When a Bird's Nest Meets our BBQ

Bird poo on our BBQ...

Twigs and grass sticking out of the holes...

The beginnings of a nest inside...

Our solution to the problem! Bye bye birdie!

Cami June Has Graduated Preschool

Cami June graduated her preschool class on Wednesday last week. She was so cute. We LOVED her teacher, Mrs. Vicki, and her classmates. She had so much fun this year. I can't believe that she will be in kindergarten next year. She is growing up so fast.

Before her program started

Getting a hug and her diploma from Mrs. Vicki

Mrs. Vicki at Candy Apple Cove

Ogden Marathon...Motherload Rocks!!

On Saturday the 21 of May, the Ogden Marathon was going on. I was part of a full marathon relay team. There were five of us: Me, Allison, Natalie, Lindsey and Amber. We are all mother's of Riley's soccer teammates. We had so much fun. Allison and I got up super early and headed to the bus that left at 5 am to take us to the start of the full marathon. After dropping Allison off at the start, The bus dropped me off at my leg start. I ran six miles. I was nervous and excited. The waiting was hard, especially in the cold.But Allison came down the hill in no time at all and off I went. I was feeling good and had a great run. The hills slowed me up a bit but I was at the end of my run in no time. I passed the baton off to Natalie and headed for the bus. It took FOREVER for the bus to get going and get us back down to the finish line. But I made it and found my family. I said a quick hello and told them to get their cameras ready to catch me crossing the finish line. I found Allison and we waited for Amber to come in sight. We found Amber and we took off running. The three of us crossed the finish line together and waited for Natalie and Lindsey to finish. Our team ended up finishing 5 out of 37 female relay teams. Not too shabby for a bunch of soccer moms. I found my family and showed off my medal and headed home for some rest and relaxation. I had a great time and vowed to myself that next year,if we end up doing a relay team again, I will run the rest of the way in, even if it will be a full marathon.

Trev waiting for me at the finish line

Riley and Cam holding up their signs

Me 6 miles, Natalie 5 miles, Allison 7 miles, Lindsey 5 miles and Amber 3 miles. We made a great team.

Me and my kiddos.

Holding the signs that my awesome family made for me.

Sun's Out...Let's Slip n Slide!!

One day two weeks ago (yes I know, I'm playing catch up) It was warm and sunny. A very rare occasion around these parts. Well the kiddos thought it was hot enough to fill the swimming pool and get out the slip n slide. I told them ok, but I was thinking to myself that this wouldn't last very long because while it was warm outside, it wasn't hot and the water was going to FREEZING. Well Cami and Trev grabbed their suits and invited their friends to come over for some watery fun. They played in the water and slipped on the slide for hours. The only reason they stopped was because a hole in the slip n slide ruined their fun. But it was fun while it lasted. Paityn even got in on the fun.It was fun to sit out on the deck and watch them having fun outside. Now we just need more days like that and less rainy days.

Cami LOVED the slip n slide.She was a wild girl on it.

Trevy taking his turn sliding

Paiters had so much fun getting wet. It would take her breath away every time and then she'd smile and laugh.

