Hayden turns 8!

Hayden turned 8 January 16th - so why am I posting this so late - well I wanted to do a double post for her. I did not forget her I was just waiting for the pictures so I could do this. Hayden was a great baby. She seemed to fit in with all this craziness here very well. Being #10 we were very comfortable with her as well. Chelsea took this picture of her - she was in a photography class at the time and developed it as well. This is Hayden's favorite baby picture of herself. Her little personality started to really shine through at about this age. Hayden is a little dramatic sometimes - those who know her would say maybe a little more than sometimes:) But I think it is her way of letting us know that she is around and has something to contribute to our family. As she has gotten older she has learned new ways of being noticed. She is very helpful and loves to do jobs around the house. She loves school and excels there. She loves to be with her older sisters and just hang out. I would say she is learning to leave the drama and handle things that are thrown her way. We love her so much and really can not imagine our little family without her!

Turning eight in our family is very special. That is the year in our church that children get baptized. It is a very big thing for them and Hayden was so excited to have this be her turn. She has been so ready for a while. She loves the church and really wanted to have this in her life. I love this picture that Ashleigh took. We are listening to sweet Sis. Edwards talk on baptism and giving Hayden advice and council. The program was so good. After this talk Chloe and Chad sang a beautiful song "Jesus love is like a River". They did an amazing job and I had a hard time playing for them because of the tears in my eyes! Then Hayden was baptized by her dad and after that Toshia gave a great talk about the Holy Ghost. I really appreciated all that was said and taught that evening. It was so wonderful to have all of the children there and some of David's family and all our friends in the ward. Afterwards, the best part according to Adrian was the ice cream bars!

Here are Hayden and her dad just before the baptism. Dressed all in white. She is so happy in this picture and it was so fun to watch her as all the focus was on her this day. I hope you remember this day for the rest of your life Hayden and continue to make the good choices that will bring you happiness and joy forever!

"Perfectly" clean home - yeah, right

"Allow yourself to enjoy your home not in spite of it’s quirks and flaws but because of them. A home is for enjoying, living, loving, laughing. And all of those things are easier when you’re easier on yourself and love where you live for being perfectly imperfect."

I recently read this statement in an article on home decorating and was really caught by the message of this sentence! I am always looking for new ideas and ways to update and rearrange things and keep things looking as nice as I can with a lot of people living in my home. When we moved to this new house my goal was to keep it "perfectly clean". Yeah right, with little ones and people coming and going and lots of things on my agenda besides house cleaning this has not always come to fruition. I love my home. We picked out the colors and the furniture and things to make it look beautiful! But as we have "lived" in our home it is starting to looked a little lived in. I was thinking (as I sit here writing this knowing there are dishes to finish, floors to clean, a refrigerator that is in desperate need of a good cleaning out, bathrooms that need my attention, vacuuming to be done) of all the little things that need to be repaired or repainted or the "to do" list I always have for David.

I love love shabby chic! I like old things! These things come into my home with imperfections and that is what gives it character and charm. I think of what story that piece of furniture might tell if it could tell us a story. This one sentence above - really is how I feel about my home. I have learned that it is OK if things are not perfect all the time. I am not for letting things go so it is so beyond repair but some things that aren't perfect are OK. Take my hardwood floor. I was thrilled to have it but not so thrilled when the scratches and dents started to appear. But now as time as gone on and more wear to it those lines and dents tell a story of a happy baby playing with trucks and cars, chairs moved and blankets pulled over for the most amazing forts! They tell of love and happy times. My mom tells a story of when my older brother wrote a note on her table but did not have a book or something underneath it. It left marks on the wood. At first she was annoyed but after my brother had died she looked at those marks very differently. She treasured them as they were part of him. Often times after I have left her home with one of my little children she leaves the fingerprints on the window for a while. She says she can treasure the visit longer as she looks at the small hand print. In my old house when Chad had learned to write he wrote his name on our basement door with black marker. I left if there until we moved and had to repaint. I wanted to remember this little man who was so excited about learning and that his name was important enough to leave a signature on my door. I did teach him it was not the best place to leave autographs and got him his own notebook to write in - but I loved seeing his name while I went about my cleaning each day and he was out of the house turning into a grown up boy! There are many stories that have happened similar to that in our home and while sometimes I was not very happy at the time about it I look back now and see the marks and lines around me and know of the stories they tell of a home that was filled with loving, living, and happy times!

While a clean home has always been my goal and continues to be so; a "perfect"ly clean home as a goal has long gone by the wayside.

