Weekend Fun!

 THIS is what happens when you become a member of the family of Student Class Officers at Riverton High School!!! :)

Saturday morning at 4:30 a.m. I opened the door (I knew they were coming because we had made plans the night before) and let in 5 students INCLUDING the one wearing the Silver Wolf Mascot, to go to Dallin's bedroom, wake him up, and kidnap him to go on an early morning sunrise hike and breakfast!

It was pretty hilarious to watch since Dallin had NO clue what was going on!

He kept on pulling the covers over his head before he finally realized this was REALLY happening and it WASN'T a dream!

 He got back home about 4 hours later and told me all about it and I was so happy for him! I LOVE that my children are having experiences that are fun and unique and building their character and shaping them into the people they were meant to be! :)

Also this weekend we all got to take a turn serving at the Jordan River Temple open house! Afterwards, we took a bunch of boys home too, but not until we stopped at SWIG for a soda and a cookie! 

Clint and I also went to game 6 of the playoffs and the JAZZ WON!!! It was so much fun to be there and to feel the energy in the arena as all of the fans cheered their team on to victory!!!

 Now they are advancing on to the next round where they are playing the Rockets! They already lost their first away game yesterday...Houston is a TOUGH team and it might be a huge miracle if the JAZZ can get a win off of them...but no matter what happens we are the 6th man and we will cheer them on and support our team!!! GO JAZZ!!!

We also had cousins stay the weekend with us! Madyson  came with us to watch Kambriella's volleyball game...and Gavin set a new personal record of hitting 4 THREE POINTERS in one game!!! Way to go Gavin!!!

 We also went swimming in the pool for the first time this year!!!

It was 85 degrees on Saturday and the PERFECT opportunity for a fun swim!

 At first Kesslyn didn't want ANYTHING to do with the water and would scream and cry anytime anyone would try to make her come in, or splash and get her wet...but then suddenly, out of the blue, she jumped up, ran towards the slide, and then shouted, "Catch me Dallin!!!"

And that was it!

She was hooked!

 She kept on going down the slide over and over and over...and then Dallin would help her "swim" all around the pool!!! She was in HEAVEN and didn't even want to get out when it was time!

 All the cousins played and had a ball!

 Even little Leighton too...;)

 And now we just need school to hurry up and get over so that we can have some summer FUN FUN FUN!!!!

 Then, on Saturday night, we treated everyone and my mom to dinner where we ran into these cute missionaries! The one on the left is named Elder Bretschneider, and said that his best friend is Elder Anderton who is serving in the exact same mission as Carew...and who has actually been with Carew!!! It is such a small world and it was such a good feeling to see these young men and connect with them and feel a little bit of closeness to my boy that is serving so far away...

I told these missionaries that it was by "Divine Design" that we saw each other there that day, and I honestly believe it! Heavenly Father is oh so good to us and He watches over us and cares for us, and yet it is usually through another person that our needs our met. MY momma needs were met that day by talking with these fine young men...

I'm grateful for so many things...but today, for MISSIONARIES!!! (And especially the coolest Italian missionary I know...Anziano Trickett!) ;)  ;)

XOXOXOXOX

Serving at the Jordan River Temple Open House

Today is a special day for our family! 

Gavin woke up extra early this morning to go to the Jordan River Temple to serve in the temple open house! 

Julie, Ashton, Gavin, Alex, and Matt all got to put the white foot coverings on over peoples shoes so they could walk through the newly remodeled beautiful temple! 

As soon as Gavin is done, he will get to come home and stay with the little sisters while Dallin, Clint, and I all go and take a turn as well...Dallin will do the same thing Gavin did, and Clint and I will do the ushering inside of the temple! I am excited for this unique and special opportunity!!! 

See what I mean?? It really is a special day for our family today!!!

Happy weekend!

Our Little Lion

On Sunday during sacrament meeting, Kesslyn expressed her frustration at Kambriella for NOT giving her what she wanted out of her scripture bag with a very LOUD and UNEXPECTED "RRAAWWRR!!!"

