I am thankful for...

FAMILY: My family is the most important thing to me! Wayne and my girls are my life and I am also thankful for the family I married in to and the family I was born in to! They are both the greatest!
GOSPEL: is the reason I am here. I am thankful for the Lord's plan. It all makes so much sense and fills my life with happiness.
THATCHER: I really am thankful to live in this great town. I really feel that we were supposed to be here... and I'm glad we are!
FRIENDS: I have the greatest friends in the whole world...thanks to all of you! Thanks for all the good times!
MY HOME, MY COUNTRY, CANDY, MODERN DAY TECHNOLOGY, (I can't imagine not having a washing machine, oven, etc.) ... the list goes on!!!


Thanksgiving was awesome this year. We stayed at Wayne's parents along with Wayne's brother's family and had Thanksgiving there. We stayed the whole day and just spent time with family. We really miss being away from all of them. The kids jumped right back into things with their cousins. I shopped on Friday, but not too early... Now I am DONE with my shopping and cards... I can relax and enjoy the holidays! This weekend, we are off to enjoy the polar express!! :)

Me and my sister in law, Katie... cheering on our hubbys. We were friends in college too! It is so fun!

Most of my sister in laws... looking through the ads for black out Friday

Haylee playing with her cousins on the tramp

Wayne and his bros playing 3 flys up... wayne is the one jumping the highest!! :)

ALMOST all of our family...

Haylee, Hanna, Jace, and Annie (Brad and Amber's kids)

Grandma and Pop singing the gobble, gobble song with some of the grandkids...

Yummy dinner. It was SO hot that day!

Cute kids table

matching outfits... Hanna and Maci

Sisters are the BEST!

Haylee loves to do Hanna's hair

... and Hanna just sits there and lets her!

This is a common scene after Haylee comes home from school. She has to read a book everyday, and Hanna is normally right there ready for a story!

This is the best!! Maci loves to be read to, so Hanna puts her on her lap and "reads" stories to her! I love it! These are the joys of being a mom! I am so lucky!

Piano

Wayne and I want to get a piano. We both play a little bit, but want our kids to learn! and I actually wouldn't mind taking lessons even now. I was looking on craigslist and saw some good prices, but I'm wondering if it matters the "brand" of piano. ... or is a piano just a piano?

For Veteran's Day, we went to the Tucson zoo with some of Wayne's family. It was so much fun! I had never been, but we all loved it. It is alot smaller than Phoenix zoo, so it wasn't as much walking. The weather was perfect and the animals were so close. We enjoyed being with Wayne's brother's family, his sister's family, and his parents! It was a great day!

We are not zooming the camera in... the animals are so close!

Haylee, Hanna and some cousins

More cousins

The three girls...

Grandma, Pop, and the girls! They are awesome grandparents!

Family Pictures

Here are our family pictures.. I took all of your advice and did my hair curly. My friend, Leah Davis took our pictures and did a great job. Here are SOME of them. All of the copies had one in color and one in black and white! Maci was not the happiest kid that day, but I think they turned out great.. Now I can finish my Christmas cards!

Happy Fall Y'all!

This Halloween was so fun! We started it out on Sat. night with a friend party in Chandler where the girls (Haylee and Hanna) were Belle and CInderella. Then Hanna wanted to be a ballerina for school. Then they both wanted to be cheerleaders on Halloween night. I had all the costumes here, so I let them choose what they wanted! Since Maci didn't care much, she was a lady bug, everynight! Tuesday we had a fun party at my mom's with all the cousins here. Then on Halloween, Haylee had a school parade and carnival. It is so fun in a small town to see everyone at EVERYTHING! I love it! My brother also had a work party that we stopped by to trick or treat at! It was a fun "week" of celebration. I've already got Halloween stuff put away, and Thanksgiving decorations up... I can't wait for Christmas!

County Fair, Miniature Horses, and Pumkin Patch

Out to eat with Brian and Katie! We always have a lot of fun!

Hanna, Maci, and Kade with the miniature horse!

I love this picture. Hanna is so good to Maci!

Fun at the pumpkin patch.. bad picture of me with my eyes closed!

Grandma Layton and cousins... so much fun!

Hanna loved this ride!

Haylee and Hanna won trophies and ribbons for "their" pigeons in the fair. (My brother put their names on some of his birds and they won!)

Haylee and her cousin Jackson's art poster from school that was in the fair!

We have been busy with lots of fun things lately. By the way, thanks for the advice for pictures... I did my hair curly and pictures went well (except for a grumpy baby!) Leah did a great job and I can't wait to see them! A couple weekends ago was the county fair.. I LOVE it... I did when I was growing up, and I still do! We went a couple days and looked at animals, art projects and rode rides. The girls loved it and each got to go on a couple of rides. Then Wayne (being the awesome husband he is) let me stay, while he took the girls home to bed (he doesn't really love the rides there!) I stayed with my younger brother and we had a blast! We only went on a couple of rides, but I loved it! I found out my stomach is a little more sensitive since kids... I had butterflies so bad and was laughing my head off.... The fair was great. That week we got to see two of Wayne's brother's family and it was awesome to spend time together. We miss them!

