LIfe as I know it....

Well, I will not start with my usual "it has been a long time since I posted" sentence...OK, I guess I just did...;) BUT, that's ok. I am perfectly happy with this blog sitting here and waiting for my little thoughts for my sweet family and my friends! It has been a month, I can tell you that! I am not sure I have ever had one single month make me grow, love, appreciate, honor and simply SURVIVE...SO much!
Being a wife, a mom of 4 kids 5 and under and a child care provider to 14 children each day is challenging enough. Then, when you throw curve balls in, it can be hard to catch your breath. I will get on to the harder times of December, but first let me highlight some good. I never in a million years could have dreamed of a life like I live. A great husband, amazing children, family that goes out of their way to make my life easier, a career that I DREAMED of....SO many gifts I have been given from the Lord above! I sat a few days back overwhelmed with joy and happiness. Over the 8 years Jasper and I have been together, there has been a lot of rough water to swim through. Financial stress, unexpected gifts of pregnancy, watching family change/move, so many different things. As I sit here, I am overwhelmed with emotion of all of the aspects of our lives. However, it has been so, so blessed. I sat in line at Target with a very full cart of clothes, toys, candy and other gifts for children that I don't even know, and at that moment I felt such joy! For the first year in a few years, Jasper and I were able to buy several toys for "toys for tots" picked a child from the "angel tree" and are able to help with donations of food and such. Honestly, nothing makes me happier than pleasing others and giving to those who need so desperately to be shown love and compassion. I am told often to relax and care about myself a little, however, to me I would so much rather give to all around me. If I can make even just ONE child love Christmas and see the joy and magic in it that normally would not be seen in their eyes, I call that a blessing! I sometimes feel that God put me on this earth to continually make others happy because that is what makes me happy. I am so thankful that the Lord has given me opportunity to make others smile! I am a lucky, blessed lady and all the glory to God!
On to a tougher subject, right now my mother is in the fight of her life. Since Monday morning she has been in Renown Hospital in Reno Nevada in the ICU fighting for her life. What should have been a "minor case of pneumonia" is much worse because like me, my mother chooses to give to everyone else and take care of herself last. She let it get so severe at home, that it is now a life threatening case and she is not doing well. Since Sunday night when I found out she was sick, I have sat and let my mind eat at me. Why have I not been there more? Does my mom know I love her? Have I been the daughter I should be? Have I let her down? So many questions and fears. I arrived in Reno with my best friend by my side to support me Monday night, I looked at my mom and had to fight back tears over the condition I saw her in. This was my mother, the strongest woman I had ever known, broke down to the weakest state. I held it all in. However when I showed up at her house and walked in her room to clean up for my dad and help do laundry and etc. I broke down at the thought of loosing my mom. In the day to day it is so easy to get caught up in life and think that you can do it all yourself. I (along with my father, sister and brother) were quickly reminded of just how much we depend on my mother to be the glue of this family! She has held us together since long before our time and I can't imagine my father having to survive without her. I spoke to my father tonight and he told me that she looks a little better and that the doctors are beginning to see slight improvement!! I am so blown away that a woman that has never been sick a day in her life, has never smoked, drank or done anything wrong can be hit with something so bad, but here she is fighting for life....Tonight, I ask ALL that are willing, to please pray for her healing. My husband came up with a great point tonight...He thinks that God used my mothers illness to make our family and others realize her worth and to respect her, cherish her, honor her more....Is that the case? Maybe we will never know, however I know that it has made me realize how precious time is. I will spend each day hugging my children more, calling my mama more (Once she can talk again) spending time with loved ones and just being happy!! Life is SO SO SO short and can change in the blink of an eye, I am being shown that right now.....Please everyone that reads this, cherish your time, it is so fleeting and it is not a dress rehearsal, we can't get it back. Do your best! Love till it hurts, laugh instead of crying, dance in the rain and smile when it hurts! I know I shouldn't preach because this week has pushed me so hard that I feel like a piece of string about to break, BUT in all that, I have still processed it all and learned a great deal. Love your life and live it as you can. I know I will because, THIS IS MY LIFE! PS...I love you mom, and can't wait to see you better!!!

