Merry Christmas!!!! And I can't wait for a NEW YEAR!

My Little Pony's

NOT TO BRAG!!!!...but I went to DI on Christmas Eve, because I HOPED I would find lots of Pony's for Christmas...."21"...count them!!!! YIPPEE, and all for the SMALL price of $3.00
So today on CHRISTMAS, I have been doing all their hair so the girls have something to play with all next week. Having 4 girls and "back and forth" toys, we can't keep much here for all of them...SO I am starting to collect Pony's that will STAY at our house, and hopefully become a FUN things for all of them...(poor Ben) SORRY Sharla, don't be Jell!

Hope....

I drove to Pocatello today to spend the afternoon with two of my sisters, we went to DI, and Harbor Freight...it was fun just to go for a drive and see them and drive home. It is in this time of driving alone that I most contemplate life, where I'm at, and where I'd like to be! A time to talk to my Father in Heaven and try to listen to what He would have me do to improve. So as I listened to random talks from General Conference this year and last, I was so impressed with Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf talk entitled "The Infinite Power of Hope." I have loved hearing his stories and how he relates what ever topic he might have, but some of my favorite quotes from this talk are as follows:
~"Hope... is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."
~"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance."
~"The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light."

I love listening and re listening to General Conference. To these men and women called of God, to lift us up and help us overcome. I have a Testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know it is the true church on the earth today. That we have a Father in Heaven who loves us all the same, no matter where we are at in life. I know we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for us, that He truly bore the weight of all sin, pain, and affliction. That He knows how each of us feels and is waiting for us to come unto Him. I know that we have a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who leads and directs our church in Faith and Righteousness. I know that we can have our Families Forever. I know and am thankful for the Priesthood of God in the earth, and I am grateful for those men who hold it and honor it, and ever strive to be worthy of it. I believe in Missionary work, and have seen and felt it's lasting impressions through my parents who served and my Youngest Brother, Eli, who is currently serving in England. I know that if we put our Faith and Hope in God, He will help us, He will lift us, He will heal us. I am grateful to know the truth, to have had parents that shared the Truth, and that taught and showed how to live it, in all they did and do. Thank you to those of you who ever remind me of the way back. Who encourage, love, and lift. You are true disciples of this Gospel, and you exemplify of Our Savior, and what He truly taught. I love you! And hope my simple and growing testimony is felt and known.

It is my HOPE to hear your Testimonies!
~Loves

Happy Holidays

I wanted to wish you all a Happy Holiday Season. I get so bogged down this time of year because I feel like I have lost the real meaning of this season...I get in the "My present won't be good enough!....Did I spend enough? No one REALLY appriciates..." type of attitude...so I have been trying to read talks that will uplift and inspire me to find in my heart the Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit I KNOW my parents taught me to have and that I have lost somewhere along the way. So I was reading Pres. Thomas S. Monsons "What is Christmas." message and in the first couple sentences he says "This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas."
I testify that when we ask the Lord to lead us, He will...no matter how far we may be from Him. He might not answer as we'd like, and He might not answer quickly, but I KNOW that He will answer, He will lift, He will heal, He will GIVE! I am grateful for a Savoir that loves me and hears me, and lifts my heart when it thinks it can't change and forgive.
I am also grateful for the Family I have and for my Parents who honestly are the most giving and generous people I know. For my Sisters who keep me sane and grounded. For strong lovable Brothers. And for my Husbands Family who I am loving to get to know and share with. I hope you enjoy our Holiday Pictures, and enjoy this Beautiful Time of Year.
Love, Me

Thankful...

FOR YOU!!!!!!!

Great Grand Parents and Grand Parents

My Poor Grandma fell and broke her arm and banged her head pretty bad so we all went to see her with Grandpa and Grandma Patsy. Her arm made us all so sad and Babes couldn't stop asking what happened. (Link to Babes blog to here a funny story.)Grandpa with sister and ba-dilz.

Grandma Patsy with Sister, Sa-Poey and Bobster.

