Happy Birthday Master Dallin!

Dallin has always been good at whatever he puts his mind too. But recently, he has found a new passion for something that he also seems to be exceptionally good at...Kararte! 

He started taking lessons about 3 months ago and has had "Karate on the brain" ever since! :)

He began requesting to watch the movie "Karate Kid"...

He started working out on his own every day after school (using soup cans for weights! Too cute! ;)...

Has fallen in love with Chinese chicken and rice and fortune cookies ;)...

And requested a Karate Birthday!!! :)

So, on the morning of Dallin's birthday, I traditionally had the table set with his cake and decorations. I love seeing how excited their little faces get when they scamper up the stairs to see what is up there just for them! :) I think it makes them feel so special and important...after all, it is THEIR day!

He opened one gift (a new outfit for school ;) and went off to school with

 30 chocolate glazed doughnuts to share with his class. 

What he didn't know was that I had a little surprise for him for after school! :)

I told 2 of his best friends that since it was a Wednesday night (busiest night of the week for our family) Dallin thought it would be too hard to have a party of any kind. So, he was content with the fact that we would celebrate with our family that evening and then we were going to have a bigger celebration on the weekend. Then I told them that when I came to pick up the normal carpool after school that day, they were supposed to just follow Dallin and get in the car with us too!

You should have seen Dallin's face and his eyes light up

 as he found out what was going on! He was so happy!!!

So, we headed home with friends and siblings and had a little party. But one that brought HUGE smiles! :)

Kobe, Dallin, Kambriella, Skyler, and Gavin with their dragons

 Party favors in take-out boxes and presents wrapped in a "Red Belt."

I thought it was so sweet when I asked Kambriella what we should get Dallin for his birthday...her response...so perfect and so sweet..."weights so he can get strong for karate!" :) No more using soup cans for this little boy! (And of course Kambriella had to pick some that she could use too!) She loves to be with Dallin and do whatever he is doing too!  

 Dallin loves to draw and make art and so I bought him this Spirograph which is so much fun to use AND I had one when I was a little girl and I just KNEW that he would love it! And he did!!! :)

 ...But probably not near as much as he loved his new remote control car!!!

 Dallin, Kobe, and Skyler had a blast playing together and driving Dallin's new car

 around outside and under each other's legs ;)

  Being the middle of the week and a school night, Dallin's friend Skyler had soccer so he had to leave, but lucky for Dallin, Kobe was able to stay and even go to Dallin's karate class with him that night! It couldn't have worked out better for a little boy who wanted to have a "Karate" party! They were at the class for an hour and a half and loved every minute of it!

 Kobe loved it so much that he is even signing up to be in it with Dallin from now on! Yay! :)

This picture is not from Dallin's party, but I thought it appropriate to insert...

This was when he earned his yellow belt at his school. He was so happy and I was so proud.

Also, since Dallin turned 11 years old this birthday, he is officially done with Cub Scouts

 and has now moved on to Boy Scouts! 

Wow time flies! 

Here he is at his last pack meeting as a cub scout receiving his Arrow of Light, the highest achievement in the cub scout program. Great job Dallin! Way to go! :) 

 Proud mama, Dallin, Kambriella, Clint, and Gavin

 It may be cruel and unusual punishment, but I DO kiss my children in front of their friends!!! ;)

 Dallin practicing retiring the flag.

Oooo I love that boy. :)

Happy birthday Dallin! I am so happy to be your mother. You have a sweet and tender heart and always think of others. You are such a great friend to everyone and always know just when I need some extra hugs and lovin'.  ;)  AND, I just love it when you use your "magic hands" to give me a nice head massage...it always takes my headaches away. Thank you for noticing others needs, and especially mine. Thank you for being such a good example and a "keeper of your covenants." Heavenly Father is happy with you...so is Daddy, and so am I. 

I love you!

Carew's 15th Birthday! :)

This year for Carew's birthday we let him invite 4 of his best friends to go to the

 Fast Kart indoor sports track in Salt Lake. They had a BLAST!!! :)

Before we went to the track, we took the boys to Chik-fil-A (Carew's favorite :) for dinner.

Clint and I even did them the favor of sitting on the other side of the restaurant at our own table so that they could feel a little more "grown -up." ;)

Of course as soon as that freedom was granted, we could here laughter in large amounts coming from "their" side of the restaurant! AND their table coincidentally became surrounded by other tables of teenage girls! 

Hmmmm.....:)

Anyways, here are these cute boys waiting for the track to open up for their turn. :)

Pierce, Zach, Larsen, Alex, and the Birthday Boy himself :)

Larsen, Alex, Carew, Pierce, and Zach

Clint (with awesome hat head :), Carew, Larsen, Zach, Alex, and Pierce...Everyone gearing up for the track!

