I developed a fever and their goal was to keep that under control. After a whole round of Pitocin, nothing happened. After a short break, they began Round 2. This takes us into Sunday night. Round 2 failed and there was still no progression. Doctors came in and told me they were going to give me a break so I could try to get some sleep. They were to check me the next morning and if no change they would do a C-Section. It was a this moment I hit my breaking point. This was my first labor experience and it was nothing like I had imagined. John sent all the family home so we could rest. I can't tell you if I actually slept or not. I can remember the sun rising the next morning as the sensation of tightening increased in my stomach. I knew I was in real labor and my body had finally started to contract. I was so excited when the doctors came to check me and told me I was starting to progress. They told me they would give me until 1pm. If I was complete, we would push. If not, they would go ahead with the C-section. I was a bundle of nerves when the clock hit 1pm. The nurse came in to check me and I saw a smile spread across her face. I was at 9 1/2. We were going to start pushing soon. I think I started pushing at about 1:30 pm. After awhile they made me stop because my heart rate was getting out of control. They made me cross my legs and lay on my side. Finally, after what seemed like forever they let me start pushing again. At 6:24pm, with the help of a vacuum, Caleb entered the world. Tears filled the eyes of all those in the room and loud cheers broke out in the hallway. For a single moment, time stood still. I was allowed to hold him for just a moment because they had to take him to nursery for some observation due to the long labor. It was a moment I will never forget. He was super tiny and looked just like a little old man. In that moment my heart grew larger. It took 9 months to carry him, 44 1/2 hours of labor to birth him and less than one second for him to claim a part of my heart.

Happy Birthday to our Monday Miracle.

1-1-11

2011-01-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Make it GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

This coming year...

2010-12-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.

-Ann Landers

Quick Christmas Recap...

2010-12-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve: Cleaning. Baking. Cookies. Cheesecake. Macaroons. Pulled Pork. Setting out presents. Family Christmas Eve Get Together. Eating. Eating some more. Jingle Bells. Hark the Harold Angel sings. Family gift exchange. Very happy kids. Desserts. Bonk. Big Bruise. Very UNHAPPY baby. Saying goodbye to guest. Putting on new p.j.'s. Story Time. The Night Before Christmas. Family Prayer. Giving thanks for Jesus, family and all our blessings. Mom's heart warmed by the words of her children's prayers. Sleeping children. Santa's Elves begin Christmas morning preparations. Santa's Elves get to go to bed. :)

Christmas Day: Child sneaking into stocking at 3am. Child not wanting to go back to sleep. Daddy unable to go back to sleep. 5 am everyone but Emma is up. Emma gets woke up. 6:15 all presents are done being opened. Joy. Smiles. Laughter. Happy Caleb. Happy Tyler. Happy Kyle. Happy Emma. Happy Hubby. Happy Wife. Happy Family. Pictures. Emma goes back to bed. Breakfast. Playing. Floors covered in boxes, wrapping paper, tissue paper, toys and more. An attempt at a clean-up. More playing. Snacks. Getting cleaned up for the day. Green Bean Casserole. Christmas Day Family Get Together. Dog. Scared kids. Lots of Family Fun. Visiting. Pictures. Dinner. Petting the dog. Gift Exchange. Dessert. Family Get Together #2. More food. Playing children. Gift Exchange. Dessert. Tired, grumpy kids. Sleeping kids. Movie. Finally, bed.

Christmas always seems to come and go too quickly. I wish I could bottle the warmth, light and energy that Christmas brings because it an amazing thing. I hope your Christmas was filled with love, laughter, family and thoughts of Christ. If it was, then no matter what else you did or did not receive, you received the best gift Christmas can bring.

Christ the Lord...

2010-12-24T10:24:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Peace on Earth...

2010-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Prince of Peace...

2010-12-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

Isaiah Chapter 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

-King James Version Bible

The 12 Months of Cole (Quick Family Recap 2010)...

2010-12-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

12 Months of Cole

12 Months Without a Baby :)

11 Family Dinners (for each side)

10 Month Old Started Walking

9 Sport Practices ( 7 for soccer, 2 for basketball)

8 Tiny Hand prints on the Wall

7 Years of Marriage

6 Ward Activities

5 New Baby Teeth

4 Kids Birthdays

3 Weeks of Nursery

2 Quarters of Kindergarten

And a move into a new home.

Love...

2010-12-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

8 days until Christmas!

Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

-Author Unknown

Christmas...

2010-12-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

9 days until Christmas!

"This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas."

- Thomas S. Monson

Christmas Past...

2010-12-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

10 days until Christmas...

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things—not the great occasions—give off the greatest glow of happiness.

-Bob Hope

What did you give for Christmas?...

2010-12-14T13:35:00.000-08:00

11 days until Christmas.

What Did You Give For Christmas?

“What did you get for Christmas?” This is the universal question among children for days following that most celebrated holiday of the year. A small girl might reply, “I received a doll, a new dress, and a fun game.” A boy might respond, “I received a pocketknife, a train, and a truck with lights.” Newly acquired possessions are displayed and admired as Christmas day dawns, then departs.

The gifts so acquired are fleeting. Dolls break, dresses wear out, and fun games become boring. Pocketknives are lost, trains do nothing but go in circles, and trucks are abandoned when the batteries that power them dim and die.

If we change but one word in our Christmas question, the outcome is vastly different. “What did you give for Christmas?” prompts stimulating thought, causes tender feelings to well up and memory’s fires to glow ever brighter.

Someone has appropriately said, “We make a living by what we get, but we build a life by what we give.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Christmas Gifts, Christmas Blessings,” New Era, Dec 1986, 4

Babe of Bethlehem

2010-12-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

12 days until Christmas...

Babe of Bethlehem
"Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn't come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it 'means a little bit more.' And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before....

"I, like you, need to remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world. Only when we see that sacred, unadorned child of our devotion—the Babe of Bethlehem—will we know why... the giving of gifts is so appropriate" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Without Ribbons and Bows," New Era, Dec 1994, 4).

Do you feel the love?...

2010-12-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

Kyle talking to me....

Kyle: "Mom, you are my friend."
Me: "Is Emma your friend, too?"
Kyle: "Emma is my baby. The boys are my guys."
Me: "What about daddy?"
Kyle: "Daddy is Tyler's friend."

The Christmas Spirit...

2010-12-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

15 days until Christmas...

The Christmas Spirit

"Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. To us He has said, 'Come, follow me.'

"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others" (Thomas S. Monson, "In Search of the Christmas Spirit," Ensign, Dec 1987, 3).

True Gifts

2010-12-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

17 days until Christmas...

True Gifts

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves—giving of the riches of the heart and mind—and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store.

"Of course, among the greatest of gifts is the gift of love....

(James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No Presents," Ensign, Dec 2001, 2–6).

The Christmas Child..

2010-12-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

18 days until Christmas...

The Christmas Child

"There is a magic in Christmas. Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power. Tensions are eased...

"Of all things of heaven and earth of which we bear testimony, none is so important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, condescended to come to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. And further, and most important, He suffered on Calvary's cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind.

"At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Son of God," Ensign, Dec 1992, 2).

The Real Christmas...

2010-12-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

19 days until Christmas

The Real Christmas

"The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and mission of the Master....

"If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments" (Howard W. Hunter, "The Real Christmas," Ensign, Dec 2005, 22–25).

Who needs Christmas?

