Thursday, December 19, 2013

Countdown until Christmas...

The calendar is filled until Christmas, but I just want to take a moment and freeze this picture in my mind.

The one that is making my heart swell as my eyes start to tear.

This is it.

The last, week before Christmas, I will probably ever have with all seven children living under one roof.

We are going to make it a great one!

Tonight, we have our North Pole Party, which I can hardly contain myself over because I am so excited!

There are big things, and little things, not all listed here, but I love that the calendar is crowned with endless holiday treasures from Annie.

You see, life is about the living of each moment.

But, the moment takes wishing, dreaming and usually a little planning.

I took a little tumble last week when I was in New York City, and my mortality shake up has been sweet and tender, (and accompanied by a constant headache,) but I wouldn't change a thing.

I have always known what is really important, and I have always tried to put those things front and center in my daily life.

But I sure do love the feeling of holding little Tymber in my arms as we read every single Dora book we own, or the look on Annie's face as she "surprises" me with another holiday craft hidden in her bottomless backpack, and those quiet moments when Madie wants a back rub, or Ellie just needs a hug.  I love hearing my boys wrestle in the basement, and tell each other about their day over a secret stash of food they have smuggled in.  Or John's tired smile as he walks in each night.

I love it all.

I always have.

But a little brain bleed can really make your heart feel swollen!

Happy Holidays to all!!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Double header...Madie VB & A.J. FB


First of all, I just want to say that my life seems to be just flying by right now.  I wake up and it's Monday, and the next thing I know it is Thursday night.

Every week seems to be going like this.

Please, please, please, let it slow down just enough for me to soak it all in.

Just enough time to cement that memory of watching Madie dig every deep spike, block every shot greeting her at the net, and oh please oh please, let me never forget the kills she got against their rival team, Legend, this last Thursday.

Madie had been thinking about this game not just for a few days, she had been thinking about it for months. 

She wanted to give this game everything she had!

Last Thursday night, she did just that!

We had a family "double-header."

Madie vs. Legend in volleyball, and A.J. vs. Heritage in football.

The night did NOT disappoint!

It was a rainy night, (in fact, record floods were flooding the state of Colorado in the north.)

The little girls were dressed for the occasion in matching raincoats and boots.

We all came to see Madie!

She rocked it!

I didn't get great pictures all night, but you can get the idea.

 She was not full of the usual smiles on the court.

She came for a purpose, and she was going to see fit that she would lead her team to that goal.


 I LOVED the Legend crowd! 

I love that kids get this excited about volleyball games.

Back in my day, the only people that came to the games were the parents, some teachers who sat in the bleachers catching a glimpse between grading papers, and the boys who either had crushes on one of the players or were dating one of them.

Not this school.

They rocked it in their costumes!


Madie with a KILL!

It was blurry, but don't let that fool you!

The Ponderosa fan stands on the other side erupted in cheers!

 This is one of my little girls favorite Legend girls...beautiful Haley!

After Madie's match we rushed off to A.J.'s game against Heritage.

It had seriously been raining for DAYS, but for the  two hours of that high school game, not a sprinkle!

I love that every single grandparent was there! (Sorry for the blurry photo, crazy settings on my camera!)

These four cheered on A.J. and his team!


 Ellie spent her night hanging with all the girls of Valor.  
 This is what happened when I asked my brothers to take a picture!

First, they turned away.

 Then Bernie cracked a smile, and Eddie was in refusal mode!
 Then it came!

They know I'm going to be patient for the shot, so they may as well give up and smile!
 Annie and Tymber could not stand still long enough to give me a pretty smile the entire game!  

This is as good as it got that night!

At least Annie is representing mama's school!


 Annie walked right over to Grandma Dieker for a hug and joined her in a clap!
 Oh ya...the game!

It was great!

Valor was so victorious, that the starters did not even play after halftime.

That was a nice surprise to have an early night!

A.J. had the opportunity to rack up some nice stats for the night, along with many of his talented teammates!






 Finally...a smile worth documenting!
Love these dedicated cheerleaders!



 Just for the record...this teammate, #5, is Christian McCaffrey!

Someday, when you are sitting on the couch watching some Bronco football, you may just see this kid.

Christian is a freak of nature.  

In a very good way!

He is an extraordinary football player, as well as, an exceptional person.

Most humble kid I have ever met with talent that is second to none!

Future All-American baby!

Headed to Stanford next year on a full ride!




 Some of the sweethearts of Valor hanging with Ellie!
 This was probably my favorite part of the day...A.J. coming out of halftime with his team, and seeing his little sisters and stepping out of line to connect with them.

Knuckles.

Absolutely priceless.

Freeze this moment...forever!

 This was Coach Sherman's darling son, loving the camera!

 And Annie and Tymber sporting their "funny faces" as well!


The night did not end with us caging Tymber, but that may not have been a bad idea!

It ended with us leaving the game early, spending a few minutes with Bernie, and stopping by Eddie's to check out his new and incredible master bath.

One word...gorgeous!

It was a wonderful Thursday, full of lots of cheer and lots of fun.

I am so grateful for every day that I have with these children.

I am grateful to be a mother to these amazing kids.

I don't know what I did right to get this gig.

I know that we are far from perfect, but I love that saying,
"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!"

That definitely fits us as we have dinner at 8:30 just to make sure everyone is home.

Scriptures and prayer with everyone home safe and sound.

Seriously...love it!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Dylan Payne Proposes to the beautiful Taylor Williams!!

Dylan Payne and the future Taylor Williams Payne!!
As we pulled up to the house last Monday night, this is what greeted us!  A beautiful rainbow which symbolizes the love of God to his children.  Another one of his promises is that we can have eternal life and much happiness is this life.
Family and friends gathered to aid Dylan in his plan to ask the love of his life to marry him!


His plan included the family!  Dylan, you know EXACTLY how to touch the hearts of this family...include them!  They were all excited to join in the plot to surprise Taylor.  Even the littlest of local cousins were included!

Dylan had bought t-shirts that spelled out:

T-A-Y-L-O-R,  W-I-L-L  Y-O-U  M-A-R-R-Y  M-E?

Complete with perfect punctuation!  




Everyone waited with anticipation!  No one wanted to spoil this special occasion.  Cousins laughed and played around.  Sisters were wide-eyed with excitement!  Friends gathered to sneak a peek into this beautiful family's inner circle of love.
After several practices led by Calvin, our fearless leader...everyone was ready to go!
As Taylor neared the backdoor a hush came over everyone as Grandpa Thiess called Dylan over to take his place in his "ME" shirt!












My favorite part of the whole evening was Taylor's expression when she realized that it was time.  It was time for her to join with Dylan and their future together.

She was sincerely surprised and touched.

You could literally feel the love between them!



And a kiss to seal the deal!




I love the joy in this mother's face as she embraces these two wonderful kids!
Look at the tears still present in Dylan's eyes!!



















Nana Thiess leads in a festive song just for the occasion!


Days later Taylor posted a new picture of she and her fiancee and hashtagged that  she is "marrying up."  I think that Dylan is just as lucky to have this amazing girl to share his forever with.  You are both "marrying upward" in my book!
I love this picture of their friends and family sharing smiles over Taylor's wise choice to say, "YES!"
















I love that these girls got to witness the way things should be!  A worthy boy who is completely in love, taking his love to the temple FOREVER!!