Happy Birthday Dallin!

 Today, my baby boy Dallin turns 17!!!

Dallin is fun, FUNNY, happy, crazy, unique, adventuresome, talented, a joy to be around, loving, sensitive and kind, and on and on and on...

He is the best uncle to Easton, a loving big (and little)  brother, and so strong and resilient!

Celebrating #17 with Dallin will be a little different because of the quarantine, but it will still be fun, and DEFINITELY memorable!!!

Happy Birthday Dallin!!!

I love you!

Here For a While

Look who arrived to stay with Grandma Lolli for a while??? :)

EASTON!!!!!

(And we are excited to have Kierra and Riley too. ;)

This ray of sunshine will be so good for our family during these times of "isolation" and "social distancing."

Because we are family, and when we are together we have everything we need!

Our First Hike of Spring

 Saturday morning was chilly and beautiful and so it called for our family getting out and going on a hike! 

Our first spring hike of the year.

 We drove to the parking lot  of Bell's Canyon trail head and found about a bazillion cars there! It seems everyone had our same "good idea" for a hike that day, so we turned around and drove just a little ways down the road to a less traveled spot called the Rocky Mouth Waterfall trail head. 

It was perfect! We only saw 2 other people the whole time we were out hiking. :)

 It was a short and simple hike, perfect for our little 4 year old, and the small amount of time we had to venture out (before we all had to head in to Clint's work).

 I loved seeing the earth "waking up" from it's long winter's nap. The mossy rocks were so beautiful along with the trees, cave, and the waterfall that we saw...

 With the corona virus looming in the world and having to be home as much as possible, we really enjoy being outside and breathing in the fresh air. I think it did everyone some good to be out there.

 I love that my kids also love hiking and exploring in nature. The brothers always seem to venture off to the highest point they can climb to. ;)

 And I also love how important and special they make Kambriella feel when they take the time to let her join them on their adventures, even though she is so much younger than they are.

 Kesslyn was a little uneasy with the heights, but we all helped her along and eased her fears.

 The waterfall was small and so we were able to get right up by it for a picture! I'm sure that once all of the snow begins to melt off  it will definitely get bigger though. :)

 I love listening to the conversations that happen while we are all out as well. As we began heading back down the mountain I smiled and snapped this picture of everyone as they were talking and laughing. I felt so happy being out there with my family. :)

 Kambriella scaled the same tall rocks that her brothers had on the way up...that little girl is amazing and motivated and I know she is going to do great things. She was sent here for a reason, that I know.

 Dallin scooped Kesslyn up onto his shoulders on the way down and turned her concerns into smiles and laughter. That makes me so happy as a mom to see my children loving each other!

 As we approached the end of the trail, I looked out over the valley where we live and awed in it's beauty. I could see 2 temples off in the distance, lots of mountains, and an absolutely gorgeous big blue sky.

It was a beautiful day for a hike with the ones I love!

"Stuck" With You

 The weather has been a bit cold and rainy these past few days and so when the clouds part for a minute and the sun comes out, we take advantage of that and head outside for some fresh air. 

With the current state of our community and the world with the corona virus, we are advised to stay home with our families as much as possible and  to keep our social distancing. That is a hard thing to do because we love being around people and helping others, and so having little contact has been challenging. 

But, I am so very grateful for the people that I get to be "stuck" with! 

We live in a beautiful valley and enjoy so many wonderful freedoms, and going through times like these together teaches us a little more of all that we have.

Our blessings are endless, especially when I look at my family.

I love these sweet people so much and feel so lucky to have them for my own!

Keeping Them Happy and Safe

 Last night after the 5.7 earthquake that we experienced, I felt a little more comfortable about putting the little girls to bed in the same room. Kesslyn was excited to have a "sleepover" in Kambriella's room. :)

These kids are so sweet and I love them so much and I want to do everything in my power to protect them both physically and spiritually. I think they are doing well considering all of the fear and commotion that is swirling around in the world right now, and I think it is largely in part because of the spirit that we keep here in our home that they are doing so well...

I think according to Kesslyn's drawings, that life still mostly feels like "cupcakes and rainbows." ;)

Or should I say "princesses and rainbows."  :)

That's what she drew here...Kesslyn is the top princess, then me, and Daddy, and the rainbow. :)

I felt so happy when she brought me this picture.

I know my children are strong and they will be better people because of the experiences that they will have in this life.

I love them so much and am glad to have them all safely gathered at home...although I miss Kierra and her family, I know they are doing well and taking good care of each other too. :)

Together

 This morning before Clint left for work we sat together on my bed watching the news and just trying to see what was happening in the world, when suddenly everything around us started shaking.

We both sat there in shock and then looked at each other with concern..."It's an earthquake." Clint said.

We both stood up and went to gather the children.

I went to get the girls when Clint was met by the boys who came running. When I got to Kambriella's room she was laying there already awake wondering what was happening.

I picked up Kesslyn and we all went into my room and cuddled up on my bed. 

We talked about what had happened and that we were glad that we were all together, and then we had a family prayer.

I felt peace.

I know that we are living in tumultuous times, but I still feel love and peace in knowing that Heavenly Father is in charge and that we are watched over and loved more than we know.

We have felt aftershocks and heard more news about the coronavirus today, but I stand firm in the knowledge that we are living in a home centered on faith in our Savior Jesus Christ.

We have Him, and we have each other, and that is enough! 

Carew Turns 21

 Yesterday was Carew's 21st birthday!

Clint saved the day in multiple ways with the amazing birthday gift that he had picked out long ago for Carew!!! These fun plastic balls for everyone to play together!

We went to the park and inflated them and then had a ball running and flipping and laughing and falling in them. One thing we learned about them is the amount of energy and stamina it takes to "brace" yourself on impact, and  to keep running at full force! It really was "a ball" playing in them together and having fun together! (And on a Monday afternoon to boot!) At this crazy time there are tender mercies all around, like getting to spend the day together with these kids on Carew's birthday!

 We also went and got ice cream after playing at the park, and went to the phone store to get new cases for a couple of our phones.

 We tried going to 2 different Vans stores to get Carew some new shoes for his birthday, but they were both closed...

 We were also going to take Carew out for sushi for his birthday dinner that he requested, but the restaurant was closed too.

  And, because of the coronavirus, the Jazz and Lakers game that we were going to take Carew to had been cancelled as well, along with all other NBA games. Soooo...Carew didn't really get much of what he asked for on his birthday, but what he DID get was still everything that he loves...

Fun times with family, being together and laughing, chicken pillows for dinner, his favorite kind of birthday cake, and a movie night at home. Although it was different, it was still a happy birthday for Carew.

We love you!!!