8 years and going strong.

8 years ago Jonathan and I had the start to many happy memories. The foundation to our family had been set. We got married at 9 am on a thursday. As we went into that sealing room in the temple I knew all my dreams were coming true. I hadn't been sealed to my parents. I had dreamed of being sealed to my husband for years and years. I wanted this more than anything. I found a man that looked past the fact that I came from a divorced family. (to other guys that was a deal breaker) My old boss said that the guy that would take me to the temple would see me for who I was, and that is Jonathan. He saw me for me. He loved me more than anyone else could. He told me that he wanted someone that would love him more than anyone else could. I was that person for him. Our love has grown over the last 8 years and it will grow to boundless heights.

I wanted to list major events over the last eight years.

1st year- We were expecting our first child. It consisted of morning sickness, aches, insominia, and emotional craziness. (he still loves me though)
2nd year- Lily was born. We moved to a bigger place but still renting.
3rd year- pregnancy that resulting in lots of preterm labor and 7 trips to the hospital and only the last time Emma was born. Jonathan started to work for Nalco.
4th year-Just going to school and raising a family.
5th year- Moving twice. Disney Land for the girls for the first time. Pregnant again but this time having a homebirth. Can I say I have never felt so much pain in my entire life. Not doing that again. We got our first boy so it was worth it.
6th year- Moved again this time into the addition to Jonathan's parents house. After having our house right down the street to the serial shooters we didn't feel safe there anymore. Jonathan also got a company car. No more killing our own car because of all the miles Jonathan drives for work. I also had a car finally.
7th year- Jonathan started UOP (we had a end in sight). After my 5th miscarriage I found out the reason why, and that each of my three children were concieved with ease was amazing. I found out I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrom. Usually women with this fertitily problem can't concieve without the help of medical intervention. Also it gives me a 64% chance of miscarriage. It explained alot. I wanted to get pregnant again so I had to go on fertitily treatments. Luckly I only had to do it one month. We moved into our first house. Lily started school. (lots happend this year)
8th year- Benjamin was born. Emma started school. Painted our whole house, built shelves, and landscaped our backyard.
Now looking into the 9th year this is what we see. Both girls in school full day. Jonathan graduating, and lots of memories made.

Family Temple day.

Thomas my Brother in Law got his mission call to Tacoma Washington. So it was time for him to get his endowments. So since he is the youngest all Jonathan's family was able to be in the celestial room together. That has been a dream of Jonathan's parents. It was very exciting for them and I thought that one day I'll be there with all my children. After I took a few family pictures of the siblings and Margaret and Larry with their children. Then Josephs brother Nathan took it with the Larry's family including the spouses. It was a good night.

James this is for you. Either it's Thomas or James that gives me the what are you doing "glare".

Fun around the house.

Jack suprised us by talking all of the sudden. He is saying Hi, Hello, and laughing. He also said peaka boo, and some other things I could quite hear.


Jonathan and the kids quading in the mud. Jonathan had a blast. So did the kids.



Emma made up this song all by herself. Not to bad for a 5 year old. Good job Emma.

Peter has seen toystory too many times and does this all the time.

Do they mimic everything!

Jack loves this binky. He has seen Benji with it alot so he decided that it's his now. (not like I'm going to give it to Benji now.) Jack will climb all the way to the floor off his cage to get it if he drops it. Funny thing is he is trying to mimic the baby sounds as well. Maybe one day I'll be able to get it one video.

Jack is now laughing at me daily, and he/she (don't know what jack is yet) sings like a opera singer. Jack is better at singing than anyone in this house.

Emma the musican.

Emma has been working really hard on the piano. She even tries to use the proper fingering.

I did what?????

Built Shelves

(I took off my tiara and put on a hard hat)

j/k

We used to have wire shelves that were very annoying. So we decided to change the shelves to wood. Jonathan challenged me to make them by my self. He has been crazy busy with work and school. So if I wanted them done in the near future (now, to me) I could try to do them. I've watched Jonathan do them off and on for years now. So he supervised the shelves in this picture and then I did the shelves in the first picture all by my self with a tiny bit of help from Jonathan.

Jonathan did these shelves with a little bit of help from me.

