Showlow Trip

During General Conference weekend, we were so lucky to be able to go to Showlow with Todd's cousin and his family. Jaime and Tyson spoiled us rotten and showed us a great time!! We were so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them and have a nice, relaxing weekend. Besides during conference, we didn't see much of our husbands. They were too busy playing outside with the kids, riding the ranger, shooting hoops, playing volleyball, and going to the Priesthood Session. So much fun, so little time!!

So, needless to say, Jaime and I spent a lot of time together and it really was a treat! I want to be like her when I grow up someday... she is incredible!

As for General Conference... this is where my mad eaves-dropping skills came in handy. With eight kids to manage, it was hard to sit down and listen to every talk, but I was thankful to be able to tune into most of it even through the madness. My kids sat down and watched a lot too, which I am grateful for. They are starting to understand the talks and recognize some of the Apostles. So cool!!

And once again, I was sure that the General Authorities were talking directly to me. I heard a lot of important things that I know I needed right at that time. I love how that happens!!

Besides listening to conference, here are some of the other things we crammed into the weekend...

Tyson and Todd and all of the kids (sans babies) in the jacuzzi.

This picture makes it look warm and sunny, but it was actually pretty cold.

There were even snow flurries Friday night right after we got there, so the jacuzzi probably felt really good!!

The kids watched movies in the theatre room and they thought that was so awesome.
But, Bella and Regan crashed and I thought that was so awesome :)
(Sleeping kids really are adorable.)


The kids had fun making Easter cupcakes.

Chansey, Eathan, and Bella rode the zip-line at Roy's cabin, but somehow we only got a picture of Chansey. Cool action shot! Thanks Jaime!

What a perfect weekend... cool weather, lots of family time, more fun than you can imagine, and listening to the General Authorities inspiring words... all wrapped up into two days.

A little piece of Heaven on Earth!

A Trip to the "Salon"

My sister Rosanne is totally amazing!! Somehow between her eight kids, two grand-kids, many busy church callings and being a great sister, she has found time to be a beautician for the last 30 years. She has many regulars that come every time they need their hair done and then there are those who only show up once in a while. We fit somewhere in the middle. But this week, we paid Rosanne a visit for some serious hair-dos. Chansey wanted a perm (again) and Bella and Spencer were in desperate need of a trim. Well, needless to say, once again, Rosanne came through for us...

All rolled up... just waiting for everything to set.

I thought this was a funny shot. I am not sure if Chansey is covering her face because the solution stings her head, or because it stinks... ?!

Spencer was ok as long as he had a lollipop in his mouth.

He has had several haircuts before, but this was the first one by a professional.

Bella had her first haircut ever!!

AFTER

BEFORE

Bella's hair was really long, but it was so wispy and scraggly at the ends, you can barely see it!

Well, three hours and a few tears later, we all made it! We were exhausted, but the kids all looked spiffy! Thanks Rosie!

Spring Break ~ Mexico

During Spring Break we were able to go to Rocky Point with my brother and his family. We love hanging out with them! They keep us entertained and they are so good to our little ones. Our trip was so fun and relaxing this time and the weather was beautiful! I wish we could have more vacations like this. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Mexico...

Playing in the sand... my personal fav... I don't love the ocean.

(Don't ask me why this picture is sideways)

Spencer just LOVES to be outside... can you tell?

This picture was taken on the porch of our cabin. The tide isn't very high in this picture. Sometimes the water comes up over all the rocks and splashes onto the steps of the cabin. The kids always love to play in the water... even when it is not high tide.

Love the braids!! How do those mexican hair-do ladies move their hands so fast anyway?

Eathan is searching for crabs in the small pools of water between the rocks. They put "big" ones in the buckets and watch them attack each other.

We also love to feed the seagulls. It's amazing how fast they come when you start throwing pieces of bread in the air.

