Charity is 14!!

Yeah, so I still can not believe that my first baby is now fourteen. It just doesn't seem that it's been that long since we brought her home from the hospital. She is growing up Oh so very fast! She is becoming quite the young woman, she is funny, bright, beautiful, quirky, quick witted and sweet. I love this girl and have since the moment I saw her tiny eyes looking up at me!

Charity had her friend party this year and I think that they all had a lot of fun. They especially liked my special birthday drive I traditionally do...I spin doughnuts in the van out in our cul-de-sac.

Charity wanted to play cash cab. So I found some questions and took them all out in the van. I asked them questions and gave them chocolate as a reward for the correct answers but when they got three wrong, they had to get out and walk back to the house. I don't know...kids like that, I guess.



Jennifer Taber made this gorgeous cake for Charity!


All the friends who came(minus Amanda)

What I got for Mother's Day

I know that everybody that Facebooks has already seen these pics and knows the story but I needed to catch up on my blogging too. So please bear with me :o)

On Mother's Day after church, Chance went up to Robert and said, "dad...dad...my hair's falling out". Robert looked at him and this is what he saw


Robert said, "Oh really, that doesn't look like your hair just FELL out, it looks like you cut it!"

When I first saw Chance I was mad that he got into the scissors but then I just started laughing and Charity was laughing too. To which Chance responded, "I'm never going to playgroup ever again!" Which, of course, made us laugh even harder.

I had to bribe Chance with one of my special Mother's Day chocolates to get him to pose for these pictures.

I had a very nice Mother's Day, Daniel wrote me a sweet poem, Robert made dinner and gave me my favorite lotion, Charity gave me my favorite chocolates, and Miranda gave me a travel size lotion and hand sanitizer(in my fav fragrance). They were all so very sweet and made me feel loved and appreciated. I'm very blessed :o)

Try to take a nap...

So Robert and I were trying to take a nap one Sunday(last month) and we let the kids watch a church movie, first mistake! Always... and I mean always, make them nap too! We hear shouting and then kids yelling at the top of their lungs, "Chance broke the window!"

We go downstairs and this is what we see

Apparently, Chance wanted to rewind his favorite part and Daniel wouldn't let him. As an act of retaliation, Chance went outside and threw a rock at our sliding glass door. Yes, he has some anger issues, hoping, no praying he'll grow out of it.

Luckily, the window is doubled pane so we didn't have to replace it...yet!

Daniel Is A Deacon!

On March 23rd, Daniel turned twelve. Then on March 29th, he received the Aaronic priesthood and was ordained a Deacon(Robert conferred him). Grandpa and Grandma Sanders drove from Fairview, Utah to support Daniel in this special event. Aunt Stacey, Uncle John, cousins, Aunt Marie, Lois and Shawnice also joined us.

Afterwards we enjoyed lunch and visiting. The Barnums and the Wilsons stopped by, as well. We are so very grateful to have such good friends and family to help us celebrate this unique occasion, and our hearts are full!

I am so very proud to see Daniel growing into a young man and making good choices. I can't wait to see him participate in the sacred ordinance of passing the sacrament! Where has the time gone? We love you Daniel!

Robert, Daniel, and Grandpa Sanders


John, Grandpa Frank, Robert, Rex, Daniel, Kyle, & Chance


Our family



The ladies: Stacey, Grandma Shirley, Aunt Marie, Lois, and me


Daniel blowing out his MANY candles

Opening presents



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Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary

Last Wednesday, my friend Laura came to town and we took the kids to Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary. I liked it WAY better than that sad Vegas zoo. The kids had a lot of fun and Laura and I had fun chasing after them.

Miranda under one of the big trees(I looovve trees)


Chance feeding a kid(that's what baby goats are called, right?)





Jane petting the kids


The kids thought that little Eliza looked rather tasty, they were trying to eat her!


The Mr. Billy Goat Gruff, he has to stay separated from the well-behaved goats





And llama, yes llama


Laura said that this peacock liked my blue shirt so he proudly displayed his feathers


There were a ton of birds there waiting to poop on our heads!

Second Attempt

Here is my second attempt at digital scrap booking. I think it's much better than the first but still took an obscene amount of time for me to complete. You girls that do this frequently have some MAD skills!

Gainful Employment

I have kinda been outta the blogging world for awhile now. Too much facebook? Anyway, I need to bring everyone up to date on Robert's job. Yay, he did get job! He is working for a company called Pan Western. I got this from their website: "Pan Western Corporation is a full service transportation and material handling company that puts YOU the customer first".

Robert has been training for the last couple of weeks and he is loving it! He has gotten to drive a variety of trucks and learn how to haul materials on flatbeds and secure them so he doesn't kill innocent drivers. He is also learning to drive trucks with double trailers! He used to train people how to do this but now he is actually doing it himself. Robert is now going to be trained in driving tanker trucks, some of these will haul hazardous material. Robert's home every night, he's not delivery cross country, which makes me happy :o)

Robert has always loved big trucks so he is really enjoying himself. If he sees you out on the road, he might just honk his big'ole trucker horn at you!

Our Miranda For One Whole Decade!

Our Miranda turned ten on February 11th! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. She wanted to have a party/sleep-over. The girls danced, lip synced and had a blast. Miranda wanted to eat nachos, so we made some award-winning ones. For dessert we had a tuxedo cheesecake, yum yummo! She got a cute little hamster that, thus far, hasn't bitten anyone!

Miranda is such a sweet addition to our family. She is very giving and always thinking of others. She is an avid reader and a great helper. Miranda was my special surprise baby and I can't imagine my life without her! Your mama loves you Miranda Panda Bear!! I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you...

Celebrating the "Versary

Our Fabulous View



Enjoying the luxury





The den of love....bawhahahahaha!



Egyptian cotton robes

Robert drew me a bubble bath that about burned my ta-tas off!


To celebrate our Anniversary, we went to see the Phantom of the Opera. The special effects of the show were spectacular! Now I can't stop singing, "THE PHAAANTOM OF THE OPERA IS HEEEERRREE!" We really enjoyed it!

My friend, Kim Glad, came and watched the kids for us over night, thank you Kim! We stayed at the Venetian Hotel.The suite was beautiful, and our view was spectacular! I highly recommend staying there! Our room included a $30 dollar credit for a restaurant called Woo. It was very good but pricey and the portions were tiny.

We really had a fabulous anniversary, after sixteen years, I still like spending time with my hubby! :o)