She came tonight as I sat alone...

the girl I used to be...

And she gazed at me with her earnest eye

have you forgotten the many plans

And hopes I had for you?

The great career, the splendid fame,

all the wonderful things to do?

Where is the mansion of stately height

With all its gardens rare?

The silken..robes that I dreamed f for you

And the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad

For I wanted her pleased with me...

This slender girl from the shadowy past

the girl that used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand

And guided her down the hall,

Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay

Innocent ,sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems,

And precious they are to me:

That silken robes is my motherhood 

of costly simplicity,.

And my mansion of stately height is love,

And the only career I know

 is serving each day in these sheltered walls

for the dear ones who come and go

And as I spoke to my shadowy, guest,

She smiled through her tears at me.

And I saw the woman that I am now

Pleased the girl I used to be.

A really sweet sister gave a lesson on motherhood in relief society when I was in Utah. I haven't been to Releif society in years because of my amazing calling in Primary. I am so glad I got to be there for this because if there is one thing I'm passionate about is motherhood and the divine calling that it is. I loved this poem that she handed out. I honestly don't know if this rings true to me because the girl I used to be would be so proud that I have achieved my dream of being a mom to these beautiful people. What an awesome responsibility it is and scary! But something this hard and scary is beautiful and divine and can only be done with a prayer in your heart. My heart is so full of gratitude for all you mothers that choosing to raise these blessed children of our Heavenly Father.

I recently read a blog post from a mom that said she couldn't help but get a little annoyed at people that would tell her to love every moment of having little children. You know in the grocery store when they're all going crazy and you think what was I thinking bringing them. They're into everything, they're in every which way and all you needed was to get butter or something simple like that for dinner and you're standing in a line that will not move. It's stressful, don't get me wrong, but it's a learning opportunity for everyone.

 I have always been a carpe diem person. I am known for getting emotional about anything. First day of school, last day of school, first tooth loss...you get the picture. I do enjoy those moments because I know they don't last. I know because Tyler was a super active little boy and now he sits at church quietly without snacks or coloring books or any other activity. I know it felt crazy and I will never forget how we couldn't sit longer than 2 minutes at a time. So excuse me for noticing that my kids are growing up no matter how hard I don't want them to, but they are and can I tell you how proud I am to call them my children. I love them so much. I love that I get to sit down and do homework with them everyday. No matter how much they don't want to. Life is such a precious gift! No matter how it's started it is a precious gift not to be taken lightly. I am so glad that we get to have children in this world to remind us the important things. I love that I get to serve the children of the Lincoln 3rd ward. I can feel their precious spirits when I walk into the primary room and see their smiling faces. I love that I get to see them grow and learn in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love how they challenge me and ask questions during a lesson. I know our Heavenly Father has an infinite amount of love for us. I can see it in the faces of the children around me. I know they have to grow up and the only thing that makes it o.k is that I know what wonderful people, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, maybe pilot, archaeologist and Veterinarian they will become. I hope you all have the chance to look into a child's face today and see the Joy that they have to share.

Still Going Strong

O.K. so four kids has proved to keep things a lot busier around here. Here is another attempt to update.

Recently...

     Tyler has lost a total of 6 teeth with number 7 threatening to come out very soon. He's in the third grade now which means he is dealing with multiplication, division, reports, cub scouts, Kumon and basketball season underway. He loves all his teachers and leaders and I am so grateful for them as well.. He is such a great big brother. He walks Grace to her class every morning before going to his own class to put his back pack down. He is always willing to help with Lily since Trev has been out of town A LOT!!!! He is an amazing kid and I am so grateful for him.

     Grace also lost her first tooth this month and is official a big girl now. I can't believe how much she has changed this year. She is still my little shadow and I love it. She is doing very well is school and loves her teacher. I think her favorite subject is math but she has gotten 100% on all her spelling tests this year. She keeps changing her mind on what she wants to be when she grows up but number one is always a mom. She said she wants to have six kids at once because he loves babies so much. And she proves it by always playing and holding her little Lily. She is also in Kumon and has just moved out of the junior Kumon level into the big kid area. She loves books and drawing pictures. She has more love than she knows what to do with and is always ready to pucker up and give us a kiss. 

