My gift has taken 19 years to make

This Year for Christmas

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving.
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Clause,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties,
two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from His words.
I've reread November's Ensign,
and my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers,
gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion,
their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence,
I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him,
that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard,
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand,
This year, I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated
by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns
that all his packing’s done.
My gift has taken years to make,
This year... I'm giving Christ my son

This poem was shared with me from a fellow missionary mom in Las Vegas whose son is currently serving in Guatemala.

New Moon

What a perfect day!!! We had all planned and looked forward to a fun girl's day out for the premier of New Moon months in advance. Tom and Michele rented out a whole theater for opening day. It was fun to be there with Jenny and Michele and so many others that we know. Thanks so much Michele for letting us all be a part of this fun night and for arranging it all.

I invited Nicole and her best friend Liz to come along with Allison and her friend Morgan. I brought my best friend along too...Brendan is "one of the gals" for things like this.

Loved, loved, loved these fangs that Nicole and Liz brought. They looked so real and really added to the "atmosphere."

The movie was fantastic!!!! So much better than the first one. It was so fun to see it in a theater of mostly women and a lot of teenage girls! I have to say that Jacob didn't really do it for me. I much prefer the romantic Edward type over a hot body, but to all his...or should I say, Her own.

After the movie we topped off the night at Zupas for some "girlie food." Sandwiches, soups, salads, and Rocky Road Brownies. We sat for hours eating, sharing desserts, and talking about boys.

Perfect Girls Day out!!!

"Time Out for Women"

Every once in a while, we girls really need a Time Out. Jenny told us about this seminar put on by Deseret Book a few months ago. It was like an education week/stake women's conference all in one. We were priviliged to hear inspiring stories from people like Sheri Dew, Emily Watts, Kris Belcher, Mary Ellen Edmunds, Michael Wilcox, and Wendy L. Watson, wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson. Hillary Weeks also played and sang during the conference which was two days long held in Salt Lake.

A few pieces of their talks that really touched me were:

"Children aren't necessarily the fruit of our parenting. The fruit may be the change in us BECAUSE of the experiences we've had in raising them."

"If Heavenly Father only gave us trials that we could handle, then we wouldn't need Christ."

"Sometimes we act as if we're going to stay here (on earth.) But we can't, we aren't, and we won't. So set your priorities and live for eternity, not for today."

"Instead of just making a To Do list to keep you on track, make one and pray about it to make sure you are focusing on what the Lord would have you do."

It's always so fun to hang out with my two of my favorite girlfriends! Jenny and Michele are one in a million. I love them for so many different reasons. We have shared all of our ups and downs for the past ten years and I wouldn't trade them for anything. It was so fun to chat about the things we learned, of course it was fun to eat together, and one of the best part of the whole thing was being able to say "I'm friends with that girl with the cool purse!"

Michele got stopped constantly and asked about her purse. It was funny how often this happened. We were crossing the street the first day to go to our car and these two ladies literally were looking inside it to find the tag of the brand so they could buy it. Michele got it in California and we teased her to say to people, "Oh I made it!"

Halloween 2009

Only a month late, but at least it's documented right?

Halloween certainly isn't what it used to be around here with little kids to dress and put make up on while trying to make sure they have something warm in their tummy and on their body before going out. Now I just get a, "See you later Mom!" after I try to snap a few photos for memory sakes.

Jordan had a fun theme of Disneyland's Haunted House at the bank where he works. I couldn't pass the chance to see his costume as Jack from the Nightmare before Christmas. Good thing I had a deposit to make!

Allison told me that she wanted to dress up like an 80's girl. I guess that is the ultimate sign of being old....when your kids want to dress like you did as a teenager for Halloween. I went to my closet and pulled out my little box of favorite old things and only had to go buy her big, bright earrings. Yep, this is exactly how I used to dress. Belt and hair and hot pink unitard! Doing her hair was the best. It all came back to me like it was yesterday. Blow drying the "wings" on the side and curling, ratting, and spraying the claw bangs. Allison couldn't stop laughing and asking, "Really Mom? You really used to do your hair like this? REALLY?"

