Tom + Britney = Carleigh and Tyse

Weddings, vacation's and a baby, oh my!!

2011-09-20T16:28:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I am terrible about updating my blog, so I am going to have to catch up on this summer in small doses! What a summer we had! We were able to go to DisneyWorld in July! It was so much fun, the kids ask me everyday when we can go back! I will be posting about that trip over the next few days (hopefully!!). Then, we got home on August 2nd, and my brother Braden and his wife Mindy got married the next day, August 3rd! What a story that is! About 3 days before their wedding, Mindy was cutting hair, and her arm kept feeling numb, and she showed my mom this big bruise on her upper arm. My mom told her she needed to go to the doctor and get it checked out, and to make a long story short, she found out she had a blood clot in her upper arm, and if she had not gone to the ER, she would have died in the next few days, it was so scary! They had to operate on Monday, and they got married on Wednesday! At first, we thought we would have to cancel the wedding, but Mindy was determined to be married on that day, and sure enough, she did it! I don't know how much she remembers, but it was a beautiful wedding. We all love Mindy, and I am so glad my brother found someone so wonderful. She has been in and out of the hospital over the last month with surgeries, they actually had to remove her top rib right under her collarbone because it was pushing on her artery causing her blood to clot! Poor girl, she is finally coming home today, and we are all hoping her hospital stays are over. She thought she would be home a week ago, but her lung filled with blood, and they had to go in and drain it. And, also, on August 24th, my sister Jamie had a baby boy, Brenden. He is adorable, and I am so happy to be an Aunt again! My kids both started school this August, Carleigh is in first grade, she is learning French this year, and loves it, and Tyse is in preschool. Ok, now that I'm kind of caught up, here are some pictures of the wedding!Their lovely car after my brothers so lovingly decorated it!
My two favorite boys in the whole world!
My mom and dad, 32 years, and still going strong!
The happy couple. This is their reception held one week after the wedding, Mindy had to wear a compression bandage on her arm.

The beautiful flower girl!

Tyse's Birthday!

2011-06-24T16:39:00.003-06:00

Tyse turned 4 on May 17th! I can't believe my little buddy is 4, time flies! He was super spoiled for his birthday. We had a party at my mom and dad's house. He is playing with the motorcycle they gave him in the above picture. He also got lots of summer clothes, which he really needed, footballs, basketballs, and grandma Perkins made him a quilt with Buzz Lightyear on it for his bed. He is in love with it! I love my little Tyse! He was able to go to school on his birthday, and he took chocolate chip cookies to share with his class, since they are his favorite. The teacher told me he sat at the snack table at ate cookie after cookie, and chocolate milk. What could be better than that! He is such a cute boy, and I am grateful he is in our family. He always makes us laugh, he is a funny little kid!
Blowing out his candles
Opening his presents at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Very spoiled boy!
His cool dinosaur birthday cake! He was really excited about that!

This is a picture of Carleigh at Pineview. We went up there to see how high the water was, and the kids had a ball throwing rocks into the water. Every time I pull out the camera, she strikes a pose.

Disney on Ice, and other fun stuff!

2011-04-29T16:07:00.002-06:00

So, I have been really horrible at updating this lately, so I am trying to catch up. Last week, Carleigh had a performance at her school, she is so cute, and loves to dance. She is in a cheer class, and really likes it. It is a lot of fun to watch her!This is her at home before we left, she is so funny, she struck a pose as soon as I pulled out the camera!
Last month, we went to Disney on Ice. The kids had such a great time, they loved the whole thing. Tyse was sad when it was over because he wanted to give Mickey Mouse a hug! I told him that he will be able to hug him at Disney World, so now every day he asks me, When we going to Disney World, give Mickey a hug!
Buzz! Tyse's favorite!!

Me and the kids! Love these guys so much!
Well, what else have we bee up to lately? We went to Bear Lake over Easter with Tom's family. It was tons of fun, and the kids had a blast playing with their cousins. I am a spaz, and forgot the camera, so no fun pictures to post, dang it! We are also in the process of trying to buy a house, and we're hoping to do that by the end of the year, so that's something we are very excited about! We bought a new car, so I will have to post on that here soon! Well, thats about it! Nothing too exciting!

We're going to................

2011-03-23T16:57:00.002-06:00

DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!

A few weeks ago, Tom and I were trying to decide where we should go for a vacation this year. We were thinking maybe San Diego, or Long Beach, but then we found a package for Orlando, and it wasn't a whole lot more. Orlando wasn't even a possibility, but the more we thought about it, we decided it would be a really great experience, and so we booked our flight! We are all so excited. We aren't going until the end of July, so there's still a while, and we're hoping that it goes by quickly.We're planning to go to Sea World, Disney World, and the beach. When we told the kids, it was so cute, they were dancing around saying Mickey mouse, princesses, Buzz and Woody!! We can't wait!!

Carleigh learning to read!

2011-02-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2010 - Finally catching up!!

2011-02-04T16:01:00.003-07:00

Yay for Christmas!!!!
Ok, so now that its February, I can finally catch up on my Christmas pictures! Yikes, I am so far behind. Oh well! Anyways, we had a great Christmas this year. The kids were a lot more aware of what was going on, and that made it a lot more fun than in years past. They were both so excited, and Carleigh finally sat on Santa's lap without crying, so that was improvement! They are both so smart, and sometimes I get sad that they are growing up so fast, in just a few short years they won't believe in Santa anymore, so I am trying to enjoy these moments as much a s possible. We are so grateful for the many blessings we had in 2010, and looking forward to an even better 2011!

They both got pillow pets, and that was the number 1 thing they both wanted, and Tyse got Chuck the rumblin' dump truck!

Ready for church the next day! (Sorry, pictures are not in order)
My handsome little guy!

Can you tell the kids decorated Santa's cookies all by themselves! And carrots for the reindeer, of course!

Festival of Trees, and Carleigh's 6th Birthday!

2010-12-08T14:23:00.004-07:00

On Saturday, Carleigh danced a solo at the Festival of Trees! I couldn't believe that she was so brave, there were so many people there. The stage looked so big, and she is so small, but she wasn't scared at all! She is taking a cheer/tumbling class, and she loves it. She is so cute, and I am so proud of her for being so brave!
This is right after she danced, she was so proud of herself, and so happy!
This is the final bow, she is right in the middle, I had more pictures of just her on the stage, but they turned out really blurry :(
On November 18, Carleigh turned 6! I can't believe that she is six years old already! People told me that when you have kids they grow up too fast, and now I understand! It seems like just a short time ago when we started in vitro to get pregnant, and now I have a kindergartner! We love our little Carleigh, life would not be the same without her!
Of course she wanted a princess cake!
This year, I let her have her first ever friends party! It was a lot of fun! We had the girls decorate cupcakes, painted nails, and played freeze dance, and every girl wore a princess dress. What a cute group of girls! And Tyse!
Our lovely decorations!
Getting ready for all of her friends to come over! We love you Carleigh, and in honor of your birthday, here's 6 things we love about you:
1. You are such a good sister to your little brother, and you always want him to be happy, and are so loving and kind
2. You are so smart! I love how you are so excited to go to school every day, and how you can't wait to show me and tell me what you did that day
3. You are so brave! You aren't afraid to bear your testimony at church, or to dance in front of hundreds of people
4. You can talk on the phone for hours, and it makes me laugh to hear your conversations with grandma, Jamie, Bryce, and everyone else!
5. You love to sing, especially to Taylor Swift, and you have a really good voice, I love to hear you sing
6. You are so much fun, you love to laugh and be silly, and you already have so many new friends at school because of your personality! Happy Birthday!

Catching Up!

