Look what the CATS brought in!

Along with our family we have two cats. Oreo is the black and white one and Diego is the black one.Our Hanna is a cat lover. I try to give my kids what they want even if I don't like it sometimes. Today was one of the times I wish we didn't have the cats. One of the main reasons for having them is we live where there is a lot of critters. So I thought they would help with the mice. That is keeping them out. They bring them in along with bunnies, lizards, birds, squirrels and today a snake.

I was working on somethings with Monica today and Eliza came up from downstairs and said mom the snake looked up at me. I thought she was talking about a toy. I said what are you talking about. I got up and looked downstairs and sure thing there was a snake. I was so afraid. I asked Monica what to do. She called her husband to see where he was. He was to far away. Then I called one of my friends to see if her husband was home. He is an AJ fireman. He was not home he was at the station. She told me to call 911 and tell them what was going on. So I did. Well Monica did. We just kept watching that snake to make sure it didn't move. It didn't so then I started to think it was a toy. I would have been so embarrassed if the firemen got here and that is all it was. Three manly men came. One with a long grabbing stick one with a bucket and the other for support I guess. They slowly went down the stairs. Then the stupid snake moved and me being me started screaming and jumping up and down. It scurried away towards the wall and I screamed again. They finally go it with the grabber thing and started to walk toward the steps to put it in the bucket that was being held by one of the firemen. I think they got a little scared also. It was kind of funny. They said it was not a poisonous snake. They took it away. Thank you Apache Junction Fire Department. They saved my life today. Now I know I have a place to call the next time I say "Look what the Cats brought in".

My TBF

My family means a lot to me. My husband and children are my world. Before I was given them I had the family I was born into. My mom is an amazing person who I look up to for many reasons. I don't know how she did it alone for so many years. Then I have two sisters who are my best friends. They are always there for me. They both give me so much of their time. I also look up to them both for many reasons. Carla my younger sister is a good mom who tries to teach her children to choose the right all the time. She does without so her kids could have the things they enjoy. I guess all three of us do that. We must have learned it from our mom. My twin sister Monica is an on the go mom. She is showing her kid how to serve in the drop of a hat. I love both of my sisters very much. They each teach me thing that I need to be better at. Monica's family makes me very thankful I only have one son and really obedient children in school. While Carla's family makes me thankful none of our kids have food allergies. I could not pick a favorite sister. I have fun with both of them but my sister Monica is my rock. She is always there for me. We have a lot in common. We have a little business together and love to just hang out with each other. Last night my mom and us three girls went to the midnight Twilight movie. It was fun to be all together. Monica an I got there like 3 hours before the movie and we hung out with some of my friends till the movie started. I am thankful for My twin best friend.

My World

The other night I was doing some Christmas shopping. I was at the store pretty late. I was by myself which really doesn't happen very often. Anyway as I was leaving the store and driving down the road. I noticed a lady on the other side of the road staggering over her feet with her clothes falling off her. I could tell she must have been under the influence of something. My first thought was AJ white trash. Then I thought about it for a minute and thought how terribly sad for her. How awful it would be to live a life tied to drugs or drinking. I felt sorry for her. I hope and pray that never ever happens to any of my children. I hope from what we teach them and learn at church they will make the right choices. I love this life. I love having the commandments and the word of wisdom. By keeping the word of wisdom it makes me free. I am truly thankful for my life. In my dreams there is no drinking and drugs in my world.

My little Helper

I was looking on my blog last night and Ester was in the office. She asked me why I didn't have anything up on it about her. I told her I was planning to put something on very soon about her. So now is that time.

I love all of my children very much. They all hold a special place in my heart. They are what I live for. Their joy is my joy. Their pain is my pain. I prefer them to be joyful. My sweet Ester is one of the most joyful out of my five. She is so much like her dad and in a weird way she is so much like me. She is kind of spacey like the both of us are. She has a get the job done attitude like Clint and is a very hard worker. She was born that way just like her dad was. Ester has the biggest heart like me. We care about everyone. She has incredible faith also. She often reminds me of the little thing that are important. Not by word but by action. She is a great example of service. I will be doing something and without asking or saying anything she will do the dishes or clean up a mess. Then she will show up with a big smile on the face. I will ask her what is so funny. She will say go look at the sink or whatever it might be. She is so sweet. Of course with all kids they are not perfect. She has an awful temper like me. When we get mad we get mad. She also doesn't think about the out come of things like her dad. That gets her in to trouble sometimes. I love my Ester or S.E. as we sometimes call her. I am so thankful for her. She is one of the many gifts from heaven. She is my little helper.

