Tidbits in Time

2012-01-25T20:41:00.000-08:00

Update: ...Sorry....AGAIN. It's just taken me a little longer than planned to get back to blogging. I know, I know...it's really becoming a bad habit of mine...blog neglecting. I will try to work on that one, but I have more than my share of self improvement items on my "TO DO" list for 2012 so I'm not sure how much better this blog updating is going to get, but...I will work on it!

Yes...we really did celebrate Christmas at our house this past year. I have pictures to prove it :)

It was a very, very, very early Christmas morning. I'm talking the insanely 3 a.m. kind of Christmas morning. I don't even think Eloy remembers most of it. It's kind of like a foggy dream really. Picture me trying to smile and act excited while my head is throbbing from too much sugar cooking frosting and no sleep, all the while trying to capture the moment in between nudging Eloy to open his eyes so he can pretend to see what the kids were opening. It was a bit crazy. You see...
like I mentioned in the previous post, Remington was very fond of waking up early during Christmas Vacation. TOO early. I think my head had barely hit the pillow Christmas Eve when Remington came to my side of the bed (and why is it that they always come to my side of the bed????) begging for us to wake up. It was only 2:30 a.m. I guess he had forgotten the agreement we had made before tucking the kids in bed that night that we were not going to get up until 5 a.m. Well, pretty soon he was in the living room with the lights on and after discovering that Santa had really come...well it was pretty much over from there. He couldn't go back to sleep and so he enlisted Ember for help. After a while, they managed to wake Brooklyn and then we just really didn't have much of a choice. Yes we are certainly pushovers for sure!

At around 5 a.m. we coaxed the kids into going back to bed for a couple of hours so we would be able to get up and get ready for church at 9 a.m. Not sure if that's what the kids did because all I know is as soon as I had gone back to bed, I was waking up again to get everyone up and ready. Such was the case with our Christmas. Gratefully, we actually made it to church on time and enjoyed a beautiful Christmas program. I enjoyed most of it in the mother's lounge with Autumn, but I'm finding that's actually the nicest place to be if I really want to hear what's being said. And, it's kind of fun trying to match the speakers' voices to the right person. Kind of a game I get to play now that I spend A LOT of time in the lounge these days.

So, if the pictures are a little blurry...you can only guess the photographer was a little blurry eyed herself. Anyhow, here's to Christmas 2011. In the midst of it all, I was and still am so grateful for the childlike frenzied excitement that comes on Christmas morning and really, I can't wait to experience it again next year but I just have one request....just please, please let Christmas morning come AFTER 5 a.m.

Here's the Boy who started it all!

...and his partner in crime!

...not to mention the third little monkey who is game for anything!

And finally, the sweetest little monkey who slept through it all. (I'm so jealous)

2011-12-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

Remington turns 10

Yes...this cowboy STILL loves trucks! When I asked him what he wanted for a birthday cake his instructions went something like this...."I want a truck with a flat bed trailer hauling a cake with another truck on top." Hmm....pretty easy to do with all the trucks in the house! All I had to do was bake the cake and he would supply the trucks. Actually...Ember pitched in and bought the little truck to go on top of his cake. That was the first present he opened that morning. And, I must not forget to mention that Ember and I woke up at 5 a.m. that morning to decorate the kitchen with streamers and balloons before he woke up and it was a good thing too because he was up at 6 a.m. (Seems to be a theme for the holidays...Rem waking up soooooo early in the morning...but that's another story that I'll fill you in on this next post :)

I love this boy...even when he can be quite the tease and likes to really make his mom crazy at times! Somehow...I don't want him to change one bit though. I just wish he would stop growing and stay little longer. Before I know it he'll be asking for my car keys...oh wait...he already does that. Gosh...where does time go! My little Christmas baby who once played baby Jesus for the Christmas Nativity got to play the part of a Wiseman for our Church Christmas party this year. It was so funny late one night as I was tucking Rem into bed, I mentioned that the Primary President had called and asked if he would be one of the Wisemen. He looked up at me and asked; "Is there going to be a Foolish man?" LOL. I sure had a good laugh. What a kid!

Here are some recent pictures I took of Rem.

He's one handsome cowboy to me....just like his Daddy!

The song "Asphalt Cowboy" reminds me of my boys
so if you listen close you will understand why. LOL!

2011-12-16T20:04:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread House Tradition

I've been feeling somewhat ashamed of myself for not carrying out the tradition my Grandma West started of making gingerbread houses every December. My kids are growing up and I want them to experience the magic and the excitement of seeing one of the these creations come to life. So, I hope Grandma will be pleased with our efforts. And, actually, I do have a confession to make. I didn't use the same recipe or design that my Grandma typically made. I borrowed a smaller version from a good friend. Better to start out small than to have never started at all.....right?

The girls and I had lots of fun putting it together. As always, Ember was very creative and had some great ideas for our little house.It turned out pretty darn cute. Now, we will see how long it lasts. Ember says we are going to eat it for Breakfast on Christmas morning. We will see!

I miss you Grandma.
Thanks for all the memories.....

Mindi, Grandma West and Me

2011-12-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

My Baby is already 2 months old!

10 lbs. 3 oz. 22 1/2 inches

2011-12-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Just trying to catch up!!!

I've been a little slow to blog...then again I feel like my life is in slow mode but the world is flying by me at a rapid pace. Ever since Autumn's birth I feel like I am stuck in October and is scares me well...actually panics me (yes) that the calendar is already nearing mid December. Yikes!

Autumn is nearing 2 months now but I haven't posted any updated pictures for a while. Here she is at 1 month. As you can see...she is filling out nicely :) maybe not as quickly as my first 3 but she is definitely chunking up!

1 Month Old

We just love this sweet little one...but I would be lying if I said that she has been an easy baby. It has been a rough couple of months and we are just holding on to hope that this colicky phase will pass soon. She is beginning to smile quite a bit so it gives me the strength to keep up.

Autumn had her first sleepover at Auntie Markel's house for Thanksgiving weekend. Like always, Markel went out of her way to make it special. She even got creative and made Autumn a cute little bed out of a box :) And she really did sleep in it too!Our family enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving dinner with Markel and Blaze at their home with my Mom and Dad. Everything was so beautiful and delicious right down to the tiniest detail.

And we all certainly have much to be grateful for but especially one another. Can't imagine not having my family in my life!

The girls were pampered and got to sleep in Markel's bedroom next to her beautiful Christmas tree and watch movies and eat pumpkin pie in bed. She also spoiled all the kids with a special ornament...a tradition she has kept through the years. Brooklyn especially loved trying on all of Markel's costume jewelry and she danced around the house in delight!Thanks so much sis for a Wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend!

2011-11-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

I Have Been Blessed

This past weekend was truly amazing! As I watched my sweet new baby be blessed and my daughter Ember be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past weekend....the spirit witnessed to me once again what a blessing it is to have the gospel in my life. How wonderful it is to have a husband who is a worthy priesthood holder who can perform these sacred ordinances. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have of our Heavenly Father and His Son, my Savior and Redeemer. What a blessing to know that we can return to their presence someday if we keep the commandments and follow our Savior's example.

As you can see, Ember looked beautiful in her white dress. It was especially neat because this dress is the same dress that I wore when I was baptized. My mother made it for me. Ember was thrilled to wear it and it fit perfectly.

What made the weekend even more wonderful was that Autumn was given her name and a blessing on Sunday and she wore the same white dress my Grandma West made for me to be blessed in. So...both my girls were wearing my White Dresses! Pretty neat!

I'm so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for granting me the blessing of being a mother. It truly is the greatest work...and greatest challenge of my life but I wouldn't miss this experience for the world. I feel so blessed!

2011-11-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Halloween Pics

Remington went way out of his comfort zone and chose to be John Wayne...LOL! Ember was a Vampire and well Brooklyn was supposed to be a witch... but chose to be a princess the night of Halloween. Just look at the following picture of the costume my mom made her. What a girl...I think the witch costume is adorable...but kids...you just can't change their minds when they have a notion of their own!

My girls

Do you think Autumn's costume is toooooo big?
She didn't last too long in it...TOO HOT for sure!

2011-10-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

My Baby

I love this picture of Autumn that my mom took a few days ago.
I just can't believe my baby will be 2 weeks old tomorrow.

I took her in for a check up yesterday. She is now 6 lb. 12 oz. I just wish I could wrap her up and keep her this size for a while. If only.........

2011-10-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

Go Bobcats

Well, Rem finished his Football season with a Smile. He had a great time and had some awesome coaches. He loved getting to play Center and snap the ball. He did a great job. His last game was really fun. They actually had an announcer and he was a good one. When they called all the kids out on to the field the announcer had a special name for them. Of course Remington was thrilled when he said: "Remington...the Pistol Mendoza."
We all got a kick out of that. Congrats on a great season #40.

Remington practicing with the Quarterback
before the game.

2011-10-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

Meet Our New Baby Girl

Autumn Christena Mendoza
Born: Oct. 14th, 2011
6 lb. 7 oz. 19 inches

Our sweet little Fall baby is finally here. We sure do love her and the kids are pretty proud of their new sister. Brooki is especially protective and tells everyone...."Don't touch MY baby."

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I can't decide if it's getting a little easier or more chaotic as the days move on. I'm so grateful for my mom who was able to come and spend a week and a half with me. Now I wonder what I will do now that she has gone home. Somehow we'll survive! I'm just trying to live in the moment and treasure these precious days.

Me and my baby

Eloy and the Kids

Brooklyn and Grandma Nield

When time allows...LOL... I'll post some more pics.

This next picture I'll dedicate to my sister Mindi since it looks a lot
like her newborn picture. And...funny coincidence is that
Mindi weighed 6 lb. 7oz. too!
Pretty neat!

Mindi is the little one on the left. See the similarities :)

2011-10-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I've been a little slow to update the latest happenings at our house. In between getting ready for our baby's arrival and planning birthday parties and running the kids around...I just haven't had the time or energy to do it.

September was a busy month, but we survived :)

We spent Labor day weekend in Wyoming with my family. Since my parents real anniversary was the end of August, we celebrated once more with them down home on the ranch. It was a refreshing weekend. While the cousins spent hours playing in the back yard and sprucing up Grandma's playhouse on Saturday, Eloy was busy hauling my Dad's cattle to the sale yard in Riverton. Of course Remington wouldn't have missed that adventure for the world and he was thrilled and "honored" to get to help haul a load of Grandpa's cattle!

The cousin's waving at Uncle Eloy as he backs up to Grandpa's chute!

Uncle Blake, Grandpa and Remington waiting to load the cattle!

Helping Grandma husk corn!

On Sunday night, we celebrated with a yummy dutch oven dinner and some famous German Chocolate cake! We also gave Mom and Dad a book highlighting their 50 years together and some homemade Christmas ornaments of the family to hang on their tree.

Marquelle's Yummy German Chocolate Cake

The book "50 Years Together"

On our way home, we swung through Idaho Falls to see Eloy's family. We were anxious to meet the newest additions to the family....Denise and Brandon's twin boys!

Blake and Benson
So cute and soooo Little!

While visiting at Papa and Grandma's house, the kids played dress up with Aunt Liza. I think Brooklyn had the most fun and she really fit the part :)

On the Saturday before Ember's 8th birthday, she celebrated with some friends in our backyard. Since Ember wanted a horse shoe cake, the party was centered around cowgirl games. They each ran the barrels and poles on Brooki's stick horse and got to take a swing at Ember's horse pinata. I think they had a great time. Ember loved it and said it was the best birthday ever.

Ember's Horseshoe Cake
Celebrating with friends!
Breakfast in bed on her "real" birthday!
Ember opening her present from Mom and Dad.
Yea! A real camera!

