Our Family Journey

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Daughters Are God's Way of Giving You a Little Piece of Heaven

June was a busy month...a fun month...a special month.

I got to spend a few days with these 3 special ladies.

We try and get together every now and again, but as babies are coming into their

lives, jobs, college, husbands, LIFE....its getting a little more difficult to get ALL of us together to do much of anything. We didn't go wild or crazy, we just stayed close to home

and played it really low key.

We had a progressive dinner and enjoyed some fun new places to eat, some

good laughs and some CRAZY GOOD FOOD!!

Max and Landry were our little side kicks. They were good sports and

were the life of every activity....there is something about kiddo's that

just make the world a cheerful place to be!

We had plans to go on a picnic "on the beach" at Deer Creek Reservoir, only to get there and find out that there WAS really NO BEACH! The water was still high enough that there wasn't any

sandy, beachy areas to play in the water and picnic, so we ate lunch under a tree with all the ants...such great picnic pals...and then we wandered down to a rocky area and hung out and let the

babies get their feet wet. Landry wanted to dive in head first and partake of the ENTIRE LAKE experience, but I convinced him that getting wet up to his knees was "much funner"....

Max and Dayna enjoying our picnic in the shade.

Kim and Landry down by the water...Landry, I am sure, was contemplating on

how would be the best way to wiggle from his mom's arms and get into the water.

I have such sweet and wonderful daughters!!

After our quick lake trip, we took a ride on the Heber Creeper. I've had that on

my bucket list and was PRETTY excited myself about this little excursion...although, at the time

I didn't know there was NO AC on the train...so HOT and SWEATY is what we were.

We decided to take an "online" painting course....it was so much fun!

It was crazy how the instructor taught us all how to paint the same picture, but

everyone's turned out soooooooo different! It was super fun and I would

definitely do it again. It was fun to get our creative juices flowing and

make something completely out of our comfort zone!

Life has many ups and down, but these beautiful, fun, silly, sweet, thoughtful

kind and compassionate girls of mine keep me grounded and make life better just by being

a part of my life. I am grateful that I got to spend this time with them,...there is something about

mom and daughters that make the world a happy place to be!

I love these 3 fabulous souls...3 of my very best friends!

Hello Summertime....celebrating in style

With Halle's big graduation from High School, her grandparents gave her a trip

to Myrtle Beach...so of course, we, her parents, HAD to TAG along. It was somewhere

I had never thought about going, really didn't know much about the area, and most

likely never would have gone had it not been for this trip.

We packed up and headed out on the RED EYE (12:15am) flight to North Carolina.....

We landed at 5:45am in North Carolina. OUR plan was to rent a car and take

a few days driving to Myrtle beach....looking at the nice countryside as we leisurely drove

through the fields of tobacco...BUT our red eye flight was NOT filled with sleep as we had hoped that it would be, so we ended up driving for 1 1/2 hours before we found a park, parked the car, left the AC running and took a VERY LONG NAP! Afterwards, Halle and I got out and walked around a very small trail, but got a much needed stretch for our legs.

Halle had never been to the ocean. No sooner had we checked into our resort and

unloaded the car we headed straight for the water. It was gorgeous!! I had never been to the Atlantic Ocean. I was surprised how quiet it was. The waves didn't CRASH as loud as they do on the Pacific Ocean. It was also MUCH warmer....BUT it still had that oceany smell and beautiful sand...all the beauties of the ocean. Halle fell in love instantly!!

One of the nice things about the ocean is that it offers so many fun places to take

pictures! I could have sat in a lounge chair and taken pictures all day...although it was AWFULLY hot and HUMID so it wasn't really practical, BUT it was a fun thought!

Besides spending time on the ocean we lollygagged over to Charleston NC, visited

the city as well as a plantation. The countryside there is GORGEOUS and made every shade of

green in UTAH look dull and unappealing. The colors there are so rich and the countryside

is amazing!

One afternoon we headed out for a drive...we stopped at a church and were just

looking around when we spotted a toad. I LOVE frogs and toads, I love their long legs, the noises

they make, and their ability to jump SO FAR and SO HIGH....so it only seemed natural

for me to chase the little guy down, catch him and say "Hello". The best part was Halle

CAN'T STAND the likes of these guys....soooooooooooo I thought I would show here how lovable they really were...Up CLOSE and PERSONAL with Mr. Toad!!

I think one of the highlights of the trip for me was the morning Halle and I got up at 4:45

to watch the sunrise. It was magnificent. NO ONE should EVER sleep through a sunrise over the ocean! We watched as it slowly peeked over the horizon until it came up in all its glory! It was a spectacular sight and one that I am so glad I got to experience!!

I loved our trip and the time that we got to spend as a little family....one last big "Hoorah" before Halle left for college. We had so much fun!! I worked out on the gorgeous beach every morning, we played in the ocean, we drove and saw things we'd never seen , we saw amazing country, we relaxed and read (which is RARE for me to do), we road a ferry, we experienced the VERY KIND and gracious people of the south, we saw sunsets that gave the sunrises a run for their money....we had 10 days of BLISS! It was a much needed vacation with some great memories made!! I'm so glad we got to go!!

