8 is Great!

Pearly Shella has officially turned 8 years old! Hooray! We celebrated with some gifts, then had one of her favorite dinners, Navajo Tacos.Yum!

Then we sang happy birthday to her and enjoyed her Symphony Bar Chocolate Cake.  She is super excited for her baptism this weekend.  I am so happy that she wants to be baptized and that she has the opportunity to be baptized.  She has been waiting since she knew about baptism (3 years old...lol!)  I also remember when her older sister Pearlie was baptized she wanted to be baptized too.  She complained after her older sister was baptized,  that it wasn't fair that she had to wait until she was 8...lol! She loves learning about the gospel.  She also loves having her new scriptures that my in-laws gifted to her.

 

She's a sweet-spirited, loving and thoughtful child. She is also very smart and she is a fast learner.  She is a very talented artist. She wants to be a singer/actor when she grows up. She loves to help me in the kitchen...because she also wants to become a baker/chef.  She is definitely a daddy's girl.  She loves hanging out with her daddy.  She has a zest for life that is inspiring and motivating.   She came into this world with excitement....so to speak. lol! 

Her birth story:  

January 29th 2004 I had contractions all day long, they weren't too intense until the next morning.  I started getting intense contractions at around 6 am.  I knew I would give birth that day.  Since I didn't need to have meds for group B strep and I didn't want an epidural, we waited  longer at home before heading to the hospital.  We live only a mile away from the hospital so we thought it would be fine to wait for a bit.  Finally when it was time to go I had one intense contraction while walking up the stairs, after it was done  we said goodbye to Pearlie then headed to the hospital to give birth.

When we arrived I nearly had the baby in the hallway. An EMT grabbed me a wheelchair and we headed upstairs.  When we arrived at the L&D they checked us in and asked me to use the restroom first.  Well, that didn't really happen and I actually had a huge contraction in the restroom.  My husband had to carry me into the bed and soon after that she was was ready to be born.  As the nurse was getting ready for the baby she had to stop what she was doing because she was on her way out.  I was trying not to push but she was just ready to be born and basically it felt like she just flew right :\ out...lol! The nurse had her back turned for a minute and when she turned around she just barely had time to catch her....seriously! lol!  As you can see she entered the world with excitement...lol!

Pearly Shella,  

We love you so much! We are so grateful for you!  We are so blessed to have you in our lives!  It's a joy to know that you have such enthusiasm for learning and that you are so intelligent.  You are so loving and caring and we appreciate the things you do to help your family.  It's hilarious at times...that you are clumsy like your mom was when she was little or still is. (Ha ha!)  You have so many talents and we love that you enjoy sharing them. 

We know that you will be successful in reaching the goals that you set, because you strive to do your best always.  You have great potential and you will be a great mother and wife someday. Live your life serving others.  Life will not always be easy,  challenges will come. The best thing you can do is to always remember your worth and that you are loved and cherished by daddy and mommy and your family. And most important always remember that you are a priceless, unique, and beautiful divine daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. We are so thankful that we have been blessed to have you in our lives! 

♥ Love,

Daddy & Mommy

{K.T.T.- I hope you have a great day! I love you & miss you honey. Thank you for staying positive, and especially for your encouraging words and support. It's February! Yay! ♥ FT&P always!}

Missionary Work

This past weekend we were blessed to celebrate our nephew Elder Brown's farewell.  He will be serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Roseville, California mission.  Just from hearing his farewell talk,  we know that he will be a fantastic missionary. We are so happy with his decision. Our kids have been talking about becoming missionaries when they grow up, because they want to be like Elder Brown, I love hearing them get excited about missionary work.  They have asked me questions about missionary work. I love that they are interested in doing something so important.  My husband and I never went on our missions, but we both feel that it is something very important.  I am grateful that our kids are learning this. I have told them that although they are not missionaries,  they can help share the gospel through their testimonies.

 My parents have 12 sons, 2 daughters, 54 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He's my parents first grandchild to become a missionary.  I love having such a large family. I have so many nephews and nieces to enjoy.  They are such a big part of my life.  It just amazes me how quickly they have grown up.  I am the youngest of my parents 14 children and I am lucky to have grown up with some of my nieces and nephews.  I have been lucky to have some fun times hanging out with them or babysitting them.  I am so proud of each of them.  I am also proud that some of them have attended my favorite school...The University of Utah. Go UTES! lol!  (Had to throw that in there!)   I am very grateful for each of them.  They are great examples to me and my family. They are such great kids, seriously...the best!  We will definitely miss you Elder Brown!  See you in 2 years, return with honor!  Love you Elder Brown!