I just can't believe my little girl is already 8 and we are looking forward to her upcoming baptism in another month! In the meantime, we are counting down the days until our 3rd baby girl makes her arrival. She will be here soon. Only 10 days until I am scheduled to be induced so now we just wait and see if she decides to come on her own!

2011-09-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

Let's play some FOOTBALL

Remington #40 in the middle

I wish I could have been there when all these anxious 4th grade boys gathered together at City Hall to meet their coaches and collect their equipment for the season. Since physicals were required...I decided I better let Eloy take Rem since that's kind of the dad's place and all. So the girls and I stayed home and waited for their return.

About an hour later, I heard the diesel pickup pull into the drive way and then Remington came bursting through the door as proud as any future football player would be. Of course he was donning his new helmet and football pads... and I couldn't help but smile and at the same time wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. I'm thinking (quietly to myself of course) "He's my baby boy...he can't really be old enough for this yet?" Then I watched some more as he strutted around the kitchen, flexing his muscles and trying to act all tough. It was quite the moment...but what happened next really put a grin on my face and lots of laughter in the house. Ember marched right up to Rem and with that "Oh yeah...I can take you on" attitude look gave Rem a little forward nudge and to our surprise Remington tipped over and landed on his back like a helpless turtle unable to figure out for the first time how you're supposed to stand up or move for that matter with all the extra gear on. It was hilarious!
Then Eloy proceeded to tell me the details of the evening. I asked who all were there and he said it was about the normal crowd of parents and kids (the same typical boys who show up to the baseball diamond in the spring.) Then he laughed and said that it was quite entertaining. They took each kid and weighed them and outfitted them with their equipment. The ones who still needed physicals were taken to a separate room. They even had to pass and eye exam. He started laughing as he related how he was watching one scrawny little boy who was taking the eye exam. First the doctor asked...."Do you wear glasses?" The kid responded, "Yes." His mother laughed and said; "No you don't." Then, while looking at the biggest letters on the chart the kid was squinting saying he couldn't see them. Eloy said his mother looked like she was about to faint. I'm sure the doctor was a little concerned at whether the child was pretending or the mother was clueless as to how blind her child was. Eloy couldn't stop laughing at all the chaos. Then when it was Rem's turn for his physical, they had him bend over to check his backbone. Thank goodness Eloy was there because he could tell that Remington didn't have both his feet together and and was bending one of his legs so when the doctor felt his back he became concerned and wanted Rem to go in a different room so they could remove his shirt and have a better look. Eloy laughed saying it was so obvious that he wasn't standing straight and he couldn't believe the doctor didn't check to make sure that was the case before examining his back or else Rem might have been banned from playing due to the wrong assumption that he had scoliosis. Whew! We are grateful that wasn't the case!

Well, Rem passed the test, so the game can go on. I was really hoping that he could avoid being one of the linemen but because of his size (he's pretty tall and lean at 88lbs and one of the bigger ones on his team) so that is exactly what he is doing. I was kind of hoping that he could avoid that position..but Rem likes to be on the front line and he likes to tackle so I figure. . . might as well
Go get 'em!

In the Huddle

2011-08-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

Back to School

Hooray for a little routine! The neighborhood was buzzing bright and early as the kids made their way to the bus stop across the street. Today was the first day of school and although I don't like having to wake up to an alarm...it sure is nice to be up and going early :)

Ember and Rem were both pretty excited and I was relieved! Rem is most excited about the turtle and fish aquarium in his classroom. (I hope that doesn't wear off too soon.) There's much more to school than the pets in the classroom. I think he was a little curious to find out who this other boy named Remington is who is also in his class. Who'd have thought? There are probably only 2 kids named Remington in the entire school and they ended up in the same classroom. Crazy (especially when there are six or more 4th grade teachers.) When we met his teacher at back to school night last week she told me that once she actually had 4 Sean's the same year!!! Yikes!

So of course I can't let the little monkeys get away without a few pictures.

Rem...Forever a Cowboy :) and by far the easiest (but most expensive) kid to shop for!!!

Ember decided she wanted to be a little more girly and opted for a jean skirt!

I can't believe another year is just beginning...

Here's Brooklyn pouting on the front step as the bus arrives.

Poor girl...I guess it's just her and me at least for another 6 weeks or so!!!

And here's the 4th little monkey soon to arrive. (Can you tell that Ember loves to be the photographer. She's getting pretty good too. I said no head shots and this is what she got. LOL!) If Halloween were sooner...I could be the headless MUMMY :)

With all the aches and pains and feeling down right miserable some days...I must say that I am grateful and anxious to meet this little one who keeps me up all night with her kicks and wiggles :) I know people think I'm not very big but it's only because I don't carry much fluid around the baby and every internal organ is smashed up inside my ribcage so that she can hide in my back. As much as I am miserable I feel for her too. I can't imagine that it's very comfortable to be upside down and so scrunched! Thank goodness we have no recollection of our days in the womb or I think we would all have a severe case of Claustrophobia!

2011-08-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

"Some Pig"

In honor of the book Charlotte's Web...Rem named his pig Wilbur so we hung a little spider's web behind his pen for good luck!

Well, we survived Fair Week and Remington had a great experience. Truly, Wilbur was a pretty nice pig if I do say so myself. When we first brought him to his pen at the Fair he was pretty unhappy though being by himself and boy did he make quite the racket in the Pig Barn. Later, we decided that if we put Rem's friends pig in with him he might settle down and it did the trick. He was much happier after that. Pigs don't like to be alone.

On the morning after arriving at the fair Wilbur passed the ultrasound test. (They can only have 1.25 inches of back fat in order to sell at the 4-H sale and he scraped by with 1.03...whew.) On the flip side...we didn't have to worry about him making weight since he weighed in at a whopping 285 lbs. Let's just say he was one "fat and happy" pig. His philosophy might as well been...I'll do what you want just show me where the food is :) He was a pretty easy keeper.

We learned a lot during fair week and everyone pitched in to help. Ember and Brooklyn were right there cheering and supporting their big brother. Even Grandma Nield, Aunt Jana and Uncle LeRoy were able to come and watch Rem show his pig and that meant a lot to him. Gratefully, our friends were so good to show us the ropes and helped us get Wilbur all clean and shaved for his debut and Eloy was right there in the pig pen with Rem helping get him ready.

Rem all ready for the show

Remington did a great job for his first time and got blue ribbons both in quality and showmanship. We were so proud of him.

In the show ring

After the Show

It's a Family Affair

Wilbur did pretty well at the 4-H sale too and Remington can't wait to cash in his check so he can open a savings account at the bank.
However, the last night of the fair as Rem said goodbye to Wilbur...the reality of the SALE set in and Rem was feeling pretty sad and was pretty much inconsolable for a couple days. It's hard to get attached and then have to send your pig off to the butcher. He really wanted to keep Wilbur as a pet. We sure will miss good 'ol Wilbur.

He certainly was "Some Pig"

2011-08-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Water Logged

This is the first year that we have done swimming lessons back to back for 2 sessions. I am tired but the girls are loving it. They have really progressed in their swimming skills so it is worth it. With all the drowning incidents this summer it makes me want to keep them going. I guess there's no such thing as too many swimming lessons although I think 2 session in a row is enough for me for a while.

This child has NO FEAR! She even jumps at the end of the diving board a few times before she leaps ... just to make it more exciting. She is definitely her daddy's girl :)

Brooki loves her swimming teacher. She is so fun with the kids!

Practicing in the deep end!

Ember has been learning all kinds of new kicks and strokes.
It's fun to watch her. She is quite the fish!

She's getting pretty fast too!

Meanwhile...Rem is getting Wilbur ready to show at the Fair and it's down to crunch time now. One week to go. He has been working him everyday and he is looking pretty good!

He is certainly "Some Pig"

2011-08-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

Lest you think I'm neglecting my one and only boy...I thought I better post some pics I took of him recently.

He's always willing to pose next to a tractor....

or on top of a flat bed trailer...
and he likes to live dangerously too!
But mostly, he just likes to hang out with his dad....looking, pondering, observing, fixing, calculating...dreaming....hhmmm! OK boys...what are you up to now!

Rem thought he spotted a rattle snake! He decides to let dad check it out first. I think the girls and I will go somewhere else!
That's My Boy

2011-07-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I decided to get on the ball and get some hair clips made for the girls. Don't know where I got the ambition...but now that I'm finished with this project I'm sure glad :) In the past I've tried different hair bows etc. but I haven't been as motivated to do much for a while and it doesn't help when you have a daughter who won't cooperate. Gratefully, Ember has just recently gotten more serious about the way she dresses and thank goodness she at least wants her hair combed once in a while. It sure helps now that her hair is short. In the past she could care less and after battling with tangles and tears I gave up. If we managed to get a pony tail in we were doing good. Brooklyn on the other hand loves to get dressed up but keeping her still long enough to finish a hair do is about impossible. Heaven help mothers who have more than 2 girls....Yikes!! I guess that's going to be me real soon. LOL! I guess you could say that I have come to the conclusion that if I'm gonna have 3 girls I better get with it and start doing more GIRLY things!

Side Note: Here's a little story to explain my predicament! I babysat some cute little triplets a few months ago (2 boys and a girl.) After only a few minutes at our house I soon realized what a terrible mother I was because this cute little girl informed me by the saddest look on her face what a disgrace it was that we do not own anything that resembles Barbie or Tinkerbell, and (now this is really embarrassing) but we don't even own the movie Cinderella. I KNOW...slay me now. I'm awful. But, please don't judge me. I have intentions of someday signing up for Disney Movie Club because of my guilty conscience but it hasn't happened yet. Actually, I searched our house trying to convince her that our home really wasn't too terrible a place. I mean, we have thousands of baby dolls and a couple of play dresses...but from all the cattle trucks and tractors in the basement she was a little confused. Anyhow, before she left I sort of redeemed myself when I revealed the Disney Memory game that was stashed in our game closet and lo and behold there was Cinderella. Whew! That was a close one. I hope she isn't too afraid to come back and hopefully my girls will someday forgive me for keeping them in the dark about Tinkerbell and Barbie. It really wasn't intentional and just for the record...I love Cinderella and that little chubby mouse Gus Gus is the cutest mouse in the world...if there is such a thing! So now that you know why it is highly important that I get ambitious about being a mother of 3 girls I can move on with this blog post. Sorry! But I just had to get this off my conscience so I can repent and move on and hopefully do better. LOL! Not that Tinkerbell and Cinderella have anything to do with being a good mother...but you know...it can't hurt!

So, as I was beginning to say, yesterday Ember helped me pick out some flowers and last night we watched a movie while I sat with a lapboard, glue gun, scissors, hair clips and ribbon to produce these.
So, you know what comes next. With all these clips we needed a good place to put them. After a little research I ran across this neat website with:Flower Clip Board ideas! Then I remembered that I had a 16 x 20 white frame in our basement that I bought on clearance at Michaels about a year ago. (See I knew it was too good a deal to pass up and eventually I'd find a use for it. Not too shabby for $4) The most expensive part of the project were the flowers. Now I know why flower clips can be a bit pricey. Anyhow, my friend said she liked to buy hers at Kings and we found most all of them there for .99/each. (if you know where to find them cheaper...please don't tell me...just kidding...I'd LOVE to know!) I'm sure if you buy a whole bunch at a time it would be more cost effective but I don't plan on ever going into the hair clip making business. I think I would go crazy but this was kind of fun...the end result was worth it. After buying some ribbon and a little paint and glue this is what I got.

Before the Clips

So here it is :) I think it will look cute in the girls room and if they will wear them I'll be even happier. However, I have noticed that whenever my girls actually wear something cute in their hair it comes up missing real fast. Usually when I send Em out the door for school or Brooklyn to the Nursery I might as well kiss their hair clips goodbye too because they most likely won't come back. Oh well, that's what pictures are for ...right?

