Love Life

What a great year the White Family has had; ups and downs but all in all we are healthy, happy, and still here. I am loving life and cherishing every moment I have with my ever growing children. I think this year I have grown to realize that its the times I spend with my Husband and Children that make me the happiest and by letting thinks go I am a better wife and mother.
This year I started a new job, was girls camp director for the first time, I'm Co-PTA president, just got put in as Secretary in the young women's, and am happier than I have ever been!! I have the best kids in the world and have the sweetest, hottest, husband around!!
I saw this quote recently and want this to be my goal and motto for the coming year!!
"Don't be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. Accentuate the positive. Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life."  - Gordon B. Hinckley

Christmas 2013

We had a great Christmas this year as we always do. I woke up at 8:00am and went out to see if the kids were awake yet and Brynlee was watching t.v. all by herself. I said to her don't you guys want to open presents, I told her to go wake everyone up. I couldn't believe that no one was up and begging to open presents. Santa brought one gift ( my new tradition I started last year) and a stocking and then Warren and I gave all the kids several gifts each. We had the money this year to give them a bit more than usual but my perspective on it is we don't over indulge are kids through out the year so at Christmas I like to get them what they want and a few of what they need. We had a nice Christmas Eve celebration to really focus on the true meaning of Christmas. This is part of why I think Santa should only bring one thing, I don't want them to think Christmas is all about what Santa brings them. I hope they get what I am doing one day and someday understand what I am trying to instill in each of them.
We always take a family picture every year on Christmas and one with grandma Cherie. My mom came and had breakfast with us and brought gifts and then later that afternoon we went over to the in-laws for a brunch and more presents. What a great year!! :)

Stomach Pain

About a week before Christmas Brynlee started getting really bad stomach pain. She cried off and on for a couple of days and it would get worse right after she ate. Brynlee had similar symptoms back when she was four or five and we had her at primary children's doing many tests and even took her to a gastroenterologist. They told us nothing other than it could be this or that and it was very frustrating. I knew it had to be something that really bothered her because she stayed home from school the last day before Christmas break and she went to sleepover at my dad's and during the movie Frozen she started getting really bad pains and she ended up coming home because of it.
I took her to the doctors a few days later and told him what was going on and he said I think I know what this could be, he then asked if they could get an ex ray of her stomach to confirm it, I said yes.
He showed me her exray and showed me that her stomach doesn't have the normal gas patterns in it because she was so backed up with poop. He said she probably had this problem since she was young and her bowels need to be shrunk back down. He gave me a five step detailed plan of how to get her back to normal again. She had to be on a two day cleanse that fell right on Christmas Eve and Christmas day ( poor girl was in the bathroom for two days) and she also has to take Miralax for six months. She has to have a Fiber Breakfast every day and drink lots of water. He even wants her to have scheduled potty time. By he end of the six months her stool needs to be like cooked oatmeal ( gross I know ). Brynlee has felt  so much better since we started all of this, and I'm so glad this is all her pain turned out to be.

Christmas party at Dads

Every year the kids look so forward to going to my dad's and Bonus mom Jana's house for a Christmas party. The thing they love about it most is when we all gather around in a big circle and play the left and right game. We are a large bunch with my four siblings and five step siblings and their spouses and all the kids I think there is about 35 of us! We had a nice dinner before hand and then we do presents. This year Connor won the big prize; who ever ends up with the thong ( I know my family is very inappropriate) they get the big prize and that was a 19 inch flat screen t.v. Warren won the next biggest prize and that was a double rotating waffle iron. We all had a great time and my dad and Jana are always very generous with gifts.

Christmas Songs

Every year the Elementary has each grade perform Christmas songs for the parents and this year I was down to two kids in two grades. It went fairly smoothly and the girls did great!! One great thing about working at the girls school is I can break away from work to watch them when ever I need to. My boss Vickie is the sweetest and helps me with my work so I can make it to the performances. Brynlee sang beautifully and Baylee is so adorable in her dress with her BFF Grace and her amazing teacher Mrs. Bingham!!

Tumbling Performance

 
 

Baylee just had her winter tumbling performance on Tuesday and she nailed it as she always does. I just love this sweet little girl of mine who never stops talking or moving. Who knows what she will do next....

 

 

 

A Dream Come True....

