My birthday Gift From Clint

When Clint asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I told him that all I wanted was for my walls to be done!

We have lived here for a year now, and I have wanted to make this place feel like "our home," but I only know how to do that by adding color, beauty, and the spirit!

So, enjoy the progression of pictures here as Clint helped make my birthday dreams come true! :)

Don't you just LOVE the look on his face??

He's so good to me. :)

I have begun to add decorations, but we are still not done! We need to add the roof to the "country store" and the lighting too.

It is already looking beautiful, but I can't wait to see it when it's all done, it will be amazing!!! :)

So cute and country! :)

We also added brick to the main wall by the stairs, and I LOVE it.

Color adds so much warmth to a home, and it feels so inviting!

Inviting to our family and friends, and to the spirit that I ultimately want to prevail in our home. :)

Thank you Clint for the awesome birthday gift, and for sharing your time and talents! (And for going without sleep to make it happen! ;)

Happy Birthday to Me

My birthday this year was so special, but I think mostly because of the people that were present in my life that week. (And I say week because that is how long we celebrated!)

The day before my birthday I started receiving Happy Birthday texts from friends and loved ones, and my good friend Sheri delivered me some of my favorites...her homemade salsa and chips, and my very own little pumpkin pie!

Later that night (the night before my birthday)  I had been busy working on my dining room wall that Clint was helping me with for my actual birthday present, when Rhett Butler stopped by with my very own piece of German chocolate birthday cake!

So what did I do??

I ate the cake for my birthday breakfast of course! ;)

Later on my birthday Dallin wanted to take me to lunch (so I picked him up from school) and so we had a quick McD's before he had to get back, but it was fun and I was happy that Dallin wanted to be with me. It really made me feel special. :)

After I dropped Dallin back off at school, I took my sister Tiffany and we went to the Holy Cow Boutique and did a little shopping together. It was fun!

As we were driving back up to the house on our way back, all of my kids came running and wished me a Happy Birthday again! :)

We also brought home some of the famous "Big Buns" from the boutique...one cinnamon and one raspberry...

And believe me they were BIG! Almost as big as Colby's smile when we showed him what we bought to share with him!

I had multiple friends stop by with gifts and hugs, and here I am with my friend and 2nd counselor Joanne who spoiled me rotten! :) 

Later after Clint got off of work and everyone was home, we met up at Freddy's for burgers and fries, and then we went to Gardener Village to walk around and see all of the fun fall festive decorations and to see al of the witches on display!

Of course we all had to go in to the Chocolate Covered Wagon for a little treat too...

Gardener Village is one of my favorite places to just walk around and feel the spirit of the holidays approaching. I have always loved having my birthday in the fall because to me it is kind of like the beginning of all of the rest of the fun celebrations through the end of the year, beginning with my birthday!!!

We took lots of fun pictures and had fun visiting and walking around...

There are so many fun witch decorations, but this one of a witch riding her bike across the sky is my very favorite one of all!!!

It was such a fun day, and I really felt special. My phone went off all day long with kind and loving messages..

...and when I got home and saw and opened all of the gifts that people had given to me I really felt lucky. And a little spoiled too!

Needless to say, I had a wonderful birthday and even though I am now 44 years old, I still feel like I have so much that still lies ahead of me!!!

It was a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY for me!!!

The Sabbath Day is a Delight

The Sabbath day has truly been a delight to me and my family during this pandemic because it has become a day focused completely on the ordinance of the sacrament, and the family.

No extra meetings, no time away from each other, and 100% of our attention focused on spending time together, and trying to learn how to be better.

Last week we took a drive up the canyon to try and see the fall leaves, and then stopped off for a walk and a discussion on our Come Follow Me lesson.

We've enjoyed having picnic dinners outside and zooming with our extended family each week.

We even took a drive up to Aunt Laura's house to pick up our first pet kitty ever.

You heard me right...out first kitty EVER.

Aunt Laura promised a kitty to Kesslyn, and so now we are learning how to take care of it, and we are trying desperately to think of a name for it!

Kambriella a nd Kesslyn are literally in kitty heaven and although I am not fond of the idea of having to take care of a pet, I do enjoy seeing my kids so excited and happy which makes it fun. :)

He seems to be comfy cuddling up to everyone...

