Happy Mother's Day...

...MOM! We love you! Look how far you've come since these pictures! You now have a wonderful family of 5 kids, 2 son-in-laws, 3 daughter-in-laws, and 9 grandchildren with 2 more on the way! Time flies when you're having fun, huh? I am so thankful for such a wonderful mom who taught us many things, like how to ride a bike, how to tie our shoes, manners, how to treat others with respect, but most importantly the gospel. I grew up in a home where the spirit was always welcome and present, and where we knew we were loved. Thanks for reading the scriptures with us, having FHE every week, and for making me go to Young Women's even when I didn't want to!

I look back at wonder how you did it all. Not just the 5 kids, but doing it all mostly by yourself. (sorry Dad, no offense!) My mom sat for most of our young years all by herself during sacrament meetings, and other church activities. My Dad was always involved in church callings that kept him pretty busy, and he was also very busy with work. This was before the days of Cell phones, and she would never know where he was or when he would be home. He also traveled some, I remember him working in California and being gone for a couple of weeks at a time. I wonder how I would make it some days without being able to call Cory and see if he can be home by 4:30 so I can take Kristian some where, and not have to haul all the other kids. I makes me feel like a wuss!

We were well provided for, I don't remember going without a thing. But now that I am an adult with kids of my own, I can see we were by no means rich, and that my mom was a master of getting by on what she had. I never went hungry, but I know there were times she wondered what she could fix for dinner on what was left in the cupboards. She was great with a sewing machine, and we always looked nice and well kept. Ashley and I always had really cute hair that was styled, combed and had cute bows or ribbons. (although in the above picture I think our hair looks hideous... mom swears it was "in style"! Who ever decides these things should be shot!)The year that the cabbage patch dolls were a huge hit, Ashley and I really wanted one, and knowing there was no way they could afford it, my mom made us dolls instead. I loved that doll. (I am still MAD at mom for sending it to the DI!)

Now that I am an adult, I can see the blessings of having a wonderful mother. I am soooo blessed! I am amazed by all the wonderful mothers I get to associate with on a daily basis. I not only have an awesome mom, but a great mother-in-law. I have great friends who are examples of wonderful mothers, and who help me see I am not alone, and give me great examples of how I can do better with my own kids.

Kassie's Announcement....

....this is Kassie's baptism announcement. My wonderful friend Amy Jo helped me with it, since I am digital scrapbooking illiterate. Thank you Amy Jo for all of you help! I love it and am so happy about the way it turned out. And it was FUN too!

Sassie Kassie....

....turned 8 today. What a sweetheart. So full of life, and too busy to be bothered with trivial stuff.... like eating, sleeping, and especially putting things away. I knew she was going to be a spit-fire before she was even born. She would stretch, and stretch, til it was killing me, and when I would push back so it wouldn't hurt so much, she would haul off and kick me. yep, a spit-fire. :) So grateful everyday for her sweet smile and fun loving spirit in our home. I feel humbled that our Father in Heaven would allow me to be her mother. A blessing. The picture on the left is her hospital picture. The one on the right she is 5 months old. I cannot believe it has been 8 years! She is growing into a beautiful young lady, with a sweet spirit about her. She is soooo good with academics, especially math. She just seems to pick it up rather easily. Her teacher has been sending home packets of third grade math with multiplication problems because she is getting bored with what the rest of the class is learning. She is in second grade but reading at the end of a third grade level. We are so proud of her!

Kassie is also a great help with her little sister and brother. She is always willing to play with them and include them. She will always help with changing a diaper or running to get whatever I need. Sometimes she has a hard time keeping all that energy under wraps. We find her running laps around the house.... for fun! Last summer she really loved the mini 4-wheeler... grandma had told her not to ride without a helmet, and NO STANDING while driving.... she just couldn't help but jump on and go, forgetting the helmet and standing up anyway. She lost control and ran into Grandma Arlene and Grandpa Chris' garage door. It still holds the great dent today! Kassie has a hard time picking up her things and putting things away... I don't believe it's laziness, I really think her little mind is going a hundred miles a minute, and she is just anxious to get on to the next thing, leaving a wake in her path! I am constantly on her to pick up her things.... I just have to call her name, and stand there and look at the mess, and she gets to cleaning it up.... I don't have to say a word! We love you Kassie and are grateful you are a part of our family! I am looking forward to all our fun family times, and to see the wonderful young woman you will become!

