Jackpot!!!

Do you remember the time when you and that special someone got engaged? Well, I do! I remember feeling so lucky to be in love, as a matter of fact I felt like I hit the jackpot!! I thought wearing that special ring on my finger was so awsome. It was a token on my finger that said we would be together forever! I loved that ring, and I still do. However I lost my ring last Saturday, and after searching all week, today I finally broke down and let the tears flow! As a matter of fact the tears just keep coming and coming, and now they just won't stop. Matt paid $900 for that beautiful ring, and I know that it took all he had to get it. I just can't bear the thought of never having that ring on my finger again. And the worst part is, I have never taken a picture of it in the 14 years I have had it on my finger! Still to this day I know how lucky I am to have Matt, and I know eventually the tears will stop, but that ring meant the world to me!

New year, some old memories!

It is the start of a new year, which causes me to reflect upon the old! As I think back to 2009, I have many favorite memories, and I want to write about a few of them.
One of my favorite memories from 2009 would have to be the trip I took to Disneyland with my daughters this past summer. I will always treasure that time with them and the memories we made with Uncle James. I can still smell the sweet smells, and the summer air as I write this. I love to sit in Disneyland and eat the freshest caramel apples with nuts in the warm sun. I loved seeing the joy on my daughters faces at every new adventure, and with every character in Disneyland. I could go there on vacation every year, and be perfectly happy doing it! Ashley turned 13 while we were there, and she is turning into a beautiful butterfly. She still has so much to learn, but she is amazing to me!
This past summer we sent Ashley and Kelsey to Montana for 2 weeks to be with their grandparents. Matt's parents renewed their wedding vows, and Matt and I thought it was so beautiful to see that ceremony. The love that they have for each other is so beautiful! Kelsey was very homesick, but she did have a blast. Uncle James helped her out a lot though. And as we reunited with him, it blessed all of our lives! He is the best gift that we received this last year!
We were also able to go to Salt lake City this past summer and have a Quigley reunion. It was so awsome to see all of our family, and spend cherished time with them. I am so very thankful for each one of them, for they are all a big blessing in my life!
My little brother Blake got married this past year. That was very special to me, to see him so happy with his new wife Mishelle! For I had prayed many times that he would find someone that would truly make him happy, and that prayer was answered. They are a wonderful couple, and we are so happy for them!!
Kelsey turned 8 this past year, and was baptized by Matt. My Grandpa Quigley came up, along with several family members. It was so neat to see my beautiful girl be baptized. This past year she has grown so much. She is the best sister to Ashley, Dayton, and Andrew. She is always finding ways to love those around her. She plays with Andrew and Dayton all of the time, and she is always so happy! She loves art and is always drawing and writing sweet little notes for everyone. She also started dance this year, and she loves it!! She brings so much happiness to our family!
With Andrew and Dayton my favorite memory has to be the words, POTTY TRAINED! That was a complete joy for me to be done with changing diapers all of the time! I still am thankful that my prayer was answered, and that they potty trained so quickly. They have been so fun to watch grow up this year. They turned 3, and they are double trouble, but oh so much fun! They don't dress alike at all anymore, and it is so cute to watch them pick out clothes every day. Andrew has this shirt that is orange with a m&m face on it. He wants to wear it all of the time, and when he puts it on, he flies away saying, "I'm m&m boy". Apparently it's a new super hero that you haven't met before, until you meet Andrew wearing his shirt. And Dayton likes to wear stripes all of the time now, because if it has stripes, then it is a Star Wars shirt. They have a name for almost all of their clothes, and they know who's is who's, when I don't even know. They are such a joy, except when it is time to go to sleep. They move all of the time, yet still can't exhaust themselves enough to sleep! I love them so much though!
I saved my favorite for last. This has been the year that I have truly been grateful for my husband! I have always loved him, and been grateful for him, but this year I have tried to accept the things that I cannot change about him. And it has made a world of difference after almost 14 years of marriage. I love him so much, and I'm so grateful for all of the things he brings to my life!! Even those things that I cannot change, but have learned to accept. He is the best cook, and he is always trying to make all of us happy. He loves me, and most days I don't feel I can love him the way he loves all of us. I have been blessed for every year that he has been part of my life, and I love him so very much!!
We have been blessed all year with wonderful blessings that Heavenly Father poured upon our hearts and souls! I love him and our Savior, Jesus Christ with all that I have. For without them, I would have nothing. I have a family that I love with all of my heart, and I'm so thankful to be a wife and mother! Every year I set a resolution to become a better wife and mother, and it's not because I never grow in that area. I just know what a sacred responsibility that I bear, and I always want to be better, or more Christ like, not only to my own family, but all of those around me! It has been a great year, and here's to the new one!

Christmas 2009

On Christmas Eve our family volunteered to serve meals at the homeless shelter. It was such a neat way to end our month of service and love, and a great way to start our Christmas morning. My eyes were opened to all of those wonderful people who came through those doors that night. It made me so grateful to have a family, and be thankful for what I do have, instead of what I don't! For that night I think my eyes were opened to Matt especially, as I saw the love in his eye's, and concern for other people. He even volunteered to help cook meals when needed at the last minute. The next morning I could tell he was deeply grateful, as he awoke first, turned on Christmas music (which is amazing for him), and made everyone hot chocolate. The experience that night affected all of us in different ways, but none the less, made us all the more grateful for wonderful family, friends, food, and shelter! I am ever so thankful to my Father in Heaven for the blessings that he has showered over my family, and I! In all of the posts below are my favorite things about Christmas this year, in a mismatched order!


