17 Again...Happy Birthday Melissa

Today is Melissa's 17th birthday and oh how I sometimes wish I was 17 again. It was a really fun time in my life. A little responsibility but not too much. That is how she is starting this year out. She just got a car with the help of her Grandpa and her dad over in Japan. My dad did the shopping around and picking out. Narrowing it down to 2 vehicles that were both brand new and under $300 a month. Now she's gotta figure out how to help out with gas and insurance (pretty expensive since she crashed the truck a few months ago)
She is an amazing daughter that would make any parents proud. We are especially! She excells in school and gets straight A's. She is a really great cheerleader and has stuck with it for all 3 years of high school so far. She tries to always do the best she can and is brave to let those girls..some of who have partied too much the night before throw her up in the air and catch her. I know I wouldn't trust them to catch me. She knows right from wrong and seems to be making good choices in her life. She is on student council and recently joined the debate team which travels and competes. She was scheduled to go this weekend to Phoenix again for another competition and was all prepared with her topic and now,because of the snow it is cancelled...which she is bummed about. She really has a passion for it and loves to debate hot topics. It kinda makes me sad in one way to see her spreading her wings but then in another I want to yell "fly girl..FLY!" Happy Birthday I love you so much.

Trenton is 8!

I feel bad I didn't have time on his actual birthday to do a post for my son Trenton. He turned 8 on January 7. He is such a great kid and sometimes a challenge too. He will be getting baptized on Feb 6 and he is super excited. I remember when we found out we were having a boy and how exciting it was. I figured since I had 2 girls already I would be having another and was very shocked to hear the news. He has really been a great blessing to our family and has been amazing with his younger brother and sisters. I even saw a breakthrough this Sunday while in church.. Natalie was leaning over, probably sleeping in her hands and Trenton was rubbing her back for the rest of the meeting. It was really sweet. We had his party this year at the Flagstaff Aquaplex. He had a great time and can't wait to go back. He loves the climbing wall and makes it all the way to the top every time. Maybe we'll have it there next year. Happy Birthday Trenton!

Make a Smilebox invite

Happy New Year 2010!

Melissa and her friend Logan on the sunset chair lift.

Isn't she so cute?

The two of us riding up Hart Prairie.

My mom and Natalie..she's growing up so fast!

The boys on Christmas morning..I love their excited faces.

Claire on her gift from Grandpa Ron.

The Campbell's with Grandpa Ron.

My Dad holding Claire...A rare moment. She's usually going nonstop.

At the McCleve's getting ready for the "gift game"

Tim, Brian, his mom Debbie, His Grandma Loretta, and Aunt Cathy.

We had a very nice Christmas and enjoyed staying at my parents rental house in Gilbert. It is actually the house that we lived in when Brian and I were first married and where we lived when Trenton was born. They, of course have remodeled it and made it look so beautiful. We had a very quiet New Years and we even fell asleep before midnight. That's what happens when you watch TV while laying in bed. I took Melissa skiing on New Years eve so I was pretty tired. My mom is going in for hernia surgery tomorrow. Brian's dad fell off a ladder yesterday and shattered his heel, Brian's sister and her family were in a car accident last night and are ok but bruised, cut and shaken up. We hope this is not a sign of what is to come in 2010. I hope all of you had a great Christmas and New Years.

Merry Christmas 2009

A quick trip to Vegas to see my cousin and her family.

My friend Cameron from High School days and his "girls".

My "girlies" at the New Moon movie..lots a fun!

I feel so horrible for not blogging in sooo long. This really isn't like me since I am pretty good at journaling the events in my life. I once again have misplaced the camera, Natalie's camera since I broke mine but I think I will be getting a new one for Christmas. :) Not too long ago my old friend from high school contacted me and said he was going to be here for the Polar Express and wanted to get together and catch up after 20 years. It was neat to meet his children and see someone that I knew so long ago. It made me feel old but more than that it made me feel thankful for my life and for the opportunity to meet people and make friends. I am so grateful for a wonderful family and for friends that enrich my life. I am thankful for my faith and for the knowledge I have, knowing I have a Heavenly Father who knows me individually. I am Thankful for the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ who he sent to this Earth for ALL of US. I am so thankful that I have been able to have a wonderful husband and 5 beautiful children who are absolutely the center of my world. I really couldn't ask for anything this Christmas because I truly have it all. Merry Christmas to all of you and Happy New Year...Hopefully 2010 will be a great year for everyone.

catching up

Natalie and her birthday cheesecake.

Here she is taking lessons..the food was delish!

the kids, minus Claire = more enjoyable dinner. a good friend offered to babysit.
"Danny boy" and the girls

My mother and brother in law doing "thriller" on Halloween...so funny!

The kids and their "loot", look at Trenton in the corner..musta lost his candy!

My mom and Dad came over to enjoy the festivities.

My cute little niece Miley and Trenton and my pumpkin that won 1st place at school.

My Star Wars gang!

I haven't been a "blogger" lately and I have alot of catching up to do. I haven't even blogged about Halloween! Yesterday was Natalie's birthday and I always do a blog post for my kids special days but I am just overwhelmed lately. So, for Halloween we left our house and drove down to the Valley to celebrate Halloween in the warmth. We stayed at my parents furnished rental house which is so wonderful to have a place all to ourselves since crashing someone's house is usually no fun for them since it's 7 of us. We went to Brian's sister Carrie's house and had a yummy dinner with homemade rootbeer and all. The dad's all took the kids trick or treating and us mom's stayed back with all the younger ones and chatted in the cozy area set up in their driveway. We really had a great time. The kids love hanging out with cousins and got to spend lots of quality time together. Afterall, it is all about them. Hope everyone had a fun Halloween.

Happy Birthday Natalie on your special day. You are now 13 and becoming such a beautiful young lady. You have passed up your sister in height and shoe size and I think you have passed me too. You wear my shoes but I am sure that won't be for long as you are growing so fast. You are an amazing cheerleader and the best on your team..that's not just me saying that! You love to hang out and do girly stuff together and love being in your sisters company. I hope you will always strive to do your best and be the spiritual girl you are. I know you will grow up so fast and I will miss all the little moments along the way..so today I am promising to slow down and enjoy the ride! I love you and had such a fun day with you yesterday!

Getting ready for Christmas

These are wood blocks painted and then pictures glued on. ..so easy.

Some more fun stuff I got accomplished today.

Natalie holding Claire in her costume. I just hope she keeps that wig on!

This week has been much better compared to a couple weeks ago. I did some crafts today at my friends house and it was so fun. Crafts always make me happy! I decided that I want my pictures off my computer but not enough to pay $1600 so I am not having them fix it under warranty but having them send it back so I can pay to have my own harddirve put in and then I can have my old one to do with whatever I want, which is find someone that can retrieve my pictures! We are all doing well and so far haven't caught the flu again. Although it is supposed to get pretty darn cold this week. We are planning to go down toPhoenix for Halloween so it will be warmer for trick or treating. Trenton will be Darth Vader, Zane some kind of storm trooper and Claire is going to be Princess Leia. I though it would be fun for us all to be a Star Wars character but Melissa didn't want to be R2D2! Natalie wanted to be Chewbaca and I thought Brian would make a great C3Po.He said only if I was Jaba the Hut. UMM, I don't think so! We got the truck repaired and have it back now..although it pretty much sits in the driveway. We are letting her drive it here and there but not everyday. We are planning on going to California for Thanksgiving, although my in laws will be in Hawaii! That's ok we can still enjoy their beach house..ha ha.