New Commitment to this here Blog! :) Where do you print your blog?

My kids LOVE to read these stories, see pictures, and remember some of our fun family experiences. So, I'm writing this short and sweet post to commit to writing weekly once again.  I'm committing to Memory Mondays and/or Flashback Fridays (extra credit for writing something both days). Or maybe I should go for Thoughtful Thursdays :).  I guess I'll leave my options open!  Wacky Wednesdays? Ha ha. Okay, it is getting late (for someone who has been trying to wake up at 5:30 AM every morning) At one point I decided to write daily - but that was a huge failure. Then life happened and I haven't posted anything for almost a year!  Shame on me.  I have tried to print a couple of times, but just couldn't figure out how to do it with some of the slideshows, etc. (I figured I needed to write actual posts in place of the slideshows and that just seemed like a HUGE chore!  So, I need to try again!  I would be heartbroken if it was all lost somehow and my kids would be as well!  So, I need your help!  Where is the best place to print your blog?  I know there are many different places.  Any favorites?  Thank you in advance to anyone who swings by with any advice!

Kassi's Kindergarten Field Trip to Hee Haw Farms! (OCT. 2013)

Kassi's Kindergarten teacher asked me to take some pictures on field trips to add to a class blog.  Now that we have about 12 inches of snow on the ground, I thought it was time to take a minute and do that!  So, after spending an hour or so doing that, I figured it was high time I take a minute to update our own blog!  (The pictures I uploaded on the kindergarten blog aren't quite as biased as the pictures below!)

 Waiting patiently for instructions and for the fun to begin!

 Fun on the Hayride!  (I don't remember details, only that it was a very chaotic morning trying to get the kids to school, Nate taken care of, and off to Hee Haws.  I was very lucky to find an abandoned coat in the car from the weekend BYU football game because it was very windy and pretty chilly!)  But, we had tons of fun on that blustery day!!!

 We learned about how corn sneaks into everything from all types of food products to cosmetics, tires, and just about anything you can think of. :)

 My cute little farmer.  Grandpa McConkie would be proud!  And, I'm sure he is!

 Kassi is our 3rd child and exactly the same placement as I was growing up.  I had a brother who was the oldest and an older sister, so I've always felt a special bond with her because of that.  Her personality is quite different from mine, however.  She is a "do it herself" type of gal.  She taught herself how to ride a bike and swim pretty much all on her own.  She even insists on learning to read on her own most of the time, so she has taught me a lot of patience :)!  I love to see her working so hard to reach her goals, most of the time while she thinks no one else is watching.  I know that her hard work and endurance will help her achieve many great things throughout her life and I'm so proud of her!  I love her fun, spunky personality.  She is always making us laugh and as long as she isn't woken up before her time, (which can be tricky because she is not one to want to go to bed) she is a very happy little girl and so much fun to be around!!!

 She would have been happy doing this for hours!

 And maybe a little bit of this over and over again as well!

 The kids loved the chickens,

 the sheep,

 the pigs and brand new baby piglets,

 the goats (looks like we are just a tad early for the baby goatlings :)

 Kassi is pointing to the pregnant goat above and laughing.  I hope she doesn't do that to pregnant women in the future :)!

 Kassi with her amazing teacher, Ann Bigelow.  Ann has helped both of my girls to love school and learning and I could never possibly repay her for the amazing influence she has had on my children!  God bless good teachers!!!

 The mother pig :)

My cute little farmer girl again!  Why can I imagine this girl married to a rancher and horseback riding every day?  Maybe it is just images of her on the horse tire swing or riding ponies at Thanksgiving Point?  I don't think a horse would dare throw this girl :)!

 To my surprise, she loved the pumpkins with the "warts".  This girl is always full of surprises!

 Kassi LOVES all of her friends at school and after the 2nd day of school, she had made lots of cute little friends.  But, since I was there, she was attached to me the whole time!  I kind of liked it :)!

 Group Picture!

The kids (like mine) who don't typically ride a bus LOVE getting to ride on the bus for their field trips.  Kassi even chose riding on a fun school bus with all of her friends over riding back to the school with me!  I guess I'll forgive her.  So thankful I could join my sweet Kassi for her school field trip to Hee Haw Farms!

