Happy Blog-iversary!

It is official. I have been a Blogger for one full year. To those who me urged to become such, I thank you, and regret that I didn't heed your advice sooner. I have enjoyed every word I've written, every picture I've posted, and every comment I've received. To celebrate I'm going to have my collection of posts from the past year printed into a book I can keep and look back on. To my fellow Bloggers, I love what you do so please keep it coming. Here's to happy blogging!!

Did You Know?

Did you know those hard shells that protect a snails' soft body really aren't that hard, and if you happen to kneel on a snail while weeding your flower bed and wearing shorts, the shell will smash and green oozy slime will smear all over your leg? I didn't... but I do now.

I'm just glad the neighbors weren't out to hear me screaming.

Tour of the Temple

The Oquirhh Mountain Temple was recently built near our home and our family attended the open house together. We enjoyed it more than this picture indicates! (That's what you get for handing your camera to a complete stranger.) It is a beautiful temple and I was so happy we could take our children to see the inside. The artwork particulalry caught my attention, and I thought the interior of the temple in general was breathtaking. I thought I might get a little choked up walking my girls through the bride room, but instead it was the sealing room that got to me. We sat there together, facing the altar and the mirror beyond it and I leaned over and said, "Daddy and I were married in a room like this one. We knealt at an altar just like that one there, and you were watching us from heaven and cheering, "Yeah! That's my mom and dad!" Then I got all choked up because I felt the truthfulness of that in my heart. Our family was meant to be together. Our children rejoiced for the opportunity to be born to parents who were married in the temple and to have their turn on earth as part of an eternal family. I rejoice to have them, and to know we will be together forever.

Family Reuion on the 4th!

Hey, hey, the gang's all here! Or they were here anyway. This year for the 4th of July, 23 people came in from 4 different states and met up at our house, and for just a snatch of time my whole family was together in the same place. We took a picture just to prove it. Reunions such as this happen about once every 5 years for us. In fact, the last time we did this at least four of the kids pictured above weren't even born yet!

Though we weren't together long we packed in a lot of fun. Eating, talking, teasing, playing, staying up late... and there were some organized events of the weeked as well. Whenever the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints builds a new temple, upon completion there is an "Open House," meaning that the temple is open to the public for tours. We're fortunate to live near to the newest temple and the open house there is currently underway. So, the out-of-towners took advantage of the opportunity and spent the morning together there. Then we met at our house for lunch, which was lucky for me since I needed a way to make good use of a 10 lb. slab of corned beef Luke received as a gift from a meat company. We took our family pictures (thanks again to my sister-in-law Amy for snapping the shots for us), and then headed for the lake!

The finicky weather still lingering from June had me crossing my fingers and holding my breath, but we lucked out with a warm, sunny day and good water. I was too busy enjoying myself to remember my camera, but I have pictures in my mind of my mom and dad relaxing on the boat, my brother falling off the boat (in a funny way - he wasn't hurt or anything), and wake-boarding with my sister and sister-in-law. My favorite part of the day was when the whole lot of us piled on the boat for a "sunset tour" all together before we pulled out of the water.

On the day of the 4th, the group disbanded for a bit but reconvened in the evening at my brother's house for BBQ and fireworks. Cousins frolicked all over the lawn and monster pops and sparklers and fireworks were going off everywhere. Then after we caravanned to a secret spot to watch the fireworks from the BYU stadium, cousins bedecked with glow-bracelets and necklaces romped in the dark. We bailed a little early, but caught a spectacular display at Thanksgiving Point as we drove home on I-15.

Over the next two days our crowd dwindled down as family by family, people said good-bye and returned home. I was sad to see them go, but I suppose it's missing them when they leave that helps keep me grateful for the freedom and privileges that enable us to be together, even it's only for a couple days.

Mary's 4th Birthday

Our little Mary turned 4 years old on June 6th. We celebrated her "birthday day" at Grandma's, and then had her "Party Day" a couple of days later. She had been anxiously awaiting her "Princess Party" and let me know in no uncertain terms that there needed to be "princes" there so that there could be dancing at the ball. For weeks prior to her birthday, every time we went to the grocery store Mary would look over all the cakes and select two; one for her 7 year old birthday and one for her 4 year old birthday. When the big day arrived she gleefully made her final selection of her 4 year old cake and proudly toted it home, along with some rainbow ice cream and a boquet of balloons. Donning her blue ball gown our little Cinderella reveled in blowing out her candles, eating ice cream (melted though it was), opening presents, and dancing and playing with her little friends. The kids were so good and the party was so fun I actually called the parents and asked if the kids could stay a little longer!

Mary, you have been such a blessing and joy to us these past four years. Your lively, animated spirit endears you to everyone who knows you. Your expressions and infectious laugh are a light in our home and we are grateful everyday to have you in our family. We love you, "Little Bear Cub." Happy Birthday.

Here is footage of the Royal Ball, starring Mary as Cinderella and Carson as Prince Charming:

Ok, maybe not. Anyone else having issues loading video onto Blogger??? Hopefully the video will be coming soon.