I Owe You an Apology and a HUGE Thank You........

.......KIERSTEN!

And so this is how my day went.......

I have been running a hundred miles an hour getting things ready to go camping. I made green chili, chicken toastado burritos, potato soup, rolls, Chinese chicken salad and a dessert. I also packed 6 people. I've been packing the toy hauler with groceries, putting new sheets on each bed and trying to think of anything and everything that might make the trip with Mr. Grant easier. Oh and I had Stacy's two youngest, Brinner and Branton for 5 hours as well. Oh and the missionaries came over for about an hour! I tell you all this first so that you will know my state of mind when I tell you the rest of the story.......

While the missionaries were visiting with me, Kiersten and Logan got extremely hyper. They came into the family room wearing costumes and fighting each other with swords...........something I would expect from Logan, not so much from Kiersten. They just would not calm down..........so when the missionaries left I made them both sit in time out for 20 minutes because I was sooooo mad. I was more mad at Kiersten then Logan. I gave her a dang good lecture. After their 20 minute "cool down" time I was out in the toy hauler arranging things.

I had already made piles of clothes in each kids room and had the plastic totes that we use to store clothes in, when we camp, there as well. About an hour passed and I went to the boys room to start packing their clothes and much to my surprise they had been packed.........as had Kiersten's..........and Mr. Grant's. I answered the phone before I could find Kiersten to ask her about the good deed. Once I got off the phone this is what I found.....

Kiersten was washing Mr. Grant's bottles........without being asked.

I just couldn't believe after how grouchy I was towards Kiersten that she would do something so thoughtful and kind to help me out. It really did help me having the kids clothes all packed and ready to go. I went straight to her and picked her up and kissed her, told her how much I loved her, what a sweet and wonderful daughter she is. I also told her how sorry I was for how I yelled at her. I am trying to be better about saying I am sorry to my kids and just anyone when it's needed. I think the world would be a much better place if we adults said we were sorry more often. It's interesting to me to see parents insist that their kids say they are sorry when they do something knotty, but when an adult acts rude, unkind, grouchy, unthoughtful, or just plain mean I rarely see or hear an "I'm Sorry." I have made it a personal goal to apologize when needed............even when it's the simplest of errors I have made. I always regret acting grouchy, rude and unkind so I figure I need to start verbalizing my regret with an "I'm sorry". I make my kids apologize all the time and I figure it's about time I start holding myself as accountable as I do them. After apologizing to Kiersten, I told her I had bought so plastic crates to put all the Levi's in so the totes wouldn't be as full. I went on to do something else and later I noticed Kiersten had gone back to each of the totes and got out the Levi's and put them in the crates.........just like I had explained I was going to do. She also filled the dish washer and started it. It was such a learning experience for me! I really had been pretty mean to Kiersten about her behavior and she in return performed several acts of kindness. I am so grateful to have such a sweet, thoughtful and forgiving daughter. Thanks for helping me become a better person Kiersten!

The Cove in Sierra Vista

Stacy and I decided to take a day trip and drive over to Sierra Vista for a little water fun. They have a great indoor aquatic center....complete with wave pool, baby slide, two large tube slides and a humongous hot tub. It's awesome, especially considering it's only $4.00 a person to get in for the afternoon. Logan and Brinner were in heaven and of course kept getting yelled at by the Life Guards for being rough. I just figured they'd learn once they hit their heads hard enough!

Hunter was quite a character sliding down on his knees.

Kiersten and Kendall

Once the waves started they just about knocked Logan and Brinner over........but of course they LOVED it!

Kaden, Kiersten, Kendall and Hunter really enjoyed when the waves were going!

Three of my Crazy Kids...........we had so much fun! Thanks mom for keeping Mr. Grant for me.

Our Crazy Crew

Seriously......Logan and Brinner are nuts!

They crack themselves up every minute they are together.

Kendall was thrilled that this might be the last picture IF the little boys would behave and smile!

These statues outside are adorable......but not as adorable as the other kiddos in the picture! What a fun trip we had. Stacy and I gabbed and gabbed, kids played well, we all loved going down the big water slides. Logan even got to go down them by himself! He wasn't one bit scared! The trip was a huge success and will most likely be a new summer tradition with the Moore's!

We SURE Missed Mac Attack!

My dearest friend Mackenzie Pryor was gone back to Chicago to visit her family for about a month this summer. We missed her so much! We got to watch Mija for J.P. several days but it just made us all miss Mac that much more. So I decided to make her a sign to show her how much we missed her.

My plan was to put it on her garage door, but the day she was coming home was stormy so I had to find a place inside her house for the sign............it was rather LARGE! So the only place it fit was in her bedroom. I was hoping it wouldn't creep her out............and it didn't. We were gone to the Cove in Sierra Vista the day she came home, but she sent me this picture below.... She said the sign made her cry. This is Mac and Mija posing by the sign. The kids and I had a fun time making the sign. I had some photography paper that had gotten too dirty to keep using as a background so that's how I got the HUGE paper. I was so excited to use it..............and glad it came in handy. Mac and JP both couldn't believe how big the sign was. So if you need a HUGE sign just give me a call I have more paper. We were all so happy to have Mac home. She lives at the end of our street and we just adore her! Love you Mac!

Birthday Surprise................Times Two

Thanks to Kiersten, with Stacy's help I was surprised bright and early on my birthday! As I was putting on my shoes to go for my daily walk with Stac..........her and Kiersten peek around the corner with a blindfold and a crown. I was very surprised!

But Kiersten was even more excited then I was. I loved every minute of it! Looking sexy in my workout attire!

It's always fun to get into a vehicle......blindfolded!

