{Help....I Beg of You!}

I am SO behind on blogging.... I have quite a few things to post about, but instead I'm begging a favor from all my bloggy friends! Last week Sally at Sweetly Simple Photography took my families pictures. Didn't they turn out pretty great? So here is where the begging comes in..... if we get 20 comments, my mama will get a free 11x14! Pretty please with sugar on top? To leave your comment click HERE!!!!

Not a bad looking family, if I don't say so myself!

And, this one too...... I think those are some pretty cute kiddos! Speaking of kiddos..... I can't believe the picture of all the grand kids turned out so great, eight kids smiling and looking adorable all at the same time is pretty close to a miracle!

{Flashback Friday}

It's been awhile since I did a Flashback Friday. Yesterday was the kids last day of school and last night I was talking with some friends about Disneyland, both these things together got me thinking about my High school graduation and the trip that followed.

So lets Flashback to.......May 25-26, 1994

Graduation Night- 1994

After graduation I got the chance to go on a Senior trip to California. Remember, the trip where I got tricked into dating Derrick that I posted about here? Disneyland hosted a special Grad Nite for high school graduates and their chaperone's. It was an all night event and a dress up event. I'm so glad I decided to go...... we had a great time, made some fun memories and who knows if Derrick and I would have ever hooked up otherwise?
Monica, Minnie & Heather

{Random Catchup}

I was looking through my pictures the other day and realized there were a lot of random things that I never blogged about. Things I didn't want to forget, but that would take lots of time to blog about individually..... so today is a catchup day, a day of random things that don't really fit together, but whatever!

A few weeks ago, the Ainge girls (my mama and all but one of her sisters) and their girls (Lis, some of the cousins, and I) and their girls (some of the cousins brought their girls, not me!) participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure! This has become a mothers day weekend tradition that I look forward to and love. Every year I spend a few minutes crying a bit. It's so overwhelming to see the widespread effect that breast cancer has, and amazing to see those who have survived!

Each year the kids have a end of year review for tumbling. They show us the things they have learned and the progress they've made. All three of our kids were able to show off there skills. Carlie is quite the little diva, and insisted I curl her hair before we went.She LOVES tumbling class and looks forward to tumbling day each week. Brock has improved so much and his cartwheels and round offs are so much neater than they were last year. Kaleb is so close to being able to do his 2 backhand springs without a spotter. I really think he could do it, if he dared try!

What cute kids we have!

The kids made me some cute cards and trinkets, and picked me some beautiful flowers for Mothers Day!

Last week was the annual Elementary School Program. They go above and beyond every year. They sing quite a few songs and each grade does a dance. The theme this year was "A Barnyard Moosical" with everything centered around the farm! We were in such a hurry to get there, I forgot to take pictures of the boys, oops! Kaleb grade were all little piggies and Brock's grade did the Cotton Eyed Joe. They both did a great job, and Mr. Brock is quite the little dancer.... I couldn't believe how high that boy was kicking up his legs!

Yea I know, it is a bit past Easter..... I told you I was playing catchup! While dad was snowmobiling one day the kids and I colored some eggs, with only one spill!

We also made it to the Primary Easter Egg hunt (that I was in charge of once again) and almost got blown away, it was SUPER windy! The Easter bunny found us, and brought Carlie a new summer outfit and the boys new swimwear! Gram had her annual egg hunt a week late because of the weather, but I forgot the camera?

A few weeks back we spent almost an entire day getting a garden spot ready, and trying to get rid of even a few of the thousands of rocks (that's a definite draw back to having the old creek bed in the back field). Bryson even came and helped us out. Unfortunately, we haven't done anything since then, so the garden may be waiting until next year?

The kids and I all had dentist appointments, and unfortunately, all had to go back and have some kind of work done :( All the kids did really well, Miss C even had two small cavities filled without being numbed at all. Carlie really wanted me to take her picture to show her Daddy how brave she was! And she was really brave, but I'm here to tell you she didn't smile like that the entire time!

Kaleb got to go to his first pack meeting as a Cub Scout. He couldn't wait to put on his uniform, and go with all the big boys! You can pretty much tell how excited he was by the giant grin on his cute little face!

And last but not least.... last week there was the most gorgeous rainbow right by the house. When I first went out it was complete. After I went in to call Lisa and tell her to check it out only the one side was left. I went to get my camera and couldn't find it anywhere. When I looked through my pictures a few days later, it turns out one of the kids had got it and snapped a few shots. The pictures don't even close to do it justice, the colors were the most bright and brilliant that I've ever seen in a rainbow!

