Utah day one

So my sister Tiffany planned this trip to Utah with a friend of hers and I totally invited myself, and I am soooooo happy I did!!! We left super early yesterday morning, spent 13 long hours getting here, then today had a fun filled day!! We started with pedis and some window shopping at Rod Works, then headed to Salt Lake City to meet up with some friends that we have had for 15 years but have not been able to see for 10 years :(. Then we walked around the beautiful Gateway Mall, and then headed to the temple. Checked out the Beehive house, walked around Temple Square, went to the Joseph Smith Memorial building, and went to eat at the Purple Turtle on the way home YUM! The weather has been amazing and although I am missing my hubby and my kids, this is a much needed vaca! I love laughing with my sisters and can't wait to go shooting tomorrow with Cass and her husband Landon! (and IKEA) Thank you SO much Devin for taking such good care of all my babies while I am away! I love you!!

Oh how I miss my blog!! I don't have a computer at our new house.....yes, we moved AGAIN! So I am never able to get on here anymore. So many things have been going on.....Devin in hospital with bronchitis, the same weekend we moved, Liberty in the hospital with an RSV thing, more hours at work, Masons baptism tomorrow and on and on. I just wanted to put my feelings down about the things that have been going on in my life lately. At 1:30 this morning while I was laying in my bed sobbing like a baby because our Tahoe had been impounded, and will be for 30 days (looong story....no suspended registration from no insurance) and now we have Devins single cab work truck to accommodate 10 people.....I felt very strongly that I needed to pray. I am the WORST at saying a prayer when I know I should, but don't feel my heart is in the right place, but I did it anyways. My tears kept coming, but I started thanking my Father in Heaven for the blessings in my life, and all the good that I could find. Slowly the tears slowed and I felt overwhelming peace fill my heart. Despite the uncontrollable shaking from fighting off a complete panic attack, I knew the Lord was mindful of me and I was very grateful that he helped me to look for the things in my life that were happy and wonderful. We will figure things out, just like we always do, but I am grateful most of all for the Gospel in my life and a Savior who suffered all so I can be better.

My fab job!

I don't think I have ever really blogged about my job?? Before I do, these pics are from Thursday. Our office manager was being silly and wanted to take pics outside. We were discussing how the true "charlies angels" pose is, not knowing that the Dr. was snapping pictures the whole time! It really is funny though cuz we are a bunch of nerds! (we missed you Heather & Jennifer!!)

I have been working at a dentist office since May and I absolutely love it! I really love learning about the dental world and interacting with all of our great patients, and I super super love the gals I work with (ok, the DR isn't so bad either HAHA.....he is my cousin) I enjoy being there and laughing....and even being laughed AT cuz I am kind of a nerd! It's even better now that one of my best friends is working there! It's great when I need someone to talk to about crappiness and I can sit down at lunch and vent......AND to be around when someone else needs to vent. On the flip side, I really miss being with my kids. I will be honest, there are days that I am happy to be away from the craziness and volume level of my house, but most days I feel guilty that someone else is putting my babies down for a nap. Especially yesterday when the older FIVE (crazy I know!) started school and I got to be home with my 3 babies!! It was so great to just hang out with them, wipe their cute faces, have them curl up with me on the couch and just chat 3 year old talk w/them. I am excited about the things I am doing that will benefit our family for years to come, but that doesn't take away the sadness of leaving them with someone else. I'm sure most working moms feel the same way.

Happy 4th!!

We had a blast this year for 4th of July! (I know I'm so behind on my posting, what else is new!?!) We spent the afternoon at Burke & Ambers eating TONS of yummy food and spending time together. The kids all played together really good, and it was so fun just to hang out and chat it up! When it was time for fireworks most of us headed to Queen Creek and parked somewhere to see the fireworks show at Schnef Farms....it was really good!! I love 4th of July! It makes me feel so patriotic and I love even more, sharing it with my family!!

Happy Birthday Liberty!!

My little Libs turned 5 and is off to Kindergarten! I am really excited for her to go because I know how excited she is. She has watched patiently while 4 older siblings have gone, and she is so thrilled that it is finally her turn! We had family over for her birthday and it was a blast as always. Liberty is quite the charachter....she LOVES playing with Ryker, doing big girl things with Emberlyn and she absolutely loves going anywhere with her Dad. She loves to shop and go swimming, she loves barbies and baby dolls. Whenever she wants to play it is always the same...."who is going to play house with me?" I have so enjoyed watching her grow up into a little girl and I can't wait to watch her over the next 5 years! We love you Liberty!!!

