Grateful

Today, as I watch Josie run, skip, climb and play I can't help but be forever grateful to my Heavenly Father, the power of prayer and Shriners of Salt Lake City. She has had 18 casts, 4 surgeries, and 1 brace. She is strong beyond belief. She is kind. She finds delight in even the smallest of things and like her Dad, she is always smiling (she wakes up smiling).

Watch Out World...she is a SPUNKY one!!

Jalia Rose (a.k.a Jalia Joy) graduated from Kuna High School May 27, 2016.  It is hard to believe that we have had FOUR graduate already.  It could be a small indication that Nels and I MIGHT be getting old.  Nah!!!   
We had lots of family and friends travel to help celebrate.  We are so grateful.   It was a beautiful day.  A day Jalia has been waiting for, since kindergarten. She will be heading to Utah State, the end of August.  We will not know how to act with only three kids at home, no driver (ahhh!) and it will not be the same without her around.   She has a way of making everyday just wonderful, silly and fun.  Love you and we are so proud of you, Jalia Joy. Being YOU is what is so special about YOU. You are bold, brave and full of greatness.  Watch out world, she is a spunky one.

This crazy but brilliant set up (an ice pack inside a sock) has been tugging at my heart, lately. I have been finding it on Josie's foot or in her bed, after I wake her up.  Keep in mind, I tuck her in every night without it, so I have yet to figure out when she gets up and gets the ice pack and why she doesn't wake me.  I have spent many (happy) hours rubbing an aching foot and kissing sweet little toes.  I guess I am struggling with the idea, that at 6 she cares for it on her own. Or am I struggling with the idea, that my baby is growing up?? I do love having independent children, but I  love taking care of them MORE!!!  Can't they just stay little?

Skipping

Josie's skipping makes me smile.  I am grateful for the doctors and nurses at Shriners.  This little girl has places to go, friends to make, songs to sing, books to read, a nephew to play with,  and a mom to be an example to.

Kindness

 

I know someone that is really good at this.  She is incredibly genuine and has the most beautiful heart. I don't spend that much time around her but she is someone that has influenced me more then she will every know.  I hope and pray that I can be just as kind and make others feel like she makes me feel.  Little does she know, that as she teaches her class about greatness she makes me feel like I am full of greatness, as well. 

Thanks friend.

Call me Grammy or should it be MeMa?

 I am a little sad that it has been 4 years since I last blogged anything, but there is no better way to restart blogging then to share the biggest news EVER.  Really..I mean EVER, EVER.. and that is..(drum roll, please) I am a Grandma!!  O.K. Yes, I know everyone already knows this, thanks to my over sharing on social media, but it does need to be documented on my blog, finally, right?  
  Meet my sweet, perfect Grandson,  Rees Merritt Bingham.  Is he not the cutest little bundle of baby, that you have ever seen?  What a gift this little guy is. He was born 5-7-2015.  He is currently 9 months old and he stole my heart, from day one.  I can't even begin to explain the joys of being a Grandma/Grammy/MeMa/Nana.  Obviously, I am still working on what my Grandma name is going to be, but that will get figured out later.  Right now, all I want to do is hold and be with this little man.  The whole family has turned to mush and he is all we think about.  Can you blame us?

My baby holding my grandbaby

Happy Birthday Jalia

14 things I love about you..
  1.  I love that sweet dimpled smile of yours.
  2.  I love how kind you are to everyone.
  3.  I love how silly you can be.
  4.  I love how you are always singing.
  5.  I love how much you help around the house.
  6.  I love how kind you are to your brothers and sisters.
  7.  I love that you are such a good kid.
  8.  I love how you are always doodling your name everywhere.
  9.  I love that you are a good example to all around you.
10.  I love how you help out Grandma.
11.  I love how willing you are to help with Josie
12.  I love how you can make me laugh.
13.  I love that you never complain.
14.  I love that you know who you are.

Have a happy birthday my sweet Jalia joy.

Just a little piece of paper..

..with a very BIG statement.