2010-11-03T15:13:00.002-06:00

Well, its been a while since I've posted anything, so here's a little re-cap of what we've been up too! Tyse started preschool the middle of September. He is really enjoying it, but he still gets a little sad when I drop him off. He hasn't talked to his teachers yet, but we're hoping that he will soon! He talks our ear off at home, but he is super shy at school! It's been a little weird for me to be home by myself two times a week! It sure is nice to go grocery shopping by myself though! Carleigh is still learning lots, and LOVING kindergarten! I love listening to her tell me how her day was, and what she did! She really likes riding the bus, and she is making a lot of friends. I can't believe she will be 6 in two weeks! We really like our new place, and we can't wait to build a house in this neighborhood in the next year or two. We have started to meet our new neighbors, and its been fun having a lot of people our age in our ward, and lots of kids for our kids to play with! Life is good!

Tyse on the first day of preschool! How cute is this little boy!
We went fishing at the trout farm on Labor day. The kids had more fun feeding the fish than they did catching them.
Cheese! Tyse and his favorite buddy Bryce.
Feeding the fish!

1st day of Kindergarten!!!

2010-08-24T01:51:00.003-06:00

Today was Carleigh's first day of kindergarten!!!! She was so excited! Today was just one hour, and they took the kids on a tour, and they played on the playground, watched a movie, and had a cookie, while the parents had a meeting with the teacher, and filled out some papers. She goes back Wednesday for her assessment, and then her first real school day will be next Monday. We will be all moved in to our new place by then, and she will get to ride the bus to school, which she is super excited to do! I really can't believe I have a child in kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday she was born. Time goes too fast! She was so cute on the ride home, she said, Mom, I cant believe I just went to my first day of Kindergarten! I love my little Carleigh, and I can't wait to see what this year brings! Standing by the sign in front of the school!
Tyse didn't want to get left out! He doesn't start preschool until after Labor day! I love my cute kids!!

Cuts for Cami

2010-08-11T00:58:00.002-06:00

So, I just wanted to post about an adorable little girl who needs your help. Her name is Cami Carver, and she is 5 years old. She was in Carleigh's preschool class, and she is such a cutie. Last month she was diagnosed with leukemia. This has been devastating for her family, and so heartbreaking for all who know her. This Saturday, they are holding the first annual "Cuts for Cami" where you can go and get a haircut, and all the money will be donated to the family. So if you need a haircut, please help out the Carver family, and little Cami. If you would just like to donate, you can also go to kissesforcami.com.

VACATION!!!!!

2010-07-15T01:25:00.004-06:00

This year for our vacation, we headed down to St. George and Mesquite. Yeah, I know, we're a little weird to go somewhere hotter, but hey, we still had a good time even in the 110* weather! Tom's parents took the kids for a couple of days, and they had a blast playing with their cousins, and hanging out with grandma and grandpa. I am so glad that they got to spend time with them, since we don't get to see them a lot. They went to the Balloon festival in Panguitch, swimming in Kanab with their cousins, and got to ride 4 wheelers and hang out. Thanks Justin and Chelsea for taking care of them, and grandma and grandpa Perkins! The kids had an awesome time, and me and Tom had fun getting to hang out for a few days by ourselves. When the kids came back, we went and saw Toy Story 3, which we all loved! Tyse is a huge Buzz Lightyear fan, and he was so happy in the movie. Then we went back to our hotel, and went swimming for 3 hours! The water was so warm, it was fun. We also went bowling, and played in the arcade for the next couple of days. I am such a bad picture taker, and kept forgetting the camera, but these are some of my favorites: Carleigh absolutely loves to go bowling, she was so excited!
Driving to the movie in St. George, so cute!
Cool shades, dude!
This one makes me laugh! Tyse loves big semi's, and every time we would pass one, he would yell TRUCK!! really loud, it was so funny!
This is Tyse's funny face!
My little cutie, getting ready to go swimming! Wish I still looked that cute in a swimming suit!
They were so exhausted, they fell right asleep!
Tyse had so much fun bowling, he got mad whenever it wasn't his turn.

Carleigh loves posing for the camera!

4th of July, summer fun!

2010-07-14T01:28:00.003-06:00

So, its been forever since I've posted anything with pictures, so I will be catching up over the next couple of days. This is the 4th of July, we had so much fun! We went to the Kaysville parade with Alisha and Wain, and Wain's sister Sara. After the parade, we went home and had a BBQ with them, and Jamie and Jef came, and invited some of their friends. Then later that night we went to the fireworks in Kaysville with Jamie, Jef, and Payten. Waiting with Aunt Alisha for the parade to start. My son is so stubborn when it comes to pictures!
Tyse really liked the firetrucks, and police cars, and motorcycles! What can I say, he's a boy!
CHEESE!!!!
Swimming in the pool. This is what we do every day! Its so much fun!
Carleigh likes to jump in. She is starting to get a lot braver!
My stubborn son, once again, who absolutely hates having his picture taken! Funny thing is, as soon as I put the camera away, he jumped in the pool with me, and was giggling, and having so much fun! Little stinker!

I Kee!!!

2010-07-08T01:42:00.003-06:00

Its been a while since I've been on here, and a I will be catching up soon, but for now just a little update on Tyse. He is FINALLY potty trained!!!! Hooray!!! We've been working with him for quite a while, and he was just content to sit on the potty, and hang out, but never go. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, something just clicked, and he started to go on the potty. He has a speech disability, so there are certain letters that he has a hard time pronouncing, so he tells me, I need to kee, its so cute! He makes me and Tom go out of the bathroom, I guess he wants some privacy, and when he is done, he comes walking out with the little container! Gross, I know, but he is so proud of himself. We bought him some way cute Toy Story underwear, he loves it! He refuses to wear diapers at bedtime, so he has been wearing pull-ups, and so far, we've only had a couple of accidents. I love my little Tyse, and I am so proud of him. Yay!!!! No more diapers for us! And, no, I am not going to post any gross pictures!

Preschool graduation!

2010-06-07T01:29:00.003-06:00

Wednesday, May 26th, Carleigh graduated from preschool! She has had so much fun, and she learned so much, I can't believe how much she has changed from a year ago. I am so proud of my little girl! I can't believe she is going to be in Kindergarten! Where does the time go? She had the most amazing preschool teachers, thank you Miss Michelle and Miss Jenelle!My big girl getting ready for her graduation program! They performed songs they learned throughout the year, and each child had a speaking part. Carleigh did great!
Getting ready to sing!
Singing a song about the food we eat! So stinking cute!
Getting her diploma from Miss Michelle!
Have you ever seen a bigger smile? She had such an amazing time in school, she is already bored! Her teachers told me they were going to miss her hugs, and her cute smile every day. Her teacher made a video yearbook of the whole year, and we came home and watched it. I have seen it like 4 or 5 times, and every time I watch it, I cry! My little girl is growing up, we love you Carleigh!!

ER

2010-05-28T02:33:00.002-06:00

Wednesday started out as a great day. Carleigh graduated from preschool! I am still sad that it is already over, and I can't believe my little girl will be in kindergarten in just a few months! We are really going to miss preschool. I will post pictures and tell more about it soon. Anyways, after that, we went to lunch with grandma and grandpa, and my brothers. Then, we went home and watched the dvd Carleigh's teacher made for her. After that, she got ready for dance. Throughout the day, I felt fine, and then right as I picked Carleigh up from dance, I suddenly got the worst pain in my stomach. It hurt so bad, I could barely breathe! I drove home like a crazy person, and I jumped out and ran in the house and I threw up for an hour straight, but the pain in my stomach just got more and more painful. I finally knew I had to go to the emergency room. Tom called my dad, and he had grandma Roz come and pick up the kids. On the way to the hospital, I was screaming and crying, and seriously felt like I was going to die. We got to the hospital, and they started an IV with antibiotics, and pain medication. They took me in for a CT scan, and told me they thought my appendix was enlarged, and may have to be removed! Seriously, I was so scared! I really didn't want to have emergency surgery. So, they made me drink this fantastic tasting beverage(soooo diaguisting!!!)and an hour later they did another CT scan, and this time they did an iodine flush, which makes you feel all warm, and kind of liked you peed your pants! Well, the good news is my appendix is fine, but I have pneumonia, and the infection had leaked into my abdomen, causing the pain! Crazy! So, after 7 wonderful hours in the ER, we were finally able to go home. If I could never do that again, it wouldn't be soon enough! My fantastic mom came up and took my kids, and made them dinner, and watched movies with them , and played games and had popcorn, and did my dishes, and stayed with them until we got home about 1:30 in the morning! Tyler and Bryce came too, and I can't thank them enough! I have a fantastic family! Now I'm just trying to get better and take it easy, sheesh, life is crazy sometimes!

