Finding a Dress...

It is 2 days away from the wedding and I have yet to find a dress

 that I feel good in and that fits all the criteria ...

modest.

cream color. Not blush, cream.

Not too tight, not too baggy.

Not too casual, and not too fancy...

It would be nice if undershirts and slip extenders were not needed, but THAT is almost impossible!!!

...and this is why TODAY I am missing my dad.

When I had my laser eye surgery done about 8 years ago, I remember feeling a little depressed because my "soft focused" vision that I was used to seeing everything out of suddenly had become VERY clear and I could now see ALL of my imperfections. My skin looked a little more flawed, my pimples popped out a little more, and EVERYTHING looked BIGGER...including my reflection in the mirror.

I was frustrated with myself for feeling the way I did, and I was a little down on myself. 

My sweet dad noticed and asked me what was wrong. I was very blunt and honest and told him and his response was very clear. He told me in a way that only a dad can that I was his beautiful daughter and that I needed to see it and BELIEVE it!

So...today as the hunt continues for SOMETHING to wear to the wedding...I will tell myself that I am beautiful and THEN I will believe it.

Just like my dad would want me to. :)

By the way... I am sooo happy and excited for Kierra and Riley!

(But dress shopping for myself has got to be THE WORST part of planning the wedding!!!)

Wish me luck! 

One last Family Home Evening...

 Sweet little Gavin got to leave yesterday morning for his very first week long scout camp! He was so excited to be going and I know he will have a great time with all of his friends, AND probably won't even miss me...sad but true. :) When you are so busy playing hard and staying busy you don't have much time to miss mom, and that's OK. I am happy to see my kids growing up to be happy, successful, and independent and learning how to get along on their own...I believe that's a big part of preparing them for a mission someday...

 After I hugged and kissed him goodbye, I went to take care of my 98 year old friend Bernice, and then was off to the races!!! It was a day of lists, and checking off lists...and I was able to accomplish soooo much today! It felt so good and I know it was because Heavenly Father has really been blessing me and helping to multiply my time and talents.

Gavin off...check!

Bernice showered and ready for the day...check!

Pick up signing book...check!

Finalize castle details...check!

Take centerpiece to florist...check!

Work on lanterns...check!

Pick up suits from dry cleaners...check!

Clean glass and pack/organize reception decorations...check!

Gather cake cutting utensils...check!

Buy Garments...check!Pick up canvas prints at Costco...check!

Pick up dinner...(and deliver dinner to 2 families in the ward)...check, check, and check!!!

Plan Family Home Evening...check!

We are pretty much ready for the wedding with only a few small details to take care of...

Just look at these amazing lantern centerpieces that we will be using!!! Aren't they stunning?? :)

I dreamed up a picture frame that would look good from every side and this is what it ended up looking like... a lantern! I drew up a picture and asked my friend Natalie and her husband Bryan if they could make them for me (and they did!!!), and then when we got them home, I was able to cut my 16x20 portraits to put inside them and...voila! BEAUTIFUL!!!

 They look SOOOO good from EVERY side!!!

They are going to make such a statement in that beautiful castle...I can't wait to see it all put together. :)

Also today, as I was running my errands, I picked up one of these AWESOME books...

"The Book of Mormon For Latter~day Saint Families"

 I knew for the longest time, that when it came time for my children to get married, that THIS would be one of the gifts that I would be giving them...Sooooo...

Last night we had our very last family home evening with Kierra and Riley before they will be married and out on their own. We had a lesson all about marriage and eternal families!

We read a conference talk by Richard G. Scott who in my opinion is the epitome of sweetness to his wife and marriage...he sooo loved his beloved Jenine and told the whole world about it.

We used this conference talk to discuss different things that make a marriage relationship strong, and then shared pictures and stories and traditions of things that Clint and I have done to make our marriage strong.

We ended the night with giving Kierra and Riley the picture of the Payson temple that we ordered for them with their anniversary date printed right on the picture, AND this awesome book. That way they can begin their very own righteous family traditions from the very start.

And as you can see, that's exactly what they are going to do, right?

A kiss behind the book every night too...

What a GREAT idea!!!

Kierra Goes Through the Temple!

 Saturday, June 24th, Kierra took her endowments out at the Payson Temple...

Once again, heaven was oh so close as I was in the holy house of the Lord with my sweet daughter, her brother Carew, and the love of my life. 

Riley, his mom Susan, and her sister Julie were also there to support Kierra on this special day.

