MEXICO 2013

We weren't sure until a couple of days before we left if we were going to be able to go to Mexico this year.  Between finances, time, and work, it really didn't look like we were going to be able to make it.  I started thinking about Christmas in Utah, and started trying to be okay with the idea, but I realized how different it really would be.

Mexico is our family's heaven.  It is where we go to get away from everything.  The kids turn off their cell phones as we cross the border, and Rick and I get their full attention for over a week!  We play football on the beach, lay out, get sick of eating meat and Mexican food, hang with the Valenzuelas (our Mexican family), work hard together, and play hard together.  I'm so thankful that we were able to make it work this year.

Just a few of the great things that happened in Mexico 2013:
//Within the first hour of being in the car, the boys were already singing a duet.
//Brittani and Cody joined us on Christmas Eve and were given a their own condo so they had a little privacy.
//We stayed down the beach from where we usually stay and were able to have a lot of family time.
//We built 4 houses.
//My kids and I decided that it was time to run one of the houses while Rick was running another.
//Our house has the straightest wall out of all the houses built this year! - Us taking on another house may have caused Rick a little stress, and I thought Britt was going to beat up a dad who didn't know what he was doing and wouldn't listen to her, but hey...we got another house up, right?!?
//Cody found Mexican Cheetos.
//We learned some new card games.
//Samuel taught us how to Salsa and we all danced the night away...yes...even Rick...and I loved every minute of that.
//We all tried some new interesting foods - some that looked a little sketchy - and we liked most of it.
//One of our favorite little families received a home.
//We watched a firework show put on by a man with one hand.
//I stayed up past midnight on New Year's Eve, and I wasn't even grouchy.
//We all made it home safely, refreshed, invigorated, and ready to take on the new year.

^^the view off Brittani and Cody's deck^^

WEDDING PREVIEW

I should get the wedding pictures back from the photographer within the next few weeks, but I thought I would throw on the pictures my mom took on her phone.

It was a perfect day.

Okay, Okay... if you are still here then I guess I should be honest with you -
...between...
-Brittani leaving her bag at the temple
-The Valenzuala's losing their car
-Me and my crew being over an hour behind schedule
-Rick getting yelled at...by me...more than once
-Brittani being hung up on...by me again
-The hanging over the food table not cooperating
-The photographer being over a half hour late to the reception
-And the fear of the cake man not showing up considering I paid him in cash in a parking lot
...maybe the day wasn't perfect!

BUT, the next morning when Brittani came home to open presents, the first thing she said was that it had been the perfect day.  So it was perfect.

I'M GOING THERE SOMEDAY

Brittani and Cody after Britt received her endowment

December 14, 2013 - Draper Temple

I remember when Brittani and Nathan were little, every time we drove by any temple they both would start singing the primary song "I Love To See The Temple".  I treasure those moments and hold those memories so close to my heart.  I fondly think back on those times and think of the simple words that hold so much meaning; "I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday."  I had no idea at that time in my young life how much I wanted that for my babies.  I had no idea how important it would be to me until I sat next to my sweet daughter that Saturday afternoon in the Draper Temple and listened to the temple president's wife talk about life and Heavenly Father and making mistakes and trying harder every day.  I have wondered before, if I hadn't been born a member of this church, would I have gone searching for the truth?  Would there be something noticeably missing in my life?  I am certain that yes, I need this knowledge in my life and I need the gospel for my family.  I am so thankful for my parents, for my dad who always believed and for my mom who gave up so much to join.  I am thankful for their testimonies and especially for their examples.

As I was sitting waiting for Brittani, a sweet little temple worker who was waiting for Cody leaned over and told me to take the opportunity to thank Brittani for her example, and to let her know how proud I am of her.  I was thankful for that reminder and I took his advice.  I have watched her search to know for herself what the truth is.  I have watched her testimony grow.  I am so thankful for her desire to make good choices and I'm thankful for her example.  I am also thankful for Cody, that in this evil world he kept himself worthy to be with my daughter in the temple.

I love to see the temple...I'm going there someday.  

