I Love To See The Temple...

I thought this was so cute! Raegan painted this picture of the Arizona Temple in acheivement days last week. Her teacher printed off pictures of the girls favorite temples and then gave them a canvas to paint the temple on. I think Raegan's was right on. No one else in her group did the AZ temple, most of them painted the Salt Lake or St. George. But she informed me that the AZ temple is definately her favorite.

The passing of Grandma LaRue

Yesterday my dear, sweet 96 year old grandma passed away. Ruby Ann LaRue. I am so grateful for the legacy she has left. She was my last living grandparent, so this is somewhat bittersweet. I can only image the reunion she has had on the other side. My grandpa went for a walk about 17 years ago and never returned. We have never know what happened to grandpa. Now grandma knows!!! I am so grateful that I was able to visit with her so recently. In fact I was able to spend the afternoon with her the day before she passed. What a comforting feeling knowing that she is in a much better place. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of our Heavenly Father's Plan. The funeral will be down in AZ this next week. Chad and I and the kids are planning on traveling to AZ for the funeral and for the memorial they will be doing for my grandpa as well. I am grateful for the life grandma lived and that my kids were able to have a love and relationship with her too.

THE ABC's OF ME

My cute niece Bryndee tagged me! THE ABC's OF ME

A - Attached or single: Attached

B - Best friend: I don't really have one, I've got lots of great friends.

C - Cake or pie: Moist, rich, yummy, chocolate cake!!!

D - Day of choice: Friday...Date night!!!

E - Essential item: Lip gloss

F - Favorite color: yellow, red

G - Gummy bears or worms: worms

H - Hometown: Pleasant Grove, UT (originally Mesa, AZ)

I - Indulgence(s): chocolate fudge brownie anything!!!!

J - January or July: july...swimming, BBQs, fireworks, family

K - Kids: 6 L - Life is incomplete without: My Family

M - Marriage date: April 29

N - Number of siblings: 4, Leslie, Stacey, Tara, Andrea

O - Oranges or apples: BOTH

P - Phobias or fears: children hurt or kidnapped

Q - Quotes: "In all of living, have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." President Gordon B. Hinckley

R - Reason to smile: funny things my kids say and do

S - Season of choice: Fall, I love the crisp air and the leaves

T- Tag three friends: Lindsay, Amy Jo, Staci

U - Unknown fact about me: I want to be a runner someday, I want to feel that "runners high"

V - Very favorite store: Kohls, Banana Republic, Target

W - Worst habit: I am an emotional eater, if I am stressed I start baking treats like crazy!!!!

X - X-ray or ultrasound: Ultrasound, way more fun than an x-ray

Y - Your favorite food: Peanut Butter M&Ms, Carrabas Pollo Rosa Maria

Z - Zodiac sign: piecies (the fish)

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Yesterday was my birthday.

I first woke up to a cute sign that my hubby and kids made. Then when I walked in our living room they had also put up another sign that said "Mom is the heart of our family" and had covered the walls with hearts that said words on them to represent me. It was very sweet. I have a great family!!! Then I got to go to lunch with my mom and my sister. We went to Rumbi grill and it was delicious. Then Chad surprised me with tickets to the Rascall Flatts concert for that night. Kelly Pickler opened for her (we are HUGE American Idol fans, so seeing Kelly was very cool. Chad has actually talked to her on his cell phone but that is another story for another day). We went to dinner at Black Angus first and then met up with our friends Mark and Raelene for the concert.

It was a great day and even a better night.

Visiting Grandma

Chad and Max having a nice laugh with Grandma LaRue

My Grandma LaRue is 96 years old and lives just south of Salt Lake. We don't get to see her as much as I would like but we did last night. We took the kids up to her care center and visited with her for family home evening. We had a nice time with her. It was hard to leave, she wanted so badly for us to stay, but as we visited with her it made me realize what she has seen and been through in her life.

Tyler and Sydney with Grandma

My Grandma has been without my Grandpa for over 20 years. I don't know how many of you know this but my Grandpa dissappeared when he was 81 years old. He went on a walk (they lived out in the desert) and we never heard from him again. There has never been a trace of him since. That was a very difficult time for our family, especially Grandma. I can't help but think that she is ready to see him again and find out what happened to him. She is a lovely woman who I admire and respect. I am grateful my children have had the chance to get to know their Great Grandma. She truly is a righteous example and role model to our family.

I love you Grandma!!!

Raegan, Grandma LaRue and Kalli

We Went To Disneyland!!!

