3rd Graders at Pioneer Village, and 6th Grade Awards!

These cute 3rd graders took their end of the year field trip to The Pioneer Village at Lagoon yesterday!

Emrey, Mya, and Kambriella all got to be in a group led by Mya's mom April, and were so excited because not only was this Lagoon, but they were with good friends. :)

 Yesterday was also the 6th grade Awards assembly and I was sooo proud of Gavin for all of his hard work and academic achievements, but ESPECIALLY for his quiet leadership and exemplary roles...

  He is kind of a gentle giant and humble about his talents and abilities...

 I LOVE that these certificates say, 

"for exhibiting exemplary leadership..."

and  for "demonstrating exemplary citizenship..."

and for "outstanding commitment and service..."

and of course for "academic excellence."

 Trying your hardest and getting good grades will always be important to me, but not near as important as the way you treat other people. And to me, for my kids to actually earn awards that spotlight that makes me sooo very proud of the good that they are learning and actually DOING.

Way to go Gavin!!! You are most definitely Gavin the GREAT and I LOVE YOU!!!

6th Grade Celebration at Classic Skating!

 Yesterday was a milestone of a day for my sweet Gavin...

It was the 6th grade field trip to Classic Skating!!! That's right! The day that these kiddos celebrate the last of their years in elementary school! I can hardly believe that it's here, but IT IS!!!

And one super amazing thing that happened was these photos!

 You should have seen my great BIG smile when I looked at the notification on my phone and was so pleasantly surprised with these pictures of Gavin and his friends skating! That's right! Kate saved the day and sent these to me knowing full well how much I would LOVE them I'm sure! ;) (Thank you Kate!!!)

And remember how Gavin sprained his ankle playing basketball over the weekend?? Well, I guess he still managed to hobble his way around the rink and still had lots of fun with his friends! ;)

 THIS picture is my favorite one! Just look at those beautiful smiles!!! So cute, AND Gavin felt pretty awesome that he was the lucky one that got to see Kate that day! I knew she worked there sometimes, but it never even crossed my mind that she might be there at the same time as Gavin, so it was just a bonus for everyone. :) We LOVE Gavin and we LOVE Kate!

 Also, after the 6th graders were done at Classic Skating, they headed over to the Riverton Park where they ate a picnic lunch and played for a while. Kesslyn and I also joined them there at the park! And guess where we found Gavin when we got there...YEP! Playing basketball with his friends!

I think Gavin felt pretty happy to see his mom and baby sister there too. He came right over to us with the biggest smile and hugs, and then felt SUPER awesome when he took all of his friends to school on the court! ;) Gavin...you're just awesome!!!

 Kesslyn and I had fun watching Gavin and exploring the playground! And although I don't have a picture of it, Kesslyn is a little daredevil and scaled all the way up the rock climbing wall BY HERSELF and was attempting to go over the top of it, but my mama bear instincts grabbed her before she could go all the way over! WOW she is a little daredevil!!!

 It was a warm happy Tuesday at the park and I really enjoyed stopping for a minute to enjoy these kids and taking time to try to soak in the feeling of all of these special times...because they may be just the "little things," but once again, it IS those little things that make the ride of this life such a BIG deal! 

Lots of FUN on the Weekend!

 F-U-N! THAT is how I would describe our weekend!!! :)

The IPG Investment Group that helped Clint get into his new building hosted a movie event for all of their favorite people, and WE were one of those lucky families! It was a great way to start off the long weekend! :)

 We got all the kids from school and headed to the movies to see "Solo" the new Star Wars movie! We all got in for free and even got our own free popcorn and drinks for everyone! ~ Annnd...the reclining movie theater seats really are the greatest thing ever! I felt so spoiled!!! :)

 We also had a basketball tournament for Gavin, and I enjoyed a breakfast with my Mom and my brother Craig...

 We tried the Black Bear Diner and got to catch up with each other...:)

 Kambriella also went to a birthday party and so while she was gone I took the boys to get new summer clothes (since they WON"T stop growing!!!) and then we all went to get a shaved ice! YUM!!!

 Also, for Dallin's date I took him to visit Bernice and give a little service, and then we went to the church parking lot for his 1st ever driving lesson in his big brother Carew's truck!

 He did pretty well for his 1st time and seemed VERY comfortable! The picture above is his 1st parking job. :) He will get it! ;) But he sure loved doing it and I think it got him excited and motivated to go and get his permit soon!

