FOR ALL THE LOVE'S OF JANA

DISNEYLAND...check!

2012-01-22T20:15:00.002-07:00

We spent the children's

FALL BREAK

in Disneyland.

I work for a GREAT company and after

meeting our SALES plan for the year

we got rewarded with a TRIP of the year!

We arrived at our hotel Monday afternoon and went straight to our company party at

JOE'S CRAB SHACK!

Have you ever had the most yummy seafood in the planet?

Well you haven't if you haven't been to Joe's!

I didn't take a picture...but wish I had!

After that,

we were on our own!

We aren't CROWD type people but luckily our good friends

THE FAGRELL'S

were at Disneyland and are Disneyland experts!

They taught us the ropes...

and we loved being able to hang out with them for the day!

Luckily they taught us about

FAST PASS!

And we used it wherever and whenever we could...

the one ride we were willing to wait...

TOY STORY!

TOMORROWLAND!

FRONTIERLAND!

My least favorite ride?

AUTO NATION.

Jacob drove the car and I thought I had whiplash by the time we were done!

I should have known I was in trouble with this face!?!

LOL!

Ron was the lucky one on this ride!

He made sure Katie was his DRIVER!

Here is Ariel's Underwater Adventure!

Katie enjoying it as well!

This is BEFORE I got drenched!

As I get older...I'm not enjoying these rides that get me

WET for the rest of the day!

Is that mean I'm not as COOL of a mom as I thought I would be!?!

However, Christopher got it worse than I DID!

I LOVED laughing about the whole darn thing since they somehow always convince me to always get on these WET rides!

Can you believe that we go to CALI to cool off...

and it turns out to be 100+ degree temperature and

HOTTER

than what we had back home in Arizona!?!

We took a MUCH needed break from the heat and ate a

LONG

lunch at FRONTIERLAND.

GREAT KIDS!

An AMAZING husband!

SAME great kids!

The best part of the day for Jacob was getting called onto the stage to help with the entertainment!

All my kids are pretty SHY

except for my Jakie...

he loved every minute of it!

Heading home for the day!

Overall we spent 3 days at Disneyland or California Adventure Park and had a GREAT time

despite the crowds, overpriced food and tired kiddos!

Our last night we stayed for the

World of Color

show and I highly recommend it!

Overall fun....CHECK!

We also spent a day at the BEACH and lots of time at our hotel swimming or relaxing watching movies. We also enjoyed MANY meals out and MANY meals in! I will post the pictures of the BEACH soon!

Walking In a Path I didn't Expect to Take

2012-01-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

When I was young and in my parents home...

I walked a STRAIGHT and NARROW path, one that was easily guided with two

parents who taught me God's ways.

I left for college 3 weeks after my 18th birthday and never looked back.

I used to think that somehow that made

me stronger

for having to learn how to LIVE on my own.

But the problem was...

I should have been looking back!

I knew the STRAIGHT and NARROW way...

and it leads to JOY and HAPPINESS.

But what happened instead caused me to walk a path I didn't expect to take!

People say you shouldn't have regrets,

because you learn from past mistakes!

But I do!

Have regrets that is!

Now it wasn't ALL bad...I have FOUR beautiful children,

some amazing friendships,

and the honor of serving a mission.

I'm NOW walking the better path....

with these beautiful children!

Christopher, Rachel, Katie and Jacob may you always walk in God's path for you.

Best of the BEST redo

2012-01-14T16:10:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited to have my latest furniture redo complete.

This is by far the best...

and I'm learning that the more "practice" I get

the better things LOOK!

I found this piece at

GOODWILL

on my very first trip!

I loved the hardware detail on the doors as well as the slats!

I thought it would make for an interesting piece once all the stain got into all the knooks and crannies!

I could have waited and bought this for $12 as they have there once a month 50% off 2 days after I purchased this...

but I was so afraid it wouldn't be there that I snatched it up as quickly as possible!

I have to say I was GIDDY with excitement as this turned out to be and ETHAN ALLEN original

and the wood was sturdy and intact!

I forgot to take a BEFORE picture

until I had sanded off the top layer...

but you get the general idea!

I'm so excited to share the AFTER!!!!

Here is a closer up look at the detail...
I absolutely am thrilled with how beautiful this turned out.

I changed out the hardware except for the beautiful hinges on the doors and found the knobs on sale at Hobby Lobby for only $2 a piece!

I bought the paint for $12 at Home Depot...

and already had the stain, wax and other supplies I needed from other projects

so this Ethan Allen original cost me only $48!!!

How great is that!

Side note: My wonderful hubby has made me two shelves to go with this so that I can create a front entry vignette. However, one of the kids stepped on one of the shelves and he has to start over building a new shelf. I'm hoping to have this done before my parents come into town in a few weeks for Jacob's baptism. I can't wait to show you the entire finished project!

A highlight and oh so much BEAUTY!

2012-01-08T22:37:00.002-07:00

I grew up in the Ozark Mountains...

nothing like the mountains that I live in now.

We should call them just what they are....BIG hills!

So it wasn't until college in Utah that I learned how to go skiing.

I fell in LOVE with it the first time down the hill even though I spent most of the time on my backside or face plants in the snow!

We still live 3 hours

from the SNOW...but I've become hooked!

I love that we have now had our three children...

KATIE

CHRIS

RACHEL

I'm amazed at how strong and talented my children can be and how much

JOY

they bring me!

Here are some of the pictures of our beautiful day.

We were so excited that we arrived at the slopes over and hour early...

we stayed warm inside the lodge at this cozy fireplace.

Rachel taking her first ride up the lift...can you see the excitement?

Can you see the thrill and JOY in my face?

I can't wait to share this fun with Rachel!

Getting ready to take our FIRST run of the day!

Hold onto your "beanie's"!

She is so dang cute...she is my cautious skier!

It took her one run down to get brave enough to realize she knew how to ski!

My cutie girls!

I love being these two girls mommy!

I love that no matter how different these two girls are...

they still LOVE and DEFEND one another!

Chris has skills...

SNOWBOARDING skills that is!

Chris did a GREAT job snowboarding.

I was so impressed as it was only his 2nd time.

We hardly saw him on the slopes...he lapped us a couple of times, and I was so glad to get these few pictures of him!

We are a family that ski's!

Now that makes me go...

YIPPEE!

Footnote: We decided to go to Sunrise again this year but choose a different side of the mountain to avoid the large crowd at the main lodge. We are so glad that we did as we heard from other skiier's that it was packed at the main lodge. We also decided that Jacob was still to young and we left him with Cameron and Chelsea. We are so grateful to them for taking such good care of him. Lastly, Sunrise had gotten a record amount of snowfall and was noted as having the best snow in the Southwest since Utah and Colorado had gotten minimal snowfall. However, a week later after our ski trip the snow has melted more than 20" with record high temps! That is mother nature for you!

I'm THANKFUL for...

2011-12-07T21:58:00.001-07:00

One of my greatest blessings in life has been the opportunity

to be BORN into a family

where the FULNESS of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST

was taught.

A wonderful example was set

by two

LOVING parents.

And yes...it was even a blessing to have seven siblings!

And while I spent another

THANKSGIVING

without my siblings or parents,

I was able to have my brother Kent come the following day to spend a few days with our family!

Yippee...I love him so much!

And his wonderful wife Whitney...

well I love her just AS MUCH!

She is pretty much amazing and fits into our family perfectly!

I regret not taking more pictures of all that we did...

but we did enjoy an afternoon of

BOCCE BALL

and they pretty much "killed" us...

but lucky for me

I was too busy enjoying there company!

Jacob only wanted to COLOR!

Side note: Ron had to work the entire weekend including the night before Thanksgiving and the following day after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately he wasn't able to participate in all our activities. While I am thankful he has a job...and a good job at that, I'm sad that we can't spend more time with him during holidays and weekends!

Being BLUE makes me happy....

2011-12-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

I am so "giddy" over my new

CHOICE

of colors.

TURQUOISE

It has made me so happy as of late that I've decided to change up my LIVING ROOM

and create a piece that makes me happy to look at!

