The Stockdale Family {Est. 2008}

formspring.me

2011-04-05T12:41:00.001-07:00

Ask me anything you want to know about me! I'm bored! LOL! http://formspring.me/Niki81

formspring.me

2011-04-05T12:34:00.001-07:00

Ask me anything you want to know about me! http://formspring.me/Niki81

What would your perfect day look like?

2011-04-05T12:32:00.001-07:00

Sunny, breezy, 60 degrees, birds chirping, quiet day spending time with my family at home or at the beach/lake, eating good food, having a perfectly clean/organized house, no stress, not being in pain, lots of laughing & hugs/kisses from the ones I love most!

Ask me anything

If you could only watch one TV show what would it be?

2011-04-05T12:22:00.001-07:00

For right now it's #Glee

Ask me anything

How would you describe your personality?

2011-04-05T12:17:00.001-07:00

I'm an #Aquarius, so it's ever changing! Ha! But I'll try to sum it up... talkative, loving, impatient, fun, witty, silly, weird, musical, stubborn, loyal, compassionate, compromising, smart, friendly, tough, intuitive, sensitive, strict, anxious, bubbly, creative, dislikes being told what to do or treated like a kid, forgiving, despises jealousy, can anger easily if disrespected or pushed too far, likes control, loves kids, passionate in all things, finds it hard to show emotions, likes alone time, needs freedom and trust from others, trusting, fair, love to learn, family oriented & hates being in one place too long. Whew! That's alot of conflicting personality traits, but it's the truth and you asked, so I answered! Lol!

Ask me anything

What's your favorite kind of snack to eat?

2011-04-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

Things that are crunchy & sweet, like chocolate animal crackers, kettle corn, dry cereal such as Honeycomb or Fruit Loops! These snacks are a good way to stay full and indulge my sweet tooth without all the calories of chocolates, cakes & cookies. :-)

Ask me anything

Life updates...and Mary Kay business!

2011-03-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I know you might be wondering about the title of this post, so I'll explain. I've recently signed on to be a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant due to some very difficult trials I am facing right now. Some of you may know what those trials are. I won't make anything public about it within this post, but if you have any questions you're always welcome to call or email me to ask (my contact info is at the bottom of this post). Because of the current changes in my life, I have to adjust and find positive solutions to overcome anything that comes my way. When a friend from church suggested I try starting an independent business with Mary Kay, I was not quite sure if it was the right path for me. However, after giving it more thought and reviewing my limited options, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. These past two years have been difficult to say the least. With my health becoming more and more intrusive everyday, I realized that working a 9 to 5 job might not be the best for me and my family. Plus, in this economy nothing is ever certain, especially a good job. I knew this business could help me make some extra income to help support my family, and stay busy doing something I love at the same time...makeup & skincare! The flexibility to work my own hours based on how I'm feeling that day, the ability to have more time with my son, and have the tools to be my own boss is just what I need at the moment.

I've been using the skincare, foundation, hand creme and eyeshadow products for the past month, since I knew I had to try it before I would ever sell anything to begin with. I wanted to make sure that anything I recommend to others, would be something I myself would use everyday! Nothing is worth putting my reputation or friendships on the line, so unless I firmly believe the products will be great for everyone, I will not associate my name with it. The results I've seen on my face thus far have been fantastic, and my skin has never been better! Yay! Over the years I've tried countless products that always either made me break out, or didn't do what they said it would. After turning 30 this past February, it hit me that I'm no longer in my twenties anymore, and I needed to start taking better care of my skin if I wanted to look 30 when I'm 40...hehe! That's when I skeptically started using the anti-aging skincare products my friend recommended. I trusted her word. She's got flawless skin, yet she has 5 children that her & her husband adopted all at the same time, with the youngest child being 2 years old! I figured if SHE can have great skin with all the sleep deprivation, stress, and running her own business...than maybe it might do the trick for me too. I've never felt more confident about my skin than I do now, no joke. Sales isn't really my forte if I don't believe that what I'm offering is worth spending the money on. I know how hard it is to struggle financially & sacrifice your own needs to take care of others. But I have realized lately that if I don't take better care of myself or feel good inside AND out...then what am I teaching my son? I was only cheating him of an important lesson, which is to show by example how important taking care of ourselves really is. God gave us a body to treat as a temple. Sometimes we forget that. Just because we're parents...doesn't mean we have to lose confidence or give up on how we present ourselves. When I have a rough moment, sometimes just taking a shower, doing my hair pretty, putting on makeup or painting my nails can make all the difference in how I feel about myself that day....even if I'm going nowhere! Lol! I'm not perfect obviously, but I do know that when I feel good, my family feels good too. :)

Starting this independent beauty sales business will allow me to make enough income to go back to school, pay off debt, move out of Arkansas, save for the future, take care of my son, afford the fees to put him in sports throughout the year and feel confident that I can provide a brighter future for myself. This is something I want to accomplish, no matter where I live and no matter what changes occur in my life. So, I turn to you, my family & friends...to ask for your help in reaching this goal during this trying time. If you have questions, want to know more about products, a consultation/facial, need samples, like receiving free gifts or discounts for referring others to me, need makeup advice, skincare tips, want to host a party with friends (virtual parties are offered as well), or just want to buy Mary Kay products you're currently using......please see my contact information and website link below. You can order online from my site 24/7, by phone or email too! If you have any family or friends that you think might be interested, please let me know and I'll follow up with them (as well as offer you a little "thank you" gift for the referral). I want to thank you all in advance for your love, support and time to read this post. I am truly blessed to have so many of you who care. And thank you to those of you who help me attain my goals, by purchasing products from me. Your help is most appreciated beyond imagination! Have a wonderful day! I love you! XOXO

Love,

Niki

Website: http://www.marykay.com/nikistockdale
Email: nikistockdale@marykay.com
Or find me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/niki.stockdale

Nauvoo Trip

2010-07-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Steve and I went to the St. Louis temple, and dropped Caelan off with my aunt. That following weekend we drove to Nauvoo, IL for a little vacation without kids before we have ALL the kids here next week. We were very much in need of a break from all the trials and difficulties of life. It was wonderful to just be able to focus on "Us" and enjoy some much needed time in the temple. Nauvoo is gorgeous in the summer, but HOT! Whew! We were sweating like crazy! LOL! But, it didn't stop us from walking all around the tiny town, looking at all the little houses that were built when Joseph Smith was the Prophet. It was absolutely amazing how small most of the houses were, and I wondered how they not only fit their large families in those houses, but also somehow found extra room for pioneers that needed a safe and warm place to stay while they were building a home for themselves. What a sacrifice they made! And here we are with plenty of room, our kids have their own space with a TV, computer, guinea pigs...haha! My, oh my, how blessed we truly are. And we can thank our forefathers for their amazing sacrifice, dedication, love, and faithfulness to God. Just when I think that life for us is so hard, I think of those days and nights that so many pioneers lost their lives many years ago. Their tenacity has helped us grow, and helped the Church to be what it is today. I'm SO thankful for their choice to keep going, despite huge setbacks and trials. It has enriched my life, and brought me so much closer to my Heavenly Father.

