Welcome to the Perley Gate!

E 3months

2011-11-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Together

2011-10-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

One evening as I was helping put a horse back in her corral with my husband
I was filled with such completeness. It wasn't the task we were doing it was
that we were doing it together! As we walked back to the house in the moonlight
it felt carefree and romantic to walk hand in hand in such a natural way.
There was no crazy teenage energy bolts or akwardness, just sweet companionship
and loving unity.

A few weeks ago my sweetie and I shared our 11th anniversary.

I am so glad we share a friendship that goes beyond the worldly norm.

I am glad we have common goals that get through the bad days.

I praise my Father in Heaven that he saw fit to bring us together, and

that we can be together forever because of his mighty power.

Don't get me wrong it is not all roses and discouragement has plagued us.

The fact remains that we want to be together and with God

nothing is impossible!

Family my Ultimate Goal!

2011-09-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Something Sweet just for me!

The first few weeks of my new baby girls life I would look at her and feel

I had snuck a treat from heaven. I don't feel so much like I swiped an extra
cookie any more, it has evolved to a joyful feeling that feels more like
sweetness of something added or bestowed. A blessing and I feel so glad
I'm privileged. I am privileged to share a relationship with my husband
and a relationship with each of my 5 children (and if I am lucky more).

all of us at baby E's blessing

Our relationships are so very vital and important!

Without them we wouldn't have much of anything worthwhile.
Think about it, even an idea when shared is better.

So where else would the adversary strike us in our relationships!

"He works to drive a wedge of disharmony between a father and a

mother. He entices children to be disobedient to their parents. He

makes family home evening and family prayer inconvenient. He

suggests family scripture study is impractical. That’s all it takes,

because Satan knows that the surest and most

effective way to disrupt the Lord’s work is to

diminish the effectiveness of the family and

the sanctity of the home.”

(M. Russell Ballard, The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood, March 2006)

When we decided to have our family continue to grow it seemed like
overnight everone was super grouchy and rude to one another. One day
was especially bad and I expressed aloud why is this happening?!
I knew that evil forces were at work to attack my home and divide our
relationships with one another and perhaps even prevent the bringing of
a new angel to our home.

I have been pondering lately. God wants us to create families and
raise children up unto the Lord. Anything that takes us away from that
ultimate goal of family, is not of God. As our Father he loves us and wants
us to feel that same love. That love begins at Home.

Envy, anger, rudeness, even being tired can cause unhappy times.
Tiredness has been getting me very snappish lately and I know it
has caused a loss of spirit and harmony for us. When we are all
together sharing our time and our kindness it brings Happiness.
I want to feel united as a family.

We are a team working together to
return to our heavenly home and be with our Heavenly Father.

GO TEAM GO!!

Meeting our new Angel Baby E!

2011-07-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our family Baby E!
Born June 29th
6 lbs. 13 oz. 19 inches long
We love every bit of you!

Making Noodle Weenie

2011-06-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Noodle Weenie?
My hubby saw it on line and we thought it would so much fun for our kids!

You just take your spaghetti and stick through a portion of hot dog and

then boil like you should for the pasta brand.

baby bump... uh I mean MOUNTAIN!

2011-06-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

(wasn't going to post any of me but then thought that wasn't fair)

At about 34 weeks

Haircuts

2011-06-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Gathered up my kiddies for haircuts.

Some just got trims but others wanted big changes.

Hair cuts are fun aren't they!

On the left are the before shots and the right are the after shots.

Matchy Matchy

2011-06-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

L showing her new doll wearing matching dresses.

Made those dresses with a pattern I came up with.
Lots of fun making up patterns.

L's Little House on the Praire Birthday party

2011-06-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

L had lots of fun at her birthday party. Her Mama had a fun getting it ready too.

We all really enjoyed the games and dressing up like we were from the old days.
You can check out her mama's blog post of it here.

As a very special present she got a doll with her favorite accessories;

Baking supplies and cupcakes! When L grows up she wants to have a cupcake
bakery with sparkly pink cupcakes. She is so determined to do I won't be surprised
when she does it as a grown up.

Her sister M holding up clothes pin dolls we made as an activity.

I have a 2 year old

2011-03-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Can you believe how big he is now?!

School pictures

2011-03-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

took the girls "School Pictures yesterday"
So which picture should I select to send on to the virtual Year book?

Hot Chocolate dance

2010-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

The older girls did a jazz dance routine for the church Christmas Party.
They were really cute!

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-30T20:16:00.000-08:00

imitaion a sincere for of flattery

2010-09-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

I wish I had a picture that showed my kid in action! Especially from the other day!

