For moms...

I ran across this on someones blog and I really liked it.
Sometimes I just need reminded...like everyday.

If I had my child to raise over again,
I 'd finger paint more and point my finger less.
I'd do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more,
I would take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious and seriously play,
I'd run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging, and less tugging
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd build self-sesteem first, and the house later.
I'd teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.

A big Thanks to Misty and to show her wild hair days

Today my friend Misty who also happens to live

next door found out about my busy day today and

offered (no I take that back) demanded that she

was making the 3 dozen cookies Caden needed for

school today that he told me about before bed last

night. Well I thought that was soooo nice of her she

needed a special "Thank You" right here on this blog!

I stole this picture from her blog because the only

picture I had of her are the two below which is

a whole other story: see story below...

When Misty was pregnant with this cute little girl above

Khloe she was very, very sick. and she decided that

to shower and fix her hair was too much of a chore.

Granted she was living in a 5th wheel while they were

building there house. and so she had these hair extensions

put in and I think it was very helpful to her at the time!

So I just thought is would be fun to take her back down

memory lane and see what her hair used to look like.

I think it is worth showing off. She did get many a looks

though and a certain nationality was like right on sistah!

Birthday shout out to Kiff

Today if Kiff's 26th Birthday. He is the baby of the family.

He was born Christopher Jay but later just became Kiff.

Kiff has many hobbies! He loves to be doing anything

outdoors: camping, hiking, snowboarding, etc. He has a

kind heart and loves kids! I know he loves his twin girls

very much. My kids think he's pretty great too! Kamrielle

always gets him to come play with her. This picture was

taken on Kamrielles blessing day. My brother Tim, Kiff,

Kamrielle, and Savannah. Have a great Birthday Kiff!!

Holly turns 30!

Today is Holly's 30th Birthday! We have been

teasing her all day about how old she is. It will

be a fun day for her and some surprises are in

store for her too! Holly is talented in many ways!

She has tons of gold medals from all of her

Special Olympics she competes in every year.

She will compete in swimming later this month.
Holly is a hardworker and loves her job at

Safeway. Anytime I go somewhere with Holly

she always knows everybody and everyone

knows her! Here she is with Aunt Chris, Charla,

and Holly in August. See she knows she's #1.

This is Holly and me on my Birthday in Aug.

I'm glad to have Holly in my family. I'm glad

she likes to come hang out with us too! She is

here right now playing with Kamrielle!

Hope you have a great one!

girls will be girls

Little girls love to play dress up! Atleast

the ones in this neighborhood do. It is an

everyday occurance when they get together.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of

the outfits. I've seen quite the outfits put

together from these two. Well I told them

that I had some dresses from when I was a

little girl (all of my sisters actually). So on

Wednesday they asked if they could put one

of them on? I said sure, pick one. They are a

little big but they did'nt care and just like

a smart girl would do they wore it for a little

while and then traded with eachother and

wore the other one to get two outfits.

So this is Kamrielle and Gracie below.

Kamrielle said to me: "I look like LoraLeigh don't I mom?"
These girls have fun together! Here they all are

together from this summer as princesses.

Notice they have purses and all...

Kamrielle, Kallie, and Gracie

Happy 61st Birthday Dad!

I hope that's ok that I announced how old you are?

Sept. 15th is his day! We had a great weekend

celebrating all the Sept. Birthdays this weekend.

Here is my Dad on Father's day this year.

I hope you have a great Birthday! My dad is a great Dad!

He would do anything for his family and works

very hard and has his whole life!

He loves his grandchildren very much and makes every

effort to be around them as much as he can!

This was taken at Kamrielle's 2nd Birthday.

This was just taken Sat. to celebrate Caden, Gpa,

Camdon, and Kiff's Birthday (minus Kiff in this picture)

Love the shot!

Fun & busy day

The festivities for Caden's Birthday started last night.

We went out to dinner as a family to Mountain Thai.

We had to much going on tonight so we went last night.

He loved it! It was very good. We ordered garlic shrimp

and a cucumber salad for appetizers and then some

dinner entrees too! He liked the shitake mushrooms

(spelling) and then we ordered a couple desserts too!

Mango with sticky rice (Mango's are his favorite) and

Coconut Ice Cream (homemade). Am I making anyone

hungry?? Vinnie and I have been there but this was

where he wanted to go and try and he loved it!

For Breakfast this morning he wanted waffles with

fresh peach sauce and homemade caramel syrup.

Then I made his favorite bars to take to his class and

then I cooked fish tonight for him and made some

brownies for him. We are having a family party

this weekend so hence the brownies! I think he had

a nice day! and even if he did'nt he would tell me

it was great! That's just the kind of kid he is.

