May life

 In May lots happened, and here is a glimpse of the whirlwind month. Greg and I at Tucci's at Trolley Square. An Italian restaurant we've been meaning to go back to for years. It's where we went on our first date back in June of 2002. After we got there I realized we were sitting in the same booth! Our waiters name wasn't Leaf this time but it was fun to be back and reminisce. 

Creed has a love hate with soccer. Here's his team. He loves playing for the most part but sure complains when it's time to get ready and go to a game or practice. 

And our family after church one Sunday. And the last picture was the keeper! Greg pulling a face and I couldn't see him and didn't know till a few days later when I reviewed what we had. Good grief what a silly turkey I married. Ha! And one more picture of Jax and his buddy Gavin taking the flag down after church. All the Lorenzon brothers out there watching. One day they will get their turn.

And May is full of the end of the school year calendar items. Like the Tanner Dance Informances. Bodie and the 1st grade had a fun time being butterflies and Bodie even gave a piggy back ride. Then Creed in the 4th grade did some kind of Geometry dance with angles and stuff. He claims he doesn't like dance, but he sure smiled and seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself out there with his friends dancing and prancing and moving and creating.

 We also had my last Kindergarten performance. A friend in the neighborhood comes and does music for the kindergarten, for 3-4 years now. She volunteers because she thinks it's so important for the little kids to have music and singing. I agree and last year and this year with Bo and now Rafe the music is almost the same songs but I enjoy them all. And I tear up because it's so cute and sweet seeing and hearing all the little voices and especially knowing it's the end of their KG year. My Rafe boy was happy, singing, and smiling and I was front and center and loved it. 

The top corner picture is of Bodie's 1st grade performance. His was cute too. Always fun when they sing the french songs. :)

The Fun Run! I volunteer for this every year and love to be out there when all my boys run the mile on the field. And yes, when the kids come around with the cow bells ringing I have been known to tear up here little too. Luckily my sunglasses hide that little fact. I had to get a picture of Jax with one of his BFF's, Graydon (Caden was in it too) because I have a pic of them tired after they ran clear back in the 1st grade. Here they are in 6th - their last run. All grown up. Bodie was so proud of himself after he ran the whole thing. And then one day I stopped in his class to see his animal habitat displays all the students had. I found him while he was chill'n on his classrooms new seating options, bouncy balls, stools, soft pillows, etc.

And then the last day of school!! In May, before Memorial Day even! We have a little tradition of going to 7-eleven for Slurpee's with a bunch of friends. All my kids in the same school no more! What a great time of life!

Greg and I on a date night with the Unguren's and Wheeler's at an escape room place. We made it out of a Russian Roulette spy room. Wahoo! It was fun, I had been wanting to do one of these.

And then we ended the month with Memorial Day. Sunday evening we headed up to Lakeview Cemetery to visit my dad's grave, and grandparents, and uncle and we always run into cousins and aunts/uncles and Sunday is when they do their bagpipe ceremony. This year Jax turned into a flirt and got a Scottish pipe dancer girl's number. She was like 15 so I don't know why she gave a 12 year old her number but Jax was kinda being silly, obnoxious, and crazy showing off or something in front of his cousins so I put a stop to his wild behavior. Goodness! As we were leaving we couldn't find Bodie. Low and behold he was disguised on the bench chilling and waiting for us. Silly kid!

And a nice photography capture by Greg doing yard work - check out this Monarch Butterfly amoung my flowers.

March & April gone by

 March and April are days gone by and here is an overview to catch up! Greg did lots of skiing. His bosses came into town a couple times and always wanted to go hit the slopes. So poor Greg had to leave the office and ski a bunch.  Ha! There he is with his bosses Ben, and David. Oh and he went to Amsterdam again. 

We did a little spring skiing as a family. Beautiful day, warm, and slushy. And at one point I freak'n couldn't get Bodie's ski's back on after he caught the ice/slush and fell. I was so angry I couldn't stand it. So we sprawled out waiting for Greg to make it back down the mountain to help us.

