mady and her locks of love!

For the last couple of years I have been prepping Mady for a hair cut and donation to locks of love. The day was coming near and she was not wanting to give her hair anymore. I brought her in the office and got on Anthony's laptop and brought up locks of love website. On the website there is a little girl that is bald. I started telling mady about Nonni when she had cancer and her hair fell out and how sad nonni was that she didn't have anymore hair. And I said like Nonni the little girl on the website has cancer and her hair has fallen out. I explained that when people have cancer one of the side effects is that your hair falls out and how sad people are when that happens. So mady responds with "O.k. mom I want to cut my hair and give it to nonni." I told her nonni has hair and doesn't need hers, but that this little girl does. I talked a little bit more about it and she said again that she wanted to give her hair to nonni. I told her again that nonni's hair had grown back and that she didn't need her hair. so more talking and then mady says with her hands, o.k. mom how about I give half to nonni and half to the little girl. Again I said Mady,nonni would love to have your hair but she already has some of her own. She said fine I will just take the hair and hide it for nonni. I said no Mady I am the one with the bag. You can't have it we are putting it in the bag and away it goes. She said o.k. mom. She continued with "that is so sad that ,that little girl doesn't have any hair mom." She was actually concerned and sad for her. I thought, does she really understand what she is doing, and I honestly believe that she did. She was happy to do it and loves the new do! She keeps moving her hair around. All of her brothers gave her high compliments and she turned to me and said "mom I want to grow out my hair again and cut it off and give it to another girl." I said sounds good to me. What a great opportunity for my 4 year old to give to someone in need, and to know that someone else had a need greater than her own (wanting to keep her hair).

My Love, Lovey, Lover, Loverboy

lovey in germany




Today 15 years ago I married my Lovey. It was the best day of my life. the first time I saw my lovey was in our senior english class. He walked in and I turned to my friend and said "don't we know him?" She said no. I then turned to her and said "I'm going to marry that guy!" she laughed, and I didn't know where that came from. He was HOT!!! He had the biggest eyes. That was the first thing I noticed about him. When I started asking about him I soon found out that he had a girlfriend. I didn't care I proceeded to ask him out. We only went out 1 time before his mission. After his mission I asked him out just about every weekend. He never asked me out until the following year. And the first date he asked me out on we talked about marriage. I ran home and told my mom all about it! We were engaged in March and married June 17, 1994. Ever since then it has been fun, stressful, up and down, exciting, and full of memories! I love everything about him. I love how he smells, how he walks, his eyes, and he has a nice set of cheeks and I am not talking the ones on his face! He has a strong testimony of the church and magnifies his calling a little too well. He is one of the hardest workers that I know. He is up there with my dad and brothers. Every night before he goes to bed he checks on all the kids and gives them a kiss before he goes to bed. He even sometimes lays beside them when they are sleeping or before they go to sleep. I have had to wake him up many nights because he has fallen asleep with them. He is a great dad! He is currently in his masters program trying to get 2 masters degrees and works 12 or more hours a day for our family and then goes to school. He is a wonderful provider. I get excited when I hear him coming in the door. I miss him when he leaves for work and can't wait for him to get home. He used to have a dodge truck (that would rumble) and I would listen for his truck and when I heard him coming I would yell "Dad's home" and everyone would get excited and they still do. Although now he has a ford hybrid and I can't hear the dang thing! I still get excited when I hear his keys in the door. He makes me feel at ease and less stressed. I love my lover! He is everything I wanted in a husband and then some. Now some of you may be reading this gagging, I am not professing that my husband is perfect because he is not perfect nor is our marriage, but with everyday stuggles and life I love him more and respect him more and more and think more highly of him. The advice my mom gave me a long time ago is "go on dates with your husband. Every week spend time with him, because when the kids are all gone you don't want to turn to him and say we don't have anything in common anymore."
I call him my lovey or lover because there are times that I have to remind myself that he is my lover. He is my lover my lovey my love always. I love him and everything about him and I am grateful that I have him in my life. I wouldn't know what I would do if I didn't have him. Life would be boring and dull. He makes my life full and interesting.I am happy that he is my lovey! I thank heavenly father every day for blessing me with such a wonderful man. Thank you lovey. Happy anniversary!

