FRieNDS...THe FLoWeRS iN LiFe'S GaRDeN!!

Today I am thankful for friends!! I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends! The best part is that some of my best friends are also my family! I'm thankful for those friends who I can call in the middle of the night when I'm having a "moment," who I can laugh with, who support me in my (sometimes silly) hobbies, who notice when I'm down and do something nice just because they care, but mostly who like me for the person I am. Who know that I'm far from perfect, and yet love me anyway!! Thanks to all of my friends...I'm grateful for you! :)

Also, I just have to say...we had a girls night tonight and went to see Twilight!! I loved it! Not as good as the book, but nothing campares to what our minds can create...just thought I'd throw that tid-bit out there. Thanks to Rachel, Tiffanie, Jessie, Jaime, Amanda and Karleen for a great time!!

So MuCH To Be GRaTeFuL FoR!!

I've just decided that I am going to try to post something new...well...more often than I have been!! LOL! Really, I started this blog to have for myself, you know, to remember things I would otherwise forget. Well, I haven't been too diligent, so here's to a new start! Today I was playing with the kids on the living room floor, and Tayvi was going to throw something away. I said, "Tayvi, you are such a big girl for throwing that away. I'm so proud of you!" To which to replied, "Clap for me mom!" (I did) :) So many times I get caught up in worrying about the things my kids do that they shouldn't, and forget to compliment them on the things they do well! My kids are the best!! I am truely blessed to be their mom, and to have the chance to be with them every day!! (mostly) Doug leaving has been a big adjustment for them, but they are amazing, and seem to be dealing with it all pretty well. One day Tayvi walked in on me crying and asked if I was sad because dad doesn't live here anymore. After I told her yes, she thought for a second and looked up at me and said, "But you're happy now, because I live here!!" It was the cutest thing EVER!! Like I said, they amaze me!

Also, since it's the season of THANKSGIVING...the kids and I are "growing" a thankful tree! We started about two weeks ago for FHE. Every few days we add a new "leaf" to our tree. It is growing and really makes us stop to think about all of the many blessings we have in our life!

Here are some of the things we are thankful for: Family, Gospel of Jesus Christ, friends, school, Logan, Papa(grandpa), Ma(grandma), Tayvi, birthdays, Conley, cookies, doors to play with (that is one of Conley's absolute favorite things to play with...he can't get enough of opening and closing)!! mom, church, prayer, dad, heart&body, Kayleigh(Tayvi's BF), snuggly things, dancing

I will post another picture of our tree next week so you can see how big it gets! :)

We have so many things to be grateful for!! I am thankful for life!! So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving...I am starting a Thankful tag! Here's how it goes...every day for a week, you have to post something that you're thankful for and why! Then...comment on 3 of your family or friends' blogs that you're thankful for them and leave the tag with them! I tag everyone because we all need to remember how blessed we are, and how much we have to be thankful for!! :)

Happy Birthday Conley!!

When it all began...

November 12, 2007 (grandpa Majors' b-day!)

Conley Todd Stilson

8 lb. 4 oz.

20 in.

(notice the tongue)

I remember holding Conley in the hospital and thinking what a sweet spirit he is! He is such a cuddly little guy!! I loved that he would just snuggle right into my neck and let me hold him...Heavenly Father knew that I needed him!!

I'm not one of those moms who looks good after having a baby,

but I had to put this one on anyway! :)

Meeting his brother and sister...they couldn't wait to get him here! Tayvi is so motherly!! I am still having to remind her that she is not the mom! LOL!!

Conley and I getting ready to go home...

The "1st Birthday" Cake for my little Cookie Monster!!

I would have loved to put on a picture of him going at the cake, but he didn't! He got a handful (notice the next pic) but hated having it on his hands, so he looked at it for a while, and started to eat some of his ham instead! Funny boy!!

Party with my family!!

Loving on the bear from aunt Jasha! He loves "snugggly" things!

November 12, 2008

Conley Todd Stilson

1 year old

That's right...he still has that tongue sticking out!! He always has it hanging out of his mouth! He's such a cutie!!
Check out his HUGE sucker! What better way to celebrate?!
It's all over his clothes too! :)

He is just so handsome!! How about that mowhawk!! It stands about 5 inches tall, but I just can't bring myself to cut his hair...I want to keep him little as long as I can! :)
Maybe we'll move to neverland!

Happy Birthday Conley Boy!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!

Cinderella, Snow White, Monkey, Incredible Hulk

We had a ton of fun dressing up, and the kids had a great time going from

house to house! They have a LOAD of treats!!

Spooky Spiders!!

Slithering Snake Sandwhiches!!
Yummy bowls of worms in dirt...MMmmm!!

Gutting the pumpkins...on our kitchen floor! :)
Conley totally "got into" carving pumpkins!!

The Finished products!! The kids had a great time...Logan did his all by himself! This Hulk truely is incredible!! Definitely the doll of the ball!! She sure is beautiful!!
Our little monkey! He is just too fun!!