It may not make everyone as happy as it makes me...

and you might find it a little shocking at first,

but I am just downright

HAPPY

with it!

Here is what the table sort of looked like BEFORE...

(well not really because this is nicely painted and mine was a VERY used table)

Ron cut the legs down so I could have a coffee table for my front room.

After I painted it, sanded it and distressed it...

it now looks like this in my room.

Of course I had to do a little shopping...

and find the perfect accessories,

and I still have a few more things to do...

but I'm so happy with it!

And I think I must like the word Happy today!

Originally I had only planned on only painting the legs

turquoise but when I stripped the black paint off the top of this pretty little table,

there was nothing there but ugly MDF board!

To me it is always fun to find what's hidden underneath and sometimes you get beautiful wood and

other times ugly MDF or particle board.

But the exciting part is just taking the time to discover it and create a custom piece that just makes you

SMILE!

Giving THANKS....

2011-11-28T16:23:00.002-07:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Katie and Jacob made these darling headdresses for everyone to wear. They spent several days and lots of hours and I was so impressed with how well they turned out!

Everyone was good sports...and wore them...even for our picture!

I loved using my NEW message board I made at a Relief Society Craft day...

for our Thanksgiving Menu!

Nothing fancy...just the basics...yummy!

I made two games for the kids including:

Don't EAT tom!

Turkey HUNT!

Everyone grabbed a tag off the tree...

then they had to go look for that TURKEY

somewhere in the neighborhood!

The kids couldn't wait for me to say "GO!"

Cameron and Chelsea hid the TURKEY'S for me!

We are so grateful for family and friends who spent a special

Thanksgiving DAY with us!

The Happiest Place on EARTH....

2011-10-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

As we get ready to head to

DISNEYLAND

for the week of FALL break,

and there claim is that it is the Happiest Place on Earth...

I realized that while that may be true,

that for me,

my Happiest Place on Earth,

is with my best friend and hubby

RON FLEWELLEN.

He really just makes me happy...and he is oh, so much fun to be around.

That is why for his 50th Birthday...

I wanted him to know just how special he was to me and those that are lucky enough to know him.

Pulling off a SURPRISE birthday party is not easy.

So I had to enlist the help of my kids, the Pittson's and the Letner's.

Rachel was my decorator and style consult...

she was also my eyes and ears.

I Love this picture of her...

watching for us to show up!

And then the BIG surprise..........

Ron thought we were going to a DATE night party at the Pittsons'.

We had to bring a "side" dish...which explains while we are both carrying food items when we walk in.

I am so happy to see that I've finally pulled this off...

and that he was super SURPRISED!

We were able to share a ten minute video in which we asked our friends and family to share why they love Ron.

Despite the initial tears and emotional expressions of love...

Ron was able to enjoy time with friends...

and family.

(Cameron and Chelsea...and Gary Wilkins)

Aunts and Uncles

Then it's CAKE time and my right hand girl...

my beautiful Rachie helped me every step of the way!

Such an amazing man...

a great husband, a great father, a great grandfather

and a GREAT man of God.

Happy 50th Birthday!

Sneak Peek....

2011-09-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

We had such a great

SUMMER

and I only posted about our trip to

MEXICO.

And yes, while that trip was a blast...

and a definite highlight for our summer,

we did so much MORE.

In fact, we did so much that quite frankly...

we all couldn't wait for school to start.

Just to have some

REST!

So here is a sneak peek on what I'm going to work on posting next:

Ron's 50th Surprise party!

Ohhhhh...it was so much fun and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Here is just what the cake and centerpieces looked like:

Special Thanks: Shannon and Shane Morris created the amazing fish "bowl" centerpieces and Designer Cakes made the cake!

A miracle DEFINED....

2011-09-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday during testimony meeting

inspiration came my way!

Ohhhh....

how I love that feeling knowing that the Lord is always there to teach me!

I hope I'm always willing to listen...

I still am a work in progress.

We have several families in our ward who are going through really, really hard times.

Like the kind of times you hope to never have to go through.

While listening to them bare

testimony...

the thought came to me,

"The REAL miracles happen not in if a family member or loved one is healed or made whole again,

because some may not receive that miracle.

If that is the case,

then why are some more deserving of a miracle than someone else?

Are we not all deserving?

So then the real miracle is having

FAITH

that we can accept God's will...

no matter what,

and that as we do accept His will that we can endure to the end."

I learned this from my amazing husband.

He is teaching me that he is the MIRACLE...

because he is having the

FAITH

that he will become who God wants him to be

and that through trials and loss...

he is having the faith to endure to the end.

Miracle clearly defined!

Lesson learned.

New YEAR...new beginning!

2011-09-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

I have decided to make this day...

be a

CATCH UP

day.

Meaning, I am only doing things that are non-work related!

Usually every day involves

something work related...

and well I just didn't want to think about it.

Instead...

I wanted to enjoy the fact that I was able to

be VERY much involved this year in getting my kids ready for

the FIRST day of school!

I never knew how important my health was...

until it hindered me from being a

MOM!

I started my MOMMY-KID dates with

Christopher...aka

CHRIS!

School: Higley H.S.

(Yikes...he is in High School already! Where did the time go?)

We enjoyed dinner and a movie...just the two of us!

2. Jacob...aka

JAKIE!

School: Cortina Elementary-2nd grade

We enjoyed the Science Center and Panda Express!

3. Rachel...aka

RACHIE!

School: Cortina Elementary-7th grade

Did you notice her cute hair?

Well the boys at school did...! :)

We got our hair done and a yummy lunch!

4. Katie...aka

KATE!

School: Cortina Elementary-5th grade

We enjoyed Pedicures, shopping and lunch!

On our way to school the first day...

Can you tell Jacob is trying to contain his excitement?

I'm so grateful for each one of my children and for the good choices they make each day...

I will miss you,

but not TOO much!

LOL!

My WALL reveal

2011-09-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about my new wall!

Thanks to my loving husband who is always willing to

help me with

my crazy new ideas and decorating creations...

he helped me install

this wall...

well he installed and I painted!

LOVE,

Love my new wall and I can't believe how different it makes the space feel.

I also am changing out the floor lamp behind the chair...

I have a really cool idea for that as well...

so stay tuned.

In the meantime,

here is my BIG wall reveal.

A new PASTIME...and what I've been up to!

2011-09-03T23:38:00.001-07:00

It's time for me to get caught back up on my blog.

I can't believe

SUMMER

has already passed by

and we are all back in school.

Makes me long for the DOG days of SUMMER...

except that

with the HOTTEST

AUGUST on record...

I have no choice but to look forward to FALL

and some much needed cooler

temperatures!

I will post soon the pictures of the kids' first day of school,

oh golly life goes by FAST.

I've also taken on a new

PASTIME!

Somehow I found a really FUN new blog...

all about repainting furniture and finding really fun

VINTAGE

type pieces and re purposing them.

I now have two projects under my belt and I'm so happy with the results!

I just finished a old-fashion barn bench today...

and it only took me a few hours...

the first project took me 4 days!

Yippeee...that means I'm getting the hang of it!

Here is my BEFORE and AFTERS:

The original was cute enough...

BUT
pink and it definitely wouldn't fit into my space being that color.
So I stripped off the paint and sanded it like crazy,
stained the top and painted the rest.

Here is my version:

antique white with a light blue drawer.

(Just wish I knew how to get better lighting from my camera!)
My Second Project was much easier, because I didn't have to strip off any paint!

I found this bench on Craigslist...my before shot!

AFTER

I wish I could get a better photo shot with all the

distressed work, staining and waxing.

But here is how the room is turning out...

I have a few more projects for this room.

But I have to enlist the help of my best friend...

RON!

He isn't off this weekend like the rest of America,

so we will be doing it another day this week!

This project is really cool and I can't wait to post the

before and after on that one!

We have FRIENDS....

2011-07-19T00:12:00.002-07:00

okay...well we ALWAYS had friends,

but not always friends that INVITED us to do stuff...

and I have to admit...it's mostly our fault.

