MORNING VISITORS

This morning as I was in the kitchen I heard a weird sound coming from the backyard. I went and looked out the windows and and to my surprise we had visitors. I couldn't believe it, there were two ducks swimming in our pool. Now I have seen ducks many many times before but in all the years we have lived in this house I have never seen them in our pool. I called to the kids and they came running and for about twenty minutes this morning we all sat at the kitchen window and watched our visitors swim, bathe, and explore our backyard. Then they took flight and they were gone. What a fun and interesting sight to watch!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ! I LOVE YOU SWEETIE!


"13" WONDERFUL YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE.

BYE BYE UNION

Kevan who works for Coca-Cola, was the petitioner that has been trying to desertify the Union for the Coca-Cola employees at the Tempe Plant. Well yesterday was the vote as to whether or not the employees wanted the Union to work on their behalf or not. Last night at around 11:30pm Kevan called to tell me that the votes had been counted and that the Union was OUT! This is good news as now we can except fair raises and a much better benefits package. He was told that this was the biggest Union desertification in Coca-Cola history. He was thanked over and over by the BIG GUYS there at the plant as this is better for Coca-Cola all around. Now after 4 long months of collecting signatures and filing of the petition things can get back to normal and hopefully he will move up into the Sales position he has been training for and leave his merchandising days behind! Good job Babe!

AUNT DEB!

This is Aunt Deb! She is my kids favorite Aunt and they just adore her. She is also my little sister and I just love her to death. The kids were so thrilled because a few nights ago because, Aunt Deb was coming to babysit, they could hardly contain their excitement. When we arrived home the kids were in a game of hide-n-seek with Aunt Deb and when we walked in the door my kids booed at the fact that we were home because they knew that it meant Deb would be leaving. They just LOVE her! The next morning the kids told me all about how much fun they had with her and wanted to know when she would be coming back to play with them. It's not like they don't see her all the time at family functions and all but when she is babysitting they don't have to share her with the other cousins. They love their one on one time with her. I'm pretty sure that the other cousins feel exactly the same when she babysits them. She is a pretty SPECIAL person to all of us!

ONE WEEK TO GO!

Yes, I realize we have another week of February but, I am SO looking forward to a new month. March brings warmer weather and the tree in my front yard will begin to bloom new leaves and start to get green and full again. It always depresses me when all the leaves drop off and it is nothing but bare branches. It also means my husband will want to clean up the yard of all the dead leaves and over grown bushes etc. I like it when the yard is all trimmed and weedless and the dead leaves are not seen as a ground cover. March is also the month for Spring Break! We aren't going anywhere but, it means that I can start some serious home projects without the interruptions of having to go pick up the kids from school or helping with homework. I love that March brings the start of Spring and for that I am grateful! It means we have made it through another winter and hopefully this Spring Kev will be promoted to the next level in Sales with Coca-Cola. He has finished his training required for the promotion and he really wants it badly so hopefully the Lord will bless him with it. So hear is looking forward to March!!!

LOCKED OUT!

Well, this Valentine's Day will never be forgotten. First we woke up late for church ( I am NOT a fan of 8am church!) After running around in a mad dash trying to get the kids ready and myself ready we finally made it out the door, an hour late of course. We started to the car and my hubby says, "Diana, do you have your keys?" I usually bring my purse with me everywhere but today I figured there was just no reason to carry it around so I respond, " Nope, I didn't bring it today." Then Kev informs me that in the rush to get out the door he grabbed his scriptures but forgot to grab his keys. GREAT! He has a spare key hidden on the car so getting to church was no problem. However, after church we all assembled in the backyard where Kev is sure he left the bedroom window unlocked and we can get entry into the house from there. Well, after removing the screen and bending the frame so it won't go back on the window without "tweaking it" with tools, we find out that the window is locked. All the windows are locked and we have NEVER given a spare key to any family members just in case this happens. Well, the only thing left to do was call a locksmith. Now of course my husband has his phone on him since he never goes anywhere without it. So this means this morning grabbing his cell phone and his scriptures took priority over the house and car keys. Gotta love the way he prioritizes! Well, after waiting about 40 minutes and enduring Keaton & Bailey Rose reminding us over and over that they feel like they are going to die of starvation, the locksmith came and quoted us $120.00 plus the $35 trip charge to unlock ONE simple lock. Are you kidding me? This was NOT in our budget! Well, after the locksmith opened the door in seconds flat my husband was able to talk him down to $70.00 total. Still it was not in our budget but it is better then $155!