2010-12-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas is three weeks away. I know as the day gets closer, my days get more hectic. There are gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, parties to go to, Sunday outfits to purchase, school Christmas programs to attend, baking to do, and so much more. Sometime I feel my self getting caught up in the hustle and bustle and not the spirit of Christmas. Before I know it the holiday is here and gone. This year I am trying to make a real effort to enjoy the season and embrace the amazing gifts the season offers and not the ones purchased from a store. To help me, I plan on posting some memorable quotes about the true spirit of the season every day as we countdown to Christmas. I hope you enjoy them too.

20 days to Christmas:

Who Needs Christmas?
"So who needs Christmas? We do! All of us! Because Christmas can bring us closer to the Savior, and he is the only source of lasting joy....

"We need Christmas because it helps us to be better people, not only in December but in January, June, and November.

"Because we need Christmas we had better understand what it is and what it isn't. Gifts, holly, mistletoe, and red-nosed reindeer are fun as traditions, but they are not what Christmas is really all about. Christmas pertains to that glorious moment when the Son of our Father joined his divinity to our imperfect humanity" ("Hugh W. Pinnock, Who Needs Christmas?," New Era, Dec 1987, 4).

Perfect Christmas gift...

2010-12-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Looking for that perfect gift.
Check out http://www.etsy.com/listing/63478352/personalized-family-tree

Personalized Family Trees make a great gift for that person that just seems to have everything. This is a gift that is truly unique and can be a family heirloom for years to come.

There is also a website (although it is not completely finished yet) http://www.thepicturevine.com/

(Yes, I am promoting my husband's work :) )

Birthday...

2010-12-02T10:10:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was my birthday. I am not someone who thinks birthday are just another day. I think they are important. Your birthday was the day God gave your mother and father a miracle. It was the day he decided you should make your appearance into the world. Yesterday, was the 28th Anniversary of my birth into this world. I may not be happy about the number (as I am terrified of getting older) but I am grateful for my gift of life.

We did not do a lot to celebrate my birthday (hoping to celebrate a little this weekend) as we had too many errands and task that needed attention first but there were a few highlights that made me grateful for my life.

John made me breakfast.
My kids greeted me with many hugs and kisses all day.
John did some of the house cleaning chores.
I had Poncho's for dinner and donuts for dessert (kids picked out birthday dessert).

My favorite moment...
After dinner, the kids turned off all the lights in the house. John turned on Christmas music. The lights from the tree illuminated the room and my boys each took turns having me dance around the living room with them. I even got to dance with Emma and John. For a moment, the outside world was gone and it was just our family surrounded by the magic of the season. It was truly magical and a memory I will keep forever.

Dear Mom...

2010-12-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom,

Thanks for bringing me into this world.

Love, Sharon

Spreading Gratitude Day 30...

2010-11-30T07:13:00.001-08:00

Today I am grateful for...

Music. Music truly does soothe the soul. It can really set the mood for any environment. Last night, we finally got our tree up. Christmas music and hymns played in the background throughout the night. I was embraced by the true spirit of Christmas because of it.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "O Holy Night".

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Spreading Gratitude Weekend Catch Up...

2010-11-29T07:12:00.000-08:00

Day 25..

Thanksgiving...How can you not love a day that is all about thanking our Heavenly Father for all we have? To top it off, you get to take the day off and eat good food and spend quality time with family. I hope everyone had a great day.

Day 26..

Black Friday...Black Friday may not be for everyone but in my family it is a day after Thanksgiving tradition. It is a tradition that has now become apart of my marriage. John and I venture out into the chaos together and have had both arguments and amazing talks come out of it. Black Friday allows us to talk about Christmas together and gets him involved in the shopping. I always enjoy getting to spend this day with him and look forward to our "Black Friday Date" every year.

Day 27..

Warm Blankets...This Saturday I found my super sick and cuddled up in a ball on the couch. My body was frozen to the bone and any movement seemed to freeze me more. I had blankets layered over me and wrapped around me. Eventually, the warmth of blanket settled the chill that ran threw me. Those blankets were my best friend that day. Whether you are cold due to illness or the weather, nothing beats the cold like a cozy, warm blanket.

Day 28..

Leftovers...I must admit I love Thanksgiving leftovers more than I love the actual meal. Mmm...shredded turkey on a warm roll for lunch. So good!!

Day 29..

Tissues...We have probably gone through over 40 boxes of tissues in the last month. I don't know what people did before tissues were invented and I am super grateful that I live in a time where I don't have to know.

Spreading Gratitude Day 24...

2010-11-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for....

Online Shopping. Yesterday I got three packages in the mail. They each contained different presents for different people. I couldn't wait to open the packages and admire the products I had purchased. Some of the items I got for a complete steal. Some of the items were unique and could only be purchased via the web. One of the items was the perfect gift for one person and I was so glad to come across it online and for a great price. You just can't beat buying unique gifts at unique prices from the comfort of your own home.

Spreading Gratitude Day 23...

2010-11-23T07:11:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for....

Family Home Evening. Last night, we tried to keep it short as the kids attention spans are a little short this week. We did manage to have a lesson on Thanksgiving and being thankful for your blessings. Caleb told the story of the first Thanksgiving and then we took turns sharing things we were thankful for. The boys answers were actually very sweet and surprised me. Kyle's was my favorite, "I am thankful I go pee in the potty." LoL! Caleb's school assignment for the week is to decorate a paper turkey with his family. We then sat down and discussed every one's ideas for the turkey and what materials we should use to decorate. The boys are very happy about their turkey plan. In our hectic life, it was nice to take a little time and make sure the boys were ready for Thanksgiving and understood why we celebrate it.

Spreading Gratitude Day 22...

2010-11-22T07:12:00.001-08:00

Today I am grateful for....

The sound of laughter. There is no greater joy than hearing my children play together and having their laughter fill the room. When people are laughing their hearts are happy and the sound echoes their heart. When children are the laughing not only are their hearts happy but they are pure. My favorite is to hear Emma giggle. It is the best sound in the whole world and no matter what state you are in, it will warm you heart and make you laugh with her. My house is filled with laughing and giggling children this morning. I know they are happy. My heart is warm and content. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

Spreading Gratitude Day 21...

2010-11-21T06:53:00.001-08:00

Today I am grateful for...

Priesthood Blessings. I love that they are available when I need them. I love the comfort they give and the spirit they bring with them. I have been in need of one lately, but am not one to ask for one. I am grateful that my husband is aware of me and my needs and gives me one when he sees I am in need. I also love that he knows when he is need of one and is not too prideful to ask for it. I did not grow up in a family where priesthood was present and I will forever be thankful that I am now.

Spreading Gratitude Day 20...

2010-11-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for....

Home Security. This morning a door was opened before the alarm had been turned off. A very loud and piercing sound echoed throughout the house. My boys covered their ears and Emma ran into my arms. A few minutes later, the phone rang to make sure everything was okay. My ears are still ringing from the noise and we probably have a few irritated neighbors, but it is nice to know the system works. I am grateful there is such a device and process to help keep my family safe. If there is every a real problem, we are protected.

Spreading Gratitude Day 19...

2010-11-19T07:14:00.000-08:00

Today I am Grateful for....

Fridays. John get off early on Fridays and it has become errand day in our house. I always look forward to spending an afternoon with him and having his help to do some of the errands that need done. Lately, Fridays have become Grocery Shopping days. We sit together on Thurs. and make a list. We put the list in a spreadsheet that organizes them in to aisle they would be on and puts the aisles in order of how they come in the store. We then split the list. He gets half the store and I get the other half. This makes the long Grocery Shopping errand, a very quick one. (I am a lucky girl, I know.)

Fridays are also usually date nights. If we can't get a sitter, we try to put the kids to bed early and have a "Stay In" date night.

Really, who doesn't love Fridays? Bring on the weekend. :)

Spreading Gratitude Day 18...

