Better Late then Never-eh!!

I can't believe how time flies I remember the day I held this little guy in my arms for the first time. Now he is in school and can do so much for himself, the other day he made dinner, yes of course with help, but he made all the pancakes and set the table, he is a good kid. He loves to help and his job most the time around the house is cleaning the bathrooms, it is nice to have a child old enough to help with things. He is definately a Mama's boy, and I am glad. He loves his sister and she loves him, they have their moments, but all kids do I think. He definatly is a great big brother. He loves to play with his friends and he started School and is doing great. Homework is another story, and we tell him get used to it you got years of homework. What a good kid I was blessed with and am greatful that he is mine!!

Where is Waldo? Where are the RAYS?

South Weber Days Parade & Fireworks

Dinosaur Park!! (Must note:It is not a binki in Brylees mouth-it is a Ring Pop)

Dinner with the Girls before Heidi is off to NYC!

Weekend sleepover w/Houston Kids (Lagoon-a-beach, Dollar Store, Waterballoon fight, Campout in Backyard, & Church)

Dylan, Chandler & Crew Sleepover

Fun spur of the moment ride & roast at Smith and Moorehouse with Rays

Bear Lake again Just me and the kiddos with Mangums & Westons: I pulled our little trailor and all, Dad had to work! The house/yard looked nice & clean when we got home!! Well leave Dad home more often!! Just Kidding you were missed!

4th of July Huntsville Traditions

Rochelle and the kids in town-What a blast!!

ALL THE RAY GRANDCHILDREN TOGETHER!!

Bear Lake Shurtleff Family Reunion


Happy Birthday!

LAGOON PASSES!!

Coach Pitch Baseball

Thunderbirds Front Row!! Thanks Grandpa Ray!!

Full Time-Baseball-Flu-Out of Time

I started full time work, not by choice that is for sure, I would quit if I could. I have always liked my job and what I do helping others, but lately, or I should say since January, I have had good and bad days, and it seems like more bad then good, so it is frustrating and I have said many times I would quit if I could, but what do ya do when it has only been a year since we got into our new house and I have a husband that has a goal of paying it off in 5 years, and if I quit that would ruin the plan. I do love our house and I really am grateful for a husband that is a saver and not a spender, he is a hard worker and great husband and Dad. At least I can work from home that is a great blessing and does save some time. The kids do still go to daycare, but it is worth being at home and away from the office politics and chaos.

Since I started full time a month ago, it has made me re-arrange my priorities and so I have been slacking at blogging, housework, reading, cleaning, cooking, and etc. Tanners 5 weeks of baseball started too, so Tue, Wed, Thurs between games and practice were crazy needless to say, but Tanner loved it and sad to see it has ended, at least until his make up game on the 30th for the one game that was rained out. Not too bad last year all the games were cold, this year we only had one game we were wrapped up in blankets, and Tanner got to play with all the kids in the neighborhood this year and last year we knew nobody on our team. It was fun, and he is quite the little baseball player. Brylee really enjoyed watching and she is going to be quite the cheerleader too she was good at saying "Go Tanner-Go Brother!" She has some lungs like her Mom too!!

And the most exciting of all got a call from daycare at 4:30 on Monday staying Tanner had a fever of 102.2 so I picked up the kids an hour early and took him straight to after hours, because that just isn't normal and with all the crap going around I am glad I did. Yup your right he has the Swine Flu!! Well OK the Swine flu test from the Health Dept was not sent in, but the Health Dept has been bombarded by the tests that they finally said stop sending them Influenza A is gone, so do the test and if it comes back positive treat it for the Swine Flu. So that is that and Jason has an apt tomorrow because he is feeling not so good. They are treating Brylee too, so she won't get it, and I am not going to get it, I have my mind set I am NOT getting it!! Jason gets everything the kids get, but I think most of the time I am in denial when I am sick and so it works for me. I guess my moms words of wisdom growing up worked when we tried to fake sick and she was onto us, she would say "Get up, get to work and you will feel better!!" I love that saying now and I am sure I will use it on my kids when they try to fake sick too!!

So that is about it lately-I am very excited for some relax time in BEAR LAKE !! YIPPEE!!!

I was going to post some pictures but for some reason it is not coming up, so until next time!!! I still have three days cooped up in the house and now that I am off for the week, what else can I do!! I can think of much that needs cleaned and done, but where do I start!! Anyone know a cheap maid service I am very much tempted to hire a few things out!!! I am exhausted when 6pm rolls around!! Oh NO-does that mean I am getting OLD? No I have always been like that-at sleepovers I was always the first to fall asleep, I would try so hard and even be in the middle of a conversation with someone and fall right asleep!! What can I say-a Girl needs her Beauty Sleep-RIGHT!!!