LIFE

I know posts are no fun w/out pictures, but sometimes I just need to put things down while it's on my mind. Life is interesting!! I am amazed at the strength the Lord has given me to overcome, not hills, but MOUNTAINS in my life! No matter how tall the mountain, and whether or not I can see the top, or what is on the other side, He continues to give me the strength and courage to keep on climbing. I am so blessed and grateful for the people in my life. I cannot imagine a life without the gospel! How do people get through life without it? How do they have the will to keep moving forward? Sometimes when we get thrown things that we have absolutely no control over, all we can do is just keep a smile on our face and have the faith that the Lord is always aware of us and our needs, and that He will always give us the things that we need to overcome our trials. I think one reason that I have been blessed with so many wonderful kids is because when life gets hard, everywhere I turn there is an adorable face reminding me of why I keep going AND bringing me joy along the way! I could never let them down and all I want is for them to get through life knowing how much they are loved.

HAHAHA!

Last night Devin was going to Target so I asked if he could get me one thing & he said, sure, put it on the list. So I wrote down, "Playtex gentle glide-regular". When he got home he said, "I guess Target doesn't carry that brand cuz I looked everywhere & couldn't find it. Then he handed me a women's Schick razor! I was laughing so hard! He started laughing asking, "what? what? did I get the wrong thing?" When I told him what it was I needed he started laughing & said, "um yeah I guess this would really not work for what you need" I am still laughing about it!! I love it when he makes me laugh!

Silly Libs!

This isn't Libertys official birthday post, but I had to write this down before I forgot. I asked her on Saturday what cake she wanted for her birthday & this was following conversation we had.
"Libs, what cake do you want on Sunday?"
"Duh, I told you mom, I'm having an ICarly party"
"Oh yeah, my bad"
"So I want a cake with Carlys face on it and Sams face on it, and oh, can you put Pipers face on it?(my neice)"
"um, sorry Libs, I can't do cakes w/faces on it"
"oh, dang it....cuz Piper is so cute I just really want her face on there too"

HAHA, I barely do half decent cakes anyways, like I could seriously start drawing out faces! I was laughing so hard. Then my mom & I made the mistake of asking what she wanted for her Birthday.....here is just A FEW that I can remember
* a fake kitchen
* fake dishes
* dress up clothes
* makeup
* jewelry
* fake shoes
* a fake couch
* a fake bed
* clothes
* a fake puppy
* a fake blanket to go on the bed
I can't even remember them all, but for some reason she wanted mostly fake stuff...not REAL shoes, but fake ones! I love it when she makes me laugh!

Happy Anniversary!

13 years doesn't sound like much, but when I think about all the things that have gone on in 13 years......time really does fly when your having fun! I still feel young and like we should be on our honeymoon instead of getting a young man prepared to receive the priesthood! Marriage always has it's ups and downs, but one thing has remained the same in our relationship.....both of us have always put 110% into our marriage and have always tried to remain each others best friend. Our trials through life have made us not only stronger individuals but closer to one another. I love my husband so much! He is so wonderful and there are not many men who do all that he does. I love him for who he is, the way he is with me and the way he is with our kids. People ask all the time how I can handle 8 kids, well I have said before, I couldn't do it without an amazing man by my side. I couldn't image life without him and I look forward to many many more happy years with my best friend!! I love you Devin!

Jacobs a big boy now!

I told you I'm trying to get caught up on my posting! May 10th my brother Jacob graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute specializing Associate of Occupational Studies for patisserie & baking. It is funny to me that this is what he got a degree in, NOT because he is not super awesome at it and he has always been the baker in our family, but I always saw him as some cute computer geek, cuz he is also incredible at that! I guess since I don't have as many talents as some others, its amazing to me how someone can be so great at two things that are so completely different. He pretty much has a standing "dessert" assignment for all our family get togethers, which we LOVE cuz he brings us so many amazing things. I am so proud of him!!! He is the FIRST sibling to get a degree in anything (I mean, besides my degree in baby making!) and he worked so hard to accomplish what he has. Congratulations Jacob!!!