Sweet Kicks!!!

Call me crazy but I love these shoes!!! My kids call cool shoes sick kicks, but I like sweet kicks better so there you go!!! I have been looking for these Old School Adidas for quite a few months. I have gone on line to ever site I could think of. I have googled my way into every shoe source there is but no old school shoes for me. Only in the men's and never even in a mens 7 so that I could wear them. But on Tuesday of this week I was in the mall with my aunt and we were headed for Dillards clearance racks (of course) and low and behold I glanced to my right and on the clearance rack for $19.99 (instead of $60.00) there they were. One pair only and you guessed it they were in my size. So I guess patience is a virtue!!! I love them. So I thought I put it in writing. Once again, call me crazy, but I love these shoes!!!

Happy New Year to all. I know it has been a while since I last made an entrance, but January has been full to capacity for sure. We go the kids back off to school and then on the 7th of Jan. my Aunt Bonnie came down for a visit. We have been go go going ever since. She is my mothers only sister and only sibling. They are 4 years apart and haven't seen each other for a very long time. My Uncle Jim (her husband) passed away this past April and so she has been getting settled in her new place in Willard Missouri and finally had some time to come and make the trek back to her roots here in Mesa. She is the Aunt that I look just like. As a baby, a child, a teenager, a mom and grandma, our pictures are very similar at each age. So there you go you are looking at me when I am that age!!! I now look at our family pictures and say, who told Aunt Bonnie she could be in this picture!!! Anyway, here we are at the Mesa Cemetary at their parents gravesite. We went that day not even realizing it but it was Grandma Brown's birthday so that was cool. We have been very busy since Aunt Bonnie arrived, the pictures are of some of the places we have gone. The one with them in front of a house is the house they grew up in on W. 2nd Place in Mesa. I had never seen that old house before and so it has been really great to hear the old stories. We made the journey to Woodruff Arizona where a lot of our ancestors are burried. It was a beautiful day, could not have been more perfect weather. We saw all of the old headstones of so many of the people who paved the way for our family and so many others. That was really cool. Then we went and found my Grandmother's home where she was a little child. I remember when my great grandma was burried there (I was 6) and we went to the old home then. I really do remember it. So we went hunting. They lived way out of Woodruff and there was hardly anything left of the old foundation, but we took that picture of us both sitting on what was the kitchen wall. It was really sad to see how much of it has crumbled away, but still cool that we found it. We went home through Snowflake and showed her the Temple. My friend Marilyn was a trooper and went with us. Thanks Marilyn. My mom could not go, I was sad about that. But we have had many adventures since the 7th. We have wandered down Main streed (memory lane) and gone to the anitque stores (memory lane) and have shopped, and sewn things, we did scrapbooking things the other day much to my aunts demise (she actually caught the bug!!!). We have eaten ourselves into oblivion and back again. Cleaned and cleaned and cleaned, she does not sit for one second!!! I hope that I have her energy when I am her age, cuz I sure don't have it now!!! We've held babies, put together sharing times, gone to the Temple, and so much more. I just want to say that family is great and I am so glad my Aunt came to see us. I have missed her and so has my mom and so this has been a great adventure. We have her until the 31st and then she will leave to go home to the cold cold weather in Missouri. She prayed for beautiful weather while she was here and I guess her prayers have been answered. So there is my January, I hope yours is going great. Making memories is what I like to do best, and believe you me we are making them at a hundred miles an hour!!!

A Quarter of a Century Old!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!!! I can't believe that it has been 25 years since the big arrival of my first baby. Man I must be old. I will never forget that day. The excitement, the panic, the pain!!!! All worth every ounce of it. I have never felt such joy until they pulled you out with those mean forcepts and wrapped you in that blanket to hand him to me. Pride and Joy. He was amazing, and by the way he still is amazing. I think that is the word I love about my Christopher. Happy Birthday son... You are the best:)I just want to take a minute and say how grateful I am for this boy. I know that being the first baby is really not as fun as one would think. You are the one the parents learn on. I wasn't a very good learner I am afraid, but he has been very patient with my non-learning abilities. I hope he knows how much he means to me. He is my SUPERMAN for sure. Today I want him to know all the things that I adore and admire in him so here we go. I love the way he crunches up his nose when he is simply delighted about something. No matter what that something may be. I love how he can chug a mountain dew even faster then his dad and that is quite the accomplishment!!! I love, how he gets really mad and leaves and then when he comes back it's the best talk ever. I love how even when his leg was broken he could do the best chicken dance ever!!! I love that laugh of his as a child and as an adult. I love how he loves life to the fullest. I love that even though he has been through some really tough times in life, he keeps on going and laughing, and screaming, and plugging away. I love how, at 3 years old he knew it was time to be a sunbeam even though he still had to stay in the nursery for one more year. I love how he sang in primary better then any kid I know. I love how he loves being a servant of Heavenly Father. How he kept on going, even when the going got tough and finished that mission. I love how he loves the children with special needs, and how tender he is with all of them, even from an early age. I love how he sees a service that needs rendering and without hesitation he is there to do it. I love how he listens to his dad especially when he does not want to listen but knows that he should. I love how he tenderly picked out his sweetheart and prayed for the answer that she was the one. How he took her to the Temple and is dedicated to try and be the best he can to her. I love how he is a father himself. How he looks at that baby girl and adores her every breath. I love how he is a big brother to all of his siblings. How he loves and supports each one of them, in all their endevors. I especially love his zeal for things he loves. I love how he knows the scriptures, and how he teaches from them so well. I envy that ability. I love how he know's his elder brother, our Savior. How he wants to work hard at being like Him. I love how he honors his priesthood and is always ready to perform whatever duty he is asked. I love how he teaches, how he listens (especially when he does not want to) but like all boys, even when you think he is not listening he really is! I love his spirit, it is a giant spirit, filled with so much that is just oooozzzzziiiinnnngggg to come out. I love how he is a friend, to everyone who needs one, and especially to those who think they don't need one, but do. I love that not matter where or when, or who is looking, he will still hug me and give me a great big Christopher kiss, which are the best!!!!

