9 Years and Counting

Happy 9th Anniversary to Vern and me today! 9 years ago amidst hot weather, forgetting the ring in the truck, waiting and crumpling my dress, tons of family and friends, Vern and were married in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. It was a wonderful day! Every time I think back to our wedding day I think of so many wonderful memories. Gratitude for all that made the day go off smoothly for Vern and I...especially all the hard work that went into it before the wedding. Thanks. Most importantly I married Vern in the right place, by the a person with the right authority (my dad) and at the right time! I loved Vern then, but like in Brad Paisley's current song, "Then", I truly love him more everyday.
I went through my wedding pictures today and thought I would share some with everyone to remember that great day!

The Sherwood Family 2000, add 31 more people today and you've

got our family with one on the way for Greg and Nicole.

The Wolfley Family 2000, plus 12 more people today

The Wedding Party - Daniel Wolfley, Nancy Davis (Hunt), Dennis Wolfley, Kari Sherwood Rockwood, Clarke Layton, Rebekah Perkins Crawford, William H. Sherwood, Kathy Sherwood, Kindy Wolfley, Vern Wolfley III, Eileen Wolfley, Vern Wolfley, Jr.




The fabulous chocolate cake that I only got a little bit of...thanks wolfley boys.

In 9 years we have had quite a time. Here are 9 thoughts for the 9 years.

We have lived in a cute little apartment in Tempe and our current home in Litchfield Park.

We have had 5 beautiful children and love watching them grow, and marvel at what they teach us.

Vern had odd jobs when we married, but for the past 7 years has worked at Dysart USD. Kindy began as the bread winner at Camp Fire Boys and Girls, but has managed to stay at home while doing small jobs for Picture Me Foundation, substitute taught at Dysart USD and presently tend 3 children at home with all the others.

We have had many wonderful family vacations; Hawaii, cross country to Tennessee, Wyoming, Yellowstone, Washington State, Lopez Island, Puerto Penasco (aka Rocky Point), Colorado Springs, San Diego. They have all been very memorable and wonderful!

We have owned 4 cars. Ford F250 Full Size Truck(still running after 12 years), Frontier Truck (sold when we were pregnant with Elena), VW Passatt (Timing belt broke 3 weeks before Little Vern was born) and now our Ford Expedition EL.

Had great callings in church. Vern has worked with the Young Men in Scouts and now serves in our wards Bishopric. Kindy was the Enrichment Leader for the Relief Society in Tempe, then was the Activities Leader in Litchfield Park and now serves in the Primary as the Chorister (yes you can laugh, I don't have a great voice at all).

We have had lots of endurance events we have participated in. They began small with a 1 mile Turkey Trot in Mesa in 2000. They now include 6 Triathlons for Kindy (one was a world record with her family), Pioneer Trek for Vern, Pat's 4.2 mile run for Vern and 2 10Ks for Kindy. We have also done other small fun runs and 5Ks. We are trying to stay active so as to keep our waists at a good size. We are constantly working on it.

Camping has always been a constant in our family. Whether sleeping under the stars, to surviving wind gusts that were crazy we love doing it together. And eating Vern's tasty dutch oven cooking and gooey s'mores. (although my kids sure like toasted starbursts, thanks Drew)

Being together. A few years ago I asked Vern (after we lost once again in a Newlywed game type thing at his families house) what he truly likes to do. (I wanted to be prepared next time we played). He said that he likes to create and build things with the tools in the garage. Then I asked him if he know what I truly love to do. He couldn't pin point one thing, but he summed it up perfectly when he said, "whatever it is, you like to do it together as a family." He hit it dead on. I love being with my family. Maybe it is a curse being a middle child, but nothing makes me more happy than when we are all together. It doesn't matter what we are doing, as long as there is minor arguing. I am grateful for my chance to be a mother and wife. It is the dream coming true each day that I dreamed of when I was a young girl. Thanks Vern! I love you!

I'm not a bad mom

Today was Meghan's visit at the AZ Pediatric Dentist office. We got good news and bad news. The good news is that her teeth problems are not due to neglect on our part. She has bad teeth. While they were developing they didn't do it correctly so they are low on enamel or something like that, so their decay is bound to happen. So I am not a bad mom because I don't take the best of care with her teeth. The dentist was great and Meghan sat great for her x-rays. The bad news was even before the dentist saying anything I could see in her xrays that her teeth are crowding below. Ugh. Orthordontists in the future, also to help fix her teeth from her thumb sucking habit. Better start saving now. So she is going to have some serious work done on her teeth in three weeks. All in all, financially, we are paying pretty much what we would have paid at our dentists for the same work, plus the fee for sedation. So wish us luck on June 4th that they can get it all done that day!

The Dentist Visit(s)

Why is it that you can feel like a good mother until you take your kids to the dentist? Don't get me wrong...going to the dentist 2 times a year is important and we do that, but when they come and tell you the problems your children's teeth have I just want to hide. Ugh!

