Family time!!!

Families.... they are the best!!! I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent us down to earth in families. I love my eternal family and all of our extended family!

This past week we went up to Utah to spend spring break in the snow!!! Not quite what I remember doing for spring break as a kid. The kids look forward to going to Utah to be with their Grandparents and cousins!!! In fact when Jacob was going to bed tonight I overheard him telling his dad how excited he is to go back to Utah in 3 weeks. (Kali's 1st Birthday) He's already counting down.
Here are some of our pictures of the fun week we had in Utah with our families... (I left the camera in the car sometimes :( I'm trying to do better.) Aunt Steph has some fun pictures of the kids at the aerospace museum at Hill air force base I'll try to get them and add them on!

Daddy and Lily giving each other an Orange kiss!!! We shared this idea with our sweet little Wyatt.... he liked it!!! I loved it too... he is getting so big (almost 3) I think Steph took a picture of Wyatt giving orange kisses.

This was taken before we left. Steve was able to join us for a few days over the weekend to be with me for Ryan Mouritsen's (a dear friends) funeral. We sure missed Steve this week but are grateful that he makes it possible for us to make memories with our family.

We started out the kids and I flying up to SLC on Thursday morning. We would have loved to wait until Friday morning when Steve came but when you fly standby you take what you can get. (Can't beat the price) I stayed the first night at my parents and then on Friday we met Steve's family for Lunch. Here we are at the Golden Coral...

Aunt Whitney lovin' sweet little Kali.... Mommy and Kali!!!

Grandma Nichol took us to an all you can eat buffet... the kids loved it they thought they were in a candy store with the fun dessert bar. They also enjoyed each others company!!! Cousins are so much fun!!!


Great Grandma "B" with Lily, Kali, & Jacob

4 Generations.... Kali, Steve, his Mom and Grandma!

Kali was ready to go and so was Steve.. thanks for the posterity picture!

After we ate Steve came with me to the viewing while LoiAnn took the kids up to Midway. We spent the night up there (the kids love to play up there on the golf cart even if it's 20 degree's)
It was a short stop over for me I went back down to Sandy in the morning to go to the funeral with my parents and friends while Steve kept the kids (Thank you Hun!) Saturday night be dropped the kids off to me at Ashlee's Junior high School play Peter Pan. It was so fun... the kids loved being with their cousins and they loved the play (I wasn't sure how well they would do for 3 hours) It kept their attention and I was very impressed at how much work went into this production it really showed. Great Job Ashlee!!! You were the prettiest pirate you did fantastic in your parts. What fun memories.

Sunday was here before we knew it and Steve was off to flyin'. The kids did so well at Church with Grandma and Grandpa Quick's. Then we enjoyed dinner with my family. It was so nice to see everyone thanks for always making the effort when we come in town. We sure love you guys.

Steph always comes down form Syracuse when we come into town. But they just got a new addition to the family, Chopper (a chocolate Lab puppy) so she wasn't able to. We were so excited to be able to join their family for FHE, and a sleep over!

Here's the kids playing outside but I didn't get one of the puppy...

I don't know who took this picture or even where it is (I think it is up in Midway)

I added this because I wanted to tell the Sill family (Garrett, Stephanie, McKenna, Ashlyn, Colter, Wyatt, and chopper) Thank you! Thank you for opening your home to us and allowing us to join in on the way you live life. Our prophet President Monson has said find "Joy in the journey" You are such a great example of this in all you do but as we were able to have family home evening (we talked about the atonement), family prayer and scripture study with you I felt the such a sweet happy spirit in your home as I watched you teach correct principles lovingly!!! I just really enjoyed being in your home and learning from your great examples of how simple yet important these things are. We do them too... but it's just great to see what we have to look forward to as we continue on our journey when our kids get older like yours are. I'm so grateful for the fine examples that you set. Thank you!!!

The SLEEP OVER!!!!!

Mckenna and Lily. Thank you for being such a sweet heart and letting me sleep in your bed while you enjoyed sleeping on the floor with Lily... She just loves you!

Colter was sleeping until the flash got his eyes (sorry bud!)

Beautiful Ashlyn asleep next to me and Kali... thanks for sharing your room and being such a great cousin. Lily talks about how much she loves you.

Miss Kali asleep warm and cuddly.

