Happy Birthday Mommy!!!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful mother in the entire world! You are so fabulous...the most beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, loving, kind, righteous woman whom I absolutely adore! I wish that I was there to spend the day with you, but am so grateful for the time that I was just able to spend with you in LA and can't wait to get to Utah in just a few days! Thank you for all that you do for me...you are my best friend and I would be absolutlely lost without you! I hope that your day is fantastic because you only deserve the very best! I LOVE YOU!

How TIRED Can You Possibly BE???

After an extremely busy call night on Friday, not getting home until after 2:00 PM, getting only a very short nap with multiple interruptions I was the picture of exhaustion this past Saturday. Todd had worked all Friday night and Saturday helping our friends move so he was tired as well. Saturday night we were able to drag our disheveled selves out the door in order to get some dinner and a few groceries for Sunday. It wasn't until we had been home for over 3o minutes that we realized that we had come in without any of the groceries...and the grocery store had been our last stop before coming home!!!

Oh well...at least all the food was still cold when we finally got it into the house and put away.

Happy Birthday Laurel and Brady!

Happy Birthday Laurel (so sorry this a few days late)! Laurel is someone that I truly admire...she never thinks twice about choosing the right and is such an example of righteousness! She is SUPERWOMAN!!! I never know quite how she does everything she does and everything is always done to perfection! She is such a loving wife, mother, sister and daughter...and one of my very best friends! How blessed I am to have Laurel as my sister!!!

Brady...what to say...he is absolutely hysterical. There is never a boring moment if he is around. He is a fantastic husband and father (excluding this past weekend)...I am so glad that he takes such good care of Laurel and my Princess! He is such a hard worker and has truly sacrificed to accomplish his goal of becoming a doctor...now if only I can bring you over from the dark side to the light of surgery!

Todd and I are definitely going to miss you guys...but are so excited for the adventures you have awaiting you!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day to every mother...I admire all of you so much. Your life is more challenging and difficult than most will ever recognize. You work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day without rest or complaint. Your lasting influence on us all is immeasurble!

I would like to take advantage of this special day to honor my precious Mother and Grand mother. How blessed I am to have these two fabulous women in my life!!!

My mother's example of service, unconditional love and kindness know no end. Her support is endless...she has always made me believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to and never let me give up even when things were tough! I treasure my phone calls with her and I drive to and from the hospital. Everyone in her presence is made to feel of their importance to her! She is loved and adored by all those who come in contact with her more than she will ever know! Thank you for being the absolutely best wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend and giving us all something to emulate.

My Grandmother is truly one of my most treasured friends! She is always able to make me smile and laugh even when all I may want to do is cry. How I love that regardless of where we may be in Ogden, without fail we will see someone she knows and stop to talk. There is not a bad thing that anyone can say about this remarkable woman. She is the ultimate example of love, kindness, service to others, hard work and sacrifice. She has a love for the temple that permeates to all of her children and grandchildren.

I can only become half of the woman that my mother and grandmother are, than I will have succeeded in something in this life.

And to my dear sisters who are mothers...thank you for sharing your children with me! How I love all of them more than you can imagine! I admire you and the amazing mothers you are! Thank you for setting such a good example for me...I will have a lot to live up to someday!

As I have the blessing and the curse of speaking in sacrament today, I only pray that I can honor all of you as you so deserve...and get by with as few tears as possible...my husband is worried as I was crying just giving him parts of my talk!

MS Walk 2009

I had the great opportunity of being able to participate in the
MS Walk 2009!

This the Wall Of Champions....names of those suffering from MS are placed on the wall!

I was able to walk with my good friend Kristy! The weather was beautiful...we could not have asked for better! It was so wonderful to walk with ~4000 other people in honor of those with MS. As always, some people were pushed in wheelchairs by their family and friends and I realize how grateful I am that Mom has not been afflicted in such a way!

At the start of the walk...



Along the way...

Thanks to all of you who donated to our team...I really appreciate your support!

