Love Dust

Dust in this house can be very useful.

I knew there was a reason I didn't dust.

I wouldn't want to miss these messages.

Friday Letters

                                                          Yep, that's my guy. Little #10


Dear Children, the week swept by. We have a busy weekend coming up though. So, don't be naughty! Dear Obligations, I know you can be good sometimes, but lately I just want to stay home and do nothing with the kids all playing nicely together. It sounds so nice. Dear Football, Kade had his first game. We had to travel to Morenci an hour away. It was a loong day, we left at 11:45 and got home at 7pm. They lost. And I'm grateful for GPS. Dear Memory, you have failed me. More times than I can even remember. I have gotten a lot of repeat reminder calls that I forgot things. Not so cool. Dear House, you are swallowing me up. I'm always drowning in laundry and trying to find some system where it doesn't end up all over the house. Food disappears when all the kids are home. Really...you can't ALWAYS be hungry. They are like chickens when you put food down, they swarm. I just want a clean, organized spotless house. Is that too much to ask? Dear Safety Helmet, ALWAYS ALWAYS make your kids wear a helmet!!! I have always been very strict about that, but the last while I started slacking. I can see the school from my house and we have sidewalks in our backyard and a huge driveway where the kids just jump on anytime. My poor little Avary took a spill and has yet another concussion. Her forehead is a magnet. It wasn't a pretty site. Dear Liam, today is your 8th birthday! 8 is a big one Happy Birthday! Tomorrow you will be baptized, I'm so excited for you. You are a sweet little boy, well, I'm not convinced yet that you are not a tigger. Tiggers are always bouncing. Dear Mosquito's, I am trying everything I hear of to ward you off. I step outside and you swarm me. Kade too. I'm taking garlic pills, using bug off essential oil spray all over, going to try the dryer sheet thing. I tried to experiment on Will spraying one arm and not the other, but they didn't land on him anywhere. I might have to sacrifice myself because they just love me so much. Will must not be as naturally sweet as me. Dear T, it was so surprising to see you in Walmart. Now that you are down the road we will have to hang out. I could cuddle your little baby. Dear Will, you amaze me every day. You gave me so much help and support this week when I was so burnt out. And you listened to me endlessly as I pour out all of my worries and fears. I was so thankful that you are here to give Avary a blessing, to reassure my heart. When you walk in the door you are buried by children who have all been waiting for you. I love you Forever. Dear Self, it's been a rough one. I am so emotionally exhausted. Somehow I still find moments every day when all the kids are in bed and I have Will by my side and I am overcome with gratitude for this amazing life the Lord has given me. Sometimes they are just that, moments, and I go back to wanting to cry. But it's always in my heart. My heart is always full.

Sometimes the

strongest people are

the ones who love

beyond all faults, cry

behind closed doors

and fight battles that

nobody knows about.

In this Little Valley

Lately there have been multiple Rainbows every day.

Double Rainbows all over the place

They are so much more vibrate than my camera can capture.

Everywhere you look there is so much beauty here.

Even on the most rotten days there are the mountains and the clouds and the sun. They make a pretty amazing combination.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, we made it through another week, whew. And you survived picture day. Well we will see when we get the pictures back. Dear Hazel, I had so much fun with you on your field trip to Annie Apples Orchard to pick apples. You are way over your separation issues when you are at school. It's just a little sad. You make up for it at home I guess. Dear Kade, you have had some rough days. It worries and overwhelms me, but I always see you try again. And that makes me so proud of you. Tomorrow is your first FB game. I'm excited! Dear Hailey, I kidnapped you from school and we went to lunch together. It was really nice spending some time alone, which rarely ever happens. I think it has to become a regular thing. Our only chance is during your lunch hour. Dear Avary, you make up for Hazel's lack of excitement seeing me at school. She is afraid of being made fun of, yeah so nice I embarrass her, but you yell from far away run and hug me in front of everyone and always want me to be with you at school. This makes up for your lack of a filter. We are working on that. Dear Grumpy Pants, I've worn you a couple of days this week. I had good reason. But you cramp my style and I hate wearing tight pants. Sometimes it takes awhile to move thoughts out of your mind. I'm trying. Dear Temple, you are closing for two weeks. We go every week. Well because I need to. It is going to feel like a long two weeks without you. Dear Awkward, good thing I am alone jumping, dodging and chasing down mosquitoes trying to kill them before they eat me alive. I swear there is one in every room of the house. I need a remedy because I'm no ninja! Dear Mosquito, I must be very sweet because you swarm me. I step outside and get 13 bites in one minute. I have resorted to trying garlic pills. Dear Mom, it was nice to chat with you on the phone this week. It's been awhile since I have been able to visit. Dear Will, you brought me pretty flowers. To which Avary said "did you get more of those stinky kind!" I love the ones you pick out. You have also listened a lot to me this week about all of my worries. I Love You. Dear Self, somethings in life can be so hard, so sad, so overwhelming. But when you are where you are supposed to be, like the Temple, there is opportunity for those quiet moments when the spirit can whisper to your soul that it will all be ok. I love those moments because it's something you can always look back and keep holding on.

