Williams: Party of 4

PARENT -- JOB DESCRIPTION

2009-05-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :The rest of your life.Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5..Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :None.Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :None required unfortunately.On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :Get this! You pay them!Offering frequent raises and bonuses.A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more..

BENEFITS :While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis, letting them know they are appreciated for the fabulous job they do.OR forward with love to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

** AND A FOOTNOTE 'THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!

Saint Patrick's Day

2009-04-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of the kids on St. Patrick's Day. They had to be in green for their party at pre-school. Avery is a total poser, as where Denver just wants the camera. And getting them to pose together...forget it! Enjoy!

THE DENTIST???

2009-03-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we took Avery on her first trip to the dentist. This is her in the car before we went into the office. We told her the dentist just wanted to clean her teeth and make sure all of her teeth were there. I was glad that she seemed excited, but nervous about how she would actually be in "the chair."

Avery did so great!!!

She let them do the exam and was very cooperative during the cleaning. She was also very excited about being in "The Curious George" room. I am really proud of my sweet Avery!

9 months

2009-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

I took Denver to his 9 month well check today. Here are the stats:

WEIGHT: 15LBS. 13 OZ. (LOWER 5TH PERCENTILE)

HEIGHT: 27 1/2 INCHES (25 PERCENTILE)

HEAD CIRC: 44 CM (10 PERCENTILE)

He did get a few shots today as well, but as you can see he is a TROOPER!

Brandi's birthday

2009-02-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

Last weekend my sister Brandi and her kids came over to celebrate her birthday (Randy had to work). We had a fabulous fried chicken dinner and a yummy spice cake for dessert. It's so much fun getting all of the kids together to play. Avery loves to play with Synthia and Jaedon although they're quite a bit older and we can't wait for Denver and Adrian to start running around together. It's so cute to see them at their different stages. Adrian's not quite crawling and Denver's getting close to walking so they don't play too much together yet. Here's a few pictures from the night.

My Baby Boy...

2009-02-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

We've just been hanging around the house today playing with the kids and guess what? Denver stood up by himself!!! I can't believe he will be walking soon. He is 9 months already, but he is so little. We go for our 9 month check-up Monday and I can't wait to see all of his stats. I love, love, love my Denver. Although, I didn't get an actual picture of him standing on his own here's one of him anyway.

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-16T20:08:00.000-08:00

This past Friday night Phil and I got a room on the strip at the Rio. My mom kept the two kids overnight which was great. We checked into the room and then went to grab dinner. It was so nice eating hot food and to have adult conversation. After dinner we gambled a little bit and walked around the casino. We hopped in a cab and went to check out Harrah's, The Mirage and Treasure Island. There wasn't much going on (darn recession:)) so we ended up back at the Rio. We went dancing for awhile, which was really fun, and were back in the room by 4. We didn't do too much of anything, but we had a really great time together.

It's really crazy how life is like a whirlwind once you have kids. I love them to pieces, but it seems you quickly forget about YOU and your MARRIAGE. Anyway, that's what date nights are for. I do love Phil so much. I can't imagine my life without him.

2009-01-29T22:59:00.000-08:00

2008 was a great year for our family. We welcomed our sweet little Denver to the family and he really is the perfect fit. Him and Avery play so well together already. It's so fun to hear them giggle and squeal together.

I put Avery and Denver into a daycare/preschool 3 days a week. It seems to be working out really well for Avery. She is learning to write the alphabet and numbers 1 thru 10. She is also learning to spell a word that coincides with each letter. It's so cute to watch her in the little classroom...I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Denver seems to enjoy the daycare. He loves to be around other kids and watching them play.

As of now, Denver is trying really hard to walk. However, he is so little I'm not quite sure his legs are ready for it. He'll be nine months in February so we'll see how quick he takes to walking. Avery is really starting to put her sentences together and using her words. She is becoming so grown up.

I look forward to see what this new year has in store for us!

2009-01-29T22:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures from Christmas morning. It was so great seeing the excitement on the kids faces. They are definitely my pride and joy!

Merry Christmas! 2008

2009-01-29T22:40:00.001-08:00

This year for Christmas we tried to keep everything simple and to really just enjoy the holidays as a family. We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of homemade tamales, beans, and rice. Usually we go to California for Christmas Eve, but this year we stayed home and had dinner with my parents and my sister and her boyfriend.

Once Avery put out her Christmas cookies and milk for Santa and she was out for the night the crazy last minute wrapping began. I think we were up until about 3, but definitely worth it to see her face the next morning.

2009-01-29T22:38:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I wasn't sure if I should post about Christmas and all that fun stuff since so much time has gone by, but I decided I would go ahead. I hope everyone is having a wonderful new year!

