TOPH IS 14, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOPH!!!!!

He got a bike for his birthday and was thrilled!
Maegan made him an ice cream cake, it was sooo good!


My cute little boy

He is so good with kids, they just love him!

I'm a little late with this, but Toph turned 14 on Saturday. I really can not believe that my baby is that old. He has been a joy from the moment he was born. We wanted him so badly and had been trying for a couple of years to have another baby. So when we found out that we were going to have him we were beside ourselves! He brought so much love into our home. It wasn't just us, my sister Brenda wanted more babies so we shared Toph with her family as well. He was so loved that he never went through a hard phase, or if he did we didn't notice it.

When my boys turn 14 it always solidifies my testimony of Joseph Smith. I know if one of my boys would have come to me and told me about the angle Moroni and the golden plates, I would have no problem believing them. Toph has such a strong testimony and lives so that I know I wouldn't doubt him.

We love you Toph, we are so very glad you are part of our family!

We Really Live in a Beautiful Place!!!

Toph and I woke up this morning and decided to hike Waterfall. I was again amazed by all that God has created for us. I love living exactly where I live! It's so nice to drive up the street and be able to hike to this beautiful waterfall. I don't think I take advantage of this near enough. We decided that at least three times a week we need to go for a hike in these wonderful mountains that we live so close to. I also feel very blessed to be able to stay home and do things like this with Toph, I know only to well how fast this time will go by. Before I know it he will be all grown up and not so interested in going with me. I love that he loves being with me for now. I really am so very blessed. I'm grateful to Ron for working so hard so that I am able to stay home.

Sometimes Life Changes...

It was time for a change I guess. I was recently released from Primary and called to Young Womens. I will very much miss my primary class, they are the cutest kids and make me laugh every week. One came up to me after church and hugged me and begged me to come back to Primary, it made me feel so loved. I will also miss working with my friends in Primary. I really have loved the group of women I served with!
That being said, I love Young Womens and I am very excited to be working with the Beehives! They are a wonderful group of girls, that are still all very excited and not to busy to come to activities. I'm excited to work with the women that I have been called to serve with, some I know well and some not at all.
One thing I love about our church is that we get many opportunities to serve in many different capacities. It helps me to grow and be challenged. In every calling I have learned so much.
I also quit work. As of Monday I no longer work, which couldn't have been better timing. I gave my notice in April that I would be quiting the end of May.
I had a very strong feeling that i just need to be home. I loved working with my family and getting to know cousins and Uncles better. I really loved working with Josh and my sisters everyday. It was also nice to be challenged and learn new things and use my mind. But nothing can compare to being at home! Even though I only worked 3-4 hours a day and only while Toph was at school, I just didn't like being away from home.
It will also work very well with my new calling, what with Youth Conference and Girls Camp and all the fun activities. Life really is good and change is sometimes just what we need.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Chase and MaCall
Being a good sport and letting me take his picture.

Every time we look at this picture we laugh.

I know he hates me to take his picture but he humors me.

Chase turned 24 on Wednesday. I really am having a hard time with my kids growing up, it helps when they turn out to be wonderful adults. Chase has been so much fun since the moment he was born. Everyone who is with him loves him, and he really likes everyone. I remember one time going to parent teachers conference and the teacher telling me he was talking too much. I asked her to move him. She said she had several times. When I went home and talked to Chase about it, he told me he couldn't help it he liked everyone.

He appreciate everything we do for him and is always telling us how grateful he is. He recently moved back home for a little while and it has been so nice having him back, especially for Toph. He is smart, athletic, kind, giving and full of love. We feel very blessed to have him be part of our family! We love you Chase!!!

Kimmy's Last Week Of High School

Ok so for some reason it's not letting me move the pictures so I can put them in the right order. I will just have to jump around a bit.



My friend Holli made Kimmy her very own Holli cake. I think by far this was her favorite graduation gift. She loves Holli and her cake. It really was so very nice of Holli to do this.

This is after seminary graduation, it was so tender I wish I could have taken a picture of Ron giving her her certificate. We are a family of criers and they hugged for a long time and cried.
Sunday started out our week of graduation events starting with this.





Ok these are out of order, they are from the all night party after graduation. I was in charge of the food for the party so we got to hang out all night with them, it was a great time had by all.

Sunday was Kimmy's last Choral Edition Sacrament meeting and Monday was her final concert. She has loved being with this performing organization for 9 years. She will greatly miss singing with them and will miss the people she got to work with the most.

This is from Senior reflections on Tuesday night. The Senior officers are in charge and they show case the talent in their class.

These are from the final assembly. The Student Body and Senior officers after the assembly sit on the stage and each tell the Seniors and student body good bye. Then all the Seniors go up on stage to say their farewells.

After the assembly on Thursday.



Thursday night they had a Senior Barbecue and signed year books. We were in charge of the food for the night, so again we got to party with the kids.

GRADUATION

The cousins all graduating together.

Jumping for joy that they are finally done.


The Senior officers getting ready to go into the ceremony.


Sitting on stage for graduation.

And she is now an adult. Which kind of freaks her out.

This was just a sampling of all the fun we have had this week with our little graduate(lucky for us she likes us to be around). We really are so proud of her!!

MAY

I LOVE MAY

May is not even over and so far we have been so busy we can hardly breath. We have a lot more ahead of us, what with Kimmy graduating and your normal end of school year stuff. But I really am enjoying it all. My house isn't clean and my laundry isn't done, but that will all wait until June. Right now I just want to enjoy this time with Kimmy and my family.

Mother's Day Hike

Kimmy's Dance Fun

May Day Festivities

TOPH

Savior of the World

Toph and Elder HernandezHe looks a little tired here.
Some of the kids that were in it with him

Toph doesn't feel like I ever post anything about him on here. Here he is in our Stake play, Savior of the World. He was asked to do it well after rehearsals had begun. He was very cute and did a great job. I love that he will do things like this, and he even had a good attitude when Noel came and asked him if he would be willing to do it. He really is a great kid.