REWIND...

Thursday March 19th, Clayton & Carson both had their last basketball games. They were at the same time in different locations so I had to miss half of Clayton's. But both games were very exciting down to the end. Carson's team won 14 -11 and Carson made two baskets. Clayton's team won 9-8 and Clayton made one basket. Both of their teams are undefeated this year. What a great season for both boys, I just wish their dad was there to cheer them on.

Earlier that day MacKenzie had "transportation day" at her pre-school. They were supposed to make a locomotive out of cardboard. This is what we came up with. I'm sure if Dayson was doing the project he would have been a lot more creative. Oh well, this will have to do. She loved her car so much that she literally wore it out after school and it was falling apart.

MacKenzie's nickname is "Crazy Marie" and that is what I put on her license plate.

Friday morning we headed down to Avondale to spend spring break with my family and Dayson. My sister Becky was in town from Idaho with her family. She has 2 1/2 year old twins. Jagger & Jersy. Aarron hasn't played with his cousins a whole lot because we moved and they also moved. But when Jagger and Aarron got together this weekend it was "Best Friends, Best Cousins". They did everything together: pull the cushions off the couch, run around grandma's house, scream, throw rocks in the grass and everything else little boys do.

My sister Rita and her family, who live in Eagar, came down for spring break also. While here in town they purchased some chicks to take back with them. The kids had fun playing with the chicks and watching them hop around the yard. Thanks uncle John for an early Easter surprise!






Saturday night my sisters and their husbands, Dayson and I, my older nieces and my nephew went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse. We had so much fun. Kelly and Darin weren't able to join us because they went to the temple. My parents stayed home and watched all of our kids for us, including Kelly and Darin's. The total of grandkids at my mom's house that night were 28. Thanks mom and dad and great grandma Slade, you made our night very special. I definately needed that break.

Zach, Cammie, Christie, Macy

Andrea & David picked up the tab. "Wow, that was awesome"! We love you!


Rita & John

Becky & Jeremy

Me & Dayson

Sunday: We went to church at our old ward (Waddell Ward). It was so much fun to see everyone.

Monday: I had a doctor appointment. (NO, I'm not pregnant.) My sisters and I took the kids to the park.

Tuesday: I went with my sister Becky to Scottsdale to record a session of her receiving botox for her website azbeauty.org. For anyone who hasn't been there yet, she has a lot of great articles and information on anti-aging. After Dayson got home from the academy we took the kids to the dollar store and while there we got a phone call from Subway saying we won DBack tickets from the drawing we entered on Saturday. Yeah!!

Wednesday: The kids and I went to Wal-Mart, than I drove them by my old house where I grew up and showed them the school I went to. There is a street about 3 blocks down from my old street called Mackenzie Drive. So I let MacKenzie get out and take a picture. This was kind of scary considering this part of town isn't the safest anymore. We than went to Cabella's and looked around at all the animals. We headed over to Waddell to visit some old friends and look at our old house. The people who bought it are taking really good care of it. They definately have kids and they even painted the house. We also stopped at the feed store to get a soda and candy for old time sakes. I talk to the owner for a little bit, he was happy to see us, and we were happy to see him. That night after Dayson got home from the academy we went to our friends, the Bezerra's, and had pizza with them and played at the park across the street from their house in Verrado. We miss them very much. They have six kids the same ages as ours. They are from Brasil and speak portuguese. Dayson loves being able to use his portuguese when he's around them. It puts a smile on his face and he doesn't even know it. It's so cute to watch him.

Thursday: I was up all night (Wed. night) with Aarron and Adam who both have croop or crupe. Anyways, they have been sick all day so I didn't do anything today. This was the day Dayson had to be sprayed with pepper spray at the academy. I didn't know what to expect so I had his bedroom ready for him to go in and relax. To his surprise and mine it didn't effect him real bad so he was actually in a good mood when he got home. He was glad to just get that over with. Today was also my little sisters birthday, Jamie. Happy Birthday! I wish you were here with us.

Friday (Today): I was up again all night with the babies and they aren't doing any better. My sister Andrea who is a nurse gave me an inhaler with some albuterol for the boys and that will help until I get home and can give it to them in the form of a breathing treatment. We are leaving today at 2:00 pm, as soon as Dayson gets done at the academy. I can't wait to get home and get ready for the new school week. Rita said it has been sooo windy, ugh, and it snowed yesterday.

This past week has been exactly what I needed. A break from school, sports, and being husbandless. It was so nice for Dayson to come home to us evernight and being able to fall asleep next to him. I was definately less stressed and enjoyed spending time with my kids. I also have to say I am so impressed with my grandma Slade (my mom's mom). She lives with my parents and she helped me everyday with the kids and fixing breakfast, lunch & dinner. On top of that she does all of her church callings, excercises, and cleans the house. Oh yeah, and she loves to do canning, she's also a pro at recycling. She never slows down. My grandma is awesome, she even went to go get a pedicure yesterday. I love her very much and hope to accomplish as much as she has in my lifetime. Well it's almost time for us to go back home so I better finish getting ready.

"I Can See Clearly Now..."

