Dad's 60th Birthday weekend!

What a weekend!!  I feel so very blessed to have been able to go and spend one of the most memorable weekend with my siblings and parents!


Dad turned 60 in Feb and us kids and Mom thought it would AWESOME to all fly out and surprise our Dad.


We were all giddy for months and Mom was quite the player.  She managed to keep it from Dad for a few months.  We all thought she would cave, but she didn't.




Kenny, Jenny, Eve and I met in Denver and then went on to COLD MN. Beth met us at the airport and we all stuffed ourselves ( we had a lot of stuff) into Beth van, then off to the Mall of America!!  We were all so excited but I think Jenny wins the prize for being the most excited!!  We thought she was going to jump through a window!

 This is some of us in Denver!!

 Waiting to take off for MN.

 Coming into MN......very flat and a lot of snow.

 Best travler out of all of us!!  Evie, I will travel with you any time!

 At the Mall of America trying to figure out how to breath!!!  I was soooooo coooooold!!!!!

Poor Kenny was in shock by the time we mad it into the mall, and then theres Beth who doesn't even have a coat on, she is true MN, WI through and through!!

Our plan was to surprise Dad coming out of a store but He made things very difficult!!  He wandered from store to store!! Mom finally called him and asked where he was.  He was suppose to be "in" the store, but to our surprise he was sitting outside of the store and trying to figure out what these weird people were doing that looked a lot like his kids!! 


We finally got to him:

It was so fun to see Him and to be there for this awesome day!!

Went to lunch after the big surprise.

It was so fun to be home!!  There was so much snow and very cold, just how the winters were when I was growing up.  I sound like an old person, just like someone who just turned 60!!

Kenny was having a hard tine with the cold!!  Arizona has gotten to him!

My cute house!

Dad very delicious birthday cake!!  I didn't have to share my pice with any one!!  That was the beauty of going on this trip all by my self!!  It was heaven!  Thanks Greg, you are the best husband!!

OH, there's the birthday boy!

Here we all are!!  It's amazing to look at this picture and see where we have all gone.
 

Waiting........

I spent the day yesterday doing a lot of waiting.  I waited for the nurse to answer my call, the Doctor, the pharmacy, to see if meagan was going to have another fever, for the nurse again, a lot of waiting.  I had a lot of opportunities to think about waiting and what I am spending my "waiting" time on.  


There is a lot of things in life I could "wait" for.  I could spend my time waiting for a lot of things to chance in all aspects of my life, for this or that to get better or for some thing to make me happier.  But I realized that the time I spend "waiting" I am missing out on enjoy my time and growing from the things that I am waiting to change.


Life is not always going to be the way I wanted it to be.  So instead of "waiting " for it to change I need to make the best of all of it.  I need to be content with what my life has to give and what my Heavenly Father has to give no matter what.  I need to find the JOY in all that comes my way.  It is not going to always be fun or easy, but I go through life's experiences to help me be a better me. 

Valentines Day part 2

Our celebration of Valentines Day last about a week.  With parties and birthday's and trying to find a good night to go out on a "special" date it can really go on and on and on.  But that's ok!  Who doesn't like to have the "love" holiday last extra long!


I love Valentines Day because I get to give lots of hugs and kisses and the kids can't complain!  I think deep down inside they all love it (Ben).  I also love to deck out the house and have lots of fun treats around.  I love to make special lunches and put lovey dovey things in them.


We sang Happy Birthday to Sarah! 

This year I really got spoiled!  On Friday we left the older 2 kids in charge and went out on a date.  They successfully put the 2 little guys down to bed and we came home to a very happy house!!!!!   


On Saturday Megan cleaned the WHOLE upstairs!  She empties the dishwasher (it wan't even her day), she loaded it and cleaned the kitchen spotless. She picked up all the clutter and put it away (that is a job that could take all day on it's own), she vacuumed All the rooms upstairs (5 total) and best of all when she was all done with that she asked if there was anything else I would like her to do.  She ROCKS!!


I got the BEST Valentines from my kids and hubby.


Got to be part of school parties.


And then got to have a really fun Family Home Evening.  We talked about our family and had everyone write on hearts why they love being part of the Gordon Family.  It was awesome.  After we shared our thoughts we heart attached our back door so that every time we leave our home we are all reminded why we love to come back.  It had been really fun to see the door through out my day today!

Have I mentioned how much LOVE Valentines Day!!

We love Valentines Day!!!

Valentines Day has a very special place in our hearts!  It is our special Sarah-bears birthday!  She is our "love child" and I love that.  I really enjoy Valentines Day, but this makes it even better.  She told me the other day that she wants to get married on Valentines Day too.  All I have to say is if she does that then her husband is one lucky guy.  He would only have one day to remember for all the important days. 

