Happy Birthday

Grandma, I wrote this on Saturday and Saved it to post today, (November 1oth, your birthday) so sorry the date is November 8 up above. Haha)

Happy Birthday. I love you so much and I hope today is fun for you. I have been thinking the past few days about the memories I have of you and the reasons I love you. 

1. You taught me how to read music and play the piano.

2. You make the best homemade chicken noodle soup.

3. You love and respect my dad and mom.

4. I love that your hands are always cold even if it is 100 degrees outside!

5. How you always had gum- BIG RED gum

6. When mom got that wire stuck in her finger and you ran over to the rescue!

7. When you forgot to put chicken in your homemade chicken noodle soup!

8. When you and Aunt Grace would play duets together.

9. When you and I would play duets together.

10. "Breakfast" "Dinner" and "Supper" never "Breakfast" "Lunch" and "Dinner"

11. When you and Grandpa would watch westerns with me when nobody else would. 

12. How hard you worked all your life- mom, school teacher, grandma, friend, mother-in-law

13. Apple juice in cereal-what? 

14. Oatmeal and toast. Every morning. 

15. That you've served multiple missions.

16. How you raised my Dad to be the man he is today.

17. Bongo

18. Christmas Juice

19. Grandpa's Stories.

20. Muggins/ all the games you would and do play with us.

21. The love you have for your family and most importantly your love of the Lord.

Happy Birthday. I hope you know how much I love you and care for you. Your life has been an inspiration to me and a guide. I love you so much. 

Places I Have Been

No kids to blog about. School is boring to blog about. No creativity here, so Emily gave me a list of like a million things I could write about. So I chose one for this week. Places that I have been. I have chosen just a few that have given me many sweet memories. Let's start with Wisconsin.

For years I begged my parents to let me visit my cousin and Aunt and Uncle in Wisconsin. Finally, the summer before my Senior year in High School they let me go. We went on a church history tour throughout the midwest. What a wonderful experience that was for me. I learned so much about the history of the Church and experienced things that many people will never have the opportunity. I will be forever grateful for that vacation. I will never forget how much my testimony grew that summer. Thanks to all that made that trip happen for me. 
Heath and I went to Puerto Vallarta on our honeymoon. It was so beautiful. We went snorkling, swimming, hiking, ate our meals in very nice restaurants and even experienced lock down during a hurricane. I had never been anywhere like that. What a fun way to start our lives together. Constant adventure!
Nauvoo. Beautiful. Inspiring. Historic. Colorful. Calm. Spiritual. Nauvoo. Need I say more? This place had such an impact on me. I will never forget all I learned there about the strong and faithful pioneers. 
And Lastly, England. My mother is from there and when I was in eighth grade she and dad took my sister and I to visit our Nana. We saw where my mom was born, where she lived when they went back after living in America. Where my Granddad went to art school- and met my relatives I have never met before. I am so grateful I was able to learn more about my mom and her family. This is Big Ben- the architecture in England and Scotland is incredible! Breathtaking really. 

This is just a few of the many places I have been- but the few that have impacted me in many ways. Thank you to all you helped me get there! I love you. 

What Would My Patronus Be?

So Tim, Emily, Annie, Jordan, Heath and I watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last night- great movie- while Em and I were wondering what our Patronus would be. I honestly don't know what mine would be- so I went to the internet. I took a quiz that determined what mine would be - it said I was a stag, like Harry Potter. That I have compassion and I care about my family.....brave, honest.....things that only a true gryffindor would be. (Smile). I don't know though. I was thinking a  fish or a lion. Haha. Any ideas??? Maybe a peacock. I have no idea, but I thought this would bring some nice comments. Tell me what you think my Patronus would be and what yours would be.

Baby Noah

I am the worst blogger in the world. I know- I am sorry. About a week ago, baby Noah and Stephani came to visit. We had such a good time. Annie was kind and let us borrow all her old baby gear, (carseat, pack-and-play, bibs, burb clothes, blankets, bowls, spoons, stroller) it was nice that Steph didn't have to fly with all that and her suitcase. We loved having her here. Dinner at Cafe Rio, movies, conference, visits, shopping, cuddling with Noah- fun fun. He was such a good baby- so happy and fun. I am so glad y'all got to come up we miss you!

Home in Oregon!

Last week I went home to Oregon with my sisters and their kids. It was a lot of fun. They spent a lot of time with Grumpa and Nana. Grumpa and Nana's house has a lot of fun things to do. Swimming, sand box, cows, picking strawberries and peas, sprinklers, play-dough, and much much more. Thanks to mom's new hard wood floor, the clean up from meal times was pretty easy. We spent time together, went shopping, worked in the garden, met up with some friends, it was a blast! Thanks mom and dad for the greatest home to go back to. So beautiful and so fun. Love you!

Summer Days

This, my dear friends, is something that one must have on a hot summer day. Given that it has been like 100 degrees here lately, a little Ben and Jerry's is where it's at. There are so many amazing flavors; chunky monkey, chubby hubby, chocolate chip cookie dough and much more. The best part about these individual cups are that they can be eaten in one sitting, or saved for many smaller sittings. I love ice cream! mmm.

Our Fourth

I apologize for no pictures sooner....I am having a little trouble with the camera. But for now I will just let you know what we did for the 4th. We went to Texas to celebrate and to see baby Noah for the first time. We took Jones family pictures, had a barbeque and watched the fireworks in New Braunfels. Joel brought a radio and we listened to the songs that fireworks went to. This, my friends, is my favorite part of that Holiday. (I am sure Heath could tell you how I kept cheering and clapping during the works). I love listening to the Patrioctic songs during the fireworks display. I am so grateful to live here in America, to be free to choose the way I live. Brooklyn did good this year- I guess last year the loud bangs of the fireworks scared her. The BBQ earlier that day was also a celebration of Jack's 1st birthday. He was adorable! Then on Saturday we went to SeaWorld in San Antonio. That was a lot of fun. The Sea Lion show was my favorite part. We saw so many beautiful creatures... Baby Noah was blessed on Sunday, then Nick and Steph hosted a wonderful lunch for all of us! Thanks Angie, Perry, Nick, Steph, Joel and Britni for letting us share that weekend with y'all!