Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken back in March. Kelli a good friend of mine since I was little was visiting in St. George and I wanted to see her I also know that she takes really good pictures... So I planned an afternoon where we could take some pictures and then go have some dinner. She did really good with what she had to work with, family pictures are always so hard for my family. She got some really cute ones of the kiddos though so that is way fun...

This is one of my favorites, I just love the boys face's. Emma is going through a fake smiling faze oh well she is still super cute...

Emma Sue

Gavin Shawn

Trayvin Lyle
This is the smile that gets him out of trouble all the time!!!

Gavin started to have fun towards the end with throwing the berry's...

Notice the berry being thrown at the camera!!!

Thanks so much Kelli you did awesome, kids have got to be the hardest pictures to take and you did great!!!

Thankful

I have had a lot on my mind lately, so much change for us the past few month's... It has only made me appreciate everything that I have...


~ Moving to Texas, I was looking forward to it. It was fun for us to be together as a family, we have never been the type to spend every night home together... I truly enjoyed not having any place I had to be, we could do whatever whenever... I also know that giving Shawn the chance to go and try and supporting him in that decision made us stronger... Whether we stayed there very long or not it was a good "vacation" for our family. At least that's what I call it.

~ Coming home for Grandma, that is a decision I will never forget. I learned from that to always go with your gut feeling and follow what is in your heart... I will never have any regrets to do with my Grandma I was always there to help in any way I could, and learned a lot from the experiences we had together.

~Moving back home, made us realize how important our family's are to us... When we came home for Grandma we both felt that Mesquite was home and this is where we wanted to be. I know it looks like we can't be without our parents but that isn't the case. I feel more that we enjoy being around them and are thankful for the help that we offer to each other.

~ Switching roles for a while, has been good for both of us... Since I have been working a lot I have had to really adjust to being ok with Shawn doing house work and all the stuff that I usually do... I have to admit that has been really difficult, I am always telling him the way to do everything, which he doesn't need. I think it's because it has been hard for me not being the one doing it. I should just be glad that the house work it getting done, laundry folded and put away, dinner done when I get home... I have truly been thankful he has done it and done a good job at it... More or less I am thankful for him and even though life isn't perfect right now we have managed to help each other out by switching spots... So all in all he has been a good husband and dad. We have been blessed because this whole experience has strengthened us and made us realized what we do as mom's at home, and dad's at work. We will both admit that I enjoy being home with the kids and working part time, cause getting out helps me be a better mom, plus I enjoy visiting with good clients.... Shawn is also ready to go to work and take care of his family, but for the time being we have managed to make things work and figure it out even if we don't like it... NONE of this means I haven't complained about it cause I have but I am also thankful that it has worked out...

~ My Sister Andrea is a true example to me!!! She has spent about 9 weeks in the hospital, so really I have nothing to complain about she has fought for her life a couple times and it has been amazing to me how strong she has been. With her it has been one problem to the next, every time she is getting close to coming home something else goes wrong... So to see her strength and the way she has dealt with all of this goes to show me that no matter what comes our way we can get through anything... My prayers are so strong for her right now, as a sister to her it hurts me to see her in so much pain. I have had a few good visits with her and her strength in the Lord, and knowing she will make it through has made me look up to her a lot. She is the big sister and she is always suppose to be strong for me but I have found that she needs us and knowing that we are here for her has been good for all of us. She is now in Salt Lake City with some of the best doctors, even though it will be a long recovery she will do it because she is amazing and we need our ANGIE around... My kids hardly ever go to bed with out saying don't forget to pray for Angie, Gavin always says pray for her to come home... I think he has missed her the most they have a special bond, every time he talks to her on the phone he says tell the doctor to let you come home... So come home SOON Angie we miss ya...

~ Parents are amazing and I have thankful for both my parents and my in-laws... My mom and dad have been through so must but still have the strength to keep going. I have watched my mom take care of grandma and show her love and compassion, with out even complaining... She does it all with a good heart and never worries about her self. I have now watched her spend every day with Andrea and be there for her when she needs her the most. She is someone who is a true care giver and never hesitates when someone needs her... She is a true example the way a mother and daughter should be. So thank you mom for being someone I look up to in so many ways... My dad is also amazing he might have something to say about everything but he is also the first one to help out when needed. He supports my mom in everything she does and I look up to both of them for the marriage that they have, and teaching me the way you should treat each other as a couple...
My in-laws are also such good people and I am thankful for the help that they are with my kids, they never hesitate when we need help with them. They are so busy and always have something going on but they are willing to bring them along. It means a lot to me to watch them and the love they have for my kids... In fact we are blessed to have all 4 grandparents be so sweet to our kids...

