SHE'S HERE!!!!

Gracilyn Mallory was born (early) Sunday 12-19-10

6 lbs 9 0z 20 inches long

We couldn't wait to meet her - as soon as church was over we were on our way.

It is as if I am looking at Carly (22 years ago) all over again.

She is the BEST Christmas present ever!! We are so grateful that all went well. I pretty much pulled an all nighter worrying about her mommy until she arrived safely. They would call me with updates but everything, especially the time seemed to be moving in slow motion. Carly arrived at the hospital a little before 1:00 am and she was born around 4:30 am, not to shabby for a first time mom. I ran into the bedroom with my cell phone to show Tim a picture. I was telling him, "She's Here, She's Here" and Tim thought I meant Carly was at the front door needing to be let in hahaha - he was oblivious to what was going on and I had been an absolute mess the whole night!!! Our cup runneth over!!

Happy Birthday to my "MAIN SQUEEZE"!!

 


Happy Birthday Tim!!
One year OLDER and WISER too!!

I really am grateful for this man, he means the world to me. I believe he gets the shaft having a birthday so close to Christmas but he never complains. He has the same birthday wish year after year and that is TACOS for his birthday dinner:) I am just glad I know how to make them the "right" way hehehe

Happy 46th - CHEERS to at least 40 more !!!!!!

Yea - Wrestling is OVER!!

 
 
 
 

On Saturday Brock had his final Wrestling Tournament. He had a pretty successful season and seemed to really enjoy this sport. I grew up with a house full of boys that LOVED this sport and were very good at it but I think it is STRESSFUL!!! I am grateful that Brock didn't have to cut weight or that would have been even more stressful:) I love this kid - he is a pretty mellow fellow. Mellow and wrestling really don't go that well together but he had a good experience and now we are on to basketball season.

I saw the funniest t-shirt at the tournament it said... "I would rather wrestle and wear a singlet, then play basketball and dribble in my shorts"!!!! hahaha

Oh Christmas Tree!!

 
 
 

This year our annual Christmas tree cutting was scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving. We usually go the day after Thanksgiving but this year we went the day before because of my mom and dads Temple schedule. Tyton woke up that morning throwing up so I stayed home with him and sent the rest of the family. They had a great time and Tim and Macky cut us a beautiful tree. I am grateful for family traditions and the memories we have made through the years. I really missed going this year but didn't want to show my emotions because I didn't want Tyton to feel bad:( I am so thankful for my family and for the fun, crazy moments that we have shared together!! A FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER!!!!

Showered with LOVE!!

 
 
 
 


On Novemer 11th, we had a baby shower for Carly. I am amazed at the love, kindness, support and generosity of friends and family. It was a beautiful evening full of fun and laughter. Afterwards, Carly just sat there in awe, overwhelmed with every one's kindness. I am grateful for the "small town" that we live in and the love and support that we give each other. She definitely was SHOWERED!!! A BIG THANK YOU to everyone!!!

Happy Anniversary!!

 


On Sunday, Tim and I celebrated our 24th Wedding Anniversary. That is a really loooong time to be married to someone:) Things were a little gloomy around here due to the loss of our state football game. We were talking the other night and came to the conclusion that in the 24 years that we have been married, we have spent 22 of those years on a football field on or around our anniversary!!!! He is always teasing me, telling me "I knew what he was when I picked him up"!! At times I have had some pretty good pity parties, feeling sorry for myself but in those moments I've heard my Grandma Tenney's voice telling me "Oh honey, don't complain, he could be sitting in a bar somewhere"!!!! haha

I am one lucky, blessed lady. I am so grateful for the man I married and for the good man that he is. We have grown and matured ALOT over the years. He is the best thing that ever happened to me!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MNT TIMANOGUS!!!!

Grandbaby!!

 


SHE was a PUMPKIN for Halloween and she didn't even know it:)

It's been FUN to watch her mommy's belly grow!!

I can't wait to meet HER!!

Love you daddy!!

 

I know the word is out about my dad and the tumor in his eye. On Thursday he will be going to Tucson for more tests and procedures and even though I am not sure what Thursday will bring.....