Last week, Wayne's sister came to visit with her 5 kids and we had a great time. My brother just bought 2 miniature horses, so we took the kids for a ride. The horses are SO cute and tiny! We went to Mesa last weekend for a parenting class (Love and Logic) at Wayne's parents house. It was SO awesome and I have learned so much. We had 2 classes and still have 2 more. I have a lot to work on as a mom! We had so much fun being back there.... but so much to do since there is NO shopping here. WE loved being with family and also got to go to a pumkin patch with hay rides, mazes, and fun for ALL!! Now I am working non stop to get ready for a vinyl lettering party!

straight or curly!??

I can't believe I'm posting pictures of myself on here.. but I need some advice... We are getting family pictures on Thursday and I'm not sure how to do my hair.. I'm really tired of it and can't seem to find something I love. I always do it straight, but had a friend help me curl it and I'm trying to decide what's best ... I'm not the best at making decisions (obviously) so..Let me know what you think!

My Kids... My Life!

Sometimes I feel bad because all I seem to do is talk about my kids... but they are my life! My whole day is consumed with them, and I love it! They are all so cute and fun in their own way...

HAYLEE: loves anything girly...she wants to be 16, loves cute clothes, dancing, and shopping (I wonder where she learned that!?) but she also loves to learn and is a GREAT big sister. She is so helpful at home and with her sisters! I love her curly hair and cute freckles!!

HANNA: is our little tease! SHe loves to do things for a reaction! She will push or bug her sisters just to make them cry.. but on the other hand, she is so cuddly and sweet. She will let me hold and snuggle her and loves to play with my hair. Her favorite things are books and barbies! She is such a fun girl and always keeps us all laughing! Although they all love Wayne SO much... Hanna is the biggest daddy's girl!

MACI: is getting such a fun personality. She is a mix between the two girls. She already loves to dress up, her favorite thing is to put on shoes, or a braclet or bow and then go show someone! She loves her silky blankets and when she holds them her mouth does a sucking reflex even though she doesn't have a bottle.. it's so cute! She also loves to be cuddled and LOVES to be outside! She would live out there if I let her. She loves her big sisters and trys to do everything they do!!

Well... this is my life and I couldn't be happier! I have a great husband who helps so much and who the girls adore.. and I have 3 of the sweetest cutest girls that make every day worth it... even though there is definately ALOT of DRAMA around here! :) I count my blessing everyday!

School Pictures...

I feel so old! I remember when I used to dress in my favorite outfit and get school pictures taken... NOW I have a daughter who brought home her school pictures... and I have to say, they are pretty darn cute! The first thing I thought when I saw it, was that is her "shy" smile, but I think the picture turned out great. She was so excited that it showed her silver "princess" teeth (as her dentist calls it)!

the good ol' days...

After our great dinner as Casa

before we picked up Ali

Karalee (Lunt) Malaela, Harmony (Andersen) Bryce, Natalia (Jones) Carter, Me, Ali (Liclyter) Lunt, Jaymi (Whiting) Davis, Stacey (Beecroft) Cox

Kennady (Jaymi's baby) and Maci
Me, my kiddos and Karalee, hiding under the t.v. (we just got the cabinets put in on Friday)

This weekend was sooo fun! 6 of my awesome friends from EA came down to visit... It all started when we were in a bunco group when I lived in Mesa. I told the girls I was moving to Thatcher, and since most of them had come to school here and hadn't been back for so long.. they planned to come here for bunco in September... so they did! It was awesome to be around them again, it really was like the good ol' days. The people who came were Harmony, Jaymi, Natalia, Stacey, Karalee, and Ali. They are all so much fun. Jaymi brought her cute baby too! We first went to Casa Manana (everyone except Ali, we met up with her after that)... We ate and had a fun time and then came back to my house and played bunco (we figured we might as well play since that is why they came!:) We all switched prizes and then sayed up and talked FOREVER! We laughed so much. We were up until 3 am!!! It really was like when we were at EA! I love my friends and I am SO thankful they came here to visit. Most of them left the next morning and went home to their families! It was a short trip, but so fun! I would love to have anyone here ANYTIME! Wayne was so great about having everyone here... he was a little out numbered! What could he do!?? Here are some pictures from our fun night...

I've been tagged... My wedding story!

Where did you meet your husband?At my friends Doug Lindblom's house. I was working for Doug and he was good friends with Wayne... We all went out to the desert and watched a movie!

What was the first thing you said to your husband? "So you are Wayne Layton"... I had heard so much about him from his brother Brian and my (now) sister in law Katie (I knew them at EA).

Where was your first date? We went to the Diamond backs game and then swimming. I was SO excited when he called!

