The Brian Cluff Family

Say this over and over and over....it works

2012-01-31T21:39:00.002-07:00

Hilary weeks is amazing!!! and after this post it was even more confirmed to me!!!

Inspired

whole hearted

soul shinning

grateful (i know this for a fact)

at peace

loving

yummy

i will believe this.... I will

I love these ABC's

2012-01-01T21:03:00.002-07:00

President Thomas S. Monson is one amazing man! I find strength and courage often in his words. Although my trials do not even compare to others i know that he is very aware of ALL that I am going through and will go through. He is aware of all of us and that brings me such great comfort. I hope whoever reads this will find the same comfort that I did.
Read here

Can I Be Like You When I Grow Up..........

2012-01-01T19:36:00.003-07:00

My Sis in Law Becky is one AMAZING women!!!! I've always known this but on this trip it was only magnified by her example!!!
When we were sitting at Denny's the first night we got there Kiersten started crying cause her fingers were literally turning purple from swelling and they knew they were going to have to take her to the hospital but didn't know what to expect. Kiersten was worried as you can imagine and didn't want to go for fear that it would hurt or the dr.s would be mean! Becky consoled her and told her something that changed my way of looking at being a mom FOREVER!!! She told her that it was her job as the mom to help Kiersten not be afraid and to tell her that she would be ok cause that's what the mom does, they help their kids know it will be okay even if they really don't know! that the Dr's worked for her and she could fire them if she needed to and also the nurses! as she sat there in Denny's holding Kiersten even I felt better about the situation, and I was about to take 7 kids back to the Hotel, I really wasnt worried about that, but just prayed that all would be well with Kiersten and I knew with her mama by her side it all would be!
I love you Bec

day 2....THE BEACH

2012-01-01T17:22:00.010-07:00

This was our layed back day! It was filled with drawing in the sand and collecting as many seashells as we could find, mixed with clams that just entertained the kids for hours!!! I've decided that I NEED to live by a beach!!

Hunter and Doyle were hooked at the hip!!! so fun to see them being so cute!!

I Love these kids!!!!!!
On the look out for just the right shell

Mr. Grant and Miss Bryn were just happy playin in the dirt!!! they couldn't get enough of it!
Miss K~Sue bein crazy
Kiersten,Cambry and Kaely collecting shells
The next few pics are just of Mr Grant and Bryn....They were hilarious!!!

Had to get a pic of Becky's "workout" attire!!! Love her
Kaely and Kiersten trying to cover themselves with sand!!!
Bryn loved the sand
Hunter's sand angel
Doyle Hunter and Logan trying to be sand Angels
Then it was off to the heated pool!! The kids loved it
LOVE THIS BOY!!!!!! Doyle Brian
Doyle and Logie Bear doin tricks for me!!!! So cute
Miss Kaely

and the Merry continues....day 1 Sea World

2011-12-31T09:20:00.003-07:00

The night before we took the kids to eat at Denny's, the only place open on Christmas Day. Miss Kiersten's hand started really swelling and turning purple so Becky and Justin took her to the nearest ER to have her cast cut!!!!!poor thing was sooo brave!
So the next day we stayed close and decided to take the kids to Sea World!!!! Fabulous plan, we had a blast!!!

And a Merry Christmas it was..........

2011-12-30T19:39:00.004-07:00

Santa came one day early this year so we could take a little family vacay with our Cluff cousins. It was a blast and just what we needed to end this year!!!We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve morning and then got packed and left for Phoenix! We were a little held up on the departure as we had to find out if Kiersten was going to need surgery for the broken arm she got that morning from riding her new rip stick!!! She was a friggin rock star and did so well!!! we got to Phoenix around 10pm and woke up and left for San Diego on Christmas day!!! It was a fun trip switching cousins back and forth during the ride!!!
I drove the whole way there!!! they call me the HOTT taxi driver!!!! HAHAHAHA
Me driving VERY safely while also being the photogragher!!! I am also awesome at multi tasking
Me and Becky during our pee stop in Yuma!!!!
The kids were so excited to get out of the car

LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS!!

2011-12-01T21:57:00.001-07:00

Words of comfort and peace that are getting me' through!
It's all in how you look at it!!!

I'm a pain in my own.......bones

2011-12-01T17:19:00.001-07:00

Just when I think the pain is getting better it gets worse! If im suppose to learn patience or humility from all of this, I get it, I do!!! Just let me get some relief for Heaven sakes!! K maybe I need to work on it a little more! 10 vials of blood drawn today so results to come!

Im in it to lose!!!!!

2011-11-02T21:45:00.004-07:00

Licking my fingers is in the past (oct 2010) hahaha

Catchy isn't it!!!

This weight is coming off and with the help of my doTerra friends I know I can do this!!! I'm excited to get healthy and start feeling like myself again! Not that loosing 40 pounds will do all of that but it will help!!! So here it goes! wish me luck

kinda of excited about the fact I don't have to worry about another pregnancy to add back this weight I'm going to lose, but sad i won't be snugglin anymore babies!!! It's a chapter that has come to a close and it was well worth it!! I mean that......

Holy crazy month....batman

2011-10-30T19:54:00.008-07:00

my honey was in sooo much pain!!!
my sweet baby girl!
Me and Bryn
my kids loved the pumpkins!!!
picking pumpkins at Apple Annie's Oct 2011
Me and K sue
we were so glad we got daddy for the afternoon
My poor baby!!! Needless to say i totally freaked!! i hated to see her in so much pain!
Papa makes everything better! we LOVE LOVE LOVE papa!! Thanks Dad for coming down to the hospital! That meant a lot! I love you
Publish PostShe had to be sedated! SO we waited and waited for the meds to kick in!!!!
So this last month has been filled with(what else)back problems, Passing kidney stones(Twice) poor Brian now knows what it feels like to be in labor!!! He wanted an epidural!! Stitches for Brynlee (2), Pumpkin patch (twice) Moms BIG Halloween party (very much a spooky success!!! Dont have pics of that but there coming!!!

2011-09-10T23:02:00.001-07:00

WORDS TO LIVE BY:

WHAT MATTERS MOST...
HOW WELL YOU LIVED.
HOW WELL YOU LOVED.
HOW WELL YOU LET GO.

Depression and injections......

2011-08-23T23:31:00.001-07:00

Say a little prayer for me'... 8 more injections!!! Can u say depression!! But that is looking up too! New meds r working and the fog is lifting!! Just a shout out to my amazingFamily for doing all they could to help me' out!!! I luv u all!!! We r truly blessed with the greatest family and friends!!!! This too shall pass and I am learning to find "Holy places in my Hard times"!!! Luv u all
Tif

washington day one....it was a doozy...but so cool

2011-07-13T15:30:00.005-07:00

Kaely almost passed out at the security check point so we had her in the stroller with Bryn the whole time and the minute we hit the plane she was asleep on Cam, Cambry was such a trooper to let her sleep on her for 2 hours!!

Bryn was seriously the BEST baby ever!!! she was soooo good on the flight up!!!

Doyle was a trooper also. right after this pic I threw my phone at Brian and jumped up cause he started throwing up!!! Poor kid

Benedryl in the bottle with the juice will do it everytime. she slept the whole time.
and yes that was okay'd by my Dr.

Here we are after getting the rental car that was too small for all of us and our luggage but once we got rid of the luggage it fit us perfectly!!! The drive from Seattle to Wenatchee was amazing, we couldn't get over how full and lush the trees were. It was goregous!! Doyle had thrown up that morning at 4:30 while waiting in the parking lot for the shuttle! then again on the plane which distracted me and I think I left my camera bag, with the camera and 3 lens's and full of pics on it. I am sick about it!

So Brian is proud of this pic, he loved seeing the construction going on....it's how he roll's!

This is coming up Shawna and Ben's road to their house, at the top on the left is their house and the kids were out in the road waving hystarically as we pulled in!!! We were all so excited

I don't think they knew how to contain themselves and as soon as I got out of the car I jumped all over them......I miss them soooo much! we couldn't believe how cool it was there! 75 was the high the first day we were there!!! it was amazing!!!

HOLY MAZOLY!!!!!

2011-07-11T18:03:00.004-07:00

the top pic shows the best color the yellow really is! I am in the process of painting the major rooms in my house this color!! I love it

my little office space

Holy organization!!! she is amazing

So we are back from Washington and we had a blast!! I will blog about that in a bit but first I have to show you what I came home to!
I freaked out!!!!!
Amanda my sweet sweet friend surprised me with an office makeover while I was in Washington and I LOVE IT!!!!!
I just find myself sitting in here, it is so amazing! The yellow in that last photo looks really bright but you get the jist of it!!!!!

Happy fourth of July (America and Benji)

2011-07-04T04:24:00.002-07:00

Pics and Posts to come of fun decorations and a birthday bash with some of my favorite peeps!!!

Late night Sunday post!!!

2011-06-26T23:51:00.006-07:00

safford circus April 2011

Bryn Mary Hilda June 2011

Kaely Primary activity day June 2011

Me and Tyler June 2011

Mary hilda mt graham June 2011 love this guy!!!

its crazy when midnight comes around and im still a kickin!!! Cause by 3pm I wondering how in the heck I am going to make it through dinner time ( which lately is around 7) and bath and bed times which are done all by myself cause my husband works like it's going out style!!! What, I'm not complaining, okay a little but I'm done now, except, did I mention I feel like a single mom with 4 kids and a guy that comes home and eats my dinners and watches me and my kids sometimes and laughs at some of the things they do but mostly reads his dog forum, OKAY now I'm done!!! If he's reading this, You are the best dadgum hardest worker I know, and I think you're pretty hot too :)
I was thinking today as Kaely and I were sitting on my bed eating Ice cream, Yeah I know its not on the Paleo thing, but man was it good! But i love my girls, they are my best friends, sure they can make me want to stick my tongue out at them sometimes, but mostly I love their company!!! I missed Cam while she was in Taylor with my sister Heather and their family, they kept her sooo friggin busy that now she is bored out of her mind and wants a pig, chickens, and a meat packing plant so she has something to do during the day.
We drove to Benson today and blessed my new nephew Tyler, what a little (big) cutie he is, he's delish!!!! It was fun hanging with fam!!!!
I can't wait for our trip this Friday, I am so excited that I want to just pack tomorrow and leave and wait at the airport till Friday at 6:45am when our flight leaves!!! What....
Tomorrow is going to be busy, busy, busy!!! Lots of laundry and packing!!! anyone want to come help......what

A locket in his pocket....

