New Mommy Do

I haven't had my hair done in over a year and I was feeling kind of welfare mom...so my husband insisted I go and get it done. After finding two very white hairs and pulling them, of course, I didn't need anymore convincing. I am not sure the color is what I wanted but I have always loved red. Being pregnant and a mom to 9, sometimes leaving me feeling very unattractive. This was just what the pregnant mom needed.

"Pretties, Mama!"

My sweet sister, Kara, took pity on me and my poor feet. The more pregnant I get the harder it is to keep my toenails painted and presentable. She helped me get them done the other night. Ellie came running in my room the next morning and the first thing she notices was my toenails. She hollered, "Pretties, Mama." Throughout the entire day she would touch them and was facinated with them. I was sitting down to pay some bills on line and she came up to me with the same colors I had used in her hands and again told me "pretties, Mama" I asked, "Do you want pretties?" She squeeled and ran around yelling, "yes, yes." So we did her "pretties."

Suger and Spice.....

Grammie made us homemade suger cookies! They were to die for and Ellie was so immersed in hers that she was covered. The bathtub was our only option. She hammed it up for the camera and even practiced her winking abilities in the last one.

Picky Picky

Savannah is our pickiest eater. My Mom brought over dinner when my sinus infection was at its worst. It was an awesome dinner. Barbaque ribs, potato salad, jello, homemade rolls...anyone who has eaten my Mom's food will understand just how yummy it was. Anyway, Savannah took 35 minutes to eat her ribs...you would think we were killing her.

Beauty Shop Fun

Celia wanted her hair colored all one color (no more grown out hightlights). She posed dutifully when her Dad came at her with the camera, of course we had to see attitude in the picture. I will have to add an after pic when she is home long enough to get one.

Turtle Speed

Janice was doing her kitchen and was moving at turtle speed. I thought taking some pictures that would be immortalized would motivate her....it didn't work!

To Grandpa

Today I found out that my Grandpa Alvin Bernard passed away. He wasn't really my biological grandpa, but in truth he was there at the most monumental moments in my life. He and Grandma would come to Grandparent Day at school, and we always did Christmas Eve with them. They were always right there. I remember countless hours spent in the shop with him watching him work. I remember his flowers and summer nights on the back porch watching the sun set. I remember 4th of July celebrations and hot cocoa in the winter. I remember sleepovers and cuddles. I would always feel safe with them. Later in college I was lucky enough to live with them for a few months before I married and I always felt like I belonged there. I am so glad that I have the gospel and the perspective that I know I will someday see him again. I am thankful for their love and the impact that they made on my life. He always used to greet us with, "what you doin' stumblebumm?" One of my most precious memories was them being in the temple with me when I was endowed. Together Grandma and Grandpa Bernard enriched my life and impacted me forever.

Chocolate Mess

Chad and I woke up Sunday morning to hear our little ones laughing. We didn't hear them as early as usual, and we should have known that something was up. Levi had determined that he and his sister were hungry, so he tood the bag of Lindor Milk Chocolates that I was given for Valentine's and they ate them....all of them (a full bag). Levi was clean as ever, Ellie however was covered in chocolate. So was her crib, bedding, and all of her blankets. Talk about want to make you holler. So we took pictures instead.

First Piggytails

Miss Ellie has just enough hair for her first piggytails. She was adorable and now wants them every day. Uncle Adam keeps telling me to cut her "mullet" but we think he is crazy. We actually have a few curls in the back.

Valentine's Tradition

Every Valentine's morning we decorate our kitchen and fix the kids a yummy breakfast. Each of them have a plate with a gift and candy and a card from us. We always try to tell them in the card how important they are to us and remind them of everything we love about them. This was this year's breakfast. Our older kids had to be gone for a youth activity by 7 and I didn't get pictures which was frustrating.
There is nothing like family tradition to draw us closer.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It seems that sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget all that we have to be grateful for. I am so grateful for the gospel and for my Savior and on Valentine's Day especially I am grateful for my husband. Chad and I have a very special story and how we came to be. I can look back and see the hand of the Lord in our lives as we were led to each other and as I see the many blessings that have come from blending our lives together.