Ba-Dilz and Babes....best friends. I love when they are together they act as if they've known each other their whole lives. I love our 3 year olds. They are happy, bossy, cute, FUNNY, and along for any ride.

Dilz was sitting by me and Great Grandpa started to tickle her and they Babes and Sister jumped right up...because they are abnormal in the way that they CAN'T get ENOUGH TICKLES. (especially Sis)

This time of year when you reflect on those things you are most grateful for...I always think of my parents and their parents. I am lucky to still have all of my grand parents and their examples and love in my life. I am grateful for their love and exceptance of B and his kids. I am lucky to have such a good family that helps and uplifts me in my life and makes me want to be better and more, and helps me look to the future, and learn from the past. I have the BEST Family!

Our Thankful Turkey

We have tried to take EVERY opportunity we have when we have ALL the kids to teach a principle or have a small FHE. And this one was fun! We let them pick a piece of paper out and then we traced everyone's hands...cut them out and then had each child tell us by them selves what hey were thankful for.
We are so blessed with good kids and who really are thankful for SO much. We hope that all of you during this time of year, and all year will start or continue to be more thankful. To thank our Heavenly Father for all He has given us. For think of the many things so simple that we have daily. LOVE YA!

A Get Away for 2

All we both can say is "Can we go back?" No kids, no cleaning, no fighting, no making beds, no whining, no cooking...did I mention NO CLEANING!!! We had a blast in the perfect weather and just being with eachother.

Family Rules CHART!!!

So on the way home from Idaho I asked the kids what they thought our "Family Rules" should be... I was SO excited when they covered everything I wanted them too in their own words... including the consequenses if the rules weren't followed. I have a quote at the bottom by James E. Faust in a talk entitled "A Thousand Threads of Love" It states "For us to have successful homes, vaules must be taught, and there must be rules, there must be standards, there must be absolutes.... Without Discipline children will not respect either the rules of home or of society."

I am grateful to parents that taught me. Good, bad, right from wrong, forgivness, love and also taught me that there is a way to become better, and to become more, to find the Lord in EVERYTHING. Their righteous examples of Love and Faith have led me to my knees asking the Lord to help me raise and teach these kids our Father in Heaven has trusted me with, asking Him to forgive me daily struggles and weaknesses and make me better and more. My Mother always had new ways of teaching us, help us, and showing us the right way.... She always made charts...and I know through those charts I found excitement and enjoyment in achieving the desired goal.

Anyways I hope you all find time to read this talk and try to implement what you get out of it.

give me a C...give me a T....give me an R

Tonight I was overwhelmed with the responsibility I have as a Mother, a Daughter and a Wife to be better, to be more. CTR came to mind...and I couldn't get it out of my head....so it being 11:00 p.m. and not being able to sleep.... I snuck out of bed and made a CTR Poster for the kids. I went through my Church Clip Art I have collected and found picture that represent Choosing the Right!

We are going to Idaho in the morning...and I have been praying for the opportunity to have FHE all together and also talk about our Family Rules, and also to share my testimony with the kids. I have had plenty of opportunities and let them pass me by...BUT not anymore....whenever we are going to have all the kids...be it 10 minutes or 5 hours I am going to make sure to teach a principle.

SO...tomorrow it will be CTR. Each chart has 100 squares in which when the kids do something good, listen when asked the first time, share, hug, laugh, play, smile....they will get to put a CTR sticker in a square when they are caught "choosing the right." I haven't decided what will be the prize for completing the chart. I am thinking each child will earn a trip to the $1 store once they fill their personal chart and then when they ALL fill their sheets we'll ALL go to dinner, or a movie, or stay in a hotel. (something BIG for all of them completing it)

Anyways I think I can go to bed now that it is 12:38 AM I think the drive will be fun talking about the pictures I found and making our "Family Rules" (stay tuned for what they come up with...that will be my next chart!!!!)

What's Going On....

