Seriously...who stole the cookie...

What really sucks, is that the answer to that question is, me. OK, so I stole a few more than one cookie. What's wrong with me?! This is exactly why I don't bake or buy junk food from the grocery store. If it is around my house, I will eat it. But, sometimes I like to be the mom who has freshly baked cookies filling the air when my children come in from school. Unfortunately, I just don't have the willpower to have yummy sweets around my house. I'm so disappointed in myself and just having a guilt attack. I need some support. Does anyone share my pain?

An update from court...

The judge had a change of heart. Instead of focusing solely on the father's rights, he is now very concerned about ripping the girls from their home. Yeah! He has ordered a 60 day continuance. While they are not out of the woods yet, more time is always beneficial to my friends' case. Prayers have been answered, today. Thank you.

Just for laughs...

Christie Smith, Emily Burton, me, Ang, Patti Barna

Last Saturday, was my old boss, Angela Burm's, 40th birthday party. Just for laughs, here's a picture of the old ladies from Bloomingfields. (Chances are, if you are from Mesa, one of the ladies in this picture made your wedding bouquet.)

Please think of her...

Almost two years ago, a dear friend in my ward was introduced to two brand new baby girls that needed a family. Luckily for her, and these sweet babies, they took the babies into their family and raised them as their own with the intention of being a family forever. Unfortunately, this good family had no idea what they were in for.

While the mother was steadfast in her desire to adopt her twin girls out, their grandma wasn't so sure and decided to fight for the girls. Then, "Dad" got out of jail and decided to step into the ring for a chance at them. "Dad" has already given up several children with this same "mom" and has a history of selling and abusing drugs.

What a blessing for these girls that they came into contact with this sweet family that loves them so much. This family that brings them to Church every Sunday. This family that they have had Christmas, Easter, Birthdays with for the past two years. This family that wanted to take on baby twins when their own capable mother didn't want to.

And several court dates later, this amazingly strong woman finds herself at tonight. The night before the court date that threatens to take away her girls and give them to their "reformed" father. A father that these TODDLERS hardly even know. Imagine toddlers being taken from their family of 5 and sent to live with a single, strange man.

I write this post because all this woman, her husband, her 6 year-old son and these two little girls have left are prayers. Please remember and pray for her, tonight.

I'll keep you updated.

Easter Pics

My mom's absence was difficult this year at our Easter festivities. Last year, we were at my house getting ready to leave for church to bless Lila. Mom was in a lot of pain that morning, but, being there for that special Easter morning was very important to her. That day, I was able to bear my testimony from the pulpit and I will be forever grateful to have had that tender day with her. I love her so much.

This year, my sweet sister, Sara, took the reigns and had us over after Church. The kids had a blast with their cousins and we just enjoyed talking and laughing with eachother.

Our Spring Break Album

Happy Easter

Today is Easter, but because of my advanced level of procrastination skills, that is not what I am posting about this evening. However, Happy Easter to all of you and I hope that today each one of you felt the love of and gratitude for a Savior that sacrificed so much so that we all would have the ability to live again with our Father in Heaven. I think that the lesson that was taught on an Easter morning, so many years ago, is the most important lesson that can ever be learned. It is the promise of resurrection that has carried me through the last six months. I pray that should you ever have an hour of need, it will carry you, too.

Last weekend, we had a first. Our first child was baptised. Wow, are we really that old, Shannon? The morning of the baptism I asked Cade if he was excited and he said he was but he was also a little nervous. He asked me if I was nervous when I got baptised and it brought me right back to being 15 and nervously sitting in the front row of what I think was the Relief Society room of our stake center. Yes, I was nervous, but for many reasons that Cade didn't have to deal with, my hair getting messy, my non-member family feeling comfortable with my choice, and yes, my CRUSH standing in the back of the room (you know who you are). But, most of all, I was so excited. Cade was excited, too.

After the baptism, we were driving home and I asked Cade if the water was warm or cold. He answered, "A little cold, but, it felt like the best water that I have ever been in,". How sweet it is to be a mom to that little man.

Then, on Monday, we left with the kids and drove to Las Vegas. I know many of you are probably cringing at the idea of taking children to the Strip these days, but, we had a great time.

We stayed at the Excalibur, not the poshest, but totally kid-friendly with their big arcade and castle facades. The kids loved it. The first night, we ate at the Rainforest Cafe at MGM Grand and we spent the next day in the dolphin and white tiger habitat at the Mirage. My kids were in heaven! We also ate gelato as we watched acrobats in the palazzo at the Venetian and swam in the hotel pools. Really, for something other than Disneyland vacas, Vegas has a lot to offer families.

But, back to Cali, Wednesday we drove the 4 hours from Vegas to Dana Point for a little cousin-time (Greg and Heidi and their kids were there).

This time, we did Knottsberry Farm and beached it. It was fun as always. Alas, Spring Break is over and back to the daily grind. It was fun while it lasted, but, truth be told, our day to day life is really where my heart is. Hope you all had a fun week.

What a busy month!