This is what Nels and I got for Christmas from, Gracie.  On one side it says "if we don't have windows, we can still see" (our windows are old and some are broken and boarded up, waiting for new ones to be put in) and "it's not bad not having a door bell" (nope..we don't have one). One the back side it says "it's not bad having a little house, because we have a home. What a very sweet little girl. A lesson well taught!! I proudly display this little piece of paper, in my kitchen to remind me to be thankful for everything that I have. 

Since I last blogged...

Kelsey Graduated

and headed to Utah State.

Carter played football

Gracie was baptized

turned the big 4-0

 The Kids have grown..

too funny..

What did you say?

favorite things to say right now..

. emaleecarter-we don't really know why she combined Emalee and Carters name, but she says it when she is happy, nervous, sad, mad, and when she doesn't know what else to say. She also uses it to ask for Emalee and Carter.  

. maybe not- Josie let's brush your hair..."umm, maybe not!"

. I not want to take bath.  Josie does not like taking baths right now.  This is a fun stage!!  If you see Josie and she is looking a little ragged..well, she is.  I choose my battles. Sometimes she doesn't get a bath.

. I do it myfelf.

. I am watching that.  She says this when I am reading to her (YES! Reading) and she wants me to keep reading the same book. 

. save my spot

. that's mommies spot.

. eghhhhhhhhhhhh...(translated-don't touch me and mostly said to Jalia and Gracie) also a fun stage!!

. I busy!!  Josie let's pick up your blocks.."I busy"

. I tollar (color).  She loves to draw and color.

You gotta love 2 year olds!!

Lady Antebellum "Never Alone" Music Video

my new favorite song...

Happy Birthday..my little Gracie

7 things I love about you...

*I love how very sweet you are to everyone

*I love that you are such an amazing big sister

*I love that you love dressing fancy all the time (where in the world did that come from??)

*I love that you are always thinking of others

 * I love all the pictures you draw for me.

*I love how you are always smiling and so happy

*I love how you love to read.



Josie's new do

You can have anything you want!

With a sad face like this, Josie is sure to get whatever she wants.

I remember when...

 .. this little girl demanded everyones attention by singing on a crate box.

.. this little girl cried SCREAMED and walked off the soccer field during a game because the coach told her to run.


 ..this little girl walked a barbie horse around, and around our deck, because she wanted a real horse so bad.



 





..this little girl FIRST found her true love of volunteering for the special olympics

Oh my..how she has grown.  She is simply amazing. 

Thanks, Sis for the pictures!

Kelsey PUNKY, I love you.

C-Dub

Carter Wayne...Happy birthday big guy.  I can hardly believe that you are 8 years old (Aug 11th). 

8 things I love about you.

*you are so stinkin' cute

*you are a great example to your family

*you are an amazing gardener

*you are a busy and hard worker

*you are funny

*you always do your best

*you are a great big brother

*you have a GIANT heart

Carter, I am so proud of you and your decision to be baptized. 

**Thank you to all the family and friends that came and showed their support.  Carter loves being with all of you and he had such a wonderful night.

Summer Checklist

The beginning of summer the kids and I made a "Summer Check list". It has all the things we wanted to do.  We have about 21 more things to TRY to do and not that many days left before school starts...ahhhhh!

So far, this is what our summer has been like...some things are on the list..some things should've been added and some things were just not fun, so they are on a completely different list :)

We took over Vegas! LOVED, LOVED, being with my family.

Nels, Josie, and I drove to Nebraska to visit Dalan and Timari.  That was an amazing trip.  It was so fun to spend time with them and Nebraska (where they were, atleast) is beautiful.

We have fished a bit (when I say bit..i mean once).  We didn't catch anything but I think the kids really enjoyed just casting their lines more, anyway.  They are amazingly good at it too.

We celebrated Carter's 8th birthday at a FUN place called BOUNCE.

My sister, Kelsey, and Jalia having a blast at BOUNCE.  They did the velcro wall.  It was soo funny.

The kids and my sister did the famous "Chicken Run" in Melba on the 4th of July. This is my sweet, sweet, nephew, Ty. We brought home 6 new chickens.

Jalia caught a chicken also...hers pooped on her.  

The Chicken Catchers!

 We have ALSO done Lots, and Lots of swimming  and let's not forget....

teaching Josie how to do silly faces.  This is her surprised face..

LOVE IT!