Utah

This post has been long past due, I know. You see the problem was that we took our big fun trip to Utah and got everything all ready to go the night before we left. Everything was packed in the car, the camera batteries were in the charger, the trip snacks and movies were all in their place in the car, etc. We got up and left by 5:30 am but after we were well on our way we realized that we had the camera but we forgot the battery which was still in the charger at home. A new battery was around $70.00 so we opted for $7.99 for two disposable cameras. Not the same quality, but
hey they are pictures! The delay has been remembering to take the film to be developed and waiting for Rich to put the pictures on the computer from the CD, something I have no clue how to do. I know I should learn, I'm sure it's easy, but that is Rich's area and I like him to do it. So finally I am able to post something!

We planed this trip to Utah because we had tickets the General Conference on Saturday morning, the 4th, and Jeremy had a doctor appointment at Primary Children's Medical Center on the 14th. It would be a long time to take advantage of the hospitality of my sister and her family but we love being with them and the three little ones live to see "the cousins" any chance they get.

We got up to Lehi Friday afternoon and the kids were so excited to play. We also had a special treat and got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa (my Dad and Step-Mom) who were there watching Wendy and Matt's (my sis and her husband) kids while they were on a cruise. (Lucky!)

Saturday morning Rich, the biggest two boys and I went to the morning session of General Conference. It was amazing! The Conference Center is huge and so beautiful. We went back Tuesday with all of the kids to tour it which is what these first two pictures are from. They don't do it justice. But back to Saturday... General Conference, for those of you who don't know, is when the Prophet, President Monson, the Apostles and other General Authorities in our church speak to the church as a whole. The Conference Center itself holds something like 21,000 people and

then it is also broadcast to the rest of the world on satellite stations and to church buildings so everyone can see it. All of the talks were wonderful and it was so neat to know that we were in the same room, a very big room, but still the same room as the Prophet of God. My favorite part was just before it starts and everyone is visiting so there's a low hum of 21,000 people quietly talking while the General Authorities and others find their seats. Then as the Prophet walks in a hush falls over the room and everyone stands while he walks in to take his seat. There is such a strong feeling of the Spirit there it brings a tear to your eye. Yes, even to Rich's eye.

Sunday we watched the other sessions of Conference on TV at Wendy's then we got to see Jeff and Sarah (Step-bro and his wife) that afternoon. Matt and Wendy got home that night from an amazing trip and Dad and Renetta left Monday morning to fly home. Whew, a busy weekend!

(Our family in front of the Salt Lake Temple)

The trip was full of visits to people we haven't seen for a long time and playing tourist. We toured Welfare Square in Salt Lake which is where the church makes all of the food and emergency supplies to aid people all over the world in poverty and in the case of natural disasters. We toured the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and Temple Square.

(My cute Jeremy)

It was pretty chilly but everyone enjoyed it. There were flowers all over Temple Square so it looked very "springy".



We visited many old friends, some who we haven't seen for 15 years. We saw Ted Jiminez, Trisha McQueen and her cute family, the Hickens, and the Gutkes who were our next store neighbors and great friends for years when we lived in Orem. Their oldest son, Nathan, is a year younger than Gage and although they were buddies when they were 3 and 4 it's been a long time...but they hit it off again and exchanged email addresses which was cute to see them renew their friendship. The next Sunday was Easter so Saturday Wendy and I helped all the kids color eggs. The next morning before church they did their little hunt to find all the goodies the Easter bunny brought. We went to church with Wendy's family then we headed down to Provo to have Easter dinner with my Aunt Jody and her family. My cousin Rachel and her husband Tim were there. Tim is the cool cousin. He's in a rock band and Jackson thought his car was pretty cool too.

(Tim and Ally with Ally's egg stash)

We had another Easter Egg hunt at Jody's, ate a yummy dinner and enjoyed a night hike up Rock Canyon which was so beautiful with all of the stars out! We enjoyed our Easter. The next day was Jackson's 8th birthday so we all hiked to the Y on the mountain above BYU as a birthday adventure. Rich stayed below with Julia and Gage (he was tired) but the rest of the kids made it! Later that night we went to Rachel and Tim's for a BBQ which was sweet of them to do since they were leaving early the next morning to go to France.