Yes... this was taken at the same time the reason I post all the sleeping beauties and price (again sorry colter) Here's Jacob ridin' the horse full of energy while everyone else is sleeping! Not surprising at all. I love you handsome man! I sure hope you keep some of this energy when you get older... you've got life to live and you are livin' it to it's fullest, way to go!

On Tuesday we spent the day playing (I am so gonna love year round school in vegas) I wish everyone could be on the same tract :( we missed you Tanner and Ethan. Thanks for joining the kids Grandma!!! We went to Chuckie Cheese and then to the Aerospace museum.

Mckenna and Colter shootin' hoops

Jacob racing cars... I have to tell you each of the kids got about 20 tokens. Jacob was so sweet and when he'd find something that he really liked he just knew you'd like it too so he'd share his tokens so you could experience the fun. You are so sweet and thoughtful. My favorite one was the card that printed out your picture on it. You made sure everyone had at least one. That was awesome!!!

Sweet Lily girl. I love your pretty smile.

I lost track of how many times you guys rode this jeep... so much fun behind the wheel.

The group... we met a few of their fun friends!!!

That's all the pictures I took. But we had many more fun adventures. Playin' with friends at Natalie's house (Thank you so much for putting together the fun lunch/play group with everyone) I'm so grateful for such wonderful friends that find the time to keep our friendships strong over all these years... What's it been almost 20years. I sure love y'all!

Well this is it until next time...

Examples

I am learning how important it is to set a good example. I have my good days and my bad ones. We ALL do! Being the MOM is not easy... It's really hard sometimes. I find myself acting in ways that are not at all the way I teach my kids to act. Actions speak louder than words, It is so true! I have actually had some great days lately but I am seeing some of my behaviors coming out in Jacob. He's having a hard time controlling himself at school. He is reacting to others behavior and is emotional at home when things don't happen just the way he wants. He's feeling out of control, hurt, frustrated and angry.
I love him but I find it difficult to love his behavior when he's "loosin' it!" Steve often tells me how much Jacob is like me. I am so sad to say that he gets this from me too... Life throws us curve balls. People don't always act the way we would like them too. (Especially our children) How are we going to let this affect us? Will we react and make a bad choice or will we keep room in our heart always, no matter the situation to Act with LOVE?!!!

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also blove one another.

This is one of my favorite scriptures. I pray often for this kind of love... the love the our savior has for us. In fact tonight I prayed for it while my children (all 3 of them crying) were complaining and throwing fits over dinner, not being able to play (even though he'd just played with a friend for an hour), everything being too hard, not fair, and the negativity went on and on.
I did it!!! I didn't let their reactions and negative complaining pull me in and React in frustration from all the energy draining that was occurring. I simply slowed down and filled my negative thoughts with something positive. I did not allow the behavior to continue around ME they could go to their rooms until they were ready to act loving. It worked... they didn't even have to go to their room. Kind words began to fill the dinner table and the food I cooked was eaten without further complaints. The kids went to bed with happiness in our home and love in their hearts... Yes!!! My goal for the day was accomplished and I am gearing up to start again tomorrow, and the next day, and...

I read this in my scripture power for the day, I hope it can enlighten you the way it has for me.

"Thinking negatively does not require any effort; maintaining a believing fame of mind, however, requires an exerted effort over a sustained period of time. "
I'm reading Drawing on the powers of heaven by Grant Von Harrison this was from his book.

D&C 6:36, Mormon 9:27
I challenge you to read these scriptures and then try throughout the day to replace any negative feeling/thought with something positive!

"...doubt and faith do not exist in the same person at the same time..." Joseph Smith, lectures on faith.

LoVe OnE aNoThEr

Valentines Day is so much fun... I love the opportunity it

gives us to share our love for others anonymously!



Cupid came to our house... her gifts put smiles on our faces :>

Jacob - Cars Lily - Lip gloss in a Makeup bag Kali - P.J.'s

Lily asks almost every day to make cookies. She loves to make sugar cookies! I don't know what part is her favorite... eating the dough, licking the frosting off the knife or eating the finished product. She loves it all. I think she gets it from me. I had fun making cookies for all the kids and teachers for her preschool party.

Lily with Lindsay and Molly (her friends she carpools with to school)

Making her valentine bag at school.

Lily's Valentine party at Mrs. Dorsey's preschool.

She was so excited to have us come to the party!!!

Jacob had a valentines party at his school too. He wrote the names of everyone in his class on their valentines... I was so proud of him! He is really do well with reading and writing. Unfortunately I couldn't make anything for his class :<>

I love Valentines day!!!

