Jaxten's Birthday 12/26/08

Poor Jaxten. He kind of gets jipped when it comes to his Birthday. I went into labor with him 8 years ago on Christmas day. We drove to Showlow in the middle of a blizzard. That's why his middle name is Snow. We wanted some kind of Christmas, Winter connection. I know, weird but I tell him that it means "Christmas Snow" the most purest of all Snows. We tell him it is to remind him to live a pure life. He didn't come on Christmas but was born at 12:30 a.m. The Nurse's name was "Noel" and the Anaesthesiologist had a big fluffy white beard and smelled like ham. The Nurse's put him in a red stocking and placed a Santa hat on his head. It was a Christmas Story we will tell him every year and share with his children someday. It was our "Special Delivery"

Anyways, when his Birthday comes there is no cupcakes at School, everyone is tired of parties and money has run out. Mom is just plan worn out to plan anything else. He usually ends up with a little money to run and pick out his own presents. He did remember that Grandpa Bill gives money for birthdays so he kept asking Macie and Brayden "How much money did Grandpa give you?" He was excited for that. We were suppose to have his Baptism the Saturday after Christmas and that even got postponed. We will have it on the 3rd of January. I know I should plan more but it's a hard one to get through. He just gets everything in a lump sum. Poor Kid!

We gave him a card with his own money and Granny came through and reminded Grandpa Bill about his Birthday. We made a cake and Aunt Leah and Uncle Sherod came down that evening. It did make it seem like it was a real birthday. He wants to go to the movies and celebrate when he is baptized. He is still little so we can sort of get away with it but not for long!! We are so thankful for our little guy and we are so glad we have him. He still lets us love on him and gives us hugs and kisses. We still need them even if he is a big 8 year old. We hope the hugs and kisses never stop but sitting on our laps to do it is getting a little hard, he is getting so big!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas with the Wiltbank's

Christmas was super this year! We spent the 23rd at Rusty and Amie's house. Every year we celebrate a different countries traditions. We have done this from the time we were little kids in the Bigelow home. We started with Italy and have gone pretty much around the World. If anyone is going some where special we usually host that as the country or place. We have done the States also. This year we did Italy again. I'm sure we have done that a few times. It was delicious. We ate and ate. It was too good!! We had fun choosing gift from a basket. We played lots of silly games. We missed a few family members but were glad that Shaelyn and Brian could make it all the way from South Carolina, they live a couple of hours from where Landon is right now in N.C. It is also my Dad's birthday so it is one big Celebration. I love getting together with my family. It's big, loud and fun! Just one thing is missing, Mom. Things will never be the same without her. We sure do miss her especially this time of the year. She made Christmas special.
Christmas Eve was spent with the Wiltbank's at Kami and Erick's home. They have a nice big home and we can spread out. Kami always is willing to share her home. We enjoyed eating Hawaiian haystacks and Root beer floats. We had fun with our White Elephant exchange. We've found out how to help the kids not have hurt feelings with the gift exchange...give bonafide JUNK! No out of pocket money, true junk from the house. It was fun to see what people were willing to get rid of. We decided to give stuff that wasn't even worthy of a yard sale and no one walks away wanting anything. It was great fun. Grandpa Bill shared a spiritual thought of Christ which set the Christmas mood right.
The kids had a hard time getting in bed. Excitement was to much. We woke to Santa coming. He did a good job and I think everyone was pleased. Macie and Jaxten both got guitars, I think we will now have a Wiltbank band. Brayden was happy with his own T.V. to play new Xbox games on and so are we if you know what I mean! The noise stays in his bedroom.
The greatest and best Christmas gift came at 8:00 am. We got our phone call from our missionary. It is the most wonderful thing a parent can experience, hearing your child's voice. We tried to talk and hold back tears. Landon sounded so good and happy. He said that he is having one of the best Christmas' ever. He said that the members have been so kind. He had to make 3 trips to his car on the Sunday before Christmas, just to load his presents from the members. He said that he now has his 2 year supply of toothpaste and deodorant. We were able to talk to his companion. They both sounded so good. That was the best gift of all!!

Springerville Ward Christmas Party

Well my new Church calling is Activities Chairman and it came shortly before Christmas. Needless to say I was very busy planning and buying. We did "Christmas Morning". It was a lot of fun. We served breakfast for dinner. It was YUMMY! I didn't realize how many people are like us and eat breakfast for dinner. We wore our jammy's and slippers. We had a nice program with the Show Choir singing. Macie and Kylee Wilkins sang 'Silent Night' for the closing song. They sounded beautiful. The Bishop asked if the girl's would sing for our Christmas Sacrament meeting. They did and it really added to the Christmas spirit.
Bart and Steph helped me with the decorating. It looked really cute. We did goody bags for the kids and had Santa come. It was great! Springerville ward is such a good ward, they really helped me out a lot. I asked Wendy and Troy Burk if they would help with the cooking. I didn't even have to worry about a thing. They all did such a wonderful job.

