Monday, June 22, 2009

The New Stanley

THERE'S A NEW STANLEY FAMILY MEMBER!!!
Rick and Pauli welcomed the newest member into their family!!!
INTRODUCING......
Rolland Richard Stanley
Born June 19,2009 12:30
8lbs 13oz. 21in. long


Baby Rolland
Mommy and Daddy Stanley and Baby Rolland


Baby Rolland and his awesome Uncle Jon!
We are super excited to have him in the family, and boy is he cute!!!!



Fun Photos Courtesy of Jon Stanley

Melody playing with her Daddy bug while mommy got ready for the day


Mel thinking about the world while on a giant Baseball

Melody is part of Jon's breakfast club

Daddy lovin on Beth because she was upset that mommy left to go to the library.

Bethany is a rockstar monkey!

Bethany is also a part of Jons Breakfast club on saturdays and sundays

And Lastly Bethany addressing the world from ontop of the giant baseball!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The Decision to Speak Softly

So, on monday i was having a very rough day with the girls, so bad that when jon came home i retreated to my bathroom to take a very long bath. After i took my bath i joined Jon with the girls in the playroom to finish watching "Babe" with them. While i was sitting there watching my girls play i came to the realization of why I've been having such a difficult time.

I forget so often that my children are just that, CHILDREN. I get so frustrated and angry and i always forget that they are just children. Bethany isnt even two yet and i get so angry and im sure she doesnt even know why im angry, Melody is three and though she is old enough to kind of understand she doesnt always.

So sitting there watching them play i decide that i need to be more understanding, kind, and loving to my children. And ive made the decision to try not to raise my voice at them. and so far things are going WONDERFULLY!

Since i started only yesterday i have found that not only are the girls happier, but so am I. I dont have the anxiety throughout the day that i normally do, and i dont feel as stressed. Sitting and quietly talking to the girls has made a world of difference to me and to them. It is my goal that from now on I try not to raise my voice to them. I need to remember that they are just small children still learning, and alothough that learning may irritate me or cause me headaches, they are just children. Children who love me unconditionally and look up to me and are learning from me, and i owe it to them to love them right back and be understanding and loving in everyway.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

You Are Special

Ive been thinking lately of how far i have come in life, and how Ive improved on some of my personal road blocks. One of them my fear of people and their judgements. I have always worried so much of what others thought of me and felt that everyone and their dog had something to say about me and the way i looked, lived and believed. And thinking back there is one story that i am truly thankful for. Its called "You Are Special" By Max Lucado
And here is the story:

