Return with Honor!!!

About 18 months ago my parents got set apart as missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter day Sanits! January 10th, 2013 Paige and I got the most exciting chance to fly to Colorado to not to welcome them home but to be there for their home coming talk. This trip was filled with so many incredible things I have no idea where to start...

First off waiting for my parents to pick me up from the airport was killer! They were minutes away and my heart was blotting out of my chest! They pulled up and the HAPPINESS was uncontrollable!!! Having them see Paige again was so special- She most definitely was bigger than 7 pounds... She weighed 21 pounds!! They start of our trip was awesome... being home which was a completely different home because of my most amazing brothers remolded it for them as a surprise! But home is home! I instantly soaked into the couches and watched the magic!! 

My family was in love with Paige... I don't blame them I am too! At first she had a hard time with the many people, but she got over that and soon was loving and playing with everyone. The first night we were there we had a bday party at Jenn's for darling Nikson and my almost taller than me nephew Tyler! We had quite the dance!! My Mom was cracking me up and Paige was so into it she almost flew off my Mom's lap! 

(Nikson and Paige were my favorite together! Nikson kept kissing and hugging Paige! They played so good! Paige loved watching him... he seemed fascinating to her! I got to be with Nikson a little bit by myself and talk about a heart breaker! I am so excited to live by him in August!!)

My favorite part of the trip was for real just observing my family gathered around each other!  The jokes and smiles, it was pure joy and entertainment! I especially enjoyed one night where my niece Maya was there and we spent so much time together. We talked about everything, painted toes, giggled, and got cozy in my pj's!! I enjoyed so much just being with her! She is so sweet, smart, and I being older look up to her!! She really is quite the rock! 

Then the most exciting thing.... Paige and I along with Uncle Jimmy in the other car went to the airport to pick up some surprise visitors!!! ALL of my Mom's brothers and Sisters flew out to be with my parents!! Cousins came.... We were all dying for the moment they would shock the day lights out of my parents at Mike's Bronco Party!!

(Everyone in this picture is my family except one person and that wasn't all them either! Looking from above made me feel so blessed!!)

The moment came.... The door Bell rang and the surprise started to roll in!!!!!!! MY PARENTS FREAKED!!! My Mom screamed and ran and my Dad stood there and cried!!! The normal!! But it was so cool to watch her family kept pouring in the door!! Life was so good!!! People were saying how they felt a little glimpse of how it must be after this life! It was so special! The rest of the trip was spent being with family, laughing, crying, teasing, listening to stories, being serenaded by by my Uncle Sam on the piano, and herring the most amazing home coming talks! "The spirit could be cut like butter" a lady said in the ward!

My parents loved their mission and I know that's where they would rather be if it weren't for family... They are such the examples!! I was very fulfilled!

On the way home my best friend Jenna flew home with me for a week!!! I can't describe how it was.... pictures will say all but I think we both needed that time so badly!!

I love Jenna, my kids fell in love with Jenna! I miss her already!!!

WHAT A TRIP!!

5 YEARS!!!

December 29, 2012

5 years Baby!

I can hardly believe it's been 5 years that I have been married to Monkey!! We have been through so much together...

 Year 1 2008

- lived in a basement with cement for walls and no doors, lived in an old folks home, moved to Virginia to sell pest control, moved in with parents for a few months

-car broke down bought Intrepid

-hilarious fights!!! Jumped over fence to get away, "IHATE YOU" pinched Monkey's cheek, Biology!!! "I WON'T GOOO!", "PUT your seat belt on, OR I won't move this car!!" hahahaha

-Had Belle 11 months after we had been married

-spent 1st anniversary at the Portland zoo!!

-got pregnant 6 months later

-found out newborn baby might have trisomy 18

Year 2 2009

- Intrepid broke died bought Jetta

-last year in Rexburg

- Monkey worked at Wingers as a chef!!

- got locked INSIDE our home, broke door down

- Loved watching Belle grow

- very simple life, loved it!

Year 3 2010

- Cash was born with no problems!!!

-Monkey Graduated from BYU-I

-Monkey got accepted to Pacific University for Optometry

-moved to CO with parents for a few months... to do pest control the 2nd time!

-Cash ER found out he had severe allergies to DAIRY

- 2 miracles... Dad and the car and Huge bills reduced!!