To start off the Christmas season, Stephenie Haycock, Valerie Price and I made tamale. We made over 400 of those little suckers! I guess we figured that wasn't enough of the mass cooking projects so we decided to do Chocolates too. We made so many dozens we couldn't even count. It was a lot of fun visiting, eating and listing to Christmas music. Our daughters joined in, whether they wanted to or not. They all were equally embarrassed by their mothers when we started to show them how to disco dance and do the 'Hustle'. That was after about 8 hours of working with tamales and we were completely exhausted and out of our minds!

This isn't Lucy's Chocolate factory!

Our little Tradition

Ever since we shared our first Christmas together, it seems like Bart and I started these little traditions. Kind of quirky but they have come to mean a lot to us and our kids. We started our first Christmas with putting all the Christmas lights on the floor, usually the end of November and we would dance to Christmas music. All of our kids loved doing this especially when they were toddlers. It seemed to get a little bigger each year and now has evolved into my family coming over and being made to dance...willingly, RIGHT? This year they came over on Thanksgiving night and we made popcorn balls and danced with sticky little hands.
The first year we had Landon, I thought I would make homemade ornaments for each year. I made a little family of bears. The next year the heads were broken off. Well Macie came along and her first ornament was a baby wrapped up in a pink blanket. I made it out of salt dough. I was going to put little black beads in for the eyes. I made holes and never got around to putting the beads in so we pull out this "eyeless" baby every year. I told Macie that maybe this was the year I would put the eyes in. She said "No you can't do that, I want to show my kids and have them ask me why the baby doesn't have eyes, and I'll tell them it never did." Can you believe that? The following year I cut these cute little wooden ornaments out and painstakingly painted for a week on these dumb...or I mean wonderful hand made creations. So much for homemade, the year after that I went and bought them at the store. Every year when we take them out or put them away, it involves some kind of super gluing so when I buy the ornaments I also purchase super glue. I usually keep the broken ones out, to fix, before storing. They get fixed in July. The kids have ended up with more than one for each year cuz it's so hard to pick just one when there are so many cute ones to choose from. I also have bought expensive Hallmark ones but they cost so much it limits the presents under the tree. So I usually buy them for "Special times", like once in their life time. Jaxten just can't seem to get why everyone else has more than him. He ends up in tears.
We have so many of these little treasures that they now have their very own tree. Yes, we have 2 trees in our small house. One to look pretty and the family ornament one. I do enjoy looking at all the different ornaments. They usually have a theme each year.
I thought it would be such a neat thing for the kids to take with them for their own Christmases. They probably will marry someone that will say "You're not putting those ugly ornaments on my tree!" Just my luck! I know Macie will want hers. She asked me "Mom, you'll still buy us ornaments after we don't live at home, won't you?" I said "No dear, I won't buy them, they will be hand made." NOT!

2008 Ornament

This year I found a pretty glass world. I marked Arizona with each of the kids names and then marked North Carolina with Elder Wiltbank's name to represent the distance we are from each other this Christmas.

Landon's Ornaments

Macie's Ornaments

Brayden's Ornaments

Jaxten's Ornaments

8 things - tagged by Mistie

Eight things I am passionate about:
Trying to live the Gospel more fully
Becoming a better Wife and Mother (Not that I am, I try!)
Getting my 2 younger boys to be kind to each other
Sleep
Clean House (TRY)
Getting my year supply
Making time for Bart
Getting Ready for Christmas and Ward Christmas Party

Eight words or phrases I use the most:
Be nice
quit it!
I'll do it in a minute
Holy Cow
That's funny
Did you get your homework done?
I love you
Dear Father in Heaven....

Eight things I want to do before I die:
See my Children go to the Temple and go on Missions (ONE DOWN)
See Bart find Happiness in his life
White Water Rafting
Go on the Amazing Race with Leah
Be able to load up one day and go see Kerri in the spur of the moment
Go on a Cruise with Bart
Get a new house
Be in the Temple with all of my Brothers and Sisters, and my Husband

Eight things I need right now:
Ice
Peace
Exercise
Medicine (I have a head ache)
Get a package ready to send to Landon
Pay bills (MORE MOOLAA)
Vacation
Hugs and Kisses (Bart just got home from being gone)

Eight places I want to visit:
Sacred Grove
Nauvoo
Ireland
North Carolina (See the People that influenced Landon on his Mission)
Nova Scotia (I love Ann of Green Gables)
St. George (Hang out with Esther)
Jerusalem
Alaska (Hang with my gal pal, Sara!!jk)

