This night was SO fun!!!

We had planned a big pizza party to celebrate all of the March birthdays, and well... to just have an excuse to get together. Our favorite pizza place closed down just for us and it was such a fun night!!! Tallin came from Montana for the big event which was wonderful and we had so much fun visiting with everyone! The evening couldn't have been more perfect!!! After the big party we decided to go to the late movie with Buffy, Tracy, Ric and Katie. We had wanted to see the Bounty Hunter so we went in and laughed and had a great time. About half way through the movie Jace text me to have his dad call him so Thayne went out and called. Cait thought somebody might have been in her house because the door she thought she had locked was open. They were nervous so after the movie we all rode out to the rescue to check the house. It is so wonderful having such fantastic friends that we can laugh with and have such a wonderful time hanging out with. We went in with guns a blazing.... no not really, but we were all laughing so loud that had someone been in there we would have scared them away... checked all of the closets, under the beds, around the corners and anywhere somebody could have been hiding... and got the all clear! However we were not leaving our Caitlyn there alone so she spent the night at our house... which was just as well since Matt was here, and Tallin was home, and my 3 nephews, and the girls friend Bri... yes, I wonder if we could have believed this was what would happen when we thought we wanted a 'full house'!!! And it couldn't be more WONDERFUL!!! I am so very grateful for good friends, a wonderful family and for all of the many, many blessings we have in our lives!!! What a great way to celebrate life... and love... and the gift of friendship and families!!! We might just have to do this every year!!!


Kassi is taking on Tracy now....If the younger girls can cheese for the camera so can Buffy and I!!!

Bri and Kailee... Bri is like an extra daughter and we love her!

THAYNE! Not my Thayne... the other Thayne!

Silly Kassi always cheesing when the camera comes out!

Ella, pretty girl!

Tracy was a little grumpyin the beginning... good thing Thayne was there to cheer him up!

You two are so much alike it makes us laugh... nice face boys!

Kassi, my obnoxious daughter... get out of my face! haha

What did we expect them to do with the balloons??? Really....

Sierra, Katie and Janae came to help us party the night away too!

Most of Caitlyn's family was out of town so we were glad that Tara was able to come... just having fun visiting and eating dinner....The gang's all here having a great night!

Kimi, Matt, Dana, Bri, Kailee, Kami, Cereta, Nate and Tiffany enjoying some pizza!

SHAYNE!!!! :)

Preston, Tallin, Harlon and Shayne hanging out at the pizza place!

Candice posing, while Shalum takes an important call!!! :)

We love Wii...

We had set up the Wii and the boys finally got their chance to play! It was so funny walking in and seeing all of them standing on chairs playing... they were so intense and having such a great time!

Shayne, Kalli doing Candice's hair and Shalum enjoying the party...

Having a great time visiting with everyone...

Shayne, Kerry Buffy, Hunter, Tracy, Thayne and Kalli and Shalum... going around the table from right to left...

Kimi and Matt giving us his tough guy cop impression!!! Poor guy, he gets teased so much about being a cop from everyone in our family... he is great though!!! And he puts up with us so we can't complain at all!

Matt and Kimi... Matt trying to look unimpressed with my desire to take a picture of him!

Checotah... and Dana telling a story... oh my! I didn't notice the picture in the background! :)

Crazy kids... Kailee, Bri, Tawni, Kinzee, Wyatt, Dana, Kassi, Checotah and Harlon... and when the last picture was snapped they fell into a huge pile on the ground, which would have made a better picture but they were scrambling up by the time I got my camara going again...

Cheese Caitlyn!!! And so glad Tallin came home for the big celebration!!!

Great time visiting with the birthday boy and enjoying all of our March birthdays....