Eight Things

Eight things I'm passionate about:
1. Logan
2. Tayvi
3. Conley
4. Photography
5. Dance
6. The gospel
7. Family
8. LIFE!

Eight words or phrases I use all the time:
1. Seriously?!
2. I'm not kidding!
3. If you don't stop that...
4. Do you understand me?
5. Mommy Loves You
6. ONE, TWO, ...
7. I'm going crazy!!
8. Be careful!

Eight things I want to do before I die:
1. Own a house! :)
2. Raise my children
3. Meet the Prophet
4. Visit every continent
5. Take my kids to Disney Land
6. Write a song
7. Learn to play the guitar
8. Watch the sun rise on the beach

Eight things I currently want or need:
1. A new bed
2. A time out! :)
3. A vacation
4. A magic wand
5. Sleep
6. No clutter!!
7. A house...my own! :)
8. My own yard

Eight Places I want to visit:
1. Europ
2. Hawaii
3. Egypt-the pyramids!
4. Australia (I want to see a kangaroo)
5. Arches
6. Japan
7. Alaska
8. Zions

Eight Favorite Restaurants:
1. Red Lobster
2. Tucanos
3. Olive Garden
4. Apple Bee's
5. R Pizza
6.
7.
8.

Eight TV show I watch:
1. The Office!!!
2. Biggest Loser
3. So you think you can dance
4. Sesame Street :)
5. Dora the explorer
6. Word girl
7. Super Why
8. Mostly I watch my kids' shows!

Eight People I tag:
1. Lindsey
2. Lindsay
3. Leslie
4. Jana(Mills&Miller)
5. Bridi
6. Nicky
7. Tammy
8. Chanel

TiMe To PLaY CaTCH uP!!

Well, here it goes...I have missed so much the last little while! October is always a crazy month! We have so many birthdays this month!! A Big "belated" HaPPy BiRTHDaY to Doug and Jasha on October 11!! Jasha's big 21st birthday was quite the occasion!! :) Us girls took a little trip to VEGAS!! We had a great time!! Here are Jasha and I having a "roaring" good time! :)

We stayed at the MGM...went to see "The Price is Right"...as well as "LOVE" Both were awesome, though we would have enjoyed The Price is Right more if we would have been called up!! Maybe next time! It was just great to enjoy spending the weekend together! Jasha is the best sister anyone could ever have! She has always been such a great example to me, and continues to do so! Thanks Jasha for being there for me...always! I Love You!
Doug said that he had a good birthday...though the kids may have enjoyed it more than he did!!

He took them to McDonald's and just had a great time spending time together! Doug is a great dad, and nobody thinks that more than Logan, Tayvi, and Conley!! They sure do love their dad!!

Happy Birthday Doug!

That is not the end, oh no it is not...there are more Birthday's that I haven't forgot!! :) (I'm working on my rhyming skills!! LOL!) October 15th was my Uncle Mike's birthday, so Happy Birthday Uncle Mike!!

A GReaT BiG HaPPy 1st BiRTHDaY to my Benny Boy!!

We got to enjoy Bennett's first birthday with him on October 17th! He had a great time smashing up his {SO YUMMY} birthday cake!! We Love You Bennett!!

And to sum up the birthday tributes...to one of the most amazing women I will ever know...Grandma Elda!! Happy Birthday yesterday!! My grandma is seriously one of the most unbelievable people I have ever known...I am forever grateful for the example of strength that she is to me! Happy Birthday Grandma!! I Love You!!
********

Here is my fabulous soccer player, Logan!! He just finished up his soccer season, and he had a great time! Though he did tell me that he's glad that it's finally over! :) I just love watching my kids learn how to do new things, and am grateful that they have the opportunity to be involved!

Here is Logan with his cousin Sydney! They are such great friends, and had a blast being able to play on the same soccer team!

Here is Tayvi with her cousins BrinLee and Angelina on our girls weekend this past week!!

Every year all of the girls on the Hinkins side get together for a dinner

at Red Lobster, swimming at the hotel, and a day of shopping!! It's so great to have such a great family! I LOVE YOU ALL!! And to Bridi, Shannah, Christy and their girls...we missed you guys this weekend!!

Well, that's the news for the...month!! Hopefully I can stay a little more on top of things! We'll see...lol!!

HaPPy BiRTHDaY DaD!!

So I have been a HuGe SLaCKeR this last month!! But...Tuesday was my dad's birthday, and I just wanted to do a big shout out to the most incredible man ever!! I am so grateful for my dad! He has always been the one to remind me that I'm strong enough to do anything! He has always been there for me when I needed him...even it's the middle of the night and I just need to talk. He has always been so supportive of me in all that I do...dance, track, family, photography...he lets me know that I'm important to him! I don't think he ever missed a dance performance of mine...and that's a lot of performances!! Anyway, He's the BeST DaD eVeR!! I LOVE YOU DAD!!