Family Pictures 2018

Each year we do this...each year there is finding a photographer, (we used Whitney Charles Photography...and she was FABULOUS!!!)....planning color schemes...coordinating outfits....searching till the last minute to find things to wear....less than excited husbands....kids crying....kids making faces or scowling....laughing...You all know what I'm talking about.  Family pictures are not what they look like in the final project...but we do them.

We do them for the memories....

We do them for the good times we remember when we aren't posing for the camera....

We do them to remember what otherwise we would forget...

We do it to remember the different stages of life our kids, nieces and nephews go through...my nephew is cuter than your nephew!!  😉.....

We do it to remember the photobombing teenagers....

Mostly we do it to remember the loves of our lives...the precious moments and memories we share with these beautiful people we share our lives with ❤

And somehow at the end of all of the chaos and the tantrums and the smiles, we are left with something beautiful...something we can cherish for a lifetime.

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Heather

Another year begins.....

How is it that another year is already beginning??  At the beginning of the summer I always feel like its going to be a long time before they are back in school, but it's never like that!  Time really does fly by so quickly with these kiddos!  This year is a little different for us.  Our oldest daughter Lucy is off to college this year...so we're down to just 3 in school at home.  We had our usually night before school starts dinner.  This year they all got to pick part of the meal...a main course...a side...the dessert...or what to drink.  We didn't tell them whose choice we picked...they just got to be surprised.  It was a fun way to spend a little more time together before the start of the school year.

Cole is a junior.  He loves anything sports, being with his friends and he's begun his working career at a local bakery.  He is smart, funny and very helpful to our family.  We love Cole so much!

Kaylie is a freshman.  She is our dancer and that pretty much consumes her world.  She loves pineapples, clothes and jewelry and she also loves being with her friends.  She is kind and thoughtful and our family wouldn't be the same without her positivity!

Cecelia is in 2nd grade.  She loves school and being with her friends, but she hates homework and is not looking forward to that starting again.  She loves McDonalds, playing with her toys and watching the kindle when she gets up in the morning while she is eating her breakfast is a must to starting her day off right!!  She is so full of life and excitement for the world she is learning about.  She keeps us all young and fun!

Here's to a great 2018!!

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Heather

It's Baptism Day!!

There have been so many special moments for our family over the last couple of weeks.  And today...we get to celebrate one more!!  Today is Cecelia's baptism day.  In our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, when we turn 8, we get to choose if we want to become a member.  If we do, we are able to be baptized and make a promise to Heavenly Father that we will follow His commandments and try to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Also on that special day, we receive a gift from Heavenly Father, the gift of the Holy Ghost...he gets to be with us all the time!  He helps us to know what is right in all the things we do.

Cecelia has decided to become the newest member of our ward and be baptized.  She is so excited to be baptized.  She was able to choose whether Dad or Cole was going to baptize her...and she chose Dad.  She also decided that she wanted to wear Kaylie's baptism dress since she wore Lucy's for her pictures.  She is so excited that her friends and family are going to be there to watch her....she is also hoping that her mom, Jeni will be there too.  I told her I thought she would be.

After her baptism, as she was coming out of the font, she looked at me and said, "Mom, its soo cool that my old mom got to see that!"  We're all so glad we got to be a part of this special day!!  Cecelia we love you and are so excited for you to continue to grow and learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ and His ministry.   Happy Baptism Day sweet girl!!

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Heather

Warrior

This year was such a year of growth for Kaylie with her dance life.  She amazes me.  She was invited to audition for a ballet routine, which was by invitation only.  She made the cut.  She was so nervous to dance with these other extremely talented and longer tenured dancers, whom she admires so much.  They are beautiful dancers.  She also was introduced to the world of guest choreographers.  Jacki Ford of Jo and Jax choreographed this piece.  It was stunning.  They competed it so well each time this year.  I'm grateful for the opportunities Kaylie has had while dancing this year and for all of the amazing teachers, friends, fellow dancers, choreographers, and directors she had learned so much from.

Congrats Kaylie!

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Heather

PS...Isn't this picture gorgeous!!!!

Cecelia is turning 8

Cecelia is 8!!  I can hardly believe it!!  When I met this sweet little girl she was 4 yrs old.  She still has her beautiful curly hair, but she is much taller and so full of life.  

This year for her birthday, she wanted to have a camping party...so we made her a campfire cake to eat with our family on her actual birthday after her favorite meal of McDonald's chicken nugget happy meal, with fries, apple slices and chocolate milk....

And then for her birthday party, we made her a "Smores Cake", which consisted of a tray of graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars so the kids could make their own smores in the fire pit after a hot dog or two.

We had some crafts to make, a tent to crawl though and lots of food, family and friends to share it with!!  All of the campers seemed to have fun!  But this...this is my favorite camper...

Such a good helper and a wonderful father!!  He is there to do whatever it takes to make sure these events are successful!!  We are lucky to have such a dedicated guy around!  He makes everything more fun!

Happy 8th Birthday Cecelia!!  We love your smile and love creating these memories with you!!

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Heather

Families are Forever

Today is one of my most favorite days!!  Ever since she was born, I hoped for a day when I would get to have my daughter sealed to me forever!!  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that we can be with our families forever.  Through the sacred ordinance of sealing, we can have this blessing for our family....and today was that day!

It was such a special experience to have all of our children in the temple with us for the event.  We were all able to participate in Kaylie's sealing.  The temple workers were incredible and were so excited to have children in the temple, since most times the youth are only there to do baptisms for the dead, which is in a different part of the temple.  Our kids felt like royalty and were definitely treated that way!  They had their own special changing rooms and things to do while they waited for Rex and I to get ready.  Then we were able to meet together in the special sealing rooms.  We all dressed in white.  We all felt the Holy Ghost.  We all knew that this was God's will for us.  He loves us and wants us to be happy and return to Him someday to live as families with Him.

After the sealing, we of course took pictures outside of the temple.  Then we went home and had pizza with our family who came to witness this special time in our lives.  We laughed and ate and enjoyed the time we had to spend together.  Families are a gift from heaven.  They are there to celebrate the good times and help us through the bad times.  They are what brings meaning to our lives!  We are so thankful for all of the love and support we get from our families.

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Heather

If you want to learn more about our church...click on the link here.

BeaUTAHful

Living in Utah definitely has its advantages!!  I love being so close to the mountains...they might be my favorite part of Utah!  This is Cecret Lake.  Its a short little hike & was perfect for a small morning hike with the family.  Take a look...   #nofilter

I somehow missed all of the wildflowers that were in bloom.  It's a quick hike..only about 1.5 miles round trip and just gorgeous. 

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Heather