ARRINGTONS

Brooklyn and the peach...

2010-08-21T09:27:00.003-07:00

So last night Justin was gone at the D backs game and I decided to order in pizza for the kids. I got the kids all set up at the table with what they wanted to eat and then...out of mommy guilt cut up a peach and gave each of them a slice to feel like I was at least giving them SOMETHING healthy with dinner. Brooklyn was resistant to eating the peach. I kept asking her to eat it anyway and she was not interested. I said "Brooklyn, do I need to show you pictures of the starving children in Ethiopia again?" (which I have done once when they were about 4 years old). She said "Yes!" with a smirk, thinking that would give her an out of being at the table and having to eat her food. I pulled up some pictures on the computer and then put on a slide show I found. About 2 pictures went by before she said "I'll eat the peach mom", in a humble tone. I said "Wait, I want you to see a few more. These children don't have any food to eat and would LOVE to eat a peach." A few more pics went by and she said emphatically "I'll eat the peach mom! I'll eat the peach! Just turn it off!"
Point made! ummm except by the time I noticed after dinner...her peach was on the table...NOT eaten.

The Arrington's

Lincoln Logs

2010-06-09T12:57:00.003-07:00

Lincoln is 2 years old now! He is so smart for his age. The pediatrician said he is functioning much at a 3 year old level. He speaks in complete sentences. He can ride a 2 wheel razor scooter as well as Tyson. He can grasp his crayon or pencil like a 1st grader and has a focused attention span. He is so funny. He refers to himself as "lincoln logs". He refers to his cousin Shelby as "Shell-bones". Tyson is "Ty Guy". He was eating am muffin for breakfast and said "Mom, all done my muffin man" (do you know the muffin man, the muffin man...". He got a pirate eye patch at Makutus Island and wanted me to help him put it on "Mom, want wear my ARRRGH." HIs light saber is called his "hi-ya". I am completely head over heels for this naughty but brilliant 2 year old!

Brooklyn the CHEF

2009-12-16T15:17:00.002-07:00

Justin gave Brooklyn the go ahead to make him some lunch and bring it to him in bed...this is what she did...

More...Halloween

2009-12-16T15:08:00.003-07:00

The Arrington's

Halloween

2009-12-16T15:03:00.002-07:00

The Arrington's

I have pretty kids! And a gorgeous hubby!

2009-11-23T20:27:00.003-07:00

Beautiful Family

Family Dance Break

2009-10-28T14:23:00.002-07:00

Brooklyn and Tyson are 5.5 Naya is 2.5 and Link 18 mo

Viva Las Vegas

2009-10-28T14:01:00.003-07:00

For my 29th birthday, Justin completly suprised me and sent me on a plane to meet him in Vegas. He drove and met me at the airport. We stayed 2 nights at the MGM Signature. We saw "O". It was such a nice suprise. Justin..you rock!

Camping Trip

2009-10-06T15:25:00.002-07:00

We went up to scout out this spot for upcoming Arrington family reunion with Papa, Grandma Pam and Christian. Adam and Patti and crew came up the next day.

End of Summer 2009

2009-10-06T15:23:00.001-07:00

1st D-Backs Game

2009-10-06T15:18:00.001-07:00

Justin took Brook and Ty to their first Diamondbacks game. They had a blast!

Tooth Fairy

2009-10-06T15:15:00.002-07:00

Brooklyn and Tyson lost their 1st tooth on the SAME DAY! It was a bottom tooth for both of them. I think Justin's magic fingers helped the situation along so that they both came out on the same day.

1st Day of Kindergarten

2009-10-06T15:11:00.002-07:00

Brooklyn and Tyson were so excited for this day! They weren't scared at all and LOVE school.

Boys Trip to Utah

2009-10-06T15:06:00.002-07:00

Over the 4th of July, Justin took Tyson to Utah for a visit. It was mostly for cousin Jacob's baptism.

How Beautiful My Boys!?

2009-10-06T15:00:00.005-07:00

I am so grateful to be mother to these boys! I'll admitt I wasn't always so sure I would know what to do with a "boy". I helped raise my little sisters and was very comfortable with the idea of girls. Now that I have my boys, I am so happy for that special connection that we share. They are both "mama's boys" and they have changed me.

Insight from a 5 year old

2009-09-09T08:56:00.001-07:00

Asked my kindergarteners if they heard President Obama speak yesterday (as he did a controversial broadcast into the schools). They said yes! I asked if they remembered what he said. Tyson (5 years old mind you) said "UMM...HE SAID HE WOULD SAVE THE EARF (earth)." Guess 5 year olds understand motives better than I thought!

London + Brooklyn

2009-08-31T10:18:00.007-07:00

Brooklyn's friend named London had a runway fashion birthday party. Elena (London's mom) went ALL out. There was make up, hair, peds, dress ups and a REAL Runway...that she built. I love what an ecclectic dresser Brooklyn is.

The Testaments

2009-08-24T11:11:00.003-07:00

For a couple weeks we have been wanting to watch that movie with the kids. Its the one that used to be at the Joseph Smith center in Salt Lake. It tells the story of Christ's life here in earth on Jeruselum and of the people in America that were watching for the signs and waiting for him to come to visit them. I LOVE that movie. I'll admitt it was a little frustrating trying to enjoy it with Lincoln climbing on every piece of furniture and Tyson getting bored and needing a drink and "seat hopping". I started to feel like it was a bad idea to watch it with the kids.

Funny though...Justin kept trying to explain things to Brooklyn who was sitting on his lap and she kept "shush"-ing him because she was really into it and trying to watch. At one point in the movie, a girl has been converted to believing in the Savior and His coming and she says"Have you never felt the stirring within your heart of these truths?" At which point Brooklyn whispered "that is the Holy Ghost. "At the end, the Savior does come to visit the people in the Americas and the central character who had been waiting his whole life to see Christ and was one of the few who still believed...had been made blind when his city was destroyed upon Christ's death on the cross. His son ran to get him and say that Christ had come. Ultimatley, The Savior stood in front of the now blind believer and heals him allowing him to finally see Jesus's face whom he had waited all his life to gaze upon. The spirit was so incredibly strong.