A LITTLE CATCHING UP

As you  may have guessed, the past few months are a blur to me.  It is crazy how fast time went by and how quickly Thanksgiving, the wedding, Christmas and Mexico came and went.

Let's do a little catching up, shall we?!?

A LITTLE BIT OF SPOOKY...
Connor and his friends decided that since they were in 6th grade and 12 years old, they were big enough, brave enough, and tough enough to go to a haunted house ALONE!  I didn't like the idea AT ALL - I mean he is my baby, but Rick (the football coach) thought they would be just fine.  The night came and most of the boys had already chickened out so we were down to the 3 bravest.  As we were driving to the haunted house I could hear the boys talking about how maybe they weren't old enough for this, and maybe we should just get pizza and watch a movie and try again next year.  Rick pretended not to hear a word and just kept driving!  When we got there, they boys asked Rick and I if we would just go and get tickets with them, and then they were certain they would be brave enough to go through alone... but as we got closer, the boys walked slower and the excuses started flying!  By the time we got to the ticket stand, Rick and I were talked into going with them!  It was a really good thing we went though, because all three boys hid behind Rick the WHOLE ENTIRE TIME!  There were screams at every turn, and I'm not going to lie... a lot of the screams were from me!   I hate haunted houses!

SADIE'S...

A cute girl named Megan Burk asked Nathan to Sadie's this year. The theme for the group was superheros and Nathan and Megan were Superman and Wonder Woman.  We found an awesome Superman costume, but when we got home and Nathan tried it on we realized it was a little tight in all the wrong areas.  Nathan got some "great" advice from Rick's brothers and friends, like putting a sock or a potato in his pants, but what we decided to do was get him some compression shorts and try to hide the bulge!  After getting the dance pictures back we realized that we didn't do a great job of hiding anything!  I love how confident Nathan is - it really didn't bother him at all and he had a great time.

THE ENDING OF THE FOOTBALL SEASON...

The thing I love the very most about football season is the relationship it creates between Rick and the boys.  When Rick started coaching Nathan's team years ago, I watched as they became so close.  It forever changed their relationship.  The same thing has happened with Rick and Connor.  I love listening to them talk and strategize, watch film and pick the other teams apart.  I love to listen to them on Saturday mornings while Rick tries to get Connor pumped up for the game.  And I love when they get home from the game, win or lose, listening to them rehash the last few hours together. 

Connor's team does great at the first of every season, but by the last few games all of the boys are done with football.  They haven't ever made it past the first round of playoffs.  Although Connor gets sick of practices, he still loves the games and is devastated when they lose.  These pictures are after his last game.  He played a great game and it was really close which made the loss that much harder to take. 

LET THE PLANNING BEGIN...
The day of Connor's last football game was the day Brittani got engaged.  Brittani and Cody let us know the next day that they wanted to get married on December 20 - 2 months away.  Looking back I honestly don't think I had any idea what I was doing, but I did know that we were going to need to get planning.  The week after she got engaged we got the temple, the venue, her dress, and the photographer (I swear there was more that we did but I can't remember).  My mom made me a huge calendar and I went to work.

On October 23, my mom and dad's anniversary, we went dress shopping.  Brittani found her perfect dress at the first store we went to.

^^My mom brought her wedding dress and Brittani tried it on - it was gorgeous.^^

 ^^The back of my mom's wedding dress.^^

Our basement quickly turned into a Wedding Wonderland as we worked on getting the decorations perfect.  Between Lori, Summer and my mom it is amazing how quickly things came together.

OH YA...IT'S STILL CHRISTMAS...

Between the wedding and bake sales, I almost forgot it was the Christmas Season.  One Saturday in December I just really wanted it to be a "normal" Christmas for a minute, so I stole Summer's family's idea and we had a Gingerbread House Contest.  Each team had $20.00 to spend at the store for everything they would need to make the perfect gingerbread house.  Rick and I may have gone over our budget a little, and Brittani and Cody may not have been able to eat everything on their house, and Nathan and Isaac may have never finished their's...but it was such a fun fun FUN night.  We will FOR SURE do it every year.

^^Brittani and Cody's house^^ 

 ^^Mine and Rick's house^^

^^Nathan and Isaac's house^^