Friends!

Growing up I was the only girl in my seminary class with 11 boys, so I didn't have very many LDS girlfriends all through high school. Don't get me wrong, it was alot of fun. I was lucky to be so close with these guys, and they were great friends, but I sure missed having girls around. It was especially hard when the boys all went on their missions and left me friendless. For the first time in my life I found a good group of LDS girls to hang out with and we had a blast and were there for each other when we needed each other most. After a couple of years we all kind of went our separate ways, luckily right at the time when the boys were all coming home! I was super excited to see my boys again. I was not disappointed...we picked up right where we left off and had alot of fun times. Of course the guys got home and started looking for their future wives. It was a scary thought thinking I would have to lose my boys to a bunch of girls...lol! I'd always been the main girl in their lives...and I quite liked that! I never imagined that they would marry such amazing girls and that they would become my new best friends! We ended up all getting married within a couple weeks from each other (except for a few stragglers!) So far we all live in southern Alberta so we've been able to get together once in awhile. Its great to see each other and watch our kids play together. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends! Last night we had a potluck dinner together. Here are some pics though alot of them are very bad quality...sorry. My camera was not cooperating and I'm clueless as to how to fix the settings.

The girls!



The kids!



McKenna and Jaden Banack



Ty and Brody Smith



Nate and Ashton Smith




**I didn't even take any pics of the guys...I guess they aren't as important to me anymore...lol! I just needed them to give me a bunch of the best girlfriends! Thanks guys for sharing your wives with me!

08/02/09

Perfect Moment!

Today while McKenna and Ty were sleeping and Nate was playing a game on the computer, I laid down on the couch to have a little nap. Just as I was drifting off to sleep I hear Nate's little voice "Mommy I want to play lite brite or do a puzzle". In order for him to do these things I have to get up and reach them down for him, so me being half asleep and really not wanting to get up said "Mommy's just going to have a rest first". I heard Nate go into the kitchen to redo the puzzle that was already on the table, and I drifted off to a nice sleep. I woke up to some whispering. I looked over and Nate was sitting on the floor with some of his toys playing quietly. I watched him for about 5 minutes until our eyes met and he did his little embarrassed laugh as he realized I was watching him. I once heard one of the apostle's say that Motherhood is not perfect but filled with perfect moments...this was one of those moments for me! He got up and with no second thought said again, "Mommy I want to play lite brite or do a puzzle". How could I not get up immediately and help him with what he wanted after he put his desire's on hold so I could have a sleep. After I gave him a big hug and told how much I appreciated his kindness and his thoughtfulness we went and did a puzzle together.

I'm going to try and notice and write down more of the perfect moment's that Motherhood brings to me! I just don't want to forget them!

06/02/09

Look Who's Two!

29/01/09

Ty!

This is a little late. Ty, the one who...

love's to get into everything and keeps me on my toes

helps Mommy with the dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, baking, and pretty much anything else

has the cutest little cheeks that I want to squeeze and kiss everyday

loves to play with Nate and is getting quite the imagination

says so many words and phrases now that he still surprises me everyday with how big he is getting

throws the biggest tantrums I have ever seen...yet anyway

still loves his afternoon nap, but hates to go to sleep at night

loves his little sister and is always trying to help her (though I don't think she's too fond of the help)

makes me smile and laugh so much!

Happy 2nd Birthday Ty! I love every moment with you!



22/01/09

Holy Knee's!

What is it with young boys putting holes in the knee's of their pants! Since Nate turned three, he cannot outgrow a pair of pants without putting holes in the knee's first! I mean really, must he jump and crawl around on his knee's so much? Boys! I wonder how much money I'm going to spend on boys pants in the next 6 years?

08/01/09

Gifts to Jesus!

I've had a couple of people ask what our tradition was with our gifts to Jesus so I thought I would just answer with a new post. The FHE before Christmas we all thought of a gift to give the Savior...something that would make us more like him. Then on Christmas morning after stockings and before we did gifts we opened the gift box to Jesus and shared what each of us will be giving Jesus that year. Then a few times throughout the year during FHE we'll talk about how we are doing on that particular gift. I just didn't want it to be something we only did at Christmas but something we worked on all year. Hopefully each year we will be able to turn one of our weaknesses into a stregnth. I've had the idea for awhile but its the first year we are trying it out since I think Nate is old enough now. We'll see how it works out!

06/01/09

Personal History!

I remember moving to the big two-story house in the cul-de-sac. I think I was 4 and it was still in Coaldale. We had so much fun playing in the cul-de-sac with all the neighbor kids! Again I knew everyone who lived there and had my few that I would visit with all the time. I also had a couple of friends that I played with. It was still a 3 bedroom so me and my sister still had to share a room, and my parents were still renting. After awhile though my mom moved my sister into the very tiny office (it was like a closet) while she was at school. I don't think I ever saw her more happy and excited! I didn't know sharing a room with me was so bad! Though I didn't care, I had a great big room all to myself! I remember getting into trouble often because I would climb from the balcony onto the roof. I was a little monkey and loved to climb. I learned how to ride a 2 wheeler in the cul-de-sac. Ginger and her best friend taught me and another neighbor boy. I loved my little blue, sparkly, rainbow brite bike. I use to ride my bike all over the place. I remember getting into trouble once for riding my bike to Coladale's main street which was like 15-20 blocks from my house. You could also find me riding my sister's bike occasionally while she was at school. It was way too big for me. I couldn't pedal and sit on the seat at the same time. We never had to wear helmets back then. I don't think I've ever worn a helmet bike riding. Now that is unheard of. I started kindergarten and went to St. Joseph's school. My teacher's were Mrs. Marten and Mrs. Deezer. I like them a lot. I remember being very nervous my first day and crying a bit. I've always gotten really nervous about new things. My mom always thought I would give myself an ulcer cause I would make myself sick with worry. I remember having to stay over at my Grandma and Grandpa Malacko's once and my Grandma knit me a beautiful blue sweater and I picked out little lamb buttons. I wore it to their church and because I was so nervous about being there I threw up all over it. I never got to wear the sweater again.

03/01/09