The Collins Clan

Go Forth with Faith

2012-02-13T15:00:00.006-07:00

To give you a true picture of why this Hymn touched me the way it did yesterday morning I need to give a bit of background.
Jeron had a meeting in the morning. No big deal, this happens two Sundays a month. In fact, those are usually the weeks we don't have problems getting to church on time. We are going at 9am now, and need to be there at 8:20 so the boys can set up chairs and Jaxon can help get the sacrament ready. We have been doing this pretty successfully so far! I started getting the kids up (reminding the boys that if they wanted breakfast it was now or never!) and I got in the shower. I was a little more then half way through my shower when I heard an argument start in the kitchen. I knew there was nothing I could do about it right then, I had a choice to make. #1) I could listen to them argue and let it make me tense and upset and ruin my whole day, or #2) I could relax and use the time to figure out how to help my kids. Shockingly I chose #2!
It meant taking a minute or two with each of them as we finished getting ready for church, but it didn't really take us any longer and because I stayed calm I didn't drive the spirit away from our Sunday. And because I didn't drive the spirit away to begin with I was able to receive some inspiration! See, fighting and contention has been a REAL problem at our house lately. It is something Jeron and I have been praying a lot about. As I was talking to one of the "fighters" the answer hit me! A lot of the problems have been centered around this particular child and so they get to give the Family Home Evening lesson on helping our family! I'm hoping the lesson will help them all see it's not a bad thing to go out of our way to help other people and that it really does need to start at home.
Okay, I'm sure by now you are thinking, "A bit of background? What does this have to do with the song?"
Well, like I said, fighting and contention has been a big problem lately. It really seems to be sucking the spirit right out of all of us, mom and dad included. I knew I had been struggling with this. I knew my family was suffering for it. And then the other day I was talking to my sister-in-law and I realized even though I have my dream job of being a mom, other people couldn't tell. It wasn't that she said anything. It was nothing like that. It was more one of those tangents your brain takes. (Please someone out there understand what I'm talking about!=) Anyway, it made me realize that if I wanted things to change around my home I needed to lead out. My family needs to know they are the most important thing in this world to me. I want us to be together forever.
Now, how it all ties into the song! Thanks for hanging in there! =)

Go Forth with Faith

Energetically

Go forth with faith to tell the world

Of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Bear witness he is God's own Son;
Proclaim his wondrous word.

Go forth with hope and courage strong

To spread the word abroad

That people of all nations
Are children of our God.

With three boys and Jaxon being 15 , missions are something that are at the forefront of my mind. To make sure my boys, the girls too, are prepared to go out into the world and share the wonderful message of the gospel.

Go forth with love to tell the world

The joy of families

What better way for me to tell the world of the joy of families then for it to show in everything I do?

That we may be with those we love

Thru all eternity.

Not going to be much fun to be with my family for eternity if we aren't happy, and don't love each other, right?!

Go forth to serve and do your best

With no though of reward;

I do have to say, this is something my kids do really well. We are just trying to get them to figure out that chores are service, just at home!

Then you shall know the boundless joy

Of serving Christ, the Lord.

I love "boundless joy". What better way can you think of describing what we can have through our Savior? The things we are offered through the gospel and the atonement of our Savior. There is so much joy and peace offered to us. The amazing thing is all we have to do is reach out and take hold. I just wish I could remember to do it better!

Go forth with pow'r to tell the world

The gospel is restored,

That all may gain eternal life

Thru Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Go forth to preach his glorious truths

Of peace, of joy, and love,

That all who heed his holy word

May praise the Lord above.

Our Ward and Stake have really been emphasizing member missionary work. The gospel has such a wonderful and amazing message. I wish I did better about sharing it. I'm sure there are people out there I could/should have shared more with. I can think of one I KNOW I should have. Not that it is ever too late. I can share with those I come in contact with in the future and I can always go back and share with others.

I hope to do better at many things this coming year. I hope to be a better blogger! (Don't hold your breath haha!) I hope to be a better wife, mother and daughter. I hope to do better at taking care of myself through exercise and better eating. I hope to be a better friend. I hope to do better with my scriptures and prayers. But most of all I hope to be a better disciple of my Savior.

Thinking Isn't Doing

2012-02-09T21:44:00.003-07:00

I have been thinking about the blog a lot as of late. But you wouldn't know that because I haven't posted anything! Every Sunday I think about a song to post about and then don't do anything. I should be posting about school and my kids but there really hasn't been much besides the normal every day humdrum. (Although I do owe you a post about Porter and the broken hand! I forgot that I had not done that! Sorry!) But mostly I think I have been in some kind of funk. To be honest, I guess you could say I have been struggling. I have felt frustrated and very irritable. You should feel really bad for my family!
I'm not sure why I feel the need to confess all of this to whoever may read this. (Not that anyone will! It has been so long since I posted I probably don't have any followers left! =) It may be that I got on and started looking at how many posts all of you have been doing and I started to feel really guilty! I have always loved journals and family history etc. And all of a sudden it hit me just how much I have dropped the ball in this area lately, and how unfair this is to my kids. I hope to do better this year. I'm not making any promises, mind you! But I am trying! =)

Blanding

2011-09-08T22:41:00.009-06:00

My brother, Taylor, and his wife had their first baby this summer! She is sooo... cute and we love her sooo.... much! The only problem is they live 5 hours away in Blanding. We hate that they are so far away from us and that we don't get to see them more often. We thought we were going to have to wait for her baby blessing to get to see her but my brother got a job promotion and they were coming to Salt Lake every week for a few weeks not long after she was born! So we were able to see her when she was just a couple of weeks old instead of almost 2 months! Yeah! But silly me I didn't get any pictures, when they came to visit or when we went to Blanding for the baby blessing! But take my word, she is adorable!

They blessed her Sunday August the 28th. We left about 5am Saturday morning to put as much time between the drives as we could. So we had some time on Saturday to kill. My mom and dad know one of the Dosi couples at the Bluff Fort Visitor Center so they thought it might be kind of fun to go down there for a little bit. Our motel had a pool so the kids had a hard time understanding why we were going to visit Bluff when we could just go to the pool. Once we got down there and they started looking around we had a hard time getting them to leave! We heard over and over again, "We have to come back here!"

First they dressed the girls up in pioneer garb. Then we watched a short movie about the pioneers who settled Bluff. For those of you who don't know it was settled by the group that came through the Hole in the Rock. The story is amazing! For more about the story click here.
They gave the boys a few things to fit the time period and then we got to go out side and take pictures!

I always pictured covered wagons much bigger then this.

Can you imagine what it would have been like for me to move my whole family across the country in this thing?!

This wagon is one of the wagons to actually come through the Hole in the Rock!
Can you believe it?!

My kids in front of the wagon that came through.

The girls were more then willing to keep posing for pictures! And I was more then willing to keep snapping them! I was amazed at this place and want to go back when we can spend more time.

They have handcarts that you can pull around the grounds if you would like. We didn't take the time while we were there, but it was fun to watch the kids think about how we would make that work as a family too!

Connor ready to take off on his own trek across the country!

Porter is a little less ready!
(I will take another post to explain the broken hand!)

The girls are more then ready!
They thought this was all very exciting!

Our stake is doing a trek next year for Youth Conference.
Jaxon is getting a head start!

We had a nice afternoon in Bluff and almost all we talked about on our way back to Blanding was going back!

We had a nice little trip to Blanding and we are so glad we were able to go and share that wonderful experience with The Harrison's!

Memorial Day 2011

2011-09-08T22:11:00.004-06:00

Last year on Memorial Day weekend we went to Idaho for a Family Reunion. We did a mini tour of Southern Idaho! One of the stops that we made was Shoshone Falls. Soon after we lost my Grandma and then just 3 months after that we lost my Grandpa. I made a decision that I wanted to take my family back every year on Memorial Day weekend. We were starting a new family tradition! I cannot express enough my gratitude to my husband for supporting me in this! He went above and beyond to make this happen for me.

First we stopped at my grandparents house. I was amazed at how much this meant to my kids. The pictures in front of the house were their idea.

This trip we also went to the "Twin Falls" I think it is ironic that one of the falls that a whole city is named after hasn't been a "falls" for like forever!

Makes for a good picture though!

This is a picture of the Shoshone Falls 2011

This is a picture of the Shoshone Falls 2010

2011

I thought the falls were impressive last year! Holy Cow! But with more water comes more people! We sat in our car in line for 20 minutes. It took us FOREVER to find a parking space. But it was sooo... worth it!

I am so grateful for the example of my grandparents. For all the things they taught me. But mostly I am grateful for all the time they spent with me. I know they are watching over me the same way they always have.

Emma's Preschool Graduation

2011-09-08T20:47:00.002-06:00

Following in her brother's footsteps Emma went to Jr. Jag Preschool at West Jordan High. I love this program and I love that all of the kids have done it. I love watching all of the kids and teachers get so attached to each other. I love that a huge production is made of graduation.

Emma (and everyone else) making sure their glasses are on straight!

Emma and daddy coming back with her diploma!

Emma and Miss Amber!

Emma and Miss Nohemi

Emma and her friend Kylie

Emma and Miss Kris!

We LOVE Miss Kris!

She runs the preschool and has been informed she has to stay for at least 3 more years to make sure she is there when Maycie goes!

Snail

2011-09-08T20:44:00.002-06:00

I went out to the suburban one day and found this HUGE snail on it! I know we are way past when I should have shared this, I just couldn't be the only one to see so it made it to blog post!
The weird part was I went out later and it was just gone! And was never seen again!

Spring Dance Recital 2011!

2011-09-08T20:14:00.002-06:00

Emma had her second Dance Recital in May! She did a wonderful job (again)! She loves getting to be up on the stage (shocking, I know!).

We have loved Skippy getting to be her dance teacher.

Computer Issues!

2011-09-08T20:11:00.002-06:00

Our computer was working this summer, just not very well. It made it hard to have on for more then a few minutes at a time. That in turn made it hard to do anything but the bare minimum. But we seem to be back up and running like normal again so I am going to try and get caught up! I know I have said this before but here we go any way! =)

Camping in Zion!

2011-07-13T18:30:00.007-06:00

We have some friends who go camping in Zion National Park almost every spring. This year they invited us to go with them. Jeron and the kids had never been and I hadn't been since I was a teenager. We were all very excited to take the Suburban out on a trial run and even more excited when we were able to get everything in like we wanted!

We had a great time and did a lot of hiking. The kids all did great, even Maycie! She would do most of the first half of a hike and then I got to carry her down while she slept! (I am not kidding!)

Emma had a blast!

And as I said Maycie had GREAT naps on my back!

I was sooo... wishing we had brought the back pack we have for her!

She really did well with all of it though and insisted on doing as much of the hike as she could! And really was a happy camper!

The boys all had a blast climbing everything in sight!

Even lifting a rock or two...

or just showing off some muscles!

All the kids got along really well.

The girls had fun playing in the sand at the end of a hike.

Connor loved skipping rocks across the river.

Spring time is a time of new beginnings.
That means caterpillars. A LOT of them!

I am not joking when I say A LOT of them!
They were every place. You couldn't walk without stepping on them. When you took your shoes off outside the tent they climbed in and took over your shoes!
We were throwing caterpillars out of the car window all the way home!
We even found a few dead ones on camp chairs after we got home!

All of those big clumps you see in the trees are clumps of caterpillars!

The scenery was amazing!

I hope we go again...soon!

I feel very grateful for this wonderful land my Father in Heaven has given me to enjoy!

For the wonderful family he has given me to enjoy it with!

And the good friends who let us tag along on their wonderful trip!

A Midsummer Night's Dream

2011-07-13T18:18:00.003-06:00

In 6th Grade the kids get the opportunity to do a play by Shakespeare. This year Connor's class got to do A Midsummer Night's Dream. Connor was very excited about it and his teacher could not say enough nice things about how he did!

He had a lot of fun and I really enjoy getting to go to things like this. I did have my extra one, or as I like to call her "my #6"! that day. Connor was worried that I wouldn't be able to go because of it. Like a little thing like that could stop me! HA! It was eventful but fine! And well worth my time! They all did a wonderful job!

Pinewood Derby 2011!

2011-07-13T18:11:00.004-06:00

We had our LAST Pinewood Derby this year! Could you feel my joy and excitement?! Sorry! But I do have to admit that this has been a source of stress to me every time my boys have done it. It just has!

Porter did really well this year and came in 4th place over all!
I couldn't be there because it was at the same time as Mutual so I did a little bit of running back and forth.

Porter was very excited and had a great time telling me all about it!

4th Grade Recorders!

2011-07-13T18:07:00.003-06:00

In 4th Grade my kids have learned to play the recorder. And then the end of the year program includes the recorders. It is always a fun and entertaining program!

Puppet Shows and Big Brothers

2011-06-20T21:26:00.007-06:00

Disclaimer: I need you all to remember I am doing these blog entries from memory and how naughty we all know that is! So please forgive me if I do not remember exact dates because I don't! =)

Emma came to me one day with a problem. She was putting on a puppet show for her stuffed animals and baby dolls. Only Pooh Bear was much too tired to watch the puppet show. He wanted to watch so very badly but just could not get himself to set up!

Well, we just couldn't have poor Pooh Bear miss the puppet show so I went into the living room to see what I could do to help.
I found that Emma had neatly lined everyone up so that they would all have a wonderful view of her show. I had no idea she had been doing this and I had to stop short at the sight. It was just too cute for words!

She tried stacking books for her stage. But they just wouldn't hold up. They kept falling over on her.

Big Brother Connor to the rescue! He very graciously volunteered to be the stage. He turned out to be just right! The things this young man would do for his sisters!

We finally figured out a way to keep poor Pooh Bear upright so he could enjoy the show with all of his friends. You might notice she also made every one a seat from books as well! It so nice to know she is putting all the books we have to good use!

She had a wonderful time putting on the puppet show and did a few different versions!

Even took a bow or two...

or more!

It was so much fun watching her do this. I love getting to watch Emma use that wonderful imagination of hers!

Fathers Day 2011

2011-06-19T22:14:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure what time it was this morning that I woke up. It took me a minute to realize what had woke me. As I lay there a moment to get my brain working I heard Maycie talking to her daddy. I heard her explaining that she could not get back to her snugly (a blanket that she sleeps with) and her bed. She was not calm about it, in fact she was quite upset. I don't know that anyone else would have been able to understand her, but daddy did. Daddy understood her perfectly.
I almost jumped up to help her. After all it was Fathers Day. Then I stopped. Jeron's side of the bed is closest to the door but most of the time Maycie will still come around to my side of the bed. There was something in Jeron's voice that I could tell it was one of those mornings he was more then happy to get up with her and help her back to bed. Yes, it was Fathers Day. But I know that Jeron loves being a dad more then anything. And I knew he knows things like this are what it means to be a dad! He chooses his work schedule to go in early in the morning so he can be home in the evening for practices, games and family time. He has started getting up at 5am to exercise and read his scriptures so he doesn't take away from family time to do those things. He sacrifices so much for us, and it is what he lives for!
I am grateful for him and the wonderful father he is for our children. The example he sets for all of us! I am grateful for the good example he had growing up in his own father. And that good example that Grandpa Tom still sets for us today. I am grateful for the example of my own father. That he taught me in a way so that I knew what to look for in an eternal companion. Someone just like my dad. A man who respected and upheld his priesthood. A man who loved his family more then himself and would work crazy long hours to support his family if that is what it takes. A man who would love my family as his own and expect me to do the same with his. A man who would teach his children to put the Lord first in all they do.
I am grateful for all of the fathers and father figures in bot Jeron and my life, who have taught us and helped us become better children of God. Thank You, more then words can say! We love you!

Called To Repentance

2011-06-19T22:05:00.002-06:00

"A diary is almost worthless unless written daily. We Cannot journalize correctly from memory."

Joseph F. Smith

We got "Life Lessons From Fathers of Faith" for both my dad and Jeron's dad for Fathers Day. I should have gotten a copy for Jeron too! (So I still had a copy!) I was thumbing through it last night reading a few of the stories. It is fun because it is the kind of book you can do that with! As I did so I was called to repentance! I have not been doing so hot (as you all know!) with my blog. I have many many entries running around my head that I am now going to have to do from memory. And as was so eloquently stated by President Joseph F. Smith that just doesn't cut it! I am, however, going to take the approach that it is better then not doing it at all! And from this point forward (I know you have heard all this before) I am going to do better! =)

So I will be adding "blogging" to my list of things to do each day. Maybe then I will actually make the time to sit down and journalize correctly! So hold on tight you are about to have blog over load from The Collins Clan!

My Cute Girls!

2011-04-06T15:58:00.003-06:00

The other day we were getting ready to run some errands and was not feeling like "doing" hair! I thought about it and the girls hadn't worn hats in some time so it seemed the perfect opportunity to do so! And then they looked so cute I had to take a couple of pictures! I ended up handing out 3 cards that day! (Thanks mostly to my wonderful husband, who wouldn't let people get two words out before he had told them that I had made then and did, in fact sell them! He is so cute!)

Emma has on the "Lace and Scallops" hat and Maycie has on the "Newsboy"

Aren't they just adorable?!

And I wonder why my children are in no way shape or form humble! =)

Potty Training Rewards!

2011-04-06T15:31:00.004-06:00

Before Maycie started potty training she got very interested in Emma and my earings. So I told her she could get her ears pierced when she went on the big girl potty all the time. I knew she was really ready when one Sunday we were over at Jeron's parents house and she started pointing at a barbie doll and saying pee pee and poo poo and pointing to the correct places and then pointing to the Barbie's ears. It took me a minute but I finally got that she was telling Grandma that when she went pee pee and poo poo she could get earings! It actually took her a little while after she was potty trained to want the earings again. But the beginning of March she was all for it! She did really well. She cried for a minute. The best part though was for about the next day or so when you would ask her where her Minnie's were (she got Minnie Mouse studs!) she would point to her ears and say owwiee! After that though she would point to her ear and stick her hip out in the cutest way! I kept telling her we needed to take pictures of her earings, and wouldn't you know it, she just would not let me forget! One Sunday after church she reminded me and we got these pictures!

She is a real poser!

This picture didn't turn out the best but her smile was so cute I just had to put it in!

She turned one way and then the other so I could make sure to get both sides!

And she just knows she is the cute!

Job Update!

2011-04-06T14:44:00.004-06:00

I should have done this blog post awhile ago! Jeron will be starting a permanent position on May 2nd at Wells Fargo! We have felt all of your prayers through this time. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts! The job is going to be good for him. He is excited about it. The hardest part now is waiting! As of May he will no longer have to work on Saturday's! (Yippee) He will get a raise and there is an opportunity for good bonuses every month! And we will have insurance as of June 1! We feel really good about the things that are happening for our family and again we thank you! We have truly felt your love and prayers as we have faced this.

Our New Addition!

2011-04-06T14:07:00.004-06:00

Yes, we have added a new addition to our family! We are very excited about this and have been waiting and wanting it for some time now! And this weekend it finally happened!

We bought a Suburban!

It is beautiful and everything we were wanting to find!

All the fun features (even if the DVD player is super small!) we wanted and even some extras!

Just the right year and millage.

But most of all it was the right one at the right time!

Some of you may remember a post I did last year about one we almost bought. We thought it was right, but it just wasn't. It was a little older then we wanted to go and had more miles, but... It had this and that, but...

I think we knew it wasn't really right the moment we drove it off the lot! I felt more peace giving it back then I did having it!

This time we drove it a couple of times. Talked to the dealer a couple of times. But most of all we went home and prayed about it, a lot! Jeron and I both felt a lot of peace. Not that it was going to work out for sure, more that the right thing for us would work out. If it wasn't this one it would be another one. When they called and told me that the payment had come even lower then we asked for I knew it was right! It was still more then a little nerve racking! We hadn't bought a car in more then 7 years! And that time we had to because the other van had been totaled!

I am very excited about our new addition! It is fun that it has all the bells and whistles! But it is even more fun thinking about all the places we are going to take it! All the things that we will be able to do with it! The memories and fun stories I hope my children have to share when they are older. I hope it does for them what "Big Blue" did for me as a kid!