2011-06-22T23:41:00.003-07:00

Tonight as I was doing a load of towels I got to a pair of pants of Doyles! Being six I NEVER know what I'm going to find!!! Kinda scary sometimes! Well this time his pants pocket was heavy and it had me giggling!! I think my husband thought I was enjoying doing the laundry a little too much ( wrongo). It got me thinking ( deep thinking) I just got after this sweet boy of mine for getting out of his bed for the onemillionth time! How many more times am I going to have to kiss his cute little lips everytime I put him back in bed( I get onemillion) kissed a night! And how many times am I going to find a " locket in his pocket".
I love finding little boy treasures! So I guess doing laundry EVERYSINGLE day isn't sooo bad!!!
Who am I kidding, but it really will b a sad day when their hampers r empty, cause that means so will their rooms and that means life has taken on a different route for me!
There will b a day I miss the fingerprints on the newly washed window, the mounds of laundry, the full sink of sippy cups and half eaten PB&J's, the kisses at night b 4 bed! The smell of newly bathed babies with that sweet sweet lotion on and yes even more

....the lockets in his pockets!!!

look what I'm making tomorrow........

2011-06-21T08:12:00.003-07:00

If I can function that is!!! Having a searies of Steriod injections today in Tucson, Wish me luck and say some prayers!!! I'll need them
Luv ya much
Tif

This has got to be.......

2011-06-21T05:01:00.005-07:00

The most inspiring week EVER!!! It's one of those weeks where the house stays a little bit more cluttered, laundry a little more piled up and dinner a little more on the " take out" side of things! AND It's ok! I've really been focusing on making my children feel more loved and far more appreciated! It's been my goal for this month, to step back and see the major potential my kids really have!! WOW IT'S BEEN AMAZING!! I have had to slow down a bit and not take soooo much for granted!!! I'm trying this in the husband category also!! This has been eye opening for me'!!! I have a new motto for motherhood and it's "example" and I'm trying really hard to stick by this! Treat my family how I'd like to b treated! Do unto them as i would want done unto me!!! My girls have been absolute rock stars since this last bout with my knee! And also my back!!! Yep 34 and already needing to be traded in for a newer model!! Haha
I don't think I was giving them enough credit where credit was due!! I feel like I'm kinda taking motherhood in strides, it's a wonderful feeling, but I also wish I had taken this on when I was a first time mom!!!
I'm now more grateful, sensitive, quiet, reassured, hopeful, thoughtful, and thankful! Even though there ate still days I'd like to scream into a pillow or run out my front door screaming for some help ( that's a funny mental picture right there) I for sure have my days, I'm seeing motherhood in a whole new light! And the future seem to be pretty bright!!!!

Can you wrap yourself around pain...Cambry did

2011-06-19T23:30:00.003-07:00

Tonight is grateful sorrow in so many ways! Is there such a thing! I just dropped my 2nd oldest sweet girl off to my older sister in Globe!!! She is spending 4-5 days there! She loves it, the company, the chores, having Hebbie, Trevor, Cody and Wyatt all to herself! No sharing! I will miss her terribly! She asked right before we went our separate ways if she could call me' even at 1 am if she was scared! You bet I told her! She smiled, gave me' a hug and jumped happily in the truck!! Made my heart happy that she was so happy!!!

The pain in my back is excruciating! It's beyond one Valium, I'm one to one and a half and the knife driving pain is still biting to the bone! I still fill grateful for my trial, can I say that! I just did! I AM!!! my pain got my beautiful baby girl to her aunt Hebbie and uncle Trevor, who she loves!!! And that smile on her face as we said our goodbyes is worth all this pain, ten fold!!! I love you toad! Have a super fun week!!! Luv mom

It's monday

2011-06-13T07:01:00.003-07:00

2 loads of laundry done
Protein drink consumed...yummy
best blessing ever from my sweet Honey
kids still in bed....it's 7 am
kitchen almost clean
painting getting started
making our "going to Washington chain" today
we leave in 19 days....so excited
taking the kids swimming...trying to wear these sweethearts out!!!!
already takin the painkiller.....geesh....but still smiling
Happy Monday

On the 7th day He rested

2011-06-12T03:21:00.000-07:00

Doyle told me today he was sooooo bored! I told him that it was Sunday and it was a day of rest! "no it's not he argued, why can't I do something fun like swim at Mimi and Papa's house! I tried my best to get my six year old to understand why we don't do those activities on Sunday! He wasn't having it! So I finally told him, it took Heavenly Father six days to make the earth and he was so tired that he chose the 7 the 7th day to rest! I half expected him to back at me' with, well I didn't build and earth mom, but he just looked at me' with those big blue eyes and said "I have to sleep all day"

Here I go.....AGAIN

2011-06-09T07:21:00.004-07:00

me modeling the bows Amanda and I made 2011

Why is it that just when you feel like life has thrown you that break......Bam!!!!It snaps again!! I had a great run of 4 months with my last set of back injections..Did I mention those hurt soooooo bad! 9months-2yrs is what I was told I should get out them for pain relief, welp 4 months later its valium and Tramadol to help my back not tighten up and go into massive spasm. I'd rather have childbirth,without an epidural, in the back of a cab in New York, whild being dragged down the road and hitting my head on the ground the whole time.....get the picture!
So it's back to Dr.Chase, a most remarkable man who knows just where to put those injections of steroids in my back so that by the next morning i am whistling while I work again. I really dont want to be in pain when we go visit Shawna and Ben and the kids in Washington next month. I want to enjoy myself, I miss them terribly!!!
Did I mention I miss them TERRIBLY!!!!!

Summertime

2011-06-08T18:31:00.002-07:00

Wow...
Summertime is full of.....
sleeping in
early morning cartoons
swimming
the smell of sunscreen
and no where we HAVE
to be....I'm beginning to LOVE
SUMMERTIME!!!!

Balance!

2011-05-28T04:05:00.005-07:00

I have been on a blogging hiatus cause I have been struggling with some things both as a mother and a wife and needing to find balance and peace in my life.....Can we really have peace in our lives with 4 kids(I love my kids)but come on.....I needed to face the fact that there is a lot to raising these special little spirits who have been blessedly put in my care so I can get them through this life with confidence and the strength they are going to need to be productive, surviving and successful adults!!! BUT.....I was hardly productive, surviving or successful as a parent, I felt, so how was I going to get them to follow this lead!!! WOW....lots and lots of pressure here!!!! AND BOY WAS I FEELING IT!!!!
I do enjoy reading other blogs and seeing how some of these women are feeling it too!!! Either with motherhood, their weight, their sanity and I try really hard to only follow those blogs that I feel show the REAL moments of life and not the "my husband and kids and life are always blissful"blogs, BLAH BLAH BLAH, come on, you can't have the "perfect" life cause that's really why we are here enduring this life is cause we ARE NOT all perfect, but that's not a bad thing!!! Really it's not......But I had a hard time telling myself that because my house was not clean all the time(I'm talking out of a magazine picture, clean) and the laundry was not always done (wash, folded and put away) and that I was not where I really wanted to be weight wise(still holding on to 25 lbs of sweet little Bryn) and not attending to my church duties as I should, that I was this horrible person who had failed somewhere down the line, of who I really thought I should be! I'm telling ya it's been a rough last few months......
Then I started the little things, just really keeping the family room and kitchen spotless, well it still looks lived in, but for the most part the floors stay vacuumed and the dishes I try to keep in the dishwasher, and not worrying that I have to start at the front door and have the entire house including bathrooms, closets, shelves, drawers, vents, celling fans, baseboards, pantry, garage, back porch, front porch, lawn, yards, light fixtures out side on the house, carport, car all spic and span every minute of every day!!!!! I was beating myself up thinking what a failure i was that this stuff was not all organized and put in its place every waking moment!!!! Who really thinks this can even be accomplished when you are dealing with LIFE!!!!!! Geesh!!!!!
I love this article that a very REAL mom put out there!!! She is amazing!!!!
I needed to read this and see that I was not the only one struggling with this type of stuff!!! As i read this it put a lot into perspective for me and I put this in other regards to other areas of my life as well!!!! We need balance and need to take things in moderation, not all or nothing, that's not what we have been taught but should know just from plain ol common sense!!!
It's an ongoing trial, this thing called life, but I know that if we balance out our days and take things in moderation we can get through most of it with a smile on our face, some days are still going to leave me pulling my hair out, or just randomly screaming at the top of my lungs, then smiling really fast, sorry bout that kids, it did feel better though!!!! but hey that's what makes life so enjoyable, the little things, RIGHT!!!!

Happy Happy birthday to my K~Sue

2011-04-17T22:25:00.002-07:00

My K`Sue is now 12!!! as I write this I think of how 12 yrs ago tonight I walked the mall all day to try and get stuff started!!! well it worked 2 hrs later I was on my way to the hospital!! and 12 hrs after that had the little peanut!!! We have been through a lot together and I will never forget how much I loved that I had her to get me through all the tough times!!! I owe her a lot!!! I love being her mom!!! Kaely I love you sweetie!!!!

The sweetness of doing nothing!!

2011-03-27T22:16:00.003-07:00

I love Italy! I have a weekness for tuscan themes but dont know where to start in adapting this to my house of chaos!! I want to start adapting!! slowly but surely I will have a tuscan tidy house, complete with the music, colors, love, and there famous saying " The sweetness of doing nothing" I could really take this literally!!! and then I awoke from my daydreaming!!!

