Celebrating Easter!

It is a fun family tradition to go to Grandma and Grandpa Trickett's house on the Saturday before Easter for a fun Easter egg hunt with all of the little cousins. There are plenty of filled eggs hidden in the back yard and they each seem so excited to see how quickly they can try to find them all. Some are filled with sweet treats while others are filled with money!

Here we are! Our family of 7! I love you all and am amazed at how big you are all getting!















Kierra had a ball helping Kambriella find all of her Easter eggs! She would squeal with excitement with each one that she would find!















Here is Dallin reaching an egg for Gavin that he found but was too short too reach!














Carew found some eggs hidden at the top of the slide!














Here is the gang with all their buckets full!














Kierra and Kambriella on Easter Sunday. What sweet sisters!














Here we are! All of daddy's cute girls!














All dressed up in our Easter Best! What a happy, special day!














Our Easter Sunday is a happy day, but our family has a tradition of enjoying the Easter celebration all week long! Starting on the Sunday before Easter, we plan special activities for each day of the week that help us to remember the significant events that happened in the Savior's life before he died. We enjoy an Easter walk where we find symbols of his death and resurrection, activities, games, stories, and even a night where we have a "Jerusalem dinner." We turn out all the lights and eat a dinner of foods that would have been eaten during Jesus' time. We sit on pillows on the floor by candlelight and talk about significant things and try to teach the children something that they may have not already known. It has become one of our families favorite traditions and it has also helped us to remember why we celebrate Easter after all. We are so thankful for our Savior, for His life, for His death, and for His resurrection, and most of all, that He lives!

At the Car Wash

When you look at this picture, what do you see? Do you see bright red, robotic, mechanical eyes or dark, scary shadows in the background? Or, do you see the windshield wipers poised and ready at the bottom of the windshield ready to wipe away the haziness and blur?















While sitting patiently in my car waiting for the wash to be completed, I turned and looked at Kambriella because I wondered what she was doing. Was she asleep? It was so quiet, I didn't hear a sound. I was so surprised to find this...














I couldn't help myself - I had to giggle at what she may have been thinking... "You can do this, you can do this. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts. It's not a monster..."














"Is it over yet?"















It may have been just a car wash, but to a little baby girl who is just beginning to experience the world around her, it was something that she was very unsure of and maybe a little scary. I was very proud of her for not screaming or freaking out, but rather quietly trying to figure things out, trying to be big and brave. It's a cute little comical moment in the day of the life of a mother, but it is once again a reminder to me that the world will become in the eyes of our children what we will help them to see. After I was done capturing the moment with my camera I pleasantly explained to Kambriella that this was such a silly car wash and it was making our car clean! She saw me smile and giggle and realized that this was OK! I hope that when life presents it's moments, opportunities, and situations to each of us, that we will laugh and giggle and "be not afraid," but realize that everything will be OK! :)

Our Vacation to Lego Land

There are a few reasons why I love going on vacation so much:
1) I don't have to clean, do laundry, or make beds.
2) I am reminded of the 6 most important people in my life and how I should treasure every minute I have with them.
3) I have so many fond memories of family time when I was a little girl and I want my children to have the same, because it is our memories and relationships that will remain with us when this life is over.
This was a short but sweet trip that we all loved, with everything from long conversations in the car, to admiring the view of the sunset and the beautiful ocean, (which Kambriella saw for the 1st time), and of course the kids favorite, LEGOLAND! Here are just a few pictures and highlights of the fun...
Dallin, in heaven, the Mr. Collector of rocks on a rocky beach!















Big sister Kierra and little Kambriella "ooo-ing and ahh-ing" at the lego made nursery rhyme characters on the "princess boat!"















This cute little choo choo train took the kids for a short little ride around the little playground. "Hi Mom!"














Kambriella was feeling "so big and brave" as she watched the other little kids admiring her bravery as she posed in the gaping jaws of the ferocious lion! (Made completely out of legos mind you...)














This ride was one of the older kids favorites! This mechanical arm would whisk you around in every direction while spinning and tipping you upside down! Hold on dad!














