Tonight I Want To Cry

My Mom always said that "Mom's are only as happy as their saddest child" and this week I sure know what she meant. Kids can be so mean and say the meanest things. Brookly came home hurt from some rude comments made by older girls from Achievement Days about her laughing, Dallin has rude comments made ongoing from some of his "closest" friends about his weight (more happened today) and Brennen came home from a birthday party today devastated that back in Oct. 2007 for his birthday, we had taken his friends to Makutu's Island and then to McDonald's -instead of Amazing Jakes and that was "dumb" according to his friends. Brennen had such sad tears and I just felt like crying with all of them! I know kids say things they don't mean and that every kid gets this... but this is kids from our ward - they haven't even started school yet!!! What is a mother to do? I felt like giving more than just a good talking to, to a few kids today, (Not my own) I tell you what!!
Just wanted to vent and then I can go back to loving everyone.
I remember older kids being harder on me than younger so I think I'll just try to teach my kids to be careful that they aren't the ones doing the same thing to others. I am the first to admit my kids are not perfect but I sure want to defend them today! I guess that's why I have felt so sad all day - my kids hurting and Wes working until after midnight:(

Another note: After much prayer and weighing all the pros and cons Wes turned down the job offer of the new exciting rocket, Taurus II. Mainly because he'd be working ground support (the computers that run the rocket from the ground) and he's worked for years to get off ground support and get experience on the vehicle (the actual rocket) and he is on the vehicle for the Minotaur Program that he's on now. He felt honored to be asked but it wasn't more money or any great incentive to change his dream of different opportunities there. There is really no benefit either way for the need to travel coming in the next year. We dread this part of it all. This was still a very emotional decision and we went back and forth for a few days. Sometimes the Lord let's us wrestle and decide for ourselves what we should do and then the peace comes.
All this and I'm out of Dove!

Who does he look like?

This was a fun post from my sister, Bec's blog and I had to try it out!:)

Andrew's Baptism

Where are they supposed to be? Not running through the halls at the church I'm sure. That's Andrew running in front.Jules and Mom
Brookly and Kate
The Cute Cousins
Gardner Family

As Good As It Gets

What a special day for Andrew and our family! It was wonderful to see him be baptized. We thought we'd planned plenty of time because their chapel is closer to our house than Anthem. We didn't plan on returning for pillows and blankets, the Loop 202 was closed and we traveled quite a long time in town before we could connect to a freeway, Jarom had an emergency potty stop (behind the No Trespassing fence of construction with trucks going by - no, there's no picture), then we tried to connect to the exit from 101 going North on the I-17. Guess what, you have to be South of 101 to get to the exit for the street to go to the church, Rose Garden Lane. Now we know. We didn't realize that it was just Andrew's baptism, not a Stake one and gratefully Julie filled in with the prelude. She looked the most releived that we made it:)

After the baptism we hung out at Greg and Lynnette's, had a BBQ, the kids played endless video games and then we hit the Anthem outlets for a little school shopping. Fun day and what a great time to share with family!

Grammy and Ben's Birthday Party

Grammy looks great for 57! Ben keeps smilin' at 2!Who won the ice fight? Grampy or Julie?
What a fun cake-don't ask about the colors.
The kids won in this game with Grampy. Or did they?
Grammy and Grampy and the Grandkids
It was fun to celebrate on Mom's (Grammy to the kids) birthday. We felt blessed that they could be here early for Andrew's baptism and visit with us a while.

Ben's Big Day! 2 at last!

July 16, 2006 Here I am world!

9 pounds 11 ounces

22 inches long

15 inch chest - Ouch!

I am my parents pride and joy!

My Daddy loves me!

My Mommy loves me! Can we nap now?

I see my Daddy!All these kids love me and want to hold me first!I love my new airplane - I'm 1 now!
My Mommy! My big brother!

I love cake and didn't want to use my hands yet! Is this what we do?

Oh, this sweet boy is just the light of my life!

He got the same card from both sets of Grandparents and he loved them!

Ben in new airplane shirt playing with his siblings.
Brennen took him for a spin on his B-Day.
Lots of love from Daddy on the big day!
OH - I got my own Legos!!!
July 16, 2008
Oh where did the time go? My baby is 29 1/2 pounds and 35 1/2 inches tall. Ben has brought such joy to our family and he keeps us laughing when things are rough. Ben loves his Daddy and prefers to be with him. He wants horse rides (hoss), tree climbing (climbing up Wes and flipping over), and monkey rides (riding on Wes's foot) whenever he can. He isn't saying very many words yet so the doctor recommended that we test him for speech. Nothing new since Brennen and Josh were also speech delayed and are plenty bright. He does get frustrated when we don't understand. I'm excited to have this next school year with time alone with Ben. I don't want him to grow up too fast and yet I see him doing so many things because he wants to be like his big brothers and sister. He loves Legos! We gave him his own for his birthday and he spends hours every day building, destroying and buiding again! Just like his brothers!

Ben loves shoes and has to have his on ALL the time in case we go somewhere. He has definitely picked up that we get shoes on to leave the house. He doesn't want to be left behind so this is his defense. The only time he'll take them off is when in his crib ready for bed. He brings Wes and I our shoes and wants them to be the first thing we put on. Ben is so much fun and he is into everything. He's truly our "Curious George" and we have to vigilantly watch for his climbing on the counters, treadmill and back of couches and then standing up has caused much pain already and we hope to prevent more. He gets into and on top of things we didn't even think about. I caught him putting things in the electrical outlet yesterday. We thought things were safe but we've had to reevaluate. He is truly our precious boy and we feel so blessed to have him in our home! We love you Ben!

