Before we left for Virginia we were watching Mousse. She went a little crazy in our washroom.
Watching a late night BYU football game with little man.
Got this cool fruit from the grocery store that was actually pretty good!
Aquarium
Girls night avacado facials.
Walkin the dogs to the park.
We surprised the kids with a trip to Virginia! They thought that just I was going for my brother's wedding. A few weeks before the trip I had found 90% off plan tickets so Zac and I decided to all go. We surprised them the morning of the trip. There's a video below.
James absolutely loved the airplane ride. Everyone traveled really well.
We had a couple long layovers but the kids kept entertained on the move-along things at the airport.
James however decided not to listen to me and pulled his hand out of mine and ran off and biffed it on the end of one. Smack. Right on the big piece of metal at the end.
At one of the kiosks at the airport this nice asian lady put pretty things in the girls' hair.
Grandma and Granpa's house! They were kind enough to be ok with us bringing our whole crew as well as my sister's family, and three of my siblings. It was a full house but it was awesome.
Dad sat the kids down the first day and laid out some ground rules.
The cousins had so much fun playing together.
Rachel made a beautiful art piece for Aunt Carrie at the airport.
Watching Star Trek with Grandpa.
Little composers made up songs.
Some of my fondest views from our house.I had quite a blessed childhood to grow up in such a beautiful place.
The day of the wedding! One of my best friends Carrie Uffelman, whom I've known since second grade ended up marrying my brother Loren! It's a long story and I had better document it now before I forget some of the details.
So Carrie and I had played on the same soccer team and went to the same elementary school, Henderson. Over the years we became good friends and played almost every sport imaginable together. My junior year I transferred high schools and went to the new one that had just been built, Forest Park. She stayed at Hylton. After that we didn't see each other much and even less after we both graduated. About ten years or so later I connected with her on facebook and decided to send her a Book of Mormon. Not just any Book of Mormon but one that I had intended to give her when I was five. We had been challenged at Church to give a copy to one of our friends and talk to them about the Church. I had chickened out at the time and every time I thought of it afterwards. I was scared she would think I was weird or pushy and wouldn't be my friend anymore. Well, twenty years later I felt prompted very strongly that I should send it to her. So I did and included a picture of us as kids and I wrote my testimony in the inside cover. The next day after I sent it she posted on facebook "People are weird." I was like "Oh no. She meant me." Turns out she didn't and she ended up messaging me and thanking me for sending it to her. Later she posted that she wanted to take a trip somewhere so I invited her out here to Utah. She came! And then came back, and back. One one trip she said that she wanted to go snowboarding so I did some match-making scheming and suggested to Loren that he take her. When she came back the next summer for the four-wheeling sand dunes trip they started dating and things took off from there. I couldn't be happier for Loren and Carrie and knew they would be perfect for each other. We wish them all the happiness in the world!
The bride getting ready :)
My Mom, the amazing seamstress that she is. Sewed vests for all the men and boys and dresses for all the little girls. They were amazing.
My awesome sister Michelle and her family.
My brothers Loren and Kenric.
Our old bishop, Bishop Mattingly married them.
James was a stinker during the ceremony and ended up spilling water all over my dress.
Rachel was so excited to hold Carrie's train.
He had an acorn top on his head.
Pretty Sarah.
James and his buddy Aunt Jennifer.
Very delicious catered dinner.
My goofy brother :)
James was a fan.
Fun impromptu dance party on the deck.
I know it's really dark but this is Michelle and Jason.
Mom and Dad?
Anne helping Grandma play postlude in Relief Society.
Grandpa gave the kids a tour of all the pictures in his den.
And let them try on his flight helmet. Very cool.
It was a little heavy :)
Zac and Anne taking a nap together.
Cousin playtime.
We also celebrated my Dad's 70th birthday with a surprise party and gift.
We collected memories about Dad from relatives and friends and compiled them and pictures in a book.
He read them to us that night. It was very touching and funny to hear all the kind stories everyone had about my Dad. What an example I have of kindness and generosity.
Scrabble night.
Another big reason we wanted to take the kids to VA was so that they could see DC. There is just so much history there that we couldn't pass up this oppurtunity to teach our kids.
My handsome man.
We only had time to see a few places but one of them was the Natural History museum. Sarah loved the triceratops.