When the movie was over, we talked briefly about what had happened and how we all felt. Justin asked Tyson what he thought about the end of the movie and Tyson said touching his heart "I felt warm in my heart and my eyes kinda got watery." This came from my sweet little 5 year old boy who I would never have guessed could take the time to understand, feel or describe the feeling of the Holy Ghost. I was so grateful to realize how important it is to have the spirit in our homes and the impact that can have on even our small children. Hopefully, those are moments that add to a lifetime of faith.

LPM Recital

2009-06-04T19:31:00.004-07:00

Brooklyn's 1st Let's Play Music Recital

Head Shot

2009-06-04T12:46:00.003-07:00

I decided to try our for Hale Theater's Beauty and the Beast. I realized that I no longer had a head shot. So...I painted my face, clipped in hair extensions and then took this photo of myself holding the camera out front. Not too bad! But....not good enough I suppose because I didn't get the part :-( I would say maybe next time, but I am getting too old for cetain parts plus I kinda have kids so...probably NOT a next time. It stings a little,but I decided looking into my babies smiling faces is better than any rush I get from the stage. There is a time and a season for everything

Brooklyn & Tyson...isms

2009-06-04T12:38:00.002-07:00

Papa and Pam were over to visit the kids. I said to Brooklyn "Look at Papa, doesn't he look so much like daddy?" and Tyson chimmed in "Ya! Papa looks OLD." Right in front of him! Pam and I busted up and I am pretty sure Mike (aka Papa)turned a couple shades of red.

I came in from swimming with the kids and was admiring Naya's gorgeous skin. I said "Naya, look how much darker your skin is than mommy's!" Brooklyn added "Ya, Naya's skin looks like Barack Obama and Dora the Explorer." Yes Brooklyn knows who Barack Obama is!

CARIBBEAN BABY!

2009-05-03T12:53:00.005-07:00

It seems we spent most the trip at that table...EATING and EATING and...EATING! We had some minor language barriers and MAY have offended our wait staff more than once. Good times. ATLANTIS was our favorite day..and last port! We are sooo going back with the kids. I don't have pics of the greatest parts there, but I highly recommend it for a family vacation. In Tortola, the boys scuba'd again and we walked around for a bit and then took a taxi to a completely private cove. There were mounds of sea shells to choose from for the kids. That is a picture of my feet looking out over the sea. Puerto Rico...and the attack of the pigeons! St.Thomas Justin and Craig scuba'd and we shopped! I bought my first "knock off" Coach purse!

Baby Bath Time

2009-04-19T18:23:00.001-07:00

Matchy Matchy

2009-04-19T18:22:00.002-07:00

Lori was so nice to get Brooklyn a matching outfit like Amelia's!

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-19T18:18:00.002-07:00

Easter Morning 2009

2009-04-19T17:20:00.003-07:00

This year we celebrated Easter Sunday with Lincoln...who at this time last year we didn't even know existed! It was a lovely day. A sweet lady in our ward shared in Primary about how her testimony of the atonement was strengthened recently. Her sweet little baby boy passed away suddenly in his sleep 2 months ago. But she spoke with such conviction and clarity that she knew that because of the atonement she would get to be with her baby boy again. She is so strong in the face of adversity. I too am so grateful for my brother Jesus Christ. I am grateful that he understands all pain and suffering. I am grateful that because he was resurrected, we too can have eternal life and live with our Father...and family again!

Hooray for motherhood!

2009-04-09T13:37:00.004-07:00

Today I had one of those experiences that I want to look back and read about in 20 years when I "miss how little they used to be" and remind myself that...it is better that they are grown!

In preparation for our upcoming cruise, I took all kids to the mall today to attempt to buy a dress. Then (as it ALWAYS happens)Brook and Ty had to go potty. I was frustrated and Brooklyn reminded me "You should have told us to go at home!" My bad. I made them hold it while I picked out 5 dresses. Then I took everyone in the bathroom with me and I tried on 5 dresses while Lincoln screamed the whole time like I was killing him!(yes he is recovering from fever, ear infection and roseola...but by golly I needed to shop.) Then my Naya got ahold of my lipgloss and was painting her face with it..so when I took it away she was crying too! Then Tyson was running around like a bug on speed as I walked through the store to buy a dress and Lincoln continued to sernade everyone. There were some smirks from passerbyers and a few dirty looks in my direction. Next I picked Lincoln up, put him on one hip and pushed the double stroller with one hand while Brooklyn held the side and Tyson continued to find "short cuts" and run away. We stood in line for some lunch but then Lincoln started crying again in my arms and Tyson was bothering the nice lady next to us who happens to be in our ward. In conclusion, instead of lunch and playing....I ended up leaving the mall! I got a really cute dress though. Yea for motherhood!

Naya 2nd Birthday

2009-04-07T16:21:00.003-07:00

It was a last minute shin-dig and EVERYONE made it. It was a great party. We are so grateful to have our family and friends so close.

Friends

2009-04-07T16:18:00.002-07:00

AHHHH! To be 5 years old again where the hardest decision of the day was what game to play next. Endless imagination and pure innocence. Here is Brooklyns with her 2 BFF's...Auntie Lexi and neighbor Amelia

Brooklyn's Twin

2009-04-07T16:16:00.001-07:00

Please Stand For The Pledge!