Eight favorite restaurants:
Booga Reds
Chipotle
Chili's
Joe's Bar-B-Q
Subway
The little Mexican Shack by the Laundry Mat, Cindy introduced me, YUMMY!
Java Blues
Macaroni Grill

Eight TV shows I watch:
Dateline
NBC News with Brian Williams
Amazing Race
Desperate House Wives (In my room with the Door shut so I don't get caught, I let Macie watch too. I'm a bad mother, see # 1 that I am trying to improve on!!)
48 Hours
Survivor
Reggis and Kelly
Who wants to be a Millionaire

Eighth folder Eighth picture: Easton, Leah's little boy


I tag: Cindy, Missy, Esther, Robin, Candice, Amie and Monica

There Baaack!

It that time of the year, Deer time. I love it! We wake up to beautiful deer in the yard. They always come so close to the windows. We can even see their long pretty eye lashes. It's always fun to welcome in the new fawns. They're so cute and their fur is fluffy. Bet ya didn't know that. I just wish they weren't so shy. I always laugh at the Hunters. They drive all over the Ranch to find the Deer and I tell them "Go out and do all your scavenging, then come back and sit on my porch and you'll get a nice Buck." I don't think I'd let them shoot them though, just with a camera.

Branding and Gathering time again.

It's always fun to watch these "REAL MEN" work. I use to love to go out and gather the Cows with them, something has changed. I still like to go out for a little while but I guess running back home to get the lunch ready just made me not want to go as much. And now getting the lunch ready has slowed down for me too. Thank goodness Grandpa Bill brought lunch meat this last time or I would have had some hungry 'Cowboys'!

Catching Up!

Jaxten was a "TUFF" Football player. I just let the boys have at it with their pumpkin carving, electric knife and all! My older kids would probably thought I'd gone crazy if I would have let them do that. I guess I'm mellowing with age or just plan worn out!

We need not Fear!

The Election

I'm a little sad, Yes, it did not go my way. I know we all are entitled to our own vote and I feel like mine didn't count! It was so hard to watch them declare our new leader when my state wasn't even done counting yet. Why even include the Western States? I think the Eastern side of our Country matters more. Yes, I am some what a sore loser. We will see... I guess this story will play out in the future, we shall see who was right or wrong. I am glad that prop. 102 at least past, I think if it didn't I would load up and move to Alaska, oh wait, that's in the US too...well at least I could hang out with my new gal pal Sara!! Oprah is no longer my gal pal!!

That's 'er Boy'eh!!

Okay, this is just a Proud Mom blog so I fore warn you...I saw 4 Missionaries at KFC today and could not keep my composure.(We have the Sisters' in our Ward) I'm a Missionary Mom! I was choking down my biscuit and could not stop the tears. I thought of my Wonderful Son, my first child, and what he is doing in his life right now. I remember when my Sister, Kerri's Son Heath, was serving. I was excited to hear about every moment but I didn't gush like she did. Now I know what a gushing M.M. feels like. It is something deep down inside, you really have to live it, and someday I hope you get to. It is an awesome feeling mixed with strong Motherly feelings. You miss them so much but have to be strong. You have to let them stretch their wings but still want to protect them. Then you hear about their wonderful accomplishments and can't be right there to share with them like you have everything else in their lives. You have so much pride in them but have to be humble because people get tired of hearing about you gushing or BLOGGING. I sat there until I got my composure together and then had to talk to them. Bart asked "Are you really going to go up to them?" I said "Hey, I'm a Mom of one of those and I have a right to impose!!" I walked right up to one of those boys and said "Whereyoufromdoyoulikeyourmissionisittoohotforyouhow'syourcompanionareyouokaydoyouneedahug?" I couldn't get the words out fast enough. It was like personally checking up on my Son. Bart asked me if I would ever want to just drive to N.C. to just stand back and watch Landon for a minute and then come home with out him knowing we were there. I said "Heck yeah!" Anyways,I could tell the Elder thought I was going to hug him because he kept his distance, you know I bet it's in the Missionary hand book to stay 10 paces away from any M.M., they could cause bodily harm and squeeze you 'til you have broken ribs. I walked out of KFC feeling like I just saw my Son for just a moment. Hum, I'm just wondering if this is how Lucy Smith felt about her first missionary, Samuel???

Mindy Gledhill

Kerri and I both thought this friend of Mindy's looked a lot like Leah while she was on stage. We had to take her picture.

Rachel, "Blond Leah" and Kerri. She was so talented!

All the Girl's, Rachel, Kerri, Emily and Emery

So much to learn....

