That's it. My baby boy graduated from preschool! I swear just the other day I was walking him to his first day of school, I think I was way more nervous than he ever was. He is such a smart little man and I know there is no limit to what he will be capable of doing in his life. I am very proud to have my little graduate!! This year he will be moving on to KINDERGARTEN!! It is all so very exciting but, it is coming a lot faster than I had expected. Kindergarten brings on a whole new realm of worries for me... Are the teachers going to know what they are doing or are they just doing what they feel they are supposed to do to get their paycheck? Will they be nice? I feel like its up to them to make or break it for these kids, whether they will have a love for learning or resent school forever. Will there be bullies? Will my son be able to beat the crap out of them? Will he be a follower or a leader (he is definitely more of a leader) Will he hang out with the "good crowd" or the "bad"? Will he be able to understand everything that goes on? Or will he struggle? UGHHHHH!!! So much to worry about, to think about, to panic about.... Ok deep breaths... deep breaths. I am sure whatever comes I will be able to handle. Right? I know he will, so if a 5 year old can do it I can!? He is very excited and cant wait to go to the "BIG school" he says he cant wait to meet new friends and play on the playground. He looks forward to sitting at the "dest" (desk) and learning new things. Before I know it he will be off to college and if you think I'm being crazy now... You just wait. You haven't even seen crazy, possessive mommy yet! I don't think I will be able to ever let go! I'm going to be one of those really annoying moms that brag about their son and still shows everyone his picture even thought he is 40 yrs. old. I will never be able to except that he is not my baby but, if he keeps his promise he will be my baby forever and I will always be able to cradle him in my arms.

CONGRATULATIONS JAMESON!! WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chanel... Will you marry me?

I was driving to my moms house yesterday when I over heard the cutest little conversation between Jameson and Chanel. I love listening to them... when they aren't yelling and screaming at each other. I really need to do it more often. It went a little something like this....

James: Chanel, I really do love you. Even though we fight sometimes and I push you and you scratch me. Chanel... Will you marry me?

Chanel: Yes, I wuv you too Janeson.

James: You will have to ask mom how to make a wedding. She knows how, shes done it before you know.

Chanel: mmmhmmm

James: Ok, now we have to kiss......... They kiss Y
Chanel: Im going to be a pincess James?

James: Yes, and I am the prince. Or the king, I dunno. We need to make inbites! Mom makes those too. We have to inbite everyone we know! It will be so fun, with dances and candles!

Then they both started telling me everyone that needed to be on the inbite list and that I needed to make their inbites and write sooo nice so it looks beautiful! Of course I didn't have the heart to tell Jameson that he couldn't marry his sister. But, than again, it wouldn't be the first time it happened in Utah I'm sure!!

Happy Birthday Chanel!!

My oldest daughter is now 3... going on 16. I cant believe all my babies are growing up?! This year she will be starting school and all sorts of new things, and she is ready to take it all on. I don't think there is anything you can hand to this girl and she wont take it head on and with an attitude to top it all off! She is so much fun, there isn't enough I could say about Chanel. You may not understand all the words coming out of her mouth but she has a lot to say and she holds nothing back. She is determined to get whatever it is she wants in life, one way or another she will get it. She is the most wonderful person to be around and such a beautiful little girl. All her life she has had people look at her in awe because she truly is the most beautiful little girl inside and out. I love every minute I spend with her, it is an honor to be her mommy. She has to be the most demanding, sneaky, argumentative little girl but, she is also the sweetest, kindest, most grateful, outgoing girl too. She is so special and has so much to offer to this world. She makes me look at life in a whole new way and I love to be around her. Here are a few things I want to remember about my little Chanel...
How she talks!! I have so much video of her little conversation because she says such funny things!
The way she looks at me. Whether its a mad, happy or sad face. They're all so cute.
How she HAS to sleep with her 2 baby pillows.
She accessorizes everything!
She loves anything pink, she is so girly!!
When she gets mad and will throw things around then she picks them up and apologizes.
How much she loves her daddy.
How she yells at everyone, even if she doesn't know them?!
How nurturing she is. She wants so bad to be a mommy when she grows up.
When she calls herself princess Chanel.
She is so daring, she can do anything she puts her mind too.
How uncoordinated she is.
She NEVER watches where she is going.
She falls every 30 seconds.
She freaks out on bugs.
She freaks out when she has a booboo or whenever anyone else does and then insists on kissing it a million times.
How honest she is.
How funny she is.
When she cries she sounds like an ambulance.
The way she says taytoo (thank you).
She repeats everything I say
Her laugh is so contagious.

I love every little thing about Chanel, there is not one thing I would change about her (even though she is my toughest child) She really is something special and I couldn't imagine my life without her.
I love you Chanely belly!!! I look forward to everyday I get to spend with you. Thank you.