Harly went to the eye doctor and found out she is a little near sited. She got to pick out some glasses and they just came in. She is so adorable with them on. She was so excited to wear them to school, church, and for her dad. She is such a little model. She loves to pose for the camera.

Adam is my one year old chunky baby. He is so cudly and loves to sleep with me, escpecially since Dayson has been gone. Doen't he look precious?

Clayton & Carson played awesome in their basketball games this week. Carson scored two baskets and Clayton made three. I am so proud of them and Dayson gets to watch their games when he gets home on Friday nights. The boys have their last game this Thursday. Clayton has been doing track & field and everyone starts baseball/softball/t-ball in April.

10 weeks down & 8 weeks to GO!!!

New Attitude!

Every night ends with my nerves about to explode! While watching American Idol with my kids there was a McDonald's commercial on and it was about a big brother and a baby brother. The big brother shared everything with his baby brother and played with him. The mom took the older boy to McDonald's by himself for a treat. While the dad stayed home with the baby. As they returned home dad and baby were waiting in the window with big smiles and big brother was excited for his time alone with mom. This is a very cute commercial. After it was over my second oldest son Carson said, "How come our family can't be happy like that". I tried to come up with every excuse and say because you kids don't listen or you fight with each other, you mess up the house and so on.. Later that night I was talking to Dayson on the phone about how bad the kids are and that I can't take it anymore and I'm always in a bad mood. I went to bed crying to my Heavenly Father to help me have more patience with my kids. I started reading blogs by some of my friends this morning and on one blog she had mentioned her friend who had been dealing with some hard things in life but was doing great. She said she had changed her attitude about life. This was a big lesson for me. It's not at all my kids fault that our family isn't happy. It's because of my attitude. I've decided to change my attitude and love my kids no matter what. It shouldn't matter if my husband is gone durning the week or my five year old acts like a sixteen year old. The way I live reflects on my children and their happiness.

So today, I PLEDGE ( I know this is dorky) to be a happy and loving mom to my kids!

I am going to have a new attitude.

I love you Dayson and miss you very much!

A Great Weekend With Dad!

Carson and Clayton both had basketball games. Carson's team won 14-8 and Clayton's team tied 12-12 in overtime. It was the perfect ending considering he was playing his cousins team so they could both say they won.

After church on Sunday Dayson took his usual nap and the girls decided to play doctor with him.

They really love having their daddy home and Dayson is a very good sport. He woke up to many band-aids on his body.

After Dayson left for Mesa we went to my sister Rita's house to sing happy birthday to my niece Christie. She turned 18 on March 5th . I can still remember the day she was born. We thought to ourselves "another girl". We wouldn't have it any other way even though we desperately wanted a boy in the family. GIRLS ROCK!

Christie was tormenting her mother and trying to blow out the candles before she could get them all lit. Her dad stepped in, and him and Christie had a boxing out match.

Happy Birthday Truse! (nickname for Christie)

A Better Day!!

9 Weeks Down & 9 Weeks To GO!!

After having a very lazy day I decided to clean my house. I got everything ready for Dayson to come home. I can't believe it's already been 9 weeks. We are halfway there.

The stake presidents wife who is in my ward brought me some cinnamon rolls. She said it must get gloomy in the house without a husband all week long. She was right. It was just what I needed.

Adam, Aarron & MacKenzie enjoyed the rolls too.



My nieces came over to hang out with me. They are so adorable.
Cammie, Kylie & Christie



"More bars in more places". This was our way to show our height difference.
Kim, Christie, Cammie and Kylie

Christie's boyfriend came over with the girls too.

He is really good with my kids they love to play with him.

Just a few days of my CRAZY life without a husband!

After seeing Daycee's haircut Aarron decided he wanted one too. He took it upon himself and luckily a haircut to him is spraying down your hair and slicking it back with a comb. Grandma was very impressed with his style.


Grandma delighted us with strawberry shortcake. MacKenzie and Daycee helped with cutting the strawberries.

Grandpa made his famous burgers and Harly was his little helper with forming the patties.




After Grandma and Grandpa left MacKenzie decided she too wanted a haircut. She took it upon herself and a little off the bangs and little more off the side. It's not that noticeable but she said she was sorry. I told her that Grandma was the only one who can give haircuts. She said "okay".


Clayton came home from school with a "Student of the Month" certificate in Science.He is a very good kid and gets all A's & B's. My kids are smarter than I am.Clayton amazes me when it comes to math. He'll ask me how to solve a problem and he has it figured out in his head before I can do it on a calculator.

I just wanted to throw this picture in for posterity sakes. Daddy is far away during the week and Adam forgets who he is. By the time Sunday rolls around he is warmed up to dad and Dayson leaves again. The poor kid is very confused.

Okay, I decided that I wasn't going to clean my house today. I sat around doing nothing. I am so sick of cleaning my house so I went on strike. The only cleaning I did was wash the dishes because we needed bowls and spoons for breakfast.

I know what your thinking, "What the H---!" But, I don't care. My favorite motto is from the movie "Gone With The Wind" by Scarlett O'Hara, "Tomorrow. Yes, I will think about it tomorrow."

Some of you are probably saying, that's not that bad. But I'm only showing you the family room.