People around us were trying not to laugh, and so were Clint and I...It was very distracting and irreverent but oh so FUNNY!!!

 Then, coincidentally, on Monday after I picked her up from her preschool class, she pulled from her little princess back pack, none other than a LION mask! She confidently and ferociously put it on and let out a fierce "RRAAWWRR!!!" I laughed and said, "You go baby girl!!!"

She is proving she can be whatever it is that she wants to be...even if it is a lion! ;) ;)

Oh, and don't get on her bad side either...or you just might get the roar!!! :)

Let's Go JAZZ!

 It's JAZZ fever mania!!!

The JAZZ are in the Playoffs and they are doing so well!!! Clint and I went to game 3 together where the JAZZ went up 2 games to 1, then on Monday, Clint took his dad to game 4 where they won again and went up 3 games to 1...

 Being at the games is so much fun!!! It's loud and fun and the crowd is excited and there is sooo much energy in the arena!!!

 I think having season tickets to the JAZZ is one of Clint's favorite things...it gives us something fun to do with him one on one, whether it's me or one of the kids that he takes on the date...and it's a great way for him to just forget about the stresses of a work day too!

We'll see if they can take OKC in 5!!! Let's Go JAZZ!!!

 Also, yesterday I got to go to lunch with my brother Craig and my mom! What an unexpected treat it was for both me and Kesslyn! I LOVE my family!!! :)

True Royalty!

 I LOVE that all of my girls think they are princesses...because they are!!!

On Saturday Grandma Trickett took all the daughters and grand daughters to the Bonneville High School play "The Little Mermaid!"

 This wasn't your average ordinary run of the mill high school play...but an AWESOME play! Like almost Las Vegas worthy kinda play! These pictures will never do it justice, and because we weren't allowed to take pictures during the performance, this was all I could get...but trust me...It was AWESOME! The lights, The props, the stage transitions were amazing and quick! The costumes and special effects, the talent of each singer and actor...all of it was so professional and well done! I was impressed, and my GIRLS were impressed!!!

And Kesslyn was absolutely mesmerized by Ariel! :)

 Every time she would go off stage Kesslyn would say, "Where'd the princess go??" And then when she would come back on she would clap and smile...and at one point when Ariel got her "feet" she was wearing a pink dress and Kesslyn kept on looking down at her own clothes saying, "Oh no! I don't have pink!" It was too cute! When we were getting pictures with Ariel Kesslyn kept on calling her "Princess" and the sweet girl kept telling Kesslyn, "YES! YOU are a princess!" She was so good with her. ;)

 Then Kesslyn wanted a picture with EVERY "Princess!" So that was what we did...and she loved every minute of it!

 She REALLY thought she was interacting with REAL LIVE PRINCESSES!!! (And now I SO BAD want to take these girls to Disneyland!!!)

Anyways...for all of my days and for as long as I live I will teach my children that they are ROYALTY because they are! Sons and daughters of a Heavenly King. And THAT makes my girls Princesses! And my sons Princes...and in Kesslyn's words, "Mommy's the Queen!" ;)  ;) 

For Now and For Forever!

 Last Friday was Kierra's last day here with us on her spring break. We played hard while she was here and squished in a lot of fun things, like the ZOO!

We started off our visit with a train ride with Grandma Trickett...:)

 We watched the monkeys groom each other and this guy right here was busy picking stuff out of his friends teeth! They are funny animals that remind me that Heavenly Father must have a great sense of humor! ;)

We saw the giraffes (which Kesslyn called "dragons") ;)  We also saw the zebras, and ostriches...

 We watched Kierra's favorite animal, the elephant!

 And of course took pictures on this big one too!

 I could probably make a time line of all of my kids ages just based off of this photo spot right here! 

I think we have taken a picture on this elephant's trunk every single year with every one of my kids! 

We love the zoo!

 (And these girls love each other in case you couldn't tell...;)

 We saw the rhinos George and Princess!

 And this little picture right here just melts my heart! So cute!!! Kesslyn hugging the sea otter ;)

 ...and I'm not sure...Is this a seal or a sea lion??

