The Starks Family

WE HAD ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

2009-07-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is defiantly birthday season around our house. We celebrated Heidi's birthday on July 3rd. I can't believe I have a 24 year old. Being our first child Heidi had all of our attention and we adored everything she did. It seems my whole life was all about her. She was my very own little doll that I could dress up and play with. Everywhere we went people stopped us to tell us how cute she was.
She soaked it all up for the first two years of her life. Then she had to share the spotlight with Sterling. She was a good sister. She was always good with her hands. One day when she was about 5 and Sterling 3. She came in from the garage with Sterling's training wheels off of his bike. She told me that she found some tools and took them off for him. She taught him how to ride his bike and wanted me to come out and see. Sure enough Sterling was outside riding around on his bike with no training wheels. When she was about 7 she wanted to take piano lessons so bad that she told us that she would earn money to buy a piano. After pleading and pleading Loren bought her a piano. She still takes lessons to this day. She has been able to teach piano for the last 6 years. One of her greatest talents is her art. She has taken many classes at MCC and has several beautiful pieces of art.
Last weekend we were able to go to the Snowflake Temple with her and Brady. It was such a wonderful experience. Next month they will be sealed in the Mesa Temple. She is such a beautiful woman inside and out. I am so grateful for her and the life she lives.

Some of Heidi's art

2009-07-06T21:27:00.000-07:00

2009-07-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

Heidi and Brady

She's engaged

18th birthday

She loved dance

More Heidi

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She loved to pose for the camera

It was the 80's. Bows were big. I think I made that bow.

I loved dressing her up

more pictures

2009-06-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

At the desert

Oops I got the wrong picture. But this one is kind of funny. Sterling switched every ones heads.

This is the "H" he can jump up and pull himself up and sit on top of.

being silly with Heidi

IT's A BIRTHDAY

2009-06-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Lately the only time I update my blog is when I have a birthday to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Sterling!!!!!!!!

I am so lucky to have Sterling for a son. He has grown into a remarkable man. He was a very happy baby. He had the best laugh ever. We always joked that we could sell his laugh to Mattel and make a fortune. He had so much energy and NO FEAR. This quite often scared me to death. He was always climbing and jumping off of everything. He has a high tolerance for pain and so nothing ever hurt him. He always had a ball in his hand. If a ball wasn’t available he would roll up a sock or something to use as a ball. He could play catch for hours. As he grew taller he learned that he could jump high. He spent hour jumping to see how high he could reach. When his cousins came over he jumped up and pull himself on top of our “H” in our entry way. Then they all had to try it to see if they could do it. None of them came close to making it. I could go on and on about all the fun things he does but I won’t. You will just have to get to know him better so you can see for yourself. Here are a few photos of him.

I LOVE YOU STERLING

Seeing how high he can jump

We loved going to his football, basketball, and baseball games

Notice all the bruises

He was sooooooooo cute.

Sterling and his big sister

Need Help

2009-05-18T22:50:00.001-07:00

I don't know why but about half of the images on all blogs don't show up on my computer. I have two computers and they don't work on either one. It has been like this for about a month now. Does anyone else have this problem. It is taking the fun out of blogging. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

WHITNEY IS GRADUATING!!!!!!!

2009-05-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

Whitney is 18!!!!!!

2009-03-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Whitney turned 18. She spent spring break in Hawaii with friends. She flew in last night a little after midnight. We came home and had her traditional chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate ice cream. We ate and talked about her trip until about 2 a.m. It is good to have her back. I think that I was in denial that this day would come. My kids are growing up so fast and will soon all leave the house (except for Haley). Whit has brought so much fun and life into our family. She has always been a good friend to her sisters and brother. Whitney we love you soooooo much.