2009-04-07T16:09:00.002-07:00

Lover..not a fighter

2009-03-30T21:59:00.002-07:00

I don't know if I am alone in this, but as soon as we get in the car...it's ON! Brooklyn and Tyson drive me nuts fighting in the car. The other day, Tyson took something Brooklyn wanted and she was throwing her famous pitching fit. I stayed out of it to see what would happen. I sometimes go to my "happy place" in the car. Then I heard Tyson say "Don't be sad Brooklyn. You're beautiful. Let's hold hands" I looked in the mirror and they were holding hands in the back seat. Then they talked it out. SO CUTE! Then this morning before school I put a new jacket on Tyson and I overheard Brooklyn say to Tyson "You look handsome in that jacket Ty." Man...it is those moments that keep me going.

Also...I don't want to forget. Naya is getting really good at talking. Some of my favorites are:
1. Tink Tchoo (thank you..she is very polite says it all the time)
2. cuse u piggy (excuse You Piggy ...if someone burps)
3. Bess u (bless you after a sneeze)
4. Cheapa (Pizza...her favorite)
5. I hungie (I'm hungry...also means thirsty)
6. lub boo (love you)
7 u fuh yee (you're funny)
8. Ginken (Lincoln)

Sweet PEE

2009-03-26T16:11:00.002-07:00

Today, we were getting ready to leave the house for a few hours to run some errands. Everytime we get ready to leave, we have Brook and Ty go to the potty. Well today, Tyson was arguing that he DID NOT NEED TO GO! Justin however, said, "Tyson, I really want you to go and get some pee pee out." Tyson was very upset and said, "Fine Dad...I will try! But, I am saying I DON"T HAVE TO PEE...if I am right and you are wrong...I am going to come back and give you a wooden spoon." (that is code for BIG SPANKIN)

Justin stood outside the bathroom door to see who would win. Tyson was all by himself in the bathroom and he said outloud as he was taking a leak, "HUH!!! How did daddy know...He's a GENIOUS!" He flushed the toilet and walked out and said to Justin..."DADDY...YOU ARE BRILLIANT."

He is such a SWEET PEE!

Learning to ride without training wheels

2009-03-25T23:17:00.001-07:00

It all started when one of Brooklyn's training wheels broke off. She had no choice but to learn to ride without them! She picked it up right away and Tyson was a day behind her. Then Amelia joined in the next day and caught on instantly! Another milestone down for B and T.

The Arrington's

Sweet Naya

2009-03-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Sweet Link

2009-03-25T23:11:00.001-07:00

This smile is SOOOOOO dang cute!

Lincoln's Cake

2009-03-25T22:58:00.002-07:00

The Arrington's

Lincoln's 1st Birthday

2009-03-25T22:52:00.002-07:00

You have NEVER witnessed such a mess made from a baby eating cake. I literally had to hose him down after!

Brooklyn's 5th Birthday

2009-03-25T22:46:00.002-07:00

Brooklyn and Amelia and Lexi went to Girly Girlz for a Diva Day Spa! They all got there hair, make up and nails done. Then we went to Oregenos for Dinner!

Ty's birthday celebration at home..the actual birth-day

2009-03-24T23:47:00.002-07:00

Brooklyn was helping him out with what he should wish for!

Tyson's 5th Birthday

2009-03-24T23:38:00.002-07:00

Tyson requested a party at Chuck E Cheese. Wish granted! He seemed to be quite embarrased by all the attention he got. He had a great time and his favorite present was a Ben 10 watch and Bakugon's.

BFF

2009-03-24T22:58:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn and Amelia became FAST friends from the day that we moved in to the Indigo Bay house. They are next door neighboors and spend hours and hours together everyday...if they can!

THE RING

2009-02-04T10:53:00.002-07:00

My 10 Year Anniversary Ring! (this is mostly for you Mandy :-)

FHE

2009-01-26T19:29:00.002-07:00

We were sitting down doing our sloppy version of FHE/scripture tonight. I asked the kids if they knew why it was important to read the scriptures. Tyson (who turned 5 last week and is not usually a man of many words) said...."because Jesus is coming to town!" CUTE

Exchange with Adam and Lexi...

2008-12-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

Girls got dress ups!

2008-12-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

The Arrington's

Christmas Morning

2008-12-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

New PJ's Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T23:20:00.000-07:00

Christmas Eve at Kellys

2008-12-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

The Arrington's

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

The kids acted out the Nativity Story. Link was baby Jesus. That busy boy lay perfectly still in the "manger" for 10 min...knawing on a carrot!

The Arrington's

Gingerbread Houses at MiMi's with AUNT Lexi and UNCLE Adam

2008-12-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

The Arrington's

Temple Lights with the Habermans

2008-12-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

The Arrington's

Was Lost, Was Found

2008-12-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

I just don't want to forget this. For our 10 year anniversary (as an early present), I was able to get a new wedding ring setting. I had wanted a new one for a few years. It took over 4 months, trips to every major jewlery chain in AZ to find the setting I thought I could love for the rest of time. I ended up going through a private Jewler (after Kay sent away my center stone to be set and it came back chipped and they took a month to replace it). After that the private jeweler set my diamond in a new setting..it came back with several BLACK carbon round side diamonds. Once that was fixed it came back with yellow gold prongs instead of white gold prongs which the rest of my ring had. Finally I got the ring and I LOVE it! I have had it for about a month now and realized it is a little too big and slides off pretty easy. I contacted the jewler a couple days ago to see about having it sized and was going to meet up with him this weekend. To the point...