I see the light...

This is how awesome our kids are.

This is what I found after I ran the washer.

This is common, right?

Beauty

Some times looking at the beauty in this world makes you feel so much better.

God must love us.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, I'm glad it's Friday. We need a day off tomorrow. Dear Church, I'm not the best at giving a talk. I get nervous up there. As I sat down a lizard ran across the the shoe of the bishopric who was at the pulpit and that made me more uneasy. As the youth spoke it ran back across his shoe and down the stairs! I'm like a deer in headlights up there, but made it through, no crying or tripping! A first for me. I may have read in a monotone voice. eh. Will's talk on the other hand was wonderful. I love him. Dear 9/11, I think of my brother and his family every year on this day. I'm glad the Lord protected you Conrad, I love you! I'm also glad I live in a town that takes the time to get together and remember this day. Dear Picture Day, for the little girls, I forced you to wear what I wanted. Although I gave a little with Avary. Hopefully they smiled "naturally" Avary said she didn't show her cute teeth. Darn. Dear IEP's, 2 hrs long! But I got two for one. It is such a change to be with leaders who want to help even at their own expense, and are worried about my child's emotional needs as well. So blessed to be in this district. The principal even goes to the lunch room and makes sure Hazel eats something for lunch. And watches her on the playground to make sure she plays. So So Awesome. Dear Hazel, you have had a rough week after school. My little Hazelnut, I hope things get better. Dear Kade, I had to drag you out of the car for football practice. After a meltdown you went out there and tackled and did great. You came home with a better attitude. You are a strong boy. Dear D, I enjoyed out conversation this week. I hope that we can put the kids first and make things the best possible way they can be for them. Thank you for being willing. Dear B, It was so nice talking with you. I miss you! Dear Headache, I almost died. I had to check out to a dark room and my bed. I even offered my friend $20 to take Kade to the high school football game for me. She is too nice to say no so I always hate asking. I made them late when I didn't answer the phone. So Sorry! But Thank You! Dear Will, I love that wee get to go to the Temple every week together. We got a date night too! And that's not counting the night we stayed up laughing till we were crying or the night that I was picking on you and you retaliated. Thank You for listening to me every single day this week and loving me. Thank You for putting all of my kids to bed and making their lunches when my head was going to explode. And for so much more. I love you. Even though you are weird sometimes. Haha. Dear Self, be patient with Me. It is so hard. I want to cry thinking of how blessed I am even in the midst of trials. My Heavenly Father loves me. And He loves my children.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, we had a long weekend. This week was busy and went by way too fast. I love it when we are all together. It made me laugh when Kade AND Hazel both at different times meant to say "seriously?!!!" in an annoyed tone and said "actually" instead. Ha. Dear Labor Day Weekend, we did some good labor...yard work. The kids worked hard. Not quite as hard as the parents. And then we went up on the Mountain to Wet Canyon. We passed an apple orchard, but they were closed on the way home. Next time we will stop there first! Dear Gila Valley, there are so many beautiful places close by. And Will is good at taking us on plenty of adventures out doors. Dear Kade, Football Practice is so hard for you. You hate the conditioning. But this week you got to start pushing people down...you were a little too excited about that. We will see how long this lasts before someone tackles you. Dear Awkward, normally after bending down when I stand up everything goes black (normal for me) depending on how bad it is I decide to either stop and wait, sit down or just keep walking in the dark and just pretend I can still see until it goes away. Wellll, I grabbed 3 cans on pears from the pantry and then chose the latter. Umm I should have chose option 2. I couldn't see so ended up tripping over a box of fabric softener and falling flat on my face. Cans are not soft. Laugh it up. Ha. I'm awesome too by the way. Dear Girls, when Will is teasing me, even if I started it...I just call for you and you all come running ready to attack. You are persistent too. Now I just threaten to call for backup. Sometimes it works. Dear Church, I was hoping I would squeak by, but no, I have to speak in church this weekend. Be prepared for crying or tripping...or both. Dear Will, you haven't been feeling good this week. I want you to feel better. And I don't want you to share it with me, but you did anyway. I wish you had more time to rest. Dear Self, the only good thing about giving a talk is you are reminded of all the important things you have learned in life. One of the most important being the topic- Personal Peace through living Righteously.

Boomerangs

Boomerangs can be dangerous when they are in the hands of your big brother.

Luckily not broken.

Two fingers bruised and one swollen and sprained.

This poor girls has all the luck.

Wet Canyon

After doing some work we took the kids to Wet Canyon on Mt. Graham.

It was humid, and I was really sweaty after hiking up the creek.

 But it was so nice and pretty.

                                                                 The Kids.

I have a lot more pictures, but I would have to find my camera cord...

Avary and Emi picked wild flowers (not pictured) and I had quite the collection.

Avary decided to attach these to the top of the car to see if they would make it home. They didn't.