Brandon's Book

A project Brandon's class worked on was writing a story and making it into a book.

The parents helped to type out the written story and paste it in the bare book.

They each drew the pictures for each page.

When the books were done the family was invited to go to the classroom.

Hayden and I were able to listen to Brandon read us his story.

Cinderella Pig

Everyone had a different story and they made it their own.

After reading his story, Brandon kept reading other stories to Hayden. It was so fun to see how creative they all were.

I Love Being Their Mother

They help to make me who I am.I can not imagine a life without them.

Some thoughts that go through my head when I look at my three beautiful baby's...

being silly together & laughing,

piggy back rides,

playing hide and seek,

telling silly jokes that don't really make sense.

I am so lucky to have each of them.

They are individually so different and I love that.

It's exciting to watch them grow and learn but it also seams like they grow too fast!

They wear me out, but they are also my strength.

They make me laugh.

They have the funniest things to say and stories to tell.

They have taught me in so many ways.

They amaze me.

They are talented, loving, caring, eager, and so many more things...

I can look past the arguments & mistakes they make everyday and

see all of this and so much more in each one of them.

I love how they are so innocent, even in there mistakes.

We all have to learn somehow.

It's so hard to let them out in the world to be corrupted by others,

then I have to try and fix it all.

If only we could hold our children closer under our wings for a little longer.

They are my world, my life,

and forever.

I feel so blessed to have my children.

I love them so much!

I am so grateful I can call myself a mom.

I think at times I do take it for granted because it came so easily to me.

I am thankful for the wonderful moms I have been surrounded by throughout my life

who have been a wonderful example to me.

Quite a few who did not have motherhood come to them so easily.

I believe all women are mothers in someway.

We were born to nurture.

To every Mother out there in whatever way you are one,

Happy Mothers Day!

Brandon's Baptism

I kind of wish I could relive this day with him.

It was still special and it's not about all of the other things that happened.

I was just sick for the entire week up to this day. I did everything last minute because of this.

I was exhausted and had not had enough sleep.

So that is why the day is all kind of a blur to me.

But, I do have wonderful memories of the important parts.

Brandon was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It was wonderful to have so many friends and family members close to attend. The only ones not able to be here for living too far away were Becca, Matt & girls and Kelsey, Laura & family.

It's different being in Utah, because there are so many 7 year old children turning 8 this year,

(22 with just the boys)

We shared this day with two other wonderful families.

That is the picture of them on the bottom middle.

We split the program up between the 3 families,

which was hard but tried not to think about it much.

All of our family and a few friends came over afterwards for lunch and it was beautiful outside so it was great to have the kids be able to go outside and play together.

We gave Brandon a memory book so he can remember this important day better.

He started writing in it that night and every day after.

One page he wrote:

"Dere Journal

today was a speshol, speshol day. I got Baptisd today and I am so hapy today.

I will never ever forget this day never ever. I love my famley and my pet's. I'm so happy that I have a family."

I admit I cried a little the first time I read this seeing that he wrote

down that he loves his family.

I love to hear and read the feelings of children. I know they don't always come out, especially for boys, but at a special time like this I know it helps to push it out a little more.

On other pages he talked about what happened and how he was a little scared just for a bit.

I am proud of the good choices you make Brandon and the

choice to follow our Saviors example and be baptized.

We love you so much and I know Heavenly father loves you too!

Easter

The kids had so much fun having a bunch of Easter egg hunts this year.

Actually, they started a bit early.

Three weeks before Easter they found the bag with all of the plastic eggs and baskets and they were hiding them for each other.

We had a hunt with both grandparents and they loved it.

We really did not control the candy too well though and I think they went on candy overload.

Aside from all of the fun Easter egg hunts, the bunnies, and fun kid stuff;

My kids all remembered this year Why we do have Easter.

Easter was also general conference weekend.

I love having Easter and conference the same weekend because

it really helps to put my focus more on Christ.

I am thankful for all that Christ went through for me and you, to have the knowledge that

I will be with my family forever, not just for life.

We are never alone.

