I love Christmas!!!

It seems that December always brings feelings of giving to others, love and comfort. Thanksgiving Day my husband Damon got out the christmas lights and tree. We had a great lunch with family then drove home to decorate our home. The kids all love decorating the tree and seeing all their ornaments from past years. It's been a tradition for the grandparents to get a new ornament for the grandkids every year. They love this! I think this year us parents are going to take over and start doing this tradition within our own immediate families. Britton is mainly potty trained as long as we keep asking him about #2. It sure seems like he is growing up fast. Mase is really missing school. Hopefully I'll be able to get him in a Montessouri for next year or semester. He needs it! He is doing much better at church and at home. We all love Mase. Sydnee just told me that she recieved a 100% on her 70 phonogram test - How AWESOME!!! She is also worried about Mase not being in school and told me that she would be his teacher and help him at home. She sure loves him! Layton is doing great - having straight A's in his classes and he just recieved his WOLF rank and a collecting belt loop in cub scouts. Kristy let me borrow her hand bells for our Christmas program in church and the kids all are addicted to them. We love it! I'm 2 weeks away from finishing my semester of school and am still maintaining A's in all my classes - Yeah!!! The next two weeks are going to be crazy study times though. Damon is still hanging in there, going to work everyday and doing so much for our family. I really appreciate all his love and support. He never seems to complain. (even though he has cause) I'm truly grateful for my family and all the blessings my Heavenly Father gives me and my family.

reflections

• I just LOVE conference weekends, especially when I actually get to hear some of it.
• I love this weather - the wind and 80 degree temps are awesome!
• My family rocks!
• Dr. Pepper rocks!
• When you don't study during the week school seems harder - duh!
• Having evergy is something to cherish.
• Kids are awesome and have the most amazing imaginations!
• I REALLY dislike Holmes Elementary School and most of the staff.
• I'm so glad that everyone has their own individual gifts and talents to share.
• I'm extremely thankful for great friends and family.
• I love movies - they also rock!
• Cinnamon Roll sundays rock!
• I'm glad families can be forever!

Another day...

Okay, I need a vacation!!! Layton is doing great in school, is getting straight A's and is loving the cub scouts. He recently found a game on my computer that he loves about ninja penguins. He is working towards getting a membership to the game. We're working together on being positive and looking for the good in others. He is really growing up fast. Sydnee is doing great on her math and spelling. She gets O's everyday for her behavior in class and is so good about loving others. We're working on her phonograms and not whining but being very respectful and polite to ALL adults and kids. She also wants to get a membership for the penguin game. Mase is now at Holmes Elementary with Mrs. Devenport as his teacher. She seems to be good for him and his behavior. He is a GREAT colorer and loves to sing and dance. He has an appointment at the Melmed center next Tuesday. Let's hope we find out what we can do to help him succeed. He is a wonderful, loving boy who is filled with wonder at learning and enjoying life and nature. Britton is adventurous! He really enjoys playing with his friend Jake and going to Amy Jones' house while I go to school. Recently, the older kids have been telling him to repeat something and he does REALLY loudly and they all laugh. He loves the atttention and being in the lime-light. He also has a soft side that loves being on or near me {especially when we have mornings alone.} He loves to dance to music and LOVES bugs - all kinds! Damon is still working for Clay. Every week it's unknown how busy they will be the next, but Heavenly Father is taking care of our family by continuing to allow them job opportunities just to keep the company going. I'm so thankful to have a husband that loves me and our family and is always willing to do his part in supporting and building our family. He really Loves us! I am now knee-deep in school and loving it! I love learning new things, but not only that, I also love knowing I'm smart and have infinite abilities. School is such an upper and gives me such confidance. I also know that without such great friends like Chalice, Anne, Amy and my parents I would never be able to accomplish all that I do. I am sooo thankful to them and for their willingness to help out. I love them all and would do anything for them as well.

uh, ohhhh!!!

Okay, the kids have been going to school for a week and a half already. Our sweet Mase is NOT happy! He is really struggling in kindergarten. I've had to be there close to half the time to make sure he is behaving. He's already been sent to the principal! She called me in and had me in tears over his behavior. I've been trying to get some kind of help for him for years. Finally, I was told by friends who know that I needed to have him tested by a school psycologist. I asked for that and the principal did not want that. She was almost resistant to it {wouldn't give me his name or phone number}. Through great friends and family we were able to track him down and today he had 4 different people call on Mase's behalf. Mom went in to see the principal the same day I had and pretty much let her know we expect results and help for Mase. I'm so grateful for all the love and support that our family has been given during this time. We have an appointment at the MELMED Center to have him tested for autism, ADD or ADHD. Hopefully, the doctors will be able to accurately diagnose him and we can get him the help he needs. We love him so! So, everybody.......THANKS for everything!!!

I just LOVE firsts...

Wow, it's already the first day of school. Layton, Sydnee and Mase are sooooooooo excited to finally be going back. Layton is beginning 2nd grade at Franklin and his teacher is Ms. Rother. We heard she is great and really loves her kids! Sydnee is starting 1st grade and she got Layton's old teacher Mrs. Benson as her teacher. I really like her as well. Mase is in KINDERGARTEN!!! He is going to AM kindergarten at Franklin and his teacher is Mrs. Stradling. She seems so patient and kind. I'm sure he's going to have a great year. So, it's just going to be Britton and I at home. I still get to keep him at home with me for another 2 years. yeah!! Isn't Mase so handsome! He had a little drama in the beginning. Mase saw some of his friends from church {Ethan and David} and just followed them to class.......too bad they have a different teacher. After that misadventure everything else went well.