What a great weekend! I feel like one can learn so much from another life and I was blessed to be able to go down and listen to Mindy Gledhill sing at a concert in behalf of Stephanie Nielson. Some of you might know who she is. She is the sweet young mother that has been fighting for her life in the burn unit in Phoenix. She and her husband, Christian were in a fiery plane crash in August. She has been in a drug induced coma ever since.
It was the sweetest thing I have been a part of in a long time. All the love that was shown to the Neilson family. Mindy did a great job, she is one of my favorite singers. She is beautiful and inspirational also.
Anyways, how it came about is I got a phone call from Cindy. She keeps track of Stephanie on the Nie Nie Dialog, a blog that Stephanie has done for a few years. She saw that her family was holding a Benefit Concert down in the Valley and asked if I would like to go. She said she wasn't even sure who was going to preform but it would be for a good cause to help support them. I said "Sure, sounds fun." She said "Good, I already bought the tickets!" I got off the phone and checked the blog and to my delight it was going to be Mindy Gledhill!! I looooove her and was more excited!
Cindy had bought extra tickets for our girls and since it was Sadie Hawkins, they wanted to stay home and go to that. So I asked my Sister Kerri if she would like to go. She said that her Daughter-in-law, Emily reads the Nie Nie Dialog and she would see if she wanted to go. When she found out she was excited and then Emery, Kerri's daughter wanted to join us too. It turned out to be a fun girl's night.
The Concert was so touching. Stephanie's little girls sang one of their mommy's favorite lullaby, there wasn't a dry eye in the auditorium. Sweet little sisters that have been through so much. They were holding on to each others hands and everyone was asked to joining in the last verse, needless to say, I couldn't sing because of the huge lump in my throat. A man next to us was doing the "ugly cry". He had tears running down to his lap. Cindy gave him a Kleenex, it was so sweet. They showed pictures of the Nielson family and of Stephanie, such a beautiful family.
After the Concert it made me think about what I need to change in my own life and how I can let those around me know how much I love them and become a better person. I know that this family has touched so many, I feel like Stephanie is such a inspiration, she is just a 27 year old little mommy, she probably never could have imagined how much her life would touch others but it has. She loves life, she adores her husband, and is such a good mom.
On the way home, Cindy and I talked a lot about what we have learned. I have learned that I want to be a little more....loving, kind, forgiving, spiritual, thoughtful, friendly and complementing. I want to be a little less....mean, demanding, grouchy, yelling, and sour! I know it won't happen over night but I need to try. It has really made me think of each moment in life and how it could matter to someone else.
I am always behind a camera when pictures are taken and so there aren't to many of me with my kids, Stephanie took a lot of self portraits with her kids on her lap. How important those pictures are now. It shows her love and beauty of her children. I always think...when I'm skinnier, make-up on, later. I always thought it was Bart's fault because he doesn't pick up the camera like I do, that is no excuse now. I know I need to do it simply for my kids, so they know how much I was a part of their lives. Someday, that might be all they have of me. I know that now that my mom is gone.
I know this has been a long and serious blog but It really struck something deep in side. If you want to know more about this family, click on the button that says "Nie Nie Dialog" you will truly learn something like I have! Love, Rachel
P.S. Thanks Kami and Ginger for taking care of my kids so I could go!!

A Rare find!

Bart and I decided to take a ride to see the beautiful fall Aspen trees. We started up the back side of Escadilla Mountain. Down lower on the Mountain is lots of pinon trees. I am always hoping that it might be the year for the trees to produce those wonderful pine nuts. It never seems to be the right "year" for about 15 or so years. I told Bart to stop and let me take a quick look and lo and behold it is the year!! If you are from the great AZ White Mountains you know what I mean. I have not seen these yummy nuts so plenty since I was a kid. We would gather them by the buckets. That has not happened for a long time. The reason, we need lots of Summer rain and I guess this past Summer was good to us. It is well worth the work of getting sticky pine gum covered hands. We found so many we called the kids to come find us and help. They were also excited, some to sit and eat our bounty and others to find the "right" tree. It brought back many fond memories of gathering pine nuts with my Grandma Bigelow and My Mom. I hope my kids will remember the fun day it was.I am remembering it from my sore rear, I did a lot of squatting that this ol'body isn't use to. Now I have the shells covering the house but oh well, it only comes once every 20 years or so.....

