HALLOWEEN!!!

We LOVE Halloween. My Mother has always been a huge fan of Halloween. She goes all out. Decorating the entire front yard, from lights, to skeletons, scary music, and of course witches. As a child I was always a Witch. The one with the scary chin and warty nose. Never a Princess or a Ladybug for me, nope always a Witch. For my mom being scary is what Halloween is all about. When I was old enough to decide I was never anything scary. I was always something fun, or cute. I remember being a Princess and my mom begging me to wear Billy Bob teeth with my costume. She loves to drive in the car and go to the store all dressed up and have people look at her. Many times good friends and grandchildren have no idea who she is.

Well I have to say that my mothers upbringing has worn off on me, and being a Witch is my most favorite character to be for Halloween. But of course I put my own signature to it and I am a purple cute Witch. (All though tonight I was told that I looked like a Naughty Witch)My mother did not fail me this year, she dressed up as a Scary Witch and took my daughters and I to dinner, and yes we were the only folks there dressed up.

I know you are dying to know where my costumes came from. My talented friend Jodi made them, and my dear Mother made my "cute" shirt.

The Mouth of Babes

Kids always do say the cutest most random funny things. I wish I had a little book for each of my children that I carried around and wrote the funny and cute things they said. But for today I will write what they have said, and be happy that it is recorded somewhere and remembered later on.

Savanna is almost 3, so daily she says things that make me smile. Today she said "Mom I love to go poop." She also says many times a day, "I luv you mom, I luv you so bad." Five minutes later she is yelling, "You so rude mom," and then back to "I luv you." Shaun watches her walk across to her friends house and the whole time she is walking she is yelling to him that she loves him.

Yesterday we were getting ready for dance, the girls were in the car and I ran back in the house for something. In the meantime I lost the keys somewhere, so I am frantically looking all over for them. I run back in the house and MaKaya yells to me from the car, "Mom, Jesus says they are on the counter."

As my children get older they say less and less things that catch me off guard, but this conversation with Lexi is one I hope to never forget. Shortly after she turned 8 I gave her the birds and bees talk. After I explained how the deed was done, she said "Eww that's gross!!! Mom if you really think about it, that is just gross!!!" A few days later our dog Sammy threw up and Lexi said, "Mom what you told me the other day is more disgusting than Sammy's throw-up."

Friends

Back row left to right

Tina, Kara, Kim, Krista, Vanessa, Jenn, Jenn, Monica

Diana, Destiny, Amanda, Kate

What is a Friend?

I think this answer changes as we go through out life. As a child it is someone that shares their pack of gum, and wears twinner clothes with you. As a teenager a friend is someone you hang out with on a friday night. You are at that uncertain stage in your life where you don't always get to choose your friends, they choose you. Then my 20's came and some of the good high school friends I kept in touch with, but mostly I was so busy with marriage and kids that friends were an after thought. Then I hit my late 20's and things in the friendship department couldn't be better. I have the best group of friends that I could ever ask for. Each one of these girls have differnt talents and qualities to make the perfect batch of friends. We motivate, we inspire, we laugh, we tease, we teach, we love. We help each other in this crazy life to endure the hard days and devour the great days. You have all stamped your print on my life and it is better because of you.

A Nie Day

Mr. Nielson and Stephanie

Ever since I read about this tragedy I have been overcome with thought, heartache and awe for this family. I started reading Nies blog and it consumed me. Everything about her just really amazed me. I would tell friends and family about her I could never finish without crying. They were a little confused why I was so heart broken about a stranger, but they didn't understand that she has become a dear friend of mine, just one I have never met. There have been days that I have thought about her and her family more than anyone else. I think of her sweet children being cared for by their amazing aunt Courtney. I think of her Prince Charming heart broken himself watching the Love of His Life struggling for hers. I think of her laying there asleep day after day having no idea that she is strengthening so many families, testimonies, relationships, because she was brave enough to share with us her LOVE for life and all that it entails.

