A Bridal Shower For Kierra!

 Yesterday our sweet friends "the Holt girls" a.k.a. the "A" team (Alicia, Amaelia, Alivia, and Autumn :) and Susan too :) threw Kierra her very first Bridal shower!!! :)

 Friends and family came to support her and she ended up some very nice gifts!!!

 We are grateful for the love and support everyone gives us...we are surrounded  by such good people and it's so much fun to share in all of these happy times! Love, love, love all these girls!!!

The First Swim Day, YAY!!!

 Yesterday was Memorial Day and the first day we opened up the swimming pool for the summer!

EVERYONE was excited for it (although Kesslyn wasn't too excited to actually get IN the water! ;)

Everyone invited a friend over and had a ball. :)

Kambriella being a "Superstar!" 

 Friend Makayla...

 ...and friend Mya...

 Dallin and his good friend Rhett too, and everyone enjoying an ICEE...

(And believe me, they needed it in that pool! Someone turned it up to 95 degrees!!! I had to turn it down!)

 Gavin and his friend Alex...

 Miss Kesslyn sweet angel baby :)

 ...lovin' on her Daddy. :) I. LOVE. Summer!!! Bring it on!!!

Best Day of the Week

When it's the week of your birthday, they sing to you in primary!!!

You get to wear a special birthday hat and twirl a spacial birthday conducting baton.

I loved how happy this made Kambriella feel to have that extra special attention. :)

 She also recited the 5th Article of Faith and then invited everyone to join in and repeat it with her...

"We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."

Just look at that great big birthday smile!!! :)

 After some visits and meetings when church was over, we enjoyed some time being outside in the fresh air and warm sunshine! :) We sat and watched Clint and the brothers all play 21, and then Kambriella took Kesslyn and her baby dolls for a ride in the wagon...pulled behind her bike by a jump rope!

Such sweet sisters!!! :)

 Then, later on in the evening, Carew's friend Kate brought us chocolate chips so that her and Carew could make chocolate chip cookies together...

 Everyone joined in on the fun and ate half the dough before it could be baked into a cookie! ;)

 Kierra and Riley also came over and sat down to the computer together trying to make final decisions and preparations for their wedding announcements!!

32 days PEOPLE!!! 

 Gavin made a "baby cookie..."

 Sweet sweet boy...:)

 ...and so did Kambriella!!!

Sweet sweet girl!!! :)

What a good good Sunday. Best day of the week!!!

Kambriella's Ready to Turn 8!

 My little Kambriella is getting baptized next week!!! 

Cherie took such beautiful pictures and made these invitations that we handed out to our friends and family...

I love Kambriella's beautiful eyes and sweet toothless smile! (Missing her 2 front teeth! ;)

She went to her baptismal interview with the bishop and is all ready to go! 

She knows the gospel and feels it in her heart. She tries everyday to do what is right and is so quick to apologize when she needs to, but mostly it's for the little things like,

 "I'm sorry for not listening the first time mom..."

I need to be more like this innocent little girl and be quick to recognize when I need to repent. 

Because I too "want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain...

I want to be the best I can, and live with God again!"

With my husband and children helping me, supporting me, and teaching me, we can make it together!!!

Dress Fitting, Shower Invitations, and Engagements...

 The dress that Kierra fell in love with for her wedding is full of lace and sparkles, but not too much material up top! We took it to  a lady named Chris who is busy working on alterations...taking it in, adding more material, zipper, buttons, sleeves, and finishing touches. I went with her to a fitting to make sure things were going in the right direction and Kierra got even more excited for that day that is coming soooo fast!!!!

We also have her first bridal shower coming up on Tuesday that my good friend Susan and her daughters are throwing for Kierra. Her daughter Amelia is one of Kierra's bride's maids and loves her like a sister.

We are so blessed to have such good friends and good people in our lives! :)

This is all becoming so real and I'm so happy for Kierra. She's so ready for this.

We also drove up to Roy yesterday and picked up her picture CD of engagements and began working on wedding announcements... the pictures are STUNNING and it's soooo hard to choose a favorite!!! :)

4 More Days

 Only 4 days of high school left for this kiddo right here!!! 

Clint was able to attend his end of the year dinner banquet for the Tennis Team, and tonight we will attend the one for the Track Team as well...

I think Carew has had a good year of growth and is ready to move on to this next phase of life...

He is SOOOO excited for it!!!

Here is his handsome Graduation announcement...

 With his awesome mission announcement on the back...

Carew is a good boy with a good heart and I'm so excited to see what choices and changes lie ahead for him in his growth and development. I love you Carew!!! You only have to get up for school for 4 MORE DAYS!

YOU CAN DO IT!!! :)

"Tithe" My Time

 Sometimes I think of the work that needs to be done in the essence of "tithing."

When you pay tithing, you pay 10% of your income to Heavenly Father...and you are blessed.

 Sometimes the blessings are seen physically...tangibly...and sometimes they are not.

 But I KNOW that when I pay my tithing I am blessed.

Likewise, when I dedicate a portion of my time to serving the Lord I KNOW that I am blessed.

