Weekends...

We don't get much of a real weekend around here, due to work schedules and things like that. But somehow we have been managing a little time to get something done or have some fun. I am so excited for Fall Weekends-- mostly because it might finally start to cool off enough to get some big projects done outside- and when I say cool off - I mean maybe just maybe it will drop into the low 90's.....that is fall in Arizona.
 Here is a peek in photos.
More posts to come next week I hope! I have some fun products to share with you, and a few Halloween ideas! Hope I get time to get them all posted....

So if my posts are far and few between, it is because we are enjoying some autumn! Happy Fall!

Happy Mother's Day !

PROOF you can have a Happy Mother's Day even if you look and feel like a gigantic whale....

I might be HUGE, but I am having my fourth healthy pregnancy and for that I am GRATEFUL!!

Only about 9 weeks to go....

I might only have BOYS but I have cute, handsome, smart, healthy ones!!

I love being a mom. I am truly blessed.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, and women out there!

Happy Easter Sunday

Wishing you a very Happy Easter Sunday!

FREE Mrs. Field's Cookies

Sometimes you read or hear something that sounds almost too good to be true...especially in the world of the internet. So you ignore it right? And press delete. Well shame on you if you ignore this!

 About a month ago, Mrs. Field's Blog , was doing an email referral program- where if you referred your friends through email to their site, and they signed up for their emails, you got....free cookies!! Not just any cookies- Mrs. Field's Cookies! And depending on how many of your friends signed up, would determine the amount of cookies you got. Well Saturday, I got my cookies via UPS in this cute silver tin. JOY!! It was real :)

Never mind that there are bites out of a few in the photo- - sometimes I girl needs a bite or two or three of a cookie- like NOW.

So if you missed out- -- Mrs. Field's Secrets Blog is currently giving a way A YEAR OF FREE COOKIES.

I know you are thinking you don't need the calories.

Neither do I.

But then again, have you read my blog? We love cookies- and - these freeze well- not to mention taste really good! Plus, when I got my free cookies, there was a handy dandy calorie chart included. nice.

Another plus,  you can give them to your neighbors, friends, child's teacher- you know what I mean.

And they will think you are fabulous- I mean Mrs. Field's is the best when it comes to cookies right??

So go on over to the blog and enter.

Here is the post about the email referral program-which is how you get your own free cookies.

And now that I have written about cookies, I need to get on the treadmill....because my 24 free cookies are gone..... ;)  oops....

THANKS FOR READING! HAPPY FALL!

2 Months

photo: baby at almost 5 months old now

2 months ago this little guy was only out of surgery one month.

I thought everything would be fine until the next surgery- a few years from then.

2 months ago we were told he had to go back to the hospital for 2 weeks.

2 months ago I wasn't sure what was going to happen with my little boy.

2 months ago I thought everything would be O.K.

Now I worry about every move I make with this sweet little guy.

I don't want him back in the hospital. ☻

2 months ago we did not owe that much in medical bills.

Now we have more co-pays and bills than we ever thought possible.

2 months ago I thought I knew who my friends were.

Now I know- people came from everywhere bringing us food, offering to help watch the kids, etc.

I still have a full heart from that, and cannot thank them enough.

2 months ago I was upset that my house was always a mess.

It still is a mess, but I am grateful to be at home and to have a house to live in.

2 months ago I could not wait to quit nursing. (it isn't my favorite.)

Now I don't know when I'll quit- since this little guy needs me- I'll sacrifice for him.

2 months ago, losing weight and making craft crap was all I thought about.

Now I am thankful for  each day that baby is healthy and  that I am able to be a mommy to my sweet 3 little boys. Perspective is a wonderful thing.

2 months ago, I loved my family. I loved being a mommy.

Now I not only love it, I treasure each moment, and thank my Heavenly Father more each day, for the wonderful opportunity to be called MOM.

yeah, I was having a moment where I just wanted to hug my kids, and husband-if he was home- and just count my blessings. Home + Family = Wonderful.

This Made Me Cry Because I Really Love My Family.

baby sweetness...

I did not take this photo (I helped but it was taken by someone else

Isn't he sweet?

HE is the reason I am sick and congested...

HE is the reason I never sleep...

HE is the reason the sink is full of dishes and laundry is left undone...

HE is the reason my life is on hold...

HE is the reason I nurse..... and sit for hours in a chair watching t.v....

HE is the reason my body is looking pretty shabby and rather large...

HE is the reason I don't leave the house...

HE is the reason there are toys covering the floor ( we have 3 - HE's)....

HE is the reason there are no moments of peace and quiet...

HE is the reason we find moments of JoY...

HE is the reason I understand love and sacrifice more than before...

HE is the reason we have done this 3 times now...AND.... no matter how hard it is, no matter what we have to give up, no matter how much it changes our lives.....

In the end, it only makes our lives better, it is all worth it!☻

I love my children :) even though they take everything out of me :)

How does that lady with 18 kids do it?

Overwhelmed by Kindness and Love ☻

The past few weeks I have had a doctor appointment almost everyday (4 out of 5 days a week!) C-R-A-Z-Y! And several friends have come to my rescue! I can't express how wonderful these people have made me feel - they are fabulous!

Here are a few things some friends did:

*BABYSITTING my kids while I had to go to doctor appointments... and then cleaning while babysitting!

*A few ladies showed up at my door with their cleaning supplies in hand. ONE of these ladies did this on her BIRTHDAY! Yes, she was in big trouble when I found out she came over and cleaned my bathroom on her birthday!

