Jake Plummer.....aka Blake's "BOYfriend"

Blake has watched and followed Jake Plummer since his first year at ASU, so when he came into town and Blake got wind of it on the radio of course he had to go!!  That's right my husband is boy crazy for Jake Plummer!  Its okay though because I've actually met Jake and of course have heard about all the good stuff he does and know he's a good guy!  Glad Blake got to see him!

HALLOWEEN

The kids love Halloween and we usually go trick-or-treating with our friends the McCann's.  We then usually go by the grandparents house so they can see the kids in their costumes!

Gage and his cousin Kingston

Gavin with Grandma Ellsworth

Me -Roller Derby and Blake- Football player

Gavin with Grandpa Ellsworth

All the kids and Pops

Happy 10th Anniversary! Viva-Las-Vegas...

So for our 10th Anniversary Blake and I were able to get away for the weekend and went to Las Vegas! It wasn't exactly where I wanted to go, but we had fun! We got tickets to go see Penn & Teller and they were amazing! We also like to watch the Food Network together at night and so when they had previewed the Hash House a Go GO...we HAD to GO GO!!! It was very good! We had a good time with one another with no kiddos! We had a "gambling budget" and right before we left town we were even but my husband the gambler, said lets both play $100 and then we will leave. So we went to the Hard Rock Hotel and we sat together, the table wasn't looking so good but we rode it out. I doubled my money so I said I was good and got up to go to the bathroom. I told Blake to please play smart and not loose a lot of $$! Well needless to say he was on a roll and when I came back there was a big stack of chips! I was happy but also wanted to take the money and run! Blake of course had to finish the shoe and its a good thing we did, we left with $2,000.00!!!!  It was a great time and one we won't forget!

Blake and I at Rio to watch Penn & Teller

Friday night date! Sheryl Crow and Kidd Rock!!

So I was on my way to work Friday and Blake called and nicely put it... "So I know that you have your hair appointment tonight and I'm more than happy to watch the kids but Ritchie and Tiffany have extra tickets to Sheryl Crow and Kidd Rock and was wondering if you want to go?" First of all, comes Friday I'm usually pretty tired by the end of the work week and I hate that the kids who have been at the sitter's all day would again have to be watched again. So I asked him to see if Granny Scheurn could watch them, I would atleast feel less selfish that they are with Granny and I haven't abandoned them ALL day! He texted me back and said yes, and I changed my hair appointment (which worked better for me anyways, since next week is payday!) So we were excited, we both hadn't seen either Sheryl or Kidd Rock before. Needless to say we had a great time, enjoying the music and being with each other. It was great that Granny and Pops could watch the kids, that they were good, and even wrote Rhett some letters and drew pictures to send him.

Love Tanya

Nemo....When life gets you down, what do you do?...Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

Wow...the last few months have been hard! Let me tell you there have been days that life has got me down and I have just kept swimming. And as they say in Meet the Robinsons.. "KEEP MOVING FORWARD!" Not a lot of time to feel sorry for myself even though I would have liked to but each day there was someone elses trial that I would see or learn about that just made mine not seem so bad. I think being positive is key! I know that Satan is working hard on everyone and I mean EVERYONE! We've had a little family situation where there are those who do not understand the true meaning of repentance, have continued to be judgmental and have continued to cause family drama and hurt so many... I try not to let it bother me because I think its not going to do me any good and negative actions or thoughts or getting mad only hurts me. And I have a peace that it will all work itself out. Because if they don't forgive, they themselves cannot be forgiven for ANY SINS THAT THEY HAVE DONE....Do unto others as you would have done unto you. I really try to be a good person and not make choices that would hurt anyone. It baffels me that there are those that would attack others or say hurtful things. The only thing that I can think is that it is truly self serving which again in not Christlike. Even though we (Blake, myself and children) have kept to ourselves not got into anyones business and have just stayed away from it all, past drama continues.....REALLY???? We go to work, I take the kids to church, raise our children, and struggle financially and personally. I mean REALLY, I just try to live my life. I really don't care what anyone else does or is doing, that is their life. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I know that this will be my family and that God knows each of us, our hearts, our intentions and all that we do. As hurt as I am I will not judge. Its not my job, there is no such thing as rightous judgement and I hope the person judging that thinks they are doing rightous judging is as perfect as Christ, which I know is NOT! MY FAMILY WILL BE STRONGER! My mother-in-law recently put a quote on her blog and I thought it said it all...