After

2011-07-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

My girls make me laugh..they make me wish I were little again...they remind me of carefree days. My girls have wild imaginations...they make me crazy...they are trying to teach me patience...and best of all they love me even when I'm not the mommy I want to be. My girls are clever ...fiercely determined...yet gentle. They stick up for the underdogs. They are sweet...sticky...they leave footprints on my floor and crumbs in my bed. They read to each other...and they giggle...and they cry. They are best friends and I'm so glad they are mine. I feel selfish because I know they are not mine but His! I'm grateful Heavenly Father trusted me enough to let me care for them for a season. It is humbling....and overwhelming. It doesn't seem real that another little one is on the way. I can't wait to welcome her to the family. I wonder what she will look like? I wonder if she will be shy like Ember or bold like Brooklyn? Will she have dimples and lots of hair? Who knows! I'm pretty certain her eyes will be brown...and she won't stay little long enough...but that's not important. I'm certain I'll love her...I already do.
I love My girls!

2011-07-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

4th of July weekend

What a fun and crazy weekend we've had. In between all the events and company we've been taking care of our friends dog, chickens, lizard, flowers and lawn. It's been busy but the kids are loving it!

Grandpa and Grandma Nield came on Friday and we celebrated their birthdays. Dad's was on the 24th of June and Mom's was on the 1st of July. The kids helped me make brownies and then we topped them with whip cream and sprinkles and sang to them. We had a nice dinner outside in the evening shade and it felt good.

Saturday, we made a visit to the City of Rocks. None of us had ever been there and it was impressive. We climbed a little and then found a shady spot to eat our picnic lunch. The kids wanted to stay longer but we had to get home in time to take care of the chicken's and the dog and still make it to the rodeo on time.
The rodeo was exciting. Papa and Grandma and Aunt Liza also came that evening to watch the kids participate. Brooki and Cole both rode a sheep and did awesome. I was surprised at how far they each rode. Remington rode a Mexican steer...and boy was it a spunky one too. He lasted a few jumps out of the gate so he did great! Ember chased some of those Mexican steers in the ribbon pull contest but wasn't too thrilled when the steers turned and started chasing her. Yikes! We enjoyed lots of laughs during the evening. I wish I had recorded more than just our kids because boy I could be making some big bucks on America's Funniest Home Videos. You just had to be there to know what I'm talking about. It was down right hilarious at times.

Brooki, Ember, Cole and Rem

Sunday after church, Marquelle and Blaze came to stay. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and took the kids over to see the chickens and play with the dog while we gathered the eggs. The highlight of the evening was attending the Patriotic program put on by our community. Remington was asked to do a speaking part and he did such a great job. They actually performed the program twice because there are so many people that come that there just isn't enough room in the High school auditorium. Rem was very poised and calm through it all...much more than me. He always comes through even when he acts like he's not listening to any of my suggestions. We rehearsed his part over and over to the point I think he was about to strangle me if I asked him to say it again. His practice paid off though. We really enjoyed the entire program. How I love this great country that we live in...and like Rem stated; "America is great....ONLY if WE are Great!" It's up to us to remember and live the principles that our forefathers established in this great land. It is neither the congress or the president that makes this country what it is. With our Trust placed firmly in God, "We the PEOPLE" are the determining factor!

Listen to Rem's Message here
*Pause the music at the bottom of the page to hear

Remington dressed up for the Patriotic Program

Monday morning we had our traditional breakfast before heading to the parade. French Toast with fresh berries and whipped cream along with bacon and sausage is the perfect way to start the festivities. We even lucked out and found the perfect parking spot and a great place to watch the parade on the square. Afterward, we enjoyed some shade and some delicious homemade Mexican food while the kids played. Later, we came back to our house so the kids could cool off in the pool and the slip'n'slide. Towards evening we all gathered for some of Grandpa Nield's famous dutch oven potatoes and chicken and lots of other salads. (I think I've gained 10 pounds over the last few days. Oh well! It was wonderful.) Before heading to the parade, Remington entertained us on the guitar. He is turning out to be quite the performer. Who knows, maybe he'll make it to the big stage some day and even if not, we sure enjoy listening to him. He's quite the entertaining cowboy!French Toast Delight with all the fixins

Remington, Blaze, Ember and Brooki

Brooklyn and Auntie Marquelle

The fireworks were nice...minus the mosquitoes and Brooklyn's crash landing on the cement pad just before they started. Gratefully, Auntie Marquelle's glow necklaces distracted her from the pain while Grandpa Nield doctored her up and made it all better. It was a pleasant night and we had the perfect location and could see the fireworks really well.
Well, you'd think the night was over but we just had to come home and enjoy some of Grandma Nield's Coconut Cream Pie and a few more fireworks before heading to bed. The kids had quite the stash and we still didn't even put a dent in their collection. (More for next year I guess.) By the time we hit the sack, we were more than exhausted. Marquelle and I both had a good chuckle as we commiserated over our swollen ankles and mosquito bites. Oh well, it was worth it. Just can't believe the 4th has come and gone again. So sad, but I think my feet need a vacation!

2011-06-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Latest Projects:
I saw a neat idea on marthastewart.com to make these cute Bandana Aprons for the girls for the 4th of July. They were quick and fun to make. The girls love them!

Next, I finally got around to making one of these. It's a Nursing Cover. I wish I would have had one of these with my first 3 kiddos.

And just for the record...I'm now 24 Weeks.

October is coming fast considering how fast the summer is going!

2011-06-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Tidbits of our summer days so far. . .

Ember splashing in the backyard pool with friends.

It's gradually warming up around here...but sometimes the wind makes it feel a little chilly. Here they are sitting by the dryer vent drinking hot chocolate after getting out of the pool to warm up. Rem asked me if we could plug in a heater outside.

Brooklyn didn't stay in the pool too long. Instead she let me capture some photos of her laying on the grass. This one is my favorite :)

About a week ago, Ember and her friends decided to get all glamorous and dress up their little sisters and do a parade for their dads for Father's Day. They had big plans and spent the day decorating their bikes and making gifts running in and out of the house to decorate and plan some more. I helped them make Kool Aid and popcorn bags for their dads. When Ember's friends parents came over for the "Grand Event" they sat and watched with us as the girls raced around our driveway to loud music. They were too cute. I'm sure that someday they will look back and laugh about it. What imaginations these kids have.

Here's Brooklyn and her friend dressed up as Snow White. I think
these girls could go to work at Disney. They looked pretty cute!

And here are the party planners all together!

This last Friday...since the boys were gone for the day, us girls decided to go to the park on the river and fly kites. It's the perfect wide open space and of course there is always plenty of wind.Brooklyn was pretty excited to see her kite so high in the sky.

Ember eventually mastered the trick of getting it in the air!

After a walk along the river bike path, we went over to Gossner's for yummy ice cream cones. The girls opted for Cotton Candy..but me, I'm a mint chocoholic so of course I just had to get Grasshopper and well...who can pass up Huckleberry? Not me...so I had a little of that too. I think we need to have more afternoons of kite flying and ice cream cones!

2011-06-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

June Days

For Memorial weekend, the kids and I headed to Wyoming to spend a few days with our family. Even though the weather wasn't as nice as we had hoped, we did get a little sunshine and lots of playing time with cousins.

Here they are doing one of my favorite childhood activities...shaving cream art on Grandma's sliding doors.

(Grandma sure is tolerant and nice.)
And...it's a cheap way to entertain kids. Just buy a can at the dollar store and enjoy. It makes the room sure smell fresh and clean too!

Can't forget how important Grandpa's 4 Wheeler is when it comes to fun on the ranch. Remington was sure proud to be KING of the pasture hauling Grandpa's "mugwomps" around. Gratefully everyone was safe and had a good time!

Next, we headed to Salt Lake City where we joined up with all of my brothers and sisters and their family and kids to celebrate my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. (Technically, their anniversary is actually Aug. 24th...but we wanted to celebrate it early before my sister and her family headed to Illinois for medical school.)

On Friday we met at the Salt Lake Temple grounds and enjoyed walking around the beautiful temple where my parents were married. We also toured the beautiful visitors center. I just love walking up the rounded stair case and standing at the feet of this amazing statue of our Savior Jesus Christ. It's like walking into Heaven.

Mom and Dad enjoying the beautiful scenery!

As you can see, keeping the kids out of the water fountains on the temple grounds was a little challenging at times :)We all stayed at our home away from home (Little America) since we don't remember there ever being a time that our parents have booked another hotel while staying in Salt Lake. It brought back lots of memories and we had a great time :)

On Saturday, the kids splashed in the pool while the girls finished up some last minute details. Then all the grandkids met in the parking garage to help fulfill some important assignments such as decorating Grandpa and Grandma's car with balloons and pop cans etc. They did a great job.

We celebrated the evening at the Garden Room in the Grand America across the street. It was an elegant setting with just our immediate family. Marquelle and I went over an hour earlier to set up and decorate the tables and it turned out amazing thanks to Marquelle's artistic abilities.

We had a nice quiet evening with a exquisite dinner and simple program. The kids were amazing considering they were totally out of their element attending such a fancy occasion. They were delighted to be waited on like royalty.

Words don't really give justice to the evening so I'll let the pictures tell the story!

The cake with my parent's original wedding cake top.

The place setting

More table decor courtesy of Marquelle :)

All the granddaughters got flower bouquets and heart lockets.

Our Yummy salad and appetizers

Baked Halibut

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Guests of the evening included:

Mindi and Jon

Blake and Judi

Bryan and Rachel

Marci and Eloy

Note: Marquelle refused to have her picture taken!

The Grandkids...or (Mugwomps as Grandpa calls them)
Grandpa and Grandma Nield with their newest granddaughter
Taye Lynne

Cutting the cake

(I knew I could sneak Marquelle in here somewhere.)

Special Gifts:

A coloring book for the kids created by Mindi.

The Last 50 Years from Judi
(a compilation of events from 1961 - 2011)

The following book was given to each of us from our parents.

Finally, the night closed with a gift from me ...a video montage I created of our family through the last 50 years. We all got in our comfy pajamas and met up in Marquelle's hotel room which was all decorated like a movie theatre with popcorn and candy while we watched the movie.

Getting Comfy

Congrats on the last 50 years Mom and Dad.

We Love You!

2011-06-14T16:56:00.001-07:00

So I guess I need to do a little re-cap of May before I head on into June. I'm not very good at keeping up with this blogging thing anymore...but it's kind of nice to have a written version of our memories since I'm not very good at writing in my journal anymore either! At the end of the day it's all I can do to get the kids in their beds and quickly get some sleep in my own before they sneak into my bed and still my comfy space. I don't have much time to sit and ponder and write down what has transpired and well...to be honest...some days I don't think I want to re-live the day. It's a little chaotic at times! LOL!

First of all, Ember had her year end tumbling recital and did a great job. Brooklyn is so excited to follow in her sisters footsteps so we got them both signed up for summer sessions!
Amazingly, the second weekend in May was nice enough that I actually planted some flowers and we had a back yard barbecue. It was such a fun evening.Next, my family surprised me with flowers and a yummy ice-cream cake from Dairy Queen for Mother's Day. It was a different Sunday right from the start because Rem, Em and I had to leave for church that morning without Eloy and Brooklyn because they both had a bad case of pink eye. Thank goodness we have a doctor in our ward who was willing to call in a prescription. Whew! I despise pink eye with a passion. Just say the word and our family is jinxed! Ooh, just talking about it makes my eyes itch so I will end on a good note and report that when we got home from church the table was set, dinner was cooking, and the kitchen was spotless. Life doesn't get much better than that. Poor Brooki was sound asleep though, so she missed out on the picture.
Well, towards the end of the month we were fortunate to have a fun SUNNY weekend with my mom and my sister in law and her little boy who came to visit us. They were tired of the snow in Wyoming and I was so grateful they left it behind them to come see us. Saturday was spent playing outside on the swings, digging in our garden plot, visiting the pigs, playing at the park and running through our sprinklers! At the end of the day, we were all exhausted with a great sunburn. Poor Eloy's reward for revamping our sprinkler system was a ruined cell phone that met it's demise in a pool of water. Now...if you know Eloy...that is as close to the end of the world as it gets. (Sorry sweetie...I just had to throw that one in.) Anyhow, minus the phone tragedy it was a splendid weekend and we hope that our Wyomingites will return again for some more fun in the sun!

