Happy Birthday Jacque

Our oldest daughter celebrated her 22nd birthday today!!  I am always learning about this sweet daughter of mine.  Did you know she loves to go to Cost-Co?  She hates to spend money, doesn't like her picture taken, and she loves to eat left-overs.  And don't ever put an Oreo in front of her....she'll inhale the thing!!
So, let me tell you about how Jacque spent her birthday.  I took her shopping to her favorite store and we swapped roles.  I wanted to buy a beautiful dress for her birthday/graduation and she didn't want to spend the money.  The nice lady helping us just looked at us bewildered and asked....."Um....aren't you two suppose to be in opposite roles?"  It was quite hilarious.
This morning, Jacque indulged her mom and had Matt snap some graduation pictures for me, we met for lunch and went shopping at Cost-Co.  W-A-Y too much fun, if you ask me!
She wanted to "whip up" an pasta dish for her birthday dinner. This was the best part of the day. Jenny came over early, and with Jacque, Lexy, Aly, and myself, we made quite a fantastic dinner for everyone.

Spaghetti with beef, smoked almonds and basil/tomato sauce

Afterwards, we just had fun watching old movies and playing a good hand of Mormon Bridge.  Spending time with her family - it's what Jacque is all about.  She has a tender heart that expands with every member of her family.  She is the ultimate people pleaser - that is what truly makes her happy - helping others and making sure they are taken care of.  She is about to graduate from ASU from the Nursing Program (taking care of others) - and make her own way in the big world.  I am so proud of her accomplishments, her determination, her love for life, and her desire to always do her best.

How I love this daughter of mine!  She is a blessing to our family and I enjoy every minute we spend together.  Being a mom is easy and I treasure our relationship. She has truly taught me how to love unconditionally and to reach out to others.  She makes it looks  so easy!! 

Dinner "guests"

Beautiful daughters - sisters - best of friends

Newest member of adopted Weech family - Lexy

Shoes and spices...what else does a girl need?

(BTW- yes, she got the dress!!)

LOVE YOU Jacque!!

Easter Festivities

We celebrated Easter with our wonderful family.  It can't get any better than that.  I also planned a little Easter program for the Primary and there was such a sweet spirit present.  Each week, I pray that those little children (some not so little) will feel the spirit and recognize those feelings.  This is such a crucial time in their lives - developing a knowledge that our Savior loves each one of them - no matter what they do, no matter what their circumstances are - they are loved!!  It went well, and again, my family were all there supporting my efforts.  How I love my family!!

After church we tried to have our bi-annual family pictures.  We didn't quite get everyone - but we did our best. 

(Brad feeling left out!)

How I love to capture the silliness of our family.  My girls are always a little crazy, but oh so beautiful!!

Afterwards, we headed over to Grammy/Grampy's home for an Easter Egg Family Hunt.  This year we had a mini hunt for the smallest cousins.  They thought that was the best!

Then, the big hunt begins. Only our Grammy would think to hide Florida Quarters in each of the eggs!! Why Florida quarters?? Because this guy is leaving for his mission to Florida in a little over one month!

Grammy thinks of everything!

Big kids help little kids.  Candy is swapped and nibbled on before dinner and all have a good time.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and afterwards...we all waddled around and relaxed.

I have reflected on the peace and contentment being with family brings.  I'm sure up in heaven, it was an hundred-fold and more.  When we experience moments like these today, we can glimpse the love and hope that our Heavenly Father has for us and His great desire for us to return "home".  How He loved us!  The greatest love, the greatest sacrifice - for us to return home.  My blessings are all around me.  But I will always acknowledge why I have those blessings.  A song in Primary expresses my thoughts the best:

"Hosanna, Blessed be the name of the Most High God!  Hosanna!"

Yes, I CAN Keep a Secret!!

