Thought January would NEVER end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I could just kick up my heals and shout for joy (except I'd probably tip over)  another January is past.  It seemed to go on & on & on.  But the good thing is I survived .Our Holidays were fantastic, and as usual great memories were created and family ties were strengthened.  Of course speaking with Steve on Christmas day was the highlight.  He struggled a bit with his English, but he sounds so good, and happy. He loves the work, and most important loves the people of Paraguay

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Some days he says that he works so hard that he's just too pooped to poop, and other days he works so hard that he just can't see straight. I'm not sure if he's ready for everything to start coming to a close, but it's time to start winding up. Part of his Christmas gift to me was he gave us his release date and arrival date. Ya ready! drum roll please. He will be leaving Paraguay June 3rd and he will arrive home June 4th.  I must admit I was a bit disappointed that he wouldn't be home on or a bit earlier than his two year mark but he'll be home none the less, in four months.  Missy and Pat were hopeful that he would be home for Lily's 2nd Bday, as it is the 3rd of June, but he will be a late Bday present.  Now the fun begins. I am excited to start getting his room and the house ready for him to come home, that's my favorite!!!!
    For Christmas Steve sent a package full of different items from Paraguay for each of us. The favorite gift

 was the soccer uniforms that he sent to Lily and Adam.  Lil loved the feel of the silky material, wanted to wear them to bed and chose them to wear every morning.  Cute little Adam with the poochy belly couldn't fit into his shirt.  Maybe baby #2 will be able to wear it. They look like such little cutie patooties.
     Just in case you didn't catch that last statement about baby #2, that's right Matt and Jess are going to have another little chubby bunny July 22nd.  I love being a Grandma more than anything, so the more little ones to spoil all the better.
     Nates trying to decide if he really enjoys this phase of life.  He's so busy with college, full time work, and trying to fit fun in there some where.  Sunday he was made an Elder, crazy to think that he's our last Aaronic Priesthood holder until little Adam, oh my!  It's hard to imagine where the years have gone with Nate.  It still seems like he should be our little "Nater potator head". He will be starting his mission papers within the next few months, and I'm not too sure if my heart can take it. along with me his favorite little people will miss him as I will.

I think that Just as soon as I start to get excited for Steve to come home at the same time I feel that big hole in my heart widen, knowing that Nate will be leaving at that time. Man why did I have Sons, gosh it's tough.  And some say that with each one it gets easier, not true, ya just know how much you're going to miss them.
Matt & Jess are doing super.  Matt working hard at AFCU, and Jess doing her part taking care of two other children during the week, for a little extra income.  Every little bit helps.

Missy and Pat are trudging along.  Still living with Pats Mom, always a fun experience!! Pats working hard in school, studying long hours and having it pay off in test scores. He had a GREAT expereince going to the Dominican Republic helping out with a dental refief program. And Missy is still being Dr. Listons go to gall.  She works so hard, and makes those dental offices run just like a well oiled machine. 
   All and all life for the Stringham Fam. is TERRIFIC!!!!! We are blessed on a daily basis, and find joy in the small things that bring families closer together, and strengthen eternal ties.

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi fellow bloggers! I've been away for awhile, well not really away, but just had lost the blogg'n spirit. However I have been blog stalkin, and all of your blogs have helped to bring back that lovin feelin, oh oh that lovin feelin! Apparently while I've been away I have become quit cheesy, oh well. So what have I been doing for the past 8 months? Well here's a few insights.
Steve's doing GREAT!!! Only has 7months left, crazy huh?
Nate graduated from BL, and is in his first year at WSU, and studying his brains out. He continually amazes me with his serious study habits.
Lily and Adam are growing like weeds, and the cutest little devils ever. They make Gma happy.
And the rest of the family is busy, and doing well! We enjoyed our summer of some boating, watching parades, basically just having a good time creating memories.