Goodbye Nate

Nathan Peter Slotboom
Nathan Peter Slotboom 1985 ~ 2009 Nathan Peter Slotboom, also known as Nathan Petersen, age 23, left this world May 3, 2009.Born August 17, 1985 to Leajean Warner and Steven A Slotboom, he leaves behind his parents Leajean, Steve and Diane and Special Stepfather Daniel "Boone" Petersen, his sister Chambret, brothers Brad and Quenton, loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, step brothers, step sister, nephew Branson, girlfriend Allison and Many Many friends. Nathan was a quiet, caring, profound, peaceful and unique individual who was loved by many! He sought peace in playing his musical instruments, listening to music, sketching and writing poetry. C.o.D. Preceded in death by Best Friend Tyler Sheehy. Please join us in celebrating Nate's life at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2009 Mountain Vista Methodist Church, 8931 South 3200 West. You may share condolences with the family at www.serenicare.com In lieu of flowers donations can be made at any TransWest Credit Union under the name of Steve Slotboom.

Zions

Last weekend we went to Zions National Park. I had never been, Ive passed by it but, never got down. I wish we could have seen more!! It was not easy hiking up these trails and taking shuttles carrying a baby in my belly, one on my hip and having Chanel who falls every 30 seconds stumbling her way up and down the trial and Jameson who is OBSESSED with anything that moves running off the trails to catch some weird bug or something. So we only got to see a small part of the beauty. I want to go back with leashes, strollers and backpacks for the kids. Maybe something to knock em out too so I can really soak it up! We all had a blast! On Saturday Rory went biking with some of my mom's friends that are up there. I don't think Rory knew what he was in for, these guys are EXTREME mountain bikers! He left about 9:30 am and didn't return back until 8 PM! They came back with one guy that had a broken arm and a girl that had smashed her face in. I kept thinking if that were me I would be bawling my eyes out and making Rory rush me to the nearest instacare so I can get the strongest pain killer available and then I would pout and whine about it until it was healed. Even then I might still whine some more! But NO these people continued on with the ride and then came back and CAMPED OUT ANOTHER NIGHT!!!! Crazy... Luckily Rory came back in one piece (I was a little surprised) and he stuck through it with the best of em! He even chose to go down a harder trail then the rest with one other nut job! I was very proud of him, and I would have told him that except I was a little irritated that he had dropped me off in a desert with 3 kids and expected me to keep them entertained by myself ALL DAY!??! Actually it wasn't that bad, between the Virgin River, frogs, bugs, ant hills, bikes, dogs and of course the luxury of have a TV and DVD player it was rather easy. Just exhausting is all. Sunday is when we went to Zions. It was my day and that's what I wanted to see. It was amazing (what we saw of it)! I cant wait to go back, I want to plan it out a little bit better next time because there were so many amazing trails we didn't even get to see. Around 4 we decided we should start heading home. We got everyone and everything loaded and the kids were completely exhausted so we thought this was going to be a piece of cake. We would ride home in complete silence and peace, without the whining and stopping every 5 miles to go potty. We got about 1 hour down the road when we heard a POP and the truck lost all power!! We BROKE DOWN!! So we inched our way into the nearest town, Cedar City and parked at a Checker Auto Parts for about 2 hours where Chanel managed to get her fingers smashed in the door and pee her pants at the same time. Then we were off to the Auto zone for another 2 hours where Jameson dropped one of the 4 dogs we were with on the baby and it scratched her poor little leg really good. It was so much fun!!!! In the end my mom came and got the kids and I. I got to ride in the very far back of her SUV (we ran out of seats ) with the dogs the whole way home!! We finally made it home around 1 am but at least we made it home!! Poor Rory stayed with his truck in Cedar City working on it all night. I felt so sorry for him!! He is such a hard worker. I kept saying lets go rent a hotel and you can hire someone to do it in the morning. But no, Rory was bound and determined to get it done himself! He made it home the next day, with a blown turbo and now a big fat bill. But he is still working on the truck, I don't doubt it will be running better than before in a few days. So that's it! It was so much fun and I highly suggest going to Zions!!!