Anyone who knows me can agree that keeping fun, silly secrets is very, very hard for me.  It's a breeze to keep the serious secrets, but the Christmas/Birthday presents/surprise type of secret is just not that easy.  Especially with Jacque.  She can tell you story after story about me and how I either ruin a surprise inadvertently, or because I'm just too excited to keep it in for one more second.  I don't know when this started...maybe in my youth....when I always had to find the secret hiding places for Christmas presents my mom and dad would so carefully hide from young, prying eyes!
Anyways....Lexy, Aly, and Kade wanted to throw a surprise birthday party for Jacque.  We decided on a date, a locked surprise facebook account was created and the secrets started to fly....more like little white lies, but what the heck....we were going to pull it off!
So, first of all, I needed to go shopping at the good ol' Cost-Co...which, by the way, is Jacque's favorite store.  She wants to go with me...so I say:  "I have to pick up a bunch of food for a scout thingy on Saturday and an Easter program for Primary".  She happily helps me pick out some yummy food and has absolutely no idea it is really for her birthday party.
Then, I decide that I need to clean "early" so I don't have to clean the day before Easter.  Jacque agrees to help....for her birthday party.  Yes, I'm a terrible mom.
Aly takes her out for dinner.  Savannah cooks all her wonderful little goodies (of course they are all for my make-believe Scout activity).  All her friends come over.  They come home for a little break before the "movie" and Jade is here.  Jacque rushes in to see her....and chases Brad holding Jade down the hall...and this is what happens:

Oh....by the way....when she is hiding behind the wall...she is really giving Aly a good slap or two for tricking her!!  We had a lot of fun and I am happy to say I actually kept a secret from this beautiful daughter of mine!!

Happy Birthday, Savannah!!

It's birthday time in our house and our "oldest" is celebrating another wonderful day.  We love this girl!

We have had fun getting to know her and the love she has for others.  I can't tell you how many times she is cooking up something for someone...just because she knows they need a "pick-me-up" or a thank-you or a "just thinking of you" something.  She knows how to cheer up anyone!  She loves her family and it shows!

We really feel blessed to have both Savannah and Aaron living with us right now.  As they continue to search for a home, we have the pleasure of having their expertise in cooking (Savannah is the queen of desserts!) and computer help (I don't need to remind anyone how amazing Aaron is....and this IS about Savannah!)
Another thing I love about Savannah is her zany humor.  She has a special way of making us laugh....even if it is at ourselves. 

So many times, when I am at church, I have a friend stop me in the hall and tell me how much they "LOVE" Savannah.  They love the confidence she has, her zest for life is evident in everything she does, and she is always willing to help.  I couldn't agree more!!  I feel blessed to have Savannah as a daughter!
We love you Savannah!!
Happy Birthday!!

It Takes a Village

You know the saying:  "It takes a village to raise a child"?  Well, I have learned over the last 4 weeks, it also takes a family to get "Mom" thru college!
Most know that I am taking 2 classes a semester to finally get my college education.  I have found that 2 classes is a good fit with my other responsibilities as a mom, a wife, and a Primary leader.  But, I needed to take a one-credit class for some of my required credits.  How hard can a one-credit class be??  It was on the Arizona Constitution, it was only going to be 4 weeks, the textbook was small and easy to read, it was an on-line class....an easy A!
For the last 4 weeks, I have been swamped with homework.  This class was insane!!  Quizzes, tests with 5 essay questions on each, and a 5 page/10 slide PowerPoint presentation.  Let me share with you some of the questions...
"Describe the 3 levels of jurisdiction in Arizona.  Explain what courts make up each level and create an example of the type of case that could be heard by each court."
OK....so with Brad giving me examples, and Aaron critiquing my answers, I was able to answer this "simple" questions....1 1/2 pages of typing!
Here's another:
"Describe how the process of 'initiative' works.  Be sure to discuss both normal laws and constitutional amendments.  As part of your explanation, create one example of a possible initiative".  CRIMINEY!!!

That wasn't all.  In this same time period, Aly had to present her Honor's Project (Spanish presentation), Jacque was finishing up an 88-page assignment, and I also had to present my informative speech - which was 1/3 of my grade.  Talk about a stressful time.  It was ALOT of fun around here, let me tell you!!!

Here are some of the high-points of the last 4 weeks:
Aly had a near perfect presentation!!
My crazy professor liked my writing and had good things to say.  Here's a sample and I put it in this blog so that my posterity knows I had to work my .............. off......and with all that hard work....sometimes it pays off!!!!
"Dena, do I even need to say 'fantastic work'?  It is my pleasure to give you full points.  If you are writing a paper for the final, I look forward to reading it".
Yes, I wrote a paper and yes.....I received an "A"!! (There was a little pressure on that also!!)
My speech only had a couple of hiccups and everything went well.
Jacque finished up her main classes, worked in the Maricopa County PICU, and is about 2 weeks from graduating from ASU.
Jacque snuck in one more trip to SnowBowl for a last huh-rah AND got her hair colored by one of her friends...it looked fantastic.

JADE came over!!!
She is growing so fast...and we love every new personality trait she develops.  Who couldn't smile looking at her??