SEEING SANTA

NATALIE: CONFIDENT AND EXCITED TO SEE SANTA ALWAYS READY FOR A NEW ADVENTURE. REBECCA: ALWAYS NERVOUS THE FIRST TIME SHE DOES SOMETHING, NOTICE SHE IS ABOUT 2 FEET AWAY FROM SANTA. WE ALWAYS LOVE HELPING REBECCA TRY TO BE BRAVE.

LINDSAY: SHE IS 2 AND DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

WHISPER WHAT YOU'LL TELL TO ME!

WHEN I SAW SANTA AND I TOLD HIM WHAT I WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS I TOLD HIM I WANT A HANNAH MONTANA DOLL THAT PLAYS CHRISTMAS MUSIC. IT WAS FUN TO SEE HIM. WHEN I WAS ON SANTA I FELT HIS FUZZY BEARD IT WAS SOFT.

O CHRISTMAS TREE

WE ARE STARTING A NEW FAMILY TRADITION OF SETTING UP OUR CHRISTMAS TREE THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. I GUESS IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE TAKE CHRISTMAS THINGS DOWN THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. WE ARE EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS BUT GLAD WHEN IT IS OVER.

THE KIDS THINK ITS GREAT AND EXCITEMENT HAS BEEN IN THE AIR EVER SINCE. I THINK NATALIE HAS A LIST AS LONG AS HER ARM AND IT KEEPS GROWING. WE ALL WONDER WHAT SANTA WILL BRING HER.

REBECCA JUST LOVES LIFE AND WANTS TO GET THE BIG DOG BISCUIT AT COSCO THAT COST ABOUT $180.

LINDSAY ENJOYS EVERYTHING AND DEFINITELY KNOWS HOW TO SAY, "NO" SHE IS SAYING MORE EACH DAY. THE SPEECH THERAPIST HAS BEEN HERE. TONIGHT SHE CONFIDENTLY SAID, "MAMA." MY HEART MELTED MAYBE SHE WILL START CALLING ME BY NAME. NATALIE WAS EXCITED WHEN SHE SAID,"NANA" WE ALL CHEERED. WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO CALL REBECCA, MAYBE "BABA" FOR NOW ANY SUGGESTIONS GIVE US AN ANSWER.

FOSTER CARE CLASSES HAVE ENDED UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. HAVE TO ADMIT I'M HAPPY FOR A BREAK AT CHRISTMAS. NOW WE CAN GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER.

conversation

COLENE; "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT US HAVING A CHILD COME LIVE WITH US?"

REBECCA; "OKAY"

COLENE: "WHAT IF WE GET A LITTLE GIRL YOUR AGE?"

REBECCA: " 5"

YOUR NOT 5. THEN 3. YOUR NOT 3. SHE LOOKS AT ME WONDERING.

AREN'T YOU 4. "YES" LAUGH

COLENE; "WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE FOSTER CHILD WAS PLAYING WITH NATALIE AND YOU WEREN'T?"

REBECCA: SHE THINKS FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, "I'D ASK IF I COULD PLAY."

COLENE; "HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF WE HAD A CHILD FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEY WERE YOUR FRIEND AND THEY WENT TO LIVE WITH THEIR REAL PARENTS.

REBECCA; SHE THINKS, "SAD"

FAMILY THANKS

DAD

• HAVE THE GOSPEL IN MY LIFE TO TEACH ME RIGHT AND WRONG
• HAVE A JOB TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY

MOM

• MARRIED AND SEALED TO CRAIG
• JESUS CHRIST MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO RETURN TO HEAVENLY FATHER

NATALIE

• THINGS TO DO AND IF WE SPENT ALL OUR MONEY WE WOULDN'T HAVE A HOUSE
• HEAVENLY FATHER AND JESUS

 