     Andrew just turned 5 on the 14th of December and keeps telling me he has to grow up to have his own family. I don't know what was harder for me him turning 5 or me turning 30. For such a long time he was my baby and I have loved me time with him at home. He is loving his Pre-K class and has made the greatest friends there, and so have I. He is also in Junior Kumon and is thriving. He can read all his homework by himself and loves doing it. He is an amazingly hard worker and doesn't stop until the job is done. He lights up the room when he walks in and makes you feel so loved and like you're his favorite person in the whole world. He learned how to ride a two wheel bike before Grace because his body is too big for those darn training wheels. So after riding two different hammy down bikes we decided he needed his very own big boy bike and he is doing great on it.

Our little Lily is such a doll. She is crawling, talking ( dada, mama) and is clapping her hands when she's happy. She is a total mama's girl but loves it when anybody holds her, as long as I'm not in the room she'll let you hold her forever. She can feed herself cheerios and puffs but really wants what the rest of us are eating. She is our little toe-head baldy but we think she has a  perfectly round head to pull it all off. She is so blessed by love in this family that she hardly ever gets put down. She was diagnosed on Wednesday with Pneumonia that is being treated with antibiotics and she's already got more life in her. She is out petite little girl weighing in at 16 lb 15 oz. I'm used to kids being a size ahead of their age and she's 9 month old still wearing some 3-6 month clothes. 

Trev is working, working, working!!!!! He is working so hard to get help get carpet recycling plants up and running that he has missed a few things with the family but he does it all for his family so we don't mind. He is loving the promise of  long term income and so am I. He is still the teachers quorum advisor to the young men and after 6 1/2 years is still loving it. 

I am still in primary working with the greatest group of ladies and getting spoiled by love from the children in our ward. I truly think it is the best calling to have to get to work with the children. They are so precious and innocent and want nothing else but love in return. I am so grateful for my family. They are my everything and I am so blessed to get to be their mother and wife. We have so much fun together and I am so proud of all of them. They all work so hard and know that their Heavenly Father loves them. What else could a mother ask for? I guess this has turned into my Christmas letter because I decided not to do Christmas cards this year. The postage alone to send to our closest family and friends was around $80 and I decided to simplify this year. Thank you all so much for all your love and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Our weekend in So Cal

I have been in desperate need of an update to our blo

g and I am finally getting around to it. I'm skipping out on sleep to do this, but at least I know we're updated for a while.

This past weekend I took the kids and my mom and drove to L.A. to go see Trev. He's helping put together some machinery for a recycling plant. He had been gone for over a week and we were seriously missing having him around, especially me. My parents had participated in the "give a day get a day" program that Disney had done and received their free tickets Friday morning via their e-mail while we were eating breakfast deciding what to do. We tend to not tell the kids what we're doing until we're actually in the parking lot of what the activity is because we have learned that being surprised is better than being let down. So off we went to Disneyland for the day. I was probably as excited as the kids of not more. I love this place. I could have a season pass and never get sick of how happy it is. And yes we even took Lily. It really worked out great to have my parents their to take turns watching Lily and taking whoever to the bathroom or at least having some extra eyes on the kids. Here are some pictures from our trip and some of the kids from Easter and just other fun ones. Enjoy, who knows when I'll do this again.

Me holding Lily in the Baby Bjourn

The kids waiting for Dad to get their tickets so they could go to Disneyland.

Tyler found the golden goose egg at the Felts annual easter egg hunt. (Tyler and Sis. Felt)

I dressed Lily for church in her sleep and decided to have a photo shoot. Isn't she just adorable!

Me, Andrew and Lily defeating Zurg. It's a pretty fun one for the kids.

Andrew with his light saber.

The kids completely zonked out on the way back to the hotel.

