It's About Time!!

Well, It has been awhile since I have updated this sad blog of ours. I never thought I would be so bad about blogging. I am trying. Anyways, I will give you all a quick update of what each of us have been up too.

MaKinley: She is our "wild child" two year old. Not really! She is most of the time a sweet little girl. She has become very independent, and tells us all the time, "I do it!!" We attempted to start potty training a couple of weeks ago. It was not working out too well, so I decided to try again at some later time. She was just not gettting that she needed to go pee-pee on the potty. She was good about going poopy, just not the other. I was not liking all the clean up. I just don't remember it being this hard. How quick you are to forget about some things. She is very busy exploring the world of "Yes you can!!" and "Oh, no you didn't do that!!" She is so much fun. She brings a smile to each of our faces. She really can't do anything wrong. She is just too cute!

Marquel: Well, she is busy with school. She is getting ready to take the SOL's here. It is the standarized test that they take and must past to move on. So, every night she spends about 30 minutes going over her study guide. There is alot that these kids have to know. It is amazing to me how much she has learned about this area, this year. She just got done with basketball cheer. She really does a good job at it. She really enjoys cheering. Now, we are on to soccer. She has followed her brothers footsteps and is an amazing goalie for her team. She has had plenty of time watching him. For a nine year old, she has an awesome kick. She has been picked up the last three seasons to play for the All-Stars soccer team. We are thinking she may be ready for travel soccer. We don't know if we could handle two children in travel. It is a ton of commitment and travel. We will see. She is also, still keeping up with gymnastics and loves it. She loves going to her Activity Day activities. She is getting too big. Soon it will be Young Womens. She is still a very helpful young girl.

Tanner: He is as busy as any pre-teen needs to be. Between soccer, scouts and school activities and studing for the SOLS. I barely have time to really talk with him. He has been on several scout campouts. He is the Senior Patrol Leader for his troop. He enjoys going with the young men in our ward. He is a great leader and takes his calling very seriously. He has always been that way. You tell him to do something, he will do it for you with perfection. He gets that from me. Sorry, Tanner. He just finished up the basketball season. His dad was the coach of his team. It was really fun to go and watch my boys play b-ball. Tanner is pretty darn good at b-ball. He seems to have talent in whatever he chooses to do. He really likes b-ball and hopes to play in High School. Did I just say that. Yes, I did. My little man is growing up before my eyes. He is now officially taller than me. He will be a TEENAGER on Friday. Where do the years go? I can't believe that. He has been reminding us many times during the day of this event. Like somehow we would forget it. Not a chance with him. He is currently very involved in travel soccer. Practices are three times a week and a game on the weekend. I never thought that I would be a soccer mom, but I am. He is so much fun to watch. He plays the main goalie for his team. He is the leader on and off the field. His coaches love that quality in him. They have told us how they appreciate his leadership on the field especially when no one else will step up. I just hope that he contitues to be that way. He sure has sisters who watch and look up to him. Did I mention that he is also a great babysitter. It is so nice to rely on him for that. We now have a built-in babysitter. Yeah for me!!

Derek: He is busy being the bread winner for this family. What a great guy he is! I have loved that I can stay home and raise my kiddos. I am greatful for him for that. He just got moved this week and is working in a new job. He is so far enjoying it. He may move again later on. We are waiting to hear what they want him to do. The Air Force is always surprising us. You just never know what is in store, but for now he is learning the ins and outs of his new job. Like I said before he was Tanner's b-ball coach. When, I signed Tanner up for b-ball they had a box to mark if you wanted to be a coach. I had asked Derek and he said I really don't want to. So, I went ahead and marked the box "Yes." Little did I know that they would really need him, but they did. Tanner was so excited that his dad was the coach, that he could hardly controll himself. It turned out to be fun for Derek. He even said that he wants to do it again next year if he can. He really had a good group of boys. They came in third in their divsion. Not too bad for a first time coach. Derek has also, been able to go with Tanner on his campouts. He is the assistant scout master. So, when he goes, Derek goes. Tanner has cherished the campouts with is dad. Being here has made it possible for Tanner and Derek to do this. If we were at any other base, it would be tough for Derek, deployments and what not. I am greatful for our time here, so that my boys can share these times together. Other than that, Derek is busy working on my "Hunny to do list!" Which he loves!?!

