MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Playing Catch-up

Olivia turns 5!!

She chose to go to the mall and ride the escalators (of course)

and make a bear at Build-a-Bear.

A fish!?! You got me a fish!?! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!---you are the best!

A Vacation to Missouri

My sister lives in Missouri and my other sister lives about 6 hours away from her. So, we decided to have a little get together. We convinced my mom to fly out and all of us spent a wonderful week together!

If all of us had not been so busy having fun you would be able see some great pictures of us riding this water slide and about 10 others,

Standing underneath this bucket that drops 1000 gallons of water

At this waterpark that is inside the middle of The Great Wolf Lodge

This place was incredible! It was kid heaven. If you are ever in any of these areas, you should definitely stay here! My sister took all of us on a surprise get-away and boy did the kids (and grandma and aunts and uncle) have an incredible time! Thanks Michelle!!!!!!!

If we were not all thrill seekers--you would see pictures of us screaming while riding these and many more incredible rides at Worlds of Fun!!!

We also went shopping, got pedicures, went out to lunch, watched some great movies, made Christmas cards, went to the school carnival, played guitar hero (boy am I bad), and stayed up late talking and laughing! We had such a great time that we decided to make this an annual event. But next year we are inviting the husbands---and a photographer to capture all the fun---any takers?

Unemployed

After 5 1/2 years of serving as the Stake Primary President, I was released. I was not ready for this release and had hoped for one more year. I truly enjoyed this calling and loved all the people I served with. I had some awesome counselors that strengthened me and taught me so much. I am so appreciative of the opportunities I had to sit in Stake Council and be surrounded by so many spiritual giants. I treasure the mutual respect that came from these meetings as we learned from each other and worked hard to serve the fellow members of our stake. I thoroughly enjoyed the activities that we organized and participated in---with 11 year old day camp being my favorite. I loved being able to watch 11 Sacrament Meeting Presentations each year. There are so many amazing people in our stake and I am so grateful to have rubbed shoulders with them. I think most importantly, I will forever treasure the opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father and for my children to see and know how important that is to me. I know I could not have served well if it had not been for a very supportive husband---he truly is the best for me and I heart him forever!!!

I have yet to receive another calling---I am pushing for ward bulletin board organizer!!

P.S. Robert was asked on Sunday how it has been being reintroduced to his wife. He said that the kids are much quieter in church when I am not there! I totally represent that comment

From one cute bumblebee


and one happy witch


HAPPY HALLOWEEN

TO YOU!!!!

May the weather be good to you and the chocolate be plentiful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is my 42nd birthday---man that is OLD!!! Even though 42 is old--I will gladly take it!!!

About a week before Robert and I got married, my cardiologist called and said he would like to visit with Robert and I. At the appointment he said to Robert : "Sheri has a very unique heart condition. When open heart surgery was performed on her at the age of 5 we prayed she would live through it, (I think they told my parents I had about a 20% chance of surviving) we hoped for the miracle of a 10 year old, dreamed of 15 years, tried to imagine her living until she was 20, but never in our wildest dreams did we think she would live to be 27!"

That appointment was 15 years ago and I am still amazing the doctors! I know that I am on borrowed time and so that is why I look forward to getting older---each day and each year is a gift. I just hope that I am doing good things with the extra time that Heavenly Father has given me.

So I am grateful to be old----here's hoping for another 42!!!

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Olivia: Mom, I am so mad at my brain

Me: Why?

Olivia: I keep telling it to stop thinking all the time and to let me do some of the thinking ---but it won't listen!! See there it goes again----man!

MIRACLE

Upon arriving home from Disneyland and realizing I had lost our camera, I immediately called Disneyland. A week later, I got a phone call saying that my camera had been turned in and they would be mailing it to me!!! I was jumping up and down and so giddy the whole day! I guess miracles do happen!

We were lucky enough to see and get pictures with 17 characters. Olivia had fun getting their autographs and teasing with them.

I know this picture isn't that great (it is a photo of a photo posted on a screen) but how could I not keep it? Look at the sheer joy on Olivia's face. This was by far her favorite ride. We rode this ride 20 times in one day. There were no lines so we would just get off and run back in line. Many times the workers would just let us stay on. Several times we were in the log to ourselves.

I was the chosen adult to ride Mulholland Madness 10 times in a row. Don't tell anybody but I loved every minute of it!! My 2 neices now agree with all the other cousins that I am THE BEST AUNT EVER!!!!

Olivia with her cousins. This is the ride where my camera was lost---and found!!!

