Family!!!

Wow!!!! I just haven't been keeping up with this blogging thing!!! Nor many other things that I am supposed to be involved in these days :) But I have been thinking a lot about family lately and I just want to write some things.

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has this wonderful plan in which we are given families!!!! I know that I was sent to my wonderful family because they were the best examples for me to learn and grow from! I know I have been blessed with Joe, Joey, Layla and Rex because I am the best example for them to learn and grow from. Every day I am challenged with obstacles and trials to develop from. I look to my wonderful family for guidance. Thankful for their experiences and their words of counsel that they love me enough to share with me.

After seeing John and Amanda married and their sweet young love I am inspired to recommit myself to my sweet Cool's and to prove to them how wonderful it is to be their wife, mother!!!

Since being able to spend time with my family that I am not able to see on a day to day basis, I am grateful that I am able to be associated with them and was blessed to be born into the Stephenson/Lefler groups! I love that I am able to walk into their open arms and feel of the love they have for me. I am grateful for brothers and sisters who love me and who genuinely care. Who are able to be called upon for any reason and who have got my back!

So, I hope that I have or will repay all of the love and adoration that I have felt from all of my family. Just really grateful today for family!!! Too bad life sometimes gets in the way! Love you all!

One Spooky Halloween!

Princess Cinder"layla" Bride! How sweet is she?

The Grim Reaper!

I hope I never meet this SCARY guy!

Layla's preschool friends!

Layla and her carpool buddy Luke... He is so cute! He carries her backpack for her. What a gentleman!

Wow! I have been way out of touch with blogging lately! When I have the time...I sleep these days! Anyways, here are some spooky pictures of the kids from their halloween parties at school. We spent actual halloween at Disneyland and had a blast (pics will follow...?). Layla was Cinderella Bride and Joey was the Grim Reaper. Rex did dress up as Charlie Brown at disney but I still need to upload the pics. We hope you all enjoyed your tricks and had lots of treats!

Layla's first day of preschool

My sweet angel face... It's her first day of preschool for this year. She was excited to wear this outfit and go to play with her many friends that will be in school with her. I think she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen! She is such a sweet and helpful girl. It is so fun to watch her grow!

I just LUV this girl!

First Day of School

Well the day is finally here!!! My firstborn has started school. He is excited I know but trying to be cool. We walked him to school as a family and spent too much time taking pics and he wasn't able to play on the playground, so he was upset bout not playing. He made sure to look around to check if anyone was watching before he gave us a kiss(silly boy). He sits just across from the teacher and I told him that "that's where the teacher puts her biggest helpers". I am so excited for him and all of the experiences he will have over the next 12years, also a bit scared. We are proud parents of a kindergartener (and a preshcooler, and a baby) today;)

I LUV this baby!

Look at this adorable face...green beans and all! He has brought so much joy and laughter into our lives! We love watching him discovering all the new and wonderful things! He is such a funny baby, he loves to be tickled and for me to sing him the "Rex the dinosaur" song. He is just about to crawl so here are some pics of his progress

Here I go mom... are you watching?

I think I can, I think I can

I'm such a BIG boy!

I always wanted a blue eyed baby and since Rex was born Joe just knew those blue eyes were going to go brown... so we bet and I've won, cause that cutie bootie has blue eyes. (hope they stay)

Help!!??

so i cant figure out how to publish one post with multiple pics and write a little tidbit under them like y'all do. can anyone tell me how?
sorry the last post didnt go in order...see my prob?

partygoers hanging in and partyin til mom told them it was time to get out! i love those little faces!

presents, presents, presents!

kids doing swim version of 3 legged race :)

Joey blowing out his candles!

They made a splash!!

So here are the pics from Joey's party last nite. We had about 16 kids and I must brag at how good they all were. They all listened and played so well with each other! I am so grateful to Joey's friends and what good examples they are to our family!

Mojo turns 6!