Ruff Ridin' with Bart and Jimmy

Our Temple Sealing

Thoughts of Jimmy

We were awakened Sunday morning with the shocking news that a childhood and life long friend of ours was killed in a plane crash, Jimmy Crosby. He grew up and decided Jimmy wasn't a man's name and went by Jim but we still called him Jimmy.
It was a very shocking and stunning bit of news for us. It is hard to wrap your mind around something that just shouldn't be. How could he be gone? He had much life to live being in his early 40's. He has 5 children that need their daddy. Bart sat and reminisced about knowing Jimmy. He first met Jimmy at the swimming pool when the Crosby's moved back to Eagar. He said he was one of those "Cocky Valley kids" and didn't care much for his "attitude". But that was Jimmy. He seemed to have attitude but it wasn't in a "I'm better than you" way, it was him. Did he not have attitude?Lol! Now we laugh about him. He was Bart's buddy that was always there in the mist of all boyhood adventures. Bart remembered getting stuck many, many times in the mountains with him, either in the snow, mud or on a mountain side. And there Jimmy was...Nobody else, myself included, wanted a days adventure where it consisted of work getting home but Jimmy would. I remember the day Jimmy came home from his mission, he had that streak of attitude and bleached his hair platinum blond. He looked like Billy Idol. His mom was so shocked and we didn't recognize him. We took him to St. Johns for his mission release and I thought "What is the Stake President going to think?" He was always living life.
He and Bart decided to have a grand adventure one day. They got an old car from someone and took it on the mountain. The car had no breaks, no engine, just the body and steering. Someone needed to be in to steer, so Bart talked Jimmy into it. I don't know how Bart talked Jimmy into getting in that car but he did. They started it on the top of a hill and pushed it and it went flying down the rode. Bart says that all he could see was Jimmy bouncing up and down trying to control that car...did I mention at the end of the rode was a cliff? Some how they managed to stop the car in time and then proceeded to push. It went sailing off the side of the mountain top. After their missions they went back to the car and tried to push it further. It still remains there. Bart could talk him into just about anything even a pair of pants.... We were at my parents home and Jimmy came and found us. My Mom was doing the laundry and left the clothes on the table. My Dad is quite short and Jimmy has those long legs. Bart talked Jimmy into putting on a pair of my Dad's pants "Just to see the leg size difference." Jimmy kept saying "NO, someone will walk in and see me and get mad." Bart kept saying "No they won't they're all in bed." Jimmy put on the pants and they looked like Bermuda shorts. We were laughing so hard. Jimmy was looking down and in walks my Mom. You should have seen his face. He was so embarrassed. I think that's the only time I've ever seen him so embarrassed. We all started laughing even more including my Mom.
As we got on with our own lives and started our families Jim was still there. He was someone that would always be there. He was a big support for Bart through his struggles and trials. Bart said that he had his family but would stop by and talk to him just to know someone other than his family still cared and was in his corner and Jimmy always was, no matter what. We decided he should have been a Lawyer instead of a Dentist. He was always a winner at any argument.
When he and Dian started dating he brought her to our house and I thought "What in the heck is he doing dating a 16 year old." She looked way to young for her age. They were a pair. She was someone that "Got Jimmy" and all his attitude.
Jimmy would come over with the crew in tow, the kids and Moses the dog. That dog was Jimmy to a tee. He was red and was a mix between a Rottweiler and a German Sheppard. He was just a quirky dog. He had one ear that was bent and one that stuck up. He was a rude dog I would say. The door would fly open to our house with Jimmy and the kids. They would shut it fast so Moses wouldn't come in. The kids would all head out back and play and Moses, who was huge, would stand on his hind legs and look through the front window to watch the kids in the back. When the front door was opened, in flew Big Ol' Moses running through the house looking for all the kids. We knew when Jimmy came that here came Moses. Jimmy finally taught him to stay in the truck but that became another problem because Moses then would just bark until it was time to go. He could be hear 10 blocks away, he was so loud. But that dog loved "his kids" and love being with Jimmy.
Jimmy and Dian invited us to go stay for a weekend in his cousins cabin up in Millegan Valley. It was such a fun time. We got up there in the dark and settled in for the night. The next morning we all got up and had breakfast and decide to go outside for a walk. We got to the front porch and had all these eyes upon us, Jimmy forgot to tell us that his cousin kept all of his Ostrich's up there. We couldn't even get off the porch. If we dared, we had them all chasing us. They would peck at anything, something in your hair, buttons on the kids clothes. It turned out to be a walk that was "run for you life" with kids screaming their guts out. We bagged the outside and stayed in doors for the rest of the time.
When Bart and I were Sealed in the Temple, Jimmy came all the way from Utah during School to be there, when anything happened he was just around. So It's hard to realize that someone has just stepped out of this life. Our biggest sorrow is for Dian and the kids. I know Dian and Jimmy had their struggles and pain but knew that it was because of hurt. We know that he loved her and his kids. His kids loved him. That's the one deep hurt. When they had Allison he was so proud. She was a spitting image of him. Red! Then came Brycan (Not sure how they spell his name)He fit in. Then all the others came. He was a fun dad. He would wrestle with them and I would think "Man he's ruff" but they just love it and would come back for more. He will leave a whole in their hearts I'm sure. So with all the memories we will always think of him living life as an adventure. He will be missed!