(To my husband...thanks for all of your strength and faith,  I have been so blessed by your encouragement, support and love.  It means more than the world to me.  FT&P Always! XOXOXOXO!)

The Little Stinker...literally!

It's a tough job being a mother...but it's definitely worth it.   I try to capture funny moments as much as possible.  I think it will be fun to tell the kids about things that they did once they are grown.  This little boy woke up last week with a stinky diaper, so of course being the miniature-comical-genius that he is....he decides to go lay down right next to his big sis....then he maneuvers his little body by wiggling his way under her head....and as you can see.  The poor girl didn't even know that her smelly baby brother was giving her a stinky surprise to wake up to.....lol!  (Don't worry, I didn't allow him to lay there for a long time...lol!)  This boy is definitely a handful.  Out of all the kids he is the smallest, youngest and the MESSIEST!  

Such a cute little stinker though!  

(To: KTT- Love you honey! Have a great week, it's a new month soon! YAY!

FT&P Always & Forever!)

Wordless Wednesday-Sledding Fun!

My Blessings

 I love it when I wake up in the morning to cute little surprises like these notes.  I had to follow about 6 arrows to the "x" marks the spot to find my surprise.  It ended up being a cute "Thank You" note in dry erase marker, on their mirror. Written from our two oldest daughters to me,  saying thank you for all that you do mommy,  we love you.    Our daughters have seen the love notes I have left for my husband on the mirror or have read things that we have blogged about.  They have a unusually good ability to sense when I really need some extra hugs or love and it's something that I really appreciate about them.  I am so blessed to have great kids.  They are so helpful and they bless our lives in so many ways.  Even when they are being a handful they teach us patience...and maybe long suffering...hahaha! jk!  We love them very much!

On a more personal note,  I have been so excited about getting some goals accomplished or at least getting started on the long process.   I have always wanted to become a Nurse.  I think I would love to work with children or even in Geriatrics.  Although Geriatrics might be more difficult, I hear it's a good field to work in.  Pediatrics is definitely a more natural thing for me.  Working with in home care for senior citizens, might be the better option, so that I can have more time with my family.  Whatever course I take,  I am sure it will be the right one for our family.  I am ready to get it done. 

I think the best benefit is that I will have a better knowledge of health so that I can take better care of my husband and kids.  I love being a stay-at-home mother, but I feel like this is the right thing to do.   

I am looking forward to the future and what it may bring.  I just pray that things continue to get better for us.  I am beyond grateful for things that have improved and I truly enjoy having such a wonderful husband kids.  They are my happiness & my greatest blessings.

To my baby: FT&P always & forever

Stay strong sweetie! ♥  Things will get better.

Finally did it...

I just submitted my application for the local community college and applied for financial aid. Just a few more things to do and I will be ready for Fall 2012...I am definitely excited!  I am sure my husband is too.  Thank goodness that he is such a smarty pants,  he will be a great tutor. :) Love the way that things become more motivating and I look forward to making our plans a reality.  I hope that we will be able to balance all the things we have to do in the fall of 2012.  I know it will not be easy,  but it will definitely be worth it.  (Reminds me of an awesome quote.)   Just wanted to tell my husband, that I love and appreciate all that he does for our family.  He is amazing and I hope that he knows how much I love him and that I truly appreciate his love and dedication to our family. He does his best to endure the hard things.  He has some amazing strength and faith.  He keeps me humble and has helped me to become a better wife and mother.   (I love you honey!) Good luck to my fellow mom-friends who will be entering college in the fall! Here's to 2012!

Hoorah for Is-La-el(Israel)!! lol!

FT&P always! 

Some drama for 2012...way to start the NEW YEAR!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas 2011

 Christmas this year was definitely a lot better for our family.  As parents it is definitely a blessing to see them growing up so fast and to observe how much they have learned.  We all have our moments when we wish things would be easier.  But it is so important that we remember to be thankful for the things we are blessed to enjoy.  We started the Christmas 2011 celebration with some much needed family time.  We loved playing games with our kids and watching them color pictures to enjoy. They sang their songs for us and we enjoyed it so much.

Christmas week,  we continued the celebration on the 23rd.  We went to visit my brother and his wife and 3 year old daughter.  They were so sweet to invite us for dinner then presented the kids with gifts. Our kids were definitely thrilled--not to mention, amazingly well mannered when opening their gifts.  They didn't realize it but they had just received the first of many gifts from their Secret Santas.....

