They had a blast with dad!

For the kids it was a blast, but for Clayton it was a lot of work. (no relaxing time) He said he was constantly doing something changing a diaper, taking girls to squat in bush, feeding someone, taking rides on four wheeler, etc... He had a blast but it was to quick of a trip to relax. The kids had so much fun, except all of them getting stung by bees. (all five of them) Thanks babe for taking them, and giving mom a much deserved break!!

Blackberries YUM!!

***Makayla's hair does not always look like this, it seems like in every post lately her hair is not done. I do it everyday but she pulls it out, so that explains my homeless looking child in all the pictures. :)***

My husband *R*O*C*K*S*!!!

Clayton took the kids (all four) camping, so I could have a couple days to myself!! My 10 year High School Reunion is next weekend and he said go get your hair done, buy yourself something to wear and just enjoy the quiet. That is exactly what I am going to do!! Thanks babe, I love you tons!!!! All I ask is to bring my babies back in one piece!!

Loaded and ready to go!!

My endless pit!

This is a typical look for Makayla. Lately all she wants to do is eat! I will feed her breakfast / lunch and I will catch her back up at the table eating every ones leftovers. I have to clear the table right away or she will be covered in it within minutes! She is so funny.

Typical Day

Working at my mom's house has become a typical day for us!! By looking at the background of all these pictures, it doesn't look like we have gotten very far with our progress, but we have!! All the kids really have become inventive in ways to find fun around the house while the adults work.

(playing in the mud, making rivers!)

(playing in the closet, don't ask what they were doing, half the time we don't know!)

(Uncle Eric stopped working to teach the girls how to swing dance)

(being goofy!)

(the kids are really good helpers, at times)

(after they help, they all line up for their pay checks!)

(they're rich!!)

(if we don't finish this house soon, I'm gonna go crazy!!)

What good look'n kids!!

Callie and Cody's school pictures. They turned out so good!!

Fun Weekend!

We had such a fun, relaxing weekend!! Clayton's parents came to town and stayed with us. We had so much fun with them here. (Of course, everything that we did I forgot my camera.) We got together with all of Clayton's family at his sister's house to celebrate his mom's Birthday! We had lots of yummy food, swimming, and great conversations!!! We love when his parents come to town, its such a treat!! His mom did take some cute pictures of me and the kids before church!! (minus Callie, she was staying the night at her cousins) Thanks for coming Grandma and Grandpa, we love you!

I need help!!

I can not keep up with my kids! My house seems to always be messy lately, and I can't keep up. It seems like all I do is walk behind my kids and pick up after them, but my house never seems to be clean. I wish I had a maid. With four kids and two birds, I just give up!

Hold your babies a little closer.

Clayton and I had the sad opportunity to attend a funeral in Pima on Friday. His friend from High School had a six month old baby got pneumonia and his immune system could not fight it off, and he ended up passing away. I was amazed how strong his sweet parents were, they both got up and spoke at his services, there is no way I could ever do that. Attending this funeral for this tiny sweetheart, was such a testimony builder, at first it made me question if God knows what he's doing. It was heartbreaking to see this family have to go through such loss, but as his parents spoke it reassured me that God knows exactly what he is doing. The parents knew from the day he was born that he was a special kid and the Lord prepared them for many months for his passing. This quote from Joseph Smith sums it up perfectly. "The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again."

When my dad passed away the only comforting thing for me was to think, that the Lord has bigger and better things for him to do in Heaven. There are times that I am actually jealous of those that have passed, because they no longer have to worry about the evils of this world. Having someone you love in Heaven is an incentive to live your life the best you possibly can, so we can live with them again. It also helps you to stop "sweating the small stuff", you never know how long we get with our kids and loved ones. LIVE FOR TODAY!

A BIG thanks to grandma Welker for babysitting for us, and to Becky for letting us fresh'n up at your house before the funeral and for going to lunch with us!! It was great catching up, I'm looking forward to our Cruise!! :)

When are you too old?

When are you too old to take a bath in the kitchen sink? Makayla begs to get in the sink after dinner when she is all messy. Too cute!

Our house is a Zoo!

My mom moved her bird to our house until she is done remodeling her house. She moved my entry table to put her bird cage next to our cage, so now when you walk in the door our house looks like a bird zoo!!

Today I was cooking dinner and the birds were squawking and I hollered to McKenzie "Are you bothering the birds?" she yelled "no they are bothering me!" I had to laugh!