Just Sweet....

... and innocent. Ths is how I found Gage and Kambree about 10 am today. Yes, they are still wearing thier PJ's... we hadn't got around to getting them bathed and dressed yet, but they let themselves out and were playing so great together.

Today I am grateful for the wonderful weather, and an awesome camera lens that would allow me to take these pics without them knowing... those are the best!

My "GREAT" Deal.....

... just arrived. I have been waiting for it for a week.... I was so excited, thanks to my mom and her great little online coupon code for JCPenney I only paid $23 for it after the sale price too. Here I was thinking I had this steal of a deal and a cute little purse, and then it arrives with the following label attached to the bag...... PROPSOITION 65 WARNING: USING OR HANDLING THIS PRODUCT WILL EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD, A CHEMICAL KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HARM. ... isn't that just peachy. So does anyone know anything about Lead? Should I really worry about this and return it? It's not like I'm going to be licking it or anything.... although I do know that just by touching it can expose you to it. That's nice that they let you know AFTER you order it! oh, what to do......

One Year Ago Today....

... you left this earthly existence for a much higher, grander place, free of pain and fear. I often wonder who it is harder on, you... missing out on your kids achievements and leaving your responsibilities to others, or your loved ones left behind, missing you and your amazing personality and wonderful advice. But in the end it doesn't really matter.... it is hard for all. I can't believe we all made it a whole year without your smile, insight, laugh, and friendship. You are in our prayers and thoughts this day and always.

Awake, Arise, & Come Unto Christ.....

.... was the theme for the BYU Women's Conference this year. Wow.... truly inspired, but would you really expect anything less? I swear every year it gets better. Or maybe I get older and appreciate the event more. Any way you say it, It was so worth the efforts. You know how just before you are supposed to leave your kids, you start to think you shouldn't. You start to come up with reasons why you need to be the one to be with them.... Well, I did that again. But so glad I was there. Our opening speaker was Sheri Dew. What an amazing woman. I am in awe of her every time I hear her, or read one of her books. She started off with warning us she was going to be frank. It was not to offend, or to make us feel guilty, but.... A Plea: An Expression of Complete Confidence in Us. Here are some of my notes, (hope they make some sort of sense to you): Women need to rally for the cause of Jesus Christ.... because why? Because they have more influence than any other.... over the home, husband, child and Young Women have more influence over Young Men than any other. "Motherhood is the greatest potential influence in human life." - David O. McKay Are we the women God needs us to be in the ladder part of the ladder days? Are we what we should be? Arise: In regular everyday situations, instead of concentrating on our "to-do" list we should be asking ourselves, "Why has the Lord brought me here today?" and do what you are inspired. We need to SEEK to have influence. Choose holiness always..... in the way you dress, the way you talk, the things you choose to engage in, and with the things you choose to let into your home (media) Couldn't we take a little more time to become a little more holy? If the answer is No, we need to make some major changes. It will be impossible to survive in the ladder days without the Holy Ghost! Children are a gift from God, and our sacred Joy/Privilege - - Do we know who they are? Do you know their desires? Do you know their heart? There is a great need for RIGHTEOUS mothers!

This is just a little bit of what she talked about.... I couldn't write fast enough!! This was just the opening session! We were able to go to 3 classes a day, besides the opening and closing sessions. I will write more and share more notes from other classes in future posts.... this is good for now, it gives you enough to think about for a little while, wouldn't you say? My cousin Julie said this talk reminded her of Julie Beck's talk about "Mothers Who Know", and I agree. What do you think?

Aunt Marge (mom's sister), her 2nd daughter Julie Clawson, Mom (Arlene), Me (Katie), and Ashley (my sister). Just the 5 of us this year, usually we have a sister in law or 2, and more of my cousins.... but this is all that could come this year. We still had a lot of fun! Right ladies???

*Do you look forward to getaways and then worry about your kids?

Do you realize how much of an influence you are to others?

What do you think about S.D.'s talk -vs - J.B.'s? Are they similar? Is someone trying to tell us something? *