Camden's Birth Story

The day you were born Camden, I will never forget. It's the day we welcomed our first red head to the family. Both Mommy and Daddy were very surprised. We had to work hard to get you to come to join our family. We were so excited when we found out you were coming.I was three weeks away from your due date. I had read somewhere about tips to induce labor yourself. I took all the advice I could get. You'll understand one day the extremes Mommy's sometimes take to get their babies here early. I was trying these tricks and they were working. I was able to make myself contract about every 3-5 minutes. After and day or two of doing this, I thought, I've had to have dilated more by now. So on the morning of the 20 of September, after making myself contract for hours that day, I called Daddy and told him that I wanted to go to the hospital and have them check me to see if I had dilated anymore.I got in the hospital and the nurses hooked me up to the monitors. I was still contracting. Sometimes on my own sometimes because I made myself. I was dilated to a 3. I was so excited. I thought for sure they'd admit me. I mean I was already a 3. That was when they admitted me with Riley. But since I was three weeks early, they said that I needed to progress to prove that I was in labor. Daddy and I knew what to do. We started to walk around the hospital to see if we could get the show on the road. We called the Grandparents and told them what was happening and we said that we'd let them know what happened next. We walked around for an hour or two and then went back to our room to be checked. I was contracting the whole time we were walking and I could feel more and more pressure with every one. The nurse checked me and said that I was at a 3 and a half. I said well that's progress isn't it? She said sure but she needed to talk to the doctor first. After a while the nurse came back in and said that the doctor wanted me to progress a little more. I was just too early. So back to the halls we went again. After another hour or two,the nurse came back and checked me again. I was at a four. They admitted me and we were on our way. I was so excited to see you. So was Daddy. Riley was there at the hospital with us until Grandma King came and picked her up and took her to get some dinner. Grandma Cindy had jumped on a plane and was on her way. The doctor, Dr. Sumsion, came in and broke my water and started me on pitocin. I got my epidural soon after that. Daddy got a little sick while getting my epidural. He had to sit down right after I was finished. Daddy can't handle those things sometimes but he still was my greatest support.After I got my epidural, my blood pressure dropped really fast. Daddy had gone home to get Riley in bed so that Grandpa King could come over and stay with her. I got really sick to my stomach and almost passed out. Grandma King handed me a bowl and the next thing I know, I am surrounded by nurses and the anesthesiologist. They had to pump me full of liquids to raise my blood pressure. It happened one more time and then I was feeling ok.My labor with you went a whole lot like the labor with Riley. Slow progress, slow dilation, slow, slow, slow. But eventually, you decided that you were ready to come and see us. Daddy was sleeping on the couch in the room. Grandma Cindy was sitting in a chair next to Grandma King.Uncle Andrew and Aunt Jenny were sleeping out in the car waiting to come running in when it was time. I was uncomfortable in the bed when the nurse came in and told us the great news that it was time to push. The nurses came in and got your bed all ready. They were ready and waiting. The doctor came in and got himself ready and then it was time. I was so surprised because I pushed through two contractions and out you came.You were born at 4:30 in the morning on September 21, 2005. Daddy cut your cord and they took you over to your bed to clean you up. Grandma King took pictures, Grandma Cindy and Daddy were close by watching you. You were crying and I heard the nurse say, "She's got red hair!" I looked at Daddy and asked him if you really did have red hair. He said no, I think it's just from the blood. Well you did indeed have red hair. Beautiful red hair. It was so shiny and golden red. We loved it. You weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces 21 inches long. We were so happy to see you. You cried until the nurse handed you to Daddy. He was so proud to hold you. He cried a little and had a permanent smile. He handed you over to me and I held you for the first time.I checked you all out. First I checked your red hair out. You had so much hair too. Then I checked out your long fingers and toes. You were perfect. We were so happy to call you ours and we happily welcomed you to our family.