Hymns From The Heart: I Know That My Redeemer Lives

2011-04-02T19:36:00.002-06:00

My Hymns From The Heart posts have gotten a bit behind! I know! Some of that I was sick but most of it I have just been lazy! Now I'm having Hymn overload! Just in the first session of Conference today there were so many Hymns mentioned that touched me I was amazed! It was wonderful to be reminded how the music we sing is a wonderful window to our spirits! So, now I have a list to draw from if I ever have need. Today I am going to focus on the rest Hymn from the morning session, Hymn #136 I Know That My Redeemer Lives. I used to take this song for granted. But I can no longer sing it without my heart swelling and threatening to take over my whole body! I'm not sure when it happened, or if there was some specific reason. All I know is that I am overwhelmed with the spirit by the words of this song.

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my everliving Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

I could have gone through each line and verse to tell you of personal experiences of why I know that particular line is true. But then this post would be a hundred years long! What I can say is that I testify that the words of this Hymn are true. All of them! I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that when I go to Him my hungry soul will be fed and He will bless me in my times of need. I have felt His comfort many, many times! I feel the joy of this knowledge even now. I know that my Redeemer lives!

Priesthood Power

2011-04-02T19:23:00.003-06:00

On March 4th Connor turned 12. On March 6th he was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. I have been humbled and blessed to be able to watch him pass the sacrament for the last 3 weeks. We have church at 1:00pm right now. I know this should make it easy to be to church on time. But on the weeks that Jeron and I both have meetings throughout the morning it can get a little tricky! Most of the time Jeron's meeting are early so he is home while I'm gone to help the kids stay on track. With Jaxon now being a Teacher we have set the goal to leave the house by 12:30pm so he can be there early to help prepare the sacrament. I have come to really enjoy this time. At first I worried it would be hard on the girls to have to sit still for so long but it really hasn't been. If anything it has been helpful to all of us to have that quiet time to prepare ourselves. As I listened to Conference this morning I was touched. I think it was Elder L. Tom Perry (I can't even remember now - how sad it that!). He talked about our young men preparing and blessing the sacrament just as the Savior did. I called the kids into my room and did a little rewind and pause! This was something I wanted to make sure they got! I had them listen to what had been said again and we talked about their part in the sacrament and how important it is. I was grateful I had taken this teaching opportunity when Connor looked at me with those big eyes of his as big as they would go and says to me, "Mom, I didn't know I was passing the same way Jesus did." I am humbled with the responsibility I have to teach these young men. With helping them understand the responsibilities they take upon themselves with the Priesthood. I am even more humbled as I watch them preform their priesthood duties with a reverence that shows not just myself, but their Father in Heaven as well, that they do understand.

Something Does Not Have To Be Done MY Way To Be Done WELL!

2011-02-24T17:18:00.003-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I made a goal to vacuum my living room every night before I went to bed. I found if the living room was clean enough to vacuum in the evening I really liked how it felt the next morning! (And I was more likely to try and keep it clean all day!) Sometimes it didn't happen until 10:30 or 11:00pm but it was happening! And it was even starting to spread to the rest of the house! And then I got sick. It took everything I have just to make it through the day. Vacuuming just isn't going to happen!
Awhile back I got a new vacuum. I got a Dyson! I won't let my children use my Dyson yet. (They have to get a Dyson licence after going through Dyson training!) I don't want my Dyson broken and my children break vacuums! And, well, I have a little problem. I like certain things done certain ways. For example: When Jeron and I first got married he tried to help me fold laundry. I have never let him help me fold laundry again. All because I didn't like how he did it. I did it better, or so I thought. So, I'll be honest. My Dyson is not the only reason the living room has not been getting vacuumed while I have been sick. I like my living room vacuumed in a certain way. I know, you don't have to tell me, I'm crazy!
Well last night I couldn't stand it anymore! I needed that living room vacuumed but I just didn't have the energy to do it. So I asked my sweet and wonderful husband to do it for me. And he said yes! Of course! As he started, in a different way then I do it, I almost said something. Then I stopped and thought (shocking, I know!) I thought about how he was doing this as a favor to me. What kind of person would I be if I told him he was doing this favor wrong? How would I feel if this was reversed? Instead I just watched him for a minute. Guess what I saw...my living room getting vacuumed, well! He did a great job!
Do I still like certain things certain ways? YES! Will I still vacuum my living room they way I always have? YES! Will I still teach my children to do things the way I like them done? YES! However, I am going to give my best effort to NOT re-do things. To see the effort others put in instead of seeing that it wasn't done my way! If my kids find an easier, for them, way to do something and it is still done well then I say go for it! I might even go a little easier on myself. See, I remember being told, "if you can't do something right, don't do it at all!" Which is a great thing, except that when it comes to my house I think, "I don't have time to clean my whole kitchen!" So I don't do it at all! Now, I'm sure when my Great Grandma Rose would say to me, "if you can't do it right, don't do it at all!" This is NOT what she meant for me to gain! So, I'll just have to learn to be happy with "right" being whatever I can get done at that moment!
I'm feeling better, just not 100%. Honestly, I can't wait for the day that I can fold a batch of laundry without feeling like I'm running a marathon, or load my dishwasher without feeling like I'm going to pass out! There is nothing like being sick to make you appreciate being healthy and all the "have to" things I GET to do being a mom! In the meantime I really do appreciate my family and THEIR way of getting things done for me!

Potty Training!

2011-02-24T15:24:00.004-07:00

Maycie started showing signs of being ready to potty train before she even turned 2. But I kept making excuses.

"We're in the middle of football season. That would just be WAY too hard!"

Then it was:

"It's the middle of Christmas. All the parties and get togethers. That would just be WAY too hard!"

And then after Christmas I went to the store to get diapers and when I put them in the cart Maycie burst into tears. I didn't fully understand what was happening. I bought them any way. And every time I changed her diaper she would cry, "I no diaper!" So I started asking if she wanted to go on the potty instead. The answer was always yes with no results! So when it was time for more diapers we bought pull-ups instead (I was NOT ready to go cold turkey!) and we really started trying! We had our first success! We were on our way! And then she wouldn't want to try anymore, it just took too much effort! But the moment I would mention diapers we would be back on track!
We tried all kinds of things, and they would work for a day or two and then we were right back where we started. Over time I realized she would do fine if she was in panties and wouldn't even try if she had on a pull-up. So I started telling her if she was awake she wore panties while still putting her in a pull-up if we were out and about. I quickly realized we were to our last hang up one day while I was at a presidency meeting. She told me she needed to go like 3 times but wouldn't go on the "big potty". I hurried home and guess who was still dry! That is right, she held it, and went the moment she sat on her potty! I knew if I could just get her over this hurdle we could say POTTY TRAINED!
It took us a couple of weeks, A LOT of trips to the potty (we even took her little chair with us a few places), and a few accidents but I think we can say we are there! It is still taking a trip or 2 for her to relax (especially those ones that flush by themselves! Those REALLY freak her out!) but she goes...on the "big potty"! At home I don't even think about it anymore! And when we are out I trust her to tell me (for the most part =))! While I have been sick it got a little hard to run her over and over again and have her not go. But there was a little voice (everyone around me plus the one in my head!) telling me, "at least she's not having any accidents!" I'm sure there are still some in our future, but I feel I can safely say that Maycie is potty trained! WAAAHHOOOO!!!!!

Potty training is very hard on you!

In fact, you might say, it is down right exhausting!

Hymns From The Heart: How Gentle God's Commands

2011-02-24T14:39:00.002-07:00

I mentioned in an earlier blog entry a regular blog entry I have been wanting to start doing. Last year I did an entry about the Hymn, "Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning". After I did that entry I have had similar feelings of inspiration many Sundays as we have sung Hymns in Sacrament meetings. I have regretted not writing down those thoughts and feelings. I began thinking that a weekly entry about a Hymn from my meetings would be a good way of sharing my testimony. The problem is I did a lot more thinking then I did writing or sharing! Well, I have decided I have done enough thinking! It is time to start sharing!
This week's Hymn is, "How Gentle God's Commands". I wasn't at church this last Sunday. I was home sick in bed. So this is from Sunday the 13th. As I looked over this Hymn the feelings I felt, even more then a week ago, as we sang it as our closing Hymn that Sunday came back to me. I would like to share some of those with you now.

How gentle God's commands!

How kind his precepts are!

Our Father in Heaven is loving and kind! The things He asks of us are for our good and not meant to make things difficult for us.

Come cast your burdens on the Lord

And trust his constant care.

He wants us to bring the things that are difficult for us, the things that weigh on us, to Him. His love for us is constant and unconditional.

Beneath his watchful eye,

His Saints securely dwell;

That hand which bears all nature up

Shall guard his children well.

The Lord is always mindful of us. If we are doing the things we should (following those gentle commands!) we have nothing to worry about.

Why should this anxious load

Press down your weary mind?

Haste to your Heavenly Father's throne

And sweet refreshment find.

Why do I let the things of this world worry me? Why do I let things that have no lasting consequence get in the way of the eternal things? If I will just focus on the things that are really important I find the sweet refreshment and peace our Heavenly Father so very willingly offers.

His goodness stand approved,

Unchanged from day to day;

I'll drop my burden at his feet

And bear a song away.

The Lord does not change. He stands firm, as a beacon to lead the way for each of us. If I will take my burdens to Him He will lift me and make my burdens light!

I testify that these things are true! I have experienced it for myself. I have felt the love of my Savior and Father in Heaven. I have felt my burdens lifted and my load lightened!

I am grateful for the Hymns and other good music the Lord gives us to invite the spirit into our home and lives. For these moments we are given to help us remember.

PS- if you click on the link of "Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning" it will take you to my blog entry. If you click on the link of "How Gentle God's Commands" it will take you to the church web site so you can listen to the song, see the sheet music, and learn more about it! =)

2010 In Review

2011-02-17T11:35:00.002-07:00

As the year ended Jeron reminded me about how it had begun. It wasn't good and the rest of the year kind of followed. As I looked back over our last year I thought about the old saying, "hind sight is always 20/20" I say that all the time. I am always feeling like I see things more clearly when I look back on them. And as I looked back this time I did see things more clearly. I saw my Father in Heaven and my Savior lifting me through the many hard things we went through. They were ALWAYS there for me in some way or another.
This is not to say we didn't feel the pain of what we were going through. We did! But I know that the love of my older brother and Savior lessened that pain more then I realized as I was going through those experiences. I thought about going through and talking about some of the things we went through in more detail, but as I started this entry I realized that is not really what I wanted this to be about. I guess what I want you all to know is that I have a testimony of the love that our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ have for each of us. They want nothing more then to be there for each one of us. To be able to put their arms around us and hold us. To make all the pain go away. I know they love me! No matter what I do, they love me! As I make mistakes, repent and try and do better they are there waiting for me with open arms! I know I probably could have had even more help if I had been doing a better job on my end of things. I am not perfect, not even close! I am just trying to be better today then I was yesterday. And one of the things that I have learned this last year is today, right now, that is enough. As I keep progressing I will have to keep moving forward. I can never stand still and be idle. But as I keep trying, and picking myself up as I fall my Father in Heaven and Savior will keep helping me, as they will for us all.
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am a Mormon! I know that the things I have learned by going to church have helped me! I don't know of anyone who isn't LDS who reads this blog but if you aren't and want to know more about why my faith has been able to help me and more about what we believe and who we are please visit mormon.org by clicking on the link!

Christmas 2010!

2011-02-11T13:46:00.003-07:00

Christmas this year was maybe a little too good! We really did have a wonderful season and felt the blessings of the Lord in our home.

Christmas Eve PJ's!

(Thanks to Grammy!)

Maycie was very tired by this point and didn't want to stand in her place! This was about as good a picture as I could get this year!

Like I said before, Christmas might have been a little too good this year! Even though I tried to tell our Bishop we didn't really need the help he called me to repentance and told me we were going to take the help, and like it! =)

The help came from another ward. When they called to talk to me about what kinds of things to do for the kids the Brother that I talked to was very nice and very in tune with the spirit. He told me things that the Lord knew I needed to hear. He told me they had a list of a number of families and they could only do a few of them. He then went on to tell me that he didn't know why they needed to do this for our family, only that he felt very strongly that they did need to do this for us.

Our 12 Days of Christmas from Grammy & Papa K

Porter got this huge Nerf gun!

Emma & Maycie got bunk beds for their babies and a baby to go with it!

Jaxon got a PSP (Play Station Portable)!

Maycie with the baby bunk beds!

Connor got a rib stick!
He has been wanting one of these for YEARS and was beyond excited to see this with his stocking!

The amazing thing is how we were taken care of, not just with the Sub-for-Santa, but with everything. Things that should have cost us a small fortune we got for beyond cheep or for free. And just when I would be out of ideas for what I could do for one child the right thing would just fall into place. Not one of my boys would ask for anything this year. At one point I did ask Porter and he told me, "just things I need mom." Like what? "Oh, socks and underwear. Things like that."

It was wonderful to see them be taken care of and to see them show so much gratitude for what they have. To see that they really know the difference between needs and wants. It was wonderful to see how the Lord took care of us and then some!

12 Days of Christmas! (2010)

2011-02-11T10:30:00.004-07:00

We did 12 Days of Christmas for our kids again this year. It is something my mom and dad started doing for us and in trying to start new traditions for our own family we decided to take a few things from each side of our family and make them into one of our own. So, we start with PJ's (my side) and end with an ornament (Jeron's side).

I was going to make the PJ's this year. Really, I was! But then I couldn't find the material I wanted. I found out they don't make it any more. I had even talked to my mom about using her sewing machine (mine just would have thrown fits at me doing that much at once!) and everything! But I just waited too long and then found out that PJ's were on sale and I could get them cheaper then the material would have cost me! So I caved and bought them again! But I'm going to start in July this year and make them! Or that's the plan any way! =)

We had a hard time finding ornaments that we really liked. (And we did start looking early for these!) I just couldn't find the right thing. And then my mom did it for us. She made an ornament with my Grandparent's wedding picture in it for each family in her extended family and then for each of her grandchildren. Jeron and I decided that was better then any ornament we could have bought for them!

Everything else was just stuff, but it was still a fun thing for all of us and great way to start the Christmas season off!

Emma's Dance Recital!

2011-02-01T21:50:00.007-07:00

Emma had her first dance recital the beginning of December! Oh, how she has waited for this day! And, okay, mom has been a tad bit excited too! This is her 3rd year of dance class. Her first year she started part way through and so we decided to do one more year of a non performing group for her 2nd year. This was a good decision! She has been going to see her cousin Jordan dance for as long as she can remember and has loved watching her up on stage. But last year she began to really want to get up there!

She did a great job. She did a little looking around but it was mostly because she was so worried about everybody else being in "their" spot! While I got to sit down in the audience thinking "Quit worrying about it and do your dance!" They did "Chicken Pox For Christmas" This was so much fun for me because I did the same dance when I was about her age! As did both of her aunts. Aunt Abby, and Miss Megan (Aunt Skippy) who we are lucky enough to have as her teacher!

Emma after both performances were over!

Still all ready to pose for a picture!

Emma with Cousin Jordan and Cousin Shae!

Cousin Addison is also in her class but left before we could get the group shot!

Emma and her friend Kylie!
All ready for the show to start!

I Will Try To Do Better!

2011-02-01T21:20:00.003-07:00

I have to say I know there are running jokes out there about blogging and how it takes over peoples lives. And I'm sure, like anything else, it could definitely go that way! But I think I have forgotten a little bit of why I blog. From a fairly young age I have written in a Journal. My Grandma Harrison gave me my first when I turned 8 years old. Family history and personal history are very important to her and I will always appreciate her example. It took me a long time to fill that first Journal because I didn't start out writing on a regular basis. Like most things, it took time. I got better as a Merry Miss (boy I am dating my self, aren't I!) and just kept going from there! My Journal became my every day confidant. Every night before I could go to sleep it was scriptures, Journal, and prayers. The only real exception from this was spending the night away from home!
I remember when I got married and started struggling to find the time for my old friend. I had decided when I was a Laurel that I would start a Journal for each child when I found out I was expecting. That was a wonderful experience for me. But again, with 5 of them to keep up on I struggle! So this is why I blog! It is my Journal, my confidant of sorts. It is our family and personal histories. When I do find the time to write in the kids Journals I go to the blog so that I can remember what I need to write about for that child. And for many of their birthday blog entries I have gone to that Journal to make sure I remember correctly!
I love keeping up on what is going on in all of your lives. The family I don't get to see as often as I would like. The friends that between my kids their kids, distance, etc. we just don't get to see/talk to each other as much as we would like. It helps me feel connected and a part of things.
This last Saturday we had our Stake Relief Society Conference. It was WONDERFUL! I almost didn't go. Jeron has to work on Saturday's right now and so I left the kids on their own. I knew that meant coming home to a mess and I just wasn't sure I was up to that. I am so glad I went! One of the classes I went to was about time management, what is really important. This is something I have really been struggling with as of late and was very excited for some "new" advice on how to make more hours in my day! I didn't learn anything really new. It was all things I had really heard before, but Saturday I HEARD what I needed to hear for my life right now! I was reminded I need to make more time for the "essential" things. And as a couple of ladies were joking (maybe not all the way joking) about making scrap booking an essential thing I thought about my blog. My poor neglected blog. I have all of December's post running around in my head and just have not sat down to do anything about it! I have been wanting to start a weekly post (this will be coming soon! I promise!) for MONTHS now and just have not taken the time to DO IT! And I know that I could let it go too far and take over my life but I felt very strongly that I need to do more blogging. I need to make sure this family history has been kept. It may be kept better at some points then it is others but I WILL KEEP IT! This is my promise! And we'll try not to go over board! =)

Angels Among Us

2011-01-07T12:36:00.003-07:00

I have to share a few of the blessings over the last few months. We all know that blessings come in many forms, but most often they come in the form of friends and family doing for us what the Lord knows we need. Sometimes, a lot of the time, it is even things we ourselves didn't know we needed!
I'm not quite sure how to go about a lot of these things. Because some I'm not sure who my Angel is and some I know the people would like for their service to be kept a secret. So bare with me as I go about my "Thank You's" as best I can!
I was talking with a neighbor not long after Jeron lost his job. She asked how things were going and we talked about it for a minute. And then she looked at me and said, "Well, we are praying for you!" And I knew it was true. I had felt those prayers. I sat in a presidency meeting as I listened to my friend say the closing prayer and get choked up with emotion as she prayed for our family.
I have had a friend show up at my door on numerous occasions with a drink in her hand and a smile on her face! Ready to talk or what ever else I might need. Who has bailed me out time and again and again and again!
We got a card in the mail with the address and all other writing done very carefully so as not to be able to recognize the handwriting with $200 in it.
A Bishop who told me to just accept the Sub-for-Santa another ward wanted to do for us. Which made our Christmas a little too good!
For a Gift Card from a cousin for way more money then the favor I had done was worth!
For all the prayers. For all the visits. For all the words of encouragement. For all the listening ears. For all of you who have picked me up when I have fallen I say Thank You. I know it is not much, but I want you to know I will do my best to follow your example and to be there for another when it is needed. To do as the Lord would have me do, just as you have done!

Blessings Come In Many Ways!

2011-01-07T12:20:00.004-07:00

Some of you may already know that things have been a bit stressful at our house for the last little bit. Money has been tight and we all know the fun that causes! You add to that my Grandparents and our dog and I was starting to joke that we were caught in the worst country song ever! Well, what would that song be without a lost job.
Can you see it coming? On October 15 Jeron lost his job. The funny thing is that after that things didn't seem quite so stressful anymore. When he called me to tell me what was going on there was an immediate peace that came over me. That is not to say I have not had a few days where I feel like I am coming apart at the seams! But I knew, I knew this was going to be the best thing for us. I just kept thinking about Nephi getting the Brass Plates. Nephi telling Lamen and Lemuel that the Lord is mightier then all the earth why not mightier then Laban and his 50? (See 1Nephi Chapters 3 & 4). Well, if that's true then the Lord is mightier then Jeron's old boss! If we were not going to be okay through this and not be able to make this be for our good it would not have happened. I just have to keep reminding myself every few days!
The windows of Heaven have opened for us. 1 month to the day Jeron started another job. It is temporary but it is a pay check. There are no benefits but the kids all qualify for something through the state so they have insurance. Every time I think there is something I won't be able to handle the Lord steps in.
He is still looking so... My cousins gave him some info about a job in Texas, but we would like to exhaust options that don't have us selling our house at a HUGE loss!
We have felt the prayers of our family and friends. Thank you so much for all of your love and support. We love you all and we'll keep you posted!

