You have your house....and I have mine! Lauren with hers...took me 5 hours to assemble. This doll house will go through two daughters and however many grandgirls I get! Thomas with his firehouse.

merry christmas, happy birthday, oh and happy anniversary

Happy birthday to my little Princess. Lauren bug is 7!~ I can't believe that. I think I am so lucky to have Lauren as my daughter because when I get grumpy she says "You need to change your attitude momma." And she's right! She is helpful with her kid sister and isn't afraid to speak her mind. At 7, its sorta frustrating, but as an adult I will be grateful she is head strong! :) Love you little one.Here comes the holidays! There goes the holidays! Sometimes the stress of it all is overrated but time spent with the family is ALWAYS worth it!

PEACE!~ Good will towards milk.

Baby girl - 8 months in her Christmas dress soooo kissable!

My precious nephew, Jacob- I have a feeling this little guy is going to have that smile on his face almost always!
So thankful for my family coming to visit. It is a long trip, but makes me so happy!

Happy Anniversary- 8 years! When things are good, they are great. And when times are trying and it seems it would be easier to "throw in the towel," I am reminded that marriages aren't perfect, but Mark and I are perfect for each other. I just love him.

And bubba playing Santa! I don't think little boys come much cuter than this one! He filled his pillow case with toys and on his own accord, set foot around the block shouting "HO HO HO."

2010- has been uneventful, besides two baby's birth- a wedding- a funeral- a reunion- not really much happened! HA-

Here's hoping 2011 is peaceful, happy and healthy!
God bless us everyone!

I have always been timid

ok So I have always tried to lose weight and as if its some big kept secret thought "I am not going to tell anyone, so then when they see me again they'll be AMAZED at my transformation." WELL THAT DOES CRAP for my diet! I give up bc I think "ah, no one knew anyway. There is no accountability Wheres the cookie dough?" Except to myself accounatble, but SELF we are pretty good at justifying quite a bit. hehhee
SO World in the bloggerville, or for my mom whose the only regular reader I have, I am going to try again. I am even going to tell you my weight..in my toes. Approx. 4 onces there. But can't lose those so we will start with the hips, then the boobies (that'll come when I am done nursing. RIght now I am a cow-Moo! a happy cow,love getting to nurse ) Then my arms and evetually work ourselves to my tummy. Hips are easy. Once upon a time I use to be able to see my hip bone. I know it exits somewhere down there.
I feel I have to say here that my endeavor to lose weight is not one of vanity. I feel good about myself and who I am. I know I am beautiful. I say that with the confidence that I know my Father in Heaven loves me. I know my handsome husband loves me no matter what I weigh. I am confident in the body I have, but not concieded. I just know my worth, and damn it baby I am priceless!
I have always been timid- yeah right! bring it on treadmill, because I am coming and H-E-double hockey sticks- is coming with me! Few months from now I will return and report, for now stats are these....
(october 6th, 2010-approx. 204) I KNOW- I hide it so well!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Its almost midnight, I should be in bed, or at least pretending to go to bed. Today was Conference. I love getting to hear our prophet speak, I love the feeling of being edified. I love the desire I have to WANT to listen to church music. I love knowing that I am with my family for eternity. I love that their are all kinds of good hearted people in the world, no matter what faith they may be. I love that I am a mom. I love that I am happy to live in Ajo. I love that my mom and dad love when I come visit home. It will always be home. I love that I know my worth as a daughter of God. I love my Savior. I love my family. I love my husband and his family. See these are the feelings I have in my heart because of conference. LOVE. Isn't that a much nicer feeling than that of inadequency. Old scratch works hard to bring us down and make us think we aren't good enough, but guess what people... I love that I am smart enough, I am good enough and gosh darnit people like me!

slobber kisses all around

Wanna kiss!!!

Sometimes I look at her and wonder if she is really mine? Mine to keep for forever. I am so thankful to get to be a mommy. I count the best three blessings of my life every day in my prayers. I am so thankful to have this time home with them.

~I feel like she really likes me too. :)~

~She loves her bumbo seat- thank you to my good friend Carol for letting me borrow it-you rock! My three monkeys. Lauren is so good with her and helping me. Sometimes Lauren likes to wear glitter chapstick....sometimes I find Kayley covered with glitter kisses! Thomas with his signature sign-Thumbs up dude! Taken at Grandmas and Papas house in July 2010. Lauren 6, Thomas 5, and Kayley 3 mo.....this is Kayley bug at three weeks old or so.....

Here she is at 4 1/2 months old. This is her getting ready to squeal in delight face. Right before her eyes open she makes a squawk noise. And I believe for now her signature move is sticking her tongue out ALL THE TIME! Love my babes.

