Jenna's new love.........at least we hope!! She was so excited to be able to play softball on a team with some of her really good friends. Tyler & Hunter. They have so much fun.

Jenna's first recital

Jenna has been taking piano lessons since Jan 8th of this year and has been working REALLY hard to excell in it. She loves to come home and practice and make up her own songs. This picture was of her introducing her song selection. We all thought for sure she would back out!! She did it and did and amazing job.

Jenna played a song that her teacher taught to her after about the 2nd month. She taught it to Jenna without Jenna having to see it in a book so that she would memorize it. It worked. The song was for a student that had been playing for a year and Jenna mastered it. Good Job Jenna!!! I was so proud of her. She did more than just play a song, she overcame her fear of the "Spotlight"!!! YEAH!!!!

An emotional day

I am emotionally exhausted!!! Yesterday was quite the day for me. Sundays are usually hard for me especially when Brandon is not home. Trying to get the family ready without fighting and out the door is an exhausting task on its own. I had been anticipating this sacrament meeting for 2weeks now. I was told that we were going to be having a "Testimony of Music" sacrament meeting. I was so excited. For those of you who don't know already.....I LOVE music. It really is my life calling. Oh' speaking of....I got my 3rd calling 2 weeks ago as the Ward Choir President. What that entails I am still learning, but I am over the choir, how it functions, getting members, choosing the songs, the special performances....etc. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, til Sunday. I already had 2 callings, Sunday school teacher for the 12-13yr olds and Stake Young Women's Music Director. Well, sacrament meeting was a hit. I always feel the spirit with music. Lots of different music brings the spirit, not just church music. So, people got up and bore their testimony about a song and then we would sing it. The Bishop had warned me that as Choir Pres. I had to choose my favorite hymn and sing it on the 20th of this month as a choir, only thing is I would NEVER get through it. SO, I opted to sing it as a congregation.

16yrs ago on May 10th, my sister was killed in a one car rollover. Her car rolled off the road at mile marker 219 in northern Utah. That happened to be her favorite hymn. #219 Because I Have Been Given Much. I have been given so many blessings in my life and in turn this too is now my favorite hymn to sing***well, cry through*** LOL. The knowledge and testimony of the Plan of Salvation gained through that trial is a blessing in itself. I have a testimony that through our trials and tests in this life, we gain knowledge and wisdom.

In Relief Society, our lesson was on Baptism. This too, is a sensitive topic for me. It made me reflect on a lot of baptisms that are so special to me. First and foremost, MY baptism day is always so special to me. To remember my Dad standing with arms outstretched in the water beckoning me to come and take his hand, is very vivid in my mind. I remember my Mom being in the dressing room waiting there with a towel in hand. She wrapped me up like a tight little burrito and squeezed me. I remember the whisper in my ear...."I am so proud of you, Jamie" I will never forget. That moment in time frozen in my mind. The next one I remember is Brandon's baptism day. So many of his family members where in attendance. He had just turned 18. I can remember the spirit that was there was incredibly strong. What an example he was to them all. His dear friend Billy Brewer was there, who is now our neighbor in Utah. I can remember Jenna's who's was just this last August. What a sweet little spirit she has. I know that she was so excited for this day, as many of us are growing up in the gospel. She looked so pure, so precious, so clean. There was only one other boy baptized with her that day, Tyler Young. She had lots of family there to support her. I often think of many other baptisms that I have attended throughout my life. Like Kim Haddix. A friend of mine in High School that came from a very dysfunctional family filled with abuse, drugs and violence. After just 2 weeks of knowing her, she came and lived with us, was introduced to a whole new life, and accepted the gospel. Just a few days after the death of Becky, she moved back to Missouri with her Mother (by then she had left her husband). We lost contact for a few years and I missed her. I had a longing to see where she was in her life. I had an urge to find her. I dreamt one night that I found her and we hugged. The itch was on to find her. I felt it was soooo important. When all my attempt failed I called my brother-in-law, who is in law enforcement and asked if he could do anything to help. A few hours later I got a call a very sober voice on the other end. I still remember the conversation. It was about Feb. 8th a few years back. He said "Jamie, why do you want to find Kim so bad." I said "I don't know what it is, but I feel like I need to find her." Silence filled the phone. He spoke and the words haunted me. He said, "Jamie, Kim was killed in a pedestrian accident last year on Feb. 11th. It has almost been a year now. I am so sorry." I just cried. I then knew WHY I HAD to find her. The spirit prompted me to find out this news. I needed to now do her temple work. It was almost one year to the day. Just a few years ago, I had the opportunity to do Kim's temple work. I know she is happy and sharing the gospel to those on the other side.
SO..........I had a very emotional Sunday to say the least!!!! But, sometimes we need those days. Days to help us reflect on the blessings we sometimes forget about or often take for granted.

