Taft got Baptized!

A date with Taft

It is amazing to me the joy and depth of conversation created by one on one dates. I had the opportunity to take Taft on a special date to pick out a suit for his baptism. We went to the mall and got dinner, rode the carousel and I enjoyed Taft browsing colors and learning more about his likes and dislikes.   Taft is an incredible young man. I feel so honored to be his mother. He is wise beyond his years and a deep thinker. He enjoyed having so many options, of time spent sharing about life and love and family. I am thankful for a wonderful son.

 Father's Day Birthday Celebration

We started a tradition a few years ago where instead of wasting money on gifts we prefer to create memories! We like to take my Grandpa and Dad to Golfland for a game of miniature golf. One round of golf usually takes several hours considering we have ten people attempting to play! It is lots of fun with lots of laughs! Ryan usually wins. This year several of the kids ended up splashing in the fountains, holding little frogs and looking for lost balls.  Emily threw a fit of course at one point and ran off to pout. She got scared though, when the volcano went off and the big burst of fire shot out right by her. I have rarely seen her run that fast.

Here is a picture from Kenzie's Baptism last year of the four generations from my side of the family!

Balboa

 A Day at the Beach!

There is absolutely something healing about the ocean. While on our trip to California amidst the craziness of Diamond Club we took a few hours to breathe.  We had not even brought swimming suits, but thanks to tourist shops we grabbed a few and enjoy the ocean.

Kayli had never really been to the ocean before. It was fun to watch her in the sand and hold tight to Daddy while in the waves.

 These two sisters had such an amazing time together! I was blown away at how close they were on this trip and how everyday they continue to grow close together!

 Alissa had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland in March! She is an amazingly talented girl!

 I am so thankful for her example of hours of hard work weekly and sticking the whole year out!

 They even got to line up and go behind the scenes of Disneyland and get special performing arts T-Shirts!

Pitstop in Quartsite

PITSTOP IN QUARTSITE!

Alissa was learning about the Pioneer Trail in school!

Ryan at one of his workouts in Scottsdale! Ryan become a certified Spartan SGX Coach this past year and was able to go help at a Crossfit Gym in Scottsdale for a few months!

Once upon a time we lived in Irving and Coppell Texas.

-The house on the left was the house where we lived when we had Alissa and Kenzie.

-The house on the right was the house where I was pregnant with Taft. We moved the night before he was born.
-The house below was where my mom lived for over 3 years. We lived with her some of that time. It was where Kenzie was born, where we were told we would lose him, where Alissa learned to run, where we learned and grew as a family.  In February I got to go back and visit all of them for the first time in six years. Wow how the memories flowed of walks along the river way and a simpler time. Such a blessing to visit those memories!

Just Because.....

Sometimes adorable little girls pick flowers for you just because. Emily likes to pick flowers for me pretty much everyday and it is adorable and sweet! Her favorites are the little white and pink ones on the side of the house. I am so blessed by her spunky giving personality!

Diamond Club Torrance Trip

Traditional Ethnic Food

Gorgeous Tour of the Beaches

Erin's moms amazing little shop downtown.

Erin was such a great hostess and is so sweet!

Snuggling Sisters!

These are the kind of snuggles that make my heart melt!

Everyday Life!

Somedays, we make dinner as a family and it feels great!

Somedays, we get into moms makeup to look pretty and then end up getting laughed at when we feel beautiful.

Then we feel sad. :(

Somedays, we go be crazy at the park!

Some days, we go for ice cream dates as a family!

Alissa as The First Lady!

Alissa planned this whole thing on her own!

Savoring the Moments

Well, I just got home from my first Diamond Club trip to Oakland/San Fransisco area. You sure learn a lot about yourself when you go out into the "real" world. It was so hard to leave my sweet family. I missed them terribly, they have been my life for so many years and I would do anything for them! 

The trip went well, we had a great class and the meet up was good! It made me appreciate my life and my religion even more then ever. I did not realize how different it is out there in the world. I am glad I have the gospel and my family to give me guidance and direction in my life. I came home Sunday and saw this cute girl and watched this amazing father snuggle his baby girl. Counting my blessings!

Oakland BWF Meetup

One of the leaders cancelled on me for the second day of my trip so I went and attended a temple session. Such a great experience and glad they accepted me in my dress pants this once.

A Ryan style playground in San Fransisco!

Airport entertainment!

No make up trying to catch a flight!