2010-11-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

I am grateful for...

Nap Time. It is as good for my well being as it is for my children's. Tyler and Kyle seem to be outgrowing nap time and I am not ready for them to do so. Emma took two naps today and I am cherishing her nap time for as long as possible. If it were not for nap time, many tasks would go unattended and my sanity would disappear. I am more than grateful for nap time...I love nap time.

Spreading Gratitude...

2010-11-17T17:59:00.001-08:00

I love this month and how much it brings the feeling of gratitude to the surface. Whether I am reading a blog or checking a Facebook post someone is listing things they are grateful for. Even if I don't really know the person, their expression of gratitude always seems to warm my heart. Life has been really hectic around here, with event after event, cold after cold and job after job, so I am a little behind on jumping on the Gratitude Bandwagon. I do not want the month to go by without making a list of things I am grateful for. It is so therapeutic and always seems to bring a smile to my face, even if the world around me is in chaos. Last month I blogged about all the people who I was grateful to have in my life, but there are so many other things I am grateful for. Here I go...

1. The Internet and how it connects me to the rest of the world.
2. A house that fits my family and provides an office for my husband to work.
3. A car that accommodates the size of our family and gets us from place to place.
4. My Kitchen Aide....makes my love of baking a much easier task.
5. Caleb's school. I know his education is in good hands.
6. D.V.R... Seriously, how did we ever live without it?
7. Cooler weather. It is nice to have to wear a jacket or sweater occasionally.
8. My own job and the extra income it provides our family.
9. My bed...I always look forward to our meeting every night.
10. Books. Reading is my escape and I treasure the moments I get.
11. Flowers. They are this girl's best friend.
12. A clean house. It never last long, but for the moment it is, I am in bliss.
13. Date nights. That don't come often enough.
14. Chocolate. Need I say more?
15. Eternal marriage. Forever is a great word.
16. Clean Laundry. If only it could fold and put itself away.
17. Prayer. It is a powerful thing.

You say it best when you say nothing at all...

2010-11-14T18:24:00.000-08:00

The Cole's

Nov. 15th, 2003

This was our first song and I still feel this way today.

Happy 7th Anniversary!

Giving...

2010-11-09T07:16:00.001-08:00

November is here. It is the month of expressing gratitude and in return trying to be more giving. This morning I read a little article about giving and wanted to share.

10 Gifts you can GIVE...

1. The gift of a LISTENING EAR. This is a gift you can give to most people...little or big. this is especially for those who might be living alone. When you do this, really, really listen. NO interruptions, no daydreaming, no planning you clever responses. Just LISTEN!

2. The gift of GENUINE AFFECTION. Determine to be generous with your hugs, kisses and gentle touches. Let these small actions convey the love that is inside of you. This is especially true when around little ones.

3. The gift of a CAREFULLY WRITTEN NOTE. Make it as simple as an I LOVE YOU. These have the greatest impact when least expected.

4. The gift of LAUGHTER. This gift says to someone, " I Love to laugh with you." Very therapeutic for life and relationships.

5. The gift of an HONEST COMPLIMENT. A simple "You look good in red" or "I like your wonderful attitude" or " Honey, thanks for the paycheck every week". These are great spirit lifters to people in your life who may think they are being taken for granted.

6. The gift of a FAVOR. How about pitching in and helping with cleaning, baby sitting, running errand's, fixing a meal when someone is sick, etc. It's easy...just think of what you would appreciate if it were done for you.

7. The gift of BEING LEFT ALONE. Not everyone will need this gift. But there are times when they or we may want nothing more than to be left alone...some quiet and solitude.

8. The gift of a CHEERFUL DISPOSITION. How about trying to be more cheerful around those who might need it most. Maybe their day hasn't gone well or they are just simply in need of having their spirit lifted.

9. The gift of a GAME. Offer to play with your child, neighbors, husband, or friend their favorite game. This may not be your thing but it just may be theirs.

10. The gift of PRAYER. Pray for those on your gift lists and let them know you are praying for them. Tell them, write a note to this effect. Praying for another is a wonderful way of saying "You are so special to me that I'll talk to God about you and on your behalf."

(Moments for Marvelous Mothers pg. 48-49)

Gratitude Continued....

2010-11-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Last month got away from between errands and sickness. I never did get to finish my daily post on people I am grateful for. There are many and all though I do not have time to explain why, here is a list of who they are:

My Mom.
My Nana.
My Brothers.
My Aunt She and her amazing family.
My In-laws.
My Papa.
All of my AUNTS and UNCLES.
My cousins.
My best friends through the years.
My Visting Teachers.
My children's primary teachers.
Kyle's nursery leaders.
My O.B..
My children's pediatricians.
Caleb's allergist.
The great people who my husband works for.
My oldest son, Caleb.
My sweetest son, Tyler.
My baby boy, Kyle.
My princess, Emma.
My Great Grandma and her gift of family.
The amazing leaders of our church.
My Savior and Brother, Jesus Christ.

To You All,

Thank you for all you are and have done for me.

Gratitude Day #3-6...

2010-10-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

This post is about four very special ladies. They are my sisters (in-law). They each came into my life at different times and have all taught me some important lessons. I could write long post about each of them but instead will just share a special experience I had with them.

Letty (My brother Brian's fiance)- She gave me my very first nephew. The phone rang early Sunday morning. I knew instantly what that meant. My heart raced as I phoned others to let them know about the exciting news. My mom lived quite a distance from the hospital, so I wanted to get there as quickly as possible. It was my brother's first child and I knew I needed to be there for him. My aunt picked me up and we drove together. We arrived only 20 min. after the phone call. I went to the front desk to ask what room she was in and they said she was already delivering and I could not go in. I explained how important is was that my brother have someone with him and they let us go back and stand by the door. Letty's labor went so fast that they had to start delivering as soon as she got to the hospital. As I arrived at the door, I could hear them announcing his arrival. There was no baby crying. My aunt and I began praying aloud to hear that sound. After a few minutes, I heard one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. I remember tears coming to my eyes. I was so excited to go in the room and see the tiny baby. We were not allowed to stay long because Letty had preclampsia and her placenta had ruptured. My aunt and I met the rest of my family in the waiting room. Blue lights started flashing and the speakers were echoing, "Code Blue" over the intercom. Doctors and nurses rushed passed us and headed to the maternity ward. My mom ran out into the room and yelled, "It's Letty". Our hearts all sank. We immediately joined hands, formed a circle, and said a prayer. Thanks to an amazing nurse, Letty came back to us. She spent the next couple of days in I.C.U. Because she was in ICU, the baby was taken to the nursery. My brother was the only person allowed in to see him. They finally let him bring someone in to show them the baby. I was the first person to get to go in and hold him. I went to the hospital almost every day to see them. It was an experience no one in my family will ever forget. I love her for a lot of different reasons, but I will never forget her almost giving her life bringing my amazing nephew into this world.

Shelly ( John's sister)- John and I got engaged so fast that I didn't even really meet her until after we got engaged. Heck we got engaged so fast, that John didn't buy a ring before he asked. Why is that important to my special experience with Shelly? Shelly and I spent a whole day ring shopping together. She went with me to jewelry store after jewelry store to look at different rings. We did take a lunch break. Ironically enough, we had pizza. I know a day of ring shopping probably sounds pretty boring to you but it was a big deal to me. Since I don't have any sisters, it was great to have a girl to go shopping with and share that day with. That day has an even greater significance though. Shelly told John about the type of rings I liked. She then looked around UT to find stores that had rings I liked and helped John pick out the right one. My wedding ring is one of the most important things in the world to me. It means so much to me to know that she was a part of that experience.

