Mom, help me!

Samuel and I have never been big into buying toys for our kids. They love to be outside and would prefer playing in the dirt above anything else. It always seemed like a waste of money. Yet, they need to have something to do inside when they are trapped due to weather. So, awhile ago Samuel and I decided that they could earn a toy with each scripture that they memorize. Brigham was the first to try this out. We assigned him Mosiah 3:19. It took him about 6 months( we were the ones procrastinating!)to learn it perfectly. He was so proud of himself and after a trip to the store and a break he was ready for more. This also gave Bennett motivation as well to memorize a scripture.
We assigned Brigham Doctrine and Covenants section 4. and Bennett the first 4 Articles of Faith. Since summer break begun, every day all I hear is " Mom, will you please help me work on my scripture" of course I am willing to help and sometimes I get a little frustrated when they seem to get stuck on that one word, yet I am very grateful that they are eager to pull out their scriptures and read. Some days, it is like an on going scripture study as we quote them and talk about words and what they mean. Bennett has conquered the first 4 Articles of Faith and loves to say them all the time. Sometimes I catch Emmaline working with him in her room, since she also is working on the Articles of Faith for her Faith in God.
I love my kids!!! I am so grateful for their love of life they have and excitement they share with others!

Easter weekend

This Easter weekend we had an opportunity to head up to our Bishop's Family Ranch in Tucumcari New Mexico the help with the Branding.It was so nice to get away from the city!!! The kids and I were able to spend almost every minute outside and just relax! It was so wonderful. It was windy, but we did not mind.Spring time in New Mexico means-WIND NON STOP! and with the wind is dirt. People say you watch Arizona blow to Texas each spring. You can literally see dirt build up on you and your clothes when you are outside. Emmaline had the opportunity to go out with Samuel on her own horse and round up the cows the day before. The day of the Branding she was able to go gather cows with the bishops mom and son. Samuel was not there to help her, but they said she did great! She really felt big--I felt nervous!and very much relieved when I saw her come back over the hill with the cows. The branding took more time than we had anticipated so we ended up being there for Easter, which worked out well. They had an egg hunt for all the kids and treats. They did not want to leave. They had dirt, open spaces, horses to ride,cows to watch, water to play in and more dirt!

It's a......

GIRL!!!!!!!!

We went to have an ultrasound done back in March. The technician was very nice, but was unable to say for certain what she thought it might be. The baby was moving around so much and seemed to be sideways. So, I waited 4 more weeks, and it was worth it! It was so fun to sit and watch the baby. She is VERY active, like Emmaline was. We are all very excited!!!!

When we found out we were expecting, we shared the news right away with our kids, since they have been praying and begging, for what seems like forever, for us to have another one. They were all overjoyed. About a month or two, after telling them we were expecting the prayers started. It started with Bennett. Each night he would bless the baby to be healthy and then it turned into, "bless her". He had decided it would be a little girl, since that was what he wanted.So, he started to pray that it would be a little girl. About a month and a half ago, I still remember him running out of his room, right after he woke up, saying, " Mom, I just had the best dream. It is a girl and I saw her!" I could not convince him otherwise. Soon Emmaline and Brigham joined in and started to pray each night in their prayers that they could have a little sister. I tried to prepare them and explain to them, how even though what they wanted was a g0od thing, Heavenly Father does not always give us what we pray for. This morning before leaving, I told Bennett where I was going and what the doctor was going to do. I said, they will look inside and say, Its a boy! He looked at me and said" Mom, they are going to say it is a girl, silly, but, if it is a boy I will still like it." I know he would.

I am so grateful for my 3 wonderful kids and all the joy they bring to me. They make me laugh each day and always know just what to say to me, to make my day! I love how they are still not too old to run and give me hugs and kisses, after I have not seem for awhile. How they try to take care of me with my ever growing tummy. I do think, I have the best kids there possibly are!

20 March- Amy and Emmaline's birthday & Emmaline's baptism day!

We had an enjoyable weekend with the family we had come into town. Amy's brother Micheal and Caitlin his wife were here and so were my mom and dad. They brought Alan, Taylor and Olivia.
I can't believe I have a daughter old enough to be baptized. It was a great experience for me. I could tell Emmaline was a little nervous although she wouldn't admit it. We had a lot of support from the ward and even had our neighbor Hildegaard, who isn't a member, there for the ordinances.
Emmaline had two baptism day dresses, one from each of her grandmothers. She was baptized in one and confirmed in the other. She was absolutely beautiful. I am determined to postpone the day of her wedding (the day she will again be in all white for another sacred ordinance) for as long as possible- perhaps 30 or 40 years.
Both the baptism and confirmation went without a hitch. It was great having my dad, my brother in law Micheal and Alan join with me in the circle for the confirmation. Alan was just recently made an elder and was excited about the opportunity to stand in.

We are grateful for the righteous girl that Emmaline is becoming. She is such a sweet, obedient girl. She has such a great capacity for good, and her example radiates everywhere she goes. She is friends with everyone at school, even the ugly and lame kids.
20 March 2011 will be a date to remember- when on Amy and Emmaline's birthdays, Emmaline was baptized and confirmed.

A New Year...brings much anticpated joy!

Despite what it may seem like, I have had actually too much going on in my life, too many thoughts and feelings running through my head for me to even think straight and write it down. Every time I sit down, my mind goes blank!!

First off, we were able to go home for Christmas, which was much needed!!! and what made it even better was that on our way up, we went to Phoneix--and finally got our Transmission truly fixed. FINALLY NO MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS!!! at least for now!

Brigham turned 6 on the 15th!! It was a lot of fun. Mike and Caitlin came down and joined us, making his birthday even better! We took the kids hiking to a place called Kilbourne Hole, 10 miles from the Mexico border. They had a lot of fun and were very worn out by the end. The week previous we also went hiking in a different area. It was also lots of fun. While heading down the side of a steep mountain poor Bennett slipped and sat right in a cactus! We got all the needles out and he recovered quickly. Brigham led the way, falling every once in a while, getting a few cactus needles in his hands occasionally, but he just kept on moving.

Samuel just started his 2nd semester of Grad school. This semester on top of all his fun economic classes he gets to take a GIS class. He really enjoys that kind of stuff and is good at it. Before we left the Roaring Springs Ranch he mapped out all the private pastures--which was no small task. They were very impressive maps to say the least.

I am excited for this new year! For the unknown and new chances and experiences. I feel like we have been very blessed in many ways and feel very over whelmed with emotions. And since I have no idea how to say this--After many months of fasting and prayers we are happy to announce that we are expecting!!!

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