I feel a little lost in my house!!! In myself!!! Who do I want to become!!! When I was little my answer was a mom, it consumed my every thought, Who would I marry, what would my sweet kids look like, where would I live! Now I am living in my daydream of 20 years ago! I love my life, I love my husband, I love my kids, I love my home!!! I feel like the chaos that we live in and the fast pace of the world we live in has me spinning out of control and Im dizzy!!! I want things to slow down! I want to think daily of what I am grateful and thankful for! Do more things for me and try to be the best mom and wife I can be. this may take some time cause all I know right now is how to be mom to 4 and wife to 1! I know with each day comes the chaos of life but I want to look at it differently!!! I guess look at it with open eyes!!! take it one day at a time in stead of thinking about 3 or 4 days at a time!!!! I think I want a meditation room!!! hhhmmm sounds amazing! I think now I need to wake up and go switch the laundry!!!!

Brynlee turns one!!!!

2011-03-19T00:57:00.002-07:00

Brynlee loved the fact that we were singing to her and she knew just whos day it was!!!! She had the cutest face the whole time we were singing!!! I love this little girl and how much happiness she brings to our little family!!! I love my kids all the sunshine they bring to my life!!! Don't get me wrong their are days I want to throw in the towel and beg for mercy but how can you not love waking up to these beautiful eyes every morning!!!! I just wish they were blinking at me a little after 6 instead of bright and early at 1 or 2!!!! but this wont last long I will miss her letting me rock her to sleep and snuggling!!!! time goes so fast

One hot chick

2011-03-17T03:53:00.004-07:00

Amanda and I have been on a little crafting spree lately!!! we are trying to loose a little weight before we go to California with our good friends Becky Cluff and Stacy Moore to!!! So to keep ourselves from eating we are crafting, fabulous idea eh!!!!
this is just one of the many things coming out of the workshop!!! They turned out so stinkin cute we want to make a bazillion of these and put them EVERYWHERE!!!! I love spring!!!!!

Happy Birthday Brynlee boo!!!

2011-02-27T23:55:00.002-07:00

Today was supposed to be a great day for you, but you are sick with your 8th ear infection and a chest cold that is kicking your trash!! As I lay here in bed typing this I hear you cough then cry out in pain and it breaks my heart!!! You sure are a fighter!! You've brought our home so much happiness and love!!! I love your cheesy smile and the sound of you gabbin away as you crawl around the house!!! I love you leelee !!

Reason #21

2011-02-21T19:51:00.002-07:00

Because on a night like tonight, sinus infection, chest cold, depressed and exhausted you help the kids with their homework, and head back to work after making out with me for a minute :) As I stand in the kitchen wondering where in the world to start, with a whirlwind mess in my house you walk in with a vanilla diet pepsi and another makeout kiss for me!!! I love you, love!!! and I'm so glad you are mine!!!

Happy Birthday Gene Daddy Thang!!!!! I love you

2011-02-18T08:31:00.004-07:00

A shout out to the worlds greatest Dad!!! I love everything about my dad, even when he is stubborn!! I am glad that my dad is my Dad, and that I have been blessed to be his favorite daughter!!! Dad tells ya like it is, no sugar coatin!! I love that he has the biggest hands but they give the most tender touch, and his "BIG" squeezes leave you feeling like the most loved and protected person in the world! With all the pain and suffering that I have gone through in my life, my dad has been there through most of it knowing that I need him more than anything, who did Brian call after my last back incident, my dad, he knew that I was going to be asking for him sooner or later!!! My dad hugged me when they informed me that I would be flown out to Phoenix to probably deliver my daughter 2 months early within a few days and came over to the couch and scooped me into his arms and just held on tight!!! I knew it would be okay, even though I had no idea really, and I was terrified! He would call me periodically throughout my stay over in Mesa the month Brynlee was in the NICU to see how I was doing, cause he understood, like no one else did, cause he had gone through the same thing 33 years prior with me when I was born, at 3 weeks early and weighed in at 3 LB 14OZ. He knew just the right questions to ask and just the right words to say!! I now that my Heavenly Father loves me to the moon and back, cause he gave me "My Dad"

Reason # 14

2011-02-14T18:40:00.002-07:00

Because being in your arms is the most peaceful place for me to be!!! I feel so safe right up next to your chest, I love the sound of your heart beating!!! I love you more and more everyday!!!

Reason # 13

2011-02-13T16:18:00.003-07:00

Because nine years ago today you gave me the cutest 6lb 12oz baby girl any mom could ask for! Cambry Christi Cluff

Reason # 11

2011-02-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

Because even though the front door handle hasn't worked for 3 weeks now and EVERYDAY i kindly ;) remind you to fix it, and it's still not fixed, your kisses melt my heart still and make me feel all fuzzy inside still, after 13 years of marriage!

Reason # 10

2011-02-10T16:11:00.000-07:00

You try so hard to shower me with hugs and kisses and muggings when I am in a bad mood, to make me smile and you usually end up winning, but some times I just smile so you'll leave me alone!!! ;) secrets out!!!

Reason # 9

2011-02-09T09:13:00.001-07:00

Because on our wedding day, you whispered in my ear while we were having pictures taken "I get to see you naked" I blushed and opened my mouth so wide and raised my eyebrows and the photographer says, Tif, this is supposed to be a serious one, if only he knew, huh!!!!!

Reason #8

2011-02-08T23:06:00.003-07:00

Because u come up to me' unexpected and ask " did u know how much I luv you, and then give me' a long smoochy kiss and my heart skips a beat and I fall even more in love with you!!!

Reason # 7

2011-02-07T17:03:00.002-07:00

No matter how tough the situation, you believe that everything will work out and be okay!!!

Just what I needed to hear.......maybe this can help you too!!!

2011-02-07T04:25:00.006-07:00

I found this on a friends twitter page and as I sit here at 4:30am not being able to sleep, this has brought new meaning as to how I want my day to go today!!! I love this man and hope that all those who read it will come away with the same sense of peacefulness that I did!!! I love you

Fasting......The right way

2011-02-06T21:01:00.004-07:00

This morning when I awoke I Knew that this was the first Sunday of the month, for us LDS members that means that we fast for 2 meals, and start and end with a prayer of gratitude for what we are fast for or about!
Today as I knelt to open my fast my body was heavy with and overwhelming sense of Motherhood stresses! Why does this happen when you are trying to feel the spirit and keep it with you on the Sabbath Day, I try every day but mostly on Sundays! I had the kids fighting this morning about who got to be on the laptop the longest or who ate what cereal first and used it all, or the fact that the skirt they picked out (not me) was too itchy and they didn't want to wear it, when it wasn't even my idea in the first place but I'm the one getting yelled at for it! Really!! Then you get to church with a smile on your face and thinking the whole time, if these people really knew that I just threatened my children with a huge time out and early bed time if they misbehaved in church they'd be appalled but I think we are fooling everyone with our (my) happy smiling face as we walk into sacrament!!!
I can't tell you the flow of emotions that came pouring over me as I opened my fast today and just sat there for the longest time in silence, wondering how to fast for what I wanted so badly in my life at this time, Peace, calmness, happiness, endurance, calmness, to be more understanding as a mother and wife, calmness, the cloudiness to leave my head, the overwhelming feeling of defeat to disappear, calmness calmness calmness!!! As I asked for each of these I felt a rush of warmth come over me and the word calmness stayed with me, literally, I think I could have fallen asleep, I was so calm! Even though I could still hear the "murmuring" going on between "Lamen, Lemual " It didn't seem so big and defeating at that time, so it accrued to me that what I am going to have to do on a daily basis is go in my room, kneel on my knees and ask for that feeling of calmness to be with me, then sit there and just listen! It's the listening that makes all the difference in the world! It was amazing to me! I tell my kids everyday "your not listening to me" I think Heavenly Father is tapping at my soul and saying "Tifani, you are not listening to me" He's right! Turn off the T.V. and the music that is helping you clean the house to a steady beat and turn on a talk from a General authority or Sheri Dew or just inspirational music!!! or just sit in silence as you fold the clothes if the kids are asleep! Life is so fast paced and we need to have more "listening moments" Its amazing how I look at what I say to my kids and turn it around at myself, as if Heavenly Father were saying it to me!!!! Try it, sometimes it makes me laugh and other I cry and that feels good sometimes too!

Reason # 6

2011-02-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

You hold the priesthood!

Create.....post 1

2011-02-05T17:53:00.002-07:00

So Brenda over at Deck the Halls of Home with Joy had different ways to organize and "create" different craft rooms/office. I want this one and I really think this will work with the layout of my awkward office/craft room that looks like a bomb went off!!!

OKAY!!!! YUMMY

2011-02-05T17:41:00.003-07:00

I found this recipe at a blog i follow called it's all in my head and this looks so yummy!!! might have to make these real soon!!!

Apple Dumplings

Apple Dumplings from ourbestbites

O.K. these are the most delicious Apple Dumplings.... Ever..Well these are the only ones I've ever had but they are Yummy!

2 medium Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
cinnamon (for sprinkling)
12 oz. (1 can) Mountain Dew or Sprite.

1-Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. Peel apples and cut into 8ths.

2-Open a can of crescent roll dough and carefully separate the dough along the perforations. Place 1/8 of an apple on one segment of dough and then roll/wrap the apple in the dough. Place in the prepared pan and repeat with remaining apples and dough. Set aside

3-In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add sugar and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour butter/sugar mixture over the apples, then pour the can of Mountain Dew (or Sprite, although I've never actually tried it), on top of everything. Sprinkle the pan with cinnamon and bake for 40 minutes.

4-When the dumplings are done, remove from oven and serve with a ladle-ful of sauce. plan on two dumplings per person, before they go back for seconds. And then breakfast. Then second breakfast. Then a little snack. For true transcendent awesomeness, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Reason # 5

2011-02-05T09:58:00.002-07:00

Because I feel the most safe when I'm in your arms!!!