The Nauvoo Temple is absolutely stunning! And even better inside! Here's some pics of our trip:

Steve and I really enjoyed our trip, especially since we knew things would get crazy once we got back home.

-Well, little did we know that after the pageant we went to (the Pioneer Pageant), we decided to go ahead and start the drive home and at least get in a few hours' drive. We had been staying in a little town called Fort Madison, Iowa, so we really wanted to stay somewhere with a little more than corn fields! Ha! So, as we drove past Nauvoo, then on to another little town called Keokuk, Iowa and then we had hoped to get halfway home. That was not to be! Our car decided to get a crack in the radiator.... yep, you read that right...hehe. The car was overheating and we had n o idea what to do! We pulled into a gas station to see if we could get some help, and the people there were so nice (very usual in Iowa I have to say), and somebody there even offered us a ride to a hotel if we needed it. So nice! But I called around to every single hotel in the little town and there were NO ROOMS! Now I can have some understanding as to how Joseph felt when he couldn't find an Inn for Mary...lol. I finally called the Super 8 Motel, and by some miracle she had 1 hotel room available! Woo hoo! We drove like crazy to the motel after putting some water and antifreeze in the car, and hoped we'd get there. We finally got to the motel and saw that there was someone in the office there. My heart sank as I imagined a "walk-in" going there to take the last and only room in the entire city! But the woman turned him away! Wow! Steve told her that I was the lady that called, and she had been kind enough to actually turn away someone for us just to save the room for us! Unbelievable! She knew our car had overheated and was being so sweet to do that for us. I should send her a "thank you" note, huh?

I am so thankful that at least if our car had to breakdown on us, that it happened to do it in the only city within miles and miles that had lodging and a 24-hour Walmart Supercenter that had what we needed to put in the radiator to get us home! Yeah baby! I know for a fact that many miracles happened that night. In the past I would have just gotten upset at knowing it would cost us $1,000 to fix, and that we were stuck in the middle of nowhere. But having been through so much in the past few years, I think Steve and I are now becoming pros at seeing the light at the end of EVERY tunnel! LOL! Better to appreciate it all, then to be sorrowful all the time. Life can sure get us down if we let it, but then I see that beautiful temple of God... and I can't imagine ever complaining again (...for now anyway...hehe). :)

Sick Sunday

2010-06-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

I didn't go to church today because Steve and Caelan are both not feeling well. They both threw up last night. Poor boys! It's weird that I'm not sick with whatever is going on with them. It's usually me that's the sick one! And I'm always nauseous too, so even a weird smell can send me over the edge on any given day. I wonder if I will have to put a cot beside the toilet if I ever have another pregnancy! LOL! I just hope my hubby and son will feel better later today, because Steve has to fly to San Diego, CA tomorrow for a Dr. appt. It's been about 4 months since his spinal surgery, so he has to be seen by his surgeon and pain specialist. No fun!

Not much else has gone on this week, except for having the missionaries over for dinner last night for the bbq brisket that Steve made...mmm, and we've had a few Dr. appts throughout the week too. Other than that, we've been just trying to rest when we can. It's been wickedly hot and muggy out here, so we don't go outside unless it's absolutely necessary. As soon as I walk out the door, my clothes stick to me! Yuck! Caelan doesn't seem to mind the heat though, and he plays outside quite a bit. He's even got a pretty good tan going on right now! LOL! I'm jealous! But since I don't want to look like I'm old, I try not to go in the sun too often. Now if I can just get this extra weight off, then I'd look MUCH younger...hehe. Steve and I are thinking about trying the HCG Diet. Here's a link about it.... http://hcgdietjourney.com/

The diet has helped tons of people lose weight FAST, and it's perfectly safe for men too. The only bad thing I've heard about it is that once you stop taking the HCG drops, that you will once again be hungry like you used to be. So, in order to maintain the weight loss, you can't just go back to your old eating habits or else the weight will come back. So, you'd have to have lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and healthy grains and snacks to eat so you don't cheat too much. But, it's amazing how much weight people lose! I mean, 30 lbs. in a month is amazing! The HCG drops tell your hypothalamus that you aren't hungry, and then you will only eat 500-600 calories a day, which will get the weight off. You won't be hungry. This diet is also apparently good at resetting the thyroid, so that once you're off the HCG, you won't have thyroid issues anymore, if you did before you went on the diet. Cool to know! The medications I was taking for my Fibromyalgia and back pain, caused me to gain roughly 40 lbs., so it needs to come off ASAP!! :)

I'm going to miss my hubby when he goes out of town tomorrow, but at the same time, it will be nice to have some quality time with Caelan. Not to mention that we're going to the 12:01 AM showing of the Twilight Saga: Eclipse movie this Tuesday night (well, it's technically Wednesday morning though...hehe). Caelan and I are going to see it with some friends of ours, so that should be fun. I'm excited!! Well, have a great week everyone! I'll keep you posted if anything exciting happens...hehe

Eureka Springs

2010-06-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

This past Father's Day weekend, we went to Eureka Springs, AR for some fun and shopping, and let's not forget the haunted hotel! Yep, you heard it! There are two haunted hotels in Eureka Springs! Pretty cool, huh? They are very old, both built in the 1800's, and are very neat to see. There are old churches, as well as a beautiful glass church... here's a pic.....

We went to both of the haunted hotels, but only took pictures of one of them, called the Crescent Hotel. It's such a cool place, and has awesome views on the top floors.....

These are all pictures of the town (directly above), and of the Crescent Hotel, and also the HUGE statue of Jesus on the hill far away in the distance! Ha! I've never seen that big of a Jesus, so now I know for a fact I'm in the South! LOL! But all in all, it was a great day. Hotter than heck, but good. It rained a hot and muggy rain for a little while just before we left for home, and we had an awesome meal when we were there.