I am glad for many things, many things, many things.
I am glad for many things THAT ARE MINE TODAY!!

Thank you, thank you, my heart sings, my heart sings, my heart sings.
Thank you for the many things THAT ARE MINE TODAY!!

Even though we have entered the unknown and are feeling a little uneasy, uncertain, worried and afraid, I still feel so BLESSED!!! Blessed to have these two amazing people as my parents. Blessed to have such an amazing family. Blessed to KNOW that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers and blessed to feel the love of our Savior!!

Happy Birthday Mary!!

 
 
 


So, our sweet little Mary had a birthday. I LOVE these pictures of her!!! They were taken outside the Snowflake Temple when Carly was married. Tiff has had them on her computer and I was able (with tiff's help) to get them on mine. These pictures melt my heart, I am so grateful to have this beautiful girl in my life and in our family. She has brought us alot of SUNSHINE!! I hope she knows on how much we LOVE her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Introducing the Duke and Duchess!!

For Homecoming this year Macky was voted Duke by his peers for his Sophmore Class. The really cool thing about it was his actual Homecoming date (Lindsey Crandell) won Duchess. She is a awesome young lady!!! Congrats you two:) Macky actually broke the "homecoming curse", for 4 years straight JT was nominated for royalty and lost every time. It became a huge joke around here (I GROW-UP TO BE A LOSER) and what do you know, the little bro WINS!! Way to go Macky!!!

Happy Birtday Nate Dawg!!!!

We have alot of birthdays this month in our family but this birthday is a special one for Nate. He turned EIGHT!!! We are looking forward to his baptism. There are 4 cousins (Amelia, Nate, Tessa and Kimball) that all turn eight this month, so we have decided to have a "cousins baptism day". Amelia and Nate have to wait the longest to bet baptized, their b-days were on the 5th and 6th, so I just wanted to wish my boy a Happy Birthday!! It has been a treat to watch him learn and grow. He has overcome so many things, he has moved mountains!! I really have enjoyed watching him grow spiritually, we have been talking to him alot about baptism trying to get him ready and it has been very entertaining:) I asked him the other night why we get baptized and here are a few of his answers....

It's a commandment. (We have worked on this answer for weeks)
So the Holy Ghost can walk by me.
So Satan can see me get baptized :)
So my sins won't stay on me.

I could see the wheels a turning as we talked, it takes him a while to process things but I finally think he's getting it and that makes me happy. He makes me HAPPY and I am so grateful that I have the privilege of being his mom. My heart is bursting with thankfulness for the opportunity to make a difference in his life. Actually he's making a difference in mine!!!

Love you Nate - Happy Birthday!!

Happy 22nd Birthday Carly!!!

I just would feel ungrateful if I didn't post something about my amazing daugther who had a BIRTHDAY on Monday. She has brought so much fun and joy into my life and I can hardly wait for her to experience motherhood. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent her to our family first. He knew exactly what I needed (a helper)!! I am blessed to call her daughter and friend!!!

Happy Birthday Sis!!!

Love you!!

TODAY!!!

I love the saying "SAME OLD CRAP, JUST A DIFFERENT DAY"!! What did you do today?? Here are just a few things that went down today....

Started the morning off with a biggest loser workout that was suppose to take me 40 minutes to do but instead it took me 1 hour 15 minutes because I kept getting interrupted !! Yes - I love you honey and I really didn't mind bringing you your wallet but when you said you would meet me outside the building I thought you meant right then not 15 minutes later. I definitely couldn't bring it to you in your classroom because I LOOKED and SMELT like POO:)

I then got ready for the day and drove myself to Snowflake for a boob smashing experience haha!! HUM - what do I LOVE more mammograms or pap smears?? I really can't decide, I think it's a tie!!

