Leila turns 4

My little Leila turned four on August 19th.

She is such a joy to me. She goes to preschool.

Of her favorites she loves my little ponies, mud, dress up, barbies, and animals.

Her favorite friends are her friend Erin and her cousin Travis 

She is joy itself and she makes me laugh constantly.

I love my little girl and I am excited to see the wonderful things she'll say and do this coming year.

Camping love

This past week we went camping. My family hit the little town of Greer with great anticipation. We escaped the heat of Tucson for an entire week. Usually we go camping in July. But this year was June. Why is that weird? Because we had absolutely no rain! I have never camped without rain! It was nice but also so every dry and dusty.

I have never seen such dirty children in my life! It was impossible to keep theme somewhat clean. Leila was the worst. She is a mess all the time anyway. So she was pretty  much a disaster. 

      One of my favorite days was Wednesday. Our designated laundry day. Luck.y for me one of my best friends lives their with her 5 children. She was so generous in letting me do laundry at her house. She also let us shower! I am not sure whether that was for our benefit or hers. Her son Sam and my Lucas instantly hit it off. They are boys cut from the same tree. They had sword fights, made boats and had races down the canal, swung in the swing, and did well, I am not sure we just said go outside and play!! 

Operation rock shop, the girls mainly collected and cleaned all these rocks and displayed them. The boys wanted to be involved.

Molly decided to go for a drive.

I think Leila was in this swing for 2 hours. It was her favorite!

Katie & Molly, this just makes me happy.

       During our trip we saw lots of wildlife. I saw a bear! We also saw a herd of elk being stalks by a couple of coyotes. Deer, beavers, a muskrat, birds, squirrels, Corey even saw some young foxes. It was a great trip. But I am happy to be home and bathed. It is going to be  a few days till our chapped skin and sunburns return to normal. But the cool weather and beautiful scenery will be missed.

Yearly Post

I swear every time I do this I am going to be more consistent but I am not.
              I guess the biggest news to hit us is our newest edition. Molly Grace Borst was born on April 9th at 6:25pm. She is now 5 going on 6 weeks old and is a joy. She has started smiling, which makes her Grandparents giddy.
     Leila is 2 and this girl is a major crack up. She has become needy the last couple weeks. But I'm okay with that. I am trying really hard to take time to make sure she gets attention. If I can't do it I grab someone who can. I also have to keep an extra close eye on her. She loves her Molly and is often trying and sometime successfully picking her up. But no harm...yet.
   Eden is happily flitting through life. She has taken up sewing with Grandma. She has also been taking a ballet class at the high school. It's nothing fancy but it gives her something to do. He recital is Friday. She'll get to wear a light pink sparkly feathery outfit so she's thrilled.
  Lucas is holding down the fort being the only boy, if you don't count DJ. Which we don't because he is gone mostly all day at work and on weekends at school. He is in baseball again and having a great time. He is doing really well and we are very proud of him. He is also in scouts and having a blast. Lucas has a knack of always having a blast. That's one of the reasons i love him so much.
    DJ is working and schooling and we hope to be able to start in pharmacy school after next spring. I am holding down the fort. Much better now that I am not pregnant. I am happy to say I will not be doing that again. I just can't be sick for another year. My kids need me too much. It makes me sad to know I won't have any more babies but relief of not being pregnant is really worth it. Plus who knows maybe adoption or just enjoying the next generations babies will be sufficient! I think so.

Baptism Day

Yesterday was a special day for our family. Why?? Lucas was baptized. He being my oldest child this was a bit of an emotional day for me. Shocker right. But the baptism was beautiful. In our stake we have baptisms set up like this. First we meet together and one ward is in charge of the baptism. They provide the talks and music. Well as it so happens our ward was in charge. So my Mother gave the talk on baptism my sister gave the talk on the holy Ghost. DJ said the prayer and I led the music. The wonderful Joan Brenton was the pianist.
   Many of our family attended. My parents, David and Tammy along with all of their children. Jon, Georgina and Sammy. Sara, Corey and Sue with Jason and Travis. Aaron and Shawna with their four. Vanessa came with Kaylee and Christopher. Katie Richens surprised me by showing up yay! The Bishop Anderson came with Michelle and their four kids. Who are also very good friends of mine. Devere and Michelle Doucet where there for a nieces baptism so they stayed in for Lucas' baptism. As well as Devere's Mother, who is in our ward.
    After the baptism we went to my parents for lot's and lot's of eating. Mom was amazing and made awesome Mexican food. I made a dessert with cookie dough, double stuff oreos and brownies. It was good! My nephew Jordan, Emily ans their girls Lily and Tomi joined us there.
  All in all it was a beautiful day.
When I asked Lucas how he felt he gave me a sideways thumb. I ask what was the up part. He said "I'm excited to get baptized."
"So what's the down part?"
"My stomach feels bad."
 After he was baptized he said he felt good. He said during the confirmation it felt heavy but warm.
It was a beautiful day and I am so grateful for the blessings our family have received and for the choice Lucas has made. he is also a very good example for his sisters.

four children

We are pleased to announce we are having a baby girl come March.
This pregnancy has been an interesting one. I have lost two babies in the past three years. I guess I am always nervous. Every time I went in to an appointment and heard the heartbeat I am relieved. We finally had the ultrasound and I waited anxiously not to know what it was but how it was. I just hope for a healthy baby. She is healthy and active. So here we go. I can officially call myself a mother of daughters.
 I am grateful for my one little boy. He is wonderful, even if he is disappointed not to have a brother. But we tell him that he is special because it's just him and his Dad. I think he'll be just fine. He is excellent with his sisters.
 So that is it. DJ and I are planning to be done.  He is getting older as am I. With his work and school schedule I am already out numbered and out witted. We have had healthy children but my body just doesn't work like it used to. lol! I also am so sick during pregnancy it is not fair to the rest of my family to have to go through this. I need my energy for baseball, dance, swimming and school.
 I have been blessed with healthy children I love them and am grateful for each one. I am excited that I know what we have and get ready for stage two.
Besides I'm going to have three girls!! Good thing DJ decided to be a pharmacist!

