what happened to the last 3 years????

So, something hit me today, and I realized it was harder than I thought it would be. As I was dropping Jackson off to nursery today, I realized this would be his last sunday going to the nursery.....next Sunday, my youngest would graduate to SUNBEAMS!!! NOOOOOOOOO I thought....wasn't it just yesterday Thad was driving an anxious me to LDS hospital as I was in hard core labor with who I knew would be Jackson? Wasn't it just yesterday, I was receiving a blessing from 2 young men who reminded me of my sons as I was panicked and worried about having a c- section? Wasn't it just yesterday after that same blessing, the doctor said let's give it one more try before goin to the OR and a beautiful, blonde, baby boy came into our lives? Wasn't it just yesterday he was whisked away, because of the long labor and the knots that were found in his cord? Wasn't it just yesterday that he was placed in my arms for the first time as I stared in "awe" at this beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed fair sking boy who looked just like my dad when he was a baby? Wasn't it just yesterday that he was learning to talk and said up for Yep??? Wasn't it just yesterday that after nursing forever, I said "I sometimes feel like a cow" and he looked up at me and said "moo" (that is a true story!) Wasn't it just yesterday he was going into the nursery for the 1st time as he just ran in and started playing, only to start crying everytime I took him in 2 weeks later!! Wasn't it just yesterday we would sit and "nurse" him to sleep? This year seems like big changes for this little (big) guy!!! And most of it in the last couple of months...He turned 3 in October and he was weaned of nursing a week later, got potty trained a month after that, and now moving on in nursery at church!!!! Awwww....time is a bittersweet thing....it heals wounds after we are hurt, but it also seems to slip away from us with a blink of an eye!!! It has done that a lot this year to me with Holland going to Kindergarten, Jackson going to preschool, my son getting married, and my other becoming a father, and Valerie being a senior in High school!!!!! So I'll end with one of my favorite quotes.....Time.....the most valuable thng a man (family) cand spend. Amen to that!!!!

Awesome templeate grand opening! check it out!

Check out the Grand Opening of Envision Image Design for a free downloadable Halloween Card template and to enter to win great prizes! http://www.envisionimagedesign.blogspot.com

She is awesome! She is the one who did Tyler and jen's photos! Now you can go download this halloween card template for free!!!! :)

Who am I? What was I sent here to do?

What a happy day!!!!

I can't believe Michael and Bunny are parents!

me and my buddy!

Girls night out at the nutcracker!!!

loves from my cuddle bunny!

I'm soooooo grateful for the chance to raise God's children!!!!

I have been contimplating so much this past couple of years of what I want to do with the rest of my life! I have been at the same job for 15 years....and it really isn't something that I aspired to do my whole life! For 3 years, I have been really praying and soul searching of what my Heavenly Father sent me here to do. I have toyed with many different fields to go into. I really wanted to do lactation consulting, and really thought that it was "working" out. I had an opportunity this past year to train with a lacation consultant through my work. I was so excited! But my hopes and dreams were smashed down, when my boss basically told me it wouldn't work with my schedule. There are many other things that don't work with my schedule either....and those are much more important things.....being with my family!!!! I was thinking tonight what I wanted to post on facebook, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks!!!! I don't need to be searching anymore as to what I was sent here to do....I KNOW what I was sent here to do......well I probably don't know ALL that I was sent to do yet, but I DO know one thing and that is I was sent here as a daughter of God to be a mom to some of his most precious spirits.....It amazes me to think of the trust He placed in me from the first time I held each one of my beautiful children right after they came into this world to now.....in the different stages of thier lives....I feel like I have missed so much working outside of my home for the last 15 years....Don't get me wrong....Primary Children's has been my home away from home...i'm grateful for the opportunity that I have had to meet and work with so many wonderful people, but I long to be at HOME. My greatest happiness comes from the walls of our home...from hearing I love yous from Jackson, to getting silly and sweet notes from Holland, to sending my beautiful Valerie off on a date, to coming home to a clean refridgerator cleaned by Catherine as a suprise, to being able to watch my grandbaby smile, to watching my son's marry wonderful women in the temple......home is WHERE my heart is....and I know that it is where my role is! My prayers now will shift from what should I study in school to how can I BE at home more often....I'm not sure when the Lord will answer that prayer, but I know that He will answer it......not sure if it will be a means for me to quit my job, or maybe get less hours, or maybe even find work closer...I don't know the details yet....but I'm confident that the Lord hears and answers all prayers.....in ways that sometimes we can't comprehend. But for now...I will try to be patient.....and continue to enjoy the moments that take my breath away, or make me laugh, smile or cry....I love this life and journey that my Father in Heaven has given me! :)

Valerie's Junior Prom 2010!!!!

wasn't it just yesterday she was Holland's size???

valerie and james in front of the hummer limo!

the princess and her daddy!

so beautiful!

the girls showing their shoes!