I have so many posts to share, I don't know where to begin. February is my family's busiest month. Casey hates it. He calls December to February the money pit because we go from our anniversary on December 18 to Christmas to Phoebe's birthday to Lila's birthday to Valentines Day to my birthday and finally ,on February 24th, to Cade's birthday. (He really loves all of the celebration!)

Valentines Day was fun this year thanks to our 'Valentines crew'! Somehow, nothing says romance like Greg and Heidi, Lance and Aimee, and Mike and Jen Stapley. This is our 3rd year running with them on our Valentines Day celebration. It started 3 years ago with a hot air balloon ride and we had so much fun that it just stuck. This year we went to see Defending the Caveman at the Mesa Arts Center. HILARIOUS! And so true. They have a standing show in Vegas if you want to go see it. Just be prepared to cover your ears every now and then.

Phoebe also had another dance convention. If you are a fan of So You Think You Can Dance you would recognize a couple of her instructors. I don't know about dance company though. I'm starting to really think that it's just not for Phoebe. She's really uncomfortable with the convention atmosphere. This might be her last year unless she begs when she's older. I just want her to have fun dancing.

On February 18, I turned 29. YES! I still have a whole year left in my twenties! I'm not old yet! Really, though, I don't feel like I'm getting old. I'm actually having more fun with each new year so if this is what it's like to get older, bring it on.

Sara threw my family birthday party at her house. Thanks, Sar. Casey took me shopping in Scottsdale and to eat lunch at the Pink Taco, (yes, famous for the name, not the food,) and My ward friends took me to dinner at Oreganos. Yum! I also did breakfast with the sister-in-laws. It was a wonderful, week-end long birthday!

And, rounding off the month, we had Cade's 8th birthday party! I usually prefer having the kid's birthday parties somewhere far away from my home, but since it was Cade's 8th, I wanted to give him exactly what he wanted. And of all things, he wanted a Star Wars party, at our house. So that's what he got. I found some great ideas online for making light sabers and Jedi cloaks. Once adorned, the boys just went to town. Cade had a lot of fun and now I get to just concentrate on his baptism. Wow! How eight years flies by.

I'm so proud of Cade. He is one of those kids that just glides through day to day life. School is easy for him, friends are easy for him. He' super witty and has a sense of humor far beyond his years. I can't recount all of the bits of wisdom that I have taken from him, but, here's my favorite;

"Mom, are you sad because your mom died last night?"

"Yes,"

"Well, she had lots of pets growing up didn't she?"

"Yes,"

"Then I'm sure she's so happy that she is with them again, now."

Happy Birthday, Sara.

Today we celebrated my one and only sister's birthday at my house with stuffed quesadillas and chocolate ice cream cake. Yum!

I love my sister so much for the sense of calm and humility that she brings into my family. She is everything that I wish I was more of, kind, patient, giving, Beautiful!

I wish you the best for year number 34! You deserve it.

The caboose is 1!

I am a mother of four and because I will always be a mother of four, I sometimes refer to Lila as our caboose. Now that she has turned 1 year old, I have such a feeling that our life as a family is really taking off.

The story of Lila's arrival into this world is very special to me for a couple of different reasons. Just over a year ago, I was very pregnant and Phoebe was turning 5 years old. It was right after her birthday party that my mom began to feel really sick and went in to the doctor. The doctor wasn't very worried, but, shortly after that, she became jaundiced which led her straight to the hospital. It was that trip to the emergency room that turned our lives upside down. She had a "growth" on her pancreas. It's funny the careful words that doctors sometimes use.

I don't know when it really began to sink in that my mom had cancer. All I remember thinking at the time was that my mom would be able to fight her way through it and that I needed her with me when I had my baby. My mom had been with me from epidural to post delivery with Cade, Phoebe and Sofia. How could I deliver a baby without my mom's hand? I couldn't. At two weeks early, I went into my doctor's office and asked him to do all he could to make me have this baby before my mom had to go back into the hospital for major surgery to remove her tumor.

I had Lila that afternoon with my mom right by my side. A few days later my mom went in for surgery and never really recovered.

As a 28 year old mother of four, I have often had people react with shock at how early I started having babies and how many I had! (I'm sure many of you can relate.) And I, myself have wondered from time to time what our hurry was. It was while I was thinking about just that the other day, in my car, when I had one of those 'lightbulb moments'. My Father in Heaven knew what I was going to go through. He knew exactly what trial and pain that was to befall our family and he blessed me with the opportunity to have my mom be with me until I had all of my babies here on Earth. I will always be so grateful for that.

Lila truely was the last great miracle that my mom was able to witness before she passed away and Lila truely is a miracle.

Lila was born with a cleft palette. Thankfully, her cleft was fairly mild. It took a couple of initial weeks of stress and frustration, but, she eventually was able to eat as any other baby, (with the help of a special bottle). Then, at eight months old, Casey and I reluctantly handed our baby over to an amazing Doctor at Phoenix Children's Hospital to have the cleft repaired. She is now fully recovered with not a scar to show. What a perfect miracle this baby has been from her first second in my arms.

We love you, Lila. You are the most content and happy baby that I have ever known and you have truely completed our family in a way that only you could. Thank you.