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It has been a long time since I have updated my blog... I have been really busy being a mom to 3 amazing kids that I love and adore. They have enjoyed there summer break from school. Although they are reading and doing other school work so that they are not behind when school starts up again, in only 3 weeks. Thanks to my amazing mom for watching my kids so that I could work and go to school. I started back to school again in May, I have wanted to be a nurse for a long time and the oppurtunity arose and I have been going to Provo College/ USU. I have liked being in school. I am really lucky because 2 other amazing women that I work with are also going to school for nursing as well and we have are classes together, it has been so great to go through this with friends.. Natalie and Rachel you are the BEST.... There has been many late, late, night's doing homework and study group's and many sleepless night's doing homework. It has all been worth it. Now that finals are done I can breath. My kids are so glad that there mom is going to around abit more until school starts again on the 25 of August. On the side of school the kids and I have enjoyed going swimming, spending time together and watching firework show from the various cities around utah. We love Fireworks... Here are some pictures of what we have done this summer together.

JOHN ROBERT CARLTON. 11/23/36- 4/13/1988

In loving memory of my father John Robert Carlton, today it has been 21 years since he died. This is a day that I will never forget. I was 13 years old and in the 7th grade. I could not believe what I was hearing when my mom told me that my father had died. My father died from a pulmonary embolism, my father was 51 years old. This was a shock to my whole family. I have missed my father so much. I have many fond memories of my father like camping, going to yellowstone, he was the camper of all campers. He LOVED the outdoors,camping, fishing, hunting, and he even had a reloading table in our basement. He loved going to the opera, I remember my parents getting all dressed when they went to the opera. I remember whatching the Utah Jazz from the beginning. I remember going to visit my grandparents every sunday. I remember him working in the temple as a veil worker. I know that my father had a testimony of the savior and of the gospel. One of my memories was Christmas 1987 this was the last christmas with my father, he said that the only gift that he and only he could give his children was a fathers blessing, my father gave each of us kids that were there a fathers blessing. I have never forgotten that christmas. When I was on my mission, I was serving in Grand Forks, North Dakota, we were allowed to call our fathers, my companion asked me if I was going to call my father, I told her Sister, you know that my father died, I said, I wish I could talk to him, and then I remembered that I could through prayer, as I was kneeling and I asked my heavenly father if I could feel the love of my father, in that moment I could feel his arms wrap around me. It was the best fathers day ever.That experience has never left me, I know that my father was present in spirit many times during my life, like when each of my children were born. I know that he was there in many trials as well, like when I went through my divorce. I Love and miss my father very much.

My sister Patrice ( Hill Family)also has a tribute to our father that has some picture, I love the pictures she has on her blog. These are some really old picure, for those who know me don't laugh at the funny hair, clothes. Remember this was the 80's.....

I LOVE YOU DAD....... I MISS YOU

*L*E*G*O*L*A*N*D

CALIFORNIA BEACHES

CALIFORNIA VACATION 2009

The disneyland secret is out. It actually got leaked by there school teachers, because my mom asked them to send home the work that they would miss.I told them that we weren't going anywhere, but that they would be doing homework all weekend.I got all the suit cases packed on Friday.On Saturday morning,I had to go too the store for snacks and some other things and when I got home my moms walking friends told my kids to have a fun trip,I heard them and told them that the my kids didn't know anything.So frustrated again, I told my kids to get dressed and to come and eat breakfast.I tried to make mickey mouse shaped pancakes, but it wasn't working either, so finished making pancakes and scrambled eggs. While they were eating breakfast,I had the video from my camera on and got it all on video,that we are going to DISNEYLAND, LEGOLAND AND THE BEACH.They were screaming and were so excited, I started crying because I was so excited that my kids and I were going on a vacation.We finished getting the car packed and we were off.


We stayed at my brothers house in Las Vegas and left for California Sunday morning @ like 11:30, traffic was a little heavy and we thought that it was just the normal strip traffic,well as we soon found out that this was the california gamblers going home.It was bumper to bumper traffic.It took us 2 hour to get to Primm,which is just outside Las Vegas. We had to stop to let kids go to the bathroom, it took forever.I was so frustrated with the traffic. Not only the traffic, but the wind was blowing like 50 to 60 miles winds.Which caused us to drive even slower.We finally made it safely to Carlsbad, Ca It took us eight hours,NO JOKE.. We got all checked into are hotel, and unpacked the car and it was to bed to get ready for a full day at Legoland.... LEGOLAND was great, Sage our Bionicle Master and Lego Brick Master, could hardly contain himself, he was soooooooooooo excited.Our very first ride at legoland was the bionicle ride. We saw all the many different Statues that were all built with legos.It was really cool to see it all.The rides @ legoland are very very mild.We had a great time, they closed at 5pm they don't stay open late. Sequoia turned 7 on sunday, march 22. she keep telling me as we were driving that she was not having a very fun birthday.I told her that we would celebrate it tomorrow in Ca, so after legoland we ate dinner at Claim Jumper.After dinner we drove down to the beach, it was dark, but I could tell that it was nice. Tuesday was are day at the beach. we got together with my friend, Alicia who i've known since childhood. Her husband is a Dr in the Navy stationed @camp pendleton.We meet her at oceanside beach, it was so much fun.Sage and Zamera were having fun in the ocean,they were out to their waist's, you would never have believed it was there 1st day at the beach.They were in heaven..... Sequoia loved playing in the sand.
We were out till sunset, which was so beautiful.That night we walked down the pier at oceanside beach.On Thursday