Well I was curled up in an afghan reading a book on the couch the other day.
When in walks my 18 month old boy. He smiled really big around his pacifier
and looked at me. I looked at him and smiled over my book. Then I watched
him climb up on the opposite couch, pull another afghan with all his might to
cover him. He got just a corner of it up on the couch to go over his lap. Then
he picked up a big book and holding it upside down lay back against the
cushions to "read" just like me.

Wow did I ever get the hugest bolt of LOVE shoot me right then!

He wants to be like me!

My CAREER!

2010-09-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

You've seen those magazines that talk about following

your dreams or bliss into a fabulous Career.

What is my bliss?

I of course want to have that!

What then should be my career?
I think I pondered that allot as a young adult, in my early 20s.

Following your bliss sounds sorta lame like this kind of "Pied Piper"

sorta came along and swept you off and you followed.

Well I think that is where I was wrong! I'm not gonna ever have a magic tune or

potion that makes all my work bliss.

I finally figured it out!

Here is the realization part..... I create my bliss!!!

In everyday moments as I do the most meaningful work I can.

That work is the full time Career of Mothering.

Of course we all have little things we especially love in life.

My sister told me that fresh new school supplies are really blissful for her .

I also love the possibilities of a new length of beautiful fabric.

So I have been looking to make some of my everyday moments have those same

feeling attached to them. One I can already tell you is this....

Wrapping my baby in a towel after a bath and smelling his clean hair.

That is BLISS!

I have been also trying to have a prayer in my heart always so I can make

meaningful connections with my children. Sure I have been teaching them

and spending time with them, but I want some moments in there that pack

a more powerful punch. You know the kinds that help build their sweet

little souls up and give them spiritual growth, that really capture pure love.

“Work at our responsibility as parents as if everything
in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life
does count on it" ~Elder Oaks Ensign Nov. 2007

Just like other jobs give you on the job training. So does this one!

I also recently (August) went to Education Week at BYU-Idaho, sorta

a "business trip" for my fabulous Career in Mothering!

I got all sorts of good ideas and thoughts on how to move forward in

my field of labor.

I was so rejuvenated to really put more thought and attention into my
Mothering Career.

I have been trying to catch ideas from my personal study for FHE lessons
and I am having daily scripture verse quoting (repeat after me... "Behold
how good and how pleasant it is for the [family] to dwell together in unity"
Psalms 133:1) and amazingly my kids are starting to memorize verses!

It's been working. I have noticed moments that as I do what I do I feel
the satisfaction of doing the work I am suppose to do.

"...O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with

all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless

before God at the last day.

Remember faith, virture, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly

kindness, godliness, charity, humility, dilligence.

Ask and ye shall recieve; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Doctrine and Covenants 4:2. 6-7

Happy Home lesson

2010-08-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

I made this coloring page to help in my Sunbeam class
We talked about how we can help make our home a happy one.
By working together and helping.

Remember "when we're helping we're happy"

I used this for a Family night lesson too.
I talked about all the responsibilities of each family member.
Mom-make dinner, wash clothes ....
Dad-work for our lively hood, garden in the yard....
kid-go potty, pick up toys, eat their dinner...
(what ever their various responsibilities are)

Then I ask what would happen if we didn't do those things?
What if Mom didn't make dinner?
.......no dinner

Dad didn't mow our grass?
....tall grass & weeds

or the dishes where never done?
..........big mess, no spoons for breakfast

or the laundry never washed?
.......nothing to wear we start to smell

The responsibilities we have are important to make a happy home
When we all work together we can have a happy house.

I also like to point out that we do these things out of Duty and Love.
If we didn't care why do it? But we do care and so we do these things
even if they aren't fun for us at the time.
But in the end when we stand back and see the happy home
with clean spaces and yummy dinners we feel good about our work.
When we work we are really showing LOVE!

2010-08-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

My L brought this to me and I love it!

It amazes me.

counting my blessings

2010-08-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

one

two

three

four

Wilderness Wild Flowers

2010-07-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Family togetherness!

2010-07-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

It is hard to get all of us to smile or sit still together.

These two are really close!

I like the first one because you can see all of our faces but I really love how we

are all smiling in the second one (minus one covered up face)

Anyone know how to cut and past an entire head/ upper torso?

Just One of those days....

2010-07-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

Woke up to lots of "Mama... Maaahhhh"from my boy.
So I got him up and had to cuddle him and try to get him to drink his milk.
Lately he thinks we give him milk to make him be quiet, so he's sorta
on a milk boycott. I ended up caressing his head and singing to him
to get him to take the milk. Silly boy.

(What does this face say to you?)

