Exciting time for Omini

This is a picture of Omini on his way to church. He was a little nervous and a lot excited because he was going to pass the sacrament for the first time. He did really well and did not mess up at all. He said that he prayed allot and that is what helped him.

UFC

I am not really into watching the UFC. It is one of those things where you don't want to watch but you can't look away. My best girl Monica and her husband are die hard fans and watch every fight. L decided to order this fight and we had a pretty good turn out. These are a few of the people that came. My little sister Summer gets as into them as the guys (kinda like me and football) We might make this a regular event. It was fun! 

Kya was on a train while we all slept

I love being a mommy for moments like this. Kya was putting the play make up on me that she received for Christmas when out of nowhere she says "Mommy, I went on the train last night!" I proceeded to ask her "What train?" She said "The Polar Express! Did you miss me?" I didn't realize that she was out and about while we all slept. I asked he if she was scared at all and she said "No. I had hot cocoa." I told her that next time I want to go. GOOD TIMES! Merry Christmas to us ALL! Remember why we have "Christ" in Christmas.

Dinner Party in Omini's honor

L and I regularly get together with the Mills and the Brents and do fun things. The Brents are in Georgia right now so they missed out on this one but we did invite Justine's father Brian and my sister Monica along with the Mills for a dinner party. It was reason to celebrate since Omini recieved the Aaronic priesthood yesterday. I am so grateful to have a husband that honors his priesthood and is worthy to bless my son with it as well. Rachel brought Mariah in a very similar dress as Zyan. They are so cute together!

Winter Fun

We have had a bit of snow out here in Eagle Mountain so the girls and I took advantage and went sledding yesterday. I only have a  picture of Kya because Zyan was bundled up in her Baby Bjorn inside my jacket. It was fun. Even though I couldn't see Zyan's face I could hear her smiles as we would pick up speed. We went to the amphitheater in Eagle Mountain. Kya only relates to the amphitheater as to when we see Jericho Road in concert. Our good friend Abe Mills is in that group and Kya kept asking when Jackson, Jordan and Tyson (his kids) were going to get there.  One thing I love about the holidays is sledding and then drinking some hot cocoa.

Happy Birthday Omini

It is hard for me to believe that my baby boy is TWELVE!!!! Where have the years gone?!?!? I LOVE MY OMINI! He has taught me so much over the years. I am truly a stronger person because of him and I thank my Heavenly Father for him. He is special! He has the kindest heart and can be so helpful when he wants to be. He has a GREAT love for his baby sister Zyan and will be her protector all of her life. He is amazing at playing chess and can probably beat most people. It is always entertaining watching him play on his Xbox. He makes funny noises and tightens all of his muscles  when playing it (even his toes point in funny directions). One time he was so intensely involved in his game that his hand charlie horsed on him. Dezmon wanted to help him but found himself laughing instead. HAPPY BIRTHDAY OMINI! 

DADDY AND I LOVE YOU!

DAD

As most of you know, my dad left this life last week. I have made several attempts to post something but could never do it. I know that some people were not able to make his funeral so I will just leave it with the talk that I had the privilege to give.

I am lucky to say that I have one of the best Dads in the world!! He was the most generous, caring, sweet, loving man that I have known and probably ever will! He was a man that would not stand for injustice. Especially if someone was being picked on or mistreated. He taught me from a young age to defend the underdog. There were many occasion that he would bring a homeless person home or just someone in need. There were not cell phones back then so there was no time to prepare my mother as to who he might show up with. It just became somewhat of a norm in my family. I remember one time he had brought a homeless woman home after he saw her getting beat up in an alley. I remember studying her appearance. It looked as if she had not bathed in weeks or had combed her hair for even longer. My dad treated people in need like they were his best friends. There were many times that my dad would stop to help someone on the side of the road. One time on a road trip he back tracked a couple of hundred miles to take someone in need where they needed to go.

It was not uncommon for my dad to leave uplifting notes. He would include sweet flowers with smiley faces inside them.  One quality that I wish I had of my dad's was his green thumb. He loved to garden and would bring the most beautiful bouquet of flowers to me that he had picked from his own garden. He was also an amazing artist! All of the paintings that you see here were from his hands.

 The smell of home cooked bread always reminds me of him. One summer he had broken his leg and was home more than usual. He spent his  time filling the house with smells of homemade bread. He was a great baker always cooked the best chocolate chip cookies. He was also a talented crafts man. He would build us a tree house in every house we lived in.... in one house he even built us a two story tree house. He would take us camping and explore old mines and help us look for gold in the mountain streams (we never did find any). He was my basketball coach and not just mine but my sisters too. With as many children as he had, he found time for each of us. He even made special time for my children. Allot or the times we would go to his house, he would be painting. Omini would love to sit and watch him. My dad had a special canvas always ready for Omini so he could join in my dad's talent. My dad finally just asked me to leave some extra clothes for Omini so that when he was there he could paint to his hearts content. Dezmon remembers my dad throwing him high in the air as he did with all of us kids growing up.

