Taking Elder Ballards advice...

"...give your wife a “day away” now and then. Just take over the household and give your wife a break from her daily responsibilities. Taking over for a while will greatly enhance your appreciation of what your wife does. You may do a lot of lifting, twisting, and bending!" ~ Elder M. Russell Ballard

Now, with that being said, my sisters and I were especially lucky to make this happen. With my parents interest in making a "dream" vacation for us all and with our husbands at home taking over household and children responsibilities we were off!

We flew out on May 2nd...(Yes, that was the very next day after my husband graduated from college...I know, it really doesn't seem fair...now do you see why I bought him his dream television? I had to bribe him a little bit!) We flew into Seattle, Washington. We toured around the city and enjoyed learning and experiencing so many things. We then took a ferry at night over to another island, to Discovery Bay. Which is where we called home for SEVEN blissful nights! I was shocked at how GREEN Washington was. I loved looking out our window at all the tree's, water, and a bald eagle. It was truly amazing. We experienced so many things it’s hard to highlight all of them, so I'll let the pictures do the explaining.

We celebrated my sister Angela's 30th birthday while visiting in Victoria, Canada. We went to the Buchart Gardens. This place was truly heaven on earth. It was the most beautiful combination of deep green forest trees and laced with every possible flower. It was breathtaking. I truly took over 400 pictures just in a three hour time frame! I'm serious. I really have a problem. It was impossible to not take pictures, it was that amazing. I'll make sure to share the top two or so!

Over all, it was an absolute delight to be with my three sisters and my parents. A few funny things we experienced was that all the four girls reverted back to childhood. We all assumed our previous roles as children. It was amazing how I instantly felt like I couldn't start cooking lunch or dinner without my mom’s approval. She was the one to slave in the kitchen, to cook, do dishes, etc. Somehow all my maturity was out the window! Suddenly, there was the invisible but very apparent line between the “bigs” and the “littles” that meant that Ange and Shan were the “bigs” and Krista and I were the “littles”. Either way, we had a great time. I think my mom explained it perfectly, “There was laughter, tears, laughter, tears and more laughter…it was just like a girl’s sleepover!” We had a fantastic time. Thanks to all who helped me out especially. Not just Jared, but those fantastic friends who helped watched my little monkeys. (Of coarse, Jared’s job needed him to start the one week I was gone…sorry, it had been planned for 6 months!)


Here are several pictures in no particular order...



Here I am visiting with Matt and Lisa (Suker) Belanger. This is Jared's sister, my sister & bro-in-law. They live currently in Nanaimo, Canada. They drove 1 1/2 hours to meet up with my fam in Victoria. They gave us a great tour around the city. Here we are posing with the Parliment building in the background.
I had to have Lisa pose with me with something proving I was in Canada with her. I hope the flag proves enough!
Here we are still in Victoria at Tolmie mountain. It had this amazing 360 view all around the island. You could see water all the way around. It was spectacular.


Krista and I posing as Mrs. Rocky...we finished our morning run at the Parliament Building in Victoria, Canada. It was a beautiful morning. We were able to run from our condo all the way around the harbor. It was fun...if only I could keep up with her!

The Buchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada. These quickly became my favorite flower...the Camellia. I think that's right?
Yeah, here it is close up. I'm a lover for the pink flower. That turned out being a great picture!
The four girlies posing at the gardens. We had to get creative with all our pictures. After taking 400 picts within three hours we had to be a little silly! I think Krista and I were the only ones okay with this pose! ha
Lisa & Matt took us to a great harbor restaurant that had great fish and chips. We got one order and split it between the 8 of us. It was a great appetizer before dinner.
Victoria, Canada. We visited a real castle. Craigdarroch Castle, was completed in 1889. We arrived a few hours late...(everything closes at 4pm in Canada), but it was neat to just look inside. Yes, we all pretended it was haunted. Somehow we tricked a few of us that there were floating heads, and strange voices. Good old dad trying to give his little girls a scare!

