Gifts.

Gifts are a difficult thing for me at times. Paul's Mom and Dad are planning on turning their papers in to go on a mission. Knowing that they will be gone at the end of this year has made purchasing gifts that much more difficult. I decided that it might be fun to put together a picture page for Grandma Lois for Mother's day. We had some fun pictures of a sledding trip we did together. I decided that these pictures would provide a great memory.

This gift for Lois gave me a great idea for Paul's Dad. They had a day planned to get together to build a new deck off the back of the house. It was fun to take pictures of the boys out working together. I am grateful to part of a family they enjoys playing together and working together.

2010

Happy Father’s Day!

We want to say I love you, but don’t know where to start. So… Lets start at the very beginning.

1. Thanks for joining the diving team, so that we could be friends so many years ago.

Swimming trunks

2. Thanks for bringing home the GREEN. You have always made sure to take care of our family.

Green shirt

3. Thanks for having fun with us. You have always been willing to still be a bit of kid.
Water gun
4. Thanks for taking time to make family memories with us as we have spent summer nights out camping together.

camp forks

5. Thanks for being a righteous example for me and our kids. I also want to thank you for supporting me in all my crazy hobbies and activities.

Tie for Vannesa's wedding

6. Thanks for being the kind of Dad that gives our family the chance to sit and relax with a fishing pole in hand.

Camping chairs

7. Thanks for being our FAVORITE!

Reese's

WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.

If we have a holiday the gifts I purchase I usually things we need. I wanted to make sure that each gift has meaning behind it. However, I waited to last minute to put everything together, and the printer was completely out of ink. So, this is my card to you on Father's Day 2010.

I LOVE YOU!

CJ

My oldest sister Jannell had a beautiful little baby named CJ about a month ago. I was lucky enough to have my camera with me when she came over to my Mom's. It is always fun to have a new subject to take some pictures of.

Ward Camp out 2010

It is always fun to have a reason to work together as a family, and camping gives you that wonderful opportunity to get out there and work together.

Mariah did a wonderful job providing songs and stories to entertain everyone.
A few of us were asked to help out!

Bonnie was excited to see her friend Lindsay at the campsite

I was excited to help the family make s'mores.

Bonnie woke up the next morning to discover that Capri was her little twin.

Connor had a great time hanging out with the boys.

Hannah had a wonderful time hiking and spending time with the girls.

One of the kids pointed out this huge spider web. Lucky for us it wasn't too close to camp.
The kids had a wonderful time! It is nice to have a ward that provides great opportunities for us to spend time with our family and friends.

Summer Fun!

For Memorial Weekend we decided to enjoy seeing the Timpanogos cave.

It could not have been a more perfect day for the hike.

We all had a fun time in the cave seeing the rock formations. The Heart of the cave.
This was one of my favorite formations. Who doesn't like something that looks like it would taste so good!
It was also fun to see the lizard.
It was a bit of a walk, but everyone did great. The kids had a fun time becoming Jr. Rangers.They each received a hat and a badge.

Something New

I really enjoy learning new things, and love to have a excuse to spend my time learning something new. My sister is getting married in July and needs a cake. I have wanted to become a better cake decorator for years and this has given me a great reason to try to improve my skills. I have done a few cakes for my kids birthdays, but nothing too fancy. Lucky for me my sister said she was OK with anything. I decided that I had better get learning. I spent this week learning how to pipe roses. My husbands brother baptized his boy this weekend and asked everyone to bring something to share after. I decided this was a great reason to make a cake using the skills I have learned through out the week.
Now to find a reason to make another cake!

"People often say that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder', and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing you are the beholder. This empowers ourselves to find beauty in places where others have not dared look, including inside ourselves." ~ Salma Haylek

If you need some uplifting quotes check out my friend Bethany's blog Bringing Lady Back. It is Fabulous!

I have this little saying in my living room and I really enjoy being reminded that beauty can be found everywhere, sometimes you might just have to tilt your head a little.

Everything has beauty But not everyone sees it.

I am SO HAPPY

Do you ever have those days that you just feel HAPPY. The last couple of days have been like that for me. I don't know that I can say that I am happy for one reason or another. I think that it is a combination of many things. I had a WONDERFUL weekend with my family. I have been busy! For me busy is good. I took some great pictures to help us remember this weekend, but have not had time to take them off the camera yet. I have worked out everyday this month. Yes, I realize that only makes three days, but I am feeling GOOD! I have been able to easily recognize how blessed my life is. I probably married the best guy out there. That always sounds a little mean. If my husband is the best than your husband must not be. Not comparing to any other husbands Paul is the very best for me. He works hard at work and at home. He plays with the kids. He helps me out with my projects even when I ask for his help at 9:30 at night and he is thinking "this would be fine if it didn't take you a half hour to get ready for bed." And best of all he doesn't tell me that. He dose not complain when I am working on learning how to pipe roses and the kitchen is a mess two days in a row, so he ends up helping to get dinner on the table, and it just so happen that he is getting home late from a long day at work. He understands that I am working hard on things that are important to me, and after Mother's day I was able to see that Paul is OK with all my crazy hobbies.

I have been blessed with three great kids. That at times make me feel like I am going a little cray. They are smart and creative, and my favorite thing about them is when they make me smile.

The thought crossed my mind yesterday. "Maybe I can not have EVERYTHING I WANT, but I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED." My life has been greatly blessed and recognizing this simple fact makes it hard NOT to be HAPPY.

Memorial Day

Paul and myself are not big with going to the cemetery. I know for some this is a tradition. We enjoy the time Memorial Day gives us to spend with the people we love and think of those that are no longer with us. My sister wrote this poem and shared it with my family. I am very grateful for my ancestors and those in the military that have allowed me to have the life that I enjoy.

Ten years ago this May
My grandma past way
I sit here and think how much she’s missed
How much I want to give her a hug and a kiss
Not so long ago, it feels
She helped me over come my fears
She was there to give loving advice
On the days the world seemed cold as ice
And so on this Memorial Day
I take a moment to stop and pray
Pray for the world she has left behind
Pray that the truth, someday I’ll find
Till then I send her all my love
As she watches us from above

by Suzanne Muir