Time for Talise.....

Talise is such an awesome kid!!! She's 10 and looks more like she's 8. At least that's what most people think when they first meet her. She's just really petite and small. Actually Jacob is only 1/2 an inch shorter than her and he's 1/2 a pound heavier and has a bigger foot and he's 8. She'll be going into 5th grade but a lot of people ask her if she's going into 3rd. All you need to do though is talk to her and you'll find that she's growing into a very mature little girl. We just keep telling her that it's good she's little for gymnastics.

Speaking of gymnastics Talise accomplished her goal of making it onto the club team at gym. She's now a Level 5 gymnast and will start competing this fall if all her hard work pays off. If not she'll be competing in the spring season for sure. I'm amazed at the progress she's made and continues to make in the gym and in life.

At this year's Utah State Cinderella Pageant she won Mini-Miss Talent. She had worked so hard on her talent to be able to do her round-off back handspring on the hard stage. She's so used to tumbling on the floor at gym that it was a little intimidating to do it on a hard surface. I have to say that I don't blame her. I knew however that she could do it because she does it so well at gym. I wouldn't ask her to do something that I wasn't 100% sure she could do. She just had to make up her mind to do it. Once she did that she was amazing. If I can figure out how to put a video on here I'll put her dance on here. Maybe that's something for tomorrow.

Talise continues to make my heart smile everyday. She seems to always know just what I need and when I need it. She is definitely a mini me as you can see in this picture of me when I was 5.
I know you shouldn't have a "favorite" with your kids but if I had to choose......for those of you that know her you know there is just something about her that sets her apart and makes her sparkle.

Until next time.......

Grapes, songbook, and other things I can't find....

So do you ever have those days that you're totally, 100% sure that you know where something is and then you can't find it? Well that's how this week and these past couple of days have been. It started out with grapes. Now that may sound really silly to most people that I would be baffled by missing grapes but I was. I knew I had bought them and brought them home, but do you think I could find them? Heck no!! The problem arises in the fact that when I go grocery shopping then get home I have the kids put everything away. Well apparently it was Jacob that did most of the putting away and he put the grapes away. Of course I forgot this and didn't think to ask anyone if they knew where they were. So I kept trying to figure out where the grapes were. I even almost went as far as calling Curtis to see if he had taken them out on the road with him. (He does do that sometimes...takes food with him out on the truck and doesn't tell me.) So here I was wondering where the grapes were. Well guess what? I found them. They were in the back part of the fridge under the deli drawer and were hidden from plain site.

Next comes the Primary songbook I was looking for. I haven't had to use it for quite some time so I haven't worried about it. Well wouldn't you know it I needed it for today in Relief Society and couldn't find it. The last place that I thought I saw it was in the girls' room but it wasn't there. Curtis said "I've seen it but can't remember where". That's exactly how I felt. Well when I was to the point that I figured I wouldn't have it and would just have to borrow one I found it. Then to top it off I didn't even use it today but at least I have it now....LOL!!

So I'm sure we've all had moments like this but I think I have them everyday. Could it be because I'm one of the most unorganized people in the world? Or could it be the fact that I have ADD or is it just that I'm getting older and don't want to admit it? Well whatever the reason I persevered until I found what I was looking for and solved the mysteries. And as the saying goes..."Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most". Maybe I'll find it someday too....

What can I say about Jacob??

What can I say about Jacob? He has to have the most zeal and excitement for life and an undying curiosity about EVERYTHING!!! I don't think a day goes by that he's not trying to figure out something new or trying to conquer a new skill. He is always ready with a smile, and a hug and kiss for me at just the right times. He loves to be with his friends and is just as happy to hang out with his family. I still say though that if he had of been born first he would've been an only child. But I wouldn't change one thing about him.


Jacob turned 8 this year and the major highlights for him of course were to be baptized and to start Cub Scouts. He couldn't wait to get his very own set of scriptures when he was baptized. It is our family tradition to give the kids their own set of scriptures when they get baptized, and with him being the youngest he just couldn't wait. We had him pretty fooled too when we told him that we forgot to get them.....but that didn't last long when he pulled them out of this gift bag....They were his favorite gift!! He was really cute too when he was mentally preparing himself for the "big day". When he would take a bath he would "practice" being baptized and would hold his breath as long as he could under the water. I'm not sure how long he thought he would be under the water but he was prepared for it.

The other thing I love about Jacob is his sense of humor. I think he'll be a comedian when he grows up and if not he will be the life of the party. But not until he gets to know you of course. He's kind of shy at first but just wait a bit and you'll see his true personality come out. He's always ready with a joke or a funny act. I think the funniest thing about him is when he sings in the bathroom....it's not so bad at home but when he does it in a public restroom I think it's hilarious. Of course Branden doesn't when he has to go in to get him and he's singing at the top of his lungs. Branden being 16 thinks it's the most embarrassing thing in the world. I just look at it as a cute 8 year old boy that just likes to sing.....LOL!!

Jacob is my hero. He loves unconditionally and has the most tender heart. I'm sure he'll succeed at whatever endeavor comes his way. I love you Jacob!!!

Random thoughts for my first blog...

So here I am starting my first blog. I'm not really sure where to begin at 11:17pm when I can barely keep my eyes open. The past six months have been an experience to say the least and ones that I don't know how I've made it through. Curtis bought his own truck in January. When I say he bought his own truck I mean his own big rig making him an owner operator. For those of you that know me you know I haven't been happy about this from the get-go. But what's done is done and now I have to find a way to live with it and make everything work. So here I am 6 months later still trying to figure out how to do that. Donations will gladly be accepted....LOL!! I've learned to be a creative cook when our food selections weren't what we were used to, learned to juggle bills when I didn't know where the money was going to come from to pay them, and have found ways to have fun with my children that don't have a cost attached to them. I'm still not happy with the whole truck thing and am secretly hoping that he will just give it back and become a regular driver again with a steady paycheck and health insurance.

On the upside of things....Branden will be getting his driver's license soon, Kaitlyn will be starting drill team practices for the summer on Sat. (she made Talon's for those of you that don't know), Talise made it onto the Club team at gymnastics as a level 5 gymnast, and Jacob started Cub Scouts and has earned his Bobcat and a couple of other awards. My kids are my life and they're the ones that keep me going when I want to just stop and vanish from the world. The Lord sure knew what he was doing when he gave me these four great kids.

Well I think this is enough for my first post and I will add more tomorrow....hopefully this will be a way for friends and family to keep up on our goings ons and a way for me to let you all know about our joys as well as our not so happy times. Here's to future blogs......