Port Townsend, Washington. This was the only day we needed our rain jackets! We lucked out with such amazing weather. Were posing under the "Uptown Girls" picture.
Discovery Bay, Washington. Ah...a family photo. The backdrop was literally a DROP off. We didn't realize that we truly were standing on the edge of a cliff! It made for a beautiful view.
Discovery Bay, Washington. This was a 5:00AM sunrise...thanks Ange for rolling out of bed to take the picture. It was beautiful.
Here we are taking a ferry out of Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria, Canada. Yes, you heard me right...my sister and I have read the books about Vampires. I'm not the obsessed one...she is. I read it to balance out all you over obsessed readers! Either way, it seemed fitting to try and attempt to finish the third book. I still haven't yet. But it was fun to take a "Twilight" unofficial tour. Yes, we visited Port Angeles, Forks and La Push. La Push was the ONLY thing that deserved any visit! It was amazing.
Buchart Gardens. My dad and I posing showing our pride to the University of Utah, for my hubs.

Krista and I being the "little's" (the two young daughters!). We tried a local recommendation of fish and chips in Seattle, Washington. It was good.
Yes, another amazing picture of my FAVORITE flower!
This picture I promise was not prompted. I secretly took a picture of my parents at dinner the first night in Seattle. Krista and I wiped them out. The four of us flew in about 10 hours earlier than my other two sisters. So we filled the day with MANY activities in Seattle. Shortly before this dinner, we hiked about 3 miles or so. UP and DOWN hills. It was well worth the hike, but flip flops weren't the best shoes of choice. Great job, Mom and Dad!
Port Townsend, Washington. Angela and I, joking and quoting the famous comedian, Brian Reagan. "YOU...ME" Ange's jacket was the $50 rain jacket and mine was the $14.99 Wal-Mart special!
Here was my picture for my hubs. PT is the nickname for Physical Therapy. Here it stands for Port Townsend, WA. I thought it was appropriate to pose under the sign. I ended up buying him a sticker from the city.

For those of you who actually made it through all of those pictures, nice job. Now, feel pity for my husband who has to endure 1, 600 pictures from this one vacation alone! ha ha ha

A celebration for the graduate...

I just wanted to write a little something about our college graduate. I did an awesome thing, (Well at least I've been told it was!) I bought and surprised Jared with a plasma tv. Yeah, it's a cool thing for a guy! I knew he was really wanting to buy one with his "Bush" money, so I thought I should take all the glory and beat him too it. It was a awesome night. My sisters and bro-in laws helped put together a great scavenger hunt for him to find the tv. Well after three great clues, Jared was lead downstairs to his "bike" which was close the the tv. He only found a DVD that I had made for his graduation. He thought, "this is it?" But then he eventually realized that there was a new huge television filling all the space in our entertainment center. He was totally and utterly surprised. It was well worth all the financial agony I had over this thing! The pathetic thing is all we do is watch the news and the exciting Jazz games on it! We really are not tv people! Oh, well it must be a guy thing!!

(One of his scavenger hints is hiding under these lovely red mint brownies.)

(Mike Perry-my dad, Randy Suker, Jared, Todd Madsen - bro-in-law we live with!)

Jared wanted to say "Thank You" to a few of the people who helped him graduate. Jared hated the formal idea of giving a Stole of Gratitude...so he decided to give Utah hats to three of the most conservative BYU fans out there. It made for a great laugh!

I like the sound of that!

"I'm finally finished! I can't believe it really is here. It doesn't seem real!" Jared said. Last night we celebrated Jared's doctoral hooding ceremony. It was wonderful to be there to support him and watch him receive his doctoral hood. He was officially revered as "Dr. Jared M. Suker, DPT"(that is a Doctorate of Physical Therapy) we all agreed we liked the sound of that. One of Jared's professors said, "You have never worked so hard in you life to dress up so ridiculous!" They are silly outfits, but it sure is an honorable moment that all these students have worked so hard to finish so well.

From left to right. My parents, Mike and Louene, Jared's Dad and Danette, The doctor himself, the misses, Grandpa Suker and Grandma Suker.

The happy couple posing in front of the sunset. We are saying goodbye to education. We are finishing one chapter of our life and welcoming the next!

Yeah, this picture was my request to have one picture that showed Jared actually attended the University of Utah!

The ceremony was an exciting one. It was wonderful to sit and smile up and Jared. I was one proud wife. Jared said it was cute to look down at me to see me smiling so much because he knew I was so very proud of him. It really has been a much harder and longer road for Jared, than it has for me. I am so proud of him and happy that he finished! Way to go, I love you!!