Homecoming

We had fun this past weekend. It was homecoming at good ol' Round Valley. Macie marched in the parade, the game was super, we beat Snowflake! And Macie looked beautiful in her red homecoming dress. Cindy and I painted her windows out side her shop, I think it turned out okay, from a distance. fun Fun FUN!!

Happy, Happy Birthday Landon Dear, Happy Days Will Come To You All Year. 9/26/08

We received a Wonderful call today from a sweet Sister that lives in Roxboro, Donna Holder. She said that she was having Elder Wiltbank and his Companion over for dinner. She made his favorite "Suppa" of Bar-b-q Pork Chops and a Birthday Cake. She sent us a picture of him on his 20th Birthday. The people of North Carolina are the kindest people. Landon has grown to have so much love for them. This sweet Sister had the kindest southern voice and hospitality. As his family, we appreciate people loving and caring for our son. What a fantastic experience this is for our family. This is the comment she sent to us along with his "Deer In The Head Lights" expression. Rachel

Elder Wiltbank is a blessing to all of us. We know that you are very proud.

- donna

This is My side of the Yard!

My Friend Robin put a picture on her blog of someones junky yard. I thought it was funny. I told her what I look at in my yard. I have my side and Bart has his. We need an HOA at the Ranch!

This is Bart's side of the yard, Robin do you want to be my HOA? I need it!lol

What the !@#*?

This is What I see in MY YARD! Bart thinks he is going to make some kind of water generator to make electricity.

I am not a pack RAT, or am I?

The other day I needed a cord for my camera that I knew I had stuck....SOMEWHERE. I started looking in all the spots I stash stuff, boy I've got a lot of stash places. By my bed in a basket, in a hat box on my dresser, in drawers etc. etc. I realize that I "save" a lot of stuff. As I'm still looking for the cord I come across a baby outfit that I still keep in my underwear drawer. It has special meaning because all 4 of my babies wore it and after I had Jaxten, it just permanently stayed there. It's the tie I have to my "Babies". I still pull it out once in a while and smell it to see if it has lingering sweet baby smell. I look in the Hat Box and find some rocks my Mom had saved forever because "They had gem stones in them and I can have them made into jewelry" she would say...so I can't part with them. Then I look in a little jewelry box I've had since I was a kid. I came across most of my mom's old licences she kept over the years. Her last one she said her hair was "White" I guess she finally came to terms with aging and quit coloring her hair and let go of being the forever blond. Yes, there were the pregnancy test I kept, the "Escort Tag" Bart's Dad wore when we went through the Temple 21 something years ago. Baby teeth that belonged in one of the kid's mouth, a picture of me when I was 3 that my Grandpa Norton kept in his wallet until he died, I was in my late 20's when he died. A Mothers day corsage Landon made when he was a Teacher in Young Men's. Many card's with sweet sediment. Gold tatting lace my Aunt Theresa made me for Christmas one year. The list goes on and on. I realize, maybe I am a Pack Rat after all. But don't ask me to get rid of one thing, I can't do it! They are my "Earthly Treasures"
When Bart's Mom passed away 13 years ago, we went through a Hope Chest she had made. It was full of stuff like that. We would pull something out and ask Kami and Kerri, "What is this and what did it mean?" Nobody knew. It made me realize my kids will probably think the same thing,"huh??". I think our "Treasure's" are so special and have a deeper meaning then the item it self. I guess it comes down to the people we love and the memories we have shared. What are some of your treasures? Please Share with Me! Rachel

Halloween Has Come Early At Our House!

We have a Jack-o-lantern living at our house. Jaxten has lost 3 teeth in one week. He's made a haul in money. He was hoping he would lose one at School so he could get a treat from the tooth box. He did! Yeah!!