Ron's work schedule,

me working,

kids' schedule,

church schedule,

being party poopers, etc and the list could go on.

But the Letner's are

AWESOME

and didn't let any of those excuses stop them from being our friends!

So when an invite to Rocky Point (Mexico)

with them came about...we originally said NO.

Again...for all the reasons I listed above.

But Dennis is pretty persuasive and he DIDN'T take no for an answer.

We are so GLAD he didn't...because we had a blast.

I can't believe how much fun we had in just 2 short days!

Here is our itinerary of fun in pictures:

GIRLS must SHOP!!

While the girls shop...the boys will wait!

After an afternoon of HOT shopping...ice cream is promised!

Thrifty Ice Cream...one of our favorites is everywhere!

Boy...my kids are CUTE!

The girls got cute cover ups and Christopher looks Top Gun stylish in sunglasses.

Jacob got a slingshot...watch out!

Christopher

Rachel and Amorette

My BAYWATCH cuties!

I love this baby...he is so HAPPY and the funniest kid ever.

I love how tender these pictures are and shows the LOVE and TRUST he has for his parents.

Seriously...does he just make your heart melt!

Jared, I sure do love you!

But this man is the MAN of my dreams.

(Ronald...you truly are the VERY best part of me.)

Awww...still got the love after 16 years!

Dennis and Kinley we sure love ya guys.

The kids couldn't wait to join us on the beach that first night after dinner. The tide was low and we were on a mission to search for all kinds of sea life!

What an amazing sunset.

We spent hours and hours at the BEACH or POOL...

we have the sunburns to prove it!

Jacob had a LOVE hate relationship with the ocean...
he spent hours running from the waves...
then decided to jump on in,
before coming to the shore to spit out SALT water.
An unexpected taste he didn't like!

The girls spent lots of time with RON...
on his shoulders...what a great stepdad!

And we found out you can't leave Rocky Point without one of their

FAMOUS

chili and lime covered Mangoes!

YUMMY!

YUM!

Kinley and I talked about what makes a great vacation for a mom is to know that her FAMILY is enjoying it...
and that we DID!

The list of KIDS activities goes on and on...

2011-07-18T13:07:00.001-07:00

Now that summer is almost over...

(I can't believe school starts again in 3 weeks!)

I knew that I must not forget all the wonderful activities my kids

were able to participate in.

Christopher was in a

BASKETBALL league

with all his friends from church and while they didn't take any championship trophy home...they did develop and nourish many great relationships...and oh yea,

they had some FUN along the way.

Rachel was my BUSY bee

being involved with Yearbook, Dance and Color Guard.

She also was in the coveted 6th grade year where all the kids were able to spend 3 days at Science Camp.

Her Color Guard kept our Saturday's busy with competitions and they went undefeated...even against high school teams.

Her dance pushed her to new limits as she learned a new style of dance...Lyrical.

She is EVER busy with friends, friends and Lots of friends.

This girl could MAJOR in Sociability!

Katie picked up TWO new activities this year including

volleyball and piano.

In just two months of playing the piano she played her

recital piece in front of 60 parents and kids at church.

I was so proud of her bravery.

Jacob tried his hand at a new sport...
FOOTBALL.
But came home angry on the first day...
saying he didn't know that he was going to have to
"practice!"
He soon learned he didn't know all that he thought he did...
and managed to even listen to the advice of
his coach, Ron and Cameron.
This is just a short list of the activities the kids participate in...
as I could go on and on about
Mutual
Activity Days
Friends Birthday parties
Sleepovers
Trips
Tournaments
School Dances
but it makes me tired just thinking about starting it all over again,
in just 3 weeks!
So for now...
I will take a minute to enjoy the calm before the storm,
and knowing that in the end...
"I love every minute of it!"

Proud accomplishments....

2011-07-17T19:35:00.001-07:00

I hope my children know how VERY

proud I am of their

MANY

accomplishments.

While most of their accomplishments are small,

like when they take out the trash without being asked,

or read to their sibling,

or pay their tithing...

some GET recognized by more than just Ron and myself.

Like Katie and Jacob

who both were Student of the Months this last year at school.

Jacob was student of the month in

SEPTEMBER,

and those who know the struggles he had during his

kindergarten year know what an

AMAZING accomplishment it was for him to be the FIRST kid

in his class to get Student of the Month.

Katie my EVER bright student was

Student of the Month in January and went on to make straight A's

all year long.

A Day to REMEMBER...

2011-06-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

We just had a perfect

day to remember!

Cameron and Chelsea

married last Friday, May 27th

in the Mesa, Arizona Temple!

When it was announced at church on Sunday...

I thought it was fitting that the Bishopric member said,

"Two people who are doing things at the RIGHT time and in the RIGHT place."

Here is a quick picture...I will have lots more to come!

Disclaimer: My little Rachie got sick and was throwing up just 30 minutes prior to this picture! I thought she was a REAL trooper to put her hair back in a ponytail and smile one last time for pictures!

Spring weekend and HIGHER learning...

2011-04-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

It is weekend's like this last one....

that make me LOVE living in Arizona!

My husband will cringe to hear me say that...since he does not like Arizona.

But it is true....

I LOVED that we could sit outdoors,

next to our new water fountain...

pretty flower bushes...

tomato, strawberries, apples and kiwi all growing around us...

that I realized how much I

LOVE it here!

(Don't ask me that in August....I'll be cursing the heat!)

I also LOVE

that while I was getting to enjoy the outdoors...

that I could hear

GENERAL CONFERENCE

piped throughout the house...and oh my...was that beautiful music!

WOW...I love the talents of others!

I also enjoyed hearing talks about tithing, marriage, being a good parent, service and the

wonderful example our SAVIOR set for all of us.

I am setting NEW goals...

and I can't wait to achieve them!

We had smoothie fun!

Rachel spent the entire weekend in competition...earning a GOLD medal for their amazing performances!

One final note...our REUNION shirts for our family are designed and ordered! Can't wait for June!

Spring Break....highlights!

2011-03-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

As much as I
LOVE
a good vacation...
this year's spring break was quiet, peaceful and relaxing.
I LOVED
every minute of it!
I created a schedule...as my kids say,
"I'm a control freak!"
But keeping control meant that the ENTIRE house got clean,
kids had a constant flow of
friends in and out of the house,
I still managed to get work done, laundry put away, and even to read a BOOK!
(That never happens anymore!)
But just like every controlled stretch in our lives...
it also means we can let loose for a few days and have a little FUN!
We were able to go camping with
FRIENDS
who are the best in the whole world
and who made us feel like we had one BIG new extra family.

Jacob loved the opportunity to get dirty and play with WORMS!

Chris loved playing in the creek...and playing 007 at night with the BIG kids.

Katie met and made LOTS of new friends.

We all had fun doing some archery!

Rachel can have fun anywhere...as long as she is with friends!

I didn't even have to have them POSE for this picture...they were just sitting there...talking and hanging out!

We took a HIKE to the concrete block...

Think of the show "LOST" with the HATCH! (creepy!)

We played LOTS and LOTS of games!

We drove to a GORGEOUS waterfall...and if you look at the start of the waterfall, you will see grandpa Letner on the ledge! (Gives you some perspective on how BIG the waterfall is!)

...the boys' weren't scared not even one bit!

Rachel wouldn't get in the FIRST picture...

she was terrified of the height...however, we finally convinced her but I still just laugh looking at the picture to see how far away she stood from the edge!

Ron enjoyed the COOL mountain air...I loved the BIG campfires and smores!

Rachel enjoyed staying 2 extra days hanging with Amorette...while we had to leave early!

I also LOVED taking pictures...and this BABY is so cute, I can't resist taking pictures of him!

I loved witnessing this moment...brothers walking down the path arm in arm.

Jacob had so much fun riding his bike to the creek...with the DOGS in tow, that I couldn't resist a little bike ride of my own.

Goodbye...Reynold's Creek...

until FALL break where we will be there for the ENTIRE weekend!

Lots of love to our dear friends the Letner's who made us truly feel like we were part of their family!

She's caught HIS heart...