It consisted of Baked Brie cheese with crusted almonds on top of it, and a circle of cut up apple and pear pieces, along with yummy bread. That was the appetizer....
Then came along a salad with spinach and other greens that had a Balsamic Vinaigrette, fresh cranberries (not dried), and baked goat cheese peices encrusted with sesame seeds. MMM!!!
After that, we had a scrumptious Filet Mignon with goat cheese crumbles on top, served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and sweet carrots. Can we say DELICIOUS??? Yum! I am SO going to try to replicate that meal sometime. I just hope mine will tase as good...hehe.

Other than that, life has been fairly boring and nothing really new. We will be having Jared and Lily (my stepchildren) here towards the end of July and will be with us for one month. I'm excited for them to get here, but also nervous as to how it will all go. Our kids get a little crazy, so I'm hoping we can just take them swimming everyday to wear them out! Lol! It's been 105 degrees outside lately, so I can't wait for summer to be over. I get BAD migraines in summer! :( However, it has been so nice to just walk the dogs and enjoy the sun. I'm looking way too pale. I need a bit of color.....Now if I can just find a bathing suit to hide my chunky "everything", then we are set! Woo hoo!

For now, the dogs are the only ones that have been able to go swimming. I have to say, I'm not jealous though, considering the nasty water they choose to swim in! LOL

More to come soon.........................

San Diego

2010-06-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

So, after much prayer and thought, Steve and I have decided not to move to any of the places we originally thought we were considering. We've chosen to move back to San Diego sometime next year. We aren't sure when exactly what month we will be moving, but we are going for sure. Steve needs to be with his kids that live out there, and we all need to be a family again. I'm not too excited about being in CA again, but I love my husband and want to support him in his desire to be a good parent and be there for his children. I respect and support that decision. We had thought that living here in Arkansas would help us more financially and in other ways as well. However, that hasn't happened because of all the legal stuff going on over the past year. It will be expensive to move back to San Diego, but we feel right about it. We know that when we live our lives in accordance with Heavenly Father's plan, then we will be blessed with the means to provide for our families. Faith is not always an easy concept, but I've learned to walk blindly in faith and remember the promises my Heavenly Father had set out for me if I do what's right. So, here we go! LOL! Back to the year-round heat, fires, earthquakes, crazy drivers, expensive housing, and crazy people in walmart who refuse to speak english just because they're so close to Mexico! Ha! But, on the flipside, I am happy that we will be with my stepkids again on a weekly basis, we will be close to the beaches again......

.......... And we will be back to a place that has a beautiful downtown area, with AWESOME food........

........... I am also very happy to know we will only be 30 minutes or so to the nearest, and most beautiful Temple of God ever in existence! We took it for granted that we had a temple so close to us when we lived there before. But, now that we live in an area where the nearest temple is 4 hours away, it becomes hard to go. Once we move, we will be able to go much more often. I'm excited!!!

Watch out San Diego! The Stockdale's are coming back your way! Woo hoo! Can't wait to see you all when we get there!

Texas. Do we, or don't we?

2010-05-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

In trying to figure out where to move to in the next year, here is yet another option we are considering...........

Texas. Well, what can I say about Texas? It's HUGE! There is way too much info about it to really grasp what Texas is all about. So, I will list a few pros and cons about it, and then you can say your comments about whether or not you think it should be on our list of places to move. :)

- Texas still has places with land and houses for crazy cheap prices. I really don't want to give up on my dream of having a few acres of land and a few horses, pigs and cows! That would be the drawback to living in WA vs. Texas. I could still have my dream come true in Texas.
- I know I can still do all my business ideas there too, no problem. I'd do really well there.
-Whether-wise though, it's not too appealing to me with the humidity and heat! Yikes! But I guess it would depend on what part of TX we would love to.
- I worry if TX would still be too much of a "southern state" for us, and whether or not the medical stuff would be what we need it to be. But I know closer to places like Dallas and Austin, they have world renowned facilities there too.
- I do like the fact that TX is so family oriented, and also more religious in nature. I value a state that has beliefs and morals.
- Financially it is still a good place to live, and is quite affordable. There are jobs there as and the pay seems to be some of the best in the country. Yay!
- We would be alot closer to Jared and Lily, and we would only have to drive about 8-12 hours to see them, versus a 3 or 4 days drive like we do now.
- I think they have great schools too.

Not quite sure of the other details, but we do have family all over in TX too, so we wouldn't be alone out there either. That's a big plus for us. What do you think so far?

Where to move to next year?

2010-05-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON STATE- pros and cons

- My dad and his wife live there, as well as an uncle and aunt. So, we would have family that we are close to, and we'd be able to have Sunday dinner type stuff with them frequently. Not to mention that Caelan would get to know his Grandpa and Grandma there. I'm sure my Dad would love to take him hiking on the beautiful trails there.
- Economically, it is still one of the most "sound" places in the country, and has affordable living still.
- It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL there, all the time, year-round.
- The church is strong there, and I feel we would have better "ward families" there as well.
- The schools are great, and Caelan could also take piano lessons from his Grandma! A big plus!
- I think the humidity in the weather there might help my Fibromyalgia and pain. But I will have to go there to see for sure. :)
- Flights for the kids are still easy to figure out, because our current problem with living in Arkansas is the flight issue of getting the kids out here on direct or nonstop flights. We would successfully be able to fly the kids nonstop or direct to Seattle area. As of right now, we have to drive to the airport 2 hours away in order to get the kids on a direct or nonstop flight. It's a pain!
- I know my business idea will be well received there, and I can make a good living with that business.
- And finally, the medical community is top notch, and it would be VERY easy to find doctors that can better assist us with our health issues. I would trust the doctors near Seattle 10 times more than I would trust anyone here. This issue alone is causing us to want to move elsewhere, so to find a place that has so much to offer is appealing.
- There is so much to do in WA, and it would be easy to entertain our children all year long with trips into the mountains, lakes, ocean, museums, and of course downtown Seattle. There is culture there, unlike here in Arkansas...hehe.

Ok, so those are the pros and cons that I can think of for now with WA. I will post an additional one on Nevada, and Texas. Thanks in advance for the input! :)

Arkansas vs. somewhere else?