I'm BACKKKKKK;)

OK....I know I say it all the time BUT....I am BACK and ready to blog!!
Life has been a whirlwind of busy times, fun times, and exhausting times!! I feel like it took me 9 whole months of Caiden being around to finally catch my breath and have things on track! The past two months have been filled with so many fun memories and lots of busy times. I expanded the daycare and went from having 6-8 little people here to 13 sometimes 14 little ones each day! This also involved hiring a wonderful assistant that is my right hand girl and keeps me sane during our super busy days! I watched my sweet Peyton enjoy another soccer season in which I was also the team mom for my first time ever! I worked in the kindergarten classroom each Tuesday-It is one of my FAVORITE times of the week! I treasure watching my sweet angel in "her world" I spend 3 hours a week at three different dance classes! Peyton is FANTASTIC in her ballet class and has taken to jazz like a champ, and Reagan was MADE to be a ballerina! She is amazing and seems more like a 6 year old on her toes, not 3! I have watched Reagan blossom into a very intelligent preschooler. I have been enjoying listening to Jordyn link sentences together, identify shapes and colors and sing songs! I have also been soaking up every single second of Caiden's sweet little life! He has 3 teeth, almost 4, can pull to a standing and loves to say "mama"!!! Jasper has been super busy at his job and also with his business so he is around quite a bit less lately which is not fun, but we are so thankful for the way the Lord has provided for us! I really feel like I live the most amazing life ever! It is full of stress, chaos, messiness, loudness and most of all love! My children give me a reason to get up each day even when I don't want to, they can make me laugh and smile when I would rather cry! They complete me!
Lately I have really been having a struggle feeling "done" with pregnancy and babies...I was certain after four I would feel complete, but I think a part of me will always miss being pregnant and having new babies in the house! I really try to soak up every-single-little detail, milestone and event with my family so I can keep that memory in my heart! Every memory I make with them makes my heart smile! When I look at myself and how I continue to change with each month, week, heck even day, I am blown away at how much my children have changed me. I do not even feel like the same person I used to be. I see life so different and have really had to prioritize to make sure my time and my heart is where it belongs. As usual, I am a work in progress BUT...I am very confident that I am right where God wants me to be. So I will continue to grow, change and create memories with my sweet, sweet family! Boy am I thankful for them!

           I cherish memories like this!! Carving Caiden's FIRST pumpkin with him!!!

Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Pie with their best friend Tinkerbell!:)

                     Daddy and his little monster! Caiden was not a fan of his costume....

This is my world in a nutshell! I wouldn't know what to do without all of the wonderful children in my life! There are days my job is exhausting, BUT I am convinced that I have THE best job in the world!! I get to play and teach each day which was always my dream, and I get to do it while being the woman that raises up my own children! I love that they spend their first years with me!:) I am so blessed for this opportunity to live out my dream while including handfuls of other children in my life!!

A bunch of my daycare kiddos and my own during our Halloween Party! We had a blast!!

Reagan and her first ever BFF Kate! These girls have known each other since their sisters started preschool (They were age 1) I hope they will always be friends!!

Reagan's other BFF from Joyful Noise Preschool Brooke! These two took to each other on the first day of school and have been attached ever sense! I am so thankful for that because little Brooke's mommy has now become one of my friends! It's a 2 for 1!!:)

Here are Reagan, Brooke and their friend Mayson at Brooke's 3rd birthday party! Sweet princesses!

Here's Peyton owning the soccer field! I may be bias, BUT I think we have a major athlete on our hands!;)

       Two of Peyton's biggest cheerleaders always cheering her on at the sidelines!

This is what weekend mornings look like in our house! One big family cuddled up in a queen size bed!

              Last but not least....My family! A rare picture with ALL 6 of us in it!
These pictures are completely random BUT, it's just a few of my favorite memories of life lately! It's going so very fast and each day I pray for it to slow down! Until I find a freeze button, I will keep soaking it in and storing it in my mind and keeping it in my heart as best I can! There is something about the FALL season that just makes me so happy, so content and so thankful! Thankful for my family, great friends and for life!
I have so many more things to talk about, pictures to post, ideas and sanity savers to share, crafts to post and recipes everyone will love, BUT for tonight, I am off to prep for 12 little Indians to have a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving Feast tomorrow!! Blessings to you all and I would love to hear, what are YOU thankful for?

Where have I been....