Tyse is 3!!!

2010-05-17T02:15:00.002-06:00

Wow!!My little Tyse is 3! He is a huge Toy Story fan, so he got a fun cake, well cakes!

Look at my little guy, this is how he does his funny face!
What a spoiled little thing! He had so much fun opening presents!
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!!!! He was so excited, so was Braden, I know what to get Braden for his birthday!
Happy birthday Tyse! We love you so much!
Thank you everyone who came and for all of the presents. He got a fire truck from Jamie, Jef, and Payten, Grandma Roz gave him some Toy Story water toys, a Mickey Mouse matching game, and pretzels, from Grandma LuAnn and Grandpa Lynn, a tractor, a helicopter, and clothes, and mom and dad gave him a Buzz doll, new pajamas, and a backpack with Buzz and Woody!
I love my little Tyse! My life wouldn't be the same without him. When I was pregnant, they told me at first that he was a girl. I was so surprised, because I was so sure that he was a boy. We picked out the name Maliya, and bought some girl clothes, and Carleigh was saying baby Maliya. We went in a month later, and the ultrasound tech asked if we had a boy name picked out. I was confused at first, and I said, yeah, Tyse. She said to Carleigh, can you say Tyse? You're going to have a little brother!! We were so surprised! I am sure glad he is my little boy, he is so cute and so smart, and such a handful, always getting into something! Happy birthday!!!

Easter

2010-05-06T01:45:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I know that Easter was like over a month ago, but I am a slacker! Anyways, we had a fun Easter this year. The kids really enjoyed coloring the eggs, especially Carleigh! She had a great time writing on the eggs, she loved it!! Easter and conference were on the same day this year, so that made it kind of fun. We have a tradition in my family to have waffles with strawberries and cool whip on conference, so that was a fun thing and very yummy! We also had Alisha and Wain and Harriett spend the night, so it was fun to spend Easter with them too!

Tyse was sooo ready for a nap at this point! But look at are beautiful eggs!!Tyse being happy! He thought that the egg dye was juice at first! We had to keep telling him not to drink it!
All I can say is SPOILED!!!!!
So excited to see what the Easter Bunny brought!
Best buddies!!

Spring Break!

2010-04-09T01:24:00.002-06:00

Well, what a fun spring break we are having! Not really! I thought that this week would be great- no school, no dance, no speech therapy, just a nice relaxing week. It hasn't been all bad, but on Friday night, we noticed that Tyse's eyes were really goopy(if thats a word!) and on Saturday, he woke up with his eyelashes stuck together! Poor little kid. Anyways, this happened every night, so I decided to take him to the doctor on Tuesday. At the last minute, I thought that while I was there, I would have the doctor check Carleigh too, because she has had a cough that has lasted a couple of weeks. Good thing I did! She has a really nasty ear infection (again!!) and poor Tyse has pinkeye! Fun!! So we got Carleigh a stronger antibiotic, and Tyse got eyedrops,which let me tell you, giving eyedrops 3 times a day is great fun for a 2 year old! Anyways, they are both feeling better already, and today we went and saw the movie, Tooth Fairy with Bryce. It was a lot of fun, and the movie was cute, so we had a good time. Anyways, back to the craziness of life next week! I will post pictures of Easter soon, we had a great time this year!

Carleigh's 1st dance competition!!!

2010-04-02T00:26:00.002-06:00

So, I can't get this stupid post to cooperate, so these are the only pictures I could get to load. Anyways, Carleigh competed in her first competition last Saturday at Davis High!! It was so much fun to go and watch her. she has loved being in dance, and she is so stinking cute!! She loves to perform, and she is not shy at all! She was most excited to get a big trophy(which I can't get to load a picture of!) and her teacher was so proud of her for doing such a good job! She was the best one out there! I am so glad that my parents and Tyler were able to come and watch her, it was a great day! Carleigh is the one on the right

Now she is the one on the left! What a cute little princess!

Waiting for her turn to perform!

The day of her dress rehearsal, Tyse just had to be in the picture, what a cheeseball!

Isn't she a cutie?! This picture was taken before she got her hair cut. So proud of my little girl!!

Jazz Game!!

2010-03-19T01:35:00.003-06:00

So, I have been meaning to do this for a while, and I finally got around to it!! Back in January, Tom won tickets to a Jazz game from work. These weren't just your average tickets though, they were first row floor seats!! I really wanted to go, but I knew that Tom should take my brother Tyler instead. He is the ultimate Jazz fan, and I knew that it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. I'm so glad that they had the chance to go! I have a great husband! The tickets included dinner and they got to watch the players warm-up, up close and personal! Tom having a good time!

See the price? $704!! Good thing he won them!

Like a good husband, he took lots of pictures of Kyle Korver for me!

They just happened to go on Mascot night! It was Bear's birthday!

Warming up!

Tyler eating dinner before the game - does it look like he was a little excited? I'm so glad he got to go, Tyler is a special kid, and it was a special night for them! Maybe I can go next time!

Happy Birthday Tom!!!

2010-01-19T01:12:00.003-07:00

Happy 33rd birthday Tom!! Man we're getting old!! I can't believe we met when I was 18 and you were 21!! I love you so much, and here's 33 reasons why:

1 You are my best friend
2 You are an awesome father
3 You gave me 2 beautiful kids
4 You always put me and the kids before yourself
5 You are very generous
6 You honor your priesthood
7 You married me in the temple
8 You eat my food!
9 You are very considerate
10 You are a great son
11 You are a great brother
12 You always try to do the right thing
13 You have seen me in my worst moments, and love me anyways
14 You laugh with me
15 You've cried with me
16 You work hard to support our family
17 You gave me shots when we did In-vitro
18 You held my hand, and didn't leave my side when the kids were born
19 You have cleaned up gross things that I can't( You know what I'm talking about - Mesquite!)
20 You kill spiders and nasty bugs for me!
21 You can reach the tall shelves in the kitchen
22 You can make me laugh when I'm in a bad mood
23 You are very supportive of my crazy ideas
24 You love our kids, and make then laugh
25 You take us on fun vacations
26 You are a happy person
27 You are a good friend
28 You get along with my family
29 You make the worlds best mashed potatos!
30 You are sexy!!!
31 You change poopy diapers
32 You take out the garbage for me
33 YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!
I love you so much! Happy birthday!!!

Memories

2010-01-14T01:17:00.002-07:00

So, I went to the doctor yesterday for an annual exam (you ladies know what I'm talking about) and it brought back all kinds of mixed emotions. I love my midwife, she's awesome. We were like old friends just sitting around talking, except for the fact that I didn't have any pants on, but thats besides the point! Anyways, we were talking about life, and everything else, and she asked me what my plans were on having more kids. Now, this is a very touchy subject for me. She has been there for me for the last 8 years, and she herself has also struggled with infertility. I honestly didn't know what to say. I will be 30 in a few months, and I wanted to be done with having kids by then. But, there's something inside of me thats not ready to say I'm done. Now, I know that some of you might think that hey, I've got 2 kids, what the hell is wrong with me? I LOVE my kids. I thank Heavenly Father every single day that he has blessed me with them. I love being a mom. But is it too much to ask for one more, or is that selfish? Carleigh has been asking me for a sister, and I really want her to have one, but my body is broken, it does not work the way its supposed to. As I sat there talking to her, I remembered all of those times I had been in that office, and hearing the words, sorry not pregnant, try again next month. Lets up your dosage of clomid......etc. I remembered all of the times I drove home crying, hoping I wouldn't get in an accident. But then, I also remembered the times I went there, and found out I was having a girl, and then a boy, and seeing my babies ultrasoounds. I know I sound bi-polar at this point, and I've been rambling, but I just needed to vent. I need to make peace with my infertility issues, but the fact of the matter is it hurts. Even after 2 kids, it hurts. Hearing about your family and friends, and complete strangers, it hurts. So, I left yesterday with my mixed emotions, and a hug form Karen(my midwife) and once again, I cried all the way home.