2010-05-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Steve and I are trying to weigh out the pros and cons of Arkansas versus another state. Some of our thoughts have been focused on Texas, Washington, and Nevada areas. Here in Arkansas we love the environment and the beauty it has to offer. It's got great things to do, lakes, rivers, nice people, and a cute little twangy accent for the older Arkansasnians. But, we have run into many problems with the medical community here, among other things. Arkansas would be the perfect place for us if the medical community was more advanced than it is here. I mean, we can't even find a proper pain management dr. that doesn't have a sign up in his office saying "We do NOT prescribe narcotics for pain". Ok, so it's a "pain management" facility, yet they don't prescribe pain medication? And the ones that do, look at you like a certified drug addict for even having to be on them at all. Steve and I both have proven pain problems, so it should be no issue. But the closest pain doctor that will prescribe pain medication is 3 hours away! That's ridiculous! The doctors here are SO afraid of prescribing anything because of the regulations set by the Drug Enforcement Administration! They fear that everyone and their mother will become drug addicts, so for people like my husband and I that have chronic, incurable pain, it is frustrating to say the least to find that doctors out here will give you every spinal injection under the sun, but they won't actually treat your pain. So, this is ONE of our major issues with moving here.

The other part is the fact that we simply need to be closer to Jared and Lily. It doesn't necessarily have to be geographically, but at least if we can get the flights situation fixed, that would be a huge stride in the right direction. Not having the kids with us more, has been especially hard for Steve, and I don't like the fact that Caelan is growing up without his siblings. I love them and have grown so attached to them. Our hime just doesn't feel right without them here. The third reason we want to move, is that the family that is out here (Steve's side) is to say the least, dysfunctional. There is drug abuse, alcohol abuse, abuse in general! It is hard to watch a child (our nephew here) be treated as if he doesn't exist, and then he is expected to be obedient. It's hard to feel like we have a support system, when there is not support system here. LOL! We have decided that we would prefer to be near family. Family that actually loves us and wants us near them. Since I no have no family in San Diego anymore (at least not that I speak to), going back to CA is out of the question. So, I am thinking that we will stay here for the next year or so, and maybe I can complete a training program, and then we can move. Any of your opinions or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I will post the pros and cons of the locations we are thinking of, and you can reply with any thoughts on the matter.

It's Spring time, and the parks are a great place to be!

2010-05-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

Caelan and I took the dogs to the park the other day, and it felt so good to just get out of the house and let the dogs roam. It's been awhile since the weather has allowed us to be outside for very long because it's either been freezing, or raining buckets out here! Not too long ago, I took the dogs out for a walk, and halfway through my walk it started raining HUGE droplets, and by the time I got back home I was soaked to the bone. Of course my dog Gidget decided to escape off her leash right when I need her to behave and stay with me so we can get home! LOL! So, I had to go running after her on the muddy trail area along with my very clumsy St. Bernard puppy, that is now the size of a house! Ha! Well, not really, but he's sure getting there. He's like a chia-pet or something that you can watch him grow before our eyes! I think we are done getting dogs for awhile though...hehe.

As for Caelan, he is doing AWESOME in school lately, and we are so very proud of him. I have gotten 2 notes from his teacher over this past semester so far that have both said how well he's doing! Go Caelan! We had finally put him on the ADHD medication Adderall after much prayer and thought on whether or not we should medicate him. It was a tough decision, but I decided to try it. Caelan was really struggling in school, and not because he's not smart. He just couldn't focus on his tasks, and couldn't complete his work on time because of his distractions. Poor kid! So, we started him on the medication, and withing 2 days we were getting notes from the teacher saying how great he was, and asked what we had done to turn things around for him! LOL!

His homework has improved, and he has even made more friends. Almost too many friends! Ha! They always end up at our house ALL the time. Where we came from, people don't let their kids just roam the neighborhood without knowing where their kids will be. For instance, there is a boy that is in Caelan's class. He's a very nice boy, and Steve and I think he's respectful and good. But he is here almost everyday and it seems that we have become his after-school babysitters almost. That part is fine with me, most of the time. Some days I'm too tired to babysit, and I need there to be quiet, especially when I have migraines. However, this boy has spent the night twice at our house, eaten dinner with us several times, and is here almost everyday....yet his mother has never met Steve or I, and does not have our address! Isn't that weird? I mean, I don't let Caelan go over to any friends' houses unless I have met the parents, have a phone number and address, and verify that it's ok for my son to be there. I thought that was a normal part of parenting, but apparently it's not the usual protocol here.

Am I being too overprotective? Because I think it's quite good parenting to know where your children are! Ha! But, to each their own. I guess I should just feel glad that our family is loving and willing to take these kids in and help them and feed them. It seems that some of these kids come from difficult or poor homes, and we are able to give them what they don't have at home. I think maybe kids are drawn to this house because of our love of Heavenly Father and the light that is in this home. It's sad to see some of these kids come here with holes in their shoes, and scarfing their food down because their family doesn't have enough money to feed them enough it seems. I think it also helps Caelan to feel grateful for all that he has. Even though we struggle financially quite a bit, we have all that we need and more. It gives us perspective as to how lucky we truly are to have all that we have.

I'm grateful for my son that is doing so much better and helps me around the house, and he never ever complains about doing those chores. I love that! And how lucky am I to have a husband that loves me so much, and sacrifices as much as he does just for me? He keeps me strong. I hope that I can be as good for him as he is for me. I just can't wait to have Jared and Lily out here at the end of July! Yay! It will be the whole family together. :)

Illness.... a blessing.

2010-04-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't posted in awhile because I have been bedridden with Strep Throat for 8 days now. I was hit with it fast, but it doesn't seem to want to go away just yet. I still have a sore throat, and my ears ache like crazy. I feel like a zombie.

By the time I had made it to the dr., I had already had it for 4 days of temps of 103 degrees and my tonsils were a gray color...ew! The dr. took one look at them and stepped back in horror. Ha! He asked me why I hadn't gone to the hospital, and told me I was fired from being my own advocate since I didn't do a very good job of it, and he told Steve that he was now the boss! LOL! He told Steve that if I'm ever that sick again, to take me to the hospital, not to wait. He said I could have caused organ damage by waiting too long. I hate going to the dr., so I always wait until I'm barely alive to go. So, anyway, he gave me a shot of antibiotics, and gave me a prescription. Well, it's been 5 or 6 days of that, and I really don't feel much better. I'm still getting the night sweats, the fatigue, throat pain, etc. I can't eat anything except watermelon and an english muffin here and there if I'm so hungry that it's worth the throat pain to get it down. I'm hoping I will at least lose some weight from all of this! Ha! I barely made it to Walmart today to cash a check! Have any of you ever experienced being so sick with Strep for this long? I am scared of what happens when I go back to work again, and get hit with something like this at some point. I would lose my job from being sick for 10 days! Is my immune system this crappy? I mean, I haven't gotten sick like this in over 2 1/2 years, so why is my body shutting sown NOW? Don't get it at all.