Graduation Trip

What a fantastic week. Jared and I were celebrating his graduation down in St. George. This trip was all Jared's from start to finish. He made me go to two buffets...yes you heard me right. I even let him pick where we went to dinner, what activities we did, etc. I even let him watch a Jazz game. But I must admit the nicer I was to him the more special treatment I received! We had a blast. Truly this was the most adventurous trip I have ever done. Had it been up to me we would have spent more time watching the Food Network and swimming. But instead from bright early in the morning Jared was working on our bikes to prepare us for the upcoming trail.

We went mountain biking and hiking. I despise hiking...and I still do. We had a very lengthy conversation to get to the bottom of why I dislike it so very much. We didn't really come to anything new, other than I dislike the unstable footing and getting hot and dirty! I know, I'm a baby. But, the mountain biking thing was the BEST! Truly, we left our vacation making me want to do it again and again. I'm sure he was just being patient with me on all the beginner trails, but for my first time I was really pleased with my performance. I will do it again. I was so happy to be so open minded on this little vacation. Each day was filled with new activities.

It also made things wonderful to simply spend four nights together...waking up and starting the day thinking about each other. Especially to not have to think about our little monkeys back at home. We were so lucky to have every member of my family step up and volunteer to watch the kids so we could go off and celebrate! Jared really deserved this fun get away! So THANK YOU!

Here are a few pictures.

Yes, you are seeing me correctly...He bought me my own spandex shorts! I loved them...I told him that I would let him go in just spandex any day! This is us at the completion of our first trail! This was in Snow Canyon. A VERY basic, road trail. It was 6 miles. That is my "GTP" my purple bike he bought me at a pawn shop! Wild huh.

Another biking adventure at Gooseberry Mesa Trail. This was my absolute favorite ride. Jared was so nice to stay on the beginner trail with me. He was plotting the entire time when he can come back and ride with his "guy" friends! I think a guy trip is coming up shortly!Don't laugh everybody looks like a dork when wearing a helmet! This is showing that I climbed up the rocks with my bike. I'm attempting to look strong! Oh...it was so fun!

St. George Temple...It was fun to attend at a different temple this month.

Here is one of the hundreds of pictures I took from Zions National Park. This was a blast. I wish we had one more day to go back and do more "nature walks" as Jared has so graciously renamed hiking. That way I don't instantly refuse his requests. But thankfully this was so wonderful I will be getting my family to return and come with us next time! It was awesome, I absolutely loved it.

We are finally back and welcoming a very fun and eventful week. We have two graduation ceremonies for Jared and then I have to pack again to leave for another vacation to Canada! Lucky me. How did I get so lucky? Either way there is tons to be so grateful for!

There is always someone watching!

This was too cute of a moment to pass up. We were getting ready for church today and Jacob was following Jared around. Jared sat down to brush his teeth and Jake wanted too as well. Instantly he was staring up at Jared wanting to do the exact same thing. It really was so precious! Our kids are always looking up to us. Yikes!

The saddest face ever...(if that's a word?)

I just wanted to share this very sad face! This is me pulling Jacob down the stairs...over and over and over and over and over again! It's so funny though, because he whines and gives this very sad face, and then one second later he is smiling and happy! It really is so hillarious! Enjoy.

“Where’s Mom?”

I called my dad on Saturday morning looking for my Mom. She was running about 15 minutes late and this is not her style. So I called. My dad replied, “She’s been taking her time getting all dolled up and pretty!” Hearing those words made my heart leap for joy! I can’t express to you what my experiences have been watching my mom endure the past 9 or so months. Going from short hair, to shaved, to bald, no eyelashes, eyebrows, and now back to spikes! It has been one great adventure for her.

This past Saturday my four sisters and my mom went out to celebrate! We were celebrating life. We were celebrating being together and having another opportunity to share in the joy of living healthy. Our family has witnessed many miracles over the past few years. What a roller coaster it has been. But somehow that Saturday morning sitting in the spa chairs alongside with my mom and sisters it made it all seem worth it. Just a few months ago we didn't think that we had any future moments like this to be had. We were wrong!

