Mother's Day....a priviledge denied to many!

Today is a special day for us Mother's even if we still have to wipe a bogey nose or clean up the dishes or wipe off the counter or make the pasta salad!  I want to curl up on the couch, read a magazine or just veg, but truthfully I can do that if I really wanted too...but I choose to be the Mom and that is a job that has no breaks, no paid time off or holidays and by goodness, I am soooooooooo ok with that as there are so many women out there that would beg for this opportunity and find challenges in getting it!  So today, I am ever so thankful and grateful for the opportunity to be a Mother and even though I am not a mother to all of mine today, God has given me an opportunity to mother a child who couldn't get that right now and I treasure that opportunity each second I can.  I never ever thought I would want the job of raising another child but, I never have I been paid so little yet feel rich inside.  Today I am a better mother to my own child as I teach others how to be a parent and how to be the example I should be for all children in this world.  I can say today that motherhood is the best job I have ever had and although I can go to work and make good money, I choose each day to be a Mommy and I know the riches are really disguised as blessings!  I love you Austin, Colton, Kaden, Avery and Baby Taj, your examples to me are far beyond anything I could learn in a professional setting! 

I had the privilege of having two moms growing up and when I was young I thought that it was awful that my parents were divorced, except on holidays it was great, still is too!  Hehe!  Today, I reflect back on both of their mothering and recognize that I am who I am today because of the tender ways that each one of them taught me.  They had different qualities I was going to need to be a mother someday.  Each of them had their very own specialties and I took the positive from each one of them and I want them both to know how very, very important they are to me in my years, young and old!  You often don't recognize things until your placed in situations yourself and have the chance to look back and see what the really reason or message were behind those things they did or said! 

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's and to those who mother others! 

Junior Prom Growing UP!

Junior Prom..where did the time go to? Its not fair that they grown up so darn fast! This year has been abundant with dances and prom! I surely don't remember this many! This is when I am grateful he is not a girl, as dresses are way more expensive than renting a tuxedo! Austin's date spent over $400 on the dress alone...not to mention the new earrings, necklace, shoes and purse that go along with! 

I think that they are a very daper looking couple and I absolutely love this dress!

Austin went with another couple but since they are seniors, they didnt' come to the house to take pics and promendade either. 

They thought that the cuff links were super cool! 

He really looks like his Dad in this picture!

I thought I was gonna cry when I got to dance with him at the Promenade but, it was a joyous fun event and I felt so honored to be dancing with such a sweet and handsome boy!

He does have that show off side of him and that is from his father too!

This is in the high school gym where the kids came out to do their promendade dance! It was so sweet, at the end the boys each gave their dance partner a single white rose!

 

Grandma Hallows and Austin slow dancing.....sweet! She didn't want to it but, I think she secretly loved it!

 

Prom is not what it used to be.....we ate dinner at a hotel and then danced and then left to go to a better after prom party! These kids dated Friday night, then all day Saturday and then after the Prom too! Whew that is a lot of one person for a date! I know he had a great time and it will be a great lifetime memory for him! 

Spring Break in Florida....blissful!

It was a long day at the Dallas Airport.....5 hour layover!  Thank goodness for electronic devices to occupy boys minds and fingers!

We had a relaxing first day at the pool well the mini waterpark at the resort!  The kids played mini golf, swam, paddled in the lake, looked for lizards and bugs!

We went to Seaworld, my favorite place....I think it was a hit with everyone truthfully!

Those animals are so talented, well the trainers are I guess!  It was fascinating to watch what they can do!  I have always loved Seaworld! 

My mom is not a roller coaster rider.....this is the kiddy one, she handled it very well!

The boys inside the tub of a fishtank!

This picture is so sweet, brothers waiting for the show in the "Splash Zone"  the insisted, I sat somewhere else of course.....

We went to Hollywood Studios Disney park with my brother's family and also my mom!  This was waiting for the ride Toy Story!  We rode it twice it was way cool!

Kaden loved Landon...is 5 and Kaden thought since he is smaller and younger he was going to be the caretaker of him.

Landon 5, Miles 7, Colton 8 and Kaden 6....the cousins!

The stunt show was the best show at the park....we totally digged this action pack show that demonstrated how they do chases and crashes in the movies!  The boys, big and small, were so enthralled with this!

Steve and Austin went to ESPN sports center one afternoon, Mom and I went shopping! 

The best day for me was right here, Indian Rocks Beach.  My brother's inlaws have a close by the beach and we spent the day there...not nearly long enough at all! 

The boys loved digging in the sand...we could have skipped all the other places and just came here and it would have been their fav!

It was enjoyed by all I think!

Grandma Barbara and the 5 grandsons!

The whole gang....it was so much fun....until we meet again!

Colton's Baptism and Birthday!

Today was a very special day for us all!  We gathered together to celebrate the baptism and birthday of Colton Craig!  I truly can't believe that he is 8 years old!  The time flew by and just last year he told us he wasn't getting baptized, and as it got closer his tune swiftly changed and he couldnt' wait for the day.  Its rare that you can get baptized on your birthday since in our church its only done on the first Saturday of the month.  So this was a birthday gift to Colton as it was orginally set for the 30th of April. 