Then every second I have to get my little boy out of the hot water he's in

and today that was literal He climbed up into the bathroom sink and
turned hot water onto his toes and didn't like it! (so mommy rescued him)
He also pushed the fan out of his window and mommy had to rescue him again.

To top that my middle girl is telling me she isn't well.
Around noon, she pukes. Joy....
sigh.... She had a rash yesterday I was worried about.
Today only her face rash is really awful looking. The rash has been all over
her torso and arms and face.
She kept asking me to check her temperature, but it only was 99 pr 99.9 so
not too high or anything.

I did lots of laundry and dishes and it didn't seem to

make a dent.
That with my kids not being well...
It was ONE OF THOSE DAYS...

Thankfully my hubby brought home dinner!

big smiles

2010-07-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

My girls at a horseback riding lesson.
Loved the smiles here!
So much I thought I'd try and paint it.
You can see my attempt here.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

2010-07-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Disney fun

2010-07-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun at Disneyland!

What's in your window well?

2010-06-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

We think it was attracted to the baby bunny

that was down there a few days ago and

decided it would be a good snack.

Now it's stuck 4 feet down in our window well.

Any ideas on what to do with him now?

child's drawing

2010-06-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

Saw this and I thought What in the world is this!?
What do you see in this picture?

Do you dare find out?

Post your thoughts on this one...
Then I'll reveal what she told me was in this picture...
but I still don't know why!

M checks out the view by the light house with Uncle L

2010-06-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

M &M Up a tree

2010-06-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

wish she would smile like this all the time
got a lot of attitude this trip

Palos Verdes

2010-06-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

Wedding Trip!

2010-05-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

Motherhood 101

2010-04-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have been learning how to be a mother.
Things I guess I really was naive about but didn't realize until recently.
I naively believed that because I was a woman
being a mother would be second nature for me.
Ha ha ha! Not so much. Just because you have a baby doesn't mean
you always know what to do when that baby is crying.
With the birth of my son and my 4th child, some how
I felt even more that I needed more than my womanhood
to be a true mother. I needed the Armor of God.
Why that took so long to figure out I am not sure.
Perhaps the fact I had a son, a little man, and I will admit
I don't understand men very well and teaching a future
man how to be a honorable man seems daunting.

"The responsibility mothers have today has never required
more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the
world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born
into a world where they "wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).However, mothers need not
fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and
have made covenants with Him, they will have great power
and influence for good on their children.

Who will prepare this righteous generation of sons and
daughters? Latter-day Saint women will do this—women
who know and love the Lord and bear testimony of Him,
women who are strong and immovable and who do not give
up during difficult and discouraging times. We are led by an
inspired prophet of God who has called upon the women
of the Church to "stand strong and immovable for that which
is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord." He has
asked us to "begin in [our] own homes" to teach children
the ways of truth. Latter-day Saint women should be the
very best in the world at upholding, nurturing, and
protecting families ". (Julie B. Beck, Mothers Who Know)

Then my hubby and I talked about how many children we
wanted an we decided to have some more.
Oh boy did the gates open up there! It seemed when we
made that decision everyday was full of contention and
rivalry. I thought how can I be a mother to more when I
clearly can't do it now!
It became clear that I was up against a force that wanted
me to fail. Yep that's right the father of all Lies the one who
always tells you you can't- Satan. He was attacking us. (still is)
That is when I figured it out! That needed the Armor of God.
I needed a Shield of Faith, a Breastplate of Righteousness,
and Sword of Truth! I needed Jesus Christ to direct my mothering!
And you know what as soon as I realized my need
He empowered me! I was immediately emboldened to live my
desires and felt the courage to face the foe and be all that I
could be with HIS help! How truly wonderful is that!
Now don't think that I am now perfect at this job...
not even close. But I have been given strength and I have
received whisperings of direction from the Holy Ghost to
help me. I still get discouraged but then I remind myself that
those thoughts aren't from God. He knows I can be the daughter
he made me to be and he has girded me up so I can do it!
Onward ever Onward!
Sending Love and hope out to all the mothers! God is on our side!
Love D-lyn

My Love Bug!

2010-04-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Macaroni

2010-04-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

livin on a prayer!

2010-04-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

She says we've got to hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot!

Whoa, we're half way there
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it I swear
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer

Okay I heard this song today on the radio and I thought SO true
We are living every day on a prayer and all the other stuff
it doesn't matter because with out each other my hubby my kids
I would be nothing and with each other we are EVERYTHING!!!

Livin' On A Prayer lyrics
Songwriters: Bongiovi, Jon; Sambora, Richard; Child, Desmond;

Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike, he's down on his luck
It's tough, so tough

Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love, mmm, for love

She says we've got to hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot!

