A Year gone by

It has been too long to count,  I have not posted on this for so long, and yes, while I would like to believe it's true that maybe I haven't posted for so long due to the fact that I have been busy raising my children and soaking it all in. Yes! that is true, but I have a social media confession to make.  It  has also gotten the better of me, while I read about so many others lives I realized that I haven't written or shared my life with the ones it means the most to. My girls. (you) I started this site to share with you, mommy daughter things and to mark memories we would make together.  While I have kept a journal on my phone, I am guilty as charged to find myself using my free time reading and wondering how others are doing. 

As you Makinley and Kennedy grow I am teaching you more and more how important it is to not worry about others and don't let yourselves get sucked into the world and forget what you are working for and who you want to be.  I am learning daily that I want to be spending my spare time with you, preparing for the future, keeping record of those things that means so much to me, and my family.  You girls are important and one of a kind.  So while I continue to learn daily from you I am finding that I am so grateful for what I have given.  You are my daughters and though I may not share with you all my memories'.  I want you to have a place to go someday and read them.

Makinley I have to blame you for some of this.  You just turned 11 and from the time I can remember everywhere we would go as a family we found you ALWAYS asking to use the public restroom.  I can't tell you how many times you would ask to use a restroom and I would roll my eye and wish you where a boy so I could pass you off to your dad...lol  As you got older we always joked with you that if we had a picture of every restroom you had ever been in by the time you where little we could have stretch it across the world. (no joke)  from a simple neighborhood gas station to a Vegas hotels, you have been in them all.  This is where you inspired me.  You told both your dad and I that when you turned 11 you would do just that, take a "selfie" in every restroom you will go in your 11 year of your life.  You wanted to start a blog.  So here I am being reminded of how fun it is to journal our journey and how fun it will be for you to make this fun blog.  Good luck to you and I cant wait to see the finished product and say, "I told you so." I love you dearly my sweet Makinley.  I am scared to death as you grow and are moving into middle school, but I know that our Heavenly Father put you hear cause you are strong enough.  As me as you mother I know we can do this life together.

Kennedy I have to blame you for the fact that I blink and I cant believe that my baby can be my child that is smarter them me.  You this last year have accomplished so much and it is an amazing thing . I have learned from you the love of our Heavenly Father is never ending.  You remind me often of how much you love Jesus and how grateful you are for your Heavenly Father.  Your dad and I are often laughing as we move into our 4th year in Texas we realize you have lived here longer than anywhere else.  It is also all you really remember and with that being said we see more and more of our sweet Texan girl coming out.  I cant image you any other way. 

Girls I hope that you know that living 1000 miles away from our close family.  We still have and always will have a strong bond and a family of our own.  You girls are so lucky that you do have people all over the US that know you now and that love you more then you will know.. We have friends that we have made here that are like family and them later moved.  We have our sweet family that is all around that are always keeping in touch and loving us.  We are also lucky we have those friends who are like family away from family.  We are truly blessed and I hope that you too see that.

I love you endlessly.

love, mom

TEXAS

Hi Girls,

I know that it has been a little while since the last time I have put a journal entry in. What can I say; we have been moving. We moved to Texas in late August. It started out as a fun, fun vacation. We went swimming every day, we walked to Wal-mart every time we needed something...It was right next door to our cute little apartment. You made some sweet quick friends and Meka did too...She just loved visiting the dog park daily and we all loved taking her.

It didn't take to long for us to settle right in and find our place in this big world...or should I say this BIG state:) It didn't take to long for us to start looking for a home to settle our family in. We looked, looked, had fun, didn't have fun, almost gave up, and even shed a few tears....but we did finally find the place we now love calling our home.

Makinley...You have made this move so fun, and I am not sure I could have done it without you. I had to tell myself that I would need to be so brave for you, and that you would need to see how fun and existing this was going to be, even though there were lots of times I was just scared out of my pants to say the least. The thing is...I don't think I had to be brave once...YOU were the brave one and I thank my Heaven Father for that every day. You jump right into this whole move with an open mind and a loving heart. You went to right to school...met a wonderful friend named Avery that I am sure you will always remember. We all make that one friend that helps us in so many ways that we don't forget them easily. You are truly amazing and I hope someday I can be as brave as you!

Kennedy....I truly wondered if you really understood what was going on...after watching you settle in and make new friends I hearing you say..."I MISS..." You are always remembering those back home and are not afraid to tell us how you feel about it... I just love this. You are growing so quickly and we can't believe the things you know at such a young age. We feel so blessed to have a spirit like you in our lives.

I love you so much girls.....I try to do/say something everyday to show you how much you mean to me.

Love,

Mom

Moving

ok...Things are about to get so busy I hope that I don't forget where my head is or leave one of you at the store or in a car... If I do please, please forgive me. You don't fully understand yet but you will soon or one day. Your dad & I have made the decision to move our family to Texas. I say the word over and over because I never truly thought that this is where I would someday take my family. I hope that you girls are not afraid to be sad and not afraid to get mad. We have made a big choice here. I hope that you will understand too that we would never due this if we didn't think it was truly the best thing for you and our family. Know that our love for you is so true and strong and on our journey it will only grow. We hope you learn some new things about life and people. We hope that this teaches us sacrifice of love and devotion for family, friends, and those we love most.. I know that you don't understand this now but I hope one day we all look back and know we would not have changed anything for the world...Our love for you will never end.

