Ashley's 12th Birthday

Today is my wonderful daughter Ashley's 12th birthday. I can't believe she's already 12. It was just yesterday she was placed in my arms, after being in labor with her all day. Now she is starting a new stage in her life as a young woman. That brings tears to my eyes. Here are some pics. from throughout her lif. Hope you have a great birthday my baby!

LOVE YOU ASHLEY!!!

Devin advances

Last week on 10-1-08, Devin advanced to life. He is now working his way towards getting his eagle. We are so proud of all he does. It take a lot of work!


He's getting ready to put my pin on me.

Not a great picture. The photographer wasn't familiar with my camera. It's the only picture I have of us together that night. You get the point.
He's taller than me still and I'm wearing my heels.

My addiction

I know I havn't been keeping up on my blogging. Sorry! I've found something that I've become addicted to. Facebook. I can't seem to pull myself away from it. My computer is constantly calling me. I've had fun reconnecting with old friends, and keeping up with the new. Like I needed another distraction in my life! :D

Our family is doing well. We are in full swing with school, and all that comes with it. Bruce started back to school last week. He has 1 year left until he gets his B.A., that is, if all goes well. He seems to be enjoying his classes so far. His brain is in overload with all that he is trying to juggle. Work, school, scout master, dad, husband, and football coach. He's a great man! That's why I married him. Luckily we have our morning rides together, otherwise I'd never see him.

I took some pictures while on one of our morning rides, to share some of the beauty I get to enjoy. Hope all enjoy them as much as I do. The pics. aren't the best quality, but they get the point across.

Bruce's birthday!

Yesterday, September 22, was my sweet husbands birthday. I won't post his age, in fear he'll put bugs in my food or something! :} Of course being a Monday, he had to go to work, but he did come home and we were able to have lunch together. Nothing super exciting! I did make him his favorite dinner. Chicken enchiladas, and we had his favorite dessert, banana cream pie. Yummy! Thier were a couple kinks in his day that sucked, but all in all I think he had a good day. He's the best!! Happy birthday sweetie.

September 22 is also the Autumnal Equinox. My father in law called my and told me to try and stand an egg on its end. Normally you can't do this, but because the sun is directly over the equator, you can actually make an egg stand on its end. I took some pictures to prove it.

Pretty cool ha?!! One of my eggs are still standing. I'm waiting to find out how long this equinox lasts.

First game of the season

In case you're wondering where Devin is, he is #36. This was his first real game. He didn't have his best game though. He was dealing with an injury that happened earlier in the week at practice. His injury was worse after a hit he recieved in the 3rd quarter. He was in so much pain, but wanted so badly to be out on the field helping his team.

His team, the Eagles was doing pretty good, considering all the penalties they got, until the 2nd half of the 3rd quarter. The teams were tied 6-6, and then all of the sudden, they started getting killed. The final score was 23-6. Ouch! Devin plays on the offense in a couple different positions, and on the defense, and the kick off team, and the punt return team. The boy doesn't get much of a break. He loves to play. I'm kinda hoping he doesn't play this week, because they're going in to downtown Oakland on Friday, and I want him to live to see his 16th birthday next year. I'm not sure I want to go and watch.

Here they are getting ready for the kick off. Dev. is 3rd man in from the far side.

Devin is being seen by a sports Dr. so hopefully we'll get him back to normal in no time. He really enjoyed getting his back adjusted, and laying down with heat on his back, and the deep tissue massage he got on his neck and shoulders. He almost fell asleep. I should've gotten a picture of that.

Devin is on the other side of 34 trying to hold him back. Go Devin!

Devin got to come out for a little break finally. Few!! Hangin' with his buddies.

1st Day of School

Payson's first day of school was on Tuesday the 2nd of September. He is growing up so fast. He is having fun playing blocks with his friend Brandon, who is also our neighbor. They had no problem being left to play together. Payson is having a lot of fun so far, as of his second day. He loves to dress up in the fireman outfits they have at the school. I'll have to get a picture of him in it one of these days.




What a handsome little guy he is. Gotta love that sweet little face.
The rest of the gang started school today, the 3rd of September. Devin was excited as ever, and the girls were a little anxious.
Devin started his day at 5 a.m when I woke him up to get ready for seminary. Actually, when I went in to wake him up, he had already been awake for about 5 minutes. While we were down in the kitchen, me cleaning up and him eating, Ashley came strolling down the stairs at about 5:25. I think she was a little excited! I was then off to take Devin to seminary at about 5:45. When I got home at about 6:05, I got ready to go on a bike ride with Bruce. Before I left, Celeste came down stairs. So off I went, to go try and work my butt off! Yes I'm crazy!!:D So I left the girls to get themselves ready for school. Bruce and I were gone for about an hour, and road a little over 8 miles. Ruff for me, but Bruce said his heart rate wasn't even elevated at all. What a brat. So we got home a little after 7 and by that time Lizzy was up and getting ready for school. It was one crazy morning for sure. Trying to get 3 girls ready for school in the morning is hard work. Boys are much easier!!!!!!! Especially

