Kidz Art 2008-2009 School Year

Jared, Julia and Rachel took Kidz Art classes this year, here are some of their favorite projects.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Recital 2009

Rachel was being such a goofy ham in this picture right before we left for the recital. She was giggly, excited and nervous and then she strikes this pose and says, "Take a picture of me Mom and post it on your blog". (I've created a cute little blog monster!)

Make a Smilebox postcard

"If I didn't have to sing, I could worry about nothing!!
"That was the most nerverackingest thing ever!!!
Julia Maughan
We are soooo proud of Julia for getting up in front of everyone and singing. A little over a year ago she started voice, she could barely carry a tune, (she takes after her Mom), so I thought with lessons she would be able to have confidence in singing by the time she entered Young Womens, (she turns 12 in Jan). She has made such a huge improvement and loves to sing now, although she said she would rather leave the solos to someone else.

Rachel loves, loves, loves to play the piano; I can hardly keep her off it! Her little tummy hurt she was so nervous but she did wonderful. The second song is called Clown, it always sounds to me like she is messing up but that is just suppose to be the clown being funny.

Julia's Piano- She practiced until she really knew her songs, she said, "This was the easy part!" (Rachel is such a crack-up with her "Itchy Attack" in the bottom left corner during the second half of the second song:)

My favorite part of her performance is when she gets to the end of "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" and she gets that sweet little smile because she is going to give Sheldon a kiss at the end of her song. She had been telling him all week he was going to get a "surprise" at her recital.

The Baby is the Lesson

I had a true light bulb moment about 13 years ago when I first read this article; it really helped me to try harder to be a more patient mother than I ever was before I read it. I've re-read it several times over the years and it always makes me want to try harder to be a better mother for my children.
http://www.schoolofabraham.com/babylesson.htm

Memorial Day 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Barbeque with Vickie and Dad

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had a fun day with Vickie and Dad today. They brought me over a beautiful buffet for my dining room and brought over food for a barbeque too. The kids had so much fun playing with Cody their doggy. Thanks Dad and Vickie, come again soon!

Sacramento Zoo With Korie Ward

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Brandon Comes For A Swim

Make a Smilebox postcard

Rachel just recently learned to swim without any floaties on and now she is even jumping off the diving platform!


David and Rachel had so much fun swimming with Brandon.

Choosing the Right Feels Wonderful

Rachel just loves make-up, I often find her with me as I am sitting at my vanity putting on makeup, she waits until I put lipstick on and then she wants a "lipstick kiss". The last few months she has been having problems staying out of my makeup...she just can't seem to resist putting on a little lipstick and especially brushing on some blush. It's kind of funny how surprised she seems when I can see what she's been doing and she gets in trouble. We have had many conversations about "Choosing the Right", not stealing and being honest. She was so proud of herself when she came downstairs this morning and told me that she really wanted to play in my makeup but she choosed the right instead.

Pimple Mystery

Jared came into the office today and asked me to look at some "bumps" on his forehead...
Jared: "What are these things on my forehead?"
Mom: "Those are pimples Jared, wash your face more"
Jared: "No Way!"
Then I had him sit down and asked him if I could take a picture...little did he know I turned the movie feature on my camera on-tee hee hee

In the last six months,(He turned 13 in Feb), Jared's voice has deepened, there is a peach fuzz mustache on his lip and I can barely keep him in clothes and shoes he is growing so fast. I know it is the reoccurring theme on this blog but all my babies are growing up way too fast!!!

Amanda Baby Favorites

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Amanda Lynn Maughan born May 23, 1986

This is my first baby girl, Amanda with her little sister Rachel. We talked on the phone today and she was lamenting the fact that she was going to be 23 on her upcoming birthday. "It feels like I just graduated from high school!". (This picture is from just about that time). She is just 2months old in these pictures and I remember it like it was yesterday. Her hair was all fluffy from just taking a bath, my Dad had come for a visit and took these pictures of us.

I was showing my Dad how strong she was pulling up.

I had kissed her neck a little bit and she started giggling.

She laughed and laughed while I kissed her neck...I can still smell that yummy baby magic lotion smell.

Enjoy your babies while they are little...they grow up fast.

Pretty Julia

Julia is getting so very pretty...She has finished most of her 5th grade school and is done studying for the star test so on hot days she has been swimming and reading. She just got done with the InkHeart Trilogy and loved it. Now if she could just get along with Jared better life would be good.

Strawberry Boy Spring 2007

When we were trying to sell our house in PineGrove the summer of 2007, we stayed at my Mom's to keep our house show ready at all times. One of my favorite memories of that time is sitting in my Mom's side yard in the relative cool of the early morning time, talking to my Mom while David went through my earthbox filled with strawberries getting a morning snack.