Me: I do the same things just the days change. I recently had a little surgery. Everything went well with that. I had a litte tune-up on my woman parts. I am feeling much better, now. I am just busy trying to keep everyone on track and getting them from point A to point B. Which is tricky sometimes, especially if I have to be in two places at once. But, luckily I have had some amazing friends help me out. I took on being Tanner's soccer Team Manager. When, we had our meeting no one wanted to take the position. So, I did took it on. Derek has been a great help in helping me out. It is just a bunch of administrative work. I have not minded it at all. I have learned so much. Along with the gym, I also decided to train for a marathon. Don't ask me why. I ask myself that everytime I go and run. I am not trying to be first place. I just want to finish. It has been a goal of mine for a long time. So, I am running the Marine Corp Marathon in October. It has us running downtown DC around all the monuments. It should be fun. I just hope that I can train properly and complete this goal. I love being home and to watch my children grow and learn. I am so grateful for friends along the way that make my time here enjoyable. I enjoy the times we spend together. I enjoy hearing my kids laugh and play. I enjoy those dates with my husband. I think that I have a pretty perfect life and I have Heavenly Father to thank for that. I will post pictures next. I will try not to say something about each one. I will just let you enjoy them.

Beware, you are going to get picture overload!!

"Winter Wonderland" in DC!

This was the first snow this winter. The kids have been waiting for this day forever. They were so excited to wake up to Winter Wonderland outside. It looked so beautiful. It reminded me of my winter days as a child. I always had so much snow. In fact, they would cancel school if the snow was too deep. My kids just happen to be out of school today, lucky them! My kids have really never had a white Christmas. They have rarely had the chance to even play in the snow. We just haven't always lived in areas where it snows. I have missed that, but today was great! The snow was finally here. The kids could hardly wait to venture out. MaKinley loved it. This was her first time seeing and playing in the snow. No matter how cold she was, she did not want to come in. As a matter of fact, my older ones did not want to come in either. They played in it for a long time.

The kids LOVING the snow!

My Girls!!
Tanner using his body as a sled. CRAZY!!My Snow Angels!!!
My Littlest Snow Angel!! Kinley enjoyin some snow! I am not quite sure what to think about that!?!
OH WELL!! It can't hurt her too much.
Sooooo Good!!

I can't stop!! Mom.

The kids enjoying the snow with friends!
A beautiful snow blanket.

The kids sledding!

More of them sledding.

My Snow Angels!!

Tanner's First Talk in Church

So, it has been awhile since I have posted anything but, today was a pretty special day. Tanner gave his first talk in church. His topic was "Endure to the end." He was pretty excited about it, I think. When the first counselor asked him, I did not know how he would react. He thought that it would be fun to talk in church. I saw the excitment in his eyes. He did a great job as he stood in front of a couple hundred people and read the talk he prepared. He was a little nervous when he started, but I could tell as his talk progressed that he was more comfortable. I see a future missonary in him. He wrote his whole talk by himself. Derek and I gave little help. He seems to be a very spirtually in-tune young man. We have seen this in him from such a young age. At times, it seems that he teaches us rather than us teaching him. He is such a good example to so many people around him. I can't be more proud of him. He is truly growing into a fine young man. We continually get compliments on what a great young man he is. The years have flown by and I have a son that can give talks in sacrament meeting. It makes me feel a little old, but I am glad that he has made good choices in his life so that he can share his testimony with others. I loved listening to him today. What a great son we have!

Christmas pictures and MaKinley's turned two pictures.

Here are some pictures of the kids that I just had done. I needed some of MaKinley at age two. But, I decided to take the older kids with me. They turned out pretty good. I love my kids to death. They are the cutest kids ever!!! Enjoy the pictures.

So, I thought I would try again to see if MaKinley would like Santa. We went to the mall to visit him. The theme was the Polar Express. MaKinley loved looking and touching all the fun scenes that they had. She once again was nervous to see Santa, but she did sit on his lap; there was no smile. He asked her what she wanted and she said, "presents and canny." At least this time she told him something. Tanner did not want to go and see Santa, but I made him. I told Tanner that no one is ever to old to visit with Santa. He really did not want to sit with the girls. I told him that he needed to let Santa know what he wanted. He just looked at me as though he did not believe any more. It was hard for me not to laugh, but I told him that he has a sister that believes and one that I am on the fence with. I did tell him that Santa lives in our hearts and we should believe in the magic of it. Forever!! I think that he will understand when he is a parent himself. Let's hope.

So, here is Kinley in front of a huge snow globe with a scence from "Polar Express."

Just some more pictures of the path to Santa.Here are the kids with Santa. MaKinley is scared. Just look at her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She does this sometimes when she is nervous or scared.
MaKinley by herself and once again she will not look at Santa. At All!

The kids in front of the "Polor Express." What cute kids!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!