This house has been one physical trial after another...illness after illness. I guess I just have to remember that there are people out there that are starving to death, dying of disease, don't have health insurance, etc. Illness like this really open my eyes to what it would be like to be a cancer patient or something, and how depressing and devastating that would be. That must be God's way of showing us how lucky we are that we only get sick here and there, and yet we live in a privileged country with good doctors and medicine. Just when I start to feel whiny and feel sorry for myself, I am always forced to remind myself of how much worse it could be. And I thank God for giving me these trials to remind me how lucky I am to have what I have.

I am blessed with a wonderful husband who would stop at nothing to take care of me and make me feel safe. He has gone to the store countless times for anything and everything that I have needed. Dealt with my whininess. Changed the thermostat numerous times because one minute I'm freezing, and the next I'm sweating to death and need air. He has taken care of Caelan when I'm too sick to even wake up. He cooks dinner and makes sure the house is clean, and that Caelan has a parent that is here for him. Steve has gone above and beyond what most husbands would do for their wives. So, I am again reminded how privileged I am to have a husband that is in all senses of the word.... my eternal soulmate. I can't imagine people going through illnesses, whether it be long term or short term.. without someone like my husband. He lightens my burdens and he has no idea how much it helps to know that I can sleep and get better, without worrying about Caelan being taken care of.

I used to always have to go through these terrible illnesses all on my own. They consisted of pneumonia, kidney infections (that lasted 12 days in bed), strep throat, the flu, etc. It was so hard to handle those illnesses and take care of a little boy by myself. If I took too long to get better, and I had enlisted the help of my mother or sister to help with Caelan, my mother would get upset with me for getting ill. I always thought becoming ill was all my fault. So, yet again, now that I am married to such a wonderful man, I can see what love really is. As if we weren't in love enough, he goes and makes me fall in even more love with him in such a different way. I know he will always be there for me. He has done so much for me, and I have not yet been able to repay him for all that he does. Someday I pray that I will be given more opportunities to show him what he means to me. Through illness, my eyes have been opened, and I am thankful for the trials I have been given. I will endure to the end, and bear it with a smile. Because I am the luckiest girl in the world to go through it all with the best husband God ever made. :)

Easter

2010-03-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

It's almost Easter, and my mind keeps going over the real reason we celebrate it to begin with. It was not only Christ's resurrection, but also a rebirth of the earth. It's springtime, when all the flowers bloom again, the trees come alive with birds calling to each other, the sky is blue, and there is a subtle breeze that wakes me up when I walk outside. It smells fresh and clean. I know, I know, cheesy, right? But there is just something about the way it feels when everything is new. It's exciting to me for so many reasons.

For one, it reminds me just how grateful I am for all that my Heavenly Father has given me. I am also reminded of the song in the Children's hymnbook titled "Heavenly Father Loves Me":

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue blue sky,
Whenever I hear feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by a lilac tree
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart
I thank him reverently
For all his creations of which I'm a part
Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

I am so very thankful for all the Heavenly Father has given to me, and my family. He has blessed us beyond compare, and continues to bless us by sacrificing His only son to die for us. Jesus was resurrected so that we could live and renew ourselves, just as the spring flowers do each year. Except we can renew ourselves everyday! I'm thankful for the gift of repentance and of life renewed. I'm thankful for my church and for my family. I'm thankful for the sacrifices Heavenly Father and his son made for us. I'm thankful for the beauty all around me. Life is never easy. Not even Christ's life was easy. But when our burdens are too much to bear, Heavenly Father blesses us by taking on our burdens if we ask him to. As this year comes to a new start, I pray that the trials in our lives recently will come to an end, and we can start over with a new outlook on life. I also pray that the lives of you my friends and family, will only get better and better from here on. And that we may all remember the true meaning of Easter and celebrate accordingly. Happy almost Easter!

Steve's back surgery...yes, he had to have yet another spinal surgery!

2010-03-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

As you all know, my poor husband has had to go through so much the last few years with his back problems. Years ago he had his first spinal fusion in his lower back. Then another a few years later, and then another surgery to repair nerve damage caused from that surgery. He had a lamanectomy in August 2009, and I hated that I couldn't be with him for that surgery because I love him so much and wanted to take care of him. Well, on March 1st, 2010 Steve had to have another spinal fusion, and this time it was to be much further up his spine. We prayed and prayed as to what to do, and how we would arrange for me to go back to San Diego with him. The trip would be for 3 weeks though, so it was not easy to figure out what to do with Caelan, and how we were going to afford a trip for that long. As we prayed, we received answer after answer. Steve's work comp insurance agreed to pay for a hotel for that duration, and also pay us per diem each day for food, gas, etc. I was so happy to hear that! The next dilemma was what to do with Caelan for 3 weeks because he's in school and can't miss that much. We were blessed to have a family in our ward that agreed to take him! Their daughter goes to the same school and is one of Caelan's friends, so it all worked out perfectly. I have never left my son with anyone before like that, so I was nervous to say the least, but found that the Lord comforted me through the process. I spoke to Caelan everyday throughout the trip. It was so hard not to cry for both of us, but we knew there would be an end in sight. When I was sad, I just hugged our new St. bernard puppy we got for my birthday in February...hehe. His name is Buster, and he is gorgeous and so sweet and cuddly! He made me feel better since I couldn't really hold my husband much after his surgery. :(

We drove from Arkansas to California in 4 days (as our backs hurt so bad we had to break up the trip quite a bit), and we had some hold ups. On our way through Oklahoma, we hot some very bad snow and ended up sliding off the road and doing a 180 turn into a muddy, snowy ditch! Fun, huh? We were blessed though because just a few minutes after the accident, a police man was driving by on the opposite side of the freeway and saw our lights on in the ditch! Ha! He called a tow truck for us, and $120 and 20 minutes later, we were out of the ditch and on our way to a nearby hotel. We weren't hurt, and the car was only knocked out of alignment a bit, so no big deal there. Woo hoo! We made it to San Diego safely, and spent some time with my stepchildren Jared and Lily before Steve had to prepare for surgery.

