BYU

It's hard to believe that I was a starting freshman at BYU 20 years ago! And while the body is quick to remind me that I am no longer an 18 year old, the brain still thinks I am. I can recall those first few days, right after my parents left me at the dorms. I was scared and excited, all at once! I knew I was on the threshold of a whole new and exciting world - a story that I could write in any way I wanted! I loved being a student at BYU! I will always look back on my college years as some of the best years of my life. So, when I returned with children in tow, the feelings were quite different for me! So much has changed - I hardly recognized the landscape leading up to campus, much less the campus itself! As we took the boys past various places that I lived as a single student, and then the two places Aaron & I lived, so many memories came flooding back - great memories that I wish I had taken the time to write down when I was living that life! While so much has changed, it was great to walk the grounds of the school again! I bought all the kids their BYU gear (trying to impress upon them the importance of attending school there!!) and we took lots of pics! Life is a funny thing - I am not one who believes in living in the past. I am always looking to the future, anxiously awaiting what life will throw at me. However, I did love living for the moment in the past - re-living those great memories of my days there as a student and a brand-new married girl! Such great memories - good times!

Trip to Utah

Right after Zach was baptized, Mason flew back to Utah with Nana & Papa. Two days later, Aaron and I packed up the car with Zach & Arie, and we too traveled to Utah to help Mom & Dad get unpacked and squared away in their new home. Brooke & Chad's family was coming from Indiana to spend the 4th of July in Utah, so we decided to make it a trip! It's always great to spend time with family and cousins who LOVE spending time and playing together! I was a bit nervous with Arie and how she'd do. But, she did way better than I could've ever anticipated! And Zach loved seeing how the scenery in the country changed! We even played the license plate game - which was way fun for Zach. We made a goal of half the states before we got to Utah. We just barely made with 27 states! When we got to the salt flats, Zach just had to get out to get a "feel" for those flats! He cracked us up when he first stepped down on it, felt that it was a bit "squishy" then proceeded to try to do a cannonball! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera handy then! Needless to say, he announced that he didn't think the flats were for doing cannonballs in!

Great to be Eight

Cake that Auntie Paula (aka Sugar Mama) made for Zach

Zach & Sugar Mama

Unblemished coin that Zach received from Nana & Papa to remind

him of the day he was absolutely perfect

Yep, that's what Zach says! On Sunday, June 27th, Zach was baptized as a member of the church! Already we were riding on a spiritual high due to Mason's ordination. This was just a sweet cherry on top of an already sweet day! Zach turned 8 back on June 4th, but he decided to wait to be baptized so that Nana & Papa could watch both his baptism and Mason's ordination! It was such a great night! So many family and friends came to watch and support Zach! And Zach really did plan the whole thing! I told him ahead of time that I wanted him to be the one to choose who spoke, sang, lead songs, prayed etc! When it came down to making decisions, he knew exactly what he wanted, and he even called everyone to ask them to participate himself! I was so happy to watch how excited he was. Aunt Misty gave a great talk on baptism and becoming "clean". "Aunt" Cindy gave a fabulous talk on the Holy Ghost. Auntie Emma lead the music while Auntie Jen played the piano. Mason gave the opening prayer and I gave the closing prayer. He had Papa and Popi be the witnesses while he was baptized. Then all his cousins and friends sang a song after he was dressed and returned. Afterward, Zach said that during that song, he started to feel little tears in his eyes because he was feeling so happy! It was awesome to watch as Uncles and Grandpas and friends, formed a huge circle around Zach to give him the Holy Ghost. I was overjoyed and really quite humbled at the spirit that was in attendance at that time! And then our amazing Bishop, Bishop Johns got up to speak. He asked Zach to come to front with him, and then he preceded to ask him all sorts of questions about the Gospel, to which Zach proudly answered each and every one of them! Then the Bishop asked Zach if he's ever born his testimony. Zach answered no, but the Bishop asked if he would, with his help. Then the two of them, working in tandem, proceeded to give a powerful yet simple testimony! I couldn't believe that was my little Zachy up there, standing so tall and straight - looking out at the crowd of family and friends and proudly telling us those simple things he knew to be true! I am so grateful for this Gospel - which leads us and guides us with our Father in Heaven securely by our side! How grateful I am to know that despite the fact that my children will grow up and away from me someday, our family unit can remain intact! That we can live forever, together, someday! I am proud of you Zach, for taking this very important, first step in that direction! Thank you all for helping to make this a wonderful day!

