ONLY IN WYOMING!

I saw this on a friends blog and it made me think of my sister-in-law, Edie. Her and my brother Luke and their family live in California and will soon be moving to Wyoming. We are so excited about that, but of coarse Edie has a few concerns, one of which is the weather and specifically the COLD weather. She has this saying that totally cracks me up but it is soooooo true....."ONLY IN WYOMING"! We can't wait for you to get here, so here's to you Edie and "Only In Wyoming".

COLD IS A RELATIVE THING. . . . . . .65 above zero: Floridians turn on the heat. People in Wyoming plant gardens.60 above zero: Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Wyoming sunbathe.50 above zero: Italian & English cars won't start. People in Wyoming drive with the windows down.40 above zero: Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats. People in Wyoming throw on a flannel shirt.35 above zero: New York landlords finally turn up the heat. People in Wyoming have the last cookout before it gets cold.20 above Zero People in Miami all die. Folks in Wyoming close the windows. .Zero: Californians fly away to Mexico. People in Wyoming get out their winter coats.10 below zero: Hollywood disintegrates. The Girl Scouts in Wyoming are selling cookies door to door.20 below zero:Washington DC runs out of hot air. People in Wyoming let the dogs sleep indoors.30 below zero: Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Wyomingites get upset because they can't start the Snowmobile.40 below zero: ALL atomic motion stops. People in Wyoming start saying...'Cold enough for ya?'50 below zero: Hell freezes over. Wyoming public schools will open 2 hours late

Don't Blink...

...I really do believe 100 years goes faster than you think! Lance and I celebrated our 33rd birthdays this week! I realize that it's not quite 100 years, but I can see how time really does go faster than we think. I don't really know what it is, but 33 was a little hard for me this year. Although, I am still greatful that I'm not 20 again...I kind of like who I've become (although I wouldn't mind that body back again).:)

I think that it is just that so many important things have happened in our lives in the past 10 years. It seems that you spend the first 20 years of life learning from your parents, being shaped into the person you hope to someday become, imagining what your future holds and setting and achieving goals in hopes to become and have all that you have dreamed of .

In the past 10 years I have chosen a carrier path, met Lance, graduated from college, found a great job, got engaged, shared the gospel and saw the man I love be baptized, got married, got sealed in the temple, shared 3 amazing years with my husband doing EVERYTHING together, established a home and foundation to start a family, had 4 beautiful children, experience the most stressful times in my life with 3 of them....and turned 33!

There are many more things that have happened in between all of that, all of which are incredibly important as well, but those are the highlights that come to mind. And in the next 10 years I will spend my time (as my parents did)....teaching my children, shaping them into the people I hope they will someday become, imagining what their future holds and helping them set and achieve goals in hopes to become and have all that they dream of......And continuing to love my husband and build on the relationship that got this whole thing started.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANCE...THANKS FOR HELPING ME MAKE ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE! I LOVE YOU!The boys were so excited to make their Dad a birthday cake, sing to him and most of all help him blow his candles out.

These are the flowers Lance bought me for my birthday. He is always so thoughtful that way and he has always been a "flower guy".

Also for my birthday, Loren and Kaycee were over because Lance was working on their apartment. So, Kaycee made us a spagetti dinner and the most amazing chocolate cake ever. She cleaned my kitchen and helped Garrett decorated his sugar cookies for school. Thanks so much Kaycee I really appreciated that and it made for a great birthday!

Before I Was A Mom....

Before I was a Mom ... I slept in as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got to bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday. Before I was a Mom ... I cleaned my house each day, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry about whether or not my plants were poisonous. Before I was a Mom ... I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, chewed on, or peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom ... I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests, or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom ... I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never new something so small could affect my life so much. I never new I could love someone so much. I never new I could love being a mom. Before I was a Mom ... I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know the bond between a mother and her child. Before I was a Mom ... I didn't know something so small could make me feel so important and happy. Before I was Mom ... I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every hour to make sure all was well. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much Before I Was A Mom.

For My Four Sweet Babies; Garrett, Sawyer, Chase & Teeka! I lOVE YOU! Thanks for making me who I am today.

Home Sick!

We have been home sick for a few days now. I am so hoping that this is going to end sometime soon. Lance and I wanted to go out tonight for his birthday, but I don't think it is going to happen. Oh well, hopefully another night.

This is what we have looked like this week. None, and I mean None of us have left our PJ's. The kids still look cute running around in their PJ's day in and day out, but I can't say much for myself. That's why I'm not pictured!

I just had to throw this picture of Teeka in. I thought that both of her Grandpa's (George & Marlin) would be pretty impressed with the way she is already handling a gun. Okay, so maybe we need to send her to hunter's safety class a bit earlier than normal. Grandpa's, are you proud!

Just When You Think They Never Will....They do!

We experienced a lot of "firsts" with our sweet Teeka-Bear this week. She has been such a joy for the boys to have around and it is so fun to watch their relationship with her grow. They are definitely going to be the "BIG BROTHERS" with all that that entails....Good and Bad!

Teeka had her first helping of rice cereal...Do you think she liked it? Okay, not really, but she was a trooper and just kept going.

Teeka is sitting all by herself for long periods of time. Just like the little champion that she is. It is so fun because she can sit with us while we play games etc. and she loves it!

Teeka rolled over for the first time on Feb. 1st and hasn't stopped since. Front to back, back to front...she's like the energizer bunny....she just keeps going and going.......she thinks she's pretty hot stuff now.
Teeka also experienced her first cold this week. Coughing, stuffy-runny nose, achy body, the whole works, but she is holding out like a trooper. She is waking up once or twice in the night with this cold and that is a bad night for her. I feel bad even complaining about that....she is such a good baby!

BFFs

Grace and Teeka are three weeks apart. We already know they're going to be best friends.

It's Teeka's 1/2 birthday!

Our sweet baby is 6 months old already! I wonder if I remember anything that has happened in the past 5 years sometimes. Life gets so busy sometimes that it all becomes a blur! But when I sit down....I do remember! It has been so much fun having a little girl. She is so easy going, happy, and smiling all the time. Not to mention sleeping through the night! Teeka is so sweet and so content to just hang out that she hasn't even rolled over yet! That's right....6 months and hasn't rolled over yet! Trust me....there is nothing wrong with her!:)

She got her first two bottom teeth at 5 3/4 months, which is the soonest any of my kids have gotten any teeth. I was so surprised! she is getting really good with her hands now, and watch out because she is fast! I haven't started her on any solids yet, but that is soon to come. She has started watching us eat and is drinking water from a cup pretty good now.

Teeka loves to listen to herself talk and likes to hear it loud! She is a regular thumb sucker and has learned to soothe herself so well. Can't wait to try to knock that one:) She loves her brothers, but would rather see them at a distance rather than close up, microscopic view, like they usually give her! However, she lets them know when she doesn't like something, but it usually breaks their little hearts because they always mean well!

We love you Teeka...Happy 1/2 birthday!