Heidi's Graduation

My baby sis graduated last night!

 the grandkids all put flower/candy leis on her...

She was the 5th Generation, graduating from Mesa High(we like to "carry on" tradition, I guess) & the last of 7 children in our family to graduate from MHS!

Heidi also graduated with a 4 year degree from Seminary on Tuesday & she gave a talk at that graduation. She was INCREDIBLE. It was the BEST talk of the night, in fact, she stole the Stake President's talk :) She did an amazing job & I was so happy I was there to hear her speak. She is a strong young woman & I'm excited to see where her future will take her!

CONGRATULATIONS HEIDI!

I love you!

Sunday Muffins & Temple Dedication

My cute boys, helping me make Blueberry Muffins for Sunday Morning Breakfast...

We RARELY get to eat breakfast on Sundays, since our church is at 8:30am, but this week was the Gila Valley Temple Dedication and we attended the session at NOON, so the boys had fun helping me make breakfast;)

A few things that I want to remember about the session we attended for the Gila Valley Temple Dedication...

 President Monson recalling a song that popped in his head years ago while traveling through the Gila Valley & then he said, "My daughter told me not to sing it" (laughter...pause) & he begins singing it anyways;)
(more laughter)

He also recalled that he was Bishop at 22!!! And was over a ward with 1000+ members with 86 widows in that ward. Pres. Monson would take vacation each year, near Christmas, to individually visit with these widows. They all asked him to speak at his funeral...and he spoke at ALL 86 funerals.

President Eyring got a little emotional as he spoke of his ties with the Gila Valley and how grateful he was to see a temple built in that valley.

The spirit in the room as we sang the Spirit of God...I got chills.

All of the talks were amazing and I learned things from each one. Most importantly, my testimony was strengthened on the importance of Temple Work and that the Prophet of our church and his apostles are Called of God. I was grateful to be able to attend and look forward to traveling to that temple to do a session in the future!

I LOVE this age!

Ryler is coming up on 18 months & I have decided that this is the BEST AGE!!!

He is such a HAPPY boy & has the cutest personality!

He is still YOUNG ENOUGH to be my BABY...

and I don't have to worry about having another one yet!

He is TOO YOUNG to talk back. 

He hasn't hit his "terrible twos"

but OLD ENOUGH to PLAY and HAVE FUN & just be SO STINKIN' CUTE!!!

We are REALLY enjoying RYLER at this age!!!

I'm afraid it is going to go by 

TOO FAST!!! : (

Cousins

Craig & Heidi went to Vegas & we watched our niece, Talia & nephew, Brogan  for a few days!

Parker and Ryler were in heaven with their cousins & the 4 of them had a blast INSIDE...

and outside...

There was only one "incident" having to do with the red & yellow paint you see above on Talia & Parker's hands(luckily they got into it OUTSIDE). haha. But other than that, they stayed out of trouble & had a blast together!!

We had so much FUN with them, but definitely know we are not ready for 4 children yet...

at least not 2 sets of twins ;)

Last Week of Preschool

I have LOVED teaching Preschool this year!!! I'm excited that almost all of my students will be returning next year, so it was a little easier to say "Goodbye" to them at the end of this year!

We had a fun WATER PARTY for the last day & it was so much fun!

 My entire class...on Pajama Day!

As much as I've loved it, I'm excited for my SUMMER BREAK! :)

Girl Cousins

My cousin Julie(on the left) has a daughter old enough to be married...believe it or not!

They live in Utah, but came down this weekend & we were all able to go to a FUN Bridal Shower for  my (2nd cousin? Once Removed?) cousin Amanda on Saturday!

Since we had some cousins in town for this event that are not normally here

(Julie on left & Tamara on right...both live in Utah)...

we HAD to get together for a GIRLS NIGHT!

My cousin Laurie hosted our Girl Fun & bought Chinese & a movie...but we ended up not watching the movie, just LAUGHING our heads off in the other room!

We stayed up WAY TOO LATE & my stomach hurts from laughing, but I love that my family gets along so well! There are SO MANY GIRL COUSINS & I'm grateful we have stayed so close through the years!

May 14th

Last summer my dad had hip surgery, followed by a million other complications...one of which was they found  tumors on his thyroid & knew he would eventually need it removed, in case it was cancerous. 

The day came this past week & he went in to have 1/2 his thyroid removed, but they ended up removing the entire thing. He is a champ & the surgery went well. They are now trying to avoid blood clots (the biggest problem last summer with his hip surgery) & we are hoping and praying he can recover quickly!

I called the hospital the next morning to see if children were allowed & they ARE, so we packed up, stopped at Dairy Queen to get my dad & the boys a treat & went to visit him. It was good to visit with him & he was looking good, even though he was in pain and tired! The boys cheered him up & then we headed to the DOLLAR STORE to buy my lil sister Heidi a Birthday present;)

Parker picked out some white sunglasses for Heidi & Ryler picked a balloon(surprise, surprise).

After getting Heidi's glasses, Parker insisted that him and Ryler needed some too...

