Last minute addition

Eat your heart out girls!

Happy Halloween!

I have my life back!

If you could see me right now you would see the smile on my face!! My cousin Lindsay is back from maternity leave and I am no longer filling in for her! I was happy to do it but I happy that my life is back the usual amount of craziness. No more running to the office every time I had a few minutes. No more invoices, checks, and bills. No more chasing Owen around the store and putting back all the tools and bolts he'd collect. Yet, I am a little sad. For the first time in several years I felt like I was using my brain. And, I actually felt like I was appreciated for my work. And I'm more appreciative of working moms. I'm just glad I'm not one of them!

My cousin's husband

Clinton Ray "Scrappy" Greer, our husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend left this life on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008.

He was born in Springerville, Az. on October 29, 1975 to Benjamin Greer Sr. and Debi Greer. He graduated from St. Johns AZ High School in 1994. He later moved to Utah where he met the loves of his life, Deserie Lori Greer, and her daughter Kaylee Aitken. They were married on June 5th, 1999 and blessed with two more daughters, Bailey Nicole and Trenedy Jean. Their family was sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on September 27th, 2002.

He was welcomed to his heavenly home by a loving Heavenly Father, and by his earthly father Benjamin Greer Sr., who preceded him in death.

Clinton loved the outdoors. He walked many miles on open land with his girls and his brothers. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to play sports, and to compete. He loved to laugh, but even more, he loved to make others laugh. He had a big heart, and shared love and kindness with so many.

He is survived by his wife, Deserie Lori Greer and his girls Kaylee Aitken, Bailey and Trenedy. He is also survived by his mother Debi Greer-Walker, his step-father Henry Walker, his siblings: Tisa, BJ, Courtney and Daryl; grandmother: Verla Greer; grandfather, Clayton Bell; and by Desi's brothers: Trent, Travis and Deven Trafny. He leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Olpin Family Mortuary Chapel, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove where friends may attend a viewing for Clinton one hour prior to services. Interment will be on Monday, October 27, 2008 in St. Johns, AZ.

Condolences may be sent to the family at olpinmortuary.com.

What can I say. What words can express the pain that you feel from the loss of a loved one. Even though Desi and Scrappy struggled on so many levels and even though they isolated themselves from the family so many times, they were still part of our lives. Even if I hadn't seen him for months he always had a big smile and a big hug for me. I always thought I could be the one who could save them...if they'd only let me. Now I know that it was already beyond that point and now I will trust that mercy will be granted. I ache for my cousin...I ache for her girls. No matter what mistakes were made, they loved him. I hope they can find the peace they need to get through this.

Another birthday!

Today I celebrate the day I became a mom. Such a monumental moment, a day I had waited so long for. He was my greatest wish fulfilled, an answer to my prayers. I don't think he fully understands the role he plays in my life. We started this journey together, learning, growing along the way; Making things up as we went.





He was born October 22, fifteen days early. I wasn't quite sure I was ready to be mom that day but he had different ideas. He was big for being two weeks early, 8lbs 5 oz. He was named Michael, after his dad, and Matthais, after a German soccer player. His dad had his name picked out long before his birth.


He was a happy baby, except for his bout of colic. It didn't matter though. We were in love. I loved those early days with him and he was spoiled.



He has always been very smart. I don't mean this in a bragging mom sort of way. It's just a fact. We are constantly being told by others what a genius he is. Their words, not mine, as I would never be so bold.

He is very kind and loving. And he's very funny. When he was little he was so shy I was very worried about him and I signed him up for different classes to break him out of his shell. It didn't seem to work at the time but he is far from shy now.

He loves to fish and play soccer and of course he loves his video games. The only thing he does more than his games is read. He goes through books so fast that sometimes he reads them over and over. He is an active scout and is recieving his arrow of light tonight. He is a great helper and he will babysit anytime he's asked.



Happy Birthday Matthais! Thank you for making a mom! I love you!

A picture tag...

Becky had this tag on her blog and though she didn't specifically tag me (it was something like, if you read it, your tagged, and I read it) I thought it would be fun to see which picture I would find. The tag was,

Go to your pictures, look in your 6th folder and post your 6th picture. Wouldn't you know it, it's a picture of my beautiful daughter at her first recital...how could I resist?

fun-filled, straw-filled day!

After discovering my "free" admissions to the scarecrow festival were fraud (photocopied), Janelle and I decided to head out to Hee Haw farm. I was suprised at what we got for $5. It was a lot of fun! Here are some of the highlights.


Millie and Scott

The animal train



The giant slide

The petting farm

Pony rides

Hay jump

Hay ride

Corn box

Lots of fun! just a note though...don't wear flip flops. I learned the hard way.