Edna (John's brother's wife)- I've known Edna since I was a young teenager. Of course back then she was just a friend of the family. The story I am going to share is before she became my sister in law but was a very important day in my life. After a couple of months of being active in church again, I decided to go to the ward I lived in. The first couple of Sundays were hard for me even though I knew many of the people. I had friends to go to class with but I sat alone in sacrament meeting. I believe it was on the third Sunday, I noticed Edna sitting with Ande in one of the pews. She invited me to come and sit with them. I was so excited to have a familiar friend to sit next to in sacrament meeting. Edna told me she usually didn't go to class and I was relieved. I thought that meant we would just sit and talk after sacrament. Edna decided I should go to the Y.S.A. (young single adults) class and she would go with me. She became very involved in the class and the activities and she made me go with her. I don't think she knows but she made going to church by myself easier. I was no longer alone. Edna and my Y.S.A. class became my church family. That Y.S.A. family led me to John and Edna to Greg (John's brother) and that led us to becoming sisters in law. I know her inviting me to sit with her that Sunday was Edna just being Edna but it really did have an impact on where I am in my life now.

Stefanie (My brother Joey's wife)- She let me share one of life's most precious moments with her and she let me do it twice. She gave me the honor of staying in the room as she gave birth to my nephews. To give birth is to feel a glimpse of Heaven and to watch someone give birth is to see a glimpse of Heaven. It was an amazing experience to sit and watch her bring a child into the world. We do not get many opportunities to truly see an act of God taking place. Standing there and seeing their baby enter this world and take its first breath was just that. Not only did I get to see the miracle of life but I got to see how it instantly changed their whole world. You could see them instantly falling in love with their baby. It was an amazing experience to get to share with someone and I will forever be thankful for her letting me be a witness to one of God's miracles.

If you have the opportunity to meet any of these woman, I encourage you to do so. They are all amazing and will leave a mark on your life forever. I love you all and I am truly grateful that Heavenly Father finally gave me some sisters. I'm even more grateful that I can also call you my friends.

Gratitude Day 2...

2010-10-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

How can you blog about people you are grateful for and not start with Heavenly Father. My relationship with him is very sacred and personal to me. I thank him daily in my personal prayers and our conversations are usually kept private. I do think it is important to let others us know what an important role in plays in my life and how grateful I am to him for every single blessing he has given me. Although I was not born into the church, I have known of his presence since I was a very little girl. I don't think I ever went a day in my life questioning whether he existed or not. When my mother was is in labor with me, she went into shock and had many complications. The doctors told my family that only one of us would survive. We both did. As a baby it was discovered I had a whole in my heart and I had open heart surgery at the age of 1 1/2. I was almost complete as soon as the surgery was over and had no lasting effects from my heart problems. I knew as a child that a great presence was in my life and that is why I overcome so many obstacles before I was even a toddler. I first remember learning to pray at the age of 4. My Nana taught me. I can remember very clearly her teaching me to pray and telling me what to say. That is when my personal relationship with him began to develop. Over the years, my relationship with him has grown very deep and I know it will continue to grow. I wish I could say it grew just out of happy blessings but is mostly grew out of blessings disguised as trials. As much as John and my family has been there for me, he has been there the most. He is there always and that is so comforting. I know to thank him in daily prayer is not enough. I try to live my life striving to be the best daughter of God I can be and with my actions show him my gratitude.

Gratitude Challenge...

2010-10-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

‎"We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until it's too late for us to express that gratitude...to express gratitude is gracious and honorable... to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."

~President Thomas S. Monson

There are 27 days left in October. Can you list 27 people in your life that you are grateful for?

I challenge you to express your gratitude to them. You do not have to blog about it.

You can call them, email them, text them, etc...just tell them you how much you appreciate them.

Today I am grateful for my husband. He is not only the love of my life but he is truly my best friend. There are many days and situations I would not have made it through without him sharing his strength and love with me. I often thank him for all he does for me as a priesthood holder, provider, father to my children, and partner. That list is long and probably endless but I know he knows how much I appreciate all the big and little things that go in to those roles. Lately, I have been thinking about our friendship and how it really is the center of everything WE are. I want him to know how much I appreciate our friendship. I've noticed some couples lately that seem to be partners but are not truly friends. I am so grateful that I have that in my marriage. I am grateful that we didn't start out as friends and then fall in love, but we started out as friends, fell in love and then became even greater friends. Our friendship started 8 years ago and has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love you, babe. Thank you for not only being the love of my life but for also being the best friend I could ever ask for.

Grateful for October...

2010-10-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for October because...

It is the month I first went to church all by myself.

It is the month I met the man who w0uld become the love of my life.

It is the month I reconnected with amazing friends and met new ones.

It is the month that holds many of my childhood memories.

It is the month many of my wonderful family members were born.

It is the month that welcomes cooler weather (usually).

It is the month that brings colors and smells that warm your soul.

It is the month that brings apples and pumpkins.

It is the month that brings the fair.

It the month that brings Fall Break.

It the month that brings amazing talks from the leaders of our church.

It is the month that allows us to be creative.

It is the month that allows our children to pretend and dress up.

It is the month of candy, pumpkins seeds and caramel apples.

It is the month that I was blessed with my beautiful baby girl.

It is the month that my family became complete.

I love October!

Charity Needed Everywhere...

2010-09-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

I loved President Monson's talk at this years Relief Society Broadcast. He spoke a great deal on charity and I wanted to share a part of his talk. Whether you are LDS or not, this applies to all of us as brothers and sisters walking this earth together.

Charity Needed Everywhere

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, “To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is Godlike.”

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down; it is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

—President Thomas S. Monson

Ewww....GROSS!

2010-09-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

Part I:
Emma has recently learned to give kisses. They are usually open mouth and sometimes she sticks her tongue out. Tyler and her were playing on the rug and Emma decided to give Tyler a kiss on the cheek. I thought it was very sweet. It must have been a very wet kiss because as soon as Emma was done Tyler got the most sour look on his face. He then yelled, "Ewwww....GROSS! Mom, wipe it off." He then proceeded to try and wipe off her kiss.

Part II:
Tyler woke up last night and was crying uncontrollably. We tried for five to ten minutes to calm him down, so we could see why he was crying. Finally, John picked him up and got him to stop crying long enough to talk. He told us his stomach hurt. The first step when one of my kids complains of stomach pains is to make them go the restroom to make sure they have an empty bladder. Just as John was about to put Tyler down to do just that....Can you guess? Yep, he starting peeing and soaked both himself and John. I felt so bad, but couldn't help but laugh. Ewwww....GROSS!!!

TODAY I CAN...

2010-09-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

I have many thoughts in my head lately. I wish I had the time to sit and type them all out. They all make sense in my head, but I am having a hard time forming them for a blog post. I hope they all come together soon because I think writing them out would help me. Until then, I came across this poem. It has been one that I have been reading to myself everyday. It is simple but powerful and true.

Today I Can

by Ralph Holt

Today I can complain about my health,

I can celebrate being alive.

Today I can moan that it is raining,

Be joyful at all that grows from rain.

Today I can regret all I don't have,

Rejoice in everything I do.

Today I can mourn everything I lost,

Eagerly anticipate what's to come.

Today I can complain that I have to work,

Celebrate having a job to do.

Today I can resent the mess the kids make,

Give thanks I have a family.

Today I can whine about the housework,

Celebrate having a home.

Today I can cry over the people who don't care for me,

Be happy loving and being loved by those who do.

I CHOOSE TO HAVE A GOOD DAY, TODAY!!!