 Also, Sunday after church we headed up to the cabin for the night! We met some new friends that want to graze their horses on our property for the summer too, so that was fun! They even said we could ride them if we want! They have a little girl that is the same age as Kesslyn and they have a small pony and saddle for her so I can't WAIT to give that a try! :)

We hurried back on Monday morning for Gavin's last game of the year. He played amazing and had 13 of the teams 20 points in the first half! He was playing so hard against the BEST team out there and ended up spraining his ankle and sitting the last part of the game. 

He's walking on it this morning so even though it's super sore, he will be OK after a while I'm sure...

And with that FUN weekend we only have 4 more days left of school and then we are out for the SUMMER!!! We ALL can't wait!!! 

Gavin is going on his end of the year field trip today to Classic Skating, Kambriella's is tomorrow to the Pioneer Village at Lagoon, and Dallin's is Thursday at LAGOON with all the other 9th graders!

What a fun week it will be for everyone and I LOVE that there are such fun things in store for these great kids! 

Happy Tuesday! :)

Happy Memorial Day!

 Happy Memorial Day everyone!!!

I took my girls on a walk in the wagon around the neighborhood the other day... They ate Popsicles while Dallin and I walked and talked. I set my phone down beside them for safe keepings and THESE gems are the result of that strategic placement of my phone...;) ;) Yep. Selfies!

 Also, Kesslyn LOVES playing hide and go seek with me, and THIS is how cute she is hiding from me in my closet. :)

Hmmm.... WHERE could Kesslyn be?? :)

I sure love my kids!!! XOXOXO

Preschool Graduation!

 This is the face of a VERY happy graduated preschooler!

NOT because graduation was any fun...but because her daddy took her out for ice~cream and lunch at Freddy's to celebrate!!! ;)

Woot Woot!!

 Yes, in fact, the smiles at the preschool graduation forgot to show up! And I mean that ! Kesslyn was a happy camper UNTIL she walked in the room and saw ALL the parents and grandparents there ready and waiting to watch their little program...

 Kesslyn realized that with that many people watching, preschool graduation was just a little scary!

She began to cry before they even took their seats, latched on to Miss April's legs, and wouldn't let go!

After waiting to see what would happen and IF I should intervene, April finally turned and looked at me with the "I don't know what to do" kind of look, so I went up to the front and PEELED Kesslyn off of April and she quickly attached herself to me instead...with her buried face in my shoulders76 and all. ;)

We went through the whole program with me sitting at the end of the row, holding Kesslyn, watching most of the other children say their parts and sing the fun songs...and when it was Kesslyn's turn to say her part, April and I said it for her..."PRESCHOOL ,MAKES ME HAPPY!!!" ;)  ;)  ;)

Everyone in the audience erupted in laughter because it was just TOO CUTE and sooo very fitting, that the saddest one up there, had the line that said, "preschool makes me happy."

Oh well!!!

I really would expect this kind of reaction from a little 2 year old! And besides, I know there will come a day where she won't really want me to sit up there and hold her like I got to yesterday, and so I cherished every sweet minute of the experience.

Ya, it would have been fun to see her say her cute line that she practiced so well every other day! And it would have been fun to see her sing the songs that she loves so much!!! But I get to see and hear those things EVERY DAY, and I'm so glad I could be there and offer her what she needed WHEN she needed it.

I love you little Kesslyn!!!

Grumpy face and all!!! ;) ;) ;)

 April's little girl Greta is good friends with Kesslyn and tried to be so encouraging to Kesslyn too, but no one was going to crack that mad face...;(

So we took pictures with her, Miss April, and Miss Paige with that cute little frowny face. :)

 I thought that maybe Kesslyn MIGHT show me a smile after everything was over and she received her gift (her sunglasses) from Miss April, but nooo...

 And FINALLY and THANKFULLY I saw a giant smile appear for about .5 seconds and I actually got it on camera!!! The heavens rejoiced with me I'm TELLING you!!!

 Presenting Kesslyn Natalia Trickett, graduate of the 2017-2018 Monkey Class of Vision Preschool!!!

Hooray!!! :)

Look Up!

 Last night was our Relief Society Enrichment Night and we had Lili Anderson come and speak to us. She is a family counselor and author of the book Choosing Glory. 

This woman was so full of knowledge, passion, and the spirit, that we all left there feeling better about all the good we as women can do in the world.

I learned that God is generous with His love, and that if for some reason I am not feeling that love, then I am misunderstanding God's character...because God IS love and is generous with that love constantly.

Lucky for me, I DO feel His love abundantly in my life and I have a strong testimony that He knows me and loves me deeply. And THAT is one of my greatest desires as a relief society president is to help ALL the sisters in our ward to know that and feel it too.