Waiting to get into Disneyland, We did arrive an hour early since the kids got up at 5:30am ready to go for the day.
We really loved California Adventure, Raegan, Kalli and I loved the "Screamin" roller coaster in the back ground.
They were like a bunch of monkeys at the front gate, eager and ready for their day in the park.
Chad not feeling so great on the teacups!!!

(notice it's him on this ride and not me)

The kids all got Disney hats for their suveniers.

Max hung out in the stroller most of the time

but didn't seem to mind to much. Tyler and Kalli seemed to be best buddies on this trip...I love that!!!

We just got back from a great little getaway for our family. We went to Disneyland!!!! This was our kids very first time going. Chad got asked to speak at a fireside about 10 minutes from Disneyland so we decided instead of him flying out to California all by himself we would drive out and get to go to Disneyland. It was kind of a last minute trip but well worth it. We had a blast. I love family vacations because it makes me remember why I have so many kids and why they are so close in age. They really do LIKE each other. They get along and they really have a great time together. It makes me love them that much more. We did a two day park hopper pass and went on Monday and Tuesday and then drove back Wednesday, so just a quick trip but well worth it. (unfortunately we didn't get the chance to hit the Riki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki room, sorry Kayola) The coolest things kept happening to us. On our first day there we were given by the Disney employees these special passes called "dream pass" and they let us get on every ride without waiting in line, I guess they only give out about 50 "dream passes" a day and we were lucky enough to get them. Cool things like that kept happening to us. My daughter Raegan turned to me and said "mom, disneyland really is a magical place isn't it." We really had a great time!!!!

For us, this week Disneyland really was the happiest place on earth!!!

Sydney and Cutie Pie Kerby

Sydney enjoying her ice cream with Cutie Pie

"Are we there yet? Are we getting closer? How do you know how to get there? Are we there yet, huh, huh, huh?" Sydney got to go to Build a Bear Workshop yesterday for her "mom date". We take our kids on individual dates with either Mom or Dad. (This time grandma got to come too) It was Sydney's turn and she had only one thing in mind...Build a Bear. The other kids usually choose lunch and a movie or shopping or whatever but not Sydney she was determined to find her new buddy who has been WAITING for her to come and get her. Meet CUTIE PIE KERBY. Yes we now have a stuffed dog to add to our troops. She absolutely loves Cutie Pie! Then we topped off our date with ice cream at Coldstone. It was complete! One very successful date!

I have been tagged!

Well I have been tagged by my good friend Stephanie. I am supposed to answer questions regarding the "Love of my Life". So what a better time to do this than on Valentines Day...
What is his name? Chad

How old are you? 31 years old

Who said I love you first? He did!!!!!

How long did you date? Chad and I dated for not very long. We were REALLY good friends for a couple of months, then he kissed me and held my hand on the same night and 11 days later we were engaged.

How old is he? 34 years young

Who can sing better? Definately him!

Who is smarter? That totally depends on what we are talking about...School smarts he is, everything else, I am

Who does the laundry? Well that depends if he is in desperate need of a white shirt or if he can't find black socks. It usually is me though!

Who does the dishes? I do, I wish he did them more but he helps in other ways!! (like the laundry)

What are his guilty pleasures? He loves sunflower seeds and peanut butter m&ms and anything BYU!!!

Who sleeps on the right? I do, well if you mean when you are facing the bed.

Who mows the lawn? He does but he is teaching Tyler how to do it this spring (now if you were asking about shoveling snow, that would have to be me)

Besides you, who is his best friend? Jason Checketts and Brian Jones

Who cooks dinner? ME! (well occasionally he will make spaghetti, once he made enchiladas)

Who drives? He does

Who is more stubborn? Again that depends, if we are not so happy with each other he always gives in first and I am the stubborn one but in most cases I am the easy going one.

Who kissed who first? He kissed me first (it took him long enough my mom was beginning to wonder if he was gay!) He says that he was waiting untill he knew that I was the ONE because he did not want to hurt me in any way! What a good guy!!!!

Who asked who out first? Staci my sister in law set us up on a date.

What was your first date? We went on a double date with his sister Sharon and her husband Jason. We went to a haunted house and then to Swensons for ice cream. Jason, Sharon and I ordered huge sundaes with whip cream and hot fudge pouring over the edges and Chad ordered a fat free small scoop of vanilla yogurt. He had been hanging out with his health freak sister Staci too much. Sharon was very angry at him for ordering that and making me look like a PIG!