She decided to have a Halloween party at our house with the girls her age in the ward. They dressed up, made pumpkin shaped pizzas, and watched "Watcher in the Woods." (An old Disney classic for those my age.) They had so much fun and loved being scared during the movie.

The next day, we had a ward Halloween party at Classic Skating. Brendan wasn't going to dress up at all, but suprised us all when he came downstairs dressed in this get up. What the heck???? He said that if Allison was going to be a girl from the 80's, she needed an "F-dude" by her side. So funny!!!! They both won the costume contest and a bag of candy!

(Jake didn't dress up or want to participate much in family Halloween fun this year......he'll change his mind next year when he sees himself absent this year in our Halloween album, I hope.)

Watch Out Tiger Woods

After years of playing football all summer and fall, Jake decided that he would give golf a try. He has always liked to golf and goes often with his friends and a few times a year with Brendan. This year it was time to get some serious golf in. He found friends to go with him and together they would go to the golf course and volunteer to wash carts, pick up balls, whatever they needed in exchange for a free round. He worked 1 to 2 hours a day and ended up playing free golf 4 to 5 days a week all summer long. His hard work paid off in August when after a week of tryouts and 3 cuts, he called to say, "I MADE IT!"

He loved every second of it. He started out the season with a score in the mid 50's. He ended it with an average in the low 40's. Not bad for a sophomore. With their home course being out at The Ranches in Saratoga Springs and the fact that they had to provide their own transportation EVERY day for practice, it was so great that we had so many boys from our neighborhood make the team. We arranged a carpool so we only had to drive one time a week. I loved my day to drive and the chance to hear these cute boys talking and goofing off on the way to practice. Jake has been so blessed to have such good friends.

All these boys are/were in our ward!

The only downside to golf was that it's not really a spectator sport. We weren't really ever able to go see Jake play, but we got every detail when he got home each day. He's turned into a much darker shade of brown through his playing outside in the hot sun (our very own brown sugar bear!)

The Varsity team made took 2nd in Region and went to the State Tournament where they took 10th. Jake loved his new coach, Tele.

We all enjoyed a nice end of the season dinner at Thanksgiving Point with all the players, coaches, and parents. Jake is 90% sure he'll try out for the golf team again next year, but he's having a hard time getting football out of his system. We'll see what he decides.

Jake and his coaches

Team Dinner

BYU fans through and through

We bleed True Blue BYU at our house. This is how the crew looked right before they left to go to the game.

Jake spent about an hour doing his own face!

BYU 26 - UTAH 23!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN OVERTIME BABY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guatemala, Guatemala City North Mission!!

I spent Wednesday morning in the living room so that I could watch out the window and spot the mailman. What a long morning that was!!! My mom was equally as anxious so we spent the time dusting the furniture, cleaning the windows and the blinds in there (all the while peeking out the window!) I accidentally pulled too hard and all the blinds fell down, but that's ok. Now I had a better view! It was a different worker than our usual cute lady and he was driving a white mini van instead of the usual mail truck so that was weird. But he had the mail and that's all that mattered. The second I spotted him across the street, I grabbed my camcorder and taped the whole thing.

Oh my gosh!!!! My hands were shaking, my heart was pounding, and I even started sweating with all the emotions that were rushing through me. I spent the next little while texting, emailing, and calling everyone about the big news. Then we all had to wait 8 long hours to open it until Jordan finished his classes for the day and a shift at the bank. Nicole came over early to help me make cookies. I had found some fun mission countdown blocks at Pebbles and I bought both of us one. We decided to make them together to help pass the time.

As soon as Jordan was off work, we all met and went out to dinner and then headed over to BYU. He wanted to open it at his dorm because lots of his friends that wanted to be there didn't have transportation to our house. He and Ocho figured out how to do a live feed so they broadcast it on line for all our family and friends that couldn't be there. 8:09 was the chosen time for "Jordan's lucky number 9."

GUATEMALA,

GUATEMALA CITY NORTH MISSION!

It was so much fun to have so much of our family there and all the little cousins too! Jordan is the first grandchild on both sides so it's been a long time since we've had a missionary in the family! Thank you everyone for coming, especially everyone with little kids. Also thanks for everyone who tuned in on-line and for all the messages received since then.