2011-03-19T21:19:00.001-07:00

CAMERON

is getting married!

The important details:

Her name is Chelsea Davies,

they share the same birthday,

MAY 1st.

(not in the same year)

She has completely captured

CAMERON'S heart!

We absolutely LOVE and ADORE her

and are so glad

she is joining our family.

I'm especially grateful they asked little ole' me...

to take some FUN pictures of how

completely and totally in

LOVE

they are.

I couldn't choose just a one or two so a warning:

LOTS and LOTS

of wonderful, loving pictures you will now get to VIEW!

If what we were able to capture in ONE afternoon is any indication of these two feel for each other...

then think what these

TWO

can do with an

ETERNITY together!

LOVE YA LOTS

Cameron and Chelsea!

Sun on Sundays...

2011-02-13T19:49:00.001-07:00

I recently took a photography class...

so I could

FINALLY learn how to use my camera!

With new techniques now on my mind....

I thought I would give

some of them a try.

I'm still a LONG ways from my goal

of being a

GOOD

photographer but I couldn't pass up a beautiful

Sunny Sunday

to capture my BEST subjects.

My children teach me often the value of

LOVE

unconditional!

Motherhood doesn't come

EASY

for me and I appreciate my children's patience as I

strive to be the MOM

I want to be!

These boys couldn't be MORE opposite...

but they sure love each other!

And I'm loving it that Christopher couldn't wait to share this moment

with his younger brother.

Funny how my GIRLS

are the exact same way...

completely OPPOSITE in all their LIKES and DISLIKES,

but willing to GIVE

love to each other nonetheless...

Katie surprises me everyday...

with new found

CouRage!

I love that she set a goal...to get more COURAGE...and that she works at it everyday!

My nurturing

RACHEL continues to amaze me...

and I couldn't wait to capture this moment where they

SHOW

love in the smallest of ways.

Rachel with her

BEAUTIFUL new smile...

and I'm so glad she wasn't afraid to show it off!

May I have many, many more of these wonderful

SUNNY

Sunday's with my children.

That is my prayer to

GOD

this day.

Random bits of LOVELINESS....

2011-02-12T19:53:00.003-07:00

I'm quite certain that if these

RANDOM bits of loveliness
don't get posted soon...

well...let's just say
who knows if they ever would
and I didn't want them to go by the way side.

So I've decided to LOOK back over the last few months and
THIS is
what I've uncovered:

1. Being a Grandma Jana really is GRAND
and I LOVED that I got to be at Hailee's 3rd birthday party.

I LOVE her so much...I really, really do!

2. Sometimes, only a picture can capture the LOVE between Grandpa and Grandson!

3. Spending the Holiday's...including Halloween is just better when you can do it with your family!

4. Rachel has BEEN blessed with some of the BEST friends in the WORLD...

and boy do these girls know how to have FUN!

5. When your KIDS love you enough to want to spend time with you...

including Cameron and Chelsea who planned an evening to REMEMBER.
A night for DINNER, talking by the outside FIRE and DANCING!

(Even if our Dancing is done with the WII!)
6. Enjoying a LAZY...
most wonderful WINTER afternoon at the park,
with FAMILY and FRIENDS!

Jacob hanging from a TREE...
what little BOY doesn't want to do that!

Katie TAKING a swing!

RACHEL up a TREE with Amorette!

Our little FRIEND Jared was so cute taking his FIRST steps
and I couldn't help myself wanting to catch it ALL!
He is just so dang cute!

Making me once AGAIN realize how BLESSED
I am to be living this
Amazing life!
Thank you FAMILY and FRIENDS for giving me...
random bits of LOVELINESS!

OUR wall transformation

2011-01-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

We have been inspired to TRANSFORM our hallway...

into our

FAMILY ORGANIZATION

space!

I'm happy to say that after lots and lots of thought...

and even MORE planning,

we created a SPACE that is not only

FUNCTIONAL

but into a space we LOVE!

Ever since we moved into our house...

THREE

years ago...

we have had problems with storage and function.

With the kids constantly storing

their backpacks in the LIVING room for easy

grab and go

every morning for school...

we knew our space needed to start with a PLACE for everyone

to hang backpacks and jackets!

Secondly,

I wanted a place for kids schoolwork, invitations, reminders, etc.

I also wanted it to be a space where I could

hang pictures of the ones we LOVE!

Thirdly,

I needed a space to keep our MONTHLY calendar.

I'm learning how BUSY we all our and we needed a place to keep

track of it all.

Lastly,

I wanted a space to put my Shopping list and MEAL plans!

Sounds like I needed a BIG space with some BIG ideas!

So I totally FREAKED the man out at

Magma Engineering when I ordered a 5' x 4' piece of sheet metal!

But I think the final result...

turned out amazing and I can't wait for our family to be better

ORGANIZED!

Disclaimer: I would love some FUN pictures of our grandkids...hint, hint!! :)

It pays...to get GOOD grades!

2011-01-21T16:26:00.001-07:00

Katie...

did it AGAIN!

She got good grades...and she deserved a reward!

Since Ron and I were planning our ANNUAL

(yes, we've decided to make this an annual event)

SKI TRIP

to beautiful Sunrise Ski Resort

and Katie had just brought home,

a stellar report CARD...
I suggested to RON we bring Katie along!

AND of course, RON can't say NO to this GIRL!

They have something special!

So after a quick trip to Sports Authority...

(since we live in ARIZONA and don't really have winter clothes)

we took off for Pinetop/Lakeside, AZ.

I love this quaint little community up in the WHITE mountains of Arizona.

Katie loved snuggling between Ron and I while we watched TV late into the night...

meanwhile, I enjoyed some DANCING...

to which Katie thought I was CRAZY!

But the best part was spending...

yet another day...

doing something I absolutely LOVE...

on an absolutely beautiful day...

with the people I love the MOST!

Katie is such a SWEET, KIND and pretty much PERFECT kid

in every way...

that despite her absolute FEAR of falling...

she ROCKED it SKIING...

and we can't wait to take her again!

Postscript: Christopher was able to go snowboarding with friends two weeks prior to us going and I can't wait to get the pictures...which I will post as soon as I get some! And not to have Rachel feel left out...she leaves for Disneyland with her Color Guard in two weeks! I've got some BUSY kids...which is why I've become a BUSY momma!

2011 - New Year...New Resolutions

2011-01-03T22:03:00.002-07:00

(My wonderful family on Thanksgiving at Nana's house)
Wow...what happened to 2010?

I'm sad that I'm NOT doing a BETTER job

at keeping up on my BLOG.

It is my "poor excuse" at Family History and Journaling....

it is all I've GOT and

something is better than nothing...right?!?

I do have a lot of GOOD excuses:

1. I'm a Full-TIME wife

2. I'm a Full-TIME mom

3. I'm a Full-Time (plus) employee

4. I'm a Full-Time cook

5. I'm a Full-Time house cleaner

6. I'm a Full-Time decorator/organizer

7. I'm a Full-Time taxi driver and scheduler

You get the picture?

I'm BUSY and STRESSED

and something is gotta give!

So during the last few weeks I've made a VERY important

decision!

I'm taking time out to learn how to be a better mom...

thanks to a great book called,

"Christlike Parenting"

which I highly recommend.

I'm taking time out to LOVE my husband again!

I'm finding activities that are enjoyable for our whole family!

Lastly, I have just one client...

the others are GONE as of January 1st...

Yippee!

So onward I go...

hoping 2011 will be all I want it to BE and all I make it out to BE!

Building STRONG friendships...

2010-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Building good friendships with others is SUPER important to me!

When we moved to Queen Creek 3.5 years ago...

having my kids find GOOD friends was one of my top priorities!

While I was growing up,

I made SEVERAL great relationships that I still have today...

Those relationships helped me stay ACTIVE in the church,

develop characteristics that would help me be a good friend,

and helped me be the WOMAN I am today.

GIRLS especially need each other...

so imagine how GREAT it is that my cute girlie daughters..

have found those type of friends.

During FALL break we had a WARD campout

in the beautiful PINES of Arizona.