Oh, we're half way there
Oh oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Oh oh, livin' on a prayer

Tommy's got his six string in hock
Now he's holding in what he used to make it talk
So tough, mmm, it's tough

Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night, Tommy whispers
"Baby it's okay, someday"

We gotta hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot!

Oh, we're half way there
Oh oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Oh oh, livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer!

We gotta hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got

Whoa, we're half way there
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it I swear
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer

Whoa, we're half way there
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it I swear
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer

Easter day~

2010-04-07T11:55:00.001-07:00

Cousins and The park!

2010-03-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

Happy happy

2010-03-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

Birthday J & W!

We had so much fun!

Come see all the decorations! HERE

On the way home

2010-03-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

My boy fell asleep on the way home from church.
He looked so angelic I has to take his picture.
I just want to kiss those cheeks!

WE have Lift off!

2010-03-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

Flying off to outer space! 3 2 1 Blast off

the girls were playing space ship and it was adorable
had to catch it on film

Warm smiles

2010-03-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I love to sew.
I love old fashioned and vintage children's style clothes,
from light weight fabrics like lawn, batiste, organdy, and voile.
Well in the winter it's too chilly with the snow to wear these.
So I sewed up some warm fleece dresses.

My girls love them. It's like wearing a warm blanket.

They aren't vintage, but they did turn out pretty cute.
Now should I make W a pair of fleece overalls with the
left over fleece?

Cinderella girls

2010-03-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for Cinderella!
She set such a good example for my girls.
Today they asked for wash clothes and a bucket of water
Then they set down singing
"Sing sweet nighting gale, au auh ahahhhh"
And washing little sticky spots off the floor!

Fills my heart with Joy!
.... and I want to kiss those girls!

Don't believe everything you hear!

2010-02-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not kidding TRUE story.

card maker here

Toddling

2010-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

my boy is officially a mountain climber!
we have been putting up barricades
like boxes in front of a door to L's office
but now the little guy climbs on top of the boxes
then falls off and cries... and then is victorious
because he got to the other side
of course he doesn't even climb up
unless he has motivation
like he sees his dad and wants him!

p.s. don't you love his new shoes?

Budding Makeup artista

2010-02-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

Let my Juju decorate me and Lil take a photo shoot

actually the extra eyebrows are from Lil.

Oh and the hair styles they both contributed to clipping in

all the item they could find!

What do you think do I look glamorous? Is is the new me?

They want me to wear this look to the bank and are sad I am washing it off.

Just showing off my baby

2010-02-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

Showin' off his chompers!

2010-02-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

My Boy!

2010-02-16T12:44:00.000-08:00

Merry ValentineChristmas

2010-02-08T16:52:00.001-08:00

The family that could got together for a fabulous time!
We shared lots of stories and memories and we were in
STITCHES
The theme this year was
A Stitch in Time

Mer's family

passing out goodies

me and my babies

the boys

the girls

the girls loved the gifts from Uncle J and Aunt C

I made puppets for the Nieces and Nephews
C is holding some of the Star Wars puppets I made for her family.

Little A is holding an "ugly doll" puppet I made for him.

Little O is eating his puppet

YM was gifted with softie sea creatures

Here S is modeling a shrug I knitted for her.
Since the theme was A Stitch in Time
I knitted or crocheted for my sisters.

We loved seeing everyone and look forward
to more visiting with you all soon...

when I grow up...

2010-01-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

In Kindergarten the other day Lil made a list
of what she wants to be when she grows up
I asked her to pick out one to draw
but she wouldn't she told me confidently she
wanted to do them all!

onthe left is her school and library
she has a little kid to be a mom
in the back on the right is her dentist table with
a pink person on it, a tooth brush with
paste, a water squirting tool and at the foot a
spit sink (very observant)
on the lower right she has a pot(which she wrote pot on)
filled with yummy oatmeal

When I asked the girls to help me make a list
of all the things I am they said
"your a MOM!"
and shouted it with glee
when I asked what else they both looked at me
with raised eyebrows
OKAY being a mom is the best job anyway
though I'd add
fashion designer/ seamstress, hair stylist, artist, cook, teacher

Now if I was only what I wanted to be at age 8
a ballerina.... hee hee hee

10 month cutie

2010-01-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

Little boy is already getting into stuff!
Loves to open cupboards and unload them.
Here he moved all the clothes baskets out and climbed in himself.
Super cute, yet making mama clean up all those previously folded things.

hair Hair HAIR!!!!!

2010-01-14T14:07:00.001-08:00

When I noticed my 3 year old with a few little shorter hairs
I thought at least its just a little bit.
Then I walked into my bathroom and found
this.....

