Just for Laughs...

Happy Visiting teaching girls! You know how true it is! haha

That's my girl!!!

Wow! OK, every year two students are chosen from Tonaquint Intermediate school (6th and 7th grade) to attend the National Junior Leaders Conference....and my Laura Lee was the one chosen from the 7th grade, "in recognition of academic excellence,extracurricular involvement, and leadership potential." WOW, I am so proud of my girl!!!! The conferences are world wide and kids from all over the country attend, mainly in Washington DC, California and NY.

WOW again Loll! I love you so much and can't wait to see what the future holds for you! You are a shining star and can be anything you want to be! You are only 12 years old and you have won more awards than I ever have and I am 37 years old! :) Enjoy life and keep on making such good choices! I have to say that you are just as brilliant on the inside as you are on the outside. A mother couldn't be prouder! Thank you for being the "second mother" around here and helping to take care of me. love, mom

Brett's Temple

Today, Brett showed me his Lego project....He said, "look mom, I made it!" (big smile) then said, "It's the temple, my temple!" Of course my heart melted, and I am so thankful that my parents taught me, so that I can teach my kids about the temple and the gospel. So, even at 2 and a half, he knows the temple is important and as he says when we drive by the St. George temple, "It's up high!". I love you Brett! You light up my life, my baby number 5...I am so glad we knew you needed to be in our family!!!!

can you say SLACKER???

I am like a slow turtle these days, just trying to keep it together, but life is good! I am so blessed with good family and friends...Thanks guys!

Geez! I am soooo bad lately about keeping up this blog. I know why, it is because I need to download pics on my computer and haven't and so I think, oooh, I will post later.and then it is never done! The family is doing great and it is now February....hmmm time is going by and as a friend of mine said, "facebook is the lazy man's blog.." so true, so true...I have been having a great time re connecting with old friends on facebook, but I really do want to get my blogging act together...thanks for the inspiration on being good bloggers Trevlyn and Edee...I want to be like you guys when I grow up!:D

Nineteen years ago tomorrow....

Well, here I go with a "MONDAY Thought", only it's on Thursday night...oh well better than nothin' huh? It is a hanging on my wall that says,

"Because someone we love is in heaven, we feel heaven in our home."

Isn't that great? I love it. I found it at a craft show and had to buy it, because I know it is true. I know our loved ones are closer than we may think and it reminds me of that song by Alabama, that goes..."I believe there are angels among us...."
So, I hope you feel angels around you and that your January is going well.
It has been 19 years tomorrow that my dad went in for a triple by pass. I remember many things about that time in our lives ( so many kind people who showed us all love and service)...in some ways it feels like yesterday and in others, like a lifetime ago. He died 4 months later in the ICU, after a long fight.
My husband and kids will not know him until the next life, but I know his influence continues to guide me and when significant things happen, my dad, and mom for that matter are close at hand. that is what the gospel is all about and I am so thankful for that knowlege!
Life is blessed and happy and I am overwhelmingly happy with the "angels" influence I feel in my home. I am looking ahead to the rest of 2009 and hoping to do it with gratitude.

OKAY, for Christmas, Laura Lee got a "life size" standing poster of this guy....everytime I walk into her room, I just about have a heart attack and think some man is standing there....(ahhh, it takes me back to being 12 and my Rick Springfield poster that I just couldn't hang up because it showed his gross armpit hair! hahaha)

Anyway, just thought I would record the "Edward Phase" of Laura's life....someday he will be her Rick Springfield....or Donny Osmond (Edee) :D

Time is flying by

I don't have a cute picture to post, or any cute anecdote to write about...I just want to say that I am so thankful for my life. Jeffrey bore his testimony in sacrament meeting last Sunday and the first thing he said was, "I am thankful for life". WOW! My sweet 6 year old. I am so thankful for the life I have and the new lease on life that I feel this new year of 2009. It is a year of change for me, (proud to report still no diet coke :D) and I am thrilled to be getting healthier!!!!
So if you are contemplating trying a new regime of somekind, just try it....who knows maybe it'll be just the thing you were looking for to feel better or be better! Ah, so much for my "MONDAY THOUGHTS" eh? My bad....maybe next week! HAHA

Happy New Year!!!

