the ones you live with, laugh with, love: April 2008

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Happy 31st Birthday!

Okay, so I am going to post twice again. The two things I wanted to put on here just don't go together so I am doing them seperate.

Happy Birthday, M! Yesterday M turned 31. Ohhhhh, we are starting to get so old! Anyway we had his favorite dinner (Stuffed sopaipillas) and his favorite cake (Mint chocolate chip icecream cake) . And check the video out of him pretty much singing to himself. It's sooooo funny. He's a nut, but, ofcourse, that is part of why we love him so nuch!

So, Happy Birthday, My love!

Cool Pictures!

These are just some really cool pictures my sister-in-law took of Little A and Triple A at their soccer games. I love them!

Monday, April 28, 2008

Back From Oklahoma!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woo Hoo! We are back! This was a very quick trip! It takes 8 hrs to get to Oklahoma City from Albuquerque. We left Friday at about noon. Big A had a test in math that he needed to be there for, so we couldn't leave as early as we would have liked. We arrived in Oklahoma at 9:00 with the time change. Very long car ride. But we were able to see places that we hadn't seen before.

And it was beautiful! So green!

I didn't realize it could be so green! But very flat. I honestly couldn't live without the mountains in my view.

The next day was spent picking up registration packets, driving the course and trying to rest their legs before the big race.

The race started at 6:30. So, M and James went down early and started the race. Melinda and I went down with our kiddos a little later. The course was a little hard for spectators

to watch and then try and make it back to the finish line in time. But we did get to watch our husbands finish.

And they did great!

The weather, on the other hand, was miserable! It was so cold. It rained on them as they ran and was very windy.

But they

were both still able to run and meet

their goals. Great job, guys! M got 3rd overall and 1st in his age group. It was his best marathon yet! He finished in 2:44:13. James finished in 3:31:14. Look at the facts below and you will see how well they both did!

Summary
number of finishers: 1964
number of females: 732
number of males: 1232
average time: 04:31:26

Then lucky us, because of school and work we got to go to the Hotel, shower, pack and get in the car and do another 8 hr. drive home. A little less fun. :(

But it really was a wonderful time with our family. We loved all of the Roland time we got. And the fun we had with eachother!

Roland time!

Last photos before we jumped in the

car!

Are we home, yet? How much further?

Friday, April 25, 2008

We are done with soccer and track!

"Wow! You are done with soccer and track , now what are you going to do?" Well, we are going to be a little silly. This seems to be what happens to this family when we have been going everyday for a few months with practices. We just seem to be so giddy that we are done, that we lose it a little...Okay, maybe a lot! :(

The kids had great seasons. Big A made it to District and did

the best he has ever done! Especially considering the awful wind that day. We all had to come home and scrape the dirt off of us . Double A's soccer team did so well they are in a tournament this weekend. She will miss it though because of our trip. And triple A and Little A finished their last few games strong with several goals each. Yea, Kiddos!

Well, we are off to Oklahoma City! M and his brother, James, are doing a marathon there this weekend. They have trained hard and will do great. So, be thinking of them and send them good happy thoughts! :) Have a great weekend!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

If The Savior Stood Beside Me....

Double A came home from church on Sunday singing this beautiful song....She says it is her new favorite song. They will be singing it for this years primary program. She quickly found an MP3 version and downloaded it. It is so beautiful! So comforting. It really does not need very much introduction but I will say that if we all lived as if Jesus was standing right beside us this world would be a very different place indeed. And this is how we should live because he is beside us offering comfort, love and forgiveness.
I am very grateful that my sweet daughter brought this song into our home. I have heard it before but did not listen as closely as I should have. This video is from a YW general conference. And I think it is very touching to see these YW who are striving to live righteously especially in this world when there is so much against us.

If The Savior Stood Beside Me
By Sally DeFord

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

This song was written by Sister Deford for her daughter's baptism. She says that she did not write it because she wanted it to be a lesson but because her daughter lived her life like the Savior was beside her. And this was her song.. Isn't that beautiful? For me, it gives the song even more meaning... I hope you enjoy it as much as we do....

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Popcorn Popping On The Apricot Tree.....

Popcorn Popping on The Apricot Tree

Words and music by Georgia W. Bello

(or in this case the apple tree)

I looked out the window,

and what did I see?

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!

Spring had brought me such a nice surprise,

Blossoms popping right before my eyes.

I could take an armful and make a treat,

A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet.

It wasn’t really so, but it seemed to be

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Who Needs Milk When You Have Syrup?

Yes, Two post in the same day...You must be thinking " Is this all E does?" Well, I can assure you I don't. This is just too funny not to post...