10 + 10 + 2 = 22

Yes, 10 + 10 + 2 = 22.... at least that is what one obnoxious dad decided to put on his son's brownies he wanted for his 22nd birthday (instead of a cool cake said 22 year old's mom wanted to get him!!!) 22 years! How in the world did this happen? Have I said that before? 22 years ago I became a mom for the second time, on March 19th at the end of the BYU basketball game... to which I was kind enough to hold off pushing while the doctor enjoyed the victory... I gave birth to this son that has been a constant source of joy to me! Again, how did that happen. So often I see the boy within the man standing before me. And it makes me smile! Jace has gone through so much in the last 4 years, but finally... FINALLY I see the Jace that was there before the bad stuff happened, before he lost his friend, before he felt pain that he shouldn't have had to feel that young, in that way! But now I see the spark again, I see the joy he gets in living, I see him vibrant and happy and strong... and it makes me smile! There are so many reasons to be smiling now... so many wonderful things to look forward to this year. So many joys to make up for any of the sadness and pain. He is better because he walked through it, because you really can't appreciate the good unless you have truly felt the bad... and he has felt it, but it didn't win... he won! Because that is how he is! A winner! This son, who has always been my protector, who has always worried about my happiness, my joy, my pain... the young man who while struggling with his own horrible pain wanted to make sure I was okay... yes, he is 22 now, and this year he will become a husband, and then in time he will become a father... and what a great one he will be. To see him hold his nephew, to see him cherish Nate, and love his other siblings, to see him forgive, to persevere... to walk through the trials in life and come out the winner, to see him smiling.... a smile that goes all the way to his eyes... to hear him laughing, to hear him excited about his life... that is what matters most to me, that is what brings me the greatest joy!!!

Happy Birthday Jace.... I wish for you all of the greatest joys this year, and that even when times are hard, you reach down deep and find the faith to get through anything knowing that you are strong and that you can do absolutely anything! You are a joy to us and we love you!!!

Kimberli Nichole... 21! Wow!!!

Where did the last 21 years go? It seems like they have gone by so quickly. I can remember so clearly the day I found out I was expecting Kimi, and now, here she is, all grown up and starting a great adventure of her own. How is it possible that she is 21??? That means she is an adult. Can it really be????

It seems like yesterday when they told us we were having a little girl. I had wondered if I would... it seemed that all of Thayne's cousins only had boys and I didn't dare believe that it would be a girl even after they told us. I remember so clearly the day I was in labor. Oh, I had been in labor for days it seemed, but this particular Sunday I had labored all through church, with everyone watching, counting the minutes between contractions. We finally decided that we would go to the hospital and a sweet nurse took pity on me and made sure they knew I was staying! After starting me on pictocin I only labored 12 more hours so bright and early Monday morning my beautiful, sweet girl was born... on my sister's birthday! Only the moment she was born was anything but worthy of rejoicing... the little girl I had been hoping for... praying for, was born silent, and so blue she looked black. She had the cord wrapped 3 times around her neck and I was sure I had lost her before I ever even had the chance to hold and love her. Several long minutes went by before I finally had the nerve to ask if it had been my little girl. That was when the doctor went to work trying to revive her. After a very long time, what seemed like an eternity to me, I finally heard a small cry. She was later found to have something wrong with her heart... the left side wasn't developed like it was supposed to be... and we spent 4 days of up and down, heart wrenching moments of watching her turn blue, wondering if she was even going to live. I remember the day they told me that they were life flighting her to Primary Children's and then left me alone to make arrangements. Thayne was called at the mine and he and my dad headed in. That was one of those moments when you have to decide if you truly believe everything you have spent your life saying you believe, and digging deep to finding the faith that would sustain you, no matter how the whole thing turns out. I remember holding her tiny hand and crying, and praying to Heavenly Father to please let me raise her, let me watch her grow, let me see her become the beautiful woman I hoped she would be. But then I stopped... I knew that it wasn't up to me. I knew that my will meant nothing... and that is when I wondered if she was meant to be mine here, now... was it right? What was in store for this sweet little girl? What was in store for our family. I knew what "I" wanted, but in that moment, I learned a huge lesson... I wanted what the Lord wanted for our family and while I hoped, prayed that it meant she would live, I told the Lord, "Thy will be done." And then I waited. I felt peace in my heart, absolute peace, even though I had no idea which way it would turn out. And then Thayne and my dad got to the hospital and Thayne gave her a beautiful priesthood blessing promising that she would be made whole and that all of the tests would come back negative. And then the helicopter came and I watched her fly away! We raced to Salt Lake, praying that she would be healthy and well when we got there. My parents had left before us so that they could be there when she got there. When they brought Kimi into the hospital the doctor asked why they had sent a healthy baby to them. They tried to explain away the heart defect by saying that they must have mixed up the x-rays somehow... which of course there was no way. She was the only baby in the hospital that had x-rays taken of their heart... she HAD turned blue, her heart was defective... until that blessing. And somehow some miracle took place and her heart was whole, and healed and we brought our baby girl home on her big brother's first birthday! Healthy, whole and wonderful! And now she is a grown up... a 21 year old woman with wonderful things in her future! A gift to me... a joy to have been able to watch her get to this point, a joy to watch as she begins to move forward with a wonderful, exciting future of her own. I am so grateful for what I have learned by being her mom. I am so grateful that I could see her overcome so much with a positive attitude and to see her find joy in watching others succeed in their own lives. She has the most beautiful, brilliant smile!