TODAY, I CAN...

One great success.

2010-08-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Caleb (our eldest son) has a hope. It is a simple hope. He hopes to one day be able to eat food that many children eat on a daily basis. Foods such as ice cream from an ice cream truck. He is not able to eat these foods due to a severe peanut allergy. Although the doctors can not say exactly what will happen if he eats peanuts, by his allergy testing they can predict that the reaction would be severe. A common severe reaction is anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. Caleb is unaware that his allergy may cause death but does know it will make him very sick and would require a shot and trip to the hospital. Being a child, he thinks he should just be able to take a medicine to fix the problem. Unfortunately, there is no medicine or treatment at the time. Caleb wants his hope to be a reality, so he wanted to take steps to make his dream come true. He asked us (his parents) if he could have an ice cream stand and sell peanut safe ice cream and raise money to buy medicine. Since there is no medicine, we explained to him we could raise money and then give it to an organization that was trying to find a treatment. He agreed that was just as good of an idea.

Saturday, August 28Th at 2pm, Caleb's Caleb Cream Stand was open for business. Many family members and friends came to participate. Caleb and his siblings wore Caleb Cream t-shirts made for the occasion. Before taking his place at the stand to hand out ice cream, Caleb asked to give a little speech. He stood before his guests and said, " My name is Caleb. Welcome to Caleb Cream. I have a peanut allergy and lots of foods will make me sick, like peanut butter. Please come to Caleb Cream and come again next time". He wrote his speech all by himself and was very proud to be able to give it in front of his guests. Caleb then got a stool to help him see over the stand. He took the orders and we helped hand them out. The guests were directed to a donation box to put in as much money as they were able to give. Caleb's face lit up as he handed out the ice cream and other items. He was very proud of himself and was happy to have guests to share the occasion with. The various ice cream items included, homemade chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry Caleb cream, Caleb's chipwiches, Caleb's cupcake cones, ice pops and bottled water. The event lasted about two hours. At the end, Caleb stood and thanked his guest for coming. Before the event, we talked with Caleb and together set a goal of raising $100. When Caleb gave his closing speech, he was happy to announce he had raised $150. After that he received $30 more, for a total of $180, almost double his goal. Caleb Cream was a great success and by requests from all the wonderful guests will now be an annual event.

You can make a difference at any age, you just have to put your hope into action. It helps to have support and that we did. Thanks to all who donated items, made some ice cream, served items, cleaned, gave money and supported Caleb's cause. It means A LOT. Not only did you help raise money for charity, but you taught a little boy that hope can go a long way. Thank you. It means more than words can say. Caleb is already planning his next fundraiser. He is also in talks with his dad on having his own website to raise awareness and do further fundraising products. Look for that in the future.

One little boy. One severe allergy. One big hope. One great success.

Finding Strength beyond my own...

2010-08-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

The past weekend was one that tested my strength. The following words echoed in my head all weekend. The line "Finding strength beyond my own" really stood out and I think is the reason I had the strength to make it through the weekend and other difficult times in my life. I have other thoughts on the issue, but don't have time to sit and type them out. Here are the words to the song and I think they say A LOT themselves.

Lord, I Would Follow Thee (the first verse)

Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path thou hast shown,
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own,
Savior, my I learn to love thee - Lord, I would follow thee.

Out of the mouth of babes...

2010-08-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tyler: "Mom, why do some girls have a tummy and some don't."
Me: "Everyone has a tummy. Some people just have a bigger one than others."
Tyler: "Mom, you have things like grandma. You have big bumps on top of your tummy."

School is upon us...

2010-08-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

Caleb starting school is something I have been dreading for a couple of years now. At home he seems so big to me, compared to the other three. He is my helper, the leader of the troop, and so on. When I think of him as a kindergarten student, he seems so small. I am nervous for him, both the excited and anxious kind, as he embarks on a new adventure and begins to find himself as Caleb and not just the big brother. He is smart, outgoing and eager to learn and in that department, I know he will shine. On the other hand, he has ADD and has a difficulty focusing on one thing for a period of time. He also has a loud voice that he has yet to learn to control. If you know his dad, these personality traits should not surprise you. He has only been to school for two days and has already had is color card changed both times. Yesterday, he had to go to time out for talking out loud too many times. I am sure he it is a learning process and I hope he adjust to the new setting and new rules.

Although, the ADD and talking are a concern for me that is not why I have dreaded him starting school so much. I am sure most of you can guess the reason. It is because of his peanut allergy. This is the first time I will not be with him all day and be able to guarantee a 100% safe environment. I trust his teachers and school very much. They are fully aware of his allergy and his teacher has instituted a NO peanuts policy in his class. Students are not allowed to bring peanut butter sandwiches or food products that contain peanuts to school for lunch or snack. This does bring some relief, but there is still some fear in me that a situation can occur. I'm sure with time this fear will ease up. I know it will never go away.

As much as kindergarten is to prepare kids for school and teach them independence, I think it is also to prepare the parents for their kids growing up.

I get to do this all again next year when Tyler starts kindergarten.

Caleb's Caleb Cream Stand!!!!

2010-07-29T16:38:00.001-07:00

Caleb's Caleb Cream Stand

It will be on Saturday, Aug. 28th at 2pm. He will serve vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. He will also be selling ice cream cupcakes, popcicles and water.

If you would like to help, we need:

Bottles of Water
Ice cream makers
People to help make the ice cream
Popcicles

All money raised will go to FAAN. We will be sending out invites soon.

****On a side note... Tyler's birthday is the Friday before. He has chosen to have a kid super hero party on his real b-day. We will do a mini-celebration for him at the Ice Cream Party. If you would like to bring a present, you are welcome to celebrate with us then.

Ice Cream Stand Update...

2010-07-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Due to some things that have come up, we are going to have to postpone the Ice Cream stand. I will post the new day and details soon.

Thank you to all those who are supporting Caleb in this idea and we hope you will still be able to attend.

Caleb's Ice Cream Stand...

2010-07-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Caleb has a severe peanut allergy. What does that mean? It means if he eats even the slightest amount of peanut...say dust from a peanut he can go into anaphylactic shock which can mean fatal results. He is fully aware of his allergy and has accepted that means there are a lot of foods he can't eat. As a commercial for a food he has not eaten before comes on t.v., he often ask if it is a food he can eat or not. Often the answer is NO! Since it is summertime, ice cream trucks seem to drive by our house many times a day. My kids know the sound of the truck and always watch as it drives by. Even though he knows the answer, Caleb always ask if the ice cream truck is safe to get food from yet. I know you are probably thinking, the ice cream truck sells ice cream without peanuts. Yes that is true, but most of the food is still processed in plants that make some type of product with peanuts on it. Ice cream trucks do not have peanut safe products. Today there was a cartoon on that had an ice cream truck on the episode. Caleb asked me if instead of making a lemonade stand like kids do in the summer, if he could make an ice cream stand. He wants to take the money and buy a medicine that would let him eat food with peanuts. My heart broke as he told me this. I told him there wasn't a medicine he could take but there were places that were trying to find one.

So what is a mom to do? We are going to have an ice cream stand and sell homemade ice cream. We will donate all the money to FAAN (food and anaphylaxis network).

Here are the details:

Caleb's Caleb Cream Stand

Fri. July 23rd (time to be determined)

Selling Homemade Ice cream...chocolate, vanilla and strawberry

Bottled Water

Do you want to help?

We need ice cream makers donated to use

We need Helpers to make the ice cream.

Spread the word!

Come and buy Ice Cream!

The Ties that Bind Us...