We are going to put shelves in the girls and boys rooms next during christmas week. Jonathan is taking off work and doesn't have any school as well. I'm very excited to have him home with us.

Lily is innovative!!!

Lily found a fast way of going down the stairs. I find it pretty entertaining hearing Jonathan and his "funny" voice. He does all sorts of voices for the girls. Maybe I should get that on video.

Jack laughing and Benji's first steps

This is a video of our new parrot Jack. He was in a bird store for a year and a half. He was surrounded by lots of other birds so he probably didn't hear much talking. That place is very loud. There are I would say 75 to 100 birds there making noise. (scares the baby when we go)So anyway................ He came to our house not saying anything. I've been working hard the last month getting him used to us and to my suprise he laughed while watching other birds on youtube. I'm very excited to see how he developes in the future.

Benji is a little over 9 months and is already taking his first steps. Just too fast but he does have 3 older siblings running all over the place he wants to keep up.

Christmas tree and the Dentist.

Last night we decorated the Christmas Tree. It was so much easier to do it this year as Lily and Emma could do most of the decorating. They loved doing it so it was a win win for all of us.

Naturally the daddy has to put the star on the top. (at least in our family) I couldn't reach either.

Benji hung out in the tree box. It entertained him for a long time it was great.

Lily went to the dentist on Monday and I thought her smile looked funny after. She has had so many cavities and the dentist is a regular thing. She brushes her teeth just fine, but she has weak enamel. Even though she has been to the dentist so many times, and had to get cavities fixed she just loves going there. Her dentist is just that good. I'm grateful for a good dentist.

12 Blessings of Christmas.

I saw this on my sister in laws blog and thought it was such a cute idea. (btw Maria I was cracking up at Tates questions. I hope you don't mind me stealing this)





12 weeks and Jonathan will be graduated. I'm so absolutely thrilled about this one.



11 brothers and sisters. Even though I never see them I love them just as much.



10 fingers and toes on each of my children. I was blessed with very happy and healthy children.



9 credits till Jonathan is DONE with school. Can't you tell I'm excited. (I couldn't think of anything else)

8 years of marriage this month. It has flown by, and it seems that time is going by faster now than ever. Before we know it, it will be 50.

7 years ago in January I gave birth to my 1st child. What a blessing motherhood is.

6 times we have moved to get to where we are now. We love having our own home.

5 days a week my little girls get to go to school and enjoy learning. I also get special time with my little boys.

4 beautiful children. I am so blessed to have each one of them.

3 pets. we have a turtle and 2 birds.

2 Cars. We have had 1 car for so long so about 2 years ago I got one. I'm so glad that I'm no longer a prisioner in my own home.

1 Happy family. I love that we are an eternal family.

Merry Christmas too all of you and your Happy Families.

Performance video

As I promised here is our performance video. Due to techincal difficulties we only got the donkey song with both girls. I really loved their indivdual songs but oh well. They did a great job.

Christmas Performance.

Jonathan was suposed to be a shepard, but I think he looks like a wealthy Arab.

Peter sang twinkle twinkle little star.

Christina helped out with Benji the whole time thanks.

pretty girls.

So yesterday we had the christmas performance and I think it was the best by far. I decided to make the girls all cutesie, and take way too much time curling their hair. Jonathan found the glitter spray and made them shine. It was fun, and the girls were in heaven. (They love anything sparkley and girly.) I got some video which I'll add when I'm done editing.

Huck is a talker

this is huck our quaker parrot. He is just going through most of what he knows. he's lots of fun to listen to.

Just my thoughts.......

I've decided that I wanted to add my thoughts to my blog. I love putting up pictures and updates about the kids, but I need to express feelings and thoughts once and a while. It does me good as I'm not good at writing in a journal.

As I've come across many people in the last 8 years I have been married I've come to realize something I didn't even know about before the thought of having kids came up.

Infertility............