Whitney and her Grandpa Jarvis

2009-03-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

A Perfect Birthday

2009-03-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

I had the best day yesterday. It started with Loren bringing me breakfast in bed. I had scrambled eggs bacon and toast. Haley and Loren joined me and we all ate in bed. After lounging around the house I went to Lunch with my mom and sister. We had such a good time we don't get to go out very often. Then I went to E.V.I.T. where Whitney gave me a wonderful back facial. It is like a facial but on the back with a light massage. It felt so good my neck had been hurting for three weeks after that the pain was gone. I think I need to get Whitney some massage oil to keep at home. We took the family to Abuelos for dinner. I LOVE the Fajita Chicken Chimichanga with Ranchera Sauce. We came home and Loren had bought me a big Cookie to share from paradise bakery. It seemed like I was eating all day. Heidi and Brady took Haley to spend the night after watching American Idol with us. I like to see how long I can make my birthdays last. Tonight My parents and brother came and brought dinner and ate with us. I am so thankful for them. I love them so much. I thought that I would include a few pictures. This is me at 3 or 4. Do you think any of my girls look like me?

I had to show you that I really was once skinny. I think I was about 17.

20 years old

I am so thankful for my good kids.

Okay so they may not be this perfect

hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil but they are pretty good.

more pictures

2009-02-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

Haley and her sisters

Haley has always wanted to be just like her brother

Haley

2009-02-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

I know that I am about 3 weeks late with Haley's Birthday post but better late than never right. I can't believe that she is already five and will be starting school in the fall. She has been so much fun to have around. She shows us daily how to enjoy the simple things in life. I look at her and think how great is it to be five. She finds so much fun in everything she does. Our house would be so quiet and boring without her. She always has something funny to say. I am so grateful we have her in our family

It took her a while to know what to do but she finally figured out how to eat her birthday cake.

Chillin with her dad

Haley's Birthday Party

2009-01-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today Was Haley's birthday party. My sister came early to do a little photo shoot with Haley before the party started. She loves to get her picture taken so I thought it was a great idea. I think she was too excited to have to set still and smile.

2009-01-31T15:21:00.000-08:00

Haley had enough and was done with pictures

She loves her brother Sterling

Heidi

We don't need our own dog because Heidi has Zoey

Ainsley is ready to ride

2009-01-31T15:19:00.000-08:00

The hot dogs were the best.

Haley says everyone loves Cheetos. I guess she was right.

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Aren't they cute

I think Haley was most excited about the Pinata.

Even the bees enjoyed the party.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas Pictures

2008-12-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

OUR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

2008-12-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

Is it a Christmas Miracle or was Amy DeLange just saving our chickens from being Christmas dinner? That was my first thought when Sterling showed us what he found in the chicken coop. We had been threatening the chicken that they would be Christmas dinner if they didn't start producing eggs. They finally took our threats serious Christmas Eve. We have been waiting for about 7 1/2 months for eggs. We got two eggs the first day and then two days later 2 more. I guess we will keep the chickens.

Yeah we're finally finished

2008-12-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

Heidi and I went shopping back in November looking at Christmas decorations. The stockings she likes were very expensive so I volunteered to help her make her own. I had no idea what I was in for. We finally finished them tonight. We worked on them an hour here and there. We didn't have any patterns so we design them as we went along. I must say that they turned out very cute. So if you see stocking for $90 you might want to just buy them unless you have about 20 to 30 hours to work on them. I would do it all over again even knowing the time and hassle involved. I was fun to work with Heidi and create a fun memory that will last forever. And she did buy extra fabric so we can make more as her family grows.

This is Heidi's

Brady's

Christmas Piano Recital

2008-12-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

Heidi had her piano recital last night for her piano students. Everyone did a great job on their songs. I am so proud of Heidi for all the work that she puts into her teaching. Whitney and Brent both Performed.

Heidi and Brady

(Yes she cut and colored her hair).

Haley didn't play this year. She just couldn't seem to get her four and five fingers to work. Maybe next spring she can perform. She did manage to get in on a few of the pictures.

Halloween

2008-11-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

We had a fun Halloween this year. I must say that I do miss the Halloweens of the past. I would spend hours sewing costumes for my kids and many times I would still be sewing when the door bell rang with the first Trick or Treaters. We would take the kids around the neighborhood and then end up at Grandma and Grandpa's house for donuts and hot cider and coco. The past few years G&G have been in Taylor so we are on our own to hold up the tradition. After trunk or treat Whitney abandoned us to spend the rest of the evening with her friends. Heidi and Brady came over for the traditional snacks.

