HHHHappy Hallllloween 2008!!!

Ghosts and Goblins are a thing of the past...now we have Hannah Montana girls, skateboarders, hippies (who are dressed like the high schoolers in the 80s), and lots of princesses!!!

We had a great Halloween, complete with the trick-or-treating on Halloween, Trunk or Treat at church and a total of 3 neighborhood kids!!!

This was the first year we weren't together as a family. I can't believe my AJ and Madie are old enough to celebrate with friends. AJ went to a party for the youth at one of the girl's homes. He went as a rocker, complete with the Guitar Hero guitar! He wanted to be the bad boy rocker, too bad he's just a good boy through and through!

Madison went as an old lady in curlers with some girls from school! Just another costume creation that enables you to wear your comfy jammies and slippers! One of my most cherished memories was the first year I went trick-or-treating with friends. I was in 7th grade, lived in Anchorage, Alaska and it was wonderful! Madie, have a great time!

Easton was our afro boy! Not much else, just a wig that makes you feel cool!

Brooke was our PJ girl! Just her sweet smile, blond hair flipped up in a clip, and the cutest striped slippers. When she is not whining, she is smiling!! Very little in between!

Ellie has worn her cousin's Snow White dress, crown and matching princess slippers most of the day. Yesterday, she and Kenna, went as Ariel and Snow White for preschool. Once a princess, always a princess!

Annie is our little ladybug! Now what could be more fitting, than a bug that brings a smile to everyone's face when discovered. Something tiny that only brings happy thoughts! She is a blessing, our little bug!

Another Halloween past...next year they will be bigger, choose different costumes, but will still be a part of us...our past and our future!!

The Privilege to work

President David O. McKay said, “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success”

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work. To work in our homes to create a haven for our families. The chance to teach our children how to feel success by doing a job well.

Do you remember when you were little and your parents introduced you to chores? Let's just say, it was probably not as exciting as learning to ride a bike, but do you remember?

I look back and recall a mother who loved us enough to teach us how to work. We were also blessed with one of those dads who didn't think Saturday morning was made for cartoon watching (like we did), but instead introduced us to those things that needed to be cared for by the family. I spent many a Saturday moving acres of grass and getting a nice sunburn for the church dance that night! I also remember being taught how to vacuum, dust and properly clean a bathroom. At the time, I'm sure I rolled my eyes like my little ones now do to me, but how I appreciate being taught the value of work.

For the past five months, John has been out of work. He has been diligently looking, but the executive positions that he is qualified for, take about six to nine months to secure.

He has been amazing! Upbeat and happy! Everyday heading down to our office to make contacts with everyone he could think of. Spending time in the temple praying for what is best for our family. Reading his scriptures to find answers to his questions.

We have had ward members fast in our behalf. We have had family be so amazingly generous that words cannot describe. We have had random acts of kindness almost everyday. What a wonderful experience for our family!

Well, John has secured a job, and will start on Monday. We are relieved, elated and grateful! He cannot wait to put his talents back to use. He is glowing at the opportunity to support his family. Who knew that working would feel so good?!!

Thank you for all of your prayers and love! May the work begin! It is a gift and a blessing!

Halloween Houses

Fall is filled with family traditions! I am a big one for tradition! It must be because we moved a lot as kids. But no matter where we lived, we always had the same decorations for Christmas, we always went Trick-or-Treating on Halloween with hot chocolate afterwards, we always collected fall leaves, and many other memories that always made me feel safe and loved. Today we were invited to make Halloween houses with a wonderful family from our ward. This sweet couple made 16 individual houses for each of the children as a way of passing on one of their family traditions to us. It was fun to see the children show their personalities with their homes. Here are some pics of the fun time!

The children at the goodie table! The ideas were flowing!!
Cute Nathan! The youngest decorator of the bunch!
Carson smiles with his own creation!
Morgan and Madison with their masterpieces. All the children were so creative! The yards, the fences, the chimneys...they were GREAT!!!
Ellie smiles with her house! She used almost a whole bag of big marshmellows to create her fence!
Brooke made a cute house just like her!
Easton, I love your chimney! He worked for a long time to make something stand up on the roof. You did it E-man!!
Madison's amazing creation! When we got home the boys were assessing all the homes and decided that Madie had the best fence, best roof, and best overall house for our family. Way to go Madie! We all know that the boys aren't usually that generous with their compliments, so it had to be great!
AJ, sporting long hair, a swim t-shirt of his dad's from the 80's, and his Halloween house!


This is what they affectionately call...THE PARADE OF HOMES...! Thank you Greg and Raylene for a wonderful time! Morgan, AJ, Madison, Keegan, Ethan, Easton, Isaac, Connor, Brooke, Carson, Hailey, Saydee, Ellen, Brooke, Ellie and Nathan. GREAT JOB KIDS!!!

We love our cousin, Kenna!

We love Ellie's cousin Kenna! Bubble-blowing is the latest thing that Kenna has taught Ellie. Last year, Kenna taught her how to get all the way across the monkey bars. It was fun to watch two little three year olds tackling the monkey bars! Last month, she taught her how to draw a star, and Ellie spent two weeks drawing stars on everything! It has been a wonderful experience watching these two grow up together. They are only two months apart and love to be together! What a blessing to have a best friend that you are bonded to for eternity!

WE LOVE YOU KENNA!!!

I saw this out of the corner of my eye, and I said, "Ellie, who taught you how to do that?" She proudly smiled and said, "KENNA!" Kenna not only supplied the fun gum, she taught her the cool trick!
Kenna was trying to smile and blow a bubble, but bubble-blowing is SERIOUS business!!
THE IMPOSSIBLE...BUBBLE-BLOWING and SMILING!!!