James loved all the dinosaurs.
I loved all the rocks and minerals :)
Rachel and Anne loved the butterflies outside of the art museum.
Watching the opening credits of Top Gun with the speakers turned way up with Grandpa.
Oh the airplane ride home. Not my favorite memory. On the way to the airport I started throwing up and continued until we got to Denver. On the plane they had to have a nurse come and take my vitals. I was so embarrassed. But also a sweet lady came and sat next to me while Zac had to get up and put her hand on back and said "I'm sorry you're not feeling well honey." To which I replied "Thanks." Then she asked "Can I pray for you?" I said "Yes, that would be great." She asked "Do you know Jesus?" And I said "Yep." They she proceeded with saying a sweet prayer asking Heavenly Father to bless me that I might get better and that my stomach would heal and that I would be able to help my sweet family get home." I had tears streaming down my face and was blown away by her kindness. There are many truly wonderful, kind people in this world. When we reached Denver I could barely walk and Zac helped me over to a spot on the floor and there I slept for about four hours (we had a nine hour layover). Zac was a saint and looked after the kids and the kids were angels. Needless to say we made it home.
Shark Head :)
The kids love raking up and playing in the leaves.
Our pumpkin harvest.
The kids dutifully sat out in front of our house and sold their pumpkins to earn money for their riding lessons.
James got quite a kick out of these Mr. Potato head glasses. He wore them for a while.
Chaperoning Rachel's field trip to the Curiousity Museum.
Jennifer invited us to a concert in Salt Lake. We loved it!
Zac had a helper while fixing the Jeep.
Fun bounce house and a friend's birthday party.
Family shot at the wedding :)
Zac's birthday dessert.
Boy are the kids and I blessed to have this man in our lives. I got a good one.
James and his buddy Henry at the fun Pumpkin Patch.
Dried corn kernels.
Silly Rachel.
That's Rachel on the top.
Me and my zoo.
Anne is such a good big sister to James.She is so tenderhearted sometimes.
Took James and Sarah to the Bean Museum in Provo while the older two were at a birthday party. James loved the bugs.
And the small dinosaur museum there.
Oh how I love Provo.
Lore and Carrie had an open house out here in Utah at their home in Pleasant Grove. So nice and fun...and a little chilly.
Once again my goofy brother :)
One of my favorite pictures of James. So angelic looking....
My Mom made this incredible cake for the receptions. Man was it yummy.
My and my sista'
The kids were enthralled with Uncle Loren's working soda machine.
Sarah bustin a move.
Decided to take some pictures of Anne for her 9 year old pictures.
My kids with their beloved Aunt :)
Me and my visiting teaching companion Jennifer
And my visiting teachee Anita.
and Rachel :)
I made me goal of losing 15 pounds in a couple months. Zac won our challenge but I am proud of both of us for working hard to be healthier.
My workout board.
Trying out my friend Rachel's gym.
Watching the marching band before a BYU game.
Go Cougars! (It's been a rough year for our Cougars, but we still cheer them on.)
The kids loved giving the players high fives after the game.
:)
Jennifer
Halloween Fun. Rachel and Anne were Elephant and Piggie from their beloved series of books. They like to read them together and do the voices.
Back to the airport and trip to VA (I think these are from Zac's phone now)
The kids had a lot of fun coloring and making crafts together.
Zac took the kids to Dophin beach near my house. I can't believe this statue is still in one piece.
While I was helping get ready for the wedding, Zac, the Angels, Jennifer, and Mom went to the DC temple and then on to DC.
This is where Michelle and Jason were married :)
One of the kids' favorite building in DC was the Lincoln Memorial.
Rachel and cute Harvey
James, Sarah, and Koda
The kids put on a play for everybody. They made their own props and costumes. It had something to do with a sorcerer, a knight, and a princess. It was awesome.
More touring of DC
Air and Space Museum
Yummy dinner at Popeyes where we had never eaten before. It was actually very tasty and the lady at the register gave us more food that we paid for. Unfortunately I think this is where I contracted the unlovely food poisoning.
There was snow on the ground in Denver.
James being silly with the chicken.
When we surprised the kids.
Rachel's Stellaluna play at school. She got to be the narrator.
Fight song.
Sarah's musical talents. She can play almost all the songs her sisters can by ear. She's not a big fan of learning the notes.