LOVES OF MY LIFE!

I still remember my first Valentine's Day with Kevan. He had invited me over to his place where he had a beautifully set table with a tablecloth ( for some reason he was real proud of fact that he had a tablecloth.) He had candles so we could eat the lovely restaurant bought dinner by candle light and he even bought a classical CD to play while we ate. I remember thinking how sweet it was that he would do something so wonderful for me. We were engaged already and so I really thought, "Wow, how lucky am I?" Well, we have been married for about 13 years now and he has yet to live up to that very first Valentine's Day. However, I love him like crazy and wouldn't change a thing. He has been a fantastic husband and an incredible father. Together we have been through highs and extreme lows and he has been my rock through it all. His is and always will be the love of my life. I LOVE you Kev!

Keaton is the light at the end of a tunnel for me. After the birth and death of our daughter Sierra followed by two miscarriages Keaton joined our family. He was a miracle and when I heard his strong lungs cry out for the first time as he entered the world I marveled at the perfect little being he was and I have enjoyed every minute of being his mother. He is becoming such a wonderful young man and even though it has been hard at times to see him grow up and become more independent, I look forward to the day he finds a worthy young woman to take to the Temple. I LOVE you Keaton!

Bailey Rose joined our family after we were told I had secondary infertility and we could not have more children of our own. This devastated me but we were determined to add more to our family so we started the procedures to adopt through LDS Family Services. After several weeks of paper work we were set up to have our first interview. The night before our interview I found out I was pregnant. Another miracle! After another very stressful pregnancy Bailey Rose came into our family and I can honestly say she makes us complete. She is our little "HAM" and never stops talking and keeps us laughing with her silly little sense of humor. She is a joy to raise and will be a wonderful mother herself someday. I LOVE you Bailey Rose!

I truly feel blessed to be a wife and mother and to spend Valentine's Day loving these three wonderful people.

SURPRISE FILM !

A few weeks ago I opened up my old camera case and found two undeveloped rolls of film. I have not used that camera in years because we had bought a digital camera so I tucked my old camera into the back of a drawer and forgot about it. Well, I was looking into the drawer and cleaning it out a few weeks ago and I pulled out the camera and opened the side pockets of the case and found the film. I had no idea what was on the rolls of film or how old they were. I took them in and had them developed and was delighted to find they were from Bailey's 2nd birthday about 6 1/2 years ago. I was a bit disappointed because the color quality was poor since the film was so old. However, I was able to scan them and try to edit and enhance them on the computer. I'm posting my favorites! Boy, I sure miss my babes being small.

PLAYING IN A BOX

THE "FIX IT" CREW

LOVING MY SISTER

HARD KNOCKS OF LIFE

It seems as though lately Keaton has become resentful of the fact that his dad has to work so much. He gets upset when Kev has to sit at the computer and do school work or when he has to work the night job and be gone at night. Kev and I agreed that maybe the night job was becoming too much for him with school and his full time job with Coca Cola. He actually had kind of a meltdown one Saturday with everything on his plate. Together we decided that even though the money from the night job helped a lot it was time to let it go so Kev would not be stretched so thin and maybe spend more time with at home with us. Keaton was so excited when he heard this and kept asking, "When is dad's last day at the night job?" Well, not long after Kev told the kids he was going to quit he decided not to quit so he could help his parents out with some financial help. Isn't he a GREAT guy? Here is is stretched thinner then thin and just dreaming of the day he could quit the night job which he has come to hate, so he could concentrate more on school and then after talking with his mom one day he decides he will stick it out just to help them. Well, when Keaton heard he wasn't quitting he got real upset. It is weird because, normally Keaton is so passive and just goes with the flow but lately he has been craving time with his dad and feels it is unfair he doesn't get it. Maybe it's because he is getting older but dad is his favorite person right now and unfortunately Keaton doesn't understand that life is not always what we want it to be and that sometimes we have to sacrifice things. I try to tell him that life has some hard knocks and we just have to get through them as best we can and be grateful for the things we do have. It doesn't go over very well with a 10 year old and it breaks my heart that Kevan is gone so much and then when he is home he is busy with school when I know Kev would rather be playing with the kids. I know that someday Keaton will come to understand that his dad is the kind of dad that has always worked hard and that he has done it so that Keaton and Bailey Rose could have the things that they needed and then some. I hope he sees the example Kev sets as a hard worker and that Keaton will be a hard worker when he is a husband and father. However, right now my heart breaks for him at his young age as I see him wanting his dad around more. He loves his dad so much and wants him around more and well, it's just not fair when you are a 10 year old!