Just a couple amazing stories concerning his call:

1. We had about 75 guesses from family and friends. Not ONE person guessed Guatemala!

2. My mom was born and raised in Guatemala City and has a lot of family still living there that she keeps in contact with. They are not of our faith and it would be so cool if Jordan could visit with them and teach them the gospel in Spanish!!! Not sure yet if his mission actually covers the part of Guatemala city where they live, so we will see.

3. A little over three years ago, Jordan was working on his Eagle Scout project. A family friend was associated with the Guatemalan MTC president and he learned that many local Guatemalan missionaries enter the MTC there with just the shirt on their back and a plastic sack of belongings. That really affected him and he decided to collect white shirts and ties to be sent to the Guatemalan missionaries and future missionaries from the city for his project. Now he's going to that exact place to serve them personally and will be one of them!!!

4. During October 2009 conference, Brendan and I were watching the "in between conference specials" that are always a favorite part of conference for me. They did a whole thing on a service project in a rural town in Guatemala. Click here to watch it. We loved it so much. We said that we wanted to take a family vacation with Jake and Allison to that place and help with the humanitarian efforts while Jordan served a mission. Little did we know that the little town would be right in the mission that he was called to serve in one month later!

5. We just remembered that Jordan did his 6th grade country report on Guatemala. It was fun to pull out his display board and see his 12 year old handwriting describing a country that would mean more to his life than he realized at the time.

We know that the call was so inspired. Jordan is thrilled beyond words and couldn't stop shaking all night. His call has already blessed our lives and we are so thankful to our Heavenly Father. Jordan is in His hands now and we put our trust and faith in His wisdom to guide and protect our son as he prepares to devote the next two years in His service among these choice people! He reports to the MTC on February 10, 2010.

Join us for Jordan's mission call opening

We are planning on getting together at Jordan's dorm Wednesday night as he opens his mission call. It hasn't come yet, but we got a call from our stake executive secretary that it's completed, mailed, and on its way!!!!! They always seem to come on Wednesdays around here so that is what we are planning on.

If you can join us in person, we will be meeting in the commons area of Young Hall, the most northwest building at Heritage Hall dorms, just north of the BYU creamery at 7:45 p.m.

For those that want to be there but can't, it will be broadcast LIVE on the internet Wednesday starting at 7:45 and the letter will be opened at 8:09 PM MST. The site will be www.justin.tv/JordansMissioncall.

I will post a video here with the big news for everyone to see on Thursday if you can't make it that night.

I think I'll go throw up now........I can't take this waiting game any longer!

Exciting News!

No, no mission call yet....tune in Wed or Thurs for that big announcement.

But I was just thinking that my blog has had a somber mood for quite some time. It's time for some jumping up and down news!

We are so excited to hear that my sister in law Jessica and her husband Joel, and daughter Cassie have been chosen by a special birth mom to adopt her baby (boy?) that is due at the end of December!

Yet another miracle story to bless their lives! We are so thrilled for them and for our entire family.

Congratulations Joel, Jess, and Cass!

And so the countdown begins...

I've been on kind of an emotional rollercoaster this week. Ever since the day Jordan was blessed as a baby, I have thought about this time in the future when he would leave home for two years to serve a mission. It's a time I have tried my very hardest to prepare him for and prayed that it would have the desire and worthiness to serve.

College has been a great stepping stone for all of us. It's helped him learn personal responsibility unlike anything he could have experienced living at home. He's learned to prioritize his time, wash and iron his own clothes, and cook for himself...even if it is mostly microwaveable meals. It's helped me to let go a little bit (....just a little bit) and get used to not seeing him every day.

This week his mission papers were submitted and we are waiting for his call to come either November 4th or 11th. It's such an exciting and rewarding time but it's also SO scary! Brendan said that it's a lot harder being on the parent side of things than it ever was for him as the missionary.

Everytime I think about the wheels being in motion already for this huge life changing event, tears well up in my eyes. He's my baby. My firstborn. My motherhood guinea pig. Oh, how I have messed up with him. But I hope he'll forgive me.