 One March evening Uncle Chris called and said he had a surprise for the boys and to go outside. They were so excited they couldn't stand it. Chris knows how our boys love cars and are totally into them. He pulled up in an Audi R8 he borrowed. I had to hurry and ask Creed what it was. Sure enough he knew and was elated to hop in for a ride. We all got a ride. It was pretty cool I must say. Getting on the freeway in like 2 seconds. 0-60mph just like that! Fast cars are fun. I guess an R8 is one of the top 5 sports cars around.

Then Bodie had his Baptism preview with his primary class. They were cuddled and comfy with a blanket - just like the Holy Ghost is a comforter (Ruth, Henry, Bo, Eliza). And the boys were giving a group hug goodbye to Jax just before he left to go on his first Campout by himself (Little Sahara Dunes) for scouts. He was going to miss them, and they did miss him and asked when he'd be home while he was gone. Aw!

Field-trips! I went with Rafe to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, they played for a couple hours. Literally, that's all they do is "discover" and play. Ha! He loved it.

And then I went on a long day trip with Bodie, first to the new Utah M. of Nat.History (enjoying the views of SLC) and then walked next door and toured Red Butte Garden, it was cold and everyone was sooooo tired. But it was fun to go and do this while I can. :)

What else, I got a picture of Bodie waiting for Greg to fix something on his ipod and Bo was trying to look and peer through Greg's eye glasses. Ha! And then for 2 days in a row the boys were excited to wear all the same color. Jax in all blue, Creed red, Bo Green, and Rafe was left out so Bodie blocked him out. Selfie's by Creed with Rafe. And one Sunday I snapped a picture of Jax helping take down and fold the flag at the church. He loves being a deacon.

The top 3 pics are of the view I look out the window every morning. I watch my boys head off to school. They see me at the window and wave everyday. It's a tradition. It started because after they'd leave the driveway walking with the group, I'd check to see after they turned the corner if the older kids were walking with the little kids. (Specifically my Bodie and then Rafe this year). Jax noticed me, and then they all do and all wave. So cute. Won't last forever... 

And the bottom 2 pics are of the stink'n house being built behind us and STEALING our view of our Mt. Olympus and then our backyard privacy! It just kills me and makes me so sad and mad. Greg says he'd rather look at the nice house being built than the ugly thing that was there before. But I just hate that after almost 14 years of living here we are losing our spacious mountain view and a private back yard. Now someone will tower over us while we play or relax or entertain and in the fall we won't be able to see all the fall colors on that lower half of Mt. Olympus. From our windows we still see the granite peak, but I'm just sad. I already hate whoever will live there. And I'm not happy with our kitty corner neighbors the Thuerer's that are building the skyscraper to sell.

Oh and I can't forget that gigantic trampoline taking up our yard! Ha! Boy that is big. I was thinking we got a 12 ft. for x-mas. But this is a 14 ft. and it's hogging our grass area. But the boys sure love having it. 

 Like 6 months ago we got the whole family tickets to see Lion King. and it was at the new Eccles Theater. It was a great show. The boys all enjoyed it. Yay for Broadway!

And then one Saturday afternoon in April after soccer games we used our season passes we got for x-mas and went to Lagoon! Of course that was totally fun! Jax and Creed were able to ride the new Cannibal ride. They loved it! Were freaked out but will do it again and again.

I can't forget to mention Art Night at the boys elementary school. What a production. I was in charge again this year of getting all the art mounted and hung on the walls. (1600+) I have a lot of help and have to be organized for that task. It took a lot of hours and I am glad it's done. I love the art that is created.

On another Saturday in April Greg took the boys down to his grandparents Bangerter farm in Alpine to help work and do somethings to help. They boys had fun riding horses, cut a tree down, played with the chickens, climbed the hay in the barn and then went to g-ma Lorenzon's to hang out while Greg helped with sprinklers. And I got to stay home and grocery shop and relax in a quiet house.

Oh, and after many years discussing and then planning and budgeting and changing our minds from plan to plan. We started demo on our basement. We are going to change our current family room and make it Creed's bedroom. Then get rid of the basement kitchen and tear down a wall between it and our office to make an open area for a new family room. Then we'll move all the boys downstairs and put our office upstairs. You can see Greg in the new hallway and the wall to the new bedroom. We have a guy in our neighborhood building the wall for us. More on all this later - when it's done.