6 years ago I looked into this face and fell in love with his handsome face! Today he turned 6 and what a fun 6 years we have had! From learning to walk, talk and pee in pot (and not on his sister anymore:) to preschool, baseball, swimming and video games. I still love his handsome face even more now if possible. What joy, laughter and good times he has brought into our lives! I look forward to the many years that we will have in the future and watching him grow up to be a man!

Happy Father's Day!

I am grateful today for a husband who grew up without a good example of what a father is, and yet he has become a great father! We love our daddy so much! Joey's says his favorite thing about his dad is that "he help's me with video games' Layla says her favorite thing about her dad is that "he pick's flowers for me to wear in my hair" Mom is grateful that daddy works so hard to give us a good life full of the things we need and want, that he let's me take the kids to church so they can learn how to return to live with their Heavenly Father again and that he tries to understand what I go thru every day and balances me out when I am teetering on the edge of insanity! We Luv you daddy!

Unbelievable strength!

Joey showing his unbelieveable strength for a 5 y/o!

Must be in their blood...Layla is so strong also!! These kids are so silly.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Last week was Lisa's birthday. We celebrated at home with some family fun. Cody cooked us some good steaks on the bbq and then we partied it up with some sillyness that is always to be had with the Cool kids around. We just wanted to let grandma know how much we love her and appreciate what she does to help us! It's an amazing appreciation and understanding that we come to have as we become parents ourselves. So thanks again Lisa and we love you SO much!

Tiny Dancer

Last nite was Layla's first dance recital. She was so excited! We got her ready by putting on some makeup(she thought she was such a big girl!) and curling her hair. She looked so adorable in her costumes. When it was her turn to dance she was so shy and forgot most of the dance steps but we thought she was the cutest one on the stage. She said she had a fun time and loved that everyone came to see her. We got some pics but on the stage there wasn't enough ligt for them to turn out. And I haven't been able to upload any videos ( I think they are too long/big). All in all it was a special day for her and our family! It brought back memories of my dancin' days! I can't wait for all the many more recitals to come!

Class of 2023!

I know, I know 2023 is a LONG time away, so I'll just focus on preschool class of 2010! Last week Joey had his preschool graduation. He was so excited, kept counting down the days. I sat there through the program (a bit teary-eyed) thinking... where has the time gone. I know it's only preschool but I feel as if high school grad and his mission are just over the horizon :/ It was such a cute program and I loved seeing all those kids we are around all the time so much that they feel like family! I am happy to say that Joey is one popular kid. There have been so many times that the mothers will tell me " my daughter won't stop talking bout Joey!" or "my son thinks Joey is the coolest!" I hope he continues to be a good friend to everyone as he grows up! After the graduation, we were sitting on couch and Joey says " I can't believe I graduated!" so cute! I just love that ltl "Mojo" I could'nt downloaded the video, it's too long I guess! Kindergarten here we come!

Rub A Dub Dub! 3 Cools in the tub!

Aren't they SO cute! Rex is now sitting up and all 3 are able to take a "tubby" together! They have fun and are so cute to look at! Love those sweet faces and all the nakeys!

Daddy's lil' helper

Layla is a definate "Daddy's Girl"! She loves to help her dad with all kinds of stuff. Joey on the other hand would rather be playing! I love to watch Joe with her and the smile she brings to his face. Whenever there is work to be done she is volunteering herself to help her dad. I think she feels like a big girl when she helps and I know she loves being with daddy! She is such a princess but will forgo all the prissyness when given the choice to get in the dirt with daddy! We love her so much

Kids say the darndest things...!

So we had a garage sale last sat. and I decided to let Joey, Layla and their little friend Kenzie from down the street have a lemonade stand. I was telling Joey of our plans for the "lemonade stand" and he asked..."why are we going to have a lemonade stand?" I answered..."so you and your sister can make some $$$" He paused for a second and then aske..."what are we going to stand it on?" Haha. I just love my kids and their sweet, simple understandings! Made me laugh, well they do every day! I love the joy they bring to our life!