Ok....so here is the deal. Valerie got asked to the Stansbury high school prom by this really great guy named Richard...a really great guy, or so we thought....about 2 weeks before the prom, he un-invited her.....I didn't even know you could do that!!! Well...the momma bear came out in me and I sent him this "message" on facebook telling him I thought he was better than that, and my huge disappointment....he responded and apologized, but just couldn't take her right now because he wouldn't have a good time trying to keep her ex-boyfriend away.....likely excuse, but oh well...I told him he wasn't good enough for her anyway....it was ironic, about 2 weeks ago, he sent her a text finally apologizing for what he did.....I was glad he finally at least apologized, but guys....if you are reading this, or if you have teenage boys.....PLEASE>>>>>don't EVER do that to a girl! The problem was is she had turned down another guy because he had asked her after Richard did!!! sigh...well....she got asked like a week and a half again by a kid named James....he came and put a huge box full of shredded paper in her room and she had to pull out the ripped out paper that asked her to the prom! He seemed like a nice kid too....He ended up being "ok"...(hey I'm picky! If any of you have daughters, you will know that it is hard meeting the standards of a mom!!! ) So we went prom dress shopping the week before....we found this GORGEOUS dress on ksl.com....a girl in bountiful was selling this "Cinderella" type dress.....$250 later, we bought it....that was the first and last dress she tried on....it was like it was made for her!!!
So I think she had a great time for the most part....the day date was little weird...they went up the canyon...and I forgot to mention, he bought his ticket, but made her buy hers!!! What kind of cheap date is that? I guess I'm old fashioned!!! So anyway, they went with a group of kids....valerie was really uncomforable because the girls didn't like her....but she didn't let it ruin the night. She was by far the prettiest!!!!..they got a hummer limo!!!! They ate at rodezio grill....good thing she took her money because he didn't have enough for both of them, but at least he tried!! ;) He did buy their pics so that was good....They like only got to dance once and then they went to one of the girls houses for an after party....All in all she had a good time, but I hope this senior year one totally knocks her off her feet! She deserves to be treated like a princess......so all you princes out in Tooele.....I'm starting to take applications to take my daughter to the Prom! :)

Thad and Susan are Grandparents!!!!! (yes...I know I'm posting this late!)

Tyler admiring his new newphew

Bunny...the proud mommy!!!


Grandpa Thad holding the one day old mirace!

Proud papa Michael...he couldn't stop smiling!!!

hee hee...I love this little expression!!!!

Ok.....I had really intended on blogging at LEAST once a week....as you can see I haven't updated this since December!!! That is unacceptable!!!!!k.....sooooo I'm going to try to catch up....one event at a time...they may not be in order, but hey....being 7 months overdue...who cares????? The event I'm choosing to first put up is the fact that Michael and Bunny are the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy Eli Michael Cheatham, born April 29, 2010, at aprox. 6:01 p.m. He was 7 pounds 15 1/2 oz, and I think was 21 inches long...I'll have to edit this when I find out I'm wrong....( that is what you get when you don't do this when you are supposed to!!) He was/ is a beautiful baby, and we have had such fun with him!! I just can't believe Thad and I are grandparents....but yes, it is the best thing since having our own children!!! What is even funnier is the fact that he has a 5 year old aunt (Holland) and a 2 year old uncle (Jackson)!!! So funny!!! We had a lullaby composed for him a couple of weeks ago...I won a drawing off simplyutah.com....it was awesome! We got to name it (Grandma and Grandpa Cheatham's Ode to Eli) ....it is so beautiful and he just sat there and stared as I danced with him as he heard it for the first time....ahhh....what a wonderful time!!! He is smiling now and is happy for the most part, although Bunny would probably disagree with me when he is fussy....but he is awesome when we get to babysit.....I guess it helps that we have everyone fighting over who gets to hold him next!!! Ahh...it is wonderful to watch your own kids be parents!!! Michael and Bunny are wonderful parents!!!! We LOVE ELI MICHAEL!!!!!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he shall be a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)

As I reflect on the year 2009, I realize how many things really happened this year that have changed my life!!!! I love the scripture I used in the above title. I got it of a dear friend's face book page, and thought it was just perfect for all of us starting off a brand new year! To me it helps me to know that there are things I need to change to become who God really wants me to be! I'm grateful for the atonement so I can work towards being just that person!!!!