I have seen so many women that desperately want a baby of their own try hard month after month just to be let down.I was so happy that I didn't have to go through that heart break,  and I got pregnant quickly. We happened to get pregnant about 2 months after we got married, and then lost it. So after another month I got pregnant with Lily. It was simple and many were trying with no luck. I didn't understand their pain and sadness. After Lily was about 10 months I wanted another one. So I got pregnant again 1st try. That one I lost again. So the next month I got pregnant with Emma. Simple again, and still friends and loved ones continued to try. Some were successful just to lose what they have dreamed of for so long. I cried for them, I prayed for them, and I researched to understand why. I saw their strength as they pushed forward. I admired that strength as I don't think I could have handled it. Us as women it should be easy, it should come to us freely, and it shouldn't be so hard. After all that is what we are designed for. But that isn't the case as so many battle with infertility. As my story goes on I had 2 more miscarriages before conceiving Peter. Those 4 losses were hard but I saw that so many were just wanting to see a positive pregnancy test. After I had Peter the shock of having 3 children really made me rethink having anymore, but I knew that we weren't done. I had the feeling to try again when Peter was close to 1 1/2 years old. We tried and just like before I got pregnant, and lost yet another one. I expected it to happen, and just thought this is the drill I guess. Somethings went weird after that, and I went to see the Dr. just to be care full. I had a HUGE shock. I had fertility issues, and I was floored. I shouldn't have had gotten pregnant so easily. People with my problem don't get pregnant without the help of fertility drugs or IVF. I couldn't believe it. I made me even more grateful for the children I had. My Dr. put me on a plan of fertility drugs and medication. I have a disease that makes it hard for me to ovulate, and sustain a pregnancy. I have a 64% chance of miscarriage so I need to take a certain medication in order to keep a pregnancy. So immediately I went on the fertility drug Clomid, and oh boy that was rough. I experienced mood swings, hot flashes, and worry. I had to go into the dr for ultrasounds and get stuck with needles. Something I didn't want to repeat. To my utter joy I conceived that cycle and had to be carefully watched the first part of my pregnancy. After Benjamin was born I resigned to the fact that maybe I shouldn't have anymore. I didn't want to have to try, and go through the disappointment I knew I would have to endure. I know some incredible women that have gone month after month of let downs and sadness just to buckle up and press forward. I know, I know I have 4 beautiful children, and why have more........ Because that is what the Lord wants, that's what Jonathan wants, and I do as well. I'm just scared to learn what those I have grown to admire has learned, Patience. Having another child is way off for us. We are far from ready, Benjamin is still a baby. But I know when the time comes I will have a trial to overcome. I just pray I will have the strength to buckle up and press forward.

Why you may ask that I'm writing such a personal post............ For one I have had this on my mind allot lately as I suspect that my PCOS (the disease I have) is worse. It has been getting worse with every child I do have. So with it getting worse it is a reality that I haven't had time or will to think about. Even though I have 4 children it is a hard reality to swallow. I don't like to think about anything negative. Also I guess I just want others to know that I know that the Lord loves all of us and watches out for us in different ways. So anyone who reads this, and is dealing with infertility.......... all is not lost........... I'm living proof of the loving mercies of the Lord.

More Happenings

Jonathan's dad gave us the materials and help for doing our garage floor. I think it looks beautiful.

Just in time.................. Lily is singing "All I want for christmas is my two front teeth" next saturday at the nursing home. Tate was over and Lily was tickling him. He had one of their toys in his hand and it smacked her right in the tooth. So..... Thank you Tate. (not that I wanted him to hurt my little girl, but Lily was soooooo excited when I told her that he knocked it loose enough for it to come out that night.)
Funny thing is with her first front tooth it was taking forever to come out just like this one, but Lily wasn't watching where she was going and she ran into to a big heavy gate and knocked that one loose.

Benji is standing really good now. He's just growing up.

Happy Birthday Peter

The decorating of the door.

Opening presents.

Blowing out candles. (I wore this shirt when it was Jonathans B-day. What is this my making cake shirt or something)

Peter got a tool set. He looks so cute.

Well today is Peters birthday. We celebrated it yesterday so we could do more things. Peter went shooting with Jonathan and all the boys. He was so excited. He was saying all day "I get a daddy date". He knows about those because the girls go on them. He got to open presents and have cake and ice cream. Oh and we had to have doughnuts for breakfast because it was Peters day.( He loves doughnuts)

So much to be thankful for.

The time to be thankful.


As I look back, now, and forward I have so much to be thankful for. Every where I look I see blessings.

