St. George Get Away!!!

Well we finally got back down to one of our all-time favorite places. St. George. And this time we got to stay in our own condo! Actually...we were only able to do so for one night when we got a message from Max that the people that were coming to stay after us were hoping to get in a night early, so he said if we would leave he'd put us in a luxury condo for free. So what do you do...we packed up and moved to a different condo, but honestly I was kind of sad about it. I love our condo. BUT that being said we had a WONDERFUL time together. We went to the new park, ate out a bit, played games like clue, hot tubbed, stayed in watching movies, and had a really fun night of watching Toby beat Mario Bros on our new little retro nintendo. It got really intense there for a bit when he only had one guy left and he was small and still had to beat the last level. The kids were so into it and wanted him to win so badly, it was kind of hilarious. Actually I really wanted him too. He had gotten so far...we were cheering for him like crazy and don't ask me how but he pulled it off and beat Bowser in the end with that ONE last little guy. We all went nuts! It was a fun memory. - Our last day there happened to be Cam Kelsh's birthday...so on our way out of town we met up with he and Michelle at the Crepery by Egg and I. We love those guys. Had a great time visiting and catching up and the kids love the food there. It was yet another successful trip down south. Already looking forward to the next one.

Elle's 7th Grade Orientation

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAPPENED. How is my little girl going to be in 7th grade?! It's so crazy cause she just seems  so young but at the same time she seems SO ready. She's ready for the challenge of new classes and teachers, different subjects, and being able to explore her love for the arts and music. She's anxious to meet new friends and hang out in the lunchroom, and have 7 different periods a day. It just all seems too surreal to me. I'm excited for her but scared to death. Middle School isn't exactly a walk in the park. I just don't know if I've prepared her enough and if she knows how much her mother loves and adores her? I have so much faith in what an incredible girl she is and what she can do. I just need to be a better listeners, encourager, and supporter and I plan to work on that all I can. She's just the greatest. Excited for what lays ahead for this beautiful girl!

Texas Roadhouse, The Institute, Dinner out with Friends

Just documenting some of the every day stuff. Actually it's a pretty big deal to take all four kids out to a nice restaurant and survive. We had a great time at Texas Roadhouse and didn't leave feeling too beat down so I'd say that a success. - Always a good time at the Institute. We celebrated Josh and Jace's birthday that night. I die at that picture of Elle skateboarding while drinking with reading her book. Always has her nose in her book. The boys just love being able to run free. They play ping pong, shoot baskets, ride their scooters, play pool, hang out at the vending machines. It's perfect. - Then a picture of a night out with friends. We don't see the old gang as much as we wish we could but it was great to get together with the Sansoms, Hodges, Keslers, and Camps. We went to Tsunami for sushi and laughed and laughed like no time had passed. So grateful for good friends in our lives. We are blessed with many.

LaVell Edwards

We were pretty saddened to hear of the passing of Toby's old coach LaVell Edwards. What an incredible man he was. I was privilaged to meet him on several occasions and always had the upmost respect for him and his sweet wife Patty. I was always so impressed he remembered me. We were blessed to be able to go to a big banquet for all of the old BYU players the night of his viewing over at a room in the Stadium and I will remember that night for the rest of my life. It was so incredible! So many awesome athletes in one room but more importantly so many good men. All of the old players and coaches were there...Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon, Andy Reid, Kyle Wittingham, Kalani Sitaki, Jr. Mahe, Norm Chow, Chad Lewis etc. It was really neat to listen to Patty speak and everyone who talked just expressed how LaVell was much more of a Father figure to them than even a coach. Someone who cared more about them as individuals and their progression spiritually and with their families etc. Just an all around incredible man. It was so great to be able to be back with so many old friends Toby played with and to catch up with their wives. I have missed them! Those were such fun days to look back on and remember. Grateful we knew Coach Edwards on a more personal level and grateful for his wonderful example.

The Burrito Project

We owe this night to Kristee. She had done it before and really wanted us to experience it and I'm so glad she did. All of us adults went and took the older kids and left the younger ones with my mom and dad. We drove up to Salt Lake to this restaurant that gives a ton of their tortillas and rice and beans away to the homeless. All they ask is for people to volunteer to put them together and then take them around. So we start by scooping up the rice and beans and rolling a TON of burritos together. Then we wrapped those and put them all in these huge bags. From there they gave us a certain "route" they wanted us to take them. We were supposed to split up...but downtown Salt Lake at night in the homeless areas isn't really a place wanted to not be together for. We had a lot of really neat experiences handing out these warm burritos. A lot of "God Bless you," and "This made my whole day, God does listen to me" and comments like that. It was unbelievable and truly heart-breaking to see how some of these people live. There was no doubt drugs and other stuff going on as people kept yelling "kids on the block" surely so people would put there stuff away. The thing was it was absolutely FREEZING that night. Snow all over on the ground and we were all bundled up in coats etc. I was so cold just walking around for an hour. My mind can't comprehend all of them sleeping out on the streets with no shelter, some just had tarps over their bodies. I felt so guilty coming home to this big beautiful and WARM home. Definitely felt blessed. What a great learning and growing experience for the kids. It'll definitely be something we do more often then just once a year. Big fans of the Burrito Project.

MOANA!

What a fantastic movie! I'm not usually one for going out to the movies and fighting the crowds on New Years Eve but I was actually looking forward to this movie. And Toby took one for the team and stayed home with Kempers so I got to go with my 3 oldest. So much Fun! It was really the first time Tate has been to a movie and sat through the whole thing...not as baby. He LOVED it. The music in it was incredible, it was funny, and there was actually a part I got emotional in. It was awesome. Always a great day when I get to spend it with my kids.

New Years Eve!

I was so excited when I got a call from Kristee saying she wanted to help plan a fun New Years Eve! For the last 10 plus years we've always gone over to the Jones' for New Years but it's become a little bit harder the more kids we've all accumulated and the older we've gotten:) Plus they were in the middle of a move. And on top of that the older Cash and Elle has gotten I've really wanted to spend the night with them and show them a good time. So needless to say, I was excited when she called. We planned the food and a few games, invited the parents and Jake over and made it a fun night. I guess I should add that before that the Rothes invited us to go bowling with them....which was really a great idea but let me tell you my two youngest are not fun to take to a bowling alley. Like they are really really hard. Wanting to hold the bowling balls, throw them around, run off, they both threw tantrums...not the easiest activity with them so we're going to wait to do that again for awhile. But grateful we have good friends to go with. Back to the evening. We had some really great food, and played the funnest game with everyone called "True Colors." The same game we've played down in St. George with the Stevens and Ashby's and I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Elle and Cash got in on the game and it was just as fun as ever. Lots and lots of laughing. Mom and Dad fell asleep quite early in the night. Light weights. But most the rest of us stayed up, watched the ball drop, and blew our party favors, banged pots and pans and rang in the year with poppers. Great night. We're ready for a good 2017 but with Josh's situation, Jake's hard issues, the twins coming and Tessa's health I'm worried it might not be the easiest year. But I know attitude goes a long way so I need to start there and look for all the good that could happen, and will happen. Elle will start Middle School and go into Young Womens, Cash will continue to improve in sports and at school, Tate is the most wonderful amazing thing in the world right now and I'm sure he'll keep that up, and this will be the last year I'll ever have a 2 year old growing up in my home. I hope I can slow down and enjoy all of the moments. I have much to be grateful for.