FIRST SEWING PROJECT

Bailey Rose has been begging me for the longest time to teach her how to sew. I kept putting it off because, I worried about her poking herself with the needle or getting frustrated with it. However, this weekend when she asked I decided I would let her do it. We started with a pillow which is what I think I made the first time I learned but, Bailey Rose didn't want just any pillow she wanted a star pillow. I agreed and then we cut out a pattern from the fabric she chose from my fabric drawer. She amazed me at how quick she picked it up and how much fun she had sewing away. There was no frustration and she only poked herself a few times and then told me she would need to buy a thimble. She is just too cute!!! She was so excited when she finished the pillow and she has carried it with her all weekend. She even took it to school this morning to show her teacher and friends what she did. Good job Bailey Rose! :)

"TAYLEE"

My sweet niece Taylee has become very ill over the last few months and the Dr.'s are still testing and trying to rule things out. Just today colon cancer was ruled out but, now it looks like she may have to have her colon removed. She is only 11 years old. It is hard for me because, it just isn't fair that these very special spirit children who are born with handicapped bodies still have to suffer more physical challenges on top of living a life in a body that is challenged in almost everything they do. I know our Heavenly Father has a reason for the challenges they face and that these special spirit children agreed to them before coming to this earth. However, it is so hard to watch someone I love so much suffer and it is even harder knowing the only thing I can do to help is fast and pray that all will be well. I am grateful for my testimony of fasting and prayer but, how I wish I could do even more for our SWEET Taylee! We love you Taylee!

JUST FOR A LAUGH

My sister sent this to me in an email and it made me laugh quite a bit so I decided I would share it!

BEING SICK

Well, the past couple of days I have been trying hard to do nothing but rest and not get sicker then I already am. I don't do sick very well and since I rarely ever get sick I know when I do it will take me down for about a week. I think it is so unfair for a mom to get sick because who will take care of the kids, cook the meals, get the kids to and from school, pack lunches, do laundry and keep the house from falling apart? I still have to manage all these things and rest and get well. Like I said I don't do sick very well! However, these last few days my hubby decided to join me in being sick and even though I still had to do most everything I do when I am well it was nice to have his company. On Monday I did a lot of sleeping and my body loved me for it until night came and I could not go to sleep. Up all night with nothing to do but lay there in bed and think. I thought about how I was not going to sleep today because let's face it I'm not a young adult anymore and night is for sleeping when you are my age. So today in my eagerness to still rest and try to get well I decided I would pick an activity that would not use to much of the little energy I had so I decided to make a doll dress for Bailey Rose's doll. This was actually what I thought about the night before as I was lying awake. Sewing always relaxes me! I found some unused fabric in my fabric drawer and so without a pattern I decided I would wing it from looking at one of her other doll dresses. It got tricky at times but I was very pleased with the outcome and Bailey Rose was thrilled to come home from school to find a new outfit for her doll. Now I would not recommend sewing doll clothes when your are sick as it was not relaxing for me in the least. I have had a fever and body aches all day and wish I would of just slept since I know tomorrow I will pay for not sleeping. Now I am off to bed!

MY GUYS!

These are my guys and I am so grateful for both of them! I remember the day we found out that I was having a boy so vividly. Kev was so thrilled that when we left the Dr.'s office he yelled out, " WOOHOO! I'm having a son! I remember how the people in the parking lot smiled and giggled at his excitement. These two are so alike in so many ways and so very different in other ways. I sometimes have to remind Kev that Keaton may be his son but he is his own individual with his own likes and dislikes. this is sometimes difficult for Kev because, he wants Keaton to experience all that he did as a young boy. Kev likes to share in all the father& son stuff with Keaton and a lot of the time Keaton enjoys it as well but, there are times that I think Keaton pretends to like the things his dad likes just to make him happy. Kev is a real sports fanatic and Keaton really could care less, but he will go to baseball and football games with Kev although not for the sport itself but just to spend time with his dad. It wasn't until this Christmas that Kev made me realize that even though Keaton doesn't care about the game it's the quality time spent together that they enjoy. I know that Kev makes sure Keaton has a good time. The kids think their dad is a goof anyways so how could they not enjoy themselves. I have made it a goal to try real hard to allow Keaton to go on these outings with his dad when the opportunity arises. Keaton is very much his own individual. He LOVES video games, and drawing, and enjoys playing his trumpet and would like to start taking piano too. He is much more a Smith ( my side of the family) then a Roth when it comes to his interests. Kev is a good dad to always show support and interest in Keaton's interests just as Keaton does Kev's. Although golfing is something they both LOVE and Keaton LOVES to golf with his dad and when they are out on the golf course it is hard to tell just by looking at them that they share very different interests because, when they are together they always have a FANTASTIC time. Yep, these are my guys and I sure do love them a lot!