Church Ball 2

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!
Oops, sorry, for a minute there I thought that it was a Jazz game. To begin, I want to tell those of you that pay the big bucks to watch pro Bball really missed out on probably what will go down in the books as the greatest game ever played, not played, oh I'm confused. I better start at the beginning. This is one of the hardest blogs that I have written, not that it's a tender subject , or that I have some great emotional attachment, it's just that I still can't stop laughing. And to write about it really won't do the evening the justice that it deserves, or do Brandon and Fred the justice that they deserve. Thursday nights are the greatest, it's church ball night!!! The night when all the husbands get to go and let out their frustrations, angers, and all of that pent up testosterone. And the fabulous fans that we are as wives we wouldn't want to miss a thing. Whether our hubbies are playing or reffing, Chelsie and myself are right their for support, cheering, and it's an evening always good for a few laughs. This past church game Brandon and Fred played in was a bit rough. Fred couldn't hit a thing, and according to one of the other teams players (as he threw Brandon into the wall) he's was out of control. The 4th ward hung in there and tried to make a come back at the end. Sitting by the other wards fans I think that they thought that it was the NBA play offs. When their team was 15 ahead, they were still yelling at them to "press them", "don't let them shoot". In church ball games, I have come to the understanding that in the whole scheme of it all, winning or loosing really does determine our place in the eternities (or so some of our husbands think). I'm pretty sure that soon, the question, "So how many churchball games have you won?" will be asked in the temple recommend interview. Okay, back to the evening of the riot. Brandon and Fred have been the referees this year for a few of the games when it was the 4th ward's turn to ref. Fred enjoys reffing with Brandon because he knows the game and won't let things get out of hand, so they seem to be able to call a good game, or so I thought. After their last game of loosing by 7 points, I think that they were a bit frustrated and not in the most calmed, subdued mood. It then was their job to call the following game. Going into it Brandon was ready, as was Fred to not let anything get out of hand. They were calling the game of the 5th ward and a ward that I don't think Fred or Brandon really knew anything about.
Right from the start They both thought that if there were to be any real problems it would come from the 5th ward, as they have always taken church ball to a higher level. The teams met in the middle for prayer, which in itself is humorous. Upon going to each of their benches, Fred yells in his big mega phone voice, "we wont tolerate any crap, from either team". He's always had a way with words. I could tell right from the start that we were in for a fun show! Chelsie and I sat there with our mouths shut, and just waited for the explosion. As I think back on it, there seems to be a blur. I believe within the first five minutes, a player was down, upon getting to his feet the team was yelling at Fred, "Where's the charge!?! What about the call ref?!!" I think that the players forgot that Fred & Brandon weren't paid refs, and they definitely hadn't been certified by the NBA. Suddenly Fred with the voice of thunder yells, looking at the table. "Referee 20 second time out, and with the firmness of his hands making the T sign, he yells, technical foul on #, can't believe that I don't remember the number. With that, all */-..* broke loose. Like a whirl wind players were every where, some yelling at Fred, some yelling at the table. And then from across the gym Brandon had it, he points to the player that Fred had given the T to and yells, "I want # out of the game and out of the gym." Holy cow before we knew it their whole team was packing up and they were done. As they were putting away their shoes and their basket balls, Brandon was having a conversation with another player out in the hall. He thought Brandon wanted to fight him or something, because all that he would say is "I'll call the cops, do yo want me to call the cops"? That would have made the whole thing just a bit better if the police would have had to come break it up. As for Chelsie and myself we were such great supporters, we laughed so hard that our cheeks hurt. Fred and Brandon are still waiting to see what punishment they will receive, because after all as the team left the were going straight to the Stake President. This could be a real testimony shaker, or for us an evening that we wont soon forget. So just a warning to all church ball players, if you see Brandon and Fred coming in the zebra shirts, BE READY TO RUMBLE!!

Save the best for last

With Spring quickly approaching, Ben Lomond is starting to plan the class of 2009's graduation party. And yes that means that Nate will complete his secondary education experience. Really what it means to me is that my baby is done. And I approach this next few months with mixed emotions. First off where have the years gone???? Is our Nater potater, Snate, one of the little boys, really one year away from a mission? I really thought that by the time he went that mothers would be allowed to go along. Hey I still have a few months. Nothings final until he's on the plane, right?
Ya know, the wonderful thing about Nate is that he is a contradiction to the term "baby of the family". Most youngest children are spoiled, needy, a bit bratty, rely on mommy and daddy for EVERYTHING. Not Nate, in fact I have always said, that he saw everything that his older siblings did and didn't do, and decided to do exactly the opposite. Nate has brought us so much joy, and happiness. He has never given us a minute's trouble, obedient to every rule, went above and beyond in all things that he endeavored and has a heart as pure as gold. He has had some wonderful successes, and opportunities. As his Mom, I have always been impressed with how he has taken these awards with a very humble heart, and almost an unbelief that these things were given to him, even though he had worked harder than anyone to earn them.

Nate, on his way to his Sterling Scholar interview. He is Ben Lomond's English Sterling Scholar.
The advisor at the school strongly encouraged the young men to wear suits or suit coats. His first time ever wearing a suit coat. Wasn't too sure about the whole thing.

