I really like this song, read the lyrics

If Today Was Your Last Day Lyrics by Nickelback

Send "If Today Was Your Last Day" Ringtone to your Cell

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

Happy Birthday Audrey

Okay as you see on the cake (3 candles for Audrey, 1 candle for Kennedy), I did a joint party because their birthdays are only a week apart, so Kennedy's side of the party is coming next post.

My cake theme was unplanned but recurring: " it just didn't work" which actually worked out universally :)

Cheesy smile with the cheesy pizza

"This one is mine, mine, mine, mine and the little one is for Kennedy."

"Wait a minute.... it's stuck!"

Makin' a wish and puttin' on a show.

Audrey is hilarious! She is wonderful and always keeps us laughing. Enjoy this little video it's like 3 minutes long, and it took about an hour to upload, and it is quintessential Audrey.

By the way, her favorite preface to almost everything she says now is "Wait a minute....!" I will try to get it on tape so it is on record how silly she can be.

Happy Birthday Kennedy

Kennedy had her first birthday party a week late, well that is my recurring theme. Her birthday was April 18 and I took her and the older girls to the zoo for the morning. We had fun and she is such a good girl. She has really come out and started to show her personality. I love Kennedy for her great peek-a-boos, her hysterical giggles and her torpedo crawl (away from me of course) when I'm playing with her. She is such a joy to have in our family and we wouldn't be complete without her. Each of my girls has such sweet spirits and each day I feel so blessed to be able to fill the role as their mother. My goal is to do my best they know how special they are to me. If nothing else on my list gets checked off, at the end of the day I hope I have at least hugged and kissed and expressed my love to my kiddos and hubby I can rest knowing that 'to do' list will always be there, but my sweet young children will grow up. (sniff, sniff,I'll stop now, here are some good pics of Kennedy's side of the party.)

Glow bear night light

soft plush to love on

pizza, this is her best smile I've ever captured on camera

all 1 year olds wonder about the fire on the food, what a weird thing to do!
Kennedy's yellow candle on top

WAAAA!

Kennedy refuses to let me feed her anymore, so to avoid screeming, I resorted to having to bathe her after each meal. Oh well, at least she is happy for 5 minutes!

Pinata! We had fun at my sister Holly's house for her oldest daughter's 4th birthday. Pinatas are great! confetti everywhere, candy also. Some girls were hard hitters, some not so much, but the spikes on the pinata double as candy carriers.

Easter

Late, but pictures are good to post whenever

The Loot

The Hunt

Look what I GOT!

Candy...!

Easter Kennedy ~HOP~HOP~HOP~

Kennedy checkin' her basket

Books!

ROBIN EGGS!

~Shake~Shake~Shake~


Swimming at Heather's house on Good Friday
CRAZY COLD!

Grandma Chris fell in accidentally...

I am motivated!!

I admit, I am a little bit nervous to start summer, with its well, lack of 'routine' or whatever you call trying to maintain some semblance of structure. I just got home from RS Enrichment where the women in my ward are extremely inspiring! Tutorials on how to grill the best pizza on the block to awesome scripture study with the kiddos (actually fun and entertaining) and great, actually AWESOME ideas for summer motivators, summer activities, lots of free or super cheap activities and good reminders to just have fun with the kids. I plan on having tons of fun posts of all the activities and fun we will have this summer. Now that I have posted this acclamation, I must stick to my word. SO you readers, keep me honest, and It will be a great summer!

Happy Birthday Kennedy

Kennedy is now one year old! My baby is so not a little baby now. She is toying with the idea of walking, but doesn't have the confidence or proper motivation to go for it, which is fine, they grow up too stinkin' fast anyway. So I was in a baking mood on Saturday for her birthday, and we had pop-overs for breakfast with yogurt and honey and strawberries and bananas (her favorite) and I also made blueberry muffins and homemade bread. I was done otherwise I would have gone the stretch and done cookies as well. It was a fun day, Tim had some serious block to move (more info on a later post) and I decided to just haul up, put on a hat and head to the zoo. It was great, until I took the 101N and it was shut down for 5 miles. Sooooo, 1 hour and 10 minutes later we arrived at the zoo, it was hot and packed. We did discover after the giraffes and zebras and envying the otters, that there is a new splash pad by the otters for my kiddos. They LOVED it and I loved just sitting there watching them. It was chaos, but I didn't mind (so unlike me). I piled them all in the double stroller and took them to the car afterward. Three kids in a stroller added up to about 90 pounds, it was tough on the hills at the zoo, but I made it. Audrey wants to go back for her birthday this saturday, but with swimsuits and flip flops.

