Welcome Back to Utah

Well let's just say that we couldn't be happier to have Brian & Ashley back to Utah! I think the kids are just happy because they get presents! Really, they are spoiled for their birthdays from them. THANK YOU!

Here's to a story...So the night before I was out on the porch reading books with the kids as it was raining...we are determined to enjoy our covered deck more often this summer. Last summer it was a whirlwind of moving and a new baby so I'm ready to spend more hours reading out there with the kids. Anyways, so we were discussing how it was "Earth Day" tomorrow and Jake practically leaped out of my lap because he thought I said it was "His Birthday!" Now, if you know my kids or any kids for that matter they think their birthdays are the BEST days in the world. So as this little guy is standing there BEAMING with the best smile I had to sadly deflate his excitement and explain what Earth Day was. We spent more time using our senses and hearing and seeing and smelling things outside. So the next part of the story was when Jake woke up and saw presents from Ashley and Brian he was SUPER excited because once again he thought it was "His Birthday!"

Let's just say Alayna LOVES presents...and what better than a Barbie for her 5 year old birthday? And a princess no doubt! She LOVED her jump ropes with her cousins today...so Ashley and Brian know kids! Thanks again.

So on to the REAL reason why they came to visit! Ashley has graduated from BYU with her Masters in Public Health! You go girl!!! From a fellow Health Promotion major to another I couldn't be HAPPIER for YOU! I must admit I have lived vicariously through you sharing your theories, ideas and passion for health! You have worked so hard and I have admired you truly all along the way...(enough mush for ya???)

Here we are celebrating after the super fun BYU graduation...Oh, the stories we have to tell. After the graduation we were lucky to go to Tucano's...pretty much the BEST restaurant to eat in the world. YUM! The next day Ashley and I were able to go do some girl shopping...come on when a girl graduates and gets a REAL JOB she needs some new attire. We got some hip and new looks and some COLOR!! You look great Ash and I can't wait to see some pictures!!!

Sunday came and there's nothing Ashley and I enjoy doing more than cooking up some America's Test Kitchen recipes! We picked our favorites for the menu...Pizza Margarita and Lemon Meringue Pie!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Here is Jake and Brian helping juice the lemons...we just LOVED Jake's faces...He was discussing with Brian that he too was strong!

Alayna and Ashely are posing in their cute aprons.

Oh, how we are going to miss you!!!
Thanks for coming we just hope you don't make it a year! Good luck tomorrow at your new job. We sure love you guys!!

How cute are you??

I just wanted to point out how my little baby isn't so little any more...he's going to be almost one next month! I have noticed a HUGE change in his ability to communicate. Don't get me wrong he squeals and screams over EVERYTHING still but now I have realized he is starting to respond to questions I ask him. He was sick for a period of time a few weeks ago and he lost all the baby chub. So he's thinner again and just really so fun. I must admit my heart is soft for this little guy once again...I mean seriously look at those brown eyes!

Caleb is enjoying the cupcakes from Alayna's birthday party! Lucky kid...

A Classic Birthday Party

The first one. I have never been a fan of birthday parties. It's kinda like a baby shower to me. Not my favorite thing to invite people to come over and then require them to bring presents. So sadly my kids don't get this experience every year. We hold family birthday parties and they get a few presents from us and grandparents but other than that it's not a big deal. But when you turn 5 you get your first birthday party. Let's just say that when it came time for Alayna to run door to door and deliver the announcements it was worth every second. This little girl was on cloud 9. She was beaming with delight just thinking of the party. She was so thrilled to have ALL of her friends there. Let's just say her list was a little lengthy with friends, cousins and neighbors. Oh, well this girl doesn't get another one until she's 8. So I figure she had to have a real party!!!

Here is the classic game....dress up. You got it EVERY kid even the boys had a great time. They were in two teams. And each member had to race and dress as fast as they could with ALL the funny items in the baskets. It was GREAT fun. Really, I must admit the BOYS liked the game the most. It really was an all loved game. My mom said this was a personal favorite at our kid birthday parties.

You can't have a party without limbo, pin the tail on the donkey, birthday hat crafts, decorating cupcakes and then eating them. It really was SO fun for Alayna and she was spoiled by all her little friends. Thanks to all the moms who gave such fun gifts. This little girl was in heaven!