As usual I have fallen quite behind on my blogging and actually as I type this I have other things to be working on/cleaning/baking/etc BUT, I figured I would take a few minutes to catch myself up.:) I once again felt like taking a blogging break because I felt like my blog had quickly become a springboard to help others with ideas instead of documenting memories for my sweets! So, for a few posts at least, I want to focus on memories made with my angels.:))
Lately I am blown away with my life and I can honestly say without a doubt, I have never felt so so so blessed and each day I thank God for all of the blessings He has given my family! Our health, our love for each other, a happy loving home, food on the table, financial security, friends that feel more like family and a chance to watch our beautiful children grow and thrive each day! I feel so very undeserving of it all but again, so thankful! I have kind of once again been in a different place the last few months. Just taking time to evaluate ME and what I need to do for ME. I have spent many hours making choices. Deciding what matters most, where I need to give more of my time, less of my time and making sure that the choices I make and the things I do are for no other reason than serving the Lord. I quickly get caught up in myself and make choices without using that old familiar question WWJD (What would Jesus do) I preach this to my children quite often but forget to use it myself. Forget to show grace when I don't think it's deserved even though the grace I have been shown is undeserved. Forget to keep my heart on what matters and forget to take time to just be. I have really been trying to give my family and my closest friends and God first and foremost, all of my time. It's hard as a working mom of four to do it all and be it all BUT I love love love my life and every aspect of it! I have surrounded myself with fantastic friends and family and positive people, I have expanded my business and poured my heart into it and I have spent countless hours trying to raise my children up with their hearts, eyes and minds always on God and bettering themselves for His glory!
As always this is just another rambling post heading in no direction really lol, but it's just my thoughts again. Reminding me where I am at in life right now, the season that I am in so that someday when my children look back and read this, they know what mommy was thinking! I pray that someday when my children are grown they are proud to have me as a mommy and have fond memories of spending each and everyday with me and thankful for all I have taught them! I just feel so very blessed right now that it makes me feel overcome with happiness and guilt for all God has blessed me with! I want my children to see this and know, WOW, we really have made mom's life full!
On to a few quick shots of life in our chaotic home!:)

They really love each other...like REALLY a lot! Peyton makes Caiden smile like no other can!

Reagan was the VIP at school and got to bring home Clifford! She was so excited because she had watched sister get to do this for the last two years when she was at JNNS.

Our lean, mean crawling machine! Caiden will only crawl army style but man he's fast and gets into EVERYTHING!!

Our kids rarely get junk food and man you can tell. When I let Jordyn go crazy on a bag of chips....this is how she looked. I think the chips kicked her butt!;) The smiles were worth the bad food I let her have!;)

I let Mr. Man take a bath in the kitchen sink and man did he think it was cool!:))

I ran my first 5k! It was a great time with the Raintree Carwash team for Pink October and I finished in under 27 minutes which was great for me!

We also have spent a few days having fun at Bishops Pumpkin Farm! We LOVE it there and spend a lot of time there in the fall! It is definitely one of our favorite places to be! I will post more on that later!:)

So, we have had a lot of fun time just being a family and fitting in all the other things to! I just expanded my daycare to large care and have been putting a TON of time into revamping my curriculum, schedule , our "sunshine room" and getting my help trained! It took me a while to decide if I wanted to expand but once the time came God had settled my mind and I am so glad that I did!! I love my job and EVERYTHING about it! I am so blessed to get to play with kids all day!! We have also had soccer, 3 dance classes and a few other things going on each week so it keeps us busy and full of fun and life! Next up will be holiday fun filled with dance recitals and rainy cold cuddle at home days!! I can't wait!!:) Happy Fall everyone!! My favorite time of the year!!

Our little soccer star!

This year is Peyton's second year playing soccer and boy, the difference a year can make! The girl LOVES it and is doing amazing! She scored two games while playing her first game the other day! We were pretty proud parents! Her coach and assistant coach are amazing and really have a passion for the kids and the sport so I love watching them work with her! Here are some pictures from the game last weekend.

Peyton and her BFF Maddy

The team banner I had made

jumping jacks...so entertaining at this age!;)

High 5 from coach

Jordy having her own soccer game;)

THe 2 "2s" after the ball...guess they forgot they are on the same team.

