HAPPY 70th DAD!

WE SPENT THIS SUNDAY CELEBRATING MY DADS 70TH BIRTHDAY. AFTER THE NIGHT WAS OVER I CAME HOME AND SPENT A GOOD LITTLE BIT CRYING AND FEELING SO SAD THAT THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE HIS LAST BIRTHDAY. TODAY THOUGH AFTER LOOKING AT ALL THE FUN PICTURES I TOOK OF HIS BIRTHDAY, I JUST FEEL GRATEFUL! GRATEFUL THAT I WAS RAISED BY SUCH AN AMAZING MAN. GRATEFUL THAT BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS HAVE PICTURES WITH HIM THAT I'LL CHERISH FOREVER. THEY MAY NOT EVER KNOW HIM THE WAY I WISH THEY WOULD BUT I DON'T EVEN HAVE PICTURES WITH 3 OF MY 4 GRANDPARENTS SO I CONSIDER THEIR PICTURES WITH MY DAD PRICELESS. I'M GRATEFUL PLAIN AND SIMPLE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND 22 OF MY DADS 70 YEARS OF LIFE WITH HIM! GRATEFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE, THAT OUR FAMILY IS AN ETERNAL ONE. THATS THE ONLY THING THAT BRINGS PEACE TO MY HEART WHEN I THINK OF THE FAST COMING DAY WHEN WE'LL HAVE TO LET HIM GO. ANYWAY ENOUGH SAD. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD YOU'RE AN AMAZING MAN I'VE SAID THAT A MILLION TIMES AND I'M SURE I'LL SAY IT A MILLION TIMES MORE! I LOVE YOU!

THE BOOK OF MY DADS LIFE, MY SISTER AND I MADE FOR HIM!

MY DAD MADE SURE TO GET A NICE BIRTHDAY KISS FROM MOM, IT HAD US ALL LAUGHING PRETTY HARD. HE WAS CONFUSED WHEN HE WAS BLOWING OUT HIS CANDLES AND DIDN'T KNOW IF THE FROSTING FLOWERS WERE CANDLES OR NOT, BUT MAN WHEN IT CAME TO GETTING A BIRTHDAY KISS HE HAD NO PROBLEM KNOWING WHAT TO DO :)

ME AND ALL OF MY SIBLINGS BUT ONE WITH OUR DAD. WHAT A GOOD DAY!

No small task is a small task with 2!

WELL TAYA IS A MONTH OLD TOMMOROW AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW STINKING FAST ITS GONE! SHE'S FINALLY STARTING TO GET ON A LITTLE BIT OF A SCHEDULE...NOT A SUPER GOOD ONE YET BUT WE'LL GET THERE. POOR THINGS HAD A COLD FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS AND ISN'T QUITE OVER IT YET SO I'M SURE WHEN SHE IS SHE'LL SLEEP MUCH BETTER. AS FOR ALL THE REST OF US, WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD. RYLEE IS RYLEE. SHE GOES FROM CALLING ME HER BEST FRIEND TO YELLING AT ME AND BACK TO BEING MY BEST FRIEND ABOUT 300 TIMES A DAY! I GUESS THE MOODY GIRL STUFF STARTS EARLIER THEN I THOUGHT IT WOULD : ) BUT SHE'S BEEN PRETTY DANG GOOD THROUGH THIS ADJUSTMENT AND AMAZES ME EACH DAY WITH THE SMART THINGS SHE SAYS AND DOES. SHE'S SUCH A FUN LITTLE GIRL! DEREK IS COMING UP ON HIS LAST WEEK OF THIS SEMESTER...YAY!!! THEN WE'LL HAVE THE MONTH OF MAY TO HAVE HIM ALL TO OURSELVES WITH AN EXCEPTION OF WAL-MART, BUT I'M WAY EXCITED FOR HIM TO HAVE A BREAK FROM SCHOOL, HE'S SO MUCH HELP WITH THE GIRL WHEN HE'S HOME! I'M SO THANKFUL TO HAVE HIM! AND ME WELL I'M FINALLY PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH THE POST PARDOM STUFF, NOW I'M JUST PLAIN SLEEP DEPRIVED : ) ITS FUNNY NOW IF I GET MORE THEN 2 HOURS OF SLEEP AT A TIME IT FEELS LIKE A LUXURY! BUT I'M DOING GOOD AND RECOVERING JUST FINE. I CANT WAIT TO BE ABLE TO WORK OUT...IF I CAN EVER FIND TIME. REALLY NO SMALL TASK IS A SMALL TASK ANYMORE. IF I CAN JUST KEEP THE HOUSE CLEAN GET MYSELF AND THE GIRLS READY AND FED FOR THE DAY AND MAKE SURE DEREK HAS MEALS TOO...I FEEL PRETTY PROUD OF MYSELF...NOW IF I CAN MAKE IT TO WALMART WITH BOTH GIRLS BY MYSELF OR DO THE LAUNDRY, WELL THEN I FEEL LIKE A SUPER WOMAN! HA GOTTA LOVE MOTHERHOOD!