We were all smiles and I made it without bumping my head so I was especially happy! They took me to Denny's for breakfast! It was great fun! What a wonderful friend and amazing daughter I have!

Kiersten had kind of made me suspicious to expect something on my birthday but I wasn't thinking breakfast so I was very surprised. Stacy had told me to plan to go to dinner with Justin and that she would watch my kids. What a great friend! So she decided to come to my house to watch the kids since Mr. Grant was asleep.

Justin and I enjoyed a nice dinner at Casa. When we returned home I received my second birthday surprise...........a SuRpRiSe BiRtHdAy PaRtY!

I was not expecting that for sure. It was fun to hear how Kiersten had planned the whole thing and asked Stacy to help her with the details.

When Justin and Kiersten made the list of friends and family members they thought I'd want at my party it was 102 people! Kiersten couldn't figure out what to do with all those cars so Justin suggested just inviting people with in walking distance.....so cars needed that way. Smart thinking since we don't live in a neighborhood where it would be easy to hide a ton of cars.

So if you weren't actually invited to my surprise party YOU were on the list!

My mom made my favorite German Chocolate Cake from SCRATCH!! I ended up having 3 cakes and Kiersten insisted on making me blow out candles 3 times. They sang happy birthday to me all 3 times. It was all very fitting as I was turning 33!

Tressie had quite the time lighting all those candles.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Notice all that smoke...........we were afraid it might make the fire alarms go off. All the kids enjoyed teasing me about all the smoke.

Me and my buddy Ashley

Me and Stacy

I told her to beware........her birthday is in November and you know what they say about paybacks. He birthday is actually the same as Logan's November 26th.

Where's the fire extinguisher?

The Smith's, the Moore's, the Shupe's and the Pryor's (except for Mac) came to help celebrate. What a great group of friends we have right here in the neighborhood. We missed Mac and the Bigg's Family as they weren't able to come.

Wendy, Me, Stacy, and Tressie

They even had sparklers.....my favorite!

Look at all those kids and that is only 4 families.............I love it!

Our friend Josh happened to walk down to join us.

I enjoyed the sparklers just as much as the kids did.

As you can see........I was thrilled with my surprise party!

Tasha, Hallie and I enjoying the sparks! It was a swimming party!

My Sweet Family

I love them so much!

I thank my Heavenly Father daily for each of them. I am blessed beyond words with an amazing family, terrific extended family and wonderful friends!

My buddy Ashley wanted her own picture with the birthday girl. She is one kid I can not turn down.

All the kids really enjoyed swimming while all us adults gabbed.

We sure have enjoyed our pool!

I just had to have a picture with the master mind behind my party. Kiersten is such a thoughtful daughter. I love every minute of my party! It was so fun to hear how things were planned and how most of it was Kiersten's ideas......too cute! I was totally thrown off because I had already have a surprise breakfast.........Stacy and Kiersten are quite the team! It was a great birthday! Thanks everyone! I got lots of phone calls and texts from so many friends which just added to my day!

Marla's Quick Trip..

to Safford. She came down for Aunt Mill's funeral. It was a bitter sweet reunion.........sad to have Aunt Mill pass away. She was more like a grandma to us. I can remember as a kid going every day through most summers with mom, Aunt Mill and us kids to walk the trail at Upper Arcadia on Mt. Graham. I loved to go out to Aunt Mill's house as a kid. She lived out in "Cactus" as she always called it and it was the best place to play hide-and-seek. I also loved playing in the old cars that she had around her house. Aunt Mill taught is girls to tole paint.....and so much more. She had a wonderful life and I know she must have been thrilled to be reunited with Uncle Weasel. She missed him so much! He was such a fun person.

Four of our Five siblings........Marla, Brad, Me and Quincy. We had a great time visiting many relatives we haven't seen in many, many years. I love it when my sister comes to visit even if it has to be a fast trip. I love her so much!

Marla, Brad and my fun sister-in-law Cheryl. The four of us had a good time going out to eat one night while Marla was down.

Siblings and spouses....Justin and Becky, Marla (Troy stayed back in Chicago), Brad and Cheryl, Quincy and Gloria. What a fun group! We played the Wii, acted silly and enjoyed being around each other.

Kiersten wanted in on the picture fun so this was Brad's idea. He is such a fun Uncle and my kids just love it when he comes over!

Hunter of course needed his turn!

I just love my sister! She adds so much fun to our family! I was so glad she was able to make it down for the funeral considering the short notice and expensive flight. Marla spent a great deal of time with Aunt Mill learning to tole paint through out the years.

I am grateful for families and the plan of salvation. I am thankful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and to know of our Heavenly Father's plan. I am eternally grateful for Aunt Mill and Uncle Weasel. The taught me so much. I have wonderful memories from my childhood because of them. I can only imagine their JOY when they saw each other...........that thought right there makes me smile!

Thank You Logan!

For making me laugh!

Logan was being particularly good today so I told him that he is very smart because he is making such good choices. I told him about 5 times what a smart boy he was. About an hour later, Logan comes up to me, gives me a bear hug (Logie Bear hug that is) and told me " Tank you mommy for telling me I am smart!"

He started to walk away, but instead he turned to me and said, "Mom I need to wiper a secret in your ear."

He then said, "Since I am the smarterest that means Hunter isn't smart.............but don't tell him, it would make him sad!"

It was so cute to listen to his reasoning!

Crusin' The Neighborhood

From left to right: Joshua Biggs, Ryan Biggs, Hunter Cluff, Kiersten Cluff holding Mr. Grant, Logan Cluff, Carsyn Shupe and Ryker Shupe. If you come out to our neck of the woods be prepared to meet the "Putt-Putt Crew." These things are every where out here in our neighborhood. All the kids have so much fun riding, driving and chasing the Putt-Putts.