She is 3!

After Joey was born we said that if we ever had a girl she would not have red hair and here you came with dark hair and  a lot of it.  You have been such a joy and blessing in our lives each day!

You have a way of knowing when I am happy or when I am not and you will ask:

"Mommy are you happy?"

When you first started to ask this I would answer quickly and then I realized that if I said I was not you thought it meant I was not happy with you.  I began to ponder more regularly when you would ask this question if my feelings of frustration or anger were justified and that you would be sad if I were not happy. 

I choose now to be more happy and less flustered because you make me happy (and really there were many things that I came to realize were not worth being upset over).

I love that you love to sing!

 I love that you love Lily!

I love that you love pink and princesses!

 Daddy is our Hero and made this amazing princess cake for you!

 Birthday breakfast of Dad's famous camping pancakes.

 Arabella and Jon had a good time playing barber shop (that is what Jon called it) with your new Cinderella doll (you used to say Cinderbella).

You had 3 friends from nursery come over to play and eat cake and ice cream.  You were so happy to play!

We gave each friend a ring pop - which you were so excited about.

I repeatedly asked you what you wanted for your birthday dinner and all you would say was Strawberries.  We had those with spray whip cream and you agreed to pizza which we all loved!

Happy Birthday Peanut!

Veteran's Day

We have been talking about Veteran's Day quite a bit around our house.  The boys have done various activities and projects at school related to Veteran's.  They wore red, white and blue to school today. Also, Joey has been learning the National Anthem for cub scouts and their upcoming pack meeting.

In thinking about the words of that great song while teaching it to him.The flag of the United States was so important to those fighting during the Revolutionary War.  They were fighting for freedoms they had not known but yearned to have.  They were fighting to establish a system of government  that was not well understood but was "for the people, of the people and by the people."  You did not have to be born to the right family to have status and the chance to be a leader.  The fact that they could still hear the "bombs bursting" and see the "rockets red glare" gave them the courage to continue to fight for their cause because the flag was still there and the fight was not finished.  

This makes me think of the movie "Glory".  At the end of this film as they are fighting different men step up as the man before them dies to carry that flag so that those that follow would know the fight continued.  And then the flag is down and they lose that battle.  But for those black men that flag had meant freedom from slavery and freedom to choose their own paths and careers even to gain an education. 

I  watched NCIS this week and it began with a military plane going down and it was carrying the bodies of some soldiers that had died in combat.  The flag that was draped over one of the coffins had started to be displaced and the soldier stood and fixed it so that it was just right to give that honor to that soldier.  All of us has been touched by seeing that flag, that symbol of freedom, draped over a coffin while 21 shot are fired and then it is so carefully folded and handed to the empty and longing hands of loved ones.  It was what that flag stands for that their loved one had been defending and they had died doing it. 

I am so grateful for all of the soldiers and their families who have fought so many times in so many lands to protect what we hold so dear to our hearts! I pondered what I would do if someone tried to take my freedoms away and if I would be willing to die for them and yes I would.  I would lay down my life for my family, for my religion, for my lands- it is much like the Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty: Alma 46:12 "And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it-In memory of our God, our religions, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children- and he fastened it upon the end of a pole." We have the same desires as that people of long ago.  I did not join the military but I give my support, love, and appreciation to all of those men and women who answered that call. 

Happy Veteran's Day! 

State Fair 2011

When we had family in town for the baptism and blessing we knew we wanted to take them to the State Fair. 

 Before the fair we went to a park to play and have some lunch.

Above Grandpa Rabner and Joey trying to touch the clouds.

 Arabella trying to keep up with Kennady or the "big girl" as Arabella kept calling her.

 The kids learned about farm life.  Carson is doing great with the cows.

 A picture of me- I was not in charge of the camera.

 Kate heading to market with her goods and Kennady is below.

 Arabella striking a pose.

 I am not sure what is going on with my picture but there is our family with Big Tex.

 Derick and Tammy with Big Tex and oh, yes, that is Jon.  He wanted to be in their family picture.

 Loving the Fletcher's Corn Dog

 This longhorn won enough money in prizes to put the owner's son through college (over $40,000).

 I know you are all thinking she is the cutest thing in the world and she is. 

I had a lot of people comment on how cute she was while I was carrying her around in the carrier.

I think the State Fair is a fun place to walk around.  I love the craft building and we saw a baby joey in his mother's pouch.  His legs and head were poking out-way cool!

Halloween 2011

Halloween festivities started for us on Friday.

After school we carved pumpkins.

 My kids did not want to use their hands to scoop out the guts so they tried to do it all with those orange carving scrapers- hands work better.

 Angry Bird design for Jon- he loves angry birds

 Rhinoceros design for Joey- he wanted a power ranger zord and we saw this which there is a rhino zord so this was good enough for him. 

 She wanted a girl. There are bows that you can not see very well but she was happy!

 Friday night we attended a Taekwondo party. 

