Valor Prom 2013...Our A.J.

Prom season is here!

As I sit here at the computer, I see a list A.J. made last Wednesday.

It looks a little like this:

Prom

prom tickets-----$check to Valor Christian High School

group expenses-----$

bus-etc.-----cash preferably

flowers/corsage-----$?

(white roses w/ rhinestone bracelet)

flowers for her mom-----$

That's it...well, with the numbers filled in, but I don't want to necessarily remember that part.

I just want to remember that he asked the girl on his own, planned the evening on his own, got his tuxedo on his own, and made all the necessary arrangements on his own.

"On his own."

Amazing, and yet emotion-filled words for this momma.

There is only one year left with A.J. here with us.

One year.

One year to make sure he has all the needed abilities, skills, accomplishments, relationships, confidence, and love that he will need in this great big world.

He is amazing.

He will make a difference.

As we walked around the back of the country club where we were taking the kids' pictures, his dates' mom leans in and talks about A.J. and her daughter, Kellyn.

I have the opportunity to tell her, what I always say about my A.J..

"He is even more beautiful on the inside than he is on the outside."

And as you can see, he is not too shabby on the outside.

I love that he loves and works hard for what he wants.

He loves his testimony of Christ.

He loves his parents and siblings.

He loves his grandparents.

He loves being able to play sports.

He loves life.

A.J., take this life and make it even more than you could have ever dreamed possible.

I love you kid!

 We had to get a picture of Kellyn's hair for the girls.  With five sisters, the dates' hair was a fun thing to document. :)

 I love the exchange of smiles between these two during the boutonniere and corsage exchange.

 Look at his smile!  Good times!

 John talking about life with her dad in the parking lot!  Love that guy!!

 Pictures on the back deck.  A.J.'s pasted smile is beginning to fade!

 Group shot of the boys with a little "photo-bombing" from one of the dates!

 Look this pic!  Love them both!

 Had to grab a quick pick of the "his" and "hers" bracelets.  Hers, perfect for the whole ensemble.  His, a USC bracelet he never takes off, and some other random bracelet.  Too funny!

 The boys pulling the "GQ" pose!  They look great!

 A.J. practicing his James Bond look.  Seriously hilariously taking these!

Tiny Tym, Tymmie Two Step...Tymber Julia

The time is flying by!

I wish everything would just slow down, so that I can literally breathe in these moments of being a mother of this 1 year old, and all the other ones that love on her each day.

I love recording our life, but I get too caught up making sure the pictures are loaded, edited, and all-inclusive.

I am missing it.

The opportunity to record our life each day.

So, here is to capturing our life.  Raw. Unedited. And maybe sometimes without the perfect pic.

I have a dear friend moving away today, so I want to send her off with memories of her life here, but today I'm sharing Tymber's latest obsession of wearing Annie and Ellie's panties to be a "Big Girl."

She is a big girl.  Too big.  She knows too much, and not quite enough to know to watch out for nails on the ground (yesterday's adventure).

I love the layers.  Each one showing how she methodically pulls them up and over her diaper. Each layer proving to me that the time is short with these little ones.

Soon there will be Thursday night study sessions, early morning omelets before seminary, and late nights waiting to here all the details of our oldest headed to his first Prom.


I love being a mother.

I do.

I know I'm not great at it, but I am pretty good, and hopefully my children will make up the difference by who they are and who they will become.

Here is to life, and the chance to love...

And a little bye-bye picture to the bottle!

The Foot Book with the girls' favorite person...Daddy!

I love the little moments.

It's the little moments that we tend to forget, but sometimes leave the biggest impression on who we are when they are all seamed together in one wonderful life.

This was one of those moments for me.

I have been working really hard on cleaning out closets, bathrooms, desks, and dressers in all the girls' rooms upstairs.

I was showing John how hard we have been working, and showing him our laser-like precision in getting rid of clutter and teaching the girls to share what we have been blessed with, and this is the scene that was my favorite of the whole room tour.

I felt a little like Martha in Luke 10:40-42, "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

John chose that part.

The part where you stop looking around for what needs to be done, and you do what needs to be done...time with little girls.

I just stood in the doorway and watched.

I witnessed them come to the room, one by one, following the voice of their dad.

I knew I didn't want to forget this moment.

There will many more times where dad reads to them, and introduces them to Dr. Seuss, Judy Blume, and Tolstoy, but this was a sweet reminder to me.

A reminder that I was doing something good, but sometimes I need to chose "that good part."