Here they are visiting our pigs.

And, here's Em sporting her adorable new hat that my mom made. Someday, when I get the notion I'm gonna try making a few :) I just might make one for myself... but I can't guarantee it will be very soon!

With the end of May comes the end of another school year. Remington was a little reluctant to be excited about it though. I must say that kid is too much like his mother when it comes to being sentimental. He was sad to leave 3rd grade because next year he will have to attend a whole new school. However, when he walked in the door I could tell he was good with it all and I wasn't going to bring up the topic of moving on in life or I might have just sat down and had a good cry with him. Change is hard and I'm just not liking how fast my little boy is growing up. Anyhow, here's a snap shot of Rem and Em as they ran in the door on their last day!
P.S. Just a side note to explain the rope in Rem's hand :) For the last day they had a talent contest in his classroom at school and so he and his friend brought a calf dummy to school and they team roped. He's so lucky to have finally found a cowboy friend in 3rd grade.

On a final note, I've had a major craving for homemade wheat bread and although I don't have a Bosch Mixer or my own wheat grinder...I managed to borrow one from my neighbor and grind some white wheat I bought at the cannery. I can honestly say that I enjoy making bread with my own hands :) and it turned out yummy. I think homemade bread feeds my soul as much as my stomach and there's nothing like some yummy strawberry freezer jam to top it off!
I know we are not supposed to covet our neighbors belongings, but I really want one of these! I guess I'll keep dreaming and saving my money:) Lastly, here's a baby update. Our little girl is well loved and get's lots of kisses from her big sister Brooki who is very anxious for her to come out. We are excited to meet her too, but not for a few months. We still have a few things to do to get ready!

2011-05-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

This has been an exciting week. First of all, it's the last week of school (actually, today is the last day.) Hooray! I'm so ready for summer. Now if the weather would just warm up.

Second, my brother and his wife just had their third baby, a little girl on the 25th. Even more amazing is that it was the same day as my Grandma West's birthday. There couldn't be a more special day to arrive. We are so happy for them. Congrats Bryan and Rachel.

Finally, if you haven't heard...I guess I better announce that we are expecting a new little arrival in our family the middle of October. We woke the kids up early yesterday morning so that we could be at the hospital for the ultrasound at 7 a.m. This is the first time that we have ever brought our kids and they were excited. Luckily, our little one cooperated quite nicely and the doctor was able to announce with certainty that we are having a

GIRL!

Rem was really hoping for a little brother and I could see the disappointment on his sad face. Poor kid...I guess he's gonna have to get used to being the only boy, but I keep trying to reassure him that it's not necessarily a bad thing. There are lots of benefits to being the only boy!

Well, here's a sneak peak and our little bundle. From the picture...we might just have another thumb sucker on our hands.

2011-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

Remington's 4-H Project

About a month ago, we bought a couple of pigs. One for Remington to show in 4-H(the white one on the left) and one for Ember (the black one on the far right) as a back up in case something should happen to Rem's!

Remington is in HOG HEAVEN! It's all he can talk about.
Who knew a pigcould bring such excitement?!?
We are lucky to have some friends who have a pig pen and offered to let us keep our pigs with theirs. I'm sure it's going to be a busy summer running back and forth from our house to the pig pen to work with them, but I don't think Remington will be complaining!
He just loves to get in with the pigs and can't wait to show Wilbur at the County Fair!

2011-03-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

10 days of Adventure....and I'm exhausted!

A few days before SPRING BREAK, we surprised our kids and told them we were going on a road trip and that Disneyland would be one of our stops! Of course the girls were jumping up and down....and well, Rem had to think about it a little. (He was worried about missing his 4-H Pig Meeting. I tell you....this kid is a wonder sometimes. LOL!!! I don't know very many kids who would even think to miss Disneyland to stay home for a pig meeting.)

Day 1
We left on a Friday afternoon and spent the night with Markel and Blaze. Auntie Markel really knows how to spoil everyone...especially her nieces and nephews! She had a mini-birthday celebration for Brooklyn and Brooki loved her new sunglasses, stickers, LIP GLOSS and little cake truffles. YUM!

Day 2
The next morning we headed to St. George and toured the beautiful Red Rocks of Zion's Canyon. The kids were so fascinated and loved it. We even saw some mountain goats and their babies. They couldn't get enough of hiking up the rock trails. It was a little scary at times. Remington's slick cowboy boots made me nervous because of course he was not at all careful about going up or coming down. They especially loved the long tunnel and were sad that we couldn't go back through it. Instead, we kept going and made our way to Kanab, UT where we spent the night.

Day 3
We attended sacrament meeting at a ward in Kanab on Sunday morning and then we were on our way to Vegas where we celebrated Brooklyn's 3rd birthday (a day early) with Jonathan and Mindi and their four kids and Kendra. Mindi helped with all the arrangements and had previously bought a cake and ice-cream from Smith's. (I think I could get used to store bought cakes. A lot less work. LOL!) I had found a cute little plastic purse at the Dollar Store as a cake topper and brought some party favors for the kids. They had a blast. Brooklyn loved her cake. The hardest part was keeping the candles lit long enough to sing Happy Birthday. (I can't believe my baby is 3!)

Day 4
After a yummy strawberry pancake breakfast, we were on our way to California! We arrived around 4:30 p.m. Sad to say it was not the sunny California weather we had hoped for but the kids didn't mind. Despite the wind and rain they were ready to hop in the pool. We stayed at the Crown Plaza Resort and it was perfect. Although a little chilly, the kids loved the heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi! Eloy and I watched! (I think kids lose all their senses when they see a sparkling blue swimming pool. It could have been snowing and they would've still dove in!)
Day 5
Gratefully, we woke up to a sunny day on Tuesday morning and we caught the shuttle about 9 a.m. and headed to Disneyland! It was definitely Spring Break...the crowds were unbelievable...but we managed. After we finally figured out the fast passes...it wasn't too bad. We stuck together for most of the day and then eventually split up. The girls and I went to see Minnie and Mickey while the boys went on some more adventurous rides :) Brooklyn was so fascinated with Minnie's house. But, after waiting for an hour in line to see Mickey, Brooki was sound asleep on my shoulder. Oh well, at least we got a picture! My only regret about Disneyland was not getting to ride Space Mountain. However, we crammed as much as we could in. We didn't leave the park until 11:30 p.m. and boy were we beat!

Day 6
Wednesday we slept in! Ahhh! Now that's my kind of vacation! Even the kids were exhausted. Again, the weather cooperated and we headed to California Adventure about 11 a.m. Gratefully, the weather held out until about 4 p.m. and then the rain started coming down. (Luckily, I had packed our 2 for $1 rain ponchos and umbrellas. Sure felt good staying dry and even better not having to buy the $20 ones in the souvenir shops :) I love a good deal!) Our favorite adventures were the Hollywood Tower of Terror and the Screamin' California roller-coaster. Ember opted out on the roller-coaster and surprisingly she didn't faint on the Tower of Terror. Now that is a wild ride. Elevators seem just a little more errie now. LOL! Poor Brooklyn didn't have a choice...she was too short, but I think that was a good thing. On second thought, she probably would have loved it and asked to do it again. She's a lot like her older brother!

Day 7
Thursday we said goodbye to Disneyland and headed north for Los Angeles! We drove around Hollywood and through the winding roads of Bel Air. We had hoped to make it as far as San Francisco, but the kiddos were getting tired of our sightseeing so we stopped in Santa Maria and stayed at the Historic Santa Maria Inn...and boy was it historic. I felt like we had stepped back in time. Not quite as terrifying as the Hollywood Tower of Terror but close. LOL! I guess they say this Historic Inn has housed such celebrities as Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin...our door even had a gold star with Doris Day's name on it. I had to tell myself that if it was good enough for them than I ought to be satisfied. (Sometimes Priceline.com doesn't turn out as nice as you'd hoped.) I was grateful to be back on the road.

Day 8
Friday morning we headed north once more stopping at Pismo Beach. We ate at a yummy restaurant called Huckleberry's and then headed to the sand. It was a little breezy and overcast but the kids didn't hesitate to get their feet wet. It was fun watching them follow the tide as it washed out and then racing for their lives as the waves came crashing in. I let go of my ocean anxiety and let them be kids for a little while. Of course there were a few anxious moments when Rem seemed to wander a little to far. It was all fun and games until the sand caught up with both Rem and Em and they got a mouthful of salt water and sandy bath. They were both drenched. Ember had collected some sea shells beforehand, but decided the ocean had betrayed her and was grateful to be gone and leave those treasures behind. Eloy and I couldn't help but giggle. It was pretty funny! Brooklyn on the other hand was completely happy to sink her chubby toes into the sand. Her hair was the only problem. As you can see it's a little hard to search for shells when your hair is blowing in your face!

Well, we survived the beach and headed on to San Francisco. Eloy says we stayed long enough to see the Golden Gate bridge and then I was all for getting out of there. Once we crossed the bridge there was no heading back. Poor guy! I'm sure he would have found a place for us to stay right downtown if it hadn't been for me. I think if we hadn't had the kids, I would have enjoyed myself a little more. But, hey, it was a little creepy. Sometimes my imagination just gets the better of me. And, though it is a wonderful quality to possess such calmness and ease such as is the case for Eloy in most any situation, I'm just not that gifted. Perhaps if we had blended in a little it would have helped but anyone could guess that we were tourists who didn't have a clue where we were going. Oh well, maybe someday we'll return! Yikes! Luckily, Eloy was very accomodating and found a safer option a few miles north at the Best Western Novoto Inn. What relief! They had a heated jacuzzi and outdoor pool and it felt like heaven after a long day.

Day 9
Saturday we headed out early in hopes of making it to Winnemucca, NV. Well it didn't quite turn out that way. After passing through Sacramento, we made our way up and over Donnor pass, however when what should have taken us only 1 hour turned into 5, we knew we were in for a long day. Crazy thing, the roads over Donnor were completely wet but they made everyone who didn't have 4-wheel drive take the exit at a gas station where we were pretty much forced to buy chains. To make a long story short, $70 dollars later we had chains that were not the best fit for our tires and the racket as we clumped down the road was about all we could take. It was truly ridiculous. If we hadn't paid the $70 bucks it would have been quite hilarious. Seriously....no wonder their roads are soooooooooo terrible. (It must be a money making scheme to repair their roads for all the cars and trucks they force to chain up on when they are completely bare. Ahhhhh! OK, I'll stop venting. There is a time and place for chains, but I'm telling you that day was not the time!) I just feel sorry for all the poor people who have to pay for their chains and then pay someone to help put them on at the start and pay someone else to take them off at the end of the road because they don't know how. Gosh, Eloy sure comes in handy. (LOL!) Like I've said many times....I'm pretty darn lucky!
We didn't make it to Winnemucca, but we did find a pretty nice place in Reno called Atlantis. We made it just in time to check in, eat dinner and catch an hour of swimming before hitting the pillow!

Day 10
Apologies to anyone who is still reading this forever, long, rambling post. I promise, the details of this vacation are almost over. You see, we actually made it home on Sunday. Hallejuhah! It's great to get away, but it's even more wonderful to return home. Boy did I miss my own pillow. (I knew I should have taken it with me!) Now, if I could just catch up on all the happenings here. I'm up to my ears in laundry.............but, the tulips are coming up in the garden and spring is just around the corner. I think I'm content to stay home and watch them bloom from my own window! I'm happy right where I am!