A little shout out to Vicky.....

2011-02-04T10:44:00.002-07:00

The wood work that I have been putting with my posts these last few days are made by this fabulous lady!!! She is amazing!!! I love your creations Vicky!!!!

Reason # 4

2011-02-04T08:39:00.002-07:00

You are the hardest worker I know, (sometimes you work to hard ;) and do whatever you can to make sure we are healthy and happy!!!!

Reason # 3

2011-02-03T08:01:00.003-07:00

You always know how to make me smile when I'm stressed, (and your not the reason)

Reason #2.......

2011-02-02T06:18:00.001-07:00

You sing to my when I'm in horrible pain or down with a pregnancy!!! "You are my inspiration, Tifani" (pillow talk with Doris Day)

28 reasons over 28 days.....why I love my Mr. B

2011-02-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Reason # 1

I love you so much, you've given me 4 beautiful children!

Happy "LOVE" month

2011-02-01T07:30:00.003-07:00

To my sweet friend...Darylin Farar

2011-01-29T15:12:00.006-07:00

You keep my heart full of love for you and your sweet family! My heart also aches for the loss that you have been asked to bare as a mom, and this seems unfair to me, but I trust in our Heavenly Father and in his plan, I know he needed Dylan more than we did, but feel selfish in my mortal mind that I still want him here to be with you and give you the healing that you need! My Prayers and fasting dear friend are all I can do right now that I know will help you, maybe in a small way, but I know that our Father in heaven counts your tears and hears your heartache and knows that all will work out in the end, we just don't know what that means sometimes!!! I have found a few friends that I have shared your story with and hope that you find some kind of support from them!!! I love you Darylin and hope you know that if I could I would take this away, but for now that can't be done!!!! Though I don't know personally what it means to loose a child, My mother in law does and from her example and her testimony she has shown us that in time it will get easier to deal with although everyday she still thinks of him and misses him as do the rest of us, she has become a great inspiration to alot of people and helps others that have been chosen to bare this tragic trial!!! she has taught me a great deal and I know that you will one day do the same!!!! I love you sweet friend.....I hope you find some kind of peace in this .....with all my prayers....all my love

MY SONG IN THE NIGHT from THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR

2011-01-25T09:36:00.001-07:00

Everyday this week I am trying to find different words or talks or songs that will help me, in the end, to put all together and hopefully have a talk that will help, not only me, but someone else who needs to hear the words of this topic! Gratitude! As I pray to have the spirit with me to give me inspiration and guidance as I write this talk I loved this song and what it really means, what life is REALLY all about!!! Each one of these people I'm sure felt so grateful for the person before, who helped them in some "small" way, but it made a huge impact in there life!!! I want to strive to be like this and think like this always! What a difference someone else's trial makes, in your life! But in return what a difference your trial makes in the life of someone else! Its neat to think about!!! Enjoy

Wow.....A talk on Gratitude!!!!

2011-01-24T10:04:00.003-07:00

Brian and I just got called by our AMAZING Bishop to give a talk on Gratitude!!!! Does Heavenly Father know are Hearts or what!!!! I wish I could switch minds with Sheri Dew on sunday!!! I wonder if he knows our sneaky thoughts as well HAHAHAHAHA!!! I hope to learn a lot from this!!!! I'm Grateful for this experience!!!! Did I just say that, Me, who gets physically sick when I have to speak in large crowds, for some reason I"ve got quite a peace about the whole thing!!! Hope it lasts, so you'll find out Monday if it was a success or if they wheeled me out on a stretcher!!!!!

Put the kids down and kick your feet up....

2011-01-23T23:47:00.006-07:00

I have been listening A LOT to inspirational messages from Prophets and apostles and motivational speakers, so that I might keep the spirit ever present in my "mothering" day!!! I love this talk by Sheri Dew and If you don't want to read it all I think you might be able to get it on You Tube as well!!! I have this CD in my car and while I am going to and fro I love to hear the messages from this most inspiring women! EVERY TIME I get something new out it!!! I"ve heard it a thousand times and it never fails!!!! I hope you all feel the comfort and peace that I feel as I listen to these words and contemplate what is in it for me!!!! Listen with an open mind and peaceful heart!!!! But what ever you do.....grab some bon bon's and kick your feet up and enjoy this little message!!!
Hugs and Kisses
Tif

This is awesome!!!!!

2011-01-23T20:06:00.004-07:00

I found this at an amazing site that I love, thanks Lyndsey for this.... it is so so true!!!!!! Check out her site it's adorable!!!!

This Christmas..........I gave it my all

2011-01-07T15:29:00.006-07:00

I don't recommend being put in the hospital just before Christmas. I also don't recommend not doing your Christmas shopping until the week before Christmas either, but at this point it is what it is!!!
Christmas this year was not at all what I had wanted it to be by any means, it was filled with stress, pain, tons and tons of pain, and it was filled with heartache beyond measure! The "Christmas spirit" skipped over our house, not for the kids, they felt it busting at the seams, but for Brian and I we knew this was a Christmas we wanted to go away, and fast! After 4 days in the hospital and the endless pumping of Morphine and Valium through my veins every 6 hours, your body becomes accustomed to having it and treating it as though it was the blood flowing through it like an old friend! Well we know how we get when we lose a dear friend, one that has been there for us through horrendous pain and suffering, we long for them to be near us and it hurts our very soul to see them leave, well this is what my body did, it longed for that "old friend"

Brian and I faked it, and put on a show that would have won us the next Emmy award. I getting best actress of the year and he getting best supporting actor of the year! Yep that was us faking and acting all day and into the next week till the Utah reunion was approaching us! I didn't know how I was going to detox my "old friend" and stay a pleasant mom and person on this long trip. I was worried that I would end up scaring my children and my whole family, including the Bennion side, whom I haven't seen in three years!! This was going to not be pretty, and I knew it!!! That became a worry I was not going to be able to cope with, or deal with. I fell into the snare of this "old friend" and I couldn't get out, not to save my life! I knew I had a family that loved me and kids that lived in my house and a husband who would pick me up off the shower floor after a few minutes of me in visioning the water being the morphine and Valium soaking into my body and taking the pain away, which now wasn't even all back pain, it was burning veins, body spasms and cramps, headaches and vomiting that would throw even the most healthy back out! He'd just lay a diet coke on the floor of the shower and I would take sips ever now and then and then he would pick me up dry me off, and bless his heart what to do with this head of hair is even a mystery to me when I get out of the shower, now looking back it was quite comical to see this all go down, he tried he really did!
after him keeping me out of view of our children for as long as he could at least while the detox was starting it was time to go to the reunion, and I was so looking forward to this for months and I knew it wasn't going to happen, but at the time I couldn't even make a decision on my own as to which foot to put before the other and all I wanted to do was get to "that building" where everyone was wearing white and the minute they touched you, your pain disappeared!
My wonderful in laws and Brian has a little pow wow and decided instead of put the kids through total hell here, why not take the three oldest with them to Salt lake city for the reunion and we'd keep the baby and have my mom and dad and Flo take care of her and me and Brian!!! Boy was that a blessing in disguise, cause come to find out the big job we got for next year didn't get all the info they needed and we were in jeopardy of having it yanked out from under us!!!! Really, when it rains it pours, so I stayed at my mom and dad's most the time the kids were gone and my mom and dad delt with a phys co detoxing daughter and sweet grand baby while Brian Juggled my trial and his!!!! It amazes me how even when harsh words are said to you by someone you love very much you stick it out and continue to show them service and love and just push all those words out of your head the minute they leave their mouth!!! Brian was my biggest enemy at the beginning of the detox in my mind, the words I said to him would have probably left any man wondering what his worth was and the greatest support system at the end! He stayed by my side and attended to my every whacked out need, including putting me in the car at 1 am when he wakes up to me leaving the house going to find this "building" where these "magical" people were to take away ALL my pain, but I needed to go kiss all my babies first and say good bye until I was all better, yeah that's just some of the physco ness that went on around here during the Christmas break!
But you know what, everyday I suffered I got a smile from my sweet baby and a picture from my kids in Utah loving all the snow and family that showed them unconditional love and supported their every need, while I was being shown unconditional love and being supported by family tending to my every need! How does that work out, Heavenly Father knew my needs but also the needs of my children and husband and knew just the right way to take care of it all. These people were his tools and their prayers and numerous blessings and fasting is what pulled us all through that twister of a storm. and through this life that we are riding like a train. We make it through the derailments and tracks ending, but we find out how to build more track and use the equipment given to lift you up and put you back on track"!

what it means to feel love....