Perkins Family ....Year in a nutshell

2009-12-18T00:16:00.002-07:00

Well, another year has flown by. I decided to write down everything that has happened this year, so when I'm really old, maybe I'll remember.

Carleigh had a big birthday this year, she turned 5!! I can't believe how fast that 5 years went by. She had had a lot of exciting things happen this year. She learned how to swim, she danced in her first dance recital, she lost a baby tooth, she started preschool, and she learned how to write her name(and everything else!). She is such a blessing in our lives. She says the funniest things, and makes us laugh all of the time. She has a great imagination, she loves to pretend. She likes to play school, and makes Tyse be her student! She is such a great big sister, and is like a little mommy, even though she can be bossy sometimes! I can't imagine my life without her! She told me recently that when she grows up she wants to be a cash register lady, a mom, a preschool teacher, a dance teacher, and a singer like Taylor Swift! She is such a sweet little girl!

Tyse is 2 1/2 and he is all boy. He loves to get into all sorts of mischief, throw things down the stairs, make messes, and everything else little boys love doing. He has been having a speech therapist come since June, and he is making a lot of progress. His favorite words lately are want some, Santa, tree, pretty, and What's up? He is such a funny little boy, he makes us laugh. He likes to dance and sing, and follow Carleigh around! He likes to give hugs and kisses, and likes to be cuddled at nighttime. He makes my life a lot of fun, and he is such a joy! I am sad because he is looking less and less like a baby, and more and more like a little boy. I love my little Tyse, and his big smile, it makes my day every day.

Tom is still working at Local Results doing internet marketing. We are so grateful that he has a job in these difficult times. He is a great husband and father, and I am so thankful that he works so hard to support our family. I am also grateful that he honors his priesthood, and can bless our family when we need it. I love him so much! We celebrated our 10 year anniversary this year, it was so great!

As for me, I am the mom. That pretty much sums it up! I clean the house, take Carleigh to school and dance, go shopping, make food, do laundry, pretty much all of the things that it takes to take care of my family. I am so grateful that I get to stay home and take care of my kids. I love it! Tom and I have had some very difficult things to overcome this year, but we have learned a lot from the trials that we have gone through. We know that there is a Heavenly Father that loves us, and that He wants the best for us. We are thankful for this time of year to remember the birth of our Savior and the life that he lived. We are thankful for our family and friends, and for everything that you all do for us. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

Carleigh's 5!!!!!

2009-11-18T00:47:00.002-07:00

On this day 5 years ago, the most beautiful baby girl was born at 12:25 pm, weighing 8lbs 2oz, and 21 inches long! That was one of the happiest days of my life! I love my little Carleigh so much, she is so smart, and she makes me and Tom proud. She is a good sister, and a good helper!I can't believe that my baby is 5 today! We celebrated her birthday on Sunday, and tonight we are going bowling and out to dinner. I will have to post pictures of everything in the next couple of days. I just wanted to share some of Carleigh's favorites:
Favorite color: yellow and pink
Favorite food: spaghetti and pizza
Favorite toy: her cash register, she loves to pretend that she is a waitress, and ring us up at the register, and serve our food
Favorite song: If Taylor Swift is singing, its her favorite!
Favorite thing to do: going to school, going to dance, playing with Tyse, drawing, pretending that she is a teacher
What she wants to be when she grows up: a mom and a singer
Happy Birthday Carleigh!!!

Lost tooth!!!

2009-11-13T01:28:00.002-07:00

Carleigh lost her 1st tooth on Tuesday!! Well, if you want to be technical, it's really her 3rd missing tooth, but this time it happened on its own! For those of you who don't know, when Carleigh was 2, she fell down the stairs at my parents house, and landed face first on the tile floor! She broke her two front teeth, it was really awful! She only had to have one pulled, and the other one had a crown on it. Then, about 6 months ago, she had to have the other front tooth pulled because she was born with 2 baby teeth on that tooth, and the extra tooth was pushing it outwards. So, she has had 2 missing front teeth for a while! Anyways, I noticed that her bottom tooth was loose about 2 weeks ago. She was scared at first (who can blame her) with the previous experience she has had, until I explained that it would fall out on its own. It just so happened that we went to the dentist on Tuesday, and she was so worried that he would pull it out. He was really cute with her, and told her that this time she could do it on her own at home! That made her really happy! Later that night, she was sitting on the couch with us, and she said, mommy, what is this? I turned to see what she was holding, and then she said, is it my tooth? Then she started to cry! Poor kid, it scared her! It was so funny, she said, How will I ever eat again? After a couple of minutes, she calmed down, and then she got really excited. She went and got the tooth box the dentist gave her, and then put it under her pillow. She said, I better go to bed right now so the tooth fairy can come! It was really cute. The next morning, she jumped up on my bed, and said, MOMMY!!! Look what the tooth fairy left me!! We gave her 12 quarters because she loves to count money! I can't believe my little girl is old enough to start losing teeth! What a cute smile! My dad asked her if all she wanted for Christmas was her two front teeth, and she said, no, I want presents! So funny!!

What a cheeseball!! I sure do love my little Carleigh!!

Halloween!!!

2009-11-06T00:40:00.002-07:00

We had such a great Halloween! This is Carleigh scooping seeds out of the pumpkin. She loved it! We cooked the seeds and the kids loved them! Carleigh is such a girl, I was surprised that she would stick her hands in there!

Tyse is showing off his muscles! What a little stud! He's gonna be a heartbreaker someday!

Our lovely pumpkin!

This one was my creation! The kids wanted a scary one!

Cute kids!!!

My cute little princess, and my handsome cowboy!

Poor Tyse! He hated wearing the cowboy hat! We had to bribe him with a sucker to keep it on!

Going trick or treating with Grandma LuAnn, Bryce, Tyler, Jamie Jef, and Payten. Good times!

OK, Tom is going to KILL ME!!! He threatened me with my life if I posted this on here, but its too good not to! He had to dress up for work, and he looked hilarious! You can't see too well, but he had curlers in his hair, and then a hairnet over the top, it was pink and lacey! Then, he had on my robe, fake boobies made out of socks, and baggy nylons! I was laughing so hard I was crying! Looking good babe!!

Carleigh's dance recital!

2009-11-06T00:25:00.003-07:00

Carleigh was soooo excited about her dance recital! It was a Halloween recital, and a food drive for the food bank too. She looked so cute! Her team danced to Cruella De Vil. I was so proud of Carleigh, she was on the end of the line, so there were a few times she made her move first, and she did it right every time, she was so cute!

She loved the attention! I didn't get a picture, but Grandma LuAnn and Tyler and Bryce came to watch, and also Grandma Roz, Jamie, Jef and Payten!!

This was Carleigh the next night at the Rec Center in Bountiful. She is the first one on the left. As you can tell, I need a better camera!

10 years!!!!

