Park City Getaway

This past weekend we spent the night up in Park City as part of our anniversary celebration. I brought my camera, but this was the only picture I took as we were on our way home. It is part of our tradition to get an Apple Pie caramel apple from the Chocolate Factory when we visit. Sadly, when we got home and gave it a try, it was a yucky, powdery apple. Oh well...
But it was a great weekend. Can't say it enough - just being with Kyle is all I need for a good time.

Simple Surprises

Today we met Kyle for part of his lunch break. It was a nice treat since we do not see him everyday for lunch as we did once upon a time when life was a little simpler. Now Kyle is further into his career, we live a bit further away from UVU in our new place and loading up three kids is a bit of a chore. Anyway -maybe one day it'll happen again. It was nice while it lasted.
But today we loaded up, picked up Kyle and ran an errand (a quick trip to Deseret Book to check out a painting we are getting from mom for our anniversary). Afterward we stopped by a Peruvian restaurant, La Carretta. I have had Peruvian food once before and enjoyed it both times. This time was that much better though because of the good company of my sweet husband and sometimes crazy kids (Sepa was diggin' the food). I love doing spontaneous things like that from time to time. Most of all I just love to be with my family.
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The Happy Couple

I am always posting pictures of the boys - so here are a couple of Kyle and I. It was taken by my sister Celeste right before we left for dinner on our anniversary. We are planning to take some pictures together (like an engagement session) with our good friend Maka Aulava who is an amazing photographer. If anyone knows anyone looking for wedding, bridal, engagement or family pictures - he's very talented. If I can ever find a time when Kyle is free we will get it done. I really look forward to it. I just think it would be fun to have some professional photos together to remember this part of marriage. I'll post them when we get it done : )

Count Your Many Blessings

Tonight we attended Stake Conference. It was good though we had to leave early because the boys were being such stinkers. The theme was about the tender mercies of the Lord. For the rest hymn we sang, "Count Your Many Blessings." I thought it would be valuable for me to just reflect on the many blessings I do have. I don't have a ton time to write, but I'll just do a few (on no particular order) -

a home • a wonderful husband • three sweet, healthy, loving children • the gospel • food to eat • a dependable job for us • good health • wonderful extended family on both sides • a dependable, comfortable car with heat and AC • eyesight • good friends • a wonderful mother • electricity • running water • an amazingly comfortable mattress • clothes to wear • a stand-up freezer • the ability to read and learn • freedom/living in the USA • a college degree • minimal debt • our own home • General Conference • prayer • great Ward • a great calling (RS teacher) • washer and dryer in my home •

okay - gatta get the little ones to bed - overall message - I am blessed and am grateful my life.

Potential?

Ha! Not that I would wish this upon my child - but I thought it was a fun picture for the times. It has been the presidential campaign I have followed the most - and all I can say is how grateful I am for the organization of the church.
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Bouncing Back

Today's Joy School went a lot better - thank goodness. We had fun singing songs, learning the 'rules' of Joy School and doing an art project. I look forward to many more fun days : )
Here is Kekoa's masterpiece. I was so impressed that he created it so well. The project was to cut shapes out and then glue them together to make a picture. The only piece I cut out was the orange circle when I was demonstrating what to do. I think he has great potential in the area of creativeness and art.

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue
Sugar is Sweet
But not like my Hubby.
(okay so I am no poet... oh well)

Kyle got me a couple dozen roses for our anniversary. I just wanted to take a picture of them to remember just how beautiful they were. We are off this weekend to Park City to celebrate our anniversary (last weekend was just a little to crazy to make it happen). We both look forward to a little get-away from the craziness of life.

Labor Day Luau

Taimane - the Polynesian group Kyle dances with - has their big show on Labor Day. This is the
3rd year we've spent Labor Day Evening at Thanksgiving Point. This year was the coldest by far. We really had to bundle up to stay warm. I felt so bad for the dancers.
Here are a couple of pictures - Kyle dancing Fiji, Sepa staying warm with Uncle Miah, and Kekoa enjoying the food. Ikaika was buried under a blanket and I didn't get a picture of him. Only so much we could do with the kids in the cold. No matter what the weather we love watching "Daddy-dance."

Joy(?) School

So today was our first day of Joy School. I volunteered to be the first mom to teach thinking it would help Kekoa get use to the idea and be excited about it all. Well - in his case, it was just a hair short of a disaster. He had major meltdown and was crying more than half the time. I felt bad for the other students (these two sweet girls) who didn't know what to think or do. But we persevered and will try again on Thursday. As they say - try, try again.... sigh.