and Friday we were at DISNEYLAND, Sage,Zamera and Sequoia, could hardly contain themselves.It was so much fun to see them taking it all in. Waiting in long lines and all the walking wasn't fun, but well worth it. Saturady we headed home,on are way out of town my mom showed me the house in Orange, Ca where they lived while my Dad was stationed as a marine at El Toro.It's a really nice house and in a nice area.Are drive back to Las Vegas went by so fast and it only took 4 hours, now that is more like it.

I invested in a garmin gps which helped us make it to each place without getting lost, it was well worth the money.We made it home safely on Sunday night.Sage,Zamera and Sequoia were so great on this trip,I am so proud of them.I'm so thankful we were able to take this trip and build more unforgettable memories as a family.





PRICE LESS...................

VACATION

We are going on vacation this weekend, I am not going to tell you where because my kids don't even know that we are going. So watch for an update and pictures. I can't wait to go and enjoy time with my kids. I am very lucky to have such wonderful kids. They are going to have the time of there lives.........

SAGE, STUDENT OF THE MONTH

I just want to share some really exciting things about Sage, for all those that have known Sage from birth know that he is passionate about things that he is interested or that he wants to tell you everything he knows about the things that he has learned or tell you about bionicles etc.... From the day started kindergarten he has struggled in all areas, I had a very hard time understanding why. They labeled Sage the problem child. ( too long to go into) As each year went by I became more and more mad. Now Sage is in the 4Th grade and has the most amazing teachers, Special Ed, counselor, and principle. At the beginning of the year Sage was @ 34% in reading, below grade level. I just received his latest report card, I am so happy to tell you all that Sage is now at 90% an A !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he also has A's in Science and Math !!!!!!!!!!!! This would not be possible without Sister Joan Fehlberg a member of my ward and on of my moms best friends. She has been helping Sage with reading since 2ND grade. My sister Jacquie signed Sage up for the Lego's club and because he is a member of the Lego's club each month he get a bionicle comic book which has helped his reading because he is reading about things that he enjoys. My mom and all the teachers at school. Sage has grown up this year. I am so blessed to have Sage as my son, my first born. He is a very sensitive and loving, he has a passion for putting things together. He tells me all the time that he wants to be an enginer that's famous. I tell him that he can be anything that he wants to be and doing his best in school will help him acheive his goals. I am just so proud of Sage.

Monkeys 1st birthday

LIGHTS AT TEMPLE SQUARE

Going to see the lights at Temple square has always something I have enjoyed doing, The only thing that I don't like is how cold it can be depending on the year. The day we decieded to go the weather was great to too cold.

We went with my friend and companion from my mission Paea and her family.

It was a beautiful night! It was packed with tons of people who had the same idea.

I love this picture, there is nothing more beautiful then seeing the temple at night along with the lights at christmas.

This is the nativity scene that is in the middle of the reflection pool, I think it's beautiful..

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AT THANKSGIVING POINT

One traditon that I have tried to do with my kids is to go and see the lights at Thanksgiving Point. They have lights set up as a drive through seen. After waiting for about an hour it was finally our turn. There we so many cars.

I loved all the different scenes that we saw. Sorry if they are a bit blurry.

My kids love the drive through lights!!!

CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas brings so many feelings to the forefront for me. I think about what the real meaning of Christmas is and I think about the the birth of the savior and what that means. I think about all the memories from when I was growing up, like decorating sugar cookies, decorating the christmas tree and on Christmas eve going sleding as a family up American fork canyon. Acting out the christmas story as my dad would read from the bible. Opening presents from siblings. I remember all of us kids would sleep in the family room on the floor or couches, and waking up at like 5:00 a.m. to see what santa had brought us, then waiting till we could wake up my mom and dad. The most memorable christmas that I have is the last christmas my dad was alive, he gave us all a fathers blessing because that was the only gift that he could give that no one else could. That memory has never left my memory. Things have changed now that I have my kids. I have tried to carry on the traditions from when I was a kid, I have tried to start some that are new for my family. Christmas as a parent is quite stressful so much to do... If I didn't have Sage I probably wouldn't do very much, Sage LOVES CHRISTMAS he was driving everybody nuts about getting a tree, decorating. One day Sage whispered in my ear that he wanted to give Zamera and Sequoia the best Christmas ever. I love his additude . The kids were very eager to buy each others gifts. We had a great Christmas and are very Greatful for the birth of the savior. Here are some pictures from christmas day, I would have taken more but my camera died on me.