My baby doll...

6 month pictures!

 Isn't she just scrumptious?

You have brought so much joy into our lives, in just 6 months.

We love you so much, Miss May.

XoXo Daddy, Momma & D

Relaxing, Fun? Yes, please!

Our sweet Vaeh turned 6 months old 11.14.10.

6 months is a big deal.

Her first meal, brown rice cereal.  Yum!

Tummy full, brother by her side... What could be better?

Cute stuff waiting for her doc appt.

16.5 lb (57%), 27.2" tall (93%), 16.9" head (67%).  Perfect.

Devarian, the photographer, had to take some pictures, too...

 I love the detail he captures. :)

(She had to get 4 shots, but her big brother held her hand through it all. He is the best!)

And... She is still a daddy's girl!

This IS the life.

 It was a special, fun & exciting weekend.

P.S. I will have her 6 month pic's back soon.  I saw a sneak peak and they are ADORABLE!

"You don't need to focus on enjoying the food you eat, because food is fuel. Enjoy your life, your family and your friends."

 

Well...

I have officially gone vegan.  Yes, you heard me right, vegan.

 

Not only have I decided to take this big leap, but I have chosen to go whole foods vegan (meaning I will not be eating processed foods, processed sugars, white breads, white rice, very minimal and only certain oils, things like that). 

I am excited, scared, nervous, happy, hopeful, frustrated, and well, the list could go on.

As some of you might know, my dearest mom is a vegan.  A whole foods, mainly raw, vegan.  She has been so for over 2 1/2 years.  She had many health issues (high blood pressure, eczema, etc.) that are now gone.  Yes, GONE.  She also "feels better than she did in her 20's" (she has also lost 45+ lbs and looks great.  sorry I am sharing your business on my blog, mom).

The following book is a great supporter of the whole foods vegan lifestyle and the health benefits it can offer.

   

 An amazing book.  If you have any interest or curiosity, you should read it.  

I have been struggling with painful joints for a long time now.  I have a knee that has been swollen and painful for years.  A month or two after Miss Nevaeh May was born, I have felt the worst I have in my whole life.  I have numerous swollen and painful joints (knees, neck, ankles, hands, etc.) very painful headaches, and I am in pretty much constant pain.  My immune system has been horrible with one sickness after another.  I have been to doctors that don't really care and just want to do blood test after blood test to diagnose me with something.  I always try to be happy and try not to complain.  But, I don't want to have to TRY so hard anymore.  I have gotten to the point where I am FED UP with feeling this way.
I finally met a doctor that suggested I try taking high fat proteins out of my diet (meats, eggs, dairy, etc.).  He said they can cause arthritis symptoms when we have strong allergies to them.  He tested me and sure enough, that is what I have!

I am ready for a change!

So, November 12th, 2010, is my day of change.

I truly believe that changing the way I eat, I can make myself feel better.  I feel like I have seen and heard miracles from people that eat this way.

 I just want to feel better.  I want to enjoy my family more.  I want to be a better mother and wife.  My aches and pains hold me back from these things in a lot of ways.  All I ask of you, is to support me.  You DO NOT need to cater to me.  You can still invite me over, even if you are making something I can't eat.  You can still invite me out to eat, even if you think I can't eat anything at the place you are going (you'd be surprised).  I am much more interested in your company than what is on my plate.  I will eat what I can and I will survive.  Please, oh please, do not get offended if I will not eat something you have made.  It is not because I do not like it.  I just have chosen to change my diet, to feel better, and that is all.

So...

My new "slogan" on life...

"You don't need to focus on enjoying the food you eat, because food is fuel.  Enjoy your life, your family and your friends."

That "slogan" is going to get me through this.  Even when I am starving and all that I can see is Mcd's! :)

Lot's of Love to you all!

Holly 

 

Spooky!

Here are the kids Halloween pictures.  How cute are they?

Thanks so much, Angie!

Fall (almost winter) is in the air...

Here are a few pictures of our fall fun...

P.S. Sorry about the low quality in a lot of the pics.  I was using my phone.

P.S.S. They are in no particular order.  I was in a hurry with this post!

P.S.S.S. More Halloween pics to come.  I got professional ones  of the kids.

At the Welch's Halloween party.  Ninja, Cow and Nerds!

Love this sweet (yet feisty) ninja.

Trick or Treating at Gma Debbie's.

The cute rear end.

Aunt Denyse & my adorable cow.

Get me out of this costume!

Dinner after family pictures.  Baby girl LOVES water.  Look how handsome my hubby looks, as well! (so sO SO excited to see our pics, thanks 'Sweet Memory Garden'!)

Don't mind Ty's outfit, LOL... I just love the kids in this pic.  They are so happy together!

Vaeh's 1st apple ;)

Out Trick or Treating with Daddy.