But as wonderful as this time is, I have to be honest here....How am I going to survive on a weekly email and a bi-yearly phone call when I am used to texting back and forth every single day and talking several times a week? Where will he go? Where will be his home for the next two years? Will he be cold? Will he be too hot? Will he like the food? Will there be running water? Will the people love him and take care of him or will he have a hard time having anyone listen to their message? Will Nicole wait? Will he have carpet or dirt floors? Will he learn a new language? And if yes, will it come easy or will he struggle? Will he be safe? Will he follow all the mission rules? Will he get used to getting up at 6 am? Did we do enough to help prepare him?

Making the decision to have him come into our family was a time when I had to exercise the most faith ever and put it all in the Lord's hands. Again, I am standing at a heart wrenching crossroads. The Lord blessed me beyond my greatest expectations the first time and all I can do is have faith that all will go well again. Jordan came to earth with a specific purpose and I know that his mission is the beginning of many great things to come. I am so proud of who he has become and his preparation and willingness to serve our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for his "I will go, I will do" attitude. He has been blessed with quite a charmed life and it's time to give back, help others, and thank our Heavenly Father.

But still I cry. Still I worry. Still I am sick to my stomach to start on this new and unknown path as a mother. Because you see, Jordan will always be my baby boy and it's hard to let go of such a precious little guy that just yesterday was learning to sing "I am a Child of God." (2 years old)

Amidst dance shoes, leotards, and braces

Later today I will be taking my daughter to her bi-weekly dance class taught by Colleen Collins Smith, an 80 year old dance legend and someone that I love so much for so many reasons.

26 years ago almost to the date, I started dancing in her studio myself. A neighbor invited me to go and I was hooked from that day on. I didn't even own a leotard or tights, but soon wore them almost every single day as I danced through life during my teenage years.

I remember being in Colleen's class at the old BYU Academy in Provo when my life changed FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY! I was in a beginning level class since I had only been dancing for a few weeks and had quite a ways to go before making it into "The Company." That class practiced right after mine and often I would see them coming in to wait for us to finish. I looked up to them and couldn't wait to move up into their world. They got to wear character shoes instead of just ballet slippers and did such fun routines with lifts because they had boys in that class.

Not long after I started, I saw HIM for the very first time. He came early to wait for his class, but not to stretch out. Oh no, why waste time doing that? It was the perfect time to mingle and flirt with all the girls. It was so weird, but I was instantly jealous. I didn't even know his name and I didn't even really like him (because it doesn't matter if you know someone for real...you can still like a total stranger, right?) He was tall and skinny, with braces and a dark blonde, mullett (not a long rock star mullett, but one nonetheless)...you 80's chicks remember the look. It wasn't love at first sight, but there was an instant connection that really perplexed me. There was SOMETHING very special with this guy. We never really met and we never talked until the following April during our end of the year Big Show dress rehearsal. It was then that he took the opportunity to introduce himself backstage in a very gentlemen-ly and romantic way......by using a bandana to flick me from behind! I turned around ready to smack whoever did that when I saw HIM standing there with a big smile and a "Hi, I'm Brendan."

Long story short, we became best of friends through the summer and a little spark developed 6 months later. I eventually did make it into "The Company" and we spent many years dancing and laughing on the dance floor. It's now been 25 years since we "got together" and today we celebrate our 20 year anniversary. I know now that the connection I felt those many years ago was much more than I realized.

We didn't meet that day.

We were reunited that day.

I know we were best friends before we came to earth and I believe that my spirit recognized his when we were blessed to find each other amidst dance shoes, leotards, and braces.

Today I celebrate 20 years of being married to my best friend and it just gets better and better with each passing day. We really GET each other and that is such a great feeling.

So I drive 30 minutes each way twice a week to take Allison to dance not only because she loves it and not only because I believe Colleen is the best around, but because with a story like ours, where else could OUR daughter dance?

Too many choices

I hate having too many choices. Especially when there is no right or wrong. Picking out an ice cream flavor is even difficult for me sometimes.

Years ago, back in ancient times, there was a little book called a journal that most people wrote down their daily happenings and deepest secrets. I used to do that......

Then scrapbooking became more than just sticking photos in magnetic albums. I ripped all mine out of them and started with the fabulous pastel colored cardstock and added a few stickers and yes, even cut my photos into shapes....what was I thinking? But then that became my journal of sorts. I did individual books for each of my 3 kids until they were each about 5 or 6 then started a family scrapbook with lots of great embellishments, nice coordinating paper, and lots of journaling. I used to feel good about that.......

