The Day a Princess Got Married

Whoa.... how does time fly like this? I know with my own kids time goes by way too fast and with my nieces and nephews time seems somehow to whiz by at an even faster pace! This is Jessica - she is the little sister that I didn't have. She was born at the end of my sixth grade year and I've loved her ever since. She got married back in May and I of course am finally getting settled enough from summer to catch up. At any rate, we are all so proud of her and the woman she's become. The dress by the way...is the one she loved from the start - it had to be altered to be right -  but right it was because just look at it!! She looked so lovely.

I felt so lucky to be able to see her in the temple before she came out to greet her adoring crowd...

Lots of family, especially all these cute cousins there to support the newlyweds! It was a great day. As previously posted, my grandma was able to attend before she passed away adding to the store of  memories for each of us to hold dear. Also in attendance was our great-Aunt Gaye, my Grandma Livingston's sister. I always love seeing her especially because she resembles my late grandma so much. On the Sign in table there was a picture of Jessica now and a picture of her when she was 8 or 9 after she caught the bouquet at my wedding! So cute.

Beautiful day, Beautiful shoes!! :)

We're so happy for these two! Mark, her new husbsand is amazing and we couldn't have hoped for anyone better. We know he'll take great care with our sweet girl! Speaking of royalty I feel like I need to add that I too am so grateful for my sweet hubby. He makes me feel like the queen of our house and I'm so thankful to have someone as amazing and loving as he is. 

 

One of the Greats

Recently I wrote a post about my Grandma and also included my Mom and my Sister. If you missed it, you can see my sentiments Here. I'm so glad I had the chance to witness her at my niece Jessica's wedding and I'm forever grateful for her amazing example of optimism, humor, grace and class. The world lost one of the greats. I hope to not offend anyone with my pictures from the day of her funeral but to honor her and her memory and share some of our experience. Of course our entire family gathered to mourn Grandma, and not just mourn but mostly to celebrate her amazing life and legacy. Although there was sadness, there was joy and comfort taken in our belief of God's Plan for us after this life. We love Grandma dearly and can't wait to see her again someday. She was buried at the family plot in Holden UT along with her husband, Parents, Grandparents and GreatGrandparents. It was really neat to be there and see such a family legacy.

Here are many of her great grandchildren. Family was always number one for Grandma. She was always telling each of us how much she "just loved" us and that she was "just thrilled" to see us.

Over the last couple of years, I've had the chance to visit Grandma in her assisted living and nursing care facilities. I liked to help her bust out once in a while to get some fresh air and see the sights. She's always so full of love for life and I really enjoyed every chance I had to be with her. She was absolutely beautiful, always has been and always will be. Not many 94 year olds look that good!

 

We know that you are having a ball up in Heaven with your many sisters, brothers, friends and ancestors. God be with you til we meet again. We love you, Always. Thank you for being our Grandma.

She Had Birthday, Shout Hooray

Although this post is VERY belated... and the blog seems to be increasingly difficult to keep up on - we still need to document the arrival of an official TEENAGER in our house!!! The time is going by so fast I don't even know what to think, other than I'm so proud to have such a beautiful, good, sweet daughter who is growing into such an interesting fun, (and funny) person. Audrey we love you so much!
Elle and Reese were troopers to get up before Audrey had to go to school just to be there when she opened her presents. She's normally gone by 7:15 for the bus so it was bright and early! Sam was out of town in the morning but she got a call from her Daddy to start her day. Also pictured here... the wreckage that follows the presents!

Audrey's birthday also happened to land on the last day of school so her cute friends came home with her to celebrate. Such a good group of girls.

 
There seems to be a fascination with moustaches going on around here. I bought Audrey a big pack full of them so the girls deemed the party "The moustache party"

And continued to wear them to Olive Garden. They got what every teenage girl probably wants - a lot of attention! Haha, plenty of people had a comment for them that day!

 Ah the carefree days of youth! :)
 

Cali-fun-ia!

Oh California.....How I love to think I could live there. In reality, I don't know when the crowds and pollution and all things negative would catch up to me, but for now, I feel like it's almost a perfect place. I think the ocean plays a big part in that feeling. No matter what we have planned for ourselves - we can always be guaranteed that our time at the beach will be the highlight. It's just like no other place.

Everybody's going surfin... surfin USA! In Newport Beach

 

 La Jolla is another one of our favorites

 

  Sam's best friend from his highschool years lives right on the beach in Newport and was nice enough to take us all out and try boogie-boarding or surfing. That water was COLD. But fun we still had! Also, I was tired of asking Sam to take pictures with me in them- so for the beach trips, I decided to just turn the camera on myself and forget the rest - but yes, for futures sake/proof- I was there! :)  We had one night eating out at a gorgeous place near Balboa Island with a friend of Sam's. The kids were on their best behavior (despite the open flame right next to the table, that I half expected Reese to launch his napkin into.., which he didn't - thankfully) They really enjoyed all the adventurous food options and I was super proud. One of those great gems that actually all turns out! Way to go kiddos! It was a beautiful night.

 

Last but never least - The San Diego Temple! My ultimate favorite. Always so amazing to drive up to. I really hope that the amazing spirit there will rub off on my kids and stay with them forever. What a gorgeous place. Till next time!
  

We Heart Sea World!

For Spring Break we took a little jaunt to California and bravely resisted our kids' chanting to go to Disneyland in hopes of avoiding the large Spring break crowds. Our decision to go to Sea World was a great one not just because some of our friends spent 4 hours at Disney only to go on 2 rides but also because Sea World is one of my most favorite places. That and of course the animals which were, as always, completely amazing.

 

 

   

 

Freezing cold after the rapids ride, but they still loved it enough to keep doing it! 

Happy Father's Day to the Best Daddy and Grandpas we could ask for!! 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day 2012

Now with my post about the amazing women in my life complete - I can move along and document my mother's day this year. The kids and Sam had a really cute, unique idea this year, instead of buying or even making cards, they spent time working on these masterpieces for me! It was very adorable and I loved it!

Each of them took a square of the driveway to artistically display their mother's day message. So cute!

After church we came home and I spent as much of my afternoon outside as I could get away with. It was so nice to sit in the yard, sipping on a soda and watching the kids make more art with the sidewalk chalk.

Elle came over for some snuggle time and also to ask me if she could turn on the sprinklers... My answer to her being no was what prompted her various pouting reactions as seen here. Ahhh... I love that I still have one snuggler.

Our neighbor across the street ( Reese's friend Danny ) came to show us some little bird eggs that had fallen out of the tree in his yard. We went to see where he'd found them only to discover several more. It's kind of sad to think of so many little eggs falling out of the nest - The kids didn't hurt them but we couldn't think of what would've caused them all to fall. That being said it was still really neat for the kids to get to hold them.

For dinner I requested my family's special marinated bbq'd turkey and rice pilaf, but after church we needed something quick to hold us over - result - hootenanny pancakes! They're always a treat - and speaking of treats, I felt pretty treated by my hubby.... I'm not sure what to credit more,  Sam's thoughtfulness or the fact that the new City Creek shopping center has brought the glamour of Tiffany's to our very own Salt Lake City! Just kidding, Sam, you're amazingly thoughtful and so sweet. He picked this bracelet and added each of our kid's initials on it as charms. It's official, I've got a gem. Love to you all and especially to my sweet little family. I hope it was a happy Mother's Day for all!!