He would push the leaves around looking for a bright red strawberry and get so excited when he would find one.

He wasn't quite two yet, those little legs are so adorable.

He would run up and down the side walk in between strawberry hunting.

My sweet brown eyed baby.

See David Run!

Mothers Day 2009

My oldest son Brandon came over on Mother's Day and had dinner with us. He got me a tripod for my camera, we took this picture together to put in the picture frame he made me, (with a lot of help from my sweet daughter-in-law, Cami).

Brandon made me an awesone card for Mother's Day... The inside of the card read: Everybody has alway told me what an amazing mother you are. But I never needed them to tell me; I already know. I am so proud to call you my Mother. Happy Mother's Day Mommy! I love you! Love, Brandon.

You did good Brandon, I really loved all of my Mother's Day presents!!!

We left for a weeks vacation Friday, May 1st. We have never left our kids for more than a weekend. Saturday, May 2, we went to Universal Studios and had a really fun day.

Sheldon built me a castle at La Cabrillo State beach, near Malibu on our way to Long Beach. Our Mexican Cruise left from Long Beach on Monday. The Cruise stopped at Catalina but because of the Swine Flu did not stop at Ensenada. I was so ready for the cruise to be over by Friday morning when we got off the ship.

Catalina Island with our cruise ship "Paradise" in the background. Our only "excursion" was going on a submerine submersible, it was fun to see all the fish feed.

This picture was taken at Universal Studios on Sat, when Sheldon saw this picture he said, "You should put All the Wrong Stuff for the caption if you post that on your blog", too funny!

I feel kind of pathetic but I missed my kids so much by Monday when we were boarding the cruise I was already ready to come home. It was nice though to take a break from laundry, cooking, cleaning and whining.

This picture is the only one I could find of Grandma and Sabrina together. Remember when you two came up to our Pine Grove house and Sheldon made you a Prime Rib birthday dinner?

This is a letter my sister-in-law Sabrina wrote her Mom this Mother's Day...I 've been so blessed in the wonderful woman who is the mother of my husband.

Lessons I learned from my mom

Today is Mother’s Day and I sat in church, I listened as the speaker talked about some of the lessons he had learned from his mother. I thought it was sweet and insightful to hear a grown man acknowledge how much his life had been shaped by his mother. I couldn’t help thinking of you, my own dear mom, and some of the lessons I have learned from you. Some lessons have been taught with words, some with actions, but all have been taught with the heart.

One of the qualities I love about you most is your compassion. You have compassion for anyone around you – whether it is for one of your own children or a stranger you have read about in the paper. You truly care about others and it hurts you to see anyone hurt or struggle. You are kind. You try to lift others’ burdens with your time, phone calls, visits, errands, or dropping by a meal.

You have always been a great listener (even after you lost your hearing!J). I can tell you anything -- about a funny thing my kids did or my agony over my latest frustration. You take it all in without judgment. You call me often -- sometimes just to check in and sometimes to find out how I’m really doing.

You always offer a soft place to land. No wonder I always feel better when I walk through your front door. I know that no matter what, you will offer peace, support, and unconditional love. No wonder your home and your life have always been filled with so many family and friends.

You have, of course, taught me about the value of money. You are forever finding the best deals in town, whether it is the10 cent toy, the free refills, or the after Christmas clearance. I have told you that you are sometimes frustrating to shop for, knowing you can find almost anything for half the price. But joking aside, I know it is because you have sacrificed and worked hard for every penny that you handle it so carefully. You have taught me to stretch a dollar much farther than it would normally go.

You have taught me to have lasting values. You have taught me that there is nothing more important than God and family. You have taught me that your faith was stronger than your fear as you left for a far away mission. You have taught me with your life that you love the Lord and want to return to Him someday. You have taught me to endure, even when I want to give up and give in. And during one of my most trying times, you put your arms around me and reminded me that my Savior knew and understood my troubled heart and that I was not alone.

You have taught me that a mother’s love never runs out, even when her kids grow up. You acknowledge that being a mother is one of the hardest jobs ever, and that it is okay to have days when the kids are driving me crazy. You also remind me how sweet and fleeting motherhood is and that even though it is one of the hardest jobs, it can also be the most rewarding. You have reminded me to sit still and enjoy a sleeping baby on my chest, instead of worrying about everything else I need to do. You have taught me to appreciate the sweet and tender moments with my kids. Because of you I take more time for the simple things– like taking a walk to collect flowers or cuddling up in a chair to read another storybook.

You have taught me that a grandma can never have too many grandkids in her heart or on her lap. From you I have learned that no matter how large our family grows, each member is important and precious to you.

Because of you, I am a better person today. Thank you for teaching me so much about life and love, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.

I love you.

Love,
Sabrina