This year I had decided that I would be all done with Haley's costume before Halloween day. I finished it about 2 a.m. the night before. I realized this year that Halloween is all about me. She wanted to be some kind of super hero. I kept giving her suggestions of other things that she could be but she wouldn't agree to any of them. Without consulting with her I started to make her a costume. When she figured out what I was doing she said that she wouldn't wear it, I kept sewing knowing that last year I got her into a costume that she refused to wear. I finished it and finally got her to agree to wear it. But she insisted that she would not wear the shoes or the wings. We encouraged her and she gave in. She wore the costume just as I had planned but she didn't wear a smile. At trunk or treat as she saw the super heros she would tell me that she wanted to be that. Next year I will try to let her make the choice.

Heid and Brady

Whitney in her 60's dress. Her hair was so cute it didn't show up in the picture. At EVIT they did theater makeup she had a big bruise on her arm and notice the eye lashes.

Haley took this picture of us. She is going to be our photographer. She takes great pictures.

The Phoenix Zoo

2008-10-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

We ended up staying home for fall break. My kids didn't have the time off school this year. The only thing we were able to fit in was a trip to the Phoenix Zoo. It had been a while since we had gone. The weather was not too hot. I think that Haley loved the petting zoo the most. Here are a few picture.

Haley had to hug every goat in the petting zoo.

The stingrays knew just when to dip down farther to avoid our hands. We were able to touch a few of them as they swam by.

Ping Pong Fun

2008-10-26T17:03:00.002-07:00

We keep a ping pong table folded up on our back patio. Haley had been wanting to play with it since we really don't have a good place for it outside we usually bring it in to play. This time we put our kitchen table on the back patio and put the ping pong table in its place. We throw a table cloth over it for meal time. After dinner is over it is back to ping pong fun. I was able to handle it for about a week. It just got put back outside until someone else has the urge to play.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2008-10-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is way overdue. I just want to say happy birthday to my wonderful husband. His birthday was Oct. 17th. He is such a great husband and father. Thank you for all you do for us.

I've been Tagged:

2008-09-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Two names you go by:
1. MOM
2. LaDawn
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Jeans (what a surprise)
2. a silver watch
Two things you ate today:
1. Bran muffin
2. mini chimis
Two things you did last night:
1. watched Project Runway (my favorite show)
2. made chicken noodle soup ( my family was amazed)
Two things you want very badly at this moment:
1. Yummy snack
2. Everyone to come to my spa party
Last two people you just spoke to:
1. Sterling
2. Haley
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Playing with my new galvanic spa
2. Hopefully date night
Two longest car rides:
1. 18 day vacation back East
(flew to NY then drove around for 18 days)
2. Arizona to Utah
Two favorite beverages:
1. Diet Coke
2. Water
Now I Tag: Heidi H. Christina C. Shari B.

Dinner at the Newlyweds

2008-09-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

Heidi and Brady invited us over for Sunday dinner. It was really good. She served Spaghetti with garlic bread. I brought the dessert. My Kentucky pie flopped but still tasted good. I don't understand how I could make a recipe 5 times perfect and then have if flop every time after that. Half of it is on the bottom of my oven now. So you know what I will be going tomorrow.

Their house is really cute. As you can see it is kind of plain now. They need to buy nails so they can hang some of her artwork. There is nothing like being newly wed and starting from scratch. It is so fun to watch them start their life together.

Dana Park Grand Opening

2008-09-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

Dana Park had their grand opening last Friday and Saturday. I saw that they were going to have a snow field for the kids to play in. I thought that Haley would love to play in it so I took her. We waited in line for about 45 minutes so she could play for 10 minutes. She didn't seem to mind waiting in the heat. She looks forward to a snow trip every year. As you can see she had a fun time playing with Heidi. That night Loren needed some quiet time at home so he could get some work done. I took her back to Dana Park for the firework show. We met up with Whitney and Brent there.
Haley has learned from her sisters how to pose for pictures.

