Thanksgiving in BOI

We decided this year to spend the entire week with my family in Boise. We left on Sunday so we could get there early in the week for Parker to participate in a basketball camp at Capital High School. We stayed at a hotel for the first three nights so we wouldn't overwhelm my parents. It ended up working out really well. We had so much fun seeing friends and spending time with family.
We stayed all day with Perry's on Monday. Bowling, treats, late night laughs, and Nate and Tom went to watch Logan's basketball practice. (To get coaching ideas).

We attended the Festival of Trees with everyone, saw Carter's first place finish in the Kindergarten art competition, and enjoyed dinner at Wok King. Crazy, but later that night the entire resturant burned down to the ground! What are the crazy odds of that?? We were able to meet up with friends at Merritts and we went to a YUMMY dinner at this new place called Fork downtown Boise with the Haskells. It was a really really great trip.

Thanksgiving dinner was fabulous, the girls even snuck out for awhile to get some black Friday shopping done which is always so much fun. We were FINISHED by midnight this year! Awesome!

Picture overload time!

Thankful Turkey

Another year, another gratitude turkey! A few new to this year included: "My booty" (my body), Daniel Tiger, and moody pre-teens! Dallin may or may not have been happy about participating this year. Oh boy.....

Tyguy's First Birthday!!

Happy first birthday my bitty Tyguy baby boy! I am SO overcome with emotion as I think about this past year and all of the JOY and HAPPINESS that you have brought to our family! You have the sweetest disposition and you smile at everyone. I adore that about you. People come up to me all the time and tell me what a darling boy you are. A lot of people think you are a girl (because you are so darn cute!)

Your birthday was very low key. Just your family, a cute cake, and a fun toy (that I bought used online). It is a blow up looking pool thing filled with balls. I couldn't bring myself to spend $60 on it but when I saw it at an online garage sale for $15 I was all over it!

We went over to a friends house to play earlier in the day. Most of the moms there had one or two kids....this mama was feeling really old after I left. It is funny to sit back and listen to new moms stress about the tiniest little things. I didn't say anything out loud but it made me realize how lucky you are little guy. This mama feels so much more confident about being a mom and I have just ENJOYED you this year....as much as I possibly could. I let things go, hold you as often as I can and I savor each second. You are my baby....my last little baby and I have not taken it for granted at all! I thought about how you are 1 and you still aren't walking. All of my other babies were walking by now but I am not worried in the least. Now, if I was a new mom....I'd be freaking out. Nope, you're just taking your time....you'll get there soon enough.

You mushed your cake up worse than any of your siblings. You ate a little but not much. You loved playing with your sissy in the balls all day long. It was a perfect day little man. I was so excited for you and just a bit sad at the same time. It was the FASTEST year of my life. I am so grateful that you are here. I needed you and I didn't even know it. I had no idea I could be so crazy over someone. (Except for your siblings of course!)

I love you to bits. I think I'll go grab you and smooch those cheekies for awhile!

New family pics

Farewell old blog

Well, I have come to a big decision about my little neglected blog. As a Christmas gift to myself and to my family, I am finally going to be having ALL of it published into books. That would be almost 1,000 entries, over the last 8 years!

Putting it off all of these years is going to cost me a pretty penny but I think it will be well worth every cent. I know how much my boys adore going through all of the old photo books that I have make for my Grandma each Christmas and how they love reminiscing about the trips we've taken and adventures we've been on together.

And because no one really reads my blog anymore anyways.....I've decided to make it private. For me alone. I've noticed that there have been times that I have wanted to record something but its too personal and I don't know who is looking. This is my only journal and I want it to be a place of honesty where I can record things that are important to me. I will continue to document my family but just for the Nathan and Staci Starnes Family.

I pride myself on being a very open person but lately I've been feeling the urge to keep things to myself and I'm feeling the need to record the things that are a little closer to my heart....things I don't really want the whole internet blogosphere to know about. Nothing monumental is going on here or anything.....just feeling the importance of recording things for my kids and feeling like they have no say on what I put out there has been kind of weighing on my mind.

It's been a fun adventure and the party will go on.......so follow me on instagram or facebook or pick up the phone or write me a letter or just come to my house. Haha. A very heartfelt goodbye to you all!

Grid Kid Champions

I was warned that when my son started playing tackle football that it would most likely become my favorite sport. Whoever said this was absolutely and positively right. The Sandcreek East team which is comprised of all students from Parker's elementary school was an absolute treat to watch this year. The cheerleader in me could not be contained. We won every regular season game, we won the semi final game and last night we won in OVERTIME to Skyline in the 4th grade championship game.... 20-19. The game was so stressful, so fun, and the boys stepped up and played their hearts out. Grandma and Grandpa Starnes, Kelsey and Logan came to support Parker. What a great game for them to come and witness in person. I could hardly sleep last night because of all the adrenaline pumping through my body. 