t-ball

Madee started t-ball at the end of March and boy was she ever excited to play. She got a new glove, ball, bat and tee set. She practices lots and is a pretty good player. Here are some pictures that Julia took at her first game. She is definitely going to be a ball player. ****Just a little excited******* She already has the stance down and everything.

Kansas 75 at Memphis 68

WOW!!!!!! We FINALLY did it. I personally have waited 12 yrs to see this day. We are HUGE Jayhawks fans, even the kids now!!!! What a game. Talk about nail bitting. Jenna had her hands over her face from the nose down for about 1/2 the game. I should have taken a picture of that. We yelled, screamed and jumped up & down during this game. OT!!!! We finally showed the Nation!!!! Great job Jayhawks!!!!!!

JAYHAWKS BABY!!!!!!

Go Jayhawks!!!!!!

What a night?!?!?!?! I don't think that my kids have EVER watched Brandon during March Madness. I was playing with Madee's hair and she looked at me chuckling, and said "Mom, I don't like watching the game, I like watching Daddy!!! (then giggled)" We laughed so hard at him last night while watching Kansas destroy UNC 40-12 in the first 18min. Then watched as they were being pummeled over and then got the game back. Man, we were exhausted after the roller coaster ride they had us on. I can't wait for Monday's Championship game. Kansas / Memphis.

FUNNY STORY!!!!

So the month of March is Black History Month in the schools. Jenna learned all about Dr. Martin Luther King and found it very interesting. One morning when Brandon was at work, Jenna woke up especially early and came to ask if she could lay with me. I said that was fine, but it is still time to sleep!! I could tell that she was not asleep and rolled over to tell her what time it was. She said, "Mom..........(pause) have you ever met a REAL African American?" TOTALLY SERIOUS!!!! I told her that I went to school with TONS of them. She said "REEAAAAALLLY?" I almost died. My poor kids. They are sooooo sheltered. I tried to make my voice audible and clear so she didn't think I was almost crying from laughter!!! Is that not soooo funny?!??!!

Holy Moley

So.....each year I have all my moles checked to make sure none have turned into cancer. (my fear!) Low and behold........this year I went in to get two checked out because they had been bothering me for some time. The doctor took a look at the two that I was concerned about and decided to take two "other" moles off that looks suspicious! That sucked!! A few days later I get a message on my machine that I have to go in for SURGERY in the morning to remove the area around one of the moles. The area had abnormal growing cells. WHAT?!?!?! After Brandon calmed me down.........this is what I have to show for it now!! Yeah me. Nice wound. I watched the whole thing too. It was pretty nasty. They took about the size of a silver dollar out! snip, snip. What ever right, they got everything and it wasn't pre-cancerous. Yippee~ ***the small circular red spot above my stitches is the other mole they removed.**

My 12 week challenge!!

week 12 week 1

On January 7th I made a commitment to myself to finish a Body for Life challenge. For some of you who don't know what this entails, it is an eating and exercising plan that lasts 12 intense weeks. Eating 6 meals a day and exercising 6 days a week didn't come easy at times. I found that I would want to make excuses to eat something not on the plan or just not want to work out that day. I did have a few setbacks. 9 weeks into this, I had minor surgery and had two moles removed. One then needed extra "attention" and that laid me off working out for two days. I was DYING inside. I FINALLY got the bug and then I was being forced to hold off. I am so proud of myself for finishing my challenge on March 31st. 84 days of discipline. I have NEVER started something and finished!! I have this trait that has followed me through everything I ever start! But........I broke the chain. I am so excited about my new and improved attitude. I love my self more then ever before. I have so much more self confidence and love. I know that I can do anything. You are probably laughing at me right about now!! Well, I am telling you.......this really changed me. I do love my body and I am excited for this summer!! Watch out ladies!!!! just kidding! But, seriously, this really did change my self image. I AM beautiful. I AM a good person and I know that I am a good wife and mom! I am excited to keep this going!!