Grandpa "Snowmobile" Perkins

2011-01-07T11:47:00.002-07:00

On September 20 my Grandfather passed away. You may remember that he has been sick for a very long time. There were so many things that should have taken him. Heavenly Father had a plan for him, just as He does for each of us. And even with everything that happened to him, all the health problems he was able to fulfill his plan.

Grandpa had not been sealed to his parents. His sister is his only surviving sibling. The 2 of them were able to go and be sealed to their parents, along with their brothers who have passed away. My mom said she hadn't seen him so happy in a very long time.

I know it was a long 3 months and 3 days for Grandpa. It was the longest he and Grandma had ever been apart. And as hard as it was to loose both of them so close together I wouldn't have it any other way. They didn't even have to miss an anniversary together. It is strange to think of them gone. The holidays were hard. Years and years ago Grandma made an ornament for every member of the family for her tree. Last Christmas they gave them all to us. As we were decorating the tree this year and I pulled it out I just started to cry.

I have no doubt Grandpa had more then a little something to do with all this snow we have gotten this year! Their bishop shared one of his fondest memories of my grandparents at Grandpa's funeral. He was outside one day when Grandpa went flying by on his 4 wheeler followed right behind by Grandma! That's my grandparents, living life to the fullest, TOGETHER! We'll be thinking about you with every inch of snow we get! We love and miss you! Thank you for your wonderful example!

Ty

2010-12-02T22:28:00.008-07:00

I skipped September in my little blog catch up post because everything that happened deserved it's own post.
On September 19th our wonderful and loyal puppy, Ty, passed away. On Friday the 10th Porter went out to play with him and he wouldn't get up. It took me, Connor and Porter to get him to the van. I took him to the vet and we found a wound, that being an outside dog we just hadn't seen under his fur. The problem is, being an outside dog the flies did. He ended up with maggots, which made him VERY sick. The last thing Porter said to me when I left the house was, "Don't you let them put my dog down!" So I left Ty at the vet's office and came home with a vet bill we couldn't really afford but not knowing what else to do. They wanted to keep him another night but we just couldn't afford it. So we brought him home late Saturday night and did our best to take care of him. He seemed to be getting better and then he started associating all food with pills and quit eating. We tried all kinds of things. And then he quit drinking. We knew we were loosing him. Jeron was up half the night with him Saturday night. He got up Sunday morning to go to his meeting and he was gone. We got the boys up and told them.
Porter was just 3 years old when we got him. He was just a part of the family. When we brought Emma home from the hospital he would check the bassinet and if she was in it he would lay down in front of it. Maycie was never afraid of him. She would go after him with all the love she had in her and he always let her. She never left the house without yelling, "Bye Ty!" the whole time he was sick! A few days after he died she went to the back window looking for him.
We did some checking and found out that because he died at home we could bury him ourselves. You may remember a blog entry titled Ty's Ponds! Well, we never completely filled in one of the holes. We thought it fitting that be his final resting place. My dad came over and helped Jeron and the boys finish the hole Sunday evening. It was hard to say good bye to him. Every once in a while I'll be standing at my kitchen sink, look out the window and he's not there. When he first got sick I was just sure I would say no to another dog! Now the thought of Emma and Maycie never having what the boys had with Ty, well I just can't stand that. The time we had was priceless. I want that for our family again - one day!

I was upset with myself for not having more pictures of our sweet puppy but here are a few!

He loved his play time with his boys! They would throw the snow up in the air and he would try and catch it! He would do the same thing with bubbles! One of his favorite games with the boys was "Star Wars" The boys would get out their light sabers and pretend he was Darth Vador and chase him around the yard!

We found in the summer time the best way to make sure he always had enough water was this big black tub! He could get in to cool off and always had enough to drink!

With the maggots they had to shave him to make sure they got rid of them.
I knew just how sick he was when they were shaving him and he just lay there and let them.

He was a great dog and we all miss him very much!

So Much Blogging...So Little Time!

2010-11-30T16:50:00.003-07:00

Things I should have blogged about and haven't:

End of July: Girls Camp!
I got to go to Girls Camp this year. Our Young Women's President was moving so we all knew a change was coming, just not what or when. So to have this time was amazing!
We had some rain - it only took me ALL day to dry out! The best part (as always) was getting to know the Young Women better. They even scared me so bad I would have wet my pants if I hadn't been coming from the bathroom! I think they are still laughing about it!
I was lucky enough to get to stay right where I was! I love these girls so much and am so grateful to get to work with them. I did have to leave early and miss testimony meeting which was hard because that is like the best part! But it was for a good reason, which leads us to...

Last weekend in July: Baptism Weekend!
Friday my sister, Megan's step son Jarom, was baptised. It was a wonderful evening! Jarom may have come into our family via marriage but he is no less a part of the family. We feel very blessed to get to be a part of his family!
On Saturday my other sister, Abby's son Corbin, was baptised in Lehi and down to almost the very same hour Jeron's sister, Becky's daughter Lizzy, was baptized in Tremonton. It was so hard for us to not go to both baptisms as a family but it was better to divide and conquer then to miss one all together. So we put the big kids names in a hat (it was decided from the beginning Maycie would go with mom) so that no one had to choose. Jaxon and Porter went with dad to Tremonton and Connor and Emma came with mom and Maycie to Lehi. I love both of these kids so much! What a wonderful problem to have, too many baptisms. And that we live close enough to be there!

End of August: Back to School!
I am a horrible mom and didn't really get any pictures this year! If you can believe it though, Jaxon is in 8th grade, Connor is in 6th and Porter is in 4th! Is is so hard to believe my boys are getting so big! Emma is going to the preschool at West Jordan High. The boys all did it and I love that Emma gets to do it too! It is hard to believe she'll be starting Kindergarten next year.

September: Skipping September right now you'll see why in later posts.

October: Eight years ago we had a lot of babies born in our family! Jeron's sister, Angie's daughter Hannah, was baptised. I was supposed to give my first baptism talk ever and ended up so late I missed it. I cried and cried! Luckily our family is so understanding and did everything they could to make me feel better! The most important part is the we didn't miss the actual baptism! We are so grateful for such a wonderful family, and that Hannah is a part of it!

November 1st: Christmas Music!
Are you kidding me? Now I know there are a lot of you out there who LOVE this and would have it start even earlier if you could. I have nothing against Christmas music. But I LOVE Thanksgiving! I love everything about Thanksgiving. The food. Turkey, mashed potatoes, pie! The family. Everyone together, enjoying each other. But most of all I love having a time set aside reminding me how much I have to be grateful for. Something I should be thinking about and remember all the time, I know. And I try! But I love the special time set aside to do so, especially right before Christmas. What a wonderful reminder of what this season is all about. The Birth of my Savior. That He came to this earth as we all did, a small, innocent, humble baby. He grew and lived a perfect life. He then provided a way for me to return to live with Him again through the Atonement. He suffered for my sins, He died for me and then was Resurrected, providing the way for us all. This I am most grateful for because it is what everything else is built on.
So, now that I have had my time on my soap box! Bring on the Christmas music and let's start a most wonderful celebration of our Saviors Birth!

Brothers!

2010-11-30T16:23:00.002-07:00

I have already said that our little family worked out just about as perfect as possible. The one thing is that 4 of my 5 kids have birthdays between September 26 and November 15! Poor Connor, stuck in March between mom and dad. The boys birthdays may not be all together but that hasn't stopped them from being good friends and great brothers. Don't get me wrong. They are not perfect and have bad days. They can yell and fight with the best of them! When they were little and we were moving a lot they always had each other. We have stories about paint and frogs and so many more I can't even remember! Most of them are about getting into trouble but what else would you expect from 3 little boys. We have gone from Connor wanting to do everything Jaxon did and Porter wanting to be in the thick of everything his brothers did to them coming into their own things.

Jaxon has done football for the last 2 years and has done really well. He is thinking about Lacrosse in the spring to have options High School.

Connor did Lacrosse this last spring and loved it! It was so good for him, in so many ways. I worried when Jaxon started talking about Lacrosse. It was kind of nice for Connor to have his own thing. But Jaxon going to Connor and asking for help was good for Connor.

Porter did football this year. He has only been asking to do this since he was 4! There was no question when I saw him in his pads for the first time that he was made for this sport.

Jaxon and Porter went to Lacrosse games and learned all about this new sport. Connor went to football games and has learned more about a sport he didn't care about before his brothers played.

Jaxon turned 14 on October 30, Porter turned 10 on November 15 and Connor will be 12 on March 4. That means in March I will have a Teacher and a Deacon with Porter right on their heals. I feel the weight of teaching them. I look at the things they are up against in this world today. The moment I found out Jaxon was a boy the Stripling Warriors became more then just a scripture story. I want to be that kind of mom! I want my boys to never doubt because they know that I know. I am so grateful for them and the joy (and stress =)) they bring into my life! Jaxon, Connor and Porter know that I always love you. Thank you for ... being you!

Sisters!

2010-11-29T10:50:00.007-07:00

I have to say, if someone had asked me when I got married how I thought my little family would turn out I'm not sure what I would have said. I just know I didn't expect this! When people would ask Jeron and I how many kids we wanted we would both say 3 or 4 or how ever many the Lord sent us. Jeron was thinking closer to 3, I was thinking closer to 4 and the Lord sent us 5! I cannot imagine our family without anyone of them! I also think it worked out as close to perfect as it could for us!

The girls are 3 years apart and the best of friends. Maycie turned 2 on September 26 and Emma turned 5 on October 7. We were getting ready for the big bed move (Emma from a toddler to a twin and Maycie from the crib to a toddler) so I thought it would be fun for the girls to get bedding for their birthdays! I found at Target I could get matching bedding for a toddler bed and a twin bed! Maycie was very excited and started useing everything even before the big move! But even better then that was what happened on Emma's birthday. I had Emma's bedding in my closet, not hidden very well at all, waiting for dad to get home from work for the birthday celebration to begin. Maycie spotted the bedding and got very excited. Shew knew it wasn't hers but that it was just like hers! That meant it had to be for Emma. I got to spend the rest of the afternoon keeping Maycie from bringing Emma into my bedroom to show her! The moment Emma opened it Maycie was dragging her back to their bedroom to make sure Emma realized they matched!

I looked at the 2 of them and realized how grateful I am for both of them. They both love being a princess, playing dress up and just being with each other. Maycie looks at everything Emma does and wants to be just like her. Emma is a wonderful big sister who loves teaching Maycie how to do things. All I have to do is tell Emma that Maycie is watching her and she shifts into mega helpful mode! And with Maycie all I have to do is tell her Emma does something and there is Maycie wanting to do it too! (I really hope potty training goes this way! =)) I hope and pray they are always this close.

My heart is over flowing with love and gratitude for these two amazing spirits. I want to teach them to be strong and virtuous women who love the Lord. I am truly humbled to be their mom. I love you both very much girls. Happy Birthday to you both!

Wixom Family Reunion (both of them!)

2010-08-18T08:48:00.013-06:00

When Jeron and I got engaged one of the things he was so excited for me to get to do was the Wixom Family Reunion! They did it every other year in northern California at a place called Camp Nauvoo. It is one of his fondest memories! Camp Nauvoo (from what I have heard) is similar to the Oakcrest Camp or the new Heber Valley Camp here in Utah. For those of you that still don't know what I am talking about it is a big church owned camp that had a place they could gather and eat together with plenty of room for the whole family to camp in tents or whatever. So I guess like Oakcrest or Heber Valley minus the cabins. I am sure Jeron or one of my sisters-in-law could correct me and give you a much better description. As things in families change I never did get to go to Camp Nauvoo.
They have tried a couple of different locations for the family reunion but haven't been able to find quite the right fit. Especially with the family split between Utah and California (mostly anyway)! The last one we had we went to California and helped put an addition on Jeron's aunts house as a mother-in-law type apartment for Grandma and Grandpa to live in. Grandpa was doing all of the work himself so the family decided to pitch in and give him a hand! Just what family should do. But that was 6 or 7 years ago. 2 years ago Grandpa was turning 80 and we had a big family party here in Utah. This year Grandma was turning 80 and she said she wanted a family reunion instead of a party. So family reunion it was!
Family property (through an in-law) by Delta UT was found to be the perfect fit! There was water to play in, plenty of land to camp on and best of all there were beds for Grandma & Grandpa Wixom and their kids! It was a blast and the kids had a ton of fun with cousins they know and getting to know ones they don't get to see as often.

Maycie in her reunion shirt!

Grandma & Grandpa enjoying the family!

Maycie LOVES babies!

Just so you know a baby is ANYONE smaller then Maycie!

Crafts are always a part of the Wixom Family Reunion!

And Porter took them very seriously!

Aunt Ashley and Thomas.

Grandma Sue with Emma & Claire

Maycie's schedule was a bit off with all the time we have spent away from home! She learned to get her sleep where ever and when ever she could!

Daddy had to check and make sure she was really okay!

She is just that good of a sleeper!

Even the big kids had a blast!

(Can I say how weird it is that Jaxon is one of the "big kids")

Left to right: Aunt Alicia, Aunt Becky, Drew, Hailey, Jake & Jaxon

When given the chance to go for a ride Grandma JUMPED at the chance! It was so cute! She was so excited about it Grandpa kind of had to go weather he wanted to or not!

We left for Delta on Wednesday July 7 in the evening. We got a much later start then we wanted because of football sign-ups so we ended setting our tent up in the dark! We left to come home on Friday late morning. We got home Friday and then turned around and left early Saturday morning for another family reunion! This one was another Wixom Reunion. This time for Grandpa Wixom and his siblings. So alot of people we didn't really know. But we hadn't made it last time so we drove to Burley ID for the 3rd time in about 6 weeks!

It was at some property owned by a family friend. And if you are going to covet something covet this! It is a HUGE man mad pond/lake fed by the snake river with all kinds of fun things to do!

Like a slide....

grass & shade....

rafts...

an island (behind Connor)...

plenty of room for swimming...

a kiddy pool for Maycie (she wasn't interested in the big kid stuff at all!)...

(doesn't he just look too old and grown up?!)

a zip line that you can take 2 riders and drop one off into the water....

a rope to swing off into the water (that is Porter getting ready to go)...

paddle boats (that is Emma swimming all by herself out to the paddle boat!)

wave bye bye!

There was also a swing that you could swing out over the water and drop in. That was fun!

It was alot of fun and very exhausting!

Okay, I know this picture is horrible! But my hand kept shaking in the moving car! But I had to put it in anyway. If you look closely Emma fell asleep with a book wide open in front of her!

For at least a week if Maycie was in the car for more then a few minutes she would get VERY upset with us! We were all very done being in the car. The kids liked to tease me because they were all done with trips but I still had girls camp ahead of me!

We were all sick of movies by this trip so between Delta and Burley we listened to the first Fablehaven and I got hooked! I am so glad we got to go do so many things this summer. It was about all we got to do but so many wonderful memories! I am glad my kids love camping so much and that they love being with their family. I love building these memories with our extended family and some day soon we'll get out on our own! I promise!

Green River 2010

2010-07-18T16:23:00.016-06:00

Every year we try and go on a camping trip with my family. It started with when I was a kid. When I was about 13 or 14 we got a full size van. My mom and dad went out and bought a tent. We set off on the biggest adventure ever! Things didn't go exactly as planed but I don't think it would be nearly as memorable if it had! Long story short we stayed 7 different places in 7 nights! By the last day we broke camp (start to finish) in less then 15 minutes with the van more then 100 yards away. Okay it MAY not have been that far, but it sure felt like at least that! After that we did some kind of trip every year. Some big and some small, but something!

After I got married we started going to Bear Lake every 24th of July. Alot of people thought we were crazy, after all we didn't even have a boat or anything! But it was fun. We would go and play at the beach (when there was one!) and just spent time together as a family. Bear Lake was where I told my brother and sisters we were expecting Connor!

That changed from year to year too. Between the family growing and babies being born things can never stay exactly the same. The date and place have changed over the years. There have been a few years we didn't make it. But for the most part we have done something. 2 years ago we went to Arizona. This year was Green River, UT. "Green River? Why Green River?" You say. Well, because my brother and his wife have moved to Blanding and Green River is the half way point, or as close to half way as you can get anyway!
It was wonderful! We came home from my Grandmothers funeral in Idaho on Monday and left for Green River Thursday. I was a little stressed getting us out the door. I didn't realized how much I had gone into auto mode about getting us to Idaho until we were home and I was trying to get us ready to go camping! Nothing was ready and I had more then a few stressful moments. But we got out the door and after a long detour around an accident we finally got there! Once we were there it was just what I needed!

"What did you do? Did you go rafting? Did you do something amazing?" You ask. Well, we did not go rafting. We did so something amazing though! We relaxed! We spent time at the pool that was at the KOA we stayed at! We sat around a camp fire and had smores and a talent show and enjoyed each other!

My sister Abby with her baby girl Kami with big brother Easton! He loves his baby sister sooo... much!

Maycie seemed so independent this trip. She really thought she was just as big as the big kids! You can see it in her walk!

Kami and Maycie love each other so much!

They spent alot of time with each other.

I think Kami was trying to do Maycie's hair. Her mom says she was trying to pull it out because she is jealous that Maycie has hair. She may be jealous now but the day will come that Kami has more so, it all works out in the end!

Aunt Abby was nice enough to sit with Kami in front of Maycie while she got her hair done. It was the only way I could get her to sit still. At home I have the mirror to help!

I am surprised that Kami will let Emma come near her! She loved helping out with her and keeping her entertained! Lucky for Emma Kami is used to alot of attention from her brothers so it worked out good for the both of them. Emma loved giving her attention and Kami seemed okay with getting it!

The cousins had so much fun being with each other!

We have a few hams, if you didn't notice!

Jarom got to learn how to play Lacrosse catch with Connor!

Porter had alot of fun figuring out this lounger!

Connor loved getting to teach some of his younger cousins about Lacrosse!

Jordan, Emma & Maycie. These girls just love being together! I can't wait to watch as Kami gets older. These 4 are going to be quite the quartet!

We found out that Kami really can sleep anywhere!

Look at that face!

This slide was so much fun for the kids! They got it down to doing tricks off the end! This is Porter's karate chop!

Maycie got so brave! She loved going down the slide! She tried to climb up the latter but we decided it best to just set her in a little way from the bottom! At one point she would go down and come up out of the water and point at the slide again!

Connor trying to skip like a rock!

Okay, I know it looks like we are torturing Emma in this picture. But she really did love the slide! This is what it was like every time! She would get so excited and then as she was going down she would have this look of horror on her face! The really funny thing was then she would get out and go again!

Emma did get very brave in the water while we were there.

Jaxon was so funny! I really got to see how grown up he has gotten, but at the same time he is still just a big kid!

Emma got very good at the doggy paddle! I was amazed at how comfortable she was by the time we left!

Connor found he enjoyed diving to the bottom of the pool!

Jared & Jordan

Maycie & Grammy

Jordan was so brave she would go off without anyone to catch her!

Jordan aiming for the green tube....

Jordan in the green tube!

Connor the cannon ball!

Maycie can find any where to put her feet up!

Relax and enjoy! That was our goal this trip and I think Maycie got the idea just fine!

It really was a wonderful trip. We did go across the street and visit the Green River Museum. It was really interesting. It was so hot I thought I was going to die! We NEVER closed the windows in the tent. You figured out another way to change! Even at night I thought I would burst into flames! Our last day there was a scheduled power outage. I wanted to hit my mom and brother-in-law when they talked about loosing power to the trailer and motor home. "Just when I thought I was really going to get hot the air conditioning turned back on!" They really love to tease me! We all got more mosquito bites then I thought you actually could! Except Jeron who LOVED telling everyone he only got ONE! I think the only ones who beat him where the babies. Kami and Maycie didn't get any!

I am so glad we do this. I love the memories we are building. No matter the place or date I hope it is something I continue on with my own little family! I guess we had better get started on some trips of our own!