2009-09-24T01:38:00.002-06:00

September 24th 1999 I married my best friend in the St.George temple . I can't believe its been that long ago. We've been through so much in that time, and looking back, I wouldn't trade any experience that we've had. I was only 19 when we got married, but I don't regret it for one minute. We've done some pretty amazing things together, been to some pretty amazing places, and we have the most beautiful kids in the world. I don't know what I would do without Tom in my life. I know that this past couple of years has been pretty rough, we've been in some situations that have not been ideal, but we've managed to make it through. I know that things will continue to get better as the years go on. I can't beleive I'm lucky enough to be married to such an incredible man. Tom is a great dad, and a great husband. He's held my hand through many many many trials over the last 10 years, and I love him so much. Can't wait for the next 10! I thought I loved you then.......

First Day of school!!

2009-09-17T15:22:00.003-06:00

So, finally, the day she waited months for finally arrived!!! PRESCHOOL!!!! Carleigh started last Wednesday, and she absolutely LOVES it!! I've never seen a kid more excited to go to school, but I'm sure that'll eventually wear off, maybe by the time she gets to Jr High! I won't lie, I got a little teary eyed dropping her off on her first day, I just can't believe that she is growing up so fast! Me and Tyse are really enjoying spending one on one time together, but Tyse really misses her! This is where Carleigh goes to preschool in the picture below: Carleigh hanging up her backpack! She got a new princess backpack that she LOVES!

Carleigh meeting new friends, and playing with toys, waiting for school to start!

SO EXCITED!!! Finally able to go to school!

This is Carleigh on her first day! I just love this picture!

This picture was taken last week, the day before school started. My kids love to listen to the radio and dance around the kitchen and sing!

Singing and dancing to Big Green Tractor!

Carleigh really got into it when Taylor Swift came on! Cute!!

Camping at Crystal Hot Springs

2009-09-17T15:04:00.002-06:00

So, I am really bad at updating things on here, but I finally got around to doing it! These are some pictures of our camping trip to Crystal Hot Springs in August. It was a lot of fun. The whole family went, and I don't remember the last time that we all went on a trip together. It was only for 2 nights, but it was a lot of fun. It was the first time me and Tom have taken the kids camping(bad, I know!) and they had so much fun! Carleigh woke up in the morning, and said "I sleeped in a tent!" My mom's sister Kathie and her family were there too, it was some good times! This is my brother Tyler above.

Kalen and Jef playing with fire!

Havin' lots of fun, sitting around the fire, everyone looks tired!

Tyse and his buddy Bryce. What a good uncle!

Getting ready to eat some dutch oven dinner. Chicken, potatos, carrots, onions, mmmmmm, makes me hungry! Me and Jamie were way excited, we both hadn't had it in long time!

Tom doesn't need caffeine to wake him up, just give him a 7-up!

Our tent, me and Tom and the kids slept in the tent with Jamie, Jef and Payten. Good times!

Ok, this is not such a great picture, they're all looking down, but how cute are they?

Seriously, what else could go wrong???

2009-09-03T00:37:00.002-06:00

Have you ever had a week where you wonder, what else could possibly go wrong? Well, we're having one of those weeks around here. Lets see, on Monday, Carleigh was running and she tripped over her own feet, and crashed into the wall. She has a HUGE bruise on her forehead thats now a lovely green color. Then, we tried to take the kids to the movies for FHE, and even though we were 20 minutes early, the movie was sold out, Carleigh cried until we took her to the park, and then that made her happy. Then, that night, Tom was asleep, and I was reading a book in bed, and I heard a horrible creaking sound and then a pop pop pop and our bed came crashing down on my side of the bed! We both screamed, it was around 2 in the morning, it scared the crap out of us! Our bed had a small crack in the side when we moved, and it finally gave way. It was so scary. Then, the next morning, Tom went to leave for work, and his car wouldn't start! We're hoping its just a dead battery, but it might be the alternator which is around $100 to fix. Then, when he was trying to fix the bed tonight, he hit his head on a piece of wood, and has a big gash above his eye! So, I'm hoping that the rest of the week goes a lot better! We have also had a lot of good and exciting things going on too. On Monday, Tom got a $5 per hour raise, which is completely awesome! It will help out so much! We are so grateful that he has a good job! We were able to go to the movie on Tuesday, we saw UP, it is a great movie, and has a great moral to it. And, next week my baby starts preschool! I can't believe how fast Carleigh is growing up! She is so smart and such a beautiful little girl. She is also on a dance team this year, which is a performing team, so that should be fun. And Tyse is learning more and more every day. Life is good, even if we've had a bad week!!

Summer fun!

2009-07-28T01:26:00.008-06:00

So, I finally decided to post some pictures of all of the family fun we've been having this summer. Its kind of out of order, but this is just a small portion of pictures! Brace yourself! Hanging out in the pool! Its so nice to have it right in our backyard!

Tyse looking cool in dad's shades! At the Bountiful parade, waiting for Carleigh on the float she was riding for dance. Tom forgot to take her picture on the float - whoops!

It took a month, but she is finally brave enough to swim across the pool! Its a big accomplishment for her!

Tyse is fearless in the water. Its fun to watch him dive in! He is a good little swimmer.

Ready, set, JUMP!!!

Swimming buddies! Obviously, we have done a lot of swimming lately!

Carleigh looking cute for the Bountiful parade. She was so excited to ride in the parade for dance.

My cute little buddy!

Getting ready to go for a swim!

He was sooo excited to see the fire trucks and police cars. 4th of July parade in Kaysville.

Carleigh at the Taylor Swift concert. This is her tour bus, too bad she wasn't inside!

Happy 4th of July!

Another picture at the Taylor Swift concert! Carleigh was in heaven!!

Count your many blessings

2009-07-20T02:16:00.002-06:00

I can't believe how quickly life can take a dramatic turn in just one day. Last week Tom and I were struggling to count our blessings, wondering what our future had in store for us. One night, as we checked our e-mail, out lives were turned around once again, but finally in a good way. His former employer contacted him, and begged him to come back and work for them. He was let go about 3 months ago, and since then they have restructured their company, and as they were talking about going forward, Tom's name was brought up. The new owner of the company started looking over Tom's file, and realized that he is still the top salesman in their company, and was really anxious to have him come back to work there. He starts tomorrow, and we are so excited. Its the first time in a long time that something has gone well for us. I know that Heavenly Father listens and answers our prayers, and I know that we have to trust his time table, and not our own.

Warning: Depressing thoughts ahead

2009-07-07T01:56:00.005-06:00

So, 3 years ago yesterday, I started my In-Vitro to have Tyse. As I was thinking about that, and how fast those 3 years have gone by I started thinking about my life, and how I got to be where I am today. The last 2 years have been really difficult for me and Tom, and a lot of what has happened is too personal to share on this blog, but it has been one of the hardest times in our lives. Its funny how things can change so quickly. 2 years ago we owned a home, Tom had a job that he enjoyed, and we had awesome insurance that covered in-vitro. We thought we had everything. A few bad decisions later, here we sit renting my uncles house, Tom hating his job, and looking for a new one constantly, and no insurance. Sometimes it can be very overwhelming, and I wonder why all of this bad stuff had to happen. Through it all, I have been aware of Heavenly Father's presence, and his guidance in my life. I know that I have a lot to be thankful for, and I do realize that he has blessed me so much. But tonight I sit here crying as I write this, wondering what His plan is for me, why He won't let me have another baby, why life has to be so hard all the time. And wondering where the next 3 years will take me.

What a difference a year makes!!

2009-06-08T17:28:00.004-06:00

I was looking through pictures, and I can't believe how much things can change in just a year! This is Tyse on his 1st birthday! He has changed so much in the past year! He is getting so big, and is so independent. He has to do everything himself - he won't let anyone help him. I can't believe he is already 2!! He is definately a handful, he's the complete opposite of Carleigh. He is always on the go, and keeps me busy! I am a little sad that he is growing up so quickly, sometimes I want my baby back! I think it is harder knowing that I probably won't have any more children, but I sure do love the ones I've got!!

Tyse at 1 year

Tyse at age 2
Now, Carleigh on the other hand is getting bigger everyday, and learning more and more! But along with that, it is also making her more defiant and I hear the word no and I don't want to a lot more than I used to! She is a very bossy little thing, but she is also a big helper, and I don't know what I would do without her. She definately tests my patience on a daily basis, but I love my little girl.