I took the opportunity to do a "brief" photoshoot...

with these amazing GIRLS!

Rachel's AGE group loves to be SILLY...

and are always UP for taking pictures!

Katie's AGE group had MORE fun hiking and playing...

than in taking PICTURES!

One things for sure...

THESE girls are the BEST!

Fall BREAK...beach style!

2010-10-18T00:55:00.001-07:00

You can not go to CALIFORNIA...

without going to the BEACH!

It doesn't seem to matter that it is only 60 degrees outside!

or that the WATER is way too COLD!

It just matters...

that us ARIZONIANS...love the BEACH!

So on our 2nd day in California we had to spend time,

building sandcastles,

looking for sand dollars,

swirling seaweed above our heads,

or just plain "chillin" (literally).

And of COURSE...

you have to eat SEAFOOD at Joe's Crabshack...yum!

JACOB loved the seaweed...til he HIT himself with it!

And LASTLY...

our (free) ROOM with a VIEW!

Goodbye...San Diego...until next time...

WE WILL MISS YOU!

Laughing all the WAY through Fall BREAK!

2010-10-18T00:05:00.001-07:00

I can not believe that

FALL BREAK

is almost over.

We have had such an amazing week...

I'm so grateful to my family for helping me LAUGH

all the way through it!

The girls started the week...

at a CAKE decorating class at Joann's.

The rEsUlts were nothing short of aMAzing!

We didn't stick around LONG...

we were OFF to SEAWORLD and San Diego!

They REALLY do LOVE each other!

(This photo was there idea too...yippee for me!)

We FELL in love with this Walrus...

Jacob LOVES his mommy...and tells me that OFTEN!

Mommy LOVES all her kids!

and I loved it that my KIDS wanted to ride all the RIDES...

but you've got to LOVE Katie's face in this picture!

The FACT is that she RODE it all THREE times...the only one to do it EVERY time!

Jacob RODE it too...

but soon figured out it was more FUN getting WET running

away from the RIDE!

I love the FACT that at SEAWORLD so many things are

HANDS on!

and that you ARE never too old to have some FUN!

Way to go kids...you are AMAZING and so much

FUN to hang with!
Postscript...this is only takes us through day 2 of our week long adventures. Stay tune for more Fall Break fun.

JUMPING into TEN!

2010-10-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Cutie Kate...

as I like to call her...

TURNED the good ole' age of TEN!

She sat down with me and TOLD me exactly what she

wanted me to do for her birthday.

1. Bring Donuts (not cake-she hates cake) into class

2. Do not bake a CAKE at all!

3. She wanted Panda Express brought into school for lunch.

4. She wanted French Toast for breakfast.

5. She wanted Chicken Enchiladas for dinner.

6. She wanted a birthday party with friends at Jump Street.

7. She wanted MONEY only for presents!

8. Never mind....she will take perfume and lotion, too!

So because we ALL love her so much...

we made it ALL happen!

On your mark...

get set....

JUMP!

To my beautiful 10-year old little KATIE...

Happy Birthday!

Start each DAY with a smile....

2010-09-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

As my life returns back to NORMAL...

I'm learning that my

day begins with a SIMPLE expression...

A SMILE!

I'm smiling because things that I used to do...

like taking a bath,

walking down stairs,

going pee pee (without pain),

and of course...

spending time with my family...

doing all the FUN things we used to do...

are FINALLY happening again!

And I love to hear people saying,

"We've got Jana back!"

So when Ron and Cameron had last Friday off of work...

I couldn't wait to JUMP back on the boat!

They got to FISH...

I got to READ !

(Okay I didn't read...we were having so much fun talking!)

Ron was having fun FISHING...

Cameron is always just FUN!

I sure LOVE these two boys!

I love the way they LOVE each other and

LOVE being around each other!

I find myself now thinking of FIRSTS!

(meaning... my firsts since my medical crap began)

This was my FIRST time to be back on the boat!

This was my FIRST time to wear my cute NEW (not so new now!) boating hat!

This was my FIRST time to get back into my swimsuit!

This was my FIRST time to see my weight loss in a picture!

This was my FIRST time to see a SMILE back on my face!

And it was the FIRST time that I began to FEEL

alive again!

I will always look at my life differently now..

and treasure each day,

by starting each day with a SMILE knowing that

I'm alive!

Travel Log - Day ONE

2010-09-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my

CRAZY,

BUSY,

OVER-MEDICAL

summer...I can't believe I haven't BLOGGED any of it!

While I have to admit,

this summer didn't go as planned...

we still had some FUN times.

So this week...

I'm dedicating my BLOG

as a travel LOG...

(I'm rhyming again!)

to our FIRST trip of the summer...

UKRAINE!

Day 1-3:

Travel, Travel and MORE Travel.

Can I say...EXHAUSTION!

So we left for the airport at 10:30 P.M....

having both worked a FULL day so let's just say we've

already been up since 7 a.m..

We catch the plane at 12:40 a.m....

again...still haven't slept!

We land in Minneapolis, Minnesota...

which by the way isn't even on my itinerary...

where we spend 2 hours before loading a plane to

Detroit, Michigan.

We land again for another 1.5 hours before

getting on a plane to New York, NY. at noon the next day!

Other than a brief...a very brief snooze on the plane...

we still have not slept.

We did have a 4 hour lay over before we left for Kiev, Ukraine.

We tried to sleep...but not well.

After a 10 hour flight we land in Kiev.

Cameron asked me what my 3 smells of Ukraine are...

and I can honestly say I smelled 2 of them as soon as we landed!

1. Smoke and lots of it! Almost 85% of Ukrainian's smoke!

2. Body odor! Most Ukrainian's don't bathe daily or wear deodorant!

Unfortunately we had another 6 hour lay over in Kiev before boarding a very small Ukrainian airline to Dnepropetrovsk...

our final destination.

At this point...I can't decide if I'm MORE hungry,

or more tired!

So we luckily had a little pizza place directly across the street from our hotel...we ate quickly...

and went to bed at 7:30 p.m. Ukraine time!

Exactly 50 hours since our LAST bedtime!

No wonder I was able to sleep for 12 hours straight!

Postscript: I must mention that in the final pictures you will see Ron drinking the most AMAZING juice on the planet. Cameron used to talk about it in his mission letters all the time. We couldn't wait to try it...and we were NOT disappointed. We just wish we could have brought some of this juice home!

A Different type of DAY...

2010-09-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

was the kids' FIRST day of school.

Luckily for me...

my wonderful husband

did his best to do all the NORMAL beginning of the year activities.

He took the kids to

MEET the TEACHER night,

(I was still in the hospital)

signed agendas, made lunches, made breakfast,

MADE ME

breakfast in bed for many days,

did morning prayers

and still took time...for my sake

to take the DREADED first day of school pictures!

What a GUY!

Meanwhile, the kids were GREAT.

They didn't complain.

They asked me daily "how are you feeling?"

They found shoes, homework, food to eat and didn't have to

call me one TIME the first whole month of school.

NOW that is a MIRACLE!

Christopher - 8th GRADE

Rachel - 6th GRADE

(with her Best Friends - Izzy and Summer)

Katie - 4th GRADE

Jacob - 1st GRADE

Postscript: It was REALLY hard for me to miss these moments with my kids. The thing I realized and that is the blessing is that my kids' lives kept going on. They still played with friends, went to activities and everything else kids do at their ages...

and while I know they were concerned about me,

they were able to KEEP moving forward!

One more BLESSING I'm able to find in all of this!

Good luck this year kiddos...I know you will do GREAT!

My medical NIGHTMARE...

2010-09-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

Eight weeks ago today...

my life changed FOREVER!

I am finally ready to tell my story of my

MEDICAL NIGHTMARE.

During a routine surgery where I was having a hysterectomy to

rid myself of the constant pain of endometrosis,

my gynecologist cut my ureter.

This is the tube between your kidney and bladder.

(A tube I didn't REALLY know about until now!)

Somehow, I knew something was wrong...

right from the start.

Turns out GAS isn't my poison,

nor were my tests normal!

They just weren't looking in the right place!

