Another Month Gone

My! How does time fly! What have we been so busy with that I haven't had a chance to log onto here?


At the end of July Maddie and I went on a tour of the new Oquirrah Hills Temple that was built right near our house. Maddie has been so excited to go see it, her favorite room is the Baptismal Font.

Then we took a trip to Colorado Springs to relocate one of JJ's company's.
This is how we kept the kids entertained on a 9 hour drive - I love DVD players!!




We attended the neighborhood BBQ to benefit the local Firefighters. This is Maddie sitting right in the middle of all of them in heavan! They were so sweet to her!
They let her try on their gear and gave her a tour of the Firetrucks.

We were gone a week, this is how happy Oreo was to have us home. He curled up in my lap and went to sleep with a smile on his face.

Right after we got home from Colorado - we threw a Suprise Birthday party for my sister Marci. It had a princess theme.

On July 27th - Maddie started 1st Grade! She is growing up so fast!! She loves her teachers and her favorite part of the day is eating lunch at school!

The beginning of Aug. we did our traditional weekend in Bear Lake for Raspberry Days. We did the Fair a few times, the Rodeo, time on the Lake, roasted smores and had a great time with family!

This is Maddie doing the high jumping!

This is her taking a train ride.

Jumping into Bear Lake for a swim!

Sweet Aunt Marci took her out on the tube. (I didn't get pictures of me and maddie on the tube because my camera was accidently turned to video mode)

Helping Jack drive Papa's boat

Maddie and Aubree joined the Calf Chase at the Rodeo. The 1st kid to pull the flag from the calf's tail gets $10! It is a riot to watch..... Maddie is out there somewhere!

Mid-August, J.J. had Gastric Bypass Surgery. Maddie was off track for 3 weeks and was a really good nurse to Daddy. These are the flowers he got in the hospital. VIP also sent me a goodie basket so I had snacks while I was sitting by his bed.

Then we had a few Birthdays to Celebrate! Grandma Missy's was on the 21st .

And on the 29th - we celebrated Papa Neils!


September will be busy also. Maddie goes back to school on Tuesday. Next weekend is our 1st Anniversary! We have an international conference in Colorado Springs. And if all goes well - maybe we'll get a chance to go to Sea World for Fall Break!!

The Backyard

I am so happy with how beautiful this turned out!

Cowabunga Bay

Yesterday I took the girls to the new waterpark Cowabunga Bay. They had so much fun. All the waterslides are in one big area, connected by stairs & tunnels. Maddie would go on only 1 of the big slides, and we did that one about 20 times!

The Girls before "The Big Bucket Dump"

The Big Bucket Dumping!

I will be getting pictures of my yard today and posting them........

I miss my Grandma Ginny

Two years ago today my Great Grandma Ginny passed away at 90 years old. Grandma was an amazing woman and I am so blessed to have had her inspiration in my life. Grandma was the definition of unconditional love. It didn't matter how bad things got, you always knew Grandma loved you no matter what. Grandma invited everyone into her home and to her dinner table. She insisted they call her Grandma, I'm sure many people didn't know her name was Virginia. I still have friends that talk about how kind my grandma was.

Grandma taught me how important family is. She worked hard every Sunday to have the family over for dinner, anywhere from 20 - 40 people. I loved her Spaghetti & meatballs, zucchini casserole, scratch chocolate cake and just about everything else she put on the table. She would never let any of us do the dishes. She did this all because she loved being surrounded by her family. She loved us so much!

Grandma loved Christmas, she always had 2 decorated trees. She also had the most lit up house on the street, every bush & tree was covered in Christmas lights. Grandma also loved making candy this time of year. I loved her mint truffles and carmels. She also spoiled me with my own pecan log, minus the pecans. Every Christmas Eve we would crowd into her house to eat a huge feast and the open pajamas to wear that night.

Grandma was a strong woman and always kept her sense of humor. Even in the care center, she would entertain others with her "viggle". She was the first to lend a helping hand to any neighbor in need. I learned alot about compassion from her. If I could be half the woman she was, I would be so blessed. Years ago an old chinese woman told my grandma that she was an angel. My Grandma always teased my papa about it. But we all knew that she was an Angel sent to look over our family.