Sunday with Dad

Sunday afternoon is pretty much the only time the kids get to play with Wes during his overtime hours right now. These are rare but precious moments and we guard them fiercely as you'll see from the pictures.

Brennen gets a little tickling action.

Ben loves his horsey rides.
Dallin and Josh in a competitive foosball match.
Ben "helping" with foosball!
The spontaneous wrapping paper war that broke out on the Sabbath at our house was never intended when I (yes, I started it) hit Jarom and Josh on the head after Brookly wrapped Ben's presents.

Ben fiercely guarded his own roll and the rest took their turn but he only wanted Dad to play with him.
$1 wrapping paper for this kind of fun isn't too bad:)
Ben has sword and shield in hand.
Brookly tries to join in.

Ben loves his Daddy!

Annual Pena's Picnic

July 12, 08

This year the Pena's rented an incredible water slide for the neighborhood picnic! The kids had a great time! Dallin got in some trouble and couldn't swim but he did come for quite a while to eat. He's maturing fast but sometimes those 2 yr. old instincts still come back:)

Brennen

Jarom
Josh and Ben
Go Brookly
Ben loved the yummy food!

Play Day at the Gardner's

On July 11, 08 was our play date for the ward at our house. Oh the kids had fun with their friends over! Here's Avonell Rappleye, Rilee Pitney and Brookly with the endless dress up! We invite all to come next time it's at our house in August!

Even Becca Rappleye got in on the dress up fun.
Ben kept clear of the dress up but found this hat.
This was a very eventful playday as Princess, our energetic, but dearly loved Beagle, got in the house and then ran out front as friends came to play. She has been trained to run by our kids who chase her, so Dallin panicked and began running after her. Porter Rappleye and Jarom and Brennen with no shoes also followed and when they ran down 11th Ave. in the street unsupervised I got a call from Joni asking if we knew they were there. I think that's when it sunk in for me that this was serious and I hopped in the Suburban and went looking. I had hoped they would quickly get her back. I went East on 11th and had missed Dallin completely. I picked up Brennen and went around to 12th Ave. and got Jarom and Porter. By this time, Joni and her boys had helped in the chase and by a miracle, when Princess was running to Ironwood, Princess turned back around and James was able to catch her. We know the Lord's hand was in this. Dallin had made a few unsuccessful attempts and even been bit and was quite upset at this time. He really thought we had lost our dog. He is the reason we bought her in the first place. After 7 years of his praying and begging we finally gave in and went to the pound and got our first sweet mut, Petey. He died of distemper within 8 weeks and we were traumatized! We waited 2 more years and got our sweet Princess for the 4th of July. Dallin is the one who takes care of her. So, needless to say it was a very emotional day for us! We do love our Princessand we feel blessed she is safely home! Thanks to Joni and James for helping!

Singin' in the Rain!

I love the July monsoon season for the awesome lightning shows and the fun when lights go out and for playing and singing in the rain! Only in AZ can you be soaking wet and still hot!

This is Dallin, Ben, Brennen and Jarom who joined my madness running in the rain! Josh took off on his bike! Brookly had already left to shower.

Soaking wet:)

Too Cute for Time Out!

July 8th, 2008. What do you do when your child is just too cute for Time Out? We have been working with Ben and trying to be consistent in giving Time Out when he hits anyone. Well, tonight at scripture study he ripped a page out of Brookly's Book of Mormon. We sent him to Time Out and this is the hilarious result! Am I getting enough attention yet?
Just plain too cute!

What a 4th!

Watermelon makes the 4th! Ben sure ate a ton!

For the fun before the fireworks we went to the park! The sky was beautiful and the weather perfect and breezy! After the park we barbecued steak and had rootbeer floats! Yum! The kids got on the roof and we watched the fireworks from our backyard!

Josh loved riding his motor scooter!

Jarom was so cute and full of fun!
A rare but wonderful moment!
It was such a relaxing, mellow evening!

Dallin, Brennen and Josh even got along!

Jar and Ben loved this shuttle ride!
Brookly loved it as well.
So sweet.
Just hangin' out.
My sweetie and me.


Pancake breakfast!

Having Wes home was such a wonderful surprise! We thought he had to work, until 5pm on Fri. when he realized that holidays count for overtime!

Ben loves his hass rides!
Wes started the day working in the yard and Ben wouldn't leave his side.
Wes got our flag hung!
We love the beauties of nature that God gives us! What a perfect setting for such a perfect day!


The kids all loved the monkey rides, horse rides and "tree climbing" with Wes.

What a wonderful day together! I feel so blessed for the freedom we enjoy and the occasional moments we get all together! I have been reflecting on the sacrifices made by our ancestors and reading through histories and I am so proud of my Great Grampy ,Virgil Denham, who served in WWI and my Grampy, Melvin Denham, who served in WWII. Their stories are inspirational and I can see God's hand in their lives so easily.

I also looked up Samuel Claridge and the story of his daughter when they were called to settle the Muddy river. It was a harsh and barren land and no one wanted to go. When Pres. Brigham Young announced the names of who would go, Elizabeth (Samuel's daughter), burst into tears and started sobbing. Her friend turned and said, "Why are you crying, my father was also called, but I know he won't go." Elizabeth turned to her and said, "That's just it. I know my father will go and that nothing will stop him." They had many setbacks and yet Samuel viewed them all as Satan trying to prevent them so he pressed on harder.

I am so grateful for the incredible faith and courage that my pioneer ancestors daily showed to settle this land to worship freely.

I want to share my heritage with my children and hope they sense my deep feelings because I was not even aware of our pioneer ancestors growing up. The history was kept by only a few in the family and hadn't yet been shared. I'm so grateful we have so much information now!

I love my family!