Creative little minds

So I guess if you're two, white walls would seem pretty boring.You'd probably think they needed a little color and, you've watched your mom enough to know that when she wants to add color to her face she uses her make-up. If you're a smart two year old, you'd know that the best time to get into said make-up is while your mom is taking her time soaking in the tub. Your mom has no common sense. So, you paint away, turning your white walls into beautiful shade of brown (foundation) with hints of black (mascara) and blue (eyeshadow). You are mighty proud! And so you should be. It was indeed a masterpiece. Even the carpet saw some action! Too bad your mom cleaned it all up! Neverfear...your creativity will not be squashed! A permanant green marker works just as well, if not better! Your mom cannot get that one off! Success!


I'm going to have to start showering/bathing at night. Anyone up for a day of painting???

Ephraim's Child(ren)

Last night Adam asked me if I ever wondered why Owen is so much more difficult than our other children at his age. I had to think about it for a sec because although Ian was difficult at two, it was very different because with Ian there was also the developmental delays. The other two were very typical two-year olds. "Personality" was all I could reply to him. Truth is, Owen has been very difficult from day one. He was stubborn soon after birth, refusing to breath correctly even with no obvious reasons why he couldn't. He wouldn't sleep longer than 20 minutes at a time for the first 3 months. He's never wanted to wear clothes or shoes...the list could go on and on. On Sunday I bribed him with a piece of gum to sit on my lap. Not wanting him to have a whole piece, I broke it in half and the crying began. "YOU BROKE IT!! YOU BROKE IT!" I carried him out of the chapel, the whole time he was hitting me in the face and crying that I had broke his gum. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. While in the foyer an older woman from my ward kindly said "they sure are coming to the earth more stubborn and strong willed these days! It's a good trait if we can guide their spirits in the right direction." It got me thinking about a term I'd heard earlier when I was struggling with Ian; Ephraim's child. Here is an excerpt from the book titled Parenting the Ephraim's child by Deborah Talmadge and Jaime Theler :

You Might Have an Ephraim's Child If:

Upcoming family vacations involving eating out, amusement parks, condos with balconies, plane rides, or car rides give you nightmares.
Silence is a foreshadowing of disaster.
Your child doesn't cry, he wails.
Taking your child to a movie is more of a workout than going to the gym.
You are already exhausted by the end of breakfast.
You are afraid to program your phone's memory dial because you know your child will call grandma at 5:30 a.m. when he bounds out of bed.
Your list of instructions to your child takes five minutes. For example: do not hit your brother, or punch him, or kick him, or push him, or head-butt him, or tackle him, do not get off your bed, take off the blankets, throw pillows, toys, or books into your brother's crib, do not climb on the dresser, pull the clothes out of the drawers, jump on the bed, yell, kick the wall, open the blinds, or take all your clothes off.
Your child's whole world crashes because you cut her waffle into bite-size pieces and she wanted it whole.
During your child's 30 minute TV show he has managed to climb all over every piece of furniture in the room multiple times.
Others look at you, shake their heads and say, "You are in for it."
You receive parenting books for Christmas.

If you find many of these things a big part of your life you probably have an Ephraim's Child. If you still are unsure, here are some questions:

1. Is your child on the go all day?
2. Is it possible (not that he does it often) for your child to sit for long periods of time when doing something he is interested in?
3. Does/did your child have difficulty going to sleep? From infancy did your child sleep very little, i.e. take very short naps, or have difficulty sleeping through the night?
4. Is your child emotional, with no moderate moods? Does your child's intensity seem to build through the day?
5. Does your child remember things for long periods of time?
6. Does your child have areas where his ability to learn is astounding?
7. Is your child's imagination constantly at work? Does he have a never-ending stream of ideas and projects?
8. Does you child have difficulty with not getting his way? Does telling him "no" bring on abnormal crises or long negotiations?
9. Is your child bossy? Do you have to remind him that you are the parent?
10. Does your child have difficulty transitioning from one activity to another?
11. Do others surprisingly have little or no difficulty with your child?

While on any given day ANY child could posses many of these characteristics, I find that Owen and even Ian posses them every day. It's funny because Owen reminds me of Ian only without the intellectual delays. It really does get frustrating at times. I question my parenting skills, I question my housekeeping skills, I question my ability to cope. Maybe, just maybe, it's not me after all!?!?! I mean...I have two other quite well behaved children. Maybe It's time to admit that I have two highly-determined and high spirited children. Maybe It's time I start looking at these as positive characteristics!

"Like those of the tribe of Ephraim, an Ephraim's Child has great determination, energy, and a headstrong will. Ephraim's Children are also often high maintenance, emotional, controlling, and aggravating. What other sources don't tell you is that these children are a special and covenant people. As Hyrum G. Smith declared, "today is the day of Ephraim. These are the children of the final days when strength of character will be so crucial."

So today, instead of being frustrated that all I do is follow Owen and Ian around, cleaning up their next mess and listening to their never-ending meltdowns, I'm going to be thankful that I have such a strong willed children here on earth to help usher in the Savior. I will be thankful that my children "can be valiant in building the kingdom of God because of their characteristics, not despite them." Today I will be thankful my children have great determination. Even if it means that Owen will spend that day naked. Again.

Ian's latest disaster...

and no, it's not just broken off the hinges...it's broken in two. Deep breath....