Praying for the Children

Last Sunday I was asked to substitute in primary---and boy am I glad I did. Our humble Bishop gave an excellent sharing time on prayer. He taught the children the important things a prayer should include and helped them to learn these "ingredients." At the end of the sharing time he told all of the children that he wanted to have a prayer with them. Pretty soon, gathered around our Bishop, were all the sweet children in junior primary. They all knelt and got ready for the prayer. Our Bishop looked at those beautiful faces and began to cry. He told the children about how Jesus gathered the children around Him and then He wept. Our Bishop said "now I know how Jesus felt." Following Jesus' example our Bishop wept and then he gave a beautiful prayer in which he blessed these young children. Among many things, the Bishop asked Heavenly Father to protect them from the adversary and to help them walk uprightly. When the prayer was over, many of the children lingered closely to him and hugged him. I am sure they could feel of his spirit and knew of his love for them. What a neat experience for these children and what an insightful Bishop.

CRYING

If I were not ADD and therefore unable to keep track of my extra fast, extra busy toddler and my camera at that same time I would not be crying right now. If I would have let Robert be in charge of the camera, like he had been doing for the past 3 days, I would not be crying right now. If I would have given into my worry wart inclinations and just double checked before getting on the tram, I would not be crying right now. But alas, I am crying because we just spent 3 glorious days at Disneyland and I lost my camera the last hour of the last day we were there. We did not realize it was lost until we got home---and now I have a big knot in the middle of my stomach.

This was our first ever trip to Disneyland and I had great pictures of the girls with princesses, Disney characters, laughing while on rides, etc. I walked around pouting about it most of yesterday. Last night Olivia put her arms around me and said "Mom it is ok because we can just go back again and take new pictures!" We had such a great time that we bought season passes, so she is right.

So now I am in need of a new camera----any suggestions on a camera that is reasonably priced (can't afford to lose another one), easy to use (after all I am ADD) and takes great pictures(I need one that can make up for my lack of photography skills) would be greatly appreciated.

With much sorrow,
Sheri


P.S. So now I have seasons passes and NEED to take new pictures---if anybody ever wants to caravan or carpool to Disneyland--give me a call! I promise I won't be in charge of your camera!

FOREVER FAMILY

Please forgive me if I have had too many posts regarding Cosette and her adoption. It is difficult to explain the feeling of uneasiness and incompleteness that comes with foster care and adoption. When everything falls into place and they are finally yours, all of those feeling melt away and are replaced with great happiness! It has been beyond my ability to stop talking about it---thank you for allowing me to do so.

Memories of this perfect day:

*being in the Idaho Falls Temple---a temple that has great sentimental value to me. It is where we were married and Olivia was also sealed to us here. In fact, all of my important temple work took place here.

*being surrounded by my family. This was the start of a week long family reunion and what a great way to begin!

*Being waited on hand and foot by the temple workers and escorts. I felt like a new bride all over again.

*sitting underneath a beautiful picture of Christ who is surrounded by children--- and all the while holding hands with my sweet eternal companion

*Seeing my girls dressed all in white. I was overcome with emotion as I looked at those two sweet girls. They looked so angelic and perfect. How was I ever lucky enough to be entrusted with them?

*Olivia having the unique and very rare opportunity to hold Cosette up to the altar. Usually the siblings are invited as witnesses only---but because she was dressed all in white and because the women temple workers left the room, the sealer asked Olivia if she would like to do it. What a special treat!

*being filled with the happiness that comes when we are in the right place doing the right thing. This happiness will be forever etched in my heart.

Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts and prayers and for sharing in our joy and excitement.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Olivia: Mom does Heavenly Father love everybody
Me: Yes He does
Olivia: If He does then why didn't He make EVERYBODY brown?




Olivia: Mom look at that lady---she is going to have a baby
Me: Cool
Olivia: She is so lucky
Me: Yep, she is. You sure do want another baby in our house don't you.
Olivia: Yes---mom you should grow one in your tummy
Me: Oh sweetie remember mommy can't grow babies in my tummy
Olivia: You CAN'T!!!!
Me: No remember mommy told you that you and Cosette grew in another ladies tummy but that she couldn't take care of you so she asked me to be your mommy.
Olivia: Cool
Me: So you didn't grow in my tummy but you grew in my heart.
Olivia: And mom your breasts are big enough for your heart to love me FOREVER!

ADOPTION DAY

Hi--it's me Cosette! Monday morning I was officially adopted!!!! Our family has waited 17 months for this day to finally arrive--and boy, what a terrific day it was!!!! There is usually so much sadness inside these courtrooms, but there was alot of happiness in the waiting area and courtroom of Dept. 134! Now we know why the judges and clerks love Monday mornings!



Sitting in the courtroom. I am a little unsure about everything.




