Got the Cam Fixed!!!

So... when we moved to our new house somehow my cords to my camera got lost, a very sad experience might I say. Anyways, my awesome husband bought something that made my pictures appear on the computer!! YIPEE!! :)

I was very excited and wanted to share some pretty cute pics!! Enjoy!!

Say Cheese!!!!

It's Bryant's Mom's (Bamba) tradition to take the kids every August and get pictures taken. So... a few weeks ago we went and got pics. It was my first experience with kids and pictures (besides school pics) and boy was I in for it!! lol. It was my kids and Rhiannan's daughter Makenzy (Ma) and I am happy to say Natali and Vanni were the BEST! Ma would only smile if I was in the room and giving her my cell phone. lol. Kids! My personal favorite of Vanni is the one with his mouth open (top right of his) and I love the one where Nati is sitting and kind of playing with her toes (middle right of hers).

Any-who, I think the pics turned out really cute... here are just a few of them!

Rain, Rain!!!

This morning we woke up to a beautiful thunder storm! I love Arizona storms, they are beautiful! So it was something pleasant to wake up to a 7am! ;) My sister-in-law's baby shower is today so the kids were getting ready and asked if they could put on their new rain gear I bought them for their birthdays. I couldn't resist the pictures!

Also, I added in a pic of the frame I made my SIL. It's the first thing I've made on my own like this and I think it turned out cute... simple, but cute!

I'm Going There Someday

For those of you who know me personally you probably also know of my personal struggles over the past few years... well, since I was 17. lol. Anyway, it's been a long road for me and sometimes I didn't think that I would ever make it. I know that being surrounded by amazingly supportive friends and family has helped me immensely. I can remember times in my life that have stood out more than others. I think one of my turning points in my life was because of my best friend who stood by my when my roads were rockier than most realize. I hadn't visited California in a while and so many times I wish that this trip would have happened sooner in my life. I don't even know if you remember this, Britt, but we were sitting at Denny's both of us crying and having a heart to heart that was much needed. You have no idea how much I needed that night. Thank you for standing by me and being my friend. Thank you even more for talking to me openly and being a great example to me through the years (even though sometimes I didn't appreciate it as much lol) After we talked I went to Britt's parents house and her Dad gave me a blessing (another much needed thing) that gave me some incite to what I've been missing in my life for too many years. It's funny how an even can change your life, especially one that most would think is so simple. So much has changed in my life since that night... I am married to an incredible man who loves me and who makes me strive to be a better person, we are working on being sealed, and working on extending our family.
Last night I received a temple recommend and will be getting my endowments on September 5th. The Spirit was so strong in the Bishop's office. When he was going over the questions there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I was doing the right thing. I felt so giddy, like a little kid. I can't wait to go to the Temple. By far this is my best accomplishment so far in my life. I am so proud that I am worthy to go to the house of the Lord.

Mom

There has been so much going on in my life it's kind of crazy but I finally feel like a mom. There have been other times when I've felt like a mom but I think the feeling is sticking. Every morning it's the hustle and bustle of getting Natali ready for school, getting myself ready, fixing lunch, fixing breakfast (thank you Bryant for fixing lunch and breakfast or the poor kid would starve! lol) , and rushing out the door with minutes (literally) to spare. I really have no clue how my Mom did it with 4 kids. It's complete and utter chaos. Then we get to school and usually wait all of 5 seconds before her teacher comes lol. There have been so many Mom's waiting in the hall with their kids who come and tell me how much Natali and I look alike, "she's your little mini me" it's funny we both just look at each other and smile or say, we get that a lot. I'm so honored to be her and Vanni's Mom... I never for the life of me thought that I would feel the way I do. I hurt when I see their in pain, I get sad when I see their tears, I laugh with their excitement, and love more than I thought was humanly possible.

It's About Time!!

For the past 4 months I've been trying to potty train Vanni...or should I say unsuccessfully trying? lol. Well, something clicked about 5 days ago. Vanni didn't pee pee in his pull-ups (which we should own stock in by now) and Bryant and I were so excited and I think he realized it. Well, since that moment Vanni hasn't pee peed in anything but the toilet! We told him yesterday if he was good and didn't pee pee in his pull-up then he could wear big boy pants starting today (yes, I tried big boy pants before and he peed in them too lol) . Well, he was good and didn't pee pee in them so... today he got big boy pants! He is even more excited that we are going to buy him Spiderman underwear if he is good today! Wish us luck!