There comes a point in your life when you realize:

Who Matters, who never did, who won't anymore, and who always will.

So don't worry about people from your past, there is a reason they didn't make your future.

So we will keep swimming and moving forward. Life is good, and its how we endure right?

Love Tanya

It's been a looooonnngggg time!

So, my kids got me thinking the other day when they had gone through some stuff and saw a journal that I hadn't written in. And Lucy told me that I need to write in it. I'm not very good at this stuff, but I guess all we can do is try, right? It also made me think about the lesson in Relief
Society today and it was on OBEDIENCE. When we are little we are I guess "scared" into obedience. If we don't do what are parents want us to do there will be consequenses. We do what is right because we don't want to disappoint our parents or the Lord. BUT....there has to come a point where you KNOW what to do, it's easy to make right choices. Don't get me wrong we can and will make mistakes, but just as are parents were the example to us we need to be an example to our own children. Part of obedience is FAITH. The great thing is that with Faith and being Obedient we individually learn that blessings come, our prayers are answered a peace within your soul. This is because He knows us and loves us and delights in us doing the things we are asked to do. Someone today mention that she looks for the BIG things to set out to do to prove herself to the Lord. I say that its the small things, it's these that show our true desires to be obedient and to be like Him. I'm grateful for my foundation, for my faith and for the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father. I hope my children will see my example and can know and feel of my love. They are strong and loving spirits and they fill my heart.

We have started reading the scriptures together at night and I love to see Lucy reading them and as they listen I ask them questions. Ellie has answers that tells me of her "deep understanding" she amazes me. I can tell that Gavin is learning the real meaning of Lamen and Lemuel's murmuring and he reads really well, I hope this helps him gain a knowledge and love for the scriptures as now is the time to prepare for him to serve a mission.

Love you
Mom

Lucy's 1st Soccer Season! Go Dragons!!!!!

Ellie and Gage playing around at the game

I love my Gager boy!

My cute Lucy waiting to go back in the game!

Coach Brian Shultz, Mason, Haliegh, Jacob, Drake, Annaleese, Coy!

So Lucy has been wanting to play soccer forever! She is on a great team and has a great coach! She has done a great job hustling up and down the field and trying to score a goal. No luck yet but we will let you know. She looks so cute out there in her uniform! Way to go Lucy!

Happy NEW YEAR! 2010!

I've decided I better try a little better on documenting this adventure of life! New Years Day we woke up about 9:30 since we stayed up LATE! But the kids and I had fun! We watched "Annie" and had popcorn, them we played Wii. Gavin is good and beats his mom at pretty much EVERY game. Lucy is getting better! She and her brother are always playing, I think that they like Santa's present. We then went over to Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth's and rode bikes. The kids had so much fun. I hooked the bike trailer up and took Gage for rides. At one point he even fell asleep. The kids had a picnic in the back of Grandpa's truck. They got to play with Caleb, Cheyanne, and Ethan. FUN Times! Blake unfortunately didn't get to spend New Year's Eve or day with us since he was working, we missed him! Well all I can say is that I'm REALLY glad 2009 is over and hope that 2010 will be better! I love my family and my Heavenly Father.

July 08'

If anyone knows the kids, Gavin especially then you know that they have a love for animals.  So right by Stacy's house was the Wildlife Park.  We took the kids and it was a great park.  A lot of walking and by the time we left there I don't know who was more tired us or the kids! 

 

Last day on the vacation and at the beach house Uncle Bubba took Gavin and Grace and got a kite because it was perfect weather to fly one.  On the way they stopped by a park where they climbed up on the big rocks.

