Sarah

My Sunny Funny Sarah... always smiling, always happy. She is butterflies and rainbows, fairytales and pixie dust. You will never meet such a sweet spirit, even if you live 1000 life times. Never will you see a child try as hard to succeed as she does, and never will you see one so desperate to please adults. Her entire being revolves around love; giving and receiving. She craves affection, and passes it out willingly to anyone in need.

Sarah lives by the mantra JOY: Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last!

She is always willing to serve others and constantly asks if I need her to do anything to help.

She is the 2nd oldest of my children and Rose's twin sister. Her compassion is at a level that even I have a difficult time comprehending sometimes. She took it upon herself to pardon our Thanksgiving turkey this year. "Dinner" is now happily living out the rest of his years on another farm.


She is extremely talented in art. Her specialty is anime and she has recently discovered that she is quite good with charcoal pencil as well. When I say talented, I don't just mean the "that's a pretty picture I'll hang it on my fridge" talented. She really is "you should do that for a living when you grow up" talented!

Aside from her passion for drawing there is only one other thing that Sarah lives for... animals. Sarah puts any other child that I have ever met to shame with the love and devotions she shows to ANY animal.She prefers the small ones like chinchillas and rabbits and cats. But she has run the gamut on pets and will take in ANY sick or injured animal that she can get her hands on!

She currently owns several Mini-Lop Rabits and breeds them for 4-H. She also cares for her 5 chinchillas and hopes to breed them soon.

Anyone who has the pleasure to meet this sweet girl is truly blessed. She is an inspiration to me. I have watched her fight for her life, and struggle with basic daily activities, always with a positive attitude. Her determination wins anyone's heart who takes the time to get to know her. I am honored that she is my daughter and hope that one day she grows to be the wife and mother she wants to be!

Rose and Sarah sing "Bubbly"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE AND SARAH!!!!!

I can't believe it!Rose and Sarah truned 11 on the 18th! We would have had these pictures up sooner but we were having a little trouble with the computer. Nanna went all out and bought party favors including little horns that I hapliy sent home with her! Yes, the kids loved them... they will love blowing on them just as much at Nana's house!


Abbie took Sarahs horn and wouldn't give it back! Sarah was very nice about the whole thing! I don't know why, but some how it's become a family tradition of ours for the birthday child to try to fight daddy for a bigger pice with the first cut. So that's what the laughing in the picture below is about.
Since the first cut /piece goes to the birthday boy/girl you can understand how motivated the kids get!!!! Their birthday party will be in July at Shanni's house but this gave all of us the oppurtunity to celibrate their special day with them!

Ammon earned his belt... Sarah earned a stripe

Here are my two Karate kids with their instructor (well one of them anyway)! She is amazing! The whole class is! She said that Sarah is the best in class at her block set. (I still don't know what that means though) Sarah earned her first blue strip by doing one "brave thing" each day this week! This normally constitutes running upstairs on her own (or with Lady) to put something away. But this after noon she braved the bathroom all by herself and took a shower with out any one else in there with her! She hasn't done that in over a year!
Ammon surprised us all by volunteering to demonstrate a few things! That is normally way out of his comfort zone. Thus he earned his belt. I must have seen them cheer for him and hi-five him 20 times during class.
I can not tell you what all this positive reinforcement is doing for these two!!!! It has been a long time since I have been so happy about an extra curricular activity! I can't wait to see what they learn next!!!

My Karate Kid!

(This is her PROUD face!)