It's a continual process and a journey, and I am grateful to be traveling alongside these beautiful sisters of mine!

 Lili quoted one of my very favorite quotes of all time about women...

This quote has been re-quoted by our prophet Russell M. Nelson, Sister Sharon Eubank, and now Lili Anderson too. I keep hearing it, and every time I do, I am reminded of the good work that I am HAPPILY engaged in, and I LOVE IT!

These cute cupcakes and magnets went with our theme last night of "Look Up!" ~Like the balloons carrying the house away in the movie "UP" and the reminder in the magnet to remember to always look up to God and find joy and happiness on our journey.

Last night was also Kambriella's last volleyball game of the season.She learned a LOT, had a TON of fun, and was awarded the MVP of the team by her very own MOM. :) But really...she was the best little player on her team and I was so proud of her! Way to go Kambriella! I am so proud of all the many ways you want to learn and grow...you are becoming such a beautiful young woman  inside and out!

Tiny Prints

 Yesterday was Kesslyn's last official day of monkey preschool at Vision for this year, and just LOOK at what a cute little apron she came home with to remember her growth!!! 

I fell in love with it the moment I saw her! :)

(Although the first words out of her mouth were "I'm tired!" Hence the grumpy face and NO smiles. ;)

 Just looking at these 2 little hand prints makes me realize how BIG my children are getting, and once again just how QUICKLY time is fleeting...

Especially when I look back at the hand prints that Amelia Holt made with my children for a birthday gift for me one year while she watched them while I took a short trip to St. George with Clint and got to see my mom. The little purple hand print in the middle was added later when Kesslyn joined our family...

Kierra~Red

Carew~Orange

Dallin~Green

Gavin ~Blue

Kambriella~Pink

and Kesslyn~Purple

 When I put the 2 purple hand prints of Kesslyn's together you can really see how much she has grown in her short time here on earth!

How can I make time stand still??

I know I can't. 

And so that is why I choose to record all of this, so that the memory will be there for me to ALWAYS REMEMBER.

After all, "Remembering" is one of the most important things we can do in this life, and will help us increase our gratitude and our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for these tiny "prints" that have left so many marks on my heart...all of them. My forever family is my greatest treasure and I'm  soooo grateful!

Weekend Fun and The Temple Dedication!

 My weekend was super rad because I got the most yummy and unique Mother's Day present EVER delivered to me from Kierra and Riley...

A BACON BOUQUET!!!

 It was a fun surprise and definitely one that I will NEVER forget!!!

Thanks for the fun treat guys!!!

(And yes I was a nice mother and let my family try it too...Dallin said it was the best bacon he has ever tasted! ;)

 It was also super rad because we got to swim in the pool...

 ...enjoy the warmth of summer...

 ..have friends over...

 ...go to volleyball and basketball games and have even MORE friends over...:)

 ...and we even got to visit the SHIRE. ;)

 Ok, it wasn't really the Shire, but it felt kind of like it for a minute!!! :)

(By the way...WHAT SHOULD WE NAME OUR CABIN??) Trickett Pines???

We went to the cabin for a little family time on Sunday afternoon.

 We went on a walk and took naps...

 ...the boys had a little shooting competition with the bows and arrows...

 We ate dinner there and had brownies for dessert, played games, and had gospel discussions...

 Just pretty much making sure that we are right on "target" with our family priorities and goals...and keeping our sights on the eternal prize...

This weekend was also the Jordan River Temple cultural celebration and temple re-dedication!

Taking my family to the dedication was SUCH a TREAT!!! The spirit was thick and I LOVED everything about it! Each talk touched my heart, each testimony rang true to ME, the songs filled the room with the spirit, and the dedicatory prayer, and the closing prayer brought tears to my eyes, and rivers flowed down my cheeks...I'm not certain if it was just that sweet spirit of the temple, or if it was literally the fact that it was MY temple that they were re-dedicating! We have missed our temple and are soooo excited to be able to have it open once again!

It was such a great opportunity to be a part of it all, but especially to rededicate ourselves personally to the goal of visiting the temple OFTEN. Once a month has been the goal while it was closed, but once a WEEK is where I want to be...and the rest of the time, I want my home to be like the temple too!

Looks like I have plenty to work on doesn't it??

I LOVE the temple!!!

(This is a picture from the temple walk that the youth got to participate in to celebrate the temple! Clint, Dallin, and Gavin are all in this picture SOMEWHERE! 20,000 people!!! 

WE LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!