2011-02-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

This is probably so silly...but here goes. I got this email from cutekid.com the other day and I decided for fun I would upload a picture of Brooklyn I took recently. Today, I got this email saying Brooklyn was in the running to win Photo of the week. Of course, (being the realistic person I am :)...my first thought is that this is just an email they send out to everyone who uploads a picture. Then, my next thought is why not vote? It can't hurt anything.......and if by some strange stroke of GOOD LUCK...she wins something...that would be kind of cool. So, if you'd like to vote for her...please feel free. :)
I'll keep you posted.

Congratulations!

Thank you for sharing your photo with Parents Photo Faves while visiting TheCuteKid.com. Your photo is currently in the running to become a weekly winner. The photo with the most votes in each category will take home the honors!

Come back daily! Voting ends 02/27/2011.

Get your friends and family to vote too! Just forward this email to them or share the link. http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/707397

2011-02-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

February...feeling the love.

My sister sent Sport this cute little shirt in the mail!
It even fit in the envelope...LOL!

If you ever meet this little guy you will know that it totally fits his personality.

I guess a small dog has to make up for his size somehow!
Thanks Sis,
Sport sends lots of licks your way!

The latest...we celebrated Eloy's birthday this week.
Can't believe I'm married to such an OLD Man.
Just kidding!

I'm not getting much younger myself. Darn!
The kids helped me decorate the house with streamers and balloons.
and when Eloy got home he opened presents, we went out for Chinese and then we
came home too stuffed for Cake and Ice-cream.
Happy Birthday sweetie!

On another NOTE:
I decided I better capture a recent 1st so here it is.
Today, I finally trimmed the back of Brooklyn's hair. She's almost
3 and until now I have only ever been able to trim her bangs.
I only took off an inch but it was sad to see those baby curls laying on the ground!
As Brooklyn would say...."I'm not a Baby, I'm a Big Girl!"
I guess the world will still keep turning...so sad.

Ahh, what's the good in being sentimental?
I'm still trying to figure that one out!

2011-01-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

2011-01-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

Well, the New Year is off and running and our house is full of extra excitement and activity thanks to a new little addition to the family. His name is Sport and he is cute, cuddly, mischievous and well...a little naughty. With all that said, check this little guy out.

He is a Chihuahua/Jack Russel mix and we are in love. We were lucky to find him on Petfinder.com (an organization that rescues "pound puppies" and other animals and places them in foster homes until they are adopted.) We went to meet him on New Years Eve and it was meant to be. After signing the papers, he rode home with us on Ember's lap smiling and wagging the whole way. I'm beginning to think he might just make a good trucking companion for someone I know. LOL!

As you can see, Ember is especially fond of him.

And Sport has made himself right at home :)

I think dogs are a lot like kids....they're even cuter when they're asleep!

And in case you didn't notice in the previous pics,
we cut Ember's hair on a whim.
It was my idea and Ember decided to go along with it.
This is BEFORE
During
And After
She loves it and so do I.
I just wonder what took us so long to do it.
We could have saved a lot of frustration over the years with all the tangles.

P.S. O. K., Jessica if you reading this...don't look too close! I know the right front looks a little longer but it's really not, it just looks that way...promise! What can I say, my kids are so trusting. That's really a good thing. They have lots of Faith!
Maybe I'm a little over confident with the scissors, but don't tell them that!

2010-12-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

As the year draws to an end, I guess I better include some other important happenings in our life.

First, our December baby Remington just turned 9. How does that happen? I still remember bringing him home just a couple days before Christmas and sitting and holding him in the brand new leather rocking chair that we bought the month before. (Besides Rem, it was one our first big purchases in our early married life. :) I don't think the whole meaning of Christmas really sunk in until I sat there staring at my beautiful, perfect little boy and feeling that there was no way I could ever offer him up as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. How did Mary do it? I never felt such raw emotion for the mother of our Savior or such overwhelming gratitude for His gift to me. It was a moment I will never forget. I cried many tears. I'm sure my neighbor who came by in the midst of that life changing moment thought I was a nut case crying over homemade jam. I guess I was for a little while. Oh well, I can blame it on the time of year...I told you that December seems to have that effect on me anyway. But I'm sure it had nothing to do with the after pregnancy hormones kicking in and the whole (my life will never be the same) kind of shock that new mothers go through. I'm sure it had nothing at all to do with that. LOL! Just believe me when I say I will never forget that December day.

Well, my little cowboy is not so little. In fact he's got longer legs than me. Now tell me truly, is that not just crazy? I'm not a midget but it sure feels that way when you're 3rd grader is soon to be taller than you are. I tell you, I'm so envious of those Mendoza Long Leg genes!!!

And just look how sweet and handsome he's becoming. He has lots of little cousins who are watching him closely and I keep reminding him that he needs to set a good example. I don't think I have to worry too much though. He's a natural leader and is smart and determined to do the right thing. Here he is with his little cousin Jack. Aren't they cute? When asked what Jack wanted to be for Halloween he would point to his hat and say Rem. He wants to be a cowboy too. Watch out Blake and Judi. LOL!
Remington is certainly his daddy's right hand man and will go to great lengths to prove it ....like spending a week in a Big Truck right at his dad's side just in case the opportunity arises that he should need to take over the wheel. He enjoys anything and everything that has to do with Trucks, Cattle and Tractors. And just so you know, I've never seen a kid so excited about getting overalls for his birthday. (Last year it was Mud Boots.)

This kid never ceases to surprise me!
I love this boy!

Now, onto Christmas. You're not going to believe this but we actually got to sleep in until 7:30 on Christmas morning. It was a miracle. Our kids slept like rocks and so did we. It was the most relaxing, unhurried Christmas morning we've had in a long while. It was heaven sent for sure. Despite not having ANY snow...it was a beautiful day and I won't complain. It sure was nice not to worry about the driving conditions as we made our way to Rigby to see Eloy's family that afternoon. Yea!

Rem got just what he wanted....a trucking game and double trailers.

Ember still loves her baby dolls. This one can actually walk, fall down, and pick herself up. Those elves at the North Pole sure are getting hi-tech.

Brooklyn, well can you guess what she asked for. You said it....LIP GLOSS! You'd think 101 different smackers would cure her but she still asks for more. Do you think she's addicted? I don't know if they have LIP GLOSSAHOLIC ANONYMOUS. Maybe I should look into that.

Eloy surprised the girls with new cowgirl hats. . .maybe if I'm good he'll get me one next year. :)
Speaking of the New Year, we hope it brings you many blessings.
Love the Mendoza's

2010-12-22T22:41:00.000-08:00

My heart has been so full. The Christmas season often brings tender emotions, but since the passing of my Grandma West they are closer to the surface. Everywhere around me I see the evidence of her love in my life and I want to keep our memories alive. I don't want to forget anything...like the smell of Jergen's lotion on her soft hands, the funny songs she taught me to sing, her distinct handwriting, how she nicknamed me Marci pie when I was little and the way she'd laugh while watching MASH (her favorite t.v. show.) Grandma loved to play cards and we played many games of SkipBo and Kings Corner and she would always say "First I draw, then I play, then I discard, that's the way." I loved sleeping in the guest room in Grandma's old house and how the ceiling slanted down and I could lay in bed and touch the ceiling with my feet at the same time. I remember how grandma would fill a large heated water bottle to put at the foot of our bed to keep our feet warm. Grandma would often fix white rice and raisins with milk for breakfast and she called it "Spotted Pup." I will always remember sitting in the living room eating mini pizza's on t.v. trays while watching Little House on the Prairie. We drank Tang a lot and enjoyed frozen push-up Popsicles from the Schwan man in her back yard. Grandma loved Lemon Custard ice-cream, roasted peanuts, pork rines and gummy peaches. She had a stash of empty wooden and plastic thread spools that all the grandkids would play with. She had shelves and shelves of books in her basement. Grandma loved to read. Her favorite color was green...just like her eyes. She loved Christmas and spent lots of time helping us decorate homemade Gingerbread Houses. Of course, these are only the beginning of many memories I will cherish.

I can't help but believe her passing in December was a tender mercy. She loved the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and it is only fitting that she return to her Heavenly Home at such a time.

I took pictures at the funeral and graveside. I'm so glad I did. Ironic how pictures can be so healing and painful at the same time.

I am missing you Gram,...but I know you are near!

I love you!

"This Is The Time!"

2010-12-04T13:14:00.001-08:00

Festival of Trees

Brooklyn and I had a fun time looking at all the beautiful trees and she was not at all afraid to sit on Santa's lap. She was pretty happy with the candy cane she got too!
Remington was a soloist in his 3rd grade performance. He did a great job. He's quite the singer :) Next to recess, music is his favorite part of school.
First thing he does after walking in the door after school is sing me the latest jingle he's learned. He is constantly entertaining us.

Later that evening, we came back again to watch Ember perform with her tumbling group. Here she is in the locker room with her friend Emily!

We had fun getting her all dolled up. I think they all looked pretty sharp in their purple uniforms.

And finally....some of my favorite pics of the day.

I just love this painting?Is it just me or can you smell the fresh pine? Now that's amazing!

And if this isn't the neatest Santa ever, I must be blind :)

2010-11-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

This season as I reflect on all that is good in my own little world, I feel that I too often neglect the bigger picture. So much of what I have that is good is not of my own making. The sacrifices of many have a great impact on my life and will trickle down through generations. Whether or not I choose to recognize these blessings is up to me. I hope I won't forget...and I hope I'm never too busy to stop and express gratitude for the sacrifices seen and unseen in my life. It's truly in the remembering that my blessings take full effect. It's the remembering that keeps my heart soft...keeps my perspective clear.

So in honor of all that is good and the desire to look beyond my small reality, I want to share this video. Maybe you've heard this song recently on the radio. The first time I heard it I was completely mesmerized. (Then again, Lady A tends to have that effect on me :) Even before I fully understood the lyrics, I was hooked. I promise it will draw you in. I HOPE it does.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A special thanks to our Military.
Thanks for all you have given and are giving me everyday.

2010-11-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud to support Project Rudolph (an organization that makes Christmas packages for those in our military who are away from home during the holidays.) What a blessing to give back in some small way to so many who have already sacrificed so much for me.

As a family and a community, we have spent the last couple of weeks decorating brown paper sacks and ornaments and writing letters. This next week we will gather at our church and help fill the bags with donated candy etc. I can't wait. This truly is the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

2010-11-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

Sew Much Fun
Today we got our first skiff of snow. I guess that was the spark I needed to get the sewing flame going. I've had some projects I've been mulling around in my head for a while now, so today seemed the perfect time to get to work and bring those to fruition.
While visiting my in-laws this past weekend I got the idea to re-create a yummy, smelling scented hot pad that was sitting on their table. The pockets are filled with rice and spices so when it warms up it puts off a delightful aroma. These will make a nice gift for a neighbor or friend and can be used all year round. Yea!

Next on my list, is a fun little cuddly tag blanket. Before I had Brooki, I never knew how important tags were. I was sure she must have picked up that gene from my husbands side of the family since she has many fellow relations who love the tags on their blankies almost as much as the blanket. Crazy. So, when a friend from church showed me one her daughter made, I was all about the idea. I guess tag lovers must not only run in the family but are a natural need of the baby species...or is it genus. (Oh well, I'm sure my biology teacher has better things to do than read this blog.) The pattern is so simple and if you Google it you can find lots of ideas online. Gratefully, I happen to have this awesome book my mom gave me and it had a pattern as well.

This book is pretty cool. However, I would be lying to deny I have this fabric buying problem. I'm positive I inherited it from my side of the family tree. :) LOL! It doesn't matter whether a pattern calls for 1/4 of a yard or a dozen yards, I always feel compelled to buy a tad more just to be safe. And, like always, I end up with way more than I needed. So, now I have a nice stash of scraps. Now if someone could direct me to a book on how to use those. I did hear of a skirt pattern that was made by sewing the selvage ends of miscellaneous fabric together....but how many people save those? I'm just curious!!!