She had taken my hair cutting shears and went to town!
Upon closer inspection the right side of her head had
a new side burn length layer

It's hard to tell int hese photos but it's stubbly above
her ear here

I gave her trim and rounded the layers around her face
but it will just have to grow out

I have it combed over here to hide it the best I can
fortunately her baby fine hair is so fly away it is hard to see it afar.
Beauty treatment...
I was planning to cut my older daughters hair and
figured today was a good day to do her hair too
She had really long hair and was begging me to cut it
so she could have no more hair pulling tangles

She was very proud to hold her pony tail and show off her cut new hair cut.

She's so cute!
she told me
"ya know mom, I still look like Lil and Juju still looks like Juju."
Good to know!

musings of a mama

2010-01-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

being a mama is a big job
Everyone knows this...
Some days when you are picking up the same toy you picked
up 5 seconds ago the same one you picked up a million times today,
or when you see your 3 year old into something she
shouldn't be into like peanut butter up to her elbows, being a mama isn't so fun.

Well I have been pondering mothering lately.
I have always wanted to be a mama. Lately I have these
heart swelling moments. Which I adore especially since
I have suffered post pardum depression with 2 other births.

I still get frustrated for sure, yet the smell of a fresh washed baby,
or seeing a milk induced sleeping boy after nursing can cause my heart to overflow.
When my children show they love me with a smile or a hug,
I get a glimpse of joy in that moment.

Lately I have been pondering how to know how many children to have.
How many little ones should I bring to earth?
I thought about being responsible for a new life
I thought about struggles with post pardum
I thought about my baby now
I thought about expectations
I thought about sleepless nights
temper tantrums, ear infections.
I thought about children of God
grateful to come to earth
I thought of my age and how many
years I have left to have babies.
Angels from heaven to care for and teach
who teach and temper me.
My hubby and I talked and thought together

What does God have in store?
I suppose I will go by what I feel.
and I feel like being a mama some more.

Quiz time which picture of the 4 babes is which baby?

9 months

2010-01-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

2010-01-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

We go to Grandma's house on Christmas Eve.

After our dinner we have a little Nativity Pageant.

Here is a Shepard and her sheep.

The mother and child. (I admit it I was looking forward to this moment all my life!)

Sleepy baby.

Wise person.
After the Nativity, we opened some presents!

Gazing into each others eyes. Soo Cute!!

YM Walks

2009-12-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

My baby is taking steps! He is nearly walking.
I caught a few steps on my camera while we were waiting for his sister to
finish her activity Wednesday at church. He is so very adorable!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-07T18:42:00.001-08:00

Through the Eyes of a child

2009-11-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

We all have a visual picture of ourselves.

I see myself as a pre-kid size and
keep trying to fit pre-kid clothes in my closet LOL.

So the other day the girls are designing Miis on our Wii
So we are making one for me. I'm
thinking long reddish hair, green eyes
dimples, rosy cheeks or freckles
My Mii is lookin' good....

Then I hear "NOoooooo Ma-om
You HAVE to put on GLASSES
and HAVE to PICK the BUN hair
Poof I'm a Old Lady!

There you have it the truth about how I look each day...
I need to stop putting my hair up in those buns
and start wearing my contacts more LOL!

Woah snow!

2009-11-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

Yep it snowed today
and more is coming tomorrow.
It is November after all.
But just two days ago it was 80 degrees
and we went to the Zoo.

Here we all are!
(Poor YM is burried under Juju)

Mickey and a posing seal.

Polar bear fright!

Lil holding her breath under water!
Don'tcha love her hat?

7 month grins

2009-11-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

check out those lashes

I don't know why but he was really making some funny faces that night

huh?

Oh are you cute or what?

wink

whatch out baby girls

eat your heart out

It's witching hour

2009-10-31T19:59:00.001-07:00

Witchy-poo

Princess Peepers

pink Belle
ready for a snowball fight with the Beast
little cow

joining up with vampire, allien, and a waitress
ready to get treatsvampire having a cow
from the "crash down" in Roswell

pretty princess one cute cow

time to go
and time to play at the ward party at the farm

cupcakes

hayride

doughnuts

tunnels
lots of fun!

la la la Lovely Lily

2009-10-18T23:32:00.000-07:00

pulling up pictures and practicing on picasa to see what I can put together
I just love my girls and their smiley faces!

Know when to hold 'em

2009-10-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Today I was rejoicing that my daughter is finally potty trained.
Then I noticed I was singing a song to her in my mind.
"... you gotta know when to hold it
Know when to walk away and
Know when to RUN!"

I started giggling, yep potty training is sorta a gamble.
And she sure does need to know when to RUN!

