Missing Steve, and Jacob...

It has been more quiet than usual around here. Steve, and Jacob went to New Mexico this week for Jake's Super Activity with the Young Men from church. It sounds like they are having a really good time. They have been fishing, shooting, and just having a good ol' time. I talked to Steve, and he said that they will be home really late tomorrow night. Then he will be home for a day, then heads to Utah for a few days. I always have a project going on. For some reason though, when Steve is gone I really get to work! Tonight I am going to work on some pillows for Sarah's bedroom. Hopefully we will have her room together in a few days. It has been a fun project!

paint paint, and more paint...

Yesterday we painted the day away...literally! We started painting Sarah's room at 11:00 or so, and didn't get out of there until 8:00!!! We are just about done with the painting. I do need to get up there today, and do some touch ups. Sarah had 2 of her really good friends over to help. They where such helpers! It was so much fun to see these three girls enthusiasm. There where a few times where I looked around, and thought we had more paint on ourselves than we did the walls! I enjoyed watching Sarah's reactions yesterday. It was nice to be able to see her realize that work can be fun. Also it was great to see her work, and see what she has accomplished. We had a great day.

SPT-What's in your purse...

Ohhh boy! I think I would be a little embarrassed to post a picture of the inside of my purse. I want you all to know it looks like a bomb went off in there. When ever we are out of town this seems to happen. It is going to get cleaned out today! :) These are some of the things you would find in my purse right now. Wallet, ward list, old plane ticket, Target Receipt, Domestic Bliss receipt, Advil, brush, Extra gum,and a pen. Ohhh, can't forget the Sonic wrappers, and mints. I have always loved purses, and bags. I remember my Mom, and Dad telling me if you have a good pair of shoes, purse, and watch you are good to go! I kind of have always kept this in mind. I love bags that have been made of darling fabric. My Mom has a talent of sewing such bags. In this picture she made the brown, pink, and blue bag. She also made the yellow, and blue bag. The other two bags are what goes with me to church. The big one I use when I am teaching on Sunday's. The smaller bag holds my scriptures. I am off to read blogs, and see what your purses contains. I am sure they have to be cleaner than mine! :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Bison Ranch.....


Sarah, Erin, and I...


I hope that everyone is enjoying their day. We left Heber this morning, and are now back home. Today the kids are wanting to swim. I think we will swim this afternoon, and barbecue. I need to work on laundry before I can play! :) It always amazes me how much laundry we accumulate! I also did about 3 loads while in Heber! We really had a wonderful weekend. It would have been perfect if Ben, and Desirae could have joined us. Ben came home for the weekend. Desirae, had to work on Sat. We sure did miss them! The weekend was full of play, quads, food, friends, games, and each other. That is the best! Well, I am off to start the laundry. :) Have a wonderful day!

Saturday is a speical day..

We are up in Heber this weekend for Memorial Day. I am loving it!!! The weather is about 25 degrees cooler than at home. I have plans to sit out on the porch and just "BE." I also am going to catch up on some reading. The mountains are a huge blessing to me. I always know that how ever crazy life gets, I know when I get up here I will leave feeling centered again. Here are some pictures of our day so far. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

under construction...

Well, school is out! YYYIIPPPEEE! I am so happy that it is now officially summer at our house. Jake has been hanging out with his friends all afternoon. Jake has some of the neatest friends. They remind me of the what my grandpa would have called "good ol' boys." They have been friends for years, and are great kids. Sarah came thru the door today stating that she now will be in the 8th grade!!! I just can't even believe it! She is our baby! I for the most part feel way to young to have these kids in Junior High, High school, and college! Now I do have my days where I feel old!!! That usually happens when I am laying awake waiting for 12:00 to hit. This is Jake's curfew. Nate's is now 12:30. I always know that once 12:00 hits, that 12:30 is coming soon. This is curfew for weekends. I am going to have to set some ground rules for summer. Well, since Sarah is going to be 13 in about 5 weeks she has decided she would like a new look for her bedroom. Kind of a little more grown up, but not to much. First let me confess a little something about myself. Some of you know this, some don't. I could decorate 24/7. This has been a passion of mine for many years. It started out as a hobby. Now it is an on going project. I have a huge love for "home." There is nothing more that I love to do than to make my home feel as warm, loving, inviting, as I possibly can. Steve is always happy when I am working on someone else's home. This means I am not shopping or doing for our house! He is a real trooper. I took some pictures of Sarah's room today. This is more for documentation than anything else. I want her to remember what her room was like. Now we are onto a new look! I will post pictures of our progression.

Desirae...