I know that, even though it's sometimes hard, it's so comforting that no matter who we are and what we've done or where we are, we are not alone.

This Easter was really wonderful.

Lately...

Lately,

We have been spending every good weather moment

outside, if possible.

We have been hiking many times, have been to

many, many different parks.

Just within the past month or so we have discovered at least 7

new parks within a 10 minute drive from our house.

I always love having options & love to explore.

The outside time keeps us all little happier too!

Hayden and I went for a walk on a path on the mountain

just up the street from our house.

We took a smaller trail and found this sweet elk calf about 10 feet back.

Besides lots, and lots of school between the kids and Justin,

Church, work, and family time; That's all that we have really done lately.

At The Farm

Last month we were invited to go help bottle feed a newborn calf.

He was only a few days old.

Hayden started to hold the bottle but it only lasted a few seconds.

Alyssa loved it. She even got bonked in the chin a few times

with the bottle from the calf butting it.

Brandon didn't want anything to do with it.

He's going through a stage.

We played around with it, it would try and chase us. It was still a little wobbly.

Hayden loved standing by it and playing. It was just like a little dog to him.

Just not quite as playful.

This was such a fun experience to go and do this.

We all had a lot of fun. Thanks Heather!

Just over a month ago we went to a BYU basketball game.

(Thanks for the tickets April)

I have never been to a basketball game before so I did not know what to expect.

It was really fun!

There is always something going on for entertainment.

Brandon was able to invite his buddy to come with.

BYU won against TCU

great game. Alyssa caught on so fast and cheered every time they scored. She also loved watching the cheerleaders. She didn't realize they were going to be part of the game. That was a big plus for her. pre-game team huddle

A Sad Day

Artica

The beginning of April 2008

Justin brought home a new pet that the kids (mostly Alyssa)

would come to really love.

Well, Artica passed away Feb. 16Th.

I found her right before Alyssa came home from school.

It was so sad!

Alyssa was so distraught, and we knew she would be.

It broke our hearts to see the kids so sad and in such pain.

These hamsters only live a few years

and she was only about a month short of that.

We could tell something was wrong

and she was changing fast over the past week. Justin had a good talk with Alyssa a few days before

and told her what might happen soon.

Alyssa just cried and cried, she immediately asked to hold her

(this made me a little nervous to her reaction

but there was no judgement.)

She seemed to be a little comforted by holding her for a bit.

Hayden is a hard egg to crack sometimes.

We finally got him to open up, instead of being angry,

he finally just bawled, like Alyssa.

We had to answer so many questions for them.

Alyssa still asked me recently if Artica was going to forget her.

It's a good, but really hard lesson for such little kids to learn.

We all had fun holding her and playing with her.

Alyssa would put her in her My Little Pony house

and walk around with her, or find

some other little small place for her to hang out close by her.

I am sure she would have tried to sleep with her if we let her.

One time I caught her walking down the street

with her little pony house to show her friends her pet.

I made a special box for her & everyone colored

or wrote a little message on it.

It was so hard for Hayden to let go of the box.

Later that day he wanted to just go down and drive his cars

over the spot we buried her.

I never knew that something so little could

make my little girl so happy.

The laughter she brought to us, especially Hayden, will not be forgotten.

Snowflakes

The other day it was snowing huge snowflakes.

It was beautiful.

Have you ever looked at a snowflake up close?

I don't know that I ever really have until the other day.

They really are all individual and beautiful.

My kids really enjoyed doing this with me.

I am sure we would have been more successful on a colder day.

So, if you are still in those frigid temperatures and still getting snow,

you should go out and look a little closer at those little falling flakes.

They are quite the site close up.

I love snowflakes!

Give Your Love

Don't these look yummy?

Well, they were!

But, I take no credit because I did not make them.

Last week for Relief Society night we did a service exchange.

We wrote down a service we would like to do for someone else on a cute sparkly heart.

Some of the things people wrote included,

help to organize something, 3 hours of babysitting,

do your ironing, decorate your wall with vinyl lettering

& there were lots of different specified treats.

Some fun stuff!