Carleigh at age 3

Carleigh at age 4

Just a little update: We recently went to the Taylor Swift concert and had an AMAZING time! It was so awesome to see Carleigh having a blast and taking pictures. My camera is being retarded, so I haven't been able to download any pictures, but hopefullyI will be able to very soon. We had such a great time, and I am so glad that we were able to go. We also went to Lagoon, and both of tht kids had a great time. It is so fun now that they can both go on more rides. Hopefully we can get the pictures on here soon!!

Tyse's birthday!!!

2009-05-22T16:58:00.005-06:00

So, I guess I am a bad mom for not getting these on here sooner, but here they are finally! Tyse turned 2 last Sunday, May 17th! I can't believe my baby is already 2. The past 2 years have really gone by quickly! I am so grateful for my little boy. He is so loveable and such a good boy. He is very mellow and such a good little helper. He always wants to be in the middle of everything. He loves everything that moves; cars, balls, anything that goes. He loves chasing Carleigh around, and playing with her. She went to Idaho yesterday with Grandma Perkins, and poor Tyse was lost without her! I am so glad that he is part of our family, it wouldn't be the same without him. I wasn't sure if we would would ever be able to have kids, and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with 2 of his most precious children to take care of. Tyse had such a fun birthday, and lots of people to celebrate with. I have posted lots of pictures below of his party. Happy Birthday Buddy!

Chocolate cake sure tastes good! He was such a mess when he was done, we had to give him a bath before he opened his presents!

He didn't quite get the concept of blowing out the candles! He tried to grab it instead, so Carleigh helped!

This is a picture of outside our house. Carleigh loved helping me put up the balloons.

What a fun party! We had lots of people. Grandma LuAnn and Grandpa Lynn, Grandma Roz, Tyler, Braden and Aubrey, Jef and Jamie and Payten, Kalen ,Bryce, Tom's brother Jeff and his girlfriend Chelsee, Alisha and Wain, and her friend from her mission Paula. And of course, mom, dad, and Carleigh. What a party for a 2 year old!! Also, Roger, Carson, and Walker showed up at the end of the party.

Another shot of all the party people!

This was Tyse opening his present from mom and dad. A lawnmower that blows bubbles! How fun!! Carleigh loves it as much as he does!

He also got a fun car that plays music, and goes forward and backwards from grandma and grandpa Holgreen. They also gave him a cute basketball outfit!

He really had fun opening his presents. Happy Birthday Tyse!! My big 2 year old!!

A little bit of surgery!

2009-05-18T01:35:00.002-06:00

So, I am a little bit frustrated with my camera tonight, I can't get any pictures to copy, so they will be coming as soon as I can figure out what the problem is! But, Carleigh went in this past Thursday to have her other front tooth pulled. She was born with an extra tooth, and it was pushing her front tooth out, so they both had to be removed. It was so sad to see her be put under for her surgery, but she is one tough cookie! She never once complained, or even said that she was in pain. She was dancing and singing within 2 hours of her surgery! I told her she could even stay in her pajamas all day, but she didn't want to! We have been eating a lot of fun stuff like jello, and ice cream, but she even had steak the other day! She looks cute with no front teeth!

Life goes on

2009-05-06T17:16:00.002-06:00

So, its now May. I can't believe my baby will be 2 in a week an a half. Where does the time go? We are adjusting to living in Bountiful. Its been a lot nicer to be able to be closer to our family. Today my sister came over and we were able to hang out and let our kids play. Its so nice to be able to do that, I missed hanging out with her last year when we lived a lot further away. We are also extremely happy that Tom was able to find another job as quickly as he did. He was only unemployed for 2 weeks, and I know that we were truly blessed that he was able to find a job so fast. There are a lot of people we know that have been out of a job for months, so we are very lucky. Tom got a job at a company called PMI. They help people start online businesses. We are hoping he will enjoy it there. So, I know that this was a pretty boring entry, but we are just living life, nothing too exciting happening. Happy Mothers Day to all of you ladies out there whether you are moms or not. Even without kids of your own, all women are influential in the lives of your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your friends, and your neices and nephews. Moms Rock!!!

Good news, and bad news

2009-04-27T16:11:00.002-06:00

So, which do you want first, the good news or the bad news? I guess we'll start with the good news. We moved last week! Yay!! Its so nice to be in a bigger place, and to have a yard for the kids to play in. They're already having so much fun being here. It was hard for Tyse the first few days we were here. He wasn't used to anything, and he had a really hard time sleeping and taking naps. It was a rough few days for him, but he is adjusting really well now. I will post some pictures when I find my computer cable thing for the camera. We are starting to get settled, and get everything unpacked. I hate it. I hate moving. It seems like you can never find anything, and by the time you do find it, you don't need it anymore. But, we're happy to be here, and be a little closer to family. Well, now for the bad news...................Tom got let go at his job. The past 2 weeks have been really rough. Luckily, we have a little bit of money in savings to get us through a few months. That has really been a blessing in all of this. Tom had a really awesome job, and he was the top salesman for the past 6 months, but his job let all of their top performers go because they were making too much money. It has been really hard on us, and we are left wondering what is going to happen. Tom is an awesome salesman, we are just hoping he can get another good job quickly, so , if anyone knows someone that is hiring, let us know! Tom started a new job today selling pest control door to door in the meantime. That's what I love about him. He is not the type of person who gets easily discouraged, and he always does what needs to be done. He is a great person, and I love him so much. So, everyone keep your ears open for us!

Taylor Swift tickets!

2009-04-07T01:44:00.003-06:00

So, I am totally excited!!! We got our tickets to Taylor Swift, and now we can't wait until May 26th. My aunt Kathie called my mom and told her the tickets were going on a pre-sale through one of the radio stations. If it hadn't been for her, I don't think we would have gotten tickets because the concert sold out in 5 minutes! Carleigh has been asking me every day how long until it is the concert! Other than that, nothing much is going on with us, other than packing up to move. We are moving to Bountiful on April 18th, and that has kept us pretty busy! So, if you'd like to help, just let us know!

A movie, a new bike, and a trip to the aquarium

2009-03-26T01:05:00.010-06:00

Well, we sure had a fun weekend! Last Friday, Tom and I decided to be adventurous and take the kids to the movies, well, the dollar movies that is! But, to my surprise, they were SOOOO good! We saw Bedtime Stories, and they just sat there, and ate their popcorn, and watched the movie. They both got a little tired towards the end, but overall, they did good. I am excited that we can all go to movies together. The next day, Saturday, Tom had to go in to work for a couple of hours, and when he came home, he surprised Carleigh with .......

a big girl bike!! She was so excited when she came down the stairs and saw this waiting for her! She has been wanting this for a long time, but its been to cold to ride it, so we waited. She absolutely loves it! After Tom got home, we went to the living aquarium in Sandy. The kids had so much fun! Tyse was glued to the fish tanks, and he would squeal everytime a fish would swim by him. I would highly recommend it. They have a tank with stingrays in it that you can touch, but Tom was the only one who did. I wanted to but the water was too deep. Sometimes it stinks to be so short!

This is a picture of the jellyfish, with Carleigh's reflection. She said that these were her favorite!

The kids checking out the fish!

Tyse was so cute looking at the turtles and the fish. I just love his cute little smile!

This is one of my favorite pictures! The kids were so excited to sit and watch the little "Nemo" fish swim around! Tyse stayed just like that for literally 20 minutes! I love my kids! SHARK!!!!! Thanks Tom for the fun weekend!!

