My new sister Molly

It has been such a busy summer I'm finally getting around to blog about it - so prepare for a string of posts. My brother Jon was married last month in the Provo Temple and I am so excited to have another sister in the family. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better at our upcoming family reunion. There wedding day was beautiful. I especially loved the tradition they carried out in Molly's family of having a family dinner the night before with a short "devotional" and Father's Blessings for the Bride and Groom to be. I wish I would have thought of that for my own wedding. The reception was held in a gorgeous backyard - a perfectly peaceful setting.

Rebecca - Server at the Ice Cream Bar... Yummmm!

The "Gift-Takers"

Emily - The Ice Cream Tester

Do you think the kids are ready for pictures to be over?

Me & A few of my Aunts and Uncles

A Not so Perfect Family Photo

My Sister with her new adopted baby Rachel:)

It was fun to meet up with old friends family and ward members. This is my piano teacher, Paula Pack from high school (also my good friend Lyndall's mom)

Air Force Museum

The kids enjoyed our brief "potty break" at the Air Force Base Museum on our trip down to Utah. We'll have to stop again to see the rest.

Aunt Dorthy's Funeral

My mom's sister Dorthy passed away this June and I had the privilege of accompanying for the musical selections at her funeral. As I practiced the songs, I reflected on the many fun memories I had visiting her house as a child, putting together puzzles, chatting late into the night, getting ice cream at the dairy, listening to Jim Reeves, choosing from her awesome selection of cold cereal (which was a luxury item to me). She didn't have any children of her own she "adopted" us neices and nephews as her own. I was always most excited to open up Christmas gifts from her because I knew they would be something fun that I really wanted. And she was great to remember everyone's birthday. We will miss her, but I am happy that she is finally relieved from the pain she has experienced for many years due to cancer.
One of the songs that she wanted to be sung at her funeral besides numerous familiar primary songs and "O Divine Redeemer" was "In the Garden." I was unfamiliar with this song but the lyrics were inspiring to me as I thought of the challenges of single life and yet the peace that the promises of the Savior bring and the hope of promises being fulfilled in this life and the next.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Alyssa's First Birthday

It's hard to believe our little girl is already one year old. She has been such a delight to have in our home and all of the kids dote over her... sometimes a little too much. She is such a busy girl!
Now that she is walking she is in to everything, and she is not too content to play with the same thing for long. Her favorite toy is a toothbrush. If anyone ever leaves our bathroom door open she heads straight for the drawer and hauls off with our toothbrushes, then she puts up a big fight when you try to take it from her. She also loves unloading the cup drawer, ripping apart the post-it notes in my piano cabinet, sucking on carpet strands, reading her animal book and playing outside.

Flag Football Fun

Both of the boys played football this summer and it was fun to watch there progress. Jacob was beaming when he got his own flag football set for his birthday and I love to see he and Dan playing happily together in the backyard and enjoying the same thing.
Capturing good sport photos is always a challenge for me because I feel like I miss half of the action just trying to catch a good shot, so I was happy when Jacob headed right towards me to score this touchdown.







Daniel is an assertive little defender!
The most memorable moment of the season was when Daniel made a big run across the field dodging all of his defenders and started to celebrate his touchdown a few feet before the goal line by lifting his arms up in the air. Unfortunately because of his early enthusiasm he tripped about in front of the end zone and as a result didn't make the touchdown which was a little lesson for him that "Pride goes before the Fall." Evidently he's been watching his dad's high school football video a little too often and he was trying to imitate the "celebration" of the Pioneer players he dreams of becoming.

Kindergarten Graduation

Obviously I'm a little behind on my blog posting... but I figure its better late than never:)
Daniel had a great time at Kindergarten this year. When I asked him to tell Emily what he liked about Kindergarten he said, "The treats and the parties!" His teacher was so fun and personable. She even came to cheer him on at one of his football games and stopped by our house to drop off some things for him several times throughout the year. He was so proud of his graduation cap that he wanted to wear it all day long while we went running errands at several stores. But his enthusiasm was short lived when all the people started commenting on how cute he was and he decided he didn't want to have that much attention brought to him anymore.


Field Day