Washington, What a fun time!!!!

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We left for Washington the day my kids got out of school. They came home and I had everything packed up and ready to go. Actually I should say the kids packed there suitcases and put them in the suburban the night before we left. Nobody wanted to get left so they were all willing to pack there own suitcases and load them. We stopped in Ontario to visit my grandparents. My brother Aaron flew into Onatrio to help me drive. It was a great trip. We left at 12:00 and got to Washington the next morning at 6:30. But at 5:00 aaron kept announcing that we were on the home stretch. By the time we got to there actual street I wanted to punch him. we were all done being in the car! We rested Sunday all day and then Monday came and it was all fun from there on out. We went to Mud park on memorial day with some people in Cassie and Aaron's ward (nice people). The kids swam in this water fall thing. The had a blast. It wasn't very warm that day. I think it was 65. so the water was a lot cooler than that. Cody, Mady and Anna Mae were freezing so they came and layed on the asfault to get warm. Only in Washington do you lay on asfault. I wouldn't dare do that in arizona. You may burn off a body part or two. Tuesday we went to deception pass. It was beautiful! The kids tried fishing, but to there disadvantage no fish. The disadvantage being me. Anyone who knows me knows that I am scared of fish. I have never caught a fish nor do I want to anytime soon. Cassie did her best to help them and did a good job. Anytime the kids asked a question I sent them her way. Wednesday I think we hung out. That may have been the day that the kids had a water fight. Cassie got involved and that was quite funny! she grabbed the mop bucket and filled it up and dumped it on Cameron and Spencer. she was going for her 3rd time dumping and was running around the house with the bucket and slipped and fell in a hole (not too deep). I was in the house laughing my head off after I new she was alright. I got a picture of her after she fell, but she won't post that I am sure! I thought I was going to die laughing. Thursday was the bike thing in the back yard. Chance came in telling Aaron a tall tale of jumping this 5 foot high jump. So Aaron told chance to set it up in the backyard and let's see. So chance did. Apparently Aaron and Cassie couldn't stand everyone else having fun so they joined in. cassie thought she was a BMX biker girl. That was funny. Then there was Aaron. he got a running start and came around the house full speed ahead and announced to everyone "Can I get a Hoot Hoot" and proceeded to biff it good off the ramp. We were all rolling with that one. I got a picture of those two on Cassie's camera. We went to the fish hatchery (I think that's what it is called). we also went to see the coast. It was so foggy you couldn't see the ocean until you walked through the fog. it actually was freezing!!! we went and saw the biggest fur tree (I think). One of the rainforests in Washington. it was pretty! The trees were so cool. We had so much fun we were not ready to come home.
We left on Monday and headed for Sacramento where we could rest. The next morning we drive to Fresno where I got to see my old roommate from Ricks, Valerie (Scherer). we visited for about 3 hours. It was fun talking to her. I hadn't talked to her in about 13 years! She hasn't not changed much. She was still fun to talk to and laugh with. As I was driving away (about 30 minutes away) I realized that I had not taken any pictures of her and I together. I was a little mad at myself. It was fun talking to her again.
We then droved to ontario to visit with Grandma, Grandpa and Kym. we stayed for a couple of days and came home. we had fun visiting with gr gr and kym. we helped them get some things done for there trip in July.
We headed home to Anthony. He had been in Germany for 2 weeks while we were gone, so we were all anxcious to see him.
That's all for that trip. It was so much fun and we really appreciated Cassie and aaron letting us come visit them. There were lot's of kids and lot's of food making and showers. You can only imagine what 10 kids brings!

day at the park.

I thought I would take some pictures of the kids at the park. Nothing fancy just pictures. They were taken in May. That's how slow I am at blogging!