Haystack Ranch

We took a weekend trip to the Smart's Ranch.
The boys are wearing some buttons they got from Dairy Day's^ (Clayton's button says Future Dairy Producer).

Marlee loves dirt roads- no seat belts required and hanging with her dad.


It snowed a lot while we were there-it was so beautiful. Laun and Josh^

The lilacs were in bloom.

I love snowy mountain tops.

Laun wants to climb Haystack Mountain, so we will do that tomorrow^


Laun and I went on a kid free drive (thanks to Misty) and got some pictures of the snow.

I thought this cactus looked funny growing out of the side of the mountain.









Birdie fell asleep on the kitchen counter while Misty and I were cooking.

This morning Laun and I hiked up Haystack Mountain with our boys and the Smart's boys.
Here is a view of their ranch part way up the mountain:

Laun got Porter up the mountain part of the way with his rope. He put the rope around Porters belly and Porter held on and climbed up. Porter was having a hard time hiking because he was in his slick cowboy boots (his tennis shoes were wet).


Another view of the ranch-you can barely see it:

There was a decent amount of snow on the top of the mountain.

the boys^


We ate plenty of snow.



Oh look, a picture of me-proof that I really was there:)


I love how the smart boys look like twins-matching jackets and hats, and they were even holding their ropes the same way.



The Smart's goats got away, so we brought up the dogs and ropes in hopes of finding them. Pretty soon we heard the dogs barking like crazy and waa-laaa, goats. Too bad they were over a cliff. Colten roped them and Laun pulled them up-thank goodness no one fell!

goat one^




goat two^

The dogs were going nuts and these ^boys just couldn't hold on to them any longer. I was the lucky one who got to take 2 dogs down the mountain-we didn't want them loose because they kept harassing the goats.

goat catchers^

We enjoyed lots of good food. The pretzels and nacho cheese were a big hit and Misty's adobada always hits the spot.


We picked out a cute puppy for the Allen family on our way out. Marlee held her most of the way home. She kissed and smothered that puppy with love. I told her it was Gabe's puppy and that upset her, but I had to prep her so she wouldn't freak out when we gave them their puppy.

It was a very relaxing weekend and nice to get away.

UofA Dairy Days [aka ditch day]

Laun helped out with the UofA Dairy Days, held at Shamrock Farms, in Stanfield. Rachel Allen and I had our kids ditch school and headed out for a day of fun.

It was a very windy day, but the temperatures were awesome.

The jumping castle was a huge hit and Marlee joined right in with the big kids.

As I was jumping with my kids a lady came over and asked where are parents were-haha. I told her half the kids were mine and gladly took that as a compliment:) I haven't gotten a comment like that for awhile and was starting to feel too old.

We went around to all the different booths and loaded up on lots of free stuff, all while rocking out to the great country music they played. Rachel and I almost busted out with our dance moves when they played the Cotton Eye Joe song, but we decided not to embarrass our husbands. I started dancing a little and Clayton was telling me to stop, he has no idea how cool his mom really is;)

Marlee ruined her cute little cow in seconds-maybe she didn't realize it wasn't a chew toy.

The kids loaded up on candy, cookies, flavored milks, pens, hats, and so forth.

The popcorn and lemonade was Marlee's favorite and mine was the coated almonds and free got milk? shirt that I scored for Laun.

We visited the little store and this is one of the few times that I have ever bought something from a gift shop-a cow cookie cutter. I can't wait to make them for FHE next week.

Rachel's girls got an ice cream cone toy where the to pops off-they thought it was great fun to get each other with that trick.

They had a yummy lunch and ice cream sandwiches- kid heaven. Everything was free- mom heaven.

We took the Roxie Tour and there was never ending cows. It was cool to see and learn about the process of how the milk gets from the cows to our table.

Marlee and Gabe kickin' it on the tour bus.

This was my favorite part of the tour-you watch the cows come in and get milked, they are like clock work. They always come in the same order for some reason-the tour guide was guessing that they like to stand by their friends:)





At the end we got to feed the baby cows. This was nothing new to my kids or the Allen kids since they have had lots of chances to feed cows in their days.


It was very windy on the tour and it was making Porter's shirt puff up, he liked looking "buff."



Porter had so much fun sitting on the tractor with Laun.

We found Clayton Road:

We had a great time and hope we can go to next years Dairy Day's. Then we headed out to the Smart's Ranch for the weekend.

4 years ago today we said goodbye to our sweet Cooper

Cooper passed away on April 5th, 2007. The day before he passed his big brothers were allowed to go into the NICU to say their hellos and goodbyes to their baby brother. They were able to touch him and Laun held Clayton and Porter up so that they could give Coop a kiss. Porter touched Cooper’s tiny toes and sang him-This Little Piggy went to Market. It was a tender yet sad time for our family. It was the only day since Cooper had been born that we were all together as a family. Late that evening I received a phone call from the NICU, a call you never want to receive. We were told to get there as soon as possible because it probably wouldn’t be long before before he passed away. My mom and sister Rachel were at home with our boys and Laun and I rushed over to UMC. For the first time we were able to hold him in our arms without any tubes in his mouth. They took everything out except for one IV in his leg-they left it in so that he would feel no pain. Laun and I held him as his heart stopped beating. He passed away in the early morning. It is very strange to me that one minute someone can be alive and that the next minute they are gone. It also amazes me that the spirit can not dwell in a body that has stopped working. We held him for some time and then headed home, empty handed. It was surreal then and sometimes it still feels unreal. How did we manage? How did we breathe? How did we survive? It was all because we had the sure knowledge that we would hold him again someday and had the support from loved ones. We love you Cooper and are thankful that you are part of our eternal family.

good messages...