Emma's Preschool Graduation

2010-07-12T15:53:00.003-06:00

Emma had Preschool Graduation in June. The preschool was done by a lady in our ward. She'll take kids for 2 years before they start Kindergarten but at Graduation only the kids old enough to go to Kindergarten wear the caps. That is why some have them and some don't!

She had each child come up and she would say a little something about them. Emma's was all about what a girly girl she is even with all those brothers!

The kids were facing into the sun so Emma's sunglasses didn't leave her face!

Our little glamor girl!

Emma and her teacher, Mrs. Brown!

Emma just called her teacher!

Perkins Family Reunion 2010

2010-07-12T13:47:00.011-06:00

My grandparents decided when their children started getting married not to wait until the family was huge to start doing a family reunion. Instead they started right then! So we have been doing this family reunion for as long as I can remember. Some things have had to change over the years as the family grew, but at least they didn't have to decide when to "start"!

This year my mom's youngest sister Penny and her family were in charge. She really wanted to do and see some of the things that she remembered as a child and so she put together a "Perkins Family Amazing Race!" We don't usually do it until August but some of what she wanted to do wouldn't have been as fun in August so it was moved to Memorial Day weekend.

Our original plan had been to go up Friday and camp for the weekend. The weather did not want to cooperate. So our plan changed to going up Saturday morning and staying one night in a hotel. The only problem with that was the 2+ hour drive and then a good portion of the day in the car on an "Amazing Race!" But it all worked out and we had alot of fun!

We got to visit cemeteries and visit graves. We were there on Memorial Day weekend after all! We all got to learn a thing or two about the family and I think I surprised myself and everyone else with how much I knew about the family! We got to go to Hazelton where my Grandpa grew up. And then we headed into "Twin" as Grandma always called it. That is Twin Falls for anyone who didn't know!
We spent some time at the Twin Falls Temple! It was beautiful and I only wish we had the time to do some Temple work while we were there!

Jaxon decided to show Amanda how big and strong he was getting!

Next we went to the Shoshone Falls. This is a view down river after the falls. I loved the combination of the river, the canyon and the sky!

This is the falls. I couldn't believe the spray off the falls. I had to get a picture of the rainbow it created!

I took so many pictures! I don't think I put in even half of the pictures of the falls that I took! I loved my new camera with this. It was so much fun to be able to zoom in and out! I have been to the falls before but it had been WAY too long! It literally took my breath away!
Our little family in front of the falls. Maycie had fallen asleep in between the Temple and getting to the falls! You can tell it was chilly and we had been in the car all day but we just couldn't pass this up!

I had a really hard time deciding what pictures to put in and which ones to leave out! So if you are sick of the falls I'm sorry but I really don't know how you could be!

It is so much fun to me that my cousins kids and my kids get along so well!

I think this was my best shot of the whole falls.

Truly breath taking!
After we left the falls we stopped in Murtaugh at my Great Grandma Roses house. I am still not sure how I didn't get any pictures of that but I didn't. Penny had talked to the man who bought the house from my Grandma and got permission for us to walk around and see what had changed. I think I was too busy walking around and crying! I had spent so much time there as a child and didn't think I would ever get to go back! It was really wonderful to be able to go back in time a little.

On Sunday we got together at the park and had a Bar-B-Q before everyone headed home. It was a fun time. I love this picture of Emma walking with my Grandma and Aunt Stephanie. Stephanie is on the left & Grandma in the middle.
I am so grateful for my family! I love that we love getting together and being with each other.

Lacrosse!

2010-07-11T16:09:00.006-06:00

I knew I was behind. I just didn't realize how behind until I downloaded the pictures off of my camera! So in an effort to get caught up here is a little overview of Connor's Lacrosse season!

One of the things that was so great about Connor playing this was that he finally figured out how to work those long legs!

Do you see Connor in between those two GIANTS?! He is defending against them! It was amazing to see his confidence grow!

On the run!

We had a game in Park City. It was a difficult game for many reasons. It was supposed to be on Tuesday and was cancelled because of lightning (the only reason they will cancel Lacrosse by the way! Thank heavens! They run around with long sticks after all!) and rescheduled for Friday. Only our team didn't find out about it until just a couple of hours before. Jeron wasn't able to be there. The weather was still yucky and so my mom kept the girls for me. Our coach ran out of gas on the way up and half the team got caught behind a really bad accident on the freeway. So...we had to forfeit the game. But had a scrimmage game for fun. The best part of that was the boys got to play positions other then the norm! He played goalie for a quarter! He wasn't perfect but he did his best! He even stopped a couple of goals! All with his body, but he stopped them!

In practice he displayed some natural ability for defense so they decided to try him on D-pole. The defenders have longer stick then normal. It is almost 6 feet long. They use it to keep shooters away from the goal. The first time he played defense was at the Woods Cross game. My aunt and uncle who live in Bountiful were able to come (their son is the one who plays for BYU and gave Connor his stick) and were able to help explain alot of things for us. At one point Connor was poking at the kid with the ball. I said, "He is poking him!" And my aunt says, "That is what he is supposed to do!" I have so much to learn. And Connor is going to make sure I learn it! He really loved it. It was good for him, it was good for our family! The season seemed to be over so fast, I can only hope football goes that fast!

Eternal Families

2010-07-02T17:44:00.003-06:00

I made dresses for my girls this week! (HUGE smiley face here!) Some of you may know that I sew, but very little and so this is a big deal for me. Now this introduction to a blog entry titled "Eternal Families" may not make much sense to you. But I promise it will.

This is probably the hardest blog entry I have ever made. I have started it a million times in my head and have been trying to make myself sit down and do it for more then two weeks now. See, my Grandma Perkins passed away on June 17th. She checked my blog regularly and I knew it. This blog entry is one of those things that I knew needed to be a part of our little family history I am keeping via blog but... just hard to make myself do. It was very unexpected and I still have to remind myself she is gone. My grandfather is very sick and has been for awhile and I made my dad tell me twice it was really grandma to make sure I had heard him right.

So the reason I started this blog entry telling you about my girls dresses is because it is something I would tell Grandma! She would be, correction: She IS so proud of me! My Grandma Perkins (or Snowmobile as she was lovingly referred to by me as a child and now my kids) was very talented in many things. The sewing just happens to be what I have been thinking alot about recently. We were in the middle of making PJ pants for YW camp and I kept making very silly mistakes. I kept thinking, "Grandma is watching me from Heaven shaking her head at me!" I think that is why I did the dresses. To show her I could really do it! (Well, with ALOT of help from my mom! ;)

There have been so many memories shared in the last couple of weeks. So many hugs. So many blessings. It was hard to watch my kids try to understand. It was hard to explain it when I didn't really understand myself. I kept thinking about hearing her voice over the phone just the night before. How could she just be gone the next day? I am so grateful to have the gospel and the knowledge that comes with it that I will get to see her again. That families are eternal and that if I do my part and teach my children we will be able to have these same family relationships and be together forever. Emma just looked at me and said, "Well, she'll be resurrected mom!" Things got a little more real at the Viewing and Funeral though. At one point she just looked at me and said, "I am going to miss her so much." Jaxon asked me how old she was. When I told him that she would have been 78 this November he looked at me and said, "That is too young mom." I had to agree. But the lives that she touched and the love that she shared left a legacy that will live on so much longer. Anyone who knew her was better for it.

Family Reunion 2009

We love you Grandma!

The Lord Always Answers Our Prayers

2010-06-13T15:46:00.003-06:00

The Lord will always answer our prayers. Sometimes it isn't in the way we expected or in the time frame we would like but they are always answered.
You may remember a blog entry a while back called "I Have Changed" about my longing for a Suburban. This week the Lord taught our family a wonderful but hard lesson. We were driving past a dealership on Tuesday and stopped to look at yet another one. This one was a Yukon XL and happened to have everything we are looking for. We know we are getting close but didn't think we were quite there. But close enough to check and see how much they wanted. They were just sure they could get things worked out for us so we left the dealership with that beautiful Yukon XL! Our kids were so excited! So were Jeron and I. This was putting us on the path to so many things that we would like to do as a family. A couple of days later we got a call from the dealership. They wanted $100 more a month in a payment. Well, that just doesn't fit into the budget so... long story short, we took back the beautiful Yukon XL.
It is funny. I have prayed and cried so much this week, and it was all over a CAR! I honestly can't believe that. What was amazing to me was that as we prayed (even the kids) we didn't pray to be able to find a way to keep the car we prayed to know what the Lord wanted us to do. That we would do what would be best for our family. I was amazed at my children. Porter came to me at one point and said, "Mom, it doesn't really matter what kind of car that we have. Just that we have a car!" At one point we had the kids say a prayer without us. We asked them to ask Heavenly Father to help Jeron and I know what we should do. It was then that we found peace and saw the direction that we needed to go.
I have to say that this is one of those rare times I can say I am thankful for our trials. It was a hard lesson to learn, for our whole family. I was wishing earlier that we hadn't brought it home. That we had told the dealership we needed to talk more about it. But I realized at church today that then we would have missed the lesson as a family. Jeron and I might have learned something but our kids wouldn't have. As much as I would love to shelter them from the hard things in life I won't always be able to. And because of the way things worked out we were able to teach them a valuable life lesson, and they were able to teach me some too!
So after the longest test drive of my life we do know this is what we want and what will be right for our family some day, just not today. As a family we are choosing to look at it as the right car, wrong time!

Be Strong!

2010-05-17T13:36:00.002-06:00

This weekend we had Sake Conference. It was a wonderful weekend of meetings! Jeron had Priesthood Leadership on Saturday afternoon. I was supposed to have the girls bathed and ready for bed before he came home and we went to the Adult Session. That didn't happen so it fell to Jaxon, well the getting ready for bed part! I didn't make him bathe them! =) I felt a little stressed getting out the door but Jeron knew that would be the case so instead of coming right home he ran and got a pizza for the kids! We got to the meeting a little early so I had time to just sit in the chapel and get myself ready for the meeting to come. That is always so nice! It was a wonderful meeting. I felt uplifted as a parent and as a Young Woman Leader!
Our ward was one that was asked to attend the afternoon session. I have to admit in the past we would have gone to the morning. This time the youth from all the wards attending their session were asked to be in a Youth Choir. That meant that Jaxon needed to be in our session! And then a friend got asked to speak in our session! Well I knew I couldn't miss that (she did a wonderful job - by the way)! It was nice to have the morning and we sure used it. Jaxon needed to be there half an hour early and it was so nice out we decided to walk. I set a goal to be out of the house by 11:00 so we would actually leave by 11:15! I couldn't believe it, we walked out of our house at 11:05 and were seated in the chapel by 11:15! For the first time in my married life I sat IN the chapel for Stake Conference! It was wonderful! Even being there 45 minutes early my kids all did really well through the whole meeting. The theme for the meeting was "Putting on the Whole Armor of God" and we were asked to have a Family Home Evening on the subject before Stake Conference. Of course we didn't get that done but Jeron and I had decided we would do it after. We are having to do FHE on Sunday evening right now because of Jeron's work schedual. So to help the boys pay attention and to have a more productive FHE we made sure they each had something to take notes in. This is something we have tried before but it has never worked as well as it did this time. They were quiet, and took really good notes. It made for a wonderful FHE!
The song the Youth Choir was asked to sing is called "Be Strong" We found out not long after I was put it they would be singing it. It became the opening song for Mutual opening exercises every week and then it became the opening song in YW every week so that the kids would KNOW IT! Well, that means that I know it too! The song is amazing and I know if the Youth will listen, really listen to the words and feel the spirit that comes with them they will be keeping their Armor of the Lord strong! If you would like to hear it click here for the link! If you would just like to know more about our church and the things that we believe please click here!

Em & M Crochet - The Blog!

2010-05-13T18:56:00.004-06:00

For anyone who would like a better look at the things that I am doing with my crochet I have started a blog. I am also posting my things on Etsy. I think these will both be good places to show case the cute things I have been working on. To check out the blog click here. To check out my Etsy page click here.

I am looking for models for both of these and also a flip photo album to use for when people come to look at things and at boutiques. I have found both from looking at things on Etsy and my own experience that seeing things like this on real people help customers visualize! If you would be willing to be a model or allow your children to do so I am willing to pay in trade!

Thanks so much for all of your support!

Brook!

Mothers

2010-05-10T09:48:00.002-06:00

I didn't do a Mothers Day post last year. I thought about it but didn't. I then felt guilty for some reason. I thought alot about this post yesterday. I thought alot about the many women in my life who have had influence on me.
My own mother of course. There were many times I thought she could read minds or tell the future or something. She always just seemed to KNOW things! She could look at me and knew if I was reading my scriptures! I think she still can she just doesn't say anything (sometimes - she'll still give me a kick in the pants when I need it!). My first response to a problem is to pray about it because that is what my mom taught me to do. She listens to the spirit and acts on the promptings she receives. Not only has this been a good example to me of how I should be it has helped me more then once! It was my second day alone with the boys after I had Porter and my mom's first day back to work. She had taken time off to help me the week before. She had Monday off but was doing alot of sewing for the High School Dance Company. Monday had gone fine of course because she was just a phone call away and could come over at anytime if I needed her. Tuesday when she was at work and didn't even have a phone in the Library is when the boys decided my "break" was over! While I was nursing Porter Jaxon and Connor got into flower or peanut butter I can't remember now! I just remember a huge mess when I was done! Mostly I remember kneeling down in my living room crying a prayer to my Father in Heaven. I needed to talk to my mom! Only a few minutes later my phone rang. To my amazement it was my mom, "I had a little break and wanted to see how your day was going." She then said all the right things to calm me down. That phone call helped me through the rest of that day and also a pretty bad postpartum depression. It helped me remember that my Father in Heaven knew me and was there to help me through what ever I will go through in my life. My mom listened to a prompting! She has always been there to do what ever her Father in Heaven needed her to do.
My mother-in-law. I wouldn't have the wonderful husband I have today without her! She raised 7 kids adopted 4 more after Jeron and I were married and had 2 kids ourselves! She too taught her children through the spirit and it shows. 7 of the 11 children are endowed, 6 of those married in the temple. She has taken me in as a daughter and for years I got to be the "favorite daughter-in-law"! Of course that was because I was the only one but hey I'll take it! Now I'm the favorite in Utah and Annie gets to be the favorite in Washington! She has always been there for Jeron and I. More then once when we were living in Sandy and Jeron was at school with the car or working late I would walk over to the house because it was my only way out of the house! I knew I was always welcome and if I timed things right I could get dinner out of the deal!
I could go into my grandmothers who have both taught me many things. Jeron's grandmothers who I have enjoyed so much getting to know. Both Grandma Collins before she passed away and Grandma Wixom even though she lives so far away now. Grandma Wixom gave me a whole box of yarn she had collected over the years and couldn't use anymore because she knew how much I was enjoying my crochet! Grandma Harrison helped me make a doll for my sister for Christmas one year and would have us each over for a day of making goodies and whatever else! Grandma Perkins (or Snowmobile!) would have us each up to Idaho for a week every summer! One of the things about those was that I also got to spend time with my Great Grandmothers. Great Grandma Perkins always had a cookie jar and AFTER a hug you got to go straight to the jar! She was an amazingly strong woman. Great Grandma Rose was also. I remember going shopping with Grandma Rose and her sister once. She also had a grand daughter with her and bought her a really cute shirt that I just loved. Grandma Rose couldn't afford to buy me one too but she knew she could make me one! After we got home from shopping she found some material she had and I went home with a new shirt and no one could tell the difference! Some of my greatest memories as a child come from those times with my grandmothers and great grandmothers.
I could continue to go on and on. Aunts, on my side and Jeron's. (Jody who started taking all of the "big" girls to the temple for our birthdays!) Sisters and sisters-in-law. I am lucky enough to have 2 sisters and 7 sisters-in-law! That is ALOT of good examples and good friends! My sisters and I would fight when we were growing up and my mom would always tell us we would be best friends later in life. And you know what, we are! At least I hope they feel the same way! Cousins. I have the best cousins in the world! (That includes you in-laws!) Friends and women in my ward, past wards and so on. Everywhere I turn I have women to look up to and learn from.
I would like to say a great big thank you to all the women in my life and all they do for me. Thank you for the help, support, prayers so on and so forth! I wish I could do more for you but I hope right now my humble prayers of gratitude for you and whatever else you may need in your life are enough!

Blogging Backlog: Boutique

2010-05-07T22:16:00.002-06:00

Okay I think with this one we are caught up! And it is the whole reason we are behind in the first place. Saturday May 1st I had my first boutique! I will be honest, it didn't go as well as I had hoped. However, I did learn alot. I wanted to be able to be with the booth. After we got everything all set up and people started coming through I felt really in the way. The way we set up there really wasn't some place for us to be that wasn't in the way. It would have been nice to be there for those that had questions and out of the way of the people that didn't want to talk. I also should have had pictures in addition to the displays. It is important to have the displays but I think it would have helped for people to be able to see what they look like on people!

The hat and some flowers.

This is my basket full of hats!

The heavy and light headbands!

Basket of heavy headbands.

It was interesting to me how much business I did while I was cleaning up my booth. I had a lady buy a headband and 4 flowers from me! And when I told her the headbands were machine washable her eyes nearly popped out of her head! Live and learn, right?!

I am working on a flip photo album to have at things like this so if have things I have done for you and you wouldn't mind me using the pictures for something like this I would really appreciate it!

Blogging Backlog: Too Cute!

2010-05-07T22:12:00.002-06:00

Okay, there really isn't a reason for this post except

HOW CUTE IS MY BABY!

Blogging Backlog: Dance Dance Dance!

2010-05-07T20:51:00.002-06:00

Last winter Emma started dancing. My sister Meg teaches at Murry Community and Emma gets to be in her class.

Getting ready for tap.

1st position or "mermaid tails"

Trying to be just like Miss Megan!

What a super star!

We are so lucky to have Miss Megan as our teacher! I don't think that we are going to be able to have her for Emma and Maycie at least at the same time but we'll take whatever we can get!

Blogging Backlog: Spring Choir!

2010-05-07T20:36:00.002-06:00

Porter did Spring Choir again this year. I still don't understand why and how he will do such a good job with this but I still can't get him to sing at church (at least in Sacrament Meeting!). He was so excited because they did Disney Music this year!

Maybe I should show him these pictures to get him to sing at church!

He even had a speaking part this year.

He took care of memorizing and everything all by himself!

Great job Porter!

Blogging Backlog: Snowmoblies!

2010-05-07T19:53:00.004-06:00

Some of you may know about our family and snowmobiling. You may even remember a blog entry from last year when I made my kids dress up to go out and take a picture because we couldn't go last year. For those of you who may not know I will give a brief family history.

I will be honest. I don't know how long we have been doing this. I know it is something that all started with my maternal grandfather. I remember taking my "test" at 8 years old. So I have been doing this with my family as long as I can remember. My dad LOVES to go do this. He loves getting us all together and the family time. But as much as he loves that he really loves the riding too! My parents have been wanting to get their own machines for years. And this last winter as a part of every ones Christmas they found some! They needed work, and more work then they thought when they bought them! But finally they had one ready to go. We took a Saturday and went up by Strawberry River. The kids all had a blast! The boys all got to take their "tests". Jaxon didn't want to the last time so he was more then ready this time! Emma got to wear a snow suite that was Uncle Tay's when he was a kid! Maycie got to go on her first ride! She and Emma both spent most of their time in the truck with Grammy and were just fine with it!

Porter getting ready for THE TEST!

Jaxon going out on his own!

Connor finally got to take his snowboard out!
He decided he would really like a "real" one!

Papa and his new helmet!

This Christmas was all about the snowmobiles for him!

Papa taking the girls on a ride!

Are you ready girls! Papa is!

The next weekend Porter got to go with just Papa and Uncle Tay! Connor asked to be able to do the same thing next winter! Papa was more then happy to work that out for all of the boys if they want!

Blogging Backlog: Connor & Lacrosse!

2010-05-07T19:35:00.002-06:00

For the longest time Connor has been wanting to play Lacrosse. This last fall when Jaxon got to play Football and Porter got to play Flag Football we promised Connor he would get his turn in the Spring. I have cousins who play and Connor has always looked up to all of them so much. I think this may be what started the ball rolling for him because it didn't have anything to do with mom and dad! We didn't know anything about the sport! I have a cousin who plays for the BYU Lacrosse team. He had a stick that he didn't use anymore and so he gave it to Connor. Connor was so excited I think he actually slept with it for a night or two! Another cousin was able to lend us a helmet. It is a good thing we had family to help us because even with this help (these are the 2 most expensive pieces of equipment) it cost us $100! And that is just the equipment! Sports are expensive! But it is worth it! We have already seen such an improvement in Connor in the last couple of weeks! He is more sure of himself and finally figuring out how to work his legs!