This morning before I sat down to my "to-do" list, I went through my notes for my calling in the relief society and made notes of those who have had birthdays coming up. I worked on organizing and preparing their birthday treats and figuring out who I could visit...It really wasn't much and didn't take long at all...

But when I had finished that and moved on to what I needed to work on for the day, I felt a comforting spirit of joy and satisfaction realizing that there are other things in life that need my time and attention, and that if I would "tithe my time" and give service to others, that the Lord would bless me for it. 

And He did.

Today I was able to work on finishing up graduation/mission announcements, baptism invitations, and bridal shower invitations for literally hundreds of people AND I was able to have some really good visits as I was out delivering them. It's crazy how your time and talents get multiplied when the Lord blesses you.

Some days I wonder how I will ever get everything done that is needed, but then as I put the Lord and His work first, I see the blessings pour in, and the "hands on the clock turn a little bit slower"..my time seems to be multiplied...

I really felt like the Lord was blessing me for putting Him and His work first today. Now, I just need to remember to do this every day and watch the blessings flow!!!

39 Days Till the Wedding

 Much of my spare time lately has been absorbed with wedding planning for

 Kierra and Riley's wedding...

After receiving an estimate for WAAAYYY too much money for the cost of flowers, I shifted gears on my centerpiece ideas and I found some real treasures...

I am SO excited at the vision I have in my mind. I know it is going to be beautiful!!!

39 days until the wedding...but no one is counting. ;)

Date Night

 Friday night date night...a much needed breather from life!!!

Clint and I went to the Draper temple and did sealings, drove away when we were finished with this beautiful sunset kissing us goodnight, and dinner at Cafe Rio.

(Clint winked at me and blew me a kiss, but my photography skills were seconds too late...;)

Have I said how much I LOVE this boy???

Night cutie  ;)   XOXOXO

Born For the Stage

 Kambriella joined the Vision Dance family this year and had an incredible time!

She has learned so much and progressed not only in her physical abilities, but also in her courage and confidence as she has tried and succeeded

 at doing hard things!

 Kambriella has performed and competed now which is something she had never really done before. She LOVES being on the stage and having fun with all of her friends. :

 Last night was the end of the year dance dinner banquet where Kambriella was actually awarded the "Teacher's Choice Award" which is an honor because each teacher only chooses 1 student out of the entire school to give the award of their choice too...

As the teacher Miss Alexa began describing the person she chose for an award, I had a feeling it was going to be Kambriella because it sounded exactly like her...:)

She was awarded the "Born For the Stage" award because she not only lights up the room wherever she goes, but she automatically lights up the stage! Her enthusiasm is contagious and her smile so big and bright...you can just FEEL how much fun she is having and how much she really LOVES dance!

 Also at Vision, they have tumbling classes on Saturdays and so Kambriella has also been improving her tumbling skills and is just getting her back-handspring and aerial. She LOVES it!!!

 At the Dinner banquet last night we had Iceberg cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes.

The moms sat together and the girls sat together while we ate, then all the girls moved to the front of the room to watch a video presentation of the year while us moms stayed in our seats... 

 These cute girls were so excited that they would squeal with delight every time a new picture came on the screen!!! :)

I LOVE my kids, I LOVE my Kambriella, and I'm so proud of their hard work and dedication to the things that they love!!!Great job Kambriella!!!

YOU WERE BORN FOR THE STAGE!!!! :)

 I. LOVE.YOU!!!!!

Running the Race

 Carew graduates in 15 days!!! I can hardly believe that we are here...

Gavin, Kambriella, Kesslyn and I were able to go and watch Carew run in his very last track meet of his high school career! It was a bittersweet moment where I was so proud of him...

 He has grown so much in his personal commitment and drive and in his talent and love for running...I told him that he is developing habits that will be so good for him as he moves out and finds running as a way to keep himself not only physically, but mentally strong for life.

 Runners are tough mentally and emotionally as well as physically. They find drive and desire from deep within themselves that pushes them to try to be their best...I know, because it is what I love.

 Not only did Carew finish the race strong, he is continually pushing forward towards his next big goals in life.

I was able to call and set the appointment for him to go through the temple to take out his own living endowment ordinance...He will be going through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on June 10th at 2:15.

As I was on the phone making the appointment, "that lump" formed in my throat, I was overcome with the Spirit, and overwhelmed with joy!

It might sound silly, but at that moment I realized that he is doing this!!! 

All of the things I have taught him since he was a little chubby baby are finally coming full circle, and he is preparing for the most important things in his life! I made an appointment for Kierra as well and the very same thing happened..."the lump" formed in my throat, the Spirit overcame me, and I was completely overwhelmed with JOY! My kids are doing this!!! I couldn't be more excited and proud and I can't wait for the time that we get to be together in the temple, dressed in white, gathered in the celestial room hugging and smiling and counting our blessings. :)

 I'm proud of Carew and the person that he is becoming. I had many mixed emotions as I watched him push through the pack of other runners around the track. I thought to myself...It doesn't matter what place we finish in life as long as we try our hardest and do our best to cross that finish line, and do so with all the people that we love too!!! :)

 Great job today Carew!!! We love you so very much and are so proud of you!!!

(Especially Kesslyn and Kate!) ;)