Easter Time

 On Saturday night the day before Easter we colored our eggs. Fun stuff, it gets cleaner every year.

 The boys are learning to keep their mom happy and not spill too much. Ha!

In the morn they searched for eggs and baskets. High and low, Bodie and Rafe both said since they are older the Easter Bunny hides the baskets harder -  uh, ok. So the bunny sure tried to hide them real good and difficult. 

Everyone opened the front closet and saw Rafe's all before he did. He was the first to find their basket. Bodie was next, with a little guidance from Jax was able to look under the golf clubs in Greg's office behind his desk to find his. He went in the office several times and never really "searched". I missed Jax finding his, so I made him reenact finding it in the ottoman. Clever, I didn't think he'd find his. And Creed was last again this year. We encouraged him after a while with our camera's pointing towards the TV cabinet. And I guess it's time to move because all the hiding places in this house have been used and found. The bunny is flat out of ideas.

 Rafe was happy to get the movie Trolls, Jax got the movie he's been wanting to see Fantastic Beasts, Creed got a new 4-square ball and a waterbottle holder for his bike, and Bodie got the picture version of Apples to Apples. Good thing because he loves to play the real one but can't read a lot of the words or doesn't know what they mean.

All enjoyed their chocolate. The candy has been scaled back again this year. Some of them aren't big candy eaters. Their cream soda's were gone at breakfast and I enjoyed my Cadbury mini-eggs. Greg stole the Lindt chocolate bunny I got. He owe's me.

I told Greg I wanted a family Easter picture when they are all dressed up in their ties. And he was trying to hurry and said we'll get it after church. (Grrrr) Jax was teaching his Deacons lesson at church and needed help setting the computer up. But, I did snap this picture of the rest of us.

When we got home, their clothes were half off and I never did get my Easter Sunday family picture.

That evening we went to down to Alpine and had dinner at Greg's parents house. We enjoyed learning and remembering about Jesus and the Resurrection this last week. And I have to share this picture Rafe did in primary and brought to sacrament meeting to show me. I had to label it all and smiled and just loved it! I love how he draws huge eyes and ears on all his people and how the legs are never attached. Ugh, so cute!

Baby Rafe is now 6!

 What the?! How is my baby 6 years old? What am I going to do? It really makes my heart sad that babies, toddlers, preschoolers, are no more in our family. I remember thinking one day Rafe will be like 6, and bam! Now he's there. 

Let me just take a minute to share a baby picture to remember how cute was. Ok, not just one, maybe 6 pictures. 

He was about 3 months in these pictures. As the baby of the family he got lots of attention from his older brothers. So much so, that he would get sick of them and scream and screech at them. We can't forget that. Mostly you'll notice it's always Creed by his side. Talk about a soft spot for babies.

6 months or so. I love his blue eyes.

 Maybe 8 months old here? Crawling around and I caught his funny face. Just being baby. Oh and a rug burn on his forehead from Creed playing with him.

And 16 months old here. His blonde hair! I loved it being so light. It still is sometimes. Sun bleached in the summer. But it certainly has gone darker.

His big day! He has been checking the calendar and asking how long until his b-day since last year. Truly. It's been a long year! Ha!

We walked through the store and he was looking at all kinds of toys he wanted. A lot of it was Power Ranger stuff. He was excited to open presents of course. He has been obsessed with the movie Moana - watches it everyday for a while now. Then he did get some PRanger stuff and a stomp Rocket thing and Sunday socks, & a 3DS game. He gave out suckers at school and was thrilled to go after school to pick his balloons. "Not Dan's, it has to be Zurcher's" -silly boy knows where the good balloons are.

Then we had grandparents over for pizza and cake/ice cream to celebrate. More presents!

He wanted a square cake and a round cake. At the store he was excited to get some "circle" cupcakes with Skylander theme on them. Phew, so now we needed a square cake. I talked him into a rectangle. Then he wanted a chocolate-chocolate cake. And I let him decorate it with writing his own name. I helped from part of the R and the rest of the letters. The frosting tube was tricky. And notice his smiley face up above his name. He was proud of that. And then Bodie took some pictures, here is one with my mom and me. Good job Bo.