Stinkin' Rotten Day!! 9/10/08

Okay, aren't blog's suppose to be about wonderful things. You know, sunrises, flowers, loving families and wonderful activities. Well this one isn't!! If you aren't in the mood to hear me gripe then you might not want to read this, I tell you, I give you fair warning!! What a crappy day! Starts off with Macie's truck breaking down, then the water to the house (We are on a spring, fed to the house and pumped in)decides to plug-up with roots. I know this because there is no water to help wash my mountain of stinkin' laundry. So I trudge up to the spring to see what I can possibly do to fix the matter. Bart always does this and I am impatient to wait the hour until his arrival home. I lift the home made million pound lid some man made never thinking a women would lift it!! I dig for roots. I can't reach them because the pipe is to far down so I have to lay on my belly to pull and dig. I am covered head to toe in stinkin' mud and muck. Finally I give in and try to use my toes. Hey it worked pretty good. I know I can now survive if my arms get severed in some farming accident. I get down to the house and still no water. Bart comes home and gets to looking and something has flushed through the whole water system and plugged every screen to every faucet and my washers. Yes I have 2 washers and they are going all the time!! Thank goodness I have a smart Husband! We pull washers out and get things rolling again.So I have to run back to town to get Macie's truck, stuck on the side of the road, luck has it, it starts. Well time for baths and late homework and..... then I hear this sound out side. I look and wouldn't you know it, it's our annual "digging of the porcupine quills" out of bunny. Dumb dog! I know I bragged about her in the past and how smart she is but how can that dog be such a stinkin'dummy when it comes to pain? We have to totally hog tie her down. There's blood and sweat and cussing, pliers and scissors involved. It is a horrible mess. Why Why Why? She does this every Stinkin' year!! Then it's bed time and Brayden decides it's time to figure out where he has lost/left his football pads. We make phone calls and nobody has seen them, tomorrow's his game. I finally crawl in the shower and get out and there is a phone call from my sister's. They must have felt I needed them because I unloaded. I'm not a crier but I tell you IT FELT GOOD! Thanks Kerri and Leah, you're always there when I need you. I'm glad you'll listen to me about my STINKIN' day. It seems like lately we trade off days, it was my day today. SEE I WARNED YOU! It wasn't no STINKIN' roses today!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

September Reflection

This is such a special and reflective time of the year for Bart and I. This is when we were preparing to become parents 20 years ago. All my life I knew that my roll on this earth would be to become a Wife and a Mother. I never had any doubt and I couldn't wait to have that first baby once Bart and I were married. I wanted so much to have a Son first. It just seemed to me that if I had a Son as the oldest, that he could be a strong example and strength to his siblings and that's exactly what he is, plus I knew how much Bart wanted a Son!
When I see the Sun start to shift and I feel the cool of the evenings, it takes me right back to that special moment in time. It's ironic that we were living here on the Ranch then and we have come full circle and are living here again. I remember waking up early in the mornings with Bart and he would build me a little fire so I could warm my big belly up. We would lay in bed and watch my belly move like I had cats in there or something, okay we were bored and didn't have T.V.
We LOVED our baby boy so much. Every thing he did was documented with pictures and video. His first real words besides daddy and mama, was "Har pray" hair spray. Why you ask? Because he was mocking his daddy. Bart said it to me and Landon had to say it too.
Bart couldn't wait for his baby boy to grow up. He wanted a buddy so much and that is what Landon was, his little buddy. Bart took him EVERYWHERE!! He would take him snowmobiling with a diaper bag in tow. He would even change him. Bart couldn't wait for the first "real" father-son camp out. He spent many cold mornings bugling for Elk, Landon could do it way better than his Dad and Grandpa Bill at age 3. Sometimes I would get nervous sending my little guy out but he had a daddy that took good care of him. Landon had so many mountain moments with his dad. That's where he grew up, at the side of his dad.
It is so surprising to me as the moments flew by; Baptism, Receiving the Priesthood, Passing the Sacrament then Blessing it for the first time, that was a hard one for this mom. Landon left out one word and had to say the Sacrament prayer over and over again. I wanted to absolutely cry for him. But he didn't give up and his Bishop knelt beside him and helped him. I'm sure those moments are what help build his character.
Landon was born to be a Missionary. We said that, the moment he was born! "We have a little Missionary" We bought him a suit and tie when he was little and I found a little "Future Missionary" tag. We were so proud of him. I just didn't realize how hard that moment would be to send him off. My heart was in my throat for days with the anticipation of the "Airport Goodbye". I know that Heavenly Father blesses a Mother at that time. He must or we would be running down the terminal after them bawling our eyes out!
He was so adored by his grandma's and aunt's. Kami loved all the hair he had so she had to dress him up as a little girl, I do say, he made a darling little girl, with his long eye lashes and curly hair.
He was such a good little boy. He was full of mischief but he was always so happy. He could be a rotten tease but that little grin was hard to get mad at. I would get mad at him and it didn't seem to fase him.
We just adored our first baby boy and he made us better people. He was the "trial child" We had to learn a lot about being a parents and made many mistakes along the way. I hope he will forgive us for the things we did wrong and build on the things we did right. It's just amazing how fast this little guy grew into a MAN! When did that happen? Where was I at when it went by? I know the day will come when He will be a Husband and a Father, I know it will surprise me because I still can't believe that our "Little Missionary" is fulfilling that role. He has been a blessing and a joy. So this time of the year brings much melancholy to us, as parents. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!! So Happy BIRTHDAY to US, Landon, because it certainly was!

