Reflections

Today the kids are at their dad's house until wed night and then they go again to their dad's thurs. night until sunday. You know, when you have them with you all the time, you would think that's it's nice to have some "me" time all to yourself. Right? Wrong!!!! Yeah, okay, I do enjoy "me" time but not that long! I miss them so much! I miss Alec's jokes or his silly sense of humor, I miss Crista's wanting to help me cook in the kitchen, I miss Calli's little giggle and her silliness, I miss Caidin's rather hard hugs and his sudden tackling you to the ground, and I miss seeing my little Caitlin all in her dress up clothes, and when I mean all in her dress up clothes, she tries to put EVERYTHING on - even if it means putting on double or triple the clothing! She then comes downstairs and thinks she is the prettiest thing ever! And she really is! I love everything about them! They are all so different in so many ways and I love it!
I think I don't want to grow old if it means having no children around. I love having little ones around! They are so inspiring! They make me want to be a better person and look at the world differently and to actually enjoy life, not to just endure it! I hope when I have grandchildren that I get to be around them all the time! I made my kids promise me to stay close and I will be their number one babysitter! Well, maybe 1 out of the 5 will do that! I wish I lived closer to my mom and dad! As much as I loved living in South Dakota, I don't know if I could stand the really cold winters there! Sorry guys! I am spoiled with Utah's winters! And spoiled with the close walmarts, libraries, thrift stores, etc.



My dad is the best dad around! I have grown so much appreciation for him in the last few years. He has had the roughest life and it brings me to tears when I think about it. I think of my kids and how much they have - which is really not much - but it was so much more than what my dad had. Number one, my kids had a family and a home that shows real love to them. He had a children's home and people there that said they loved all the children but if the walls could speak, you would hear so many horrible stories. My dad did the best he knew how to raise a family and I think he did a wonderful job! I love him so much and I'm grateful to have him in my life!



My mom is the best momma in the world! She is the most kind, tender, caring, selfless person I have ever known! She had all six of us and taught us to pray, love the scriptures, and took us to church (which was an hour away). She is an excellent example to me! I hope that I can be as good as a woman as she is.




I love all my brothers and sisters. Yes, we all have our differences but that is what makes us unique. We are brothers and sisters to help each other. To strengthen one another. I hope with this new year, that I can become closer to my family and be the best mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, etc. Happy New Year!

"Isn't I so pwetty?"

Caitlin came skipping down the stairs the other day and came up to me and asked "Isn't I so pwetty?" I instantly replied, "I LOVE it! You are so beautiful to me!" ......You know,....I'm gonna really miss these days! I cherish every moment (or at least try to) with them! I love all my kids so much! They are my life and I wouldn't know what to do without them!

Let it snow, let it snow let it snow!!!

We are getting dumped on with all this snow! I am loving it and then again, I'm not! All the kids want to go outside and play in the nice, white, fresh snow! Ahhhh....peace in the house! The silence in the house and listening to the kids yell and scream and play in the snow! How nice of a feeling that is! Then before you know it, your life turns upside down! Everyone coming in, kicking off the snow stuff, runny noses, freezing hands, crying......and who knows what else. Ugh! My floors are a mess, I have stinky, wet snow clothing all over that needs washing and the kids are freezing and wanting some nice hot chocolate. *Sigh* Life as a mom - never getting a long moment to herself! It's the start of Christmas break and we are in for a lot of snow .......and messy floors, stinky snow clothing, runny noses, and freezing hands! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow???? Maybe in the winter wonderland!!

Happy Birthday Crista!

Today Crista turned 12! I can hardly believe it! She is so excited to be 12! She has been so much fun to have and I look forward in many more birthdays so spend with her! I love you Crista!




No, she really didn't have a binkie and ride in the carseat....she wanted to be a baby so she hopped in Calli's carseat!


12 Things you may not know about Crista

1. She was 6# 14 oz and 18 inches long.
2. She the second child but oldest girl
3. She had her tonsils taken out
4. She loves cats and dogs
5. She is really good at clogging
6. She has 3 brothers and 2 sisters
7. She is learning to play the piano
8. She has so much personality and loves all the girly - girl stuff
9. She is a determined girl that won't give up too easily
10. She is very helpful and is a very good babysitter! (Anyone out there that needs
a babysitter, she would be great!)
11. She has a testimony of the Savior and is a very good example of Him
12. She has had many nicknames - because her siblings couldn't say her name very well
They are Da-da, Twista, Dersta and Dersty.

