I have missed the last couple of weeks of thankful thursdays but that doesn't mean that I am not thankful for so many things:)

This week I am thankful that it is the last week of school. Don't get me wrong I love it when my kids are in school and doing the school thing all year round, but I definitely cherish the time that I get to spend with my kids each day.  I look at them and cannot believe that another school year has flown by and that they are growing up too dang fast.  I feel that if I don't take the time now to cherish every little thing, every little moment, every smile, every frown, then I will forget (and I never want that to happen!)  So I am thankful that I get to spend the HOT, VERY HOT coming summer days with those that mean the most to me, those that make my life worth living and living better.  I am thankful that I was chosen to be the mother of these choice spirits, they really do teach me more than I could ever teach them.  I am thankful that my Heavenly Father trusted me enough to allow me to become a mother.  I hope that I can make everyday in their lives count for something good.  So here's to Karter, Traevn, Brekken, Peyton, and Brynlei!!!!  You make everything sooo much better, thank you for being  you!!!!

Getting wet with the Dummars!!

Last Wednesday (13th) we decided to have one last gathering before the Dummars headed off to Idaho to visit the other half of their family.  The kids wanted to meet up at the Hidden Valley Splashpad.  They had a fun time running around, getting soaked, and playing with their cousins!!! After we were splashed out, we said our goodbyes.  Later, we took Brekken to sleep over with Matthew at Grandma's (these two were very sad that this would be their last night together. )  Thanks Dummars for all the fun in the two weeks you were here.  We are sooo glad that you will be living closer and hope to see you this summer!!!! 

Braves 1st Game of the Season- 5.14.09

Well here we are again at the start of another baseball season.  This year Brekken and Peyton are playing together on the same team for the Braves!!! (I accidently missed the dates for the sign-ups for Karter and Traevn's age bracket, so they weren't too happy with me at all.)  The first game was last Thursday (14th) and the boys played awesome!! They both were able to get big hits each time they were batting.  Peyton (our goofy child) has to run to the base and just before he gets there he does a little dance.  We told him to do the dance after he was safe on base, but we'll see if he grasps that concept.  Brekken was awesome in outfield and with this being his second year, he is ready for the pros!!!  We enjoyed watching their team win and can't wait for many more games in the next two months.  This week we have two games coming up so there will be lots of pics!!!  Thanks to all the Grandmas and Grandpas who come to support the kids in all of their many sports and being their biggest fans!!!  

80th Birthday Celebration

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On Saturday May 9th we headed up to Delta to celebrate Nate's  Grandma Abbott's 80th birthday.  It was a good celebration with family.  We left very early on Saturday morning to get up there by 10 AM.  (just a note, anything before seven is very early with five kids that you have to get ready, fed, and on the road plus get yourself all ready as well.) We got up there and realized that we didn't really need to be there until noon.  So what is one to do in the town of Delta?  Absolutely nothing. :) Luckily, we brought the boys mitts and balls and were able to entertain them with a simple game of catch before the luncheon.  As soon as the luncheon was over, we hurried back home so that I could finish getting my lesson for Sunday ready and so that we could get some groceries before the Sabbath.  It was a  very long day and because the kids were so good traveling their cousins Landon and Matt got to sleepover.  We hope that Grandma had an awesome 80th birthday!!

Nate's Birthday

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Nate turned 32 on May 8th!!! Geez, what an old man, ha ha!!  Nate took the day off to hang out with us.  We went to lunch and shopped.  He couldn't open any of his gifts until Karter, Traevn, and Brekken got out of school.  So as soon as the kiddos got home, Nate opened up his presents.  He scored with gift cards, books, treats, games, outfits, shoes, and money!!! I think by this time Nate was getting a little worn out (you know from being so old) but the kids reminded him that we still needed to eat at Texas Roadhouse!!! As you can see, there are no pictures of Nate and all his manliness posing on the horse! He threatened the kids with all they had to not tell anyone (i.e. the waiter, hostess, etc.) that it was his birthday!! They were bummed but since it was his birthday, they had to oblige.  What a party pooper!! We had a blast celebrating Nate's day with him and hope that he isn't too old to party with us again next year:)

*Still more to come.......