Funny Bunny

I know I should write about something grand like my helpful children but I chose my DOG! I think Bunny is the funniest dog ever. She listens to me and minds better then my kids. This past Saturday Macie and I were trying to move her dead car so we could weed eat underneath it. We were pushing and pulling and giving it our all. Bunny came around the back to where we were. She watched for a second and I said to her "What are you looking at, get up here and help push." She did. She put her fat little paws on the bumper and tried to push then slipped off. I thought maybe it was a fluke so I told her to help us again. She did. Isn't she amazing? She does all she can to make me happy and minds so well. I just wish I could get my kids to do the same. Maybe then I would write about them and say they were amazing too!

Special Moment

This past Saturday was a special day for Brayden and Me. It was Brayden's first time doing Baptisms for the dead at the Temple. He was so excited. I decided I would go and do a session also. We drove over to Snowflake and had such a good discussion. It's so amazing that your children grow up and you can share such special experiences. I was so happy to walk up to the desk with him and realize that my child was in the temple with me. I think there is no greater feeling. Life has its moments and this was one of them. Afterwards we went to Showlow and had dinner. We talked about what was the greatest feeling. He said he was one of the last ones so he got to sit in there for a long time. He was excited that he got to stay in the font and wipe the glass down and help put the cover on. I can't believe how fast time goes, he's almost my height and will soon pass me. I need to really saviour these moments!

It's official!! School has really started!

Okay, it's official. I don't feel like School has really started until you have to drag a 40Lb. Kid out of the car and throw their shoes in the bus while you try to pry their hands from the bus bars while the cute little bus driver is trying to put shoes on a child that is flailing their feet in the air. YES, SCHOOL HAS STARTED!! Weight loss, work out, this IS my WORKOUT!!

School Starts, Whoo Hoo!!

It's Friday and I'm thinking "Where did the first week go?" I do have to say it was a great week. Tuesday night was the first "School night". It was a challenge to get kids to bed after being on summer schedule. We did it! Then I get this late night phone call and I'm thinking "who is that?" Not even putting the thought of Kami and Erick. I hear this frazzled voice on the other end and realize it's Erick and something about contractions and leaving for Showlow and all that! I thought I'd call Kami back and see how things are going and I hear her friend, Ross Masey's voice. She said they left and I realize it's for sure this time. I jump in the car and drive to Showlow and we wait for Brooklyn to make her grand appearance. And we wait, and wait. Then finally she makes it. I am always in awwe when I can see a baby born. Kami did so good. She is amazing. Erick and Kami are my example of being a great family and teaching their children how to be good people. Brooklyn came into the world all eyes. She just looked around. She is adorable. We haven't had a girl baby in the Wiltbank-Wright family for so long. It will be a fun experience, again! I will save all the details for Kami so go read her blog.
School, of course took a back seat to all the excitement. Macie starts her Senior year, Brayden is a 7th grader and Jaxten is in 2nd grade. We have a strange morning schedule. Macie has to be to school by 7:00 for Show Choir practice and the boys catch the bus at 6:30, so Macie drives them to the top of the hill and puts them on the bus and then heads off and the boys ride the bus for a while. I know it's a weird plan but I guess it will have to work.It's part of the "JOYS" of living out of town. If Macie took them, they would get to School way to early and with gas the price it is, I don't want to take 2 cars in. So that's the plan. I know Jaxten's going to fight it once it gets darker. He cracked me up. We were going to the open house and I said "School is starting Whoo Hoo!" and he said "It's not Whoo hoo for me!!" Once he met his teacher and saw the gold fish in their room it was alright.So I guess it's off to the races for all of us mom's, right?

Here's Brayden's Stitches

Brayden's arm is healing good. His stitches look really good.They are a little red but not bad. This is the first time we have had to deal with stitches, I'm sure it won't be the last. He starts football practice tomorrow and it's going to be hard on him because he can't play until the stitches are out. We bought him some cleats this past weekend and he has worn them every where. It's going to kill him to watch the other boys playing and not being able to participate.
We got our school shopping done this last weekend....boy I'm glad that's done!! I don't like it and I don't like watching the money fly out of my wallet. It seems like each store wants more money and I don't think that the stores are giving us much of a break as far as the sales go. I didn't find very many sales and Target was totally picked over. I think I found more sales on the Internet and coupons. You can google "coupons" and find quite a few and most places have free shipping. The only problem is the trying on. That's my tip for the day.