Beautiful Blessing

Beautiful blessing day for a beautiful boy. Today was a special day for our whole family as Levi Allyn received a name and a blessing. Chad gave Levi a wonderful blessing and it was a joy to be able to be there with their beautiful family. Jennie and Chad have such gorgeous kids, I think they need a dozen!!

Happy Birthday Dad

It seems like we have been celebrating so many birthdays lately...but I couldn't let this day go by without a special shout out to my dad. I love you Dad!!! You are the greatest dad in the whole wide world and I couldn't be any prouder of you or more grateful that your my dad. Thank you for ...
1. being such an amazing teacher and always making me feel that I could do anything
2. your testimony and love of the Lord, the temple, and all things good
3. the way you love and support us
4. the beautiful way you tenderly take care of Mom
5. the way you serve and fulfill your callings
6. all of the fun trips and motorcycle memories
7. your amazing talent and artistry
8. your tender, sensitive spirit ( I blame my quickness to tears on you!)
9. your crazy food concoctions ( some of them are actually pretty good!)
10.for being YOU...We all love you Dad! Happy Birthday!!

Kaden is Eight!

Happy Birthday K-da-man!!! We all love you sooooo much. You have blessed our lives and brought so much joy and happiness. Grampa Al and I are so lucky to have you as our special little man. You had a great birthday today starting with yummy peanut butter cookies to share with your class...they are your very favorite! Then shopping for the latest Mario Slugger video game...Everything was going great until right before we were ready to leave for your family birthday party at the park. You put your shoe on and started screaming because a stupid scorpion stung you!!!! We hate scorpions! When you were four you got stung on your foot and had a terrible reaction and spent four days in ICU so needless to say Grampa and I were really concerned... actually I almost freaked out!... Grampa immediately gave you a special blessing and prayer and I know you were protected. I felt calm too. I know it hurt really bad, but you were so brave...your whole leg started to go numb, but soon it all went away. We called everyone and they all came to our house instead of the park and pretty soon you were running around and happy as can be. I am so grateful for prayer, for tender mercies and we are all so grateful for you!
Happy Birthday Kaden...You are the most awesome eight year old boy in the world and WE LOVE YOU!
(I told Kaden he could have anything he wanted for breakfast...homemade waffles, french toast with whip cream and strawberries, eggs and bacon etc. He said "I think two Eggos with a candle on top will be perfect." I think he was just trying to make it easy on me.(And I sure appreciate it!)

The Beach!!!

We had a blast at the beach this year... It was just hard to come home and get back to real life!! We sure wish the entire family could have been there, but we are definitely planning on that for next year. I took so many pictures that I had to finally figure out how to do a slide show...

Our Baby is 20!!!

How is it possible that our baby Allyson Kay is 20 today?!!!!! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

We love you so much more than words could ever say...but, I gotta try...so here are just a few of the reasons that you are so loved...

1. You are so cute! And those beautiful blues of yours have melted us from the very first moment you blinked! You are beautiful inside and out!!!

2. You love the Lord and you know Him almost as well as He knows you. If anyone asks you what your favorite scripture is, you recite it along with many others. Your scriptures are worn almost to pieces...and they are never far from you. Your testimony is so strong and pure. 

3. Everyone who has ever met you Loves You!

4. You are so funny and just plain get JOY out of life...

5. You are such a great and creative giver... I have never known anyone who spends so much time, energy and creativity in all your gift giving.

6. You absolutely love to SERVE... you are our example of how to love others.

7. I know it might sound really strange... but Ally has never really gotten in trouble for anything. She has always been so good it's a little crazy. She grounded herself once because she held a boys hand before she was sixteen...that's it! She never even had a curfew...she never needed one. Thank you sweet Ally for being so good. I don't think you can even begin to imagine what a blessing that has been for your parents.

8. Anyone who knows you looks up to you and wants to be a little more like you.

9. You are the one and only Aunt who makes "blue milk"! (Only you will put food coloring in their milk just because it's fun to do!) All of your nieces and nephews absolutely adore you!!!

10. You are talented, smart, artistic, loving, spiritual, humble, giving, kind, funny, genuine, beautiful...etc. etc. etc.

WE LOVE YOU! Happy Birthday Ally XOXOXOX

P.S. We have all been at the beach for a week...It was a blast! Pictures and more details to come!

Baptism...

Taylor was baptized today... It was such a sweet, beautiful experience. She was so precious, and so excited. You couldn't wipe the smile from her face. Four of Taylor's Great Grandparents were there along with both grandma's and grandpa's and a whole bunch of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She is one loved little girl! She really loved her new dress, necklace, journal and scriptures but very most of all she loved the way she felt inside. I told her that today, she truly is perfect. We are so proud of you sweet Tay Tay...

This was last night, right after we finished sewing her dress...she loved it!

So cute...

Sunday, Levi took his second ride ever in his car seat. The first one was his ride home from the hospital... and yesterday it was his first ride to Grama Linda's house. We all had so much fun holding him and lov'in him. As Kate said, "my baby brother is soooo cute!"

A cute baby brother and corn on the cob...
life doesn't get much better!

Amy and Kendyl

Amy's good friend Kendyl from Austin, Texas has been visiting for a few days. They have been having a great time shopping and checking out some fun spots in Vegas. We love having Kendyl (isn't that the coolest name!?) here and just wish she could stay longer. Maybe she will have to come home with Amy and Ally this fall for a few week end visits.
Amy's job search update... She will be leaving in January for six months to teach in Taiwan!!!
She will also have the opportunity to travel a lot during long weekends and breaks. Allyn, Ally and I want to go and pick her up next June and do a little traveling with her. We are so excited for her and we know that she will have an amazing experience teaching, learning, growing and experiencing another part of the world... and it's pretty cool that she will be getting paid to do it! Her plans for the fall are to go to Provo with Ally...work...and take a few classes towards her masters. Sounds like a great plan!

Eat'n and Sleep'n

Levi is an eating machine! It is amazing how much he has grown and already changed...
He is so adorable... We just want to hold him, and kiss those cute soft cheeks every minute!