I had these pictures done for the baptism program, Steve reminded me that I used to make fun of people who did that....well I didn't know it was such a big deal to get baptized, I was a new Mormon, give me a break! :)

 

Colton does have a very tender sweet side!  I absoutely love this pic of him helping his little brother with his tie!  I can't even do it!  This is a picture made in heaven!

Austin was able to baptize Colton and Steve confirmed him.  As I look back at what I was like at 17, I was in no way the fine example of a young man that Austin is, I am so proud of his accomplishments and choices.

Look at these studs in suits!

I am sure surrounded by good looking men in my life. 

We had a great day at the baptism, Kaden gave an amazing and touching talk, he is not afraid to speak in front of people, it terrifies me!  We spent the afternoon enjoying one anothers company with extended family and close friends at the Hamlet Clubhouse! It was a wonderful day, I feel so grateful and blessed in my life.  Thank you Colton for making the choice to get baptized, we are so proud of you.   

Behind again....life gets busy!

Ok so in a nutshell......

Our Caribbean Cruise to Belize, Costa Maya and Cozumel was fantastic, I totally needed that blast of sunshine and that it was!  A blast and full of sunshine.  I am so proud of my husband for all his hard work so that we enjoy these free trips.  Its a nice way to reconnect, relax and re-energize our lives.  We also got to fly into Miami and meet up with my Mom on our last day...We cruised the streets of South Beach and Miami.  Its not the most fav place of any of us.  The strange congregate there I believe!  Weird Weird and I am used to that kind of stuff! 

Belize was by far the port of call, we went Cave tubing, that was so neat...you go through these underground caves on tubes with headlamps on and float along with the river current.  It was way cool. 

Costa Maya was nice except that it was hit by a hurricane several years earlier and they never really bothered cleaning up anything most likely by the looks of it due to money.  I took pictures of the homes these people lives in, if you can even call them homes...more like shacks.  The people seemed happy and content despite not having very much of anything.  Truly we are blessed country no wonder they all want to come here!  We rented ATVs and had a great ride through the city and along the coast.  We both got our henna tattoo's there...its a ritual when we go to Mexico.  I got a heart with wings for Avery. 

Cozemul is such a gorgeous place, I love the crystal blue water that doens't look real its so blue!  We went to the beach and rented chairs for $2.00 its was the cheapest day trip and one of the most relaxing...I sat in the sun all day, my favorite thing to do on vacation.  No one at home would recognize me on vacation, I am truly a different person.  No agenda, no email or phones to respond too, I read and eat all day! 

Baseball season began in sunny St. George, we played really well, although never won a game...but had the lead all the way to the end, can't figure that one out!  It was just nice to be outside and with our family enjoying what is spring all over the place except in Heber. 
March 10th was Avery Ann's Angel day and it was a good day overall.  I felt very peaceful and knew that she was with me.  Steve had a bit of a harder time but, overall time has helped us heal, although her place in our lives will never be replaced.  Kaden took the balloons from the Relief Society Birthday party and we brought them to her grave..Kade kept calling it her special day!  How sweet is that?

Ethan's Run....Half Marathon

Are words really necesccary!  Well Kaden thought they were, the night before the race, I got these notes in an email, they were all I needed to make it to the finish line! 

As a surprise to my friend, Jen, I signed up to run this race in November so for Christmas, I sent Jen a box with my itinerary and some pink hair dye.....let the journey begin!  I have been running for a while, but when I heard about this half marathon for children affected with CHD, I knew I had to be there!  Oh course the fact that my good close friend and warm weather were there too, this had Leah written all over it! 

I slept terribly, you know your getting old when you can't have comfortable sleep overs anymore!  I was nervous about the race, I set expectations for myself and hate letting myself down...I knew there was going to be emotions, which I am not always comfortable with, etc. but overall it was monumental for me! 

No sweat yet!  We colored a piece of our hair hot pink to match our outfits!  We were sisters in heaven who found each other on earth, I love this girl! 

Jen, Leah and Jeanette! 

On the way to the race, being a Saturday, there were tons of garage sale signs, everywhere.  I joked with Jen and said if there is any signs, I might have to make a detour.....this was the first sign and I was ready to leave her! 

But as you can see, I hung on and at this point mile 11, I wish I had left for the garage sale. 

 

But of course that wasn't an option...this was the home stretch uphill if I might add! That race was almost half uphill, hence my sore hip and foot.

At mile 12, Jen was like, lets sprint to the finish line, I was like heck no....I am not going any faster than this, I was pooped out!  I saw the finish line and what do you think I did? Yup, pushed it to meet my 2 hour mark!

It was so neat to be in a race, with people who were there for a purpose, to help and give of yourself. As I was running, I realized that this pain was nothing compared to what those kids have to endure.  My pain would go away in a few days, theirs wouldn't, if they even made it on this earth!  I had a moment of tears on the run, when I was behind a lady with a picture of a baby pinned to her back, I bawled thinking of why I was in here in the first place.  Avery Ann, you have made my life into something that I have never wished for but looking back, you have changed my world into something better.  Today I walk with more love, more patience, more understanding, more hope, more desire to be better than I was!  I know that losing a child is not a trial anyone should have to endure, but I can truly say that it has defined me and my life for the best.

I was not praying but stretching......the pain was worth the glory....and I will do it again!  I don't know that I could have done it without Jen, she and her family were all there supporting and cheering us on, along with angels from above!