**** HaPPy BiRThdaY RoRi AnA!!! ****

One year ago, right at about this EXACT time I was calling Rory to tell him my water had broke and our baby was coming and coming FAST! We didn't know what we were having so my bag was a little big, prepared with boy clothes, girl clothes, unisex clothes etc. And only one very tiny, itty bitty preemie shirt I had stuck in a couple of nights before this because I had a very strong feeling this baby wasn't going to wait until June 4th. So after shaving, doing some laundry and making sure the other 2 kids were taken care of we were off to the hospital. We got there about 2:30 and I told the nurse she should call my doctor because I was ready to push (of course she thought I was crazy and made me wait in the waiting room and never did get around to calling my doctor!) By 4:45 my baby GIRL was here!!! She was so tiny but perfect in every way. She weighed in at 5 lbs 13 oz. almost half the size of my first born. We were so thrilled to have her! Everyday she brings a smile to all of our faces, every time I look at her I still melt. She is such a sweet and sensitive little person that has so much to offer to this world. I love everything about her and feel so blessed to have her. She loves her family so much and she shows it to all of us all the time. I still cant believe it has been a year!? Time really does fly when your having so much fun! I just want to list a few things about her that I want to remember.... (you can skip this it might get kind of long)
I love how when she gets tired she will stick her fingers in her ears.
When she sleeps she will rub her blankies on her face.
When I ask for a kiss she always gets such a serious face and then leans in really slowly and gives the softest, perfect little kiss I have ever had. Like something on a movie.
How she yells at everyone and everything!
She screams every time I put her in her car seat like we haven't done it a million times before.
Watching her DANCE!!! She can dance like nobodies business!
She loves music, it always makes her happy.
When she gets sad she will pout about it forever and milk it for all its worth.
When she gets hurt its the end of the world!
She jumps at everything! She was even like that in the womb! She is constantly getting scared by some loud noise!
She is so ticklish.
How she twirls her hands and feet.
She squeaks!!! When she was a newborn she would do it and people couldn't figure out what it was. She still does it all the time but now everyone knows where its coming from!!
Her hugs. She squeezes so tight!
How she always wants to cuddle.
She always wakes up laughing.


Okay I could go on forever. I just don't ever want to forget anything about her. She is so special!! As I type this I can hear her upstairs waking up from her nap, calling me in her own little baby language she has. She is so happy and ready for anything!

Happy birthday baby girl! You made it a whole year, and in this family that is not the easiest thing to do. Thank you for letting me be your mommy. I love you Rori Ana!!

Whats been going on...

Just thought I would post all the fun stuff that has been happening around here.
The kids are all doing so great, getting bigger and smarter by the moment. Its a little scary because they know now how to get away with certain things or how to distract mommy or get each other in trouble. Things like that. They seem to know how to make a lot work to their advantage.
Jameson still amazes me everyday with some cute little saying or the advise he gives me, it always seems to make sense at the time and he really calms me down. He teaches me so much about everything!
Chanel is a doll, she cracks me up with how sneaky she is and the little stories she comes up with or the way she sees things. She too is so smart, she does not talk very well but if you take the time to understand what she is trying to tell you it usually it worth it! She will be starting school this year and she is very excited!! Everyday she tells me " when I tuwn free I will go to stool tay?! " She knows her birthday is soon and she cant wait.
Rori Ana is going to be walking soon, I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing? I want her to so she has a little more independence when this next baby comes but then again maybe I don't... That will just be more messes, trouble, distance and all that fun stuff for her to make. But still it is always a very exciting mile stone in their little lives. She is such a sweet old spirit, she is so kind and loving. I have never had a baby that will just cuddle with me for hours on end. She is very well behaved and has the funniest little personality that shows through more each day. She is also learning how to get what she wants from her older siblings and how to put them in their place! She is quite the little pincher, kicker, slapper and biter!! Kind of scary because she is so sweet one minute and the next your running for your life!! This next baby will have to be pretty tough to make it in this family.
The pregnancy is going great. I couldn't have asked for an easier pregnancy! I am just now starting to get asked if I am pregnant so I have stayed pretty small this time around. I don't think I am any smaller than I was with the others, its just that there are so many other women around me that are due around the same time so I find that people are comparing us. I don't mind being a little small, I will have plenty enough weeks of being enormous and completely uncomfortable! Just these past few weeks have I started to notice that I am unable to do things as easy as when I am my normal size. It has definitely taken its toll on me chasing my other babies around all day, I just hope I can handle it all okay when our next little girl joins in on the fun!!
Rory is doing wonderful! We haven't been more in love with each other than we are now. He is the most wonderful husband and father, I couldn't say enough about him. I am so lucky to have married my best friend, he knows everything I have ever done, every thought in my mind (even when I don't say it out loud! Kind of scary) and he never judges me or puts me down for anything. He truly does except every part of who I am, as do I with him! We have had our downs in life (and there have been a few in the past 11 years that we have know each other) but it always makes us stronger and hold on tighter. He is working so hard with his business and it is paying off! So far this terrible economy hasn't done too much damage on our living. He always pulls us out of whatever comes his way, and that is a lot to be pulling with 3 soon to be 4 kids and one very spoiled brat of a wife!! He is a good man and always willing to help others and can fix ANYTHING!!!!!
And lastly our puppies... I know you all probably think I am crazy to even put them in this post but they too are important parts of our family! Tweeder is skinnier, faster and weirder than ever! I love that dog and so does Jameson. Its almost freaky the way James and Tweeder are together. If one or the other gets into trouble they both take it so hard, same if they get hurt. When ever James is gone for too long Tweeder gets depressed and will run around like he is lost. They are best buddies!
Jazmine (our Great Dane) turned 10 on the 11th!!! That is almost completely unheard of in the Great Dane world! If I remember right the oldest one was 13? I will have to google that one though. She looks a little old and tired but she still has a lot of life in her. She has been with me since I was 14 years old and has seen it all. She was there for all my little teenage heart breaks, crushes, loves etc. She was there through marriages, kids, moving from one house to the next, not to mention the countless animals I have brought home and expected her to love!!! She has been here through thick and thin, I love her and will probably really lose it when I lose her. She really is the BEST dog ever!
Do G (Dojee) is such a STINKER!!! I love him too much too. He has fit right in and is the cutest thing I have yet to lay my eyes on. I am so happy I didn't listen to the smart logical side of me that was say no way to getting him. I'm glad I listened to the care free, risk taker side that said really whats one more??! He is a blast and is completely spoiled to the core. Rory has ever really enjoyed having him!! He carries him like a baby and kisses on him just like I do. And the kids love having another pup to play with, as does Do G. I just went to the vet with Tweeder and Do G to get their micro chips put in and Do G didn't even notice the humongous needle going into his neck because the vet had given him a treat. Tweeder on the other hand screamed his bloody head off for about 20 min!!!! They are all so much fun!
So in a nut shell that is our life for now. Uneventful but full of blessings. We are all happy, healthy and growing together! Every day I try to "count my blessings" but how do you when your really are so blessed? All I can do is thank the good Lord.