 The next day, Christmas Eve, they were blessed with a Secret Santa that dropped off more gifts for each of them.  Clothing, Toys and hair accesories for the girls.  We saved those gifts for Christmas day.
Christmas Eve,  we celebrated at our traditional Browns family Christmas party.

We played games, had a soup buffet and desserts, did our nativity re-enactment and finished off with our white elephant gift exchange and the kids decorating Sugar cookies for Santa.

(We can't forget how funny it was when the kids uncle and cousin were wrestling...pretty sure that our nephew won! lol!)

The kids played with their cousins and then we finished off the day watching movies at home.

Christmas morning we woke up and the kids were super excited to open up their gifts from "Santa".  We spent our time with Tupea family.  The kids opened their presents from Santa along with their cousins. We skipped our traditional breakfast and had some cereal.  We attended church for an hour and enjoyed the nice sacrament meeting program centered on the Birth of Christ.  After church we came home,  ate a HUGE lunch/dinner which consisted of Salmon,  Palusami,  Pot Roast,  Potatoes, Rice,  Baked Chicken  and later we enjoyed some scrumptious desserts.  After dinner the kids watched movies and played with some of their new gifts.  Afterwards, my husbby and I were able to relax and talk about our day. (The final part of Christmas that truly made it a great Christmas.)  The time we were able to spend together as a couple and with our families is priceless.

We are grateful for the many "Secret Santas" who gave so freely of their time and gifts for the kids.  But more importantly we are so grateful that we have a knowledge of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We are so blessed to celebrate his birth.  There is a God,  he hears and answers our prayers.  Our Savior's atonement is a testament of Him.  We love our family and friends and look forward to the blessings coming in 2012.  Happy New Year, from our family to yours.


FT&P Always...(I luv you honey! Thank your for blessing me with your love, definitely the best gift!)

Singing in the Round 2011

The kids had their annual Singing in the round, while I love the music...I dislike the set up. I am a bit frustrated with this post because my baby boy was being very naughty running around and touching things, so I could hardly capture everything I wanted to. I dislike singing in the round because I can never get good shots of all of the kids. So here is my crappy video work the only ones that worked for now...Blogger video uploading is so annoying...it doesn't work as well as it used to and the only photos I could take. :(

(To KTT: Sorry honey. I will try uploading one more via YouTube so check back if you want....FT&P Always! xoxoxoxo I love you so much!!)


Have a very Merry Christmas!

Pearly Shella

4th graders

K-Pearls class & 1st Graders
(He's in the blue close to the teacher that's leading.)

 

 Pearly Shella's class and 2nd Graders

 

Pearlie's class & 4th graders

On a Mission

As a parent, the greatest blessing is that your children learn from life's experience and overcome life's challenges to the best of their ability to become the people they were meant to be.

I have noticed over the past year how much they have grown spiritually. This spiritual growth reflects their resiliency throughout trials. Simply put....they amaze me. They do things that give me a glimpse of who they really are and who they will become.

This simple life lesson lead me to think about my life as an adult. And then it triggered some introspective dialogue which went something like this...

How can we instill our children the desire to seek knowledge and 
understanding of their divine potential and how will we encourage them, as

they grow, to discover their purpose and mission in this life?

In my opinion, I think we lose ourselves because we are comparing ourselves to others.  I think we lose the sense of who we are meant to be because we are too busy to take time to realize our potential.  I think we forget how amazing we are,  sometimes we waste time focusing on the negative things that we dislike about ourselves.

I have definitely learned that I love being who I am.  I love that my husband balances me out and keeps me focused on what is important, he exemplifies resiliency.  I love that my kids help me to remember what it means to truly become like Christ.

This is exactly why I love being a mother and a wife.  The profound moments that are experienced outnumber the hard moments.  I am blessed with some priceless life experiences as a mother,  I wouldn't have known if I wasn't a mother.  While the daily life of mothering isn't EVER easy.  I would definitely say that I have learned so much from my children.   My daughter asked me why I didn't go on  a mission.  I told her, well girls aren't required to go,  I told her that I decided to get married instead and that they (my kids) are my mission. That mission is to help them to reach their full potential in every aspect, regardless of what struggles we face. Which can only be accomplished when leading by example.

I hope that I can continue to serve and teach my family, by example.  I hope that when they are older, they will know what their mission in this life is.  I hope that i will be able to complete my mission and return with honor,  to our Heavenly Father...when it's time.  I hope that my children and husband will know and never forget how much I LOVE THEM! ♥

I love being on a "mission"!