2011-01-06T04:48:00.004-07:00

It's almost 5 am and as I lay in bed my heart is full of gratitude for all that i have been blessed with! I hear Bryn cry out on the monitor this morning 3 am and as I go to get her out of her bed she is soaked to her chest! I pick her up to change her and she had a feeding in mind first. The scream is different than just ticked, kinda heartbroken i guess you could say. As I remove her diaper and try to get her undressed my husband stumbles in ready to assist in anyway he can, I was so grateful for him! He holds her tiny bare bottom in his hands and tries effortlessly to console her as I get clean jammies to clothe her shivering little bottom!!! He lays her down carefully all the while trying to quiet her now hard breathless cry!!! He grabs a diaper and puts it on her then picks her up while I dress her in her new dry jams!! Then he takes her to the rocking chair and feeds her the warm milk she was so desperately letting us know she needs, cause lets face it, she's withering away to nothing you know (18 pounds) and counting!!! I change her bed sheets and throw the other stuff in the washer, as I come out of the laundry room she is now done with the bottle and resting on his shoulder, tummy satisfied and feeling safe in her daddy's arms! I know that feeling of being so secure nothing else in the world matters! It is the BEST feeling in the world and I have felt that a lot this last month!
The pain I have experienced this past month with my back has added a whole new way of thinking for me! It started the 16th of Dec, when I was feeling more uncomfortable in my back than I normally do. There is always pain there but this was something more, as i layed in bed and Brian got the kids in Bed, Aunt Flo came over to show me some of the stuff we have been learning to crochet! I went to get out of bed to use the restroom and my back went into a spasm and stayed that way for a good 45 min. As i screamed and eventually my room filled with family, all the while me screaming profanities that would make you cringe if you knew that i knew such words, my dad called the ambulance to come and get me! My mom at my side kissing my wet cheeks as the breaths were getting harder and harder to take and my husband at my backside trying to find the right place to rub as I yelled and yelled than screamed and screamed and my Dad at the foot of my bed saying "Tif hold on, their coming! Their coming" " I hear the sirens, Tif their coming" Then I hear non familiar voices as the paramedics try to coax me on my back and to the stretcher as I cry out in utter ungodly pain, and I feel my dad's hand grab mine as they take me out the doors of my room to the ambulance, then all of a sudden no pain, just the sound of my dad's voice saying she's out go, go, go! That was a feeling I will never forget! I passed out but I could still hear my dad's voice and hear his breathing as they wheeled me across the rocks of my backyard and to the ambulance. Then without warning the pain was back and with a vengeance, I didn't even feel them start the IV!!! I was hyperventilating so my hands were turned in and numb and my feet were so cold! Then the warm heavy sensation in my neck as the morphine was started, but still no relief "I'm going to 4mcgs I hear her say, doors are being shut and there is still no pain relief, another 2 she say's, all the while I am thinking when in the heck am I going to feel some relief, am i ever going to!!!! Then 2 more and the edge is gone, but still horrible pain! As I get to the ER I see my husband as they wheel me to one of the side rooms, it was so good to see him, they give me 6 more mcgs and then the pain begins to lessen but the spasms won't stop! I am admitted!!!
Now it's the 17th (our 13th wedding anniversary) and I am still in a lot of pain, but now it's loopy pain, you know the kind that you know is there but you don't care! I feel this for the next 3 days, all the while going through MRI's and ultrasounds and bedpans that each time moved throws my back into a spasm! I missed our family Christmas party, Kaely's first dance recital where she is performing twice, being with my hubby on our anniversary!!!! Can this get any worse, Yep it can, and it did! but that's another post!
I feel humility and gratitude even after all the suffering and debilitating pain that I have endured this past month, and I don't use the word endured lightly. You never know what trial will be placed before you and you always think you won't be able to handle it, but it is amazing what strength and endurance the lord has instilled in all of us!!! It amazes me!!! I have felt love beyond my wildest imagination, to be on this side of the prayers and fasting being offered in my behalf, has made me grow so much, in ways I didn't even know I could grow! I am grateful for my family and for a loving husband who never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself! to My Heavenly Father who has shown me that pain is what makes us grow and with out it we can't become better loving, more compassionate spirits! Love means something more to me now than ever before, to feel love means to feel peace, even when it still hurts and days still get hard!
I leave my love with all those reading this, and hope that you feel peace in your day today!!!
Just breathe and know that with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, ANYTHING is possible, even the impossible!!!!

NIE....ME....MINDY....+ THREE =SWEET GLEE

2010-12-02T19:49:00.005-07:00

Tif and Steph Nielson~ Mindy Gledhill concert Nov 2010
This sweet lady is just amazing!!! She is sooooo neat!!! It was so fun to get to talk to her and sit in front of her sweet family during the mindy gledhill concert! She and Mr. Nielson had a little bit to do with the concert and they did a fabulous job!!! she's one lucky lady!!! ;) He even did a little bit of singing for all of us, wish you could have all been there!!! This was just the cherry on top of a most eventful girls night out!!!!!
amanda and tif safford Nov 2010
Oh what a saweet fun time we had going to the Mindy Gledhill concert! Can I just say that our stomachs hurt so bad, but man are we going to have some rockin abs!!! We laughed, mostly at Amanda( I luv ya sista) she was drugged half the night trying to fight off a major tooth ache that was taking over her entire left side of her face, it was so sad to see her hurting so bad and there was nothing I could do for her, except TAP, and keep her hydrated and sing to her and give her big hugs!!!! FABULOUS
amanda,tif,becky,stacie
pic taken with my phone, love these girlies...FABULOUS
Mindy doin what she does best
we r awesome! Nice scary eyes ladies..........fabulous
who's this hottie!!! I think I'm shopping.....sssshhh....don't tell
FABULOUS
Amanda......stealing the bread from cheesecake factory.....ssssshhhh
FABULOUS
Bec and Stacie just bein adorable......FABULOUS

I am......

2010-11-08T08:02:00.002-07:00

so so so excited for the Mindy Gledhill concert this thursday, some of my besties and me are traveling to Paris, I mean Mesa for the big shindig!!!! SO excited, If you have never heard of Mindy you are seriously missing out on some very good music and uplifting to boot!!! Go here to hear some of her lyrics she is so amazing, just love her!!!!

WOW.......ME

2010-11-04T05:12:00.005-07:00

Well I am slowly but surly coming back into my life as a confident , strong wiled, Peaceful, harmonizing, pain free, fun loving, non judging,kissy facing, non fake smile wearing, momma, lova, friend*ME
Its has been a long time coming but I love that I am working on it and I feel myself coming out of the clouds, so to speak, Best way to describe it is like when Mary Poppins comes floating out of the clouds down to Cherry Lane under her umbrella and she is looking around and I think feeling very confident about what she can do to help that little family she is being sent to! I love this!!! cause this is how I am starting to feel more and more as the minutes pass!
It is coming slowly but surely and something that has to be worked on and part of my every minute thinking but it is happening and I love it!!!!!

Swib Design

2010-10-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Chck this out!!!! so cute hair accessories!!!

Washington here we come!!!!

2010-10-19T08:56:00.003-07:00

Me and Miss Bryn March 2010

I am so excited, Brynlee and I get to go visit Aunti Nana and Uncle Ben for 4 days! We are soooooo excited to see all of them, I miss them sooooo much! I will be taking TONS of pictures so I hope to get them on here faster than then others that still need posting!! oh well tons of time right? a little worried about doing the plane ride with Brynlee but hopfully all goes well! love to all
ps. see u on thursday shamoms :)
that makes me so giddy to say that,
CHOMPIE

This is the last.....

2010-10-12T23:55:00.002-07:00

I love watching Biggest Loser! I have committed myself to not have anymore diet pepsi's!!! Taking it one week at a time

Being Me......

2010-10-05T10:21:00.004-07:00

Me and Bryn May 2010
Being me is, well, interesting, being me is
fun
Happy
tired after 9:30pm
love love loving to smuggle my husband
painful
spiritual energy(but something I have to work on day in and day out) don't we all!!!!
hair in ponytail most days
comfy levi's, T'shirt,flipflops
pulling the hair out of the pony and dressing up when going out with the hubby and the girlies!!
new wood crafty freak!!!
loving my kids
loving my friends
loving
smiling
striving to make my home and place to walk into and just breath after coming in out of the storm!
never wanting to bend over to pick stuff up (it kills)
always striving to make someone happy
thankful everyday for wonderful family and friends
thankful
mostly calm(I said mostly!!!)
mom
heart protector
a daughter of my Heavenly Father
watched over
Today I am washing clothes, cleaning rooms and making green chili for burros tonight!!! Yummy, Cheej and ber want to come for dinner tonight!!!!!!!!! ;>

Happy Monday!!!!!!

2010-10-04T05:58:00.003-07:00

Brian and Doyle Aug 2010 Cluff Reunion

I don't know why, I love love love this pumpkin but I need a new post!!!!! Don't ya think!!!

Pumpkins!!!!

2010-09-13T11:09:00.005-07:00

Okay so here it is, I have this fetish (no joke) with pumpkins, most without the faces, my taste is more plain jane thank you very much!!! They bring me joy to look at, they calm me, kind of like a long hot bath with Tylenol PM running through you, they always put a smile on my face and make me giddy, no really!!!! SO I have found a way to feed my fetish all the while still being able to feed my kiddos, Priorities here, Priorities!!!
So when my sweet friend Amanda over at Dejavu crafts and I got together we tore my house apart looking for pumpkins that we could make by just copying some of the ones I already had and just adding our own little twist to them.
So off the the Cemetery (really) we went in search of old wood that my dad had lying around (no pun in tented hahaha) we found pallets and pallets that he said he would be more than willing to GIVE us, yes friends you read that right, these pumpkins didn't cost us a dime (seriously) and yes my dad owns the cemetery and it is the coolest thing in the world (no really it is) Geesh Gene you are awesome!!!!!
and low and behold we came up with these, here is the first one that I did and the bigger one and other little one are coming soon, I promise, I do have to keep a clean house while I craft to keep a happy hubby ;)
So more are coming, and pics of the other things I've been working on!!!! HAPPY FALL!!!

Pumpkins....

2010-09-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the bigger ones that Amanda and I made!!! I love these!

6months, 16 pounds and a double ear infection....

2010-09-09T18:19:00.004-07:00

How does it happen, and so stinkin fast..... Brynlee is already hitting all kinds of mile stones. She is 6 months old now, 16 pounds ( little fatty mcfatty) had her first double ear infection (she'd rather not have those, thank you very much) she is rolling from front to back and back to front now, which means she is a lot more mobile than she was before I left for San Diego, holy crap!!!! Before I freakin know it, we'll be shopping for dorm room furniture!!!! REALLY!!!!