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Thirteen Years in The Making....

THE DAY of ALL awaited days, finally came......13 years in the making!

Halle GRADUATED!!!!

SHE said that it still hasn't quite set in that she is actually DONE with high school!

It was a great day filled with family and loved ones that came out and supported Halle.

She graduated with honors and WE ARE SO PROUD of her!!

Halle with both Deron and I (we didn't have anyone handy to get one of all of us together)

She got to walk with one of her dear friends, Shantell Brady.

Halle gave the tribute to the parents and teachers....all those who have supported them

during their many years of school!

Its official....she has her diploma and she is NOW a graduate of Duchesne High School....

with the new status of "Alumni".....

Shantell, Halle and Brooklyn....wonderful friends who have

made many fun memories together...lifetime pals

Cameron and Halle!

After graduation, the family came over for "ice cream sundaes"...Landry was very impressed with his!

Kayos enjoyed running and playing on the grass...his favorite place to be.

Kim and Mike and Landry, enjoy some R&R and a little sun

These 2 adorable little men are the best of pals!! It won't be to many years and they will

be graduating....time flies and kids grow up WAY too fast....

Babies don't last forever....I know this because mine just graduated!!

Its very bitter sweet to see the last one prepare to leave the nest and go out on their own.

I always wonder if I prepared my children for the world, if I taught them enough, if they will be safe, if they are "strong" enough to face what the road blocks, the obstacles and the bumps that life

brings.....It difficult to send them out into the world and trust that the world will treat them well~

Life is changing for us....I've never NOT had children of some age in my home....I've never NOT had little ones/ middle ones/older ones to tell me their struggles as we sit on the edge of their bed....I've never NOT have someone to hug as I send them off to school....I've never NOT had someone who wanted to drive to Walmart with me to get the monthly groceries......I've NEVER thought this lonely, sad day would come.....but its arriving!....the graduation is over and she will leave in just a few short months....LiFe for me will be different and I don't know if I am ready for it, or if I even want to be ready for it!

BUT.....I am so proud of this girl! SHE IS AMAZING and one of my dearest friends. I will miss our long talks, our laughing on the bed, or doing the dishes together, our DVD nights that we both fall asleep in, our long Sunday drives, our selfies that we would never show to anyone, our long walks to the river, our lunches on the deck and our tears that fall sometimes when we least expect them....I don't know what I will do without you Ms. Halle Marie!!!! I love you to the moon and back again and I am SOOOO happy that you are happy. I am so blessed to have you as my daughter!! I am so proud of all of your accomplishments, your successes and experiences that you have had during the last 13 years....I am excited to see where you go in life and all the wonderful things you will do!

CONGRATULATIONS baby girl!!!

The 3 Musketeers FINALLY Made It.....

Let me take you back 18 years ago. These 3 cousins were all born within a few short months of each other. They learned how to sit, to crawl, to walk and to play together. They started kindergarten the same year, just different schools. Together they have gone through the ups and downs of being in elementary, jr. high and high school. They have supported each other, cried with each other, laughed with each other, made the world turn for each other....AND NOW, they are graduating together!!....then they are all going their separate ways........

Because they all graduate the same night, we decided to throw them a BIG graduation party that the entire family could attend....that way NO ONE felt like they would miss out on the special

day of each of the girls. My family is THE BEST and everyone came and supported the "3 MUSKETEERS".

We had dinner out on the deck....even though it was sooooooo cold!

Alyssa, Halle and Brittley were great sports and wore their cute "oversized" graduation

caps that I made them....

....and let us take oodles of pictures of them!

I am so proud of these 3 girls. They are the best cousins and love each other so much. I don't know how they will ever live apart. Its going to be a huge change for them. I personally, will miss their sleepovers, their parties full of long nights of laughing, their crazy kitchen creations and their sweet smiles! Life will be different with them gone away.....it will be an adjustment for me too!

I love these 3 girls to the moon and back!!....Hope they will always remember their

fun times, their childhood and be there for each other!

Tis That Time Of Year....

Tis the season for graduation....

Kenron has been attending a school for special needs children...and he officially

graduated pre-school this year. He knows how to count to 40+ and he knows all his letters, can read some words and has mastered his colors (I think he could name all 64 colors in the crayon box). He's a very smart boy!! He loves to dance and sing and is always happy.

His teachers Ms. Donna and Ms. Cindy are 2 of his favorite people to talk about.

He loves them so much....and they love him too. Its easy to love such a sweet and happy boy!!

Kenron is excited to go back to school and see his friends and his teachers,

but he told me that he likes it to be summer so he can swing outside

on his new swing set at home.

I'm so glad I got to go and watch the sweet little graduation program for

these special kids....especially this one!!

BIG deal...I THINK YES!!

I am so far behind in blogging...its going to be a "catch up" project for quite some time I think.

Last month we got to attend our son-in-law's College Graduation from SUU!

I am in AWE at how dedicated and committed he has been in getting his college degree, all while taking care of his family. Its hard work to go to school, but even harder when you have a wife and family responsibilities. He's an amazing man and I'm so grateful for the way he loves and supports our daughter...and now our grandson. We are very blessed to have him in our family!