Sarah decided that the Cello was not for her. She finished the semester and we are very proud of her for finishing it out even though it was challenging.
She's been talking about taking a martial arts class for years now and we have finally decided to allow her.
I actually found the gym that she goes to by searching for a gymnastics class for Malachi. When John and I went to tour the facility it was quiet and peaceful and we were the only two people besides a few students and the two owners. We eventually signed Chi up for a trial gymnastics class and Ammon, Sarah, and Gabie up for a trial karate class.
Well, when we got there last Thursday, the calm environment I expected was GONE! There were cheerleaders and gymnasts EVERY WHERE! It was like a three ring circus...only there were like 20 rings! As soon as I saw all the flips and tricks they were doing I knew what I was in for. They ALL wanted to try gymnastics! I was bummed, but I let them all go with the gymnastics classes.
About 15 minutes after they started I went up to the balcony area to watch... Ammon Malachi and Gabie seemed to be happy. (Malachi was thrilled!) Then I saw Sarah. She was happy too...Happily playing in the chalk! She was so distract by EVERYTHING that was going on I knew there was no way that class was going to keep her interest...let alone TEACH her something. That's when I had a very good Mommy moment.
I went down stars and asked the receptionist to pull Sarah out of the gymnastics class. I told Sarah that I wanted her to TRY the Karate class. She looked really disappointed and tried to get me to let her to stay in the gymnastics class. I told her that if she truly didn't like it I wouldn't make her take it and I would let her do gymnastics. Well, she got right in there and kicked and punched with the best of them. She was being high-fived and praised the entire time, and she had the biggest smile on her face I have seen in a long time.
I knew I had made the right decision when she walked out of the class, took one look at me, and said "KA-RA-TE!"
Chalk one up to "Mother knows best"! I truly hope that this will build her confidence and self esteem. She has already "earned" her belt. (They don't get the belt with the gee. The teacher makes a big deal about them getting it in front of the class.)
Ammon has also decided to take karate and has had his trial class. I hope things go well for both of them and they stick with it! I really think that this will help them both overcome their individual challenges and improve both of their strengths! I will get pictures of him in his gee when he gets it.

Where did my little kids go?

Just bragging...

The Girls have been learning about lines of motion for quite a while. They are both pretty talented in their drawing so John and I asked them to draw a picture for a friend of ours. Our only instructions to them were to take their time and use their imaginations.
Sarah chose to draw a waterfall scene. She drew a bear with a salmon jumping out of the river. There is also a a fox and an eagle.

Rose chose to do a forest. I wish you could see all the detail she put in the trunks. She used the shading techniques we learned about in art a couple of weeks ago too!
Truly, these picture do not do the drawings justice. They are beautiful!

Face book... a cold... and looking on the bright side!

First: I am now on face book. I don't know how to do ANYTHING yet except post comments. So, to all you people who are kidnapping me, pillow fighting me, and sending things to me... Um... Thanks?... I think... Unless I'm supposed to be upset because it's not a good thing... Then Stop!
:D!

Second: I am REALLY tired of being sick! So, I would like all of those weird scientist-type people that are trying to prove that all this COLD weather is proof of global WARMING... to cut it out, and focus on more important things... like a cure for the common cold!

Third: I was pretty grouchy yesterday, after grocery shopping for almost three hours and loading every thing into the van on my own then driving home in the cold, nasty, rain with Rose and Sarah. Sarah was trying to cheer me up.

Sarah: Well, at least it's natures car wash...
Me: (confused look)
Sarah: What? I was just trying to look on the bright side.
Me: Sarah, I'm sore, my hand is swollen (still recovering and all), it is cold! It is wet! I am tired. It is dark and rainy and dreary outside. There is no bright side!
Sarah: MOM you KNOW there is ALWAYS a bright side... seeee!
(I looked where she was pointing. In the the opposite lane of traffic... EVERY car had it's headlights on. I couldn't help but smile and all three of us broke out laughing!)

So take a little lesson from my Sarah..."There is ALWAYS a bright side!"

Fall Recital!

As Most of you know, the girls joined the Higley Unified School District Before School Orchestra this year! (Whoa what a mouth full!) Sarah is playing Cello and Rose is on the Violin! There are three different schools represented here.
This is their orchestra conductor and private teacher, "Mrs Jill".
I am so proud of the two of them they have really grown so much over the past few months...It's not easy getting up early enough to be at a class that starts at 7am!
Most of the kids were at Aunt Missy's house because I had my surgery the next day. Se we were able to just focus on them (and Abbie) the whole night. It was a rare occasion!
After the recital Nanna treated us all to dinner at Texas Roadhouse! The girls were so tired that they looked like they were about to fall asleep in their mashed potatoes! So, we took a rain check on desert and went back the following Saturday!
Congratulations Girls! You did a great job!