Wow, its hard to believe that the Holidays are almost over. I love this time of year. It is a great time to reflect on the Savors birth, although we hate being away from our families and we wish that we could share our joy with them. We love to see all the lights and smell the treats cooking. I just love when the tree is up and our home looks like Christmas, but the time has flown by. Santa was very generous this year. It was so much fun to see MaKinley who is just starting to understand it all. She got the hang of opening up gifts pretty quick, but if she opened a gift that she wanted to play with then it was a bit of a struggle for us to get her to open another one. She was so excited with each gift. So were Tanner and Marquel. She really enjoyed looking for lights and Santa at each turn in the car. She would light up with excitement each time we found Santa lights. This year was fun with her. Our family has some traditions that we do each year. On Christmas Eve we drive around and look at lights. This year we went to a place that had a drive through light show. My kids loved it. So here we go through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The light show. We only have a few. The pictures did not turn out very well, but you get a peek at what we saw.

The kids in their new pj's waiting for Santa to come!Santa's little elves have already visited. I can't wait to see their faces.

MaKinley looking at what Santa left for her. That kitchen was a hit. She loves it! Tanner and Marquel with their Santa gifts.

Derek looking at one of his gifts. I can't decide if he likes it or not?

The kids and I.MaKinley checkin' out one of her new gifts

Kinley and her horse that Grandpa Stuart made for her. Soooo, cute!

Kinley making daddy some food from her new kitchen.

Ward Christmas Party!

Santa came and visited us at our ward Christmas party. This was MaKinley's first time to see Santa this year. Needless to stay she would not sit on Santa's lap, so Marquel held her. Then I tried to get Makinley to do it by herself. She at first cried and then she would not look at him at all. She was not sure of the man in the "Big Red Suit" this year. When asked what she wanted she said "Canny!" He was handing out candycanes that night and that is what she wanted, no gifts. I guess we had not explained to her the whole Santa wishlist thing. Oh well, maybe next time, but now whenever we go to church she asks for Santa and candy. We tell her that Santa only is there at Christmas time, but she still asks. The joys of a two year old mind. Gotta love it! It was a fun-filled night. Dinner was served, Tanner was a wiseman in our Nativity Play, and Marquel sang songs with the primary.

The kids and Santa.

MaKinley is not happy.MaKinley's Priceless look.

MaKinley turns TWO!!!!!

So, in December we celebrate two birthdays. MaKinley turned two on December 15. Boy, the last two years have flown by. I am happy and sad at the same time. She is our last little one. I cherish every milestone that she crosses and cry with it (Tears of joy and hoping that I could savor each moment longer). I can still remember being pregnant with her and how excited we were to finally have another little person join our family. We wanted another baby for years. It took us so long to get her here. It was really a growing time for Derek and I. I had to put my trust in our Heavenly Father and let him carry me and comfort me when, I thought we would never have another one. I think that I needed this to somehow learn that I can't do it by myself (as much as I thought I could, come on, it takes Derek and I to make it happen, right?!) Well, technically it does, but the Lord plays a much bigger part than we my realize. At least, I found this to be true for me. I am truly blessed to have Kinley in our lives. She is that joy that was missing for so long. She brings smiles to everyone she meets. She is loving to her brother and sister. She can't wait to see them when they get home from school. She enjoys being with her dad. He and her have their special time at night. Derek bathes her and then they sit together as she drinks her bottle(yes, we are working on this need of hers)then he takes her into her room and reads to her. Sometimes, it seems like they are in there forever, but MaKinley loves it. She and I enjoy our days together, just her and I. I get to be her client at the beauty shop, her baby, her patient and sometime her mom. She and I share some fun times together when the kids are at school. I am so glad that she chose to be in our family. She makes us complete. I can't imagine life without her. Happy Birthday to our MaKinley!!

Here is where it all took place our Home!

"We must start with a prayer before we can eat guys."Two little sweet girls. We love our friends. This is her opening her gifts. She is starting young, don't you think? "Grandma, Hi"More gifts!Tanner looks more excited than MaKinley.
Who has a party without balloons? MaKinley lovs them. In fact, they are still in our home. We can't throw them away, yet.

Here is her cake. She wanted a pink one. She loved it!

"Let me try it, first"
"Yea, I like it!" Finger-licking good!
"Maybe I will use my fork." "It works better."
"Oh, yea, who needs to cut it when I can pick it all up with my fork."

"SOOOOO Good!"

"I can't fit it in all in my mouth, darn it!"

MaKinley loves anyone to read to her. Her sister sat and read with her while Derek and I cleaned up. Those two girls are precious.

Derek and I got MaKinley a ride on toy and she wanted nothing to do with it at first. It took some friends to show her that it was fun. She thought it was "too scary!" "Get me off it, Dad!"

Derek and the kids. MaKinley was so done by this point. You will not see her looking at the camera in the rest of the pictures. Bless her heart. She had had a busy night.

Me and the kids.

Here is a video of Kinley on her car, Finally!


This is us singing "Happy Birthday!" to Kinley with her cake.

This is just more birthday cake moments. Enjoy!