Grandma Rose, one of our favorite ladies:)

Being taught about compassion by my 5 year old...

It's so often said that while we try to teach our children about life, they end up teaching us. This couldn't be more true for me yesterday. A short story (who am I kidding, all of my stories end up long) about my afternoon yesterday. It had as usual been a long, tiring day and I still had a mile of things left on my to do list and it was 5pm. Peyton had soccer practice and I really wanted to re energize so I stopped at Starbucks before her practice. I got my drink and Peyton's water and her and I drove off heading to practice. As we sat at the stop light, Peyton looked out the window and for the first time in her young, innocent life not only saw, but became deeply intrigued by a man sitting on the side of the road. The man was dirty, holding a sign that read "Please, Please Help" and had such a sad look on his face. Then I could see the wheels turning as she looked out the window and continued to watch the man. Then she asked... "Mommy, why is he sitting there?" I explained that he was asking for help because he did not have a home or any food or money. Peyton became devastated by this and told me, "Well mommy, that's sad" I am not sure what it was about this particular time as we have seen homeless individuals in the past and I have tried to explain how we can help. This time though, it really got to her. She then told me that she had a great idea and knew what God would want us to do. She asked me to go back, pick the man up and let him live with us so he would have a home and food like us. I wanted to cry because I didn't know how to explain that I couldn't do that. I then said "well Peyton, we can't do that but maybe one day when we have time, we can pack him up some food and small things and bring it to him"... She had an even better idea. At Joyful Noise Nursery School, each year the children bring in canned food to take to the food pantry at St. Andrews Church. I never knew how much Peyton thought about it and what a gift those teachers had given her by teaching her about kindness and giving to the less fortunate. She told me that we needed to go home and get together a bunch of food and take it to Joyful Noise so they could take it to this man. I was touched beyond words and realized even more what a kind, compassionate, loving, giving child of God my daughter is. I have no doubt that He put her on this earth to teach others kindness and compassion as she taught me yesterday.
As we drove off, I promised Peyton that we would put together a care package for the church and also put together some little goody bags for any local homeless we come across. I would love to start serving in this way and teach my children that we are all equal and to show kindness, compassion and mercy the same way God has for us. Recently Jasper lost a lifelong friend and this friend had spent a lot of years trying to help the homeless and show them God's light. I would love for Jasper and I to kind of "pay it forward" so to speak and continue that work in honor of him and to show his parents that his memory and compassion lives on. On another side of that, I was so very, very disappointed in myself at that moment because the thought went through my head to turn around, hit the grocery store and grab this man some food. I however selfishly with my Starbucks in hand, worried that Peyton would be late for practice and drove right on by. As God spoke to me and gave me the perfect opportunity to teach my child, I selfishly denied it and drove right past. Ended up being 5 minutes early for practice to. My moral of this story is to remind you that we always have little ones watching us and learning from us. We need to set a good example and teach our children about kindness, compassion and mercy. Raise our children up with God in their hearts and teach them to follow their hearts and to help. To serve and to love. I can promise that I have made it my mission to become more compassionate and to start serving in this aspect as my daughter reminded me how easy it is.Through her young eyes and in her mind, she considers us all to be equal and thinks we should all have God's love, blessings, food, water, a house....If only the rest of us got that bigger picture! I hope to be more like my five year old in the future.

A quick sanity saver I love!

As usual...I have not been giving any of my secret tips on staying sane and organized....That's because I have been busy saving my own sanity, bahahaha! Anyways here is a quick tip I use that people think I am crazy for!:)