Blowing out his candles. And Jax stuck the lighter back in there and lit another candle he already blew out. To blow again and Rafe didn't even notice. Jax was cracking up and thought he was so awesome and sneaky. (eye roll) Ha!

We sure love Rafe! Jax and Creed love to snuggle him. Sometimes he doesn't like that. His BFF savior of a brother is Creed. But, his buddy is Bodie. Jax is the best at always wanting to kiss him. He is my sidekick at home every afternoon. He loves kindergarten and talks about it. He always wants to have one of his friends Kaiser or Jonas over to play. He loves watching and pausing Transformers and rewinding and watching again and again. He'll have me come over to look at the picture on the paused screen because he thinks it's a cool action shot. And yes, he is always jumping and prancing around playing. When he plays video games by himself he will pause it for like 10 seconds, then run and jump a couple times, then play some more. Talk about quirky! He is a good eater, and is currently wanting Peanut Butter and J (as he calls it) everyday with Frito's. He loves cereal and hamburgers. We read together every day after kindergarten. I know I will miss these times. He can be so great. And then there's the times he can be a pill. Or gets so mad if I have to run an errand or run to the school for something. We are working on his temper and being kind. His teachers all love him! And he loves to just play around me at a park instead of going and playing.

I could go on and on. Greg said he loves how Rafe comes and asks for him to tickle him. Jax loves his little hugs and Creed said he loves how he runs and when he gets so silly and excited. Bodie is already in bed so I can't ask him. But I'm sure he'd say he loves walking Rafe to his line at school.

Reno for Spring Break!

 We had a looooong spring break this year. 9 days. The first few days we took a quick trip to Reno, NV. To visit my brother Drew and Alecia and family and cousin Noah was getting baptized. Greg was still in Amsterdam so we had to wait for him to fly home early first. He picked up a rental van at the airport and drove home to load us up and then we headed out west for our 7 hour drive that took longer. He didn't have much sleep, but surprisingly stayed awake for the drive. I helped drive some, but he was a trooper and did most of it.

The boys always love getting a van for trips. We stopped at the Bonneville Salt Flats to get some pictures and see it. Greg snapped a picture of the fiasco of me trying to get the boys hold their hands at the same height for a picture. It was short and fun.

  8+ hours later... we arrived in Reno. My mom had a Worldmark condo for us (one for the Cam/Amy Williamsen's too)  right downtown. The next morning we walked around the riverwalk and saw parts of Reno. The kids all having fun. Then we drove to the Temple on our way to Drew and Aleica's house in Sparks, NV. It was a chilly day.

 We visited with each other and my mom wanted some pictures of her grandkids with these shirts in their age order. Kinda fun. The Lorenzon boys were all in black, Cam/Amy's kids in red and Drew/Alecia's in the blue.

Alecia's family came into town as well, so there was always a large group of people at their house. The Williamsen side cousins didn't get to "bond" as much as we would have liked, too many other cousins there. Hopefully next time. We rarely get to see Drew's family.

(LtoR. Liam, Jax, Erin, Creed, Jonas, Owen, Noah, Bodie, Reagan, Rafe, Laney, Shelby)
 

That night we were going to hit up a Casino Buffet, but they were more $ than we thought, so we decided to try Hash House A-Go Go. They serve Giant size plates of food. Oh boy, we got a kick out of our food. Creed's ribs, my sage Waffle Chicken and Jax's massive red velvet pancake! Fun time with my mom and the Williamsen's (Cam/Amy).

We walked the happen'n city night life back to the condo. Taking some selfie's. My favorite of the whole trip - the girls in Reno! (me, g-ma April, Erin, and Amy) And my mom got a picture of us taking our family selfie.

On Saturday morning before the baptism we drove the 45min. to go see the famous Lake Tahoe. It did not disappoint. Gosh, it was spectacular. So pretty. It was luckily warmer this day. We stopped at Sand Harbor Beach and touched the very clear water. And the boys threw sticks and rocks in. We drove up around the north end through Incline Village and made a quick stop at a park and took some pictures and the boys threw in the largest pine cones I've ever seen. They were huge! And sharp, a few cuts too. Then we drove on out the California side via Truckee and back to Reno. It was nice little visit. So glad we saw it.