Andrew had took a nap on the way down to L.A. and woke up when we got to the hotel and it was midnight. So of course he was excited to see daddy and wasn't ready to go to sleep. So we put him on the couch to sleep and watch Disney channel because we were exhausted. Well he woke Trev up at 5:30 and said "Dad, it's starting to get light outside so it's morning, get up". We didn't know for sure if he had stayed up all night from 1:30 till 5:30 a.m. but there was a chance. He did great at Disneyland all day until we got in the line for the rockets and he kept wanting me or Trev to hold him and we told him no but he could sit down on Trev's feet. Well he did and 30 seconds later was completely out. This was the ride he wanted to go on all day and we waited until 5 and he was gone and we couldn't wake him up for anything. At least I got a picture of Trev laughig and trying to buckle up on a weird angle. What a good dad!

Grace in line for the Rockets.

Tyler go a hold of the camera.

Kids by Alice in Wonderland

On the Merry Go Round

Photo op with Goofy.

Waiting to find Zurg.

By 100 acre forest.

Lily is 5 weeks old today! Wow does time fly! She's doing great. Has been sleeping through the night and when she's awake she wants to eat. She is changing right before my very eyes and it kind of makes me sad that they have to grow up. Grace is absolutely in love with her and is a huge help! Andrew loves to adore her and makes sure to give her a kiss after family prayers and then heads off to bed. Tyler is so busy with homework, chores and playing and still asks me after school when he gets in the car how Lily was for me. I love my kids and love the relationships they have with each other. I am so grateful for them.

Tomorrow is me and Trev's 9 year anniversary! 9 YEARS! I can't believe it's already been that long and then again a lot of work and love has happened in those years. I love my husband, he is such a good man. I'll post some wedding photos and updated pictures of all the kids tomorrow.

To all of you who knew Cheryl she passed yesterday at 5:15. What a wonderful sister she was to all of us. Love you Gant family!

I'm dedicating this day to my friend Cheryl who is on her way out of this world. Cheryl has been such an inspiration through her long fight with Cancer. She is an amazing woman and has been able to serve others when she is the one whom should be served. Cheryl we love you and pray for you and your family to be at peace.

Lily Mae Nielsen

Announcing the arrival of

Lily Mae Nielsen

on March 9th 2010

7lbs 3 oz 20in

Happy Birthday Trev

Yesterday was Trev's birthday and he wanted it done old school. He hates his birthday because he hates attention from others. So the kids woke up and said their happy birthday's before he had to go to work and then after I picked up Grace and Andrew from school we took lunch to him and helped him at work. And by help I mean the kids played in the empty boxes from the new cabinets they were installing. Then we picked up Tyler and got homework done and I was in the kitchen for the rest of the night. Pork roast, mashed potatoes, gravy,cooked carrots, brownie ice cream cake, home made rolls and Shirley Temples. It was delicious but so much work for a week day meal. Just us and the kids and Nana came over later. It was a perfect day for him. He was a little disappointed I didn't have the baby on his birthday but I can't control these things.

Trev has had so much going on business wise and he has been working so hard and I know he does it all for our family. He is such a good dad and great husband. We love him so much! I wanted to post a picture of him but he never gets in the picture unless it's a whole family shot so use your imaginations.

20 Days couldn't come soon enough!

A rant of things I'm thinking of today...

So I have 20 days to go until this little one is due. After a long night of tossing and turning I was fine with getting up and sending kids back to school after a long weekend. Andrew and I headed to Jamba Juice to share a smoothie because I flat out felt like I deserved it today. Well the yummy drink lead to more tossing and turning inside my belly. I'm going to enjoy this while I can because I know it will all end soon enough. I am so excited to see who has been growing inside this belly and to see the kids as older siblings helping out. Last time I had a baby I had two other little ones that still needed a lot of attention. After going to the park today with Grace and Andrew and noticing that they were taking care of the other kids around them I was grateful that I don't have any stress surrounding this new arrival as far as how the others will react.

I only worry that I'm burdening others while I'm in the hospital and someone else will have to feed, bathe, dress, get homework done and do all pick up and drop offs that are part of my daily life. I know it will get done I just can't help but worry about it. I am so lucky to have so much family and friends who have volunteered to help during that time. My saint of a mother in law will also be coming after I have the baby which will be such a blessing.

The month of December.

December was a crazy month and here is an update with pictures

This is Tyler in his class when I went to help with Christmas around the world. Each class was a different country and I helped in Mexico where they learned about poinsettias and had nachos.