2 weeks ago we all went and Meghan had her first visit. Her teeth have some major issues. Since she wouldn't sit still they referred her to a pediatric dentist. That dentist doesn't take our insurance, of course, and come to find out no pediatric dentist does. We can get a 25% discount. So, being frugal I called our provider and found a dentist that would take Meghan (she is only 3 1/2 years old). Tuesday morning I got a babysitter for my boys and took off to North Tucson, okay South Chandler, for her dentist appointment. After an hour drive we walk in the door and the receptionist says, I tried to call you and tell you the doctor can't see you today. (She called at 10:15am when the appointment was at 11:40am). Then she tells me that the doctor said that she shouldn't have made the appointment because Meghan is took young. Ugh. Luckily for the lady I am a nice person and said, okay and have a nice day. So we returned home and after a 2 1/2 hour trip I called the Pediatric Dentistry on our list and made an appointment for tomorrow, Thursday. It is about 5 minutes from my house. I tried to find a cheaper way to get the work done, but no go. Bummer. I hope Meghan does well for the dentist tomorrow and we can get it taken care of quickly!
On a good note, Meghan is out of pull ups at night and has been dry for 3 nights straight! Wahoo!

Love 31 Cent Night

We love Baskin and Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night! Each year we love going and getting two tasty flavors that normally we wouldn't get because of cost. This year was fun. Natalie, Elena, a neighbor girl Emily and I rode our bikes to our Baskin and Robbins.(not very far at all, so don't think we are very amazing). We got there and the line wasn't very long. We saw friends from church and school there. The best part for me was the girls had brought their own money to pay for their ice cream. They weren't even upset. Yeah! I found out later that Elena had even loaned Natalie the money because she couldn't find her wallet. They did this all in happiness and kindness. Yeah!!!!!!!!!! We enjoyed eating our ice cream on the sidewalk with other friends and loved it! A fun time together!

A "Berry" Jammin Morning

The whole crew was ready to make Freezer Strawberry Jam this morning...since we only had 1/2 inch left in our jar. Opps. Thank goodness strawberries are on sale this week. Making jam makes me feel like I am slightly like a pioneer (making my own food), but then I think about my Bosch and food chopper and I realise I am not a pioneer. Oh well.

We love freezer jam and as I have made it for years now we've learned some great things to use.

First...a wonderful funnel such as this one that my sister, Kim, found for me. Thank you! No more crazy messes as we pour the jam.

2nd...Plastic Peanut Butter Jars to store the jam. Sherri Davis taught me that a few months back. Use old PB jars that are plastic and it saves on the glass jars. Perfect for my home. No kidding...before we started with these jars we would loose one jar from each batch because it was dropped and it broke. Yahoo! More jam to eat!

3rd ...Certo Premium Liquid Fruit Pectin. My mom found it last fall on clearance and grabbed us all a ton. It is great. You just pour it into the mixture. No need for boiling. Wahoo! One less pan to use.

Here is our final product waiting to go to the freezer and then be tasty jam! We love strawberry freezer jam.

This time I actually ate some of the strawberries before mixing them up...they sure brought back summer to me...just the taste and suddenly I was at home in NY eating them out of my mom's patch!

Before and After

Who doesn't love a good before and after picture? Well, I can't supply that because I had to take self portraits of myself, but today I got my hair done. It has been 9 months. And sorely needed.

Before shot of Kindy. Long hair just hanging there.

After shot of Kindy. Curled nicely. Feels about 10 lbs. lighter. It won't ever look like this again, because I don't have the talent. Picture doesn't do it justice of how it looks.

Thanks to my hairdresser, Lora, who makes me feel beautiful for a day!

One Busy Saturday!

Saturday Morning (4/18) started early. 5am early. Vern was off to run the Pat's Run in Tempe at 7am. It is a 4.2 mile run to celebrate Pat Tilman's life and dedication to our country. He was an ASU football player and then a Cardinal player before he died in Afganistan as an Army Ranger. Every year they have a run to remember him. Vern decided last year that he would be there this year and he ran it in just over one hour! I am so proud of him. He has worked hard and continues to do great!

Our fabulous bikes on loan from the Rapier bike shop.

At 5:30am I (kindy) and my sister, Karen went over to Litchfield Park Rec Center to participate in their second annual Triathlon. It went well. It was 300 m. swim, 8.4 mile bike ride and 2 mile run. The pool was heated...a little too warm. It all went well except when I followed the runner in front of me and missed a turn off. Don't worry...I went back and corrected myself (thanks to Karen's reminder...twice). Karen came in 2nd place in our age division of 25-34 year olds. With a time of 57 minutes. I can in 5 minutes later, but didn't place in the top 3 spots. Darn it. Watch out Karen...next time my legs won't be so dead for a mile and I'll get you.

Karen and Kindy feeling awesome we did well.

We all finished our races by 9ish and we headed for home. Lots of thanks goes out to my mother in law, Eileen Wolfley, for coming at 5:30am to watch all 9 kids and then to Karen's mother-in-law, Carmen and Michelle Scott for taking over at 8am. They were lifesavers.

A kind family in our ward called and asked us if we wanted to have their trampoline so because we can't say No to anything for free we scooped it up and got it all set up for the kids. As you can see in the photo...it takes up half of our 48 X20 foot backyard. Love it. The kids are so excited. But sad this morning when I wouldn't let them jump on it on Sunday. I am such a mean mom.

The girls try out the trampoline wetted down since it was so warm yesterday!

Needless to say we were all asleep by 8:30pm last night and slept great all night! What a fun day we had and hope for a jumping good time this week and many more to come on the trampoline. ( I hope I don't do anything irrational trying to impress the kids on the tramp, I don't think the body is like it was 15 years ago).