Awesome Day

Today has been one of those days that was not only productive but also fun.  We started cleaning and organizing first thing in the morning.  I had gone shopping to Sam's Club the day before and got a lot of stuff that needed to be organized.  It was also a good day to clean out the closets because the D I truck was in town.  We were able to gut our closet as well as Timothy and Samuels.  I took Sam to his Hit a thon for baseball he had 38 hits out of 40 pitches, he was on fire.  We spent a bunch of time doing yard work, the weather was beautiful!!  Sariah and I made chocolate chip cookies, which she loves.  We played pitch with the boys and Timothy let Nathan and I go on a date.  I love being married to my best friend.  We had such a good time.  We came home to Sariah asleep on the couch and the boys going through our yearbooks that we found while cleaning.  They laughed that dad had no messages and mom's were full of messages.  What an Awesome day!!

Timothy's Turkey dinner!!

Just before Christmas Timothy won a Turkey for running the fastest mile in his class.  I was unable to cook it at Christmas, so Timothy suggested we wait till his birthday and have a turkey dinner with his friends.   So we did just that.  We invited all of his friends over on Sunday evening to enjoy turkey dinner.  It was just like a Thanksgiving dinner and the kids enjoyed a fun time outside having a water fight.  The weather was perfect.  I still can't believe my baby is a teenager. 

Picture taken at the turkey dinner.  Timothy with his friends, sister and some of her friends. 

Timothy getting ready to blow out the candles on his Birthday pie!!

Timothy with his good friend Lindsey.  She made him a poster with pictures dating clear back to first grade when they first became friends.  She didn't make it to the actual dinner because she was in all stars for basketball.  She is now as tall as me. 

Here is a better shot of the poster that Lindsey made! :)

Timothy's Presentation

I made this presentation for family home evening, it's funny and its awesome!  Go to this site.
timothy.niles68@stu.morongo.k12.ca.us
 

Timothy turns thirteen!

Today is Timothy's Birthday!!  He is officially a teenager!  It has been fun talking about all the memories of the last thirteen years of Timothy in our lives.  We also enjoyed talking about the day he was born.  We told him he came out like Tarzan holding the umbilical cord while peeing on the doctor.  It was funny because the doctor cracked a joke and said well we know he is going to be a good pianist, and now he plays the piano!:)  Timothy felt blessed that his Grandparents and cousin came to visit for his birthday weekend.  We told him he could pick the entire day.  The day consisted of board games, card games, VIDEO GAMES, going to the park, eating at Carousel cafe for lunch, bowling and having strogonaugh for dinner.  As you can tell by the list he is a very easy kid to please.  Here are some pictures from the day. 

                                                          Family Birthday photo.

                         I took to long taking the picture that Grandpa Abbott took a nap!!

                                            Nathan and Timothy playing Video games.

Clarissa and Samuel playing a card game with Sariah popping in because she heard "Say Cheese."

                                    Timothy, Clarissa and Sam having fun at the bowladium!

Timothy blowing out the candles on his carton of ice cream, because he is not a fan of cake!!


We ended the evening by playing a game of boggle.  It was funny hearing some of the words Sam was making up for example:  lanlat, tarsh, and nalt. 

And now for a trip down memory lane!!

This was a picture taken at Grandma Abbott's birthday when Timothy was less than a month old. 
It has been fun watching these four cousins grow up and become friends. 

Here are some picture taken just moments after our little guy was born, what a happy day!!!

                                            More pictures taken on the day Timothy was born!!

Nathan very excited to find out for the first time that he had a boy.  Also a bonus that he had his Grandpa Hakes nose. 

This is a personal favorite.  This is a picture of Nathan, Timothy, Uncle Jared and Uncle Bradley.  I must note that Bradley is thirteen in this picture, which is the same age Timothy is today!!:)

This last picture is somewhat sad, this was a time when the Niles family loved one another, it is sad how things have changed and new influences do not want to be a loving and happy family.  This picture shows up happiness is possible.  We will always love all members of the Niles Family!

Waiting to become a Mom!!

Timothy woke me up early this morning to spend time just the two of us.  It was fun looking through some old photo albums that we had not been through in years because we thought it would be to painful.  we soon found out we were in a place where peace has replaced pain and humor was some of the best medicine to calm our still wounded hearts.  It is amazing how time can change families and families must determine if it will change for the positive or the negative. I found this picture that was taken the day before I gave birth to Timothy to be quite humorous.  Little did Nathan or I know what an exciting ride of parenthood we were about to embark us.  We have had some of our happiest times as well as some of our saddest times, but one thing has remained, our love for one another and our commitment to our children and future posterity. 

                                        Nathan insisted on having a side profile picture!!!

Student of the Month

I was so proud of Tim when he came home with the Student of the Month Metal.  He received it for having straight A's, all O's, perfect attendance and no infractions.  My excitement soon ended the next day when I got a recorded phone call from the school informing my son or daughter had received a demerit.  The nice thing about my kids being spread apart is I know exactly who to blame when I get theses phone calls.  I t was never that easy for my parents, when they always had at least 2 of us in the school at one time.  When I confronted Tim, he started the denial process, until I told him I had received a phone call.   He received the demerit for forgetting his PE cloths.  If that is the worst I have to deal with in raising a teenager, I feel very blessed.  If you want to see a picture of Tim you can go to tpjhs-morongousd.ca.schoolloop.com.

Simply Simplifying!!

It is funny some times how we get so busy in life that we don't even have time to see how busy we are.  Are family has been having a lot of discussion on this topic.  Nathan and I are realizing that we are raising our kids to be like us, which is not always a good thing.  Both of us are constantly taking on things with good intention but sometimes not enough time.  We have decided this week that it is time that we start simplifying our lives. 

Nathan had the opportunity to speak in our ward today as the High Council Representative.  We had some good friends come and watch him speak.  I was very surprised at how well Sariah is behaving in church.  I think we are almost out of the difficult age.  Tonight Nathan and I will be going to the High School to set up and do the soccer banquet.  It will be nice to close the door on this season, it will also take one more weight off of Nathan's back.  I also have had a busy week between house, kid duties, church calling and volunteering at the Navy Marine Corp Relief Society, things have gone by rather quickly.  I also had the opportunity to go to a women's fireside last night, while Nathan took on kid duty.   I am looking forward to a more simply simplified week!!:)

Picture of how I found Nathan and Sariah upon returning home last night, I thought it was so cute!!  Sariah loves being with her Daddy!!

Good, Better, Best!!

It is interesting how life can take you in many different directions and at some points you don't know what you should do.  This weekend was one of those times.  We had many different activities before us and I was having a difficult time deciding what I should do.  I remembered a talk given by Dallin H Oaks in 2007 conference titled "Good, Better, Best."  This talk helped me make the best decision for the weekend.  My friend Angie went to the Temple for the first time and was sealed to her husband and two boys for time and all eternity.  I had the privilege in sharing this special day with them.  It makes you put your own life back in focus.  There may have been a dozen other places to be but this was the best!:)

I am excited as Timothy's birthday is fast approaching, it is hard to believe that thirteen years ago Nathan and I were anxiously awaiting the journey of becoming parents.  These thirteen years have brought us so many joys.  We have been blessed with such a responsible young man.  He knows where he is going and what he wants to become.   I know that being a parent is the "Best" thing we can do.   I love how every day of our lives we learn new and exciting things in this journey of life.