All my sweet kids around the King's noble throne! (Of course you can see who takes the seat!;)























This was at Pirate's cove, a little water area where the kids played and cooled down from the heat of the sun.














This ride had water bombs that the people watching could set off and try to get the people on the ride wet. Of course Clint came off dry, hmmm...















Most everything at Lego Land is made out of lego's, including this C3PO!















Here Carew is getting his driver's licence at the lego land driving school. Kierra and Dallin both got theirs too! Watch out!

Finally at the end of the 3rd day of our vacation, (the day before we had to come home) the little princess Kambriella finally gave in and collapsed in a mushy puddle of tiredness and surrendered to a nap! She did not want to miss a beat!

Once again I am grateful to be a mother and a wife and to have opportunities to do fun things with my family both far away and at home. I consider myself one lucky girl to be surrounded by all of these special people, and one hot daddy;) I love you guys to the moon and back!

I love the "light" in my life...

Another beautiful, still morning has come, and yet another inspiring experience has accompanied me on my morning run. I started out down the road thinking to myself which route I might take today. Within just a few moments the road split and I quickly chose to turn left, knowing that I would be passing the view of the temple. I just love to see the temple! It is a symbol of love and peace in my life. As I was running down the road I decided to turn on my headphones to a conference talk given just days ago by Elder David A. Bednar. His talk was comparing personal revelation to how light enters our lives. At times the light enters immediately, like when we turn the light on in a dark room. Other times, the light enters gradually, like the sun rising over the skyline in the morning. So it is with personal revelation. Sometimes things come into our minds immediately of things that we learn or things that we should do. But more often times, things come to us little by little until we are led to know of gospel truths. As my mind was reflecting on these teachings, I came upon the view of the temple and my mind immediately saw the stark contrast of this magnificent building of light against the black canvas of the night sky. I then thought to myself how this holy temple is just that. A beacon of light in a world that often times can seem dark and confusing. The light of the gospel shines constantly whether in the light of noon day or the darkness of night. At this point in my run, I had to cross a busy road and the only way to do so was to go up an elevated sky bridge that will get you safely to the other side. As I ran up the switch backs and reached the highest point, the illuminated temple was even clearer to my view because I was above everything else. While there are many spiritual applications to this scenario, the next thing I saw made me feel overcome with gratitude for the time and place in which we live. Standing on the top of this bridge, I turned in a circle to see the view around me, when to my pleasant surprise, I could see yet another, and then another bright beautiful temple lit up against the night sky! 3 temples in my view from just one simple place! I tried to take a picture of what I saw, but the temples were too far away and the light didn’t carry to my camera. Then I thought to myself, “I guess this is just like life. If you want to be able to see the light, you have to be standing in the right place. Someone can’t carry the light for you and give it to you, but you have to go and see it for yourself.” Next, as I decided to turn around and follow the same route back home, I kept on listening to the conference talk. As I did so, I kept on listening and learning simple little truths. I felt so happy and good inside when suddenly I had to jolt quickly out of the way of a broken tree branch that was hanging down from a tree next to the side walk. It was still very dark at this point and I did not see the branch at first but I could almost feel it as I quickly approached it. I got out of the way just in time and quickly got back on course without getting hit by the branch. Then just a few short steps later, yet another branch was in my path and so I quickly got out of the way. This time I noticed the branch a little sooner so I didn’t feel as threatened. After this brief little experience I thought to myself, “Having the gospel light inside of me and the gift of the Holy Ghost to warn me, I was able to see the danger ahead of me, even in the darkness of night.” I continued running home noticing anything with light that I passed. –Headlights on cars, streetlights on the road, and porch lights on houses. They were all giving off light, and all the while, the sky was beginning to get lighter, little by little – just like how my mind had been receiving spiritual light while I had been out on my run. Then, as I came around my last corner which brought me back to the road that my house was on, I had one more important thought enter my mind about light. I passed a tree that was right next to a street light and as I passed the light and then the tree, I found myself running through a shadow of tree branches where the light had been broken up and cast itself into many places. My mind immediately thought of a prism and how when light enters a prism it disperses the light into many different places and can reflect an even more beautiful light both in darkness and in a room that is already completely filled with light. Then I thought to myself, “We are like those prisms. We have the light inside of us and when we share that light, it can go to many different places and reflect an even more beautiful light that can be shed on all those around us.” Then, with my mind full of personal thoughts and revelation, I had the distinct thought to go inside and write it down so that I truly might be like that prism and share this light with others. I don’t ever want to forget these wonderful thoughts and impressions of light because that is what they give to me…light, and the ability to see things more clearly.