REBECCA

• HOUSE
• JESUS MADE THE FLOWERS TO SMELL GOOD

LINDSAY

• FAMILY
• JESUS

50 THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR.

1. THAT I AM A CHILD OF GOD.
2. THAT I AM ON THE EARTH TODAY.
3. THAT HE SENT HIS SON TO BE THE SAVIOR.
4. THAT THE TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS ON THE EARTH.
5. THAT THE PRIESTHOOD IS ACTIVE AND CRAIG IS WORTHY TO HAVE IT IN OUR HOME.
6. THAT JOSEPH SMITH RESTORED THE GOSPEL
7. JOSEPH SMITH SAW HEAVENLY FATHER AND JESUS.
8. I'M ABLE TO BE IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY.
9. I WAS SEALED IN THE TEMPLE TO MY TRUE LOVE.
10. I'M SEALED TO 3 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.
11. I HAVE THE SCRIPTURES
12. I HAVE WONDERFUL PARENTS.
13. MY BROTHER AND SISTERS.
14. MY MOTHER AND FATHER  IN LAW.
15. MY INLAW BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S.
16. MY HOUSE.
17. OUR VANS
18. RAINBOWS; I SAW ONE TODAY AND IT WAS GORGOUS.  IT'S BEAUTY IS TRULY A GIFT.
19. CRAIGS QUICK WHIT
20. GETTING LOTS OF KISSES
21. HE MAKES ME LAUGH
22. NATALIE'S ELECTRIC SMILE
23. HER, "I LOVE YOU" SHE YELLS WHEN SHE GOES TO SCHOOL
24. I LOVE TO HEAR HER SING
25. HER HAPPY ATTITUDE
26. REBECCA'S CUTE NOSE
27. HER PERSONALITY - SHE MAKES ME LAUGH WITH HER QUICK WHIT, I WONDER IF SHE WAS LIKE CRAIG WHEN HE WAS LITTLE
28. HER CURLY HAIR
29. LINDSAY'S DIMPLES
30. HER LAUGH
31. ALTHOUGH SHE DOESN'T TALK MUCH SHE LETS YOU KNOW WHAT SHE WANTS
32. SPEECH THERAPY IS COMING TO HELP HER ON TUESDAY
33. I CAN READ, HAVING DYSLEXIA I APPRECIATE IT GREATLY
34. MY MOM READING WITH ME AND MY DAD HELPING ME WITH MATH FOR HOURS EVERY WEEK WHEN I WAS YOUNG
35. I WAS IN THE TOP QUARTER OF MY HIGH SCHOOL.
36. GETTING 100% ON MY MATH TEST WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL 5 TIMES
37. THAT I AM MARRIED TO MR. WONDERFUL
38. THE MOTHER OF 3 TERRFIC CHILDREN
39. SOMETIMES HAVING DAISY
40. HAVING A BIG BACK YARD.
41. HAVING FRIENDS
42. LIVING WHEERE THERE IS NO SNOW
43. MY AUNT DARLENE I KNOW SHE LOVES ME
44. MY AUNT PHYLLIS I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW BETTER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND SHE LOVES ME AND OUR FAMILY WE ENJOY STAYING WITH HER.
45. NATALIE GOES TO SCHOOL AND IS SO SMART
46. REBECCA GOES TO PRESCHOOL AND HAS FUN AND IS LEARNING
47. FLOWERS AND TREES
48. PLAYING THE PIANO - FOR CHRISTMAS I'M PLAYING
49. MY BIRTHDAY
50. CRAIG, CRAIG, CRAIG, WHAT ELSE DO I SAY

RAINBOWS

RAIN, RAIN STAY TODAY.

WE WANT TO PLAY.

IT DOES NOT RAIN VERY OFTEN HERE IN ARIZONA BUT WHEN IT DOES IT'S TIME TO PLAY. RUNNING, SPLASHING AND LAUGHING IS ALWAYS IN THE WORKS. WE  SELDOM SEE A RAINBOW SO IT WAS VERY EXCITING.  WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GIFT WE RECIEVE WHEN IT RAINS. 

REBECCA'S THANKSGIVING PROGRAM

REBECCA WAS SO HAPPY AT HER PROGRAM AND WANTED TO SING SO WELL. WHAT A GOOD JOB SHE DID.

REBECCA'S BIRTHDAY

 

 

MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY IS SO SPECIAL AND THEY LOVE ME SO MUCH.

  

COURTNEY AND JAMIE.  BEN, SARAH AND EVAN.

DALLIN AND LINDSAY.  JUST HAGING AROUND.

 

BEN AND CELIE.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND LOVE CELEBRATING WHEN SHE TURNED 4 YEARS OLD.  WHEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME FOR THE FUN ITS EVEN MORE FUN.  WHAT A HAPPY GIRL.   REBECCA DOES NOT LIKE CAKE SO SHE WANTED TO HAVE A PRINCESS CASTLE OUT OF A SUGAR COOKIE.  SHE IS A PRINCESS.