Mindy Gledhill - Anchor

I like this singer. Not usually into Indie music, more of a reba type gal.But this is so cute

Immense LOVE~

Tonight I came home and ranted and reved bc I had little black beetle bugs all over, annoyed. Kayley was crying, thomas was crying, even the DOG was crying. But my sweet husband just let me have my dark cloud and waited for it to pass. HE is always so good to me, even when I am a a not so fun wife to be around! He bathed the dog and took care of kiddos for me. Love him.

gggrrrr blogger- Cameras broke and I can't seem to update my background......someday

busting with JOY~

I wish my camera wasn't broke, wish I could capture in physical evidence the joys of my heart. Last night we sat around a fire in my parents back yard while Lauren curled up in a blanket on my dads lap and Thomas curled up in one on my moms lap. I came inside to feed Kayley and then heard spontaneous clapping. I walked to the window to look out onto the dark flickering shadows, to see my parents clapping and cheering on Lauren and Thomas while they "flew" around the yard pretending to be butterflies, only to run into the arms of my mom and dad and their "cocoon's." All laughing and having fun. COMPLETELY FILLS MY HEART WITH JOY. These are the moments why I make the ten hour trip to come home so often. I feel so blessed to have such fun loving parents who are still such joyful little kids at heart~

just some pics for grandma and Papa

Thomas was so happy about his loft bed, he drew a picture of himself on it waving hi Lauren my little "daisy" girl scout got her badges at a banquet. Here she is with her friends. Thank you to all who bought cookies from her...esp. grandma and grandpa Swenk who bought 25 boxes!

And then my Kayley Joy love bug. These are some of the pics my friend took of her for me. LOVE THAT SMILE~ makes the sleepless nights worth it.

She looks just like Lauren did on her blessing day....same dress and head band too :) Dad~ I thought of Grandma alot on that day. When I had Lauren she told me she wanted to buy her blessing gown. Now both of my daughters got to wear it....a pretty dress from Great Grandma.

This one is my favorite. You would think we posed her little hands like that, but nope, that's just how she laid them......she's a delicate little flower. So excited to get to come see you soon Grandma and Grandpa~ get your kiddie pool ready!

I love being this mans wife! Baby Kayley Joy was blessed on Sunday. I felt such gratitude in my heart for getting to be married to my sweet husband who honors his preisthood. My kiddos are so lucky, as am I.

Disneyland and the beach!

My lucky kiddos recently got to go on vacation with their cousins, aunt and uncle and Nana and Papa to Disneyland and the beach! They had a blast

lady bug, lady bug fly away home

This is what happens after a long fun day in the sun! He's so cute

All the cousins. Yep, Lauren is the only princess there. We needed another girl for this brood :)

Quade (surprised he doesn't have a leash back pack on) Ben, Lauren, Jarett, and Thomas.

Getting chauffeured by her cousin Jarett!

Bubba pulling the sword out of the Stone.....
Laurens favorite part....meeting her favorite princess dressed up just like her! I still can't figure out who had more fun here....Nana or Lauren?

Thank you Kelly and Dennis for taking them along. They loved it, and I loved the staycation I got...But I was ready for them to come bcak home after just one day :)

Whats on my mind?

Today I am thinking about what an awesome husband I have! I said one day "Love, I'd like to get the kiddos loft beds sometime." And he said "I will make some." And I thought OK...that means sometime in a year,I'll organize their rooms. BUT GUESS WHAT!? He got them done in 2 days!!!

Pretty sweet ~Good job, and I am sorry I lacked the faith :) So now I am thinking today how lucky we are to have Dads

They take us fishing! Have you ever seen a happier boy!?

They cuddle us...and we really look up to them.

And in thinking about Dads, I had to add this pic. of my dad. I just love him!

future Eagle Scout

Thomas graduated TOTS and will be starting kindergarten this year. My baby is all grown up.
Here he is holding the flag to help say the Pledge of allegiance with his classmates. Good job bubba! Thomas~ He likes to sneak oreos and milk into his room. Play in the mud with his boats and then smear that mud all over my patio table because he's "cooking" something. He loves anything to do with the movie Cars and has lately been watching "Astro boy" once a day. Loves to play superheros or hide and go seek or pirates with his cousins. Likes to wash his hands right when he gets back home from being somewhere...that's my personal favorite. He colors very maticiously, Miss Bonnie said he was always the last one to finish but his pictures always looked so nice. He has a heart of gold and just wants everyone he's around to be happy. He gets that characteristic from my dad I think. He also gets his love of fishing from Dad too. WE LOVE YOU Thomas~

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell

This is what is all about..........HAPPY AND HEALTHY

I am coming out of my shell a wee bit....Grandmas funeral was a welcome relief. I don't understand the whole "viewing" thing that people do. Seeing her in her coffin definitely made it more real to me. I hadn't seen her before her death, so my memory of Grandma is sitting at my brothers wedding, laughing, and telling me I need to have 6 kids. Laughing, because we both know that ain't happenin'! ;) That is what I choose to remember in my mind.....not the coffin. (although that is very visible.)