Sick kids and Springtime

2009-03-17T01:02:00.000-06:00

Well, what a lousy couple of days we've had!! I am so tired, and I am ready for my kids to get better! Friday night, Carleigh spiked a fever that was 104.3. It was so scary, she's never had one that high before! We called the hospital, and Tom's dad, and they said to cool her off ASAP. Luckily, the medicine kicked in, and she cooled down, but she was up half the night wanting to be held, and needing water. Saturday, it was Tyse's turn. They both had fevers and terrible coughs, and were miserable. Then, on Sunday, Carleigh started complaining that her ear hurt, and Tyse was pulling at his ears too, so I knew that most likely they had ear infections. They both had runny noses and were coughing, and were whiny all day. Tyse was up on and off on Sunday night, and in pain, so I took them to the doctor today. Poor little Tyse has a double ear infection, and a form of the flu. He had a temperature of 103 at the dr.'s office. Carleigh has a ear infection in her right ear, and a form of the flu also. They were a little happier today, and I am so grateful for medicine to help them get feeling better.
On a happier note, its FINALLY getting a little warmer, and its almost spring! Thats good news for anyone! I am so glad its warming up, and that we're moving to a bigger house with a yard. My kids are so excited to have grass to play on instead of dirt and weeds. I am ready to break out the shorts and sandals, but I have lived in Utah long enough to know that it will probably snow AT LEAST one more time!

I Love To See The Temple

2009-03-10T01:28:00.000-06:00

On Saturday, my entire family went to the Draper Temple Open House. I will post pictures later, my batteries in my camera died. Carleigh was so excited to be able to actually go inside the temple, and see all of the beautiful rooms. She loved seeing the bridal room, and she told me she's excited to get married in the temple so she can sit down on the stool and do her makeup! She loved the entire experience. Tyse really made us laugh, and the people around us. We walked right by the baptismal font which was full of water, and he pointed to it, and got really excited, and wanted to go swimming! He screamed when we wouldn't let him get down and get in the water, and everyone around us was laughing. It was hilarious! What I will always remember, is being in the sealing room with my entire family. Seeing my kids and my husband, and my parents and brothers and sister all together, and being able to look in the mirrors, and seeing our image go on forever, it was one of the greatest feelings in my life. I am so grateful that I married a wonderful man in the temple, and that I have a great family to spend eternity with.

I love to see the temple,
I'll go inside someday
I'll covenant with my Father,
I'll promise to obey

For the temple is a holy place
where we are sealed together
as a child of God I've learned these truths;
a family is forever!

Goodbye Gracie

2009-03-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

So, in my last post, I mentioned a little girl named Gracie who just received a heart transplant that was not working. Tonight, her parents made the agonizing decision to turn off her life support. They donated her organs, and by doing so, were not able to spend the last moments of her life holding her, as she had to be rushed off to the operating room. I cannot imagine the grief these parents are experiencing tonight, and I pray for them that they will find peace and happiness. I can't believe that a tiny baby that I don't even know has affected my life so deeply. What I do know is that families can be together forever, and how grateful I am to have that knowledge. I love my family, and tonight I am grateful that I have two healthy kids that I got to tuck in bed. Tonight heaven has a new angel. Goodbye Gracie, and thank you for letting me be a part of your life, and for reminding me what is most important.

Just random

2009-02-27T01:19:00.000-07:00

So, not a whole lot going on right now at the Perkins residence. Just hanging out, livin life. One big thing is that we are FINALLY going to be moving in the middle of April to Bountiful, and we are sooo excited to be a little closer to everyone, and closer to Tom's work! We are going to rent Roger's house (with a swimming pool!!) and I'm sure we'll be hosting some totally awesome pool parties! Tomorrow, we are meeting with a potential preschool for Carleigh to go to in the fall. I've been looking around, and I can't believe the prices of preschools, and the waiting lists - its insane! I think its harder to get into some preschools than college! Seriously! But, this one we're going to see is a lady who does it out of her home, and she's a licensed teacher, so it should work out well. It sound like people have given her good reviews, and its not just glorified daycare! Carleigh is so excited to be able to go to preschool, and I'm already wondering what it will be like to just hang out with Tyse alone for a few hours! Maybe I'll actually get some stuff done! Or, maybe not! Nothing really new with us, Tom's brother Jeff has been living with us for the past 2 weeks, Tom got him a job at his company. We don't see him a whole lot, he just comes home from work, and eats, and then goes out with his girlfriend all night. He is going to be moving in with Braden next week, and then we won't have to be his parents anymore, and give him a curfew! Like he comes home on time anyway! Anyway, hope all is well with each of you. Also, as a final note, I came across a blog about a little girl named Gracie, who is 11 months old, and she just received a heart transplant, and its not working, so she needs a new one. I'm asking each of you to pray for this sweet little girl, and count your blessings for your health, and the health of your kids, and families. Their blog is thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com

Everyday Life

2009-02-13T01:03:00.000-07:00

Well, there's really nothing going on, so I'm sure this will be a very boring post. Life just continues to go on day after day, same old story. Lately, I've just realized how fast my kids are growing up, and it kind of makes me sad in a way. Sometimes I miss the little newborn stage, where every day is different, and I loved just being able to snuggle with them. But I do love this age my kids are at now. Carleigh loves to learn, and every day we are working on writing her name, and new little art projects like coloring, or making something out of construction paper. She loves to read,and she is learning what sounds the letters make. She also takes a dance class once a week, and looks forward to it all week long. She is excited to start preschool in the fall. Tyse is at a cute age too. He is learning to talk, and loves animals,especially cats and dogs. He is in to absolutely everything! He loves to empty out drawers, and play with my measuring cups and pots and pans, but its too hard to get mad at his sweet little face! He is almost as big as his sister, there's only a few pounds between the two of them, and he already tackles her,and beats her up. Its really cute to see them being able to play with each other, and to realize how much they love and care about each other. If I send one of them to time out, the other one usually ends up there too, comforting the other one! They keep me busy, and I am grateful that I can stay home with them. Me and Tom are just living life, and trying to make the most out of each day. I am grateful for my life and my family, and in this crazy world, thats nothing to be ashamed of.

TAYLOR SWIFT!!!

2009-02-05T01:07:00.000-07:00

Wow! I am so excited! Taylor Swift is coming to Salt Lake on May 26th!! For those of you who don't know, Carleigh is obsessed with anything and everythng to do with Taylor Swift. She knows the words to every song, and every time we get in the truck, the first thing she says is can I listen to Taylor Swift. I am so excited to take her to this concert, and I'm hoping it won't to too expensive to get backstage passes to meet her. Anyways, I am excited, and Carleigh is too!!

Will I ever accept my trials?

2009-01-29T01:14:00.001-07:00

So, I have been thinking alot about my life lately, and about certain situations that I am faced with. I have some major blessings in my life, but at times I tend to get depressed about the situations that I cannot control. We have been looking for a home to move into, and it seems like there is nothing that is working out, and it is so frustrating. When we moved here, we were excited, and then there were so many problems with the neighborhood, and our house, that we are going to be moving, and it is so hard to find a good rental. We can't buy for another year because Tom needs a two year average to get a loan because his job is paid on commission only. Also, we would really like to have another baby, but with all of my fertility problems, its probably not going to happen. Sometimes I feel like Heavenly Father doesn't hear me, that he doesn't care about how I feel. I love my two kids, and my husband, but I want what I want when I want it. I am not a patient person. Anyways, sorry for the depressing post, but I just needed to vent!

A new little baby!

2009-01-23T01:29:00.001-07:00

I just had to write about the new little baby girl who was born just a few short hours ago. My little sister just gave birth to Payten Deann Parker, a beautiful little 6 lb. 12 oz. 20 inch little girl. I am a proud new aunt! It seems like it was just me and Tom sitting there in Jef and Jamie's shoes. How can time pass so quickly? My baby will turn 2 in May! Where does the time go? It was so weird to see my baby sister as a new mommy tonight! I still think of her as being 12 years old, her hair in a pony tail, tagging along with me and my friends, and me telling her to get lost. I never would have guessed that we would become close friends, and spend hours talking, and hanging out. She is my only sister in a house full of boys, and I love her so much! I hope she and Jef will have many happy moments, and enjoy their new little bundle of joy! And, I already know that I am the favorite aunt!