Twelve is Swell

Sunday, June 27th, was an amazing day for our family! First, Mason received the Aaronic priesthood at Church. Nana & Papa, Grama & Popi, and Aunt Misty got to be there. Aaron, the Bishop, Uncle Juan, "Uncle" Ken, Popi, and Papa all helped to ordain him to the office of a Deacon. The spirit was so strong! Then the Bishop asked Mason if he would bear his testimony. It was short and simple, but WOW! Was it ever strong! I don't really know how it is that I was picked to be his mom?! He is such a strong spirit! Whenever people ask me how it is that I've raised such a great young man, my response is ALWAYS the same: he just came that way! There is a definite reason he was the one chosen to lead the way for the children in our family! It's hard to imagine that I have a son in Young Men's now,but I do! He is so excited to be entering this new chapter of his life, and it makes me so proud to call myself his Mom! And I am continually reminded and grateful for the wonderful supporting family I am surrounded with! Thank you Nana and Papa for coming back from Utah to be there with us! Thank you Grama & Popi for taking time out of your busy Sunday to support us! And thank you Aunt Misty for taking the time to spend the entire day in a much warmer-than-you-are-used to, Antioch! But mostly, thank you Mason for being worthy to receive such an honor!

Scout Campers

The sign Zach made for our returning scouters

Patiently awaiting the return . . .

Mason and his HEAVY pack - but he did it! He carried that thing for

two days! Way to go Mason!

Two good looking boys! Well, they may be good looking -but the smell left A LOT

to be desired!

This summer has been crazy! And it started off with a bang. Mason turned 12, then two days later, he and Aaron were headed to Camp Oljato (Scout camp). We decided to let Mason go up for the first few days alone, so he could bond with the other boys. I really didn't think it would be a big deal for me, but as it turned out, that first night I was sick to my stomach and couldn't sleep! I've read a ton of books on how to raise your children and help them to learn and grow. But no one has ever written the book on how to begin to let your children go! It was a lot harder for me than I thought it would be! However, Mason did AWESOME! He earned 6 merit badges total - which is a ton! He set a goal for six, and totally rocked it! He came home with Dad talking non-stop about all the fun adventures they had! It was a great intro into the scouting program for Mason! And now he's set some new goals for himself: he really wants to get his Eagle by 16! Mason is an amazing young boy, and I know that if he sets his mind to it, he can totally accomplish anything he wants! I have to add that while it was great to physically watch him mature and grow, I was a bit weepy. I have so much more compassion now for my parents. It's really hard to watch your children grow up and in some ways, grow away from you. It's a totally good thing, and needs to happen. But, in all truth, it's just going way too fast for me! As the boys grow, the clock doesn't slow down any - in fact, it just speeds up! BUT, I am so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to be here on this earth with these kids, and be given the chance to be their mom! What a great life it is!

Ears

Olivia and Arie before they got their ears done

Olivia, just after she got done with her pretty, colorful flower earrings

Preparing for the shot - doesn't Arie look excited?!

Both pierced, and both happy!

So, Olivia went first, then it was Arie's turn. I held her head to make sure she didn't move. There were a few tears, but it didn't last long. And now she is so cute with her little diamond earrings in! I know that this may kill my poor mom, but I'm having fun with my daughter. And if, as I'm sure she'll say, I will pay in the eternities for this, at least I had fun for what I will pay for!

My Mom's Gonna Kill Me...

When I was ten years old, I wanted nothing more than to have my ears pierced! I begged and begged my mom , but to no avail. She staunchly said, "NO WAY! If the Lord had intended for you to have holes in your ears, you would have been born with them!" And she still is, to this day, the only woman I know (in the world!) to not have pierced ears. However, after two years of wearing her down, she gave in when I was twelve. That set the stage for my sisters, and in turn, when they turned twelve they too pierced their ears. Now I am a mom, and I get to make those life-altering, crucial decisions. Only I took the path less traveled (at least by my mom!) I love you mom, BUT, little girls with pierced ears are just too cute. So, to celebrate the appending one year mark, Arie and her cousin, Olivia, went together to get their ears pierced. Olivia is six, and was quite nervous. But she went first to assure Arie that all would be okay!