Fourth.

The Fourth of July started out with a gloomy overcast day. Then the rain came. Relaxed on our comfy sofa. By mid afternoon the clouds were gone, rain dry, and the sun was in full swing. We decided before dinner to bring out the fire works...someone did not like them at all at first!! 

 Sitting by GiGi made everything better...

 Hayden of course wanted to light his own fireworks this year..

 He is the big 7 after all. 

 GiGi is taking pictures so must Raygen, Grandma is so nice to let her. 

 Then off to watch the Casino's light off their fireworks. We decided to go to Aliante Station with a beautiful waterfall, and ducks and swans in the "lake". Hayden of course needs to take pictures of his own on his phone. 

 All the bunch, minus the photographer (myself)

 Fishing with a stick. 

 Took some serious persuasion, but she loves sparklers now!!

 Got to dance with your sparklers!!

 Such a beautiful end to an amazing day with Family and celebrating our Country's Freedom!!

Gratitude - 2

What the past year has brought.
How much my life has changed.
How much I have changed. 
This time last year, I was contemplating whether to start going back to church regularly.
I was wondering if I could really commit to becoming active after being in-active for 13 plus years.
Could I do it alone.
Then I had people start to come into my life, that made it much easier to make that decision.
I have been full heartily back in the church for almost a year.
I feel so deeply grateful for my decision to gain my testimony back and how it has impacted my life in a year.
I feel so deeply grateful to have the support of my husband.
I am so grateful to have true happiness again in my heart.

I am grateful and with out words as to how the past year has turned out.

My November Gratitude

Last year I posted something I was grateful for each day in November. I loved doing it so this year I am doing it again...so here we go!
Day 1:
Having Diversity in my life! Each one of us in our family is so different, which makes for an interesting day.
Me: Clean Freak, total Type A personality. (I think that says enough)
Johnny: Funny, Makes us all laugh at least once a day, Hard Hard worker, Puts up with my Type A
Hayden: Loves to draw, ask questions, very inquisitive about things, even being 6yrs old
Raygen: Loves to learn, read, Type A like mom, Loves to organize, sort, funny personality, just like her daddy.

We are all so different, and it makes it so we are never bored!! Makes me fall in love with them, more each day!!

4th of July

We had an AMAZING 4th of July!! We started with a pancake breakfast this morning, and then off to the park! The kids did their favorite things: Hayden rode his bike, and Raygen obsessively played on the slide over and over again. In the late afternoon family and friends arrived and we ate, hung out, and rode up the street to the desert and lit fireworks for a while. Since we live on the outskirts of town we were able to see the entire Valley and all the Fireworks going on! It was an amazing end to an amazing week, Thank you babe for making my birthday one of the best yet, and a wonderful 4th with our family and friends!!

Sunday Look Back

Two years ago on Wednesday at 8:16 am I got introduced to my beautiful baby girl. Who has personality from here to the moon, and who loves to cuddle and has from the minute I got my hands on her! She is my 110% girl, who loves to get pretties, and wear Mamma's shoes and jewelry.
 I love her more than words could ever express.

We still snuggle the same way! I love you so much Booges!!

Initiation into the Playhouse

Whoever Raygen can get into her playhouse, she will!! Her Uncle Seth is the latest.

Sunday Look Back!

I have seen so many of my Blogging peers do a "Friday Flashback" and I really love seeing every ones look back on life 5 years and back. So.. I have decided to join. My Fridays are way too crazy to attempt to regularly post on that day so I have choosen Sunday!

This was taken during the week I first held my son. I wish it was the first time I held him, but I will always settle for this picture because of the look I was receiving from my little fighter! As many know, my son spent the first six weeks of his life in NICU.
Due to his surgeries I did not get too hold him until he was over 2 weeks old. That week I felt more peace than I had in a long time. When my baby girl was born, I never took for granted holding her every moment and from the moment she was put in my arms I was probably more thankful than most.