Aarika's Graduation

She got over $1000.00 dollars for graduation.

Lunch after graduation.

Twins

Sisters

The close ones!

The other twins.

Beautiful sisters.

The flower I have the gave to each of the grads and they were to give it to the person that made a difference in their life and their education. She gave it to me and it made everything that I have gone through all worth it. Thanks Aarika

Stop growing up guys cause I'm still 29.

Well she made it, miracles never cease, graduated with an honors diploma. We didn't know if she would make it but she pulled it off. Another big milestone in our oldest childs life. Its been a rollercoaster year but we made it. Its a bitter sweet day but that is life. We are so proud of Aarika and her accomplishment, I know she has had some stuggles but I also know that she knows that we love her and we are missing her right now. Keep working hard Aarika and you will achieve your dreams. Follow the Savior and you will never go wrong. We had lunch after graduation with some of the family and then we had a huge graduation party at Black Mt. Pool with a DJ and lots of food and family and friends. It was a great day. We love you AK.

Pheonix

We went to Pheonix for Michaels niece' graduation and my sister-in-law has horses and the kids loved riding them. I miss having horses someday I will have them again. Anyway here are some pics of the kids riding them.

Aarika Senior Pics

So I took Aarika to get her Senior pictures done last summer before school started and I have to say I take way better pictures. But I think alot of people say that, so I took her and did my own and man they turned out awesome. She is so beautiful so its not that hard to take great pics. There are so many but I am just posting some. Milestones they come and they go but the memories and pictures last forever.

Aarika Poem

You know what happens when you snoop through your kids stuff? You find things that make you cry. I found this poem that Aarika wrote for her composition class and it made me feel so good inside. We have had quite the year with her, ups and downs and lots of stubborness. I asked my dad why does the lord give agency to children when they don't know how to use it and he told me that Satan wanted to take away our agency and wanted us to just follow without choices. Well I guess that is probably the hardest thing about being a parent, when your kids make choices you know are going to bring them misery but from trials comes growth and thats what we are all here for. When I start doubting what I am doing as a mother thats when Satan gets a hold of me and I have to step back and remember to have faith and I know that the Lord keeps his promises if I just do my part. Then you find things that make you realize that inside your children they know whats right and will come back to what they know is right. Thats what keeps me going. So here is the poem that I found. It made my heart just feel so good.

My mom is Superwoman
She does so much in just one day
There's no way superpowers don't come into play
Her superspeed get kids to sports
While making dinner and finding the lost shorts
Her super strenght is comparable to none
How she fights the evil of 5 girls and crazy of 2 boys
And yet we still get that homecooked meal
Heat vision is the only way I feel
If you looked under the clothes,
Stylish but stained
I just know you'd find and S
above her heart so strained
She tries to do it all
She does the best she can
No one can do what she does
Not even superman.

Thanks Aarika I love you!!!

Prom 09

Beautiful girls. Mckenzie, Aarika, and Jacquelyn (my niece)

I know I am biased but those are some very pretty girls.

Priceless Precious Princess'

How many sister's does it take to get Aarika ready?

Another prom come and gone. Lots and lots of hair done. "Hey mom will you do so and so's hair" sure. Oh mom so and so wants you to do their hair too, so how many heads of hair can mom do in one day well let me tell you 5. Yes I said 5, and I started at noon and was done at five. Yikes yes it was a long day, but always fun. My girls of course were the most beautiful, but I'm a little biased. These are the times as a mom that are sooo much fun. I love getting to play dress up with my girls.

Dinner at Papa's and Grandma's

You know these two always stick out their tongues in practically every picture. Brats

She loves her Papa.

Learning how to make famous Buttered Noodles.

Pops and kiddos.

My dad had surgery again this past April on his knee. He had a knee replacement last year and the doctor didn't do it right so he had to get it done again. So we went out to visit and my sister made dinner dad's favorite butter noodles and ham. Gotta love that!

Sports, Sports, Sports

Her dad is telling her "get your elbows off your knees Mariyah. She played her first year of coach pitch and did great. Look out big sisters cause Hope is gonna make you look bad.

Keep your head down Annalyse. She got a triple on this hit.

My little professional baseball player. He played first base this last season and I think you might have seen some of his plays on ESPN highlights.

So I have to say one of my greatest joys as a parent is watching my children play sports. I absolutely love love love it. I love to see them grow and learn and succeed. I get a little too much into the games sometimes but thats just my personality. Michael tells me to be quiet quite often but when its my kids I can get pretty passionate about it. Anyway here are some photos of this past season.