Dear Kelse...

Tonight we went to your sweet dad's viewing and I was able to find out more about what a great man he was.  Especially what a great father and "Grampy" he was and is.  You and your family are so very lucky to have such a wonderful man in your lives.  You are loved by so many and I was able to see just a few of the lives that he touched tonight. 
In person I don't know what to say because I can't imagine what you are going through.  The heartache that you must be feeling seems unbearable to me.  This might be one of the hardest things you will have to go through.  I want to let you know that I love you so much and that I am here if you need anything.  I also know that the Lord is always aware of our circumstances. You can always turn to him and he will bring you comfort and the strength you need.  He loves you so much and knows of the pain you're going through.  You are a beautiful woman with a beautiful spirit and I thank you for sharing that with me.
All I can think about is the night of March 18 of this year.  We were outside awaiting Sienna's arrival with your dad.  I don't remember the conversations we were having but I can just picture your dad's face light up when we heard her first cry and the emotion that overwhelmed him.  He loves you guys and has a special place for his grand kids. 
While I was going through a trial our family had a Tender Mercy take place.  When we retrieved Gaven's scriptures from Seminary we noticed a marker sticking out of his scriptures the scripture that was marked was 2 Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Knowing this brought our family comfort.  Though that doesn't make it easier on us here we know that Gaven was put right to work and that he is not and will never feel alone.  Death is one of the hardest things we have to face on this Earth.  It is something we have to take a day at a time, step by step. Having the knowledge of the gospel we know this is only temporary.  We will be reunited with our loved ones and feel an ultimate peace. 
Kelse I love you so much and I hope and pray that you will feel the comfort of the Lord at this time.

Lots to Catch Up On...

 It's been awhile since I have blogged.  The last blogs I was doing was about things I am thankful for.   I'm not going to catch up on all of that so just know I have so much to be thankful for.  I am very blessed and not a day goes by that I don't thank my Heavenly Father for all the many blessings he gives to me and my family.
So I will make this short and sweet... well let the pictures do the talking anyway.

We went to Disney On Ice...

 We had a tea party with Belle...

 Going and cutting down our Christmas tree isn't complete with out a stop at Gossners...

 What I made out of our trimmings from the tree...

 Payton turned 4!!!...

 For Payton's birthday we took her to the Kangaroo Zoo.  She absolutely loved it and kept thanking me for taking her there.  After she was done playing there we went to McDonald's for lunch and then to the park to play for a little bit.  This was her day so we did what she wanted.  The day went perfect until our diaper bag was stolen out of the truck.  The only thing that makes me so mad is that it had our camera in it.  The pictures from the kangaroo zoo are the ones I took with my phone.  I am glad that I empty off our SD card regularly and that on this particular day I left it in the computer so I wasn't able to take too many pictures with the camera.

 All she wanted for her birthday was a stick horse...

 Payton was so excited to go to the doctors she was particularly excited for her shots. I know crazy!  She had the choice of getting them or not since they are her kindergarten shots and she still chose to get them.  She cried only for a few seconds.  When she realized she could still walk she was all smiles.  She brings me so much joy! 

Payton now weighs 33.8 lbs which is 40% and is 41 1/4" which is 81% which means she grew over 4 inches in a year! She is still the smartest now 4 year old that I know.  She loves watching movies, playing games, playing with friends and the most surprising she loves reading.  Of course she likes when we read to her, but she is reading on her own now.  She is picking up on it so quickly and loves reading all the books that grandma will bring home to her.  Which has made me rethink the whole preschool thing.  Originally I wanted her to go because I wanted her social skills to improve.  She is now a social butterfly and isn't lacking in that area.  I think I will just keep doing what I'm doing and save us $80 a month.  Today for fun I had her write her numbers down.  This was her first time ever writing them down and I am very impressed!

This year I again asked her the annual Favorites birthday questions..

Color- "pink and purple"

Movie- "Brave"

Book- "Well... it's... 'Spooky Old Tree'"

TV show- "Dinosaur Train"

Game- "Well... it's.. Candy Land"

Food- "Cereal, oh and burritos.  I love burritos.  They make my breath stinky"

Song- "I am a Child of God, and girl you make my speakers go boom, boom." 

Activity- "That Weston likes to be nice and play with me."

Princess-"Belle"

Friends- "My best friends are Wyatt and Finley, Weston, Strawberry Shortcake, Payton, Hunter and Cody, and Mommy" then I asked what about Connor? "Oh ya he is and Hunter and the little girl baby Sienna." 

Payton is our smarty pants, she speaks so clearly and doesn't forget a thing you say.

I love this time of year...

 This year we adopted a new little friend.  Meet Chester the elf, the elf on the shelf...

 All dressed and ready for church on a cold winter morning...

 Monday we went to Christmas Village to see all the lights for FHE...

Technology...

 Yes I am thankful for technology.  I don't know what I would do without it.  I use it everyday! I love capturing my family with the camera, and when I don't have my camera I use my phone.  I have my phone on me most of the time and feel naked with out it.  The world is using technology and progressing with it yearly.  It's changing the way kids learn and we rely on it daily.  I am thankful for all of the educational material that is out there using technology. 

Personality...

 I am thankful to have the personality that I have.  I feel that I am pretty easy going, easily pleased, and enjoy most things.  I am thankful I am this way.  I am thankful that Nic is the same way.  We are a pretty chill pair.  I am thankful that most people we associate with are the same way.  I love the relationships we have! We all have great sense of humors... Our gnome wars... I just had to throw in Octobers.

 I am thankful our kids have fun personality's and entertain each other and Nic and I for hours. 

Cozy Home...

Last night after having family home evening and watching the exciting Jazz game we all watched a movie together as a family.  It was nothing big and exciting but meant so much to me.  The kids sat on the floor sharing a blanket while Nic and I sat on the couch cuddled together with the fire going.  It's moments like those that I cherish the most; the time I get to spend with my family in my home.  One of my friends said it best;  "I don't have a mansion or a palace, but I have a roof over my head with lots of laughter within it's walls."  And truly that's all that matters.

Catching Up on my Thankfulness...

Thursday: I am thankful for church sports.  The past few weeks we have been playing volleyball and I have loved it.  I love the time I get to spend with some pretty awesome women from our stake.  We have so much fun laughing and enjoying our little bit of exercise together.

Friday:  I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to serve and the opportunities that the church gives me to do so.  I was able to go to the Cannery for the first time and enjoyed the 4.5 hours I spent there.  I had the best feeling there and knew that I was helping such a good cause.

 Saturday:  I am grateful for my in-laws and the time we were able to spend together this last weekend in Park City for a girls weekend.  We didn't sleep, we laughed, shopped, ate and I loved every bit of it.

 Sunday:  I am thankful for Hot Chocolate! I love it and the kids love it too.  It's perfect for these chilly winter days we have had and have ahead of us.

 Monday:  I am so thankful for my two beautiful children.  They light up my life daily.  I love them so much.  I am thankful that they are friends and love each other too.