A Happy Birthday shout out to my LOVAH........ ;) wink

2010-08-31T06:31:00.003-07:00

I want to tell my awesome husband (who turned 35 today) I mean 29, Happy Happy Birthday!!!! Brian is THE MOST wonderful person and I am so glad and feel sooooo blessed that I get to smooch on him on a daily basis!!!! He keeps me laughing and smiling (most of the time) ;>
He makes me so happy and I love waking up in the morning thinking about ways to love on him during the day, I still get so excited when I see that it is him who is calling my phone, I get butterflies when 10:30 rolls around and I know that I get to lay next to him and fall asleep, then we both turn over and get comfy!!!!!! I love that after almost 13 years of marriage I am sooooo much more in love with him now then we were 13 years ago, and that I can be anywhere in town and if he sees my car he comes in to where I am and sneeks up on me and grabs my butt ( one of these days He is going to get smacked) I love how he still likes to grab me from behind and kiss my neck then whisper sweetness ;> in my ear, just like he did the day we got married, If Perry really new what he whispered he would have blushed. We have a pretty special bond and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. Our days aren't always bliss but I know that on most days we will be laughing and (kissing and doing things that would frighten the fish,)( name that movie) I love you Suga Daddy!!!!!!!!!

Yep......I made this

2010-08-25T22:17:00.003-07:00

So here is my new fall door decoration and my sweet sweet friends and I got together at my friend Amanda's house (yep we really know her AND hang out with her;) We loved every minute of this craft!!!! Even the 7 kids running around the whole time!!!! This was made by using a Styrofoam wreath from the dollar store and corn husks that you use to make tamales our of!!!!!so easy and so fun!!! and this is the final product!!! I want like 19 of these in my house!!! I can't wait to post pics of all the other fun stuff we have up our sleeves. Craftay, Craftay!!!!!!

What I've Been doing lately.....folding pages ;)

2010-08-25T11:33:00.003-07:00

So this dear friend of mine that I (heart) so much made these adorable (logs, or Pumpkins) whatever your fancy!!!! all you do is get an old book from your local thrifty, mine was 30cents for the paperback and 75cents for hardback book and you rip the cover off!!!

Then you start folding all the pages inward to the seam of the book
Keep going till you have the whole book done, you need a book that has at least 500 pages so it looks full, I am doing one right now that has 2000 pages and oh my gosh it is adorable!!! Pics to come!

Finished project!!!! Put a stick in the top or glued on and make it a pumpkin!!! I will show you that one too!!! More pics to come, on the run but will show them later!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom.....We love you!

2010-08-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

We had a little birfday party for mom the weekend of her birthday!!!!
I cooked the dinner and we just pretty much vegged. The kids loved seeing Grammy Leighton who was there for the week getting the caterac removed from one of her eyes!!! It was fun spending time with her as we don't see her very often, and she only lives 45 min away in Willcox, go figure ;>
Brynlee was helping MIMI blow out her candle, I couldn't remember how old Mimi was so we put a ? mark for the candle, very fitting!!!!
Then Bryn slept forever and when she woke she had peed all up her little dress, so she became she favorite person, NAKED BABY!!!! I love it
Couldn't you just eat that up!!!!! We need a bra for those bad boys!!!!!
She was talkin and talkin....she had just so much to say!!!
Then papa took over and fed this starving child.... I love this picture of her holding on to papa's hand
Of course Kipp had to give her kisses.... He is so good with her
Grammy chillin
Kipp and Grammy became quite the Buds the week she was here!!!
Nice bruise Weez...Love ya Mom
Mom and Grammy
Dad was leaned back in his chair and mom decided to pin him down for a photo Opp.. Cute pic though!!!
Just cuteness
Kipp's favorite place to be while dad is in his chair!!!!
OOOOOHHHHH CHEEKS!!!!
just playin
Brynlee was laughing so hard when mom would put her on Doyle's shoulders... so sweet

2010-08-15T08:48:00.002-07:00

"God didn't promise days without pain,

laughter without sorrow,

sun without rain,

but He did promise strength for the day,

comfort for the tears,

and light for the way."

Bubba D starts school......I balled like a baby

2010-08-10T21:36:00.008-07:00

Bubba D on his first day of school 8-10-10

I can hear him saying this now "ride, ride"

Brynlee's first swim.....and Maliya turns 5

2010-08-04T11:18:00.005-07:00

Brynlee loved the water at the pool and unfortunately I didn't get a pic of her in the pool, but Kaely snapped a shot of us before we went to the party! She was so cute in her purple swimsuit and her too big purple hat!!
Maliya's facial expressions were hilarious, she was so dang cute, this was taken while she was opening aunt Marcy's present
These two were in a deep conversation about something!!! Doyle and Katelynn
Aunt Melissa got to hold leelee while mom took pics, I love Melissa's new do!!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet sweet Maliya Kae!!!! Aunt Tif loves you so much and can't believe how big you are, I love you sweet girl!

Happy Happy Birthday and Lunch

2010-08-04T11:09:00.002-07:00

We went out to eat the other day to celebrate Becky and Amy's birthdays that fall 3 days apart from each other! Sure do love these girls!

See you soon my sweet friend.......never goodbye

2010-08-04T10:37:00.005-07:00

Funny pic here but trying to make light of what was about to come. I was so sad to say goodbye to my Best Friend of 18 yrs, Misty!!!!! We have seen it ALL her and I and our friendship gets stronger and stronger as the years go by!!!!
She moved to Alaska a couple of weeks ago and even though we haven't actually lived in the same town for close to 5 years now it still seems like I've always had her just a hop and a skip away, now not so much! I am so excited to go see her and can't wait to give her a ginormous hug, Alaska just seems sooooo much further away, oh wait it is!!!! ;)
Thanks Mist for being the greatest friend ever, I love ya tons and can't wait to see ya!!!! Miss u

NOPE............alcohol was not involved

2010-08-04T04:48:00.013-07:00

On Sat the 24th of July I left the kids with Brian, who got the kids to the parade with a few bales of hay for the float and headed to Globe with my mom to pick Heather up for our little weekend getaway!!! We met Heather at the Taco Bell and followed her to Roosevelt to leave her truck at her in laws while we were gone! This is what we hit right after turning off to head to the lake, it rained like no other!!!! and I HATE driving in the rain, I don't mind too much riding in it, but driving, I hate it!!!! This is Heather ahead of us and at times all you can see are her taillights, she LOVES driving in it!!!!
Seriously

This is the calmest our trip got!!!!
The beautiful aftermath,
Me chauffeuring everyone around!
Me and Hebbie cheesin for the camera
Oh don't let her fool you..... All hell is about to break loose
We aren't as calm and collected as we look...... Don't judge us

Oh photo...... chill
K resume

Heather seriously laughed so hard she either cracked a rib or strained a muscle, k coughing didn't help much either....

Some one please put us to bed..... we are BEYOND exhausted

The cheesecake.....
it just fueled the fire

Shamoms about to pee her pants
This ones for you Dra
I tried...

Come here lova boy

Excessive laughing causes you to........
*Pee Pants.....okay almost
*Crack a rib
*receive dirty looks from the people at the table across from you
*Kiss a pig
*get a headache
*come to fast around a corner and almost cross 4 lanes of traffic
*Do a leprachaun kick....or try to

Part two of the Reunion......The Beginning

2010-08-04T03:39:00.011-07:00

So I wish that I would have taken pictures of the night we left for the Reunion on Thurs, when we stopped in Laveen to pick up Shamoms and the kids, after we got about 35 min outside of Flagstaff my car decided to lose all horsepower and we were at a standstill on the side of the Freeway for about an hour!!! My handy Mr. fix it got the car up and running after a few tugs and pulls of some wires, 5 hot kids, using our phones for flashlights, dumping shawna's bag out on the side of the freeway looking for a pair of tweezers, using the tip of a pen (which broke, but didn't know it at the time and when it didn't do what he needed it to, put it in his back pocket which bleed all over him and onto my leather seat) 5 hot kids, no water bottles, no tools (hey it's a girls car) did I mention 5 hot kids, an Ipod that was dead so no movie, Nintendo Ds's that were dying!!!! No wonder there were no pictures being taken, and all the while Brian never lost it with any of us, but after we got the car up and running we stopped at the next gas station and yep you guessed it, we got water bottles, alot of them, a flashlight, a toolbox for my car ( I wanted pink, but yeah whatever) a rockstar, chocolate, hey priorities right, and then it was off the Flag......... what the &)%*&^)

Bubba D: "Hey mom take my picture with me looking at you like this"
Miss Bryn was a huge hit the next morning!!!!
She and auntie Nana got to be quite the friends

I am so glad that we had her there to entertain all of us!!!
Me and Shawna post getting ready!!!! We are so pretty!
and then the fun started......wait I think we were having fun before this, but whatever

Jumping is our family fave

The caravan!!!! Dad is in front and Heather and Trevor are in front of us!!!
Poor Shawna got stuck in back with all the kids the WHOLE trip!!!! She was a rockstar
Me
Brian...... MMMMMMMMMM
The last few pick are of Brynlee keeping Shawna entertained, I am so glad that we brought her!!!!
AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW
CCCCCHHHHHHEEEEEWWWWW......Shawna was snapping pics and got leelee sneezing, it was so funny!!!
Oh my gosh I could eat her up......leelee too!!!
SOOOOOO Sweet

Then it was time to pause on the fun and fill the pants, yummy

and then that wore her out so she slept, this baby slept so much and was the best out of the 5 kids we had in the car......go figure

Our jumping shot in front of the UTAH sign
Ber and Cheej, hating us by this time!!!! By this time we ditched Doyle and Theron and made them ride with Mimi and papa and Flo and we traded for Ber and Cheej, sssshhhh, they were alot more fun to ride with
I love love love this girl!!!! Ber you're the greatest!
Shamoms and cheej
Me trying to make the trip go faster

A Happy Birthday Shout out to my lil Sis!!!! I love ya Shamoms

2010-07-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have the greatest sisters EVER!!! And my little sis is having a Birthday today and I wish I could be with her but We are going to Partay this weekend, not only for her big day but also because after this week she is moving really far away from me and I am really getting sad as the days get closer! I have never been this far apart from either of my sisters and this is going to be really hard to get used to! My sweet hubby is aware of how hard this is on me and has assured me that I will be able to visit at least twice a year so that helps, and yes we live in an era where phones can help with communication so that makes it a little more bareable!! I love you shamoms and hope you have a wonderful day and know that I will miss ya but you'll probably see me more once you move to Washington than you do now ;) Thanks so much for all you do for me and for being my sister, I am so blessed to have you in my life, sister are so much fun and I am so glad that I get to call you and Heather my sisters. You are such an inspiration in my life and i love you both so much!!!