She's my "pot of gold"

We were out driving in a rainstorm the other day when a beautiful rainbow appeared. Although the picture isn't very bright, it was magnificent to see the contrast of the vibrant colors against the dark, stormy sky. The reason why this is so relevant to me right now is because I have a deep love for the beauty of all of God's creations AND I have a sweet and loving daughter who is an inspiration to me in my life AND if you ask her what her favorite color is, she will say...the rainbow. Kierra has been blessed with many talents and a sweet disposition, and lucky for me, a very similar love for the beauties of the world. So, when we woke up the other morning to a beautiful, white, winter wonderland...in APRIL!- we were both so excited to see it! We knew this day was going to be a special day for so many reasons. Not only was it conference weekend, and we had been enjoying an added measure of the spirit in our home and with our family, but Kierra, Clint, and I had all been fasting together for Kierra as she was going to receive her patriarchal blessing on this seemingly crisp, frosty day! I couldn't help but think that Heavenly Father had sprinkled the snow down for us to enjoy and to remind us of the purity and celestial nature of the events unfolding in our weekend. So, to my sweet Kierra who is an angel in my life, I want to say thank you for your appreciation of beautiful things and thank you for bringing so much happiness into my life! I am a lucky mother and you are truly my "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow. I am so proud of you for living a life that resonates color like the rainbow, and peace and purity like this beautiful snow! I love you!

It's Great to be 8.. and be Baptized!

Dallin had been counting down to his 8th birthday for months now and I can hardly believe that the day has already come and gone! What a sweet and treasured day not only for Dallin, but for me as his mother as well. I think that Dallin's day would have been special no matter what, but he really did have a few extra reasons to be grateful! I don't know of any other little children who actually got to be baptized ON their birthday AND have their mom be the primary president at the same time! What a very special day to treasure for both of us! We got up early in the morning and went to the church to pick up Dallin's baptism clothes. He was so excited...When we got home, Clint had already arrived with 8 white balloons and some yummy orange rolls for us to have for breakfast. We also gave Dallin one of his presents to open before everyone came. It was a new white towel to use at his baptism, a shiny blue CTR ring, and a new primary CD. Dallin was so happy because he had asked me many times if he could get a blue CTR ring and I kept saying no, (even though I had already bought it for him and had kept it hidden;) and now he finally had it AND he could wear it while he was getting baptized!

The time that we spent at the church for Dallin's baptism was such a happy time! We were surrounded by close family and friends who love and support us in so many ways. The spirit was abundant and I remember feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be the mother of such a sweet little boy, and also for blessing me with a loving husband who was able to use the priesthood to perform this sacred ordinance for our son. While we waited for Dallin to get changed into his dry clothes, I had everyone that was there take a minute to write a little note to Dallin. I was yet again overwhelmed with gratitude as later on that day I was able to go through and read the notes and words of love and encouragement to Dallin from all of his family and friends. These cards are now safely tucked inside of an album that I put together for Dallin with all of the pictures from his baptism. That way he can always look back and not only see the pictures, but also be reminded of all of the people who love him and are important in his life.

Speaking of important, here are some of the people that are the very most important to Dallin. His best friend Jeremy, Great Grandma Clements, Grandpa and Grandma Trickett, and Grandpa and Grandma Panter. Grandpa Trickett got to give the talk on baptism, Grandpa Panter and Grandpa Trickett got to be the witnesses, Grandma Panter got to say the closing prayer, and I got to give the talk on the Holy Ghost.

After the baptism was over, we had everyone come to the house for some lunch and some birthday cake. We had a BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, lots of yummy salads, chips, fruits and veggies, and lots of treats everywhere! We had a really nice time visiting with all of our loved ones and celebrating this special day with Dallin. Everyone seemed so content on just spending time with one another that I didn't even get to any of the activities that I had planned. Oh well, that's OK because we had some neat things to do together later that made some of the celebration last a little longer and seem a little extra special as well.