Chad is a wonderful man; he is loving, kind, patient and he loves the Lord. I am privledged to be his wife and to enjoy this journey with him. Not a day goes by that I don't look at him and feel as if I am in a wonderful dream, one in which I am the princess. He is so thoughtful and is so quick to lift me up and bring joy to me. I am blessed to watch him with our children. I always prayed I would find a man who was like my Dad and I found him. He is amazing with our kids. I could go on for hours but mostly I just want him and the whole world to know that he my hero and my heart. I am so lucky to be his wife. Happy Valentine's honey....I LOVE YOU MORE!!!

Celtic Thunder

If I had a money tree in the back yard, I would be on a plane with my sis, hubby and bro-in-law to Ireland to see this group in person. They are amazing. Take the time to look them up on Youtube if you like what you hear. There are songs called Christmas 1915, My Boy, and The Old Man that are amazing. Talk about goosebumps!

For Chad- I love you more!!

Who Doesn't Like Cake Batter?

Any Questions?

Music Man

Chad and I were in the kitchen listening to music and working when I heard Levi thumping around. I turned around and saw that he was dancing and singing with his guitar. The song ended and he hollered, "More David Cook, Mama"! It was so cute. He just loves music.

Anxiously Engaged

Chad and I realized all of the sudden it was very quiet. We hurried to the living room and found Ellie and Levi sitting down in the living room with the Book of Mormon looking "anxiously engaged" in reading. Talk about give a parent hope.

Anna and Savannah loved the attention when Savannah was Student of the Month!

My Heros!

Being out of work hasn't been easy for Chad or I but he is finding his inner hero

as he plays and interacts with the little ones. They thought this was so cool.

Update!

It's been awhile since I have taken time to sit down and blog. Usually it is just about my kids and their pictures. I am going to change it up a bit and start adding a little bit of life in there. A week ago today we learned that we are having a little boy. I was convinced that this was a little girl I have been feeling for years. This would have meant I am done. Apparently there was a little boy that needed a family and we are tickled to have him. The boys in our family are severely out numbered (right now our count is 7 girls, two boys, parents not included). We had to travel to Utah this weekend for another court hearing. I admit sometimes my faith lags greatly when we struggle through these and wonder if why we have to endure these types of things, but my Dad reminded me today what Joseph Smith was told in Doctrine and Covenants 121. Let's hope I don't ever have to be as Job. I don't say thank you enough in my life. I want all of my friends to know how much I love them and appreciate them. To my family.....I am not sure where to even start. My sister for her unfailing love and time and her hubby for his support. To my brother's and sister-in-law who knowing that they love me in spite of me gives me added strength. To my Mom and Dad.....there aren't words enough to express all that I want you to know. My Mom for teaching me what a real mom is and never backing down in doing what is right. My Dad for quietly listening and always always being a rock for me. They have together taught me the true meaning of love, patience, and strength no matter what. But mostly they gave me the gospel and the foundation that I know God loves me. To my cousins, Amy and Anna, words can't express how much I value their love and friendship. I will always be grateful for our Mother's who made our relationship's possible. To my kids who love me unconditionally. Lastly to the man I call husband. I never in my wildest dreams thougtht love like ours exsisted. Chad, I love you, you complete me and lift me up every day of my life. I am so thankful to your Mom and Dad who raised you to be the man you are and for their unfailing love and support of both of us. I love you both so much.
Lastly, I want to thank my Heavenly Father for the gospel. For his Son, Jesus, who sacrificed for me. I know God lives and I know without a doubt that He loves each of us. Lately especially I have learned and continue to learn and relearn that He never leaves us, it is only us that can leave Him.

I am going to post a bunch of new pictures and try to add some other things as I can.