Joy In My Journey

A few years ago, I found this black sign that says "Joy in the Journey" and bought it thinking I would use it for a different project... but I decided to use it instead in our downstairs family room. I have been making shadow boxes of all our family trips and I am go to hang them all over downstairs... but I started on this wall. If I had to give one answer for my "favorite thing to do" it would be traveling with my family. I thought it would be fun to put some of these pictures on here... and I have many more to do that I will post later on. Today I will be working on a Disneyland trip, my birthday trip to Park City, and a snowmobiling trip we went on! I think this is my form of "scrapbooking"... and I love it! Our family can be constantly reminded of the "joy" we have in our many "journeys" near and far together....

In March of last year we went to San Diego... swimming with the dolphins at SeaWorld was a huge highlight for everyone... especially McKenna! We went to the Wild Animal Park and the Zoo as well... but we all loved SeaWorld.. and the BEACH!

We spent a lot of time at Coronado Island beach... it was gorgeous! Not warm enough to swim... but fun on the beach anyway! Courtney wanted a sand dollar so bad and kept asking us how to find one. We told her we didn't have any tricks or suggestions, but that she might get lucky and find one... a short time later one literally washed up on her foot! When she reached down and picked it up, she looked at us and said, "well that wasn't so hard!" Sometimes I can't believe the things that just seem to "happen" to my children... she is thrilled we put the sand dollar in this shadow box so she can show it to all of her friends and it won't get broken!

In July of 2007 we went to Helena, Montana on a fishing trip. It was such a fun trip... and it was great getting to see Uncle Marv, Aunt Cheri, and Jonathan. Courtney developed a huge crush on him... and he was so sweet to her! My girls will never get sick of fishing...we stayed out on the pontoon boat till midnight fishing for Walleye! As you can see they got me to hold one...

In August of 2007 we went on an unforgettable adventure to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Mark Bond and his kids. (He is the owner of Dan's company... and our friend!) We had so many incredible adventures there... it was a "lifestyles of the rich and famous" trip with our own private pool...maids...a chef...not to mention all the FUN we had. We went on a zipline, snorkeling, had a swim with a giant sea turtle, and we finished by going to church on Sunday morning in a local ward. It was a GREAT experience for the kids to see that the gospel is the same everywhere. We didn't understand a word of what they were saying, but the kids knew exactly what was going on! We will NEVER forget this trip!

And last, but certainly not least, was the adventure the girls and I took to Chicago in October to watch my mom run the Chicago marathon. I can't believe that I drove cross country all by myself... but it was awesome! We went to the American Girl store with my mom, my sister Cheryl, and my niece Abi. After "lunch" we shopped and they all got to pick a doll, a few fun outfits, and McKenna was able to purchase a lot of extras with babysitting money she had saved up. This was such a fun trip... the only thing missing was my sweetheart! We were going to come back through Nauvoo, and other church historical sites, but we just couldn't take any longer getting home... we all missed Dan too much! We will probably do a "church trip" next year or the year after...

Here are a few final photos of my family last night during family home evening! Enjoy!

Courtney's first day of school!

Courtney started 2nd grade today! She really likes her teacher... and her only concern is that big sister McKenna won't be there to "protect" her. I have a feeling that she will do just fine on her own. I have to admit though I have felt some sense of comfort in the past knowing that McKenna was just down the hall and out at recess with her. She is thrilled that I will be the room mom for her class again this year. After last year, being room mom for one class will be easy! One huge disappointment came when we found out that she and her best friend Camilla would NOT be in the same class AGAIN this year. When I told her they had different teachers she burst into tears and dramatically announced that birthday candle wishes and falling stars will no longer be "magic" to her. She wished on both, and they let her down!!!!!! It might actually be better they are in different classes, but I had secretly hoped that this would finally be the year. If you can't believe in magic, what's the point?! I tried to make her feel better by reminding her that they would still have lunch together and recess. For the time being, that seems to make her happy! What a beautiful girl!

McKenna's first day of Jr. High!

I can't believe that my first born has started Jr. High! It seems like just yesterday she was starting kindergarten...but would you look at her!?! She had a wonderful day, and had friends in every class but one. Her incoming 7th grade class in the largest ever in Utah history... I don't have the official final count but it is somewhere between 700-800 students! I don't know how the school is handling it! She loves that she got to choose her own classes... and says that her math teacher is a bore. Poor guy... I don't think math teachers can help it! I can't wait to see what she will accomplish this year! I have to make one confession that was very unexpected... I teared up. Not that I don't usually cry, because my family would say that it is unusual for me NOT to cry at everything... but this caught me a little off gaurd. As the bus pulled away from our curb, I wanted to run after it and bring her back into the safety of our home... probably similar to what my parents felt when Dan and I left after our "wedding brunch"... not to that extreme of course, but Jr. High can be rough. If anyone can handle it, it is McKenna. She is amazing!

Vegas Trip 2008

In April Dan had a conference to attend in Las Vegas... and for some reason this conference is held EVERY year the week of our anniversary. I guess I could get irritated by that, but I choose instead to look at it as an opportunity to travel somewhere and only have to pay for my plane ticket and meals. I can't wait for it to be held in Seattle or Anaheim so I can bring the girls and we can go to Disneyland or something... I think next year or the year after!