Dallin had a lot of fun opening his presents (trying to guess who they were from!), playing with his friends and cousins, and eating the yummy cake and ice-cream. When everyone had to get ready to leave, we gave each little child a white balloon on a stick for their prize to take home. Tucked inside of the balloon was a little note and a CTR ring that they could only get by popping the balloon. That way, they had something fun yet meaningful to remember about sharing Dallin's birthday and baptism day with him!

The next day was Sunday and Dallin looked so handsome in his little suit carrying his new scriptures that he got with his name engraved on them. When he went up in sacrament meeting to get his certificate and be welcomed into the ward, he was trying so hard NOT to smile, but it just kept on slipping out! Later on that day when we were all home together, we took Dallin's 8 white balloons from his birthday and went outside. We talked with Dallin about all of the neat gifts that he had received for his birthday, and how important some of them were and how grateful he needed to be. Then, we let Dallin decide what 8 things he was the most grateful for, and then as he would say them out loud, one at a time, he would let a balloon go up into the sky. We told him it was just a fun way to "say thank you to Heavenly Father" for all that he has been given. I think the list of 8 things that Dallin said was: his family, getting baptized, the gift of the Holy Ghost, his friends, his new CTR ring, his home, Jesus, and Heavenly Father. It was really fun to see all of the kids pausing long enough to watch these white balloons disappear in the sky. It was a neat feeling too to actually watch the "thank-yous" being sent to heaven. It made me stop and count my blessings as well. How blessed we are to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. I feel so lucky to have the knowledge that I do of who I am, why I am here, and where I am going. I am a daughter of God blessed with an eternal family, sent to this earth to be tested and to work together in a family, so that one day we can all return to live with our Heavenly Father eternally. If Heavenly Father gives good gifts through days like we have had today, then I have been blessed for a lifetime!

Dallin's 8th Birthday at the Lion House!

It' s been our family tradition to have our children's 8th birthday parties at the historical Lion House in Salt Lake City. As a part of who we are as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8 is a big birthday and one that I felt needed to be different yet meaningful, and one that would remain a cherished memory for our children over time. In the days of the pioneers, there were no "addresses" to find where someone lived, so it became common for people to find Brother Brigham by simply saying, "It's the house with the Lion on it!" -and so today it is called "The Lion House." Here we have Dallin and his little friends just outside of the Lion House.

The Lion House is known for their wonderful bakery and delicious foods and one of the neat things about the birthday parties there is the special birthday cake that they made for Dallin with a little hand made lion on top and a "lucky gumball" hidden somewhere inside of the cake! Whoever gets the gumball in their slice of cake will have good luck all year! ;) I am happy to say that we took home the extra cake and that night when Dallin ate another piece, HE was the one who found the "lucky gumball!" The next day at school Dallin found a dollar bill outside on the ground and attributed his "good luck" to the "lucky gumball" he found in his birthday cake!

Here is a picture of all of the friends sitting on the stairs with their "funny faces!"

As part of the party at the Lion House, they take the children on a tour of the home and tell them neat stories from the life of Brigham Young. We learned about seashell collections and a beautiful piano that was too heavy to bring across the plains so it was buried in the ground and retrieved 3 years later and found in perfect condition! We also heard stories of all of the children that ran through the home playing hide and go seek and these neat chairs that were custom fit for Brother Brigham's family by getting a mold of their hind ends by having them sit in the snow! Each chair was custom fit for each individual! Pretty cool!!!

All the little friends in the children's room ready to play games and open presents!

Cute little Dallin pulling taffy, which was a rare treat for the pioneer children.

With treats in tact, a collection of fun pioneer stories and games, and a laundry basket full of opened treasures, we hiked back to the car while playing follow the leader across Temple Square and pausing just long enough to snap a picture or two. Dallin, I love you so much and was thrilled to share this special day with you! I pray that this birthday will be one that you will always remember, and never forget! ;) P.S. I can't wait until your REAL birthday!!!