Even though I am the favorite................... ;0

I love you guys!!!

Part one of The Gardner/Davis Reunion July 2010

2010-07-21T09:33:00.018-07:00

Missy Moo wanted to feed Miss Bryn after we got to Utah and was getting settled into our hotel room!!! I love these two little girls and was so glad that they got to go with us!!!!! I could seriously devour them both!!! YUMMY
Brian, me, Shawna Heather and Trevor and kids all went to a really good place in Hurricane to eat dinner on Friday night! It was so yummy and tasted very similar to Cafe Rio, can't go wrong there!!!! Then Brynlee decided to bless me with her dinner, yup, good times

We pretty much took up the capacity of the whole restaurant, AWESOME
Our view from our room, this pic doesn't do it justice!!! It was beautiful there! HOT, but beautiful
Shawna took some of the kiddos swimming while the rest of us went shopping in the little shops
Cam was loving jumping in
Sorry shamoms, I think you got totally soaked on this one!!!! That's our Cam ;)
Here is us on our little walk, we were leaving our Hotel to go walking down the little isles of shops,
Mimi, Cody, Trevor (wyatt) Heather and C.J
This is where leelee was most of the trip!!! she loved it and I didn't hear much complaining from her daddy either!!!
This Candy Company in Springdale should be on the food network, I wish I would have taken a pic of it inside, it was so cute and Yummy Yummy candy EVERYWHERE!!!! A dream, but not for the waistline!!!
Trevor, Cam Cody and Brian bringing in the food!!!!
He looks so happy!!!
Mom and Jessy getting the fishing pond ready
(l to r) Jenny, Carri, dacia, flo bryn,Syndney, Jessy, mom, kaely, shamoms and Hebbie
ALOT of talking went on, it's what the Gardners do best, sit around and talk, we could do it for hours, oh wait we did!!!
Kristi, Gentry, Jessie,Trevor, Flo, Brynlee, and Codster
Grayson, Inette, C.j, and Amer
Doyle and Dad, poor kid got his picture taken while he was serving a time out!!!
Brynlee loves sleeping on her Aunt Flo! This little girl has her aunt Flo wrapped around her little finger ;0
Sweet Sweet Kelsey, we miss these guys tons and also their mama, we love you Calli!!! Hope you are doing good!
Theron being a stud!!! I am going to miss these kids so much! They leave next Thurs, the 29th bound for Washington!!! but Fiffy will be there soon to visit!!! Uncle Brian promised
Me and Hebbie taken pics of each other, Love her
papa and Kaely, Dad was such a sport, his back was killing him and bless his heart he made it to all the events. It's been 2 weeks since we were there and he is just barely starting to be able to get up and around without having to lay down all day, he has been in so much pain, it's pretty sad when your dad calls u to take him to the chiropractor and he can't sit in the seat so you have to lay the seats down in the back and lay him back there with pillows propped under his head and your husband has to follow you to the Dr to help you get him out!!! I love you dad and am so glad that you are starting to do better!!!
So this is my awesome sister Shawna!!! I was just thinking to myself that it is a good thing that Heather is the normal one of us 3 but then looked at the picture a little closer and behind Shamama is that 3 NORMAL sister Heather!!! It is what it is, I guess, ;) I totally love my sisters and don't know what I would do without them in my life!!!
Mom and Inette getting the gang all riled up!!!! That's a weez word, Thanks mom and Inette and Flo for all you did, and got, mom thanks so much to you and Dad for stalking our rooms with ALL the necessities!!! You guys are amazing!!!
I love my Hubby and love when he makes me laugh!!! He is my favorite!!!

The kids fishing!!!!!!!!
Inette and Gentry and Kristi looking good guys!!!! I can't wait for that baby to get here!
Little Eryn looking as adorable as ever, she was such a chunk and I can't wait for Brynlee to get that chunky cause Eryn sure was fun to eat on!!! I love her she is so stinkin cute!!!!
Sorry weez I had to post this pic cuz shamoms was lookin HOT HOT HOT

Brynlee and Daddy just chillin while all the other kids fished
Ber, Cheej, Grayson and Carri just shotin the bull!!!!
The mummy game was so fun and I think that Jessy and Kaely won this one!!!!
Lovin Nana and leelee
Our group pic minus a couple people, Rex, Ben and Crystals family, we missed you guys!!!!
Yep there had to be one of these!!!!
Now that is love, Shawna and I were laughing at these two!!! We love you guys
The cousins doing our famous Jumping shot!!! We are AWESOME!!!
just some cute pics of leelee, I am glad we brought her to babysit nana in the back seat on the way to Utah!!! She was the best one on the trip, I'm serious too!!!
OOOOOOOHHHHHHHH I could eat her
we took a bus ride around the park and it was so pretty but it started to get dark and all the kids started to fall asleep, YES!!!!
Mike and Inette

Gentry and Kristi's kids so sweet
The gand on the bus

Doyle fell in love with Jessy and she was such a good sport to put up with him!! He loved being with her and when we left he said that he was" going to miss being with that pretty girl" We love you Jessy

Cheej peeking in on his wifey
I couldn't get enough of these two!!! Brian was the best sport and kept her in that thing cause it hurt my back to carry it with her!!!!There is a reason she cam 8 weeks early, cause My back would have for sure given out if I would have carried her to term!!!! Look at those "chunky" thighs!

Playing catch-up...........

2010-07-19T10:35:00.004-07:00

Trying to keep Bryn happy on our way to Taylor(July 2010)
I forgot to post some other pics of our trip to Taylor!!! We love going up to the high country and getting out of this HEAT!!!! It actually got a little nippy that night!!! The kids were cold, I love it, not the kids being cold but the weather!!!

Stern shot (this one's for you Weez)
Little miss Bryn was livin it up in the snuggly on mom!!! She so has it made!
Oh I love when she falls asleep, I could eat those lips!!!! YUMMY
Hebbie and little miss Brynlee, She loves her auntie Hebbie and I think she lost a few pounds after Hebbie ate on her all week!!!

Prayers for Little Preslee's family!!!!

2010-07-16T16:49:00.004-07:00

This sweet family is in need of prayers at this time!! For the past week I have checked my blog several times a day to see how this sweet sweet little girl Preslee Jo was hanging on after a terrible accident and today I found out that she has returned to our Heavenly Fathers arms. My heart breaks for this family and I hope that we all take a step back and put into perspective the things that are really important!!! I have squeezed my kids a little more and tried to be more soft spoken and the noise in my house (noise that can be heard in a whirl wind) I am more willing than ever to let continue, that is sweet noise, noise i know I would miss if it soon stopped and I knew I would be living with silence, I wish I could throw my arms around this sweet mom and dad and hug them and tell them just how sorry I am for their loss but I don't even know them and the only connection I have with them is that we are all children of our Heavenly Father who loves us and would do anything to take our pain away, even give His life for us! This little girl in her short lived life has done so much and if you read the comments on the blog she has been an inspiration to so many!!! What a sweet spirit she has and what a neat set of parents she was blessed to have also!!! It is amazing how short this life really is and how fast it can change!!! Let's not wait to have a wake up call before we realize this!! Cause it could happen sooner than later! I want you all to know that I love you and that I feel so blessed to have you all in my life, in one way or another each of you has touched my life for the good, and I am thankful for you, to my sweet family, I love you more than words will ever describe and to my husband you are the reason I love living and I love waking up in the morning!!! My kids and my husband are my breath and I love the sweet smile I feel everyday because of you!!!! I LOVE YOU

Our 4th of July!!!!

2010-07-07T08:31:00.003-07:00

We went to Taylor this last weekend for the 4th of July and we had a blast! We left on Friday and were excited to get up there cause Cam had been there for the week and we were missin her! Saturday morning at 4 am Brian drove to Flagstaff to run his dogs in a competition and we hung out at Heather's. Heather ate Brynlee up all weekend and I think she is about 2 LBS lighter now!!! Saturday evening we went to the Taylor rodeo and had the BBQ and watched the Rodeo and watched the fireworks! It was a lot of fun!!! Sunday we went to church with Heather and Trevor and got to hear them give the Lesson in a combined Priesthood and Relief Society! They did a great job and were glad when it was over! Monday the guys took the kids, ALL the kids, Crawdad fishing and Heather and I and her friend Brittany and Brynlee went to see Twilight!!! Holy Crap that was a good one! The best yet I think!!! Brynlee did so good she slept through the entire movie and woke up once we got in the truck! She knows her priorities!!! Then we got back to Heathers and packed up and came home, one less child again, Kaely got to stay with Heather this week and will meet up with us in Flagstaff with her as we all head to Utah for our family reunion!!! so excited

Our family trip to Mt. Graham, june 2010

2010-06-28T07:24:00.008-07:00

Me and leelee gettin some sun!!! It was the perfect temp in the sun, I look at these pics now and about die. I keep wondering what the heck we are all doing with jackets on. I am always hot right now so this picture makes me miserable!!!!
This bundle of joy slept the whole time we were up there! She loved the mountains!!!
If you give this kid a knife and a piece of wood he would be happy for hours!!!
My hubby
I thought this was cute pic! Doyle loves, no, adores his dad!!! I love it
Cam toad!!!
Doyle taking pictures, but hey there is proof that i was there!!!

Dad and his girls

My kiddos, we have so much fun, most of the time!!!! HAHAHAHA
I thought it was funny that they chose to hit it up hill!!!
Dad and Cam Golfin
This kids is adorable!!!
Like father like son!!!! ;)

Happy Daddy's Day!!!!