I was driving all the kids to the mall today when I looked down at my left hand and realized my ring was gone! It fell off my finger without me noticing! I turned the car around and tried to remain calm. I went straight home to look for it. I had been ALL OVER the house this morning and outside. Before I went inside I asked Brooklyn to say a prayer that I would find it. She said the sweetest, sincere prayer that "mommy would find her ring because she loves it and that Jesus would help mommy to find it..." I had to find it for her sake now! I ran in the house and Katie (nanny) had already looked in the front room...nothing. I went and dumped out my make up bag..I searched my bed in case it fell off in the middle of the night..nothing. I checked the kitchen sink drain because I had dumped out the turtle's water this morning..nope. I remembered I had gone over to try to clean out the pool pump basket. I was looking in the gravel, the grass by the pool pump ( all the time praying for Heavenly Father to help me find it). Then I remembered that I had got something sticky on my hands from touching the pool pump and went in to wash my hands. My ring was so lose that when I washed my hands it could slip right off. I thought about when I dried my hands with a paper towel..maybe I pulled it off and threw it in the garbage in the paper towel. I yelled to Katie asking if she checked the garbage can. She hadn't, so we started pulling stuff out of the top and heard a CLUNK...there was my ring! It was in a paper towel in the garbage! I almost cried.

I ran out to the car and showed the kids and we all screamed together and then (even though Ty didn't want to) we said a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for answering Brooklyn's prayer. Thousands of dollars and a little girls testimony...saved!

Lincoln

2008-12-01T22:55:00.001-07:00

Lincoln cut 6 teeth within 2 weeks time when he was 8 months old. And he got caught in the diaper box...busy boy!

The Sealing

2008-11-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Justin Arrington was sealed to us in the Mesa, AZ Temple in November 2008. It was a welcomed end to a crazy year. It was so amazing to have all of our children with us in that sealing room. Seeing that sweet baby come in dressed in white. It really was a taste of Heaven to me. Adoption has been the ultimate blessing to our most intense trial of infertility. Grammie held Link over the alter. I don't think he cried much, but he was really intersted in being held by his mama and no one else. When Naya was sealed to us, I remember distinctly her peacefully participating and smiling up at the sealer as if she knew just what he was saying. I love my family.

National Adoption Day

2008-11-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

This was our 3rd adoption finalization that happened in November on National Adoption Day ...at the court house in Phoenix. We are officially a family of 6!

SISTERS

2008-11-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

Tyson the hair dresser

2008-11-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

You cant totally tell here, but Tyson has a spray bottle in his hand and a brush and is doing Brooks hair. shhhh! Don't tell

Naya discovered "dipping"

2008-11-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

Just another day of fun

2008-11-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

Ya...we kinda like him!

2008-11-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

Naya's 1st Ponytail

2008-11-14T23:07:00.000-07:00

Link Stages...

2008-11-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

Lincoln has been progressing a bit faster than Naya. Naya just started walking at 15 months. Link rolled tummy to back at 3 months. He rolled back to tummy at 4 months. He was rocking on all 4's at 5 months. He was falling forward to get around the room by 6 months by 6.5 months was full on crawling and sitting up by himself. He started pulling up at 7 months and is now a furniture "cruiser" at 8 months. OUR ADOPTION GOES FINAL AT THE COURT HOUSE TOMMORROW NOV. 15TH!

Back Home from CA!

2008-11-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

California Adventure

2008-11-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

We were not in love with California Adventure...but it was good to finally see what it was all about. Tyson was the map man and showed us where to go. We went on the water rapid ride and did A Bugs Life show. That night we went to the hotel to take a nap so we could be rested to go back to Disneyland late. Tyson and I stayed behind to watch a movie instead and Daddy and Brooklyn went to try and catch space mountain again. The line was so long to park that that came back to the hotel. Bummer!

First Day at DISNEYLAND!

2008-11-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

I still think it is such a magical place. It is so special to be with your children as they experience it for the first time. This was extra special for Justin and I since it is the first time we had been back in 10 years when he proposed to me in front of the castle!

The kids had a great time. They were scared before each ride but went on EVERYTHING!. Brooklyn was terrified of space mountain, but in the end she wanted to go again and that is the ride she still talks about most.

More Day 2...

2008-11-14T22:21:00.000-07:00

On our first day in California we just hung out. We went bowling then went to the beach. We rented a bike, got icecream and rode a farris wheel. It was nice to ease in to the vacation.

Disneyland Day 2

2008-11-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

1st Disneyland Trip Day 1

2008-11-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

Straight Haired Brooklyn...

2008-11-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure it was nap time.

2008-11-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

First Day of School Aug.'08

2008-11-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

Tan Lines!

2008-11-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

Halloween '08

2008-10-31T22:42:00.000-07:00

We had Brooklyn the angel, Tyson the devil (his choosing :-), Naya the witch, mom the she-devil and dad the crazy wolf. Brookln was scared of daddy. The big kids especially had fun trick or treating round aunt Kelly's hood. We went there for her annual fry bread..yummy!

Funny Comments!

2008-08-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

We went to our second week in our new ward this past Sunday. As we were sitting in the back, they announced our family as new members in the ward. We all stood up and about 700 people turned around to see who we were (Yikes...there are 4 nursery's in this ward). The counselor than said "would all who would like to welcome the Arrington's to the ward and extend a hand of fellowship and make them feel welcome please raise their hand..." Then Brooklyn turns and says "What are they going to do to us mom? Are they going to sing the Hello, Hello song?" sooo funny!

Then on the way home from church Justin told the kids he was going to give them a father's blessing for school. Brooklyn asked what that was. Justin said he would tell them all about it. Then Tyson said "Are you going to spank us?"

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch with Brooklyn and she had a pad of paper and a pen. She was writing down a bunch of jabber (pretend writing since she can't write). She said "I am writing my diarrhea." I said "Do you mean , your diary?" "yes" that is what she meant. She was writing about how in love she is with Carson (her cousin that is 16) and how they are getting married. Wow...we are in for it if she is dreaming of marriage at 4 years old!

FYI...

2008-07-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

I have added posts in April, May and June...so take a look if you want. I am going to be working backwards for a while to May of 2007 so I can get caught up with the pics I have on this new computer. Everything I have of Brook and Ty (ages 0-3 years) picture wise has been printed out and came from a different computer. I still have to get caught up on that!...ahhhhhhh At least this blogging provides an easy way to journal/scrapbook and keep family and friends informed. I have heard you can print up "blog books" and that is my intention!