Sweet Stuff

I asked my Hanna what she wanted to do for her birthday this year. We have always had big parties. Last year was her last big party after she turned 8. So this year I told her she could pick four friends and do something small. She chose to go to Build-A-Bear Workshop with her four friends and two sisters.

I always hope my children will pick good kids to be friends with like it says in the Gospel Standards. Hanna has picked good friends which is comforting to me. It is nice that they all have the same values and beliefs that Hanna is being raised with. As I drove I listened to what they were talking about and it was so cute listening to a bunch of 8 & 9 year old girls talk. I heard "I wish John McCain won" "yeah me too". I thought that was so funny because I am not political at all I vote because I have to and these cute girls totally were into the election. Then they were telling each other silly scary stories. Then I would hear "was that a true story". They are still so innocent but grown up at the same time. I am thankful for friends that are raising their kids the same way I am and have good standards set for their children. It really is a blessing to me.

The girls with their new animal.

Happy Birthday my Hanna Baby. I love you to the moon and back forever and ever. You are part of what I live for.

This is my sweet stuff. I love watching my children enjoy life and have fun. I always want to be a part of that and will try to give them all I can for the rest of my existence.

Homemade ice skating rink

Today I put Clint and the kids to work. As I stood and did what felt like a thousand dishes I told Clint and the kid to clean out the freezer. It has been needing to be cleaned out for the last two years. I know that is very gross. We had fish from like the last five fishing trips. Elk from last years hunt. Tons of stuff we had gotten on sale, half eaten ice cream sandwiches and about an inch thick sheet of ice on the bottom of the freezer. Eliza got in and said "look mom I am ice skating" she thought that was fun. I just had to get a picture of something so cute. The kids and Clint did a wonderful job cleaning out the freezer. Clint even threw away stuff and any of you that know him know that is a hard thing to do. He keeps everything even food that has gone bad. I was so happy to have it cleaned out. It was a big job. Our Ester helped him to the end. The others lost interest.

Veteran Day Parade

Today our family went to the Apache Junction Veterans Day parade. Our son Jacob marched in the marching band for his middle school. They looked so good and sounded really good. He is the one with the blue trumpet. He told me he was not going to wave to me when he marched by. He couldn't help it we were all calling his name and he gave us a little smile and wave. I can't believe I am old enough to have a middle school aged child. I was so proud of him when he marched by I had to stop myself from crying the happy cry.

I love him what can I say.

This weekend was my sweet husbands birthday. I am four months older then him. I always like it when we are the same age if people should ask our age. He can't wait to get old and I am fine if I stopped aging at 25.

Any way we were able to get away for a night. Together without kids. It was so much fun. (Thank you Carla for watching our house full.)

I love my husband more then words could ever express. I think of the Blue October song Calling You where it says "I can't believe you actually picked me." I feel like the luckiest or blessed (which ever way you look at it) girl alive to have him.

I took this picture while he was eating breakfast. I am sure he will be so happy to know another picture of him is on my blog. For those of you that know him know how humble he is. He is in no way a show off (except when riding his quad) or doesn't like to bring attention to himself. I wanted to have a party for him like I do every year but he just wanted to spend time with me. I won't argue that because I always want to be with him. I love him what can I say.

He is my son and I love him

This is my goofy son. He is 11 years old and very much a boy. I love everything about him. He is the sweetest kid I know. He amazes me in the choices he makes. He has really good integrity. He makes me laugh a lot of the time. This picture is how I found him when I got home from the store a couple of nights ago. Earlier that day I had bought marked down Halloween stuff. You never know when you will need a clown wig. Well Jacob thought it would be funny to greet me this way. He did the make up with marker. The next day when he got ready for school he still had a tint of green around his mouth. He is my son and I love him.

"MY COOL KATIE CAT"

I love being a stay at home mom. It is fun to have one on one time with just one. Having five children sometime doesn't leave much time for one on one. Every Tuesday and Thursday my four year old goes to preschool. The older three are in school. I get to be with just Katie my two year old. She is so silly as she gets older. She doesn't like to hold my hand or sit in a cart at the store. She is a big girl and doesn't want to be bothered with her mom who is tyring to keep her my baby. She does like to tell me "shut up" and "no mom" all the time. When you are the baby you hear the older kids say stuff to their sisters and she thinks it is ok to say it to mommy. The older kids are always telling her "no" . Katie thinks that she can say no to me. I love my Katie just the way she is. I will miss the times I get to be with her once she starts school. I am glad that won't be for a year or so. I do look forward to the time I don't have to change another diaper.