Good ole fun...

Here's to a walk down memory lane. Chuck E. Cheese...seriously is this a kids dream come true? I think so. What better than watching fake dancing birds...I can't believe I questioned the reality of them as a child...I remember wishing and hoping they were real! It's so fun to think that we are doing the same activity with my kids as I longed to do as a child too. Besides the sticky dirty hand feeling on all the rides I think the kids had a blast. I must admit I was impressed with their child security...wow...no one gets in or out of that place. They also had hand sanitizer all over...probably because there are potential germs? I think so!

Thanks to Bro-in-law Todd watching City Deals like a hawk we snagged a great coupon to come here. Let's just say the price tag attached to this place requires a coupon. But I guess to have smiles like this is makes it all worth it!

I think they are believers too? What do you think? I think Jake was so impressed by the rock and roll singing...

Alayna loved the million dollar cracker pizza too...Oh, we really had a good time. The cousins were in heaven. This was Alayna's first adventure with tokens. She was hooked...I think we will go again...we just might eat before we go! ha ha ha

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Alayna! She turned 5 Years Old on Sunday...let's just say it's been one non-stop party for this girl.

Here is her "dancing" Cinderella cake...She is meant to me leaning incase you were wondering...really I promise! Ok...so I made it wrong Who knew this barbie was extra long? Not me...Anyways, she didn't mind she thought it was my best cake yet. Little does she know it needed severe help!

A happy little brother wishing his big sister a Happy Birthday with a hug!

You got it! She is special today!! She has loved everything about it being her special day!!

Congrats!

How have I failed to post about such a wonderful day? My Aunt was married two weeks ago in the Provo Temple. I can't begin to share how wonderful it is to know that two deserving people found each other and now have companionship, love and a friend once again. Isn't she stunning...she looked AMAZING! I think I cried out of pure joy and love for them all day and the night before and especially when I prayed.

Even though it was a snow storm there were only smiles to be found. It was a wonderful testiment to the fact that the Lord is ALWAYS aware of our own individual circumstances...it just might take 12 years to answer our prayers. Their life stories remind me of the talk on cd by Michael S. Wilcox, Fourth Watch. I recommend it to anyone who needs a reminder about if the Lord is aware of them and their needs. I have listened to this several times and I have purchased it and given it away to so many. It's wonderful...anyways, Congrats!

Are you kidding me???

(Jake did have a coat on, but he was really grumpy and cold so he came inside with me...then we wanted him in the picture. He refused to wear a coat again because he said it was wet and cold! His face shows how happy he is to be outside again.)

Did it really snow again? It is the last day of March and I hope this is the last of snow for several months! Bring on the sunshine...the swimming pool...shorts, flip flops and picnics at the park!

But until then I guess it made for a fun day for the kids! I made homeade hot chocolate (A new adventure with powdered milk...and it was delicious!), bread and spent time in doors. Jared was the lucky one to spend the time outside with the kiddos.

Can you believe how much snow keeps falling? What a cute snowman!

We love the Childrens Museum

Here we are off to another preschool field trip. I personally LOVE this place and I think the kids do too!

Jake and Isaac

Oh, what a pretty little flower.

What a tough guy!

*Well this is all I have from a long day at the museum...my battery died! Can you believe that...how unprepared was I! Well, good thing we have been here before. We came with my sisters and all their kids. Let's just say that going on a non-field trip day is nice because you have a little more room to move. There were about 15 or more other groups there. It was a joke! We were glad we didn't loose any of the millions of kids we brought

Our little entrepreneurs

I think I would buy something from them...how cute are they?

Here's to a great day (about 2 weeks ago)...we were all excited to see the SUN shine for the first time in weeks! YEAH. I'm sure it snowed the next day, but that's another story. Here are the events leading up to the kids afternoon adventures. Alayna and Jake LOVE the driveway. The LOVE having the garage open and being in the front yard. This isn't my favorite place to play since we don't live in a circle anymore. But thankfully they obey the rules (at least while I'm looking!)

Alayna had this great idea to sell something. So bless her heart, I was in the middle of making dinner so I wasn't fully invested in her idea. So she did this ALL on her own. She would run in and grab random different things. I watched her write "3 3 3" on a piece of paper, gather a stool, cups and water. I assumed a mess would be happening, but the clean up or supervision would have to happen at another time.