Family party for Madee

This year we did a family birthday party for Madee with the cousins. She got to go to Fiesta Fun and play arcades, mini golf and best of all get SOAKED on the bumper boats!
Madee got some fun things this year including her own baseball bat!! She loves it.

Madee's 6th B'day

How bless I am to have this sweet, tender girl in my home. She makes me smile when I am not in the mood, she keeps me on my toes with her bigger than life attitude! I love this little girl more than words can even express. She is my sunshine. Happy Birthday Madee....I LOVE you to the stars and back!

Community Helper day in Kindergarten

Today was Community Helper day. Madee asked Brandon to come and talk to her class about how he gets to help the community; more or less he got to tell all about his job. She was so cute, she introduced him as her daddy and said "He is a fighter fighter". I never really listened to her say it until then......oops! He told the kids about his job and then ........................

Got all suited up and sounded really funny with his mask on!

The kids always love to see their Daddy in his fire clothes because it is a rare occasion. Actually, this was the first time that Madee got to see him in all of his gear. Tucker came with us and just kept saying......"WWWWOOOOOWWWW"

Sky Diving!!

Yep, that's right. I met Brandon and all the guys from his station in Mesquite, NV to watch some of them skydive. I wanted to do it soooo bad. I actually told Brandon that I was going to do it. We changed some plans around and I ended up bringing the kids with me. One of the guys from Brandon's station was turning 50 and this is what they wanted to do for his birthday. Brandon wanted NO part of it. I have told him on SEVERAL occations that I would LOVE to skydive. He has always called me CRAZY. Well......who do you think is in the picture??? Well, it wasn't me!! I was soooo mad. I wanted to go so bad, but I really didn't want to do it with the kids there. SO, Brandon watched a few of the guys go and couldn't resist. He said it was the coolest thing he has ever done. He actually wants to do it again. Only, I WILL be there too!!

I can't wait to do it!!!

Harmonica anyone?

Tucker has taken up a new habbit..........seriously. He LOVES his harmonica and plays it for all of us. *and is pretty good and getting lots of fun notes in* He carries the darn thing everywhere. This was a funny day. I was watching Regis & Kelly on TV one morning and Taylor Hicks came on to sing. Tucker stopped playing and came and stood in front of the tv watching in ahh. Taylor started playing his harmonica and Tucker got the cutest smile on his face, picked up his harmonica and away he played with Taylor Hicks. I love the fact that he really loves music. I just wonder what instrument he will end up playing.?

wood stairs stink!

So.......about 6 yrs ago while potty-training Jenna, she was standing on a stool in front of the toilet. As she bent down to pull her pants up the stool tipped and she banged the bridge of her nose on a small, thick plastic trash can. The result.....the biggest, fattest instant black & blue eyes on a baby I had ever seen. Right inbetween her eyes was a gash and a bruise that was pretty bad.

Fast forward 6 yrs......Tucker was climbing the wood stairs today with socks on. I hear a cry, but he is with his cousins Krissy & Kelly so I figure he is okay. He wouldn't stop crying. So I go to the freezer and get an ice thingie (for babies while they are teething) and he just keeps pushing it away from him. I give up and after a few minutes he wants to lay down and take a nap. *it was nap time too* I leave for a while to run arrands and come back to dejavue. A child with a huge bump in between his eyes and a black eye. WHAT!!! It was never his mouth you ding bat, it was his nose.......no wonder he didn't want ice in his mouth.

They litterally looked exactly the same. They look like twins as babies already, it was just weird!

Not the best quality of picture......and this was about 5 days after it happened.

It's a Snow Date

This was a snow date for Brandon, myself, Melissa & Travis. We went up to Park City to board for a few days. Had a blast. Got lost on a mountain by myself, ended up on a black diamond hill, and froze. This was just before going to dinner to met up with an old college friend.

Me and Mel messing around. My jaw somehow looked crooked?!?!?! We really had a good time.

Snow, Snow & more Snow

Snowball fight!!!!

The weekend that Krissy & Kelly were baptized, we got dumped with snow. It was also Superbowl Sunday......go figure Church was cancelled due to the snow!! LOL
I need to learn how to get my video of this snowball fight on here. What a fight!!! These kids were drenched when it was done. Freezing cold......didn't bother any of them except the Dad's without gloves! DUH...On saturday the Dad's took all the kids up to Pine Valley to do some sleding. Here are some pictures of my kids having a ball with their cousins & Uncles.

this is a picture of Richard's son Collin going down the hill.

