Weekend Fun..........

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.


Last weekend we went out to my Parents property to have a bit of fun. Grandpa just got a new four wheeler and the boys were dying to try it out. We always have a great time, but it seems the four wheeler is the new favorite thing. Mat took right to it and was able to drive it well on his own right away. Drew I think was able to sense the power it had and it it took him until the second day to feel okay to go on his own. Nick enjoyed rides from everyone. It was the first all day outdoor activity for Ben. I remembered the sunscreen, but forgot to bring a hat for him. I tried using sunscreen but all it did was give him greasy hair. So being the great scout he is (always be prepared), Grandpa tied one of his handkerchiefs to Ben's head. It really worked good. I couldn't stop laughing at him as he looked o so cute.


Grandma had to get a "biker" shot.

Mat learning from grandpa how to drive the machine up a very steep hill.
"Don't mess with me."
Nick waiting for his turn. He really couldn't get enough.

One more shot of the baby as I couldn't stop myself with the pictures.

Nick taking his turn for a camera shot on the motorbike.

Smile.........

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. ~Charles Gordy

The smiles at our house have recently changed! Nick has lost his first tooth. All my boys know that I love to pull out their teeth, I bribe them with everything and anything I can think of for them to let me pull them out. I was sad to find out that Nick let his 5 year old friend pull it out( and just because he asked if he could). I guess I'll have to try a more simple approach with the next tooth. I am so happy I have his mouth and Ben's to still pull. I had to work the night the tooth fairy came, but it was exciting to see him that morning when I got home.

The other smile change in our house is in Mat's mouth. He got braces! I think he looks very handsome with them on. (the cheesy picture below does not capture how good he looks). He was able to pick the colors of the band things they put on and I was a bit surprised he said blue and "pink". I mean I thought that in a house with all boys I would be the only one picking pink things. I think the dental assistant must have sensed my confusion when I asked Mat "are you sure you want pink". She quickly told me that pink is the new black. She said that lots of boys pick pink now a days. Regardless, he looks grown up with them. He looks much to old to be my son, right.

Blessings......

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.



The 9th of march was a big day for our family. Mat was ordained a deacon, and Ben was Blessed. According to my big life plan for myself this would not have happened. I didn't think that I would have a 12 year old and a new born. But the best thing about life is that God is watching and knows our needs more than we think we know ourselves. It turns out that the way things are happening for our family is better than anything I could have come up with on my own. I love these boys we have be blessed with. I love the age differences, and their unique personalities.
The day was very nice. All of Bretts family was there except Dan who lives in Florida, and Robyn and her family who lives in Canada (and Mexico now), and my whole family was there except my brother Gain and his family. They all were missed. I love the support that was given to Mat as he is growing in the church. He has a wonderful extended family of priesthood holders whose examples he can follow.
We had a wonderful lunch afterwards at Chris and Amy's house (their house is a bit bigger than ours and only live a mile away, we are so glad they moved back to Utah). We had more food than we knew what to do with. It was a wonderful day!



Mat and Ben

Mat in his new Tie, and Ben looking cute (sorry I don't know how to flip this picture)

Ben's shirt matched his eyes.



A bit of a smile!

I can't be that old....

The trick is growing up without growing old. Casey Stengel

My family moved to Utah right before my 7th grade year. It seems like just yesterday. I can remember almost every detail from junior high. I can remember where my locker was, who I sat by in each class, and which boys I had crushes on. Lorece and I had Dr. Pepper and funions (I don't remember how to spell it but its those chips shaped like onion rings) everyday for lunch, boy were we healthy. I remember witnessing my first fight in the halls in which I was paralyzed with fear and almost got hit with the swinging blows. I remember thinking my parents were wierd and didn't know what they were talking about and really did want to make my life hard. I remember trying to be cool, thats right, you know I had big hair and short skirts. I had fringe boots and of course I wore double socks under them. I remember getting in "fights" (not the punching kind) with my friends and making up the next day. I loved almost everything about the whole experience, but would never choose to live it over again.

I say all this becouse last night Mat and I went to the Junior High to sign him up. Thats right, I will soon have a child going to Junior High. I feel old. Mat is a good kid and maybe it is different for boys, but I hope he will come to us with problems and feel free to ask us any questions. (Just like I thought my parents had all the answers, right!) He is very excited. I hope he remembers the little details and loves the experience.

Love..........

"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.'' Erich Fromm

I know this is a few days late for Valentine's Day, but I had to work that night and things with a baby never go as planned.....

I just wanted to pay tribute to the man I love. Brett is an amazing husband and father. There was something about him the moment we met. I was drawn in by his smile and his laugh. Now it has been almost 14 years since we were married and I love him more today then ever. He is my best friend. I love being with him even if it is just going to get groceries or sitting and watching the news. He is the best man to raise our beautiful boys. I knowing very little of what and how boys think,I know I couldn't do it without him. I am so grateful that we were married in the temple and will be together forever.

These are a few pictures from when we were dating....Look how young we were.

High-Ho, High-Ho it's off to work I go!

There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something. Henry Ford

I can't believe how fast six weeks goes by. It's time to go back to work. I have to say I was a bit nervous, after all I am still learning the profession. I returned back on Sunday night. I only cried a little in the car on the way to the hospital. It's so hard to leave those little ones. I don't know why I was so nervous to leave the baby, after all Brett has always watched the boys after I returned from maternity leave and has always done a wonderful job. None the less its hard. I think part of the reason it was so hard was that I chose to go back after only 6 weeks. I could have taken up to 12 weeks, but with me being so new at the job I didn't want to lose those skills. The night went well and the 12 hours seemed to fly by. I survived without any caffeine too. Those last weeks before I had Ben were miserable and I kinda thought it would similar going back. It really is amazing how much faster I could walk and how much energy I had not being pregnant. I really do love working at the hospital and it's only 2 nights a week so hopefully I can survive.

The birth of another boy!

"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him." Pablo Casals

I thought I should maybe write something about the birth of our latest addition before he is old enough to read this himself. (I finally learned how to put up some pictures too). Benjamin Michael was born on December 13th. He weighed 7 lbs and 11 oz. Brett and I arrived at the hospital at 8:00 am for an induction. I was put on the monitors and suprise I was actually in labor all on my own (something I had never experienced). I thought that I would try this one all natural.....and I did it (kinda). I was doing great. They started the pitocin and things were going strong. I could handle it. They turned up the dose, I could handle it. The contractions started coming every 30 seconds, I could handle it. Then they started lasting about 2 minutes each and I thought I might not be able to handle this. I asked the nurse to check how far dialated I was. I was dialated to a 4 when I arrived at the hospital so when she said I was only a 5, I knew I could no longer handle it. I broke down and asked for the epidural.

The doctor came in within minutes and the process was underway. He got the epidural in fairly quickly, but it didn't take effect quick enough. The contractions were right after eachother. I have never felt such pain. The Doc gave me a huge loading dose to try and get things under control. It didn't work and I didn't think I was going to make it. Just then I felt like I had to push. The nurse checked me again and..... I was at a 10 (all within 20 minutes). The nurse had to call the doctor quickly and he rushed down just making it in time to catch the baby. I felt all of it. The epidural doc all the time was trying to get the pain under control. It all took effect about the time the placenta was delivered. I was then completely numb for 6 hours following the delivery.

Any way it would have happened would have been okay. Ben it beautiful. The miricle of life is amazing. I always feel so close to heaven as they place that bundle in my arms. God does love me. He sent me these 4 wonderful boys to take care of and raise. I just hope and pray I don't screw them up to badly.