This year for her Birthday she wanted to have some ladies over and have a late night.  We had pizza (shaped like a heart) cupcakes and popcorn.  

It is always loud when you get a few little 8yr. together and let them rule the basement.  

She had a wonderful time and now we can't wait for her baptism!  8 is GREAT!!

It is very fitting that Sarah's favorite color is pink!  Goes very well will the holiday!

She was in heaven when I told her we could get a pizza shaped like a heart.   These's girls really know who do finish off a pizza!

At our local movie theater you can get this HUGE bag of popcorn!  It was like we were really at the movies!!  Thanks Water Garden Theaters! 

FEAR!

We have lived on our house for about 3 years now.  It had been such a blessing and we are grateful every day for the space we have.

For as long as we have lived here the 3 older kids have had their rooms in the basement.  For the same amount of time the same 3 kids have been scared to death to be down in the basement by themselves for more the 2 minutes.  It has caused a lot of contention because when one child needs to go down for what ever reason they beg and plead for another sibling to go down with them.  Without fail the child who is being asked to go down to help seems to forget that they were in the same predicament just a few hours ago.  REALLY!!!!

It has gotten a little better, but I am at a loss as to how to help them overcome this fear.  When we first moved in I had one night where I sat down with the kids in the back hall and I had them point out the sounds and noises that were scaring them.  I thought if I could help them identify what the "scary" noise was it wouldn't be scary any more.  It helped a little, but the #1 things that scares them are the noises.  We have added night lights and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but with little results.

I have to laugh a little when I think of their fear because as a child I was scared ALL the time!  I don't think there was a night that I didn't sleep with my sister Beth or plead with my Mom to let me sleep with them. (I guess you get what you gave.) To this day I am the BIGGEST baby still when it come to the dark and noises.  It is so bad that I have to sleep with a fan on in my room so I don't "hear" things at night.  When Greg is gone for a night I have to sleep with the bathroom light on and I have to sleep so I can see the door and no way could I ever sleep with my back to the door!!  So I know where my kids get their active imagination and I totally understand, but I wish they didn't have to worry about it.  I guess as they get older and they can reason with them selves things with get better, but for now I will have to do all that I can to help ease their fear and hope that they will eventually find peace and comfort from the "scary" basement.

My kids!

Had parent teacher conferences today.  It was a little hard getting there.  Had to make sure everyone was home ok and the little guys were taken care of.

Of course I was running a little late, who schedules conferences 5 minutes after picking kids up, oh I do!  Ben was first.  I always go into Ben's with an open mind and a deep breath.  Ben had not always liked school and it is hard because he is so smart and when he applies himself to the topic he is an A student.  I love his teacher this year.  She is young and very sweet, but she means business.  I was really pleased with Ben and his hard work this semester.  Along with his teacher we both have seen him take charge of his school work and really try to get everything done.  Finally he loves to read, which I thought we would never get there.  Ben is the kind of kid that he won't do it until he is ready.  All-in-all it was a wonderful conference.

Sarah has loved school this year as well.  She is doing awesome and has found it to be an easy year.  Her teacher did mention that she is seeking more attention than normal.  I think she is feeling that "middle child" thing.  I need to spend more special time with her.

Megan is my student.  She would live at school if she was allowed.  The girl always has her face in a book and loves to come home and share what she learned that day.  She didn't get the brains from me!  She got it from her Dad and her Aunt Jenny, who took most of the brains in the family along with Beth.

I love being a Mom!  I love to be part of my children's lives and being there to help them reach their potential!  I am in awe as I see the sweet little people growing so fast into young people and facing little bits of the world.  I pray everyday that I am doing what I am suppose to, to help prepare them for what's out there.  As Ben approached Jr. High next year I am full of worry for him and what an eye opener it will be.  It is that first step into putting your child out there and seeing if they can hold their own and make those decisions we have been teaching them about.

Happy Birthday Josh 3 & Isaac 4

Well, another year down and boy has it flown by!  We got Isaac potty trained and into a big boy bed and now we have Josh potty trained and sort of in a big boy bed.


Josh and Isaac have brought so much laughter and joy to our home.  You ask the older kids and they say they have brought a lot of extra noise.

If you ever need a super hero we have spiderman and batman.

They travel together and always have some one to talk to.

They always have a drinking buddy.

They always have someone to do a shaved ice run with.

They do have to share one of their favorite ladies when she come into town.  It can be hard some times being one of their grandmas.    

They always have some one to suck pacifiers with. Hoping that will be ending very soon!

Always have some one to go play outside with.

Always have some one to play the other guys with.

These two are best friends and I am so lucky to be their mom.

Happy Birthday Isaac and Josh