OK, talk about a blast from the past! This is my mom and my Aunt Linda. (sometime in the early 1970's) They would ALWAYS sing and dance to music around the house when they were together. We were always entertained as kids.

The reason I post this as my NEW YEAR'S post, is because one of my resolutions this year is to be more fun, sing more, dance more and play more with my family. Mom and Aunt Linda have both passed away, so this is a tribute to their memory and how much fun we all had together...

So here's to a new year of silliness, fun and games and maybe someday my children can say the same about me! :)

Mr and Mrs Pehrson Hawkley! Yeah!!! Joel's oldest son was married on December 20th in the San Diego Temple. He married a great girl and they make the cutest couple. We had fun at the wedding and reception for sure. I will post more later! Congratulations guys! Oh to be so young and good looking!:)

Two of my favorite people eating Olive Garden to go. I brought this home for Laura (for being such an awesome babysitter for the cousins) and Brett was right there to mooch!

Nothing beats Olive Garden alfredo!

OH my, my, my!

Wow, I thought I had been neglectful, now Christmas has passed by and just about New Years too....without one single post or wish for a merry Christmas! I am sooooo lame.
Here's to a fresh start for 2009 tomorrow! A fresh start for many things, but also reviving my blog! Happy New Year!

Strangely Liberating...

I have a new announcement to make: As of yesterday, December 7, 2008, I am off the sauce! Yay for me! I have actually lasted all day today without any real tempation ( and I was even at the store!) For those of you who are not in the know...I am totally addicted and LOVE Love LOVE Diet Coke....but I have decided to try and be healthier....We'll see how long it lasts, but for now.. I am a member of DCA (Diet Coke Anon.)
....and you know what? I am feeling strangely liberated and happy about it. I will let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!

OH MY!!!

My poor neglected blog! I have been caught up with Christmas and the family and things going on around here....needless to say I have not blogged in a long while! Things are good and Thanksgiving was wonderful! (Thanks for coming Raines and Roundys!!!!) I will post soon.

#3

Ah, another sleeping child....so sweet, so peaceful and quiet. This is my Ben. (my 3rd child) I love you so much and wanted to capture you asleep on the couch, so I took your picture. Some nights you want to sleep by Jeff, others with Trey and some with Laura. This night was a couch night. I love you and am so proud of you. love, mom

Monday thought...

Hey! Here it is, Monday again...and since it is Thanksgiving in a few days, I would like to share a thought about being thankful. Gratitude is something that I believe comes naturally to some and others have to work at it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all be grateful and appreciative every time we should be? I am sometimes very bad at appreciating what I have, until it is too late, or the appropriate time to say a simple "thank you" has passed. I guess my thought this week is just simply a suggestion: Write a thank you note to someone who has served you or blessed your life in some way. I have been lucky enough to recieve thank you notes from very thoughtful people who have appreciated a lesson I have taught, or a meal I have brought over. It felt wonderful to read that I had done some good and touched someone's life. When I went on my mission, my mom gave me a letter she found in my dad's things. It was from a lady he baptized and it was a thank you note about how he had changed thier lives, and that she looked forward to seeing him again someday in the next life. That note was written some 50 years ago and I am sure they have had a happy reunion. What a gift this lady gave to not just my dad, but to me!
I am one of those people who THINKS about sending thank you notes...but doesn't quite get around to it..so today I say...take the leap and make yourself take 10 minutes and write a note. If you are already a note sender, thanks for being a good example. I am sure you have brightened many people's days! Thanks to all of you, because if you are reading this blog, you have blessed my family's life just by being you. Have a great day and if I have owed you a note of thanks over the years and neglected to do it...maybe I can turn over a new leaf and be thank you note SENDER and not a THINKER!

Sound Asleep

I was checking on the kids one night and found these two asleep like this. One is 13 and the other 6. (note: that is a king size bed and they are laying right next to each other!) haha Sometimes they fight like Tom and Jerry, other times they are just like two "bugs in a rug". Isn't it wonderful that we were built to have night time and sleep? To have a chance to start over the next day and be refreshed. I love you guys!

ROAD RASH!