Praise Ye the Lord!

2008-07-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

So we had our 341 meeting on Tuesday and it was a breeze. I had prepared mentally for every possible question and answer the trustee would ask for a month and NONE were asked. The BK looks like it will go through without a hitch, but I will have a better idea in a week. I did a BUNCH of worrying for nothing...as usual.

The 60 days has past that the birth father could come forward for Lincoln and so now we just wait for finalization and the temple! Yea!

The other night I was just spent at the end of the day and needed to break away. Justin put the kids to bed and I went out by myself to think (I really stormed out). I was just certain that I needed to find something else to do in order to feel happy...outside of being a mom. I was NOT consistently finding the "joy" in motherhood and was very distraught. I was getting itchy (to do something else) before Lincoln came and when he did...I felt humbled and sure Heavenly Father wanted me to focus only on motherhood for now. So I thought about what I could do...school at night? (but I can't settle on a degree that makes sense for me) study music (but I can't make much money with that...what's the point) be in a another play (but that takes so much time from being with Justin at night and weekends) What can I do that will make me feel like more of a human being again???

So the next morning I opened up my scriptures and said a little prayer that I might be lucky enough to land on a scripture that would inspire me that day. I first stumbled on MARK 9:37 "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, recieveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, recieveth not me, but him that sent me"

This led me to look in the topical guide under "children". I skimmed the references and settled on one in PSALMS 113:9 which read...

"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord."

Well this is the most profound scripture I have found for myself to date! In essence I am "barren" which is how I was blessed to adopt 4 amazing children that were clearly meant for our family. I have not been the best mom I could be and everyone who knows me knows I definitely struggle to keep up on my housework. I just kept re-reading that scripture all day a literally chuckling out loud to myself. Heavenly Father has a sense of humor! I knew then that my answer to my "joy" was not outside of my duty as mother and homemaker...but to be more actively in it!

Moved out...Moved in and trying to Move on!

2008-07-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that after I turned on a TV show this morning after attempting to keep it off for a while...Brooklyn was so excited that she told me I am a "Rock Star" like her! Glad somebody thinks so!

After a whirl wind 2 months since getting Lincoln and year of madness...we are officially moved out of the Balboa house and in this beautiful mansion of a house that we are renting for 2 years. I admit that with the stairs and the size I have called Justin on his cell phone rather than hike upstairs to talk to him. I am very reflective tonight. I am not sure why we have ended up here. Let's back up...

May of 2007 we finally finished a 3 1/2 year project of our home we had built in Casa Grande. That is another story, but in the nick of time we got water and power out to the home in time to sell it to my father-in-law. The proceeds of which paid off some debt and allowed for a significant down payment on our "dream home" we purchased on Val Vista and Ray...ALSO in May of '07. We had a contract on our home in Tone Ranch which was promised to close in a week and for fear of not wanting to lose the deal on our dream home...we went ahead and closed on it. We would be receiving $20K plus from the close of the Tone Ranch house and $50K plus from father-in-law once he go into the house and refinanced it (long story). We also had 2 houses under contract in Scottsdale that we would be fix and flipping. This would make for a total of 5 closings in ONE MONTH. Luckily we had the gut feeling to pull out of the Scottsdale deals as we could see the lending market beginning to go south and were nervouse that the equity margin was too close for comfort. All of these deals were proposed to us (and seemed to have fallen in our lap) by a mortgage broker. As the market went south...so quickly did his ability to get us us all the loans he had promised were easy peasy with our perfect credit! He ended up NOT getting us the loan for out dream house so we took it to Countrywide who got it done is 3 days. We didn't want to lose our $5K earnest money so we tried to shove it through because we wanted it so bad and we had all this other money coming! Boy...to do that over again. Instead, we not only lost that $5K earnest money, but the $50k from the casa grande house coming and the $20K from the Tone Ranch house PLUS the $30K we just put down on the dream house plus another $7K from repairs to the dream house that happened soon as we moved in PLUS double payments for 5 months and so on...ALL because we leaped before we looked long enough. The Tone Ranch house fell through about 3 weeks after we moved into the dream house and after having Nayeli placed with us and taken away. We had two houses now. We put them BOTH up for sale and had a ton of interest, but no bites on either. We were willing to live in whichever one didn't sell. We assumed our dream home would sell very quick and were getting 2-3 showings a week for 3 months! Justin even stepped down to the floor from management to make more money with overtime, but we still couldn't hang in there financially. No dice. After some divine intervention, we gave the dream home back to the bank and moved back into the Tone Ranch house (5 months after moving out).

Eventually we did get Naya back...just in time before I was going to check myself into the loony bin (although she was another significant UNexpected cost). She saved my spirit. Moving back to Tone Ranch felt so right at that point. We fixed it up the way we always wanted and prepared to stay for a long time. Unfortunately...our credit cards that were paid off just 5 months earlier had been so racked up that the debt was more than we could bare. We have been preparing for months to do what I considered the ultimate failure...bankruptcy.

I remember about 2 and a half months ago sitting in my bedroom with Justin and saying "I wonder what we will look back on this year and say. It seems like not much is happening." HA HA HA So...now we have Lincoln. I think getting lincoln and feeling so squished up in that house with just one greatroom really made us think. If we were going to get out of that house, now seemed to be the right time. We are too upside down to sell and in an interest-only arm. If our payment was fixed..we would have probably stayed. But the economy is getting worse and housing values will not increase fast enough for us to be able to refinance. Plus now our perfect credit has taken a break..if you know what I mean. So the day after we brought Lincoln home, we met again with our attorney and discussed surrendering the house. It was settled. Then we set out to find a rental (preferably an lease option so we wouldn't have to move again...this being the 3rd time in about a year). We had to hurry before we were late on our mortgage payment so our credit wouldn't look even worse and we had to have a lease contract in order to file our BK. I cannot express how complicated this has been.