2010-06-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I finally sat down to watch Avatar. I do not want to go into many details about the movie because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. To me, the movie was about our connections with each other, the world around us and our past. I don't know if those points stood out so strongly to all or just me. The day before the movie, those same thoughts had been on my mind all day. A dear man to our family passed away and that Sat. was his services. Many of my family members gathered to honor him and we all sat close to each other at the funeral. During the services, the emotions were high and we spent a lot of time in tears. Even though it was a hard moment, I felt gratitude to be sharing it surrounded by my family members. Words can't express the connection I felt as we sat there on those benches together, smiling at the happy memories and crying at the sad. I felt as if I could read their thoughts and for that moment, we were all one. As we both grieved and celebrated that special man, I think our hearts also ached for others that have also passed on. On that day, I was grateful that even though my heart was sad, there was joy because of the amazing connection that was being shared between me and those I spent the day with. I remember having a similar feeling after each of my children were born. I felt such a strong connection to those who were in the room with me as they were born. Those who were in the room with me, shared something sacred with me, and we were bonded in that moment. Wow. What amazing sensation to both be felt at a birth and as my aunt calls it a "Home going". There truly our things within in us that connect us, both through our past, our present, and our future. I think it something deeper than being related or than love. Like in the movie, it is something that can't be explained. It is something I am grateful I have been able to feel. I go to church and do have strong faith but my faith in this was not something I feel just because it was taught to me at church. It is through special moments like I described above that confirm to me, there was a before life and there is an after life. There is something that connects us, something that connected before we were born and if we choose, will connect us forever. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the letting the ties that bind us, bind us forever.

My Children's Names...

2010-05-20T13:15:00.001-07:00

A friend did a blog post on the reason behind her children's names and I loved it. It was so neat to read how the names that fit each of her children so perfectly came to be. I just the loved the idea of the post and wanted to share how each of our children's names came to be.

John once shared with me that he once heard that you do not choose your child's name. It was his feeling that it was something you prayed about and then you would be prompted by Heavenly Father what the child's name was to be. That is what we did. Although John did have some rules. The name had to be short, easy to spell and no names they could be either for a girl or a boy. If was a girl, it had to be a girl name and if it was a boy, it had to be a boy name.

Caleb John

Caleb means "Devotion". John means "God Grace".

When John and I first found out we were pregnant, we started thinking of names immediately. I've always been in to names and so I loved having a reason to explore them. John chose Caleb's name though. He told me right after I got pregnant that it was a boy and there was no doubt Caleb was the name. We found out early that we were having a boy. As soon as we seen it was a boy, Caleb was the baby's name. He was called Caleb from that day on.

As a side note... When John's mom was pregnant with John, his dad knew he was a boy and his name would be John.

John is probably pretty self explanatory. It is obviously after his dad. Here is why. John's middle name is Douglas, after his dad. He wanted to carry on that tradition. So just as John's middle name is his father's first name, Caleb's middle name is his father first name. How can you say no to that. I love that Caleb's name has history to it and hopefully he will be able to share that with his son one day.

Tyler William

Tyler means "Tile worker". William means "Determined protector".

We had two names we were tossing around when I was pregnant with him. They were just two names we liked and so we prayed about them looking for some direction. I thought the name Tyler was cute but besides that had no idea why it was in my head. The other name was much stronger and had a better meaning. The ultrasound we found out Tyler was a boy was a very hard one. The reasoning is in a previous post and if you are curious, you can find it. I don't want to go into the details here. During the ultrasound, I had one of the strongest feelings I have ever had and I knew the baby's name was Tyler. I even remember whispering out loud, "His name is Tyler". I have never doubted my choice for a moment.

Since Tyler first name didn't have much meaning, I wanted a middle name that did. It was important to both of us, that each of our children be named after someone. As I mentioned, John was named after his dad. I was named after my aunt, who was named after my Nana's best friend. I loved that my name had a history and was the legacy of woman who obviously left and was leaving a mark on the world. I wanted my children to know they were named after someone special too. We decided that if we had boys, they would all be named after men in John's family. William was John's grandfather's name. He passed away when John was just a child. From what I have heard of him, he was a great man. He was a wonderful father and a very strong priesthood holder. With everything we went through with Tyler, I was very protective of him, even before his was born. I loved the idea that his namesake had already passed to other side. I felt like when we gave him that name, we gave him a special guardian angel. I loved that name meant "determined protector". The other meaning for the name is "Strong-willed warrior". William was the perfect fit for my Tyler.

Side note..William is also John's brother's middle name. Greg is one of Tyler favorite people. They have a special bond and so it is so fitting they share the same name.

Kyle Douglas

Kyle means "Narrow, straight". Douglas meas "Dark river".

For most of the pregnancy with Kyle we had a different name picked out. As you know, Kyle's pregnancy was a surprise to us. I just picked a boy's name and was not really ready to name another. We chose a name we liked but it never really felt right. I had no other name, so we were set to get with the name we had. Then one day, out of the blue, Kyle popped into my head. It was never a name on our name list before and not one I had ever thought about. It was so out of the blue but it came to me very strong. I knew Kyle was to be the name. Since I named Tyler, I told John he could name this baby. I was so shocked about the pregnancy, I think it was easier to have John be in charge of the name. So ,I was really surprised when the name came to me and came very strongly. I think it was God's way of letting me know that this was part of the plan and Kyle was suppose to join our family at that time. I started calling my stomach Kyle right away and a deep, deep bond was created before he was ever born.

Since Caleb was named after John and Tyler was named after his great-grandpa, it was only fitting that Kyle be named after his grandpa. There was never any doubt his middle name would be Douglas. If you know Doug, you know he is a great man. He is very smart and has a great love for the gospel. I have a feeling Kyle may have struggles with faith and I am grateful he will have his grandpa to guide him through.

My boys were all named after three amazing men who hold the priesthood and served missions. I know Heavenly Father had a plan. I was given three boys and they are named after father, grandfather and great-grandfather. I know that we chose their first names by spiritual promptings, but I think God had a plan with their middle names too.

Emma Marie

Emma means "Universal". Marie means "Wished-for child".

Emma had been in my head for a very, very long time. I think we picked out Emma when I was pregnant with Tyler. I never seemed to have to worry about girls names, so we didn't really have a list. When I found out I was pregnant, I had a feeling it was a girl. You see, on my way to my ultrasound to find out what Kyle was, I knew he was a boy. I told John on the way there that it was a boy, but there was a girl to come. You probably think I sound crazy, but I could feel her. I knew she was there. When I got pregnant, I knew it was her. She had waited for her turn and it was here. Emma was the name in my head. During my pregnancy, I had dreams about her and knew exactly what she would look like. Emma fit the baby in my dreams. When she was born, it was her. It was the little girl whose presence I had felt for almost two years and the baby that was in my dreams. She was finally in my arms and Emma was her name. There is no doubt in my mind, her name was chose long before she was twinkle in my eye.

When we decided to give all our boys middle names after the men in John's family, we decided the girls would be named after the woman in my family. Of course, we didn't know it would be 3:1. At first, we couldn't decide if she should have my middle name or be named after my mom. I went back and forth with it for awhile. My mom only had one little girl, me. I will only have only little girl, Emma. After giving it a lot of thought, there was not really two choices. She was to be named after my mom. I love my mom and admire her more than she will ever know. Giving Emma her middle name gave me a chance to honor her. There is something special about sharing a name with someone. I am grateful I was able to name my daughter after such a strong woman. I know they will have a deep bond.

I didn't know at the time that Marie meant "wished-for child". That makes it even more fitting and strengthened my belief that you do not pick your child's name, you simply just give it to them. Someone else picks them and he does a great job. My children's names fit them perfect and I know they will only continue to live up to them.