 We enjoyed Noah's baptism and then food back at their house. Amy captured the pic of us all busy on our phones, instead of visiting. Ha! I put a picture of Drew, Alecia, and kids because we were there for them and I didn't get many pictures. So there they are after the baptism. (kids L to R Laney, Noah, Jonas, and Shelby) 

We were really bummed Amy and Karl couldn't come. Their dog Chewey got sick right before so they had to cancel and not come out to Reno. We'll have to wait a little longer to get a new Williamsen family picture taken.

Sunday morning we packed up and left Reno to drive the long drive home. 7 hours isn't too bad. At least this time our computer DVD player was working. Phew! The drive through Nevada was actually quite pretty, and the sky! And then coming down a hill and seeing the Salt Flats and the turquoise water was gorgeous too!

Home sweet home! Now we still had an entire week - 7 days of spring break! Ugh! And it was cold and wet and we didn't have much to do. I did get a stack of movies from the Library. Jax was so mad and sad that Beth dies in Little Women, and Laurie marries Amy?! What the? Stink'n Jo! (he he) They all enjoyed that movie.

-A side note: Jax left his library Harry Potter book in the rental car, and they "lost" it so he had pay a $30 fine at the library! Wowee! I think he learned his lesson.

What's been happen'n?

 February came and went. We have stuff going on every week and can't wait for the weekends. Greg has been busy at work, bosses in town, skiing with them, hiring and interviewing, working hard, , I've been busy with the school community council (that I'm on) meetings - there's a lot of drama and concern with the 6th graders moving to jr. high and the French DLI program not having the same 6th grade half day you get in elementary school, I'm just waiting and crossing my fingers my boys still get what they need to continue along for their AP test in 9th grade to start taking college credits in high school. We're in it for the long haul. And the boys have been in a new semester at school and we are all wishing spring would get here quick!

The beginning of the month Greg found out one of his good old buddies committed suicide. There he is with him just before we got married. Greg was close to Scott Hawker back then and was good and staying in touch over all these years and recently had lunch with him. We were obviously shocked. We went to his funeral. He never married so at least he's not leaving a family behind.

We got to babysit Greg's cousin Ranae Bell's little baby Julia! That was so fun. She is the most darling baby girl! The boys LOVED her. Bodie was attached and couldn't get enough. I LOVED watching my boys interact with her and try to hold her and play. It was all so cute. Rafe really wants to adopt now and keeps talking about it. Like how we'll need a crib, and need the money to "buy" a baby as he said. Ha! He's so funny. I would love to adopt a baby girl! They all want a sister. Rafe was quite hopeful for a while until we sat him down and explained the how's and why's and what we are and are not going to do. :)

Then there's Creed decorating cupcakes at the Blue and Gold scout banquette (we did cupcake wars). And for literacy week Bodie was dressing up as a favorite character. He was so excited when he asked to be Pooh bear. I think my quick thrown together costume left him feeling a little let down. Oh well. His mom isn't super amazing, just kinda amazing. Ha! We gave Creed a jacket and a blue shirt and his character was Percy Jackson.

 I was able to go down to Utah Valley Univ. to see the older boys compete in the UVU French Dual Immersion Fair. A few schools were in it and Morningside won! Like really won! It was fun to be back in that school. I lived down there across the street for 2 years and had church/institute and my one class there. And my roomies all went there so I felt it was my school as well.

Creed with all of his friends at lunch and then Creed and Jax both doing their impromptu speeches in french. The did good! I'm glad I was able to go and see them.

And the one picture is me relaxing this week with my feet up. Wasting time looking at Instagram instead of folding all the laundry out on the chairs. And I was enjoying my "new" living room. We got rid of the old and got a new rug, ottoman, and chairs.

I check on my little boys every night before I go to bed. I love seeing them peaceful and sleeping. See Rafe snoozing away... and when I saw Bodie I went for the camera. Ha! His hand was outside his underwear at least. What is it with men/boys just sticking their hand down their pants!

And Greg's cousin Shane's daughter got married. We went down for the wedding and dinner and reception stuff. Greg and I doing a selfie at the Payson temple with the bride Stephanie in the back ground. And then bff cousins Chad and Shane Bangerter with Greg.