Riley's Birth Story

The day before I had you Riley, your dad and I went to play volleyball at a park in Layton with some friends. I was a week away from my due date and being a first time mommy, I was growing more and more nervous each day. I was paying attention to every little movement or contraction and I was so anxious to meet you. Daddy went with Grandma and Grandpa King to the temple that night as well. I stayed home because I was just uncomfortable and tired. I felt like something was going to happen. While I was home I was walking around the house, pacing back and forth. The contractions just kept coming but they weren't hurting yet. Daddy finally got home and I told him what was going on. We decided that we would go to bed and try to sleep. I slept pretty good until 3:30 am on June 2. I kept contracting. I got up and used the bathroom and thought that maybe my water had broke. It hadn't but I was anxious. So I woke Daddy up around 5:30 and he started to time the contractions. They were coming every 5-6 minutes. We went upstairs and got some breakfast. I was eating a piece of toast and a glass of water. We told Grandma what was going on and she said we'd better get going to the hospital. I got really nervous. My first baby was about to be here. Was I ready? What was this whole labor and delivery going to be like? Would I be able to do it? We got everything ready and loaded into the car and drove to Mckay Dee Hospital in Ogden. I called Grandma and Grandpa Baker on the way there to let them know we were going to go in and get checked. We made it to the hospital. The contractions were still coming but they were slowly getting more intense.I got into our room and the nurse got me hooked up to the monitors. They checked me and I was only at a 1 1/2. BUMMER! So they said that I could try walking around for a bit. It was a Sunday morning so the hospital wasn't busy at all. Daddy and I walked around for an hour or so. We almost got locked in the stairwell once. That would've been bad. I was only wearing a gown. We went back to our room and the nurse checked me again. I was now at a 2 and the contractions were still coming. The nurse said if I get to a 3 they'll admit me and induce my labor. So out to the halls we went again for some more walking. Your Daddy and I were very nervous. We were very excited to meet you but very nervous not knowing what was going to happen. The next time they checked me was about 2 hours later. I was at a 3. YIPPEE!! They admitted me and got us all settled into our room and hooked up to the monitors again.I called Grandma and Grandpa Baker and Daddy called Grandma and Grandpa King and we told them that you were definitely coming. Grandma Cindy got on a plane that was going to arrive at 10:00 that night. I didn't think that she would make it. Grandpa Baker got in the motor home and drove all the way there that day.My doctor, Dr. Lesser, came in and checked me and told the nurses to hook me up to pitocin and then he'd be back to break my water. At this point, I asked the nurse when I could get my epidural. She said anytime.So I said How about now? A little while later, they got me hooked up to am epidural and pitocin and broke my water. I was ready to go. My progress was VERY slow. I took forever to dilate with you. We watched movies like Twister and we watched some tv. The Sacramento Kings were playing in the playoffs then and the game was on tv that night. As I laid in bed and watched the game with your dad, I kept thinking "Ok anytime. We'll be pushin anytime." Not so. Grandma Cindy got there and so did Grandma and Grandpa King and Aunt Kiley and Katie. Everyone was so excited to meet you. Finally at 11:30 the nurse came in and told me that I was at a 10. The room was being prepped and I was growing more and more nervous by the second. This was really it. I was going to have a baby. I was going to be a mommy. Grandma Cindy kept giving me ice chips to eat/drink. I was so thirsty I just let them melt in my mouth and swallow. When the doctor was ready and your bed was waiting, it was time to push. First, Dr. Lesser's wife, who is also an OBGYN, came in and turned you around so that you were looking down instead of up. They thought that that was why you were so slow to descend. Grandma King grabbed the camera, Grandma Cindy grabbed my leg and Daddy grabbed my other leg and head. Grandpa Baker even made it in time after driving all day to get there. He was also in the room when you were born.It was hard figuring out how to push you out. I was so tired. I pushed for an hour and a half with every contraction. My neck was hurting from straining to curl up for more pressure. Finally, at 1:30 am on June 3, 2002, your chubby little face came out, followed by the rest of your chubby little body. You were perfect. You barely even cried. Daddy cut the cord and the nurses took you over to your bed where they cleaned you up. You must have had a bunch of gunk in your lungs and nose because they kept sticking this suction tube down your throat and up your nose to suck out all the stuff. After they got you cleaned up and wrapped up, the nurse handed you to Daddy. I still remember the look on his face. He was smiling through tears. He was so proud. He was so gentle. He was also so worried about finding just the right way to hold you. He brought you over to me and I got to hold you for the very first time. You were so warm and chubby and pink. I took off your hat and checked out your hair. You had a bunch of dark hair. The first thing I said when I saw you was ,"Whoa she's got some cheeks!" You weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and you were 20 inches long. You were perfect. You were ours. We spent the next hour passing you around.Everyone was instantly in love with you. Especially Daddy and I. You made us parents and you changed our lives that day.

"I Hurt My Dinger!" And Other "Shunny" Trevor-isms!!

Trevor is such a handful of a boy but we love him to death. He keeps us on our toes with his daily antics and he keeps us smiling and laughing with the funny things that he says. Trev has ALWAYS had a hard time talking and when he finally did start talking, we couldn't get him to stop. He struggles with saying his "F's" and "K" sounds. So what comes out sometimes is something that will take you a second to figure out but once you do it will keep you laughing for hours.We always like to see people's reactions to the things that he says. Here are some examples:

-"Ouch I hurt my dinger"...Translation: "Ouch I hurt my finger". (Remember he is still working on the "F" sound)

-"That is berry shunny mom"...Translation: "That is very funny mom"

-"I want some more shishies"...Translation: "I want some more fishies"

-"When we goin to Tanisorna Mom?"...Translation: "When are we going to California Mom?"

-"I want to watch Under the Bridge"...Translation: "I want to watch Over the Hedge"

-"I want some lot of them"...Translation: "I want a lot of them"

-"Wow dat is amasin"...Translation: "Wow that is amazing"

-" I berry want it"...Translation: "I really want it"

-"Remember how much shun we had yesternight"...Translation: "Remember how much fun we had last night"

-"I berry want to watch a hoovie"...Translation:"I really want to watch a movie"

These are just a few examples of the funny things that he says to us. He is such a cute kid. I was talking to my mother in law and I was telling her about all the things that Trev does that gets under my skin and she said "Yeah I know exactly how that is. Chad was the same way when he was that age." WHAT?!! My Chad? The perfect husband and father Chad used to be a beast of a child? No way. I thought to myself, "well, if Trevor turns out to be anything like his daddy I'll be one lucky mama." Trevor has a great example of a man to follow. Knowing that Chad used to be like Trev when he was younger gives me hope that Trev will one day grow out of this phase and grow up to be just like his daddy. That's my hope. As for right now, we'll just enjoy the funny things he says and he'll keep us on our toes and laughing.