So we finally filed for a chapter 7 BK on June 6th and our 341 hearing (meeting of the creditors) is tomorrow. This is THE BIG meeting. There is a ton of gray area in BK and basically it's the trustee's job to try to force you in to a chapter 13 BK where you pay back your creditors. The chapter 7 is the "wipe out" of your debt...the "clean slate" and is hard to get if you make decent money. So I have tried to keep positive about this. I don't know what we will be asked and I hope I am prepared to answer honestly, but in a way that makes sense. This BK is not over and is certainly not as easy as saying "sorry I am bankrupt...take away my debt". There are so many things that can come up and it can be drug out for a long time...or not!

So I know that Heavenly Father is aware and has definitely provided miracles in the way our family has come together. So why will he not provide for us financially? I know he will and it just may not be in the way I want ...(with all of my brains and wisdom)

So I opened my scipitures tonight and really hoped to land on something of comfort. Something that would help me know I am heard. I landed on

Alma 57:26-27 "....And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe-that there was a just God. and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power."

"Now this is the faith of these of whom I have spoken: they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do continually put their trust in God."

This is when Helaman is telling of his Ammonite army of 2060 men and how they defended a city called Cumeni against the Lamenites. Because of the steadfast and unwavering faith of those men...though they were wounded, they were preserved and did not die.

Though I feel wounded, this scripture reminds me that if I am steadfast in faith, I have nothing to fear or worry about. I know so many people with many different trials right now. Some deal with the sickness or death of a family member, some struggle with their testimonies and worth, MANY are of a humbling financial nature right now. I am grateful that through the hard times, I can see the Lord's hand sustaining me and my family. I am blessed with far too much to complain. I complain so often. Shame on me.

So I still am not sure why we ended up here in this house. I hope it is the right choice for us. I doubt my ability to discern sometimes. I do know that we have learned some lessons we will not soon forget about money and decision making. We have always been more of risk takers and I now envy those that have played it safe. But at the same time, I am grateful for lessons that have brought me back to my Father in Heaven and that have continued to teach me the true meaning of patience and faith.

I am especially grateful for the scriptures tonight.

Updated Kids Pic!

2008-06-23T20:29:00.001-07:00

Out of probably 15 different shots...this was the best one we could get! Pretty good! What beautiful kids we have been blessed with. I prepared by getting matching shirts the day before. I made an appointment at just a time when Naya would be waking up from a nap and Lincoln too. I got Brooklyn and Ty ready and did there hair just 5 min before we would leave the house (so there would not be enough time to mess it up). I got Naya up and changed her and combed her hair and got her in the car with the big kids. I got Link up and dressed and put him in the carseat even though I knew he would cry the whole way there because he was hungry (which he did!). We parked and I pulled out the double stroller. I handed Naya her already prepared sippy cup of milk to keep her quiet. I had Alicia push the stroller (with Brook and Ty holding on to the stroller) so I could walk next to the stroller and hold the bottle in Link's mouth as we walked into the mall and to Kiddie Kandids. I finished feeding Link as we walked into the store. I got him out and burped him JUST in time to snap some shots. Brook and Ty gave retarded smiles and Naya fussed. I whipped out the little gold fish to shove in her mouth in between snaps. Lincoln was perfect! All that work for ONE decent shot for father's day....phewwwww!

Brooklyn..ism

2008-06-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

The other day my sister Alicia and Tyson and Naya and Brooklyn and I were all in Brooklyn's room. Brooklyn decided we were having a tea party and preceeded to tell us all who we would be. She said Alicia was "the fairy god mother", I was the "grandmother", Tyson was the "bigbad wolf" and Naya was "THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD". WOW! We were so glad the Savior showed up to the party! Alicia and I we laughing so hard.

Lincoln Anthony Arrington

2008-06-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

We are so happy to report that our beautiful family of adopted children has grown as of April 28th, 2008! We welcomed Lincoln to our family and lovingly call him "Our Missing Link". He is as close as an "infertile" couple comes to having an "oops!"as you can get . A month ago we got a call from Brooklyn and Naya's birthmom that she had a baby boy on March 16th! We didn't even know she was pregnant. A week later we were bringing Lincoln home.

This is very unusual to have 3 children from the same birth mom. We love her and know that she has wanted to be a mother so very badly, but circumstances that are not all in her control, have limited her. We are grateful she has had the courage to make unselfish choices for her children. We have tried to do our part to be prepared for what Heavenly Father has in store by keeping up on our certification as well as getting our foster certification...for the "just in cases". Having our foster certification last year allowed us to be prepared to welcome Naya to our family at 4 months of age, after CPS got involved (long story).

We are so grateful for this unexpected blessing that our youngest son is to our family. To all of you hopeful adoptive couples....BE PROACTIVE! Open your mouth when it's uncomfortable and be prepared in all the different ways you can to receive what Heavenly Father has waiting for you!

Bedtime!

2008-06-02T23:34:00.000-07:00

Every night...a couple hours after I put the kids to bed, I always go in to give one last check on the kids and cover them up again. This is what I found Brookln and Naya doing. They look sooo uncomfortable!

Sibling love...

2008-06-01T23:31:00.000-07:00

I love my boys!

2008-05-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

Ty is 4.5 yrs here. Isn't he gorgeous! Link is 2 months. Man...I never knew I could love like this

Naya Patty Cake

2008-05-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

Two By Two!

2008-05-05T23:05:00.000-07:00

We like to joke that our house is like Noah's Ark...inasmuch as our kids have seemingly come two by two. Here Link is about 6 weeks and Naya is 13 months. Still not walking! Just got her 1st tooth.