.............Halfy Birfday!

2009-09-23T18:33:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love this little guy!

~~~~ for time & eternity

2009-09-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Some days we don't remember but others stick in our minds so clear and don't really fade.
The day this picture was taken was one of those days for me. I remember exactly how I felt.
Engagement Photos on the north Fort Collins Bridge over the Poudre river.

Reflecting on the last 9 years I am so glad L proposed to me.

oh........What a day....

2009-09-19T22:12:00.001-07:00

Lets start with a nice bit

our chickens are laying eggs
here are some eggs to compare
a new little brown one a nice size white one

and then a huge double yolk on on the right

Then here are the scary stories

at first glance I didn't know why my kitchen was so warm
came home to find my water warmer a.k.a. teapot

had been left for 13 hours on the stove top with the burner on

the bottom glaze was melting and the inside of the pot was bubbled up and blackened
just really glad my house is still here

Here another scary thing
caught Juju about to step on this fellow

these are post mortem pictures ( L crushed his head)

yep its a rattle snake on the sidewalk in front of our house

This last set of pictures is just exactly why we were outside the morning of the rattle snake...

L found a really big moth

this guy was about the length of his palm
and hiw wings span was wider than his palm

don't know why he didn't fly away

maybe he was too big?
anyway.... we thought he was neat
What an exciting life

mother daughter chat

2009-09-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

today for social studies M and I talked about Urban, and Rural communities
in her text book the urban community was Chicago

I told her I had been there
saw the Sears tower and had dinner with her dad in downtown.

Then I told her that in Chicago her dad had proposed.

It also is our 9th anniversary today.
I asked her, "aren't you glad dad asked to marry me?"

Then she says to me
"now you have 4 kids and its nine years later,
what a success!"

I loved it! She's right we are a success.

sweet baptism

2009-09-14T21:42:00.001-07:00

a mommy Listening in....

2009-08-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

5 year old daughter
"Are you going to behave
with a new baby on the way?"

Yes the 3 year old replies meekly

"Lets go to the doctors and see
the baby's body.
When she is in your tummy
she wears a bathing suit."

Listening in on the play was Hilarious fun today!

Pirate Party Ahoy!

2009-08-25T12:01:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday M!

Pink Pirates Ahoy!

My sister Mer emailed me a picture
of a cool pirate cake so I had to take shot at it!
Turned out pretty good I think.

We named it the Friend ship
M thought of that, pretty clever.

Our Pirate booty bags

Here we have Pirate M with her tough face.

All our friends, thank you you made it so much fun!

some of the fabulous gifts

Congratulations Girl now you are Eight!

Juju comments

2009-08-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Mom why does your pants have strings?"
"Because they are Yoga pants."
"Oh.. dats why der Peach. I love Yogurt pants
Dem are my fav-rit"

July celebration fun

2009-08-05T10:39:00.001-07:00

This face says it all!

one of the fun floats

our littlest observer

Mickey proud to sit by grandpa B

playing in the dirt is so much fun
lets see how dirty we can get!

Ummm... say cheese?
nobody seemed to look up
of the 4 pics dad took the candy always won the attention

tasting our first lollipop

flip flop bop
(a favorite book)

everyting is coming up Roses!

2009-07-31T18:33:00.001-07:00

July 4th FUN

2009-07-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

Started the day with a pancake breakfast and bike parade at the church.

the girls practiced all week riding their bikes

Lilypad even got a new bike so she could pass on her tricycle to her sis.

Pedaling is a lot harder than it looksafter that we headed to the Allred family party
with a 30's theme, we all tried to dress up

Y-m with Uncle J

MicKey in bloomers and pinafore dress sewn by her mom

Lil is wiped out from such a fun filled day
Little A strolling along in his cute suspenders

Lovely Lola setting out the delicious eats

fun table games
(loved all the quilts and sheets used for table coverings)

Tickle tiny toes on Y-m

S.B> smiling in her dress up
I love her blouse!

clothes up on the line
yep our kids played and got dirty

newly weds J & C grilling corn on the cob
super yummy!

taking the little kiddies for a wagon ride
around the mini golf course wow men great work on the mini golf

playing in the grandparents field

the more the merrier, with family, in-laws and friends too!
We love seeing LJ's in-laws and Liberty!
Oooh Pies! Wish we had more pies.
I think I made about half a dozen pies this last week

Uncles K & J help themselves
did I mention the food was fabulous?

Here is a picture of my plate!
Best Pot luck ever!!!!!!!

after all the dinner time rain
a huge and bright Rainbow

Hey the post of gold is filled with our kiddos!

2 months photos

2009-06-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

had lots of pictures of Y-M at 2 months
narrowed it down to 5 favorites and here they are

now which is your favorite?

after bath smiles!

2009-06-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

so cute couldn't resist a picture!