Neither West Jordan or Copper Hills had enough boys to make a team so they combined them. They practice at West Hills Middle School so that made the perfect name! Go West Hill Lacrosse!

Blogging Backlog: Emma's Hair!

2010-05-07T18:44:00.003-06:00

Okay, so it has been WAY too long between blog posts. I have so many to catch up on it isn't even funny! I will do them in order as best I can remember! =)

About 6 weeks ago I was combing Emma's hair and noticed one side in the front to be shorter then the rest of her hair. It was such a small amount of hair that I think she had actually done the cutting a day or two before and I just hadn't noticed it. But at the same time it was enough in length that we couldn't just leave it. I called my mom in a panic! I wasn't sure if we should just cut it off or blend it in. I love having a mom who knows about these things! I got over there and we decided her hair needed a good trim anyway and so we were better off just cutting off to the length she cut it to. It wasn't really that short to me and I think it looks way cute at this length (sorry Em, you got moms hair!). It is so much easier to take care of too! The hard part was when people would see it they would tell her how cute it was. That didn't do much for teaching her a lesson about cutting her own hair! She loved it at first too. Now, however, she is missing her long hair and being able to pull it up into ponytails and such! She said as much to her friends mom (this same friend had done the same thing to her own hair about a week before Emma) the other day. She looked at Emma and said exactly what I was thinking, "Well, Emma, you shouldn't have cut your own hair then should you?!"

It is a good thing Heavenly Father makes them cute!

Boutique!

2010-03-13T20:38:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that my sister Abby and I got into a boutique! It is called the "Oh So Sweet Spring Boutique" and is on May 1st. It is held at the Davis Conference Center in Layton. I am really excited and nervous and scared! But mostly excited! I have some flyers if you are interested. If you can come and bring the flyer with you you will be entered into a drawing!

I have also decided the best way to show my stuff is going to be a blog. So I will be putting one together! If anyone has some great advice about doing a blog for a business like this I would LOVE to hear it! With this I am collecting pictures of people wearing the hats headbands and flowers. If you have something I would love a picture! Please remember that unless you tell me otherwise I will be using any and all pictures for advertising either on the blog or in picture form at the boutique. Either way I would love to see some of the cute ways you have all come up with to wear them!

Thank you so much for all of your support with this! If you would like me to e-mail you a flyer please leave your e-mail address. I can also get you a paper flyer so just let me know what you would like!

Our MVP!

2010-03-11T19:16:00.003-07:00

I have a couple of blog posts to do but this one has to come first! Today is Daddy's birthday! I took the kids to the store to do birthday shopping and found out that I need to take my kids to the store more often! They have forgotten how to act! THAT should be dad's birthday present! Just kidding!

We went to get a gift bag and of course they picked the biggest one there was! We got everything into one bag with 3 times more space left over! But it was the bag they wanted because dad is our

Some of the reasons he is our MVP: he works very hard for us, he likes to have fun with us, home is his favorite place to be, he does his best to be a good example, he honors his priesthood & leads our family so we can be together forever!

Thank you for being such a good dad and husband. Hope you had a wonderful day!

A Birthday Surprise!

2010-03-04T20:16:00.002-07:00

As Jeron was leaving for work this morning he found a birthday surprise for Connor. He called back in the house to Connor and then to me to come see our yard!

Some one from our neighborhood decided Connor needed a special secret surprise this morning. They had to have been up at the crack of dawn or before to get this done because Jeron and I were awake too late for it to have been done last night! What a wonderful way to start a birthday!

11 Years Ago...

2010-03-04T18:42:00.003-07:00

11 Years ago today baby boy #2 joined the Collins Clan! We named him Connor Edward Collins. As I think of this day I can't help but think of the days that led up to it. We were just sure (again!) that there was no way I was going to make it to my inducement. There seemed to be so much going on that the nurse told me she would set up the inducement "just in case" but "you won't make it!" I did make it. After a trip to the hospital on a Sunday afternoon and a panic attack because I hadn't had a blessing yet. Don't worry we made my mom and dad come to the hospital so my dad could help with a blessing! They sent me home not long after giving me very mixed messages. My failing memory can't remember for sure (I even checked his journal to see if MAYBE I actually wrote about this but of course I didn't)! I think it was the Sunday before I had him so I only had to wait 3 more days!

I remember getting to the hospital and getting all ready. I had a wonderful nurse. She had a student with her and that was great because it was like I had 2 of them just for me! I remember very well her coming in to check on me one time and a few minutes later asking if she had turned up my pit while she was in there. I didn't get half way through the question before I knew that answer! She listened to me and my needs but was also there to give advice when we needed it! I also remember when it was time to push. She called out to the nurses station and had them get my doctor. And then she got me ready and had my give a good push. She then VERY calmly walked over to the door, stuck her head out and yelled, "GET THE DOCTOR IN HERE NOW!" We didn't do any more pushing until my doctor got there just a minute later and Connor was only about 5 minutes behind that! I think I pushed 4 times with him! And then there he was laying on top of my tummy looking at me! Those big eyes with the longest lashes ever! He was our smallest baby at 7lbs 8oz and our longest at 21in! Just like now, long and skinny!

I remember wondering how Jaxon was going to do with all of this. We had heard somewhere of a family making sure they got "family time" before everyone else came into see the baby. We decided this would be a good idea. It felt like it took forever for anyone to come in and see me after Jaxon was born and I had pushed for a whole 15 minutes with him. So when I started pushing we called Jeron's sister and told her it was time to bring Jaxon to the hospital. Jeron's parents live about 5 maybe 10 minutes from the hospital so we figured he would be waiting for us! Oh no! We had a hallway full of family waiting for Jaxon to get there so they could see the baby! I was very glad we did this though! Jeron carried Jaxon into the room and the moment he saw Connor he said, "My baby brother!" He wouldn't touch him until the next day but he knew that was his little brother! And from that day on that bond has been there!

Seriously, this is how Jaxon was for the first 24 hours!

After that however, all he wanted to do was hold Connor!

Our family just would not be the same without this boy! He says things to make us laugh. He says things that make us think. He says things that make mommy want to pull her hair out at times! He says things that are so sweet just when you need it that it makes you wonder how in the world anyone could be that in tune to another persons needs! It is hard for me to believe he is 11. Only 1 more year and I will have 2 boys passing the Sacrament! It is hard for me to believe I am so blessed to have you as a son, Connor! Thank you for coming to our family! We love you! Hope you have another wonderful year!

What Have I Done Today?

2010-02-25T11:28:00.006-07:00

Okay, so this hasn't been just today! I wish I were that good! Anyway, I have finished my first adult hat! Actually I have now done 3! I think they are turning out really cute! Kinda late in the year for this season but I am trying to think ahead for next year! I am looking into a boutique in Layton that would be the beginning of May. I have to apply to get in. They take applications and then take about 44 vendors of their choice so they don't have all of the same thing. Knowing my stuff would be mostly going out of season by then my mom suggested trying a thinner headband that would be better for summer! I did and have been using them on my girls and I love them! As a part of the application for the boutique I have to show how I would display my work. I have a neighbor who did a board for her daughters bows and it sounded like just the thing I needed so I have done a couple of those too! And now you all know why my house is a mess! Let me know what you think!

Adult size hat!

I think I might actually wear one of these next winter! And for those of you who know me you know I HATE hats! =)

The lighter weight headband!

I put Maycie in one almost everyday now! I even want to make one for myself!

I found some pastel pink in the right crochet cotton to make these!

Is that something people would be interested in?

Board #1!

Both boards are 16X20 canvas.

On this one the ribbons run up and down the 16in side.
So it is wider...

On this board the ribbons are running up and down on the 20in side.
...and this one is taller.

(Thanks for the fabulous idea Megan Rees - neighbor who gave me the idea and all the help with the ribbons Megan Fewkes - my wonderful sister! I am so lucky!)

I should know in the next couple of weeks if I get into the boutique! I will keep you posted and in the meantime I would love some feed back! =)

New Camera!

2010-02-12T19:19:00.003-07:00

I have said it before, I am saying it now and I am sure I will say it again next year! Tax season is the 1 time of year is pays to be broke and have 5 kids! We ALWAYS get a refund! So that is when we get some of the bigger things that we have been wanting that the money is just not in the budget for! Last year it was my washer and dryer! This year is a new camera! Our other camera has been a good camera. But it was definitely starting to show it's age. Right before Maycie was born it just quite working and wouldn't turn on. We had to borrow a camera from my mom and dad to be able to take pictures at the hospital! It did that for a few months and then just started working again. Some times the shutters don't open all the way and so the picture looks like the sides are shaded! So we started doing research and checking out cameras and options. I found out during football season that my camera couldn't zoom far enough in for me to get good shots of the boys. So that was a major feature for me! I found 2 that I liked that seemed to be almost identical except the $100 price difference! When I found out that the major difference was that 1 did HD video and 1 didn't. I decided we could save the $100 and go without HD video for now! I went outside and took a picture of my house with my new camera!

And then I zoomed in and took a picture of my house!

I think we are going to be able to make this work just fine!

Porter's Valentine Program

2010-02-12T17:36:00.004-07:00

Every year the 3rd Grade learns a few dances and then they get to show them all at a program. They have done it at different times during the year. This year they chose to do it as a Valentine program! It was so much fun watching Porter do these dances!

I think he really enjoyed himself!

Getting ready for their turn as "lead couple"

They did alot of the dances "in the round" so everyone got a chance to see!

What a gentleman!

Very into it. Wrong foot! But very into it!

Porter Gets His Wolf!

2010-02-11T10:55:00.002-07:00

Porter turned 9 in November and should have gotten his Wolf at that Pack Meeting. They didn't do it with Thanksgiving and such so he was supposed to get it at December's Pack Meeting. That one had to be canceled at the last minute. He was pretty bummed but what do you do?! January's Pack Meeting was upon us and we got a phone call the day before - it had to be cancelled again! They needed the building for a Funeral. Instead of making all the boys wait until February's Pack Meeting which is also the Blue and Gold they did a make-up Pack Meeting the next week! The time had finally come! Porter got his Wolf after waiting for 2 and 1/2 months!

He got his Wolf, the Gold Arrow point and 2 Silver Arrow points!

We are very proud of you Porter!

My sister has been in Scouts off and on for the last few years and made these really cool ribbons for all the families in her ward! Being the wonderful sister she is she made one for me too! Now I have a place to put all of the boys pins all the way through their Eagle! And they have something to pin the award on that neither one of us has to worry about poking or getting poked! =)

Thank You Aunt Abby!

Emma and Her Surgery!

2010-02-05T10:20:00.008-07:00

4 years and 2 months ago we were at Primary Children's with Emma. She was just 2 months old and was running a temperature of 102. We had to watch her go through so many tests and when they had to do the spinal tap is when I finally left the room. I couldn't watch them do any more to my baby. Through that stay at Primary's we found out that Emma has what is called Urinary Track Reflux. It was something we hoped she would out grow. Every year we had to go back and retest. These tests are not enjoyable for Emma or mommy! Every year hoping that would be the year they would tell us we were done, she had out grown it! This time we had the testing with an appointment with the Urologist right after. She looked at her test results and looked at us and then said, "You guys have given it a good go. I think you should do the surgery." We had 2 choices and a decision to make. So Jeron and I went home and talked and prayed alot about what to do. Not as much about IF we should do the surgery but about if to go LESS invasive or MORE invasive! Less invasive there is no incision. More invasive there is a small incision. In the end we decided less on her left side and more on her right.

She is 4 and not excited about doing surgery. Primary Children's does a pre-surgery class and it was a little hard to find the time to go with everything else we have going on. In the end we decided to make the time and I am SO GLAD we did! If you are ever given this option TAKE IT! When we first got there for the class she was obviously feeling some stress over the whole situation. By the time we left it was gone! There was nothing that was a surprise to her! She got to see every room she would spend time in. She got to smell all the different smells of the "sleepy medicine" she had to choose from. She got to put a mask on her face so she knew what it looked and felt like. She came home with a hat, gloves and a mask! She looked ready to be a surgeon herself! Most important she got to see the doors where we would say "see you later" and we decided exactly what we would say at the doors before hand.

Of course I forgot my camera. I so wish I had a picture of her walking away to show everyone! She took the doctors hand and started to walk away. She looked back over her shoulder and waved to us with a big smile on her face! She was so grown up and did so well.

Everything has gone better then could be expected! We were at the hospital almost exactly 6 hours. We were there for more then an 1 and 1/2 before she even went into surgery. We did almost have to cancel because she started coughing AFTER we were at the hospital. After talking with everyone we decided to go ahead with the surgery. I really didn't want to go through getting her ready for surgery all over again! She was supposed to be in surgery for 2 and 1/2 hours and then was in less then 2! After she came out of surgery we were only there another 2 to 2 and 1/2 more hours!

The best part of watching her wake up was asking her questions! She would answer with the appropriate answers but in a very annoyed tone! A tone that very clearly said, "Leave me alone I am tired!" By last night she was laying on her tummy! Oh to be a child and recover so quickly!

When we first found out she had this more then 4 years ago I really just wanted her to out grow it. The thought of surgery was just more then I could take at the time. After the last 4 years and all of the medications and bladder infections, accidents and fevers, after all the worry about kidney damage and having to do that test every year we had to at least try the surgery. We do have a 5% chance this won't work. That was a chance we were willing to take. I do have to say that after the blessing she received Wednesday night I am not worried! I am glad we did it now before she got any older and even more self conscious about what the surgery would include and where it was.

Thank you all for all of your concern, love and prayers! It has definitely been felt! We love you all!

My Stuff is on KSL!

2010-02-03T08:31:00.003-07:00

Just for information I finally took the plunge! My mom told me that I had been dipping my toes for too long and that I just needed to plug my nose and go for it, so I did! I put my hats, headbands and flowers on KSL the other day!

If you go to the classifieds go to the heading General and then Handmade goods or click here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=9541467&cat=516&lpid=. It is a few items down now but it has a cute picture of Emma! If you click on more info to see more about my stuff there is a contact seller box. In that box there is a Share on Face Book button. If you click on that button it will put a link on your FB page (if you have FB!). I would really appreciate anyone willing to share the link with there friends and get the word out for me! The link is awesome because it takes you right to my stuff when you click on it! Thanks for all your help and support everyone! =)

Emma Can Speak Spanish?

2010-01-28T11:43:00.002-07:00

Emma came to me and said I am speaking Spanish mom! I thought I would do a little video clip so that I could show it to Jeron when he got home from work. When I finished it I decided it really needed to go on the blog! I hope you enjoy Emma's version of Spanish!

Baptisms For The Dead!

2010-01-28T10:05:00.002-07:00

This is a picture of Jaxon at Porter's baptism. He had just turned 12 a month before and the suit we got him was still too big. Now he is 13 and the suit is almost too small!

Right after he turned 12 the Young Men were going to the Temple to do Baptisms for the Dead and he got his recommend in time to go! He was so excited! He was so excited that he had taken his recommend to school in his wallet and then when it came time to leave he couldn't find it. He was very disappointed. And if I was a good mom I would have made sure that we got him to the Temple right after that. Well, I didn't. And the YM Deacons Quorum hasn't been since. And then his recommend expired. I felt VERY guilty! So guilty that I have made it a personal goal to get him to the temple once a month! So he got a new recommend and then we were at the end of January. I really wanted to get him to the temple. Have you ever had a trip to the temple planed and had everything go wrong to the point that you just want to stay home? We had the hardest time getting a baby sitter. Jaxon had a horrible headache right as we needed to get ready to go. I was so tired I think I could have gone to bed at 5pm and slept all night! I didn't get Jeron's white shirt on to wash until really late (thank goodness for a washer and dryer that are amazing)! By the time Jeron got home from work I was ready to say, "It just isn't going to happen!" But then I knew we would all miss a wonderful experience!

And it was wonderful! We got there just in time too. About 20 min. after we got there it got very busy to the point of standing room only! I loved telling people that it was Jaxon's first time! He was so nervous! I told him we were in the temple and that there would always be someone who would help him! It was wonderful! I am so glad we took the time and went. I am glad we got to be there with him for his first time. I hope he has the desire to go back often and make this a part of his life. I will make sure that we get the other kids there much sooner then this, that is for sure! Thank you Jaxon for being such a wonderful young man! I love you!

Best Friends!

2010-01-28T09:37:00.005-07:00

I thought it was young for Jaxon to have a best friend at 2! And he did! There was a little boy who lived upstairs from us in the apartment complex we lived in and they were best buds! They have moved away now but we still try and see them once a year and Jaxon and Josh are able to pick up like they see each other almost every day!

Jaxon and Josh at 4 years old!

This is Maycie and Afton!

Her mom and I would joke before they were born that they were going to be best friends! And then I started baby sitting her 2 days a week and I have gotten to watch these girls really become best friends! It is so cute! Maycie will look around at church until she finds her and then they spend the rest of Sacrament Meeting trying to talk to each other! It is so funny!

I teach Primary but get to go to Relief Society every other week. It is the same thing in there only Maycie spends the whole time trying to actually GET to Afton!
At church on Sunday I decided it would be so cute to get a picture of the 2 of them together! That proved to be a little more difficult then I thought! You would think that as a mom of 5 I would get how hard this would be! Silly me, I actually thought that they would just sit there for me! Ha!

Last night Jeron and I wanted to take Jaxon to the temple to do baptisms. We had the most difficult time trying to get a baby sitter! I haven't had to do that in a long time and now I remember why I love Jaxon being able to do it so much! When Megan (Afton's mom) found out she offered to take the girls for me. She has been wanting to have Maycie over so she could get to see them together anyway. When we got there to pick them up she was amazed! She just kept saying over and over, "They are so cute together!"

I hope she always thinks it's cute when Maycie starts teaching her the naughty things!

Because I'm sure she will! I think the hardest part is that they will be the same year in school but in different Primary classes. I love that Maycie is going to have a friend just down the street and I hope that they will always be the best of friends!

Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning

2010-01-24T21:23:00.004-07:00

Disclaimer: My sister-in-law Alicia did a similar post a number of months ago. It is because of that post that this post is happening! I am sure this song would NOT have the same meaning for me otherwise! So for those of you who may read her blog I am not trying to copy her, just be inspired by her!