The amazing part is that for FIVE days,

the only FIVE days

I had my children before SCHOOL was to start...

God blessed me with the ability to "change the course"

my body was heading to...

but only for FIVE days.

Those FIVE days were the best I've had in EIGHT weeks!

We managed to do everything we needed to do...

to have them ready for the FIRST day of school.

Then we dropped them off...

exactly two weeks after my first surgery,

to spend FIVE days with their dad.

And we headed to the cooler country of Arizona to spend the

weekend with NANA!

Only one hour after dropping the children off...

my PAIN began.

We managed to enjoy the cooler weather of Arizona for two days,

but I still knew SOMETHING was wrong.

Upon our return home,

thinking I must have the most horrible bladder infection...

I had Ron and Cameron take me to the hospital so I could

start on medication right away!

During that visit to the hospital....

after being hooked up to an IV,

I began screaming and crying in PAIN!

AGAIN...

I was told my TESTS were normal.

Except this time they found that my RIGHT kidney seemed to be

ENLARGED.

But they sent me home...

telling me to call the doctor in the morning.

I didn't sleep one wink...the pain was TOO much.

Ron reluctantly went to work,

I got a hold of my doctor who was heading into surgery...

told me to come in later,

but LATER couldn't wait.

I called my bestest friend LISA who was at my door in 15 minutes.

During that time, I received a text from Ron.

"Are you okay?"

My reply,

"NO".

He quickly called and I told him I was heading to the Emergency

Room...again!

He met me there!

From this point on...the experience of the next FIVE days...

are too horrible for me to talk about yet!

I can only say,

that GOD gave me the amazing capacity to endure...

and to FORGET!

During that week, I experienced three failed surgical attempts at

FIXING

the torn ureter.

The only relief I found was in a small box that produced the

strongest PAIN medicine on the market...

and even then...

when I pushed the button,

it didn't always produce the meds my body was looking for...

and the LOVING grace of GOD

who never left my side...

and that made me feel that GOING to the other side...

might BE the better option!

One more surgery the next week...

FAILED again to fix the ureter.

We changed doctors and found the most amazing

UROLOGIST in Arizona!

Thirteen days later...he CUT me open,

CUT my bladder open,

CUT off the torn part of my ureter and sewed it all BACK

together!

WHEW....this surgery was intense...

and much more painful than the previous FIVE surgeries!

But I was FIXED...

and that gave me the HOPE I've needed to ENDURE!

I'm still trying to COPE with the idea,

that one small mistake...

created such a MAJOR ordeal,

and caused me the MOST pain I've ever endured in my LIFE!

But all I can do is FORGIVE...

and in doing so I will be WHOLE again...

in more ways than ONE!

Postscript: During this time, I did not take ONE single picture! I just couldn't stand to see the LOOK that might just be in my eyes if I did! So you will see no pictures of my LOVELY neuphrostomy bag that was attached to my kidney for two weeks or my Foley bag that I carried urine in for two weeks, or the weight loss of 10 lbs. produced from the weight loss diet from HELL!

Must share a STORY...

2010-07-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Our wedding photo - April 21, 2007

During one of my "dark" days recovering from surgery,

I was feeling AWFUL

and Ron had gone back to work.

Upon waking up and him not "being there"...

I quickly panicked and picked up the phone to call him at work.

I burst into tears at the mere sound of his voice,

and told him "I was not doing well."

He rushed home from work to be by my side...

which gave me much comfort.

However, I still felt AWFUL and could not pick my head up

off the pillow.

Upon arrival at the hospital...

they took me back just to begin prepping me for IV's, catheters, drugs, etc.

Making me feel even more AWFUL.

When the doctors came back and said all tests were

NORMAL...

I just lost it...I didn't feel normal.

In fact, I felt AWFUL and knew something wasn't right.

At that moment...Ron lost it with me!

He knew!

He knew exactly how I felt!

Why?

Because of his amazing ability to LOVE.

This is what made me FALL so madly in love with this man.

His ability to show and give LOVE.

It makes me complete...

and it makes me feel special...

and most important it makes me feel

LOVED!

5th GRADE is her year.....

2010-07-26T20:37:00.001-07:00

28 years ago...

I finished my BEST year of school.

5th GRADE...with Mr. Andrus!

I will never forget it...it was a DREAM year.

Rachel had that same DREAM year,

in all things

the 5th GRADE!

With a FUN-LOVING teacher who knew

how to bring the BEST out of each child...

there were no more "mean girls" or

"bully boys"...

but kids who REALLY liked being together!

Gone were the days of Rachel coming home in TEARS...

but days of excitement,

maturity and lots and lots of

LEARNING!

Towards the end of the year...her friends did a fun dance performance to several songs through the ages!

Some of Rachel's BFF'S!

Rachel and Summer doing the SWING dance.

Must do a dance to Miley Cyrus song,

"Butterfly Fly Away".

Mrs. Waddell asked me to be the mom in charge of the

Jog-a-thon

in February.

ohhh...I had so much fun with this CLASS!

Always having FUN and being SILLY!

All the FUN girls in Rachel's class!

Rachel had to BRING her camera on the last day of school.

This almost broke her heart to leave this year behind...

One last group shot!

My Dear Rachie,

Your mommy is so proud of you.

You accomplished so much this year and I love your NEW found strength.
I also LOVE that you can talk to me about anything...please don't ever stop wanting to talk to me because I love you so much and want your happiness.
That has been my greatest blessing for you this year...
you truly were able to find happiness in who you are without compromising your standards.
You are a special little girl who is growing up to be a
STRONG and BEAUTIFUL
young woman.
I love you dearly,
MOM

Gas is my POISON....

2010-07-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Update on surgery recovery:

1. Turns out GAS is my bodies (and everyone elses...it seems) POISON.

2. Vomiting and nausea...a constant!

3. Bloating, hiccups, constipation...miserable.

4. Could someone buy me a MOO-MOO? I could use one because absolutely NOTHING feels good on right now!

5. No refreshing walks to take...its a 115 degrees outside!

6. Wouldn't want to walk if I wanted too!

7. Turns out having surgery in the summer means no FUN regularly season shows on...so I stare at a blank screen.

8. Pain...and medicine to mask it...

which leads back to number 2.

The only CONSTANT and wonderful thing is my

ADORING,

SWEET,

LOVING,

PATIENT,

UNDERSTANDING,

HUSBAND....RON.

Off to laa..laa..land!!!

2010-07-16T11:26:00.001-07:00

Wish that meant I was heading to do this!

But unfortunately...

I'm heading off to the hospital for surgery!

My goal of posting 3 a week...has been put on the back burner,

as my week has been filled with WORK,

WORK...and did I mention WORK!

Trying to figure out how to balance it all...

I'm hoping that when I come back free and clear of

PAIN...

I'll be as good as new!

Until then...I'll be in lala land dreaming of more FUN

days on the LAKE!

No more KINDERGARTEN....

2010-07-09T09:35:00.004-07:00

Even to say those words...
NO MORE KINDERGARTEN...
makes me sad.

I can't believe my BABY...is out of kindergarten and that I have no more "kindergarten days" to look forward to!
The BEST year a child has in school is kindergarten!
And despite this year...
being a HUGE adjustment for my Jakie...
I am proud of him and all his accomplishments!

*It was an accomplishment to keep him SAFE within the kindergarten walls...and to not RUN away from the school.
*It was an accomplishment that his teacher could see past some of his "quirks" and see a beautiful, smart and funny child.
*It was an accomplishment that mom didn't NEED to go visit him everyday...just to make sure her baby was okay!
*It was an accomplishment that he learned to use his WORDS to express his sadness and to know that he DID want to be heard by all who were willing to listen.

So if you need a really good smile today...watch this video...it may even make you laugh!

a REUNION like none other....

2010-07-08T19:36:00.002-07:00

(First moment in Mission Home!)

Ron cried for 6 months straight when

CAMERON

left on his mission 2 years ago.

Seriously, no one could bring up Cameron's name without

tears welling up!

Then for the next year...he managed to maintain control.

