Birthday Fun with Ireland

Irelands 1st birthday was so much fun! We loved watching her dig into her cake, open and not share her presents, and just laugh and giggle at all the kids who came to her party.

Although I was pretty tanked by the end of the fun day with Ireland, it was all worth paying the pain price for it! We loved spending time with her and watching her have so much fun on her big day!

Her birthday P'J's

Matching P.J's with her baby

Ireland blowing kisses with me on the Merry Go Round

So excited to eat her cake!

I can really eat all this???

Sharing with her mommy!

Kaylee displayed her cute 1 year old pictures in this cute frame

Kaylee made this cute poster for Landee and then had it printed

My Favorite picture of Ireland eating her cake!

Cake is done and ready to play

Look uncle J'Dee got me camo from cabelas

YAY she loves her new babies

Cant wait to play with her six new babies

I love my new ride!

Irealnd loves when her cousin Bently pushes her

But Ireland hates to share with cousin Avery haha

Ryland and Ireland having fun

Aunt Niah playing with Ireland

Happy 1st Birthday Ireland! We Love You!

Today was my sweet little Ireland's first birthday! I can't believe its been 12 months since she was born! I never knew being a grandma would be so much fun! I know the Lord knew our family needed this little angel at this time in order to bring light and love into a very challenging time in our lives! Without this little bright ray of sunshine we would have never been able to navigate our lives through our families difficulties this past year!

Ireland has spent many days at our home this past year and with that she has brought with her giggles, smiles, and much laughter and in turn has helped everyone in our family. She has been the best pain reliever, the stress reducer, and brought love and light into our family! She has given more to us in her short 12 months of life then we would have ever hoped for.

She is my special little grand baby and her and I have a very special relationship. I love when she squeals with delight when she gets to our house and then cries when she has to leave! This little sweetheart has truly been an angel sent from heaven to bring such love and joy into our home!

Happy Birthday Ireland

Little Diva

So Sweet!

I am done with Pictures!!!! HAHA!

From Powder Puff to Princess

Today Niah had such a fun date going to her first formal dance. She looked so beautiful and had so much fun on her Homecoming date today. She went to the zoo during the day,  had Italian food for dinner, and then on to the dance. When did dates become the entire day long!

Here are some pictures from such a memorable night for her.

Such a beautiful girl waiting for her date to arrive.

From Powder Puff Football to Princess all in the same week!

Josh and Niah had a great homecoming date today!

So fun!

Playtime With Ireland….

Today we spent the day with Ireland…Here are just some fun pictures we took as we spent time playing with her! Who knew being  Grandparents would be so much fun! Love this time with Landee!

Birthday Shopping at Toys R Us

Playtime with Grandpa and Grandma

NIah's….Football Debut!

What a fun week it has been for Shaniah. It was homecoming week for her high school. She loves to be involved in any sports that she can. Not only is she doing the swim team, the lacrosse team, but this week she chose to add powder puff football to her already busy schedule.

She had so much playing with and against girls from her own school. She loved being a part of all the fun. There team lost the first game and then went on to win the next four which allowed them to play in one of the championship games in the big stadium under the lights. She played offense and defense and never came out to rest much at all.

It really did not matter to her what place they took but only that she was able to play under the lights in front of the entire school. She loves to be athletic and is a very competitive player in what ever she does.

But by the end of the night she had three huge bruises the size of a softball on her thigh, knee, and shin. She could barely walk, and was extremely sore and tired. I wanted her to come home but the high school fun was calling her name and she went on to the homecoming festivities right after her game!

Teens have non-stop, never-ending energy! It makes me exhausted just watching her! But boy would I love to have some of that non-stop energy! haha!

Here are some pics from her football debut! LOL

Niah and her friends!

Defense

Aggressive Girls….

Niah…having fun being held by her team mates!

Peace from the Temple….

So today my hubby had work off and once the kids were off to school and work we both decided it was time to go to the temple this week. I was super excited to go even though there was a huge storm coming. I told him lets hurry and get there before I start hurting to bad!

Once we got there it was really amazing! I opened the scriptures and found just what I needed to hear today. I also learned a great deal in the temple today about not worrying about our teens and their current challenges. I learned that we were sent here to this earth to be tried and tested and were given the agency to choose for ourselves. If we, as parents try to take away that agency then we are following satan's plan which does just that. We must allow our children the opportunity to use their free agency even if that means making wrong choices. I was reminded that this is how we grown and learn right from wrong, and good from bad. If we try to shelter our children we are not allowing them to learn the things the  Lord wants them to learn.

Today in the temple my hubby and I were asked to be the witness couple. We had a couple sets of missionaries in our session. After the session was over, a couple of sister missionaries game over to us and told us they saw us in the session. They asked for a ride to the store. They told us they did not have a car and were so grateful they did not have to walk in the rain. We asked if we could take these sisters out to lunch, they agreed and once again they were so appreciative.

We had a great day talking with them and learning all about them. In fact, one of the sisters was a convert 2 years ago from the exact same area my husband served his mission in 27 years ago. They enjoyed talking about Florida tougher. The other sister missionary had bee trying to decided how to get into LDS Church Security after her mission. When she found out that was were my hubby worked she asked the in's and out's about it and was tickled pink to be able to have a direction to go in after her mission.

I believe we did not run into one another just out of luck or fate. We were meant to be there at the same time as these sisters, as they are not allowed to go to the temple but every 3 months on transfer day.

How thankful we were to be able to take these sweet missionaries out to lunch and share our testimonies with them and they with us. Plus, not to mention, the sweet peace and comfort we both received on behalf of our kids and knew as we put our trust in the Lord and his plan for each of them, they will make it through and learn what it is they are to learn from Him.

Family 4-Wheeling FUN

After Family Home Evening we love to go on a 4-wheeler ride just behind our house as a family. Ireland is even becoming addicted to this activity! 

Here are some pics of all of us… I think we might need another 4-wheeler soon. Our family is growing! But bring it on.. the more the merrier I say!!!

Getting ready to ride…

Ireland, Kim, Stacie, Shainah, Kaylee and Andrew

J'Dee waving to Ireland from his truck

Ready to Roll….