*Another lady showed up at my home and painted my toenails-gave me a pedicure!

*To top it off, another friend came by with the plethora of diapers and wipes! She had contacted several generous ladies from my church (ward) and they all donated on my behalf.

THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Words cannot express how all this has made us feel ☻ We are more than grateful for all these wonderful people who have shown such love and support towards our little family! Thank you thank you! I am inspired to share the love and pass it on to others because of you ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Father's Day!

This is a sweet clip from one of the best T.V. shows, I LOVE LUCY. It is a little long, but very sweet and somehow captures the joy of becoming parents and especially for the men--becoming a dad/daddy/father! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! We are having a baby anyday here-- a third son for Daddy -for Father's Day= this year :)

Love List #2 - Things that start w/ "S"

Just for fun, I thought I'd post a love list of things that start with the same letter as my first name. I challenge you to do this, and see what you come up with that you love that starts with the same letter as your first name :)

LOVE LIST "Things that start with S" (in no particular order)

1. SUMMER! Since we live where it is warm most of the year, I guess we almost have summer all year long. I love it all- except when it is over 100 degrees :)

2. SPRING! While I'm talking about seasons, let's add Spring. I think I like spring more than summer- at least where I live. I just miss the green grass and the colorful flowers- I need more of them :)

3. SIBLINGS I have been blessed w/ many siblings...4 brothers, 4 sisters, and even more in-laws! It is really fun to be related to so many wonderful people!

4. SUNSHINE I love the sunshine- it does me a lot of good.... not to mention getting me some of that vitamin D from that sunshine. :)

5. my SPOUSE Where would I be without him? He is incredible and I am very blessed to have him in my life.

6. SINCERITY - honesty, being genuine, and true...something to strive to be everyday...

7. SLEEP- Always underestimated- how valuable this one is... I did not get much last night- and am really dragging today :)

8. SERVICE-Accepting service from others, and being able to give service to others. "Those who are happiest, are those who do the most for others." -Booker T. Washington

9. "SKILLS" As Napoleon Dynamite said, "you can borrow some of my skills..." Don't you wish we could do that- borrow each other's skills? :) Being able to develop new skills, and learn new things- always learning new skills is a good thing for me ;)

10. Silliness- Not taking yourself or things too seriously...spending time w/ children being silly or just laughing at yourself...finding joy in the little things, and being silly whenever you can. Sometimes- when I find myself getting "serious and stubborn" w/ my spouse, I will say something really- out there- really silly- and we both start laughing and things get much better.

11. Snapshots- Being able to capture life's little moments in photographs. Always loved photography, and always will. There is something about going back and looking at old snapshots from the past that always makes me feel more grateful for the people and blessings in my life.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE? Use one letter (the first letter of your name or other letter) and see what you can come up with that you love :) have fun....:)

Why I LOVE being a Mom (LOVE LIST #1)

Since it is February, the month of love, I am going to post a few of the things I love :)

I usually don't post very personal stuff on here. I try to save that for my journal, etc. But lately my heart has been very full of gratitude for the incredible blessing of being a mother and wife.

I am not a young mother. I did not get married until I was in my 30's. I had a career and got to do many things in my 20's-which looking back was an incredible blessing. My heart sometimes seems to skip a beat when I think of the incredible blessings I now get to enjoy- of being a mommy. Now here are a few of the reasons I LOVE it- since it is the month of l-o-v-e. :) I'll try not to be too serious and sentimental! :)

1. YOU GET TO DRIVE A MINIVAN if you choose-AND NO ONE LOOKS AT YOU FUNNY-ok so maybe they look at you funny if you have a van full of kids, but you don't care. (I love our Honda Odyssey)

2. YOU CAN WEAR SWEATS ALL DAY if you choose- and it is just expected. I actually hang up my nice sweats and try to keep them stain free. Yes, there is such a thing as nice sweats. :)

3. YOU GET TO DO ENDLESS PILES OF LAUNDRY. Joy joy joy!! And you get to stare at endless piles of laundry that still need to be washed....such as it is in my case these days. :)

4. GOING TO THE PARK CAN BE A DAY OUT ON THE TOWN. Who knew the park could be so much fun?

5. YOU CAN WATCH SESAME STREET AGAIN...and it is O.K. You are not considered weird for doing so, since your 3 year old watches it with you.

6. IF YOU ARE REALLY ON TOP OF THINGS, YOU MIGHT GET A NAP SOME DAYS. OK so I am not that on top of it, but a nap sure would be nice-and there were days - when I had one child- when I actually did get a nap- oh those were the days!

7. YOU GET TO MAKE STUFF. Since you are not working full-time, you can make crafts and stuff (sometimes I call it the other word- c-r-a-p) - well anyway you can learn new things you never had time for. Plus you can cook homemade meals-- on the good days :)

8. ENDLESS HUGS AND SMILES AND KISSES FROM YOUR KIDS- even slobbery ones are still the best things ever!

9. YOU CAN MAKE EVERYTHING ALL BETTER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S world--- kissing the cut better, putting a band-aid on it, stories, hugs, kisses, rocking in the rocking chair, you suddenly hold the magic touch!

10. YOU GET TO STEP ON TOYS AND HURT YOUR FEET-- there was a time when my house was spotless- no toys to step on or pick up. No longer the case around here- but it is a blessing- stepping on toys and hurting your feet, bending over and hurting your back as you clean up the blocks. A real blessing - (no seriously folks, it is!)

I think 10 reasons is enough for now. I seriously love my little guys and love being a mommy.

"The Hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."