HEY, IT WORKS!

Over the Christmas holiday my kitchen sink faucet started to breakdown. Well, today it completely broke and I couldn't get any water from it. I thought, " I'm so glad this happened on a day when Kev was off from work." I called to him and told him what my dilemma was and he takes a look and says, "Yep it's broken!" I reply with, "You can fix though, right?" He says, " Sure after I am done with my school work and posting my assignments." Well, hours pass and now it is 3pm and I still have no kitchen sink faucet. I know how busy he is with school and I also know that he has to be to his night job in about 2 hours so at this point I get a bit nervous and very calmly remind him that I CANNOT live without a kitchen faucet. He finally gets the tools and tears the faucet apart only to tell me that he will have to order a part to replace the broken part. Okay, but what am I supposed to do in the meantime? I have to have a kitchen faucet! I cannot function in the kitchen without one and I am not wanting to wait days to have it repaired. Well, Kev is quite a handy guy and I am very grateful for his handyman skills. He tells me not to worry that he will rig something up so that I will have a faucet. Well he did just that! It is not the prettiest faucet but it gives me running hot and cold water. Thanks honey! Now I have to calmly keep telling him that he needs to order the part we need. He tells me he will do it on his next day off. Wait! That isn't until NEXT Wednesday! :)

"2010"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It is hard to believe 2010 is finally here and I am just praying real hard that this year will be extremely better then 2009. However, now that all the " HOOPLA " is over I am anxious for things to get back into a scheduled routine. I will be starting a new job and Kevan will be busy still working two jobs and going to school. He has been enjoying his classes and it is good to see him excited about it! Keaton and Bailey Rose start back to school on Wed. the 6th something they are looking forward to and then I think life will get back to normal with work, school and the many other activities that keep us busy. This year we hope to be able to spend a little more time together as a family. It seems that ever since Kev's business closed over two years ago due to the economy all we have been able to do is scramble for employment and dealing with the stress of unstable work. Now we have the stable employment, though it could be more profitable but, we will take what we have been blessed with and make do! We truly have been blessed and we see the Lord's hand in all of our many blessings and feel so fortunate to know the fullness of the Gospel and of our Savior's love. As our family steps into 2010 we do it with positivity and gratitude and if we can keep that mindset then who knows what good things this New Year may bring!:)

CHRISTMAS MORNING 2009

Well, I had real good intent to capture Christmas on my camera but, I enjoyed watching the festivities more then I did recording them. I'm such a slacker! I did however capture a few pictures of my kiddos exploring their Santa gifts. This year I was a bit disappointed because, it seemed like my kids didn't have the PURE EXCITEMENT as they have in the past. My dad and mom said that all of my brothers got less excited the older we got so I guess it's just part of growing up. Only one of my kiddos knows the Santa "secret" and maybe that had something to do with it. Don't get me wrong it was still a WONDERFUL Christmas and their was excitement but I noticed the maturity in my kids and that made it a bit gloomy for me.

We had Grandpa & Grandma Smith over for a hearty Christmas breakfast with all the traditions I grew up with. Kev really like the breakfast part of the morning. After breakfast we opened the presents under the tree and then everyone played with the new toys and Kev read his new book, "Going Rouge" by Sarah Palin and I started the clean up. That afternoon we went to Christmas dinner at Grandpa & Grandma Smith's house and saw all the cousins which we saw Christmas Eve when we got together at my sister Shanna's house for dinner and our tradition program. All in all it was a marvelous Christmas ans we enjoyed it to the fullest. The decorations along with the tree have
been packed away for another year and we are ready to bring in 2010!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY!