Blessings Realized (Birthday/Wedding Celebrations), June 2013

Krystal's Bridal Shower

It has been a while since I've been able to blog due to 3 things: 

1.  Technical difficulties due to my external hard drive having some serious issues making it difficult to upload photos

2.  Four amazingly fun children that have wanted my attention every minute of every fun summer day (why does a quote from my dad come to mind, "More fun than a body should be allowed to have!")

3.  My being overwhelmed with where to begin since I've gotten SO far behind!  

So, I'm going to take a deep breath and go for it!  Once I finalize my Fall schedule, I will designate a time once a week and write it in PERMANENT INK!  :)  Because, my memory is horrible and I want my children to have a record of all the fun and crazy things we did and learned while WE were growing up :)!

My most recent birthday was quite possibly my best birthday ever.  It began with celebrating my good friend (from the time we were toddlers) Krystal's upcoming wedding.  We spoiled her with gifts to make her blush and bombarded her with questions.  Andy and I met Patrick almost a year ago after they'd been dating a little while, when we went hiking and I knew :) they were meant to be together!  Watching her so happy and knowing what wonderful things await her in her journey of marriage and family brought tears to my eyes several times throughout the week.

 It was fun to get together with some of our home town friends, friends from college, and Krystal's family!

 Next, I was off to a birthday lunch with the fam.  Apparently we should have bought salads for the kids at Cafe Rio because they all wanted mine :)!  

 Especially this cute little guy.

 How could I resist sharing?  He even put his arm around me and said, "Tanks, Mom!"

 I had to steal a bite of my own salad every now and then, but I just had to laugh and think how just 12 1/2 years ago, Andy and I were starting out our new life together and we had no idea what kinds of blessings were in store for us and how our hearts would be expanded in very real and sometimes painful ways.  In the process, we would have these 4 sweet children and would come to know and love our Savior in a way that can only come as we learn to give our will to Him.  Most days I feel that we have done our best to try to love each other and teach our family what life is really about.  Being married to a wonderful selfless man and learning from these sweet kiddos has taught me in a way that I don't know that I personally could have learned otherwise, how love and sacrifice bring greater joy than any earthly possession possibly could.  I am anything but a perfect mother and sometimes wonder how the Lord could think to trust me to meet all the needs of these precious spirits but I have come to learn personally that as I try to do my best, which is a very sad attempt at times, the Savior makes up the difference when I put Him first in my life and seek His will and His strength.  I have had the wonderful opportunity this week to attend some classes at B.Y.U.'s Education Week with a good friend.  It has been so refreshing to be reminded that we are mortal and we have weaknesses and that we aren't here to be perfect parents to our children, but to do a little better each day and show them who to rely on.  I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who is perfect and for His perfect plan for His children.  I love and trust Him and am so grateful for the blessings in my life.  I love how my children recognize truth so easily and how they teach me with their simple faith and their unconditional love.  They have taught me more than I could ever teach them and I will be grateful for that every day of my life.

I love how my youngest kiddos love sour things as much as I did as a child.  They always want my lemons or limes!  Even if it does do this to their cute little faces!

Since it was my birthday, we splurged and bought chips and some kind of yummy queso dip :)!

Who would want to eat a birthday dessert all by themselves when you could share with these cute kiddos?

Later in the week, a couple nights before the big day, we threw a mini bachelorette party for Krystal at my house.  We were so happy Christen could make it in time!  We had a little potluck dinner and some yummy treats and got to visit.  So fun.  Sadly, the above picture is the only evidence I have of our little party.

The ceremony was as beautiful as the bride.  We were all so happy for these two love birds!