Just in case you were wondering Christopher, I love you dearly. I am so glad you were my first little one. To hug and kiss to my hearts content. To make you laugh out loud constantly. To sing with, to dance with, to fight with, to cry with, and in the end to hug each other knowing deep down inside how we felt about each other. I hope that today you will be happy, and laugh a ton. That you will have a wonderful day, even though it is full of work and responsibility. I want you to know how proud I am of you, for all you are and for all you will become. Thanks for coming down first, for giving me the opportunity to be your mom, what a blessing that has been in my life. You are Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, and don't you ever let anyone tell you any different! I love you son, Happy 25th birthday!!! Half a Century Old Boy!!! Don't forget to smile that wonderful smile of yours! I love it too. Your'e AMAZING!!!!

I Love Hugs!!!

I love hugs. And as I look back on the past few weeks, I have especially appreciated all of the hugs that have come my way. Yesterday was bitter sweet. Jacque and Curtis went home. I love it and hate it all at the same time. So I tried to take a step back and enjoy the day rather then resent the fact that 3 weeks went by way tooooooooooooo fast. So I watched as hugs began. Sweet, tender hugs. The ones that have to last for at least 7 more months until we all see them again. August, it is so far away. I think my favorite hugs to see are those between her brothers. First her oldest brother (who is the best hugger ever!!!). He just engulfs her (I am sure that is not spelled right!) He is the most tender boy and he is so proud of his little sister and her life. So when they hugged, I watched and tried really hard to imprint that in my mind for later. Then came her next older brother, so much taller then her, you can hardly see her when he bends over to give her that squeeze. So again I sat back and observed, the love they have for one another. He too is so proud of her and I know deep in those boys hearts it is not easy to watch her grow up and leave all the time, but they are both so good and supportive and I hope they know how much she looks up to them and appreciates all of their love. Next comes her little brother Jordan, who is also sooooooo much taller than her it is really cute to see. They just embrace with such a bond. I know that Jordan has learned a ton from his big sister and he too is proud. I know that we shouldn't be prideful, but I love that her brothers are so proud. I love how she hugs her sister's (the ones the boy's gave her when they found their wonderful wifes). She always wanted a sister and now she has two. She is so happy to hug her sisters. Then there is that little baby Anna, who I might add adores her aunt Jacque. She really has only seen her a few times, and yet there is definately a bond that is beyond our earthly knowledge. Finally the hugging is finished for a few hours while they pack and get ready to go. Then before I can blink the time is up and we have to give our hugs. We stop by the Dana's for their final hugs. Her new family, (whom she loves beyond love) and watch once again the sweet, tender good-byes, or see you soon's. I just sit back and watch as hugs are exchanged with all of her new brothers, her new Dad and Mom and then it's time for the drive to begin. It is especially short today, I hate that drive, but know that it must be done. Only a few more years of all of the hugs at the holidays, and the quick trips, wondering just how long it will feel until the glad to see you again hugs get to happen. I try talking to my head and telling me to be happy, they are happy, life is good, and they will be done and home before we know it. It is working (I think) until we take the airport exit. Then I can feel the tears welling up and I open my eyes as big as I can so that nobody can see the tears. It's happening, the moment I have not been looking forward to, the last hug for a while. But it comes and I watch as her dad takes her in his arms and squeezes as hard as he can. The floodgates open and I can't help it anymore. That is such a precious moment. She loves her dad soooooo much, and she of course is the joy of his life. Now it is time, my time for my hug. I try really hard nto to cry but I can't help it. How grateful I am for hugs. For the moments you get to wisper in each others ears how much you love them, and how proud you are of them, and how grateful you are for the times that we get to hug. I file that sweet moment in my memory banks and promise that I will try to come and visit and catch another hug before too long. Then they leave, and I am so thankful for hugs. Hugs that will keep us going for whatever length of time we are apart. Hugs that are sweet, with little ones, with sisters, brothers, son in laws, husbands, family and friends. Hugs are the best don't you think. Take time and hug someone today, and then while you have them really close, whisper how much they mean to you in their ear. Hugs, I love them.