Where was your first kiss? In Gilbert, inside his truck, he was dropping my off to meet my roomate.

Did you have a long or short engagement/courtship? SHORT! Met Wayne May 20th... Engaged July 11... Married September 1, 2000.... we knew it was right and there was no use waiting! :)

Where did you get engaged? We got engaged in a cotton field! He was a farmer for his dad.. He took me out to a field and turned on music and we danced (We have only dance a couple of times since! :), I told him he tricked me, because I love to dance... it really was so sweet!) Then he told me to come look at something... He pulled out a huge boquet of daises (my favorite flower) and roses from the cotton and then pulled out the ring and proposed. It was so cute! I couldn't quit smiling or looking at the ring!

How was the honeymoon? So great!! We stayed in Scottsdale the first night, then flew to Vegas and stayed at a resort (the one on the movie "America's Sweethearts") and then stayed on the strip in the Luxor. It was so awesome... I wish we could go on another honeymoon!

I would love to hear your story... you are all tagged!

I love pigtails!!

Maci's hair is just barely long enough to put pigtails in! I love them... except it makes her looks SO much oLder!

Hanna was the Top BaNana at preschool (another name for being the spotlight!) She thought is was pretty cool to write down all her favorites and take some pictures to school!

The 3 girls before taking Haylee to school (Maci has pigtails again.. it's kinda hard to tell!)

Haylee going to gymnastics! She LOVEs it!

update and cute pictures...

Things here in Thatcher are going so well. I love the small town atmosphere, most of the time. I definately and missing the good places to eat and shop, and of course I miss people. But it has been so fun to spend so much time with my family. My two brothers in high school come to my house almost every day for lunch! I love having them here! We have combined Family Home Evening and Fast Sunday dinners once a month. Last night it was at my house. It was so fun!

Haylee is loving school now. I don't know what changed, but she is excited every day now (except today she had a meltdown, I don't know why)... Hanna loves preschool and playing with her cousins..(a little too much... she was caught kissing her 4 year old boy cousin when they were playing HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!) I had to laugh and then teach her we only kiss when we are mom and dads.. I'm trying to hold her off as long as I can. Her stomach hurt and I told her that's what happens when you kiss! :) Maci is great! She is really getting a fun personality! She always wants to wear shoes and normally a purse or sunglasses! Wayne loves his job too. Life is great and I have loved keeping in touch with so many friends and family through these blogs...


Here are our most recent pictures of our girls...
(I don't know how to make them any bigger!)

Finally.... internet and pictures....

Here is what we have been up to the last couple of months... We love Thatcher buy definaly miss all of our Mesa/Chandler friends and family! Now we are all settled, we are ready for visitors!! :)

Sorry, still no pics!!!

WE ARE IN OUR HOME!! and I love it! It is so beautiful. I have slacked on my blogging duties (as Stacey said!) but I have a good reason... we do not have the internet at our house, so I come to my mom's to use her computer, but my pictures are on my computer at home. We are on a street with new homes and Thatcher is a little slow at getting the electric lines that I need to hook up the internet... I can't wait until I can put some pictures on here. We moved in last Tuesday and I am basically done unpacking and decorating. We moved in to the home already painted... so we could get started on the fun stuff right away. I love it all! Now I have a place for you to stay, so ANY 0f you are welcome to come visit! I will post pics as soon as I can. Hope you are all doing great with school starting and that you have going on. Haylee still cries almost every day when I drop her off for school, but tries really hard to be big! She started gymnastics and looks adorable in her outfit. Hanna loves school and Maci is starting to walk... such exciting times!!

So you think you can dance???

Okay... tonight is the result show and I can't wait. Who do you think is going to win and who do you want to win? I want Neil or Sabra. I like them all right now, but they are my favorites. I really wish Lauren wouldn't have got kicked off last week... So let me know your vote!

Our biggest update is....
Haylee started kindergarten and is having a hard time getting used to it. It breaks my heart to drop her off when she is crying. I went to eat lunch with her today and I think it made it worse. Hanna loved her first day of preschool! That is their personalities in a nutshell! Also... Our house is DONE!!! except our dumb lender is saying that we can't get financed until next week... so we will move in then. I will post pictures of the girls and our house as soon as I can!

Simply Obsessed...

My friend just started this company and I wanted to share!


Simply Obsessed is a monthly kit club company that was created because we found that there were many like us who were obsessed with capturing the fleeting moments in our lives. We strive to offer the newest products available! Best of all...they do all the coordinating for you!!

The website is: www.simplyobsessed.biz
Check it out, it is so cute...

I need some help...

Hey, I am using this blog to my advantage to ask you guys to get the word out! We are selling our home in Mesa (or renting) and I am wondering if any of you know anyone who is looking for a place to live!? It is located on Gilbert and University in Mesa. It is a 3 bed/2 bth home. It has a huge grassy back yard. Our ward is awesome! Let me know if you have anyone who may be interested!! Thanks so much...