Happy 32nd birthday Tom!

2009-01-19T01:49:00.000-07:00

So, I just wanted to wish Tom a Happy Birthday. I can't believe I've known him for over 10 years. He was fresh off his mission when we met. For those of you who don't know, he was my home teacher in college! Who would have ever thought we would get married, and have kids? I just want Thomas to know what he means to me. He is the most wonderful husband and father in the world. He is the one person I know that understands me, and loves me for who I am , and doesn't expect me to change. He has stood beside me through all of lifes challanges, and always gave me encouragement when I needed it the most. He even gave me shots through both rounds of in vitro without complaining. He is respectful, and kind, and loving, and unselfish. I am so grateful to have such a great husband. He always helps me around the house, and with the kids, and is always trying ways to improve our lives. I love him so much, and I hope he has a great birthday!

Yay!! Pictures

2009-01-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally figured out how to hook up my camera to my computer, technology is amazing! So, now I have pictures of last month. We had an amazing time on our cruise. I'm so glad we were able to hang out together as a family. The kids had so much fun. They both loved the beach, and getting their feet wet. I promised them we would go in the summer so they can actually swim in the ocean. It was really warm in California, about 65 -70 the whole time we were there, and we were sad to come home to the freezing cold weather and snow. We got home on the 21st of December, and then it was Christmas! Our christmas was so much fun this year. Kids make it so fun. Everything is exciting and fun. I promised Carleigh we would make sugar cookies for santa, and even though I had the flu, and a fever, I kept my promise! Christmas morning was really cute, Carleigh came down the stairs, and just looked and looked, and didn't even touch her presents. I finally told her to pick one out, and she was so excited about every present she opened. She helped Tyse open all of his presents too. They were both spoiled, and they both got everything on their list. Carleigh's favorite presents were her jewelry and her vacuum. She loves her new dolls too. Tyse loves his new fire truck, and all of his balls. He is such a boy! Well, thats enough rambling for now, hope you all had a great holiday season also!

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-02T01:25:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe another year has come and gone. I am excited for whatever 2009 has to bring. Sorry I don't have any pictures yet- they will be coming. We had an awesome time on our cruise! The kids had so much fun. We were able to go to the beach, and the kids loved getting their feet wet. We also had a wonderful Christmas, we were all spoiled, and we all had a great time with family. I will post more about last month when I get my pictures on here. But, for now, I hope everyone has a great 2009!

December fun

2008-12-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

What a fun month its going to be! Last Wednesday, Carleigh got to dance at the Festial of Trees. She loved it! I think it went to her head a little bit. She keeps saying Hey mom, I danced and then all the people clapped and clapped for me! She did a really good job, and it was so much fun to see her up there. Then, next week we are going on a cruise with the whole Perkins clan for Christmas! We are all so excited, especially the kids, I cant wait! The, we will be back right in time for Christmas. I love this time of year, and all the time I get to spend with my family. This year, me and Tom have experienced some really challenging trials, but we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am grateful for the lessons I've learned. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Such a wonderful time of year!

2008-11-25T01:05:00.000-07:00

So, it is always a pleasant thing to wake up at 2:30 in the morning to the sound of one of your kids throwing up. And its even more pleasant when that child is sleeping in your bed. Yeah, pretty fun stuff going on at our house the past few days. Poor Carleigh! I feel so bad for her. But its the strangest thing - she throws up at night, and then during the day she is completely fine.I just hope she doesn't get the rest of us sick, but that almost never works out that way. I have to say though, I am so grateful for my new washer and dryer that hold huge loads so I can wash my comforter (especially since I had to wash it 2 days in a row). Oh, the joys of having kids! Happy Thanksgiving !!

Happy Birthday Carleigh!!

2008-11-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe my baby girl is 4! Where does the time go? She is such a sweet little girl. We had a party for her Monday at Grandma and Grandpa's house. They gave her the new Taylor Swift CD. She was very excited! She had a chocolate princess cake, and had a good time playing with cousins and aunts and uncles. Carleigh is such a blessing in my life, and such a miracle. I was told that I would never be able to have kids, and yet, here she is, happy and healthy and an amazingly beautiful little girl. Happy birthday sweetie! I love you !!

Sweet little birthday girl!

2008-11-12T01:18:00.000-07:00

How can Carleigh possibly be turning 4 next week?! I can't believe its been so long. How fast those 4 years have gone. She is so smart and so talented. I am so thankful that she was sent to our family. Many of you know what trials we endured trying to get pregnant, and I truly believe that Carleigh (and Tyse) are miracle babies. I am so grateful for these two precious kids, and that I get to be their mom. I hope that I will not let them down, because they both deserve so much!

Our life

2008-11-08T01:27:00.000-07:00

I finally posted some pictures! Life can get so hectic sometimes! We have so many things happening this month. I am excited for next Friday and Saturday for Jamie and Jef to go to the temple and get sealed. Then, the next week on the 18th is Carleighs birthday. I can't believe my baby will be 4! Then, we are having Jamie's baby shower a few days later. Then. of course, is Thanksgiving! We are super excited to go on our cruise in December with Toms family. Life never slows down, but I am learning to enjoy the journey!

November Already?!

2008-11-03T00:46:00.000-07:00

I really can't believe its November already. Carleigh is getting excited for her birthday on the 18th. Its crazy to think that she's going to be 4! It seems like just yesterday that she was born. I can't imagine life without her. I love when this time of year rolls around and we celebrate Thanksgiving. My dad always makes us go around the table and tell what we are thankful for before we can eat, and we can't use the same answer twice. This year, I decided to think ahead, and let everyone know what I am thankful for. I am thankful for the gospel in my life, and for the peace it brings to me. I am thankful for my wonderful, kind, loving husband. I am thankful for my two truly amazing children. I am thankful for the power of the priesthood and the miracles I have been blessed with. I am thankful that I live in a nice warm home, even though I complain that its too small. I am thankful for the food I am able to eat. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my life, and my health, and my body. And, most importantly, I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who loves me no matter what.

Halloween!

2008-10-30T16:29:00.000-06:00

Well, I am working on getting more pictures on here, but until then, I will keep you all updated on our family. Halloween is so much more fun when you have kids! Last night we carved our pumpkins, and the kids had so much fun. Carleigh loved scooping out the seeds, and helping Tom make a silly face for our pumpkin. She is so proud of it! Tyse tried to help too, but he didn't like getting his hands all slimy! We toasted the seeds, and both of the kids loved them, to our surprise! I am excited for tomorrow, and so is Carleigh. She has been telling me all day that you have to say thank you when you get your candy! What a silly girl she is. She makes me laugh sometimes. Today at lunch, I told he she needed to eat faster, and she rolled her eyes at me. I said son't roll your eyes at me young lady; to which she replied don't roll your eyes at me young mommy! She is fun. Tyse is going to be a Jazz player for Halloween this year, and Carleigh is going as a butterfly. It should be lots of fun ! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2008-10-29T01:47:00.000-06:00

So, I guess I have decided to join the world of blogging! I am not a computer wizard by any means. so I guess I will have to learn as I go. Everything is going good for us currently. Tom is loving his job in internet marketing, and I am enjoying my kids learning ang growing every day. Tyse is getting bigger and stronger, and his favorite thing to do is cause mischief, and make messes for me to clean up! He loves emptying drawers and throwing things everywhere. I guess thats what boys do! He also loves beating up Carleigh, since he's as big as she is. Carleigh is getting smarter every day. She says stuff out of the blue sometimes, and cracks us up. She loves listening to Taylor Swift's music, and loves to sing and dance, She takes a dance class once a week, and loves it. I think she will be a performer when she grows up. Life is good!

*****Tom + Britney = Carleigh and Tyse*****