Happy Birthday Taylor

This is Taylor Kelleen on the day she was blessed. Grandma Ardee had bought her dress for her. I was worried it would not fit as she was kind of a chunky little thing. She was born this day January 26th 10 years ago. I had dreamed of her many times. After I had Noah I knew there was another little girl supposed to come to our family. But as the stars never seemed to line up she came three years and one month after Noah. Some people might think that is not unusual but for me it was. I had even gone to the doctor to have him give me something to conceive. He kind of thought I was a bit crazy - but after examining me really had the giggles because he said "Sister, I think you are already pregnant I don't think there is anything I can do do help you out!" I was shocked - I had no idea - Boy, did I feel silly but I also did not believe him but after the usual test came back positive it finally sunk in. I was so excited. I literally feel like I prayed this special spirit here and frankly Heavenly Father could not have sent a sweeter spirit to me. She has such a quiet disposition and really has a special heart. There is a little side note that here that I would like to add. Taylor was my biggest baby 10 and a half pounds! She stretched me to the limits and was three weeks late. I had an old fashioned doctor and he did not believe in inducing unless there was some risk to baby or mom. So along with her taking her sweet time to be conceived she took her sweet time in coming out to be in the world:) She was worth every minute of the wait to get her here!

One of the things Taylor always did when she was little was sit on my lap while I played the piano and hold her hands on mine. Usually this kind of thing would have driven me nuts but for some reason it never annoyed me. I think that her gift of music and love of playing the piano come from that experience we shared together. I love hearing her play and she tries really hard to get the music right even when I really challenge her (I am her teacher - sometimes that is good and sometimes not - I always know if she is doing it right or wrong). Taylor loves school and church and her friends. She is very loyal to those she likes and loves. She is the calming soul in our home and I am so glad that she finally decided to come to earth - I am amazed that it has been ten years - where does the time go? Love you Taylor, Happy Birthday

Ten things I am loving right now....

Ten things I am loving right now....


The fact that I found this picture of Chad, Chloe, and Noah (maybe taken 11 years ago) in almost the same pose as the one I took of Taylor, Hayden, and Autumn this summer....

My 100 year old piano that brings the sweet music that fills our home on a daily basis....

My Super Saturday project filled with candy all week long (not much longer though now that all the little ones are home)....

Great deals at the fabric store on patterns - who could pass up 99 cent deals like these?....

The poster we have hanging on the fridge right now about Hayden (as it reminds me of all the similar posters hung by all the other children)....

Autumns very first job chart that she wanted to create this morning to earn some toy at the store - I had told her she had to do chores to earn it and quickly she found this stuff and asked me to write down all her chores. She listed them off and then put the squares by each one to check off. We shall see how long this lasts but for now I am loving her willing heart....

My old fashion phone - I love the ringing sound is makes when calls come to my home....

My word blocks that I made with my handy dandy cricut....

This beautiful picture that hangs in my hallway that reminds me to be a covenant keeping woman....

This old armoire (I acquired thanks to Ashleigh) that holds my fabric and some of my sewing things....

And last but not least I am loving my sweet husband who spent his week off playing nonstop with all the kids (I caught him and Autumn this afternoon napping)....


What are you loving right now?

Another great weekend and other ramblings....

What a great weekend at the beach! I am so spoiled to get to go two weekends in a row. But it was a holiday and David has this week off. Not only did I have a beautiful weekend I only came home with two kids! What is that you say - not only two kids but the two easiest kids - Chad and Chloe. I have two and half days to myself basically. Is this what it will be like in a few years? It will be nice but I am not looking forward to long days with no noise in the house all day long. But I regress. The beach and an unbelievable winter sunny weekend. Toshia came down with two of her kids and Chelsea and Dan showed up on Saturday (they took a long bike (motorcycle) ride-kind of scary for me to think about). Toshia and I hit some unbelievable deals at the mall and we played for hours on the beach. Toshia made out like a bandit - I on the other hand was trying to be practical and not spend money but I did spend a little. She was so organized and saved so much and in the long run will be better off. I cannot think ahead like that - I have always had a hard time doing that. Like usual though I forgot my camera and so hopefully Toshia will post a few pictures to prove the nice weather. Having no children this morning to worry about I went to violin and then off for my daily three mile run. Yes, I am up to three miles a day more that I ever did even in my younger days (two miles was my limit) I am not going to run marathons but wanting to finally rid my body of the last unwanted baby pounds before I turn a half a century old (still a couple of years off- but I think it is going to take that long) I am kicking it up! I do feel better for it though and should have been doing this all along. Thanks to Lynn for showing my how to get to this point - I don't know if she knows how much I was paying attention - anyway, I am enjoying uninterrupted time at the computer and thinking what should I do next and it is starting to hit me how much of my life centers around the kids. It is good - really good - but I am coming to that stage in my life when kids will all soon be in school all day - WOW! If you think about it, by the time Autumn goes to school all day (not next year -half day - but the next) I will have been taking care of kids for 29 years! Holy Cow! I know I will have my occasional fix with the grandchildren but still I need a really good hobby - or a much needed nap?