General Conference Weekend

Fall always brings with it wonderful childhood memories, an opportunity to really take in the beauty in nature, the excitement of the football season, the challenge of school, the beginning to a wonderful holiday season and the opportunity to listen to General Conference. Conference is always a chance to evaluate where we are and celebrate those things we are doing well and work on those things that need improvement. I love our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and who he is. As he was speaking on Sunday morning I loved how he made me feel. He talked about the important things in life. He said, "that love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring happiness are when we experience heaven on earth." He also said, "We need to fill our days with those things that matter most!" and "Find joy in the journey!" What more can we ask for from our Prophet than for him to tell us to do the important things and be happy? I am grateful for what I know. I know that happiness comes when we do the things that matter most.

Speaking of capturing those "moments." Here are the Day 1 and Week 1 pics of little Annie.

DAY 1

Week 1-Looks like we are tiring her out fighting over her!

Ellie showing off her "makeup break" between Conference broadcasts on Sunday!

Annie waking up wondering why no one was carrying her around yet!

President Thomas S. Monson shared his testimony in his biography between Sunday sessions. I loved what he chose to say. I kept rewinding it until I got exactly what he said verbatim. "The sweetest experience that I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it. And later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone's prayer or someone's need. And I always want the Lord to know that if he needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for him. I am so grateful for his example and that's who we serve. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. I honor that name. I honor this church. The work is true and I testify of that from the depths of my soul. And will say, May God Bless Us, Every One!!"

May all of you have a wonderful week and pray for those opportunities to "run the Lord's errands." I am going to increase my desire to do that for him. May he trust me with more opportunities to serve. To have the blessing of knowing that it was an answer to "someone's prayer or someone's need." Have a great week!

WE'VE GOT ANNIE-TRULY HEAVEN ON EARTH

WE'VE GOT ANNIE!!!

Grace: We got Annie.Gardener: We've got Annie?Grace: Yeah!She's like the shine on your shoes,or hearing a blues that's great.Makes you relax,like a big tax rebate!We got Annie!Servants: We got Annie! We got Annie? We got Annie!Mrs. Pugh: And Benny Goodman's got swing.Bing is a king, by far.Mutt has got Jeff,and Eleanor, F.D.R.!Grace: We got Annie!Asp: We got Annie!Punjab: We got Annie!Asp: We've got Annie!Grace: We got Annie!(whispers) Annie.

John: We got Annie. Laura: We've got Annie? John: YEAH! She's like a copy of Ellie, a sweet little thing, the one we've been praying for since the beginning of Spring!

She's actually here and we are all in love!

John's getting dressed for the BIG moment! After trying to get her out the old fashioned way, they rolled me in for a C-section. Someday, I will share the two-day experience in detail, but since it only happened less then a week ago, I'll share that part later!

Let's celebrate the fun part!

Welcome Annie Grace Cecil!!!

Born @ 1:29am on the 27th of September 2008

Weighing 7lbs 9ozs and 20in long

Grandma Dieker is right there to put on her newborn hat!

Mommy Cecil is in LOVE!!! It is like a sweet dream that is happening in real life! I had these beautiful children who I loved. AJ, Madison, Easton, Brooke and Ellie. My life literally revolves around them. Now we have this new little one that we have been praying for for so long. The moment is here! We are taking advantage and working toward eternity!

The wonderful and very patient, Dr. Bruce Dorr. His vision to use the blood thinner is one of the reasons we have little Annie now.

A FEW AMAZING PICTURES OF ANNIE GRACE CECIL!!!

SMILE CECIL FAMILY!!!


The boys ran in the room and said, "Where is she?" They beamed the entire visit!!


Papa Cecil gets his first chance to hold Annie and take a look. When John's dad walked in the room he saw the board that said, "Happy Birthday Annie Grace Cecil!" Written by John. He turned to my mother and said that he hadn't seen his mother's name, Grace Cecil, in writing in a long time. Annie was named after John's mother, Anne and his sister, Leslie Grace. Two women who we love and honor.



Beautiful Madsion holding her newest sister!

Could Ellie smile any bigger?? She is STILL smiling, when she isn't fighting with her sisters to hold Annie.

Easton just held her and smiled and smiled!!

Hey cute Brooke! Who are you holding?


ELLIE STILL SMILING!!
Grandma Dieker who is one of the most priceless people in our lives. She was there from the beginning of this long, hard and very rewarding delivery!
We love Aunt Julie! She was feeling under the weather, so she didn't take any chances. She masked up and was there for the long haul. She held Ellie right after she was born while mom was in recovery.


Quinn came to visit her new cousin. Smile Quinn!! We love you!

Kenna can't believe it! She just smiled and held her! Then colored quietly as her mother loomed Ellie her first homemade hat!


Uncle Kevin and Aunt Melissa thought they were coming for a quick delivery. No such luck, but they are still all smiles a day later holding Annie!

Grandpa Dieker solemnly holding his 15th grandchild!
Hey kiddos! Smile away!!
Daddy and baby Annie!!
My oldest and youngest! I love you both!
I'm sure there will be lots that follow, but for now, know that we have felt all your prayers and love, each and every one of you. Life is worth living! The trials bring us closer together as families, as friends, and even as ward families. We have been blessed to be surrounded by people who love us and pray for our family. We have extended families who care for us in ways we could have never comprehended. This is the way life should be lived. This IS heaven on earth!

Love Always,
Laura