White Sands National Monument

For Thanksgiving Break Mike and Caitlin came down from Albuquerque and we took the kids to White Sands. Needless to say, all my kids were in heaven. It was a beautiful day!!




The kids made snow angels in the white sand--since they have no snow to play in! The sand is so bright white, it was like we were in snow, but with out the cold and wet affects.

Bennett 2 weeks old

Tonight I had the opportunity to sit and rock my little 4 year old to sleep since he is sick. As soon as I wrapped that blanket around him, lifted him up on my lap and laid him gently upon me, I was quickly reminded of the many times before I held him close and rocked him to sleep. My heart swelled, and I admit even ached stronger than it has for awhile. It is such a bitter sweet moment to watch your children grow.

As a mother we give our all to our children, holding nothing back. Every thought and action seem to be centered around them in one direction or another and we would have it no other way!



Brigham 2 weeks old

While we were in Oregon one night Bennett woke up coughing. He had not had a cough, so it was completely out of the blue. I recognized the cough as Croup, since my children have had it before. I went in to call him and make sure he was OK. I quickly noticed he was not breathing. I took him to Samuel and we both tried to calm him down and get him to talk to us. All Bennett would do was take short shallow breaths, holding his throat and at times he tried to put his hand down his throat like he had something lodged in it. We called the hospital in Burns OR to speak to a nurse and ask for their opinion. They said since we live 80 miles away and he was not breathing that they would send an ambulance and we were to start driving to meet them. We called our neighbors who lived 5 miles away and they came while we took off and started to burns. We met up with the Ambulance after about 40 miles. I got in the Ambulance with Bennett and Samuel followed behind. As luck would have it just a few minutes before we arrived at the hospital Bennett was breathing better and was stable. The Doctor did some x-rays checked him out and we were off.

We got home about 6 in the morning and tried to get a little sleep. He never coughed again.It seemed to go away as quick as it had appeared. That afternoon as I was running I was replaying the events in my mind, asking myself if I would have done anything different, knowing what I know now. Would I have gone to the hospital, would I have gotten in that ambulance with Bennett? Of course I would have! I would not have done anything different.



Emmaline at 4 months on her blessing day

I am so grateful for the Opportunity that my Father in Heaven has given me to be a mother here on this earth at this time. I love my three beautiful kids more than I can say.The joy and happiness they bring to me, I am always thanking my Father in heaven for. I would be lost without them and my life have very little meaning. I hope and pray that if I continue to try to improve myself and be an even better mother each day that I will be able to have more kids as well someday. I LOVE BEING A MOTHER AND WOULD NOT CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING!!!


Working with Samuel out in Nebraska

Pictures

Ciudad Juarez

This weekend we had the privilege of having Alan, Devin and Dennis come visit us for Labor day Weekend! It was so much fun to see Dennis again after 2 years. They came Friday night. They showed up after our visit from the Boa Constrictor. Saturday Alan wanted to go to Texas, since he has never been there. So, we went to El Paso,TX. which is 38 miles from us. As we entered the city we saw a HUGE flag. As we got closer we realized it was the Mexican flag, it then dawned on me THAT was Juarez. The worst place to be right now on this continent! It was crazy to be sooo close! We were talking about how we were in firing range and could be hit. Devin after it was silent yelled " bang" really loud. Alan jumped so hard.I do not plan on going down there anytime soon again.It is a little discomforting for me to be so close.On the way home we stopped at a country feed store off the highway to see a camel! so random. Sunday we went to church and had a great day. Monday the guys hiked the Organ Mountains while I did homework with my kids. That night we tried to find the most authentic Mexican restaurant and went to the park. It was great!

Oh, I’m being eaten....

Shel Silverstein - Boa Constrictor

Oh, I’m being eaten
By a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don’t like it–one bit.
Well, what do you know?
It’s nibblin’ my toe.
Oh, gee,
It’s up to my knee.
Oh my,
It’s up to my thigh.
Oh, fiddle,
It’s up to my middle.
Oh, heck,
It’s up to my neck.
Oh, dread,
It’s upmmmmmmmmmmffffffffff . . .



Tonight we had the missionaries come over for dinner. Samuel left to go pick them up and then showed up at the door with 2 missionaries, a guy off the street..and his pet Boa Constrictor- "Baby face". We all had a nice visit and towards the end Emmaline asked Bob, if she could hold Baby face. I am constantly amazed at Emmaline! She went and sat on his lap so Baby face could get use to her. Slowly Baby face warmed up and made her way on Emmaline. Always a adventure here!

One hectic week

On Monday, Samuel and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary! It was also Emmaline and Brigham's first day of school here in New Mexico. Wednesday we got our truck back from the mechanic and took the kids to the coolest park. Adults can even play with the kids at the park. It is all wood and looks like something from Shakespearean times, complete with mazes. The kids loved it. Thursday was Bennetts 4th birthday and Samuels first official day of Grad school. Bennett and I both have to learn to adjust with not having Emmaline and Brigham home during the day. I sure do not like all day kindergarten everyday. I will learn to adjust or home school. We will see anyone know any good homeschooling programs? I am all ears.

3 transmissions later......

Last week on friday we headed out, to move to Las Cruces New Mexico for Samuel to go to Grad school. Some freinds from our branch in Oregon helped us move so they could see their family down in New Mexico. Friday night we made it to Las Vegas, NV. Our truck had been acting a little funny in Twin falls and by the time we were in traffic in Las Vegas, of course it had to start dying at every light we hit. It was such a relief to get out of traffic and to Zach and Ambers house. Saturday Zach and Amber showed us around Las Vegas and took us swimming. The kids had such a blast. We got back on the road Sunday morning only to make it to the middle of a desert to breakdown. Our Transmission we had replaced 3 weeks earlier was gone! We do not own a cell phone, so Samuel took some water and started to walk down the highway. I took the kids and we rested in the shade of a joshua tree until Samuel arrived back. Luckily we were only there for 2 hours. Samuel had hitchhiked to the nearst littletown with a bus full of mexicans heading to mexico. The fist town he saw he had the mexicans drop him off , he used a girls personal cellphone to call a tow truck. We were all very relieved to see Samuel. They took us into a town called Wickenburg, AZ. and dropped us off with the truck at a mechanics. WE then took what we could out of the front of our truck and walked to go find a hotel. Tuesday around 2 we were able to get back on the road met up with our friends in Animas, NM. Wednesday we made it to LAS Cruces...FINALLY! Only to start having truck problems agian. But at least we are here!!!! The truck is in the shop and another transmission is being put in. I sure love vehicles. Thanks everyone for your prayers. I know, if nothing else we were kept safe, and I would rather have car problems then have my safety or the safety for any member of my family jeoperdized.

Las Cruces, Here we come!

I was able to get to the internet for a minute and thought I would share that Samuel received a research assistantship at New Mexico State University! We will be moving there at the begining of Auguast. We are very excited for this opportunity!!!! Hope everyone is doing good!

Roaring Springs Ranch

After Christmas we took a job out in Frenchglen, Oregon, in the Steens Mountains.Samuel is the horse trainer till spring then he will be the helping with spring work and then taking a buckaroo crew and heading out to the mountains to drive cattle all summer. I will get to see him saturday nights and sundays. We are 80 miles from Church and 20 miles from the schoolhouse. The schoolhouse is a 1 room school house that Emmaline and I fell right in love with! To get there you have to go down a 14% grade road. Here are just a few pictures till I can get next to the internet again. The picture of the deer was taken out our back window. Every night we have a herd of at least 20 deer that come down and lay around and eat. the kids love to watch them.