Happy Birthday my beautiful Kimi... I hope that this year brings everything you have ever dreamed of and that you find happiness and contentment in everything you do! Love you!!!

Sweet baby girl, so fresh from heaven! Our sweet girl brought so much joy to our lives....

She loved to swing...

Grandpa and Kimi napping on her blessing day! Aunt Shirley made her the most beautiful dress!

Kimi Nichole ~ 2 weeks old....

Sweet girl... her eyes were the most brilliant blue when she was a baby!

Kimi and Grandma C celebrating her first Christmas...

Aunt Tammy (who shares Kimi's birthday) and her friend Kim celebrating the 4th of July in Delta....

Sweet girl... always excited about life!

Kimi, Tanner and Jace....

Tammy loved having a niece!!!

Kimi on her first birthday... let's hope she eats her cake with a little less mess this year!!!

Trip to Idaho a total bust! Well, sort of!

We finally got to go to Idaho to see the dentist in hopes of getting Nate's teeth taken care of. We had to be there at 10:50am (Idaho time) and he had to go on an empty stomach. We got there right on time... and then we waited... and waited... and waited. For 2 hours we waited. The dentist was running behind. Finally.... the dentist came in. And the fight began. Nate does NOT like to be held down. And Nate's history left him very afraid of putting him under to fix his teeth. The dentist said that he is a stubborn man but he had finally met his match. He is going to make an appointment for Nate at Primary Children's to get his teeth fixed. He felt that with his issues of tracheomalcia, and dysphagia they want someone really experienced in taking care of children who may have their airway compromised. He wasn't a happy camper and though the doctor said that the flouride tasted like fruit, Nate was NOT impressed and was spitting and wiping his mouth on his dad's shirt! Poor baby, it wore him out fighting the dentist off! We of course made up for it by taking him to eat and shopping at Target!!!
Making faces while we were eating.... silly boy

Fish face... he was so cute while we were eating and as we were leaving this sweet little grandma stopped to talk to him. He was so sweet with her, and as she was leaving Nate blew her a kiss and winked at her, which completely thrilled the sweet little lady!

Shopping is rough on a kid...

We went shopping today to take advantage of the case lot sale at our local grocery store. We knew Nate was tired, but by the time we got to the check out line and started unloading the poor little man couldn't keep his eyes open. I kept trying to wake him up, but he just couldn't do it! I couldn't help it... after unloading 3 carts full of groceries the little man was still asleep so I had to snap a picture! Shopping is rough on a kid... poor baby!

You know you are a big family when....

You know you are a big family when you finally give in and go for the #10 cans of Tomato Sauce to make spaghetti sauce for your family!!! :)

Things to be grateful for....