SIMPLE PLEASURES

THE WEEK AFTER HALLOWEEN WE GOT A GREAT SALE ON THIS MR. POTATO HEAD.  LINDSAY HAS HAD HOURS OF FUN PUTTING HIS FACE ON.  SOMETIMES ITS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT ADD THE MOST PLEASURE IN LIFE.  SHE IS ALL ABOUT PLEASURE TO.  SHE SMILES AND LAUGHS IS IS SAYING A FEW NEW WORDS.  OUR HEARTS JUST MELT WATCHING HER WITH WONDER AT ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS SHE DOES.

REBECCA HAS A HEART OF GOLD AND IS FULL OF LIFE ADVENTURES AND FUN.  SHE WANTS TO BE BRAVE AND TRY NEW THINGS BUT IT SURE IS ALOT EASIER WHEN MOM, DAD, OR NATALIE ARE ABLE TO HELP THE FIRST TIME.  SHE IS A RAY OF SUNSHIME IN OUR HOME.

LOOK AT THAT SMILE, I LOOVE THAT IT IS TOOTHLESS IT MAKE ME HAPPILY LAUGH.  THIS IS OUR SWEETIE THAT HAS SUCH A HAPPY ATTITUDE.  TALK ABOUT THE HEART OF THE HOME IT'S NATALIE.  SHE FEELS OUR HOME WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS AND SHE IS PRICELESS. 

FAMILY IS THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.  WHEN CRAIG AND I WENT TO TIME OUT FOR COUPLES I GAINED A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY SATAN IS DESTROYING THE FAMILY.  I'VE ALWAYS HEARD SATAN IS JELIOUS OF OUR BODIES BUT I LEARMED THAT HE ALSO WILL NEVER HAVE A WIFE OR CHILDREN AND HE IS VERY JELOUS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT A FAMILY IS LIKE WHEN WE LIVED WITH HEAVENLY FATHER.  I LOVE MY FAMILY, THE ONE I GREW UP IN, THE ONE  I MARRIED INTO, AND THE ONE I HAVE NOW.  THE MORE I LEARN AND EXPERIENCE IN LIFE THE MORE TENDER FEELINGS I HAVE FOR FAMILY.

DOGGIE TIME

REBECCA STARTED GETTING LINDSAY'S BED READY WITH ALL HER DOGS AND THE BLANK ET, SHE WAS SINGING AND ENJOYING HERSELF. IT LOOKED LIKE SUCH FUN THAT EVERYONE HAD TO JOIN THE FUN. WHEN IT COMES TO DOGS OUR HOUSE TAKES THE CAKE. WE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT THEM.

HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGIE IN THE WINDOW?

THE ONE WITH THE WAGGLY TAIL.

WITCHES AND GHOST AND SCAREY AS TOAST

TALK ABOUT BEING LATE ON HALLOWEEN PICTURES.  THE GIRLS HAD A GREAT NIGHT AND GOT MORE CANDY THEN EVER, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

I WENT TO NATALIE'S SCHOOL FOR SNACK TIME ALL THE KIDS WERE EXCITED TO SHARE THEIR TREATS.  DAMARE SAID TO ME, "NATALIE'S MOM, I THINK YOUR THE NICEST MOM." MELT MY HEART.

POOR LINDSAY WAS NOT ABLE TO GO TO THE TRUNK OR TREAT SHE WAS SICK WITH A FEVER, GOOD THING SHE IS ONLY 2.

REBECCA'S HALLOWEEN PARTY AT SCHOOL.

NATALIES THOUGHTS ON ELECTIONS.

NATALIE: WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN OR OBAMA?

REBECCA: WHO'S MCCAIN?

NATALIE: HE'S THIS GUY........... AND HE HAS A GIRL GO WITH HIM.

SOMETIMES I FEEL THE SAME WAY!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

BEFORE LEAVING FOR JAMIE AND COURTNEY'S HALLOWEEN PARTY  NATALIE DRESSED UP AS HANNAH MONTANNA,  ISN'T SHE SO CUTE, I NEVER SAW SUCH A CUTE TOOTHLESS HANNAH!!!!  ALL I WANT FOR HALLOWEEN IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH.

NATALIE BOBBING FOR APPLES SOME HOW SHE TRUELY GOT ONE.  SHE IS LOVABLE AND VERY HAPPY PLUS HAS A LITTLE DARE DEVIL IN HER.  I THINK SHE GOT THAT FROM ME.  REBECCA HATES TO GET HER FACE WET BUT WHEN I WENT TO PICK THEM UP BOTH GIRLS HAD HUGE GRINS AND LOUD LAUGHS.  WE LOVE OUR COUSIN'S.