I love that he can smile now
do you see the ghost like dimples he has
they show up for just a tiny moment

Fun in the Sprinkler!

2009-06-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

wave!

water!

dare I do this?

sleepy boy
who's that under the hat?

..........5 things I love about Lilypad!

2009-05-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

she has such a beautiful nature...

loves to love, give love and be loved

she is a lovely singer
singing all day long making up her own songs to fit her mood
or share her feelings or tell us what she knows
she loves when we are all together
she prefers to share her time with someone, Mommy is first choice.
she doesn't like to do things alone or be alone
She is very nurturing...

finding ways to cuddle her baby brother
swaddling her dolly and singing lullabys
she is quick to hop up and sooth the tiniest cry from Y~M

she loves to cook...

she wants to stir or pour and make our meals
she loves cooking shows all types but she does have her favorites too

happy birthday
Lil

bun

2009-05-17T20:56:00.001-07:00

Lilo had McStitch do her hair

Then she wanted a photo shoot and mom to blog it.
Mc took the pictures too.

just cute

2009-05-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

W's blessing day

2009-05-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Proud daddy with his son and Uncle M.

Grandma P. with baby "Y~M"

Sisters loving the brother

He gets lots of kisses.

Great-grandpa A takes W. He tells him he is very blessed and fortunate to come to such a loving home.

Cuddled by auntie T.
She just loved holding him!

Portrait collage

2009-05-05T14:17:00.001-07:00

What a super cute boy I have!
Thanks AuntiCari for the collage picture!

portrait in blessing suit

2009-05-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Sleeping sweetly

so angelic

everyone loved his shoes

don't you think I look like my grandma?

so happy to have our baby boy

Just chillin'

2009-05-04T21:49:00.001-07:00

5 and 1/2 weeks

my angel

Good DEAL

2009-05-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

New vehicle. Now that we have The Brother we needed more seats to get us all from here to there.
Found these couches at a price I couldn't pass up; $270 for the pair!
They have a botanical print. the little flowers are a red color and so I added my red cushion for accent. They are really comfy!

Quote of the Day

2009-04-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

"Happiness is a choice, progress is a way of life, optimism is part of the Faith that will make the red sea open before us. If life were all easy, we wouldn´t need God, and there would never be miracles." from Elder Spencer K. Allred

which one is a real baby?

2009-04-24T16:53:00.001-07:00

The girls are all playing mommy with their dolls and strollers and car seats. They changed play diapers, took babies to be babysat (they switched dolls with each other) and organized a play group. Lilypad even came up to me and commented on being a mother acting like she was one and could empathize with all my troubles, LOL!

Whats with the SOCKS!

2009-04-24T09:29:00.001-07:00

Okay what is with the socks! Today as I was sorting laundry I grabbed a funny shaped sock. I opened it and took out another funny shaped sock with a hair tie keeping it closed. I removed the tie and removed another funny shaped sock with a hair tie on it. Now I was curious to see what was making the funny shape inside this sock. I removed the hair tie and find yes another sock inside with a hair tie on the end keeping it closed. I remove this tie and ta da... a red drinking straw is inside. Now why is the straw in there. Why was it protected inside a sock or rather 4 socks and various elastic hair ties? Is this straw somehow special?
Why when we have so many toys do the girls play with socks?
This has been a perplexing dilemma for me for years. Nearly 5 years, since it is Lil who does the sock stuffing at our house and the knot tying and the blanket manipulating. I think she just prefers textiles. Hmmmm I love textiles so maybe in the end she will horde fabric like her mom.

Angel boy

2009-04-20T10:41:00.001-07:00

Now I am not as good at photography as Lj or Mer, but I tried to do a photo shoot with Y-yum.
We used natural lighting cause they say that is better but I think without a flash it was just blurrier. These two were my favs.

baby... dolls

2009-04-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Y-yum gets to stretch out on the floor.
Mommy looked over to see what the sisters were doing.
So here I am next to a line of dolls. Proof that Lil thinks Y-yum is a dolly.

Easter

2009-04-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

Emptying out the eggs and eating as many candies as fast we can!
Grandma's kids table. So much fun!
We enjoyed seeing Great grandma and grandpa. Don't know how many more Easters we can spend together.
Great grandma pointed out that baby Yumyum was lucky to see Great grandpa on earth.
Great grandpa said W it's a great honor to meet you! I love how they are looking at each other.
Uncle J surprised us. We didn't think he could come out and visit us. We love you Uncle J.

I came out!

2009-03-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

I arrived March 16th at 7lb 9oz. Wow mommy sure was surprised at how big I was.

My sisters adore me!
They all love their brother!

I get lots of attention and lots of love!