Bringing Lincoln Home

2008-05-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

We found out about Lincoln on a Tuesday. That Friday we went to dinner at Black Angus with Sharon (birth mom) to meet him and see if we felt any sparks for the little guy. Yes...there were sparks! It was the the very restaurant we met Sharon at for the first time 4 years earlier when Brooklyn was in her belly. We were even seated in the same booth. Saturday Sharon took Lincoln to the hospital for a fever. Amber went down to keep her company. Sunday morning we came to the hospital and she contacted LDS services. The caseworker came down on Sunday and she signed foster papers. Amber stayed the night with the baby so she could go home and get rest. Amber and baby didn't sleep a wink! Monday baby was given clean bill of health to leave hospital and we took Lincoln and picked up Sharon to go straight to LDS services where she signed actual ADOPTION papers. It was official! April 28th, 2008 we brought Lincoln home. He was 6 weeks old. We can't believe now that he has only been ours for 2.5 months. We are head over heels for him. What a difference a day makes...we always say!

P.S. We always liked the name Addison and when Naya didn't look like an Addison we wondered why that name had so much significance to us. Everything was about our Addison we thought we had coming. Well we one time joked that maybe it really meant "Add a son". Maybe so!

Our 9 year anniversary trip...

2008-04-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

Viva la Mexico...again! We went our 2nd year in a row to the 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise with our good friends Craig and Crystal. This was our 4th cruise (1st on Royal Carribean) and we also have done an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. We are Mexico'd out! Amber got a migrain and a port day...that day was gone for her, but Justin got to scuba. Amber tried to sleep on the beach. Justin and Craig discovered on ship gambling...just a little! Thank you to mom, Jacque, Kelly and Alicia for taking care of our precious ones.

Naya's 1st B-day

2008-04-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

Naya was not walking and had NO teeth yet!

Renissance Festival

2008-04-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

Fun, kinda hot, VERY expensive!

2008-04-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Naya has made our family complete!

2008-04-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Brook and Ty's 4th B-Day @ PeterPiper! Thank you to all our family and friends for coming.

2008-03-24T16:02:00.001-07:00

My Sweetheart!

2008-03-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

On EASTER 2008

God Moment...

2008-03-18T20:37:00.001-07:00

Very often I have experiences with my children that remind me of how Heavenly Father must feel about me. I have been meaning to write them down...so here goes!

I remember when the kids were maybe 2 years old in the "want to do it myself" stage and how frustrating that was for me as a parent because I wanted to help! For example I don't remember if it was Brooklyn or Tyson but one of them was trying to put on their shoe...

"Can mommy help you?
"No"
Few moments go by...
"Can mommy help you?"
"No, do it myself."
Few more moments...
"Will you please let mommy help you get your shoe on?"
"No."
Pause...more trying
"Mommy, can you help me?"
"Sure baby! Mommy always loves to help you when you ask."

How many times do we try and try to do things our self and fail? Then, when we finally turn to the Lord and ask for help, He is eager to help us with our need. I remember stopping and hearing myself say this and realize I should stop trying to do things myself. Myself is not always so good, but HE ALWAYS is.

I put this one in my notepad in my cell phone back in July but I cant remember what the set up was to it...

"Tyson you need to start being more patient or mommy's going to stop doing nice things. Does mommy always take care of you? Then you don't need to worry."

Boy this one speaks to my heart time and time again. Being patient is not one of my best qualities. I want what I want and I want it now and I murmur if I don't get it now. I suppose that is what Ty was doing. A typical kid thing to ask for something over and over again and throw a fit if he senses it is not happening fast enough or he fears it won't happen period.

This one, I was on my way down to LDS services to have an adoption paperwork meeting and I wanted to keep the kids quiet when we were there so I packed them a snack. I didn't tell them about the snack because I wanted to surprise them. The whole drive over they were talking about wanting a snack in the car and driving me bonkers...so I said as we turned in the parking lot...

"If you just relax and be patient, you would be surprised what mommy has in store for you."

I knew that I had a snack for them and they wouldn't have to feel hungry but they didn't know what I had hidden for them. I knew they would be fine and happy with what I packed them, but they couldn't wait or trust that I would take care of there needs. So I gave them the snack and all was well. All that belly aching for nothing! I knew what they needed. Well, this really hit home for me at the time as I was aching for another baby . We knew there was another baby girl that needed to come to our family, but didn't know when or how. Invitro,embryo adoption, foster care, adoption? I was prepared to do any of it. Much as I considered adoption to be more heart break then happiness, I got the paperwork together to become certified again to adopt. I wanted a baby and NOW! I needed to be patient so I could enjoy the surprises Heavenly Father had in store. He never disappoints!

LAST ONE FOR TODAY
I was at the walmart mcdonalds and Brooklyn told me she wanted a cookie for after her meal. i didn't really want to get one for them, but I felt like surprising them so I did. When Brooklyn asked if I got cookies I said "no". As I sat down and layed out there nuggets and fries, Brooklyn had her eye on the bag that had cookies in it. She kept asking me what was in the bag and frustrated I said...

"Brooklyn, how about you just be grateful for what is in front of you already rather than asking for something else so soon."

Same thing here...I felt a whoosh come over me. As soon as I get something good...it's like I can't stand the calm. I am immediately looking for the next best thing. SHAME ON ME.

Heavenly Father has provided for me in ways I could never had dreamed up . I mean it. I LITERALLY couldn't come up with the ways he has blessed me in my life. He is so amazing and I am so grateful to him for being patient with me as I learn patience. I am grateful he makes me come unto him through the trials he sends and the weaknesses I have. I am so grateful he is teaching me how to be a better daughter to Him through my children.

Not Fabulous!