SERIOUSLY IT WIERDS ME OUT HOW MUCH SHE LOOKS LIKE HIM!

JUST ME AND THE GIRLS WENT ON AN ADVENTURE ALL THE WAY TO RIVERTON TO VISIT MY SISTER AMY AND HER BOYS. IT WAS SUCH A FUN AND NEEDED GET AWAY TRIP. LOTS MORE WORK THEN I ANTICIPATED BUT I'LL GET THE HANG OF IT ALL SOONER OR LATER I'M SURE. I JUST KNOW I'M NEVER GOING INTO JOANNS WITH 4 KIDS AGAIN : )!

RYLEE ABSOLUTLY LOVES HER COUSINS MAX AND LUKE! AND OF COURSE AUNT AMY!

RYLEE AND ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS ANDI. RYLEE LOVES WHEN ANDI COMES TO VISIT AND SO DO I. ANDI JUST LETS RYLEE DRAG HER AROUND ITS AWESOME! :)

MY MOM WATCHED TAYA AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER INLAW WATCHED RYLEE SO ME AND DEREK COULD GO ON A DATE TO OUR FAVORITE FREDS! THAT PIC OF DEREK IS HIM WITH HIS FAVORITE BURGER EVER THE DUECE! WE ALSO MADE IT TO THE MOVIE FOR DATE NIGHT THIS WEEK AND HAD SO MUCH FUN! ITS SUCH A RARE THING TO HAVE ONE ON ONE TIME! THANKS FOR THE HELP WITH THE GIRLS SO WE COULD MOM AND TONY AND JEN!

GOT A LITTLE CAMERA HAPPY

OUR LITTLE AT HOME PHOTO SHOOT

AT HER 2 WEEK APPOINTMENT TAYA WEIGHED IN AT 9 LBS 6 OZ. THATS ALMOST EXACTLY 2 LBS MORE THEN HER BIRTH WEIGHT. I SWEAR IT TOOK RYLEE 2 MONTHS TO WEIGH THAT MUCH. SHE'S IN THE 30% FOR HEIGHT AND HEAD SIZE BUT THE 75% FOR WEIGHT, HA SHE'S OUR SHORT CHUBBY BABY AND RY WAS THE TALL SCRAWNIE ONE. YA GOTTA LOVE HER CHUBBY CHEEKS AND AWESOME DOUBLE CHIN!

TAYA HELPING ME DO LAUNDRY AND GET READY FOR THE DAY. GOTTA DO WHAT WORKS RIGHT?

JUST HANGING OUT WITH HER BIG TWIN


HAVING SOME SISSER TIME. RYLEE LOVES TO BE NICE AND CLOSE TO TAYA. I GUESS ITS GOOD SHE LOVES HER! SHE'S DONE SO GOOD ADJUSTING TO TAYA AND HAS BEEN SUCH A FUNNY BIG GIRL THROUGH IT. TODAY I WAS GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE TAYA WAS CRYING A TON AND WHILE I WAS HOLDING HER I SAID "OH TAYA BABY WHAT DO YOU NEED?!" IN A FRUSTRATED TONE I'M GUESSING CAUSE ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER WHEN SHE STARTED CRYING AGAIN I HEARD RYLEE SAY "OH TAYA WHAT YOU NEED!" IN THE SAME TONE I SAID IT IN BEFORE. LOVELY RY!