New tricks...

I'm in BIG trouble. By necessity ( or a good excuse) to learn, I am tickling my toes in the waters of digital scrapping. I am not creative, and when I am I'm so proud of myself. My grandma Mary is turning 90 years young on Monday April 27th. I tried twice to get a baby on that date, but only came out with 18th for Kennedy and 25th with Audrey. We have lots to celebrate in April and we love Grandma so much. Here is the product of about an hour and some bravery online (much to the chagrin of Tim).

Easter

I am so grateful for Easter, or what Easter represents. Words can't represent how I feel. I know that Jesus Christ loved us so much that he died for us, or for me. I know he overcame death through the Resurrection and because of that we will all live again. This is more real to me this Easter because of Ben's recent passing, and I am so uplifted by the spirit that comes with the trials we go through in this life. I don't doubt the plan of Happiness laid out for us in this mortal life and I think it is a gift of faith I've been given to have that testimony.

Family picture by Aften

My good friend Aften took these pictures back in December. She was awesome to fit our whole family in one frame! All 39 of us, and most of us have eyes open and faces toward her. She is so good, and had so much fun and we all enjoyed her as well. Small world story, she and my sister were chatting and discovered Aften dated one of my Neeley cousins back in the mid 90's. I would have loved to have her in the family, but I am just grateful she is my friend.

I love the zoo

During spring break I went to the Zoo with the girls while Tim was camping trying out our new pop-up camper. I think the zoo keepers put something in the animal's food on Saturdays because I've never seen so many animals up and around at the zoo, especially the cheetahs. They were circling around and it was fun to see. Audrey was making acquaintance with a little squirrel on the Arizona Trail where Emma could see all the bighorn sheep (she has awesome vision) and Kennedy loved the carousel. It was a fun day and we missed Tim but he had a great time eating grubs and smellin' of camp smoke.Audrey trying to coax a squirrel to her hand, she was being so still!

The girls on the carousel, Kennedy loved it!

Mr. Otter out to play

Cheetahs moving around, yeah, they are real! Kennedy loved watching them.
I've never actuall seen the cheetahs move, it was a first for me and Kennedy was mesmerized by them walking around.

Run for Africa's Children

I had a survey on here about whether people would run with me for Care For Life, and it was a pathetic response, but I've never been good at sales, so whatever. I went with just my girls and we had a great time. Tim didn't come with me, so I wasn't able to run the actual 5K but we did do a lap around the lake at Kiwanis park and it was a beautiful day. We saw Tim's mom there because she is the U.S. Executive Director for Care For Life. There is a great energy at running events. I aspire to have the positive energy I feel at events like this on a more regular basis, it is simple and motivating, fun and healthy and the girls all had a great time.

This is the kids lined up at the line for the kids dash. I was so proud of Emma helping Audrey out, and so proud of Audrey for staying by Emma the whole way. I wish I had the camera video of the race, Audrey cracked everyone up because as the kids ran down the way to the cone and turned around to come back, Audrey was at the end of the pack, and just turned tail and ran back to me because she saw everyone coming at her. She had the best look of pride on her face!
Next to Emma in line is a classmate from school, She turned to Emma and said Hi and Emma was so surprised and I was so thankful Emma didn't play her shy card, but actually was friendly! Big steps taken that day by my girls.

Kennedy was warming up for her run (I absolutely love the headband!)

Rockin' out to the music

All the girls

Emma and her classmate Leah

I love how Audrey just moves the whole time to the beat, and Kennedy looks like she might be doing business and of course Emma is, Emma. It was a pretty good band too.

We had a great time, I am so inspired by my family who does so much for others. My mother-in-law and my own mom who always are examples of service and helping others and finding joy in service. I am humbled to be in the family I am blessed to be a part of.