When he got out of the shower I took these pics, I especially like the one where he's turned around and flexing his arm! lol, he's such a boy!!

Depression Hurts...Everyone

For the past few days I've been watching my niece, Makenzy and she's been spending the night. I thought this would be good so that Vanni could have a friend to play with while Natali is at school (Ma is a few months younger than Vanni) but it doesn't seem to be the case. They are like an old married couple. They have so much fun together then all of a sudden you hear one of them yelling at the other, it's super. lol. So Vanni was upstairs when Natali got home yesterday and the three kids were playing superheros and Vanni SPIT all over Natali's door. Vanni is a spitter, and it's so disgusting. I don't know how to stop it. The worst part is, he stops for a few days and then all of a sudden he spits. Anyways, I went upstairs to clean up the damage and sent Vanni down to Bryant for time out. While I was upstairs I pretended to spit on Vanni's door, his new spiderman bedding, and his shark and he FREAKED! I know it was extreme, but I think it worked. He told Bryant that he never wanted to spit again and that he was sorry (that's huge compared to how he normally could care less) but he still had to sit in time out. I couldn't help take this picture, it was just too priceless. lol. Once again, it's a good thing he's cute! :)

Big Boy!

Since Natali has been in school Vanni has had a lot more one on one time with me and it's helping him so much. It's like he woke up and was like, ok, I'm a big boy now! He's been struggling so much with his speech and then boom...now he won't shut up! I mean, it's still hard to get all of the words he's saying, but still... it's a lot better then it was. His new thing is to count to 10 saying the words and using his fingers. It's so cute! He is so proud of himself, and that's even cuter!

There is a program through our school district here for kids with special needs and next week Vanni will start the screening for it. Just to clarify, it's for kids who are speech delayed or just behind where they should be, and because of Vanni's speech he could possibly qualify. I know this program would help Vanni in ways that I just couldn't, but I also know that if he doesn't qualify that the Lord will help me know what it is I need to do to help Vanni with his speech. It's a frustrating thing for a little kid not to be able to communicate, as frustrated as I get I know he is 1000 times more frustrated. However, he had no problem calling the RSP's son an idiot when she came to my house yesterday. Nice. lol. It's a good thing he's so dang cute! :)

And then it hit me...

Lately I've been realizing more and more how blessed I am. I was sitting at dinner last night when I realized how seriously all of my prayers are being answered. I know that sounds weird, but for a really long time I felt like my prayers weren't being answered. I'm sure that it was my poor attitude, but... last night I was sitting there surrounded by my beautiful family, my mother-in-law, my two sister-in-laws and a room full of laughter and love. On our drive home we started singing songs and I felt the Spirit so strong. I felt that I got an answer to a prayer that I know I needed. I'm so thankful I have a husband who loves me and honors me who wants what is best for our family and works hard to achieve that.

Happy Brithday Nati!!

Today is Natali's 5th Birthday! She is such a big girl. She woke up and was so excited to go to school and have fun with her new friends! She was even more excited when I picked her up and she told me that she was line leader ALL day long and got to hold the teacher's teddy bear that was decked out in birthday attire lol. Oh, to be a kid!

Anyways, here is a pic of her this morning, when she convinced me that she was indeed taller and looked much older, and one of her and I on Saturday at her birthday luau party!

Nati's First Day of School

Today was Natali's first day of kindergarten, I can't believe it. She turns 5 tomorrow. I know that I'm not her birth mom, but dropping her off this morning was the hardest thing that I've done. I cried. She was like, "Bye Mom, see you at 2:40." Then when I came to pick her up this afternoon she was upset that I was there and she couldn't ride the bus. lol. Gotta love kids.

I'm so grateful I have such a wonderful daughter who loves to learn, is friendly, and has a great heart. She can't wait to go back to school tomorrow and play with her friends that she can't remember their names! lol.

Anyways, I took this picture of her this morning before school.