Steve's surgery went perfectly, and he was up and eating in no time. I am constantly amazed at my husband's resiliency and how well he heals! It is truly incredible! He had just had major surgery and he was in a great mood... although, that could have been the morphine talking. LOL! Our hotel was just around the corner from Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego,so I walked back and forth a few times a day so that I could walk Buster and then get back to the hospital. I guess visiting hours at the hospital were over at 8:30 pm, but I never knew that because the nurses never said anything. I was staying there until 11 or 12 midnight, and they never kicked me out. I think they knew that Steve and I were inseperable and couldn't be parted from each other...hehe. We layed together in his hospital bed whenever we could, and even took long naps together. The nurses thought we were so cute! lol! I hate being away from Steve, so I try not to do it very often. Steve healed so quickly and did so well, that we were out of the hospital in 4 days, and then back to the hotel for him to heal even more before our trip home. We spent lots of time with the kids, and were even there for Lily's 7th birthday and her daddy/daughter dance at school. The pictures are below. :)

By the time we left San Diego, we were so ready to get back home and go back to normal! We stopped by my grandparent's house in AZ and spent the night both on the way to CA and on the way back. It was so nice to talk with them and spend some quality time at their home. They just love Steve! Ha! We got home on the 16th, and were so excited to hold Caelan and be in our own bed. We had a great trip and tried to make the best of it. I can't help but feel like God was watching over us the entire time, every minute of the day. Through all of our trials in our lives, this was actually one of the easier ones, believe it or not. Heavenly Father answered our prayers and we are truly grateful beyond measure. Now our family can be back together. Life is good despite some health difficulties for Steve and I. We have figured out his for the most part, so now it's on to figuring out mine.....

Steve and Jared and Lily on the day we left San Diego. We took them to breakfast at Dennys.

Steve after his surgery. His face was so swollen!

My now almost 14 week Saint Bernard puppy Buster. SOOOO cute!

Isn't he so adorable?

Fall in Arkansas. I love it here!

2009-10-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

JUST GORGEOUS!!!

Zoo pics, family pics from San Diego trip

2009-09-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

On Labor Day, we went to my Great Uncle Roger's house in Spring Valley, CA. We had so much fun! There's a huge tennis court/basketball court on his property as well, so the family all got together and played Pickle Ball. Steve was awesome! LOL! And he'd just had surgery 2 weeks before that on his back! Go Steve! My family just loved our kids, and loved Steve the instant they met him. Duh! everybody loves Steve! Hehe! Thanks to all my family that welcomed us and helped us so much throughout the trip! We love you all!

The pics below were taken at the San Diego Zoo. My Great Uncle Roger contributes to the zoo, so he got us and our whole family of 15 into the zoo! So cool! We had a wonderful time there, and the kids just loved getting to go with all the family. Everybody took a hand in helping out with the kids, and Lily was instantly bonded again with my dad! Ha! Everybody thought our kids were so well behaved! LOL! Shows how much they know! :) But, they were good at the zoo, and it was a gorgeous day outside as well. We hadn't seen Jared and Lily for almost 3 months, so it was really great to spend some quality time with them doing fun activities. We had a blast! I can't wait to get the kids here for the holidays!

My little Elephant climber! She looked so cute up there!

Jared up top with Lily sitting on a giant lion, and Caelan on the bottom.

Caelan and I on the Sky-fari ride taking us from one end of the park to the other. So fun!

Our kiddos, and my cousin Lydia.

Cute butts! Hehe!

Lily and I being butterflies! :)

I love my princess!

Temple Sealing, San Diego trip, etc.

2009-09-25T12:27:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, September 5th, Steve and I were sealed for all eternity in the San Diego, CA Temple. It was a gorgeous day, and it was our first time going through the temple for our endowments and sealing! We had lots of family and friends there to love us and support us. I couldn't have asked for a more glorious day in my life! The temple is absolutely beautiful, and the peace that we felt inside there was amazing. I have never felt such quiet and tranquility. Everyone in white looked like angels in Heaven. My Dad and his wife Eleanor were there to walk us through the temple as our escorts, and help us along. It was a long day, but so worth it! Now I feel so safe and wonderful, knowing that my husband and I are eternal soulmates, forever and ever. We had been waiting for that moment for just over a year, so it was a dream come true for us. Steve had been baptized into the church on August 30th, 2008, and we anxiously awaited the day that we could be sealed. I'm so excited that it finally happened! Wow! There was not a dry eye in the room. The missionaries that gave the discussions to Steve came to the sealing as well, so that made it even more special. What a perfect day! Here's some pics from the day. :)

Steve's surgery.

2009-09-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

At the middle of August, Steve had to go to San Diego to have a spinal surgery. He had it done on the 24th. They had to remove parts of one of his discs, and this was his 4th surgery! Yikes! I was so devastated because we couldn't afford for me to go out there with him, as Caelan had just started school, and it would have cost us nearly $3000 for the trip for just that 2 weeks of a hotel stay. So, Steve went out there alone, had the surgery alone, and stayed at a friend's house for 2 weeks before I came out there. I'm so grateful for his friends that took good care of Steve, and made sure he got to his appointments and everything. There are still good people in the world! LOL! Steve got through the surgery ok, and was doing well right after surgery. I was freaking out, calling the hospital like every 5 minutes to see if he was out of surgery yet! Ha! I spoke to him about an hour after he was put in his room, and he seemed groggy but well. They let him out of the hospital the next day! So, he went to his friend's house to heal. Only, it was over 100 degrees in San Diego those 2 weeks, and his friend's house had no A/C! My husband was roasting in there! They had fans blowing and everything, but that didn't seem to help. Poor Steve! Barely out of surgery, unable to move, and he was sweating his booty off! Aw! It would be 2 more weeks until I could get out there, as we had our Temple Sealing day planned for September 5th, so it wasn't much time for him to heal up. However, within just a few days, he seemed better and better! We texted and IM'd all day on our Blackberry's! LOL! I missed him so much, and cried nearly every night. It was so scary here without him, and not to mention how lonely it was. :( Our big King bed was so empty! I couldn't wait to be with him and kiss him! He's all better now for the most part, and I have my sweet hubby back! Woo hoo!

We moved to Arkansas in June 2009!