"You Are Special" by Max Lucado


The Wemmicks were small wooden people. Each of the wooden people was carved by a woodworker named Eli. His workshop sat on a hill overlooking their village. Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses, others had large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore hats, others wore coats. But all were made by the same carver and all lived in the village. And all day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing: They gave each other stickers. Each Wemmick had a box of golden star stickers and a box of gray dot stickers. Up and down the streets all over the city, people could be seen sticking stars or dots on one another.The pretty ones, those with smooth wood and fine paint, always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars, too. Some could lift big sticks high above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars.
Some Wemmicks had stars all over them! Every time they got a star it made them feel so good that they did something else and got another star. Others, though, could do little. They got dots.
Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the others would gather around and give him dots.
Sometimes when he fell, it would scar his wood, so the people would give him more dots. He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly, and the Wemmicks would give him more dots. After a while he had so many dots that he didn't want to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb such as forget his hat or step in the water, and then people would give him another dot. In fact, he had so many gray dots that some people would come up and give him one without reason. "He deserves lots of dots," the wooden people would agree with one another. "He's not a good wooden person."
After a while Punchinello believed them. "I'm not a good Wemmick," he would say. The few times he went outside, he hung around other Wemmicks who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.
One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he'd ever met. She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lucia. It wasn't that people didn't try to give her stickers; it's just that the stickers didn't stick. Some admired Lucia for having no dots, so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall off. Some would look down on her for having no stars, so they would give her a dot. But it wouldn't stay either. 'That's the way I want to be,'thought Punchinello. 'I don't want anyone's marks.' So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she did it. "It's easy," Lucia replied. "every day I go see Eli."
"Eli?" "Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him." "Why?" "Why don't you find out for yourself? Go up the hill. He's there."
And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped away. "But he won't want to see me!" Punchinello cried out. Lucia didn't hear. So Punchinello went home. He sat near a window and watched the wooden people as they scurried around giving each other stars and dots. "It's not right," he muttered to himself. And he resolved to go see Eli. He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of everything. The stool was as tall as he was. He had to stretch on his tiptoes to see the top of the workbench. A hammer was as long as his arm. Punchinello swallowed hard. "I'm not staying here!" and he turned to leave. Then he heard his name.
"Punchinello?" The voice was deep and strong. Punchinello stopped. "Punchinello! How good to see you. Come and let me have a look at you." Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded craftsman. "You know my name?" the little Wemmick asked.
"Of course I do. I made you." Eli stooped down and picked him up and set him on the bench. "Hmm," the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles. "Looks like you've been given some bad marks." "I didn't mean to, Eli. I really tried hard." "Oh, you don't have to defend yourself to me, child. I don't care what the other Wemmicks think." "You don't?"
No, and you shouldn't either. Who are they to give stars or dots?They're Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn't matter, Punchinello. All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special."Punchinello laughed. "Me, special? Why? I can't walk fast. I can't jump. My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to you?"
Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden shoulders, and spoke very slowly. "Because you're mine. That's why you matter to me."Punchinello had never had anyone look at him like this--much less his maker. He didn't know what to say."Every day I've been hoping you'd come," Eli explained."I came because I met someone who had no marks.""I know. She told me about you.""Why don't the stickers stay on her?""Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them."
"What?""The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about the stickers.""I'm not sure I understand.""You will, but it will take time. You've got a lot of marks. For now, just come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I care." Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground. "Remember," Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door. "You are special because I made you. And I don't make mistakes."
Punchinello didn't stop, but in his heart he thought, "I think he really means it."And when he did, a dot fell to the ground.
May all your dots fall silently to the ground, for if given by man, they matter only to other men, if given by the Gods, no one questions, the scars that make up our lives. (when given the choice, pass out stars, drop the dots in the trash.)

This story has meant the world to me and has helped me through the hard times when i felt there was no one left in the world that could love me for me. But all i have to rememeber (and you should too) is that god is our creator and he loves us no matter what and we are special to him and always will be. Regardless of the dots (or errors) we've made in our lives.

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Heber Trip

So we went to Heber for the memorial day weekend and we had alot of fun. It was kinda stressful at times, but all in all it was tons of fun! Here are some pictures from the trip, Mind you i didnt take any of them. :-) Jon, Kristin and Steve took them all. So thanks guys!



Heaton and Melody laughing hysterically at whatever jon was talking to them about

Heaton contemplating the important things in life, lol.


Lainee relaxing on the stairs

Steve's son Kye, we love that kid!


Steve and Kristin Striking a pose!
So after our fun adventures on the first day discovering indian toilet paper and giant beetles, the majority of the family stayed up for a bon fire while most of the kids were sleeping!
The glorious Bon fire!
Mike jumping over the fire after it had calmed down, lol.

Steve jumping crazy over the fire

Owen enjoying some string cheese, yummy yummy!

All the adults sitting around the fire
So on the last day everyone wanted to go shooting the guns that we brought up. Jon had bought some targets and a target thrower, so everyone except me and patti, went shooting. Patti and I took on the wonderful task of watching all the kids.

Steve with one of the guns
Mike throwing the target and Steve shooting at it

Jenni and Mike enjoying time without the kids. :-)

My niece Temara with one of the guns

Kristin shootin the shot gun

Mike throwing the target and Jenni shooting it with the shotgun

Steve shootin tin cans

Temara Observing

And Craig Getting ready to shoot off the gun.
It was a really fun trip and it was nice to spend time with all the family! It was just a shame that Rick and Pauli and their boys couldnt come, but pauli is nine months pregnant and couldnt travel. But we will have them there next time for sure!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA


SILLY LILY!!

So we got a puppy and her name is Lily! She is a great addtion to our family! Here are some pictures of the cuteness!