Being Thankful...

This year I am feeling extremely grateful. I am thankful for our home, jobs, my children, husband, the gospel and many more things. With the economy going down hill and my husband's job decreased a lot in the last 6 months. I have had to step up and work more these last couple months. I am so thankful that my job has let me work more hours to help our family move along these tough times. My husband has learned to step in when I am gone and help with the kids and also do house work. These changes have been hard on my children. I feel sad inside that they have had to learn to adjust to this. I love them so much and want the best for them always. I am extremely thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, I am not perfect and have many short comings that i try to work on. Through my Savior I can be forgiven for my short comings, I continue to strive to be a better person for my children and those around me. Thank You to all my friends and family for the continues love and support. I know that all of you have helped me become who I am and continue to help me become a better person.

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Las Vegas. Matt's sister Krist wanted to have Thanksgiving at her house this year. So we left on Wednesday after work and headed to Vegas. Kristi made a wonderful dinner. My favorite thing about this Thanksgiving was Brayden made a placemat at school with the correct way to set the table. So he was very excited to take it with us, so that he could set the tables up for dinner. He put his placemat at the table with all of the correct items in place, and then did so for all of us. Brayden was very excited to set the table for the whole family. Kristi graduated from Culinary School a couple of years ago, so everything was delicious. We did many things while we were there we went Black Friday shopping, played at park with kids, boys went shooting, spent time chatting and eating, went bowling. The kids enjoyed their time with Grandma and Grandpa. I wish I would have taken more pictures.

Thanksgiving Day!

Brynlee at the Park

Brody having fun at the park.

Matt getting ready to go shooting...

Bowling with the McNeils!!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween with The McNeils

This year we went to Grandma and Grandpa Carranza's for Halloween. We went to a carnival and then Brayden is the only one that went Trick Or Treating. Thanks to Aunt Heitje and Friends Brayden had a blast going trick or treating. Here are the kids in there costumes....

Brynlee "Our Princess Belle"

She had crown but didn't like to wear it.

Brayden "The Ghost Rider"

Dad and Brayden picked his costume out this year.

Brody "Our little Dinosaur"

Boy did he love candy this year.

Exploring....

Brody is walking around now. One of the kids left a box of pizza on the chair so Brody brought it down to the floor and helped himself to a piece. We all started laughing when we came into the kitchen and this is what we found. He also started laughing when he saw us laughing. We sure love our Brody!!

Hope for a better Winter

Brynlee has fought many ear infections in her two years of life. She had 12 cases by the age of 15 months. This summer was looking good until a couple of months ago she had two in the matter of a month. My Pediatrian suggested that we visit with a ENT specialist to have tubes put into Brynlee's ears to help have fewer ear infections.

So this morning we were off to the hosptial a little after 6 am. Brynlee was given a blessing last night by Matt and Kaleb (our home teacher) I was a little nervous due to the fact of Brynlee being put under for the surgery. We finally made it there and then the nurse checked us in and asked me a lot of questions. Then she took Brynlee from me and that's when brynlee started crying as she called my name "mommy" as she walked away. I started to tear up watching someone walk away with my little girl and hoping that I would see her again. I am so lucky that it is a short surgery. They came and got me 45 mins later when Brynlee had woken up. She was ready to come back to me as soon as she saw me. I held her tight with her blanket, as she continued to wake up. I hope that Brynlee has a better winter and hopefully with less ear infections. I truly am grateful for the gospel in my life, and am thankful for Priesthood blessings. I know that Heavenly Father was watching over Brynlee as she was away from me. The lord has blessed me with three precious children that I love with all of my heart.

Fall Break Fun!!

Brayden had fall break last week from School. I worked a lot last week, that on Thursday Brayden asked if we were going to do anything fun this week since he was off from school. My heart ached that my child noticed that I wasn't around much this week. I had Friday off due to some appointments, so Brayden played at his Cousin Andrews house. That evening I planned a fun evening after we ate dinner. I didn't tell Brayden where we were headed, he kept asking but I wanted it to be a surprise. We ended up at Extreme Play, it has inflatable jumping things. The kids ran from one to another for 3 hrs. We did make them take a quick icee break. We enjoyed the night with Andrew and Uncle Justin. Thanks to Uncle Justin for taking these great pictures. Brayden thanked us that evening for such a fun night.