...and all I can say is that it's a good thing he's cute!!!

Wish us luck! ;)

Falliday Hive With My Sisters

My sister in law Cherie was a part of the Falliday Hive craft boutique up in Mountain Green over the weekend, and I really wanted to go to support her (and possible pick up a few treasures ;), but little did I know that just going and being with my family would be such a great blessing. I ended up finding out that the house where the boutique was held, was just 2 HOUSES away from an old and dear friend from Clint's mission...Amy Hess. (Pictured far right.)

Amy used to have the missionaries over regularly and she loved them like they were her own boys. Her husband Allen who is a doctor even took care of Clint with broken fingers from playing basketball on their P days. It was a real treat seeing her and being with such amazing women.

We also ran into my niece Holly's mother in law and their family which was fun! But most of all, I loved being with my sister Tiffany for an extra 2 hours driving there and back. :)

Sisters (and in my case sister in laws) are like having built in best friends, and I'm so grateful for the ones I've got! And when I look through my spiritual lens, I realize that all of the beautiful women around me are my sisters too!

I feel blessed and happy to have this loving family of mine! :)

(And just as a side note, I had to include this picture of some of Clint's mission t-shirts since we were talking about Amy Hess...we had gone through our closets to get rid of some things, and after 25 years of hanging in his closet it was time to retire the old things! But with this picture he can hold on to the memory of them. What a good time of life that was for him. :)

 

A Strong and Brave Heart

This summer during the pandemic, Kambriella had her check up with her cardiologist, Dr. Collin Cowley.

Every year when she was little we would take her in for her check ups from when she had her open heart surgery when she was a baby, and every year we have had amazing reports of which we are so grateful!

As Kambriella has gotten older, her check ups have gone from once a year, to once every 3 years, and now we won't need to go back for another 5. She is beautiful and brave and strong and optimistic. And if you don't believe me, just ask Dr. Cowley! He would not stop complimenting her and I think it really made her feel good. :) The older she gets, the more brave she becomes, and I cannot help but think about the good that still lies ahead of her with that strong and amazing heart.

I love you Kambriella!

 

Our Favorite People

A couple of weeks ago, we were lucky to have our favorite people in the world come to visit. :)

And when I say "people" yes, I am including Kierra and Riley, but really we mean Easton.  ;)

We went to lunch with Pops one day, and I took Easton for a run in the stroller...

I love taking this little guy out to see everything that God has made and to see his little excitement over simple things. (Although I did feel bad because I must have ran over a thorn and got a flat tire that Riley had to replace. Sorry!

We also walked through the neighborhood one night to an ice-cream social where we got to see friends and neighbors, and Kierra got to see some of her old young women leaders, and show off her cute little family. :)

We also spent the ENTIRE day on Saturday having fun!

We surprised Gavin with his trampoline for his birthday...

We went to the aquarium and saw all kinds of fun and crazy creatures...

Penguins and ducks and otters and bees...

Jellyfish, jaguars, and sea turtles too...

We had so much fun seeing these things, but the most enjoyable part for me was watching the wonder of the little ones, and remembering God's hand in all of these wonderful and unique creations.

I truly treasure the times that I get to have my family all together, because these times are a bit more rare now that some of my children are growing up and moving away...

We really feel blessed to be a part of a family and to have people that we know will always be there for us.

Having Riley and Easton now too makes it that much more fun! I love that we keep adding people to love and to grow this loving family of ours. Watching Kierra in her momma role has been fun for me too. She is such a good mom and Easton loves her so much!

He is a little ball of love and squishy joy and it was so fun to have them here, and to watch his face when he saw these new creatures...

Yep! Heavenly Father made them too! :)

After we finished up at the Aquarium, Easton needed a nap, so Lolli and Pops stayed home with him while all the kids went to Classic Skating.

They all had a ball (everyone but Kesslyn who got scared SO BAD by the "black out" sirens and lights.")

I had to go pick her up and bring her home, but that's ok, because I got to see everyone enjoying themselves together and having a good time.

Like I said before, these are times that I cherish and am so grateful for. Even though it's been a different year, full of worldwide crisis and pandemic, we have found so much good as a family. I believe that God wants us to find the good no matter where we are. Because there is good out there, we just need to have our hearts and minds open to see.

And when you do, the view is amazing!!!