15 Kids 6 Adults and 2 dogs

To end the summer...

Life doesn't get any better than this. 

Family, Friends and the wide open outdoors!

What would life be like without these amazing people in our life?!

21 of us and 2 dogs makes for a crazy camp.  Definitely something that we must do each year.

Fishing, thunderstorms, playing in the creek, and chanting made up songs and cheers to pass our time during the rainstorms....it was such a BLAST.

Us girls went for a ride and we were gone for way to long, for that I am sorry, but while we were away we laughed hard and acted like we were children.  Our poor kids are gonna grow up thinking their moms are CRAZY!!!  Seems way too often Michelle and I find humor in humiliating ourselves and then we blog it for the world to see :) 

It wouldn't be a Elli and Michelle adventure without a little war paint and yellow hail fight (thank you Brad)

This was by far the highlight of our trip.

I LOVE YOU MICHELLE

Nationals in Vegas Baby

This was the sweet face I got to look at while Michelle and I road tripped it to Vegas for Dance Nationals.

This is London's second year going to nationals and I love every min I get to watch her dance.

She is only six, and I tear up every time I see my shy sweet little girl get on that stage and DANCE.

Just had to share....touch it if you dare!

This magic store was a constant crack up

 Break for lunch

and then back at it!

 Just a few pic's to bring back the memories and the fun

 These girls are CRAZY and fun.  They dance all day and play all night

then tomorrow they start all over.

The confidence and courage that London has gained from dance is, to me, priceless.

The constant growth excites me and I am loving having a girl and look forward to these trips that we will be able to experience together.

Kaden TURNS 8

Kaden is one sweet boy.  I was so excited for him to turn 8 and be BAPTISED.  It surely snuck up on us....where does time go.  My kids are growing up so fast!  I find a bitter sweet  emotion in this whole growing up thing.  I love watching Kaden learn and grow.  And it hasn't been easy for him.  He is my second child and fights like heck to win my attention.  He has the will power and mind set to do anything this life hands him.  He has such a strong personality, I feel he will go far in life, and be very successful at whatever he puts his mind to.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               It was such a sweet day.  Always an emotional moment for mom.  Kaden had so many family and friends come and support him.  We love you Kaden and Remember The Commitments and Covenents that you made on this special day.  I am a better person because I have Kaden in my life.  He has taught me so many lessons about Love and Life!  Kaden has a smile that lights up any room.  And freckles that just make me melt.  I hope this was a day you will always remember.  Happy Birthday Kaden!

Like 5 Kids isnt enough.....

 TIQUE

 So Meet the newest Member of our family.  Like 5 kids isn't enough to keep us busy around here, we decided to add one more. 

So sad, and we knew it was coming soon, but Brad went in the back yard and found MALIBU...our 13+ year old lab!  Didn't think I would be as sad as I was, but he became a member of our family.  He, as slow and as sick as he always was, he added joy and stories to our life. 

We buried him and had the kids write Malibu notes.  Dylan always looked after him and called him his.  Dylan took it the hardest and wrote the SWEETEST note.  We put it in the blanket with Malibu and I wish I would have kept it!    It said.....

All of the tears on this paper don't come close to telling you how much I loved you and how much I will miss you.  I wish I had been a better owner.  (He wasn't home when he died and felt like he should have been)  Sweet Sweet Boy Dylan is.  He has always been tender and close to the spirit since he was born.  I love that KID.  Kadens and Londons were sweet also, Kaden hid under a blanket for a day.  Dad told them that we could get a puppy (soon)  Well we (me and the kids) found Tique the next day and brought her home a week later......

And life will never be the same!!!!

SKIDS.....

A couple of weekends ago we had a small sleepover for Dylan's Birthday....and I have to share this for those of you who don't see Monica's Blog. But on our way home the boys wanted to go play capture the flag at the Mt View Park, so we stopped at the dollar store and bought a ton of glow sticks. As we were driving by the park I could hear the boys whispering are you sure, it looks really dark out there....is it gonna be scary....LITTLE did they know how scary it was really gonna be. As we were headed out the door, I said to Brad "are you sure we should go, with there being Kidnappers on the Loose???" All the boys ears perked up, "WHAT" I said to them oh, its not a big deal, but Brad just heard that 2 kidnappers escaped from the police right here on Power and Queen Creek and they haven't found them yet! "We have Brad, We'll be fine"

So we head down the street and round the corner to the PITCH black park. I sit the boys down to explain the game, I can totally tell some are more aware of our surroundings than others, and as I begin, Michelle rolls up lights out, BLASTing Thriller from her car....which was good cuz the boys didn't even see these two men sneaking up behind us.......................

If we would have looked for skids we surely would have found some. I couldn't have laughed harder....Dylan and Eric fell to the ground in the fetus position while others scattered and ran in all directions. Owen and Kaden ran straight for Michelle's car where she locks her doors and starts driving away with scared little kittens pounding "LET US IN"

We are soo mean! But it was well worth the belly laughs. I'm sure these boys may have felt different. Some may never look at the dark the same again. Hopefully there were no bad dreams that night. What doesn't kill um only makes um stronger.

What will I do with my tomorrow?

I recently got called, in my eyes to one of the hardest callings (sorry Monica) aside of Gospel Doctrine. This has been really hard for me, because I don't know what I'm talking about, I've studied what I'm teaching, but each time I get up to teach Relief Society, I get completely overwhelmed by the spirit and it doesn't come out the way I want it to. I am so grateful to have such amazing Woman in my ward that understand me and support me. I pray that the spirit whispers to them and they get something out of my lessons. (Listen to me babble for 45 min??) Please help them.

I know that this calling is important to my growth in the church and in life. To prepare me and help me not only grow in the gospel, but to teach me to not be afraid. I have huge fear of speaking in front of people and this is definitely a test in my life.

I have to admit that there have been some big trials in my life lately, I am such a private person, I stay away when this happens. I have gotten so far behind in so many areas of my life that I don't know if I will ever get caught up....but I am going to try. Keeping a record of our life, so that I don't forget the little things is so important to me.....So,

Today is a new day, I can't change the past, but I definitely have control over what I do tomorrow!!!

To fall in love again....

My heart has been taken over by another man.....

Sooo sorry Brad. I do still love you

The last 5 months have been the sweetest of days!! Don't get me wrong, very overwhelming at times, but WELL worth the sleepless nights. 5 kids has definitely thrown me for a loop, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I consider myself lucky to have such beautiful children.

I don't know if I will ever get caught up on the blogging, laundry, house cleaning.....but my precious sweet baby will only be little once. It means letting a lot go and learning to enjoy the moments while they last. I am grateful for sooo much, I can't even begin.