I was so excited to give this gift to Ashley! I started this quilt when she was 5 yrs. old and never finished it. This is the quilt where I sent off a piece to family members to decorate, and they sent it back to add to the quilt. There are several family members who added to this quilt that have passed away or divorced. But none the less this is a family quilt that she will have for a lifetime. I love this quilt, and I am so thankful for those of you who contributed to it, for I know that Ashley truly treasures it!


Matt and Ashley kept riding the new scooters around the house! We kept telling Matt that there was a weight limit! Ha Ha! You see those pans in the background? We got them for Christmas, and I have already burned both meals that I tried to cook in them! Matt wasn't happy about that, and told me I wasn't allowed to cook with them, which is just fine with me!!



This is Ashley in her new dress from Uncle James. I think she looks like a lady in it! I found that it is extremely difficult to find modest dresses these days!

This is Ashley opening her new dress.

Kelsey was so excited for every single little gift and so were the boys! Christmas this year was so fun. I took more videos of the boys then pictures, and as soon as I figure out my camera, I will post them! I loved the holiday spirit that was everywhere this year! Andrew and Dayton loved the lights, I loved the music, the girls loved everything! And Matt, well he can be a grinch at times, but he tried so very hard this year! I felt as though all month we were happy and trying to enjoy that Christ like attitude! It truly was a great Christmas season!

Christmas 2009

I finally got my marshmellow shooter that I had been asking for, for 3 years. Ashley drew my name this year, and I guess finally decided that she wanted to get it for me! I was so excited about this gift, and I still am!


I guess the boys were excited about it also, because thay kept trying to steal it!

Bath paint! This is one of my favorite gifts for the boys, because they will take hour long baths when they have this loot! Kelsey loves it too!

Kelsey loves art and anything that goes with it. She was so excited to get this design set!

The girls got scooters that they had been asking for, for several years!

Christmas 2009

This was a house of Christmas lights that we found next to a house that looks like the next picture. We thought it was funny!


On the news the owner of this house says his bill in January is $1500.00 dollars and 3 months of work every year! But the sight is beautiful!

This is Kelsey right before her dance recital. As soon as I can figure out my new camera, I will post her performance. She was so excited and nervous!

This is Santa's little helper. Andrew loves his red pajamas and his hat!

Ashley and Kelsey made these cute necklaces for their friends for Christmas. They are made of washers, cute paper that they modge podged on, and put a string on. I loved them!

Christmas 2009

I try and make the whole month of December fun and one of service for the whole family. We did fun things and things of service for each member of the family. We drew a name from a hat and everyday we had to do something special for that person. The love I feel in my home every December is warming to my heart! Some of my favorite things this year.........


The girls had friends come over and make yummy treats that we shared with friends.


Andrew and Dayton weren't as creative as everyone else. But what can you expect from 3 yr. olds. Andrew did give a lot more hugs though!

I had Kelsey, and I tried to do some fun things like paint candy cane nails! They turned out so cute! Andrew decided this year that he doesn't like red and white candy canes, so he kept telling Kelsey to wash her hands! I also tried to make Kelsey feel special by spending a lot of time with her. I did her dishes a lot, gave her special treats, and wrote cute little notes for her!

This was a picture after visiting Santa Claus at the mall, they do make great little elf's! Ashley is too big of course to wear these corny hats. Note: Andrew and Dayton have fought all winter long about their coats that you see here, and why the other one won't share his, or if today he will. Now when you see twins wearing matching clothes, just know that maybe the mom just wants to avoid fighting over who wears what. Next year they will be the same without question!
We actually stood in line for 30 min. before seeing Santa fighting about you guessed it, coats!

This is our visit with Santa this year. Much better then last year! Andrew wasn't willing to sit on his lap, and Dayton was fine as long as Kelsey was holding on to him. The boys both asked for Transformers, Kelsey asked for art supplies, and Ashley asked for Clothes!

Some of my other favorite things this year that we did for each other, but I have no pictures of....

Matt had Ashley, and he would get up and make her muffins for breakfast. He made her hot chocolate to take to school in his mug (which is big for him, because the kids always lose them, so he doesn't let them take them at all). He did her dishes a lot, and just tried to spend more time with her. I was very proud of Matt this year because he always tries to participate, but this year he tried really hard with Ashley.

Kelsey had Matt, and everyday without fail there was a letter waiting for him on our bed. Her letters are so endearing, they could lift any ones spirit! As a matter of fact even though she drew Matt's name she wrote several letter's to myself! She also tried to help so much with the boys so Matt could study. She truly brings love into our home with her letters of love!

Ashley had my name, and she was so thoughtful. She would bring me a glass of water at night to put by my bed. She cleaned my bathroom, the kitchen, my bedroom, the living room, actually the whole house at times. She wrote sweet little notes and tried so hard to make me feel of her love!

And Andrew and Dayton had each other! I can tell you watching twins look out for each other is so special. I have loved having twins, but the joy only increases as they grow, and that special bond grows between them. They tried so hard to share and care for each other, and now that December is over, the concern they have for each other isn't ending! They fight so much, but they also want to help each other out when they are hurting or in trouble. They truly are a joy in our home.