Happy Birthday!

My sweet darling BABIES are 10 now! I couldn't post this yesterday because we were so busy with their party and going swimming TWICE!

I can't believe how absolutely stunning these two are! Yesterday Daddy was dancing with Rose to the song 100 years and I just started bawling!

When I was younger I was told that I would most likely not have children. Then I lost our first baby... That was the saddest and most depressing time of my life. I truly believe that finding out 12 weeks later that I was 7 weeks pregnant is what SAVED MY LIFE!

These girls are so much more to me than my oldest children! In a way, I'll always think of them as the blessing I was granted for struggling through that time. While I know spouses are supposed to be best friends, I can honestly say that no other relationship can compare to the one I have with "The girls" (how I still refer to the even though I have three more girls!)

Sarah (above) is so beautiful! She is giggles and sunshine! She loves fairy tales (especially Peter Pan) and she is one of the most compassionate and loving people I know. No animal (or bug for that matter) will go unfed, uncared for, or unsheltered as long as Sarah has knowledge of it! Her compassion and love are equalled by her desire to please and obey! You will never meet a child who tries harder, loves deeper, or smiles sweeter than my Sarah Bear!

Rose is my all American girl! She is truly a joy in my life! She is equally as beautiful as her sister, and very quick witted! Always the first to crack a joke or tell a funny story, she can light up a room. She has a big interest in art and has truly stepped up her ability lately. She takes pride in accomplishing new things and loves learning! Being the oldest, she like for people to treat her like a little adult, but the truth is, she will always be my little Rosie Posie!

Both girls are accomplished sketch artists and their minds seem to be exploding with more and more information every day. I love the way they look at the world. They have an opinion on politics (probably because of my talk radio) that any conservative mother can be proud of! You should hear some of the comments they make while I'm listening to Glenn Beck! Today Sarah informed me that she loves the name Hillary, and that if she ever names a little girl Hillary, it WILL NOT be after Hillary Clinton.

Any way, I just wanted to get some of my thoughts out while I could so that years from now when I am crying because I've forgotten what it was like to have little ones I can look back and remember... their smiles... their faces... there giggles...and their antics!

Blogging Beauties!

I recently allowed my daughter Rose to start a blog. (let me know if you haven't received an invite yet and want one) Considering the fact that she is only nine I have been really surprised to see how well she has done. It helps with her writing and typing at the same time. She is able to express her feelings in a way that she has never done before.
Now that she has started getting replies and comments from people she is excited to write more! My Sarah has now caught on to the fact that this is fun and she is missing out. Sooo...She got a blog too! (let me know if you want an invite for that one too!)
Any way I am just so happy that both of my girls are journaling (in a way). It sure beats holding them to a table and using a traditional pen and paper! Instead of insisting that they have to write at least five sentences and having it take an hour. I am finding that I can limit them to 15 min of blogging time and expect a paragraph. I LOVE IT!
Keep up the good work girls! I love you!

Just Bragging!

I just wanted to take a moment to brag about my girls and how special they are! So just bare with me for a moment.

I am amazed every day at how close these two girls are. Yes, they are twins but I think it's so much more than that! I LOVE that they are such good FRIENDS!
I am amazed every day to see Rose be such a support to Sarah in dealing with her challenges. She is always there for her and willing to "teach" her the things a "little sister" should know. She loves to do Sarah's hair, when she allows her to. Rose is so talented in so many aspects of her life. She is so awesome with her drawing and is learning to cross stitch...which is going a little slow because of my time...or lack there of. Sarah is always so bubbly and giggly she is extremely giving and always looking for new friends. She is always thinking of some new pretending game and has a wild imagination!

Both of these girls are dying to learn to ride horses but we just haven't been able to make it happen yet. They have so many dreams and goals and I just know that neither of them will fail in life! I am so proud of my "big girls" I can't believe that they are half way to 18! It makes me puddle just thinking about it!