My Word- 2009

For the last couple of years as I have set my goals I have chosen a word or phrase to help my during the year. Last year my word became "JOY". On many occasions as I saw the joy in things I was able to deal with things and just be a more "joyful" person. It seems that as I have thought about it this year I have had a hard time just coming up with one word. So I decided what the heck, there are no set rules to this, why am I trying so hard to make it just one word. Sometimes it takes me a little while to realize I can do things my way:) So this year the phrase will be "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much" I know it not a new concept but for some reason I have seen or heard it many many times this last couple of weeks. It hit me yesterday that I needed to be listening better and grab it. I made stacking blocks with the words so that I can see it everyday as I do my chores in the kitchen. I am in there alot. As far as my 2009 goals go I have a few that I would like to do this year and they center around these sweet words. I am hoping by living these words I will be better at the many different "hats" I have to wear each day.

1. Live each day - I don't want to waste minutes with unimportant or non-inspiring thoughts. Fill my day with more creativity and use my mind more to learn new skills.
2. Laugh at all the craziness that surrounds me - As I see the humor in it I will be glad to be living in the moment. Laugh more with those I love. Have more fun!
3. Love the way that I want to be loved - speak softer, speak kinder words, show my love more with more service and most of all be more forgiving.

So my goals are general and not as specific as in years past I hope to continue to stretch and grow both spiritually and mentally. (If I would have said physically that would mean I would have to gain back the pounds that I have been working so hard to lose:) - oh, a laughing moment!) So I will grow my mind this year!

New Friends

How wonderful it is to make new friends! I was so excited to be invited to a little retreat with some new awesome friends! I did realize that even though my heart and mind are in their 30's I really was the oldest one there! I am not used to that - generally speaking with the other group of friends that I have had forever I am one of the younger gals. But it was so fun and I was so glad to get to know these sweet ladies! I so enjoyed the walk on the beach and staying up all night! Thank you all for such a sweet and awesome time. I learned some valuable things that will help me as a mother, wife and sister from you all - I hope you came back as ready to face life and family as I did:)

Spiritual feast

Sunday was such a spiritual day for me. It was quite unexpected. I did not begin the day on the right foot - I forgot it was fast Sunday and made a huge breakfast for everyone. (Celebrating the later start time) I know, how could I forget but I did. I thought, "Oh, this is great - what a way to start the new year!" But amazingly the day got better not worse! I felt so lifted by fast and testimony meeting. I kept thinking about what good people we have in our ward here and how hard they try to keep going forward even when things are very hard. That gave me a kind of hope that I had not felt in a while. Sunday School was good. Our new teacher did a great job and I am going to love studying the Doctrine and Covenants this year. Relief Society was going to be hard for me. I was teaching. I had worked on the lesson for a few weeks but still felt like it was not coming together. Earlier in the morning (way to early to be up on a Sunday morning) I once again spent time on it. I think really what threw me off a little was Paige's desire to come to church with us. She had called Saturday and asked if she could spend the night and come to church. I was taken back a little but said sure. She was so sweet. I did not expect her to stay for the whole meeting but she did. I kept thinking how am I going to teach this girl - especially this lesson (It was on the organizing of the Relief Society) I knew what I wanted her to hear but would the spirit be there to do the teaching. I think it was! She reacted very positively to what was taught not only in my class but all Sunday. There were times I thought I am not connecting the points the way I had planned. But afterwards I thought about it and it was connected the way the spirit wanted it to be. I am so lucky to belong to such a wonderful, beautiful "cause". I have a greater desire to be better as a sister in the Relief Society. This circle of sisters I am connected to at this time in my life is amazing. Many prayers have been answered through them. We ended the day with a baptism of a sweet little boy in our ward. What a neat way to end a perfect (well, almost perfect - remember the breakfast?) day! It was a spiritual feast for me all day long despite my mistake with breakfast:)

Happy New Year!

Yesterday David had to work. It has always been a holiday for him. But the company was so far behind that they required everyone here in the northwest region to work. So when he arrived home at lunch time I thought it was strange. Autumn came running up the stairs saying "Daddy is home and he brought his computer and his big brown truck!" Apparently he was out here delivering packages. What a fun treat. He stopped by a couple of times during the day. It was just like old times when we lived right on his route. But I think as much as he liked doing his work out here he was not happy about putting in such a long day. He did not get home for the evening until almost 10:00 pm. After he got home we went down to our neighbors with the little girls for a party. The older kids went to the church for their big party. It was so fun. Even though we were a little late we walked in to everyone having a great time. It was really fun to celebrate bringing in the new year with such sweet people. After our celebration we headed home and got everyone to bed. No one woke up until about 9:00 this morning. I have been cleaning and putting Christmas away. David has a day of football watching planned and the kids are just playing and having a lazy day. I am not planning on much as far as a big dinner so it is going to be a pretty easy day for me as well. I am so excited for this new year. I have some lofty plans and hope that I can get organized enough to accomplish some of the things I want to. But that can all wait a few days to put down on paper - today I am just enjoying the idea of this new year!