My Kids~

I love them so much!!! I'm so honored to be their mom. They remind me everyday how luck that I am. They teach me things that I know My Heavenly Father has a hand in. My sweet son, I can't imagine my life without his sweet spirit. He reminds us every night to say prayer even if he is half asleep he will still want to say family prayer. I had a wonderful opportunity the other night on the way home from Orem. Dylan said mom I know I have a spirit but what is it really? I tried to explain the best that I could. We talked and talked and I fought back tears the entire ride home. The Spirit was so strong. I told my kids that we are here on earth to learn and grow and to live the best that we can to return to live with our Heavenly Father. My sweet Sophie said are you going to be in Heaven Mama? I told her that I will be there and she has to stay close to Heavenly Father and talk to him always and without any hesitation she said, ok mama, I will.
What a wonderful experience that car ride home was. I felt like they were understanding everything that I said to them. I hope to have many more of these special, sacred, conversations with my kids. What a joyful wonderful life that I have....

Weekend Getaway~

We decided to runaway this past weekend to St. George. We have drove through it many times but this time we decide to stay. I told the kids we were going to St. George and all they said was "Are we going to stay in a hotel?" Our kids love to stay in hotels. They get to jump on the beds, take long baths and most important SWIM. They don't care where we are as long as we stay in a hotel. I remember as a child that those are some of my best memories, staying in hotels. Jesse and I also thought that while we were so close to Zion National Park that we should take a day trip there. So we headed to Zion on Sunday and the bus ride through the park was not very fun. (according to the kids) So needless to say we got ask about 20 times when we were going back to the hotel. We didn't stay long...We also got to play miniature golf and ride go-carts. But if you asked the kids what the best thing was it would be swimming. We had a great time and it is fun to just hang out with each other. Dylan kept saying are we going out to eat again! He couldn't believe it! Life is good~

Side note: I took lovely pictures of Zion and various other lovely pictures, but I was so brilliant and forgot to put the memory card back into the camera. Ugh!

Thanksgiving~

All the girls...Linda, Whitney, Me, Joannie, Terilyn, Brittney,
Shaylei, Sasha, Courtney, Kenadie, Grammy, Tessa, Sophia



Five generations.... Scott, Grannie Joan, Courtney,
Grammy, Baby Cooper, Conner





Dylan's red face after running for hours with his cousins...




We had a great Thanksgiving. We reserved the church for the first time and I have to say it was nice to have enough space for all of us. The kids had lots of space to play basketball, air hockey and soccer. We had a big kitchen to work in and two ovens to use. We ate and laughed and it was truly a wonderful day. I think that when you are in a room with family there is nothing better. They all really know you, they know your weaknesses, your strengths, and they know your trials. They understand you better than anyone. I think that is the greatest gift of all.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Family Night~

Have you ever had this wonderful idea in your head about a family activity and then you are in to this activity and wonder why?
6:30
Leave for Payson Canyon for dinner and enjoy the beautiful leaves.
6:35
Dylan: Mom I'm hungry!
Mom: I know we are going to eat soon.
6:40
Dylan: Mom I'm starving!
Mom: I know we are going to eat soon.
6:42
Dylan: Mom we have been in the car for 10 hours!
Mom: Son we have been in the car for 12 minutes.
Sophie: Mama look at all the pretty leaves. (thanks Soph for recognizing)
6:45
Dylan: Mom why are you stopping to take a picture, I'm starving!
Mom: Look at all the deer kids!
Sophie: Mama do you like the orange ones? (again Soph thanks)
6:50
Dylan: (crying) Mom you've passed lots of places to pull over and eat.
Mom: Dylan we are trying to find a nice spot with a picnic table not to just eat in the car on the side of the road.
Dad: I think everyone had the same idea as you.
Sophie: Mama I sure like all the pretty leaves. (thanks Soph)
6:55
Mom: We are just going to have to pull over and eat on those logs over there.
Dylan: Finally!
Dad: Where are we going to put the food?
Mom: On our laps, hurry is getting dark.
Sophie: This is fun Mama. (isn't she great)
7:05
Dylan: Munch, munch
Mom: sigh
Dad: Munch, munch
Sophie: This is so much fun and so pretty here.
7:07
Dylan: can everyone please be quiet, I want to hear the peacefulness.
Mom: (?)
By the way, there was no lesson taught, no singing, no spiritual moments, just us, a family and it was night.