Tonight we had family home evening and Thayne taught the lesson on gratitude, and learning to have an attitude of gratitude and that we are happiest when we are grateful because we aren't worried about having more, getting more... we are content with what we have and recognize that the really important things are not what we buy, but the love and acceptance we have in our family. Wyatt and Kalli were in charge of the activity and Wyatt taught us a cute song about a turtle, and bubbles... and Nate just LOVED it and sang it loud and did all of the actions! Kalli passed out paper and crayons and told us that we needed to draw, or write what we are grateful for. There were some really great things: jobs, family, friends, house, temple, our health, the gospel, there were some good pictures.... but this one took the cake tonight! This is what Caitlyn is grateful for! And we are so grateful for it too! I am so excited for them to get married and start their lives together. They will get married in June, but the best part is that they will be able to go to the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity in early August after she has been a member of the church for a year! We are all so excited about that!!! That will be a wonderful day in the Salt Lake Temple, to see them sealed as an eternal family. THAT is something to be grateful for!!!

Happy Birthday Kassi and Tanner

Happy, happy birthday Kassi and Tanner. I can't believe how time keeps flying by us and these kids keep growing up! It's just not fair! I can't believe that Tanner is already 20 years old and Kassi is sweet 16 and SO excited to be driving! I love them both so much! It's so fun watching them become such amazing adults! Hope this year brings great things your way and that all of your dreams come true!!! Love you both!

Silly Kassi.... Kassi is standing on her tippy toes to be as tall as Tanner... Tanner hates cake and Kassi, being the odd ball of the children didn't want to cool ones we buy... she wanted a homemade chocolate cake with vanilla frosting!

Happy Birthday Tanner James and Kassi ShyAnn... you are both amazing and I am so happy that I get to be your mom!

Everyone was worried that the candles would melt the cake! Make a wish and blow out the candles....

Holy Cow! Open the windows and fan the smoke alarms.... that is some serious smoke!!! Hope your wishes come true!!! Love you both so very much!

Kailee's surgery....

Poor Kailee... the day finally arrived (March 1st!) and while she had looked forward to it forever, it was still scary and she was pretty nervous. She has had issues with her 'nose' for a long time. We thought it was a sinus issue and even had a crazy doctor here in town demand that we let him do surgery on her sinuses however we learned about this man's reputation and ran away as fast as we could! Luckily a wonderful doctor at Primary Children's was able to clear up the horrible sinus infection she had and showed us that while her sinuses were perfect, she had a horribly hooked septum and that she desperately needed it fixed. He sent us off to a nationally renowned surgeon who recommended surgery! Once he got in he said that the septum was even worse once he got in there and saw it with his own eyes than even the CAT scan showed, but another part that they thought was horrible wasn't so bad, so he was able to fix the septum and she should be able to breathe easy very soon! She had a rough time recovering from the anesthesia and was very, very sick throughout the first 24 hours. She seems to be healing well now and rested really well last night! I am so happy for her, that she will be able to finally breathe through her nose!

Here she is ready to go... her doctor wrote his notes on her forehead and nose... which is good I guess so there is no messing up! :)
Just getting settled, and then they told us the doctor was running about 2 hours behind! OH YAY!!!

Seems to be happy and ready to go... and we waited, and waited, and waited!!!

And Thayne... half asleep and waiting... haha! That will teach him for teasing us, right Kailee???

Newborn pictures of Gabe...

Tiffany's sister had taken pictures of Gabe a few days after he was born and she finally got them edited and emailed a few of them yesterday... I can't believe he is almost 2 months old now and has grown so much already. Now he always has big smiles for us and it starting to really show us his personality, but oh, those sweet days of him being a tiny newborn!!! He is such a beautiful boy and we are so blessed to have him in our lives!!! He is so amazing!
My first born, with his firstborn.... brings tears to my eyes!

Sweet Tiffany is such a good mom and we are so grateful to have her in our family....

Gabe and his daddy's cowboy hat.....