Then this thing called blogging came around and it was so much faster to journal your thoughts and/or events, attach a few photos and Wah-lah! So fun to share with family and friends everywhere. No cost involved (although I will always be secretly addicted to paper. Always have been since I was a little girl.) But you get the idea. Loved it, but was sad to see my scrapbooks and supplies gathering a little dust.

Then this thing called facebook took over the world. At first I couldn't understand why people cared that someone was taking a nap. Or why someone would take the time to say something like, "had a great day shopping. and get tons of comments. Seriously.....didn't get the fascination. But alas, I got hooked. Why take the time to journal, or scrapbook, or blog, when a few sentences and a click to add photos will do? I'm not even going to attempt to look into Twitter. I can't take it! Aaaahh!!!!!

So what to do is the question. Some things are just too private and personal to share that a journal still seems like a good idea once in a while. Scrapbooking will always be a love of mine and I have way too much stuff to just give it up completely. I love blogging because it can eventually be published into a book (if I ever figure that one out) and it's a great way for me to keep up with our many family and friends that don't live close by. But facebook is a fun way to post photos and I love being able to keep in touch with friends and my kids' friends who I may not see very often without having to "bug" them too much. It's been an awesome tool to see what Jordan is up to in college. Going to a weekly email on his mission is going to kill me!

So if anyone has any brilliant ideas as to what choice is best or how to combine them to be more efficient I welcome your comments. It's too much to keep up with and I need to get back to living my life and get off the computer!!!!

Two little girls....

As I sit today missing my son who has moved away to college, I can't help but count my blessings that he is only 30 minutes away and I can talk to him whenever I want. It's just different, and I hate it. I don't think you actually realize that when you give birth to that beautiful little baby that the goal is for them to become independant of you and LEAVE YOU! But it's what is "supposed" to happen. So again, I count my blessings.

But what isn't supposed to happen is for little ones to leave earth so soon. Today would be Livvy's 13th birthday. Sweet, beautiful, funny, little Livvy. Our neighbor and Allison's bestest buddy.

They were attached from head to toe. Neither one of them would eat unless they were together. They loved putting on bright pink lipstick and playing dress up everyday. They sang silly songs and made up little dances to them. And on and on they would play from sun up to sun down always together...always laughing...until that fateful summer day a little over 9 years ago. It's not for us to question and I know we don't understand the full picture, but it's hard to figure out why the Lord needed her back so soon.

Livvy we treasure every single memory and photgraph that we have of you. Allison's life was touched forever by you and we will never forget you. Happy Birthday Olivia Newton John, as Brendan used to always teasingly call her.

Today also marks 6 months since Gracie left her earthly life. 6 months....that's such a long time. Tom and Michele's strength and testimony are an example to us all. Gracie is the toughest little girl I know and I know that she is blessing heaven with her little spunk. I just wish we could all see it and enjoy her with us. She was such a miracle from the beginning. Once she was home, I really thought that she had beat the odds and was here to stay. She was such a little fighter and I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to know her just a little bit during her short earthly stay. But again, we have to have faith and trust in the Lord's wisdom and plan.

Two little girls that touched our family forever.

Two little girls that we will never forget.

Two little girls that suffered more than their share on this earth so that the rest of us could reflect more closely on our blessings.

Two little girls that helped us remember what is really important in this life.

Two little girls who are now two little angels in heaven watching over all of us and helping us try harder to be worthy to see them again.

Mom, I'm Bored!

No, those words are not coming out of one of my kids mouths. They are coming out of mine!!!!

I feel like a kid who just started summer break and is missing all of her friends and the routines already. The last few days have been REALLY DEPRESSING around here. I haven't had little ones around during school hours for years, but I've filled up my days with housework, errands, my bow business, and with SPORTS!

I miss my kids already and all of their daily summer adventures. Even if it just meant driving them to their friends' houses and hearing a comment or two about their day.

Bows have slowed down to a mere trickle so that doesn't consume more than a few days a month now. I guess you could say I'm semi-unemployed or semi-retired, whatever sounds best.