Awww dude! That is some bad road rash buddy! Jeffy was riding his bike home from the park and as he was passing Uncle Bill's truck (it was parked in front of Grandma's house), he had a wreck....well, if you look closely you can see the tire treads of Bill's tire where he face planted! OUCH!!! We are so glad Jeff is not scarred or hurt...but I have to admit Ray and I found enough parental humor amid the crisis to take these pictures. Oh to be 6 and trying to keep up with your older brothers!

It took a while to get the tire tracks of his face...after a long bath Jeff looked as handsome as ever! (Just a little red and puffy in some spots.:0)

Speechless...

I just want to write a little about my boy Brett. I am totally enjoying him at this stage. He is so sweet and fun and as you can see, he has a killer grin! On this day we wnent on a walk in the cool fall air! Love it! I love going for walks with Bretty. This picture just leaves me speechless...I love you soo much Brett. I hope you grow up happy, healthy and choosing the right. I know how special you are and our family wouldn't be the same without you! You bring me such joy! (And you look pretty darn cute in a hat too!;))

A GOOD THOUGHT...

OK, time for another thought for the week. The picture is of a stitching that Edee made for me a few years ago and I absolutely love it. I love this quote...it expresses how I feel. I hope it will brighten your day too! Have a great one! love, me

Monday? thought..

Well, I am a day late, but my thought for this week has given me the giggles since yesterday. My friend Jen said to me yesterday, "Well you can do just about anything for an hour" haha I can't remember what we were talking about, I know we were laughing... but it really is true. If you have to clean your kitchen, or go to a primary meeting or parent teacher conference, just remember, you can do it for an hour and then it is over! :) Life is good~ I am so thankful for my life and the blessings I have and yes, I can do most of my daily chores I dread doing if I take it one hour at a time....have a great week! Here's to my next hour of waking up Ben and Jeff for school....hmmmm... I wonder if they'll get out of bed willingly today!;)

MY SIX YEAR OLD

One day recently, my son Jeffrey wanted to drive one of our four wheelers down the street to Grandma's house. His Uncle Bill was driving it around a little out front. Bill said Jeff couldn't ride it because it was illegal and the cops would get mad....and it wasn't a good idea.
Well, my innocent, sweet 1st grader said:

"Bill, they couldn't put me in jail. All they could do is put me in "juvi" for a year....".



So whoever said they don't learn things in school anymore hasn't been to Saint George because my baby knows all about the legal system! Just wanted to share a priceless conversation with a dear boy. I love you Jeff! You make things fun! Love, MOM

Dental Floss and a door knob...

OK, on the lighter side, this new picture of Laura Lee and Jeffrey is a new favorite of mine. I sent them to bed and heard a bunch of door slamming, well pretty soon they came down stairs and showed me Jeff's newly lost tooth! They tied dental floss around the tooth, and to the door knob on Laura's bedroom door and kept slamming the door until it popped out! I never knew that actually worked! When Jeffy's teeth are loose, he sure wants 'em out fast...and Laura LOVES to pull teeth....I can't stand it!

MONDAY THOUGHT...

Well, here we are at Monday again, and I feel stumped for a thought of the week! It has been a hard start of the week. Missy's husband Phil suffered from an aneurism of the brain yesterday. He is in the ICU, but seems to be OK. They are keeping him there to run tests and observe him. We of course are praying for Phil, Lisa and the kids. Hawkley who is 10, and witnessed his mom's brain tumor, is I am sure upset to say the least. Phil is awake in the ICU and things look good. My sweet mother in law is having a tough time on her new chemo, and it is hard to see her so sick. I am so thankful we live so close to them so we can help out. Now, I know I promised a big enriching thought once a week, but the only one that keeps coming to my mind is from that old cartoon comic, THE FAR SIDE: (it's not as good without the picture, but I will try to explain...) A student is raising his hand in class, and says, "Teacher, MY BRAIN IS FULL." I kind of feel like that today~ I guess I'm wierd, but it still makes me laugh!
I pray that all of you are well and happy and for Susan and Phil. I know the Lord is mindfull of us and wants to bless and comfort us. Have a great week and thanks for all the comments guys, they make my day when I read them, love, jenny
P.S. for an actually great supply of thoughts, please go to LDS.ORG and read the conference talks from October. I printed off a few tonight to read to myself to "un-fill" my brain.:)

Dropping in the bowl...

