Sweet ELIZA is 7!

Eliza's birthday was Aug 11. She turned 7. Nothing rips my heart strings more than watching my baby girl grow. This is our conversation.

Me: "Eliza! Quit growing or I am going to have to use my magic wand and shrink you or put you in time out!"

Eliza: Mom, I am growing up. (and just to crush my heart a little more)I want to grow up so I can get my own house and get 7 cats and 4 dogs.

Me: Eliza, if you get cats, I can't visit. I am allergic to them. I hate cats.

Eliza: Well.... then you will need to stay outside when you visit.

Me: What if it's cold outside?

Eliza: Then I will come visit you. Mom, I need my 7 cats.

And so, during the next 11 years of Eliza's life, my job as Eliza's mother is to teach her to not like cats. (wasn't I nice to not say hate. Sorry to all the cat lovers. :)

Breanna, of course, "beauty shopped her up" for her grand entrace to the breakfast table where her 7 pancakes (and under her plate $7) were waiting.

Here's my 7 year old princess!

Pancakes!

Love you, always my BABY girl!

First Day of School

First day of school was on Thursday, August 20, 2009. All of my kids couldn't wait! Okay, Justin wasn't thrilled, but everyone else wanted to see their friends. Here is a picture of everyone on the first day:

Justin after school!

Breanna! How did she grow up so fast!
The four littles! So, so, CUTE!

But these are my favorite! So glad to come home! I hope they are always this excited to come home.


These are the moments I will treasure!

I've never been six before...

On the way home from dropping Caleb off to football and Abby off to soccer, Austin talked non-stop about his birthday.

Austin: Mom, I am so excited for my birthday!
Me: Me, too!
Austin: I am so excited to go to bed tonight, I can't wait. I only have to go to bed 2 more times after this night and then I am six.
Me: Great! I am so excited for you to go to sleep tonight, too! :)
Austin: It's going to be a day all about me. First we are going to eat pancakes, I'll get my dollars under my plate (a tradition in our family, they have to eat all their pancakes, one for every year, the they get a dollar, under their plate, for every year). Second: We go to the baptize (a little girl in our church is getting baptized, he's excited to watch); then we go to school WAIT....no... then he repeats it again. First: pancakes, second: baptize, third: change clothes then school. Wait, no..... First....
Me: Austin, your birthday is on Saturday! No School!
Austin: YAY! I love birthdays more than school but don't worry mom, I don't love them more than Jesus (so sweet, I know). Okay, so it's first: get dressed, second: dollars,third: baptize, four Chuck E Cheese fourth, presents!
Me: Sounds fun!
Austin: Mommy, I am so excited. It is going to be the best day of my life, I've NEVER been six before! I am so, so, so excited. Six is going to be so much fun!

I'm going to remember Austin's excitement on my next birthday and be so excited to turn 39! I have never been 39. That must mean it's my best birthday ever!

Scripture and Prayer

On Sunday our ward kicked off a new program. We were asked to memorize the Book of Mormon Scripture Mastery Scriptures and to Read the Book of Mormon by December 31, 2009. As a family we decided to take on this feat and support our Bishopric. I, personally, feel very close to the Bishop and I know he is inspired and that if we follow his counsel he guide us to Christ. (he's also very good looking, I love to watch him on the stand)
We started our daily reading of 2 chapters of the Book of Mormon on Sunday, August 30, 2009. After checking every one's schedules, 6:00 AM was the only time available. YIKES! I'm tired already! However, we are serious about our commitment and we are up to the challenge. Like Nephi, I was raised by goodly parents who also had scripture in prayer in the wee hours of the morning, too. (thanks Mom and Dad!) I remember bringing my blanket and reading with my family half asleep.
I am happy to announce... We have accomplished two days rising at 6 AM! Our rules are: only one blanket and you must be in the room. We hope, as we continue to do our program, our kids will start participating a little bit more than what you see in this picture. Good job, Abby and Eliza!

Justin at 5:55 AM

Disclaimer

Today I decided.... I need to blog. I just need to have an exit point for all the thoughts that are constantly going through my head. I thought, if I start to record the ramblings of my mind then perhaps I can reflect on them during my times of insanity and get a good laugh and remember, seriously, Who I am, Where I am and Where I am going.

Remember, these are my thoughts. I am not representing anyone but myself. If you don't agree or if I offend you in anyway please, simply click the red x on the right hand side of your computer. I promise, it will all go away.

This is my DISCLAIMER. :)