Who proposed? He did

Who has more siblings? He does, he has 9 and I have 4

Who wears the pants? I say he does and he says I do, so I guess we share them...

What is your favorite thing about him? Chad has the ability to turn any situation into a positive one. He is always looking for the good no matter how crappy it may seem. He is always complimenting me on whatever I am doing or even how I look (sometimes it's like OK sure, whatever I do not look THAT good with out make up and in my sweats, get real!) He makes people feel like they are a million bucks!!!! Very people oriented! He is super social and loves everyone, can find good about everyone. He is an amazing father and makes each child feel special and loved. I truly love this man!!!!!

K, Now I tag... Andrea, Leslie, Kelly, Maren, Becky and Amy Jo

Might as well make the most of it...

Kalli and her friends inside and on top of their snow tunnel
Raegan coming out of her cave, it's actually quite a

bit bigger than it looks.

Even though I am getting quite sick of the snow my kids are still loving it! This past weekend they spent every spare moment outside building snow caves and tunnels. They had a blast! Plus it made them extremely tired by the end of the day (we love extremely tired kids, makes for early bedtimes). Kalli and her friends loved working on a tunnel that went clear through and Raegan kept digging in her snow cave, it got big enough that when she went inside she could sit straight up. She had visions of a kitchen and storage room in there too but she pooped out to soon.
Don't tell the kids but I would be ok if the sun came out and just melted it all away.

Happy Birthday Tyler and Raegan

Raegan and Tyler just after they blew out their candles (don't laugh at the pathetic looking cake it tasted good!)
And of course we had to get a picture of messy Max who just loves chocolate cake.

At our house birthdays seem to come in twos. This month is Raegan and Tyler's birthdays. Tyler's was on the 9th of February, he turned 7 and Raegan's is on the 12th she will be turning 10. So tonight we celebrated both of them with birthday cake and ice cream and of course grandma and grandpa. They each got to have their individual parties with their friends earlier in the week. It is amazing to me how time flies. These kids are growing up way to fast. I still can't believe that I have kids of my own when I still feel like a kid myself!!! Happy Birthday Tyler and Raegan!

The missionaries have returned!!!

Max and Grandpa got to know each other really quickly
The girls were happy to have Grandma back!
The boys were very pleased to be by Grandpa!
Andrew was nose to nose with Grandma most of the night he did not want to let her go!

YEAH! Tonight we got to see my mom and dad. They surprised us by coming home a few days early. We found out they were coming today but didn't tell our kids. We had the kids all in the living room in a family council when Grandma and Grandpa walked in. The kids were thrilled (as was I) to see them. They looked great! The kids were so excited and so wild (lots of screaming and giggling) Andrew never wiped his grin off of his face. Little Max even warmed right up with no hesitation. We are so excited and grateful they are home safe and sound. My dad said it was one of the hardest years but one he would never trade.

WELCOME HOME ELDER AND SISTER LARUE!!!

Pleasant Grove...Feeling the Effects of Global Warming

Our neighbors house, the view from our front walk way. That retaining wall is about 7 feet tall.
This is our car, keep in mind that Chad drove it just an hour before this picture was taken.

Today our Stake President cancelled church for our entire stake. The snow just keeps on coming. It has been snowing every other day since before Christmas. (Though yesterday for President Hinckley's funeral it was an absolutely beautiful, sunny day) Church in this area hasn't been cancelled for 20 years. So needless to say we are having church at home (kind of). We are making all of the kids give a talk, much to their grumbleing and complaining. The hardest thing about not going to church is that it is fast sunday and being in a houseful of kids who think they need to eat because they are awake is a challenge in itself.

Prophetic Passing

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley

Prophetic Passing

I imagine he's running to Marjorie now,

Yes, running, not waving his cane.

I see him embracing his father and mother

While they keep repeating his name.

I see him now meeting his forebears,

Brother Brigham and Joseph are there.

Sweet reunion of prophets, united by service

That only such noble men share.

I see him embraced by the Savior

While Father says, "Good and well done.

So faithful in stalwart endurance,

I welcome My noble, most excellent son."

I then hear the ripples of laughter

As he says the reception's just fine,

But he hopes that he'll get an assignment or two

Since there's no need to waste any time.

I can hear his clear voice in the stillness

At the close of this sweet Sabbath day,

Have faith and move forward — there's work to be done.

President Hinckley would want it that way.

Anna M. Molgard

January 27, 2008