Mom...you are the best!

Mamma Mia! and Easter in Utah

A few weeks ago my fabulous husband came home from work one evening and surprised me with tickets to Mamma Mia for the following week. We had such a wonderful time...dinner at Maggiano's (yummy Italian) and then off to the theater! The cast and music were so fun!!! Thanks babe for a great night!

Outside of the theater

From our seats...just off center and only six rows back from the stage...AWESOME!

The day after Mamma Mia I headed to Utah for the Easter weekend. Daddy, Mom, Laurel, Jocelyn and Princess "P" greeted me at the airport. We then met Brady for dinner. Mom and I were able to spend some time shopping at Gateway much to Daddy's delight while awaiting John and Brittney's flight to arrive from Portland.

Unfortunately, Todd was not able to fly out until the next morning and came straight from the airport after a 6:00 AM flight to family pictures...such a sweetie! We spent the morning at the Union Station having our family pictures...hope they turn out, still waiting to see the results!

See, family pictures can be fun!

We then all went out to lunch at Good Wood BBQ and had our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Chars...with a few weather modifications!

Dylan accepting money to drink a cup of soda that had been made by combining whatever soda was left in everyone's glasses...GROSS! But, he did earn ~$10 for it...and we all thoroughly enjoyed watching him do it!

Dad, Mom and Jocey enjoying the party!

Such a sweet picture...Colton and Cannon thanking Grammy for their Easter Egg prize money!

Crew-ee enjoying his Cream Soda...such a cutie!!!

Easter could not have been more special than it was this year. I am so grateful that we were all able to be in Utah for Paisley Jane's blessing. There is nothing I love more than being able to spend time with my family...not even shopping! How blessed I am...I hope you all know how much I love and adore you!

Princess "P"...what an absolute angel!

I think the look on her face is priceless...and very reminiscent of one her father would pull when annoyed at having to have his picture taken!

Can not wait until we have a picture like this with our own baby!!!

In the meantime, thanks for sharing Paisley with us!!!

A New Car Celebrated at The Melting Pot

It has been quite a while since I had the time to upload pictures and post about what has been happening in our lives, so get ready cuz here I go...

As you all know, Todd was in a horrible car accident on the 405 freeway about a month ago. The insurance company was quick to total his car out...no shock there. However, to our surprise, once the insurance company determines that your car is past the point of repair you have 5, yes FIVE days to have a new car in your possession or any days past that you are responsible for the cost of your rental car. So, Todd and I were miraculously off on the same Saturday with 2 days left of our 5 day deadline...and off we were on the mission to purchase a new vehicle. Prior to leaving the house, countless hours were spent searching the internet. However, Todd and I had VERY different ideas about what kind of car he should purchase....but hey, are any of you surprised by that??? Much to our amazement...zero arguments, one car dealership with one test drive, and two relatively painless hours of paperwork and phone calls to the credit union in Utah and we found ourselves the proud owners of a new vehicle! As we then found ourselves with hours to waste away on a Saturday none the less, we headed off to celebrate with dinner at The Melting Pot....FABULOUS!!!

In the meantime...I have been in 2...yes TWO...small fender-benders within my parking garage within the last month! With the first accident, both of us were at fault (at least I think so), but Todd and I were forced to pay for the other car to be repaired..thankfully no damage to my car. The other occurred as I was pulling out of our parking garage and on to the street that runs in front of our apartment building where a tiny 1986 Toyota Terrcel was blocked from my view by a large Tahoe and I unfortunately hit the car....this time, insurance was involved as both cars were in need of repair. I must admit I have the most wonderful, understanding husband of all time!!! He was never upset with me either time and was only concerned that I was not injured. He did however, ask that I slow down and try to drive more carefully...you got it babe!!!

It is official that Todd and I have become "BAD LA Drivers". We can only hope that there are no more car accidents in our future as we have had enough the past month to last us a long time!

Stay Tuned...more posts to come very shortly...