Brenton and Sarah

It is only two weeks away until my brother is hitched. I can't believe it. I just wanted to let everyone know that Sarah has started a blog for them. You can visit the site at http://www.arizonashums.blogspot.com/

Graduation Present

After hearing many complaints about not having posted about this yet, I am finally giving in. Yes, this is my new car, and here is the story...At the beginning of April, Aaron fabricated some story about his parents buying a new car and needing to help his dad pick it up, blah blah blah. So he said I needed to go pick him up at his parents house after all was said and done. So Kaden and I headed that way. When we got there this new car was in the driveway. We all decided to go for a ride in the new car. We loaded up and drove around the neighborhood. When we pulled back up into the driveway, Aaron handed me the keys and said "Happy Graduation honey." I did not believe him. It took him finally pulling out the loan documents with his name on them for me to believe it was our vehicle. He had researched around and purchased the Tahoe on his own. I absolutely love it. The only thing that is hard is it absolutely LOVES gas. It drinks it down like it will never see it again. So that has been a reality check having an SUV with the climbing gas prices, but she is such a beauty I don't think I could ever give her up. Kaden loves the DVD player and is the perfect child on any length of a road trip as long as his headphones are on and a movie is playing. It was a great graduation present and definitely a BIG surprise!

All these graduates!!

We have had many exciting graduations happen this month.

Me and the family at my pinning on May 6th.

Cara graduated with two associates degrees (Language and Drama) from Eastern Arizona College. She is planning on going on a mission at the end of the summer.

Carly graduated from Wickenburg High School. She was one of the valedictorians and the Student Body President. She got accepted to BYU and will be attending there in the fall.

My parents had a graduation party for the three of us. I don't know how my sisters got so stinking gorgeous, but the train missed me. They have all grown into beautiful young women and I am so grateful to have them in my life.

Ranger Ride

We went on a ride out by Lake Pleasant with Aaron's family and some friends. Aaron's dad has a Ranger and Kaden loves to go out in it. Aaron and I rode on the quad. It was a beautiful ride back into the mountains. In the second picture you can see Lake Pleasant in the background off to the right. I am grateful for a husband who likes to play. I am too serious for my own good most of the time.

Wash my bike Mom!

When Aaron washes his bike, it is always in this spot in the backyard. Kaden has been playing out in the backyard a lot lately and he came running in one day saying he wanted to wash his bike. I put his bathing suit on and let him go back out. I went into the backyard to check on him and he had put his bike in the same exact place that Aaron does and was spraying off all the parts and getting down low to check in crevices to make sure they were clean. He kept telling me "Wash my bike mom, wash my bike." I had to take a picture. He wants to be like his dad so much.

A gentle reminder

Okay so a really quick story that just helps keep you going as a mom. This year one of our goals as a family was to have Family Home Evening on a more consistent basis. My mom made me this FHE book for Christmas and it has lessons for every week plus a little trinket that is pertinent to the lesson. So we haven't been perfect, but definitely better. One night Aaron had gone to play basketball and I was getting Kaden ready for bed and he mumbled something and ran out of the room. He came back with the book and the bag of trinkets saying "famlevning mom, famlevning!" I asked him if he wanted to do Family Home Evening and he did so we had a little lesson and sang a song. My heart was touched because when we do have FHE, it is not very long because his attention span is so short and sometimes you think they aren't getting anything out of it. I realized that we are just building the groundwork for years to come. It is the habit that we are creating in our families to invite the spirit into our home. Kaden may not remember what we discuss, but he realizes it is a special time for our family to be together. I am thankful for his excitement for those nights.

Nursing School is OVER!!

I finally did it! I finished nursing school. Last night was our pinning ceremony. It went very well. Thank you to all who came and showed their support. I am not really sure how I can express my gratitude to everyone who helped me get through it. Aaron has been Mr. Mom the last two years and done an amazing job. I think he has had to do more dishes and laundry and housecleaning than he signed up for when we got married. He has been so supportive. I know that this is the profession for me. I get teary-eyed when I see the path that has led me here. I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who knows me well and directed me to this point. Thanks to everyone who helped with Kaden. I hope he can get used to having his mom around again. He was only 9 months old when I started the program. I am very excited to be able to focus on being a mom. I have to get back in the mode for when the next kid comes around in 6 months. :)