V-day & 6th grade

Leading up to Valentine's Day... we celebrated February b-days in Alpine with Greg's family. In the picture Bodie was being silly and visiting with Great g-ma Bangerter. And I captured this amazing sunset one evening! Wowza! 

For V-day boxes, Bodie really wanted a Minecraft pig. So we tweaked Creed's old box and added some pink pig stuff. Rafe made a bag in class, Creed used his old v-day iPhone box thing and Jax actually used his first box ever from 1st grade. Just a black and white with red and hearts on it. Creed has used it and so has Bodie. And one of them added some Ninjago stuff on it. Jax thought it would be a hoot to reuse it now. It's changed some over the years but still in working order. No pictures of theirs, oops.

 I helped with the last part of Rafe's V-day class party and then we headed to Bodie's 1st grade party. But before all that.... first thing in the morning I volunteered to help with the 6th Grade Dance!

That was the funnest being a fly on the wall, or a mom on the stage looking on. Ha! Jax and his group of friends are the best! They were like the life of the party. They have made up at recesses a little routine dance and I asked them to do it so I could film it. So fun of them! They all dressed the best and looked so sharp!

They only danced ballroom for 2 dances with girls. The rest of the hour was fun music and free dancing with friends. And food of course.

 Safe to say that Jax, Caden, Graydon, Henry, Jack, & Steven are ready for jr. high next year. So grown up. I didn't capture a picture with his other group of best friends? The ones he walks to and from school with and plays with after school and weekends in our ward. Another time I guess. 

The whole thing was fun memories for Jax! I remember my 6th grade dance, we had been learning dances and had dance cards and were to dress up. I actually ended up not going to school on Valentine's day. My mom was so nice and let me stay home. I had NOTHING to wear (literally no dress I liked or that fit or was in style, I hated the one big pink sweater outfit I wore to church - I needed some serious shopping) and the day before I realized I goofed up on my dance card and double booked a dance and I felt so bad and knew it would be a problem during that dance. - Problems solved by skipping school that day. :)  Ha!

All Skiing!

 Our whole family of 6 can ski now. All of us! Rafe finished up his refresher classes (2 afternoon times after kindergarten got out) and we all went on the mountain together. We have passes to Brighton so we tried night skiing and LOVED it! Bodie kept asking when will it get dark, we watched the sky get darker as the sun went down and the lights came on. 

Rafe did so good. He was a little nervous at first, but then realized part way down the mountain that "he's got this" and now even tells us how good he is. He picked up fast and now we all get to be together. For years we've been leaving younger ones with a babysitter while we all skied. We've been waiting for this day. It's weird that it's here.

There we are, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6! We love it!

Bodie is so sweet with Rafe, he was always making sure to encourage him and would extend his pole for Rafe to grab so he could "pull" him along on the flatter parts or yell for us to wait for Rafe. Greg did split off and take the 2 older boys down the bigger runs a few times. He likes to be able to show and help them with different skills and of course going faster. I mosey down the mountain with my little boys.

And the favorite part was getting hot cocoa in the lodge!

Yay for years to come! A family that plays together, stays together!

Janvier

Catching up on the blog. Here is the rest of our January - or Janvier in French...

***Sledding*** 

A tradition with Greg's family is going sledding on New Years Day. This year that was a Sunday so we went on Monday instead. Up at our Churchill Jr. high. The boys had fun. And then we ran over to Barbacoa to eat some lunch with everyone. We don't go sledding nearly enough. When I was little we'd go all the time, anytime and would just walk. But with us because we have to drive somewhere it just doesn't happen very often.

More stuff... I was teaching Webelo's (Creed's cub-scout class) and Bodie and Rafe were playing around. They were just a little distracting being a horse. Ha!