Home School, my journey

I have finished the first quarter of AZVA with having both Lucas and Eden at home. To my relief Lucas was a straight A student. That is a straight E student= exceeds expectations. We have worked very hard to do well.
    So here is the run down. Because Eden and I started last year, she is having a much easier time doing her work in a timely manner. Not every day or every time. She is after all my kid. She enjoys doing her work in what ever she has decided to dress herself in that day. Be it a school uniform from last year to her Rapunzel dress, cowboy boots, bonnet and apron. I figure she is 6 and what ever makes her happy let it be. Nobody is going to see her anyway. Of course I do have to take pictures. But she works hard. her reading is continuing to improve. She in fact loves to read. This is nice because she and Leila will cuddle up together and E will read to her sister. It's rather sweet. She is a hard working student.And I love watching her grow.

     Lucas is another story. he is very enthusiastic about his school until we get to math (not that I blame him). He knows how to do the work, he seems to understand the concepts. He just not like to slow down and do the work. It has been a struggle to me. But I think I am starting to figure it out. He needs more time. He needs more patience from me. He also needs something to look forward to.

    I think that is why I enjoy this challenge. I am learning so much about my children. I know their strengths and weaknesses. As well and becoming very familiar with my own. I am watching up be a little team. I am seeings days that have more positive interactions then negative. I see us working out our differences and working as a unit.

   My ultimate goal is to know my children are becoming independent learners. To enjoy school and to figure out where their learning strengths are. To know what works for them. I want them to learn to be self disciplined and to understand at the end of the day they are in charge of themselves. I want them to love and trust each other. This is an experience that is both extremely rewarding as well as challenging. I have cried more then once this quarter and figure I do some more. My dishes are not done. My house is not clean. But, we are learning and growing together.

Did I mentions I like the whole "It's a nice day! Lets go to the Zoo or play with your cousins?" and the whole sleep and wake up when I want to and get started. We are way relaxed over here when it comes to our schedule. I kinda like that.

The value of a classic.

Today has been a weird day. I have noticed in my life when life is hard I think about books I have read. There are reasons some are classics. It's because of the long lasting lessons you learn. For example, Little house on the Prairie. Not only educational about the life of early American pioneers. But watching how people can live so happily with just their family. NO phones, facebook, tvs or even people. They work together as a family. Their are only kind words spoken and love and respect. I perfect example of how we should be living our lives and how little we need for true happiness.
     A couple years ago I had my first miscarriage. It was a very emotional experience for me. However, I read most of the Anne of Green Gables series during this time. She taught me to cling on to hope. That happiness is possible even in the hardest of times. A good imagination can go a long way.
   Today I was dealing with people who are unhappy with our ward. Sad they have no friends. Blaming and being offended my people who are just doing what they have always done.  I am reminded that bosom friends are hard to find but you have to work for it sometimes. There are people who have prickles but time, kindness and hard work and a little honesty can sometimes wipe those prickles away to reveal a person in need of a friend.
    I know also reflect on advice I heard from my Mother when I was a little girl sad I had "no friends" She told me to be my own best friend. I always made a joke out of it. Now that I am grown I understand the wisdom. It is the same wisdom as you are only in charge of your own happiness.  I have learned no matter what you do at the end of the day you can not change other people to be what you want them to be. Because that is not who they are! You can not depend on your children, husband, Friends, or neighbors to make you happy. They can't. If you aren't happy in the first place nothing they do will be good enough.
      If you walk through the world being offended by everyone. Well the first thing you are doing is hurting those around you. I think be offended is being selfish. You are not taking responsibility for your own actions. You are thinking of yourself. As I observed today. The person was offended and in doing so hurt many other people. Also when you are hurt by those who are offended you build a wall from them. I know I see that behavior and I know that person is not one to be close to. It will only lead to hurt feelings one way or another.
      However when you have a friend like Anne or Diana. Or a family like the Wilders. You learn love sacrifice and trust. But to get that you have to make it for yourself. You can not wait for it to come to you. Anyway. That's what is on my mind tonight. I am grateful that I have a good husband and we have a good honest working relationship. I am grateful for my bosom friends. Yes Katie I'm talking to you. I love knowing I have someone I trust and who loves me as much as I love them. Even though we don't see each other but once a year, If we are so lucky or friendship is solid like a rock. I love my parents and the sacrifices and service they have done for me. They are so supportive and kind. I love my ward family. It is such a interesting ward I'm in. But in serving in this ward I have gotten to know different people. I have learned about strengths and talents people had I would have never known had I not served in my callings. easy or hard I have learned to love these people.
Anyway I love the classics, I think I'll go read North and South now.
ok that's in
The End