Denver

2008-12-11T23:17:00.000-08:00

Well, my sweet little boy is crawling...I feel like he just became a part of our family and now he is all over the place. He started crawling about 2 weeks ago and he is everywhere. He is also trying to pull himself up onto whatever he can get his hands on. He really loves Avery so much and follows her around as quick as he can...it is too cute! I am so proud and grateful to be a mom to such cute, sweet, and adorable kids. I couldn't ask for more:)

The Meaning of Christmas

2008-12-09T21:33:00.000-08:00

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are you doing?" I started to ask him.
The words choked in my throat, as I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement, TEACH THE CHILDREN!
I was puzzled: What did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.
As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, Teach the Children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that a now-a-day Christmas has forgotten!
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it on the mantle. Teach the Children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven.
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the Children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.
He then reached into the bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the Children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.
Once again he reached into his bag and then removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree.
Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.
He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.
He reached in again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the Children the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the Children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men."
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the shepherd's staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulledout a BELL. Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who is, and I bow down and worship Him, our Lord, our God."

I found this cute story on a different blog. I love the real meaning of Christmas! The feeling it brings is so great. I look forward to sharing this with my family every year:)

Ethel M's

2008-12-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

This last weekend we went with some family to go see Santa and enjoy the beautiful lights of the cactus garden. Avery is starting to "get" the Santa thing so it was fun to see him. It was really nice to be out in the crisp, winter air and visit with Jon and Marci. Not to mention we ended our fabulous evening with some yummy Krispy Kreme doughnuts and hot apple cider.:)

TWILIGHT!!!!

2008-12-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

Because we were on vacation when Twilight came out, I waited to see it with the girls in my Bunco group. I didn't really have too high of expectations and I tried to go into it open-minded. Well, I'm glad I did. I definitely enjoyed the movie and can't wait to take Phil to see it. I think they did a great job with the characters and the way they portrayed the "love" between Edward and Bella. I'm anxious for the next movie to come about!

Disneyland

2008-12-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we went on a little vacation to Disneyland. We spent 3 days between both parks. Avery could not wait to see the princesses and Tinkerbell. We weren't able to see them until our last day, but it was definitely the highlight of the trip for her. We went with some good friends of ours which was nice because the adults could actually go on adult rides. Denver was such a good baby...he just hung out and enjoyed the scenery. It was nice for Phil and I to have some great family time. We love our annual trip to Disneyland!

What do you get for $160,140?

2008-11-24T23:00:00.000-08:00

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.24 a day. Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "Rich".

Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for $160,140?

Naming rights. First, Middle and Last

Glimpses of God every day.

Giggles under the covers every night.

More love than your heart can hold

Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies

A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles and

skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.

Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how

your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140 you never have to grown up.

You get to finger-paint, carvepumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop

believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,

watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refigerator magnets

and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,

hand prints set in clay for Mothers Day and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140 there is no greater bang for your buck,

You get to be a hero just for retrieving the frisbee off the garage roof,

taking the trainingwheels off a bike,

removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs

and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat of history to witness the first steps,

first word, first bra, first date and first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice,communications, and human sexualitythat no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, your rightup there under God.

You have the power to heal a boo-boo,

scare away the monsters under the bed,

patch a broken heart,

police a slumber party,

ground them forever,

and love them without limits,

so... one day they will, like you,

love without counting the cost.

Enjoy your kids and grandkids!

-Author Unknown-

Blessed

2008-11-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

Just recently some people we know lost their 3 week old, healthy baby boy in his sleep. That really put things into perspective for me. I am very grateful that I have a healthy and happy family. Even when things seem to be at their worst, I guess they're really not. I love my husband and two kids so much and I really try to enjoy the time I have with them.

My baby is 3!

2008-11-09T23:24:00.002-08:00

Today is Avery and Phil's birthday. We had a really nice time hanging out at home with our family. Avery woke up this morning to a bed full of balloons. She was in heaven! For most of the day we just lounged around and enjoyed each other's company. For dinner Brandi and her kids came over along with Brianna and Gabe. After dinner we sang Happy Birthday to Phil and Avery. It was so cute...because Avery shares her birthday with her daddy and Uncle Randy she just assumes it's everyone's birthday. All night she was saying "Happy Birthday" to everybody. Being that she is 3 now, she loved opening her gifts and playing with her new toys. I really can't believe she is 3 already...we just love her so much! She is definitely a true blessing in our lives. And of course, we love Phil too! He is such a great daddy and husband.

Halloween!!!

2008-11-09T23:03:00.000-08:00

For Halloween this year we went trick - or - treating twice. The Wednesday before Halloween we went to the church for the trunk or treat. We had a great time with all of our friends trick or treating from car to car. On Friday (Halloween) we spent time with friends and family trick or treating in a gated neighborhood. The weather was so great and it was nice to be outside. Avery had such a fun time trick or treating and loving her suckers!

2008-09-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Yes, I too am giving into the "blogging" world. I'm hoping to keep up on sharing things that are going on in our lives.
As for now, here are a few new things that are going on. Phil is so busy working providing for our family. We don't see him too much, but I know in the end the reward will be great! Avery will be 3 in November and she is so incredibly smart. We just got her fully potty trained about a month ago, which is great. Now I'm only buying diapers for one:). Denver is 4 months old and so much fun. He has such a sweet and loving personality. He started rolling over a week or so ago and I think he is starting to teethe. I have just been busy caring for my family and working part time. Life is definitely busy, but great!