Graduation

Preschool Graduation that is, I am not old enough to have a High School Graduate. Unless I had a child when I was 14 years old, and I am grateful it is my Tanner that is only five and ready for Kindergarten!!! He did such a good job and was all smiles. We told him he could choose any where to go for dinner but McDonalds and he decided Sizzler, so that was a good choice for all since Grandma & Grandpa Ray came with us. Grandma & Grandpa Bowen had a meeting and came to graduation, but couldn't do dinner. I think Tanner is all ready to go to Kindergarten and I think he is most excited about not having to take a nap. Little does he know he will hopefully be in morning kindergarten so he probably will still take a nap in the afternoon the three days he is at daycare. He asks at least weekly if not more when he gets to go to school. I think Brylee will have more of an adjustment then Tanner as he is the best big brother and just takes care of her when he can at Daycare, so she will miss that, but they will still have each other in the early mornings and afternoons. Tanner has a great preschool at his daycare and Mrs Jody & Mrs Megan gave most likely awards and it was really cute and creative. Tanner got Most Likely to be a Teacher-because he is always conserned and worried about what everyone else is doing. We are so grateful to have Tanner he is such a great helper, the best big brother ever, he is a Mama's boy that is for sure, he loves go go up to the canal or store w/Grandpa Ray, he loves trucks, reading time, he is very particular, and never forgets a thing, he is very observent, and caring.

WAY TO GO TANNER-WE LOVE YOU!!!

Women Only-Spiritually Fed

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2009

Last year it was my sister Jenna, cousin Leslie, & myself and we had a great time at Women's Conference, but we wanted to share the fun with others so we invited all our family, sorry we only invited girls, at a family party we had back in January so this year we doubled our numbers by adding my Mom, Aunt Darla, & Jami-my sister-in-law flew in from Colorado. Maybe next year we will have two more to fill the rooms up we had. We had a blast and here are some of the pictures to prove it!! Jenna picked Jami up at the airport and the rest of us met them down at the hotel in Provo on Wed night and yes we were not surprised to see that Jami brought shoes for all of us, too bad none of us could wear them, they are way to cute and not comfortable at all. Good thing Jami is used to the cute fun shoes, she didn't even complain about her feet hurting. I love ya Jami. We got snacks that night and stayed up till late talking, but yes I was the first to fall asleep, I tried so hard to remain in on the conversation, but my eyes couldn't stay open any longer and I don't even know what the conversation was when I finally gave in. The next morning we woke up and headed to BYU for opening session and the three classes we could choose from for the day and then the closing session, they don't leave much time for eating, so I ate an apple and snacks on the run between classes. We went out to eat that night with Jami's sister and cute niece at a Mexican place it was very good, I think the waitress thought we would eat all the Salsa as I think she didn't stop getting things for us the entire time we were there, she was definitely glad when we left, but she got a good tip for the good service. That night I headed off to the concert since everyone else was to tired to go and it was awesome, my favorite was Eclipse and Hillary Weeks, but really all that performed and entertained were awesome. I got home late, so it was another late night this old lady isn't used too! Friday was another day of awesome speakers and uplifting messages. Elder L. Tom Perry was the concluding speaker and his sweet wife spoke as well. You can imagine the traffic after an event at the Marriott center, well it was horrible so since we didn't want Mom to have to take the long walk down the stair since we parked forever away we took a shuttle and the poor worker driving the shuttle I am sure wishes he had the window like you do in limo's so he could have shut us out. We were in a 15 passenger van and we were just cracking ourselves up at all kinds girl talk. Mom asked him if he could accept a tip for putting up with us, he couldn't darn it!! We said "Sorry for having to put up with us" He said "Well it will prepare me marriage some day!" We of course we were hungry, but but not hungry enough to stop to eat before we lost any shopping time at IKEA. I always find fun treasures there and sure did again this year, we were some of the last out before they closed. The kids benefited as well as I got them a swing and swinging pars to hang off the deck. Here is a picture, they have spent every moment they can on the it.

Well ok to get along with the spiritual part of our fun trip, sorry this is such a long one. Here are a few of the things that stood out to me as I listened. I went this year with this attitude of what can I do to better me. I love self improvement books and just finished listening to The Peacegiver the day we left and loved it, good starter before the uplifting amazing two days. Awesome book you should read if you haven't already.