Fun at the skate park! Ray and I took the boys to the skate park one evening, and it was a lot of fun! It is amazing to see all of the stunts some of these skateboarders and bikers can do! We were wishing Pehrson was with us to show us some of his tricks....maybe next time he comes to St. George! We supposedly have a pretty good skate park here. I just wish the sport attracted a more "mainstream" crowd.:) Way to go boys, and Ray even got in the act a little bit! Go dad!! Mom and Brett just watched from the sidelines!

ASLEEP ON HIS FEET!

What can I say? HE, being Brett, was having such a fit! He cried and cried...and finally fell asleep on this chair STANDING UP! He was even snoring a little!

I noticed he had stopped crying and looked over Ray's desk, (I was on the computer) ummm, yes my facebook and blogging is getting a bit excessive HEE HEE! ) So I looked over the desk and found my grumpy 2 year old asleep on his feet. Poor baby! I took the photos, then moved him to my bed....It is hard to be 2 and the youngest of 5. We love you buddy, and I hope you outgrow the temper tantrums!;)

Monday Thought

What a week! It has been one thing after another it seems. Halloween was exausting but fun. We had TONS of trick or treaters! The kids all had fun going, and Brett had fun passing out the candy with me!

He kept scooping up the M&M's for himself! ;)

My monday thought for the day is "In all of living, have much fun and laughter, life is to be enjoyed, not just endured-" Gordon B. Hinckley

Hope you enjoy your day and remember to laugh. It will make you feel good!

MY BABY GIRL?

Oh, the trials of being the littlest brother to a girly girl sister!

Poor Brett! I had Laura watching Brett and Taylor came over to help her. Pretty soon they came down stairs to show me my "pretty baby girl!". They not only dressed him in LauraLee's baby dress, they put MASCARA on him! I have to admit, he looks good in pink, someday he can be on Dr. Phil and complain about how his sister ruined his life by dressing him up...We love you Brett!

MONDAY THOUGHT

I can't believe it is already going to be Monday again in just a few hours. I have been thinking about some of my favorite quotes and for some reason, this one keeps coming to mind. My great sister Edee gave this to me a long time ago, (I was probably falling apart for one reason or another, thanks for always being there Edee!) You are my rock! It is by
Elder Neal A Maxwell:
"When in situations of stress we wonder if there is anymore in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed."
I actually have it memorized, because it has given me great strength over the years. I have a long lost friend from my mission who has decided to become an Athiest and I can't even fathom it. I haven't spoken to this person for 15 years, but even so, it has been upsetting to me. I am so thankful to know that God does live and that He loves me and knows I CAN DO IT!! Whatever the "IT" is. We had Young Women in excellence for our ward tonight, and I am so proud of my daughter. She is good and kind and I am so glad she has Young Women's to be a part of and learn all there is to learn. I hope I don't sound to 'preachy' but I am thankful for the gospel. My friend's choice to be athiest has made me even more thankful for my testimony and made me ponder what life would be like without it, NO THANKS! Life is all about choices, so here's to making good ones! Anyway, have a great Monday and here's to another week of the rat race! :)

Desperate Housewife...

Ha! True confession time...sometimes it all comes down to moments like this. We had NO clean cups at all in the house and NO plastic cups, so my poor boys had to drink out of baby bottles! So sad, but true. Now, I saw this picture and wanted to post it to journal my REAL life. Some days, are fabulously fabulous and others, well not so much. Do YOU ever have days like this? If you do, it's OK, and if you don't, then feel blessed and organized. As I sit here and type this, I am sure there are dishes in my sink and laundry to be washed, and yadda yadda yadda, but I wanted to document what some of my days are like. So Laura Lee, when you are a mother and you don't have any cups, or whatever the "crisis" is, it's OK, just hang in there and remember, "this too shall pass"...Life is good!

MUSIC TO MY EARS

Music is amazing. It can make you feel happy, or sad, or bring to mind memories that you haven't thought of for years. My sister Missy constantly had music on in her home and her son Hawkley has his mama Missy's love of music. I am so excited to have this playlist on my blog now. Some of the music is to me, timeless and beautiful, others are nods to days gone by and some are just fun. They will change from time to time and I hope you listen to some of them and enjoy...the arrangement of Somewhere Over the Rainbow is my favorite..have a listen, you'll like it!:)