Today my thoughts are with my Grandma Smith. It would have been her 99Th birthday today. She was 94 when she passed and I remember that night so vividly. I watched her draw her last breath of mortal life and at the same time I watched my own father become the only living member of his immediate family. I remember leaving the room to give my dad time with Grandma and to say his good-byes as I walked to the lobby of the hospital and started the phone calls to informed the family that Grandma had gone home to be with Grandpa and Uncle Rand. This was a reunion I wish I could have been witness to. I feel so blessed to have had a relationship with both sets of Grandparents but, I was very close to Grandma and Grandpa Smith and know they were both gone. Grandpa passed away on the same day my little Keaton turned one. Grandma had moved from her home in Idaho Falls to Gilbert AZ to live with my dad and mom and had only been here about five months before she fell and broke her hip. It was down hill from there and Grandma passed a little over a month after her fall. I am glad she was here and was close to those who loved her the most. I miss her like crazy and talk to my kids all the time about the memories I have of my grandparents. I am so glad they remember her and hopefully they not forget those memories they created with her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandma! We LOVE you!!!

This is Grandma Smith with the then 3 great grandchildren in front of Grandpa's casket! ( Now there are 11 great grandchildren)

This is my dad with his mom, my sweet Grandma Smith.

This is Grandpa & Grandma Smith holding Keaton, the 1st great grandson.

This is the MOST in love couple on Grandpa Smith's 90Th birthday!

FUN FILLED WEEK & WEEKEND!

Well this last week was a busy one for us!

Monday was a rainy day and I spent the day indoors baking sugar cookies that would be frosted and decorated later in the week. It was rather enjoyable to bake on a rainy day while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music!

On Tuesday after school Keaton & I hurried to Scouts and then right after we had to HURRY to get ready for his Christmas Band Concert. It was a great concert and I think the trumpets were FABULOUS but then again I may be biased since Keaton plays the trumpet! They have come a long way since the beginning of the year. I was so disappointed because my camera battery kept dying but I did manage to get "Jingle Bells" all the way through the first time they played it.




On Wednesday the kids had a half day at school. The kids were thrilled with the short day however, I wasn't because I didn't get to do the things done that I wanted to do while they were at school. Bailey Rose had Achievement days at 4pm and I had to try hard not to forget since I have done just that during the month of November. I felt so bad since she loves Achievement days so this time I was determined not to forget. They made chocolates with Christmas candy molds and dipped pretzels in the chocolate. She had a blast and was sweet enough to custom make a candy for everyone in the family. She couldn't stop talking about how much fun it was!

On Thursday it was a normal day except Kev had to work the part time job that night since he missed Tues. night so he could attend Keaton's concert. He had the day off from Coca Cola so the two of us did the grocery shopping and ran other errands. He spent alot of the day getting ready for school which he starts on the 14th. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that he is going back to school to get his degree in Business. Yes, he is going to be an even busier guy with two jobs and school.

On Friday Bailey Rose had her Brownie Troop meeting where they crafted up a storm. She had loads of fun as always! That night the kids frosted and decorated the sugar cookies I baked on Monday. They had fun for a while and then moved onto something else leaving me to finish the frosting and decorating. Not my favorite thing to do but I managed to finish up. However, there is still more holiday baking to do!





Saturday Bailey Rose and I went with my two sisters and my mom and two of my nieces to see "Little House on the Prairie, The Musical" as the ASU Gammage. It was just fabulous! Melissa Gilbert played the role of "Ma" Ingalls. I grew up with the TV series and still love it today. I have read all the books and now my little Bailey Rose is watching the reruns and wants to begin the books. I'm so glad that she is enjoys it just as much as I did when I was little. She thought is was fantastic to be able to see the person who played Laura Ingalls in the TV series. Melissa Gilbert did a wonderful job as "Ma". Bailey Rose LOVED! LOVED! LOVED it! She is still talking about it this morning and asked if she could have braids in her hair like Laura. She is just TOO cute! She also told me that next year for Halloween she wanted to dress up as Laura Ingalls. We will see if that is still the case next October.


Bailey Rose and her cousins, Brianna and Taylor with their binoculars during intermission. We sat in the top balcony in the 3rd row. Even though they were far away we saw the Musical really well.

Since we couldn't take photos during the Musical I tried to take a few before hand.

Lots of FUN had by all!