- Moved to Forest Grove, Oregon

-lived at the beach it felt

Year 4 2011

- Moved to Covey Run met awesome friends

-Jetta not so good bought Sedona Van

- My parents went on a mission

-Monkey received his white coat

-choose to go into military... Lieutenant Mullins

-ER Trips and still sick

-Pregnant 3rd time

Year 5 2012

- heck of a pregnancy.... everyone was fed up with my issues! Hahah

-sick kids

-loved farmers market

-Had Paige!!!!

-Viral Meningitis, Paige ended up in hospital

-kidney stone

-croup galore!

- found help with specialist for Belle... thank heavens!!

-parents came home from mission and I flew out with Paige

-Monkey starting to study his head off for Boards

-Whooping cough to start off Year 6

-Many prayers were answered!!!!

What a ride Monkey!!!! I feel like we have accomplished so much! I am so grateful it has been with you! You are my rock!!! I love that our favorite thing is stuffed crust pizza, creme soda, and Uno!!! I love you!!
Can't wait to see what we do this year and the rest of our lives together!!!!

A Mullins Christmas!

"I'm dreamin of a white Christmas...." And did my dreams come true??? Oh yes! This Christmas was spent with Monkey's family. It was seriously picture perfect! The moment we arrived the snow started to fall, the fire was going, and the house smelt so delicious from all the baking. The kids immediately wanted to go out in the snow and play. We hardly ever get snow in Forest Grove so we are were thrilled. They of course played fetch with Riley and ran everywhere catching snow flakes on their tongues, I am guilty of doing it once or twice! Another of course was they took care of BellaHawkie and Birdie their chickens. Belle is a natural at feeding them and the both LOVE collecting their eggs every day!

I love being with the Mullins family. Everyone loves being together. It's like a constant group hug the whole time we are there! It's wonderful! I feel so at home in their home. Chloris and Mark make everyone feel so good and you can't help but smile the whole time your there.

This Christmas was so special for 2 huge reasons. One being... Belle, Cash, and Paige have cousins now!!! Max Man and Lovely Mariah! They are all born within a month period of time! Paige has a couple pounds on them!! They are all so darling! Max is so fun and seriously so cute. Mariah is a little sweetheart! Good grief those two stole my heart. I love being a Aunt again, but on Monkey's side! Second special thing is all my kids were not sick for the first Christmas since Belle was born! Merry Christmas to me and to them!

Christmas Eve started out by playing in the snow and making the worlds most enormous 8 footer snow man! Hahah well maybe not the most enormous but it was huge! Then we all went to see the Hobbit! And then came home and got ready for Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve for me is so magical. The Mullins invite as many people to share in this holy night. The families arrived and the kids and I snuck outside to feed the reindeer oatmeal sparkle food so they will make it back to the North Pole safely. They went outside so many times checking to see if the reindeer had eaten it yet!

After eating delicious food we all gathered in the living room and did the Nativity story. Belle and Cash were ecstatic... Belle was going to play Mary with Aunt Ariel and Cash was Joseph with Uncle Quinton! Mark and Chloris made the night so special... We all snug Christmas carols and then went around the room sharing spiritual Christmas stories or memories. I felt the spirit so strong! I could not help but feel so grateful the my Savior!

Later when everyone left Grandma gave the kids Christmas PJ'S. They all looked so darling and sooo ready for bed....

Then we checked the reindeer food and it was GONE!!! BELLE AND CASH freaked out..."IT'S GONE, SANTA IS COMING.... HURRY GET THE COOKIES!!!" So we spent the rest of the night writing thank you cards to Santa and watching the muppets Christmas Carol!

Christmas morning I felt like it was more about being surrounded with family who I just love a nd adore. Christmas presents were fun. But my kids enjoyed being in the arms of everyone. It was so cool to watch Ben who is their foreign exchange student from Africa watch the snow gently fall for the first time. He went out and just laid in it with a Santa hat on! I really felt like I came to truly feel what Christmas was about this year. I always have known but this time I saw my kids live it- that made it really meaningful to me.

(Ariel is so talented... incredible talented... I won't be surprised if she has a illustrated book out soon!!! She did this picture... hahaha I am in LOVE with it! It is Monkey and I when we are old!)

The rest of the trip was just soaking up family time! Sledding and hot chocolate and being so grateful for everything I have! I have so much and I know it is all because of my Savior! Merry Christmas!