Love,

Mom

Build a Bear

Girls,

We took you to Build a Bear for the first time last night. It was a lot of fun. Your Dad made us laugh with a couple of his smart remarks. One of them was "This is really like shopping with ladies; The girls have to try on every outfit on there bears." (LOL:))

I think one of my favorite parts of the night was when we told Kennedy that she would need to pick what animal she wanted. She looked in the bin with all the animals in them (That did not have stuffing in them yet) and finally picked one out. After she picked the animal that she wanted she turned to her dad and said, " I am going to have to blow this up!" After that she grabbed it and attempted to blow it up like a balloon. We laughed pretty hard at that one. The wonderful things kids think of.

One of my other favorite parts of the night was Makinley & I running around the store to make sure she was getting the cutest outfit for the money. She is really starting to learn the concept of money and she is always trying to get the most for what she has. (Most of learned that from me:)) After about 5 or 6 outfits she finally found THE ONE!!

We had a lot of fun with your Girls.

LOVE YOU LIKE CRAZY!

Report Cards

Makinley,

You had parent teacher conference today. Mom & Dad had the opportunity to go and your teacher had some sweet things to say about you.

The last few days you have been missing a lot of school do to hurting your feet. Then getting sick after. With that your teacher said that she had really been missing you and was glad that you where doing better and that you would be back to school.

Of course you are doing awesome in school and we could not be more proud of you, but your teacher mentioned that you are the sweetest girl. She also said "Makinley always makes me feel loved, she is the one that will come ask to hold my hand, and make sure I am having a good day." What a sweet heart. She also mentioned that you remind her why she loves being a teacher.

After all the wonderful things she had to say we set some goals. One of the goals you set was to eat healthy, work on hand writing and punctuation.

Makinley we sure love you and we hope that school and your health is always important to you!

Love,

Mom

Inspiring people

Girls,

Today We got up; and instead of heading to breakfast for having daddy make the usual bacon and pancakes. We rushed to do our hair, put our pretty dresses on and head out the door to a funeral. Girls you didn't even know the individual that I was going to honor today, but you showed great respect and love for me and the individual that I lost.

This Man was the very first Bishop I knew. He guided me to my temple marriage and help me out so many times that he doesn't even know. He gave me my first calling the in primary. He was also someone that my family very much respected. My dad (your Papa) worked very close with him in the church. He was a very spiritual man that will be missed very much by lots of friends and family.

I also had the opportunity to run into so many of the moms that I learned from. I use to watch so many of these mom's young kids and I learned from all of them. They have touched my life in so many ways they will never know.

I also ran into a Siminary teacher I will never forget and still to this day he knows my name, and never forgets to call and wish me a happy birthday. (Wow!) I wish someday I can be like that!

Girls if there is anything in life that I hope you experience and can always remember it is Inspiring people. You will come across a lot of them and I know that they will all touch your life in some way.

Love you! Thank you for being perfect in every way!

Mom

MIA for a long time...

OK Girls... It has been a long time since I have made journal of anything for you. What can I say I am having so much fun with you!

Really I have had so many thoughts and cute things happen with us that I just haven't taken the time to write them down... So I am going be better.

Makinley with the new year coming I can't wait to see how much more you will grow and how much more you will change. You will discover new friends, adventures, and most of all something new about yourself. Already it is hard for me to believe that you are 6 and will in a few short months be turning 7. Life goes by so quickly and there is nothing I can say to help you see that now.

Makinley just to give you an idea of how loving and how fun (funny) you can be. I picked you up from school your first day back from Christmas break and I asked you "How was school today sweety" without even responding to my question you smiled and said "ALEX & I decided to just be friends!" I don't even know what to say to that... You are such a fun daughter to have around.

Kennedy...Kennedy... Sometimes that is all I have to say for it to explain everything about you. You are still so young to realize that my love for you will only get stronger, sillier, longer, and then someday I hope to be your best friend. You have so much personality that sometimes I just sit back and find myself looking at the clock and another hour has come and gone, and I am happy just because I spent it watching you.

Kennedy most recently you have said some of the cutest things... Not to long ago your Grandma Diane and I were watching you be your silly self and you were asked, "Kennedy did you get that pretty face from your Heavenly Father" You responded without even thinking about it, "NO! I got it at Disney Land" So many times things like this are said by you. I promise that I will do better at recording them. I just have to also add that you strongly feel like you came from Wal-Mart...It all started when one day you Grandma was watching you like I find myself doing all to often, She turned to you and asked, "Kennedy where did you come from?" You turned to her with much wittiness and answered, "From Wal-Mart" Enough said:)

Girls this new year is going to be fun, happy, existing, and so much more. Your Dad & I talk all the time about what might come up or what we want to do with you, we only hope that they all happen and you guys are happy as ever.

Love,

Your Mommy:)

Favortie Friday!!

Oh man....So much has happened. Today is defiantly a favorite Friday I can not go without missing. Mika our families Husky had baby puppies on the 21st of July!!! (Congrats on being a dad Noble) It has been one of the most amazing things that we have experienced. Mother nature is truly amazing. So have a Happy Friday!! We are! (it has also been a lot of fun to see the family come over every day to see how much the puppies are growing)

To bath time...

Oh sweet Kennedy...Today you came to me and asked if you could take a bath and play toys. I could not believe it, even though it was later in the day and you did not really need a bath I was all for it. So I think we can say you are over your fear of the bath!!! YEAH!

Favorite Fridays...

You all know how much I love Design so for today's Favorite Friday...

It's a Freebie Friday...This is a great site for all you Moms who like to do it yourself.

http://blog.hgtv.com/design/category/freebies/