Bidding Farewell to a Prophet

Tyler, Chad and Raegan in front of the

Conference Center at Temple Square

Today Chad, Raegan and Tyler had the opportunity to go and pay respect to President Hinckley. They went to the conference center to view the casket and see the memorial. As Chad and the kids left the conference center they went walking by the pulpit where President Hinckley has addressed us so many times before. Chad asked Tyler if he remembers President Hinckley speaking from that pulpit and he said, "Yes" and then his big, brown eyes filled with tears and then he said, "But he won't speak to us anymore." I don't know what is worse, Tyler crying or watching him fight back the tears. When I asked Raegan what she thought she just said, "It was peaceful". We were all supposed to go up as a family but unfortunately Kalli woke up this morning with Strep throat and Max had his eardrum burst. I am happy that those who went got to go and feel of his spirit.

It's the Little things...

Today I bought a new cereal. I don't usually buy marshmellow type cereals or high sugar cereals but today I saw the "Hot Wheels" cereal and I couldn't pass it up. I knew that Andrew would like them I did not realize he would LOVE them. He was so excited for this cereal he couldn't stop hugging the box and when it was time to put it away it had to go in a "very safe" place. After he had his cereal he said to me "mom, I love you!" It was worth every cavity!!!

A Boy and His Dog

No Cinders is not dead just patient!

I would like to introduce everyone to Cinders. Cinders is our 2 1/2 year old dog. She is a mix of black lab and german shepherd. We love Cinders!! (well WE doesn't include my husband all of the time, he claims he doesn't like her but you should see him LOVE her when he thinks I am not looking) Cinders is a great dog. She is extremely patient with the kids. She is an outside dog except for at night when it is freezing, I bring her in on a leash to sleep inside at night. Max has recently discovered cinders and he too adores her. He pets her and tries to climb on her, sometimes he pulls her hair and all Cinders will do is lick his face. SHE is a great dog!!

Snow Much Fun!!!

Sydney and Raegan couldn't stop laughing

even when they crashed.
Tyler was practicing his snowboarding skills on his sled.

It has snowed and snowed and snowed! I don't remember a Utah winter like this one. In all of my years here I have never seen so much snow. We have always had cold winters but the snow wasn't so abundant. We figure if its going to be cold we might as well have snow with it. I love the snow! My kids love the snow too. We have a great little hill on the side of our house in our backyard that the kids love to sled down. It's amazing that they never get sick of sledding. Come March if there is still this much snow I probably won't be nearly as happy but we'll enjoy it for now.

Happy Birthday Max!!!

Max loving his birthday sucker from our bishop
After his super yummy chocolate cake
A bath definately had to happen, he was such a mess!!

Today is Maxwell Allan Kerby's first birthday. I cannot believe a year has gone by since his birth. He was only two weeks old when my parents left for their mission. Max has truly been a blessing in our life. He is such a happy kid. Always pleasant and always smiling. He has been a joy in each of our family member's lives. It is fun to see my other kids associate with Max. They love him and their world revolves around this little tub of smiles. Tyler cannot wait untill Max wakes up, whether it be in the morning or after a nap, Tyler is the first one in his room anxious to get him out and love on him. Each child has a special relationship with Max. I love that kid so much and it is evident the part he plays in our family, we truly are blessed to have in our lives. Happy Birthday Max!

20 MORE DAYS...HOORAY!!!

I am sure you all can see my countdown for when my parents get home from their mission. We are down to 20 days...Hooray!!! We are sooo excited to have them back. Having them on their mission has been a blessing in so many ways. For my children to see what Grandma and Grandpa can do and are willing to do has been awesome. I can not believe all of the experiences they have had in New York. To hear that my mom actually went teaching with the sister missionaries is so cool and she has learned how to work on a computer (that in itself is a miracle). When she left she could barely send an email. My dad got to use his office skills and his budgeting skills to benefit the whole mission. The spiritual growth has been fun to watch. You should see the people they get to take to church. It has been a complete change of lifestyle for them, they are such great examples to our entire family and I am so proud of them for doing this. They have sacraficed the comforts of home, grandkids (one new one while they have been gone and one only two weeks old when they left) and daily routine. It has been a very blessed year for us to read their letters, see pictures and hear of their adventures. We are sooo excited to see them and have them back in our daily lives. The countdown goes on...

Chad in Atlanta

Well Chad came back after being in Atlanta for one week. The show in Atlanta is a huge, worldwide, wholesale show. I do not do well when he goes because when he is here he is SOOOO much help. I mean seriously he cleans, plays with the kids, cleans, puts kids to bed at night, cleans, did I mention that he cleans? He seriously picks up all my slack. The kids were really good while he was gone, it wasn't until the last two days that I started going nutty. Anyway in Atlanta he was able to go with our friend Jason (who is awesome because he volunteered to help Chad at the last minute when we were put in a bind) they went to the show for one week. Here are some highlights of the week for them. During that week they made lots of friends. While riding the train he made small talk with a lady and found out her husband had been recently killed...by the police. At the show him and Jason were "adopted" by an older couple who took them out to dinner. A lady from Texas who busted out the champagne everyday at 4:00 asked Chad if she could be his sixth wife (being from Utah-the whole multiple wives thing). Back on the train, Chad was able to get the people to sing row, row, row your boat in a round (for a $40.00 wager from Jason, keep in mind this is Atlanta not Provo) and finally I think they got everyone in their aisle to vote for Mitt Romney because they were "such nice mormon boys." But in the end Jason and Chad were able to give the couple who "adopted" them books of mormon with their testimony in them. Oh ya, and he sold a few pictures as well. All in all it was a very productive week. I am sure happy he is home!!!! (not just because he cleans)

Celebrate 2008!

Gabbi and Sydney celebrating the New Year.
Kalli and Dylan after the poppers went off.
Sydney still holding tight to her balloon, it was a long, fun night!!

Happy New Year everyone! We had our annual New Years Eve party and had a great time. Lots of decorations, good food, good friends and tons of kids. We played games, laughed and laughed and just really enjoyed everyone who came. We had my sister Stacey and Kirk and their family, Maren and Jason and their family, Shellie and Nick, Larry and Kami and their Kiddos and the Sautters showed up at the end. We really missed having Tara, Andrea and Ron and their family and of course we missed Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa always seems to be the LIFE of the party and it just wasn't the same without him, he will deffinately have to make up for it next year but only if he promises to play Taboo and to try and explain ballet dancing!! (you'll have to ask him)