The part where the girls are snuggled in their beds listening to Anne of Green Gables. 

The part where I never turn Easton down when he asks me to tuck him in.

The part where A.J. just wants to stand in the kitchen and tell me story after story of his day.

The part where I glance at John at the dinner table and mouth the words, "I love you."

The part where I am Madie's shoulder to lean on, and her cheerleader in every endeavor.

Life is good.  Oh so good!

I am a blessed mama!

Easton is 13!!

Happy Birthday E-man!!

Easton officially became a teenager this year.

Easton is an amazing kid full of potential and energy!

This year's birthday started off with the Cecil tower of presents as always.

Nana and Papa spoiled Easton with a great spring getup, a fun magnetic dart board, a little treat and the promise of a night out!

 John, with the help of Uncle Ben, got this longboard put together just for E!

Do you think he was excited?

This was one of my favorite parts of the present opening...two little girls completely in love with their big brother.

Look at the way these two little ones surround A.J.

Boy, are we going to miss him next year!!

Here is the birthday girl!  Happy Birthday Melissa!  (Easton was born on Melissa's 21st birthday, so they have shared the day since the beginning!)

 Madie's friend, Andrew, and John and A.J. giving in to my relentless memory making!

 Tymber and Quinn taking a ride around the place!

When John and I first starting having children, (a million years ago) we decided that we wanted our home to be where the kids gathered.

We made special efforts to have food, room and lots of opportunities for fun so that we could have them here.

I dreamed of those days when teenagers would just show up and be a part of our family's life.

Well, those days are in full swing!

Sunday night we had a family get together to celebrate Easton and Melissa's birthdays, and the teenagers just kept showing up.

I love it!

I also love how Aunt Melissa "photo-bombed" the picture above.  (Who is the teenager now? :))

 Do you love the candles?

I am kinda a loser at making sure we have the right candles, and ice cream on hand!

Tonight was no exception!

"134"

"13" for Easton and "34" for Melissa!!

Brilliant!! I love it!!

The REESES PIECES covered cake was compliments of "Madison Designs"

 Brooke showing off her chocolate teeth!

 And Madie's friend Becca being mauled by cousins!

Grandma and baby Dieker just hanging out

Reese and Steve giving me a great father/son pose!

Since church was so early on Easton's birthday, we didn't get a chance to give him breakfast in bed, but he gladly accepted it the next morning from A.J.!

Look at that smile!

You can't beat hot carmel apple spice straight from the grocery store Starbucks!

As well as, a whip cream covered homemade waffle, fresh OJ, and sweet raspberries to eat in the warmth of your bed on a Monday morning!

Easton, we love you!

We cannot believe you are 13!!

Here are 13 amazing things about Easton that everyone should know, especially him on such a wonderful day!

Easton is a softie inside.  Even when he is picked on and puts on a tough exterior, he is soft on the inside.

Easton loves his little sisters.  He can be found every Sunday making up games with them, or watching a movie with them lined up beside him.

Easton works very hard in school.  Easton pushes himself all the time at school, and has made amazing strides in his education.

Easton is a gifted athlete.  He can excel at any sport he puts his mind to.  This year he tried wrestling for the very first time, and took NUMBER 1 in the District in his weight class as a 7th grader!

Easton loves to hear the details of the story.  Whether it is a car accident that he wants to know that everyone is ok, down to the upcoming weather.  He wants the details!

Easton is our early riser!  Always has been, and always will be.  He beats everyone up any day that is a sleep-in day.  (There aren't many of those)

Easton loves to snowboard and ski.  He not only has snowboarding gear, but he also owns ski gear too.  He loves both for different reasons, and loves to go up to the mountains every chance he can!

Easton has a testimony of Jesus Christ that he is willing to share with friends who aren't members of the church.  He wrote his testimony in a Book of Mormon this year, and gave it to one of his best friends.

Easton loves football in the Fall and lacrosse in the Spring, but will play either one, all out, every chance he can!

Easton has lots of friends.  They know that they can depend on him to stick up for them and protect them.  He is loyal and loving!

Easton loves his brother! He misses A.J. when he is gone.

Easton loves to be tucked in.  He loves when John or I go down and talk to him before bed. I love this!

Easton loves music!  He has figured out how to play the guitar by some program he found on the internet.

Easton loves to build things.  Whether he is building a new skateboard rail or a snowboarding ramp in the backyard, he is happy.

WE LOVE YOU EASTON!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!