2009-09-25T11:57:00.001-07:00

At the end of May, we packed up all our belongings in San Diego, and headed East to Arkansas, where we live now. We moved to Rogers, AR, and love it here! It's just gorgeous out here! The trip out here was amazing, and it's so green and peaceful the whole way out here. I know we made the right choice to move here, but it came at a price too. We had to leave behind Steve's children Jared and Lily with their mother in San Diego. We had to move mainly because the San Diego prices were killing us financially, and we just weren't able to set real goals for our future there. So, we decided to move out here to Arkansas because Steve's biological father lives out here with his 2 daughters and wife. I don't get along with my mother at all, so it didn't make sense to stay out in CA when I really have no family to be around anyways. It was so hard for both of us, but especially Steve to leave his kids there. Not an easy thing to do! We went through some hard times when we first got here with emotions. But, we've gotten through it all, and are happy here. The only other bad part, is that we realized that the family out here isn't all they're cracked up to be, so now we're only on speaking terms with a few of them. But, Steve's dad hasn't called in over a month now, so we're figuring that they are sticking to their guns on a few issues. Oh well, we have other people that love us, and we have a wonderful ward at church! So, here we are! LOL! Living out here has taught me that I don't have to be a Cali girl to be happy. :)

Fun in the snow, and Happy Holidays!

2008-12-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

We went to a little town called Julian, CA today. It's about 30 minutes north east of us. We wanted to go there because they are said to have the best apple pie of anywhere! But, everybody always says that mine are much better. Maybe they're just being nice, but I do have to agree with them. Hehe! So, on our way up there, we saw tons of snow! I was so excited because I haven't really been in the Christmas mood considering all that has been going on lately. Plus, we live in San Diego and never see snow! I was so happy to get to play with our kiddos out there. They got really cold after they got all wet and dirty, but other than that, they had a blast! You can see the pics below...they were so cute and silly! It was one of the best days I've had in a while. With snowball fights, and snowmen, and sledding, and silliness, we set out on our way to the little town of Julian. There was traffic, but the view was gorgeous! We sang Christmas songs in the car, and played games until we got there. We went and bought new socks and mittens for the kiddos because they had gotten everything soaked from snow. They were freezing! Haha! Poor little things! But, we finally got to the restaurant and waited to be seated. Once the kids got warm they were happy. And, once they were well fed, they were even happier! All we needed to do, was get slices of warm apple pie, and hot cocoa. We ate our yummy pie (still not as good as mine...hehe), and drank our hot cocoa...and set out on our way back home. I was sad to leave. I love the cold weather, so I really wanted to just cozy into a log cabin and drift to sleep on my hubby's chest. :) I hope you all have wonderful holidays this year! May the Lord bless you in all ways. We love you all!

Updates

2008-12-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't been very good about posting lately. Things have been crazy, busy, and stressful. We have to move 2 days after Christmas, and we are moving to my mom's house. We decided that we could save our money by moving over there so we can buy a house when we get to Arkansas this summer. It will NOT be fun, but we will be able to move there with twice the money now. I got the job I applied for at San Diego State University, so that's a huge help! Yay! The funny thing is, that Steve is going on disability next month and will be home, and I will be starting my new job next month! What the heck? LOL! I was hoping that we would both be able to work there together, but with the back problems Steve has had over the past several years, it has finally taken it's toll. This is all a new chapter in our lives. We have now been married for 11 months as of today, and we are looking forward to our anniversary! It's been the hardest, and the best year of my life! My husband is an amazing man, with more love inside of him than I ever knew was possible. We learn from each other everyday. He is my rock when I'm falling apart. I help him smile when he's down. We were meant for each other, and I know we will be together forever. We should be able to get sealed in the temple by August, so that's exciting! I can't wait! Other than that, we are just looking forward to moving to Arkansas next year, and having more babies when we get out there! Haha!

I am so excited for the holidays to be here. It's usually a stressful time, but I am welcoming the feeling of Christmas, and the cool weather. The joy that holiday music brings to me, warms my soul. I will try to post more soon when I have more time. Hope you are all well!

Pics

2008-12-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

Halloween!

2008-11-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

Halloween was soooo fun! We threw a party at our house, and the kids loved it! So, here's our pics of us all dressed up. Steve was a vampire, and I was a witch. He later bit me though, and so I became a vampire witch! LOL! Caelan was "Scream", and Lily was a girl from Camp Rock, and Jared was a white ninja. My mom and sisters came over, along with their kids and my little brother. We had Halloween music playing, and lots of candy to hand out. It was craziness when we went out to trick-or-treat! It was packed out there. But, we had so much fun! I can't wait to do it next year! Hope you all had fun this year! :)

~Our day at the Pumpkin Patch~

2008-10-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

The kids took this one. They had soooo much fun telling us to say "cheeeeese"!

The kiddos sitting on the hay, acting sweet for the moment. :) But, don't let them fool you! They are goblins, NOT angels! haha!

I love this picture! They actually look like they get along! Although, lately Lily and Caelan get along great, and Lily hangs on Caelan whenever she can. If we have to move, it will be so hard for all of the kids to miss out on the life of their step-siblings. So, for now, we try to help them enjoy time together.

Our silly family pic at the Pumpkin Patch! Steve put the camera on top of a pumpkin that was in our wagon, and did the timer on it! So, it's practically looking up my nose! Haha! We had so much fun there! There were farm animals everywhere, and you could shoot out corn husks from a pressure gun, and they had a corn maze, etc. We got some perfect pumpkins! The kids were enjoying the cooler weather, and they were getting to get out there and choosing their favorite pumpkins. So, it was interesting with what happened. Jared, who's the oldest, chose a massive pumpkin, and Jared is 9, but wieghs almost 100 lbs! Caelan could have chosen a huge one too, but he's the "middle kid" in all of this and is 8, and weighs 63 lbs., so he gets a pumpkin that was big, but not nearly as big as Jared's. And then, for Lily, who's 5, and weighs 48 lbs. She got a cute little round pumpkin. They all chose pumpkins that were relative to their size without even realizing it! So, that tells me that they really only stay within their comfort zone! So, now we have a huge pumpkin, a medium one, and a little one...all in a row. How cute. :) I love these little guys more and more each day. I cannot wait for the holidays to come around! Life has been so stressful lately, so it will be nice to just have a break and sit down with family and good food. That will be wonderful! Happy Halloween! BOO!

New found family!!! Exciting!!!

2008-10-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

Steve's dad.