FHE at Bass Pro Shop

2008-09-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Last night Loren thought that we should do something fun for FHE. For quite a while we wanted to take the whole family to the Bass Pro Shop . So we decided to take them there. They were very impressed with all of the animals and the size of the place. Haley loved watching the fish in the stream. At first Haley wasn't sure about the bears but later decided that she wanted her picture taken with one. She loved driving the boats and ATVs. Afterwards we went to McDonalds and got icecream. We had a great time together. That night Haley and I fell asleep together watching Curious George. I woke up by Haley's scream and jump. She said that she was dreaming about the place we were at and about the soft bears. She rolled over and felt me and I was soft so she thought that I was a bear. She thought it was funny that she thought I was a bear.

2008-09-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

The drive to Showlow was especially beautiful this trip.

This is my Grandma Jarvis. Doesn't she look great for 94.

2008-09-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Heidi and Brady outside Grandma & Grandpa's Taylor house

2008-09-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Haley helping her Uncle Wayne work around the yard. The flowers were so beautiful.

Haley liked the snake but didn't want to hold it.

Labor Day in Taylor

2008-09-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Taylor, AZ to visit Grandma and Grandpa Jarvis over Labor Day weekend. It was so nice to see G&G. Uncle Wayne had caught a baby horny toad, snake and lizard for Haley to see. She enjoyed them for a few days and then they let them go be with their family. Haley loved putting up the American flag with Jhama every morning. Grandma will be sad when Haley learns how to pronounce Grandma. She also loved watching the hummingbirds, grasshoppers, and ants. The rest of us had fun lounging around and staying up late playing Mexican Train Dominoes and the Pirates Dice game. Haley was having so much fun she didn't go to bed until 2:00 am the first night. We went to Showlow to visit my Grandma Jarvis. She was so excited to see Sterling and meet Heidi's husband Brady. We found out that she was good friends with Brady's Great Grand Parents in Snowflake.

Check out the Pacman game

2008-08-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

I figured out how to add a game to my blog. Check out Pacman at the bottom of the blog. I will change games occasionally. Hope you enjoy them.

WE HAVE WEDDING PICTURES

2008-08-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

The pictures are finally here. I thought that I would post some. We have over 400 so it was hard to pick just a few. As you can see the wedding was beautiful. It was so fun to see our friends and family at the reception. Everything was perfect we could never have pulled it off without the help of our friends and family. We had so much help we appreciate all your love and support. Heidi and Brady were so happy. It is so fun watching them start their life together. I love them so much and wish them all that life has to offer.

2008-08-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

2008-08-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

2008-08-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

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2008-08-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a relaxing pedicure with my Mom and girls the morning of the wedding.

2008-08-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Haley spends as much time in the pool as she can. She is quite the swimmer now. She loved taking swimming lessons from Stacy Shepard. She can swim to the bottom of the pool to pick thing up.

The girls love having their brother back. Haley is glad to have another boy in the house.

Heidi getting all primped up getting ready for the big event.

Whitney was able to get her top braces off just in time for the wedding. Isn't her smile beautiful.

2008-07-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

We had to stop at Mattas Grill before we could go home

2008-07-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Doesn't he look good

2008-07-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

Sterling's plane

2008-07-19T00:23:00.000-07:00

Haley waiting for her brother to arrive

2008-07-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

She got some fun stuff

2008-07-19T00:18:00.000-07:00

Heidi's Bridal Shower

A new chapter

2008-07-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed everyones blogs, so I thought that it was time to create our own. This has been a very exciting time for our family. As most of you know Sterling returned from his mission in Edmonton Canada on July 16th. What a wonderful day that was. I don't think that I have been so excited in my whole life. I was about to explode waiting for him to walk down the long aisle and through the security gate. He is the same great son that I sent off only better. Now he is busy trying to figure out his school schedule and then it will be time to find employment. After being home a few hours he looked at me and said "This is why people have jobs". I think he is feeling a little lost and needs to have a plan.
The wedding plans are coming along fine. Heidi and Brady will be married August 1st. There is still so much to be done. I will post pictures as I can