ONE HAMPER IN OUR WHOLE HOUSE....
Yes, ONE hamper for a family of SIX! I have done it this way since Peyton was born, and I will never stop doing it that way. Here is my reasoning...When you have several hampers in your home, it is way too easy to let it pile up, or sit in the dryer or just be lazy and hide the hamper in the closet. By having one, each day it ends up full in the morning and full in the evening. So, I simply start a load in the morning, and I start one in the evening. The girls know that as they undress for tubby each night, they put there clothes right into the open washer and then I start it once every one's clothes are in it. They do not understand sorting colors so if there is whites I remove them. However, I am not a picky person about most colors and I know some people are finicky with clothes but guess what, I put all of our colors together and our clothes are just as vibrant.:) A lot of my Friends complain about the piles and piles of laundry they have but really, if you do it each day, it takes 2 minutes to get the washer going, two minutes to switch it to a dryer, 45 minutes to dry if you don't hang dry them and 10 minutes to fold. I put the pile on my bed and if I get time at nap I do it in 10 minutes or I wait till late evening and hang out watching a good show and folding.:)
So again, it sounds weird but I HATE hampers (I know, hate is a strong word) but I think hampers are just one of those things like baskets people put around there house, they just cause us to clutter and ignore it! I am a very busy mom of 4 kids 5 and under that runs a daycare, helps in a classroom, is the soccer team mom, has several workshops each month, runs often at night, refuses to let my family not have home cooked meals and if I can do it, so can anyone:) Happy folding everyone and I am telling you, try it for a week or 2 and you will never use your hampers again! Even if you work outside of the home, pop it in the wash when you wake up, switch it to the dryer before you leave, fold when you get home as dinner simmers and you chat with your kids! Easy enough:)

A Wacky Tacky good time:)

Reagan and Jordyn-
We had your birthday party at Wacky Tacky this year and boy was it fun!! We LOVED it and will definitely go back in the future! Not too many people could come because of other plans, sports and so on, but we didn't let that stop us from having a great time with our friends and family that could make it! I love that you guys are less than a year apart and actually liked sharing your party!:)) It made my life a little less chaotic than having two parties!;) Here are some pictures of your party!

You girls ready to head in and party with your cousin Kendall and 2 of your bff's Hannah and Morgan!

Mommy had such a blast! I think maybe more fun than you guys!;) I love having an excuse to act like a kid:)

                                                        Daddy likes to be a big kid too:))

                                         Cousins! Reagan was very excited to have Kendall there!

                                Caiden finally meeting his Great Grandma Ortiz! 4 generations:)

                    Jordyn and her favorite boyfriend Timmy!! These two are quite the lovers!

They created an adorable little video of the party as we played, and then they played it while we ate! It was so awesome and sweet and a great keepsake to have forever!!

It was a fun, fun day and we had so much joy as we watched you girls play and enjoy yourselves! These are the moments I live for! The moments when we are together as a family. Making simple yet lasting memories!
Happy 3rd Birthday Reagan and Happy 2nd Birthday Jordyn! We love you girls!:)

Reagan's First Day of Preschool

It seems like my life is passing by me in the blink of an eye. I can't say enough how much I wish I could slow time down. My babies are growing WAY too quick and although I love each new experience I am blessed with with them, I secretly wish I could freeze time and keep them little forever. It's hard to let go, it's hard to move to the next phase and it's hard to not be the only decision maker in your child's life. In one month I first watched my first born start kindergarten and now, my sweet little Reagan has begun her journey in preschool. It was a TOUGH day for me, super tough. I know it sounds silly, but from the time Reagan was born, she has ALWAYS been with me. Peyton is my only child that in the beginning was in child care. Reagan, Jordyn and Caiden have always been with mama, and that's the way I like it! So it was tough to walk out that door!
Reagan, you of course were happy as could be and told me m"mommy, I don't want you to stay"...It made me happy that you wanted me to go but sad that you were ok without me!;) We walked in, found your name, found a station and you were well on your way to being a big preschooler! These first few weeks of school you have done great! You have had a few sad times, but mainly GREAT times! It's been amazing to watch you grow baby girl and I know you will do great at Joyful Noise Nursery School just like Peyton did! I could not be leaving you in better hands!!

                                             Big hugs for Mrs. Davis-You just love your teachers!

                                       Finding her name. This is such a great activity because it really does help them learn and recognize their name and the letters in it! Peyton picked this up so well and they also move on to address and phone numbers in the afternoon class! That's how Peyton finally learned our address:)

Reagan and Mrs. Graham. Reagan felt so special because "sissy's" teachers, were now her teachers!:)

           Me and my sweet little princess....I am glad I could smile because I wanted to cry.:(
So.....It came and went and I am now the mom of a kindergartner and a preschooler! There are good points and bad points of having all 4 kids so close in age. One bad point is that you move to the next phase with each way too soon like an assembly line!;) However, it looks like it's not going to slow down anytime soon, so I am just going to embrace it and keep freezing these moments in my mind so I can remember my sweet little angels this way as they grow!