These of course are for some lucky baby boys, but I can't wait to make one for a baby girl. I might even make one for Brooklyn. Gosh, I just might have to make one for me. . . (no, don't get any ideas... I'm not announcing anything.) However, these cuddly combos are about as intoxicating to the senses as Baby Magic lotion. Who'd have thought?

I better put them away! Quick!

2010-11-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

Lip Gloss

.....my life revolves around it only because it is so very, very, very, important to someone else who happens to be so very important in my life. But why oh why should my day begin and end searching for such a small object? It seems this very important person in my life cannot...and I mean CANNOT function without at least one in her hand or neatly tucked away in her purse (which by the way is another very, very, hot item that must be in sight at all times.) I'm really not extreme in saying that this person is overly consumed with the sparkly, sweet, luscious substance. Perhaps these cute little flavored lip smackers should come with a warning label. Caution to parents: VERY ADDICTIVE. KEEP ONE HANDY AT ALL TIMES AND BE SURE NEVER TO LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT. MAY CAUSE PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IF LOST. BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! SERIOUSLY!

My child is obsessed. That's all there is to it. This picture doesn't even do justice to the torture I have endured because of these cute and sparkly concoctions. Don't let those flavors deceive you. They are

BIG TROUBLE.

If you don't believe me, take a look here!

2010-11-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

On the Saturday before Halloween, while Eloy and Brooki went in search of a heater for the house (a whole other story for another date) Rem and Em helped me decorate the trunk of our van. So grateful for the dollar store pumpkin lights I've held onto for the past 8 or so years. They always come in handy for things such as this. The good news was that our van is equipped with an outlet in the back so all we had to do was plug them in and start the ignition. If only I could have found my creepy Halloween sound CD. That would have added just the right touch. Maybe next year.

Are you sure you want to see???

OOooooohhhhh, soooooooooooooooo, scarrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy! Yikes :)

It's wasn't the fanciest but we did light things up a bit!

I got the kids dressed up and hurried to get my own costume together. I wanted to be Anne of Green Gables but I couldn't find a dress to fit the part so I settled on being Cruella DeVil once again. Thankfully there was enough white hairspray from last year and I remembered to glue the long red eyelashes on straight. However, I didn't have any little pups to tag along. They had other ideas for their costumes and Eloy...well, he wasn't sure he wanted to don the leash and collar again this year LOL! or even wanted to dress up but at the last minute he was feeling a little left out so gratefully he always has his Rodeo Clown costume to fall back on. Before rushing out the door with my crock pot of chili, I hurriedly brushed some paint on Eloy's face and we were off. Now, it's just his luck that he would win a prize for his costume.

Remington was an Ice Road Trucker. Don't fret if you haven't a clue what that is. Only a truck driving fanatic would know! (Just trust me, you don't ever want to be one and I hope he never aspires to do really do that. It involves driving a big truck over frozen water in the middle of nowhere Alaska. Even bull riding might be a better option!!! No kidding!) But just look how happy he was. I'm sure he was the brightest and warmest there!

I was really hoping Brooklyn would be a little witch. Why, with all that dark hair we could have had lots of fun and truth be known she has a wild scary streak to match the part. But why be a scary witch when you can be a beautiful princess? So, we settled on Ember's hand me down Belle costume. I'm pretty sure that Beautiful Belle would not approve of the thumb sucking but we couldn't convince Brooklyn of that.

In honor of our former kitty SPOT and perhaps all of the other short lived cousins of the Feline kind who have graced our home, Ember decided to be a Cat.
She was nice and cozy in her black jogging suit.

We ate, we laughed and we paraded around the church...but the drizzling rain kept us from having our trunk or treat outside. So much for the lit pumpkins in our trunk. Maybe someone caught a glimpse of them as they trailed behind us on the way home. Oh well, it's the effort that counts, RIGHT?

2010-10-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

The Boys of Fall . . .

Remington is so lucky to have a neighborhood full boys to play with. These boys are quite the clan. I wouldn't trade living anywhere else just for the fact that we are so blessed to have such good kids for our kids to play with. Even better, they willingly offered to help rake our leaves the other day. How much luckier could we be? Boy did we have a huge pile when they were done. Our tree is good to us though. Instead of scattering a few here and there, she drops them fast and in just a few days all her leaves are gone. It's amazing really. Now we can only pray that our neighbors trees who have yet to drop their leaves will blow past our yard. LOL! No need to rake twice right?

It would be a crime to leave these beautiful gals
out of all the fun!

They are so cute together...even with a few leaves on their heads!Now for the most Mischievious!

2010-10-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that I LOVE Fall?

Just recently we spent a weekend in Wyoming with my family and as we dropped down into the valley of my hometown I was reminded how much I love this time of year. For many reasons, Fall will always be my favorite season . I can't get enough of the crisp autumn air, the vibrant colors that hug the mountains and the comforting fragrance of a pumpkin spice candle. Yummm! Though I know that winter will soon follow, I love all the preparations that lead up to it. I may be weird but I especially get excited to put my flower pots away, sweep out and tidy up the garage one last time, hang up the garden hoses, shovels, rakes and park the lawn mower. Hooray! I love seeing the long rows of neatly stacked straw bales and tractors making their last rounds in a fresh plowed field. I get excited when I see the smoke that swirls out of the first chimney signaling a warm and inviting place to rest from our summer cares. Yes, Fall is my favorite season of all, but especially in Wyoming!

Our Wyoming getaway was relaxing and fun. General Conference was wonderfully refreshing and in between sessions the weather was perfect enough to be outside and breathe the autumn air. The kids spent lots of time playing with their cousin Jack and they all got to help Grandpa brand some new steers. And, last but not least, we even managed to squeeze in a photo shoot courtesy of Grandma. Thanks Mom!

It's Branding Time Again

Brooklyn and Jack watching all the action.

Grandpa giving Brooklyn her first branding lesson.

Remington and Grandpa's "Guys"

One of many photos in the barn :)

Laughing in the Hay

This Cowboy was a little tired of the Picture takin'

But, Ember was a good sport!

Well, I guess that's enough downloading for one post. We better save the best pics for our Christmas Card. :)

2010-09-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

Happy 7th Ember

Ember wanted and i-carly cake for her 7th birthday

so this is what we came up with!

This year we decided to keep it simple. Ember invited a couple of her neighbor friends and we took them with our family out to eat dinner and then back to our house for cake and ice cream.

Of course Ember got spoiled with plenty of fun things i.e. makeup, clothes, nail polish, coloring supplies, etc....but her favorite surprise of the day was her new bike. This one should last her for a while!

We love you Em and hope all your birthday wishes come true!

2010-08-31T19:05:00.000-07:00

Back to School....already????

Remington on his first day of Third Grade

Ember on her first day of First Grade.

And...finally here's Brooklyn's reaction....not sure if she wanted to cry or secretly shout HOORAY!

Of course I couldn't resist an opportunity for a
Photo Shoot especially with a willing subject. Thanks Em :)

My favorite Pic of the Day!

2010-07-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

If anyone is out there reading this....please forgive me for my lack of blogging. It seems at times that I hardly have time to think let alone blog. AND, speaking of blogs, is it just me or is it already a thing of the past??? It doesn't appear that anyone is posting as often as they used to. Oh well, I think we could all use a break from this computer frenzy world that we live in. LOL! It feels like we are being swallowed up by all of our tech devices. As wonderful as they are...and believe me I wouldn't wish them away completely, I must admit that getting away has been very refreshing. Rest assured, I haven't disappeared from cyberspace completely. I've just been enjoying time in the real world. :)

This summer our family has enjoyed lots of time with Grandpa's and Grandma's and cousins and that's something we can never get enough of. We've enjoyed camping trips, family reunions, popsicles, bike rides, yummy treats, swimming lessons, sprinklers, slip-n-slides and lazy days in the afternoon sun. Personally, I've enjoyed some good books, a few sewing projects and sleeping in when my kids let me. However, I'm still picking weeds and there never seems to be an end to mowing, but the grass it still green, the flowers are blooming and I'm trying not to look at the calendar too closely. Can it really be August already?

Here's a look at some summertime fun!

Shaving Cream art with Grandma Nield

London Bridges Falling Down

Brooki and Dad 4-Wheelin

Playing in the water at Fall Creek with Mendoza cousins

We found this awesome bike trailer at a Garage Sale. Yea!

Mindi and our newest Nield addition baby Kian

Enjoying a slice of Watermellon with the Nield CousinsBrooklyn with Uncle LeRoy and baby Elena at the hospital

A Market Tote Bag I made while in Wyoming. Thanks mom!

A few of the car seat covers I've made.

I think I'm falling in love with Fabric. Ahhh!

2010-05-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the scrapbook pages from our trip to Branson, MO in April.

If you ever get a chance to go there....don't miss it! We loved it!

2010-05-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is what I call BABYLICIOUS???I just finished these teeny tiny felt slippers today and I can't stop admiring them. They are so cuddly and soft and just plain tooooo cute.
It might be hard to give these away. LOL!

I think this little baby wipe box is adorable too. I love this brown paisley fabric with butterflies.

And this is what I call....HARD WORK! :)

Actually, we got lucky this spring and a friend in our ward rototilled the dirt for us so that was a big help. We planted our garden a little differently than last year too. No turnips...yuck, less carrots, definitely less lettuce, and more peas and oh yes...I won't forget to really THIN the beets and carrots :)

I ordered some new swings for the play set. However, it looks like the kids can improvise until they get here!

Ember likes to take pictures so here's a snazzy one of Brooki and me. LOL!

It was warm enough YESTERDAY...to play in the sprinklers!

Well, it maybe wasn't quite warm enough at first.

After a while you just forget about the cold and go for it head first!

Of course it's all about the sport of jumping!

2010-05-18T11:13:00.001-07:00

Making more memories at the Cabin
Thanks Uncle Richard and Aunt Nancy for inviting us again!

Happy Birthday Grandma Mendoza!
We love you!
May 18th

It's Branding Time

Helping Papa get the job done!

Brooklyn watched from behind the chute.

You can be sure this cowboy was right in the middle of the action.

Getting 'em in the Squeeze Chute

Can't leave this cowgirl behind!

Keeping 'em moving down the line

Just what this cowboy needs....something to wrestle!

Isn't this little calf cute!

Herding 'em into the Squeeze Chute

Every cowboy needs a good horse

...and so does every cowgirl :)

2010-05-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

I know, I know....I've got this Poster thing going on lately but I'm loving it. It's so neat to decorate my house with things that actually have REAL meaning to me. I want to surround our family with the memories we've shared. Unlike the latest trends in home decor, memories will never go out of style.

Here's a recent poster I made with some pictures that were taken last year.

2010-05-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

I captured this picture on our recent trip to Branson, Missouri.

There's just something cool about this little old railroad car and I thought the quote was so perfect for it.
I'm going to make this into a poster!

2010-04-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

This year will mark 10 years together
and this flag seems like the perfect way to capture all those moments.
(click on the picture for a closer look)

With over 225 pictures, it's taken me a few days to get it done, but I just finished it today and I'm so excited to get it up on my wall. I've wanted to decorate our basement in a patriotic way and I think this poster will add just the right touch.
I LOVE IT!

2010-04-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well, Easter wasn't as Springy as we hoped it would be but we still had fun :) We went and spent the weekend at Papa and Grandmas house and it was so good to see everyone. The kids had a fun Easter egg hunt in Grandma and Papa's front yard and boy was there a lot of goodies. They really know how to spoil their grand kids. Every one's baskets were overflowing!