On our trip this year, I took my camera, but forgot the camera card... and rather than go buy another one, I just let my friend Lindsey take all the pictures! (Thanks for making me a CD Linds!) So to follow are some of the funniest pictures ever... McKenna was mortified when she saw them... so that means they are REALLY good! Lindsey and Shelby (both of their husbands work with Dan) and I went shopping the first day we were there. We found candy "grills". If you are unfamiliar with a "grill", it isn't something you BBQ on, it is something "gangsters" wear to make their front teeth look like they have gold in them. The hotel had overbooked so the three of us couples ended up in one of the penthouse suites that only rockstars could afford, so we thought it would be funny to buy "grills" and take pictures of our selves wearing bath robes, grills and throwing money...

When the guys got back from their meetings, this is what they found waiting for them! We then made each of them take a turn wearing our "grills" and we took pictures... these are the FUNNY ones! I hope none of them ever run for public office...these pictures would surface for sure!

The guys are probably going to kill me when they see these... but I couldn' resist! The following is us as a group out sightseeing, and heading home at the airport! Not a trip I will soon forget!

My Class Reunion Trip

I decided to go ahead and take the time to write a little about my class reunion trip... the strange thing about my life as many of you already know, is that I didn't live in one place long enough to develop much of anything let alone a reputation. It would seem that I have waited until later in life to do that... for example, recently Dan was talking to someone about our upcoming Youth Conference, and she asked if there would be outlets available for blow dryers etc... he told her yes, and that I was bringing mine. She then proceeded to tell him, "oh, if your wife is coming then I am bringing my flat iron too! I KNOW she will!" I have no idea who this woman is. Therefore, I am aware that I have finally developed a reputation. Not a bad one... not necessarily a good one either... but nonetheless, a reputation. I was going on a fishing trip in the picture to the right. Enough said.

On this recent trip to Idaho Falls, which by the way is not the school I even actually graduated from, but was the school I had fonder memories of, I found out a few things about myself. (I went to Skyline for my Junior year and half of my senior year... and then of course I moved.) The first thing I learned about me is that I have more often than not, had exceptionally great friends. I have had LOTS of acquaintances in school and in life, but the people I consider "friends" and have kept on my Christmas card list are really worth the stamp and the trees that give their lives every year so I can write my annual Christmas letter. Second, I am really grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, because at my 20 year reunion I had an up close and personal look at what my life could have been like. Third, I really needed to go this reunion to feel like I "belonged" somewhere with all the moving I did as a kid... but I am over that now. I reconnected with some great people... most of all Carmonie Peterson and her wonderful family, but I don't need to live in the past, because my present is way better than I ever dreamed! And Last but not least, some people age WAY better than others... must be all that clean livin' and losing the "butt rocker" hair. It was a very enlightening walk down memory lane... and I don't feel a day over 38.

Skyline wasn't quite as spectacular as I remembered....

And here is our old house... I kept saying... "wow the trees have really grown! I don't remember them being so big." To which Dan of course reminded me... "They weren't, it was over 20 years ago!" I do have some great memories about living here. It was definitely the right place at the right time.

Well, here a few pictures of my girls, and then I will go... McKenna gorgeous as ever... And the last three are of Courtney... 1)looking cute, 2)with her new friends... 3)and having to leave her new friends to come home. Seriously the drama!!!!! ... when the first boy breaks up with her it will be the end of the world! Wait, who am I kidding! She probably won't ever experience that! She will TELL them when she is done with them and they will be the ones crying!

Last years cake...

I finally found the picture of last years birthday cake! I will write more tomorrow... but I had to put this on here. Dan couldn't believe what the girl decorating did to the cake! Notice the mini "prince charming" ...and balloons... and heart rings... and plastic flowers... and the list goes on! The best was that Dan asked her to write "You're hotter than ever" on the cake but she wrote "You're STILL hotter than ever"... lucky for her I have a great sense of humor and could laugh at that!!! This year was definitely way better than last year!

Mom & Daughter Getaway!

In the picture on the right, you will see two exceptionally cute sets of toes... and yes the "crazy" blue, green and pink ones belong to McKenna. We left yesterday afternoon and headed for Salt Lake City where I had booked us a room at the Radisson Hotel... but upon arrival in our room I noticed a very strong and unpleasant odor... long story short... they were booked at the "inn"... and we ended up leaving and staying at a Marriott Hotel in Draper instead. Before leaving Salt Lake though, we went and did some school shopping at the Gateway shopping mall, and had a great dinner at Ruby River Steak House. Even though McKenna is an animal lover to the extreme, she told me (as you can see in the next picture) that she can't "live without meat"! That's Daddy's little carnivore! We celebrated her being a wonderful and amazing person... and to her staying that way throughout her teenage years! It was great to have a little female bonding time!

She and I even went to a really late movie and saw "Get Smart" which we really enjoyed! This morning we got up and went and got our pedicures and then headed for home! What a fun getaway with one of my very favorite people!!!!! We had lots of laughs, some great talks about Junior High and all the crazy boys she is going to meet... and best of all some time for just the two of us! I love you McKenna!!!!!!!!!!