The Good, the Bad and the Crazy..

2010-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Why that title? Let me explain...

Friday-John took Friday off so we could spend some quality time with the boys. It was their day and we told them we would do what they wanted to do. Of course, they wanted to go and see the new Iron man movie. I thought Kyle was too little but we took him anyway. Iron man is his favorite superhero and he knew we were going to see the movie. John thought since he loves Iron man so much he would sit through the movie. Well, that didn't happen. So I spent an hour walking around a movie theatre with a two year old. My purse was under my seat in the theatre and my cell phone was sitting on our counter at home. I had no phone and no money to do anything. We just walked around and around and around. Every time I tried to go back in to the movie, he would start yelling. Oh, what fun! When the movie was over I was so ready to go. Of course, the second part of the boys day out was lunch at Burger King. Burger King has Iron man happy meals. Before the movie, we told them we would go eat inside Burger King. Kyle was in no mood to eat either. He just stood on the bench and talked as loud as he can. You probably think being 2 he can't be too loud, but if you have ever met Kyle you know when I say loud...I mean LOUD. John tried to deal with him but he is going through a mommy only stage. Whenever John would try to talk to him or sit with him, he would start yelling for me. Lets just say it was one of those days that I was close to tears by the time we got home.

Sat.- For Doug's (John's dad) b-day, he wanted all of the adults in the family to go to the temple and then out to lunch. My mom agreed to babysit and so we were set to go. John took his shower, I took my shower, the kids clothes were set out and the diaper bag was packed. I was walking through the kitchen just as John dropped a juice bottle on the ground. As it hit the ground the lid popped off and I was covered in cranberry juice. I'm sure as you are reading this, it is amusing, but at the moment I did not think so. I was covered in dark red juice. I had to re-take my shower. Needless to say, we did not make it to the temple. We were still able to make it to lunch. We went Claim Jumper and had a good time.

After Friday afternoon and that morning, I was ready for some time out of the house. I went with my sis.-in-law and niece to Jesterz and then to Dairy Queen. Good company, comedy and ice cream....it was a great way to relax. Thanks for going out with me :)

Sun.- The morning was going good and we actually got out of the house on time. It looked like it was going to be a good Sunday. I didn't realize that some alien was going to take over Tyler's body. Tyler is our sweet, calm and quiet child. That was not the case at church. He threw a huge tantrum and I actually had to hold him in my lap. He yelled, screamed and kicked. John finally had to take him outside to calm him down. When we got home, he threw another tantrum. I think it was the worst one he has ever thrown...not that it would be hard since he does not throw many. He yelled and screamed at John and me. He told me to "Shut Up" and then threw a hat at me. He called John "Stupid Dad" and tried to slam the door in his face. It was quite the show.

We made homemade pizzas for dinner. They were super yummy. I had to include that because it was a good part of the day.

When the kids bedtime came, I was so happy. They all went to bed pretty easy and I was very grateful. Then it got to Emma's bedtime and an alien took over her body. She did NOT want to sleep at all. We tried everything and nothing worked. Finally, at about 12:30AM, I got her to sleep. As I was swaying her and felt her body start to relax and her eyes started to close, I felt like I had just finished a marathon. VICTORY! I was so happy to finally see my bed that night. Sleep overcame me quickly.

That was the good, the bad and the crazy parts of our weekend.

Biggest Loser Week #4...

2010-05-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

This week's results:
John lost 1 pound.... .53% of his body weight
I lost one pound. .... .65% of my body weight.

Woohoo...I win Again! I love that I win the weeks we lose the same amount of pounds just because I am smaller than him. :)

Okay, so this last week we did not do so good. I could list excuses as to why but we simple just let a busy life and illness get in the way. We had a very busy week and I am battling a horrible sinus infection and we let that beat us. The beginning of the week we stuck to our diet but as the week progressed we added more and more calories to our meals. We didn't exercise at all. Extra calories and no exercise = poor weight loss. I guess I should be grateful we didn't gain any weight back. I must say it is not the diet or exercise that is hard, it is sticking to it when life is crazy. This week we are working on getting back on track and trying to not let life get us side tracked.

Motherhood...

2010-05-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is this Sunday. It is a very special day for me in so many ways. Six years ago this Sunday, I found out I was pregnant for the very first time. We had been trying to get pregnant for about five months. I know that is not that long, but every time Ms. Flow came my heart sank. As May approached, I fantasised about finding out I was pregnant and what it would be like to tell our Moms as our Mother's Day gift. We even went shopping and bought special grandmother statues to wrap and give to them as our way of saying "We are expecting!". My mom was coming over to have a Mother's Day breakfast with us. That Sat. we went and bought a test and put it up for me to take first thing the next morning. I woke up very early that Sun. morning and headed straight to the bathroom. My heart was pounding and my stomach was full of butterflies. I'm still not sure why, but I closed the bathroom door. John stayed in the bedroom. At first nothing happened and my heart started to ache. I sat there not knowing what to do. Just as I was about to throw the stick away, I noticed two lines appearing. I thought I was seeing things and yelled for John to come and check. He confirmed there was two lines. Wow. There are no words to describe how full my heart was at that moment. It was Mother's Day morning and I was going to be a mom. My mom came over for breakfast. After we ate, I gave her present. She opened it. At first, I don't think she got it and then it hit her and her face had the biggest smile ever. We then went and shared the news with my Nana. That afternoon at church we gave John's mom the same statue and the smile on her face was just as bright as my mom's. It was such a magical day that it still seems like I dreamed it all.

Every Mother's Day since that day, I have either been pregnant or had a new baby. As the number of kids have grown, so has my feelings on Motherhood. I have always loved my mom and after I had Caleb, I loved her even more. Now that I have four, my gratitude for her has grown in leaps and bounds. My mom had four kids. Just like me, she had one girl and three boys. The difference being she had the girl (me) first. Four kids is way more than I could have ever imagined. I had no idea how much work it was. Honestly, I didn't know what it meant to have kids until I had four. For me, it is a whole different world from one, two or three. My days are full and I know they will only become fuller. I am lucky though. I have an amazing husband to help out and she did not have as much support. She was the one who did everything and I don't think I appreciated it as much as I should have. Being split between four people is hard work and she did an outstanding job. I think no matter how much you love your mom, you love her so much more after you become a mom yourself. I think getting to walk in her shoes, gives you a feeling of gratitude you don't expect. I love my mom and am so grateful she taught me how to be a mom.

Mother's Day is here again and this time I have daughter. That brings a whole new meaning to Motherhood for me. It is no longer just about my mom or myself. I am raising a young daughter who will hopefully grow up to become a mother herself. Wow. That is quite a thought. Motherhood means honoring those who taught me, trying to be the best mom I can be, and NOW teaching someone how to become a mom. Again, Wow!

For Mom's and Daughters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PfST5Wa-uE

For All Mom's and Their Children:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG_4cOIBmXM&feature=related

Happy Mother's Day!

Orange Alert!

2010-05-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

My husband is a HUGE Phoenix Suns fan.

In honor of my husband and the Phoenix Suns, our blog is going ORANGE.

GO SUNS!

Biggest Loser Week 3....

2010-05-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

This weeks results:
John lost 1 pound.
I lost 2 pounds.

Woohoo...I win again :P

The two pounds makes me much happier than the 1 pound last week. I may not be dropping the pounds in huge numbers but they are coming off steadily and at a healthy rate. That makes me happy. I can feel change in my body, even though you can't see it yet. I can feel muscles toning and my energy levels increasing and it feels Oh so good.