Spoiled ROTTEN!!

Rory has really spoiled me this year! He has made my birthday so perfect! It started yesterday when he took me shopping at the new Nordstrom Rack (LOVED IT!!!) I was wishing so bad that I was my normal size so I could go nutz! But I found a few things that are going to be great to wear this summer, anything to make me a little more comfortable is wonderful!! Then we were off to my next favorite store... COSTCO! I bought new plants and some big pots etc. Then we went tree shopping. It was all so fun! I know that sounds like a not so fun day to some but, to me... it was my kind of perfect day! Today he is taking me to the Sego Lily spa to get some massages, soaks etc.

CANT WAIT!!!

This will be me at noon today!!!



Then were off to the vet to take our dogs to get micro chipped and right after is Jameson's baseball game! Jameson told me this morning that for my birthday he will do whatever I ask him to do without fighting with me. Now that is a great gift! As good as you can get when your only 5. Chanel of course told me she would be nice and maybe after she was done with lunch she will listen??! Little stinker! At least she will be nice. Tonight for dinner we will be going to the new Harley Davidson store/restaurant in Timpanogos! I have never been so this should be fun!


My favorite gift so far is still my little Do G!! He has been a blast! He listens so well (when he wants to) and he always whispers sweet little snores in my ear which make my day! I have love him to death and he knows it. He takes full advantage! He is quite the little turd but, a cute turd!

Thank you honey for spoiling me so much and making my birthday special!!!! Thanks to my kids for telling me I'm getting old and they will maybe listen today! And thank you to everyone else who has wished me a happy birthday!! Oh! And thanks mom for having me 24 years ago today!! I know it wasn't an easy delivery or very much fun raising me with all the hell Ive given you over the years! Be happy Rory has to deal with me now...

Happy Easter!

Sorry we are so late on posting our Easter. Things have been crazy (as usual). I know I have mentioned on here how great my neighbors are, but... I have to say it again. I REALLY DO HAVE THE MOST AWESOME NEIGHBORS EVER!! We are all very close, a lot like family or some kind of happy little compound here in our circle. We all watch out for each others kids, dogs, toys etc... Everyday here is so fun! The kids play for hours on end and the dogs run themselves ragged and with very few fights in between which I think is great considering we have 6 dogs and 30 kids!! The moms sit around and talk, vent, tell stories, complain and exchange ideas or advise and we too have very few tiffs. So for Easter we decided it would be fun to do our own little Easter egg hunt. I know were kind of stuck up that way, but only the circle kids were invited! VIP ONLY! Anyway, it was a hit! Not everyone was able to show up because of prior plans, but for the most part we were all here! It was so fun! We did the hunt and then had an RC Willey style lunch with hot dogs, chips and lemonade! We must have ended up with well over 500 eggs in our backyard and so far we have only found 1 left over!

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Easter!!