My birthday: The day after

It really suprised me to discover that even at 33 you feel special when you're remembered on your birthday. My sister made my day but I had lot's of phone calls and visits. Shauna brought over a darling jack-o-lantern with a stash of chocolate, Jillyn brought me a cute little sign, my sis and each brought me flowers and a Becky brought me the yummiest cupcake from dippidee. I celebrated my going to SEP's (YIPEE!) and then over to the new Olive Garden for some delish eats with my honey. I went to bed with a smile on me face. 33 isn't so bad so far!

Getting back to normal

Well, as normal as normal can be right now. I'm feeling much better after my near mental breakdown this week. I've realized how much pressure I put on myself and how I take on more than I can handle. I've delegated, or rather, gotten some help for some of my work responsibilities,I've sought out babysitters for Owen while I work, I've pushed back a daycare inspection, my house is still clean thanks to my dear sister and I've realized that I need to stop internalizing every little event that happens each day. I am not supermom. I am human. I make mistakes. I get frustrated. I get tired. I get angry. And...it's ok. My kids aren't perfect either. They make messes. They fight. They cry. They whine. And...it's ok too. I loved Pres. Monson's talk about enjoying the journey. I know that I've hurried my life on so many times that I've missed out on things. It's time to start walking a little slower, talking a lot less and listening more. It's time to enjoy these crazy days and my crazy life because before I know it, it will be gone.

The best birthday present EVER!

This is my sis. I love her. We have been through everything together. Of all my siblings she is my only natural sibling; we have the same mom and the same dad. So...we relate on all sorts of levels that my other siblings and I do not. We just get each other. My sister a very giving person and I don't give her enough credit. Today she gave me the best gift anyone could have given; her time. I have been feeling completely overwhelmed and have even been feeling quite "panicky". You know, your heart starts racing, you can't breathe, the walls are closing in on you...

Well, last night I called to complain to my sister. She gets this a lot. I complain a lot. She's used to listening to me whine and complain about my crazy life. We're at different stages. She has two kids, 13 (almost) and 10. So, we have different kinds of craziness. We laugh at each others hectic lives and she tells me what I have to look forward to and I remind her of what she's already been through.

The best thing about talking to my sister is the fact that she actually listens to me. Instead of her trying to "out do" my stress with hers (she has plenty to be stressed about, even more than me) she just listens. I am guitly of not listening enough and trying to "out do" who ever I'm talking to at the moment. I think we are all guilty of this at one time or another. But, my sister listens. When I told her all I wanted for my birthday was a clean house, she didn't go on and on about what a mess her house was and how hard her life was and how she doesn't have time either... She just showed up. Yep, she showed up. My sister, who can't afford to take time off of work did. My sister, who is working 10-12 hours a day and barely has any time to clean her own house cleaned mine. This was no easy task. She doesn't live down the street or in the next town even but on the opposite side of the county. She had to arrange to take a long lunch and will work late into the night to catch up. She has health problems and doesn't always feel great but she came here and worked her butt off just to help me.

It's pretty wonderful to have sister like this. One who knows you well enough to know that when you say you're on the edge you mean it. And...does something to help. It was a huge, HUGE relief to have my house taken care of today. I really think it helped pull be back from the edge. My house is clean. Now, if I could just do something about these invoices...

Happy Birthday to my little brother Gehrhart!!

He was the best birthday present I ever got, and a day early too! Isn't he a hottie?? I stole these pictures from his facebook.

Another day...

Well, I ended up crashing at 11:00 with only half my list accomplished. What is it about being a mom that makes you so dang tired. I fought with Owen to go to bed for over an hour before he finally crashed on the dining room floor amid cracker crumbs. It was 10:00. Before he crashed and while I was distracted, he emptied my kitchen drawers giving me a few more things to do. It never ends does it? Today I have to get caught up. Adam and Matthais will be home around 1:30 and I really don't want the house to look like a bomb went off in it. I forgot what is was like to have a two year old in the house! I don't remember Millie being as busy either. Owen never stops. If I turn my back I have a new disaster. I have to laugh when Adam aks why I "let" him get into this or that. Yes, I to let him color all over the wall. I let he dump a whole bottle of lotion on the carpet. I let him unroll a new roll of toilet paper and drag it around the house. I mean, if I didn't, what would I do all day!

My neck is tense, my head hurts...

I have 10 piles of invoices that need to be put in order on the table, I have a stack of statements that need to be matched to invoices so they can be paid, I have a sink full of dishes that need to be washed, sour rags that need to be thrown in the washer, garbage that needs to be taken out, floors that need to be swept and floors that need to be vacuumed, clothes on my bed that need to be folded, a tub that needs to be scrubbed so that I can SOAK and three kids that need my TLC. And that is just the start. To say that I'm feeling a little stressed is an understatement. Matthais and Adam are gone for the night. Am I too old to pull an all-nighter to catch up? My diet coke is decaffeinated. Maybe I'll go get the hard stuff and go for it. Or, maybe I'll just put the little ones to bed and do NOTHING...ahhhhh....