RY FOUND THIS LITTLE CURLING IRON AND DECIDED TO CURL HER HAIR AND MINE TOO. GUESS SHE DECIDED SHE WAS SICK OF HER STRAGELY HAIR :)

MY RY LOVES HER SOME RANCH AND GRILLED CHEESE!


FINALLY WE GOT TO VISIT HEATHER AND JADIN! SO FUN!


BATH TIME! YEAH RYLEES PRACTICALLY SWIMMING I PROMISE I WATCH HER CAREFUL! :)

IT WON'T BE LIKE THIS FOR LONG...

EARLY THIS MORNING WHILE I HELD TAYA AFTER A NIGHT OF 2 HOURS OF SLEEP AND A LOT OF CRYING BOTH ON HER PART AND MINE, THIS SONG PLAYING ON MY PLAYLIST, CAME ON CMT. I STARTED TO TEAR UP AGAIN WHILE I WATCHED DEREK IN THE KITCHEN GETTING READY FOR WORK AND RUBBING HIS EYES FROM BEING SO TIRED. HE CAME OVER TO GIVE ME A KISS AND TOLD ME WE'D BE OK, AND WHILE WE LISTENED TO THE SONG WE HAD TO LAUGH AT HOW IT JUST NAILED US RIGHT ON THE HEAD. I REALLY DO KNOW IT WON'T BE LIKE THIS FOR LONG...AND IN WAYS, FOR THAT I'M GRATEFUL AND IN WAYS THAT SENTANCE TUGS AT MY HEART....

GRATEFUL THIS PHASE WON'T LAST FOREVER


BUT IT TUGS AT ME THAT BEFORE WE KNOW IT RYLEE WON'T WANNA CLIMB ON TO DADDYS LAP,

TO GIVE HIM HUGS

OR THAT BEFORE WE KNOW IT THIS TINY FACE WILL BE TALKING BACK TO US


I HAVE TO HOLD ON TO MOMENTS LIKE THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE WHAT MAKE THE ENDLESS NIGHTS AND THE HARD WORK OF MOTHER HOOD WORTH ANYTHING AT ALL.

HOW LONG WILL RYLEE BEING EXCITED TO GET HER PRETTY EASTER DRESS ON AND GO TO CHURCH LAST? I HOPE SHE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THIS DESIRE AND LOVE THE GOSPEL BUT I'M SURE SHE'LL HAVE HER DOUBTING TIMES, SO TO HAVE HER STILL SO PURE AND INNOCENT STILL, IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO CHERISH!

I KNOW IT WON'T BE LIKE THIS FOR LONG, I'M SURE AS THEY GROW UP THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO TAKE PICTURES OF THEM FIGHTING THEN PRECIOUS MOMENTS LIKE THIS. I CAME INTO THE ROOM AND FOUND RYLEE TELLING TAYA ALL ABOUT HER BOOK. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M TIRED, EXHAUSTED AND SPENT AND FEELING OVERWHELMED BUT THE REMINDER THE SONG GAVE ME WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO PULL ME THROUGH ANOTHER DAY OF A NEWBORN CRYING AND THE ENERGY OF MY 2 YEAR OLD. IT WONT BE LIKE THIS FOR LONG AND I DON'T WANT TO REGRET WISHING THIS TIME WOULD PASS.

He didnt have to wake up

He'd been up all night

Lay'n there in bed listen'n

To his new born baby cry

He makes a pot of coffee

He splashes water on his face

His wife gives him a kiss and says

It gonna be OK

It wont be like this for long

One day soon we'll look back laugh'n

At the week we brought her home

This phase is gonna fly by

So baby just hold on

It wont be like this for long

Four years later bout four thirty

She's crawling in their bed

And when he drops her off at preschool

She's clinging to his leg

The teacher peels her off of him

He says what can I do

She says now dont you worry

This will only last a week or two

It wont be like this for long

One day soon you'll drop her off

And she wont even know your gone

This phase is gonna fly by

If you can just hold on

It wont be like this for long
One day soon she'll be a teenager

And at times you'll think she hates him

Then he'll walk her down the isle

And he'll raise her vale

But right now she up and cry'n

And the truth is that he dont mind

As he kisses her good night

And she says her prayers

He lays down there beside her

Till her eyes are finally closed

And just watch'n her it breaks his heart

Cause he already knows

It wont be like this for long

One day soon that little girl is gonna be

All grown up and gone

Yeah this phase is gonna fly by

He's try'n to hold on

It wont be like this for long

It wont be like this for long

Happy Birthday Rylee Kate!

