Easter Weekend

This Easter Weekend was alot of fun for our family. We got together with my Mom's side of the family for a picnic and easter egg hunt. The kids had a great time and we really enjoyed the cooler weather that day.

This is my mom and my grandma. Isn't she the cutest thing!

My Dad helped my littlest nephew Hayden with his egg hunting skills.




The egg hunt was on!

Ariana found quite a few eggs

Savannah and her basket full of eggs

Ciera found some eggs with some bling inside ;)

My nephew Brendan

Chelsea enjoying the game

Cherish and my brother Brian

My brother Sean doing what he does best, torturing Chelsea!

My sister-in-law Kolena and my little man Hayden.

My niece Rosie

Hayden ready to share treats with Ariana :)

My cousin Dwayne brought this really cool game the "BIG KIDS" really enjoyed it. My Dad went to Big 5 after the picnic and bought a set :)

SIX THINGS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME!

So I was tagged by two of my lovely friends, Brooke and Debra, to list six things you may or may not know about me, so here goes nothing!

1. DREAM JOB: I totally loved Brooke's answer of one day being an SNL host, which she would be fabulous at because she is one of the funniest people I know and Debra's answer of a zoo keeper just cracked me up, but she does live with Curtis (jk Curtis). I think my dream job would be to run my own antique store, where daily I could discover some new treasure that always has a story to tell. I would also love to take something that someone might consider trash and transform it into something fabulous. I love the show on HGTV called Decorating Cents and towards the end of the show they do trash to treasure, where they take dumpster diving to another extreme. I love to look around on bulk trash pick up days and find something that is considered trash and to turn it into something amazing! Yes, my name is Charlene and I am a garbage picker :)

2. DREAM DAY: My dream day would be a massage in the morning, a pedicure after a fabulous lunch and 5 children who are perfect in every way ;)

3. IN THE PRE-EXISTENCE I KNEW: Definitely my husband...I always dated guys with light hair, but I always had a re-occuring dream when I was growing up about my wedding day. I was always standing next to my husband, but his face was always blank, but he had beautiful dark hair, I finally married my handsome dark headed husband in 1993. I think Heavenly

Father was trying to tell me something!

4. I ALWAYS HAVE ON HAND: ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!! My sister-in-law made the comment once that ice cream is a staple in my house ;)

5. BIGGEST PET PEEVE: I have so many.........I think one of my biggest is people, who drive under the speed limit and I always seem to get behind them, when I'm in a hurry! Or the people who slow down, when you are already going the speed limit, for the photo radar cameras, so annoying!

6. I'VE NEVER BEEN TO: Hawaii! Many years ago, when we were young, David and I decided that for our 15th wedding anniversary we would go to Hawaii. Well our anniversary came and it was either braces for Chelsea or Hawaii, guess which one won ;) I would also love to go to Ireland, the country side there is so beautiful.

Well there you have it. I tag anyone else who reads my blog and would like to try this out :)

Sixteen Years and Counting........

Sixteen years ago today I married the love of my life. Happy Anniversary Babe, Love you!!!

Fifteen Years Ago Today

Fifteen years ago today I became a mother for the very first time. Chelsea Marie Olivas was born at 5:05pm weighing in at 5 lbs 6 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She was such a tiny little baby, she was actually three weeks early because I had toxemia and my blood pressure was getting too high, so the doctor decided to induce labor. It just so happens that he decided to do it on my first anniversay. Let's just say giving birth wasn't exactly how I had pictured celebrating my first anniversary. We were so blessed on that day to receive such a special little girl from our Father in Heaven. She has been a great joy in our home and we are so very proud of the beautiful young woman she has become. Happy Birthday Chelsea! We love you very much!

I was pregnant with Cherish in this picture, Chelsea was so excited that she was going to be a big sister.

Chelsea and her first love Winnie the Pooh! (jk)

Chelsea has a great love for soccer. She played on her first team the "Scorpions" with her friend Melissa Lowry. Melissa's dad Richard Lowry was her coach. She played this year on the Junior Varsity team for Tolleson High School and loved every minute of it, besides the injuries she suffered. She looks forward to playing again this next school year.

Happy Birthday to a wonderful daughter, who is beautiful on the inside and out...

Families are Forever

Yesterday was the one year mark of my mother-in-laws passing. It has been a year full of many emotional ups and downs, but in honor of such a wonderful mother we decided to celebrate the way she would want us to. She loved her family and the gospel more than anything in this world. We got together as a family and had dinner and looked through so many wonderful photos, which celebrated her life. It was such a great evening and we enjoyed having all the family over, including her two great-grandchildren. My only regret is that I forgot to pull out my camera and take pictures! We are grateful for such a wonderful mother, until we meet again!

This is a picture of my mother-in-law when she was young. My daughter Ariana looks alot like her.

This is a picture of David and his Mom on our wedding day.

My Little Pioneer Girl is Home

Today we headed out early this morning to go to Heber, AZ to pick Chelsea up from the Stake Pioneer Trek. What a wonderful experience for Chelsea. She had many stories and experiences to share. I am so grateful that she made the decision to go. I had a lot of reservations as a mother and quite honestly I haven't slept well since she has been gone ( I worry way too much), I left the decision up to her and she wanted to go. She was very nervous, but David and Chelsea said a prayer the morning she left and I know our Heavenly Father was watching over her. I am so grateful for such a valiant daughter, who is such a strong young woman. I have been so emotional today, but I learned a great lesson in faith this week.

The "troops" waiting for the pioneers.

Orlo and Sheila Knight, who are from our ward, they were one of the Ma's and Pa's. What an awesome couple. Sheila come over and gave me a big hug, we were both so emotional!

Chelsea is in the middle helping to pull their handcart. This was her family.

Rachel Clark and her family

We were all so excited to see each other!

I cried so hard as I watched my daughter come in pulling her handcart. She looked like a true pioneer. I couldn't have been more proud as a mother. She was sunburned and dirty, even her eyelashes were dusty!!

There was a lot of youth from the stake that attended the trek. It truly was an awesome experience and I am so grateful that we had the opportunity as a family to go up and greet our pioneers as they came home just as our ancestors greeted each other after their long journey.

Chelsea and her friend Celina

Pioneer Chelsea sang as she walked and walked.....

Chelsea just left early this morning for the pioneer trek in our Stake. I don't know who is more nervous, Chelsea or her mother? Anyways I know it will be a good experience for her and I hope she won't freeze her bunns off! Doesn't she make the cutest little pioneer girl? I'm sure every pioneer girl had black converse to go with their stylish apron and bonnet :)