{Here Comes the Bride}

This is me, at my wedding, with the most adorable flower girl.....my sweet girl, Skyler (not literally, but to me, she's just always been my girl). Really, it seems like just yesterday Derrick and I were getting married. Well, obviously it wasn't because this last weekend......SKYLER got married! And, it was beautiful. And I'm happy for her, because she is so happy. And well, Maben is a pretty great guy. And they make a perfect couple. But darn it, now I feel old!
We had a shower for her a few months ago, and since it was the day after Kaleb's baptism, I just never got around to blogging about it. So, I thought I'd throw it in here. It was nice, the food was yummy, and she got some great gifts. Now, back to the real post!

A few months ago, Sky asked me if I would put together some pages for the guest to sign. Well, I procrastinated (for the first time ever?!?, ok, like I always do) and finally finished them late Wednesday night, or actually it was more like early Thursday morning. Hey, the wedding was on Friday, I still had plenty of time! I'm so glad she asked me to do them. I've taken a bit of a break from stamping and crafting and I really missed it, so this was really a good motivator.
Lisa made the cake and of course that meant I got to go help, which I'm really not sure how much help I really am? Anyhow, that was a full day project for Friday. For some reason, this cake just didn't go smooth, from start to finish it was just one thing after another, including fingers in the cake not long after we got it set up! In the end it all worked out and was one of my favorite cakes she's done. A friend had let them use this whiskey barrel they had, but they didn't really know where they were going to put it,... I think it turned out to be the perfect cake stand! My sister-in-law Julia did most of the decorating, and it turned out really nice, but in all the running I didn't end up getting any pictures of it all.
Maben & Skyler Larsen
This is one of the only pictures I actually took at the reception! Carlie sure loves Skyler, and the "marrying" is all she has been talking about all week. At the end of the reception they had dancing and Sky and Maben along with some others did some swing dancing. On the way home that night Carlie, told us all about it. "Skyler danced with Maben and it was SO cool. And he lifted her up and it was just awesome"(you have to imagine it in her little diva voice to get the full effect).
I just had to add this one in. Sky gave Carlie a little kiss and left lipstick on her cheek. I tried to wipe it off, but she wouldn't let me! Derrick and the boys popped in for just a second, between a baseball game and fathers and sons campout, so it was a crazy day for them as well.

{Budding Artists}

Art.... compliments of Miss Carlie and Tylie! WHAT??? I love that they love to draw. But really, I do wish they would perfect their talent somewhere else, like PAPER, instead of C's new shoes and my leather seats!?!

{All About Mom... Preschool Style}

At preschool Thursday we did a little survey about our moms to put in their cards. It was so cute to watch the kids really think about the questions and their answers were so adorable I just had to share some of them!
** How tall is Mommy?**
Most stretched their little arms out to about 2 feet
Really Tall
Taller than Daddy (hehe)

**How old is Mommy?**
7
5
Probably 40
I think hers 40
Like kind of old
8 maybe?

**What does mom like to wear?**
new clothes
a weddin' dress
skirts
a wedding dress
Temple clothes
shorts

**What does Mommy like to do?**
Go Work
Make Stuff
Run
Clean Up
Dishes in the sink
Wash Clothes

**My Mommy is special because?**
She makes us do everything she does
All of the sings (things).
Jesus sent her to us.
She is nice.
I love her.
She makes food.

How blessed I feel to have so many wonderful mothers in my life, they each play a different but still important role! My mom, Derrick's mom, Sheri, our many Grandmothers, Aunts, Sisters and Sister-in-Laws, Cousins, Friends....my list could go on and on. Each of you teach me, inspire me, encourage me, but most importantly are great examples of LOVE!

I am thankful to be a mother to my three children. Though many of my days are long, trying and monotonous, I wouldn't trade them. I am blessed!

{I Love to See the Temple}

I just got home from spending a special evening at the Manti Temple. It's late and I'm tired. I sat down at the computer for just a second to check messages and such. But, my brain won't turn off and I want to share quickly how thankful I am for the Temple in my life. What a blessing it is, one I don't take advantage of as often as I should. Each time I'm there, I vow to do better. Then, life catches up with me and things get in the way, I make excuses and don't get there like I should. I'm thankful that Skyler gave me the opportunity to be there tonight, and for the sweet Spirit that was felt there!