I will be excited to be past the newborn crazies! Not the depression kind. I am generally happy, so I don't feel the baby blues...except for when I cried in my closet, but they tell me that's normal. I mean I am excited for the germ freak mother to chill out inside my soul! I am not ashamed to say "My names Denise and I am a SNOT hater." I can get dirty camping and fishing or playing with dogs, but show me someone with snot on their face and I want to RUN the other direction or at least bust out the hand sanitizer. This "mind-illness" of mine seems 10 TIMES magnified with my new little baby. It feels like if someone coughs in the same room as her, my brain says "huh,are they sick?" Driving me wild, hence the quoting of Rob Thomas, "I'm not crazy, just a little unwell."

I haven't always been this way. In high school I was quite normal. You wouldn't know I was a germ freak with all the boys I wanted to kiss. Notice "wanted." doesn't mean "did." I think my fear of germs developed after having kids. It is a miserable time when kids get sick. Disagree with me about germs, sure, but this is a point ALL mothers can attest too. Having sick kids suck! And then when the husband gets sick...hello fourth child. J/K Mark, I love ya!

If she's 3 months old and I haven't emerged, then call an "intervention." But for now, please don't judge me. :) and hand me the wipes.

I love to read NEI~NEI. She makes me happy. ooh and watch MONK. There is a kinship there.

family

When the phone rings it seldom makes my heart skip a beat. A few times in the past waiting for the phone to ring my heart has trembled. First time was probably when a crush called and I was worried my dad would find out. And the other times, far less melodramatic, but nonetheless meaningfull, was when my oldest brother Jake called to say he was being deployed to Iraq. Another time was finding out my sweet sister-in-law Amber and brother Tom are going to be pregnant. I swear the weeks (months) that followed seemed everytime the phone rang it meant she lost the baby. I know~ worry wart much Denise~ (Glad to say she is in third trimester and doing Great! Yeah for babies! )
But now I sit here and wait for my mom to call. It seems Grandma has approx. 2 hrs-to-two days left here upon the earth......
Heart trembling because I know when my phone rings what that means. My sweet grandma is 82. Has recently been diagnosed with cancer that has spread pretty much all through her body. When my Grandpa died it was so quick and unexpected...a major blow to our families exitence. My grandma has not been the same "happy" grandma since then. Sure she laughs from time to time, but the genuine happiness is gone. This is a blessing. She will pass away in her sleep. Our family is getting to say their "goodbyes." There will be no pain for her. I am not there. The guilt that rides inside my heart aches me to tears, because I want to be able to kiss her cheek and tell her how much I love her and how I will miss her loud inheritable "Swenk" laugh. (you know we both have it Lindsey) I will miss the way she tells barney, her yappy dog, to shut up, then picks him up and says "this dog." I will miss the way she squeezes hard when she hugs. The way she'll grab your face in her hands and say " I love you." Just because we get to say goodbye doesn't make it easier. I like to picture the way she'll hug my grandpa when she gets to see him again.
Heart trembling....wish I was there to hug my dad.

PITTER PATTER LITTLE FEET- now my lifes complete

Sweet little girl, Kayley Joy. I loved when she came and the doctor held her up so that we could say "its a girl!" My heart felt so full .Would've too if it was a boy, but meeting her and just seeing how great Lauren and Thomas are with her, she is perfect! Kisses from sister and brother! Lauren asked me "Mom, how come your belly looks like it still has a baby in it?" Thomas replied, "Maybe cause now she's gonna have a boy." He'll soon enjoy being the only boy. Dad told him that there is only two seats in his boat, so only he and dad will be going fishing. That seemed to appease him.

Lovin' on her new sister. I hope she lets me hold her every now and then :)

KAYLEY JOY MOORE- 4/30/2010

Sweet little girl Kayley Joy. 6 lbs. 15 oz. 20 in. long. Now the fun delivery story,well not fun. But I think needs to be written down somewhere. I was suppose to go in at 1 a.m. but they called and said they had no room, would call when they did. So at 4 a.m my phone rang and we headed down there! By 7/8a.m I was in my room and pit. (medicine) started..and until 12p.m I was seriously twittling my thumbs just waiting for the hard labor to start. It seemed to be taking FOREVER. Nurse Angel (really, that was her name. not just because she was one) came and checked me I was at a 5, so then the real hard contractions started and I said "you know I think I'll take that epidural now." By the time they got in there and gave it to me, I was dilated at 10. They laid me back on the bed and it was time to push. And at 2:36 p.m I got to meet my daughter. And although I didn't get to feel the relief of calm contractions, my legs and ass (sorry for those who don't cuss, I just think that word is so fun to say and since I just gave birth I can say it! ...) were like jelly. Good times- I didn't tear though and I feel so good. Babies really are worth it! Now I am off to the hermit cave!