We played this like a white elephant gift exchange.

The hearts were on the table and we took turns picking them and could steal someone else's. In the end I got the... Valentines dessert for 2, chocolate raspberry cake with raspberry sauce in a chocolate rose petal.

The girl who made them delivered them to our house.

How fun is that?

It was fun to see what everyone could give

someone else all through their own talents.

What greater way to show Love than to give service to those around us?

I think it helps me open my eyes to what inner talents

I may have but I don't realize it.

I can use these talents to better myself

and to help to give service to those around me.

I know as a mother, I don't always realize

that I am constantly serving everyday.

I am in service to my husband and children,

& through this our love grows even more.

Happy Valentines Day!

Brandon is 8!

Brandon just had his 8th birthday! Eight years go by a whole lot faster being older than when we were little. It's kind of hard. I want my lil' ones to stay little longer.

It is so fun watching them learn and grow at every stage though.

Just about every year we have taken Brandon to IHOP or Denny's, because that is what he wants. This year he said he wants alien pancakes just like last year.

I could totally make those! We even still had his cool alien cup.

So I made him his yummy alien pancakes just like Denny's does.

I have a hard time getting a real smile out of him.

I got him laughing about something.

I think he has a really cute smile.

Especially with all of those teeth missing.

My handsome dude. One of many presents.

He was definitely spoiled this year. I have not thrown a party for him yet.

This was our first, with friends. It was so easy and so fun.

I wish I had of done a few more in the past.

At least I know now.

I Love this kid. From the second he was put into my arms, I loved him.

He is so sweet. He makes friends so easily.

He is smart and funny. It is so good when we get one on one time together because it's harder to come by being in school and with all of his friend time now.

I want to hang on to every moment and make it all count because time disappears too fast.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Brandon's Birthday Party

When I asked Brandon what kind of party he wanted he said, "I want a Bakugan/Transformers party." Haha. I laughed. I had to explain to him that it would be a little weird and difficult to do both. So, he finally decided that Transformers was what he wanted. So that is what we did.

We had 8 boys show up.

Not bad out of 11 invitations. They had a lot of fun. Laughed tons and were just being boys. When the kids were arriving we had a Transformers cartoon playing.

Then we played a few different versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron tag.

Whoever was tagged was on that team.

We then divided into the teams and had a race for one of

the teams to pop all of their balloons first.

We had Pizza, cake & ice cream, then did the pinata at the end.

It was all really fun. They were all so happy. We have such a great group of boys in our neighborhood. This wasn't even half of them!

Winter Playground

More sledding!

We went on the mountain/golf course with the kids pretty early and we were the only ones there. It was so nice. Everyone else showed up just as we were leaving.

These two make a great team! Plenty of hills to choose from! Too bad I missed Justin's huge jump. :)

We saw a bunch of big horn sheep just over the hill from us.

That was pretty cool.

My pretty sneaky husband blended in well with the surroundings and got up pretty close.

This is where the kids and waited.

Mom & Brandon

Brandon & Hayden

2009

2009 was a busy year with a lot going on and bunch of change. It was really hard year, but it was also a really good year despite all of the hardships. There was so much that happened and I did not record a lot of it anywhere but would like to remember.

January

• Move #1. We put around 80% of our belongings in storage when we moved to a small condo in between finding a different house to live in.
• Our Husky, Myka had to go to a new home. We still miss him so much!
• Made lots of new friends.

February

• Brandon turned 7
• We played outside a lot, in the snow and at the dam.
• Had to switch the kids to the new school in our boundaries.

March

• Enjoyed lots of fun time with friends
• had a fun visit with the Secors
• soaked up all of the wonderful spring weather outside

April

• Went to Nebraska for Grandma Fosters Funeral
• Alyssa and Brandon played on soccer teams

May

• Enjoyed lots of more great weather and spring colors.
• Easter
• Lisa went to Utah for Women's Conference and Dad's 70Th birthday. Our whole family was together and it was wonderful!
• Move #2. We moved out of the condo and our storage unit back into a house.
• The pool opens and we swim, a lot.