We love ya and so glad you're in our family!!!

Pampered Chef

Hey, I am holding a Pampered Chef Show on Friday Nov. 21st at 7:00 pm! If anyone is interested in getting some cool products then leave a comment and I will get back to ya!! I am closing my party on Nov. 25th. It's a great time to get stoneware for 20% off!! Also, I would love to have you come to the show that night!! Hope everyone is doing great!!

Photo Tag

I saw this photo tag thing and thought it would be fun. So I opened up the 4th photo and the 6th photo and here it is! So I tag Jay, Christina, Jani and whoever else

High School Tag

My friend Tagged me.....so this should be fun!

All about High School...

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? No, not really. There was one that was a very good friend and we called each other all the time. He still is a really good friend to me even though I haven't heard from him in 2 years now. :(

2. WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? A Big White Ugly Station Wagon! I called it the party wagon!! No, I really didn't party tho!

3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? I think I had to retake it cuz I missed it by one point or something. Stupid me! But I took the test at 14! Scary!

4. WHERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? Not much to do in South Dakota! I did hang out with my friends but I didn't drink. Watching them look like puking fools made me not want to even try the stuff. So no, I wasn't really a party Animal!

5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Um, I don't think so!

6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? I was in band and choir. Was I good at any of them. Probable not. Just needed things to do in a small town!

7. WERE YOU A NERD? No, I don't think I was a nerd. I could hang out with anyone, nerds, popular, anyone! This was a small school and pretty much we were all family! It was great!

8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? No, I played Basketball in Junior High but stopped before High School. Probably could have made it since the school was so small. I just didn't believe in myself enough. Yeah yeah, poor me! :)

9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? Nope! Teachers liked me and also I feared what my dad would do if I ever got into trouble! Yikes!!!!

10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? I don't I ever knew the words cuz I always played it on my clarinet!

11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? I had many teachers that were my favorite in different ways. I like Mr. Kinder my English teacher cuz he was fun but really taught us. I liked my Spanish Teacher Mrs. Hinckley - she was so kind and sweet. Mr and Mrs Meyer has to be the best teachers in the world. They were my Science teacher and Home Ec. teacher. Mr. Ehrke my band/choir teacher taught me a lot about the love of music. Okay, those are the ones that stick to me the most! Thanks awesome teachers!

12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? Anywhere where there was room.

13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? Willow Lake High School. Although the elementary was in the same building too.

14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? We were the Willow Lake Pirates and they were purple and gold. I was actually the school mascot at one time!

15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Yes, I went to Homecoming but in our school anyone could go even if you didn't have a date. So I went dateless but danced with everyone - even with their dates! Like I said, we were all like family!

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? Yes, I would. I would try harder in sports, try harder on my grades, be kinder to everyone, and be the best ever!

17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Standing up in front of everyone and talking about our class memories with my best friend Ben. And I remember feeling so sad that I was at a point in my life that I know that all this High School memories and friends were coming to an end. That I was moving on and and going to Utah. I was going to miss all my classmates and other friends that I had. I knew that most of them were going to stay in South Dakota and if I ever came back I would see them again. But I really was going to miss my friend Ben cuz he was moving back to Texas and the chances of me seeing him again was slim to none. So really I felt a loss of a friend when I graduated. I losing my best friend Ben. Thanks for the memories!

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I really don't remember skip day! I probably either stayed there in school or just went home and did chores or something.

19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? Was FHA a club? I was FHA President! Beat that! :)

20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? Yes, but by the time I got back to South Dakota this last summer I lost all but 10 lbs!! Yeah for me!!! Yes, I was one hot sexy momma with 5 kids!! J/K

21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? One year I hade a neighbor named Ryan, then, I dont think I had anyone for jr. year then sr year a guy named Rocky. No, I wasn't Rocky Balboa either!! He was a very sweet guy!

22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? I will go to my 20 year! I want to come back every year! We have reunions every year anyways!

23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Nope, there was no place to work in a town of 300 people. I did work at the swimming pool the summer before my senior year. That was fun!

There you have it! I will tag, Jill, Sonja, Sunny, Jay, Jani, Emily, Kelli, Jenni, Jen and whoever else wants to play!