Makell turns 6!!!

Makell had a birthday! Hooray! She is now officially 6!  Lucky for her she was able to celebrate it three different times! On her actual birthday we celebrated with our immediate family.  She was able to spend her special day doing exactly what she wanted... playing Loving Family with the new nursery set.  We returned from Texas the night before her birthday so we were all pretty exhausted the following day from traveling and an eventful weekend. A calm relaxing evening was perfect for all of us! Later that week she celebrated with family and friends. The past six months I have noticed so much change in Makell. She seems so grown up to me! I love when she reads me stories and asks me questions. When I give an answer, she responds with; True. I love her caring nature.  She is always finding someway to make people feel loved and special. She makes the best cards and pictures for people!  She gives the best back rubs! She can beatbox...but refuses to perform  for others.  I was lucky to see it when she didn't know I was watching!  Makell is really quiet and shy when not at home, but loud and funny when she is at home! She can definitely be a clown! She is the best little helper and buddy you could ask for! Makell fills our home with so much laughter and love! Happy Birthday Missy!             

Heading to Texas!

A few months ago we received a phone call from Adam's sister Meagan, telling us she was engaged and the wedding would be the end of September!  We were recently in Texas in April for spring break, so we were not sure if we would be able to take the whole family back again.  We also knew that driving was not an option because the girls were now in school and it would not be realistic to spend four days in the car driving.  One day I decided to jump online to see what airline tickets would run, and about died at the cost!  I remembered that our little Provo airport was gaining a lot of popularity and now had one flight in and one flight out everyday through Frontier Airlines.  I checked prices and to my surprise they were extremely cheaper than SLC!  After Adam and I talked about things, we decided with how cheap the tickets were, we would be able to take the whole family!  The girls were ecstatic!  Makell was two the last time she flew and doesn't remember a whole lot.  I loved the idea of only having to travel fifteen minutes to catch our flight!  I tend to get pretty stressed out trying to make sure everyone has packed everything they will need, out the door on time, and to the airport without any incident!  I told Adam that from now on if possible, we will fly out of Provo! :)  Talk about no stress!  When we arrived at the airport there were only two other people there bedsides Security personnel and Frontier employees.  When it was time to board the plane we walked outside and up the ramp onto the plane.  The flight attendants told us that the flights are always full.  The are trying to get more flights in and out everyday and also trying to bring in more airlines.  They said they have had nothing but positive feed back from travelers!  It was crazy to see cattle grazing out one window and hay bales out the other as we were on the runway taking off.  The initial takeoff was an experience! The plane had to make a hard right almost immediately and all you could see was nice "green" Utah Lake water out one window and blue skies out the other.  They made several tight turns so they could gain the altitude needed to make it over the mountain passes.  Several of us were feeling quite queezy with only a few minutes into the flight!  After our connecting flight to DFW, I'll take sharp hard turns any day over stinky toddler poop we encountered on our other flight!  That's another story! I highly recommend Provo, UT airport!   

Camping...girl style

The girls spent some quality time together, and no better place to do it than in a tent out back!  I loved doing these kinds of things as a kid.  I remember when my parents built a shed in our back yard. and my brothers and I slept out in it for a week straight.  The girls have been wanting to do this for several weeks now, and with how busy things have been, we finally got around to finally doing it. For some reason they thought we needed to do it with them.  A family of five in a four man tent isn't the most ideal and comfortable setting. Things tend to change as you get older, and I have found I prefer my soft comfy bed even more now.:)   Adam and I made the suggestion of them spending some quality "sister" time together!  Adam set the tent up on the back side of the deck to help protect them from some of the wind.  This meant it wasn't to far from our bedroom window, so we were able to hear all the conversations, giggles, and silliness!  Adam and I were in tears from laughing so hard listening to them! Adam made it nice and comfortable for them.  He blew up the air mattress, piled in the blankets, and ran an extension cord with a television so they could eat popcorn and watch a movie. I think our girls are going to have quite a shock when the time comes to experience "real" camping!       

15 Years and counting!

Fifteen Years and Counting! Adam and I just celebrated our fifteen year wedding anniversary!  I can't believe how fast it has gone! A few nights ago we were reflecting on how much our life has changed over these past fifteen years.  It started with the two of us and now we find ourselves a happy family of five.  I am so grateful to have Adam a part my life.  We joke around about how different we really are as individuals.  His strong points are my weakness and my strong points seem to be his weaknesses. I guess you can say balance each other out quite well. :)  Some of the first things that attracted me to Adam were his sincere kindness and funny personality. I absolutely love that no matter how bad of a day I am having, Adam can put a smile on my face and always make me laugh! I am grateful that he is an example to his daughters of  how a man should treat his wife.  I honestly say that I love him more each and every day!  We have many plans for our future together and can't wait to write down what our next fifteen years will have consisted of!    