I was working on some stuff for Young Womens at church and turned around to see Aspyn cooking in the kitchen. Notice the emphasis on cooking....Can I really call it that when A 2 year old is doing it? Anyway, I quickly got up to see what needed to be cleaned up and I found her with A pot full of Cocoa Puffs( the rest of the box!) and she had poured the whole Costco size bottle of syrup in with it. Hey, if you have a sweet tooth I guess this is an alternative to milk... But it didn't look too tasty to me. Oh, the sweet, fun times with a 2 year old. :) It does keep you on your toes though!

Just Because....

This is just because I love them so.......

I went into the boys room the other night. The kids were all in there hanging out. But this is what I saw. My oldest and my youngest hanging out together.

So very Cute! I love it! Then ofcourse, once I got the camera out the other cuties jumped in for the picture.

And this is just a very sweet picture that Double captured at Little A's soccer game on Saturday. Look at my sweet husband and baby....

I am so lucky!

Monday, April 14, 2008

OUR MYSTERY!

Over the last few days all of our chickens have disappeared. First we found one with her back broken then, a couple days later we realized all of our hens were gone leaving the rooster alone. After some searching we found two dead in our neighbors back yard. We were stumped. They were disappearing at night and they roost up high in the barn rafters. Today we woke up and realized we didn't hear the rooster crowing. We went outside to find his feathers everywhere! Then today another neighbor came over and asked if we had chickens because over the last week he had two dead chickens show up in his yard. I went on the internet and looked up the way they were killed and eaten and it linked me to either a bobcat ( which I had suspected) or a Lynx. They are not in the area so we think it must be a bobcat that took all of our chickens in just a matter of days. Absolutely crazy! We have had these chickens for 6 years and never had any problems. But to make good out of bad we can now put in our garden. The chickens always scratched in there and ruined the plants. So life will be fine but Still kind of eery to think there is a bobcat out there or something even bigger! EEEEKKK!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

What Happened To Spring?

Yesterday morning I went out and did a run at 7:30. It was beautiful, I even got hot. I expected it to be another beautiful spring day, I couldn't have been more wrong! When I took the kids to school at 8:45 it was significantly cooler. And then when I went out later it was cold! It rained the rest of the day with off and on snow flurries and when we woke up this morning this is what the mountains looked like...It is April, right?

The sun is shining on us right now but the mountains are partly out and somehow snow flurries are blowing over to us. And it is 35 outside. Crazy! But you know, I'll take it....Before long I'll be wishing it wasn't so hot. So here is to this weather, may we all enjoy it!

Monday, April 7, 2008

I am trully blessed...

Every six months our church has General conference which is broadcast around the world. Our prophet and his apostles and other church leaders speak to us. It is so uplifting and wonderful to hear these words of encouragement and guidance. I am so grateful for the restored gospel and how smoothly it works when one prophet dies and a new prophet is called. And I am so grateful for our new prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I have always loved this man, he speaks with so much strength but with so much love and humility. And he is so funny. He relates so well with others, especially the youth of our church. "We thank thee O' God for a prophet, To guide us in these latter days" I love those words!

Yesterday evening we went and played at the park. We played Ultimate Frisbee! I had never played before and it was so much fun! While our 4 oldest kids played frisbee with us our 2 yr. old was rocking her baby in the middle of the field and hushing us because her baby was asleep. Oh, it warms my heart still when I think of it. She is such a little mommy. I am usually so sad when I think of my kids growing up. I love being a mom( I've been a mom since I was 19) and it makes me sad to think of my little ones gone from home. But this weekend there were several times when I looked at my older kids and was so overcome with what wonderful young adults they are becoming. They show so much respect and responsibility. And even though it makes me a little sad I am proud of them and proud of what they stand for.

It really was such a wonderful weekend, And I am so happy I was with my cute kiddos and my sweet husband. I am trully blessed!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Jog-a-thon!

Our elementary kids had their annual jog-a-thon today. So M and I and our little ones walked over to the school and M ran with them. It is fun to watch them run with their daddy. Unfortunately I was marking their backs as they did their laps so I didn't get any pictures of the actual running. It was fun as usual and the kids did great! Abi ran 17 laps. And what do you know, Aidan ran 17 laps, too! Which according to what the coach said a lap was, that equals 2.4 miles in 20 minutes. It is just great to see all the kids out there really having fun! Good job Kiddos! We are very proud of you!

Double A with her Daddy. She said this pose was in preperation for her future ironman race.

Her Daddy inspires her!

Triple A and his Daddy!

Triple A with his buddies!

Double A with her friends!

Also~~~ Happy 23rd Birthday, Stetson!