OK so here are some of my thoughts:
*No matter what I think I know, I don't know more then the Lord! RELY ON HIM!
*YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
*LOOK UP!
*Give it to the Lord & Believe.
*"Now let us Rejoice!"-that song has a new meaning to me now!! WOW
*You choose to be happy! (That goes along with a good quote I like I think I heard from Dr. Laura-"No one is responsible for my Happiness but BE!")
*Don't wait for another person to repent so you can forgive. Forgive and move on!
*You can gain the most strength from your adversity-learn from it and grow!
*TIME-live in the present not the past or future
*Stop focusing on failures. Don't undermine your ability because of the abilities of someone else!
*Allow yourself and others to SPILL MILK!
*Look for the beauty in yourself and the people around you!
*Studies show dinner time and evenings are the best time to connect with your children.
*Do your Homework-on the things your children like.
*Be Quick to show compassion and slow to Judge-Show Love to
*Demonstrate Patience & respect to your children
*Don't offer advise unless asked
*Listen-Just Listen
*Rarely does someone change because of your criticism.
*You did not come to earth to earn your worth, you brought it with you!
*Strengthen your Body & Spirit
*I can do hard things, but I can do all things in the strength of the Lord.
*Forgive-its the right thing to do!
Bart Hopkins former co-worker when I worked for DHS he and his wife did one of the talks on Marriage Thursday afternoon and these are some of their thoughts:
*Didn't marry for money, but married for worth!
*Lots of NOT YETS!!
*Laugh, Cry, & Find the strengths as we go as hard as it may be.
*Keep it simple
*Look at what matters and Achieve it
*Together you are stronger
*Teamwork=is a lot of people doing what I say! That is not how a marriage should work. (No wonder I have been doing it all wrong-sorry Jason I will quit telling you what to do! hee hee j/k)
*Work together-get over our selfishness, sacrifice, & share together, Be equal!
*The ones we love the most can make us the most angry.
*Don't put love on the back burner.
*Attitude is more important then the Activity. (Sometimes we gotta do something the other wants to do-Does that mean I have to watch a ball game with Jason-ok occasionally!)

Elder L. Tom Perry some of the things he talked about in conclusion were:
"In the strength of the Lord"
*Who are we? What do we believe? Members make the image of the church!
Listen
Know the Doctrine
Live the Standards
Be a good Citizen
Be a good Neighbor
Invitations
Use Technology to share the gospel
Be Bold, but not Overbearing

The closing song it was amazing what one person did to make a difference and be bold in what she believed. We were singing "The Lord is the Light" and two ladies stood up as we were singing then eventually everyone over 18,000 people in the Marriott center stood, it was amazing the strong spirit as we showed honor to our Heavenly Father and older Brother Jesus Christ as we gave them a standing allvation at the end of this amazing Women's Conference 2009!! Until next year, I will be there, will you?!?

Spring Fever

OK-it has been forever I know and I wanted to do a post about Easter and pictures with my kids cute new church outfits. Then I wanted to post about my new office downstairs thanks to the hard work of Jason's perfect work and the carpet by Nelson and finish electric work from Colby, and much patience from myself. And as you can see it never happened, and maybe I still will later but if not you know I was thinking about it anyway.
It is spring and I love it and love that the kids get to go play outside more and it is getting warmer and no longer coat weather. I love the tulips and daffodils and fun spring flowers that start to bloom. I love flowers and someday my husband may get the hint and start surprising me with flowers, hint hint to those who know my husband to put a bug in his ear. hee hee Oh well I planted tulips last year and they are beautiful. But one of my favorite newly started last year traditions is the Girls Only couple of days away to Women's Conference. So yes it is that time of year again and I am excited to go and relax and spent time with my Mom, Sister(Jenna), Sister-in-law(Jami), Cousin(Leslie), & Aunt Darla. It was only three of us last year and this year we grew three more people so we will see what the next year brings. Jason took a couple of days off so he didn't have to worry about getting here and there the kids at daycare, so I hope he has some fun plans to do with the kids. I am sure Tanner will con him into many things like going to McDonald's since I never take him there. Tanner learned long ago Mom doesn't do McDonald's, I just can't only when they get to pick for a birthday then I don't have a choice. We won't get into my McDonald theories I may offend and wouldn't want to do that. Good Luck Jason!
ENJOY SPRING!!