Then on the night of my birthday I went over to a friends house who was throwing an Indian food and movie night. I love Indian food, so I was in heaven and enjoyed a girls night in with friends and neighbors (Cynthia, Tiara, Mindy, Rebekah, and me). And the next night Greg went with Jax on his first campout. They went up near Heber somewhere for the Klondike Camp and slept in cabins. It was fun for them and less worry for me, the mom. ;)

Jr. Jazz has taken over all of our Saturdays since December. But it's finally over. Jax and Creed had fun. Creed's team never won. But he still had fun and Creed was on fire this year! Meaning, he was an awesome player. The best at defense, like all over it. And he'd get lots of shots up, and most wouldn't go in, as with his whole team. But he sure had fun and made the game fun to watch. Me and a few of the parents would joke that their team was cursed with not making baskets.

I got to go with Rafe on a field trip to the Aquarium! That was fun. He loved the sharks! The 2 pictures here are ones Rafe took. He was proud of them.

And to finish off the month...

I thought I'd take a morning nap one Sunday before church. Greg was downstairs in the office preparing a talk or lesson or something and I woke up to this stuffed animal mess. That's what I get for napping while the boys played. Ha! And I got a new rug for our living room. And you can see Greg tickling Bodie on the blue couch. The little boys are cute, they will ask Greg to tickle them and make them laugh.

 Creed and his friend Tanner Gasik did their science project together. Freezing different liquids to see what freezes first (soda). And Jax and Gavin did their hearing a certain pitch vs. age project and actually won! Congrats to them. 

And then Bodie's photography skills he took a picture of his fish. He got the glo-fish for x-mas and then we finally went and got a few catfish and a snail too. The snail is on top of Gary's shell with all the other fish in the back ground. He was pleased with himself for getting them all in the shot. The snail did the opposite of what we got it for (Cleaning algae). It totally smeared up and made the tank all dirty and gross. Then it died a couple weeks later. Good riddance to Mr. Bob.

14 Awesome Years!

 We've been married for 14 years! It has been an awesome 14. I love that I was lucky enough to meet Greg and fall in love when I did, the way I did. I love our love story. We always enjoy reminiscing.

Like this day in October of 2002. It was Gen. Conf. weekend we had already told each other over the phone 2000 miles apart that we love each other. Then decided, over the phone, to get married. After a few weeks apart he flew home to Salt Lake from Baltimore for the weekend and we went ring shopping. And I met the rest of his family for the first time and he met my parents and here we are enjoying the views from Bountiful Blvd. just before going to my parents house where he asked my dad if he can marry me. Minutes after just meeting. Fun stuff.

This was our first "selfie" - before a selfie photo was a thing. Ha! And before I had a digital camera.

Thanksgiving weekend 2002 Greg flew back to SLC and my engagement ring was finally ready. So Greg made a bunch of plans to officially ask me to marry him. He borrowed my car while I was at work and he borrowed a generator and hundrends of white x-mas lights. Drove up towards East Canyon to a spot where they play BBGun wars and a friend or two help him set it all up for me to arrive after a romantic dinner.

We ate at Cafe Molise downtown and then headed up the canyon on a drive. We parked in the dark snow covered section off the side of the winding highway road. Greg blind folded me and carried me so I wouldn't have to traipse through the snow. And set me down and started a loud generator and then music. The song "With or Without You" by U2 was playing and I took off the blind fold and there was Greg down on one knee. We were both circled by all the bright lights. It was so cool and so romantic. I said yes of course and he put the ring on my finger. I was so excited to see it! I had been waiting. I designed it and it was neat to see it all complete and pretty. I remember thinking how heavy it was on my finger. And thinking, oh boy, what have I done, I have to wear a heavy ring the rest of my life. Ha! I totally got used to it and it's a piece of me now. I feel naked without my ring on. Never had to worry about it being too heavy. We set the timer and had the camera on a rock or log or something. So it's not the best picture. But it captures the lit up woods and our happy faces.

 Then on 0 2, 0 1, 0 3  (as Greg would say - 2 people becoming 1 in marriage and 3 representing our future growing family) we were married! This picture below is funny. It shows how silly my husband can be. He was walking all funny. Just to be funny.

And six months later in our first home, our apartment in Royal Farms/Cottonwood Heights area, Greg and I were bored and being silly one day. We dared each other to go out and get our mail dressed in one another's clothes. Ha!

Lot's of fun memories, lots of laughs, lots of babies/children, some arguments and some disagreements, but still the best of the best! I love being married to Greg and I love our marriage.