Weekend Getaway!

It seems like this is one of the most crazy and busiest times of the year for us, especially Adam at work. I guess Labor Day weekend is considered the last nice weather break/vacation time before Mr. Winter rolls in. Adam and I had been discussing what to do with our three day weekend. We decided a trip to Logan would be a fun place to go. Friday while all the kids were in school I packed bags and loaded them in the car. We hadn't said anything to the girls about going anywhere because I wanted it to be a surprise! After Adam came home from work, we loaded in the car and headed out. As you can imagine they all asked multiple times where we were going. We told them that we were going to enjoy a nice long drive together and maybe find something fun to do. ;)  Kourtney and Kaitlyn are not quite fond of just driving around. Kourtney said if she would have known that we were just going to drive around then she would have rather just stayed home. :) After a while, Kourtney peaked over the back seat and saw the luggage. She had a huge grin as she asked  why we had bags in the car . :) All the girls started giggling because NOW they knew there was a purpose for the long car ride! We stayed at the Crystal Inn in Logan. The girls enjoyed the pool as well as everyone else there. :) The next morning Adam took off for the Logan Temple, and I went to the pool with the girls. The day before on our way to Logan I realized I had forgotten my recommend and remembered my brother and sister-in-law were driving to Tremonton the next morning. They saved me! My sister-in-law went to the house and they brought it with them! I owe them BIG! After Adam returned, it was my turn to attend the temple. Adam and the girls walked around the temple grounds while I was inside. It was such a beautiful day! It was a popular day for sealings, as the girls were able to see several girls in beautiful wedding gowns. To my surprise, I saw a car back into another car which totally cave the back end in. It was awesome to see both parties get out of their cars and shake hands. It was the most calm accident I have ever witnessed. ;) We headed back home and on our way, stopped at the Bountiful Temple. Adam and I took turns staying with the girls while the other one went inside. I loved walking around the temple grounds and talking with the girls. We sat on the grass in the shade and watched three beautiful brides take pictures with their husbands. I absolutely love the feeling I get when I am in the temple and am grateful that the feeling can be felt outside as well. We commented how peaceful and calm we felt sitting on the grass admiring the beauty that surrounded us! Fun weekend, spent with those I love!

And so it begins!

Oh my...our "baby" started Kindergarten! The beginning of the school years! I'm not exactly sure how I feel  about all of it. I told Makell a few weeks ago how much I was going to miss her when she was at school, and (jokingly) said maybe she should stay home one more year. She looked at me so serious and said, "Mom, I have to go to school to learn things you know!" It made me laugh! She is so ready and excited!

Kourtney and Kaitlyn made sure to remind me to not forget to take a picture out in front of the school. The other girls had the same picture taken in front of the school on the first day of Kindergarten! Last week I told Makell we needed to go backpack shopping so she would have something to carry her papers home in. She told me she didn't need to buy a new back pack because she had plans to use one of Kourtney's old ones. She spent two days pulling out little scraps of paper and even vacuumed the inside. We all tried to convince her to pick out a new one and nothing was going to change her mind! :) Kaitlyn told her she was crazy. Yep, that's Kaitlyn for you...never passing up on something new!

In front of her classroom door. 

Not only was Makell excited, but myself as well! I love Mrs. Echardt and her fun style of teaching! Makell went in, found her spot at the table, and was eager to get started! I have tried to prepare myself on how I would handle my youngest going to school. I told myself that Kindergarten is only half day so it shouldn't be to terribly different than the previous year of preschool . Well, I quickly found the motherly emotions rush to the surface. No matter how hard I tried, the tears welled up. I was able to hold it together until I made it back to the car. As a mother sending your baby off to school there are feelings that just can't be explained. Those of you who have sent your youngest child off to school know what I mean, and those you who have not... just wait!  

Turning 12!

Kourtney celebrated her twelfth birthday yesterday! I love that she chose to wear this particular shirt! She is definitely a ray of sunshine in our lives!

The girls and I snuck down to her school the night before to decorate her locker. She said she was pretty surprised when she opened it the next morning! We were hoping to surprise her as she road home from school, but a neighbor girl spotted the balloons clear down the road and asked Kourtney what they were for? She said she was still surprised only we didn't get to see her reaction.

This is Adam's favorite part of celebrating birthday's! He lost count after #4 so he had to start over. :) Kourtney reassured him she was keeping track.

Once again Kourtney chose cheesecake for her birthday cake.

It was fun going to Claire's and watching Kourtney pick out birthday presents. Ironic that while shopping in a jewelry and accessory store Kaitlyn and Makell instantly remembered that I owed each of them some money so they could shop as well. :)