Count My Many Blessings...

After reading my cousins blog about quiet times and reflections, I felt inspired to share my thoughts tonight. I've been meaning to do this for a while and it seems like the nights are so busy. So thanks Matt--for inspiring me to take these few moments to be thankful and reflect upon the great blessings in my life.

I have to be so grateful for the time I have to spend with Dave right now. It is NOT easy to have him out of work--especially with the struggle of finding a job in this crazy economy. However, we both feel that it was a good thing, and that good will come of it. We are enjoying getting to "know" each other again. It seemed like 6 long years of tag team with work and kids and we had very little time to spend together. So, it has been so nice to enjoy "dating" again.

I am also so very grateful for such a sweet cousin! Debi--you seem to amaze me in every way and are there when the kids and I need it the most! You have touched my heart in the most amazing way with your sensitivity to the kids and their frustrations in moving. Jacob has taken to Leah and just LOVES his playdates with her. He is always soooo excited when he comes home and he told me today that he even likes macaroni and cheese now--"so don't worry mom--one of your kids likes it now":) Thanks you so much for letting our kiddo's share this friendship!

I am thankful for all of the little "ANGELS" that are looking out for our family! You are all so amazing and I am thankful for all of your little secret sharings! Tonight we had the kids in bed, all except Brooklyn, and we were eating dinner and talking when the doorbell rang. I didn't hear a "hello" when Dave answered, and he soon came back into the room holding the cutest pot of paper flowers and candy! What a special moment to be thought of tonight! Also, I had the cutest preschool mom "over-pay" me and when I tried to figure it out--she said it was a little bonus! The thoughtfulness keeps pouring in from the most un-expected moments.

I took Madison and Jacob to gymnastics tonight--it is always so much fun to watch them! One of the things I love the most is seeing them learn a new skill and sharing it with a look over thier shoulder at me! The look on their faces says"Look mom--I did it!" ever so proud! I am so proud of them and the milestones they have made in gym. Another thing I love is the teacher/child relationship! It is the ONLY gymnastics place we have found that has the belief and philosophy of building the esteem of the child. Each teacher (and there are several) lives and portrays this theme to all of the children all of the time! I am grateful for their confidence, patience and time spent with my own children and hope it is something my kids will be able to continue! A HUGE THANKS to FLIPS gymnastics for a job very well done! My children love you!

Last night I had some errands to run and I was listening to music while driving. As I got to the end and was ready to head home I thought that I could just keep on driving down the freeway--with no end in sight and never looking back. It was so peaceful to just drive and think. And the force that brought me to exit the freeway and head home was my sweet husband and three adorable little children--who count on me and depend on me in the most important way. I love them so much and am so grateful for their smiling faces and happy expectations in life!

I believe their are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above...they come to you and me in our darkest moments, to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with a light of LOVE! Thank you to all of you ANGELS out there--whoever, and wherever you are!

alison

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Our favorite, the bagpipers!

this is green!

the green machine

The "gang" watching the parade go by

My cute girls ready for the day

Cold weather, again!

Just as fast as the good weather came, it left us! We were back to coats, gloves and boots for this one!

A little taste of spring...

The kids have been soooo anxious to get out and play. When the weather warmed up they begged to ride bikes and shoot balls. Madison just learned how to ride her bike without training wheels--yeah madi! And jake is a huge sports fan and is loving the basketball hoop that grandma gave him.

The Story of the "Little Red Hen"...(Adams Style)

One day, Alison decided to make some bread. She noticed that everyone around her was starting to make their own bread and it seemed pretty easy. Now, she was raised on her dad's famous wheat bread, but his recipe seemed to be a 24 hour process. With 3 little kids to help, she thought it would be wiser to find a "simpler" recipe. Especially since this would be her first attempt. One day, her visiting teacher stopped by and announced that she had a wonderful recipe to try, with a DVD to show you how to do it. Alison thought that was a great idea. Another day, her mother-in-law, Maureen, sent a loaf of homemade bread back with Dave and mentioned that she, too, had a great recipe she used. Alison liked the idea of grinding the wheat, kneading the dough, watching it rise, baking the bread and finally eating it. She liked the idea of having fresh ground wheat to use for her bread--yum! So she asked: Who will help me grind the wheat? Maureen said: I will! Who will help me mix the dough? Jacob said: I will! Who will help me bake the bread? Madison said: I will! So, she used the ground wheat (sent from Maureen), she kneaded the dough (thanks to the Bosch and Jacob), she watched it rise for 45 minutes (thanks to yeast and an oven) and she baked the bread (thanks to Madison). Then she said: Who will help me eat the bread? Just then Dave walked in from work, took one little sniff... and said: I WILL! And so there we sat, eating the most delicious homemade wheat bread---made from scratch!