But the last 6 months,
the months' before

Cameron's arrival home...
Ron's tears were turned back on!

So I can not perfectly describe,

what a reunion is like

between a FATHER and a SON

like the reunion these two had.

However, if you have read the Book of Mormon...

the reunion between Alma and his beloved brethren

the sons of Mosiah...

is the closest thing I can use to describe this

AMAZING reunion.

I'm just grateful that I got to witness it...

because it strengthened my relationship with God...
and made me thankful these 2

amazing men our in my life!

(Picking up our luggage in front of our hotel...first day!)

Around the world...

2010-07-06T22:37:00.001-07:00

and ACROSS the country in 30 days!

(View outside the airplane...looking at New York!)
whew...

No wonder I'm totally WORN out...
and completely behind on my BLOG!

So I'm recommitting myself

(since this is my version of Family History)

to getting on the up and up...

and to start posting 3 times a week

ALL the amazing adventures of our last 2 months.

I have MANY, MANY stories to tell...

including kindergarten "promotion",

end of the year activities,

our once in a lifetime trip to Ukraine,

our reunion with our amazing son,

a wonderful summer that I've enjoyed with my kids,

and our trip to Missouri to see so many cousins and family.

So with that being said...

Bring on the BLOG!

It's been a LONG and wonderful road...

2010-05-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

but it's time for our DEAR

CAMERON

to come home!

I'm trying to get the word out...

and in case you didn't get an EVITE...

don't let that stop you from stopping by.

Here are the details of our celebration:

June 20th, 2010

Cameron speaks in our ward...Cortina 3rd ward.

Sossamon Building at NOON.

(On Sossamon just south of Germann)

Open House at the Flewellen's...

anytime between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

We know it is FATHER'S day but we couldn't think of a better

celebration for a FATHER

than for Cameron to speak on this special day.

We will be HEADING out to get him....SOON!

Bring on the Ukraine!

THEY do exist....

2010-05-20T20:07:00.001-07:00

FISH

do exist in ARIZONA!!

Yippee....for Ron...he caught a couple!

These one's were duzies!!

I haven't heard these TWO words in a while...

"FISH ON!"

So imagine my surprise when Ron said it not ONCE...

But TWICE!

2 BIG catfishes weighing in at 2 lbs. 7 oz. and 5 lbs. 10 oz...

and boy were they YUMMY for dinner!

Memories of MOTHER'S day...

2010-05-16T18:32:00.002-07:00

I have to admit...

usually my MOTHER'S days are just like any other Sunday.

But not this year...

my kids and sweet hubby made it special.

Rachel set her ALARM and woke up at 6:15 a.m. to make me breakfast in BED.

Wow...what 11 year old girl sacrifices a morning to sleep in...
to make her mommy breakfast in BED?

Well, my sweet Rachie does!

Each KID also made me homemade Mother's day cards which I found so sweet and special.

I especially liked the one on Katie's that gave me a coupon for:

"Not fighting with her siblings...but Chris only!"

That gave me a good laugh...
the kind of laugh that makes your belly hurt!

Christopher even surprised me with a card....

Ron brought me flowers and helped make dinner with all the kids participating.

Rachel finished up by making the most delicious CUPCAKES which we all devoured in a few minutes!

Thanks to my SWEET children and hubby who made me feel so loved and special...

how GREAT a combo is that?!?

BACK on track...

2010-05-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

I think!

I got slightly (okay maybe a lot) off track decorating the GIRLS' room.

It went from Young and Sophisticated to a

hodge podge of

Young, Sophisticated and CRAZY shabby sheek!

But I'm back on track...

sticking to our original plan...and hoping I get no MORE of those,

"Are you crazy" kind of looks from those who are to polite to say,

"I HATE it!"

(Which we all did!)

So here is the NEW look and the LOOK to stay!

BOYS are the BEST

2010-05-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

I'm LOVING my life filled with so many

FUN boys'.

Leo is a ROCK star with his good looks and CHARM.

I think we are finally starting to GROW on him.

When MOMMY wasn't around he actually came over to GIVE me a hug.

I didn't BREATHE....I didn't want him to stop.

Jacob is JOLLY fun...until you get to know him!

Seriously...this little BOY gets to know everyone.

When I'm at the bike rack at school with him or riding our bikes...everyone in the neighborhood knows JACOB!

Friendship knows no boundaries...not with JACOB.

And that's why I love HIM!

Christopher is CLEVERLY cute.

Hey says he NEVER ends up in pictures...but somehow he never seems to be around.

So I made sure we could get a glimpse of just how CUTE he is....

When I TOOK these Baywatch style shots of him running down the BEACH.

Ron is my KNIGHT in shining ARMOR.

~He came to RESCUE me~

Letters from Mugu

2010-05-16T07:29:00.001-07:00

Dear Point MUGU,

Thanks for letting us ENJOY the wonders you had to OFFER us.

We could not have ASKED for a better day to bask in ALL your goodness.

It allowed me to sit back...

with my camera in TOW and just snap...and I think the pictures speak for themselves.

So until next time MUGU...

we will ENJOY these memories you gave us.

Sincerely,

Beautiful BRITNI

Leo the LION!

Hilarious Hailee

They BOYS warmin' up after getting into this:

You would NEVER know they weren't REALLY family....

Maybe because we ARE...
because a FAMILY is what you make of it!

And these GUYS make it GOOD...

...THE best....
because they DON'T know it shouldn't be...

We can learn A LOT from them...
those that are innocent.

because despite it being COLD...they still dive in!

because it's TOO fun not too!

ARE you getting the picture?

Life is GOOD...if you let it!

No more wedding posts...I promise

2010-05-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Just one last post of wedding pictures...

this time of the BEAUTIFUL reception held in Agoura Hills, CA.

This wasn't the "typical" MORMON reception where the

BRIDE and GROOM

and their wedding party make a line and stand their for hours

shaking everyone's hands.

This one was FUN!

Because the BRIDE and GROOM were so much FUN...

and so HAPPY.

My wedding to my FAVORITE man wasn't that LONG ago...

so it brought me back to that TIME,

when he swept me off my FEET...and I've never looked back...

and I HOPE Whitney and Kent can always be that happy, TOO!

It LOOKS like they will BE!

Christopher had a SPECIAL day spending it with Uncle Kent and Whitney in the LIMO...going up the California COAST. What a day!

My LITTLE Rachie has I've always CALLED her is growing up!

AND boy did we DANCE!

I had SOOO much fun with my KIDS out on the dance floor!

Ron LOVED getting to know my family better.

LOVE this picture of them all.

My MOM comes from a GREAT family...we loved that they were able to come.

I love WEDDING cake!

My CUTE Katie caught the bouquet....but when I told her what it means to catch the bouquet...she had to think about if she STILL wanted it! She tells me ALL the time...

I'm NEVER getting married...

I only LOVE my FAMILY!

(That will change!)

Newport Beach or BUST...

2010-05-09T22:52:00.001-07:00

I was almost 25 years old when I first saw a BEACH.

My brothers Kevin, Scott and David had all come down for

THANKSGIVING

from Brigham Young University.

So we took off the day after Thanksgiving and put our feet into that

beautiful OCEAN.

Since that time...I wondered how a girl who grew up in the middle

of the country...

could have missed out on so much SUN and FUN.

So despite weather conditions keeping EVERYONE

who was a local OFF the beach...

Us Missourians, Utahan's, and Arizonan's were game for some

of that California FUN.

Donna and my mom...indicator of the conditions!

WINDY...40-50 mph!

Can you say sand blaster!?!

It didn't stop ANYBODY from having a good time!

Especially not RON who is like a kid in a candy store at the BEACH.

Cade and Jacob loved helping RON create a sandcastle!

Katie and Shayla even dared the conditions!

Knowing the conditions for the BEACH weren't ideal

we started the day at

AQUARIUM of the PACIFIC.

Large Aquariums were set up to show all the unique fish and ocean life habitats.

I love this photo of everyone (but me)...

but think this one is even better...

notice only seconds after I took the first one...

everyone in their true form!