Steve's sister Yasuko (pronounced Yosko), with her son Tristan. She's 23. Gorgeous!
This is Steve's other half sister named Addie. She's 19, and she's a doll!
Yasuko and Tristan. We love you! :) :) :)

Well, I have some VERY exciting news! Steve has not seen his biological father since he was 3. His dad was in the Air Force, and his mother was not much willing to have him in Steve's life because she got married again. So, after many conversations with Steve about his father, I decided that I needed to find his dad. I had tried to put it off, but I just couldn't wait any longer! So, I found him, and his dad lives in Arkansas. I wrote him a letter because his phone wasn't working. I thought maybe he'd moved! But, a few days after I sent the letter, our phone rang. It was him! I was so excited I couldn't stand it! He moved there about 10 years ago when he met his current wife Hallie. Steve also has 2 gorgeous sisters named Yasuko (pronounced Yosko) who is 23, and Addie who is 19. Yasuko is in the Navy and lives in Virginia. Addie lives with her dad and step mom in Arkansas. There are also 3 other adopted siblings that live in Missouri. I talk to Yasuko everyday now, and Steve talks to his dad everyday! We all MySpace, email, call, text, etc. all the time now. This new found family is amazing! I now have 2 new "sisters" to talk to! We have truly been blessed with the love of these amazing people that God has brought in to our lives. This was a miracle waiting to happen. So many answered questions now, and so many holes filled. My husband has been giddy for the last few days. I know it's because he has family that he can relate to, and can be close to. Our children now have Grandparents and Aunts that want to be a part of their lives. I'm just so amazed at how life all seems to come together when we bring God back into our lives. When we have faith in Him, he delivers. This blessing has changed our lives forever. My husband now has someone to call "Dad", and beautiful sisters to brag about. :) We are so happy to have our family now complete. Our prayers have been answered.

Prop 8.

2008-09-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Something Fun!

On YouTube, things spread like wildfire across the Internet. To get our message out about the importance of families and marriage, Joy Lundberg and Janice Kapp Perry have created a song called, "Save the Family" which has been produced into a powerful music video. It's best to view it on high quality.
Click below to see it and feel the magic and importance of families. Then, send it on to five friends (or one friend) to share the word.

If you have a Facebook, add it on to your pages, and let it fly.
Spread the word that "Family is the beating heart that keeps the nation strong." Let's act on our convictions and tell the world that family doesn't get in our way. It is the way.
Here's the link for the music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1GRQGc5GQ0

Check it out. I was forwarded this by someone at church. It's about Prop 8, and keeping the definition of marriage as a man and an woman that are married.

New things in life-

2008-09-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

So, this was caelan on his first day of 3rd grade. He was so excited and so handsome! I love every minute of these milestones in the kids' lives. They will only be this little for awhile, and I have to take it all in while I can. Time goes so fast. As of right now, all the kids love to play outside, play the Wii, tackle each other (this happens quite often...hehe), and they love to make messes! LOL! But, overall, they are all great kids. I love all 3 of them so much, and can't wait to see who they become.

This was taken on August 30th when Steve, and Caelan were baptized. Steve got baptized first, then received the Priesthood, and was then able to baptize Caelan right after that. I sang the song :His Hands", and a lot of people from church came. Of course we all cried because it was such a special day for everyone. It was beautiful to watch my husband be able to baptize his step-son. The both looked very handsome, as usual. Steve's Mom and sister also came to the baptism, and my Mom brought a wonderful cake. It was to die for! Overall, one of the most memorable days ever!

My Dad flew out from washington to baptize Steve, and he stayed at our house for a few days. We had a lot of fun! I think it was good for my Dad and Steve to get to know each other.

Caelan was so nervous to get baptized. He knew what a big responsibility it was to make those covenants, and was afraid that he wouldn't be able to be perfect. Once we told him that nobody was perfect, he was at ease. LOl! I can't believe he's 8 already, and so smart! I will remember his baptism as the most special day in his life yet. It's sad that Caelan's real dad can't get his life together enough to witness these happy times in Caelan's life. He's really missing out. Steve is Caelan's dad in every way except for blood. I'm so grateful that caelan gets to have a male role model in his life that is so positive for him. Steve loves him like his own, and I love my two little step-cuties as my own also. One big happy family! :)

2008-08-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, so today I was thinking about how crazy it is that I have a 3rd grader now! AND the fact that I'm a step-mommy to a 4th grader, and a kindergartner! It's insane! Am I really THAT old! Haha! My my my! Oh, how times have flown. I just hope that in the near future, we will have a baby to keep me grounded, and make me feel young again....hehe! This last few weeks have been rough because of the ectopic pregnancy, and the miscarriage. But, we're getting through it all day bay day. I'm just anxious to get pregnant again, because we really want more children. So, please keep us in your prayers, that it happens again soon!

All my kiddos are getting ready to go back to school, and I'll be all by myself. Yay! I'm so ready for them all to get back to normal life. The Wii can only entertain them for so long. LOL! I love watching them all grow, and do their own things. They are all getting so big, and it's all happening so fast. I can't keep up! :) I'm just sad that they can't stay little forever. I love my babies! Hehe!

Wedding Day

2008-08-06T16:12:00.001-07:00

2008-08-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

Steve and the kids drew on our patio with sidewalk chalk. Here's our last name. I love this picture!

Caelan and Lily trying to play James Bond! They're so cute when they play!

The kids have candy in their mouths in this pic. I had to get a shot of it! LOL!

Lily dancing in the sprinklers.

The kiddos on our boulder in our backyard. They love playing on it!

My doggy Gidget

2008-08-06T14:42:00.001-07:00

This is my sweet, yet annoying doggy named Gidget. She's so adorable, but she follows me everywhere I go! She's attached to me like glue. She's 7 months old, so she'll get bigger. She's laying in our backyard in this picture. She loves it out there! I do too! :)

The kiddos

2008-08-06T14:38:00.001-07:00

These are our kiddos! From left to right: My son Caelan (almost 8), Lily (5), and Jared (9). They are all amazing in all different ways. I am amazed at what comes out of their mouths sometimes! Haha! But, overall, they are so sweet and silly. I really can't complain. They're all looking forward to the new baby. I love my kiddos!

Where it all began.

2008-08-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

This was where it all started. Our wedding day. We got married January 11th, 2008, but feel like we've been together for a lifetime (a good thing..hehe). We have gone through so much already, and we feel blessed beyond belief. Even though between the two of us there are 3 children, we always want more. My husband and I are delighted to be together, and are so ready to blend our little family together even more. I look forward to what the future brings! I love you hubby!