I then came home to 7 piano lessons. Children that needed their mom, homework that couldn't get done unless I was sitting by their side keeping them on task. I finally told the one child I was setting the buzzer for 30 minutes and if he got his homework done I would take him to Circle K to buy whatever he wanted and I meant WHATEVER (except for beer, maybe I should buy myself one)!! Surprised and shocked the child beat the buzzer and totally bothered me through the rest of my piano lessons wondering when I was going to take him. I hurried and got dinner on and jumped in the car to go reward the child I had bribed. I got home to find an IRATE child screaming in his room who was sent there by his father because he was pitching a huge fit because he didn't get to go. I then dealt with ATTITUDE and comments like these the rest of the night...
I don't like this family.
I want to go live somewhere else.
I am not picking up my room and you can't make me (which he had destroyed while timing out)!!
I am not going to school tomorrow.
You are so mean.
Dad is so mean.
I am not sleeping in my bed.

After dealing with ALL of that I went to switch out the laundry to find out that I had over looked/left a chap stick in a pocket and it melted all over the pants:( I then spent 30 minutes with the "spray and wash" bottle, which I didn't mind because it wasn't talking back!!!!!!

Yep - same old crap, just a different day!!!!

Thoughts of a Missionary Mom!!!

Where has all the time gone?

Why didn't I just sit and hold him a little longer??

Why at times was I in a hurry to watch him grow??

Is he prepared?

Does he even know how to iron a shirt or sew on a button?

What can he even cook?

Why didn't we read more, pray more and focus more on "spiritual" things?

What will he miss more, me or his cell phone??

Does he know how grateful I am for his desire and worthiness to serve the Lord?

Does he know how much he will be missed??

Does he know how much I LOVE him?

Why is this so hard?

MIS-SION-AR-Y

Someone who spends time away from loved ones so others can spend eternity with theirs!!!!!!!!!

If I make it through this next week it is going to be a MIRACLE!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROCK!!!!

We can't believe that you are thirteen and that we officially have another teenager in our home!! What a blessing you are to our family. You have always been a peacemaker and a easy going kid. We call you are NEPHI and that is a huge compliment to you - Nephi was an amazing man, full of courage, strength and unwavering testimony and we see those traits in you!!! We hope you know how much we love and appreciate you. You have great friends and we are thankful that you help each other choose the right. Thank you for being such a GOOD boy - HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY BROCK!!!

A spiritual feast - a trip of a lifetime!!

One morning we all went as a family to the Nauvoo Temple and did Baptisms For The Dead. The baptismal font is incredible. What a beautiful Temple and experience!!

We FINALLY took our older kids on a Church History Trip. Right after I graduated from high school I was able to be a participant in the Hill Cumorah Pageant (I was a wicked Lamenite), this experience was monumental for me in regards to my testimony. I swore then, that I would someday take my children to see and experience what I had. So, we left Sunday May 30th and returned home a week later on June 6th. We had a wonderful time!! We saw things and felt things that strengthened our testimonies and blessed us as a family. It was a trip filled with the spirit!!!!

Washington D.C. - South Mission!!!

This is the monument at the base of the Nauvoo Temple where J.T. got his call. It is Joseph and Hyrum on horse back, their final ride together on there way to Carthage. He got a text from Alyssa Weber who was watching our 3 little ones that she had just picked up his call in the mail. He was presented with a huge dilemma (do I wait 4 days and open the call myself or do I get Chace to read it to me over the phone??). Well - the suspense was killing him so he decided to have Chace read it to him over the phone. This monument is where he wanted to be when he found out. On our way there, we ran into the Brady's that we had met earlier on our trip and JT invited them to join us, they were so excited to be a part of it all. We all stood around this monument waiting to get the news. Chace was great and when he read WASHINGTON D.C.-SOUTH there was a lot of jumping up and down and squealing. Tim was freaking out because this is where he served on his mission!!!!! What a way to receive your mission call!!!!

He will be speaking English and reports to the MTC August 11th.

Carthage Jail!!

This picture is taken with the door closed through the bullet hole - totally cool huh!!!!

I love this place!!!!! Carthage jail is amazing, I learned a lot on this tour. Sister Despain from Snowflake was our tour guide and she did an incredible job, she shared a lot of stories and bore testimony of the things that took place here. It is hard to put into words the feelings I had while on this tour. I am so grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith, for his courage and example -"Praise To The Man Who Communed with Jehovah"!!

Graves of Joseph, Hyrum and Emma.