BYU Weekend!!

Tom and I headed up to Utah last weekend for the Annual BYU Alumni Chapters Conference.  As usual, it was more fun to hang out with Colleen and Wade than actually going to the classes!  This is our fourth year going and we already knew most of the stuff they talked about.  But it is always a great experience to gather with the other chapter chairs and hear what fun activities they are doing.

 We asked Tom and Tamara Dufurd to join us this year at the conference.  They are on our alumni board and will be taking over as chapter presidents by the end of this month.  :)  (this makes me HAPPY . . . after 10 years of being on the board and 4 years of president, it's time!)

 Here are all the AZ people talking with our Regional Chairman.

 Colleen and Wade (Tom's sister) have been the Tucson Chapter Chairs the same amount of time as we have been.  They are also passing the torch to a great couple that has just graduated and moved down to Tucson.  

 Ya like my BYU bracelet and necklace??!!

 I had to take a picture of this!  My brother in law, Tim, has come up with an innovative method for potty training and he is launching them this year in the Macey's stores in Utah.  Yeah Tim!

 Here are some of the cool BYU kids we saw at our BYU Student Luncheon this year.  This is Tyler Day.  Tom went to dental school with his dad.  I used to babysit him!

 Lanae Carmichael, one of my absolute favorite people in the world!

 We had the lunch early this year so the kids could head over to the football game!

 We had 359 kids show up to the lunch!  Yikes!!!

 This was just the first 10 minutes---then the line wrapped around and doubled up.  We BARELY had enough food!!

There is absolutely NO way we could have pulled off that lunch without the help of Colleen's kids.  Amber and Colby ran errands and picked up food for us---they were essential to the success of this event!!  It was so fun to see Tom's mom there too.  She was a great help keeping the buffet table stocked with food!

 This year we got the patio of the Alumni Building which is a really pretty spot, especially with the stadium in the background. 

 We had a drawing of some free stuff (BYU sweatshirts, AZ T-shirts, even some real cactus!)

 Love Love Love the Gillette Twins!  They are our neighbors just returned from their missions.  Incredible boys and such great examples to Kohler.  

 Makinsey Plowman - one of my former beehives now at BYU.  She is a doll!  

Courtney Whidden - also one of my former beehives. (whoa . . . I am getting older)  She is super talented and so sweet!   

 Tom and I LOVE to go on drives, especially in Utah.  There is a development that we found, just past the Sundance exit that has the most gorgeous views!  It's hard to capture the beauty in a cell phone photo, but the colors of the hills were changing to autumn and it was simply breathtaking!

I can't put into words exactly how much I love this place.  My time in Utah, and at BYU specifically, were some of the happiest times of my life.  I stretched, I reached, I grew as an individual, I discovered things about myself that I never knew . . . and most importantly, I met my best friend, my eternal companion there.  This place, for me, is coming HOME.  

My Little Spicy Peanut

Our little Hailey Girl---some days she can be as sweet as sugar or other days like a little spicy peanut!  She is taking lessons from a fabulous teacher (who would probably kill me posting this picture of her in her workout clothes early in the morning! ha!).  She is wonderful and really makes my kids stretch to new musical heights.  Our teaching styles are exactly the same - that's probably why I love her as a teacher!  

 Anyway, the other morning, I found this note in her backpack and thought it was so cute.  It made me feel great that she is liking her piano lessons.  

The lessons she likes . . . the praticing . . . well, that's where the little spicy peanut comes alive!!!  A few weeks ago, we had a really rough morning.  She and I were battling over a piece of music and I wanted her to say the names of the notes out loud and she didn't want to.  I gave in a little and asked her to say only one line of notes and she still didn't budge.  She absolutely hates doing this exercise.  We had tears, crying, the whole works.  Then, I asked her to do something else and that's when she lost it.  She ran upstairs to her room, locked her door and screamed.  (she is only 6!)  I decided right then and there that she wasn't going to win a battle of the wits at age 6 or else she would trample over me at age 16.  I had to lay down the law.

So, I went upstairs to her room and we had a major talk about obedience and doing hard things.  We worked it out but she was as stubborn as nails.  We hugged each other and then she asked me if she could bring me McDonald's for lunch.  After a morning like that, I hesitated.  But, we had worked things out and I could see that I needed to spend some time with her at lunch.  I drove her and Spencer to school since we were running way late from all the drama---and as I dropped them off to school, I just couldn't help but think of my high school kids just down the road and how fast they grow up.  Suddenly, I was really glad I decided to bring that little spicy peanut lunch and it didn't seem like a burden in my busy day anymore.  So, just so I wouldn't forget, Hailey took one of my note papers in my purse and wrote me a little reminder!  I had some doctor's information on that paper and when I reached in to find that phone number, I saw that little note from her.  My heart just softened.  

 When I got the food I headed over to the school and my cell phone rang.  It was her teacher!  She said that Hailey was crying because she thought I was going to forget to bring her lunch!!  Lunch hadn't even started yet---so I ran in there and was actually right on time :).  When she saw me, she ran and hugged me so hard.  I need to do this more often---and do it just because . . . . Hailey loved it and it meant the world to her. She needed some extra TLC and attention----- I really am going to make an effort to do this more with her and Spencer this year!

First Day of School

Well, since tomorrow is the last day of August, I thought I had better get these pics on our family blog today!  I have really let this blog lapse over the summer and I am having to play "catch-up."  But I couldn't let August come and go without talking about the kids going back to school.