~ Ok so I know this has been long but I have truly been thankful for all of my family, even the ones who I haven't mentioned in this post. They have all been so good to me and have made me a stronger person over the last few months. I know that if we do what is right, that Heavenly Father will bless us for that it might not be what we want but no matter what we can get through anything... I know that family is important and helping each other out will bless all of us... So thanks to everyone who has helped me out with my family...

Dunmont

Our family loves going camping and even more to the sand dunes... We were gonna go to Little Sahara but we were worried it was gonna be to cold. Well I am sure I was wrong but we had fun in the sun at Dunmont one last time before next fall... The kids got kites from the Easter bunny so we decided it would be fun to fly them down there, lot's of open space and no power lines to get caught in... Gavin loved the kites he did good with holding on to it as well. He wouldn't leave Omar Valejo alone he kept wanting to show him.

The Lizard didn't show as good as the butterfly.
We went through lot's of OTTER POPS that's for sure. I think all the trailer's had some and I'm sure we finished them off between all of the kids.
Tray was so funny with the bikes, he wouldn't leave them alone. Every time one would start up he would be there and want a ride. Hope he keeps that attitude and someday he will be way good... Gavin not so much he didn't hardly care we put him on once and he was full throttle so that didn't last long.

Emma had fun riding her bike she did really good, by the end she was even going up the little hill. There were 4 kids bikes going all weekend, they had a blast....

This was all I got for pictures of riding I like to ride to much to take the time to get pictures of all the big bikes... I keep saying I want to take my camera out on the dunes but I never do. Oh well it's to hard to play and take cool pictures. I will stick with kids pictures...

Plus I wreck way to much to have a camera out with me haha I swear I can't go without atleast one wreck. OH well I survived and got back on... Every time I turn around I have a nose picker it's so funny I have taken so many pictures of him picking his nose lately it's so funny...

We went over and played in the stream on the way into the dunes, the kids loved it... Lot's of kids that's for sure... The boys built a little dam behind the kids so there was a little pool of water to play in...
The weekend came to an end we were getting ready to leave, it was just us and the Tobler's left. Well I decided to go put everything in the truck, the kids get in and Gavin pushes the lock button. I make him get out and didn't think to check the doors before I shut them. Well YEAH I locked the keys in the truck... Our ON STAR was expired and they wouldn't renew it unless we had the key in the ignition. Who needs that anyway until you don't have it anymore... WEll needless to say Shawn wasn't to happy with me. It took them an hour and a half to get them out but they did it... I think he was more mad cause he scratched the inside of the door a little, no-one can even see it... I always have to make a joke out of something... It was only 30 minutes before he would talk to me, he can't stay mad to long haha... I guess just one more thing to add to the MINDY list of thing's I have done wrong on the truck... 2 paint jobs, a popped tire, kids scratches, and now a few from getting the key's out... I have to laugh cause he is so particular about his vehicles...
LOVE YOU HONEY!!!

Crazy hair day

Raeanna and Emma for crazy hair day at school. These 2 are so funny the week they had the fairy tale dress up days was so funny with them. Every morning running back and forth to see what they were gonna wear. Of course one day was dramatic cause Raeanna dressed like a fairy tale character and Emma didn't have anything. Emma learned a hard lesson that day, on just because you wish you had something to wear doesn't mean you can make fun of someone else. These 2 girls are as bad as sisters fight one second and make up the next... I do know they love each other to death I guess that's what girls do, I want Emma to be a nice girl and get along with everyone. I know this is not going to the first or last dramatic girl problem...

Late Easter Post

We had a super fun Easter weekend, definitely have to do the egg coloring which we almost forgot to do. Adam and Nikki came over and the kids had so much fun coloring egg's together.

Grandma Sarah did these super cute baskets made out of Frisbee's for the kids they loved them.

We went for a Rhino ride but it didn't last long cause the wind had to come up like it always does... It always ruins the fun! Atleast we got a good lunch in real quick.

Gavin's Easter basketHer and Jaden were so funny trying to find all the egg's it was a race, then they came inside and were going through there eggs...
Grandpa helping Tray it was so sweet.
Just the usual Easter pictures a little egg coloring and an egg hunt!!! It's always so good to spend holidays with the ones you Love...

You will truly be missed!!!

This is a weekend I will never forget!!! When I was in Texas I talked to Grandma everyday on the Web cam, until about a week before she passed away. I remember on Monday March 15th talking to her she didn't look the same. Well Tuesday was the day that she stoped eating. Thursday when Andrea called me and said that this time was different I had a feeling I had to come home. When I called my mom to tell her I was coming she said that I had always been there for Grandma and that I could just come if something happened. I knew I didn't' want to do that, I always wanted to be there every second when she wasn't doing good to help take care of her. The previous times when she was sick we always were able to nurse her back to herself, some what anyway. When they said this time was different I wanted to be there like I always was.