The track time was soooo much fun! I drove too with all of those boys and loved coming up behind them and passing them :)...I could definitely tell after all of the time on the track with those boys which of Carew's friends I would NOT be allowing Carew to get into the car with when they are really able to drive! ;)

After we got home from the track the boys had cake and ice-cream and watched a movie together...

Happy Birthday to you Carew! :)

Then, on Sunday morning (Carew's actual birthday) I surprised him with a new suit and tie!

He loved it! He actual collects ties and loves getting new ones! 

All of my handsome boys in their suits ready for church!

(This was also the day that Clint was set apart as a high priest and called to be on the High Council. This day was a special day for lots of reasons:)

Handsome Carew with his best friend Zach :)

Clint, Gavin, Carew, Dallin, and Zach

All the family, and Grandma and Grandpa Trickett...Happy Birthday Carew!!!

Carew and Zach have been best friends since they were born! I love that these boys are such good friends and can get together at any time, and it's like a day hasn't gone by...too cute :) I just love these guys!

I hope all of your birthday wishes come true!!! :)

Carew we all love you! Sweet son, brother, and friend!

Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

Running the Race...

Ahhh running :)

Something that I have always loved to do, 

and yet something that I have to graciously give up.

Over the last year and a half I have really struggled with back pain

 from degenerated discs, and unfortunately for me, 

running is not good for that. :(

I am learning everyday that I can still find ways to be active, have fun,

 and be positive about the situation because it is what it is. I will always cherish my

 "running experiences" and some of my great "life's lessons learned" while out on a run! :)

Though I will never be able to be "the winner" of the running races again, I will always be able to be 

"the winner" of "luckiest mom" and "happiest wife" and other priceless "medals." :)

I am learning everyday that there are so many wonderful things in life, gifts from Heavenly Father, countless blessings to be enjoyed, AND that I am NOT my body. I am worth so much more than "what I look like" or "how fast I can run!" I am a beloved daughter of God with great worth and divine potential...and I am "winning" this race of life. I am moving upward and onward to my eternal celestial goal, and together with my amazing husband and beautiful family, we are making it! 

We will win this race of life and together reach the "Finish Line" 

where our Greatest Fan awaits us with loving and open arms! 

And although running is hard for me to do now, I still have so much fun cheering on my little ones who run their little hearts out! Grandma Trickett has started a very wonderful tradition of inviting everyone that wants to , to join her for her holiday 5K runs! Along with aunts, uncles, cousins...and whoever wants to join in on the fun, they have so much fun together and feel so accomplished to run the race and cross the finish line, only to win their prize. Thank you Grandma for encouraging this fun and healthy tradition! :)

We love you!

Sweetheart's 5K

(Valentine's Day)

 Carew (14), Dallin (10), Gavin (8), and Kambriella (4) at the finish line

 Alora, Grandma Trickett, and Kambriella

Grandma won 1st place for her age group and won that teddy bear. She gave it to Kambriella though for completing her first race!

 I loved that Kambriella's "medal" was a flashing heart necklace! So fun for a little girl! :)

 Dallin, mom, and Gavin at the starting line

 Cousin Alora and Kambriella at the starting line

St.Patrick's Day 5K

 Kambriella and mom dressed in their green! :)

 Dallin, Kambriella, and Gavin with their prizes for winning "The Team Wearing the Most Green! "

 Grandma Trickett, Gavin, and Dallin at the finish line

(I love how Dallin's handlebar mustache went from his upper lip to his eyebrows!!! Hilarious! :)

 Alora, Kambriella, and Dallin racing towards the finish line

Her comes Gavin! :)

I love my family so much and I am so proud of them for all of their good efforts in all that they do! They are awesome kids with GIANT hearts and are here in this world to WIN!!!

And together we can! :)

"Lady Kierra...You are hereby summoned to the Ball, Also known as Riverton High Prom!"

Around the end of September my dear friend and neighbor Kami Sage shared a fun little secret with me...

Her son Adam who is a senior (by the way...awesome, obedient, fun, and cute kid ;) was planning on asking Kierra to the Riverton High School Prom ON her 16th birthday!!!

Now, no one will fully comprehend what this little bit of information meant to me...

1) I know my daughter better than anyone and have sat by her side

     at the computer as she has "window shopped" for modest prom

       dresses for the past year with hopes and dreams of some cute guy

 just possibly wanting to ask her to prom...

2) Kierra is JUST like me in so many ways and I know that all she has

 ever  wanted for her high school experiences is to be whisked away to

 "the ball" and to be pampered and treated like a real life "princess!"

3) Kierra has totally respected the rule of

 "No dating until your 16"...and has thus hoped that her "reward" 

for obedience will somehow payoff...

HOLY COW!!!! IS IT EVER GOING TO PAY OFF!!!!!!!! :)

(If she only knew the information that I knew !!!)