(Ally and Jack at the Y)

(Jack, Brinley, Katie and Jeremy on top of the Y)

Tuesday we said goodbye to the cousins which the little ones were so sad about and took Jeremy to his doctor's appointment. It's the first time Jeremy has been up to Primary Children's Hospital, which is on the University of Utah campus, since he's decided to be a doctor. He loved seeing the U of U campus and all of their medical buildings. He realized his doctor ,who is one of the best Orthopedic Surgeons in the country, is a professor at the U so now that's where he'd like to go to Medical School. I would be happy about that if it works out. Anyway, after 9 years of follow up visits since his back surgery we were told he's finally out of the woods and we're done...no more visits to Utah because of a doctor visit!

Right after his appointment we drove straight home because the kids had to get back to school. Again we made good time and got home about 11:30pm. The kids were a little tired but they made it to school okay and we all enjoyed our trip.

The Mystery of the Missing Clothes

For the last week and a half Ally and Julia have been missing several pairs of pj's, pants and shirts. If I can't find something it usually means it's in the laundry so I washed, folded and put away everything that was in their hampers. The missing clothes still did not show up. I looked under their bed, under my bed, in Jack's room, etc. and I couldn't find them anywhere. Yesterday while I was helping Ally pick up her room she opened her little rolling Dora suitcase that she usually packs with stuffed animals and books. Lo and behold there were all of the missing clothes, hangers and all! I asked her why she put all of the clothes in her suitcase and she said that last week she had packed for the trip we are taking to Utah...which is in about two weeks from now. I guess she's so excited to see her cousins that she wants to be prepared!

February in review...

February's highlight for Ally was her date with her Daddy. Ally is a Daisy in Girl Scouts and last weekend they had a Daddy Daughter Ball. She wore her favorite nice dress which is one she inherited from her cousin Jordan. Daddy got all dressed up and came to the door with flowers for Ally. She was so excited about that. I thought it was so sweet that her first bouquet of flowers was from her Dad. They had a great time at the ball although Rich said he had to tone down her crazy dancing a little bit. She thinks she's a super star dancer since she won a dance contest at a ward party a year ago. She gets a bit hyper kicking her feet everywhere but she didn't kick anyone so they were good.

Julia's baby yarn hair is finally getting longer so I can put it in ponytails or clips now. Usually she takes anything out with in the first hour after I do her hair but on this day Cari, my friend who works in our office, did her hair and she put big flower clips in it and Julia left them in almost ALL day!
Ally and Jack came home from school with lots of Valentines from their parties at school. They were very good about sharing their stash with Julia. Ally insisted I take a picture of her with the heart chocolate...so here it is. Beautiful, I know.


Sometime during the month we went down to Ontario Mills so Gage could get some drum stuff at Sam Ash Music. We had to stop and get doughnuts at Krispy Kreme since their "hot now" light was on. The kids like to go in because they can watch them make the doughnuts and they get these awesome hats.






Julia's didn't last long.





What a fun month!

Not for the faint of heart...or stomach!

Warning: If you are squeamish at all you may want to skip this post.

Let me tell you a story. Last week Rich and I were going to go to lunch with Janet, my mother-in-law. All the kids were in school except for Julia, of course. Janet came with us in our car but we needed to stop first to get gas. We pulled into a Shell gas station, the same one Rich and a friend had just been to before we went to lunch. I went in to pay while Rich waited by the car. While I was paying I noticed little boxes on the counter for sale. They were dried and flavored larva and crickets. Ewwwww! After paying I walked out the door and up to the car and started to tell Rich about this disgusting thing that they were selling and I was going to say that I couldn't imagine anyone buying those except stupid boys who were drunk when I saw this...
I screamed, which I usually don't do in public unless something terrible has happened. There was my sweet, innocent little baby girl with nacho flavored LARVA in her mouth! I told her to spit it out and she refused, she liked it she said. Rich bought a box of the Larva when he was at the gas station earlier. He didn't tell me about it, he just waited until I was gone to give it to Julia. I gave Rich strict orders to NEVER give her anything so disgusting again, which he thought was funny. He's famous for paying the kids to try stuff like a spoonful of Horseradish or Tabasco sauce. He learned it from his Grandpa. Poor Julia didn't even get paid for this.
When the little kids got home from school Rich gave some to Ally without me knowing. She thought they were yummy until I showed her the box. She asked if they were bugs, I said yes, and she said she didn't like to eat bugs so she didn't want any more. A very calm reaction I thought. All of the boys were smart enough to decline trying them. Hopefully soon the girls will figure out they need to be very skeptical when Daddy offers them something for a snack!