As I look toward my Husband:

Jonathan is very right for me. He is everything I need in a man. We see eye to eye on just about everything. When I first met him I just knew I had found my eternal companion. I would have to wait 2 ½ years to do anything about it. He was going on a mission. When he got back I had a feeling that things would fall into place. I’m so grateful for all he is and does for our family. He is sensitive to my feelings and needs. He had helped me through so many of my own issues. I’m a much better woman thanks to him. He has brought so much depth into my life. He is just the best daddy ever. I just fall in love with him all over again every time I see him interact with our children. He makes them laugh and giggle every time they see him. I remember each time I have been pregnant and close to the end he is way more impatient for the baby to come than I am. He would have us have lots more if it were possible. I just couldn’t love or be loved by anyone else but Jonathan. I know that he loves me to no end. I love you honey.

Diddo. -jonny

As I look toward Lily:

Lily was the beginning of my greatest joy, Motherhood. I learned so much when I spent my days with her alone. She made me smile, laugh, cry, worry, and swell up with pride. She brings so much life to our family. Lily has an infectious smile, and laugh. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her whole body. To hurt someone is the worst thing ever. Some things that I love about her are:

How she flaps her little hands and flutters around the room.
She loves to learn new things.
She loves to do the right thing.
She loves her daddy so much.
She loves to make her baby brother smile.
She devours books.
She loves to snuggle with me.
She randomly tells me that she loves me about a 100 times a day.

Lily is a beautiful little girl that I am so blessed to nurture and to love. Lily I know you will be my friend forever, and we will always have a bond that can never be broken

As I look toward Emma:

When I first saw Emma I was awe struck. She was beautiful. She was calm and aware. Everything that she did was perfect, my second little girl. As she advanced at a fast pace I enjoyed every minute of it just as much as the first time. She had this cute little voice that charmed everyone. Emma still charms all around her. She even charms herself. She tells us that she is very pretty because she has puffy cheeks. She does all that she can to make others happy. Some things I love about her.

She loves it that grandma said she has piano fingers, so she loves to play the piano.
She helps me out all the time.
She comes out of her room after the bedtime ritual is over to get a second helping of hugs and kisses.
She is very insightful when I am not.
She makes sure we always do the right thing.
She is in tune with the spirit.
She does what I tell her usually the first time.

Emma is a wonderful daughter, and I am so thankful for her. Emma I know you will be a rock for me to hold on to. I know you will trust and love me as you grow and blossom.

As I look toward Peter:

I wanted a boy so bad, and after two girls in a row I was scared I would never get one. I have lots of brothers and I think a girl needs a brother. So when I found out I was blessed with a son I couldn’t hold back the emotion. He is everything I wanted in a son and more. Even though he teases and torments his sisters, and baby brother he is full of love and fun. Peter is a momma’s boy, and I love that. Some other things I love about Peter:

That he wants about 200 hugs a day.
He loves to squeal in delight.
He has a huge imagination.
He has to hold my hand going down the stairs and up.
He loves me more than grandma. (doesn’t happen much around here – everyone loves grandma )
He doesn’t like to see me sad.
He loves to have fun.

Peter my first son, I love you so much. I can’t wait to see you grow to a man. I know you are going to be amazing. I’ll cry when I send you on your mission. I’ll cry while you are gone, and I’ll cry when you come home. You are a wonderful little boy.

As I look toward Benjamin:

As he is still an infant, and just developing his own personality. He has taken hold of my heart for ever. I can see the love he has for me and life in his eyes. He brightens up every time I walk into the room. As I feed him he gently plays with my fingers. Some other things I love about Benji:
He laughs at everything.
He smiles every time I look at him.
He is very patient.
He is a good eater.
I can comfort him easily.
He tolerates his brothers roughness.

Benjamin I’m blessed to have you. I had to work harder to get you, but it was worth it. I know that you will be a success in life. Just like your brother you will grow into a amazing man. You will serve a honorable mission. You will influence many around you, including your family. I love you baby boy.


I have so much to be thankful for, and I know life is just going to get better

More silly Video.......

Ok so I pieced together a very rough video of the kids. I also got some video of Jack, Jonathan's new bird. He has wanted this kind of bird for a very long time. They become excelent talkers, and learn to sing very well. I'd suggest watching some youtube videos of these birds here. Pretty crazy. Jack doesn't talk just yet but we are working on it.