Jared came in and asked me..."Do you know what the kids are doing outside?" I answered no, he then told me I had to come and see and to bring the camera. So that is what I did. I was so happy to see that all of her ideas came together. It was adorable because she had three cups filled with water and the sign taped below said they were 3 cents. So cute.

Several minutes later as I continued cooking dinner she came inside discouraged. Then she said, "I have an idea...where's dad mom?" I asked why and she said, "I need Dad to come outside and use his LOUD voice to have our customers buy our water!" I found this very humorous considering Jared is known for having a loud voice around here.

Just waiting... hoping to have people buy their precious "Herriman tap water!"

Thanks to our SUPER nice neighbor who was in the middle of moving he humored the kids and bought some water. He stayed and chatted with them and enjoyed the water. Let's just say he SPOILED the kids... I had to sneak a picture through the window so I wouldn't scare away their customers.

Here is Alayna showing off her collection of pennies. As it was time for Alayna and Jake to come inside Alayna was all SMILES. She expressed, Mom this was the BEST day ever! I think this girl needed a good project, a goal and some SUNSHINE! Thanks to her idea this made for a great family home evening on tithing...I just love when life falls into good teaching moments.

St. Patricks Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day
I know I'm late but blogging just hasn't made it on my to do list for a few weeks! Ah. But don't you worry the holiday was celebrated and I was SUPER pleased with how it turned out this year.

Here is Caleb finding the treats at the end of the leprechaun trail.

You betcha green milk and Lucky Charms!

Oh, the three little green monkies.

Here is Alayna after celebrating a FUN St. Patrick's Day at Preschool. All in all it was a great day to have the kids have so much to be excited about. I know that some of you are not pleased with how much we celebrate this day, but come on join in the fun it really makes the grey clouds in March seem okay!

Cute Smiling Faces...

This is Tulip Head

This is Mr. Standing baby

The love of God

I find myself reading the Conference Ensigns over and over again. For many reasons I enjoy a quick read and an uplifting message. I find myself reading a column or two from one talk in the morning then finishing the talk later on at some point along the day. I find as I do this I recall thoughts and feelings and impressions regarding the gospel topic throughout the day. At night as I kneel in prayer I find myself either praying to have more of that trait or thanking the Lord for recognizing such blessings in my life. I know that the words of our living Prophet are true just like all the other leaders of the church. I can not begin to express to you the peace I feel when I do as I have been instructed. It's amazing how our faith and love in the Lord is questioned from one challenge to another.

This quote is one that I have come to love and cherish on so many levels over the past year or so. I am grateful I have taken the time to read from the Prophet's words in the Ensign, because it has given me comfort and peace.

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." ~Joseph B. Wirthlin

I attended my cousins homecoming from his mission on Sunday and he read aloud this scripture that I greatly needed to hear...Doctrine & Covenants 6:22-23...

22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.

23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?

During these challenges and trials in our life, whether it is our trial or simply on the sidelines I have learned this. That we have recieved a great gift, that of a witness from the Lord himself of so many truths. It is our responsibility to remember the witnesses He gives us even during those challenging times. I know that God lives and that He does love me. Because I have received of this witness through the Holy Ghost and I have felt peace. For this I am deeply grateful.

We're Back!

Let's just say we loved all two weeks of the sunshine in California! Do we really have to wait another few months to return to sunshine? I sure hope we get a little more sun here in Utah. The kids had a great time swimming, swimming and swimming some more! We played for one week in Indio just swimming and playing. Then the second week we went to Oceanside. Where we went to Disneyland for one day...thanks to volunteering we got a free day! I loved it even more because it was all free! YEAH. The next day we went to San Diego for some yummy lunch and enjoy La Jolla Beach. The next day we just played at the beach in Oceanside ALL DAY LONG. Alayna left the beach singing, "Fun, Fun, Fun, this is so FUN!" I questioned her what is more fun, Disneyland or the beach. She hesitated and said, "Mom I do like Disneyland...then went back to singing, the beach is so Fun, Fun, Fun!" I haven't finished uploading all the hundreds of pictures I took, but until I get to that I will blog a few more. Until then enjoy the blue sky, palm trees and swimming pictures!!! We are happy to be home but we really could have stayed a few more weeks.