Syndee is so Adorable! As we were waiting for the kids to come home from school, another mother asked me if my daughter was the one with the polka-dot ribbons in her hair. I said "yes" and she said "she is such a cutie!" Sydnee had a great first day and already earned 3coins of pirate money. She only needs 2 more to get a prize from the treasure chest. Way to go, Sydnee!

Layton is so Awesome! Layton actually saw Sydnee at recess for a minute {but of course didn't say hi} - how fun! They are doing testing the first week.....so no fun there, but he got to go to the Library which was fun. Not only can 2nd graders choose books from the whole library, but they can check out, not one, but two books at a time.

After the kids were safely in school, Chalice and I decided to take Jake and Britton out for fun. We went to McDonalds and just let the kids run and play. At first they were sliding down themselves, then they decided their cars would like to have a turn. All in all it was a great day! Finally, we have started to potty train Britton. He's only made it to the toilet once but we're still hopeful!

Gentle humor

Recently my son Layton was baptized. We talked a little bit before the baptism about having the Holy Ghost and that if he listened to the spirit it could help him make good choices in his life. So, the day after the baptism I asked him "How do you like having the Holy Ghost in your life?" and he said, "We'll, I haven't heard anything yet!"

Just Because

I just have to tell you that I have the best sister in the world! I'm not watching kids anymore so our finances are pretty lean right now. Somehow my sweet sister Amy found out and showed up at my house today with a bag full of brand new clothes from JC Penneys for my kids so they would have some fun new stuff for the school year. You should have seen me, my eyes welled up with tears at her thoughtfulness and I just have to say that God does answer prayers. I am so eternally grateful for the best friends and family a person could ask for.

Here we are at Crackers for Kristy's (?) birthday.

me, kristy, amy and mom

Feel the Love

In the last few days my sweet friend Chalice has been helping me start this blog, among other things. {She's my computer guru} I keep calling her at odd times throughout each day to ask yet another silly question. Thank goodness for her and her patience and caring.

My kids are getting summer fever and are arguing with each other and friends. What to do! My 3 yr old Britton thinks he's big stuff and will say, "I'm going to beat your butt!" and stuff. I won't even allow my older kids to say stuff like that. I guess it's either soap in the mouth or hot sauce time! Every morning around 9:30 or 10:00, Layton and Syndee's friends Aaliyah, Chenneill, Boy and Damian call to come over and play. Layton and Sydnee are never finished with their work so it's either wait til later or help them clean. {I like the 'help them clean' myself} Mase is my indepedant player and is pretty self sufficient until someone bothers him or something. Thank goodness for my Mase.

We've been trying this last week as a family to each night : Brush teeth, take a bath, read scriptures, have family prayer and then get them in bed {their own beds} with personal prayers and hugs and kisses by 9:00pm. Each night it gets better and last night we would've made it if Layton and Mase would've stayed in bed. We'll keep trying cause this is GREAT!!! Damon loves to have our bed child-free so he can watch his wrestling programs on tv.

Last but not least I'm re-enrolling at MCC for the fall semester, majoring in nursing. I will have a full load taking bio181, chem130, eng102 and maybe bowling. {I know bowling isn't hard but I only need 1 more credit to be full time and don't want a class where you have to study a lot.} So..........if I don't respond to friends and family in a timely manner you'll know why. Plus, all of you will probably be helping by either proof reading papers, helping to organize my thoughts on things or studying for tests. Hope to hear from all of you soon! If you see Damon with the kids without me you'll know why. Give him encouragement cause I'm sure he'll need it. Thank goodness for Damon and his willingness to take a larger role in our family or I wouldn't be able to return to school.

Nothin Better than CABIN fun!!!

This summer we got to go to the cabin and just relax. I love to see the kiddos playing in the dirt, helping Dad making camp fires and overall having a blast with family, friends and nature. Aunt Mildred and Uncle Eddie bought each of the kids their own chicks which they named and got to see and feed each day. Grandpa even brought Penny up a couple weekends which made all the kids cheer.....they love that dog soooooo much, especially Britton. He wouldn't leave her alone. Dee let us borrow a small quad. In the first weekend Sydnee and friend flipped it twice and broke the steering. Luckily Grandpa is awesome at fixing everything and welded it good as new. (or better) After that it was quad heaven. The kids would ride on the track behind the cabin. It seemed that everytime Damon would go somewhere far it would start raining really hard. He and the kids got soaked more than once. I just love the Ranch!!!

Phoenix Childrens Museum

We got a culture pass at the library and took the kids to the children's museum. This is the greatest place to take them and stay all day, but watch out if you have more than one child and they split up. Boy are you in trouble!!! Parents are expected to keep all of the children in the same room all day, I M P O S S I B L E! (It is really fun though, as long as you don't get caught.)

science center

This summer we purchased a membership to the Arizona Science Center. It has been so much fun for our family and friends. The theme has been "Lego Castles" and the kids just LOVE that, but my favorite is the change in weather show that has the wind, rain, earthquakes and heat. It is so exciting! Layton invited his friend Boy(Rodrigo) and Sydnee invited Aaliyah one trip. Another trip we were joined with the Leaman's and Ortin's. The most recent trip we took Rachel and Shawna Romney who helped with the kids. they were great! What a great thing to do during the summer!!!!!

Starting out. . .

So I'm starting a blog--check it out!