(Well, she knows now :) but at the time I had to keep it ALL a secret!)

So, I had known 5 months prior to her birthday that she was going to be getting the most awesome gift that a 16 year old girl could get for her birthday!!!

Now, this is not a gift that I could go out and buy her...

it is not even a gift that Adam ever even knew that she would be ecstatic over...

All he knew, is that Kierra Trickett (literally the girl next door) was sweet, beautiful, talented, and had such a pure spirit about her, that he wanted to take the opportunity to get to know her better! So he decided that he would ask her to prom...ON her birthday!!!!

(Hehehe...this whole thing makes me so giddy! It's been so much fun! :)

So, despite all of my preparing of gifts and celebrations, and parties for Kierra's sweet 16th birthday, 

I knew all along that NOTHING was going to come close to this gift that she would be getting from Adam.

So, on February 11th, after my sisters family and our family returned home from the Olive Garden Restaurant for Kierra's birthday dinner, we were in the kitchen getting ready to eat the mini Oreo cheesecakes that Kierra wanted instead of a birthday cake.

The doorbell rang and this tall guy dressed in mid evil attire cleared his voice, rolled out a long scroll, and began reading a proclamation to "Lady Kierra!"

This is how it went...

"Here ye, Here ye, 

Lady Kierra!

You are hereby summoned to the Ball

Also known as Riverton High School Prom!

To accompany Sir Adam Sage!"

Then Tyllor stepped aside and here comes Adam walking up the front steps, into our home, and gets down on one knee...presents a black silk pillow and a glass rose and says,
"Kierra Trickett, will you go to prom with me?"
Everyone in the room clapped and giggled (especially me and Adam's mom Kami...she snuck over right before the boys and pretended like she needed to borrow some chocolate chips so that she could be there to witness the whole thing! ;) !
Kierra's immediate response to Adam's question was...
"Of Course!!!"

Tyllor, Adam, and Kierra  (I wish I had a picture of Tyllor's tights and shoes..they were awesome!)

Notice Adam and Kierra's red cheeks! I think they were both pretty happy and excited :)

Kierra will probably keep this pillow and rose forever! It currently occupies it's own special space in her room where she can see it all the time :)

And here is our family...(minus Gavin...their cousin Xaxton filled in for Gavin since he disappeared right when we were taking pictures ;)

What an absolutely awesome 16th birthday this lucky girl had!
There was a lot of things going on, lots of gifts, celebrating, and fun to be had...but mind you, this sweet daughter of mine has deserved every last bit of what has come to her.
She has such a pure heart and is always so happy and obedient and I can very clearly see that the Lord is already blessing her for that in all aspects of her life.

Now, I have to give myself a little credit here...
I was able to keep this big secret the entire time!

(Even when Kierra would make comments about how awesome it would be to get to go...and how awesome it would be if her cute neighbor Adam would notice her and ask her! ...Even when Kierra would say things about knowing of other boys who might ask her ...and even when we were at the mall and she would want to go looking at prom dresses just in case she got asked!!! I think this was the hardest and longest secret I have ever had to keep!!!)

After the asking was over, we invited the boys and Kami to have some cheesecake with us, and we all talked and laughed about the whole thing, how long we had all been waiting for it and planning for it to happen...and I even made a special trip over to Adam's house the weekend before he asked her to the prom simply to say "Thank You."
I don't think he originally had ANY idea just how big of a deal this was going to be to Kierra. I told him thank you in advance because I knew just how much something like this meant to Kierra, and I had seen her talk about it for so long, and I knew that I could never "buy" her a present like this! This was priceless! It would mean so much to her, and it would literally make her the happiest 16 year old on the planet! :)

It was so funny that night too, after all of the excitement had died down, everyone had gone home, and we sat down as a family for our scripture study...Kierra sat on the couch "listening" with the biggest smile glued to her face! I KNEW that there was no way her brain was anywhere near what we were reading...so I asked her, "What do you think Kierra?"
The whole family stared at her and started laughing with her as she broke out an even BIGGER smile!...
"Sorry mom! I didn't hear A WORD you just said!"
I didn't blame her at all :)
She was somewhere out in the atmosphere sitting on cloud 9 :)
She responded to the night...
"Ya, I definitely did not see that coming...but it was pretty much the BEST part of the entire day!!!"
:)
And I KNEW it would be!

One month later...

Dress bought at Petals and Promises in Logan
Jewelry from Charming Charlie

Here goes Daddy's heart...and lump in the throat :)

Beautiful Princess :)

Happy, Happy, Happy!!!

Adam Sage and Kierra Trickett

Riverton High Prom
March 15th 2014

They had a BLAST...
Oh,
and they said they were the best looking couple there!!! :)
Love that confidence!!! ;)
I would say that this was one successful  and worthwhile secret to keep!
Now...the secret is out!!! :)