He just blew out the candles
Come on take a big bite...
There you go.
Kamrielle really wanted to make it special! She wanted to

sing to him all the time today. It was cute! She sure does

love and look up to her big brother! Carder was already

asleep for the night. He missed out. And then mom

was off to her last city v-ball game at 9. Now tournament

starts. Then it will be co-ed with Vinnie and I both playing.

I'm glad this day has come to end because

it has been a busy one...until tomorrow starts

Today is Caden's 12th B-Day

Caden was born 9-10-96 at 4:04 a.m. He was 6lbs. 11 oz.

I say was because as you can see he fattened up real

nicely. It almost looked as though it hurt or that his head

was about to pop off. This is him at 3 mo. old. around 16 lbs.

He was such a good baby! (My best so far) He decided to

come early as I was not due until the 28th. I was bowling

my best game ever (all spares and strikes) and then my

water broke! (Clean up on lane 7)

Caden was our world for 8 long years! We did everything

together! I think that is why he'd rather hang with the

adults is because that is the way he grew up! He was

pure joy and such a fun cute kid!

He loves watermelon still! but maybe not quite this messy!

I just love this picture of him! He could not get through

swimming lessons without these goggles! Even though

he probably can't see out of them he wore them always!

Here he is on his 5th Birthday! I am so honored to be

his mom! He is an awesome kid! He follows the rules and

always has. So much that he makes sure the rest of us

are too. He is 12 today and will be getting the priesthood

on Sunday. He is so ready and he is becoming a fine

young man! Caden I love you and hope you have a great

Birthday! I'll post the happenings of his day later

and a picture of him today!

I hope they call me on a Mission...

Caden and Kamrielle recieved a call in the mail just like

the real missionaries do to Calgary, Canada! Well but

just for a couple of hours. They were to report to the

airport (the church) at 10:00 a.m. Here they are on

the plane. They got a window seat. See the clouds?

They made it to the Mission Door. Yea Canada!
Here is a group shot of the missionaries with the Mission

President and his wife! It was a great Primary Activity!

One I hope they remember forever and impressed

upon them the importance of Missionary work!

Kamrielle started pre-school

So since we got home so late Monday night from Utah.

I did not get a picture of Kamrielle on Tues. which was

actually her first day of pre-school but...I took these

today and so it was her second day! She is loving it!

She goes every Tues. and Thur. for two hours! My

little girl is growing up. Well she has always been

a little beyond her age 2 going on 12, 3 going on 13,

and now 4 going on 14! I got an order in from

Old Navy this week and one of the shirts I got for her

says "Sweet, Sassy, Sweet" That describes her

pretty well! I love having a girl around the house

though! I'm not the only hormonal one with her.

In other news...Carder is out of our room and

sleeping in his crib. It was not bad at all.

In fact no change. He still wakes up to eat

and I just go in there nurse him and put him

right back in his crib to sleep! It's usually two

to three times a night though. If it could only

be once life would be much better!! But all

my kids have been this way and so I know

no different! I just need to learn to get to bed

earlier. Yes I know this post is late...but this

is when I can get things done! Good-Night!

A visit to Moab

So we headed up to Moab, UT for Labor Day weekend.

Vinnie is from Moab and both his parents lived and

have family there as well. Pandy's family "The Shumways"

had a family reunion there on Sat. It was nice to catch

up with the ones we know and get to know some new

ones as well. When Vinnie and I were first married

we lived in Cedar City while Vinnie went to SUU and

there were two other cousins in the same apt. bldg.

as us who also happened to be newly married...

so it was fun to see them. One couple has five children

and the other couple has twelve yep 12! Can you

believe it?? and the oldest is 14!Phew...I'm glad its

not me! But they are the neatest family and the kids

are so well behaved! Three of them built beautiful

new homes all next to eachother and we had fun

touring them all! We stayed with Grandma Beeman

(Paul's mom). Vinnie is her 1st grandchild and our

children are her only great-grandkids. Its always

fun to stay with Gma Beeman! She spoils my kids

and likes to feed you well!! This is Vinnie with the

kids and Grandma Beeman below.

So both Caden and Kamrielle have there eyes closed

but it is the cutest dang picture of Carder so

I had to post it!

Caden took this pic...out of focus. We had a great time

and it's always hard to leave. Maybe that's why we

did'nt get home till 10 pm Monday night!

Happy 9th Birthday Camdon!!!!

Today is my nephew Camdon's B-day.

He is 9 today! Our whole family would like

to wish him a great day! Camdon is full of

imagination! He is sweet and has a big heart!

This is him this summer when he was

here for Kamrielle's b-day in July.

Playing a game of Risk with all the boys!