Best Friends!

Nat Nat and Katie are the best of friends. Here's a couple shots of them making "Pinkilious" cupcakes together. They made chef hats and then needed to try them out.

First Day of School

Here's the kids on their first day of school. Preston started 3rd grade, Katie 1st and Natalie pre-school. They all love their teachers and enjoy being back at school.

Katie Lost Her First Tooth!!

Katie finally lost her first tooth. She has been wiggling it for a few weeks and I finally pulled it out for her this morning. She is very excited! She can't wait for the Tooth Fairy to come. My little girl is growing up!

New Floor

Brandon with the help of our good friend Todd put in a new laminate wood floor on our main level a couple weeks ago. It was a lot of hard work but it looks beautiful!! He had to rip out the subfloor in the kitchen along with the 4,000 nails that it was attatched with. We really appreciate our good friends helping with this. Now that it's done it truly is a breath of fresh air. It looks awesome!! Brandon is going to put in new baseboards as well as crown molding next.

4th of July

We really enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July. We started our day early and went to the big parade in Provo. Then we swam with the kids during the day. We finished off our day having a BBQ and playing games with our dear friends the Laytons. I am so thankful for the country that we live in that allows us freedom. I am so thankful for the servicemen that fight to keep our country free.

Palisades

Last month we went camping to Palisade State Park with two other families from our ward. It was so fun!! We went to the Manti Temple pageant one night, golfed twice, went for a hike and spent the rest of the time playing in the water with the kids. The kids especially loved diving off the floating docks and catching little fish. After the kids went to bed we really enjoyed visiting with our dear friends. So much in fact that we stayed out around the campfire talking during a little rain storm. Palisades is a favorite spot of ours and we can't wait to go back. Thanks for the memories!!

Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

Last month we attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with some great friends. Our kids loved it! Our children have been blessed to attend 3 open houses in their short life time. Their extra exposure to temples has kindled great questions, conversations, and goals. We are very blessed to live in an area where we are surrounded by many temples. The blessings and ordinances performed their have been a huge blessing in our life.

A Day At the Zoo

About a month ago we took our yearly trip to Hogle Zoo. The kids loved seeing the animals!

Preston's Summer on the Swim Team

Preston joined the Payson Sea Lions this year. He did awesome! He started the summer doing good to make it across the pool without stopping, and ended the season zipping across the pool. He qualified for the "Gold" meet in his age group, improved his time in every stroke by several seconds, and increased his overall confidence in his swimming abilities immensely. He even got to compete in a race against his cousin Abel. We can now add swimming to the long list of sports that he loves and is naturally talented at. I won't miss getting to the swim meets at 6:30 am but will miss watching him swim and compete. Great job Preston!!

Hawaii

Back at the beginning of May we celebrated our 10th Anniversary in Hawaii. It was wonderful. Everything you could dream of. We visited Pearl Harbor, and the Polynesian Cultural Center, went snorkeling at Hanama Bay and Shark's Reef, swam, shopped, relaxed, and enjoyed just being with one another. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the 10 fabulous years that we have spent with one another. I am truly blessed to be married to such a wonderful man that loves me and treats me like a queen.

Lovin the Snow

Christmas 2008

The kids were so excited on Christmas morning. From waiting on Bubba's stairs (from youngest to oldest), to opening presents, to playing with their toys, to playing with family members, to having Christmas dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Everett, the day was filled with excitement, happiness, love and memories. The kids favorite presents this year were Preston a DS and skateboard, Katie a cupcake maker and camara, and Natalie a Sleeping Beauty doll and Baby Alive. My favorite present was the beautiful diamond earrings that the love of my life gave me, and Brandon a gun for protection.

The Nativity - Christmas Eve

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without acting out the nativity on Christmas Eve. This year was a great performance with many actors and a chorus of angels. It was fun for our kids to be able to share this tradition with their cousins. I will never forget all the angels, complete with Amerie in her little nudest angel rendition. Thanks to all who made this a great memory for my family!

Preston's Baptism - December 23, 2008

Preston was baptized on December 23rd by his father Brandon. He was baptized at the Mormon Center right next to the Sacramento CA temple. It was an experience that I will never forget. Preston was so excited but a little nervous on the day of. He was concerned about little things like where his jumpsuit was going to be, and how he was going to get into the fount. Brandon kept assuring him that he would be there right next to him the whole time. Preston had the opportunity to be baptized at the same time as his cousin Emily White, who was born 4 days prior to him. That will be a special memory that they will always share together. At the baptism he had most of his family on both sides with him, save a few aunts, uncles and cousins. The spirit was so strong. Both of his Grandmas gave talks, and both of his Grandpas were witnesses. I've never seen Preston so attentive, trying to soak in ever little thing. It was such a wonderful experience to witness your oldest child enter the gate of eternal life aided by his Dad, a worthy priesthood holder. It was an amazing thing for Brandon to be a conduit in which the Holy Ghost could be given. Since his baptism Preston has really been trying hard to be an agent, repent, and have the spirit with him always. I am so proud of his decision to be baptized, and am so thankful for the choice blessings our family continually enjoys. Thank you to all who have loved, supported and helped Preston throughout his life. This life is not about us individually but how we help each other make it back home. We love you!