I received an email from my Grandpa^ Turley with some quotes he recommended reading. I really liked them and I especially need to work on the first one (use time wisely).

Time - John Longden, Conference Report, April 1966Today is here. I will start with a smile, and resolve to be agreeable. I will not criticize. I refuse to waste my valuable time. Today has one thing in which I know I am equal with others - Time. All of us draw the same salary in seconds, minutes, hours - 24 golden hours each day. Today I will not waste my time, because the minutes I wasted yesterday are as lost as a vanished thought. Today I refuse to spent time worrying about what might happen. I am going to spend my time making things happen. Today I am determined to study to improve myself, for tomorrow I may be wanted, and I must not be found lacking. Today I am determined to do things I should do. I firmly resolve to stop doing the things I should not do. Today I begin by doing and not wasting time. In one week I will be miles beyond the person I am today. I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different. I will stop saying “If I had time” for I never will “find time” for anything - If I want time I must take it. Today I will act toward other people as though this might be my last day on earth. I will not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.



quote by Spencer W. Kimball (Ensign, May 1978, p. 4.):

‘I urge all of the people of this church to give serious attention to their family histories, to encourage their parents and grandparents to write their journals, and let no family go into eternity without having left their memoirs for their children, their grandchildren and their posterity. This is a duty and a responsibility, and I urge every person to start the children out writing a personal history and journal.’

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My thoughts from conference:

I really loved watching General Conference this weekend. It always gives me the boost I need and the encouragement to be better. To watch/listen to it, go here: http: //lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/04?lang=eng

Some of my favorite messages were:
-Don't take offense, forgive, forget, and leave it alone
-We need faith because difficult things are in the future and we will be tested
-Kindness is the essence of greatness
-The answer doesn't always come when we are on our knees, but on our feet
-Teach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words
-It is usually through another person that He (Heavenly Father) meets our needs
-Many times challenges prepare us for what is to come
-Growth cannot come by taking the easy way
-We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us
-Be kind to the poor
-Be self-reliant, avoid debt, be thrifty, know the difference between needs and wants, etc.
-Going to the temple is worth every sacrifice
-Teach your children of the importance of the temple

A therapeutic drive

It has been a great Sunday, we watched General Conference and had lunch and dessert at the Allen's home. Then we watched Tangled (love that movie) and went on a family drive. Laun and I love going on drives, I think it is therapeutic or something.

We drove up this same mountain when Cooper was in the hospital. Things were not going well and I was starting to face the reality that he probably would die. We needed to get out and clear our minds. I remember sitting and watching the boys hike (I just sat because I was healing from a c-section) and looking out into the city. I remember thinking that I would have to face this world without my Cooper. Life would have to go on. Cooper would never go on a family drive with us (well at least not in this world), camping, or on any of our adventures. I was heartbroken at the reality and harshness that life sometimes brings. It made me so thankful for my other boys health and the opportunity we have to raise them and love them. We are so blessed. And now we have another child to love on-Marlee is a ray of sunshine. I love my kiddos. I love family drives. I love mountain views. I love this beautiful world. I love my life. I love General Conference and the Prophet. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.







We saw this big owl-too bad it flew away before I could get a decent picture.

bath tub

To the Fathers in Israel

Awhile back (Dec 21, 2009) I posted some information that I found in a pamphlet called: To the Mothers in Zion. It was 10 ways to spend time with children (as a mother) and I also had one for fathers, but I couldn't find it anywhere. The other day I was organizing some boxes in my closet and...I found it! It is from an address given by Ezra Taft Benson in the Priesthood Session of General Conference on October 3, 1987. It is in a pamphlet called: To the Fathers in Israel. The whole pamphlet is amazing, but I am just going to share part of it, the ten tips Ezra Taft Benson gives to father's.



Ten Ways to Give Spiritual Leadership

1. Give father's blessings to your children. Baptize and confirm your children. Ordain your sons to the priesthood. These will be spiritual highlights in the lives of your children.

2. Personally direct family prayers, daily scripture reading, and weekly family home evenings. Your personal involvement will show your children how important these activities really are.

3. Whenever possible, attend Church meetings together as a family. Family worship under your leadership is vital to your children's spiritual welfare.

4. Go on daddy-daughter dates and father-and-sons' outings with your children. As a family, go on campouts and picnics, to ball games and recitals, to school programs, and so forth. Having Dad there makes all the difference.

5. Build traditions of family vacations and trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children.

6. Have regular one-on-one visits with your children. Let them talk about what they would like to. Teach them gospel principles. Teach them true values. Tell them you love them. Personal time with your children tells them where Dad puts his priorities.

7. Teach your children to work, and show them the value of working toward a worthy goal. Establishing mission funds and education funds for your children shows them what Dad considers to be important.

8. Encourage good music and art and literature in your homes. Homes that have a spirit of refinement and beauty will bless the lives of your children forever.

9. As distances allow, regularly attend the temple with your wife. Your children will then better understand the importance of temple marriage and temple vows and the eternal family unit.

10. Have your children see your joy and satisfaction in service to the Church. This can become contagious to them, so they, too, will want to serve in the Church and will love the kingdom.