I can't believe it's been 2 years already, I feel like I was just hugging her yesterday. I remember what her curly hair felt like on my cheek as I hugged her. I remember what her skin smelled like. I remember her crooked hands patting my cheeks. I remember her raspy voice, that she called her "sexy voice". I remember her laugh. I remember her telling me all the time how much she loved me. I can still hear her saying "I Love You, always remember that". I love you too Grandma, with all my heart.

My Loving Husband

My husband left yesterday for a 3 day business trip. This morning these showed up at the door!




He sent them to cheer me up from a stressful week! And to give me support with missing my grandma. She passed away 2 years ago tomorrow and a lot of emotions have been showing up for me.

He sent these flowers for me to put on her grave tomorrow along with the most beautiful card written to her. If I get his permission, I will post what he wrote. His beautiful words made me cry, ok - I'm still crying.



This is the sweetest, most caring gift I could have received!

I am so blessed to be married to such a romantic, loving man. He is my shoulder to lean on when I need him and I am lucky to have someone so amazing to walk through challenges and life with. Thank you JJ for making me cry, putting a smile on my face and loving me so much! I love you with my whole heart & soul!

What's going on?

I thought I would post some pictures of our yard and my car, since they are both torn apart!

We are having concrete poured in the back to make a bigger dog run, a patio and more parking. We are also having a waterfall put in. Last week the yard was torn up and the project was supposed to be done, but then the rain hit and slowed down the project & left a big mud hole out back!






And here's my car: the engine is hanging in front of it and the axel & wheels are in front....

This time (2nd) my car has been in the shop 21 days and the 1st time 25 days and the 1 day to check it after telling the shop 3 times it still isn't running right!
For a Grand Total of 47 days in the shop & counting!!!!

This doesn't include the 4 days it sat in the Smith's parking lot Memorial weekend waiting for the shop to open so they could tow it!

But at least everything in my life isn't in pieces, just my yard and car. So here are a few cute pictures taken down at the Salt Lake Temple.

Princess Festival

Maddie and I went to the princess festival today!! www.princessfestival.org It goes until Saturday and it is the most fun for a little girl! It's only $25 and the money goes to a charity.




GETTING HER HAIR DONE!


They curled it & put sparkles in it!




GETTING HER NAILS PAINTED!




Then we posed for a picture in the carriage!








and Prince Charming tried the glass slipper on her foot!















Then we went to Neverland to fly with Peter Pan & Tinkerbell!

Then we went to the fountain for a picture with The Little Mermaid!

And Maddie played in the Fountain!










This is the pearl necklace Ariel gave her!















Aladdin & Jasmine came over so Maddie could make a wish and rub the lamp!












Then it was time for the adventure! The blue fairy came to get the princesses because the black witch was causing problems for other princesses! She needed them to rescue the princesses and pass 5 tests so that all the princesses could go to the ball!






Off to the adventure!







First Stop - Snow White's Cottage. They had to rescue Snow White from eating the poison apple.

Prince Phillip, Snow White & Maddie

Next: They had to go to the castle to rescue Rapunzel but 'The Beast' was guarding her!



The princesses turned the Beast back into a Prince by giving him a big group hug!



Then they ran upstairs to the tower to rescue Rapunzel!

And Rapunzel taught the Little Princesses how to dance to prepare for the Ball!

Then it was off to wake up Sleeping Beauty!

Before the could get to the ball - the Black Witch came in! (I missed this part, she scared Maddie so we were in the back hiding). All the Little Princesses hugged her to make her good.

Then it was off to the ball!

Prince Charming came in looking for the girl who fit the glass slipper & he found Cinderella!

Then the little Princesses got to join in the dancing!

Maddie, Belle & the Prince (changed from a Beast)

Maddie & Sleeping Beauty

And at the end Maddie was so brave! She walked up to the Black Witch to make sure she really had become nice!

I'm so happy my little princesses has so much fun!