June

• Alyssa was invited back to her old school for the end of the year graduation.
• Lots of fun fishing days
• Lots of fun swimming days
• Brandon goes to his fun Summer school classes
• Lisa gets called as the Young Women's President

July

• 4Th of July at the Secors
• More swimming
• Heather came to visit

August

• Alyssa turns 5, Secors come for Alyssa's bday.
• still swam a bunch
• School starts
• Alyssa goes to preschool as a peer role model
• Brandon is in 2nd grade

September

• Enjoyed lots of outdoor time, bike rides, time with friends etc.
• Hayden turned 4
• Trip to St. Louis to the Secors
• Justin has surgery for his appendix to be taken out

October

• Justin's Birthday
• Lots of fun school activities
• cooler weather
• our last time to go swimming
• Halloween at the Secors for Becca's birthday

November

• Lisa's birthday
• make decisions to move
• pack again
• Move #3- to Utah
• All of the Finley family is together again after 3 years.
• Thanksgiving with the Finley's and the Hastings

December

• Lots and lots of family time
• settling into the new house
• Christmas

There are so many ways I could have done this and the time line was the easiest I think. I am sure I am leaving a lot out....

Hayden: Loves boats, trucks, motorcycles anything that moves. His best bud Tre got him hooked on diggers. Loves playing with Brandon's toys and riding his bike while he is in school. Conqured his fear of the water from his accident last year. Is a natural at fishing. Loves everything his dad does. Very inquisitive and takes care of others. very busy. Will bring my a live spider by it's leg when he finds one.

Alyssa: Is so little girly. She loves princesses, barbies, ponies, littlest petshop, dressing up etc... loves to play with others. She also loves to play with bugs including, worms, caterpillars, rolly pollys & is not afraid to get dirty in her pretty little clothes. She is so full of energy and generally happy.

Brandon: Enjoys going to school. Is kind of shy but will play with anyone. Is not judgemental. Is a great reader, does really good in math. He enjoys his time with dad. Loves to fish. Would swim everyday if we let him.

Justin: Going to school. Working full time. Enjoyed working with the youth at work, going on camp outs, canoeing, rock climbing, bike rides along with other things. It wasn't all fun, after all they are teenagers and there were many challenges, but I think he even enjoyed those. Taught our kids how to fish. Enjoyed any nice weather on his motorcycle.

Lisa: lots of packing and unpacking :). Trying to come up with fun things to do with the kids to keep them active and happy. Enjoyed a lot of birdwatching and animal watching with the kids; especially in the spring when the fawns came to our back yard. Looked forward to seeing the sweet baby we watched everyday. (Alyssa & Hayden loved her too) Stayed busy with her calling in YW's. Loved the time being the 1st counselor at the start of the year and YW President in the middle and to have hopefully helped those girls to become better people.

We have had so many changes the past year.

The biggest is all of the moving we did & job change.

We lived in 4 houses last year! And we are not even in the military! haha. Justin is so strong and is working hard to get through school and work at the same time. We know it will be worth it in the end. We already have some exciting things happening this year and I am thankful for all that we have had come to us. It has only made us better within.

Here's to another great fun filled year!

New Years Eve Fun

On New Years Eve we met up with Justin's family and took all of the kids sledding.

It was fun!

But, way too cold. of course going up and down the hill kept you pretty

warm considering the temps...

When Hayden went down the first time by himself he was scared.

I realized he had never really been sledding before!

(That he could remember) he was not even one the first time.

When he got back up the hill with a huge grin he exclaimed

"That was fun! I want to do it again!"

I love these last two pictures.

It is kind of hard to put them on here though.

~Kesia, Justin, Hayden and Cash~

The next night, New Years day, Cash was hit by a car.

He was Kesia's baby. She had so many hopes to have him with her in the future.

He was so young still. He was so great with all of the kids. Just a really great dog.

It is all so sad! I'm so sorry Kes.

You will be missed so much Cash.

Can you see Hayden peeking out from behind him?

He thought it was the coolest thing to sled with a dog.