It was so good to see all of Krystal's family as well.  Krystal's dad and my dad were best friends all throughout my growing up.  When I see Garth, I feel like my dad should be right there with him - kind of like how I felt when I was with my mom and siblings for years after my dad passed away unexpectedly.  It is a bitter-sweet feeling.  Garth and Katrina were like my second parents at times growing up.  I remember calling Katrina on accident one day in Junior High from the office and after a big long explanation about something, she said, "Heidi, I think you think that you called home?"  Sure enough, I'd called the wrong number.  But, Krystal's home always felt like a second home to me!  16 years later, I still have Krystal's home number memorized from when we were kids.  So, I can call her parents anytime I want to this day :)!  Come to think of it, I should probably do that!  I wish I'd been able to stay and take more pictures, but we had to run home and switch babysitters so we could hit another reception really quick and come back for the dinner!  Then we were back to partying with Krystal and Patrick!

More of our friends were able to come to the wedding, dinner, and reception!  

Left to Right:  Jacky, Heather, Heidi, Krystal, Carrie, Christen & Cami

They were pretty nice to each other with the cake, I must say.  And, I LOVE the colors Krystal chose.  Everything was beautiful!

Of course three of my kiddos found me right away and wanted in the picture!  At the dinner, Garth specifically asked me to come up and share some thoughts/memories with everyone.  It was a pretty good crowd, so when Christen offered to go up for our table/group of friends I was thinking I might be off the hook.  But, it was so good to reminisce and think about what this amazing friend of mine has taught me through the years.  I always looked up to Krystal and I explained that I was probably like the annoying little sister that is always wanting to be like/copy her older sister.  But, it is such a compliment because it means that you respect and admire and want to be like the other person.  That was Krystal to me.  Someone I loved and respected and admired all growing up and I loved doing everything with her, often following in her footsteps because she was braver than I was most of the time.  When we weren't in the same classes or sports or activities, we were often on the phone making plans!  She talked me into all kinds of crazy things like talking to boys :), joining the swim team, being involved in junior miss, etc. etc. etc.  So, it was a very strange thing for me to get engaged, married, and start my family first.  And, to my amazement, each of our children has had some red in their hair!!!  I always thought of Krystal as being Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables and me as her friend, Diane.  I have also always mourned that my middle name Ann doesn't have an 'e' :).  I have been hoping and praying for this day for a long time and couldn't be happier with the result.  Patrick is such a kind, fun, loving person and I know they will be able to bless each other's lives in so many ways.

Marriage to the right person at the right time in the right place really is such a blessing.  I am so happy that that blessing has come to my dear friend and wish her and Patrick every JOY in this life and the life to come.

And, is it okay for me to wish them a couple or more of these while I'm at it:  :)

My oldest daughter matched the decor so perfectly.  Turquoise and pink are two of her favorite colors.  I couldn't help realize that we could be celebrating her wedding in not too many years.  (Very possibly in about as many years as it has been since I graduated from High School, which seems crazy to me!!!)  I loved watching her dance with her Daddy and then with her little brother.

I was so amazed when I walked in to the dinner and saw these centerpieces!  I had literally picked up these same planter pots at Tai Pan a few days before and taken them to the register when I realized I should find some flowers or plants to put in them if I was going to give them to Krstal as a wedding gift.  So, since I picked out something else, thankfully, I found it so funny that these were the pots she chose for her dinner/reception centerpieces!  I also chose a glass water pitcher as part of her wedding gift before I looked up her registry and was so surprised that she had registered for the exact pitcher at Target!  Ha ha.  We were obviously meant to be friends!

I love how Katrina is smiling at them kissing in this picture.  One of my favorite wedding pictures is the one of my Dad looking at Andy and I and smiling at us after our wedding.  I hope my children choose good spouses and are happily married so that I will be this happy for them on their wedding day!

Our kids were troopers and lasted all through the happy couple's departure.  I am so thankful for this great blessing that has come into Krystal's life (namely Patrick :) and I'm extra happy for the fact that they will be living close and we can continue to be blessed by our friendship with them!   Talking to Krystal before she took this big step in her life brought back so many memories and helped me reflect on how I am so grateful for the amazing blessing of marriage and families and know that they serve a wonderful purpose.  I am so grateful for eternal families and grateful that my good friend Krystal has started her own!  I couldn't have asked for a better birthday week!  Best Wishes to my dear friend & her eternal companion!