I do have to admit the weekdays are easy but the weekends are hard to stay on track. Our weekends are usually very busy and full of parties that usually include unhealthy food. I must say we did pretty good at resisting temptation and fitting in a workout. I know as our weekends continue to get busier, it will get harder. For instance, this upcoming weekend we have a graduation celebration and Mother's Day. If I told myself I would be really good, I'd be lying to myself. So I am already planning to let myself indulge a bit and enjoy all the celebration. That means being really strict the beginning of the week and trying to fit in extra workouts to even out the weight loss. Wish me luck :)

I've mentioned some dinners and lunches, so what do we do for breakfast:

We eat yogurt with fresh fruit and sometimes granola, high fiber cereal and 1% milk, wheat bagels with low fat cream cheese or egg white omelets with some type of meat and veggie. Each breakfast ranges from 100 to 300 calories. My breakfast are usually between 150-200 and John's are usually a little higher.

We have a 11 weeks until DEADLINE. Off to another week.... :)

Biggest Loser Week 2...

2010-04-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

This week's results:

John lost 2 pounds.
I lost 1 pound.

Technically, John won this week. If you add my 1 point advantage... I won. :)

One pound...not the best but three pounds in two weeks is pretty good. I'm blaming the one pound on two things.....gaining muscle from exercise and weight lifting and cheating a bit on the weekend. We had two family get togethers this weekend that both included lots of good food and I have to admit I cheated some. I have to work on resisting temptation. The number on the scale is going down though and that is a great thing :)

I have to tell you about some good things that have come out of the diet that I didn't expect. I knew changing how we ate and adding in exercise would make me physically feel stronger but it has also made my family so much stronger. I know it probably sounds corny but it is so true. John and I have a great marriage but for reasons I am not sure, this diet has made it even greater. We are closer than we have ever been and happy beyond words. We talk more, laugh more, cuddle more, etc. I don't know if it is because we are sharing a common interest that doesn't include our family, church or finances, if it is because we are doing something together everyday (exercising and cooking) or because the changes we have made are making us individually happier and we are bringing that to our marriage... or C (all above). Of course, a happy marriage makes for a happier family. The kids are enjoying trying new foods, exercising with each other and mom and dad and so on. It really has been a great change. I had to share because even though it was unexpected outcome from the diet, it is my favorite by far.

Last week I shared some of the meals we ate for dinner. Here is what we eat for lunch:

Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Sandwich thins (it is like a cross between a bun and pita bread), pickle, pretzels.....calories 250

John usually eats pastrami and corned beef. He doubles the meat and adds cheese.....calories about 350.

Some days we eat Subway or have a low calorie soup.

Week # 3...here we come :)

Date Night....

2010-04-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

What makes a great date night? For us, it is anything that does not include our four kids :)
Sometimes we just get a quick bite to eat and run errands with no kids. We have had some of our best conversations on those little dates. Sometimes we get to plan ahead and try to do something new. Most of the time, we go to dinner and a movie. I know it is cliche, but we both really love movies and it has been one of our favorite pass times since we were just friends.

This past Friday, we finally got to go on a much needed date. Not only was it a much needed date but a much needed time out of the house for me. The air in truck has been broke for a couple of weeks and while it was broke I was stuck at home. Driving around with windows rolled down means not being able to breathe for me and my kiddos and it was too hot to travel with them up... So we stayed home. Anyway, I was getting a little stir crazy and was so grateful to have time away. We had subway for dinner (via our diet), went and seen a chick flick ( he owed me as we have been watching A LOT of playoffs and will be seeing Ironman 2 next) and then we went out for frozen yogurt (again via the diet). I know it doesn't sound like the greatest date ever, but it was so nice to just get out and do something as a couple. I think that is what makes a great date... Enjoying your time together when you get it and making the most out of it. When we got home, John turned on Sportscenter and ate some cashews....I think he needed something to counteract the chick flick :). Although taking me to see a chick flick did score him some brownie points. Wink :) Wink :)

A date night may not happen nearly as often as I would like but I am so grateful for the nights they do. Every couple (especially those with kids) needs a date night and if you don't have them with your partner now...I encourage you to do so.

Biggest Loser Week 1...

2010-04-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Here are this week's results.

John lost 2 pounds. That was 1.03% of his body weight.
I lost 2 pounds. That was 1.25% of my body.
I won this week. Woohoo!!! I didn't even have to use my 1 pound advantage.

Two pounds is good but I think I was hoping for a little more. We are adding a new exercise this week, so I am hoping that helps boost the weight loss. We tried it on Sat. to see how it worked and it kicked my butt. I'm still sore today. I'm sure I will be quite sore this week. That is good though. It means it is working and hopefully my body is changing and getting stronger.

Here are some of the dinners we ate this week:

Mon.- Grilled Chicken and Honey Mustard Salad... 350 calories

Tues.- Buffalo Chicken and Cheese Sandwiches... 300 calories (400 with low calorie chips)

Wed. - Mexican Pizzas with lettuce, tomato and salsa... 2 for 350 calories

Thurs.- A.B.C. Salad (avocado, bacon, chicken) with creamy avocado ranch dressing...275 calories

Fri.- Sliders (mini hamburgers) and Chips...2 for 350 calories (450 with chips)

Sat. - Chicken Salad Wraps... 2 for 350 calories

Sun. - Spaghetti (wheat pasta and homemade marina sauce)...400 calories

Dessert- Homemade Angel Food Cupcakes topped with whipped topping and strawberries...75 calories

New Diet Plan...

2010-04-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I posted anything on our diet progress. Honestly, we let life get in the way and stress took over the diet plan. I actually even gained some weight. It is amazing how easy it is to let food become your way to deal with a difficult day. Sweets are my weakness but not my waists best friend. Long nights with a not sleeping baby have also made it easier to have late night snacks. Again not good for the waistline. I know stress is not going to go away and eating is not a way to deal with it. It was nice to indulge a little bit for awhile though... That time has come to an end. Summer is coming and none of my clothes fit. I don't like the size I am so shopping isn't something I want to do. Therefore, if I want to wear clothes I need to lose weight. But even more I feel gross from eating unhealthy food. I love the way fresh healthy food makes me feel and am looking forward to having that feeling back.

I decided I needed something to challenge myself and a target date. We chose John's b-day. Of course, I can't lose all the weight I want to lose by then but I have a goal set for that day. We haven't decided yet but we are going to do something really fun for his b-day. Hopefully, it includes a night with no kids :) So that is my target date... What is my challenge? John and I are playing Biggest Loser Couples Edition. We are competing against each other to lose weight. Since men lose weight easier than woman, I do have a one point advantage each week. For our diet, we both gave ourselves a calorie limit for the day. Mine is about 1000. John's is about 1200-1400. We are eating healthy meals and cut out all the extra sweets. We also decided to try to limit processed foods and so we are making as many foods from scratch as possible. This kids are not a big fan of this but they are getting use to it. It means no more frozen pizzas, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and so on. It means lots of wheat bread, good meats, cheeses, yogurt, fresh fruits and veggies, etc. We decided if there was too many ingredients in the ingredient list to read, it probably isn't worth eating.

If you watch the show you know that it is not just about what you eat but exercising too. Even though it is hard, we have fit exercise into our schedules. John exercises early in the morning. I added exercise to the kids morning routine. I found some kids exercise programs that we do together before lunch time. Then in the evening, we all exercise together for half an hour. Last night we played Wii Sports as a family. It is a competition though so I think we both try to sneak in some extra exercises during the day. What does the winner get besides a spouse with a better body :)? I think the loser has to get the winner a special gift. Let the games begin and the weight disappear :)