Favorite Uncle, he is so good with Lily and Adam. They just light up when he comes into the room. He loves seeing them just as much. However Lily looks like she isn't too sure if this is her favorite moment.

Showing off the suspender look with his student body officer sweater. pretty GQ huh!? He's on his way to run the teen court at Ben Lomond, where he is a judge.


Just wanted to show off some of Nate's driving skills in the big storm. Wondered if he wanted to remove the tree. Or just leave plenty of room for everyone to get bye on the driveway.

Nate is a real lady killer, picking up his date for the Valentine dance. What a hotty!!!!!!

Last but not least this is really Nate's love!!!!!! Harmonie is her name. Every passing minute he is with her. Someone could begin to get a bit jealous. It has become his way to unwind, and forget everything, and believe me he does. Actually he is so good on the guitar, and the cool thing is that he taught himself, he even gives lessons. As a family we love nothing more than to sit around and have Nate play and sometimes Matt will sing, or Missy, and it is one of life's good moments, when everything is right with the world.
I just wanted to share these things about Nater because if there is one reality about Nate being the youngest is that sometimes he gets the shaft on time and attention. He doesn't demand anything and so it's easy to just go along and hope that things are good in his world. But I believe the greatest blessing that I have been given is to be Nate's Mom, each and every day with him is truly a "pay day". He has blessed our family and continually awes me with the things that he does and the knowledge that he gains. Some of my wisest lessons have been taught to me by Nate. I know that his life will be one that will be filled with amazing things, and that is how he will want it to be. But for now he is still my Nater potater, and each and every thing that we do at this point is the last, and, yes he is the baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few of my Favorite things

As I sit in the middle of January and thinking about things that lay ahead, and go over the last years events. I am amazed at how in 8 months my life could change so much. I was able to see Steve accomplish the goal of leaving on a mission, and on May 28, 2008 our family decreased my one. Then Heavenly Father knowing that I had such an empty hole in my heart decided it was time to send one of Heavens little angels. So just shy of one week of Steve leaving for the MTC, on June 3rd 2008 our darling Lily arrived. With a slap on her bottom, and a loud strong cry from Lil. I was a Grandma. Then on June 25, 2008 our joy doubled. The cutest, chubbiest little boy came into the Stringham family. My heart was full. I will always count these two blessings as one of Heavenly Fathers tender mercies. Knowing that I would feel such emptiness with Steve gone, he brought two wonderful bundles to fill that space. I now had two perfect Grandchildren. Life doesn't get much better. Being a Grandma is one of lifes great treasures

Pull out a camera and Adam is all smiles, Lily on the other had just has one of her many faces.


Each week I have the best time baby sitting my two favorite things, Adam and Lily. As they get older it is so much fun to watch them play with each other. I really think that I am the luckiest Grandma around because I get to spend so much time with each one of my two cuties. In my few short months that I have been a Grandma there are a few things that I have learned.
1. Everything that my Grand kids do is the funniest, cutest, and should have National Enquirer attention given.
2. All household items, of any sort becomes a baby toy.
3. Anything goes as long as the babies are happy.
4. There is some type of a magnet in all baby departments of any store that pulls a Grandma in.
5. Whatever Grandma might be doing, when the Grand kids come, everything else stops, and the babies have my complete, undivided attention. After all they might do something that I could miss out on.
And last but not least, being a Grandma is one of those choicest blessings that sneaks up on you, and takes over every facet of your life. I know that being a Mom is the greatest thing that I have ever done. However being a Grandma is the next best thing to Heaven.

Happy Day all is well

On Saturday, Jan 9th Steven had an emergency transfer. In his Email on Monday his subject was "Welcome to the jungle, or rather welcome to heaven." Needless to say he was thrilled with the change. When they called him from the mission office and told hm to pack his bags he threw his arms in the air and shouted for joy! As a family over the last few weeks we have been praying that Steve would have a change of companions or area. His last companion taught him the principle of enduring to the end. We aren't too sure what the circumstances were that called for the emergency transfer, Steve didn't say, just that prayers were answered, and a great changed took place. He is in an area that they call Thompson. An area that borders the jungle, as the picture shows. His new companions name is Elder Villasaiz from Monterrey Mexico. He has been out the same amount of time as Steve, and so they are co-companions. Steve is thrilled to death to be with him. His companion wants to work, and so far has been obedient to mission rules, something that his last comp. didn't seem to want to confirm to. I sure feel better knowing that Steve is out of his past situation. I know though that it's through enduring those rough trials that later blessing are poured out, and Steve will be a much stronger person himself in knowing that he held on and did his part.