The sun will come up.....

This is not the best picture but it will work....... I ran across some quotes on another blog the other day and saved them all because I thought they were interesting. As I have thought about what these said I thought I could relate a picture to each one. So here is what my brain came up with..... Yes this is what I love!!! So that is what I do!! Hear me Roar!! I AM MOTHER!!

This was taken many days ago, probably 4 years to be exact and it is still my most favorite picture of this little girl!!

There are times when she finds it hard to be happy with who she is because she thinks she is to tall or too big. She has a hard time seeing the potential she holds!! I see a beautiful young girl who loves her family and friends and has the biggest heart. I also see someone who was sent to be my daughter and best little girl friend!!!

This too was taken a long time ago. This picture makes me think of when he would run around and giggle to his hearts content.

Dawson is rather hard on himself at times and that is very hard to see as a parent. He has great potential to do anything but he lets peoples opinions influence what he thinks. Not in bad ways, but in ways that would hold him back from doing what he loves and accomplishing them. He is a great young man who needs to see what I see which is someone who can accomplish anything he sets out to do no matter what anyone else says!!

This was from Braedon's first year in boys baseball. He looked so big then to me but now looks like just a little guy!!

Braedon has no troubles doing what he loves.....which is baseball, basketball and football. The problem is he runs out of motivation. He is very much a kid who needs to see what is at the end of the tunnel before he will go through. He wants to know what is in this for him, even if it is just a little something. He needs to realize there are lots of hills and bumps but you can't loose focus on the end goal which is to NOT give up. I have seen glimpses of it, so I know it is in there somewhere but trying to get him to see it is the hard part. So I guess he will just have to try and remember to keep trying!!!

Being a mom is the hardest and most rewarding thing there is in the world. There are days when I think I want to throw in the towel and walk away. Other days I can't imagine my life without them. All I know for sure is that no matter how frustrating a day can be they go to sleep at the end of it and there is a new beginning tomorrow when the sun comes up. Ready for a new chance to teach them, love them, laugh with them or become a better parent!!!

Catch up....

What a month this has been already... First my cousin got married in Salt Lake and we all went down for the festivities!! It was a blast. I think it was the funnest wedding I have ever been to, or maybe it was just because all of my awesome family was there!!! Either way it was so much fun my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing! My Uncle Brad and Megan doing their Daddy/ Daughter dance!! It was priceless!!

One of the very few pictures of all us in our 'nice' clothes.

My mom, Aunt LaRae, Aunt Tammy and Taelor. Love these girls!!

More family- Aunt Jennifer, LaRae, Tammy, mom, Grandma and Uncle Brad.

Then we had a week of normal stuff before we jetted off to St. George and Mesquite for a baseball tournament. It was alot of fun. I only wish we hadn't brought the chilly weather with us. One day was nice in about the mid 70's and the rest was cloudy and chilly!!! But the boys played well and had a great time......

and THEY WON!!! Whoo hoo!! Go Sun Devils!!!

13 and shiny!!

It is so hard for me to believe that on February 23 this boy or..... young man is now a (gulp) teenager. I feel so cliche when I say "I rememeber when..." But it is true. Life has a way of going by way to fast. Before you know it your a mother of a teenager!!! Braedon is a good kid (stay the way!!) who loves his family....most of the time. He stills likes being with me and hanging out which I like too!! He is always being "Braedon" as we call it, but whether he is teasing, or being goofy he is our Braedon and we love him!! We can't imagine our family without you!! Happy Birthday!! Showing his manliness!! Grrr!

We love to watch you 'do your thing' whether that is baseball, football or basketball. We have and always will be your biggest supporters!!

I love when my kids get along!!! They are so fun to watch play together!!

Showin off his killer smile!!

A little tender moment with the brother and sister....ahhh!

This is him at one of his many goofy moments. My kids love to shove blankets in their clothes and try to see how big they can get!! I think mission accomplished!!

He has had many bike crashes, sports injuries, falling mishaps, basketball hoops being slammed down on himself after a good slam dunk but never a black eye. So it seems it took 13 years and some messing around with his cousin to fix the problem of saying' Never a black eye.' Funny thing is after all the things that have happened to him he got this by running into a wall. Poor kid!! But now he can't say he never had one!!! We love you buddy!!

Feeling some love....

Taelor has a friend named Tenley who has a brain tumor. She and I have been wanting to do something special for her and finally decided on a pamper party. So together with the help of a few other moms we put together this party. It was a surprise for Tenley so when she came over she had no idea what she was doing at our house. I explained to her that there would be some girls coming over to do hair and nails. She was very happy!!! The smile right then and there made it all worth my time and effort. She is such a sweet little girl with an adorbale personality!! I hope she felt all our love and continues to feel it as she goes through chemo!! We love you Tenley!! Fancy nails!! Oh la la!!

The pros doing the nails. Thanks girls!

Taelor getting her hair done being goofy like always!!

Tenley and her pretty mom Kim!! Had to write that Kim!!!! ;0)

My pretty girl

She had her first dance recital Thursday night. She was very nervous but fought through it and came out and dances her little heart out. She was worried she would forget some parts but she did great and from what I saw she didn't mess up to me!! She loves getting all fancied up in outfits and makeup so this was a day she had been counting down for. She has a vibrant personality and it was a fun proud moment to watch her do what she loves!!

11 years....

Dawson turned 11 years old yesterday. It is so hard to believe that he is already 11!!! He is such a joy to our family. He is a very thoughtful, kind boy who loves his family!!! We are so glad he is part of our family and we feel very lucky!!! Dawson diggin into his Strawberry Shortcake!! It was so good!!!

Everyone is testing each others flexibility!! It was pretty funny!! We had a good time and Dawson was a happy boy!!

December 2010 in pictures

This has been a busy end of the year for us. Not many pics taken but this is what I got. I put the pictures in the wrong order. So the go from Christmas and then to the beginning of December!! Oh well!! I hope you had a great Christmas with your family. I know we did!! We got lots of new games for the Wii and PS3!! Wipeout was a Christmas day favorite!!

Dawson, Mary Ann, Taelor and my dad telling stories on the Love Sac. We got this big boy from my in laws for Christmas!! It is a beast, and a comfy one at that!!

My dad and Dawson doing one of many puzzles together!!

Braedon scratching his lottery tickets from his stocking!! His winnings didn't pay out to good though.... but he is a little richer!!

Taelor in ALOT of new clothes!! She put this whole outfit on and said, " I don't care if I don't match, I like it!!" The kid loves clothes!!

Dawson got a dart board for Christmas along with many other things. He said he got everything he wanted!!

Taking in a ping pong game!!

My dad came to visit from Wisconsin and bought the kids a ping pong table for Christmas!! They are getting really good at it too!!

So this is our little bitty Christmas tree!!! We were supposed to go cut one down but I had a terrible pain in my side and got to go to the clinic and have a CT scan instead. So my mother in law came and took the kids to the local tree stand and got stubby instead. It was a perfect size for them!!

Dawson carving it out!!

Braedon giving his best shot at sled-boarding in the front yard on a huge hill of snow!!

Taelor trying her hand at sled- snowboarding in the backyard on a kid made hill.

Shane and Taelor making sugar cookies. Boys did too they were just out of the picture!!!

Kids playing in the snow storm we had before Thanksgiving. They had a blast!!