*My idea is to start simple and work my way into my dad's recipes. He really does put a lot into his bread and makes it everytime we visit! The kids absolutely love it and it is so healthy. I also figured that it costs about $.50-.75 a loaf compared to $4.00 at great harvest! And it has no preservatives or sugar.

Angels Among Us

While we lived in Ogden, we had the opportunity of meeting many wonderful friends. Some of them moved away before we did, and others moved around the same time. This past week has been a hard one, as both Madison and Jacob have decided they want to move back to our life in Ogden. They really loved it there and want their old rooms, their friends, their teachers, their babysitter, and their sledding hill all back in their possession! One of the neatest opportunities we had was to develop a friendship with the Seamons family. Sarah's husband was deployed for a year and Dave was always working or commuting. Therefore, it left the wives and our three little ones to bond. And boy did we do that! We are so grateful for the little moments we were able to get together with them: playdates, wading in the ditch, pirate parties, cookie decorating, Christmas villages in the city, the christmas parades, visiting Mrs. Claus, sacrament meetings---the list goes on forever! Thank you for being such wonderful friends--the kids really miss Chayse, Ashtyn and Jaxyn. Here is our little "good-bye" evening almost a year ago!

Influential people in my life...

Dave and I just finished reading(listening too) The Five People You Meet In Heaven. We decided to try a book on tape, due to the many interruptions we have while trying to read at home. It has been fun to listen to it together whenever we are in the car. We finished it on our last road trip to Idaho. We both enjoyed the book and I began reflecting over some of the influential people in my life. Here are a few:

Julie Blick--for giving me the confidence and experience to get through school and get a degree! Not only did I get the degree, but I graduated with honors!

Wayne Carlos--another influential person in my life--although he may not realize it! He hired me as his Director for a preschool in Ogden. After a year of working there and gaining experience, he walked in one day and fired me! It was crazy times--and through some friends, I quickly got a job at a local hospital, met Barb, who eventually set me up with Dave--my loving and supporting husband. Looking back, it was no coincedence that Wayne fired me when he did--I just didn't know what my Heavenly Father had in store for me!

Kathy Morgan was a Relief Society President I had while attending the college ward in Twin Falls, Idaho. She made me her "project" during my wandering years! And I didn't mind a bit! It was her influence and belief in me that helped me gain a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In turn, this led me to the desire to serve a mission for the LDS Church--an experience that turned my life around and brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and family--the foundation of my life. Thanks Kathy for your unconditional friendship!

Annette and Tom Tucker--my college ward bishop and his wife who became two of my greatest friends during early college life! What a great influence--thanks you two!

Scot--my brother who continues to watch over me from Heaven--even after all these years! I often feel he is the guardian angel over my children and influences me to make the best of each day! Can't wait to see what our reunion in Heaven will be like!

Now, for all of you readers, keep in mind that there are many of you who have had a significant influence in my life. However, if you have not read the book, the 5 people are not the people you come in contact with daily or frequently. They are simply people that have crossed your path and influenced you--people who come and go--and you may really never know the reason they entered your life. These people I listed are ones I don't really stay in contact with any more, however, thier influence in my life was real and significant. And thank you to all those who continue to be there for me--for your advice, direction, influence and friendship!

I am so grateful for my family! Now mind you, they are a bit crazy and I can only take so much of them, but they really are fabulous! This past weekend, my sister Megan took Madison, and her cousin Briana to Twin Falls to visit my parents and grandparents. Madison was thrilled all week long and told everyone she ran into that her Aunt was taking her to Idaho--without Mom and Dad! They were gone 4 days and had an absolute ball. She loved staying at Idaho Grandma's and playing with all of the little puppies. Grandma lets the girls feed them, take them on walks, dress them up...and the list goes on! THey also got to go on walks in the canyon with grandma, and as Madison tells it, "Briana walked the dogs with Grandma, and I pushed the stroller with the dolls"--so typical of both of them! They even got to go to Jr. High for a day--yes, they really are that smart! Grandma works at the Jr. High, so they were able to spend the afternoon with her there! Then they got to swim in Grandma Grapes (Great's) hot tub! They thought the treat bags she sent home with them were the best! Thanks to all of our wonderful Grandma's for taking such great care of our little girls while they were in Idaho! And a huge thanks to Muggy for being such a cool Aunt and planning such a wonderful trip for these little Diva's to enjoy! We love you TONS!

What Child Is This...

We were so fortunate to capture these moments with the girls. They were not posing for us--we just happened to look over and this is what we found!

Random moments in our lives....

These don't come in any particular order. I was sitting at the computer thinking about the Holiday's that left us and the new year we have begun and how I love my family. Here is a quick glance at a few of the moments that have made my life so enjoyable...

Cousin "get-togethers"


Adams Family Dinners


Make believe and horsey rides with cousins


Children's Museum--Dad Style


Children's Music

Sweet cousin poses


Winning Prizes: Oh how we love the Grinch!


Naturals Like This...


Happy Children