Nate dedicated so much time to the team as well as the defensive coach. It was fun to see him put his heart and soul into this team. It was an experience that Parker will remember his entire life. I loved, no I LOVED it. Go Knights! I can hardly wait until next year....and MAN, will we have a huge target on our backs! That is FOR SURE!!! 

U pick Red Barn

This week we have been going a million different directions. I really wanted to take my kids to the pumpkin patch before it gets cold or before all of the pumpkins were picked over. We were able to jet over there yesterday because it was half day. We had so much fun. I love my crew.

St. George

The first weekend in October we headed down south to find a few more summer days. I stopped and picked up EE and Ash and the girls on our way! We had tons of fun exploring Grafton Ghost Town, driving through Zions (there were zillions of people there). We played at the park and swam in the pool.  We ate yummy food and basked in the St. George sunshine. Ash left on Friday to head to her cabin but EE and I stayed for two more days. I took Landon on a date to Tuacahn and we we watched the Wizard of Oz. They do such a great job down there. 

 It was so nice to play but it was also good I was there because Grandpa Whitaker had a heart attack while I was there and I was able to be right there to support him until everyone else got there. We sure love him and aren't ready to let him go quite yet. He is an amazing Grandpa and I'm so happy that he is doing much better now.

 It was a great getaway and even though we had a blast....I realized how much my older boys help me out! We sure missed them. Parks has been so busy with football and Dallin and Nate were able to go to the Priesthood Session of Conference together. 

A little tender mercy

Haven't had a heart to heart with the old blog in quite awhile. Most posts lately have been a catch up spewing of what is going on in life. Honestly there just aren't enough hours in the day anymore. I recall a time where all throughout a day I would look for little stories or things to share on my blog. I'd be happy to record that one little thing and would always find the time to do it. I guess it was more of a priority and was always at the forefront of my mind. I've said it before but lately every day just feels like I'm swimming up the current and trying to check the things off the everlasting checklist. Between my calling, cleaning, cooking, yard work, the boys after school sports, piano, scouts, keeping 2 babies alive, trying to be a good wife and mom, there is very little "Staci" time anymore. I'm not complaining....its just the stage of life we're in. It's wonderful, and exhausting in the same breath.

Sometimes I feel that as I go through the motions of life that I am unnoticed. I am giving and giving at 100% all day long and sometimes the day passes by without a thanks, without acknowledgement. I don't do these things that I do for praise or attention.....I do them because I know that it is through these small and simple tasks that we will learn to become more like our Heavenly Father. When we serve those around us we are serving God. I'm not going to lie, there are times where I demand some appreciation from my family members. I will tell Nate that I need some verbal praise or I may just explode. Gratitude is important to me. I try to give it as often as possible but sometimes I need a little bit to keep my batteries charged.

This morning was a really good morning though. I woke up at 4:45am to take my Young Women to do baptisms for the dead at the temple. As I was hurrying to get out the door I noticed that I had received a message from a good friend of mine at approximately 12;30am a few hours previous. My eyes filled with tears as I read the words:


I am messaging you on FB because it's midnight and I didn't think you would appreciate a text right in the middle of your Hugh Jackman love dream! I am mad because I can't sleep because I just realized I never got you anything for your birthday and we never went out to celebrate!!! I am a bad friend!! So, this gift will have to do for now, until I can get you something. I think you are the best mom ever!! You are so fun with your kids! You always make sure they have fun and learning experiences. I see you work hard to teach them to work hard. You love your family and it shows!! You truly care about others and you are always looking for ways to serve them! I know I can count on you to make me laugh or help me anytime. I appreciate the love you have for my family! I was so grateful for the candy poster you made for K when he graduated. He is often over looked by his family and they didn't even recognize him for his hard work. But you did! You went out of your way to make him feel special! Thank you for always including me in your adventures! I am so grateful for your friendship! You inspire me to be a better mother, wife and friend! I think about you daily, and I am always here if you ever need me for anything!! I hope you have a fabulous weekend with Nate! You deserve it! I sure love you Staci! Now you can go back to your sexy dreams..... Tell Hugh hello for me!




And there it was. A little tender mercy....the little boost I needed. I don't know why my friend decided that right then she was going to text me but oh, how I needed it. A great reminder that I need to do that for others when I feel prompted to. Especially to the women and mothers around me who serve so thanklessly. It is HARD doing this job but there is nothing else on earth I would rather do....even when a bad day comes a long more frequently then I would like.

Just a few thoughts today.