Speaking of overflowing....my heart is overwhelmed because of the many blessings I have received. I am so grateful for the loving family and friends that surround me and even more grateful for the knowledge that this life is not the end. I find great peace in knowing that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer and Savior. Truly he has given me and all of us the greatest gifts.

2010-03-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

My Baby turns 2

We had a little party on Saturday afternoon with the Mendoza family.
I thought Kenidee and Ember's decorations were cute.

The cousins had lots of fun being together.
I wish we lived closer so they could play more often!

Unfortunately, poor Brooklyn wasn't feeling the best. It wasn't 'til later that evening when I took her into Urgent Care that we found out she had Tonsillitis. She was trying so hard to play and act normal but we just knew something was wrong. While we were singing "Happy Birthday" she looked at us and yelled "No,....Stop!" She didn't know what to think about all the commotion!

After a little coaxing we were able to capture a smile.

When we got back home on Sunday, we gave Brooki her new Barbie Trike.Of course that required a little work on Dad's part :)

Brooki got some cute summer clothes and a play dress and Auntie Markel even sent her her favorite Barney video and George of the Jungle movie that she had left at their house a few weeks ago. She was so happy to get them back!

All in all, I think Brooklyn would agree that it was a pretty good birthday. We're so glad that she is finally feeling better.

We love you Brooki Belle!

2010-03-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

Sweet Sunday Mornings.....

Now that our church doesn't start until 11a.m. we actually have time to try something new. So the other day I thought I'd try putting some curlers in Brooki's hair since picture day was coming up. This is the first time I've ever put rollers in it. Well, they lasted for a short while before she yanked them out. Gratefully, her hair has a lot of natural curl already and it didn't take much to add some extra body. Ember on the other hand wasn't quite up for the curlers. She's been there done that before and much to our dismay her hair just won't hold the curl and mostly just adds more tangles. Ember thinks her hair is cursed... I think she's lucky enough to never have to use a flat iron!

2010-03-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

I'll take a heart attack like this any day

While we were out of town last weekend...we came home to find that our kitchen had been plastered with hearts :) What a sweet surprise.

Before we left town I had been told that I was going to be released as the Primary Chorister in our ward and my heart was sad. I felt especially bad that I wasn't going to be there to sing with them on my last day.

I will miss the kids and the cute little things they did that always made primary an adventure. I've said it before and I truly believe that Primary is the best place to be and being the Chorister was an added bonus. Though it wasn't always easy...it was so rewarding to feel the spirit and learn from these precious little ones. I won't forget the way their eyes would light up when I needed a helper and how fast they could sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" or what it felt like to hear them sing "Could I Hold the Baby" as they passed around the porcelain figurine of baby Jesus laying in a manger. (Everyone needs to hear this song!) I won't forget the time that I was explaining to the kids that I had lost my voice and couldn't sing and one of my little outspoken sunbeams called out..."but, I love your voice Sister Mendoza." What a moment. One thing is for certain and that is that I'll miss their sweet little voices and the the wonderful ladies I worked with, but seeing these hearts and their sweet little notes put a smile on my face.

Thanks Lisa for being so clever and sneaky : ) and for everyone for making my day. I will forever treasure these little heartfelt notes!

2010-03-02T12:47:00.000-08:00

There's just Something

about BUBBLES o . 0 . 0 . 0

that puts a smile on my face :)

Thanks AUNTIE Marquelle
You're the best!!!
We Love you.

Bits of February

2010-02-25T12:17:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's weekend, we decided to celebrate BIG and go to Vegas.

As always, Mindi and Jonathan were the best hosts and even took us along to their Stake Valentine's Dance. It was a spectacular evening of dancing and fun, not to mention the yummy shrimp and other tasty delicacies. Eloy and I are thinking we might have to make Vegas a Valentine's tradition...well for at least one more year until Jon finishes his medical rotations. :) My only regret is not having more photos of our evening at "A Salute to the Cinemas"

The kids were not to be disappointed when it came to their stash of Valentine goodies.
They played and enjoyed the sunny 70 degree weather. (If only Vegas was a little closer and the weather was 70 degrees all year long! )

For President's Day we took the kids to Lied's Museum.
We stayed for hours of fun and discovery.

Ember loved shopping at Smith's

Remington couldn't get enough of this cool car.

Brooklyn loved taking a ride on the airplane.

Eloy couldn't get enough of the bubbles.

Fascinating!!!

Brooklyn and Sophi both wanted Mindi :)

and I can't wait to head to Vegas AGAIN.

After all....it doesn't matter how we get there. We always
have the Wilford family van for a Taxi :)

We celebrated Eloy's 35th Birthday

with a Leatherman

and a Creeper

(In the 9 years we've been married we've never had our cars serviced...Eloy has always changed the oil etc. He's a handy man!)

Ember had her 100 Day party in Kindergarten.

It felt a little like Deja vu. Same Classroom, same teachers...but a different face!

2010-02-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Remington's Baptism Day

I still can't believe that Remington is 8. He has grown up so much in the past couple of years. He is really a sweet and thoughtful boy and is always making sure that everyone is included. He was so excited to invite everyone to his baptism and he had lots of family and friends who came to support him. Thanks everyone. :) We know that it was a busy weekend. We missed not having all of our family here including Papa and Grandma Mendoza and Aunt Liza who were in Mexico for Grandma Whetten's funeral. We were so sad to hear that she had passed away, but so grateful they were able to go and be with our family down there. It's just impossible with as big of a family as we have now to get everyone all together at once. I like what my neighbor said, sometimes you just have to send some here and some there. It's called "Divide and Conquer."

I just had to include this picture of Remington with his Grandma and Grandpa Nield.This day was made extra special because it was the day that Remington had been waiting for for more reasons than one. He knew...or at least he hoped, that Grandpa would hold true to his promise that he would give Remington his first pocket knife on his Baptism day. Well, Grandpa always keeps his promises and as you can see Remington was not disappointed. I told Remington he should put it up high on a shelf and just look at it for a while :) Of course Rem was thinking I had surely lost my mind. After all, a pocketknife goes in your pocket. What's a mother to do!!! I guess I'll just have to be on pocket watch and make sure that it doesn't accidentally get carried to school. YIKES!!!!

I've got the bug :)

2010-01-31T18:32:00.001-08:00

No, I'm not sick...but these past few weeks I've had the sewing bug. In between babysitting, cleaning, and running kids back and forth it's been a calming and rewarding hobby. Though I am far from becoming the seamstress of my dreams...LOL...and I have to use my seam ripper more often than I'd like to admit (silly mistakes :), it's still fun. Right now I'll stick to the cheaper fabrics and just practice and maybe someday I'll buy a pattern as I'm sure it would help :) For some reason I prefer to browse the magazines and create my own from pictures and such, even though it does cause me a little more mental work and some creativity and improvising. I like to live and learn the hard way I guess and with a little help from some wiser sources....(thanks mom) it comes together in the end.

If anything, I think I'm becoming more wise in my middle age. Hobbies don't have to wait 'til the house is clean, the kids are in bed, or the laundry is done. And it really is OK to let the dishes sit in the sink and leave the crumbs under the table and just enjoy creating something. When all is said and done, feeding our heart helps keep the sanity and boy do I need a little more of that these days!

So this table runner's dedicated to the season. Here's to my heart :) and yours!
Go create something for yourself :)

2010-01-30T21:20:00.001-08:00

Time for a Trim

It's Saturday night and time for a hair cut. It's certainly not the kids favorite thing but definitely necessary. Boy was Remington ready for a trim. This time Eloy did the honors and he looked pretty handsome when it was said and done. I took a couple of inches off Ember's golden locks...yes golden. Eloy calls her our blondie though she's really not. She's just much lighter than the rest of us. Brooklyn's bangs were due for a trim too but we didn't accomplish that task tonight. I'm beginning to think that growing her bangs out might be what's in store for the future. Sorry no after shots. Unfortunately I was too busy cleaning up the mess!!!

2010-01-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Feeling Blessed or Burdened???...
I just wanted to share a thought from a friend that really brought some perspective today. In the midst of babysitting, cleaning, sewing, preparing a primary lesson, a talk for Rem's baptism, scout meeting, basketball practice, tumbling, scrap booking, re-modeling, cooking . . . you know how it goes. I was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed.
Anyhow, I really needed this. Thanks Shantelle for sharing this!
Dedicated to everyone who needs a lift today :)

Author Unknown

How do you think of your children? On any given day, would you say your children are a blessing or a burden? Here is a challenge to you…How are you?”…“How is the baby?”…“How are your kids?”… We all hear these questions every day. Do you know a mom who always answers something like this: “Well, I haven’t killed my 2-year-old yet, so I guess that’s good.” Or, “I’m just exhausted,” or, “Things are absolutely crazy – I am so stressed out!”
Maybe that frazzled, haggard, bewildered mommy is someone you know. Maybe it’s you. I know I’ve been there. Here is my question to you today… are we bearing our blessings as burdens? Those babies that we dreamt of and prayed for, that we had so much fun choosing names for, that we counted the days to meet… are they burdens to us now? Those homes that we were ecstatic to move into… are they burdens now? That husband that we couldn’t live without, that we picked out the wedding dress for, that we cried and ached and waited by the phone for… is he a burden now? That job you needed, you wanted and prayed for, that provides food and clothing for your family… is it a burden now?Sometimes it seems to me like a mantle we as moms must carry. We must be tired, we must be stressed out; we must be harried and frazzled, we must be lucky just to make it through the day. Are we bearing our blessings as burdens? Are we tired? Absolutely.
As moms, we know about the 2 a.m. feedings, the nightmares, the wet beds, the midnight curfews. Do things get a little stressful between PTA meetings, dance class, the T-ball game, and dinner on the table at 6? Sure they do. Are husbands always a joy when they get home from work? No way. Is scrubbing the potty, doing the laundry, and cleaning the high chair tray the greatest thrill we’ve ever known? Of course not.
So how do we look past the burdens and see the blessings of our families and our homes?
Do you know any women who would give anything to have a baby to nurse at 2 a.m.? Anyone who would love to have those clothes we are sick of washing, or that house we just can’t keep clean. Do you know any women whose husbands aren’t coming home?
I challenge you to joy, to smile, to persevere. I challenge you to bear your burdens as blessings and watch as they multiply. And the next time someone asks you how you are, throw off that identity of stressed out, frazzled mommy, find your smile and answer, “I am blessed!”

2010-01-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas at a Glance

2009-12-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

A Trip to Temple Square

to celebrate the season!
to remember the Birth of our Savior
and the birth of our first born son.
Remington

What a feeling!
The kids couldn't wait to hop in the pool!

Of course only a cake with a Big Truck would do :)

Some awesome Legos from Uncle Blake, Aunt Judi and Jack

A Turbo Bike from Mom and Dad

An Art Sketch book from Grandpa and Grandma Nield

I think the mud boots were the biggest hit. Go figure!

Thanks Mendoza Family for the John Deere Hat, Wranglers and candy

and to Grandma and Papa for the Money and to
everyone for the Birthday Wishes!

Love you.