The great thing about going to Mexico is that we don't really do a whole lot, but our kids love it so much and they always have endless amounts of fun. We hang out with the family and have a great time together. We usually take pictures every time we go and they always look kinda the same. I guess when they get big, my kids will never forget the awesome family memories we made in Rocky Point!!

Darrell's Wedding

My nephew Darrell got married a few weeks ago. I can't believe it!! It seems like just yesterday that I was babysitting him at my parents' house and commenting on how cute he was! In all reality, that was about 20 years ago... (am I old?)

Seriously though, Todd and I have always been really close to Darrell and really proud of him for every good decision he has made. We know he is happy with his new bride and that makes us happy. Todd, Chansey, and Eathan were all part of the ceremony...

Todd was one of the groomsmen.

(The sun is shining right in everyone's faces, so they are all squinting. Too bad I couldn't get a better picture from where I was sitting. And too bad it is really impolite to wear sunglasses during a wedding ceremony.)

Hallie (my great-niece) and Chansey were flower girls.

These two studs (Eathan and my great-nephew Dillin) were ring bearers.

Darrell and Brandi are listening to the inspiring words of the bishop during the ceremony. He spoke to them about always respecting each other and communicating with kind words. I was glad to be able to hear these great reminders.

One year older and 'wiser' too!!

Bella turned 3 years old last month and she had a really fun birthday party. We went to Amazing Jakes with a few little friends and cousins and had an 'Amazing' time! (sorry I loaded the pictures wrong and they aren't centered)

The Frog Hopper... the favorite ride of the day.











Driving the car game with her aunt and her sweet shades!



To the left is the whole gang... all smiles, ready for some cake.

Below is Bella on her actual birthday opening presents from Grandma Marilyn. She makes it a point to come over and bring the little kids something for every birthday. They love it!! Bella had fun checking out the loot!

Now that Bella is three, she thinks she is more in charge than she did before! She is growing up and getting smarter faster than I can keep track of. She is definitely my most head-strong child yet and she usually finds a way to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants ... we just try to make sure it fits in with what we want her to do... most of the time! :) She has brought new meaning to the phrase "pick your battles". Bella is a load of fun too!! She keeps us laughing all the time and is constantly inventing new ways to get attention. She also gets comments everywhere we go on how blond her hair is... especially now that it is long. So anytime someone mentions her hair, she says... "I know,... it's white". We love Bella and are so glad that she came to our family when she did! We waited for a long time and it was definitely worth the wait!! Love ya Blondie!!

Going Private

If you like to read my blog, please email me or leave a comment here. I am going to make my blog private soon and I would like to invite anyone to view my blog that would like to. Thanks!!

"The TRUTH of God Will Go Forth"

As many of you probably did, I received a disturbing email today. It outlined pictures and material defaming the sacred temple ordinances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, that are soon to be expounded on and aired on HBO. I hold these truths dear that are about to be mocked on the show "Big-Love". (which I had never heard of until today) The email called for action... with a link to HBO, the email asked for anyone and everyone to voice their opinion and distaste for this show and its content. My initial reaction was to write the station and voice my angry feelings in hopes that somehow they would decide not to air this blasphemous show. But, I didn't feel entirely comfortable writing the angry thoughts I was feeling, so I tried to let it go and went about my day. I received a similar email again, later in the day that stirred up the negative feelings and worry once more.

This story has a happy ending... This evening, I found this link on a friend's blog

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

The church has published their view on this situation and this article brought me much comfort. I understand now why I didn't feel comfortable writing that angry email to HBO. I hope anyone who has experienced similar feelings to mine today will read this and understand what it is that the church has asked us to do.

Also, I would like to quote the words of our beloved Joseph Smith...

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540)

Lastly, I would like to quote my friend's bishop...

"Surely this is a time in which calumny defames. However, we remain confident in the divinity of this work. The teachings of the Savior inspire us to respond to attacks with forgiveness. Our best defense against controversy is silence."