2008-03-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

So today I took the kids to Kiddie Kandids to get pics done. That is always a fun experience! I made the appointment for just after Naya's nap and had a bottle in my purse for her to have in the stoller on the way in the mall...so she would be just perfectly happy for pictures. And then there was the careful planning of getting Brooklyn and Ty ready...not TOO soon before we headed out the door so as to not have them spill anything on their shirts or mess up there hair. ANYWAY, we got some cute shots but Naya, despite all my efforts was quite grumpy and wanted to be held and the kids were tired of their "fake" smiling and asking to leave. You know that age of the "fake" smile. And of course I was bribing them all the while with ice cream and playing at the mall.

So after pics and lunch (at which I made Tyson wear Naya's bib to eat his pizza because it would all end up on his new cream colored sweater)...we went to get Dippin Dots. We are sitting down enjoying our astronaut ice cream when 2 gals in probably their 20's walk up to the counter. One in particular with bleach blonde hair (very damaged but long) in a tight tank top showing her mid section and leopard print shorts with her bum cheeks hanging out. I wanted to cover the kids eyes! Tyson says "Look at her pants.." but didn't have the words to say what he was really thinking. Then Brooklyn says "Mom, we don't want to see her privacy's...those are her underwear...she does NOT look fabulous!" I chuckled pretty loud about that one. So I took that opportunity to say that we don't dress like that. Hope she continues to think that "style" of dress is "NOT fabulous" when she is a teen!

Couldn't let these moments pass..

2008-02-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

With new comedy bits multiple times a day (as it is with TWO four year olds) and learning that this blogging thing is the way of the future (as girlfirends are blog discussing often and I feel a little left out) AND after the huge run on sentence...I decided it is time to DOCUMENT! Well, not so much "I" decided as the countless times Heavenly Father has nudged me to do so. I have a lot of catching up to do on the BIG happenings in my life...especially from last year with the 2 moves and the story of getting our newest little miracle..Naya. But I am going top start with the cute tidbits from each day.

So let's begin with some Tyson-isms. Dateline Sunday (yesterday). You can tell what kind of day Tyson is headed for by the counteanence he wakes up with and yesterday was an extra wiggly and mischievious day. Justin stayed home sick and warned Ty that he must sit still in Primary or he would go to his room after church. He also could do well in primary and get to open a new transformer toy he got at his party on Friday. I sit behind him in primary with my CTR 7 class and sweet Sis. Johnson gets the pleasure of having Ty in her class to keep her on her toes. I watched as he bounced from seat to seat. He got to sit on Sis. Magee's lap and Sis, Mazycks lap and back by Sis. Johnson and to the bathroom (ever though he just went) and back with Sis. Magee. Needless to say he did not get to give Justin a good report when we got home. He did ask to open his trnasformer and we said "no" reminding him why. Somehow he smuggled a huge bubble wand into his room and opened it. The trigger to our knowledge of this? He ran out of his room into the bathroom saying he had bubbles in his mouth. At first I thought nothing of the comment. But then I looked at Justin and asked where he got bubbles from? Justin yells back to Ty "Tyson bring me the bubbles." Tyson says "Don't spank me dad" and comes out covering his bum. (P.S. We do not believe spanking to be very effective...but sometimes for shock value and he is always fearful of a spaking but NOT fearful enough to NOT make a poor choice!) Justin says there will be no spanking but bring me the bubbles. SO Tyson goes in his room and brings out the EMPTY bubble wand. YES...it is all over his carpet. Well...that is not such a huge deal to me. All in a days work, but it gets better.

We send him back to his room after a little clean up and after having left a message for our carpet cleaning guy. I then go in the back room to put Naya down for her nap. SUPRISE...I find torn packaging from his transformer toy and tell Justin to come take a look. Justin is baffled as he is usually working and misses such "action". He calls Tyson back into the room and says "Tyson...why is daddy mad?" Tyson says his favorite line "Don't spank me dad" (remember ...Justin has maybe spanked Tyson 5 times in his life) I ask Tyson "where is the transformer toy?" I see torn packaging but no toy. He hid it under the cushion of a play couch we have in Naya's room. Not just the tranformer but some glow sticks I had high up on a counter that I have been keeping from him. We had NO WORDS and no idea what an appropriate punishment would be so we had him take a nap instead of getting to go to Adam and Patti's house with me where I was headed to babysit.

When I got to Patti's I called Stacey Randall as I heard she was taking a parenting class which covered appropriate punishment for the "crime". I fear that nothing makes a dent in tyson's brain. She had a few suggestions and later brought me over a book she just finished called "Christlike Parenting". I am so excited to read it. Thank you Stacey! That was so thoughtful. So last night I cried like a baby "quite iterally" not wanting to deal with another day of such things...all the baragaining and negotiating and fits and pleasing and impatience...oh wait ...I ASKED for this calling called MOTHERHOOD!

Fast forward to this morning. I am sitting in the greatroom with Naya and Brooklyn is in the back room watching cartoons. Tyson keeps running around the house and I ask him to please stop running in the house. I repeate the then command as he runs past me ignoring me on his way to my room. I raise my voice to get his attention and walk calmly over to him and say "Tyson momy asked you to stop runing" to which he replies "WHY?"...well sure what a silly request. What is wrong with running in the house? I dunno...it was bugging me. NOW I could see his logic of not stopping. He didn't understand why. Anyway..I ask him if he wants to watch cartoons in Naya's room or mine. He wants my bedroom and I say OK, but stay in my bed. "Ok mom". TEN minutes later he comes out covering his mouth saying there is something hot in it. I am thinking...mouthwash? And I calmly grab his hand and ask him to show me where it is. No mouthwash...but I see gobs of toothpaste in the sink and not a toothpaste tube. Where is the toothpaste Ty? OH! it is under the blanket. He dropped the tube on the bathroom rug and got gobs of paste all over the rug and tube as well and niclely layed a blaket over the mess. YEA! I was so worried this would be a boring day. SO...it is only 11 am and we will see what comes next. I have plently of fun Brooklyn-isms and Naya is coming into her own as she is almost ONE.

I am looking forward to the day when I can tell theses stories to the kids!