Try A Little Harder

Last night at the meeting for the adults at the stake center I really enjoyed all the talks given. The most memorable thing I heard was about the ten virgins and of course I had heard and read that parable but for some reason it really hit me hard. Am I going to be the one prepared or am I going to fall short? The other thing is do I really mean it when I say that the gospel is one of the most important things in my life and if I do mean it do my actions show that? Sometimes I think not. I am ready to break out of my comfort zone though. I am willing to sacrifice some things in my life now to prove to my Heavenly Father that the gospel is essential to me. I am hoping that with dedicating myself more fully some of the things I am struggling with right now will help to come into perspective and I will gain a little clarity. I know I tell my children I love the gospel but I am going to make sure they see that I love the Lord. I would like to bare my testimony of the things I do know Satan definitely knows my weaknesses and I seem to fall into the traps he sets for me often but I do try to get back up and try a little harder. I hope someday I will be able to look at some of my stumbling blocks and see them as my strengths. I know my trials are for my "good and learning" so I am going to try hard to do some serious learning.

Cannons First Post (summer vacation and first day of school)

Hi this is Cannon and i thought i would post something on my families blog. This is a picture of my brothers and i on our first day of school.

I had a pretty good first day of middle school and my brothers said they had a great day to it was lots of fun.

Adam also had a good time wearing my football pads after i brought them home after a game. And i think my mom was the happiest to have some peace and quiet for a little.

I had a great time at my family vacation this summer too.

this is some of my cousins that i spent time with at the family reunion.

This is my first post so dont make fun of it.

Opening Gifts

We opened gifts without Dad tonight so here are some photos for him to see.















Cole is getting to the age that he doesn't really want toys anymore,well not kid toys that is.




I am a little nervous that he got a Red Ryder. I know there might not be as many squirrels around our house but just as long as everyone has all there eyes and no broken windows we will all be fine.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday beautiful boy. I will never forget the day you were born. Unlike Cannon who would not come no matter what you were a great surprise by coming two days early. I remember wanting you to be a boy so badly and knowing what your middle name was going to be before I knew what your first name would be.You were such a good baby and you were always so patient with Cannon who was not so sure about sharing his mom and dad with anyone. Cole you are such a wonderful addition to our family.
I had a hard time finding many pictures that you weren't with one of your brothers or cousins. You are always so kind and helpful and the kids around you can always sense that. I love you so much and I am so proud of all of your accomplishment's and I can't wait to watch you grow up to be whatever you want to be just don't do it too fast.

Cole has always been such a great eater. He loves to try new things and is always a good sport about taking at least one polite bite of whatever I make.

Cole also loves anything that wiggles crawls slithers and moves. From the time he was little Cole has always wanted to know all the facts about animals or reptiles. We have a large bucket of animals that mostly Cole has collected over the years. Cole often comes home with the random frog or snake or whatever else he can fit into his pocket. Thank goodness I am not that afraid of those sort of things.

Thank you for being my little Cole boy have a great Birthday and always remember you are a child of God and He will always be there for you just like your mom and dad here on earth.

Thanks Nana

My mom went home today(sad face.) The kids had so much fun with her. Just a funny story to tell you about that happened the first full day I was gone. The first night we left my mom locked the doors when she went to bed (I know some of you are thinking she locked the doors in Cowley?) Anyway she locked the doors and the next morning after successfully getting the children off to school she went somewhere with Adam. They had a great outing the only problem was when she returned home all the doors in the house were still locked(in my mom's defense our locks are not normal.) So my mom had a great idea she knew the bathroom window was open so she got the screen out and put Adam through the window so he could open the door. Second problem Adam could not get the door open or get back out the window. My mom then proceeded to try to call me but I had left my phone in the car so the resourceful woman she is she called the school and asked the secretary to send Cole home. So Cole came home and climbed through the window and saved the day. Oh by the way Adam was fine the whole time he just proceeded to get a coloring book and color on the bathroom floor while waiting for Cole. Thank goodness for a smart Nana and an experience the kids will never forget. The week went farely smoothly from there well, as smoooth as a week with four boys can go.

Look At That Loot

I know this is a funny picture but just hang in there and let me explain. When Michael and I went on our little trip last week I purposely did not pack any shampoo because I figured that I would use the products that are provided by the hotel. Well when I went to open the shampoo the next morning my husband about had a heart attack well maybe not that bad. He then explained how the program went. You are supposed to bring some shampoo from home and then collect all those little bottles every day and bring it home. My loving husband was willing to sacrifice one bottle but that was about all he could possibly part with. My husband has been traveling quite a bit over the years and he has been collecting these wonderfull little prizes. So I took a picture of what we have accumulated over the years.

Yes,that is three large ziplock bags and one wal-mart bag full of all those wonderfull little bottles of toiletry items. So you now can see why I didn't have the same reluctance as my husband . I suppose after 15 years (yes it has almost been 15 years) my husbands need for saving a buck in such peculiar ways should not surprise me. So when we are in need of using our one year supply of food and such we will definately smell good we might not have anything to eat but our hygiene will be taken care of. I love you honey for taking such good care of us.

Happy Halloween

Is this the cutest Pirate you have ever seen? I sure think so especially since I didn't have to put him in it.

Here is my old man. Cole always decides what to be long before Halloween and this year he decided to be an old man. I love that atleast one person in our family likes Halloween. I loved it as a kid but it wasn't about the costumes as anyone who knows me would know it was all about the candy for me.

Giddy up cowboy! Travis is in costume sort of. Part of me thinks that Travis decided to be a cowboy so he could get the rest of the things he thought he needed to be a REAL cowboy. So grandma went and got him a belt buckle w/ a horse on it and a cowboy shirt. He realy wanted spurs but we didn't want him to get suspended for bringing a weapon to school. j/k He has not taken his stuff off accept to bathe. Someday I wouldn't be surprised to visit my sweet boy on his farm/ranch.

Yes we are missing someone but he was to old I guess to get all dressed up. We still love you Cannon. He didn't miss out on trick or treating though. I heard he went as a middle schooler I am surprised he got any candy.