Congratulations, Adam!

Since today is offically the first day of school,

I thought I'd finally post picutres of the last day of school!

Congratulations Adam, Kami, Lyndi & Taylor!

Mormon Prom

Matt went to "Mormon Prom" tonight with Paige...

and a bunch of great friends... and had a fabulous time. Yea!

Happy Birthday, Camille!

Her birthday wish

{new racket and a game of tennis}

was a bit ironic this year

because she broke her arm just the day before!

So instead,

she built on to her crazy hamster world. . .

and went out for her favorite ice cream treat!

We love you, Camille!

Easter 2011

Just a few quick picutres of Easter this year...

Beautiful... Inside & Out

This afternoon our Laurels took part

in a fasion show of modest prom dresses...

aren't they gorgeous!!!

I just couldn't resist taking picture

after picture

after picture

of these beautiful,

beautiful,

beautiful girls!

I feel so lucky

to be able to serve them.

Happy Birthday, Adam!

I can't believe that Adam

is 14 already!!

He got some great presents...

a new shirt from Matt,

a game for the car from Camille,

some new church/dance clothes

from Brad and I,

and a game that he REALLY wanted

from Grandma & Grandpa.

And then we went out to dinner

because our heater was broken

and no one wanted to stay home!!

Happy Birthday, Adam!

I feel so loved...

When I got home from the market last week

I found these on my front door...

and this on my garage door.
I love my Young Women!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Don't you love how you do things once

and all of a sudden they are a tradition?

Last year Valentine's Day was on a Sunday,

so I served crumb cake and fruit for a yummy breakfast

to go along with their Valentine's books.

Then last week we were driving in the car

and one of the kids said...

"I can't wait for Valentine's Day

so we can have that yummy breakfast again!"

And a tradition was born.

I love that it's never too late

to add another favorite family memory!

Since Matthew "doesn't read" I picked up a Wii game

that he's been begging us to get

(it didn't hurt that I wanted it myself

for a little change of pace in my exercise routine!),

and may I just say--

best entertainment portion of FHE ever!!!

We laughed until we cried.

And look what Brad surprised me with!

We don't usually do the flower thing,

but it was a really fun treat!

(Isn't he a great guy!)

Hope your Valentine's Day was wonderful as well...

What We're Reading

The only thing I love more than a good book

is a good book recommendation,

so here are a few we've enjoyed over the last couple of weeks...

The Holy Secret is the story of a man who comes to terms

with the fact that he doesn't really love holilness.

I enjoyed the story,

but the real learning came as I read it again,

searching for nuggets of wisdom needed in my own life.

---

The Forgotten Garden was my guilty pleasure.

An abandoned child, a cottage garden, a secret book of fairy tales

and a mysterious past to be discovered - a fun read!

---

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

is one of the best books I've ever read.

You'll weep over Immaculee's tragic circumstances

and cry tears of joy as she builds a relationship with God

that is beautiful beyond words.

Adam loved The Lost Hero,

Camille is begging and pleading for the next book in

The Mysterious Benedict Society series,

and Matthew says no one should ever read a book

with the word "cuckoo" in the title.

Happy Reading!

A Very Merry Christmas

It's Christmas time again,

and, as always,

my favorite moments come from

spending time with those we love most

and taking part in traditions

that have been a part of our family

for many years:

Christmas Eve always starts with a

Christmas Concert,

followed by the reading of the Nativity Story
and some favorite Christmas hymns.

There are special ornaments
chosen specifically for each person,
and then the stocking madness begins.
Over the years they've gotten so full
that we now have to resort to using
grocery sacks to contain all the goodness...
but there are still tiny treasures to be found
down deep in the toes.As soon as we get home from Grandma Great's
the kiddos pop into bed in anticipation
of the gloriousness of Christmas morning.
Okay, not so much anticipation this year...
they didn't rouse until 9:00!
But good ol' Santa came through again...
Bringing everyone "something they want"
(used to be "something to play,"but who "plays" with tennis shoes?)
followed by traditional gifts from Brad and I...

"something to share,"
"something to read,"
and "something to wear."

Same four kinds of things every year. (This is my attempt to keep my life and my budget under control at Christmas time!)

Every year on the morning of the 26th,
we trek on over to Grandma & Grandpa's house
so we can do it all again.
Here's how they looked 7 years ago
when we got our first digital camera...and here's how they look now.
(oh - they were so much cuter and
so much easier back then!)
Grandma is a master at picking great gifts, then...
and now.
Then...
and now.
Then...

and now.

But just like that First Christmas,

this year the best gift was the gift of life.

We're so grateful to have little Molly in our lives...

Just like we're grateful to have the Savior

each and every day.

We hope your Christmas was blessed-

full of family togetherness

and gratitude for the gift of God's Son.