Pamona Off Road Expo/McNeil Family Activity

The Weekend of Oct 9th-10th we headed up to Pamona California for the Off Road Expo. Since Matt's family owns their own business modifing trucks they had a booth there. We drove all night Friday and got there about midnight..McNeil standard time! We had to be to the event by 8:15 in the morning so we got up early ate some breakfast and headed out. Grandma had name badges made for all of us even the kids to show that we were part of the Expo. Brayden thought it was so neat to have his own tag. We found a booth at the expo that was selling little motorcycles for the kids to play with. It was the best 10 bucks we have spent, it kept them entertained the whole day. Andrew, Brynlee and Brayden were the best of buddies, it was so neat to watch them play together. It was nice to talk to my sister in laws that I don't get to see very often. It was fun to get to know them a little better. We all helped out in the booth, by the end of the 1st day I knew more then I have ever known about fiber glass. I want to Thank Grandma and Grandpa McNeil for the wonderful hotel and the food. The kids loved the time that they spent with them. I have a feeling that it was such a success this year with all of us there that it is going to be a yearly family event.

McNeil Family

(left to right)

Perry Joe, Marsha, Mark, Kristi Leigh, Kyle, Justin & Andrew, Kristi, Matt & Brody, Valerie & Brynlee, Brayden, Jen, Perry.

Oh what such cute kids!!

Here are some of the fun trucks that we saw at the Expo.

(two of them are Grandma and Grandpa McNeils)

Kids keeping busy...

Off Road Expo Cont

Family Bonding...

Our Star Student!!

On the week of Sept 28th we received a letter from Patterson Elem., inside was a letter from the Principal and Brayden's teacher Mrs. Morales. The Principal was sending this letter to let us know that Brayden had been chosen as "student of the quarter" for the 1st nine weeks of school. Brayden's teacher had filled out a form stating why she had chosen Brayden for this special award. This is what she wrote "Brayden is alway working hard. He is helpful to others. He puts out his best and never gives up. Brayden is reliable and responsible! It is a joy to have him in my class!" I am so proud to read this as a mother. I have been working a lot more hours these last couple months at work, that I was felt like I haven't been the most patient mother. I attended the award Ceremony on Oct 10th, I hide until Brayden received his award so he would be surprised to see me there. He was surprised to receive his award and to see me there. I got tears in my eyes as he stood up in front of his peers holding his award. I am so grateful for my son that is so helpful to me and to others around him. He is a wonderful example to his younger sister and brother.

We love you so much Brayden!!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you.

Mommy and Brayden

Happy Birthday Brody!!

I can't believe that it has been a year that I was giving birth to this special little boy. We were not expecting to have another baby right away after Brynlee. But we are so thankful to Our Father in Heaven for sending us another sweet spirit. Brody has been a fairly easy baby, it was just adjusting to two kids that our only 16 months apart that I had a hard time with. Brody is always smiling and loves his older Brother and Sister. We are so blessed to have him be a part of our family!

Love you Brody Boy!

Celebrating Brody's 1st Birthday

Brody's Race Track Cake

Mommy and Aunt Clarissa made my cake..It looks yummy.

Everyone was singing to me, I didn't know what to think of their singing.

I enjoyed my cupcake. I loved putting my fingers in the frosting.

Brody enjoying his cupcake..mmm delicious.

Brody's official Birthday isn't until the 29th but Grandma and Grandpa Carranza were going to be in town so we decided to celebrate a little early. Grandma McNeil and Mark came down to join in the fun. We are so thankful to all the family that came to celebrate this special day with Brody.

Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Mom!

My Mother turned 50 this Saturday she came to Mesa so that we could celebrate as a family. We had a busy Morning with Brayden's soccer game. We had lunch then I took my mom to get her toes done. She loves and enjoys this so it was my treat to her. Then she was off to have her hair done by my sister. Later this evening we went to Red Robin for her Birthday Dinner. All Seven of us of children shared this evening together with her. I want to let my mother know that I am so blessed to have her in my life. She is so amazing for raising seven children, she always would put us first. She made many sacrifices for us while we were growing up. She has stood by me no matter which choices I have made in my life. She always let's me know that she loves me. Her example has made me a better mother, friend and wife. I love you Mom! I hope you had a great Birthday!

It's Soccer Time!!

Brayden played soccer last year, so this year he has improved a lot. This year we put him in AYSO. They do things a little different then what he played last year. They play three on three, they have two games going on at once so that everyone gets to play and touch the ball a lot more. I think it is teaching him how to control the ball a little better as he dribbles down the field. Daddy is his Asst. Coach again. Matt played soccer as little boy all the way up through college. So he enjoys being a Coach.

Brayden had his1st game on September 12th, and he almost scored twice. He just had his second game on September 19, and he scored three times. He was so excited and so were we as we yelled and cheered from the side lines. Soccer is a lot of fun! We are glad that Brayden enjoys it.

Brayden 1st Game

Brynlee and Brody enjoyed watching their Big Brother play.