This Has Gotta Be The Good Life...I'm Happy Like A Fool!!

I have the BEST kiddos and husband in the world. I had a GREAT Mother's Day. First I got up and got the kiddos some breakfast and with each kiddo I got up, I received yet another present. They just kept piling up. Chad had wrapped two presents for me and left them on the counter since he has to leave early for meetings. I had no idea what to expect. I first read cards and then opened presents. I love reading cards from my kids. It always reminds me of when I was young and what I would do for my parents on their special days. Then I opened the presents. I got the Children's Songbook from Chad which I was so excited about because I have been wanting one forever so that I could learn the songs and how to play them. I also wanted to play the piano for family night when the kids pick what songs they want to sing. I also got an AWESOME book from Chad called, Do You Know How Much I Love You? by John Bytheway. It is a great book and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for advice on how to achieve a balanced life.Then I opened my kiddos presents. I LOVED them all. Here are some pictures...

Riley gave me a necklace that she made herself in her school class. It is so cute. It's made out of a washer and scrapbook paper. So easy and so cute. Loved it.

Cami gave me a poem with her hand print and her kisses on it. The poem says this:

Sticky fingers and big wet kisses

dirty toes and stars with wishes

splashing through puddles and hugs too tight

afternoon naps and sleepless nights

I'm growing so fast, and I'll soon be grown

So I've made this hand print for your very own

Tuck it away, and keep it please

so years from now you can see

how much I've changed as time went by

and you can always remember my...

sticky fingers and big wet kisses

dirty toes and stars with wishes

Isn't that so cute. I cried. My babies will be grown in no time at all and that is so sad to me but exciting at the same time.

Trevor made me a candy flower in nursery...

and so did Pait. This is her new smile. She is a crack up.

My babies will soon be all grown up. I know that it's going to go by in a flash. I can't believe how much time I've already wasted. Trev was sitting on my lap in Sacrament meeting on Sunday and I was kissing his head wondering how much longer I will be able to hold him like that. Tears filled my eyes as I thought of how fast they are all growing up and how they are all getting a little too big to sit on my lap. I will miss those times. I will miss the kisses and hugs and hand holding and cuddling. I know there will times that those things will still happen but it won't be the same. It won't be as often. So I promised myself that no matter how busy I think I am, no matter how many dishes are piled up in the sink, no matter how many toys are spread across my house, I will always stop and take advantage of those times that my kids want to snuggle or need me for something or want me to read them a book. Because I don't want to be remembered as the mother that always had a spotless house or who never sat down to rest because there were dishes to do and meals to make. I want my kids to remember me as the mother who loved spending time with them and playing with them and snuggling with them. I will not waste anymore time being selfish with my time because soon those moments will be gone and I'll wish they would come back.

We're Building An Empire Here!!

The following is an email that was sent to me. I did not write it, although I wish that I was capable of not only thinking to write something like this but also that I was able to write something like this. It really helps put things in perspective though doesn't it? I mean, we as mothers do so much and most of it goes unnoticed. But if you look at your children, they are our greatest accomplishments. We may feel like we are failing at times, or that we are letting our kids down by not being good enough parents. I think that is just our own minds getting the best of us. Our kids may tell us that we're mean or that they don't like us at times as well. That can cause us some frustrations and worry and maybe guilt. But the fact is, if they didn't get mad at us or yell at us for saying no or if they didn't yell at us and tell us they don't like us, that would mean we weren't doing our job. We're parent's. We're not supposed to be nice all the time. We give our children rules to make them safe and teach them young about choices and consequences.We want our children to succeed and the best way to help them succeed is to show them how to fail and learn from their choices. The biggest reason that you know you're a good parent and that you're doing a good job is that you do feel that guilt. You do worry. You do get frustrated, because you're trying your best to be the best for you children. If you didn't feel those things then there would be a problem. So to all you wonderful mothers out there...ESPECIALLY MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER...thank you for trying. Thank you for getting frustrated and upset. Try and try and try again. To my mom...I love you so much and you have always been my greatest example. I look up to you and I know you tried your best. I saw you frustrated and worried and I witnessed trial and error...trial on your part, error on mine. I hope that I will one day be as great of a mother and grandmother as you are.
Read this email and see that you are in fact building empires in your own homes. We are the hardest working people and we deserve this day to celebrate us. Hooray for mother's!!!

Invisible Mother.....

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would discover what would become from four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees'.
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become'.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.