For clarification: Peter is trying to sing a hannah montana song. (nobodys perfect) Lily is just being silly. Peter later closes the lens cap. (I don't think he wanted to hear the girls sing anymore) During the bird part I don't remember what Peter was doing that concerned me so. So this is a typical tuesday night for us. Jonathan is at school all night tues.

Update time.

Well lots have happend with Benji. At 7.5 mos. he pulled him self to standing. 8 mos. he started crawling and walking with the aid of the furniture. No real walking yet. He lets go of the furniture and stands by himself for several seconds. He is such a fun baby. He laughs at everything. If I even pretend to tickle him he starts to laugh. He is such a great little boy.

Peter is practically potty trained. I'm so relieved that he got potty trained before he turned 3. He is obsessed with spider, super, and bat.............MAN. With each day that changes into the next so does Peter's identity.

Emma is getting really good with the piano and singing. She is a very smart little girl. She wants to know WHY WHY WHY WHY............ on everything. Just because isn't good enough for this little girl. She is a clone of her daddy. The only thing different with Jonathan and Emma is age, gender, and the love of the color pink.

Lily my oldest................... she is just growing up. She will be 7 in a couple of months. She is growing past being a little girl and a young girl. She loves school and friends. She is a great help around the house. She loves to have as many friends, and fun experiences as possible.

Jonathan just turned 30 and is about to graduate from UOP with a BS in business mgt. I'm very proud of him. He has worked so hard the last 8 years. We had our first child just a year after we got married. He has allowed me to stay home to raise our now 4 children. He also aquired a new bird. I'll write more about that later.

Me........... I'm just busy with the kids and home life. I love being a mother. I wouldn't have it anyother way. My husband and children bring me the most joy I could ever feel.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!!!!

So Jonathan is now 30. He got his door decorated (tradition).
The kids made him pictures.

He got ice cream pie.

He showed off his new hair style. (he came down for dinner like this. I think he wanted alittle bit of attention.) He's a funny guy.

And best of all a spa treatment. (attention again ya think)

I love you Jonathan. You are the best husband, father, friend, you always put a smile on my face, and fill the air with the laughter of our children.

I'm trying the whole "crafty" thing.

So I'm not a real crafty person. I have the desire, and I decided to try it out.


I made a picture cluster. I made it out of leftover wood from cabinets Jonathan made for us. Maria my sister-in-law cut the wood with the table saw. (I was tooooo scared). Then Jonathan and I routered the edges. I painted them and modge podged the pictures on. Then I sealed them with an glossy sealer.


I think they look great.

I stuck them togeter with brackets so they were one group and I just had to hang it up.

Here are the boys. I just love it.

Don't those edges make it look so nice.

How a man carves a pumpkin.

Jonathan had a great idea of carving the pumpkin. I thought this was so funny.

Weight Loss Update

So I lost 13.5 lbs this month. On Saturday Nov. 1st I took updated pics. I'm wearing pants that are 2 sizes smaller than Oct 1st pic. I'm down a total of 40 lbs. I'm going to update once a month. Weekly was stressing me out.

Just goofing around

This is a collection of videos I've been needing to edit and post. One is when Benjamin was 4 months old but hey that's ok. The rest is just some of the things we do. It's fun to make very unorganized home videos into something to laugh at.

I've been tagged.

So I've never done the whole tagged thing. So I'll try to do this right.


1. I lived on top of a mountain for 6 months with no running water. Yuck.
2. I have lived in 5 different states.
3. I stole pennies from cars in our apartment parking lot. My sister was the ring leader as I was 2 years old. We left the dollars and silver money alone.
4. I fell off our balcony that was 20 feet high. We tied a rope from the balcony to the fence across the yard. We used our jean jackets to slide down it like a zip line. I fell from the very top, and hit my head on the bricks below.
5. I fell off of a 20 foot drop from the side of a mountain. I went the wrong way on a sled. I don't like heights as a result of # 4 and 5.
6. I knew I was going to marry Jonathan the moment I met him. More than three years before it happend. We didn't even have our first date until 2 1/2 years after our first meeting.
7. I have lost 225 lbs in the last 7 years. After each pregnancy. Lily was 45, Emma 85, Peter 60, and Benjamin is 35 so far. Wow that is alot of weight.