This is Brandon & Madee in Pine Valley. Everyone went to the hill to sled down it, make now angels, and get blasted with snow. They all had a great time.


Climbing up for a second ride. Jenna & Madee had a blast with all their cousins and Uncles.

Jenna decides to take a ride with Daddy.

My beauiful Jenna. Why do we always have to remind our kids to clean there teeth!? LOL

Crazy Madee

Her last try down.

Funny boots

Tucker and Jenna thought it would be funny to put her slippers on him. He was so funny walking in them. Way to big, and PINK.......not that he cared at all. He has a thing for shoes. It is funny.

Happy New Year!! 2008!

I can't believe 2008 is just hours away. How blessed I am! I am so thankful to wonderful parents who are serving a mission in Ecuador. They have taught me so many things about life and taught me that I am a daughter of God. I am so thankful to a Savior, who suffered so much misery in his short mortal life. He suffered for me, my husband, my children & you! I am so grateful to my husband who loves his family unconditionally.(It may have taken me 10 yrs to realize this, but I know this to be true) I love him! Our children are my world. How blessed I am to have the opportunity to raise Gods children and have him trust me to do a good job. I can only hope I will. Jenna is such a little mother in the making. I love her simple prayers and thoughtful suggestions. Madee, I am so glad she is in our family. She is a witty little thing and so close to her Heavenly Father. I appreciate her little testimony. Tucker is a blessing in himself. He has taught me patients and long suffering. I feel like I am such a different mom between the girls and Tuck. I am slower to snap. I take a minute to evaluate my surroundings before I lose it!! LOL. I am so thankful for my testimony of the atonement and of Jesus Christ. His life and ministry on this earth. I am thankful for wonderful friends that mean the world to me. You are a part of me ETERNALLY! I hope that 2008 will top my years of memories. Thank you~Jamie

Christmas Morn.

Well.......we were tired! We had so much fun at Disneyland and had to drive home Christmas Eve in California traffic. We finally pulled in about 11:30pm and still had to finish some final wrapping. Jenna wanted to open presents at 5AM!! I felt bad, but Brandon had to work that morning and really needed all the sleep he could get. We waited til 7! Santa brought the girls some really fun Beach Cruisers! They are so dang cute. He also brought Tucker a workbench to help Daddy. Maybe I won't have to pick up tools all over my house, or at least they will be pretend! We opted out of presents this year in exchange for Disneyland***WAY TO GO*** but we did get them just a few things they needed. It was a quiet Christmas as Brandon had to get on road just as soon as we finished unwrapping the presents. But it was just the opposite for him. 4 fully involved house fires on Christmas Day. He was very busy this week with a total of 5 fires! That is out of the ordinary in one week! His Dad and Step-mom, Step-sister and brother-in-law made a trip up the day after. We had a good time and the kids are still asking about Uncle Sam and superman! He loved playing with the kids and kept flying them around! Thanks Sam!

The Happiest Place on EARTH! Day 2 & 3

After a slow start to our morning, we were goofing off at the entrance waiting for the guys. This is such a special family to us. We were SO lucky to be able to spend quality time with them. I got to go on 6 dates with Paul. Boy was I excited.......it had been 14yrs! LOL. Madee and Anna are the dearest friends. I know that we were sent to this valley to met this wonderful family! Thank you so much Julz for going with us. We would do it again in a heartbeat......not sure if you would though! I think you go to see the REAL us! Hope you still love us! We had to leave the park around 3pm on the 3rd day because Brandon had to work on Christmas Day. We wished we could have stayed longer. WE LOVE DISNEYLAND!

The Happiest Place on EARTH! Day 1

Disneyland!!!

How could you NOT love these faces?!?!?! They are such special girls. LOVE THEM!

We were waiting for some dear friends *the Aldridge Family* at the Christmas tree, so we took full advantage of the opportunity of pictures! Tucker would NOT look at the camera for anything. Madee got a zurbert on her arm just as I was snapping a picture. The girls wanted to play photographer for a moment and catch Mom & Dad given some love.

After a fun filled day, we had reservations at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. RECOMMEND!! We had a blast posing for pictures in a miniature convertible car while we waited to be seated. Can you see who had the most fun!! JULIA! Gosh......I love her.

The kids got to meet and take pictures with a lot of the characters. We enjoyed LOTS of yummy food and treats too. They even got to meet Goofy himself! What a night. And to top it off....Brandon smiling in a picture with his girlfriend! LOL. We really had a fun day with the Aldridge family.