 We got to watch a fabulous little show put on by these talented water lovers!

 We rode on the Merry~Go~Round! ;)

 ...and enjoyed the fabulous display put on by the beautiful and proud peacock!

Then, later on that evening after we were done at the zoo, the boys all left and went on a scout camp up to our property so us girls went to Bahama Bucks for some yummy shaved ice!

 Kierra only asked for 2 specific things while she was here...Zupas (which we had on Monday), and Bahama Bucks! Can you believe they don't have either one of these luxuries in Colorado??? So sad! But sooo happy when there's a visit to Utah! ;)

We went home after our shaved ice and watched the movie Bambi together and ended up falling asleep on the couch together...we had a long week of playing hard and staying up late and we loved EVERY MINUTE of time that we got to spend with Kierra! It was a great treat for all of us!

 Then, Saturday morning it was time to say goodbye to Kierra! We headed to the airport around 9 in the morning before Kambriella's volleyball game. :)

 I always tell my girls how beautiful they are, and it's the truth! They are beautiful on the inside and out! I love them all so much...ALL my kids!!!

 ...and I'm so grateful that they call themselves best friends! They genuinely love each other so much and this makes my heart so happy!

  It says in my patriarchal blessing that "I will realize my children will marry and have homes of their own and I will always keep a close and loving relationship through this life and through the eternities."

So, that's my plan! Stay close to them all...LOVE them all...for now and FOREVER!

Closing and FRIENDS!

 Yesterday was a HUGE day for Clint and his company Premier Vehicle Installation!

We finally signed and closed on our newest building and are ready to begin a new chapter in the story of 'The Life of Small Business Owners!' ;) ;) The new building will be a great step forward in increased unity, production, and opportunity, and we couldn't have gotten here without these awesome gentlemen right here...Jeremy, James, and Michael. They are smart, devoted, and hard working men who have been by Clint's side the entire way! But in all honesty, Heavenly Father is The One in charge, and we honestly feel like He has been our Guide, Mentor, Lead, and our Rock...always there, solid and sure. 

We are GRATEFUL.

 After signing away, I took Kierra and Kesslyn and we went to visit old friends! Kierra's best friend from preschool that has been married a little longer than Kierra had her 1st baby just last week and so Kierra wanted to go and see her and her little tiny Luke! I dropped her off there and went to see my dear friend Heather, and Kesslyn fell in love with her little puppy...that is until it got a little too playful and started nipping at her! Then she bawled and didn't really want much more to do with him! ;)

Isn't he cute though?? Taz...

 We visited and planned birthday parties and graduation gifts and just caught up on life. We had a bite of lunch at Chik-Fil-A and visited until the very last possible minute before we had to go. Heather is fun and spunky and her laugh is contagious! She is one of those "certain women," a "mother who knows," and so firm in her testimony of the gospel. 

 She always builds me up and strengthens me, loves me unconditionally, and sees me for who I am. We met in Roy when we both built our 1st houses on the same street about 20 years ago, and I feel like that's pretty much how we will stay. Friends forever who will most DEFINITELY be building our mansions in heaven on the same block again! (If we can just help each other make it there! ;)

 After we left, we got home just in time to take Kambriella to piano lessons and then gathered everyone up, picked up Clint, and headed downtown to the Olive Garden to celebrate Xaxton's birthday!

It was a fun time being together with our family! After a yummy dinner we all went to Xaxton's house for cake and ice~cream. Kesslyn watched a little bit of a Barbie movie and didn't want to leave! (But that's nothing new!) I was glad that Kierra got to catch up with Lexi and see everyone too! Tonight will be her last night here before flying home in the morning...

It's been an AWESOME FULL WEEK of fun, quality time and very LITTLE sleep! We are grateful for it and wouldn't change it for the world! (Unless of course Riley and Carew both could have been here...that would have been the BEST! One day for sure!!! :)

We are so lucky to have people in our lives that are our best friends and biggest fans! After all, the important things in life are not things at all! They are the people you love and the relationships you build! Ours to us are a great treasure, more priceless and precious than anything else!

Have a HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

XOXOXO