I love this picture!
Crazy is the word that has come to most people's mouths when they see all of us together or hear that we have 5 kids. I always want to say "ya, and I'm pregnant" (although I'm not...I just want to see the reaction) B and I are getting excited to be taking our much anticipated Honeymoon in a week and a half. Don't be Jel! But I really can't wait. Anyways just wanted to update that we are all doing well, and adjusting good to all the changes. There is a bump here and there, but all together we are happy.

A New Tradition

Mom's Clam Chowder :O) YUMMY!!!!

B's Dad's Family gets together during Conference Weekend on Saturday nights to tie a quilt while the men were at priesthood session.

Everyone made soup and rolls. When the men got back from the Priesthood Session we had a dinner in the garage. It was SO much fun to get to know all my new Auntie's and cousins and enjoy their sweet company. They have all welcomed me in with open arms and it's nice to feel their love and support. And see how much they love my hubby!

An Inspiration Worth Listening To.....

I remember listening to this talk a couple years ago and feeling like I could do better. Now more than ever I could do better. We as women put so much on ourselves to do, and be, and accomplish. This talk gives powerful insite to live and the purpose we should be focusing on. I hope you take the time to listen to it, or add it to your IPOD. Totally worth the feeling you get as a other, Women, or Daughter of God.

Body and Soul: Feel fit and fabulous about your Physical, Spiritual, Emotional, and Mental Life. -Connie Sokol Aug. 23, 2007

One Month

I can't believe it's been 4 weeks! I can tell that time is going to FLY with 7 schedules to keep track of! I have been SO happy with B. He is such a blessing in my life. He is SO supportive and always trying to make my life easier...my favorites are....doing dishes, helping out in the yard, reading scriptures to the kids at night! We have a long way to go together and we both want to get there. I am learning so much from him and growing more and more in love with him each day. Thank you B! :O) I LovE yOu!
(can't wait for our REAL vacation next month)

Our First Family Vacation

Day 1 was filled with the Beautiful Yellowstone and enjoying many animals and also just having fun singing songs, playing games, and seeing the beautiful earth we live in.

Day 2 was ADVENTUROUS to say the least. My Dad took us ALL over (and my mom was loving it :O) hee hee hee. Even if driving all over wasn't my mom's idea of fun...I could see her REALLY enjoying her grand kids and the fun they were having. And Tubing the River was Beautiful...we saw So many birds.

Day 3 Was SO MUCH FUN...we basically stayed close to the Cabin and painted, and colored and made Necklaces. My Dad, B and I went for a gorgeous bike ride along the river cliff...(even if all of our butts were a little sore the rest of the day) We saw a HUGE Fish which we guessed to be at least 25 lbs...at the Fishing Bridge

Day 4 was EARLY...we got up and got stuff done, but it still took us 5 hours to get on the road after making sure everything was spiffy for the next guests. And then we headed to IF to have a BBQ and Play with my family.

We had a great first holiday, and I am so grateful for a family who has loved and embraced my Hubby and his two Beautiful kids. I am so lucky to have all of you in my life!

Back to School

Bobster started 1st grade and is loving it. He said "Kindergarten is way funner, cuz' you get to have snacks, and do crafts and play...but I guess I get 3 recesses..."
Sister is in Kindergarten...she LOVES school, loves the other kids, and has already memorized most the girls names in her class and what they like.

Sa-po was SO excited all she could do was giggle herself to sleep the night before her first day as a Kindergartner.

Now that I have some "ME" time I am getting more on top of things and cleaning each room one at a time to have a nice organized house. I do love myself some ORGANIZATION!

We Got Married

MY FAVORITE PICTURE.....When B told me we were leaving on the motor cycle....I envisioned this picture of me and my dress scrunched up where you could see a garter and then us taking off on the bike. It couldn't be more perfect.

Our kids were SO good and did well considering how many pictures they were tortured with.

I am so glad to start my life with B. I don't know how he was ever not a part of my life! The kids are doing SO good...way better than expected. And the Wedding couldn't be more perfect. There was a double FULL rainbow when we were taking off on the bike, in the rain...we believe it was our sign of a life filled with Joy and Love.