My dad would also wander in what I have now named "Victorland". There were many times that L and I would see him driving down the road or find myself next to him at a red light. We would honk and honk and the boys would have their arms flailing out the windows yelling "Papa Papa". You could just see him in deep thought or peacefully enjoying the music that he was listening to. We would follow him for awhile unsuccessfully trying to get his attention. There was one time that Lindsey, Summer and I were in the living room and my dad was reading the paper. We asked him a question and he didn't answer. So we said Dad again but still no response. We started to figure that he could hear us but just didn't want to be bothered and wanted to enjoy the peace he was finding in whatever he was reading. But we tried again calling "dad?"  He just kept reading. So then we started in song Dad, dad, oh dad, we know you hear us dad. As we went on with song for about a minute, we realized that he had absolutely no idea that he was the topic of our new found song. We continued in our attempt to get his attention. Our song went on for several minutes and the longer it went on the funnier it became. By the time my dad looked up, Lindsey, Summer and I were on the floor, hysterically laughing. He said confusingly "what is so funny?" After raising so many children, especially a teenager like me, who could blame him for finding "Victorland".

 My dad gave the BEST hugs! Whenever he saw one of his children, he would never let the time pass without saying "I am so proud of you! Or you are such a good mother!" He would say it with such sincerity. How I took those words for granted! I look forward to hearing those words again.

 No matter how many mistakes I have made in my life, he never showed disappointment. My dad truly showed me the meaning of unconditional love!!! If you can take anything good from my Dad's passing.... PLEASE do not take your loved ones for granted. Tell them you love them regularly. Do not let petty things get in the way of your relationships, for they can be gone today and there might be so much that you wanted to say. I am not sad for my father. I am sad for me.... I am sad for all of you that will miss this great man.

I LOVE YOU DAD! THANK YOU FOR BEING MY DAD!

Kya and Zyan

Some of you may know that my sister Kristy is an amazing photographer. Here are just some of the photos she took of my girls =)

DIVA IN THE MAKING!

We went to Auntie Summer's today. She dressed up Zyan. SOOO cute she is!

Valerie

This day thirteen years ago was a hard day for me. My best friend Valerie died in a tragic car accident. I reflect back on the last thirteen years and see how much my life has change. There is not much left of the person I once was. Valerie was my best friend from when we were both wearing pig tails. Although we were eager to get rid of them and grow up too fast. All of my teenage years are memories of Valerie. Valerie loved animals and loved spending time with her kitties.  She could burp her ABC's and would have many burping contest with her 5 sisters. She loved to laugh and there was rarely a dull moment with her.  It makes me a little sad to see how life goes on and our loved ones that have passed just become memories. I am so happy for Valerie! I know she has progressed and has learned so much. I am sure that she has had a hand in my progression here on earth. I love you Valerie! Thank you for all of the GREAT memories! (these few songs were important to us)

Omini and President Monson

As some of you know, Omini has been spending time with his dad, Sam. Omini, Sam and his wife Sara were out to eat this morning and in walked President Monson. Omini said "Hi!" to him and President Monson wiggled his ears at Omini and said that he only does that for kids with yellow shirts =). What a blessing it is to live amongst a prophet!  I remember when I was a little girl, I met President Hinckley. He was one of the twelve apostles then. I never forgot the amazing feeling that I felt that day.

Some of might of already seen this but I thought I should still share it. My neighbor showed me this picture and was curious if Kya was the model for it. I absolutely LOVE this picture! The likeness couldn't be more like Kya. It even looks like she is standing on her tippy toes like Kya does. I love my babies! 

Happy Birthday Rachel

So yesterday was my good friend Rachel's birthday. Justine and I went and kidnapped her bright and early. Her husband Abe assisted by making her stay in bed (She is thought he was making her breakfast). We snuck through the garage and up stairs to wake her. She was fast asleep and Justine and I kept laughing cause she didn't wake up through all of the picture taking. We went out to eat at Kneaders.... Yummy! It was a lot of fun. I felt like a teenager again. I even thought about doing a Chinese fire drill ;) I took some pics of her but Justine has more on her blog. I just realize that Justine and I will be blogging allot of the same things since we do allot together. So if you want to know about my life and I haven't blogged for awhile, just check out Justine's blog. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACH!! LOVE YA! I can't figure out how to get multiple pictures yet (or how to add friends)..... so go to meetthebrents.blogspot and Justine has a bunch.

Kya's Birthday

So it was Kya's birthday on Saturday and my little girl is now 4! How time flies. We had a good time and some of us adults were able to be kids again! The Brents, minus Josh (had to work), and the Mills came. A couple of family members showed up as well. L and I are lucky to have such good friends! They are like family to us.