Here is Princess Arabella aka Sleeping Beauty. 

(I made her costume. It turned out and I learned a few new things along the way.)

 I was Dora and Lily was baby jaguar.

 Wolverine- Jon

 Power Ranger-Joey

It was a fun night! Peter had a campout-he was missed.

 We don't have trunk or treats in our stake and so we decided to organize one on our own for our ward on Saturday night.  It was not too much work to plan but a bit long in executing the day of.  We had a really good turn out and there were some great costumes. If I decide to do one again next year I have a few ideas of how to make it better. 

 My favorite costumes of the night were: Flo the Progressive girl and her husband Mayhem; a lab rat and her husband was the Pied Piper with bagpipes and a kilt; and Jack from Jack in the Box the restaurant.

I did not get many pictures because I was running games and such but there was good food and fun!

 Finally, Halloween night came.  We ate Halloween Mac-n-cheese, thank you Kraft and Peter took the older 3 out to get some candy.

I had a good time passing out candy and Lily helped.  

An added bonus to our Halloween fun was that the boys had a contest at school to see which grade could bring in the most candy on Nov. 1st to be sent to the troops.  Brilliant! I let the kids pick 30 pieces and the rest went to school!

Happy Birthday Peter! (Late)

This is my new favorite picture of you. 

We were at Joey's birthday party at Legoland.  I had left you with Arabella and Lily while I was doing something and when I came back you were here.  In the pink lego girl area with Arabella singing away on the microphone.  She was in heaven and you were happy to help create that for her.

I hope your 7th anniversary of 26 was great! I hope you have at least 26 more!

I love you!

Lily's Blessing

Lilian Grace Rabner was given a name and a blessing by her dad Peter on October 23, 2011.

We were blessed to have family here to enjoy her special day with us. 

 Grandma and Grandpa Rabner- thank you Grandma for the BEAUTIFUL dress!

 Grandma and Grandpa Bird

 Aunt Tammy and Carson- we were so thankful they made the trip to Texas for this special weekend.

 Proud mom and dad.

 Oh those eyes!

The blessing was wonderful- she fussed a bit but was overall really good.  Joining Peter in the circle were: Grandpa Rabner, Grandpa Bird, Derick Bird, Chad Ostermiller, Bishop White, 

Joey Webster, and Steve Ford- all great men!

How many pictures do you have to take to get a good one?!

 Not ready

 Jon- look at the camera and don't pull on Lily.

 Kids look at the camera

 Jon hold your head straight

 Let's just say cheese instead of fuzzy pickles.

 Jon look at the camera!

A moment captured and what a wonderful moment (day) it was.

Thank you family for traveling far to be with us!

Beat Down and Uplifted

I have several things that I have been meaning to post and pictures to share with whoever reads this blog like Lily's blessing and our trip to the Texas state fair or the first 2 halloween parties we attended (one of them we hosted) but today I had a bit of a beat down.
I should not let things get to me the way that they do but I do.  I am the relief society president and as such I have realized that there are things that I can and can not do as just a woman because someone may get their feelings hurt or feel left out.  This may seem silly but it is something I have discovered.   Today it happened again despite my best efforts and after this conversation my day seemed to go from good to horrible- a steep slope.
Satan is good.  It was mentioned in one of our meetings today that he will find the smallest crack and drive a wedge in so that there is a gaping hole.  I had a great time at ward council- we discusses specifics and worked on how we can help the members of our ward as a council and not so much as individuals.  Really good! Then sacrament went suprisingly well considering we forgot our bag that has coloring books and Friend magazines to help the kids maintain reverence.  Then several things took place that left me feeling defeated, overwhelmed and tired.  A crack and then with each new occurrence that wedge was hammered in.
I did what most women do and I talked it out with Peter, one of my counselors, a friend and then my mom.  All reminded me that I should blow it off and I will (or at least keep trying).
My day had a few silver linings that reminded me of just how blessed and loved I am.  I worked on cub scouts with Joey including helping him make dinner for the family- sloppy joes.  He did great! Peter and Joey did the clean up so that I could go make a visit.  The visit was a very good one- a wonderful contact with 2 set possible follow ups.  My kids happily went to bed and I enjoyed an evening with Peter.  I worked on a few fixes for some of the issues that came up during the day.  I feel that the wedge is being pulled out and the crack is closing.
Finally, I watched a little video tonight and was given that final reminder I needed to focus on those wonderful blessings I have.  I was reminded that Heavenly Father really does know me, He know my heart, He knows my intentions, He knows my limitations and He knows how to push me so that I can grow.  I am not perfect and He does not expect me to be. He asks that I do my best each day and remember the covenants I have made with Him.  I love the concept of a covenant and I cherish the testimony I have that His promises are sure.  With that, tomorrow is a new day and I believe my crack is nearly gone.  I will make tomorrow better and strive to remember all day that I am loved and remind those around of that same thing.