We have been blessed to have Desirae living with us while Ben is at his training in Tuscon. I have to say...I love this girl!!! We have known her now for 4 1/2 years. It has been such a blessing to see her grow right before our eyes. Ben, and Dessie met in seminary class while in High School. Dessie, is such a sweet sweet person! Ben, and Desirae remind me of one another in some ways. They are both so gentle, sweet, and caring. Desirae is wonderful friends to all of my kids. They all like to hang out, and do things together. What a wonderful wife, daughter in law, friend, Desirae is! We love you Desirae!

oops, missed 100...

How time flys when your having fun! I realized this morning that this is my 104th post! I missed the 100 mark. I had my blog that had problems, and then immediately started this one. The two together is 104! I have to say I feel so blessed to have started blogging. I remember when I first started considering it, I was a little stand offish of the whole idea. I didn't want to put anything to to private about me, and my family out there for the public to see! Yes, I have been really careful about full names, school names, complete pictures of locations etc. That to me is just common sense on my part. I have put so many feelings, ideas, excitements, disappointments, accompolshments, and the list goes on, and on. I have to tell you I LOVE blogging!!! I have met soooooo many wonderful people. I never ever imagined how therapeutic blogging can be. I want to thank all of my blogging friends for being so wonderful! You are truly some amazing people! Now I look forward to my next 104th posts!

Fun in the Sun with fellow bloggers...

The handy dandy scrubber brought by Amy.

Amy trying out the Strawberry Burt Bees lip gloss brought by Sheri


Janae with the gift I brought. The three white dresses by Ken Corbet.

Lip liner for Janae...Wet N' Wild,666 and a cosmetic bag. I will be wearing the lip liner to church today. Thanks Janae!

Sleep mask from Mandi...


Yesterday Janae hosted a FUN bloggers get together! We had such a wonderful time! It was 3 hours of great food, friends, and lot's of visiting! I have come to enjoy the blogging world so much! It still amazes me how many wonderful woman that have touched my life. Yesterday there was Mandi, Amy, Janae, Sheri, and myself. So much fun was had in those 3 hours, that flew by. We all brought something that was tied in a brown paper bag. It was one of out favorite things. Our spending limit was 5.00. per item. It was so fun to see what everyone brought! We all brought one extra item so we could send good mail to someone that was not in attendance. We put in a bunch of names of fellow bloggers. The winner was........Jordan from Phoenix!

Friday...

AS I reflect back on the past week I realize how wonderful it has been. We have been overly busy with school activities, projects, studying for finals, late nights, etc. I feel so blessed that everyone is healthy, and seems to be happy! Last night we attended Sarah's band concert. She has been playing the flute for 3 years now. From day one we have always brought all of our family members to any activity the kids are in. Meaning our immediate family. Grandparents, aunts etc. do usually come too. Over the years the kids have been to so many concerts, games, activities of their siblings. Last night it was Steve, Nate, his girlfriend Erin, and my daughter in law Desirae that attended. What I think is so neat is the fact as the kids have gotten a little older they are still right there for one another. I think it is wonderful how they all text, and or call one another during the day. They truly are very close to each other. They are always right there to rally around the one that may be having a hard time. They know if they ever needed anything they could count on their Mom, and Dad, and siblings.

Sun's - Steve...

What a game it was! Yes, I decided on the Sun's game! I tivoed American Idol. The Sun's played so good! We literally lost in the last few seconds. We got home, and had to watch the end of Idol. I was so sad to see Melinda go home. She has such a sweet way about her.

Yesterday Steve did a fundraiser for MDA. He was put into a play jail, and couldn't get out until he raised some bail. This was held at a restaurant near our house. I went over to see him while he was there. He had some fun, and did raise some money for MDA. I just had to take a few pictures of him! He totally cracks me up!

Sun's, and American Idol!

As many of you know...I LOVE American Idol! I think it is because in general it is a show that is usually just good clean fun! The first year that it came out we took the kids to see the American Idol tour. That was the year Kelly Clarkson won. That was tons of fun! Well tonight I have a decision to make! We are huge Phoenix Sun's fans around here too. The Sun's are in the playoffs right now! YEA Sun's!!! We have season tickets. Tonight is a huge home game against the Spurs. I want to be 2 places at the same time!!! I could send one of the kids to go to the game with Steve. We shall see. What ever happens it will be a good night of entertainment! Who do you think is going home tonight? Blake, Jordin, or Melinda?

I also got some wonderful mail from Michelle. I entered a little contest she had about laundry. I won 2nd place. She sent me this adorable pillow that she made. Michelle thank you so much! The colors where perfect. I love greens, red, and yellows...so cute!

SPT-Mother's Day...