I tag.

Missy kipandmissyohana.blogspot.com
Liz bethecheese.blogspot.com
Ruth tinybabybubbles.blogspot.com
Jessica thesuperrunkels.blogspot.com
Lindsay datellerbears.blogspot.com

Thats all I have for now.

8 week update.

So I had a good week. I lost 3 lbs.......... yay. So that makes 35 lbs total. Alright I'll update next Wenesday.

Another Update.

I'm not going to be home tomorrow morning to weigh in so I did it today. I lost 4 lbs for week 7. I'm very pleased with this number. So I've lost a total of 32 lbs. I'm totally feeling lighter. I lost a whole Peter. My knees are feeling better, and I can go up and down the stairs in my house allot faster. I'm very excited to lose weight this time around as I've done really good. I've had major temptations, but I've got past them with flying colors. I'm an emotional eater. about 5 weeks ago I was majorly stressed out. Long crazy day with the kids, and Jonathan was at school. I almost gave in too some food that would have set me back a week or derailed me completely, but I calmed down and grabbed a huge cup of water. I felt so empowered that I was strong enough to not give in. So I'll weigh in again next Wednesday and take pictures November 1st.

Weight loss update.

Not as good as I had hoped but alittle bit is still good. I'm down 1.5 pounds. So that is 28 lbs in 6 weeks. I'm pretty happy about that. I always lose at least 20 lbs the first month and then 10 lbs every month. So I'm doing pretty good this time around. Hopefully this will be the last time around. I'm really hoping that by this summer I'll be at my goal weight. I also started to work out the tummy. It seems as if my legs are losing the weight and the tummy is having a hard time. It is my legs that are the stubborn ones, and I don't have a problem with my stomach. Babies you got to love em. Maybe it's all the stairs I'm climbing all day long.

I'm just soooooo happy!!!!!

Why is it that you ask!

This may seem silly.

Silly enough that I'm posting about it a 12:47 am.

Needless to say I've been waiting for this day to

come for 6 years.

What is it you ask?

Here it is

Lily's top front tooth has come out.

When she was 7 months old her tooth came in with part of the enamel missing. I couldn't get it fixed untill she was 18 months old. She had to be a certain weight, and she doesn't gain weight that easily. So when it was fixed she had to be put completely under. It was very scarey for me. First time mother and I couldn't be with her during it because I was pregnant with Emma at the time. It was a very hard experience for me (Lily doesn't even remember it). So tonight the time had come for that tooth to go. It was such a weak tooth as well.

Of course Daddy is the resident tooth puller. I'm too big of a wimp.

Lily said she has been dreaming of her front tooth coming out. The one by it is really wiggly so we think that she will be getting 2 front teeth for christmas.

Weight loss.........again!!!!

I'm so hoping this is the last time I have to do this. It seems I get an amazing amount of will power to lose the baby weight right before the holidays. I stick with it through the holidays as well. So 5 1/2 weeks ago I decided that I was going to do it for good. I can proudly say that I have stuck to my way of eating 100%. The results 26.5 lbs gone. I'm hoping to be at my goal weight by June of 2009. I will be posting updates of my weight loss weekly, and pictures monthly. I'm so excited to lose the weight this time around because I'm so much more educated. I found out May of 2007 that I have Insulin Resistance. I make way too much insulin so my body resists it and I'm unable to process anything that metabolizes to sugar quickly. So my body just turns it straight to fat. I'm on a medication that helps my body with reconizing the insulin but it's not a cure all. I still need to watch what I eat very carefully. I have many scarey risk factors if I don't keep my weight under controll. I have to be healthy so I have so much determination to get healthy and stay that way. So here is a picture of my starting weight and current as of today.

So here you go. Those before pictures are just scarey. I'll update with weight loss in a week and pictures in a month.

Emma's Birthday

My little Emma is 5. Wow!!!!
She got her door.
These two just love each other.
Emma opened presents.
She also blowed out a candle. Happy birthday little Emma Nemma.

Happy birthday Huck.

Huck is 2 now.
Look at all his fun presents.