Here are some highlights of the 2009....I"m sure there are more, but these are the things that come to mind!

1) Tyler coming home from a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints

2) Valerie turning sweet 16

3) Michael and Bunny found out they were expecting their first baby and our first grand baby!

4) Our family vacation to one of the most beautiful places in Utah (Bryce Canyon)

5) Thad and I going to a Rascal Flatt's concert........Don't have a pic of that one....dang!!

6)Tyler getting engaged to Jennifer Parisot

7)taking a week long lactation consultant class (you don't want to see pics of that:)!

8) Catherine moving in with us in August

9) Our little ones celebrating their 2nd and 5th birthday...one at wheeler farm and the other one with princess Belle (I love putting on birthday parties!!!!)

10) taking our family through the Oquirh mountain temple open house

11) fun summer family camping trip to Lava Hot springs

12)Wainwright Christmas Party at the beautiful Eden cabin

13) celebrating my 40th birthday !!!!! (no-one took pics of that one either.....guess mom is usually the one behind the camera!!!

14) Tyler got a job at SelectHealth!

15) Thad leased a shop to run his and Michael's business in.....yeah! no more junk in the back yard!!!

16)Halloween

17)Our annual Enchilada Christmas Eve candlelight dinner with EVERYONE there!!!!

18)annual St. George trip

19) Valerie's first homecoming dance

20)taking the girls to the Nutcracker

21) Holland being a camel in her first debut in the Church Nativity......it reminded me of Valerie being the only "girl" wise man I've ever seen in the Christmas play!


22) Holland's preschool play


22) having a wonderful healthy family that God has given us! This has kept me going through the hard times this year. I'm so grateful for my family!

I chose not to put the trials I endured through this year because I want to focus on what DID go right. We have had a great 2009, and are looking forward to a wonderful 2010! I hope you all enjoyed 2009 as much as we did!!

Happy New Years eve!!!!

Christmas Day 2009-Traditions

So all the presents have been opened, the big Christmas breakfast devoured, the kids happily playing with their new toys, still in our pj's, Catherine off to the airport to see her mom......what a wonderful, beautiful day. I can't help but think that this is truly one of the best days of the year. I know most people make goals at the first of the year, but for our family it is different. WE started this tradition a couple of years ago....we have a white stocking hanging on the tree that has our gifts we are going to give to Christ this year.....I love this on Christmas eve as we read what we wanted to give for this past year and as we write what we will give this year. It can be anything from writing down a goal to improve some aspect of your life whether it be an improved relationship with a family member, or a renewed spiritual growth and relationship to God....anything that you can do to give our Savior a gift. IT really does supersede anything that is wrapped under the tree for me (although I LOVE everything everyone got me!)

I LOVE traditions! We had our candlelight enchilada dinner last night....I know it sounds weird to have enchiladas for a Christmas dinner, but it is our tradition and the kids love it. Then we all open some new Pjs and get them on to go load in the car to look at the wonderful Christmas lights! This year was no different....except for the the fact that Mrs. Claus....that would me muah!!!(me) bought all the girls Jr sizes....it was hilarious as we all walked out with belly shirts and high waters and half sleeved pjs...(see pics) But oh, what a fun memory this will be!!!! We saw the lights, came home and read the scriptural account of the first Christmas....then the Night before Christmas story..which Santa (thad) put some fun personal twists to it! Then kiddies off to bed while Santa and mrs. claus wrap presents until 1:30 a.m........I insist every year I won't do that, but we always end up doing it anyway!!!!

I'm grateful I had all of my fam here...it is so fun to see our family grow and grow and grow!!!! We are bursting out of the seams of our house!!!!! But we love it!!!

I hope everyone had a very Merry CHRISTmas and will keep that spirit of Christmas in our hearts for the entire year and not just December!

I love you all!!!!