when they're 15. Bruce took Ashley to school at about 7:35, and I took Celeste and Lizzy at about 8:15. At 8:45, it was just me and Payson. I took Payson and our neighbor Brandon to school at 12:30, and then drove back to the elementary school to pick up Lizzy and Celeste at 1:15(early day for them.) After I got them we went to the mall to return some school clothes that didn't work out, and exchange some items. I treated Lizzy and Celeste to some Cold Stone ice cream. Very yummy on a hot day! After we were don there we went to pick up Payson at 3:15, and then Ashley from her friends house, and then HOME! Few! I still need to pick Devin up from football practice around 5 or 6. I think I'm suppose to make dinner somewhere in there too. I'm ready for BED! So, that was our day in a nut shell. Can't wait to do it again tomorrow, minus the mall, but possibly some other errands. Ahhhhh...what a wonderful life. I'm just afraid I'm gonna forget someone at some point in time. My brain is way on overload. 1 day down, and I don't want to think of how many more I have to go. We'll just have to take it 1 day at a time.

"Look mom, no training wheels!"

Today was a big day for Lizzy. She taught herself how to ride her bike without trainging wheels. Yeah!!!!! That's a big thing for a 6 year old. If she had to wait for me to teach her, she'd be an old lady. Haha!!! She taught herself in about 10-15 minutes. She rocks!! She was so proud of herself, and had so much fun speeding around. She was turning beautifully all by herslef. She thought she was so skilled that she decided she could wave and ride her bike at the same time. Didn't go over so well. She kinda fell down. Luckily she didn't get hurt! She needed a little help from me getting up, and then she was off with both hands on the handlebars at all time.

After Lizzy had been riding around for awhile with our neighbors, her friend Collin said he wanted to try and ride his bike without his traing wheels too. Nothin' like a girl doing something first to get a guy motivated. lol!! So, I took his wheels off, traing wheels that is, and in about 15-20minutes he was off. He and Lizzy had lots of fun together. Now they feel like big kids.

Now I need to get Payson a bike so he can teach himself too.

The Big 15

DEVIN'S BIRTHDAY

Today was my oldest baby's birthday. That's right, the big 15. WOW!!! Time sure does go by fast. It was just yesterday I was holding my baby boy in my arms. Now I couldn't if I tried. He's a little too big now. He's grown up to be such a wonderful young man. I love to watch him grow. Eventhough it's happening a little too fast.
Devin and I went out to lunch together at Applebees. It was nice to visit with him. We had to eat fast because I needed to hurry and make it to Ashley's maze days at the junior high to get all the things done for 7th grade. Yes, she's in 7th grade this year. I had fun with her, running around crazy going to all of the different stations we needed to visit. It was nice to get a visit in with her one on one.
I came home at about 2:30p.m. to pick up Devin and take him to football practice. After dropping him off I came home to pick up my kids from my neighbor Sondra, who watched them for me almost all day, but ended up taking Ashley with my to costco instead. I love you Sondra!! Thanks for all of your help. She also had taken my 3 youngest to Ardenwood farms in the morning to meet up with some of our other friends. What a saint! After I returned from Costco, I had Sondra send my kids and hers over to play for a little while so she could get a little relaxation time in for herself. That was the least I could do for all she did for me. I made dinner for my youngest 4 and was off at about 6:50p.m to go to a parents meeting for football. After that was over, Devin and I rushed home so he could eat dinner, shower, have cake and ice cream with our family, open his presents, and then run off to go bowling until 12:00a.m with some of his friends. So, here I am trying to stay awake while I wait for him to get home.
All in all it was a great day. I got to do a little more running around than I did this time 15 years ago.
Devin was happy because he finally got a new cell phone. He's been asking for one for a long time now. He was very surprised.
Happy Birthday Devin.

