Is it spring yet?

Brian took our boys skiing for last time in April...
They had a wonderful time!

I have to say that Brian is always trying
to give them the best of everything.
He really puts a lot of effort into being a dad!
I know that our children appreciate him. He collects rocks with Nate, and helps him learn
about science, animals, geography, and world/Utah history. Nate has a passion for writing and I
appreciate that Brian helps to spark his creativity! I can't forget soccer! Nate LOVES soccer!
Brian is very supportive with any physical activity the boys decide they are going to shoot for...
Nate is a terrific soccer player! He has try outs for his competition league on Wednesday and Thursday next week! We are confident that he could make any team he wants to
be on! He has some serious foot work skills! I am biased of course, but he is pretty good. We are hoping that he sticks with the same team he played with last season.
The coaches are perfect for Nate! He has gained so much confidence and learned so much about being a smart player! His best friend is a year older than him and plays on a competitive team as well, his dad (Ian, who is also Jake's soccer coach) has been so kind with helping Nate improve with so many different skills!

Jake is a very coordinated boy. Brian and he have a lot in
common as well. They play video games together and
sometimes even have a pretty even playing field!
Jake LOVES any sport! He and Brian are both
fans when it comes to watching any sport on TV or in
any stadium or arena. Brian puts a lot of time into the
role of "coach" even when he doesn't officially hold the title.
Jake is a very intelligent boy, like his brother and Brian
does a great job encouraging both of them to do their
best at everything they try...and boy do they try! They are
both willing to try anything...and they are usually
pretty good at anything they put effort into.
Brian feels strongly about them playing the sport
that they love, so we will be signing Jake up
for tackle football any day now!

I am grateful for my "boys" and I hope they know how proud I am of all of them!

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mother Taught Me...

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE."If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION."You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL."If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC."Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC."If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT."Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY."Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS."Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM."Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA."You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER."This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY."If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE."I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION."Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY."There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION."Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING."You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE."If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP."Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR."When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT."If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me about GENETICS."You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS."Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM."When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

I saw this on my friend Stacy's blog and got a kick out of it! Those are great!

I have a wonderful Mother and I adore her for everything she is! She is a sweet and thoughtful woman and I cherish our friendship!

My Mother-in-law was also an incredible woman, who I wish my children had the opportunity to know! She was everything that the word Mother means. I want to grow up to be just like them! I know that I am a FAR shot off from that, but I will keep trying and hope that my children will be patient with me while I am learning!

I also have some pretty wonderful examples of motherhood in my sisters and friends! You guys are such great examples of womanhood to me! Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

Mom, Karrie, Amy, Becky, Michelle, Alycia, Christine, Shanna, Paige, Kim, Grandma DeVries, Grandma Beckstrand, Jamie, Stephanie, Janet, Laurie, Jeannie, Grandma Dalton, etc......thanks for helping me raise my children! I love you guys!

I finally did it!

I finally figured out how to change my layout! Now my BLOG can be cute too!

My new favorite quote is from Sister Hinckley in her book "Small and Simple Things"

"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

I love seeing old pictures of our families! It was so much fun to be little! I hope our children will grow up having happy memories of their brothers and sister...I was remembering the other day about playing with Bryce. He was such a sport with anything I wanted him to play! He'd be the daddy or the brother...sometimes the sister or the baby...He always let me play with his friends too! He always had so many friends...I am so lucky to have a family that I love!

Our family parties are CHAOS!!! But they are the funniest parties I have ever been to! I LOVE to laugh! I guess that is why I enjoy family parties so much!! I can always count on them to give me a good "pee your pants" funny laugh!

You know it is a good one when your grandma is laughing so hard, she is crying! Bryce and Becky have made our family parties so much easier to enjoy by letting us use their home...it is nice to see and hear everyone without having to sit on them and yell!!

BIG BROWN EYES

I forgot to put Allie's close up with our family picture collection. One of the ONLY pics we didn't have to edit for her happy disposition...

My cousin Brian got married in February. Allie, Hailey, and Dani were "flower girls". They were all so CUTE! Actually, they are all beautiful girls...they had a great time together~:)

Brayden turned 3 on March 12. He's a riot! We are lucky to have such fun cousins! We had an egg hunt inside this year because Easter was so early...it was a lot of fun! Check out the pics of the party fun!

Allie turned 3 on March 13! I am still curious who the idiot was that coined the phrase "terrible two's". They had apparently never had a 3 year old! Talk about feisty! If she wasn't so dang cute and funny...well, I'm sure you understand! We had a great time celebrating her birthday along with Jake's on the 20th. I LOVE the fact that she has a cousin who is one day older than her! They are great friends and Brayden is equally as darling!

We had family pictures in November. This is my favorite one!

I recently made the decision that I am officially finished having babies...:(

It is a shame because I really do a great job at it! They turn out so dang cute! These are my babies in the hospital...I have such mixed feelings about this all! I had no idea it would be such an EMOTIONAL thing!

I really want to start blogging on a regular basis for my own personal journal. I adore my children and I want to have a way to share the moments I have captured in pictures with others! I LOVE being able to see some of your blogs to keep me in touch with your families. Sometimes I feel like I am so cut off from the people I have had incredible connections and friendships with...your blogs bring back to memories that I cherish and help me to see into your lives without the stress and chaos that I am.....thank you! Here are some recent pics of us. Life gets busier as your children grow! I have to say that watching my boys compete in sporting events thrills me! I thoroughly enjoy watching Nate's passion for science, soccer, wildlife, and Utah history grow! He is so full of interesting information (among many other things) that I am surprised that he is my son! I have a 10 year old (in August)!!!!!! YIKES!!!!! When did I turn 32? Jake is adventurous, social, sweet, and sensitive! He turned 7 last month and although I love watching him develop his unique personality and physically change so fast...I miss him being my big, fat, snugly baby!!! The bond a mommy can have with her sons is emotional and exciting!