COUSINS FOREVER

WHEN I WAS TAKING CARE OF COURTNEY AND SAW HER BLOND FLY AWAY HAIR I COULDN'T REFUSE TAKING THIS PICTURE. THEY ARE DEFINITELY COUSINS AND WHAT CUTEYS THEY ARE.

cleanup time

THE KIDS JUST LOVE TO DO THE DISHES. IT'S FUN TO GET ALL WET AND DO IT TOGETHER IS EVEN BETTER. WHEN NATALIE AND REBECCA GOT DONE LINDSAY NEEDED TO HER PART AND STARTED TO CLEAN THE CHAIRS AND HOWDY DID THEY NEED IT.

RANDOM THOUGHT'S

REBECCA LOVES ANYTHING TO DO WITH DOGS. THIS IS OURS "DAISY" SHE HAD PLUTO RIGHT NOW IS HER FAVORITE STUFFED TOY AND KNOW ONE BETTER TAKE HIM. WE WERE AT THE PARK FOR CRAIG AND LINDSAY'S BIRTHDAY AND WE HAD LOT'S OF FUN. NATALIE WAS SO EXCITED TO CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THIS ARCH BUT WASN'T QUITE SURE HOW TO GET DOWN, LUCKILY DADDY CAME TO THE RESCUE.LINDSAY'S FAVORITE PLACE AT THE PARK. SHE COULD BE HERE FOR AN HOUR.

• NATALIE AND I WERE AT WALMART TODAY AND SAID,"WHY TO YOU LIKE COOKING?" I SAID,"I GUESS IT'S A HOBBY." "WHAT IS A HOBBY?" "SOMETHING YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME."
• MADE PEAR SAUCE TODAY ITS AN APPLE SAUCE RECIPE OF GRANDMA RASBAND'S THAT I USED PEARS WITH.

8 APPLES

I CUP WATER

I TBS LEMON JUICE

COOK UNTIL APPLES ARE TENDER THEN ADD 1/2 CUP SUGAR AND DASH OF SALT. SEAL IN MASON JARS IN WATER BATH FOR 20 MINUTES. YUMMMO!

• ITS BETTER TO LAUGH THEN CRY MOST OF THE TIME.
• INSTEAD OF FILLING EVERYONE PLATE BEFORE WE EAT, WE PUT IT ON THE TABLE NOW, ITS MUCH MORE RELAXING AND THE KIDS REALLY LIKE IT. WE HAVE TO SAVE THE FRUIT UNTIL AFTER WE EAT OR LINDSAY WILL NOT EAT ANYTHING.
• REBECCA'S LAUGH MAKES ME LAUGH.
• WERE GLAD WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE BOY IN OUR FAMILY, "DADDY"
• I LOVE MY HUSBAND, HE MAKES ME SMILE ALL THE TIME.
• ITS FUN WHEN AUNT COLLETTE COMES AND PLAYS WITH THE GIRLS...LINDSAY WENT TO BED AT 6 AND DIDN'T GET UP UNTIL 7.
• NATALIE'S GIFT IS BEING A GOOD STUDENT SHE GETS 2 HRS OF PACE AT SCHOOL EACH WEEK NOW.
• MY FAVORITE FLOWER IS ANY THING PINK.
• SINCE HAVING CHILDREN I SOUND MORE LIKE MY MOM.
• SOMETIMES WHEN MY CHILDREN ALL 4 (THAT'S INCLUDING MY HUSBAND OF COURSE) OF THEM WANT SOMETHING I HAVE TO HIDE MY SMILES AND BE SERIOUS.
• I'M THANKFUL FOR MY BELIEF IN A LOVING GOD WHO CARES FOR ME.
• FAMILIES ARE FOREVER THANK HEAVENS.
• I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER MY GRANDMA'S ITS NICE TO SEE MY CHILDREN'S I HOPE I CAN BE AS GOOD.
• CLEANING IS MORE ENJOYABLE WITH CHILDREN WHEN YOU DO IT WITH THEM.
• LIFE IS SHORT I TRY TO LIVE HAPPILY.
• I HOPE MY CHILDREN WILL REMEMBER BEING HAPPY AND LOVED WHEN THEY GROW UP.