Is she really...

10 Months old......
Yesterday I was gathering the dirty laundry from all the bedrooms while Kali was playing in the toy room. I couldn't find her anywhere in the toy room so I went looking for her and this is what I found.... she did this all on her own. I couldn't believe she got the drawers out and was inside of it playing around. Who needs toys? For this 10 month old, mischief is way more fun! She is into everything!!! She is so much fun and her personality is just blossoming. She makes all of us laugh. I am so grateful you came to join our family Kali. You bring so much joy to all of our lives.

Kali girl...

Well I am going to sleep better tonight. We took Kali into Dr. Lacour again today to follow up with her strange spots... It went well. Kali is doing fine and will have no lasting effects from this. It will just take time to go away. He gave me answers to my questions and left me with peace of mind. I am so grateful for his wealth of knowledge and his compassionate way he has educated me on things I'd never heard of.
I have been more worried about something that is not as bad as it looks... better to be safe than sorry!!!

Family Time = Eternal memories

Steve had a week of vacation so we decided to go up to Salt Lake and spend the week with our FAMILY!!!

We started out by going to the Draper temple open house. I must admit I had envisioned a very spiritual,quiet, calm, temple experience that I could share in with our children.

First off the spirit really was strong but what was I thinking? Quiet & calm for Jacob... it was too exciting. The kids did a great job but I wish they hadn't eaten chocolate donuts at Gmp&Gma house for breakfast before we went. (whoops!!)

My favorite part was in the brides room with my two daughters!! I looked at Lily and told her that this is the room where you get to do your hair & make-up and put on your wedding dress when you get married! (She is so into dresses and make up right now) Sweet little Lily just looked at me with a great big smile and sighed a happy oh.... I can't explain the sweet spirit I felt and still feel as I think about this amazing experience to be in the temple with her at 3 years of age. I pray that she will return with the man of her dreams to the house of the Lord to be sealed for time and all eternity. What more could a mother want for her daughter! I know it will seem just like yesterday when I will be standing in that room with her again thinking back on this experience. (I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for this special experience I have felt) Tears of Joy, pure Joy!!!

Our family at the little open house after seeing the temple.
We were shuttled on a bus... the kids loved it!

These 2 temples are the Venezuela and Houston ones

(special places to us)

Miss Lily had snow in her mouth every where we went!!!

She loved it!

Miss Kali's first time in the snow...

she loved watching it fall from the sky.



The rest of the week we spent up in Midway at Grandma and Grandpa Nichol's "hotel" or so Berkley thought when they pulled up to stay the weekend with cousins.

Whitney brought the boys up to play in the snow... THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

The kids had so much fun sledding. Who wouldn't when they didn't have to walk up

the hill! I don't know what was more fun sledding down or riding on the four wheeler

back up the hill to do it again and again and again!!!

Our Grandparents would tell us how they walked up hill both ways in the snow....

Our kids can say they didn't have to walk up or down the hill in the snow (I don't know if that is good or not)

Kali's first time sledding!

Our little Snow Bunnie!!!

Mommy, Kali, & Lily

making snow angels!

Jacob and Lily on their way to ride the sled down the hill.


What a beautiful valley... memories were made that will last forever!

We thought sledding was fun so we thought we'd try snow boarding behind the four wheeler.

Oh what fun it is to ride... behind the four wheeler!!
It feels just like wake boarding so we called it "wheeler boarding"

At night we soaked in the hot tub. Well some of us did...

Lily and Jacob played in the snow and then jumped in to warm up!

Aunt Stephanie and the kids with us soakin' up the heat under the stars at the clubhouse!

Grandma and Kali snuggling on the window seat!

Grandpa, Daddy, and Jacob!!!

My sister Emalee and I out lasted the boys...

We decided the sled was the way to go. All we had to do was hold on and cover our faces. The snow would spray up on us so we couldn't see where we were going. Steve pulled us up and over the jump, we lost the sled right out from under us. That wasn't the only thing I lost... I was laughing so hard I full on peed my snow suit!!! What can I say, after 3 kids my body is not the same... but my heart is. We played so hard I felt like we were kids again. Emalee I will always remember the fun we had. Thanks so much everyone (Ross, LoiAnn, Stephanie and family, Whitney and boys, Emalee & Kendal and family) for a week of FUN, FUN,FUN!