family

 

Look at that long red curly hair.  OH i miss it.  She wanted her hair cut so bad.  Every morning was a struggle with her and getting the rats out of her hair.  So we took her in and the curls are pretty much gone.  SAD SAD day.  Still she is cute and feisty and the baby of the family.  We love her.

 Caleb...so handsome.  Good kid.  He got his braces off and now needs wisdom teeth pulled.

 The three younger ones waiting for bus.  Sassy Rachel.  She is so awesome. She is the biggest helper of all.  Love her.  She tries to keep the peace in our home.  Ethan is pretty cool.  He is fast, smart and athletic. 

 Zach is busy.  He loves to socialize and talk.  He is good at football and keeps some pretty good grades. He love loves to hunt and is now addicted to bird hunting.

It has been so so long since I have blogged.  A few Sundays ago I spent a few hours going through my blog posts.  It was so amazing reading all the old posts.  It brought back so many memories.  I read things I would have NEVER remembered had I not written them down.  I laughed and laughed and laughed at the funny things my kids said.  It is something I want to start up again.

I am so thankful for so many things.  I have a lot to be grateful for.  I haven't been doing good being patient with the kids.  I hate it when I am like this.  I have been getting worse, I think.  I sit here and look at their pictures and see such amazing kids....so why is it so hard to be the mom I TRULY WANT TO BE?  It will and always has been a goal of mine to strive to be the mom my kids deserve.  I wonder if I will even come close to what my idea of a good mom is. 

Whatever the case, I love my kids with all of my heart.  I hope they know it.  I hope they never doubt it.  I am so very grateful for my husband.  I love him so very much.  He is loving, kind, spiritual, smart, never giver upper.  He ALWAYS has my back. He is respectful. He is a great man and I am so glad to be his wife.  I am grateful for my five kids.  They really keep me hopping.  I don't have a lot of time for myself but this is my life.  I have kids to raise.  I have a job to do and even though I need to step it up a few notches...ok maybe a bunch of notches......I am grateful for this opportunity.  I am so blessed to know the Savior.  He is my light.  He is very aware of me and what I am going through.  I am so grateful for His love and His understanding.  Where would I ever be without the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  I don't even want to know.  I am forever grateful for my mom.....she always made it a point to take me to church......even when NO ONE else went.  And at time I wondered why I had to go too.  But what a blessing that I kept going.  I look back and see how my life could have easily been different had I made the choice to stay home too.  PHEW.  So glad I didn't.  I love the church more than anything in this world.  

Just some quick updates for me to remember.......

Mom had surgery on Nov. 7, 2013 for her back.

Ethans birthday is today but we celebrated yesterday. (9).  He got a BB gun and a couple DS games and some pads for his elbows,knees and wrists.  He is a super duper kid.

Caleb will be having surgery this Friday.  YIKES.  First time he will be put under.  This mom is nervous.  He is getting all four wisdom teeth pulled and none of them have surfaced yet. YUK.

Zach is turning 13 this week but got a shot gun for his birthday.  He went duck hunting on Saturday at 3 a.m. and shot 2 ducks.  He was HAPPY.

The kids had their parent teacher conferences.  I am grateful that my kids do well in school.  Rachel is getting all A's and one B.  Ethan is getting all A's an one B.  Mayah doesn't have letter grades but to give you an idea how she does.....she is in the second grade and they want them at a 51 for reading.  She is at 101.  In math she is at a 3rd grade PLUS 8 month level.  So yeah they are doing great.  Zach is doing good too.  At the middle school level the kids do their own conference.  WE go and they lead.  It was actually kind of funny.  The teachers love him BUT I learned he talks to much in class.........and in math........he talks to the girls (says his teacher). Zach is very very social.  This is so new for Don and I.  We both are NOT social.  Caleb is like us and rarely talks.  So to have a kid never shut up is quite the task.  :) Look at these pics below.  What a bunch of great kids.  These kids are rowdy and crazy but oh so sweet and loving.  They think of others.  They are adorable.  AND they are mine. 

 I love this so much.  This was NOT planned.  They were just playing.  Rachel was hanging in the tree.  Ethan climbed to the top.  Zach was helping Mayah up and Caleb was just kind of watching.  This really captures who they are.  LOVE IT.