RYLEE HELPED ME WITH MY LAME ATTEMPT AT A POLKADOT CAKE. LAST YEAR HER CAKE WAS AWESOME BUT I DECIDED TO CUT MYSELF SOME SLACK THIS YEAR AND JUST DO A LITTLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR HER. WE'LL DO SOMETHING BIGGER NEXT YEAR. BUT SHE DID HAVE FUN EVEN WITH A CRAPPY LOOKING CAKE. MY SISTER IN LAW BROUGHT ALL HER KIDS WHO RYLEE LOVES TO DEATH AND WE JUST DID A QUICK CAKE AND ICECREAM PARTY. IT ACTUALLY ENDED UP BEING PERFECT!

THEY EVEN BROUGHT HER A LITTLE PURSE WITH A DOG IN IT. OF COURSE RYLEE LOVED IT!

THIS IS THE AWESOME TENT MY SISTER AMY, (THE QUEEN OF CLEARANCE SHOPPING) FOUND RY AT TARGET! IT WAS THE ONLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT WE GOT HER BUT SHE ABSOLUTLY LOVES IT AND CALLS IT HER PRETTY HOUSE.

HERES A FEW NEW PICTURES OF TAYA. SHE'S ALREADY STARTING TO CHANGE SO MUCH. SHE STILL LOOKS JUST LIKE DEREK TO ME THOUGH! SHE'S DOING GOOD SHE'S BEEN A SWEET BABY SO FAR STILL LEARNING HOW TO SLEEP WHEN SHE SHOULD THOUGH :)

GRANDPA AND BONKA MILLER WITH THE GIRLIES! JUDY SPENT THE WEEK DOWN HERE IN EPHRAIM HELPING ME A TON WITH RYLEE. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE GREAT PARENTS DEREK AND I HAVE. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM! I'M NOT GUNNA LIE I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS TO BE ON MY OWN NOW THAT JUDY HAS HEADED BACK TO RANGELY. GUESS WE'LL JUST BE DIVING IN HEAD FIRST AND HOPE WE GET IT RIGHT! WISH US LUCK! :)

Feeling a little CRAZY...GREATFUL...maybe a little CRAZY GREATFUL?!

MOST OF YOU WHO TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY NOVEL BLOG ENTRY'S KNOW MY DAD ISN'T IN GOOD HEALTH ANYMORE PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY. BUT CAN I JUST TELL YOU SEEING THIS SWEET MAN WALK THROUGH MY DOOR WITH ROSES FOR MY CRAZY POST PARDOM SELF WAS JUST WHAT I NEEDED. IT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME THAT MY SWEET DAD BETWEEN HIS CONFUSED THOUGHTS, THOUGHT ENOUGH ABOUT ME AND MY NEW BABY TO WANT TO GET US FLOWERS. MY WONDERFUL SISTER LUCY HAD TO GO GET THEM FOR HIM AND SHE HAD TO BRING HIM TO OUR APT WHICH TO SOME MIGHT SEEM LIKE A SMALL TASK BUT TAKING MY DAD ANYWHERE IS FAR FROM A SMALL TASK. AND I APPRECIATED HER LOVING PATIENCE WITH HIM. SHE STAYED WITH HIM THE FIRST WEEKEND AFTER WE CAME HOME SO MY MOM COULD HELP ME AND I COULDN'T BE MORE THANKFUL FOR HER HELP! ON TOP OF MY DAD BRINGING ME FLOWERS HE AND MY WONDERFUL BROTHER GAVE TAYA A BLESSING OF HEALING TO HELP WITH HER JAUNDICE. MY DAD ANNOINTED AND DIDN'T REALLY REMEMBER THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY SO HE KIND OF JUST GAVE HER HIS OWN LITTLE BLESSING. EVEN THOUGH I COULD BARELY UNDERSTAND HALF OF WHAT HE SAID I COULD NEVER DENY THE SPIRIT THAT WAS IN THE ROOM THE SECOND HE PLACED HIS HANDS ON HER TINY HEAD. IT JUST REMINDED ME HOW CLOSE TO HEAVEN BOTH OF THEM ARE. I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH GREAT PRIESTHOOD HOLDERS IN MY FAMILY.