When we got home, Heidi was home from school and bored, so she came over & got her exciting presents from the boys:)

My wonderful husband was mowing my parents lawn, since my dad was in the hospital, so Heidi & I headed over to my cousin Holly's Graduation party(she finished Nursing School! Hooray Holls!)

That party was so fun, with DELICIOUS food! My aunt and uncle have an INCREDIBLE garden & Parker got to pick his 1st CARROT from their ground & then he ate it--He thought it was pretty cool!

We didn't stay long...it was Heidi's 18th Birthday afterall...and she needed to do something besides hang out with me! :) She went to party & I went home to put the kids to bed...

And that was our EXCITING MAY 14th!

SO GLAD my dad's surgery went well!!

Happy Happy Birthday to Heidi!!!

Congratulations to my cousin Holly!!!

Pizza and Basketball

If you asked what Matt's 2 favorite things in the WHOLE WORLD are...

HOPEFULLY his answer would be his wife & kids;)

BUT...right behind us are

BASKETBALL & PIZZA.

If I let him, he would play basketball 7 times a week!

And he could eat pizza every day...twice a day!

So, I combined his loves for his birthday & we had his family over for Pizza & then I set up a Basketball Game at the Stake Center with his friends afterwards.

While the boys played, my sis-in-law,Heidi & I got to hang out at the house & play with these cute kids...

Happy Pizza & Basketball Day to the most incredible husband ever!

State Track Meet

My little sister Heidi competed in the State Track Meet in High Jump!

She had the CUTEST cheerleaders...in my opinion:)

The kids entertained themselves in a variety of ways, while waiting for Heidi to jump!

And got REALLY...REALLY...DIRTY!

Parker painted this sign for Heidi...

My mom has gone to a gazillion sporting events at Mesa High, over the years & this is officially her last one!

Heidi did AWESOME!!! She took 4th in State, with a jump of 5'3"!!!

CONGRATS HEIDI!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to the most INCREDIBLE husband and father in the world!

I'm so lucky to be your wife!!!

I love you!

SUNS

We've been watching SUNS games lately...and when I say lately...I mean the last 6 years that we've been together. Matt is a faithful Suns fan. Not just a fan when they are doing good. He is die hard. And I go along for the ride. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy watching the Suns, but would prefer to skip the first 3 quarters & just watch the 4th. Watching the Suns sweep the Spurs was especially enjoyable(for Matt)! I enjoyed the fact that they swept them as well, but usually didn't catch much of each game. I could usually be found entertaining the kiddos in an opposite room, so Matt could enjoy the game. Matt did get a taste of what it is like to watch a game with the kids around last week. I had Bunko at our house & told him to take the boys and go somewhere...anywhere. He ended up watching the game at the fire station with his dad. He left at half-time, saying the kids were being CRAZY:) So...this past Saturday, we all met up at his parents to watch the game & I corralled the kids outside & enjoyed the weather!

This was game 3 in the series. Suns had already won 2 in a row & they were playing on Spurs Home court. It was doubtful that they would win. I bet they would still win. Matt bet me that they would lose.

NOW who is the real Suns fan!?! :)

Being a Mom Means...

Wiping Tears when your child is sad...

Cleaning Messes...yes, even the really really nasty ones...

Having patience when your kids make messes...

Not giving up.

(even when potty training...)

 Seeing around...through...or behind the MESS & focusing on what really matters...

 Smiling when your new tube of mascara is wasted...

Laughing when your child needs his 3rd bath in one day...

Giving kisses when they get their 1st black eye...

Spending time making dinner, even when you know it will end up on the floor...

Is all of the diaper changing, mess cleaning, tear wiping, band-aid applying, cooking, cleaning, potty training, mopping, vacuuming, NOT sleeping...worth it???



Without a DOUBT...

 YES!!!

YES!!!

 YES!!!

I love my boys more than I thought was ever possible!

Being a mother is the best job I could've ever hoped for!

And an EXTRA Happy Mother's Day 
to the 2 most incredible Moms I know...

I love you!!!

Mother's Day

Here's a mother's day poem for the greatest mother in the world.

She's got two little boys and hopes to someday have a little girl. 

It's not an easy task to keep two little boys happy all day, 

She works so hard for cleanliness and calmness to stay.

There have been messes and screams and diapers that smell,

Bruises and scrapes and tummies that aren't feeling well.

There have been fits and tantrutms and sleepless nights,

Sometimes she feels like the referee in a wrestling fight.

There are carseats and strollers and food covered high chairs, 

Clothes that have mud stains and food stains, rips and tears.

Sometimes being a mother seems like too much to bear, 

We want her to know just how much we appreciate her care.

She's an amazing mother, so thoughtful and sincere.

We love her so much and we're happy to have her here.

We love you!

Love, Matt, Parker & Ryler

Fun with Boys!

My little sister Heidi, babysitting my boys! She built a "fort" for them with a box fan & a sheet...

 

Parker loved how it Ballooned up!

 

This boy is becoming quite a Basketball player! I thought Parker was obsessed, but I think Ryler is starting even younger!

  

Is there anything cooler than a Riding Lawnmower? 

My boys LOVE to sit on Grandma's lap & mow with her!

I LOVE MY BOYS!!!