My sweet dad flew out the next day to drive the kids and I home, it was so sweet of him and it meant so much. We left Saturday morning and we were determined to get there in 1 day... While we were on our way I had Emma call and put the phone to Grams ear, she said the sweetest things to her. Jenna said that she smiled so big and that was all she did all day, I knew that she would wait for us to get home. We just kept on driving and we did we made it in 21 hours, I have to say I did give the kids bennydryl and they slept a big portion of the trip OOPS!!! It was 1:00 in the morning and we were getting ready to get off the Mesquite exit and we had a phone call, both my dad and I looked at each other and said if we made it this far and she already passed away. Well that wasn't the case Jenna's water broke a month early and she was going to have the baby...

I went inside my mom's and there was Grandma laying so peaceful and so sweet, and I also could tell that this was for real this time... This picture was taken when I got there and gave her the biggest hug and slept the rest of the night by her side...
Jenna had her baby around 5:00 in the morning his name is Krew!!!

Grandma had another full day of us spending time with her and making sure she was comfortable... My sweet Aunt did such a good job on making her feel that way... We have always babied grandma and always made sure she knows how much she means to us. The next morning which was Monday, my mom was in with her all night. I came in and told her to go lay down that I would sit with Grams. I sat there and tossed and turned then I said a pray to let her go and that it was ok with all of us. I felt so peaceful and fell asleep. Mom came back in 10 minutes later and we checked her she had passed away. Her belly was still warm. I am so thankful for that experience. I always wanted to be by her side if she ever did, it was great closer for me and I know without a doubt in my mind she knew I made it back home and was with her the last day... I am so thankful for such an amazing Grandma who was by our side for so many years, we were very Lucky to have her be apart of our family. My mom is a true care giver and I hope we learn from her and are able to do it for her someday...

This picture was taken at the funeral, they were saying a rosary and Emma went up and gave Grandma Collette the biggest hug, after a few minutes the other grand daughters were there to it was so sweet.... Grandma looked amazing I had the opportunity to do her hair and she looked so pretty. I didn't put a picture up of that I thought that was weird... It was good to be able to have done that for her, we always joked with her about it...

She was buried in Page Arizona next to her husband it was so special...
I have so many amazing memories of Grandma Sue my plan is to someday take the time and make a special book of her and me... She has taught me so much through out my life and want to remember all of that... She will be dearly missed from my family and I.

Easter weekend in the snow

We decided to go up to Kolob and play in the snow on Friday and Saturday before Easter. It was way fun and the kids loved riding on the snow mobiles. It was perfect snow just a little fresh snow so it made it for fun riding, and not getting stuck... The hardest part about going to the snow is keeping the kids warm cause once they get cold it's over... I am just glad we don't live where there is always snow... It sure is fun to play in for a day or so then come back to the nice weather... Shawn found a jump that he kept going over, so he had fun...

There is always work to be done when we go to the cabin so of course if with lot's of snow we had to shovel it off. Well the guys did we helped a little. I am sure you believe Gavin did a lot...

He is not sure of all the clothes but that's what happens if you want to stay warm... Emma tried to get her swing un-stuck but that was to much work so she decided to take a break...

My March Birthday's

Trayvin's birthday was on March 13th and Koby's was the 31st. Before Jenna and Jut moved to California we decided to do there birthday's together. They turned 2, it has been a fun 2 years watching these 2 boys together... They are like brother's fight most of the time but you can tell they have each other's back, it's super cute to watch. I like it cause Jenna or me are very competitive so it makes it fun to notice what each kid does. We don't say "oh my kid did that first." Hopefully that lasts as they get older and they are always buddies and don't compete with each other... Grandma Sarah made the boys there own cake to play in...
Scary bunch of kids...

I thought it was so funny Aunt Andrea got both of them a truck and that's the toy they wanted to play with... They made noise that's why I'm sure...

Happy 6th Birthday Emma Sue!!!

Emma had 2 parties one for our family and one with her friends...

I gave her the choice to pick a couple friends and go do something or we could have a bunch and go to the park or something. She was so sweet and said I don't want to leave anyone out so I will go to the park. Some times she can be really sweet... We did an Easter egg hunt, played games, ate, and ran around...

I just love this one we were playing duck duck goose and it never fails it's always a fun game... Jaden was running full speed I love his face...

Things have been crazy but I wanted to get a few pictures up...