My Sisters!

I am blessed to have 4 sister in-laws. I am the only girl in my family and as I posted previously, I really hoped I would always be the only girl. As I got older and watched friends who had sisters I could see the benefits. I never knew what my "future" family would bring me, but I looked forward to having a relationship with sisters.

When I married Dave I instantly got my first sister. Janell was a teenager when I came on the scene. After she served a mission for our church we really started to develop a relationship. As time went on we have become closer and closer. I can't express how much I love her. I feel like she is my sister. She is fun, outgoing, thoughtful, crafty, and a really hard worker. We make a good team whenever we host an event together. She can pretty much make anything... clothing, wedding cakes, furniture... anything! Now that she is a mom and we have daughters 5 weeks and 6 days apart... we have bonded even more. We can care for each other's children as if they were our own. I just love that. I can guarantee that if Janell is with me, then there will be laughing and fun! She is a blessing in my life.

Next is Sami. She is married to my brother Jared and the missing link in this picture above. Sam and I have always lived apart. For the first few years they were married I really didn't know her very well. Then we had the opportunity to go to Women's Conference together. It was our chance to bond together. We spent the whole day together. We even snuck away for my first sushi experience, then went to a concert that night. From that day on I felt like we got each other. Whenever I see her or know we'll be seeing each other soon I get excited. She is so kind and loving. She started to always tell me she loved me when she got off the phone. After that, it's been easy to express our love for one another.  Sam is amazingly capable. She is hands on with any project. You can find her in the attic of their house working on projects with my dad or out cutting wood to make us wonderful Christmas gifts. She has more talent than I think she realizes. She is also a wonderful cook and we share recipes via texts from time to time. I am thankful for the bond that we've created and that we get to be sisters. She also was the only girl in her family, like me and Janell. It was kind of a funny coincidence.

Recently I gained two more sisters! My new sister Aubrey is Chad's wife. We are just at the beginning of getting to know each other, but from the first time I talked to her on the phone I knew I loved her. We briefly spent time with her during Chad's graduation, commissioning, and their wedding. It was a busy week and they were busy. So these past two weeks they were here staying with us was a great chance to get to know her. (Thankfully they were here after their open house at my home because I was a little stressed out preparing for that! Then we were able to relax and play a bit.) Aubrey is simply delightful. She is just full of happiness. She is not picky and up for anything! I would listen to her with my brother and loved her playful attitude with him. Also the way she knows him and can calm any of his concerns. I loved sitting on the couch in our pj's talking in the middle of the night. I was able to get to know more about her and hear stories about her life. Aubrey is an Equestrian and has been very successful in it. It was so neat to hear about her talents and passion. I can't wait to get to know her more over the years. (Aubrey is on my right).

Just weeks after Aubrey joined our family, Megan officially became part of the family too. We met Megan quite a while a go when Jordan brought her home to meet us last April. One thing we learned right away about Megan is that she loves her family. She appreciates the family traditions she has and the relationships she has created with her siblings, parents, and extended family. Megan is is also a hard worker. Whenever she comes over she helps with dishes or makes sure things are straightened up. I always tell her she doesn't have to help, but I've decided to give up because she will do it anyways. I noticed after they left from spending the night that the decorative pillows were arranged exactly the way I had them when they came. I was so surprised that she put them back the same way! She is basically a puzzle master and we had fun working together, as a family, putting one together. I look forward to continuing to get to know her even better. I am grateful to have her as part of our family. (Megan is on the left of Janell).

Our siblings are now complete! Now I look forward building our relationships and enjoying family time together whenever we get it. What a lucky girl I am.

Preschool Graduation for Parker

Lots of excitement in our home when Parker was graduating for preschool. He woke up that morning and announced that he was graduating! He had a wonderful experience learning from Ms. Danai and Ms. Jill. They are such loving teachers (and patient with our little ball of energy!)

These are Parker's two favorite buds from school. Taylor (on the left) and Josh. We had quite a few play dates over the last two years with these guys.

Parker's teacher took a minute to talk about each student. They shared how Parker brought so much fun into the classroom. He was always energetic and happy to be there. They missed him when he wasn't there and he kept his class laughing,  

Here he is making everyone laugh! 

Parker has spiced up our family from the very start. He makes us laugh everyday, He is outgoing and happy. He loves his siblings and fills our home with life.

Grandma Mills came for the big event. I didn't tell Parker she would be there, so when he found out she came he was SO excited. We are thankful for her never-ending love and support!

We look forward to seeing all that Parker will accomplish in the future!

Market Day

At Josh's school they earn Coyote cash during the year. Three times a school year they have market day where you can buy or sell items or services (such as petting an iguana or battling someone's Beyblade) using your "cash." The first time they had market day Josh had a hard time choosing what to purchase with his money. By the time he went back to buy items, they were gone. He came running to the car after school in tears. He wasn't able to buy anything. My heart hurt for him. I knew it was a good lesson for him to learn how to be decisive, but I still felt bad it was a disappointment. So, he learned that items sell fast, so you have to think quickly.

Parents are welcome to come to Market day to help their children sell. I told myself I'd support him at the next market day, but when it came around I wasn't able to go. I was anxious to hear about his experience, hoping it was better than the first. This time when he came running to the car he was thrilled with his purchases. A muffin and a bookmark (that was cut out of a cereal box with stickers.... not thrilling to me). He told me that he had dropped his cash and must have realized it later. He wasn't able to get it all back, but he wasn't upset about it. I was grateful he wasn't upset, but after he told me he had about $100 in coyote cash, I felt bad he had dropped it. So I committed to myself that I would be at the next market day.

So, this is Josh at his booth. I decided we were going to make market day the best of the year (not too hard to do). He sold Ninjago blowpop suckers, ring pops, and splash bombs (tied together sponges). He was a hit! He felt so good about the success of his items. Dave even snuck over from work to check in on the event. Josh started with $25 and ended up with about $200. Josh and Dave went on a shopping spree. Josh was happy with the items he bought, even getting a chance to pet that iguana!

If you know our Josh, you know that we couldn't ask for a better boy. I know learning and growing is part of the parent/child experience and I'm grateful I have Josh to go through it all with first.