Yummy cake that they picked out at Costco!
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G6kHM_BkMWH4xTH-lVnvswREDbASP4intjpJU_4y5t-j50nP9HNqgCF2OlfCQpRFHdfDVWhqRHSA7Ctnl5kDnkmoUgD7HkXYIxFAxB0OP6rW9zvBZIdxIlZt8mvGAhIMzGaO94yAOcjw/s1600-h/Barbucue.+041.jpg">

After spending time in the pool, Steve made a great meal!




Mom looking at a book that I found her last name on it, LaRue

Mom looking at one of her mother's day gifts.

I have to say that this Mother's Day was wonderful! As I sit, and reflect on the meaning of "Mom" my heart feels over joyed. There is nothing more in this world that I would rather be doing than being "Mom." I never ever imagined that being a Mother would be as wonderful as it is. I remember when I had the boys. I had the three of them in 3 1/2 years. People often have asked me...how did you do it? I really am not sure!!! All I know is I loved every second of it. Sarah came along 4 1/2 years later. Heavenly Father has blessed me with 4 amazing children. This year the kids where so excited to give me the gift that they had picked out with Steve. I had no idea what they had gotten. The kids decided to blind fold me, and have me walk into the front room. To my surprise I was sat down in a wonderful massage chair! YIIPPEE! I think I spent a good part of the rest of the night there! This chair is seriously amazing. It has become the family favorite chair! I also was given sweet cards, C.D., pool float, candle, and a jar of little "to do" certificates made by Sarah.

We spent Sunday morning with my Mom. She, and Lash where flying out later in the afternoon. Lash's grandson is graduating in Anchorage Alaska tonight. She is such a beautiful person with such class, and grace. She loves clothes, and has always had a great sense of style. My Mom is very talented. She enjoys cooking, crafting, sewing, baking, decorating, etc. There are so many things that she has made that look right out of Martha Stewart! I inherited the love of decorating, and crafts. My cooking skills are a work in process. It was a great morning, and I am glad we where able to spend it with my Mom.

Monday...

We had a really busy weekend around here. I didn't get on the computer to much. I want to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day! I hope every one's day was a good one. I had a great day yesterday. Tomorrow's SPT is about Mother's Day. I will post more on my thoughts tomorrow. Ben came home from training in Friday! We where so excited to see him! He is really liking things in Tucson. 8 more weeks. I have the opportunity to babysit my nephew Christopher today. I am off to play cars!

My Girl...

Yesterday afternoon the kids decided it was a good time for a swim. After finsihing Sarah's swim she decided to get camera happy! I was dusting the front room tidying up for my Visiting Teacher to come over, when she snapped these shots. Sarah is such a blessing in our family. Sarah has overcome some challenges that came our way when she was younger. I look at these pictures, ans think how beautiful, and healthy she is. Sarah had heart Surgery when she was 4. Things looked quite glim at this time in our world. I actually thought our world was crashing down right around us. Sarah came thru this challenge with flying colors. She has a heart that is 100% healthy now. When Sarah was right around 7 we where sitting in Sacrament meeting. I had my arm around her little neck. I felt a large lump on the right side of her neck. Sarah's lymph node was very in larged, and continued to grow the 2 weeks to follow. The Dr.'s feared it was cancer. Sarah had her lymph node removed. The Dr. was not painting a very positive picture. My Dad passed away of Hodgkin's disease which is cancer of the lymph nodes. I was being assured by the Dr. that today's medicine is different, and Sarah had a brighter future with treatment. I again felt like our world as we knew it was crashing down on us. Well,this little girl came thru it with flying colors. She didn't have cancer, just a very sick lymph node. Sarah is now a beautiful pre-teenager! Here are a few more pics. www.thechickalife.blogspot.com

swimsuit weather...

The Girls and I.... I personally think black is a good color for me. Haha!

Yesterday the kids had a half of a day of school. This was officially the last half of a day until the last day of school, in a few weeks. The temperatures are telling me summer is here. We are supposed to be right at 100 for the next few days. This brought a group of kiddos over to the house to swim yesterday. Jake had a group of his friends over. These high temps. brought another issue to the table. New swimsuits! Sarah, and Deasirae are on the hunt for a new suit. These two can seriously shop till "I" drop! I found myself still looking for that perfect suit last night until 9:00. Thank goodness Steve had Tivod American Idol! Shopping with these two makes me reflect on time, and how I used to be. I would imagine that looking cute in a new suit was important to me when I was their age. I now am at the point in my life that I am more concerned about covering up some ripples that have taken a home to the top of my legs! Yuck! I also am so pasty white that the thought of going to the tanning salon is calling my name. I really never have considered myself vain, but now am wondering about that. Hmmm, maybe it is that I am a little older, and gravity is taking a toll? Anyhow life is good, and the pool is officially open! Summer is in the air!