my parents came for a surprise for my 40th birthday

My step-dad took this awesome picture of the kids:) It was quite a surprise to come down my stairs and see my mommy standing there!

Family pictures

We had family pictures done for Christmas and I think they turned out pretty well. We went to the American Fork Amphitheater and some back ally in Lehi.

Yet another stake dance.....fun times

we had a party here before one of the stake dances and I was surprised to see that kids here still have to wear slacks and ties and dresses to stake dances! This was Kole's second dance and he fit in really well. I am grateful my older kids are including him in their adventures and boy that boy asked a girl to dance every slow dance, he is not shy that Kole!

Leavi's date to Homecoming:)

Leavi actually got asked by 2 different boys to homecoming and here in Utah they go all out when they ask a girl...first boy left a basket of "pop" type items ie: popcorn, pop tarts, tootsie pops, pop...ect....with a bunch of balloons that said Leavi I would "pop" if you would go to homecoming with me! Way valiant effort on his part and the boy who she went with left 2 rocks...A gigantic one that said no and a little pebble that said yes and a note that said " will you go to homecoming with me, bring me your answer....hillarious! She wore the dress from my wedding and she looked amazing!

dinner guests and crazy hair

We had Natalia Gibson and her husband over for dinner one night and my step daughter,Amber, did my hair...hillarious!

kids are settling in

we are all settling in here and Leavi made fast friends with Tahina Rochette and Sarah Yates and Maddie Barfuss and Ashly Mccann:) once Jaydn came he just meshed right in with the group of kids that play night games and go to dances together! For the first stake dance Jaydn and Leavi went to they dressed up as Twilight Characters and this lovely photag shows how cute they are....

Moving to Utah

I know we have a picture somewhere of the moving truck...grrrr. Anyhow, we began the trip at 8am with Mel, me,Leavi, Kole and Kyzen. Jaydn wanted some extra time to say goodbye to his friends. It took Jaydn a while to come to Utah but he finally did. We drove for 18 hours stopping about every 2 hours for coke zero and restrooms...ha ha. We had McDonald's fro breakfast and Subway for lunch and snacks along the way. Kyzen and kole took turns riding in the moving truck that Mel graciously drove the entire way! I drove the white Toyota and we towed the red Honda behind the moving van. We nearly got all of the stuff I had in that truck but SADLY I had to leave behind my tanning bed...pause for a moment of silence ....still mourning the loss of my tanning bed...my friend:) The trip went off without a hitch but has anyone checked out gas prices??? ha ha ha I think the gas was as much as the rental:/ we pulled in at about 2am and pulled the mattresses out of the back of the truck, set them up and slept. Mel's daughter, Amber was so excited to see him she had to picked up at 7am the next morning...no rest for the weary...ha ha. It took me about 2 weeks to get everything unpacked and organized but I think we felt pretty well settled in at about week 2. The younger 4 minus Austin, who is only 4, started school Tuesday bright and early at 8am! We had to get all the kids uniforms and school supplies so Monday we took our $600 Walmart trip...whoo hoo! Great start to a new life!

life gets crazy

So since I have posted last I have been sealed in the temple to my sweetheart and we moved ( Me and all 4 children) to Saratoga Springs, Utah! The sealing was an amazing day! In attendance were many friends and family and we were overwhelmed by the feeling of love in our sealing room. Mel recalls being a little nervous to walk into a room packed with people he did not know:) I was very happy to see my sisters there with love in their hearts:):) Our witnesses were Brother Chuck Sasse and Wallen Magalei( my brother in law). Our sealer was so kind and sweet and we could just feel so much love it was quite a gift! After the sealing we went outside for pictures and we got some really great pictures and great support from many of the people who came to the sealing and also those who were not old enough to go into the temple yet but were excited to wait outside! The day was perfect! Mel and I went accross the street to the New Phoenix Inn for our honeymoon night. Can I say that everyone should go to the closest hotel to the temple because it is sooooo nice after a long day to just go unwind and not have to drive forever!