I am brought to tears as I think of all the physical pain, emotional heartache, worry, fear and so many other feelings that my mom and dad have endured. I must admit, after my mom’s last surgery just one week ago, life seems better. Without sharing too many personal feelings, I just wanted to post a few pictures of the Perry girls celebrating the joy of life and love. I haven’t seen my mom look more radiant than she did that morning. She was late…because she was taking the time to feel beautiful. This was such a tender moment for me that I will never forget. It’s an amazing blessing we have to be woman, to be a daughter of our Heavenly Father. My mom shined. She has remained faithful and optimistic throughout it all. I know one of her reasons for staying so optimistic (without mentioning anything spiritual!) even when times were so difficult, it was because of my dad. He has been so loving, so kind, so gentle and understanding through all of her ups and downs. I have cherished the times when I was able to watch him not even hesitate or offer an unkind word to help her. He has stood by her side so willingly with a very upbeat attitude. What a gift I have been given, these two amazing, inspirational parents. Thanks.

(I can't figure out how to work this chair?? I need to get out more!)

Happy Birthday to Alayna!

Happy Birthday!!

Alright…by today (Sunday) I’m thinking the excitement and sugar high is slowly wearing off. But that has only been in the past few hours. I don’t know if it is just a mother’s sense, but I feel like she is older. She seems to have an extra bit of three year old attitude! Or maybe she has grown up and I am finally accepting the idea she isn’t my little one or two year old girl any more? Oh well, the future holds more birthdays and more growing. I figure I must start accepting it. In fact Alayna said to me, “Mom, you’ll be just a little sad, when I turn three…but you will cry and cry when Jakey turns one!” She has heard me say those exact words. I will be just a little sad for her to grow older, but I will cry and cry when my baby Jake turns one.
When Alayna woke up Friday morning I heard her go potty in the bathroom, and then she was silent. She usually comes bounding into my room, but nothing, nothing, nothing. Finally, I put my book down, and went to find her. She then quickly in an excited whisper said, “Mom, come see what I got! Come see what I see!” She was so excited to have one pink princess balloon floating in the air above her chair. She was thrilled to have a birthday banner and streamer, decorating the kitchen. It was worth late 1:00AM morning to prepare for her birthday. Her pure excitement was a complete joy to wake up too. She immediately was surrounded by her cousins singing and cheerfully hugging and kissing her, wishing her happy birthday! Within two minutes, she was dressed head to two in her Belle (Beauty and the Beast) costume. This is how she remained until bed!

The morning was filled with playing at the church while I enjoyed playing basketball. I told her it was a “friend party” at the church. She was excited just the same to spend time with them. When we returned home, she and Olivia helped me make some cupcakes for her princess castle cake. Around Noon, my parents, Grandma Lou and Papi picked up the birthday girl to go on their alone birthday date. Each grandchild looks forward to this special day with them. (This tradition starts at age 3…well, it was really supposed to be 4, but Alayna’s just extra special!!) While she was gone enjoying her extra special one on one time with Grandma Lou and Papi, I was able to clean house and make her special birthday cake! She had picked a princess castle. I searched on the internet for an idea, and I found a pretty simple one. I think it turned out a little better than I expected. Because I know my skills with frosting…not so hot!

A few hours later the entire family gang joined us for a simple pizza party, dessert, and presents. We were enjoying ourselves so much watching her open present after present. She really has the nicest grandparents. They were so exactly what she loved! Her top favorites were a darling princess purse, “I am a Child of God” pillowcase, sunglasses, a Dr. Seuss Horton elephant (She was SOOOOO excited to have a Horton Elephant!),and a great little tykes coup car. She was able to end the super fun filled night with having a sleepover with her cousins Kierra and Olivia. If I had to guess, it was a perfect day for our sweet little three-year-old.
Thanks to all of our family who helped us make her feel extra special! Not to mention all the darling girls who dressed the "Princess" party theme so well. We had Snow White, Aurora, Belle and a mini Snow White (Kennady), it was so cute!! I decided to share just the highlights of the day, and not share all that mushy stuff about how much I adore our little girl! I have saved that for her birthday letter…but she is a joy and a bright little spirit that blessing our home and family more than words express. We are so grateful for her smile and excited little spirit! We love you Alayna!!
Next day...This is our little girl decked out with her princess purse (that has yet to leave her arm, her sunglasses and her car...she said this to Jared, "Daddy, I'm going somewhere...okay, I have my purse and I'm leav'n, okay, Daddy!" I guess this will be her summer...in her car, going somewhere!