My life is so crazy right now.....so many things have changed and I am trying to get adjusted!!  I have had no time at all to be on the computer for anything FUN.  But I felt like taking a few minutes today and just blog about the last couple weeks.  I try to find things to be thankful for everywhere I look.  

1st the view from my bedroom window one afternoon.  The Icecream Man!!  My kids love it when this annoying music playing van pulls into the neighborhood.  The yell MOM MOM!!  The icecream man is here!!  I usually answer with "Great-do you have any money?"  and they knowing my sarcasm, know this means no, we aren't getting anything.  But this never seems to squish their hope, they continue with the same enthusiasm everytime.  Well, this day DAD was home!  Ava was so excited!  She yelled who hoo!! as she ran across the street.

Then the boys played for awhile outside....



2nd the view from my back porch.  We are working on getting grass in the back yard.  Brother Hedges had in inside scoop on free cow poop :)  They brought in a couple of loads and now comes the fun of spreading it and tilling it.

It was so cute to see Ava insisting that she help with the "stinking cow poop." She worked so hard and loved it!  We will work on the garden next.  Hopefully she'll insist on helping with the gardening too.

3rd  the view at Taylor's first High School Art show.  She had three of her pieces on display!  It was really great to hear Preston and Mackenzie brag about how Taylor's was the best.  It was also a fun opportunity to meet some of Taylor's friends and their parents and teachers.

4th  the view across the table at the dinner during the art show.  Mackenzie always the comedian.  She won't take a normal posed picture-it always has to be a funny pose.  Even though she is in her 1st year of Jr High-the other High School kids thought she went to school there!  Then there's Preston, never without a book to read, he doesn't care whats going on around him if he's into a good book.  The one he is ready in this pic is the new 3rd book in the series "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."  

5th  the view of the temple as you walk towards it.  I love being there! I was able to go twice in the last two weeks and am grateful for that.  I love the quiet that I find in the temple.  I love that there are no cell phones and chatter and no feelings of being rushed.  I know my Savior loves me and I feel this when I'm at the temple more than any other time.  

 
                                                   

Preston's Baptism

Rob getting approval from Preston on the programs we made. Man, I love these boys so much!!They both look a little nervous :) Did I mention how much I love these boys.This pose is for his baptism scrapbook that Grandma & Grandpa Brooks sent. (Thank you!) He almost has the whole thing filled out, he really has enjoys working on it. He even got to pass off a couple of his "Faith in God" goals because of it.It's hard to see on the picture but this towel has his name and the date of his baptism stitched into it. It's a sweet gift that the Primary gives to all children after they are baptized. Thanks Maricopa 6th ward primary & Jamilee for her sewing talents she donates.

Waiting in the hallway. Kenzie is wearing hills and only appears to be taller than Taylor. She made her take them off in some of the pictures. I guess even height is a competition with these two:)

This picture makes my heart happy! They are so important to me. I love how close they are and how this day just made that bond even stronger. I will always remember the smiles and tears they both had during the baptism. I'm so glad they are mine.

Preston's baptism day was so great, it's beyond words :) We were all so nervous. Preston, for obvious reasons, Rob, afraid he was going to forget or mess up what he needed to say, Me, nervous to give talk, Taylor, also nervous to give talk & Kenzie had to give the opening prayer. We all got thru it just fine-doesn't he look relieved and happy in this picture-oh and perfect!

I LOVE PRESTON

The day that we've all be anticipating for so long is finally here! Preston is getting baptized this Saturday at 2pm. He wasn't able to last month because Rob got called away for work, so he's had to wait an entire month longer. I'm so proud of Preston and his desire to obey his Heavenly Father and get baptized. I'm also proud of him for being so diligent about praying and reading his scriptures. He will even remind me if I forget. He has chosen his songs for the program and also the kind of cookies he wants for refreshments. He is so excited to have his Dad there to baptize and confirm him. We wish family were closer so they could attend but we know you are all proud of him and are happy for him. Grandma & Grandpa Hyde are still on their Mission and will have to miss it also, but we are so glad they are serving their mission and know we are blessed because of it. Can wait to see his face tomorrow! He'll be grinning his big smile. I LOVE PRESTON!

Mackenzie's Sunday six

1. Every few weeks or so I get bored at going into the same old boring bedroom, so I decided to rearrange my room so it's not boring.

2. I was babysitting 4 boys and they are good, but here's what they did.  They went outside and started spraying water and getting water out of their pool and pouring it on each other. Then later on the day we were playing a game and I was a Dinosaur mom and my babie's ran away so I had to go get them and carry them to the nest and one of the little boys jumped out to get me away from the nest and I blocked him from hurting me and he fell flat on his back and bit his tongue to where it was bleeding on both sides. I felt so bad. But then then next day we had a church activity and he was there and telling everyone that I shoved him down flat on his back and that's how he hurt his tongue.  Luckily his 10 & 8 year old brothers told everyone what had really happened. 

3. When I got some money from babysitting my mom said it would be cool to get my hair cut, so I said why wait lets go. I found a picture of the haircut I was looking for then left to go get a haircut. When it was my turn my mom told the lady what I had wanted so shes doing my hair and shes just lets it curl like crazy and we leave when I got home I took a shower and styled it because she didn't and when I was done my mom looked at it and said it looked like she grabbed a couple pieces of hair and just chopped it off and said she was done.  Then I got bangs and now they are in my eyes all the time.

4.  I got to go to one of my friends birthday parties this weekend.  It was pretty fun.  We went to Amazing Jakes, we played lazer tag, rock climbling, air hockey, rode on the rides and had lots to eat.  My Mom actually let me sleep over (wow!) I haven't sleep over at a friends how in forever since my Mom made it a rule.  I have known this friend since forth grade.  She liked the Webkin I gave her.

5. I finally get to be fully in young women's now and the first day there was fun.  There used to only be two other girls my age, but now a new girl moved in and there's on moving up from primary in a couple of weeks. I am the Beehive president-so I'm glad I can now call some couslers.

6. We are planting grass in our back yard but my dad wanted some manure first and it smells so bad, and Maricopa smells enough without the help of it being right in our backyard and it smells!