We have a nudist in the family!

Julia has decided that she hates clothes. I have to put her in clothes, especially pj's, that are hard to get off of her little body. Onesies help. At least she only gets so far because she can't get those off. Zip up feety pj's are the easiest thing ever for her to get out of. The only ones she doesn't try to escape from are her pink bunny feet pj's so those get worn a lot! Yesterday when I got her dressed after a bath she immediately tried to take her clothes off, which I told her she couldn't do. The next five minutes she spent crying her little eyes out face down on the floor chanting "I don't like to be dressed!". As long as it wears off by the time she goes to school and she doesn't strip in public I guess it's okay. It's a good thing the nudist phase doesn't hit later in life. Although my grandpa...(just kidding!).

The blessings of family

I was just overwhelmed this morning at how blessed I am to have five wonderful children and a sweet husband. When I was young I don't know what kind of family I thought I'd have. I always wanted at least one girl but after 10 years and 3 boys I was actually content to be the mom of a bunch of boys. Then came our little Ally Jane followed by sweet little Julia and our family was complete.

I don't think I really ever thought I'd have 5 kids, but I did always expect to easily have my own. It didn't cross my mind that I wouldn't. I have several friends and some family who have struggled with not having the children they thought would just naturally come along. It's been a trial for many people that I love and sometimes I feel slightly guilty that I got the family that I have so easily, but I also feel very blessed. It's hard when life doesn't go according to our plan. It's hard to watch when friends and relatives have to go through heartache and deal with the loss of not having children come so easily to them.

I first got a glimpse of it when I married Rich. He's adopted. He was 6 months old when my in-laws got him. I have talked to Janet (his Mom) about the experience and even though she's always pretty tough about things and I know it was a tremendous blessing to her to get Rich, it was also very difficult to not have any of her own. She said that sometimes she felt like she was different than other women, broken if you will. Maybe not that she really felt that way, but that the comments of others made her feel that way. That made me sad. When I was pregnant with our kids it was fun to see her curiosity and wonder to feel the baby kick in my stomach, or to hear about my weird cravings. She never got to experience that. If you ask her now she will tell you she's grateful she didn't have to experience many of the things that come with pregnancy, especially the delivery, but in a way it is a loss of an experience that all little girls think they will have. I know she is happy with the wonderful son she got and is fine with having only him. Of course for some reason she doesn't think 5 grand kids is enough but I keep telling her I'm done!

It's been beautiful to follow the experiences of the people I know who have had to work hard to get their children. It's been amazing and very emotional to see Rich's cousins finally get their twins through a surrogate after IVF failed for them several times. Their excitement of every little thing the babies do is just adorable but understandable since this is the first and only time they will have the newborn experience. It has helped me to appreciate all the things my kids do at all of their stages of life a little bit more. It's been great to see a friend finally be expecting through IVF after it failed the first time. It's been fantastic to see friends adopt kids taken from bad situations and be given a loving home. All of these are such amazing experiences and are a testimony to me about how important and sacred family is. However we get our family, however big or small it is, it's always a blessing to cherish.

I am just so grateful for my goofy, silly, weird and wonderful husband and for my goofy, silly, weird and wonderful kids. I adore my family, all of them, all my parents, my brothers , sister, their families, my aunts and uncles, cousins, and grand parents. They have all blessed my life beyond measure. It's what this great plan of our Father's is all about to bring us happiness. I am happy!

Little Drummer Boy...

Gage is our little drummer boy. His band teacher loves him because he can memorize his part so fast and just has a natural ability to keep time perfectly. He has earned a nice set of drums which take up most of his room and he's good so it's fun to listen to him. He tried out for Honor Band last week, which is a band made up of kids from all of the schools in the area which takes in 3 school districts I think. He made it! Rich is a very proud Dad about this so he videoed him playing for all to enjoy. I hope you do.



I had to edit the video due to the fact it was over 10 minutes long.