I truly thought that moving to 11:00 church was going to make it easier to get there on time! We had a whole extra 2 hours and the boys didn't need to be there half an hour early to help set up chairs. We were golden! In fact, I was kind of excited because we haven't had an 11:00 block in YEARS! We are now almost a full month into the New Year and barely slid into a pew "on time" for the first time! I got all flustered because the pew we usually sit on and that Jaxon had put his stuff down on (he was already there and had been since 9:30! Jeron has a meeting every Sunday at 9:30 and this was one Jaxon had to be too.) was occupied by another family on the other end that didn't leave us enough room. I quickly found another bench on the side that I knew would crowd us but didn't see any other options! Jeron was taking care of coats for me and came in a minute after me looking VERY confused! We even had a sister comment about us sitting in the wrong place! We are creatures of habit and sit on the same pew every week! We would be okay on room until Jaxon was done passing the sacrament and so I warned the others they were going to have to scoot over when he came back! I also warned them the my patients were low so to WATCH OUT! And then the opening hymn starts and I look down to see what it is: Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning! I think to myself: are you kidding me?! So I pay very close attention to the words as we sang this morning. I would like to tell you some of my thoughts as we sang this opening hymn.
First line of the hymn:
Welcome, welcome, Sabbath morning; Now we rest from every care.
Already we have a problem. Rest from every care? As the mother of 5 kids trying to get us all to church on time do you think that I really get a rest from every care? I don't think so!
Welcome, welcome is thy dawning, Holy Sabbath, day of prayer.
Loving teacher kindly greet us As we meet in Sunday School,
Where they labor hard to teach us By the Savior's golden rule.
Believe it or not I am actually okay with the rest of the first verse! As a Primary Teacher I like that the hard work ALL teachers go it is acknowledged! I do always try and greet my class kindly, I may not be happy by the end! But I do always try to start out on a good note!
Hark! the Sabbath bells are ringing; Hear the echoes all around.
List! the merry children singing! What a pleasing, joyful sound!
I am not going to even finish the second verse! Merry children singing? My boys are not merry children singing! In fact I had to threaten Connor to open his hymn book today or he would be punished! Even getting through Sacrament meeting is not restful!
I actually really like the third verse:
Here we bow in meek devotion; Here we sing God's holy praise.
Here our hearts, with fond emotion, Seek to learn his holy ways.
From the books of revelation We are taught while yet in youth.
Words of heavenly inspiration Guide us in the path of truth.
And I remember the days when this used to be going to church for me! I know these days will come again, but right now I am lucky if I hear half of ONE talk! I feel so rude some days! Shhhing my children and trying to keep Emma sitting in ANY way that MIGHT be modest so that when she is 12 she already knows how to sit! Not to mention Maycie climbing all over Jeron and I so that she can stay awake because church is now in the middle of her nap!
And then we hit verse four!
Here we meet with friends and neighbors; Parents too are in the throng.
We are earnest in our labours. To God's kingdom we belong.
Trials make our faith grow stronger; Truth is nobler than a crown.
We will brave the tempest longer Tho the world upon us frown.
We have only been in our "new" ward just over 18 months and so feel at home there. The people we meet with are our friends and neighbors in the truest sense of the word! Our Bishop's parents live in our ward and are able to sit with his wonderful wife and 4 small children so she doesn't have to do it all alone. We truly belong to Gods Kingdom! I may not welcome all that the sabbath morning brings but I know I am helping my children learn the things they need to know so that we can be together forever! These trials will make me stronger and I will be a better person-mom-wife for it! Together with these wonderful brothers and sisters in the gospel I will be able to brave the tempest longer no matter what else comes my way!
So bring it on Sabbath Morning!

Boogie Woogie

2010-01-21T18:49:00.003-07:00

Maycie WON'T walk but she can shake her bootie with the best of them! As soon as she hears music she just can't hold still! But of course as soon as she knows anyone outside of our family is watching she gets shy! So that the world can she her talent and know that I am not a liar here is Maycie shankin' her bootie for the world! Hope you enjoy what we call boogie woogie!

Great Grandparents!

2010-01-19T18:19:00.006-07:00

Back in July Jeron's grandparents were here visiting from CA. I knew I didn't have any pictures of them with Maycie and so we took one. Then it hit me that I should probably take one of them with all my kids. The chain reaction of thought was that I should probably do that with ALL of their Great Grandparents! Duh!

With Grandma & Grandpa Wixom!

(Jeron's maternal grandparents!)

With Grandma & Grandpa Perkins

(my maternal grandparents!)

Grandma & Grandpa Perkins are also known as Grandma & Grandpa Snowmobile! This is a name that goes all the way back to when I was young! They have snowmobiles and took us out every year and it is just the kind of name that sticks - you know! Especially when you carry on the tradition with the great grand kids!

With Grandma & Grandpa Harrison

(my paternal grandparents!)

I said before this all started with Jeron's grandparents. What was interesting was that the grandparents that live the closest are the ones it took me the longest to get a picture of. It wasn't because we didn't see them. It was because I couldn't remember my camera (or to take the picture when I did have it with me) to save my life!

I knew when I started taking the pictures that I would do a blog post. It made me think about how important all of these people are in my life and how lucky my children are to have them. And not just have them in their life but to KNOW them. My kids know these people and are influenced by them. They look forward to getting to see them.

The one set of grandparents that are missing from this post so far are Jeron's paternal grandparents. Jeron never got to know his grandfather. He passed away when my father-in-law was just 8 years old. His grandmother was lucky enough to live just 5 months short of her 93rd birthday. My boys all got to know her. Porter was little and doesn't remember much but he does remember her. Jaxon remembers her well.

This is Grandma Collins holding Connor as a baby!

It wouldn't be a post about Great Grandparents if I didn't at least mention that my children also got to know a great great grandmother! My mom's maternal grandmother (Grandma Rose!) was about 3 months short of her 93rd birthday when she passed. Emma was days away from her 2nd birthday and doesn't remember her, but her brothers do!
Maycie only got to know them in Heaven. Thankfully she can be told story after story and not just from mom and dad. But from at least her big brothers too!

Grandma Rose with Connor!

This is one of VERY FEW pictures I have of Grandma Rose! She hated having her picture taken! We must have bribed her with the baby to get this!

I am so thankful for the heritage I am able to give my children through these wonderful people! I am also thankful to have the pictures that I do so I may keep their example alive always and not just for my children but for the generations to come!

Maycie's First Hair Cut!

2010-01-14T17:46:00.003-07:00

Maycie's hair is sooo... different from Emma's! Emma hair grows straight back on one side and straight down on the other (she will NEVER be able to wear bangs but the 80's swoop will be no problem)! Maycie will be able to wear bangs just fine if her hair ever gets that long! It seemed that the only place Maycie's hair was growing was at the nape of her neck. But not all the way across, just on the sides! It was either the WORST A-Line ever or a really BAD mullet (is there a good mullet?)! She didn't really have enough hair on top to do a cute pony tail so we were still doing head bands. The problem was the head bands made the back of her hair look funny! It was really starting to bug me. This is one of those times that having a Grammy who cuts hair comes in REALLY handy! So this last week Maycie got her first hair cut!

Okay, so from the front you can't really tell!

And when she won't hold still for a picture you can't really tell either!

Now, if I had been a good mom and taken "before & after" pictures you would be able to tell a difference in this picture! See how behind her ear is nice and blunt! Before it was stringy!

Now it is a cute little bob! The best part is that as it grows it SHOULD stay one length! I know, I live in a dream world, don't I! But at least for now it isn't driving me crazy!

Merry Christmas!

2010-01-04T17:03:00.004-07:00

Our Christmas this year was a good one. We were very blessed and I hope that my kids remember so many of the things that made it a good one that couldn't fit under the tree!

Not that there wasn't PLENTY under the tree!

Jeron and his dad had what you might call an unspoken contest every year! His dad would set up road blocks and Jeron would try and get past them! The kids (except Maycie) slept down stairs and let's just say Jeron and I didn't trust them! So Jeron put up his own road block! I have to say it worked pretty well!

Christmas PJ's!

This is the kids 12th Day of Christmas from Grammy (my mom) every year! A wonderful tradition! I guess I should get my act together and make the PJ's I give them next year!

We'll see! I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you!

A Vistit From Santa!

2010-01-04T16:28:00.005-07:00

We have one of the sweetest soles in our ward who every year opens her home to every child she knows AND Santa! It is a favorite of every one! We had "the talk" that Santa can't be everywhere and that he has helpers. Unfortunately my boys are all getting a little too big (for me at least!) and started talking about WHO Santa's helper might be! Now, among themselves this is not a problem, but it was on the way home in the van IN FRONT of Emma! I'm sure you all heard the "STOP TALKING" being yelled no matter where you happened to be!

Emma was so cute!

She had been waiting for this ALL day! So much so that earlier in the day she was naughty and was very worried she had blown her chance to see Santa!

Porter thinks he is pretty cool, but are you ever really too cool to sit on Santa's lap?

Connor asked Santa for coal! Yes, that is right, coal! He told Santa he wanted it to sell on the Internet to make money! Connor always has a plan! (The best part is on Christmas morning and his coal was chocolate he was bummed! =) )
Maycie was totally cool with Santa - until Daddy set her on his lap!
But don't worry, she still got excited every time she saw a picture or anything!

Getting a little big, aren't you, Jaxon!
Jaxon actually got in and out of line over and over again! In fact it wasn't until a bunch of older boys from the ward showed up and got in line that he did too!

This wonderful woman in our ward doesn't just have everyone into her home! She makes sure that every child leaves with a pair of gloves! When there weren't any gloves to fit Maycie she went and found her a hat!

12 Days of Christmas!

2009-12-17T13:20:00.002-07:00

Years ago my mom started doing the 12 Days of Christmas for each of my siblings and I. It was something even as an adult I looked forward to and have enjoyed! I have also watched my mom and how much she has enjoyed doing it for us. I decided I wanted the joy of giving and so Jeron and I decided to start doing it for our kids.
When I was little my grandma always made a pair of pajamas for each of the grand kids. It was the one gift we got to open on Christmas Eve. When Jaxon was little I talked my mom into starting the same tradition for HER grand kids! I am so sneaky! The whole pajama thing was another tradition I wanted to start with our kids. I am lazy and didn't make them (maybe next year!) so we started out our 12 Days this year with PJ's for the kids!
I wrapped days 1-5 and put them under the tree. I had so much fun listening to my kids! They divided all the presents into days and then went to feeling each one to guess what it was. I had to laugh when Jaxon and Connor came in so proud of themselves that they had figured out day 4 was deodorant for them! The really funny part was they weren't bummed that it was deodorant!
So this year they are getting double days and feeling very spoiled! Grammy is doing really fun things like coloring books and crayons while mom and dad are sticking to the practical like underwear and socks, but they don't seem to care! It really is getting the true spirit of Christmas going early in our house this year. Last night Jaxon and Connor got their deodorant and Porter got chap stick and was feeling very bummed about not being big. Jaxon went and got an older almost gone deodorant and gave it to Porter so he didn't feel so left out!
Thanks, Mom, for starting this tradition and helping me to keep the Christmas spirit alive in my own home!

I love You!

2009-12-17T11:27:00.002-07:00

Porter would live out in the snow if we let him. We even have to make him where a coat! He was out in the frigged temps one evening (he had to wait until evening because I wouldn't let him go out until homework and chores were done!) and when it was just about time to come in he brings me a heart made out of snow! Porter loves me so much that instead of our normal snowball (we have an on going snowball fight -with a broken window to prove it- that is going to last years!) he made me a snow heart! How lucky am I!

I love you too, Porter!

I NEED to Say Thank You!

2009-12-01T18:24:00.003-07:00

I was just thinking that I needed to change my background to get ready for Christmas and then realized I was not taking my moment to pause and think about all the things that I have. I have, instead been thinking about all the things that I would like to have. Such as "I have a van, but I WANT a Suburban." Last night as we took the opportunity to talk with our kids about the many things that we have been blessed with I also had to humble myself and take a good hard look at ME! I have gotten so caught up in the fact that we have had a hard year financially I wasn't seeing the big picture. Such as:
I have a van!

I have a home!

I have THE most wonderful husband in the world! (Now, I know we all say this and it is because they are the most wonderful husband for US! Jeron is perfect for me and is always there ready to make me smile, even when I don't want to!)

I have Jaxon! Who, for the most part, does not complain about all the babysitting we make him do. Is a good example for his younger siblings and is growing up to be a wonderful young man!

I have Connor! I'm not sure how to put into words what Connor does for our family. I just know we would all be lost without him!

I have Porter! This boy is always keeping me on my toes! One minute he is so full of himself you could just scream and the next he so humble and ready to do anything for me I could just cry!

I have Emma! What to say, except she IS a princess and she knows it! I'm not sure how this roller coaster that is a girl is going to go I just know I wouldn't have it any other way!

I have Maycie! So many times over the last year I have been so grateful for this little miracle! I have felt robbed that things were so different with her, but I have to say I will never forget it!

I could go on and name each family member by name and tell you something about everyone of Jeron and my siblings but I don't have that kind of time (3 for me plus 3 spouses and 10 for Jeron plus 6 spouses) our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews. See, I could go on all night! I will just leave it at family, and all the things you have ALL taught me!

I do have to say my mom by name. After her stroke 2 years ago (is that right mom?) I realized how sacred this life is. I am grateful to still have her here to continue to teach me and my children.

I have the gospel! I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to return to Him.

I have many wonderful friends! And although I am not always the greatest friend back they still put up with me!

I have the Atonement! Something I had not thought about until just recently is that the Atonement covers so much more then just our sins and mistakes. Part of what Jesus took upon Himself was our everyday pain. So when we hurt, for whatever reason, He has felt that pain and has a true understanding of what we are going through.

I have many things. I could go on and on! I guess the short version could have been that my heart has been changed. I now have a renewed joy of this season that is upon us and can celebrate my Saviors birth with joy in my heart instead of whatever was there before!

9 Years Ago...

2009-11-15T20:42:00.005-07:00

9 years ago today we welcomed our 3rd child and our 3rd boy to our family! Porter was a little bit of a surprise for us. Jeron was right in the middle of school we weren't in a house and knew that was still a ways off for us. I was just SURE we had to be in a house before we could have 3 kids! In the months leading up to finding out Porter would be coming to our home I had several experiences to prepare me. So even though it wasn't OUR plan I knew it was our Father in Heaven's plan and I was so happy and excited to be expecting another baby! I was, however, a little surprised to find out it was another boy! After we found out we asked Jaxon what we should name him and he told us Connor! When we told him we couldn't have 2 Connors and we named off the boy names we had talked about we stuck Porter on at the last second. It wasn't a name we had talked about this time but had been thrown around with Connor. Jaxon jumped on it. Jeron and I both knew that was this little guys name!
The day Porter was born was about like his brothers! Getting him here was not really any different then the other 2 boys had been. I think the biggest difference were the weeks after he was born learning how to take care of 3 kids instead of just 2! I'm sure that sounds kind of funny, but as I have looked back on the birth of all of my children my odd numbers have been when I have had more adjustments to make!
Porter was an amazingly good baby! In fact I remember taking him into the doctors office for a well visit and at the time I was nursing and feeding him formula. His weight was a little lower then it had been and she asked how much formula he was getting. I told her and she said he could probably have more so we upped how much he was getting and he sucked them dry! He was so go with the flow that he just took what ever we gave him and was happy with it!

Porter's 1st birthday!
Porter and his brothers! Built in best buds!

Porter has always been ready for the camera and more then willing to pose for a picture!

Porter loves to joke with all of us! He always has a smile at the ready and will do almost anything to make someones day better!

Porter loves to play in the snow! He also loves playing with Ty (our dog) and if you can put the 2 together all the better!

Porter loves being a big brother! I was worried about the big break between he and Emma but, as it turns out there was nothing to worry about! There was a bond there from day one!

To be a big brother once was great but Porter was lucky enough to get to do it twice! He loves Maycie so much! She will never have to worry about a protector because Porter will take down ANYONE who messes with his sister!

Last year was a very special year for Porter! He had been waiting for that baptism for a very long time! It was a wonderful day. It is still hard for me to believe we are a whole year past it.

I am so grateful for Porter and the spirit of love and joy he brings into our home! He is one of the 5 most wonderful surprises Heavenly Father has ever sent me!

Happy Birthday, Porter!

We love you!

Time Out For Women

2009-11-14T21:04:00.002-07:00

A few months ago my sister found out that Time Out For Women was coming to Salt Lake City for the first time! For those of you who may have never heard of this don't feel bad. I hadn't until maybe a year or so ago! (I know most of you are thinking that I must live in a hole or something!) It is basically like a Relief Society Conference on steroids! I had a friend who lives in Montana who was able to go with some friends and raved about how wonderful it was. I have another friend who went to it in Idaho and the same thing from her! So when my sister called and asked if I would be interested in going I told her yes! I then went to my sweet, sweet husband and asked if it was something we might be able to squeeze it into the budget he took one look at my face and told me he would do what ever it took for me to be able to go! He could see in one look how much I needed it!
When we bought the tickets we knew Jaxon's football team was not going to be going to the playoffs and so we would be done with football and so no problem! And then his team decided to do Jag Bowl and then we had football again! First I felt guilty that I would be missing Jaxon's LAST football game. When I got over the guilt I then realized that in addition to me missing the game Jeron would be coaching and how is he supposed to watch a 4YO and a 1YO while coaching a football game? He can't and Emma defiantly cannot be trusted to just sit by the side and watch like a good girl! I wasn't sure what to do! I kept putting off the dealing with the problem instead just letting it eat away at me! And then out of the blue my sweet Aunt Connie called me, "We have an extra ticket to Disney Princess on Ice, would Emma like to come with us?" Are you kidding? Talk about Emma heaven! One girl down, one to go! I guess I could have called some girls in the ward that keep telling us they would love to watch the girls for us if we ever need them to. I'm not used to needing that anymore because we have Jaxon. I think I have forgotten how to ask a YW to babysit! I'm still not sure why I didn't call them. I think I kept hoping the weather wouldn't be as bad as they kept saying on the news! Papa K would be going to the game and she could just sit with him. Well, the weather was worse then they kept saying and so Papa K had to stay home to keep Maycie out of the weather!
The point of me telling you all of this was one of the things that I learned for the millionth time this weekend was the Adversary will do almost ANYTHING to keep us from doing something that will help us, uplift us and bring us closer to our Father in Heaven. I needed, oh how I needed the things that I heard this weekend! I took notes. I wrote and wrote and wished I had written more! When I got there on Friday evening I felt my oil vial was empty. I now feel that it is full to over flowing! But I also know that if I don't work continuously to keep it full it will be empty again in no time! If I do the little things everyday that will keep my vial full I will always be prepared, but it takes a very short time to use up what we have saved! It really doesn't have a very long shelf life.
As I thought about writing this post I thought I would write about the many things that I learned and insights I felt through the spirit. As I started writing I realized those were for me and it was not what was really important! I'm not even sure this post is really important to anyone but me! I think what I'm trying to get out is that it is important for us to take the time for us! I was reminded again and again that I can't be a good mom and teach my children the things they need to know if I'm not feeling the spirit on a regular basis. I had gotten so caught up in the every day "have to do's" of mortal life that I was neglecting my spirit!
I am so glad that I didn't let the little things get in the way! I am so grateful for a husband who wouldn't let them! If you are interested in learning more about this event you can go to: http://deseretbook.com/tofw
Registration opens November 23 for next year! If it is something you have thought about doing I encourage you to do it! It is not something you will regret!

Cute Hats and Flower Clips For Sale!

2009-11-11T10:03:00.004-07:00

Okay, here we go! I have started making these cute little hats for my girls! I have been wanting to do it for quite some time and I am finding that I really enjoy doing it! I was on KSL the other day (I know one of my silly little things that I really don't have the time for!) and found some for sale ranging from $15 to $25 just for the hat! It started me thinking if I might be able to make a little extra money for the holidays by selling some myself! So, here we go!I only have white hats right now but I am looking for yarn to make them in more colors. I have them in sized ranging in XSmall (to fit a baby) to Large (to fit big girls).

I am also making the crocheted flower clips

They really do look so cute on!

Emma and Maycie wore them on Saturday to Jaxon's game and we got a ton of complements and I didn't worry about there heads staying warm!

In this picture Emma and Maycie are both waring the Medium hat. I am thinking about trying a Small on Maycie just because I think they are cuter when they are stretched kind of tight!

Anyway! Here is the price list!:

Caps: $10

Big flower clip: $4

Little flower clip: $3

Set (like in the first picture): $13 (a $17 value!)

If you are interested or know anyone who may be I can be contacted at:

yourcmlady@msn.com

Thanks!

Brook!

Fall Fun!

2009-11-11T09:43:00.002-07:00

The other day my wonderful kids came in the house to tell me they had been raking leaves and the pile was sooo... high! Then of course they wanted pictures! What was really funny was that as an incentive to get me to come out to take the pictures Jaxon says to me, "Mom, if you come out and take pictures then you can blog about it!" Wow! What have I created?

So I went out to take some pictures and found Emma already posing in the middle of the pile of leaves!

They decided that the best picture would be if they were covered in leaves!

Jaxon is always reminding them that HE is top dog!

I think I have a few posers on my hands!

I just wish we had gotten all the leaves raked and bagged up before our green waste went away!

The 100th Post!

2009-11-04T17:14:00.004-07:00

Okay, so is it a bad thing to do a post about a post? What is the blogger etiquette on that?! Well, I guess it doesn't matter, because I am doing it!

I realized about a week ago that I was getting close to 100 posts and told Jeron I was going to do this and he just laughed at me! I know I'm silly but that is what you all love about me, right!

I remember when I started hearing about blogs and totally not getting what they were and why you would have one or check someone elses on a daily basis! And then Jeron's sister started one and he would come home telling me all about what was going on with her family because he would check it at work. And then we got an invite from another of Jeron's sisters to her private one and that is how they announced another baby coming!