All in favor of this adoption please raise your right hand.



Make sure you sign those documents right daddy!



Our family with the judge and social worker. The judge
pronounced me "Free and Clear"




I love my big sister!







We are grateful for the friends that came to help us celebrate this day! And for my mom's friend Claralynn for taking all of the pictures


After the ceremony we headed to breakfast with everybody. I crashed the second my head touched the carseat---it sure is tiring being the center of attention!



UP NEXT---THE TEMPLE!!!!

COOL SAVINGS

These are the items I received for free this week.

6 Johnson's Buddy Soap (this soap is the best--and the store paid me .72 to buy it!) 1 box Tylenol. 2 Sure deodrants, 2 boxes of toothpaste ( I made .50 on one box) 1 box Electasol Powerballs (with an overage of $1.26!), 2 bottles of Sunscreen, Nivea Body Wash, Kotex Pantiliners, 4 bottles Loreal ProVive Shampoo and Conditioner, 2 cans Lysol Nuetra Air Freshner, 2 packages of Schick Disposable Razors, and 2 boxes of Kellogg's Cereal.


My friend Nicole has a great blog where she offers information about coupons, sales and great deals. I decided to follow her example in an effort to stretch our dollar further! On her blog,she posts a picture of her savings for the week. I thought it was a fun idea! It was great to display everything on the couter and be amazed by all the savings!!!


She has a great blog--- http://www.frugalisfab.blogspot.com/
You should check it out and join in the savings!!!

OUR LITTLE FIRECRACKERS!!!!

Wikepedia definition of firecracker:

An explosive device (temper tantrums seen daily)


that produces noise (squeals, screams, giggles)


provides entertainment (hours of laughter and fun)


and is aesthetically pleasing ( gosh darn it they are pretty adorable).

It's the 4th of July EVERYDAY at our house!!!!!

MARINE WORLD

T-BALL

Opening Day---Go Sharks!

Olivia with her best friend Kaitlyn!

Olivia loved playing first base or pitcher. Any other position

and she got bored and would spent the rest of the time doing

cartwheels with Kaitlyn.

Hey batter, batter, batter, batter---Swing!!

The tunnel was a hit for all of the kids!

The best part of the whole season for Olivia was getting her trophy!

MONTEREY GET-AWAY

I have been lame about blogging some of the simple things that have been happening in our family. Someday I hope for this blog to be a great journal for my girls to read---so please forgive me for the next few posts.

In April we took a weekend get away to Monterey. Our purpose was to take the girls to Monterey Bay Aquarium. They enjoyed the aquarium---but would have most definitely thought the trip was a huge success if we would have just stayed at the hotel. It was so fun to watch them jump from bed to bed, turn on and off the tv, open and close every drawer---there was not an inch of the room that was not explored by them both. This was the first time they had stayed at a hotel---so they thought it was glorious!!! The buffet breakfast was fabulous, the swimming was great and according to Olivia---the beds were the most comfortable beds and she never wanted to leave!!! The aquarium was wonderful---unfortunately the pictures I have are horrible---I could not get the girls to stand still long enough to take a picture. They were too busy having fun.

MY DAD

This letter was actually sent to my dad via email a few months ago. My parents returned from their mission this past week and were able to spend a few days with me before they flew to their home. We all spent the weekend at my brother's house. I was actually with my dad on Father's Day, but with the packing and traveling and catching airplanes that happened that day---I don't think a big enough deal was made by me to tell my dad how much I love and appreciate him. Since I am using my blog as a journal, I thought it would be a perfect place to include this letter.



Dear Dad,

Today I was so homesick for you. I was at the gym participating in a group class. There was a man in the class that was about your same age, looks, and same fun-loving, teasing personality. He was making all of us in the class laugh quite a bit. I looked over at him one time and I swear I was looking at you. I watched how the others in the group admired him and enjoyed his company and friendship. All the sudden an overwhelming feeling of love and pride for you overcame me. I started to silently shed a few tears. The poor instructor kept coming over and telling me she didn't mean to work me so hard to bring me to tears. I just laughed and told her they were happy tears! I watched that man be appreciated and respected by the group and thought about you and all of the lives you have touched and how many people respect and appreciate you. And now you are on a mission opening up your heart and your arms to even more people and letting them feel of your love and your testimony. Thanks for being such a wonderful example to me. The other day I was watching a program about President Hinckley. His daughter said "my parents were loved all over the world. It is such a wonderful feeling to have parents that are considered beloved by so many people." Tears came to my eyes and a warm feeling in my heart as I spoke to the tv and said "I know exactly how you feel!" I love you so much!


Love,
Sheri