After Trick or Treating.

Devarian with his pre-school class and teacher.

Passed out!  On Vaeh's rocking chair :)

Asleep yet still ready for battle.  That's my boy.

Happy baby with Gma Jana.

It's official...

We have set a date (hopefully in stone) to get sealed in the temple. 

3.5.11

Words cannot express how exciting we are.

 Together Forever.

If any of you would like to join us, please save the date.

(YYYAAAAAYYYYY!!!!)

 

Fundraiser for Adam Ashton

So...

The funraiser we did for Adam turned out great.  We raised about $3000.  

I hope all our hard work and efforts will make a small dent into all of his medical bills.

Adam with Amy, Calli and I

Yard Sale

Vendor booths

Bake Sale

 

I wish I would of taken more pictures but the day just got away from me!

It was a lot of work and I am still wrapping everything up (trying to get the rest of the donated craft items sold, etc.) but it was all worth it!

A huge Thank You to everyone that donated and helped in any way!  You are all amazing!

Mollie Pedersen. Ciege Adams. Calli Adams. Andrea Davis. Amy Conder. Jana VanDenBerghe. and last BUT certainly not least, my hubby. Tyler Standing. 

(and let's not forget my children, who put up with a stressed and not so goot momma, for a few weeks)

The BIGGEST Thank You to you all!  You all worked so hard!

Finally...

My son is finally feeling better.  

What a relief!  

He scares the crud out of me. 

He finally got to hold his sister today (he went 5 days with out, which is a lifetime to this sweet little boy, that asks numerous times a day).  I feel so bad making him stay away from her when he's sick, like being sick isn't bad enough.

 He even had to get his blood drawn (for the 2nd time is his life) and we had to go to G-ma Jana's directly after to "brag" about his cool bandage.

Love this boy.

Uuhhh!

I am completely and utterly exhausted!  My house is a huge disaster, I have a weeks worth of clean laundry (not so clean now) sitting on my daughters bedroom floor, an overflowing sink of dishes, messy bedrooms, messy bathrooms (one of my biggest pet peeves, who wants to use a disgusting toilet?!), a very sick little boy that has had a 104+ fever, an unhappy baby (I think a combination of teething and a stressed momma), so many things to do for the fund-raising event we are putting on for Adam, business nonsense, etc. etc.  I can't seem to get to bed before 1:30, either, and I am a girl that needs her sleep!  It has also been an emotionally exhausting week, as my husband has decided to contact his father, after ten years of not seeing or talking to him.  I am still wondering why I am sitting here on my butt blogging instead of attacking my list (or showering for that matter, both of my kids are sleeping...aahhh!).  I hate it when my son is sick.  I just wish I could take his pain away.  I hate that he had to miss school today and probably for the rest of the week.  I just wish people would stay home if they are sick!  I know there are exceptions to this rule, but if I have to be confined to my house for days while my kids or myself are sick, SO SHOULD THEY!

I guess I just needed to vent for a minute.  As I look back at my list and think, "If these are some of my biggest problems, I should be grateful!"  I look around and see others hurting much worse, with much bigger problems.  I know god only gives me what I can handle and I need to be thankful for the things that make me stronger!

My CUTE UTE kids...

My scrumptious daughter and husband...

Holding both my loves in my arms...

Just hanging out with my little beauty...

Children that love each other more than I can explain...

The hubby (need I say more?)...

As I look at these pictures, just a couple that make me smile, I think how truly blessed I am for what I have and the people that god has given me (even my husband and all of his goofiness).

We've got a thumb sucker...

So... our little miss Vaeh is a VERY big fan of her thumb.  She is a pro at getting it in her mouth and there is really nothing we can do to stop her anymore.  We've been trying for a while to get her to take the pacifier (and I still haven't completely given up), she just has never been a fan of it.  I have to admit, it is SO dang cute!  I just do not want to deal with a 4 year old sucking her thumb (or an 11 year old, like the stories everyone has heard).  We might just have to deal with our little rebel when that time comes...

Big 1st Day!

Devarian's first day of school was Wednesday, Sept. 8th.  He is going to "The Little Rainbow Pre-School", the same one I went to when I was little.  His teacher, Carol, is absolutely amazing.  I was nervous about him going to school, because I am a worry wart and I have been with him since day one (really only nervous for myself than for him).  I wanted another mother figure to be his teacher, not just someone to get a paycheck.  That's exactly what Carol is.  He loves school SO-OO much!  He talks about it everyday and is so excited to go.  He has met many new "best friends", as he would put it.  I just wish I was a fly, for one day, so I could see how he is at school.  It would just be so fun!

 He is so big now.  It breaks my heart yet I am very excited for him at the same time.  Being a mom is such an emotional roller-coaster!