As we approached the end of the year last year I started thinking about doing a family letter and sending it out with a picture. What a good mom I am. That is all Emma and Maycie got for a birth announcement! Then I started thinking how fun it was to be keeping up on what was going on in the everyday lives of others. I love Journal writing and scrap booking and decided to give the blogging world a try! As it turns out I LOVE this whole blogging world! I totally get it now! I love the scrap booking fix it gives me (for free! What a bonus!) and how it puts my wordy Journal keeping talents to work! I love how starting a family blog help me find an outlet to find and help other people who are going through the whole helmet and torticollis thing! (If you haven't and would like to check out my helmet blog at: http://helmettherapy.blogspot.com/ Our therapist even told me today that she sent a patient there and it helped them to decide to do the helmet! I love that now if I get behind (okay, not if, but when!) I get behind on my kids Journals I can go back and look at blog entries and not forget anything.

So I guess this entry is a thank you to all of you out there who take the time to read my blog entries, even the silly ones! A thank you to all of you who have let me into your lives through your blogs. So here's to my 100th post and to 100 more!

Graduation Day!

2009-11-04T15:04:00.003-07:00

Maycie had therapy today, her LAST therapy appointment actually! It was a wonderful appointment. Over the last month Maycie has progressed so much. At our last appointment she was just pulling herself up to things. Even then she was quite choosy about what she would pull herself up to. It was about the same time that we started trying to fatten her up and we wondered if her weight problem had something to do with the fact that she didn't want to stand much. She started putting on the weight and the standing came right along with it!

She has been so close to graduating for the last 3 months or so. But then she would start to tilt or she wasn't doing a motor skill she should be and so we would make another appointment. But today there was no tilt. And everything they had her do today she did almost perfectly! Every time she would pull herself up to something or bend down to get a toy her therapist would say, "look at her! Look at how wonderful she looks!"

We have come so far in the last 8 months. In some ways it is hard to believe it has been that long. In others it feels like an eternity! I remember our very first appointment and our therapist looking at Maycie and the shock in her voice when she said what a tilt we had going on! And then when I told her it was actually an improvement and that it had been worse, wow! I look back at the pictures and it is the same kind of thing.

Today I talked with our therapist about how glad I am that we did this. When I came home from Maycie's 4 month well visit and had to tell people we were going to have to do therapy I couldn't say it without bursting into tears. I remember how the thought of a helmet at that point made me sick to my stomach. And what in the world could they do with a baby for "physical therapy" for an hour?! And at our first therapy appointment I remember our therapist going over the steps and mentioning a helmet and thinking "please, please, please don't let her have to do a helmet!" I remember an overload of information! The x-ray's of her neck and head just to be sure. The first visit with the Plastic Surgeon. Getting the helmet process started. By this point praying the insurance would cover the helmet. Funny how I had come full circle from, please don't let her have to have one to please let her get it. The awful absess on the back of her head and then a scan to make sure we didn't need to do surgery. By the time we got the second helmet I was so grateful that was all we needed to do that it really seamed like no big deal! And helping me through it all was our physical therapist! Our pediatrician is amazing and so is our Plastic Surgeon. But when you start out seeing someone every week and end up with only once a month they are more like a friend.

Our therapist kept saying today that it was all me and my hard work that got Maycie where she is now. I have to say a great big NO to that! We had a wonderful team that made sure we covered every base and kept me doing what I needed to do. We had an amazing support system of friends and family that never quit praying for us. Who, when they would hold her would ask me if she was looking/tilting the right way! Who helped me realize and understand this was not my fault. And most of all there was Maycie! I have to say (again!) she really has been a trooper through all of this! She has worked hard and it shows! The last big piece of the puzzle was my Father in Heaven. His peace was with me continually and I know the reason she did so well with everything was because He was with her, helping her with this.

I know one thing that helped me work through this was talking about it. Not being afraid to say this is what we are going through and then finding a way to try and help other people who might be going through the same thing. Starting my helmet blog was one of the best things I did! I think it taught me a life lesson to not try and hide my problems away and pretend they aren't there but to face them head on and then mow them over! You never know who you are going to meet that can help you (or that you may be able to help) if you just let it out there!

Thank You again for all of your prayers, love, support, I could go on all day! I have felt it lifting me continually! We could not have done this without you all!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T12:27:00.003-07:00

I didn't realize until after my camera battery died that I didn't get any pictures of my kids all by themselves! Bad mom, I know!
Jaxon was a football player! Soooo... easy! Thanks bud!
Connor was Sonic the Hedgehog! He has been growing his hair out for 2 months to be able to spike it for his costume! I couldn't find royal blue sweats and so I had to die gray ones! It didn't turn out as wonderful as his imagination but I don't think I could ever do as good as his imagination!
Porter was a Skeleton! The pattern I found was for someone smaller I think but we made it work!
Emma was a Bumble Bee! I think she was the cutest bumble bee ever! She had a yellow leotard and so I thought all I needed was a black and yellow tutu! But it just wasn't the same without wings and antenna! All I could find were white wings, but I think we made those work too!
Maycie was a Flower! Other then Jaxon's hers was the easiest! Thanks Wal-mart! I bought it before we started working on fattening her up though and began to get worried she was going to out grow it before Halloween! It fit perfect! Another couple of weeks I'm not so sure!

End of Regular Season

2009-10-31T14:11:00.002-06:00

Today was our last regular season game. And I have to say we went out with a bang! We didn't win. We played Alta and we knew from the beginning they were going to be hard. But being the last game the boys were ready to have a good time and let that be enough!
Jaxon had an AMAZING game! While he was playing nose guard he broke through the line (that was HUGE by the way!) and made the QB throw the ball away! More then once I saw him zero in on a kid and run faster then I realized he could! He ended up with 3 tackles today! The last kick off of the game the ball came right to Jaxon he picked it up and ran it! I started screaming! He got to run the ball! He moved it about 8 yards and broke off about 3 tackles! It was wonderful!
As we were leaving we saw a boy from our neighborhood and I asked him how he had done. With a huge smile on his face he said good! Then I asked if they had won and he said no. But you could tell he didn't care about that, all he cared about was he felt good about how he had played. After Jaxon's team was done talking and we were on our way to the car I asked him how he felt he had done. And the reply was the same. He felt good about how he had played and that is all that matters to me.
Regular season is over. I am so grateful that we didn't have to deal with a major injury. We are going to Jag Bowl (a fundraiser we do for any teams who don't go to play offs) so we will have games the next 2 weeks. If they can relax and play like they did today I think they will do pretty well!
Thanks Jags for a wonderful season! Jaxon, keep up the great work and have fun!

13 Years Ago...

2009-10-30T09:13:00.006-06:00

13 years ago I became a mom. It took me days to refer to myself that way! I know that sounds weird that I referred to myself as Brook to my own child, but I had been the older cousin and babysitter for so long it was weird to call myself mom. It didn't take long!
I remember feeling like I had been in labor for about 6 weeks! I started having contractions at about 35 weeks and we were just sure he was going to come early. I went in one week begging my doctor to start me. It was my first baby and they had to give me until my due date to see what I would do on my own. Over the next week I heard every horror story under the sun about inducement. I went in 2 days before my due date and he was willing to take me ON my due date! And being the idiot that I am, I had to say no! Jaxon's due date was 2 days before our 1st wedding anniversary and when I found that out in the begging I thought, "As long as the baby doesn't come on our anniversary. I want us to have our own day!" Then I said no to the doctor and was over due (just by 2 days, I know I'm a big baby!) and totally miserable! Lucky for me my doctor didn't want me going too far over so 5 days over due I went to the hospital to have a baby! They got me going about 10am and about 5pm I was holding my baby boy!

He was perfect! He was 8lbs 6oz and 20in long! This was back when it was only a 24 hour stay and so Jaxon got to come home on Halloween! I remember getting home and having kids come Trick-or-Treating to the door! I felt so bad we didn't have any candy!

2nd snowmobiling trip. He was more afraid this year then he had been as a baby!

Jaxon's 3rd birthday!

This year Halloween was on Sunday and so we did Trick-or-Treating on his birthday. We had the cousins dress up and took them to a few houses at his party! It was then that he started telling us what he wanted to be for his birthday instead of Halloween!
Jaxon and Megan!

Jaxon and his 1st "best friend" Josh!
Even though Josh and his family have moved away (at times as far as Canada) he and Jaxon have stayed good friends!

They even have baby sisters the same age!

Jaxon and Emma!
Jaxon was ment to be the oldest child! He is the best big brother anyone could ask for. He is helpful and a good example. He has always had a special bond with Emma. It might have something to do with praying for a sister for almost 7 years!

Jaxon and Maycie!
This was less then a week after Maycie came home from the hospital. It was the night of Jaxon's first Priesthood Session of Conference. I think Jaxon prayed so hard for a sister he got 2!

It is hard for me to believe that I have a 13 year old! It seems like just yesterday they put him in my arms and I could hardly think of myself as a mom! He has grown up so much and is so responsible. I can count on him for so much. MOST of the time he does what I ask him to without complaint.

He is doing so well in school his doctor nearly fell out of her chair when we were in last week. I don't have to remind him to do homework or when to get ready for football practice. He always does his best to be a good example to those around him and to do what his Heavenly Father would have him do. Now if we could just get him to be that way with his chores! I guess he can't be perfect!
We are so grateful for you Jaxon and our family would not be the same without you!
Keep up the good work!
Love ya!

Carving Pumpkins!

2009-10-27T12:30:00.004-06:00

We have had pumpkins for almost a month now and every Monday night the kids would bug us about carving them. Every week we would explain that if we carved them too early they would shrivel and be ruined by Halloween. So we planed to do it last night! As with everything else in life things didn't go exactly as planned and we ended up doing it at 8, only the same time the girls should have been going to bed!

Jaxon decided a headless horsemen picture would be cool for his phone so...

Mom got out her camera too and the next thing you know we had pictures of all the kids (except Maycie, sorry!) with no head and bellies hanging out!

Connor

Porter

Emma

The kids and their pumpkins! Mom and Dad (mostly mom!) dropped the ball and didn't do a pumpkin for Maycie. I didn't even think about it until we were getting ready to take this picture. So I guess I will find some time this week and do a pumpkin for Maycie!

Side note: Connor was the only one to do his pumpkin without any help! Emma told mom what to do and mom did it! Porter did most of his dad just helped some with the mouth. Jaxon did some but was kind of like what ever! When I realized Connor was going to get his done all by himself I said something and then Connor spent the rest of the night saying, "I rock!" Yes, Connor, you ROCK!

14 Years Ago...

2009-10-27T08:28:00.006-06:00

14 years ago today the weather was very different! I'm not sure when it changed. I know it was sometime in the next week or so. All I know is that October 27, 1995 the weather was beautiful. The perfect day for a wedding!

Jeron and I drove to Manti separately. I went with my family and worked on a cross stitch for Jeron as a wedding present. I was doing it as a surprise and only worked on it when we were not together. (When does that happen for an engaged couple!!) It was not finished and I was getting very frustrated with it. Just so you know I did finish it on our 1st wedding anniversary! As my mom and I walked into the temple I saw my uncle who was doing our wedding video had arrived early to make sure he got both Jeron and I going into the temple on video! I remember them changing my name on my Temple Recommend. I remember that there was no one else in the brides room and I had like 3 cute temple workers gooing over me. I remember that I got to carry my mom's hankie from when she got married (my great grandmother crocheted it for her) and my temple apron was a family heirloom from Jeron's family. I remember getting to sit in the Celestial room together. It was so peaceful. We got married in the lower of the two tower rooms and I remember them taking Jeron and I into the room first. We got to watch everyone walk into the room. I remember the Sealer talking to us for quite sometime and then Jeron's aunt and Grandma got there just before the actual ceremony. They had had car trouble on the way down and the sealer was waiting for them. He gave us so much good advice and I tried to pay attention but I don't remember any of what he said! I do remember Jeron looking at me over the altar and the love that I saw there. I knew we were doing what Heavenly Father wanted us to and we really were going to get to be together forever!

My mom made my dress! It was everything I ever wanted and more! These picture just don't do it justice! Don't we look like babies!

We had so much support! So many people came even though we went all the way to Manti. The whole time we were engaged, and even now sometimes, people would ask if one of us was from down there. No, would come the reply, that is just where we want to get married. Actually that is how I knew I was supposed to marry Jeron. For the longest time I have been in love with that temple and knew I wanted to be married there. When I was a teenager my mom would ask, "What if that isn't where your husband wants to be married?" I would reply, "Then he won't be my husband then will he!" And then one night we were talking about temples and the moment Manti came up I knew, I knew we would get married.

Now, 14 years latter I am more in love with this man then the day I knelt across the altar from him. We have been through so many things together and I could not have done it without him. He is such a strength to me. He upholds his priesthood and honors it and is teaching our sons to do the same. He is teaching our daughters to follow Christ and does that by example. There are so many things I would like to say, I just don't know how to put them into words.

Ours is a crazy life. I'm not sure one thing has turned out the way we "planned" it would. We had kids sooner then we planned and college and a house latter then we planned! The boys came fast and the girls took their time. To say our life is a roller coaster just doesn't do it justice, it is more like the "Wild Mouse" at Lagoon! Besides the ups & downs there are the sharp turns that come completely out of the blue! But it is a ride I wouldn't trade for the world and wouldn't have anyone else sitting by my side for the whole thing!

I love you Jeron, Happy Anniversary!

Wheeler Farm (and the BIGGEST pig I have ever seen!)

2009-10-26T21:52:00.005-06:00

This last Friday the girls and I went to Wheeler Farm with a friend. It was a nice day and perfect for an outing! We went to feed the ducks first and the geese were, to say the least VERY hungry. They wouldn't leave us alone! We decided to go on the wagon ride and see some of the other animals and try back with the birds. It did not get any better when we came back. The girls didn't really get to feed them because they couldn't break the bread apart fast enough. Even when the bread was gone they kept coming after us! I was going to try to get a video clip of them but was too busy running away while pushing a stroller so I got these pictures instead!

You can see it in there eyes that they want the food that we have and they will go to any length to get it! I have to say the girls all handled it really well! And I don't remember the last time I was so freaked out AND laughing at the same time!

There was a mommy pig with her piglets! We got to see them get the piglets out for some outside fun! Emma really loved the piglets. Maycie loved everything! She couldn't quite pointing!

This is, without a doubt the BIGGEST pig I have ever seen. The picture does not do it justice! It kept moving around or I would have had Emma and her friend Kylie stand in the picture too to have something to compare with. The girls really enjoyed the pigs, all of them!

Emma and had fun driving the tractor! She thinks she is so big! Do you think she knows that the steering wheel is as big as she is?!

Two More Losses and Out of Playoff's

2009-10-22T14:52:00.001-06:00

Jaxon's game two weeks ago was against Riverton. The game started out great and they seemed to have a real momentum going. My mom called and I told her that if they wanted to come this would be a great game to come to! They were doing so awesome! Jaxon recovered the ball on a fumble on the kick off and got us the ball! He was on fire!
After the half we started to loose the momentum some how and Riverton took over. I think it is my fault! I was bragging them up a little too much I guess! Jaxon did a really great job the whole game (I am not just saying that because I'm his mom!) and ended up getting another fumble recovery! And did his best to help keep the team fired up. In the end Riverton won. It was another hard loss for these boys. Winning the first three games didn't prepare them for what they would face with some of these harder teams who have been playing together since they were 8.

I decided the only way to make sure I get pictures with my boys actually IN them is to take pictures while they are warming up! Jaxon is the one hitting on the left, Jeron is standing on the sled (hey Jer, what do you call that thing?)

Getting fired up!

Now we just need to find a way to keep that fire!

Last Thursday Jaxon came home from school telling me he was sooo... tired and went down to his room and slept for the next 2 hours! When I informed him he would be missing school the next day I was met with despair and argument (shouldn't it be the other way around? Despair and argument when I tell him he HAS to go to school) "Mom, it is almost the end of the Quarter I can't miss now!" Wow, what a good kid!

By Saturday the fever was basically gone but we banned him to the basement and told him NO football. :( Connor had run a fever on Friday as well so they both had to miss Porter's last game. After Porter's game Jeron, Porter and I went up to Bountiful for Jeron to coach and Porter and I to cheer the team on in Jaxon's absence. It's really too bad Jaxon was sick because they really could have used him on the line. We got there late because of Porter's game and we were already down by ALOT! The line was falling apart and so was everything else. But then they found the fun! We still didn't win, but they didn't let them shut them out either!

They are a great group of boys and I'm glad Jaxon has been able to be a part of it. Two games left. Here we go Jaguars here we go!

Porter's Last Game!

2009-10-22T14:13:00.004-06:00

While the computer was out of commission the boys had two games. This last week was Porter's last game. He has really enjoyed playing flag football this year even if it wasn't tackle! He had a wonderful coach who really did a good job of teaching them the game of football.

Before every game he would meet early with them to go over plays and make sure they were all warmed up and ready to play!

Porter blocking (he is in the blue shorts!)

We are going to take you down coach!

This game was the perfect last game! They won (not that they keep score - whatever! I promise I am NOT holding a grudge!) They had an amazing pass that was carried in for a touch down. They were all on fire! Porter had some really amazing runs.

The thing I think I enjoyed the most about Porter playing flag football this year is that he learned it takes a whole team to win a game. He got to try almost every position so now if :)* he plays tackle football he will have a good understanding of the game and what he is supposed to do, along with what position he would like to play!

Great job, Porter we are all so proud of you! Keep up the good work!

*We all know that it is not if, but when! :)

I AM BACK!

2009-10-20T11:47:00.002-06:00

Some of you may have noticed (most of you, I'm sure ha ha) I haven't done a blog entry in a little bit. I had done so well since football started and then our computer died! AAHHH! It was awful! I felt like I had been cut off from the world and sent back to the 1800's! I guess I had forgotten just how much I use the computer. When we went into stores we kept telling them we didn't do much with the computer, just basic stuff. But at the same time in my head I was screaming JUST MY WHOLE LIFE! Jeron was giving me a hard time: "You HAD to start blogging THIS year didn't you!" Yes I did! And I have to say how much I love it! I love checking all of your blogs and keeping up on all of the day to day things that happen in your lives! I love keeping a record of what is going on in our lives in our little Collins Clan! I know most of what I blog about is not all that interesting, but it is our record! I have always loved journal writing (just ask my mom!) and just have not had the time to keep up on it the way I used to. This so fills that void for me! So thanks to all of you for letting me be a part of your lives through this amazing thing we call a blog!

Four Years Ago...

2009-10-06T18:57:00.006-06:00

Four years ago today I got to go to the hospital knowing I was coming home with my baby girl! There had been a longer break between Porter and little Miss Emma then we had planed. It was a little bit like the first all over again! Everything went pretty much the same as with all the boys. The thing I remember the most as being different was how fast after I actually delivered that the boys were able to come in and see us! I delivered at 3:12 and they were all coming in to see us by 3:30!

My first memory of seeing Emma was how chunky she was! She was 19 in. and 8lbs 4oz! Her face was round from the day she was born. Her hair was so dark and curly. I know no one would believe me now! No one would believe me by the time she was a few months old! But I promise she did have curls when she was born!

We waited to tell the boys we were expecting until we were ready for the whole world to know! Having another baby was something we had been praying about as a family for almost 2 years. We had talked to the boys and told them that if we wanted Heavenly Father to bless our family with another baby we needed to tell Him! They took us very seriously! Especially Connor. We even had his primary teacher ask us if we were expecting because Connor was praying for a baby in every prayer he said! We told them as an Easter present by giving them an ultra sound picture! It took them a minute to understand it was OUR baby! After we found out Connor and Porter were pretty insistent it was a boy (mostly Connor) and Jaxon (he had been praying for a baby sister since Connor was 2 weeks old) was pretty sure it was a girl. I was a little worried about Connor accepting a baby sister until we found out it was a girl. From then on if he ever saw anything pink he insisted baby Emma NEEDED it!

After she was born I think the only thing Connor said for about 2 days straight was "She is so cute!" Jaxon and Porter were right there too! She had them all wrapped around her finger from the day she was born! Not one of them could stand to hear her cry. I still don't know that they realize the monster they have created! She still thinks they should do everything she tells them right when she tells them! I keep telling them that they are doing it all over again with Maycie but I'm not sure they care!