9 MONTHS AND COUNTING!!

Soon- hopefully this time next week I'll have a baby monkey in my arms. OK- obviously it won't be a monkey..but it'll be a cute little Mark or Denise! I get tingles when I think its a girl, and if it comes out a boy I will be pleasantly surprised...Either way, we are so excited. When your pregnant your body is not your own, I embrace not being able to see my ankle bones, or rib cage, or hip bone....or even my elbows for that matter! I just know that soon enough and its all worth it! (Although I must admit the heartburn I get is enough to make me scream,"why did I do this?" O'well- YEAH FOR BABIES!

There are new super heros in town

Meet THOMAS, the incredible flying....um hitchhiker/magician. And his partner in action...LAUREN the "I let him do all the work, including building our fake fire pit" princess!

Thank you Mom and Dad (and Uncle Tom) for the box you sent- my kiddos loved it! I did too, because it made their imaginations roll!

The dragon slayers!

serious imaginations at work...Enter at own risk

Watch out any DRAGONS on the loose, this cowgirl/vampire-cowboy/ viking duo will take you down to china town. I think Mark has taught them right about hunting too because if you listen closely you can hear Thomas say "I shoot the dragons for meat." and then Lauren say "I shoot dragons for meat too." I told them to bring it home and momma will make jerky.

A little Moore please!

Baby shower for future little Moore! Kelly, my mother in law, and Dayna, my pretend sister here in Ajo threw me a shower. It was a lot of fun! With yummy food, a few games, cute decorations and froggy cupcakes! Here some ladies are playing a game where you had to move an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth without the use of your hands..because lets face it, moms rarely have their hands free, but sometimes you just gotta eat an Oreo!One of the diaper cakes Dayna made for me. Turned out really cute and if I have a girl, not only do I get the diaper loot, I also get pretty ribbon for her hair! And if its a boy- Lauren gets the ribbon- win win!

The cute little frog cupcakes that my good friend Carol made...She is very creative! I love frog stuff!

My crown Dayna put on me that I secretly loved wearing, but of course had to act annoyed to wear it! "Hear ye, Hear ye!"

Love this picture of my little Lauren feeling moms belly. Her face lights up whenever she feels the baby move! She is going to be a great big sister!

So appreciative to all those that came-wish I had gotten a picture-and especially to Dayna and Kelly, who were excited to do this for me. I felt like a special little (big) mommy. And am definitly excited to get all settled in with our newest little one! 33 weeks along, (maybe) only five more to go...we'll see! Motherhood is a challenging but the rewards outweigh the trials thats for sure~

Horsin' Around!

Ajo hosted a "Gymkhana." There were events with horses (barrel racing, pole bending, flag racing ect.) and then there were activities without horses (3-legged race, horse-stick race, egg/spoon drop race..) So we took the kiddos and had some fun in the sun! So in no particular order here are pics. from our fun "Kid-Rodeo" day! (Lauren on Charity getting words of know-how from Nana.) This is after being the sun for quite a while

Thomas and Lauren in the 3 legged race.

Laurens BFF (they have matching necklaces and everything,) Kate won 2nd place in pole bending!

gitty-up horses (or brooms!) yaaah- yaah

The kiddos (Quade, Ben, Lauren, Lily, Kate) showing off their ribbons

Lauren's first time barrel racing! (Yeah, I know-Mark is doing all the work. But you gotta start them somewhere. If you ask me he deserves the "best daddy" ribbon for how much he led those kids around on Charity.

Ben and Quade doing the three-legged race

Here is Ben and Thomas who both got ribbons for the "T-pole" race - Good Job boys!

Lauren with her ribbons. She got first in the flag race. Third place in "key hole" run. And fifth place in "barrel racing." She is learning so much and can do quite a bit on her own, but I was thankful Dad was there right beside her :0) He says he should've ran faster around the barrels, then they would've got first....... I think Lauren just loved that the ribbon was pink!

About a week earlier- All the kids at the horses just chillin'. Waiting for Charity to be saddled.

When it did come time to ride, the boys were actually more interested in climbing things!

But Lauren doesn't mind, she would ride all day long if we'd let her.

Lauren with Jarett (my nephew.)

I loved this pic. because its siblings helping eachother. It was a fun day. And considering its Ajo, there was a good little turn out. (Grant our kids made up half the group) But it was neat to see them all riding and having fun!

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