I was able to run for her today. As I was driving to the park there was a big sign hanging up that said RUN FOR NIE. It made me cry. Where you signed up there were balloons everywhere. That made me cry. I ran with Adam and his pace is much faster than mine. When it was hard for me to keep up with him I thought of her fighting for her life and it helped me focus through the exhaustion I was feeling. I was overwhelmed to see all these people there to run for her. Many like me running because we love her, and some like Adam running because it was for a good cause.

Through out this journey I have also fallen in love with Courtney. She has this amazing writing ability that allows you to really feel everything she is saying. She has testified of our LDS beliefs countless times. I know the impact of her testimony has touched thousands of people across the world that are following this story. What I love most about Courtney is her love for Nies children. Lets just face it, Nie is just one in a million when it comes to being a mom and I have to say that Courtney is filling her shoes quite wonderfully. Today they were having a book signing that Courtney helped write. I was so excited to meet her that I literally had butterflies in my stomach. I looked around for her and then looked some more and then a little more when finally realizing that she probably wasn't coming. I was saddened by this fact because I just really wanted to hug this amazing women and tell her Thank you for loving Nies kids. I was also really excited to finally meet my new friend. As I was leaving I understood why she wasn't there she had a much more important job to do, and that was to love Nies kids, oh and the Chief. I will continue to think often of my new friends and will cherish the lessons of love and service that they have taught me. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with me.

Teeth

Last summer Lexi lost her 4 front teeth. It took a whole year for her last top front tooth to grow in. She was very self conscious of her pretty smile because that last tooth grew in so crooked. So we took her to sweet Dr. Lee and he hooked us up with some awesome braces. The greatest thing about putting braces on your 8 year old is that she thinks they are really really cool. I think she looks really really cute.
MaKaya had a loose tooth for days and days and days. She would wiggle and wiggle it. I would wiggle and wiggle it. She was nervous for it to hurt so she wouldn't let me give it a good wiggle. She was dying for it to come out. We were in a hurry (of course) and so I was quickly brushing her teeth, not being as careful as I should and what do you know I brushed her tooth right out. She was so surprised and so was I.

Come Join Me

On Saturday I will be going here and here. Please come with me and we will have lots and lots of fun, and we will be supporting a very great family . If you want to watch something that is so heart-warming it will put a tear in your eye go here.

Lexis Baptism

Lexi in her cute white jumpsuit. This was the most girlie one they had

Lexi and Daddy
What better way to end the night then with chocolate malts and wings from the Trolley

As I was sitting on the front row watching her walk down into the baptismal font I was overcome with so much emotion I wanted to break down and sob my eyes out. I was feeling overwhelmed that so many people had come to share this special day with us. I was humbled that Lexi is my daughter and I was chosen to raise her. I was feeling grateful that my husband is worthy to baptize and confirm my daughter. I felt inadequate to be her mother and teach her all that she needs to know. I felt appreciation for Joseph Smith that he had enough courage to restore the gospel so that my family and I can embrace all the many blessings living the gospel brings. I felt immense joy that Lexi has chosen to be baptized and accept the gospel as a part of her life. I am overjoyed to have the dear friends that wrapped their arms around me as I watched this beautiful ordinance take place.

When Shaun confirmed Lexi a member of the church I have never heard him give such a beautiful blessing. I was a bit surprised when he said she is a great example to her brothers and sisters. (I'm not quite sure what that means). He gave her all the right blessings to help her throughout her life. The time he got the most emotional is when he was talking about me. It is an awesome experience watching the men you love circle around your daughter and bless her. This is a day I will never forget.

Tears

I was having a hard day today. I was crying and very sad. Boo asked me why I was sad. I asked her if we could sit on the couch so I could hold her. She told me yes and then she said that I could use her I I (blankie). A little later I hugged my tender hearted MaKaya and started crying and she cried with me, just because. Lexi wanted to know why I was sad and because she is older she HAD to know so I briefly told her and then she cried too. When Shaun got home from work he gave me his smile and then I felt a little better. I'm lucky to have a family who will let me wipe my tears on their blankie and cry on their shoulder even if they are only 5.


Please don't worry about me, I will be fine. Life is just being hard on some loved ones, and it is kind of breaking my heart.