When ever we have anyone tell us how spoiled she is going to be with all those big brothers Jeron just tells them "it is okay, she'll never be able to date!" I'm not sure he is kidding either! I'm going to have to sneak her out of the house!

She has grown up so much in the last little bit! She has defiantly made the transition to big girl. It is hard for me to believe she is 4 (going on about 24)! A girly girl from the very beginning. Shoes and purses are a must have and you can never have too many! I need to pull out my beads because she keeps asking for a new necklace and then looks at my beads!

I love this little girl so much! I hope I am able to teach her the things she needs to know to be able to return to her Heavenly Father. As least I have been able to teach her that I love her even when she is naughty! That is one of her favorite questions! From time-out, with tears in her eyes: "Mommy, you love me even when I naughty?" I just hope she understands that her Heavenly Father does too! It's not okay to be naughty, but she is still loved!

P.S. Emma's baby pictures are stuck on our other lap top and it didn't want to let them off! As soon as we figure out how to get them off I will do a post with baby pictures, 'cause you so need to see them! :)

A Big Deal To Me!

2009-10-05T16:54:00.005-06:00

I know this probably seems a little over the top to some, but this is a picture of Maycie today! This is the first time she has pulled herself up to the side of her crib! This is something that ALL of my other kids had done months before now. I have learned at Physical Therapy that the Tortocllis has affected all of her muscles from her neck all the way down to her legs. It delayed all of her large motor skill development. All the way from rolling over to this. Just when we think we may need to worry or up the Physical Therapy again she pulls it out of her hat and starts doing what ever it is we are worried about. This is no different. We go back to Physical Therapy on Wednesday and so that we don't worry she starts pulling herself up! What a little turkey! At her 1 year well check our pediatrician asked if she will wave when she wants to. I said yes she will but the when she wants to is the key! Maycie does not do anything until she is good and ready! I'm just glad we have had so many good people to help us along the way! Thank you to everyone for all of your wonderful support!

I Have Changed!

2009-10-05T12:06:00.002-06:00

It is always amazing to me to look back over my life and see how I have changed even though I don't really feel any different! As I was drooling over a Suburban the other day I realized how much my taste in cars have changed over the years.
When I was in high school I was in love with muscle cars in particular a '67 Mustang! I wanted one and thought I would always want one. Now, I can still appreciate a beautiful Mustang and any muscle car for that matter. The new Camero, very HOT car! I love that my boys are trying to learn all about these cars and ask what they are looking at and can appreciate them along with Jeron and I.
After I got married and had Jaxon I decided I wanted a Nissan Pathfinder! Very cool "mom" car! Very cool SUV and yet not too big (because I would NEVER drive some huge van or suburban! Not me!). Very quickly I realized that our family size and money were not going to add up to a Pathfinder. We did have a Pontiac Grand Am and even though we had some problems with it I really did love that car! I did realize, at what point I can't remember, that we were going to end up in a mini van one day. I came to grips with it, but that was as far as I was going! I would never drive anything bigger then that! Porter was born and I moved from "wanting" a mini van to "coveting" a mini van. It got so bad that Jaxon, at 4 years old, was drooling over mini vans! Keep in mind he was in between his brothers in the back seat!
We are now on our 2nd mini van and I have truly loved this van! When we bought it I was sure I was never going to drive anything else! And then about a year and a half ago we found out our family was growing again! Even then I saw no need for a Suburban. We would all fit in the van just fine! The closer to delivery we got the more I knew we were going to end up in something bigger but was just sure we would be just fine for at least a couple more years! We are just fine but we have made that move from "wanting" to "coveting" yet again! I was talking with my sister-in-law the other day and stopped in the middle of a sentence to google over a Suburban! Actually it was a Yukon XL Denali! I felt so bad! I had just stopped talking!
Every once in a while I check KSL to see what is out there and what they are going for. I looked for my first car for almost 2 years! I drove my mom and dad nuts! So now I am driving my husband nuts! He worries that I am going to be sad if I find one and then we can't get it. I did find one once that I was trying to figure out a way to make it work. And then we went and test drove a newer one! They even let us keep it for the day thinking we would come back willing to do whatever they told us to be able to get it! I did love it! I did want it! But I knew when we left the dealership with it it wasn't going to happen. So when we went back and they wanted some outlandish price we were able to walk away with no regrets! I do know exactly what I want now though! One day we will have one. In the meantime I am trying not to covet too much!

Busy Saturday!

2009-10-05T10:27:00.002-06:00

I normally love Saturdays in the Fall! Especially when they are rainy and cool like this last Saturday! I love to lay in bed a little longer then I can other days of the week - that is if my kids will let me - and catch up on some TIVO with a cup of hot chocolate! But with the boys playing football we have not and will not have a Saturday like that for quite some time!
As busy and hectic as this Saturday was it was all good things! Jaxon's game was at 9am, 1 of only 2, and a good thing it was too! (Read blog entry: Do They Hear The Things We Teach?) And Porter's game was at 10am! So dad and Jaxon left for Jaxon to be to the field early while the other kids and I were supposed to get out the door just in time to get to the game. So much for that! We didn't leave until 9 because of a missing cleat! When will they learn that I tell them to put things away for a reason?! We were playing Bingham and so we knew it was going to be a hard game. I got there between 9:15 and 9:20 and we were already down by like 21 to nothing! Total bummer! I stayed and watched a little too long and then took the wrong way to Porter's game and got stuck in construction so he was REALLY late for his game. They have all started RIGHT on time and so I was totally flipping out and feeling really bad we were getting him there so late! He was late but for the first time they had started our game a little late and so he wasn't as late as we thought!
They both played really well! I missed all of the good plays in Jaxon's game because I had to leave. We actually got a TD! We have 4 boys on our team who have played before and that is the first time any of them have ever scored against Bingham! And we are still in the running for playoffs. Up until this week we were tied for 1st place! So I don't know if this just drops us to 2nd or 3rd but they are still giving every one a run for their money! Porter did really well too. I think being late kind of threw him for a little bit. He really has a natural talent for this sport and is going to unstoppable as he gets older!
Dad and Jaxon made it to the end of Porter's game, thanks mostly to it starting late! Unless he is helping on the side lines he follows up and down the field to have the best view. This week was no different! He got right up there so Porter knew he had made it! What would I do without such a good husband/father? And then we all headed home listening to the end of Conference! We got Maycie down for a nap and then Jeron took me for my hot chocolate! What a good hubby! Then he headed off to have a friend help him with his car. The blower motor still isn't working and so he has no heat or defrost! I came in and sat down on the bed for "just a minute" and the next thing I know Jaxon is waking me up asking what he should have for lunch! AHHHH! He needed to be at the stake center in an hour and we didn't have anything good for him to eat! Off to Wal-mart to get him something high in protein HE will eat (my mom says I deserve him!) and back home in time for him to eat, get dressed and to the stake center by 2pm! Whew, one more thing down!
And then off the Target for birthday presents for Maycie and Emma because we were doing parties with both Jeron and my families on Sunday! Home so I could see Jeron for just a minute before he headed to the Conference Center to see Jaxon - we got one ticket for dad! And then off to Costco for the things I forgot when I was there on Friday! Back home to get Connor and Porter and then off to Grandma Sue's to be with cousins during Priesthood Session! Then the mom's went to Target (thanks to Aunt Melissa for staying home so I could leave Maycie too). Shopping is so much more fun when you are with other people! I had no idea I would be going to two different Targets on the same day but so worth it! We didn't even leave Target until after the session was over! Jeron AND Jaxon beat me home!
You know, for as much as I LOVE those lazy Saturdays this Saturday was a pretty great Saturday! Don't get me wrong! I WILL enjoy a lazy Saturday too when football is over, but in the mean time there is nothing I would rather be doing then seeing my children doing well in the things they love and making the choices their Father in Heaven would have them make!

Do They Hear The Things We Teach?

2009-10-03T21:48:00.003-06:00

I know I have wondered more then once if my children hear the things we have been trying to teach them since the day they were born. Most of the time I have felt as if it goes in one ear and out the other. (Thank You Elder Bednar! It was nice to hear that even an Apostle of The Lord felt that way a time or two!) Every once in a while I have been given a glimpse that at least some of it sticks inside the head before most of it passes out the other side!
Over the last month I have been given such a glimpse with Jaxon. About a month ago we found out that ours and some surrounding Stakes were asked to gather an Aaronic Priesthood Choir for the Priesthood Session of Conference. The first practice was hard. He had to miss a trip to Grandma's to visit and see cousins. Jeron and I asked him to make it a matter of prayer. He decided to go. At that practice he found out the practices would be on Sunday nights (not a problem) and on Thursday nights at the very same time as football practice. They had been told that they had to be to every practice and so Jeron and I just didn't see any way for him to be able to do it. See, we are trying to teach our children when they commit to something they commit. He had committed to football first, and even though this was an acceptable thing to say "I want to do that instead" what do we do the next time and he says "I want to do that instead" to missing anything for something that was NOT acceptable and then throws this in our face? So the next Sunday when he came to us and told us he was going to go to practice we asked him how he was going to make this work. He told us that he was just going to talk to them and see if he could just miss Thursday practices. WOW! I have to say that I truly believe when we counseled him to make it a matter of prayer that he did so. When he was faced with a problem he listened to the council his parents gave him, took the problem to the Lord and then listened to the answered that he received.
Many more times we have been able to point out ways the Lord had paved the way for him to be able to do this. He only had two 9am games, this morning being one of them. Last week he hurt his knee even more in his game and so coach didn't want him dressing in pads for practice this week. See this week was the dress rehearsal practice that COULD NOT be missed so football practice would be. (This practice was on Wednesday not Thursday) But just to be extra sure we had so much rain before Wednesday practice they couldn't hold practice! The ducks had taken over the field! Not a huge surprise to me. I have grown up by this park and have seen water in it for days after a rain like we had this last week! What was amazing to me was that by Thursday there was NO water left at all. And I mean NO WATER! It blew my mind!
The Lord truly watches over us. And I have to say that more then Jaxon remembering the things he has been taught, I have been reminded of a few things over the last month. I have been reminded that the Lord is mindful of me and my little family. He wants to see all of us return to Him again and will give me the teaching moments I need to be able to do that if I will take those opportunities. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who helps me see and take those moments. I am grateful for wonderful children, despite the many times I think they are not listening, who try to take the things that we teach them into their lives. I am also grateful for my Savior who died for me so that I can be with Him and this wonderful family again.

P.S. If you would like to see a picture of Jaxon at the dress rehearsal go to the blog "Noble Moments"

Maycie's First Birthday!

2009-09-28T21:30:00.002-06:00

With all of the others we have always been able to do some kind of party on their birthday. With football games and the Relief Society Broadcast a party just wasn't going to work on Saturday. So I decided we should do something just our little family! I had no idea it would be so hard! So finally at 8:30 that night we had a little family birthday party for our 1 year old! It was wonderful and she was a hoot!

I totally stole my sister-in-law, Becky's idea and we made a #1 with cupcakes! We didn't get them frosted but Maycie didn't seem to care!

We didn't even make it through the song before she was getting a cupcake off the tray!

That might have been a mistake because she didn't want to open her present!

She even cleaned up her own mess!

We finally did get her to open her present! And she is really enjoying it!
By #5 there wasn't a whole lot we "needed" for her. We really weren't sure what to get her. At our last visit to therapy I asked our therapist what she would recommend and she gave me a few ideas. So we got her something that was more then just really cute it will help her with her therapy too! :) I really should have taken a picture of what it was not just the box sorry!
It's called a Little Garden Bench. It will give her the up down help she needs and already seems to be helping her. It won't be long before I am chasing her all over the neighborhood with all the others!

You Can't Win Them All

2009-09-28T20:38:00.002-06:00

The first loss is always hard. We were starting to think (well, at least I was) that we could really take this all the way undefeated. They still played a good game. My mom reminded me that MY job as a mom is to make sure that Jaxon knows HE did a good job. He did too! There were some mistakes made. Some little and some pretty big ones! But none of them by Jaxon. I made sure he knew I didn't care if they win or lose. All I care about is him and that he does his best and feels good about the game he played.
We did have another injury and he will be out for the rest of the season. Broken leg right above the ankle that now has two pins in it. My cousin did something to his knee at his game and had to ride to Primary Children's in an ambulance. WHAT AM I THINKING LETTING MY SONS PLAY THIS GAME?
Jaxon handled the loss really well. He didn't get down on himself. He was able to believe Jeron and I when we told him he had done a good job and let it go. I was very proud of how he handled the whole thing.

Porter's Touch Down!

2009-09-28T20:04:00.002-06:00

Okay, this one was for real! The team they played on Saturday had some pretty fast boys on it. One that nobody on our team could touch (not even Porter). We were trying a passing game and it wasn't going very well. They kept getting intercepted. But this play was THE most beautiful play of the whole game! And I am not just saying that because I am Porter's mom! The snap was a shot gun (another thing we have had a problem with) and our quarterback totally recovered looked around saw Porter in the end zone threw the ball and it was like there was a tube between the two of them! The first completed pass for our team and a touch down all in one! It was truly beautiful. I was totally horse afterward. He had some really good runs and flag pulls (I guess that is what I should call them!) too. I really think overall it was his best game!
I have been so proud of Porter! He is really doing well with all of this! It doesn't matter what position they put him in he takes to without too much problem at all! I would really love to talk him into flag football for another year, but I don't think that is going to happen! And how do I stop him when he is so good at it?

Maycie's First Year!

2009-09-28T19:52:00.002-06:00

Hope you enjoy some of the pictures of Maycie's first year!

One Year Ago......

2009-09-25T08:04:00.005-06:00

One year ago today Jeron and I were running errands and doing the last minute things to get ready for the newest member of our family to arrive! I have never had that kind of time. I have been induced with all five of my kids and they usually get you in first thing in the morning unless they have too many come in through the night. I have been able to be with the same doctor for all 5 of my kids and he was actually the one to deliver all of them too! He prefers Wednesdays and all 3 of the boys were born on a Wednesday. Because Jeron was still in training at Fidelity when Emma was born Wednesday wasn't very good for us so he did it on Friday. When I went in for my appointment on September 17 with Maycie I was hoping he would be able to find a way to just keep me! Of course it was more then a week before my due date and so there had to be a medical reason to do so. We did a stress test (I didn't feel like she was moving enough) and they checked some other things too. I think we were all looking for a reason to keep me. My doctor was leaving the next day for an out of town conference and wouldn't be back for a week. But there was just not a medical reason to keep me. The fact that it was my Grandma's birthday just didn't count!

Can I just tell you that it pays to stay with a doctor for 5 kids! When we knew there was no way to keep me he sits me down and tells me that he will set up the inducement for next Thursday (Sep. 25). I was surprised because I know he doesn't do inducements on Thursdays but I wasn't going to argue! He told me he would set it up for the afternoon to make sure he was back in time. So Jeron and I spent the morning doing all the things I am doing the day before by myself! Normally the night before an inducement for me is like Christmas Eve! Butterflies in the tummy and everything! But it is also like Christmas Eve in that when I wake up it's here! With not going in until the afternoon it was like Christmas Eve that stretched all the way until like 3:30 the next day! I got to the hospital and we got things going. They got me on my IV and got the pit going. Then I asked when Dr. Later would come in to break my water. It was then that I found out that he was still on an air plane on his way home! When he set things up for me (did I tell you that he was the one to make the call and everything!) he didn't tell me when he was flying in. I just assumed that he was flying in earlier in the day and did the afternoon to give himself some time to rest and everything! Oh no, he came right from the airport to break my water and everything, but didn't get there until like 6:30. Then he went home to rest and they kept him updated.

With my past labors we were all expecting a baby by 9pm. There were so many things that were different this time. Things just didn't progress. Normally I have a really good break in my water not long after they get my going on the pit so we thought maybe that was it and that after he broke my water it would help. Nope, no such luck! I kept getting all light headed and I had to be on oxygen. I've never had to do that before! I've also never had to go through a shift change before either. My second nurse gave me a Popsicle and that totally helped me! I had no idea I could have a Popsicle! The sugar was just what I needed! But then we realized every time I sat up too far the baby's heart rate would drop. Every time they would check me I felt like we were going no where and doing nothing. I kept telling the nurses, "this is not how things go for me. This is not how my labor's go." And I got back, "every labor is different dear." Well, after 4 other labors being almost identical I wanted to scream I know what I am talking about! But they are the medical professionals so I didn't! At 10pm we started getting phone calls from family "What is going on?" I think they all thought that we just forgot to call them because there was no way our baby girl wasn't here! But she wasn't. My one sister told me later she was afraid to go to bed because she was just sure something had to be wrong! It seemed everyone but the nurses thought it was odd for this to be so different! I felt like we were just hanging out at the hospital, it was so weird! There was a couple of times they said they thought her head was turned and that might be part of the problem, it wasn't letting her drop. Finally at midnight Dr. Later came back to the hospital and checked me. I was still only at an 8 at that point (I had never been in actual labor that long before!) He told me he was going to come back in half an hour and we were going to have a baby. Looking back on that now what he was telling me was that either I was ready to deliver a baby or he was going to have to take her C-Section. Luckily I have the most calm doctor ever and I totally didn't get it then! He came back and I still wasn't quite there yet but being the good doctor that he was he found a way to make it happen! I have to hand it to everyone else in the delivery room. They were all very calm through the whole thing. I don't have to push too long. Luckily that was pretty normal! I am pushing away and then the doctor tells me to hold it for just a minute. And then we finish up and there is my baby girl and she is beautiful! Black and blue but beautiful! I didn't find out the reason I had to stop pushing was because the cord was around her neck until quite a bit later. Jeron didn't even show it as far as I could tell at the time. On top of the cord she aspirated some and so I had to wait longer to feed her then I wanted to. It says so much about what a good doctor I have that everything she went through coming into this world and they didn't even have to take her away from me! I have talked to so many people that have had a similar stories and the baby was fine but had to be rushed away to make sure. I know we had our own little miracle that night! We joke that the boys had been born on Wednesday, Emma had been born on a Friday so Maycie decided to wait and be born on a Friday like her big sis!

We did have our own little dilemma while we were getting ready for the actual delivery. We started a tradition when Connor was born, that until now had not been hard to keep, to have some family time before anyone else sees the baby. Well, this time it was the middle of the night and the big kids had school the next day! We have such good family! The kids at that point were at my in-laws house and they were willing to do what ever we asked them to. We had planed for the kids to spend the time I was in the hospital with my mom and dad because they live really close and my mom could get the kids to and from school without a problem. She too, was willing to do what ever we asked of her. She has been at the hospital with me through every labor and sits outside the door to hear the first cry. She told me that as long as she could hear the first cry and know everything was okay she was just fine! We finally decided to go ahead and have my in-laws bring the kids to the hospital. I deliver at Alta View and they live just off of 90th and 2nd East so the kids were close. At the time I felt kind of guilty about it. What kind of mom has her kids trooping around at 1:00 in the morning?! But after I was so glad that I did! My mom was going to let the kids sleep late the next morning and just take them to school late. But they wouldn't hear of it! They were on time for school the next morning but I'm pretty sure they didn't learn much! All they could talk about was their new baby sister! I don't think they would have ever forgiven me if we had waited for them to see her until the next morning! Even if they knew no one else had seen her either. Especially the boys because they were very aware of the tradition and how it worked!

As I have looked back over the last year I wonder where the time has gone. I said that to my dad the other day and he said to me, "It went into a helmet." And that is true. I guess I should have known from the beginning nothing was going to be normal with our little Maycie Jayne! For the first time ever we went to the hospital with the name down to 3 choices instead of having been calling the baby by a name for the last few months. Her labor and delivery were defiantly different. And now I can look back on the pictures from the day she was born and see some of the problems in her forehead that led to the helmet. I am sure that her head was turned and that is why she went into the position after so easily and quickly.

As I think about my baby's first birthday tomorrow it is a bitter sweet sorrow. I know someone has to be the end. Every train has to have a caboose, and Maycie is ours! I know we are done and that in and of its self is a good feeling!

Official birthday post with pictures of Maycie from the last year will come! Thanks for letting me reminisce!