 They are so sweet and beautiful and it makes me so happy that she is getting such amazing people to expand her circle of family!

 I felt honored to be Kierra's escort, to be by her side through it all...and to see blessings pouring out right in front of my eyes. It is amazing to me how loving Heavenly Father is in blessing us with such great eternal gifts and blessings and it makes me so grateful for my testimony, for the priesthood, and for my eternal family.

 And as awesome as it was to see everything that Kierra was experiencing for the first time, one of my very favorite things to witness was the love and emotion felt between Kierra and Riley...

To see them embrace in tears of joy and together in the celestial room was one of the BEST gifts that a mother could ask for...It seems like a dream come true, but it's only going to keep on getting better! 

4 days until these 2 will be sealed for time and ALL ETERNITY!!!

Date Night at Temple Square

 Friday night was date night with these cute kids...Kate and Carew, Kierra and Riley (although Riley had to meet us there from work), and my sweetie Clint and me.

We went downtown to the old Tabernacle at Temple Square for a Utah Millennial Choir and Orchestra concert...and the roof was raised!!!

It was an amazing concert that blew my mind!

 I LOVE these people so very much and I count it a blessing that I was able to spend a night out on the town enjoying one last HOORAH before my little birdies all leave the nest...

In one short week, Kierra and Riley will be married, and Carew will not be far behind them...not only leaving the nest, but leaving the country no less!!

These people make me laugh, they make me smile, they make me happy, and they make me realize how family is EVERYTHING. Although I will miss them like crazy, I am happy to see the good things that lie ahead for them. AND, although the dynamics of my family are changing, my family is in reality only expanding and NOT getting smaller, right?? :)

"Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you will look back and realize

 that it was the little things that mattered most."

XOXOXOXOX

Big Girl!

THIS...is what  happens when your baby helps you do the laundry!!!

She finds her brothers clean underwear and decides to put them on!!!

Congratulations Kesslyn on putting them on all by yourself...BIG GIRL!!! :) :) :)

Yesterday I was able to take Dallin, Gavin, and Kambriella to go camping with their Grandma and Grandpa Trickett for the weekend! They will be gone until Sunday and I KNOW they are going to have a BLAST! Exploring with cousins and tea parties in the mountains with Grandma...what could be more fun than that? ;)  

Kierra and I also stayed up until about 2:00 a.m. talking and doing wedding prep...

We are almost there and so excited for this amazing day to arrive! We washed mirrors, cut material, and polished the glass goblets trying to get the centerpieces ready...We may or may not have eaten raspberries and chocolate while we did it too. :)

Happy Friday! :)

Swim and Clean

 It was officially the first day of summer and the thermometer reached 100 degrees!!!

That definitely calls for a swim in the pool...

Friends...Check!

Fun...Check!!!

Good times..Check!!! :)

 Kambriella had her friend Jaydan over, Gavin had his friend Alex over, and Dallin of course had his cousin Xaton that's been with us all week... 

and Kesslyn...she had ME! 

She's always my little buddy following me around and doing whatever it is that I am busy doing!

 I sat by the kids at the pool being the lifeguard and worked on trimming photos and cleaning picture frames for the wedding. It was a FUN yet time consuming job...but they look GORGEOUS!!!

Today I went with Carew to pick out some new glasses for his mission too...now we are packing up the little kids to go on a camping trip with their grandparents this weekend...Bring on the Fun!!!

9 Days Left!

 Little Kesslyn was my buddy today...we went everywhere and did everything together! :)

Dallin, Gavin, and Xaxton were all off filming to be in a you tube video (which was a dream come true for them...:) and Kambriella was busy playing with a friend all day,
while Kesslyn and I ran wedding errands once again.
(Including stopping for a bite of lunch with Tiffany and Colby. :)

We are in the single digits until the wedding and we are down to the last details...like ordering and developing  pictures, ironing clothes for the rest of the family to wear to the wedding, making up the honeymoon basket full of treats and buying sparklers for the send~off etc...

Kierra and Riley got their Marriage Licence too...this is starting to get REAL people!!!

In just 3 days we will be going through the temple with Kierra to take out her endowments and I am so happy for her. I LOVE that she is so ready for this and SO SO VERY HAPPY!!! It's what you hope and pray for your whole life for your children and I am so blessed to be able to see it coming to a reality.

Happy days, happy times, grateful hearts, and enough LOVE to go around!