2010-06-26T10:09:00.002-07:00

I am so thankful for my Dad and all that he does for us and has taught me!! I can't imagine my life without him and I am grateful that my Heavenly Father let us keep him!!! Dad you are amazing and I am so thankful for you!!! Thank you for always being there for me when I was down with my pregnancies (not many dad's will let you wrap yourself around their thighs as you puke for the 100th time that day, then wipe the puke off your mouth and make sure you are some what comfortable before they go back to work, then come home 45 mins later and do it all over again, and holding me while I got the news that I needed to be flown to Gilbert and have my baby girl early! Thank you for calling me when I was in the NICU with Brynlee for a month and letting me vent and TOTALLY understanding every feeling and worry I had with having her in there! You always new when to call and you made an unbearable trial bearable and I am so grateful for you!

we had a really nice Fathers Day! We ate lunch at my mom and dad's and then went over to see Brian's parents. Rex came down for a few days and we loved every minute of him being here!!! We love you Sexy Rexy!!! and miss you too!
I love this kid!!!!

Happy Hands Children classes

2010-06-26T10:03:00.003-07:00

My awesome sis in law is taking enrollment for her children's classes that she teaches, she is amazing and if you have a 3-5 yr old take a look at her blog and see what she has been doing, I had Doyle in there and he learned so much and loved it, she is wonderful!!! Go here

It's Friday.......and the kids are.........

2010-06-25T07:38:00.002-07:00

This is what it looks like at 7:35 am at the cluff house, SWEET!!!!

Our Family

2010-06-22T10:22:00.002-07:00

Here is our first family pic with Miss Brynlee!! This was on her blessing day! She is so sweet and we love every minute with her! I can't believe that she is almost 4 months old, it seems like just yesterday i was wondering what our lives were going to be like with her in our home and boy are we lovin this! she is such a blessing in our lives and we are so excited to have her in our home!! We love you LeeLee

And the "BEST DADDY AWARD" goes to.......

2010-06-20T07:14:00.001-07:00

This guy!!!
Brian thank you so much for being one of the greatest guys in my life!!!! You are an amazing father and husband and though we have had our rough spots along the way, I am glad that I got to go through them with you! Thank you for loving us and supporting us, you work way to hard and deserve the best, but life throws us curves and you handle them with dignity and courage! your patience astounds me everyday!!!!! I love you so much thank you for being the "daddy" you are!!!!! We love you!!! HAPPY FATHER"S DAY

GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!

2010-06-08T19:00:00.006-07:00

This last weekend was super fun, with family and friends we had a blast!!!!
Of course Kipp was right in the middle of it all
The best place EVER!!!! On papa's lap
Wyatt helping to burp Brynlee
And then these, my sister is going to learn to take my camera when I leave it a my mom's and go on a picture taking spree!!! Love ya Shamoms
Little miss K~Sue
Hebbie being Hebbie
What's up Weez, bet you didn't think I'd really post these, think again MMMUUUAAAHHH!!!!
Missy Moo joinin in on the picture taking
Me and Ber at the luncheon for Brynlee's Blessing, we absolutely love love love this girl!!!
Just some randomness goin on

LeeLee in her cutest ever dress outfit!!! just sleepin through her party!!!
Hebbie and Wyatt

Mimi chillin with the kids!!!

What the.........

2010-06-08T18:56:00.001-07:00

We can't take a serious picture to save our freakin lives!!! But we wouldn't have it any other way!!!!

Killing two birds with one stone....calm a fussing baby and do a load!

2010-06-08T18:45:00.004-07:00

When Miss Bryn is fussy she loves to be put on the washer while it is on!!! The vibration is soothing to her. It is so funny, and yes I stay right there by her the Whole time, What kind of mother do you think I am, HAHAHA

Doyle wanted to take a pic of Bryn right after she ate. Here she is drunk with milk

Can you say CHUNK!!!! I didn't think I'd ever see her with rolls, after coming into the world only 3 Lbs 13 Ozs she sure has caught up. SHe is now 11Lbs and right where she should be on the charts. Way to go LeeLee!!!! We love you baby!!!!!

Aunti Hebbie comes to town!!!!

2010-06-08T18:15:00.003-07:00

This is where Brynlee was the majority of last week. Aunt Hebbie and the boys came on Wed, we met uncle Trevor in Globe, and they stayed with us until the blessing on Sunday, We had so much fun, can't wait to do it again really soon!!! Next time let's see if Aunti Nana can come and play too!!! Oh the partying that would go on!!! YummyQ!!!!! We love you Hebbie!!!!!

Brynlee's Blessing June 6th 2010

2010-06-07T10:23:00.001-07:00

Once again Aunt Becky has captured the most precious pictures EVER!!!! I love this little girl and all that she has taught me!!

A few more pics of the Prophet

2010-05-24T22:14:00.004-07:00

The "Original" crew, this is who we started out with and then it just grew and grew!!!
Brian Dad and Me and Brynlee talking to President Eyring!!! He is a neat neat man! And so dedicated to the Prophet!! He is so sincere
Here is President Monson giving Cambry a high five
Then he kept a hold of her hand! This was when she told me she would never wash that hand again! He is so sweet, and he loves kids!!!
Me talking with President Eyring! He was telling about the Temple and what a blessing it will be in our lives!!! He thanked Brian again here for the work they did!!
This was Elder Holland trying to get me to understand just how fast they all had to stop, he was sure there was going to be a 5 car pile up and that it was going to end up in the church news for sure!!! I love this man!!!
President Monson was so cute!!!

I was so afraid that he was going to lose his footing and fall back, he was a little tippsy when they first arrived, we later learned that they had a pretty rough flight over!!!

We thank thee for every blessing, bestowed by thy bountious hand....

2010-05-23T21:09:00.007-07:00

Here is President Monsons Jet as they flew into the Safford Airport!
The cars of the motorcade abruptley stopping Elder Jeffery R. Holland was in this car
The motorcade as it was coming down the hill towards us
He kept telling the kids "I'll come to you" Stay there I'll come to you"

Me talking to Elder Holland, he is by far one of my favorite General Authorities!!! What a sweet sweet man he is
Kaely and Jacob looking on as President Monson laughs with Mom and Dad, Christi has just got done telling him the story of when she was just 12 yrs old she had to speak in Stake Conference in Utah and he was the speaker with her, after her talk he told mom in front of everybody that she could come and live at the Monson house if she was ever kicked out of her house, and without skipping a beat he said, "well, are you ready!!"
Here he is shaking Kaely's hand
Cam thought this was the coolest thing, he took Kendall's hat and tried it on,

Our family with President Monson ~ Logan, Becky, President Monson, Brynlee, me, Doyle and Brian and Kaely & Cam in front!!! What a neat experience this was and such a testimony builder.

What a special weekend.....One I'll never forget

2010-05-23T09:10:00.007-07:00

We are dedicating the Gila Valley Arizona Temple today and what a special day it is!
Yesterday as the kids and I along with other family and friends waited to greet President Monson and his motorcade as they drove down airport road the kids (and adults) were so excited to see the cars coming down the hill with them inside, we were waving and waving and all of a sudden president Monson's car pulls off the road causing all the other cars following to slam on their breaks and Vere off the road too! HE GOT OUT!!! Waving his arms in the air he walked across the street where we were all standing and began to shake all of our hands and give out hugs, President Eyring and Elder Holland were there also along with Elder Walker of the Quarm of the Twelve Apostles. It was so neat to talk to Elder Eyring and tell him of our experience working on the Temple and as he grabbed Brian's shoulder and shook his other hand he expressed his heartfelt gratitude of the work they did and what they put in to it!!! He thanked him and Brian said later that that was so neat cause no one has ever said "Thank You " before! It was so neat!!! We also found out that he was good friends with Grandpa Doyle and when Elder Eyrings dad passed away Nanny went and spent a few weeks with his stepmom and helped her. When Becky and I were standing next to him to him he asked Brian are these the wives of the Cluff boys and we said "yes", I love that man he was so neat to talk to and just feel of the love he had for us, it was so so neat!!!! We stood there in the middle of Airport Rd on Doyle Cluff Pkwy for 20-25 mins as we listened to stories that Pres. Monson had to share and as he told Tallie Brinkerhoff that the yellow shirt she was wearing was his favorite color!!! He told Kiersten who was holding baby Jordan that he could tell she would make a great mother some day, cause she really had the patting the bum thing down, The kids were in AAAWWWW! as were we! I got to talk a little to Elder Holland and he is a remarkable man! I can't believe the spirit that was felt yesterday! It is amazing to me that you can feel that anytime anywhere as strong as we did!!!! They kept trying to get him back in the car cause it was sooooo hot, but he would just look at them and say "leave me alone, or completely walk in opposite direction they were standing, it was so funny!!! As he turned to leave we all started to sing We thank thee oh God for a Prophet and he joined in along with President Henry B, Eyring, Elder Jeffery R. Holland and Elder walker the secret service were even singing! It was so cool!!! When they finally got him to go they were holding on to his arm to help him across the street and he pulled his arm away and said "I can do it" then proceeded to walk the yellow line one foot in front of the other and turned and said " I'm doin it I'm doin it, I still got it"!!! Then he got in the car and drove off!!! Brian and I were saying last night that we are still in shock and we can't wait to get the pictures so we can blow then up poster size and put them all over the house ;)
This is to be an experience that will probably never happen again in our lifetime! We stressed just how rare that was for this to happen to our kids and that they should write this experience in their journals of what they remember!!! One thing that I thought was so funny was after President Monson shook Cambry's hand and gave her a hug she told me "mom, I never want to wash this hand again!!!! It was too cute!

Doyle Graduates!!!!!

2010-05-21T17:31:00.003-07:00

Doyle had his Preschool Graduation and this time he really did graduate!!! He goes on to Kindergarten in August! He has loved Miss Kristen's preschool, don't think it has anything to do with her bein his Aunt either ;) Thank you KIKI for a fun year!!!

Doyle and Maliya did the whole Caterpillar book for me in Sign Language! They were awesome!!!