2009-12-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

Putting up the tree

Things have changed a bit since I was little. For one, I don't think we ever had a fake tree until after I went to college and how I miss the smell of a real Pine. I remember how excited I would get when dad would bring home a live Christmas Evergreen from the tree lot in town. It was so exciting to hear dad in the garage sawing off the end and waiting for him to bring it in the house so we could inspect it under the lights. Granted, it wasn't always the best looking at times but mom was always creative and found ways to hide the bare spots with dried wheat grass and pine cones. I never really cared what it looked like. I just couldn't wait to get the lights and the ornaments out to decorate it. And that's another thing that's changed. It seems that most trees now are decorated with clear lights, but when I was a kid only colored lights would do. I still remember when mom insisted on using clear lights and I thought is was so boring...but they've grown on me and that's what we use on our tree today. What I loved and still do about the trees from my childhood was how we always used the same ornaments. Many were homemade, some were store bought, but each one held a special memory . . . like the little porcelain Santa Clause ornaments we bought and wrote "I Believe" on the back to remind us of the Thanksgiving we spent in Denver with my sister and we went to see the movie "Miracle on 34th Street." I've tried to pass on that same tradition to my children as Eloy and I always try to collect an ornament for every vacation we go on so that we can look back on those special times and remember them each year as we decorate the tree. After all, that's what Christmas is all about, cherishing the memories we have with one another.
Though our tree is somewhat different from that of my childhood, I think I'm learning to treasure it all the more. Each little homemade ornament is a symbol of how precious childhood is and how quickly it passes. As I sat by our little tree in the quiet evening after the kids were in tucked in bed, I saw the cute little beaded candy canes and drums that Ember made me last year in preschool. I noticed the little Winnie the Pooh Hallmark Book ornament I bought for Remington on the Christmas he was born and smiled at the little Popsicle framed ornament he gave me last year and I knew for certain that our little tree couldn't be more perfect for me!

As the years go by, I'm learning that we don't have to let go of the traditions of the past, we can add and mingle new ones along the way. Funny how some traditions come together with much thought and creativity and others are just born by accident. All the same, what would life be without them?

Since it was always a highlight of mine to put the star on the tree, we wanted to give each of our kids a turn to do the honors!

Youngest goes first!

Ember's Turn

Good thing Daddy is strong :)

One little Mischievous helper!

2009-12-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

So Much To Be Grateful For

It was our year to be with the Nield family for Thanksgiving this year and we hosted dinner at our house for the first time. In years past we have been in Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada so why not Idaho? The weather was sunny and nice and as we went around the table and spoke of our blessings we all had much to be grateful for. As always, my dad reminded us of what his Grandpa had said many years before,"We may not have much, but what we have is good."
Certainly, we had PLENTY and it was very GOOD!

Everyone was able to make it with exception of Blake, Judi and Jack who were busy getting ready to move into their new home.

Markel made these cute little name place settings out of White Chocolate and after they set up, she placed them on a miniature cupcake brownie

Our Feast
Our Turkey came out perfectly browned and moist. (Thanks for the cooking tips Mom and Dad.) Now, I can actually feel comfortable doing my own turkey in the future.

While the women were busy in the kitchen, the kids had fun lighting fireworks in the yard with Uncle Eloy. It seems that lighting fireworks has become a tradition whenever we have company!

Ember, Blaze, Kaidence, and Remington

Blaze, Chase, Remington, Brooki, Ember, Parker, Payton, Kaidence, Sophia

It's not Thanksgiving without Mom's yummy pies, especially coconut cream pie!

Uncle Bryan helped the kids build a block tower.

Mindi, Sophia, Brooklyn, Markel

Brooklyn didn't want Grandpa to leave

Mindi brought Christmas ornaments for the kids to paint

We went to see the light festival at the Square in Rupert. It was COLD!

2009-11-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

What are you bidding on?

We finally made it to the Blackfoot Auction yard so that Remington could help Grandpa Nield buy some steers or "guys" as Grandpa refers to them :) Every year after Labor Day rolls around, my dad sells off all his cattle and then the buying begins again. Remington has gone in the past and knows his way around. If Remington could have the perfect job...besides driving daddy's big rigs, he would be Grandpa's personal cattle buyer. His only problem is his lack of funds :) and missing school every Friday probably wouldn't go over very well with his teacher. Fortunately, he had a couple of days off thanks to Parent Teacher conferences so we met dad there and boy was Remington proud. He held the door open for us girls and showed us where to go to find Grandpa. Sure enough, Grandpa was right where Rem knew he'd be so we snuck in between some bidding. Not long after Remington sat down, the auctioneer (a friend of my dad's) called out, "Remington, is that you?" Of course Remington's eyes got big and he lifted his cowboy hat towards the auctioneer and said "Yep." Then the auctioneer said, "Welcome to the auction." Grandpa was pretty proud to have his little cattle buyer by his side once again and Remington was in heaven. Throughout the afternoon, the auctioneer would stop to ask Remington if he was bidding. I'm sure if he could have, Rem would have bought every steer that came through...even them big old Bulls. All in all, I think those "old" cattle buyers (sorry dad) got a kick out of all the excitement we stirred. I doubt they see little girls in pig-tails sitting on the front row very often:) The girls and I stayed long enough to snap a few pictures (another rare scene for them cattle buyers) but Dad took it all in stride. Even if it might have been a little distracting, I didn't care, this is history in the making and I want my kiddos to always remember meeting Grandpa at the Auction.

2009-10-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Gearing up for Halloween?

On Saturday we went to an Adult Halloween party and had a blast. Everyone dressed up in costumes and it was pretty cool to see how creative everyone was. Eloy was the one who came up with the idea to be

Cruella De vil and Pongo from
101 Dalmations.

Amazingly, we were able to find this awesome baby blanket at the D.I. to use as my shawl along with some gloves I borrowed from my neighbor. Finally, after some major hair teasing and lots of white hairspray paint, not to mention some pretty flashy red eyelashes, I was good to go. Eloy, always the creative one, bought some disposable painting coveralls and covered them with black dots using a black marker. Then, with some help from the dollar store he soon had a collar, a leash and a black fleece scarf which I used to sew some ears and a tail. We saftey pinned the ears to a white baseball cap and attached the name Pongo. Seriously, I think the biggest expense for my costume was the eyelashes ($3 at Walmart.) Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

What are you going to be?

2009-10-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

Need some Christmas ideas???

I've got a few projects in the works and just thought I'd inspire you with some ideas :) We all have stories and most if not all of us have photos. If we don't tell the stories behind the photos then someday they will be lost forever unless we choose to do something with them. Perhaps that's why so many of us enjoy blogging. It provides an outlet where we can express and share the things that matter most to us. But, blogging is only one of many ways that we can highlight our photos and memories.

When I discovered Heritage Makers a year ago, I was overwhelmed with all my photos and not sure how to organize them and such. Now, I can honestly say I have finally found the answer to my scrap booking dilemma. I love what I do and I absolutely love the projects I've made. Not only can I make beautiful storybooks, scrap pages and decorations for our home, I can also make unique gifts for family and friends that I know they will treasure. Our heritage truly is the greatest gift worth preserving.

Don't wait...preserve your stories today! Click Here

2009-10-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

My Grandma has been wanting to come visit me for a long time, so I was so happy when she and my mom decided to make the trek over this past weekend and stay for a couple of days. The weather cooperated beautifully. My only regret was not having our flowers and garden to show anymore. I really wanted her to see the Sunflowers in bloom...but at least we have pictures.

The kids were especially excited and were really hoping that Grandma would bring her dog Buffy. I think Grandma was wishing she's have brought her too and was a bit homesick for her pup.

We love you Gram! Thanks for coming to visit.

2009-10-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

Trucking is an Art

This is only one of the many trucks Eloy has drawn for Remington over the years. And, although he is mortified that I would scan it and even more thrilled that I would post it to my blog, I think it's pretty cool. Besides, it's all about the memories right? If pictures could talk...oh the stories these little sketches could tell!!!

2009-10-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

2009-10-02T16:39:00.001-07:00

I LOVE Fall
This week as the cold weather settled in, I decided it was time to bid farewell to our tomato plants and clean out the flower pots. While the kids played in the falling leaves, I snatched every red tomato from the vine and collected all the green ones in hopes that they will eventually mature in the basement :)
Then I gathered up the kiddos and announced that we were going to gather our pumpkins so together we plowed through the pumpkin patch to discover that we had a lot more pumpkins than we thought. The kids were so excited. We cut them from the vines and gathered them in the wheelbarrow to distribute around the porch steps of our home. We have quite the collection.

I can't help but see all those pumpkins and not wish for a yummy pumpkin pie. So today I got the notion to make a couple just in time for General Conference weekend. (I feel another tradition coming on! LOL)
I can't think of anything more irresistible on a cold afternoon.

I LOVE FALL

2009-09-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

We finally have our new table and a new rug to place it on. YEA! After a year of searching, giving up, searching some more, (honestly, this was to be our Christmas gift last year :) I finally spotted this beauty on a whim. I knew I loved it the moment I saw it and it goes wonderfully with our kitchen. It took most of Saturday for my dad and Eloy to put it together and a little juggling to get all the pieces in the right spot, but it's everything I hoped it would be. Now I can rest easy knowing that if I jiggle a chair the seat or the arm won't fall off. Yes, it was time to pass on the old and bring in the new. I'm learning that some of the best gifts have to wait awhile but boy are they worth it. Thanks dad for delivering it and mom for the nice place mats. (You always think of everything.) Now, I just need to get in the mood and whip up a nice table runner. (sounds so easy doesn't it...lol!)

Our New Table

This table is unique in many ways but mostly because it can transform from a rectangle to an oval and you can't even tell. The butterfly leaf is awesome and makes lots of room for company.
You can see what I mean from the factory picture below.

Lov'in It!

2009-09-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

6 Years Old

Ember helped make and decorate her "Princess Castle" cake.

We had a Sunday picnic outside and Ember was so happy to have both Grandpas and Grandmas and a few cousins to join in on the fun.
Here she is with Macey and McKree.

Blowing out the Birthday Candles

One of Ember's favorite gifts. (The classic Dick and Jane book she received from Aunt Judi and Uncle Blake.)
She can already read the first few chapters. Go Ember!!!

Ember celebrated her birthday at school on Monday and couldn't wait to get home and show Brooki her birthday crown.

We Love You, Little Em!

2009-09-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the family WHITNEY!
Last week we received a new addition to our home. LOL! No, we didn't adopt a pet, but we did get our first little piano and we are loving her. (She needs a lot of Love.) She is a small Whitney piano but don't underestimate her weight for her size. I can't believe that LeRoy and Eloy were able to haul her in without any other help. (Thanks guys!!!) We placed her in the living room and she fit perfectly where I had envisioned her. Before I could sit down to play, I gave her a good rub down with some Liquid Gold. Boy did she sure shine after that. A true makeover. Then I preceded to polish and sterilize each grimy key using a cloth and butter knife and a mixture of water and alcohol so I could get in between and behind them to remove about 20 years of old crumbs and such(ok, I admit I'm a little OCD)...yuck. Poor thing. Anyhow, she is finally settled into her new home and after a little tuning, I think she's going to be just fine!

I didn't realize how much I missed not being able to just sit down and play any time I wanted and now I can (except now I've discovered some competition with my kids :) Most of the time, I wait until they are at school and Brooki is napping and then I get to play to my hearts content.

The kids are both taking their first lessons from me. Of course, what better place to start than
*Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star *

Here's Remington and Whitney :)

2009-08-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

What Do You Do???????????

when it's
100 degrees
. . .

It's Time to Get WetCool OffRelaxLaughTry to find some SHADE
under the Sunflowers ...in a Corn Patch!

2009-08-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

Standing underneath a Mammoth Sunflower

2009-08-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

A New Season

I can't believe Remington is already in 2nd Grade. On his first day, he woke up anxious to get going and true to his cowboy nature insisted on wearing a long sleeve button up shirt and his wranglers and boots. I love that he is not afraid to just be himself even when most everyone else wore t-shirts and shorts.

Here he is at the bus stop with his friends and I have to add that I think he's pretty darn handsome and sweet. I do not know where the time has gone. I'm just grateful to capture these moments and even more grateful that he will still cooperate and let me take his picture.

My little Ember is finally in Kindergarten. Even though she is growing up I still think of her as my little Em. She was so excited to finally get to ride the bus with Remington.

Lucky for Brooki, she gets to take a nap while Ember is at school so she doesn't feel left out.
Afternoon Kindergarten is the best!

Children always remind us that we should never be so rushed that we forget
to stop and smell the flowers ... even on the first day of Kindergarten!