Fun ~ Filled Saturday

 This weekend was so full of fun and family time...especially Saturday!

We all went down the Jordan River Trail to help clear weeds for a service project for our ward. We worked for a couple of hours and the kids had fun side by side with friends, and even found this little snake that made all the girls scream...especially Kambriella. :)

 Our ward goal this year is to focus on service, so this was a big one that helped our city log lots of service hours which they in turn get grant money for...it's a win~win. 

Kesslyn enjoyed being outside and running around so much, and no one even got attacked by their allergies!!! It was great! ;)

 At the end of the hard work everyone got a donut and chocolate milk, which made all their efforts worth it!

Kesslyn's donut was almost as big as her! ;)

 After the service project we had to divide and conquer. Clint went to watch Carew play his Region tennis tournament game, and I took the kids straight to Arby's for lunch because we knew we were going to be busy and wouldn't have time to eat later...

 Everyone ate lunch and then we met back up together at Thanksgiving Point where we took Clint's parent's and Grandma Clements and walked through the last day of the Tulip Festival. We have decided that whenever we can , we are going to give them gifts of "time together" rather than "things."

They have everything they need and it's always so hard to know what to give them, so we figured spending time together is the best gift of all. :)

This trip was for their birthdays that just passed in April...when we first got there, we saw this deer in the parking lot...

 Kambriella had brought her doll stroller which we found that Kesslyn quickly took over and LOVED pushing around everywhere we went!

It was hilarious to watch her going down the hills...she didn't know how to stop or even slow down!!!

 Sweet little girls walking with their Papa...:)

 The tulips were in FULL BLOOM and they were soooo BIG!!!

I just LOVE these little sweeties!!!

 Everyone enjoyed watching the big, bright, colorful fish from the bridge too...

And finally...proof that we were all together, although these boys love being goofy any time we take a picture. ;) 

 After Thanksgiving Point we had to divide and conquer again.

Clint took Gavin to his basketball game, while I took everyone else home and worked on wedding things for a minute and tried to get some things in our home in order...

Then as soon as Gavin's game was over, Clint and I headed out to a Playoff game for the JAZZ with some friends. We stopped at Zupa's for dinner and then went to the game.

The JAZZ are playing Golden State which is pretty much made up of a team of All~Stars. 

We were down 2 games to 0, and were hopeful that tonight we could get a win...although we did take the lead during the 3rd quarter, the JAZZ lost again and now we are down 3-0.

I still had a wonderful time with my love!

 Carew was able to take Gavin and his friend to their second game for us so that we could go on the date.

All the kids ended up playing with friends and having a fun night while we were gone too so it was another win~win for everyone! 

Well, everyone but the JAZZ that is. ;)

It was a fun filled and awesome happy Saturday! :)

Kissy Kessy

Today was a day full of work and wedding planning. It was a good day. :)

By the time evening came and we had finished working in the yard and running errands, all the kids wanted to play with a friend...Carew and Dallin went and rode their bikes to go out to dinner,

 while Kambriella and Gavin played at the Gruber's house. Clint worked into the evening to get caught up at work so that we could have ALL of our Saturday together...

Which left Kesslyn and I to be buddies. :)

She walked with me around the neighborhood doing visits and handing out birthday treats and visiting teaching assignments. When we finished we had a little date at the Arctic Circle play land where Kesslyn enthusiastically waved to every person she saw (as she always does! ;) 

(I just love how quickly and perfectly little children make friends. There are no assumptions or prejudgments, just honest, kind friendships. :)

I love spending one on one time with the people I love...even little Kess...just look at her little face??

How could you not be in heaven being around her??

She makes me smile and laugh, and seems to be easing the emotional thoughts of TWO of my older children getting ready to leave our home to build lives of their own...she gives me ample amounts of time to hug, squish, and squeeze her chubby little body and warm my heart and soothe my soul.

I love you little kissy Kessy.

XOXOXOXO

Beautiful Natalie

I met my beautiful friend Natalie for lunch yesterday in Bountiful and had the best time. :)

I believe we were together for about 2 hours but it really only felt like 2 minutes...

I miss her and all of the time that we used to get to spend together, but I'm also so grateful for any opportunity that we now get to see each other and catch up.

Her craft business is booming, her family is thriving, and she's getting ready to put her house up for sale to move! Life continues to move forward ever quickly, but one thing is for certain...

our relationships, our love for one another, and the gospel of Jesus Christ will always be constant and the solid and complete source of true happiness in our lives.

Natalie is also going to be helping me with some of the wedding decorations for Kierra's wedding...

and they are going to be FANTASTIC!!!

I. CAN"T. WAIT!!!!

I love you Natalie!!!

3 White Dresses

The 3 White dresses are so precious to me,

In what they mean and reflect of all eternity.

The baby blessing dress is a symbol of

Both sweet innocence and of our Father’s love.

The baptism dress she’s wearing at age eight,

Ready to enter in the straight and narrow gate.

Her temple dress that’s worn in majestic white

Shines deep promises of perfect truth and light.

Now take these dresses and add sweet sisters 3

And you’ve got heaven’s blessings pouring out upon me.

A mother’s heart simply holds its most priceless treasure

In the lasting covenants of her family forever.

 My 3 beautiful angels in their 3 white dresses..

 ...this is proof that angels live on earth...

How do I deserve these blessings in my life??

My mother's heart is about ready to burst!!!

Our Busy, Happy Home

 Our home is busy and happy right now...

Kierra moved back home this weekend in order to save a little bit more money, spend a little more time with the family, and to help with wedding planning. While she will still be commuting to BYU 4 days a week, I feel like this time is going to both fly by at the speed of light AND be so precious...just like this picture. 

As Kierra was unpacking her clothes, her little sisters were right under her feet trying on her clothes, spraying her perfume, and having a ball dancing to the loud music and enjoying being together.

This makes my heart soooo happy!

Meanwhile, the brothers were all downstairs snacking, doing homework, talking, and practicing keeping their word to each other to "not put each other down." Literally. :)

So yes, as the song "Don't Put Me Down" was playing in the background Carew held his brother up!!!

"Don't worry Dallin, I won't put you down!!!"

These kids crack me up and make our home so happy...and I just LOVE it AND them!!! :)

The Light of Christ

That little face just says it all...

"I'm so glad when my daddy comes home!!!!"

Kesslyn LOVES her dad and runs with open arms to him as soon as he gets home. 

It is so sweet and I love it!

I'm so grateful for my kind and loving family and for the light they shine on me. I thought it was so sweet of Gavin to compliment Kambriella at her dance competition the other day when he said,

"Kambriella, I could tell which one you were up on the stage because you were shining your light! 

You were the brightest one out there!!!"

Talk about melting my mama heart...

It makes me so happy to see that my children are trying to shine their light...

After a day of doctor and chiropractic appointments, a lunch date with Clint, household chores, visiting teaching, a tennis match, dance, and dinner, we welcomed the peaceful spirit of family home evening.

We all learned about the light of Christ and listened to the conference talk titled 

"Brighter and Brighter Until the Perfect Day" by Elder Mark A. Bragg of the Seventy.

He said,

Now more than ever, our families must be sources of great light to everyone around us. Families increase in light as they increase in love and kindness. As we establish families of “faith, … repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, and compassion,” we will feel an increase in love towards the Savior and towards one another. The family will grow stronger, and the light in each of us will grow brighter.

Peaceful Sabbath

 This Sabbath day was such a breath of fresh air!

I completed all of the new visiting teaching assignments, spent time with my sweet family, and felt the spirit of peace and love in my heart and in my home. 

I love Sundays!!! (And this cutie!;)