The before and the after of my, yes I did say my new closet!! My husband built me the most amazing walk in closet; by first building a wall and then putting in a pocket door. He then installed the inside cabinets that we purchased from Ikea. I have pull out shoe racks, wire baskets that pull out, a scarf and tie rack, and shelves galore! Christmas came early for me and I am in Love!!! I love you Warren you are the best!!!

First Wrestling Medal

 





















So proud of Connor for taking 4th place in the Roy Wrestling Tournament this last weekend. He lost his first match and then pinned the next two guys and then wrestled for third/fourth place and lost and took fourth. I think he is doing tremendously well for his first year wrestling as a freshman in the 145lb weight class. Everyone thinks he's older than he really is.
He already has his first injury but the doctors think it's just a pulled ligament connected to his rib so with a week or two of rest he should be right back at it just in time for the next tournament.
I just love this sport and I get a little crazy watching Connor wrestle. I have so much anxiety when he wrestles that I can't sit still. My friend Katie who's son also wrestles with Connor laughs at me every time Connor wrestles because I get a little crazy.

Holly's Baptism

 
 






















What a special day this past Saturday, December 14th was for my new sister in law Holly! She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the following day was confirmed in Sacrament meeting. My brother Garrett was able to baptize his wife and cute little Rylee was there too! I just love this sweet little family and so proud of where they are headed, love you guys!! Our family is so Blessed!

Football Banquet

Carson had his football banquet the first week of December. They had a dinner and awards banquet. Carson came home with two trophies one for participating in football and the other for winning the championship. He also got a Jordan beanie and his coach gave each boy a personalized t-shirt. Then all of us parents paid $47 dollars each for Jordan Championship Jackets that were then embroidered with The words: State Champs Mity Mites 2013 and their last names. Carson was so excited to show off his new jacket at school the next day, he was so proud!!

Fun Times....

Last month we spent a weekend at my dad's house where Warren (who bought this broke down white Chevy Lumina for three hundred dollars from my step-sister)  tore apart the whole front end engine and all and got it running for two hundred dollars. So for five hundred dollars we now have another car. Warren is so talented when it comes to vehicles, he can fix anything. My dad helped him and for two days straight they worked nonstop out in the garage. I love these two men so much! I am so lucky to have the best daddy in the whole world and the sweetest, hottest, most kind hearted husband that ever walked this earth!!!
And then we have my sweet baby girl who finally learned to ride a two wheeler, Wahoo!! She never cared until she saw her friend riding her two wheeler. She got on her friends bike and taught herself how to ride it. So proud of her!!

More Family Pictures....

Family Pictures November 2013

Charity Never Faileth

The Sunday before Thanksgiving I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting and for the first time in my life I wasn't terrified. I was nervous at first when asked but after studying and preparing and feeling inspired on the things I was going to say the nerves went away. I prayed so hard to be confident and not nervous and my prayers were answered. I even gave personal experiences that were not scripted where I just expressed my thoughts and emotions and that was a first. It might seem silly to some who read this but for me this was huge. I hate talking in front of people and have even turned down giving prayers in Sacrament meeting because of this fear.
My topic I was asked to speak on was Charity. I found so many great quotes and information that the talk came together rather quickly. It was such a great experience for me and the love I felt from so many after the meeting with many kind words of thanks and good jobs filled my bucket! I had a sweet woman in my ward call me later that Sunday evening telling me how much my talk touched her and another woman whom I visit teach called me the following day and asked me for a copy of my talk. This just goes to show that you never know who you can touch but with the Spirit at work all things are possible!!

We are the Champions!!!

 

This year in football has been a rough one for Carson. We decided to Z him down an age group because he was the smallest in his age group, literally. Carson made the A team which means the top team and boy do we regret that decision. This has been the worst experience for Carson and for us as parents. Carson was not treated the way that we think he should have been and the coach was mostly the problem. We struggled all year and at the beginning Carson wanted to quit but we taught him to never quit on a team and to put forth your best effort. Thank goodness the boys on the team embraced Carson and treated him well. They had a great season with only one loss to Bingham. They went to the playoffs and won and then played in the Championship game a week ago. They won, and it was so exciting!!
 This was such a learning experience and I hope Carson found some inner strength that he didn't know he had. Carson is just the sweetest boy that I know and trys so hard at everything that he does. Sometimes things don't come super easy for him but he always trys his best! I love you Carson thanks for making this momma so proud!!