MY SWEET HUBBY AND HIS GIRLIES! INCLUDING RYLEES BABY WHICH SHE ALSO HAS NAMED TAYA.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WORLD. DADDY AND HIS TINY LITTLE GIRL NOSE TO NOSE. PRECIOUS!

SO THIS IS RYLEE WITH A LITTLE TOY ONE OF MY SISTER AMYS FRIENDS GAVE HER. HER FRIEND HAS NEVER EVEN MET US AND SENT AMY DOWN HERE WITH A PRESENT FOR BOTH RYLEE AND TAYA. WE'VE BEEN SO BLESSED BY PEOPLES KINDESS. MY SWEET FRIEND BROUGHT US DINNER WEDNESDAY WHICH WAS DELICOUS AND ALSO BROUGHT TAYA CUTE LITTLE OUTFITS! MY SISTER AMY GAVE US TONS OF CUTE CLOTHES AND MADE SURE TO INCLUDE RYLEE BY GIVING HER HER LITTLE BABY DOLL. EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO SWEET TO THINK OF NOT JUST ME AND TAYA BUT RYLEE TOO TO HELP HER ADJUST. ON TOP OF THE GIFTS AMY CAME DOWN WITH HER TWO BOYS AND HELPED WATCH MY DAD SO MY MOM COULD HELP ME AND I COULDN'T THANK HER ENOUGH BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS!

RYLEE HAS BEEN ALL FOR "HELPING." EITHER BY TUCKING TAYA IN OR GIVING HER HER BINKY, OR HELPING ME PUMP HA EACH TIME I HAVE TO PUMP RYLEE MAKES SURE SHE COMES TO WATCH AND SAYS "MOM YOU PUMPING BOOBIES" SHE'S A VERY AWARE LITTLE GIRL AND NEVER HAS A PROBLEM TELLING YOU WHAT SHE'S THINKING. BUT SHE'S BEEN SUCH A GOOD LITTLE GIRL THROUGH THIS ADJUSTMENT. I TOOK A FEW EXTRA MINUTES WITH HER TO BLOW DRY HER HAIR AND PAINT HER TOENAILS TODAY AND IT WAS NICE TO GET MORE RYLEE TIME :)

DEREK FOUND ME WATCHING TV LIKE THIS AFTER PLAYING WITH RYLEE. I GUESS YOU CAN SAY I'M A LITTLE EXHAUSTED TAKING OFF THE CROWN WAS JUST TOO MUCH OF A TASK :)

WAKING UP TO THIS JUST MADE ME SAD TODAY. SEEING THE SNOW AND MY LITTLE TAYA STUCK IN THIS STINKIN BED...MAN I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TO BE OVER WITH! ITS BEEN HARD THIS TIME AROUND CAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT MORE POST PARDOM WITH TAYA THEN I DID WITH RYLEE. HOPE IT ENDS SOON SO I CAN FEEL NORMAL AGAIN!

JUST LEARNING HOW TO BALANCE :) I HAVE FINALLY DRIED MY HAIR NOW THOUGH GETTING READY ISN'T A 30 MIN TASK ANYMORE I GET TO DO IT THROUGH THE MORNING WHEN I HAVE A BREAK HERE AND THERE

LAST BUT FAR FROM LEAST, MY ANGEL MOTHER. HER HELP AND PATIENCE WITH MY CRAZY HORMONES AND MY CRAZY LITTLE RYLEE HAS SAVED ME. I COULDN'T HAVE HAD HER HELP WITHOUT THE HELP OF MY WONDERFUL SIBLINGS AND THEIR KIDS. I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE THE FAMILY I DO. I COULDN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH.