My kidlins

Can i just tell you how much i LOVE my kidlins. Really they are both adorable and so sweet. I just had an overwhelming sense of love for them today...I just couldn't get enough of them! They got lots of nibbles. Seneka is just loving her mommy (which i love!) and cries when i leave the room (not So good!). And she is seriously growing up too fast. She is almost crawling at this point...she gets on her knees and bounces and kind of scoots to where she wants to go. She also goes from tummy to bottom. Oh, my little girl is getting big!! Sniff, sniff. Also, her second tooth popped this last Sunday!! I love how when i am holding her, she kicks her back leg when she gets excited...especially when she first wakes up in the morning and she wants to go upstairs and see brother and Granny. She is a happy girl. She is such a beautiful girl. I sometimes just sit and look at her. He dark skin, her long eyelashes (that curl on the ends) and her dark hair. She really just takes my breath away.

And Ashton is my thinker. He is such an analytical boy. Today we were in the basement on the bed and he looked up at the ceiling and said - Mom, is that the floor? I was confused but then he asked if it was the floor or the ceiling b/c upstairs, it is the floor. What a great thought. He is always thinking about things. His brain is always working. He is going to be my genius child.
I also love that he calls my Aunt Gaylia and Uncle Terral (who live next door to my parents) "Aunt Gaylia and Aunt Terral." And that he calls a "wolf" - a "woof" and that he still calls "yellow" - "lellow" And a napkin is a "wapkin."
I have to savor the few things that remind me of my little boy...even though he is becoming a big boy more and more all the time!
He has been doing a lot of things himself these days so today i asked him- You are so big now- what will you ever need your mommy for??? And he answered just as i would have wished in my heart of hearts... and he said... "I still need you for hugs and kisses!!!" That's my BOY!!!

I am so blessed to have such great kids. They make me so happy.

Blast from the past

K- i ran into my second grade teacher a couple of days ago. It was so crazy. A major blast from the past. It has been 20+ years... (boy, am I getting old). Isn't it funny when you recognize someone from so long ago? She totally looked the same. Her name is Mrs. Oliverson. And she even remembered me (and also brought up my brother who she taught 3 years before me). CRAZY!!!!!!! Funny that she could see my own kids (when Ashton will be in 2nd grade in a few years!).

However, I would LOVE to run into my 3rd grade teacher- Mr. Burkett - who used to wear ties with piano keys on it and who i had a MAJOR crush on!!!

Anyway, just thought i would share!

Cystic Fibrosis

Hello everyone!!!
If you are in the mood to help a great cause - stop into any UTAH Jiffy Lube and purchase a coupon book for $5 ($100 worth of savings iniside). The proceeds go to finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. My cute friend Somer has this disease and has such a positive outlook and is doing so much to broaden awareness of the disease. She is the voice on the latest Jiffy Lube radio ad...so, listen for her.
You can also check out http://www.lovetobreathe.com/
Somer's motto is: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away!"
♥LIVE,LOVE,BREATHE♥

Love ya Somer - GSBTDKRTN

LAKE POWELL!!!

The last few years the Maxwell family has tried to plan one time each summer when we can all go to Lake Powell together. Lake Powell has always been a family tradition and such a great time for my entire life. Ashton has quickly learned to love it as well...and now Seni gets to be a part of it all. We usually tent it b/c we have never had a motor home or anything like most of the rest of my fam. However, this year we broke down and bought a tent trailer...which was really nice to have, especially with the new baby.

Here we are in Navajo Canyon where there is this huge sand hill and beautiful cliffs and rocks. It is really calm in the canyon and the kids can water ski from the shoreline.

All the cousins...from youngest to oldest...

Seneka, Coen, Piper, Ashton, Brynna, Parker, Kayla, Kiera, Dallon, McKenna

My little boy water skied for his first time!!! At age 4! I was so proud of my little man. He kept begging us the entire time b/c he really wanted to try water skiing...which is kind of backwards for a lot of kids b/c a lot of times they are afraid. Rod and Sheri had the little skis that are tied together so it is easier for them. He was grinning from ear to ear. He loved it!


He kept his chin down on his jacket most of the time.

He even hit some waves and didn't fall. He was sure to remind me that he didn't fall but i did when i skied. What a big man!!


Troyski hitting some air while wake boarding.



So, i have story to tell about the photo above and below this caption. I feel like i have become quite the boring person in a lot of ways since i have had children. I think part of it is that i am lazy or maybe i just have lacked motivation or I just don't make the effort. I don't know if anyone else can relate?? For example, when i used to go to Lake Powell when i was younger, i would always ski, etc... but as of late - i just think - oh, why go to the trouble or the water is too cold, or whatever. It seems i always focus on my kids having a fun time (which is definitely a huge priority) but i fail to go out of my shell and do fun things myself very often. I've noticed myself sitting back and becoming somewhat complacent...and to be honest - i think i am not as happy as i could be in some aspects.

So, after getting to know my friend Katie better this last bit and reading her blog often, I have lately tried to live life more to its fullest! She has motivated me! Katie is in a wheelchair and doesn't have use of her legs - however she snow skis, water skis, cycles, pole dances, jet skis, rock climbs, etc... and she has such a positive outlook. She is always trying new things.... and they all take so much more effort than if it was me doing them. I have use of my two legs and i don't make the effort to do much out of the ordinary. I think i first have to make the conscious decision to change and then it won't be such an effort anymore.

Therefore, this trip to Lake Powell, i didn't sit back and watch everyone else...I got off my rear and i water skied, wake boarded, went on this scary tube (where i seriously thought i would die!). It felt so good!!

And why i am on my soap box - i will continue to say that i really want to start accomplishing things that i have always wanted to do. I think life is so short and i always think- oh, I'll do that later. Once again, i think part of it is i am lazy. So, for example - i had my mom show me how to make pie crusts today (one thing I've wanted to learn) and i really want to learn to make homemade rolls/bread soon as well. One day my mom won't be around (hopefully she'll be here for many, many more year to come) but i need to take advantage of the here and now and learn those things that i have always wanted to learn.

I need to make a bucket list and post it on my blog so that i get moving on some goals (little and big goals).

If you can zoom in on this picture above, my leg is the one flying through the air on the left. It was seriously SO scary!!

Rod- Sheri-Brynna- Ashton

Cute Coen...one year old now

Mommy and Ashy

Seni doesn't like her life jacket much...but she put up with it.

My brother Robb (who lives in Cali)...was smitten by Seneka

Piper discovered that the foot washing bucket was warmer than the lake...so she found her favorite spot!

Our goofball Ashton

Seneka's new tooth!

Seneka popped her first tooth yesterday. 7 months and 4 days old. My little woman is getting too big!! She bit my elbow and i felt something sharp...and that is when i realized it.
She was up all last night-i think some more are trying to break through. I'm hoping tonight is a better time for my little squirt (and for me!!!).

My Sweethearts

Seni loves to bend over in half and suck on her toes or if she is sitting in water, she bends over and puts her face directly in the water...the little stinker!

She is quite the gymnast!

Face Painting

One of our summer crazes this year has been face painting. A month or so ago we tried to go to an event downtown for Ashton to get his face painted. However, when we arrived, they wouldnt allow any more people in the line and Ashton was really dissapointed since that was really the only reason we went to the event. So, we went and bought some paint at the store to do our own!! It is something fun we occasionally do when I can't think of anything else to entertain him. And I have realized that i am quite the artist!! And Ashton even paints my face sometimes. I even painted all the kids faces for the July 24th parade! Maybe i should start charging??!!