Jumping Jacks

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Okay, so here I am trying to play catch up.  Well Nate's sister Michelle and her family have been in town for the past two weeks.  They are moving back to the United States, YEAH!!!  They have been in Japan (military) for the past few years and now they are back!! Anyway, since they have been in town we have all been trying to play catch up and fit in as many activities as we can.  One day we decided to all meet up at Jumping Jacks and let the children loose!  My kids had never been there so they were soooo excited to go.  Karter and Traevn had school and couldn't join in on all the fun. Bummer!!  So Brekken, Peyton, Brynlei, and cousin Sophie(we babysit her on Wednesdays) joined Aunt Jamie, Emalee, Braden, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Joe, Landon, Matthew, and Ian for an afternoon of fun.  The kids had a blast being with their cousins, playing on all the many slides and jumphouses, riding the merry-go-round,  and just horsing around.  I even attempted to go down a few slides myself, shocking I know, but I can be known to let loose once in awhile:)  Thanks for all the fun and introducing us to a new fun activity.

*lots more to come....

I am organizing all my photos and I promise that I will have some new stuff posted and updated ASAP!!  I am sooooo behind..... 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE/DAD!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

32 Reasons why we {heart}you:

You make us laugh.

You like to wrestle.

Your smile is contagious.

You keep us safe in this crazy world.

You play ball with us.

You teach us new things.

Your sexy!!

You rock at Guitar Hero!!

Your tough.

You have a soft side.

You have the best storytelling voice/accent!!

You let us sing at the top of our voices whenever we drive. 

You let us sing the same song over and over and over again (even if it drives you insane)

You love us unconditionally. 

You love the Gospel.

You let us watch basketball, soccer, football, games with you.

You let us ride on your shoulders. 

You make the best pancakes!!

You let us be crazy. 

You let us totally kick your butt!!

You are there for us when we need you.

You make all the owies go away!!

The way you get your groove on.

You allow yourself to be goofy!!!

You are our hero!!

The boxing matches you have with us.

You play with us!!

You forgive us for our wrong doings!

You support us in everything we do!

You treasure the times we spend together as a family. 

Your hot!!!

The way you let us be ourselves!!

and 

The fact that you are absolutely, positively, the best!!!

    

We hope that your day is the best ever!

(Thanks Jamie for the picture that we stole from you)

Weight issues

Okay so it seems that whenever I have a ton to post I always get behind but when I nothing or little to talk about I end up posting a lot more.  Go figure.  I have so much to catch up on with the kids, family, etc.  but I will get to that later.  So today you get a random posting.  How many of you are Biggest Loser fans?  Okay Nate and me are diehards!!! There is just something about that show that continues to draw us in.  It is so awesome to watch people make such a huge change in their lives for the better.  I guess sometimes I feel like I connect with them more because I have always struggled with my weight.  Growing up with two beautiful, skinny older sisters gave me a complex that I still have a hard time overcoming.  I have always felt like I live my life in their shadows.  Unlike them, I was taller, bigger, and stayed in that awkward kid stage just a little longer than I would have liked.  No matter what I tried, I never could get to that point where I could just accept what was given to me and deal with it.  I have had weight issues my entire life, looking back at some of my childhood pictures I see a girl who was very lost and sad (mostly for reasons other than her weight).  My self-esteem has never really been in the positive but having my children has allowed me to see the bigger picture.  For some reason, even though I have struggled with weight issues, when I was pregnant it didn't really matter. Not that I gained a ton with each pregnancy in fact most times I barely gained the recommended amount but it was always on top of the last five pounds from the previous pregnancy.  After I had my children I knew that in order to be a better mom to my kids I had to become happy.  It's sad that so much of my happiness depends on my weight.  But it wasn't just the weight, I needed to get better for my health physically but more important mentally.  My self-esteem has always been in the negative so it has been a huge struggle to try to overcome that.  I have lost some of the weight and even weigh less than I did in high school but yet mentally it isn't clicking yet.  Why is it that we as women in general find our worth so wrapped up in our weight, etc?  Being called into the Young Womens has helped me to see the struggles that young girls today are faced with.  It has helped me to try to become more accepting of myself.  Having a little girl has changed my perspective more than anything.  I would never want Brynlei to feel like less than beautiful girl that she is.  I know as a mother, I have a lot of growing and learning to do but I made a commitment to myself to never give her(or any of my children) reason to think that they aren't worth anything or even just to have that feeling of worthlessness.  So back to the show, I find the ability these people have to change their lives (physically and mentally) so amazing because you know that this has been a lifelong struggle for them.  I always think, "If they can do it, then maybe so can I."  What I really need is Jillian to come and kick my butt into gear (even though I would probably die in the process)!!  I am sorry for the rambling on but I just felt like getting that off my chest.  Now that it is out there maybe the change I need will come.   I hope that I can let go of that lost girl of my past and embrace what my true worth is someday soon.  And I promise to post all the happenings that have been going on soon.