Tyler with his passport

Tyler in his winter performance

Before his performance looking all handsome

My brother Kevin came home from his mission on the 23rd and we got to welcome him home at the airport

Me, Shaun and the rest of the Peterson clan

Kev coming down the escalator

Andrew holding a sign would not let anyone stand in front of him he kept pushing people away, it was hilarious.

Grace and aunt Crystal, do they look related or what?

During Grace's Polar Express party in Kindergarten with Karlee Snow both sporting white bowed pigtails.

Enjoying their hot chocolate and waiting for their breakfast.

There were two classes put together and it was crazy but so much fun!

The conductor giving Grace her ticket, she was so excited!

The Lloyd family from our ward was in the Christmas parade and I needed to take their picture.

Trev and Grace before the run to the emergency room, listening to Trev's new ipod.

This is how cold it was in the morning, I do not belong in a cold environment like this.

It's hard to tell but Tyler made Grandma get an icicle off the house for him, it looks almost fake.

Grace and Mira playing with their new Furr Real pets.

I know these pictures aren't in order but oh well.
Tyler,Grace and Andrew on Christmas eve wearing their new PJ's

Andrew's first experience with snowboarding.

Andrew with his teacher Miss Tiffany on their party day.

Andrew during his Christmas performance, very proud of himself.

So it was a crazy month and I'm kind've glad it's all over even though we had a lot of fun. Now we're just gearing up for baby to come in March.

Happy Birthday Andrew boy!

Holy moley macaroni and cheese. This is his new favorite saying
My little boy turned 4 yesterday and we had fun. It ended up being an early release day so Tyler was done at 1 then we headed off to go see The princess and the Frog which I almost fell asleep in. It was cute but not my most awake time of day. We opened presents at Nana's and then went to Chilis for dinner where they sang him Happy Birthday along with about 5 other people celebrating at Chilis. He had a great day and lots of attention. What more could a kid want. His smile lights up a room and is so contagious. He is so tenderhearted one minute and then tough as nails the next. He makes our life so much fun and lets me kiss him every once in a while. Happy Birthday Andrew aka Ocho, cutie pie, AJ!

As some of you know Trev started working for 3-G Construction Co this summer in addition to his other two companies he's running. This company has a been a great blessing for us. He's on salary and have provided everything he needs to do the job. The downfall of this job is the traveling he does. They gave him a work van and GPS to get to his jobs that stretch to almost southern Cal, Oregon border, Reno, and everywhere in between. Yesterday he was on his way to Stockton to finish up a job and got in an accident. Of course he doesn't call me because "I'll just freak out", in his words. He called hi brother to come and help after he called CHP of course. He was on Moore Road, our own street and the doors that were stacked and held up by a tie fell and Trev looked back to check it out as the road was turning and went off the road and couldn't bring it back because the road and grass on the side were so slick from the recent rain. So the van found a power pole and cut the pole in half also cutting out power to our house and those of us out here in the country. I always call him after I've dropped the kids off to make sure he's safe. Yesterday when I called I asked if he was listening to the books we spent all night downloading and he said he hadn't gotten to it yet because he was in an accident and was in the CHP car writing down his statement of what happend. I know that by him talking that he's obviously not unconscious but he doesn't always give me all the details I need. He said he was fine and nobody was hurt, but I don't tend to believe him. So I continued to start to cry and memories of his previous accident 8 years ago when we were engaged came flooding back. He of course doesn't like that I've told people, hellow cyber world, but I was scared that he could've been seriously hurt or worse.

So today no matter how mad you are at your husband for not putting his clothes in the basket, or forgot to take the Trash out for your garbage day, be glad that he's there to be mad at. I love my husband and I know how stressed he is by work on a constant and daily basis, but I love how hard he works for us. Me and the kids are always praying for his safety even when he's home. We are so grateful for him and how much he loves us. This was more of a journal entry for me than for others but I needed to write about it. Have a safe and lovely day.

Grace's 5th Birthday

Birthday Girl with Balloon hat at Wacky Tacky with cousins.
We went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner then headed to Wacky Tacky to surprise the kids with a fun night with their cousins. We are so lucky to have family around to celebrate these special times with!