(i.e. David's on cell phone, Ron showing a "true" smile not the forced "do I have to take another picture!" smile, and my mom who loves to apologize for her grandchildren!)

The best part of the Aquarium was "petting" the stingray's!

We found out STINGRAY'S are pretty cool...slimy too!

We also enjoyed WATCHING the sea lions.

Grandma, Grandad and Uncle David...enjoyed just being with us...

they were real troopers!

And when it was time to go...

Christopher FELT special knowing he got to hang out with his GRANDPARENTS.

While the DAD'S of the bunch...

got to wander the BOARDWALK with the kids!

The Beautiful Queen Mary in the background

We didn't LAST long...it was way to windy and cold...

so we ended up at the LAST place we thought we would go in California...

CHUCK E CHEESE!

At least we were together...

sharing memories and establishing and restablishing

much needed FAMILY relationships!

Thank you family for a weekend I didn't want to leave from!

Wedding Dinner

2010-05-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

Kent and Whitney's

wedding dinner was held at the

OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY

in Newport Beach.

Hosted by my parents...and enjoyed by ALL!

Scott flew in just in TIME!

My Mom was LUCKY enough to have her SIBLINGS drive over from Arizona.

Uncle Mack, Aunt Karen (explaining how she always looks in pictures!), Aunt Edra and Aunt Lynette. (Uncle Farrell not shown in this picture!)

These GIRLS just couldn't get enough of WHITNEY! I was so impressed with how well WHITNEY and her friends always included the "younger" girls in all the activities...making them feel so special!

Kent has ALWAYS been my boys' favorite UNCLE!

ALWAYS having fun...however, I am looking forward to showing Whitney a picture of Kent at 15 letting all the GIRLS put barrettes and flowers in his hair! Very CUTE!

Could these TWO little boys' be having any more FUN?

BEST moment of the night: When my dad told things ABOUT Kent that had him BURSTING with laughter!

My BEST moment of the night...being with my siblings again!

David, Donna, Scott, myself and Kent.

Spirt TAPS my heart...

2010-05-07T23:02:00.002-07:00

"There are moments in my LIFE when I feel like my spirit is tapping my heart to remind me of why I mortally exist."

Stephanie Nielson

When I heard this beautiful quote it brought back in my mind the blessings of this last weekend...

and why I'm grateful for suffering.

"When in suffering we may in fact be nearer to God than we've ever been in our entire lives...that knowledge can turn every such situation into a TEMPLE!"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Two very profound and inspirational moments happened for me inside God's temple. It came at a time of GREAT suffering.

But in that suffering...came the GREATEST joy I've known.

So Ron and I give thanks and return often to the

TEMPLE.

But it is especially SWEET when I get to go with my ETERNAL family and witness another ETERNAL family coming together!

The Spirit tapped my heart...
when I saw this beautiful temple in
Newport Beach, CA.

The Spirit tapped my heart knowing my brother was TRULY happy with his new wife Whitney!

The Spirit tapped my heart when I got to be with My ETERNAL extended family (minus those who couldn't make it!)

The Spirit tapped my heart knowing I was where I was supposed to be...doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing and who I was supposed to be doing it with! A NICE siblings and parents moment with the BRIDE and GROOM.
(minus 3)

The Spirit tapped my heart watching my girls throw flower petals at the newly married couple and knowing that they had set a perfect EXAMPLE to my girls of where they should someday be married.

The Spirit tapped my heart watching Jacob and Cade - LOVE each other and spending EVERY moment they could together even when they only see each other once/twice a year!

The Spirit tapped my heart looking at the smiles of my beautiful girls Rachel and Katie!

The Spirit tapped my heart with Kent and Whitney looking so happy and I'm loving that I'm getting to watch EVERY moment of it!

The Spirit tapped my heart watching the GIRLS spoil Whitney knowing she was now their AUNT!

The Spirit tapped my heart knowing that I was standing next to my TWO closest brothers growing up...we shared A LOT and since I TALK a lot...they were always willing to LISTEN.

The Spirit tapped my heart knowing that Bishop Jarvis will always be my EXAMPLE!

CONGRATULATIONS...KENT and WHITNEY!

What a GREAT day it was and thanks for reminding me to let the Spirit tap my heart and remind me of why I
LOVE my LIFE!

Anniversary #3

2010-04-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have just been BLESSED to

enjoy THREE of the best years of my life

with my BEST friend...

this man...Ron!

Who spent HOURS on his knees...working his bummie off

so I could enjoy

our NEW backyard full of pavers, flowers and GREEN grass!

And in the midst of all that work...

a REVELATION....

Christopher knows how to work...and does it quite well!

Yippee...for me!

TWO wonderful men who love me very much!

I realize that our LOVE isn't built on the foundation of

GIFTS...Fancy things...BLINGED out clothes,

but on HARD work, dedication and

SACRIFICE!

I received ALL of that and more...on

Anniversary #3.

Here is the result:

"Dad...do I talk too much?"

2010-04-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

The other day...after Jacob was done at the dentist office!

(Yes, the dentist office...he had 3 cavities.)

He began to talk to me...in very little detail,

about how he didn't want to EVER be a BIRD!

Now he did just have two numbing shots, his mouth drilled, filled and a baby root canal...

so his mind could have been in a MUCH different place.

But it wasn't...it was on BIRDS!

I asked him why he didn't want to be a bird...

"They have to work too hard!"

So I asked him, why they worked so hard.

"Their wings flap and flap and flap...and I would get too tired!"

Well, I don't think birds get too tired...I said.

Plus I think it would be cool to fly all around the world...

and see all the beautiful things in the world!

"Well, not me...I don't want to work that hard!"

When I told Ron all the funny parts about our conversation...

and how he was worried about being a bird...

we just cracked up!

This little boy can come up with the funniest conversations.

Ron then told me how when he picked him up from school yesterday...

and how he talked, and talked and talked some more.

(They were riding their bikes!)

Then when they got home from school he said,

"Dad, do I talk too much?"

Classic!

Ron and I have been saying for months...

Cameron is NOT going to recognize this little boy when he comes home!

We love our JACOB!

On the HUNT...

2010-04-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

for EASTER eggs...

With the kids gone on EASTER day,

we decided to change tradition...and spend the week

doing something for EASTER each night!

One night was FHE...and a lesson on

"Making a Difference".

The next night was coloring EASTER eggs...

(see post below)

and the next...well, a traditional EASTER egg hunt.

Only difference?

Money was inside the eggs!

So as they anxiously awaited Ron to say go...

And they heard the news...of green paper inside...they were OFF!

Checking out the loot...is the best part of the hunt!

Rachel with her BEST buddy Izzy!

Katie...such a sweetie!

Our WHOLE gang!

Easter COLORING...

2010-04-18T23:07:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Arizona this time of year...

when you are coloring EASTER eggs...and then an EASTER egg hunt

to follow...

the colors of the eggs match the beauty of the world around us.

Springtime in Arizona brings with it lots of COLOR.

So we thought we would add to that color by coloring our ...

EASTER eggs.

Christopher joined us at the END...he is still deciding if he is TOO old to color Easter Eggs!

Rachel is my cute artist of the family...

and took her time on each one!

Katie would not let me FORGET we had to color Easter eggs!

I'm so glad I haven't pooped out of these things yet for my little Jacob!

I loved this shot...it is showing all the PAVERS

Ron and I carried

this day to the backyard!

This will be Ron's project for the next little while to get

our beautiful (but small) backyard done!

LONELY...

2010-04-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm having feelings of

Loneliness...

that I just can't kick.

Maybe it started on EASTER when I spent it alone.

Or when a "new" friend

didn't show up when they said...

thinking they were different than others!

Or could it have been...thoughts I had many YEARS ago?

Loneliness isn't defined in just a FEW weeks...

but over YEARS of heartaches and disappointments.

Some caused by myself...some caused by others!

But for today...I'm lonely!

So the only way I can kick it is to be grateful for the one thing the Lord promised me 4 years ago...
"Greater happiness than I've ever known."

And I have that when I married my BEST friend!

Thanks babe...for making the loneliness seem more bearable!