Utah adventure

I guess it's been some time since my last post. Been busy with summer! I was going so strong at first too. I'll try and do better.
I got back from Utah on Sunday, after being there 6 days all by myself. I went there to be a support to a brother of mine who was trying to get custody of his 5 kids, but things didn't go his way. It was hard to see him go though that.
After all of that, I got to spend time with some of my other siblings. I stayed with my oldest brother A.J. and his wonderful wife Shelly. Thanks guys for such great hopitality!!! They always pamper me. I got to go shopping with Shelly, get a manicure and pedicure, and play lots of games with her, my niece Felicia, and A.J. I went to the Salt Lake Temple with my oldest sister Leigha, and out to lunch after. We had a nice visit. I went out to my brother Jared's house to see his new addition to his house and visit with he and his wife Pam, and I got to go four wheeling at night with them. On Saturday I got to go tubing down the Provo river with A.J., Shelly, Leigha and her husband Wade. It was a lot of fun, and very beautiful. I got a couple owiees on my arm from paddeling with my flip flops to keep me away from the sides of the river. Now my arms are all scabbed up on the inside of my elbows. It was worth it though. I got to eat out a lot too.
I had so much fun not having to do my normal mothering, cleaning, and cooking. I need to do that more often!! :D We shall see about that.
My kids were well taken care of. Bruce stayed home on Wednesday to be with the kids. My parents flew back in from Utah Wed. night and took the youngest 3 to stay with them until Friday afternoon. Ashley and Devin went to stay with the Westover family, who are in our ward and have a daughter that is 1 day younger than Ashley, and a son that is a couple years younger than Devin, until Friday. On Saturday Bruce took the kids to have some fun at Quarry Lakes for the day, and then came home and made them a yummy dinner. They always have fun when I'm not home.
It is good to be home with all of my babies and my honey!! I did miss them, eventhough I had a nice time. Now I'm back to reality. Cleaning house, cooking, and running the kids around. Now I'm getting ready for the kids to go back to school. I am not looking forward to getting up early. 4:50a.m comes way to quickly!!! I'll enjoy my sleeping in time while it lasts!! :0

Out of the mouth of Babes

So this morning I was saying goodbye to Bruce and Payson came to the door with me. Bruce said to Payson "what's in your mouth?" payson said "nothing", bruce "what's in your hand" puase........payson"the key to Ashley's diarhea." Way to start out my morning. How funny is that. I got a good kick out of it.

I also had a friend of mine come over with her 3 kids. We havn't seen eachother in about 2 years. It was fun to visit with her. Devin and her oldest son are 2 weeks apart and have been friends since birth. She also has a daughter that is 2 weeks older than Ashley, and her youngest is a year older than Lizzy. My friend Rachel and I left all the kids at my house and headed off to the mall for some girl time. It was fun! It's nice to catch up with old friends. We've been friends since 1st grade.

I wasn't very productive with house work today. I'm sure it'll be there for me tommorow!! Darn it! I'm still waiting for the day when things stay clean after you do them. Maybe not in this lifetime. I guess I'll just keep workin' my little fingers to the bone.

Birthday Bash

So I'm done with Celeste's birthday now. We had her friends over tonight to have cake and ice cream, open presents, watch a movie(College Road Trip),eat lots of goodies, paint nails, and I staightend one of the girls hair. Again... I'm slackin' on the picture thing. Luckily Ashley took some of Celeste opening her presents. I usually get a picture of all that attend the birthday party, but missed it this time! Dang it! My mind is going, going....ah heck, it's gone. So my poor middle child will never believe that I actually gave her birthday parties. :{ Whatever will I do. Maybe one of these years I'll get it right. My poor Celeste. I'm glad she puts up with me! She had a lot of fun having some girl time. Until the next birthday next month. I'm beat!! I think I'm gonna go and get some much needed sleep. I have a meeting bright and early, on a Saturday morning. Who came up with such torture anyway?! :0 Ahhhhh!!!! Nighty night.

Celeste's 10th Birthday

So today was Celeste's birthday. I feel like a loser mom though. I was gone most of the day trying to take care of some issues I had with an old car of ours that we gave away, but came around to haunt me, and cost me a lot of money. So I got that taken care of and then went shopping at costco to get a birthday cake, and other things. I came home and unloaded my groceries and then had to jump in the car again with all the kids and take Devin to football practice. Then I came home and put dinner in the oven. Bruce got home and I was off again to pick up one of Celeste's birthday presents and run by luckys to pick up a couple more things for her birthday. Then Celeste and Ashley were off to an Achievement day activity.
They got to go to a concert in the park here in Fremont. They didn't get home until 9:30p.m. Then we had cake and ice cream, and she opened her presents. She thought she was all done, and then Bruce came out of the office riding on a bike that looked a little small for him, and Payson said" hey daddy, why are you riding your bike in the house?) then Celeste noticed it, and didn't get that it was for her right away. When she realized it was hers she was so excited. Bruce was my camera man, but set the camera down while he rode the bike in, so we didn't get the surprised look on her face. It was priceless! I didn't feel like such a bad mom after all. She gets to have her friend party tomorrow night. That should be fun too! Celeste loves birthdays more than anything. She talks about it forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So that about sums it up. She is such a wonderful daughter. She is a big help to me when it comes to cleaning!! She loves babies and trying to help others. I love her very much. Happy Birthday Celeste. One more double digit child. I feel sooooooooooooo....old!