Ten years, really?

Yes it has been ten wonderful years. Justin and I celebrated our 10 year back in December. We had a wonderful day snow shoeing. We went out to dinner and had a quiet evening at home with no kids.
I asked Justin what he has learned over the last 10 years and he said that I was a better woman then most. I tried to dig further but no luck. But I can tell you I have learned a ton the last few years. Like learn to let go, don't be so critical, have fun and just be in the moment, it doesn't have to always be done my way, love more deeply then I new possible, to say I am sorry, to say I was wrong (that doesn't happen often) and ask for what I need. I can't say if it was just being married or if motherhood also helped but I can say I have grown. I am so grateful for my best friend and for all that we have been through. Love you Pitcher!

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Maci's First Year

From this:To this:
In one short Year!

Maci turned one!

Maci's Milestones

Rolling- 6 weeks for her tummy

Crawling- 6months

Teeth- bottom two came in at 7 months

Standing- pulling herself to stand at 7 months

Talking- 7 months

Walking- First steps at 10 months but a full walker at 11 months

Favorite Things

Food- anything, she loves to eat

People- Her dad and siblings but her favorite non-family are the neighbors Kathy and Audra (they give her food)

She loves her brothers and sister. She gets excited to see Makayla when she comes home from school. Maci runs to her dad when he is around.

Words she says- Dad, Mom, Lala (makayla), What's that?, No, Down, Night night, bye, hi and she will copy just about anything you say.

Maci folds her arms during prayers. She leads the music when people sing. She is a happy and funny baby to be around.

Nickname-Destroyer

Loves her blankie!!

Maci brings so much joy!

I am Grateful!

There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for during this season. You name it I could put it down but I won't. Every year I put a large piece of paper on the door and the kids are able to write or draw the things that they are thankful for during the entire month. This is a fun tradition and love that it is sometimes things that are unexpected that at that moment we are most thankful for. Here are a few of the things thus far the kids are grateful for: Keagan is thankful for his knees. He is glad that they bend so he does not have to walk with straight legs. Yes me too! Kaiden is grateful for our house so we are not homeless. Me too! Makayla is thankful for this beautiful Earth. Yep! I love to see the funny little things that they are thankful for. They are too cute! Even the chickens made the list.

I love to read all that everyone is grateful for and hope that all can have a wonderful and thankful season!

My First Born

My baby that made me a mom turns 6. I can hardly believe that I went through the difficult, terrifying labor 6 years ago with Makayla. I love that girl to pieces. She is sweet, fun, loves to help, and be active. She is so like her dad in so many ways but looks alot like me okay so she acts like me too! I hold Maci and can't help but think of when Mak was this little (they look identical to each other). She has always kept us busy and on our toes.

Her are some of her favorite:
Food- green beans
Place to visit- any ski resort
Book- Fancy Nancy
Movie- Hannah Montana
Sport- skiing but after watching the Olympics she was digging the ice skating
Singer- Taylor Swift

When she grows up she wants to be a teacher like her dad- but this changes on a daily basis.
She looks forward to learning to play the violin, skiing more, and when she gets to ride her bike to school and summer to play on the neighbors slide.

She keeps me laughing and pulling my hair out at the same time.

I watch her grow and can't help but wish that time would slow down so that I can keep her little a bit longer!

I love you LaLa! Happy Birthday!

Random Thoughts on Music

I love music. I grew up in a home with music. I have been blessed to have parents with amazing voices. My mom would play the piano for FHE and the Christmas talent show. My sister was blessed with the gift of music. She at a young age learned to write music and play her songs on the guitar. She too has a beautiful voice. I over the years have been surround by many friends that have been blessed with musical talents. I however was not blessed with such a talent- oh I can sing and hear notes I have what one would call a choir voice decent but I ain't no soloist. I over the years I have COVETED (yep bad I know) the musical talents of others. There is a story in the scriptures about burying your talents- I wished many times that I could dig up others and steal their talents. Hey if they are not going to use them why can't I use it.

Nothing speaks to your soul like music. Nothing makes you enjoy cleaning like music. Nothing can make your body move like music. Music makes me happy, sad, feel the spirit, remember moments, and been a great companion. Simply I love music.

My favorite singer- My dad. One time he sang the song "His Hands" (also one of my favorite church songs) and Bret who is deaf was signing the song while my dad sang. It was beautiful, one of my favorite performances by my dad. At the end Bret told my dad that he heard him sing it still brings a tear to my eye when I remember that moment.

My Makayla so badly wants to learn to play the violin. I am thrilled! My kids will all be learning a musical instrument- it makes you smart and good for when they go on missions. I learned to play the piano (7 years of lessons) I am not good- seriously. I can plunk it out usually right hand only but at least I know notes on a sheet of music. I think I was a great disappointment to my teacher and parents- one word EVERGREEN!

So to all you with musical talents PLEASE SHARE THEM! Use them or I may come along and steal it. You bless the lives of so many around you with your talents. Yes I wish I had a musical talent, I don't, but I am grateful to be able to hear the talents of others and even more grateful that people are willing to share their talents to bless my life!

Random thoughts on music- Don't know where it came from it just came to my head and I couldn't sleep!

Maci's Blessing Day

Our Sweet baby Maci!

We blessed Maci on Sunday. It was a wonderful day. We had family and friends over before the blessing and had a nice spread of soup, salad, yummy rolls, and lots of treats! Maci was so cute in her beautiful dress and bonnet. When Justin was blessing her Maci rolled out of there arms almost falling on the floor good thing there were lots of arms to stop her. Not just once but three different times (it is because she tries to sit up when she is laying down). Our Bishop ended up holding her head down so she wouldn't try rolling out of their arms again. It is a Pretty fun story to tell her when she is older.
The girls sweet little hands. I love them to pieces! My mom made matching bracelets "sister bracelets" like Grandma Arloa and her sister Aunt Sue.

We appreciate all those that could make it but many people were missed also!

Hopefully more pics to come I have to get these from other people because the camera still hasn't come home.

2 months

Our baby turned 2 months this week. I can hardly believe it- I had to box up her 0-3 month clothes and it makes me a bit sad to see those go. Well here are her stats:
24 inches (75th percentile)- don't ask me where she got her height Justin and I are both short.
12 lbs (50th percentile) Justin's reaction, "there must be some HUGE babies out there."
She rolls over from her tummy, talks ALL the time, loves to smile and generally so happy, tries to sit up while laying down and is pretty much amazing. She is healthy and doing well. We love her and enjoy her so much- I wish the time would slow down so I can enjoy the newborn and baby a little bit longer. I am relishing every moment with her knowing she is our last baby and it makes me sad to think about that.

This is where I would post pictures of our cute bug but alas the camera has sprouted legs and walked away to never be found again SO I am now saving up my pennies to replace my camera. So if anyone finds it send it back to its home!