Juju says my name kinda like this~ baby Yumyum

Over Heard...

2009-03-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Lil and Juju were playing the other day and I over heard them.
Juju had a toy chicky doll that she was putting under her shirt.
This is my baby and its gonna come out soon, she says.
No it can't come out out yet says her sister Lil.
You gotta have bed rest first.

I about died laughing....

Waiting..... please come out!

2009-03-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

Waiting
Pictures from left to right
37 weeks + 4 days
38 weeks + 3 days
my belly is pretty much holding my baby just like the picture in the office.
Hurray For that! His head is down and he is even turned in a side pose like this office poster example. His fluid levels are doing good too. Now I want to go into labor soon!

Version Results

2009-03-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

Went to the hospital for a Version treatment. Since our boy being breech wasn't moving head down on his own we thought our only option was a C-section. Then the Perinatologist said to give this Version treatment a try. Our amniotic fluid was higher so it was a possibility now for us to give it a go. We went to the hospital and got to see what a delivery room looks like and try it out. We first had an ultra sound to see which way he faced and where his back and bottom where. Then they gave me a drug to relax the muscles of the uterus. After that the doctor had a nurse watch with the ultra sound as she moved him with her hands around to a head down position.
It wasn't exactly comfortable but not anywhere near being like painful labor. Then they looked at him again with the ultra sound to see what he looked like head down.
Then I was monitored for a few hours to make sure his heart rate didn't drop or need to be rescued. He was a really good trooper and kept his head down and heart rate normal.
Now they have me wearing this elastic belt to squeeze him snug. This is in the hope that he will nestle down and prepare to come out! We want his head to engage and start the dialation process so we can have a normal birth.

Thanks Dad for your faithful prayers for this very thing. Mom told me you have dedicated your faith to this very thing. Thanks.

Baby face: update

2009-02-25T10:26:00.001-08:00

Isn't this the most precious baby face you have ever seen?
I love how you can see my boys little cheek and pouty lips!

Well the bed rest is paying off. Yesterday the perinatologist told us he is growing good even though he is still measuring small. Which means he is thriving in his environment. The last few times they measured the fluid levels he has gotten higher amounts as well. Because of both of these things, they aren't afraid to let him stay in there a few more weeks. In fact the perinatologist said I should try for a manual aversion which is where they try to turn the baby from breech to a head down position. So tomorrow I will schedule that.

It is good new to hear he is progressing a growing. I am hopefull that if he can be turned I will be awake for the birth rather than under general sleeping through a c-section.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers I am sure that they helped him.
Now I just get to endure continued bed rest until he comes.

J's Wedding

2009-02-03T23:43:00.000-08:00

L'Amour

Our happy faces at the Denver Temple

Three lovely Flowery girls

I think Mickey is sure beautiful with her hair up in a bun.

Smiles from our Lilypad

Holding still isn't fun is it Juju! Wow check out that big belly on mama!

Everyone one who came for J's side of the family.

Pretty auntie S in her junior bridesmaid dress.

baby face

2009-02-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken yesterday
you can see my boys face or half of it: his forehead and his eye, his nose, his cheek and in the corner you can see a few curled fingers from his fist.

Hair hair now

2009-01-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

GoldieLocks &Giggly grins
We did our hair after our bath today and then felt like "Rock Stars" so we did a photo shoot!
Lil was especially proud of her highlighted locks! She does this crazy eyes look and I can't seem to break her of this habit. I say smile and she automatically makes this weird eyeball thing!
Juju couldn't contain herself so she never really got in focus or sat still. I was lucky to even get these ones of her wiggly face.

If you give a kid Cookie...Blogging Mom story by LJ

2009-01-27T12:55:00.000-08:00

If you give a boy an ice cream sandwich..... he will grow a pirate beard.
If the boy has a cute cookie beard..... mom will ask for the camera.
If you give a mom a camera..... she will try and shoot a cute shot.
If she shoots a cute shot..... she will want to blog it.
If a mom even sits down at the computer (with the intention of it lasting a total of five minutes)..... she will inevitably stay on the computer for hours because she gets carried away!

Gosh, if we didn't have facebook and family blogs I would be a very productive person! LOL! Actually, I have to say I've been a very good girl by not staying on too long!

This story by LJ is so cute and true and I had to share it!

Waves in the Sky

2009-01-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

Did you ever see waves crashing onto the sand?

How about crashing onto the mountains?

We saw this coming home from church the other day.
Cool isn't it! wouldn't want to surf those waves.