July 08' California continued

Natalie, Lucy, Gavin and Stacy holding Ellie

On our trip Aunt Stacy was volunteering at a Botanical Garden and so we decided to tag along.  There was a special garden area for the kids they had fun exploring and digging in the dirt.  

SUMMER VACATION IN CALIFORNIA!

Our vacation every year usually is in California.  So this year we went and stayed with Blake's Aunt Stacey and her family.  (Thanks for letting us take over the house:)  We had a great time! We went to the beach and Sea World.  And of course, our favorite Sushi place which only Blake got to eat this time because I'm pregnant!  Not to mention that he ate it like everyday!  Oh, how I would love to eat an Albacore special roll right now!  The kids were great at Sea World.  We took a few pictures.  By the way, you'll notice in the picture that Gavin lost his front two teeth.  He was very excited that the tooth fairy was going to come see him.

4th of July!

So when it comes to doing things Mom (I) am usually a stick in the mud.  I always say I'm going to do better and usually right at the last minute come through.  Well it was a typical time that Blake had to work late and we weren't sure if he was going to be able to do anything with us and I dread taking the kids all by myself.  I have realized though that I just have to buck up and just take the kids or we will never do anything.  So I decided that I wanted to take the kids to see really good fire works!  I wanted to get some dinner so we went to Oregano's and Blake was able to meet us.  It was a fun night because a monsoon started to roll in and it rained on us during dinner (we sat outside, because it was nice).  I knew that it would probably blow over so we went to MCC.  We didn't want to pay to get in.  So Blake was like lets try behind the Target and park back there.  It was great we got an awesome spot an could see the fireworks perfectly.  Unfortunately the camera battery died and so we didn't get any pictures.  Happy 4th of July!  

Diamondbacks Game

Ellie

Gavin and Lucy

The Family

Gavin picking his nose (Dad told him to do it)

My office got tickets to go to the Diamondbacks game and so we took the family.  The kids love to go see the players and just be at the game.  The entire game Gavin kept begging me to get him the #1 hand foam thing.  I kept telling him NO!  Towards the end of the game we were sitting there and what do you know falls down from above and right in front of us, but one of those #1 hands.  Needless to say I was glad I didn't buy one and that Gavin ended up getting one.  Of course it got broken with the kids fighting over who got to use it by the end of the game.  Oh, well.  It was fun even though the Diamondbacks lost!

June 27, 2008 ----- Taking "My Circus" to the Circus!

My kids love to go to the Circus!  We invited the Forsgrens with go with us.  We got some dinner at Nello's pizza and then off to the Circus we went!  The acts were good.  Some of our favorite was these two men that could lift each other and of course the elephants.  It was pretty dark and so our elephant pictures were really the only ones that came out the best.  

Cardinals Autographs with Dad

Ellie in the stroller so she doesn't run everywhere!

Good thing dad listened to mom and packed a lunch and water!

Lucy, Gerald Hayes and Gavin

Gavin, Lucy and Antrell Rolle

Blake has always loves to get autographs and has been a Cardinals fan forever, wait....he's a fan of sports and will get a autograph whenever he gets the chance!  So typically when I have to wirk an he knows that they are practicing at the Cardinal facility he would take the kids down there.  They absolutely love to do it.  On the other hand I think they have been "brain washed" by my husband.  I think that is is a waste of time and that all the sports memorabilia he collects is clutter!  I'm glad though that they all have a good time and get to spend time with Daddy!  Go Cardinals!

Tempe Town Water Park

My sister-in-law Posey told me how she took her boys to this water park and that it was fun, so Blake had a day off and I packed us lunch for some summer fun!  In Arizona you have to start early, so we tried to be there when it opened.  My kids have such fair skin that we can't be out long anyways or they become FRIED LOBSTER!  It was a great time, the kids loved it and it was nice to be able to watch them all under the shade!  I definitely suggest it to all mom's looking for a cheap, fun day out with the kids!