 Here are my TWO High School Kids!  How did THAT happen?

 As I hugged them, I began to get emotional - thinking of these two little "souvenirs" from Dental School.  They were only 4 and 6 years old when we moved here.  Then, I blinked and they are 14 and 16!  Kohler is a Junior this year and Kelsey is a Freshman.

 I couldn't take my eyes off of them as I dropped them off at school.  I was so happy for Kelsey, having an older brother to protect her, show her around, and BE there for her.  That is something I always wanted as a kid.

 I really hope they will grow even closer together this school year.  One of the coolest things is that ALL four of our kids are going to school on the same street.  Campo Verde High School is just down the street from Quartz Hill Elementary School.  For some reason, I really feel comfort knowing they are all there on the same street!

 Then, here are the little ones (who aren't so little anymore!)  Spencer is in 5th grade and Hailey is in 1st grade.  Hailey is wearing the shirt we bought her in Paris (even though it's the British flag!).  

 Hailey lost her first tooth when Tom and I were in Europe and boy, was she SUPER excited!  She has waited forever to have one of her teeth fall out.  (I guess she is a bit of a late bloomer---but I love it since she is my baby--and I want every bit of "baby" to last as long as it can!)

 Of course Rider wanted to go on a walk to the bus stop.  He doesn't get walked very much since the weather has been killer hot!

He was so excited---I thought he was going to break the leash!!  I am so glad that Spencer and Hailey have each other . . . at least for the next two years until Spencer goes to Jr. High.  When that day comes, I will need therapy because thinking of my little blondie in Jr. High just freaks me out.  I'm glad I have two years to let that one sink in!

More Fun Pics from Tahoe

 Grandpa's Boat . . . . the best place to be!

 Oh yeah - grilling up some burgers after a day on the lake!

 Here's Kohler, looking great out on the wakeboard!

Check this out - Kohler was trying to catch flying marshmallows in his mouth and we caught one, mid-air, on it's way to his mouth!  ha ha!

 McKenna, Kelsey, and Keaton soaking up the Tahoe sun!

 Everyone loved holding little Noel, especially Hailey!

 I don't know why, but the boys seems to want to wrestle more when they are on vacation--especially the younger boys---they egg Kohler on and he loves it!  

 This is the official best candy ever in Lake Tahoe - WHITE (not pink) grapefruit slices from Snooks :)

Well, the kids like the bubble gum but I like the grapefruit candy!

Best cousin buddies, Olivia and Hailey!

Ahh . . . Days in Lake Tahoe . . .

Exactly 24 hours after we got home from the trek, our family was at Sky Harbor Airport ready to board our flight to Reno!!

Of course, Hailey had to bring her little lamb that Colleen gave her!

 Then, our flight was delayed a few hours.  It was ok - we just walked around the shops and ate way too much at Paradise Bakery!  We brought Keaton this year!  He is Kohler's "other brother" - they have been friends for almost 8 years now.  We are super glad he could come hang out in Lake Tahoe with us!

 When we got there, the best sight to see was baby Noel!

 Is she a little doll or what?  I LOVED LOVED LOVED holding her!

 My nephew, Tate, really took to Keaton.  In fact, he was glued to his side most of the time . . . well, him and Grandpa's boat!  ha ha~!

Grandpa took them on a WILD tubing ride at Boca Reservoir!

 Keat was a really good boat driver!  He said he had a lot of practice driving his grandpa's boat in Idaho.  Nice----------

Yes, those are Kelsey's glasses . . .

 Kohler pretty much ROCKS on the knee board!

Here's me on the wakeboard - tearing it up a bit!  ha ha!  Hey - I'm a 42 year old mom getting out there on the waves!  It was awesome fun--right up until we accidentally drove over the ski rope and spent over an hour in the really cold water trying to untie the knots from the propeller!  Finally, another boat came by and offered us a really tiny pocket knife, but it was better than nothing and that helped A LOT!  Kohler, Keaton, and I were in that 65 degree water shivering ---but it finally was cut loose.  The metal handle bar was completely bent and wrapped around the prop!  Crazy!!!

(more Tahoe fun to come!!)

Happy Birthday to my 1st Baby

I truly mean it when I say that I cannot believe my 1st baby is turning 17 years old today.  High School and talk of a mission and college were "those faraway/someday" days . . . and those days are NOW for me.  

Kohler has been such a joy to raise.  Has it been easy?  Uh, no . . . but I think raising any child with their specific needs and concerns isn't easy.  It's always more work to help them reach their potential and teach them correct principles that will last a lifetime.   

Has it been fulfilling?  Oh yes! 

I wouldn't trade ONE day with my precious son.  He has taught me how to be a better mother - more patient, more understanding, more trusting---and I have LOVED every step along the way with him.

Kohler is a GOOD KID through and through.  He truly is. Has he been perfect?  No - none of us are. But he has always had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and honors his priesthood duties completely.  He loves and respects his father immensely (for which I am totally grateful!) and is so eager to learn from him.  He has such a kind heart and is one of the most sincere teenage boys I have ever met.  He loves his family, his grandparents and cousins----family comes FIRST for Kohler and I love him for that.  He is a friend to many and has so much love to give to others.

 There's that smile that melts my heart (and a few girls' hearts too!)

 I will forever be grateful that Kohler was sent to our home.  I mean, what would the world do without those muscles???  ha ha!

Happy 17th Birthday to you, Kohler.  "How wonderful life is, while YOU'RE in the world!"  (thanks Elton John for that great lyric!)