But last night I think I figured it all out. What I really am missing right now is FOOTBALL! This is the time of year where I run around all day to get everything done because our evenings are spent on the bleachers watching 2 to 3 games a week! I miss packing the car with blankets (for padding and for warmth), filling up jugs of ice water, making game snacks to munch on during the games, spending my mornings on the phone or in meetings with the other team moms planning the weekly dinners and game parties, making dinner plans for those away games, etc, etc, etc! That's been our life for the past 7 years! I miss seeing all of my "boys" on the team and catching up with all of their parents on the bleachers. Many of those boys have now received mission calls and many more have moved away to college. We plan on going to a few games, but it just won't be the same. Jordan is helping Tom with Max's 6th grade team as the quarterback coach so we'll have to go see a few of their games too.....it's going to be hard to cheer for AF though, but we'll do our best.

I wasn't prepared to say goodbye since we thought we still had 3 years left of it with Jake. But he decided that golf was more his thing. He worked DANG HARD all summer long on improving his game and we are all so thrilled that he made the high school JV golf team! But it's not a sport where parents can come and watch and cheer on their boys. So we just get the stories when he gets back from practices and tournaments. We're excited that he's doing something that he loves so much.

So just like when we used to say, "Mom! I'm bored." And our mom's would reply, "I have lots for you to do if you are looking for something to do....." I still have piles of laundry waiting, disgusting blinds to dust, windows to clean, closets to go through, hundreds of photos to scrapbook, a frig that is never full enough to shop for, but I just don't have any motivation to do any of it.

I think I just need a few days to wallow in my pity-party and then I'll figure out a new normal. That is, after I help Jordan pack up his room this weekend and move away from home next Wednesday.

WAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Thanks for listening to me whine.

I'm sure that homework projects and long drives to dance in Provo will kick my behind in gear in no time.

Changes, Changes

Allison went from long hair and braces...... to short hair...... to no braces.

All set for 8th grade!

Here is a photo of Jake on the day he got his driving permit. I think it's a great idea to have them practice for a whole year before having their license, but not such a great idea that I have to be the one in the passenger seat with him and have it be my car! Actually, he's a great kid and a pretty good driver so far, but it's still scary. Just working on a few little kinks. Now he's all set for HIGH SCHOOL!!!.

Welcome Home Grandma and Grandpa!

(Actual event date was July 23, 2009)
It was such an exciting time to welcome my mom and dad home from their mission to Colombia after 18 months. We spent the day cleaning up the house, making posters, and Ed went and bought them few groceries. Brendan painted their family room a few weeks before (pre-surgeries) and I had fun re-decorating a little bit downstairs for them.

Here Noah and Taya put the finishing touches on the Welcome Home banner.

Waiting and more waiting. Actually, we made it to the airport with only a few minutes to spare. We cut it way too close, but we made it, thank goodness.

The weirdest thing for them was to see how much taller Jake and Allison were and Jake's deep voice. They looked great and happy! It was a week long party afterward!

Since we were all together....

Just a few days after my mom and dad came home, we decided to take photos of the whole crew while Julie and Carlos were in town. We just had Julie's mom go over to Ed's since she lives only a few blocks away. Good thing he has such a great backyard.

Just with the grandkids (left to right, top to bottom): Taylor (4), Jake (15), Jordan (18), Allison (13), Gavin (7), Grandma, Ryder (18 days), Grandpa, Ian (4), Noah (8), Taya (6)

One of our last complete family photos for a while. We'll try to sneak in another good one before the mission...

The really good ones were taken with Ed's camera, but I don't have copies of those yet....these are just a few that I was able to get snapped with my camera. It was a great feeling to be all together again after so long and to have the addition of Ryder be so new to our family.

I love this photo our our little "E." Such a funny little character that he is.

Park City Coaster

We took a family day trip up to Park City to spend time together before my uncle Tony went back to California. He truly is the life of the party and always has been. I'm glad that my kids have gotten to know him and love him as much as I do. We started it off with a ride for all of us on "The Coaster." We think it's so much more fun than the Alpine Slide. Then we went to a nearby park for a great picnic, playtime for the kids, and ended it with dessert at a little gelato place. Fun little getaway, great summer memories.