B-Ball Boys...

The other night, Colter went with his good buddy, Kobe to the Jr. Jazz 'player appearance night' and guess who showed up? Paul Milsap, no kidding! Garrett and I had plans to be out for the night with grandma and grandpa Nichol at the house to babysit...we didn't really think Colter would mind missing...we were wrong! Luckily Colt could tag along with his surrogate family -
the Talbots. Thanks guys for always making Colter feel like he's one of the boys. What would we do without you?? p.s. Thanks for the cute pictures, too!
Caden, Kobe and Colter at b-ball practice...

A Night with my Girls and Rascal Flatts...

I love Rascal Flatts and have wanted to see them in concert for a while. For Christmas, Garrett got us tickets and I was thrilled...the girls were so excited that we were going to see them in concert, so much so, that Garrett and I decided it would be fun to just make it a girls night out. We ate at The Pizza Factory and enjoyed yummy breadsticks, pizza and raspberry lemonades!
Jessica Simpson was the opener and she was so much fun to watch - she is just beautiful!
Rascal Flatts came on stage amid fireworks and a huge explosion...it was awesome! Better than I had imagined. Every song was perfect - it was a great night out with my cute girls. During some of the songs I did missed Garrett, though, and found myself wishing he were there, too (it would have been nice to have him to cuddle with)...next year.
I love so many of their songs and listen to them all the time...probably my favorites are 'My Wish,' 'Bless the Broken Road' and 'Stand' and all of these were played last night. Quite a few years ago, when I first heard the song 'Stand' it struck me and brought tears. I love that music can have such an affect...the meaning of that song is powerful and at that time it was especially profound. It was a few months after Whitney's son Ethan was born...she had been bent as far as I thought possible, she had been through every emotion possible and was beginning to press forward...as the song says...'everytime you get up and get back in the race one more small piece of you starts to fall into place' - that was it! When I heard this song I typed up the words and sent them to her (and I'm sure she cried). While we were growing up I often did this to songs she wanted to try and sing along with, being deaf she doesn't hear the words, but she can kind of get the idea if she sees the words written down.
Last night was just fun...running to the car in the freezing cold we laughed at how much fun we had together. Thanks babe, for a great Christmas gift - I loved it!

Puppy LOVE...

pictures of Colt and chopper and pictures of chopper on front steps...just a few months old.

Friday Night Fun...

Friday afternoon was a little crazy at our house, really no different than another other day. I love it when kids are coming and going and it's busy with friends...Colter and his buddies, Drake and big Wyatt (that's how we differentiate between little Wyatt and Colter's friend, Wyatt), spent most of the afternoon riding their bikes and playing in the snow...enjoying the beautiful, sunny weather we've had. And since I'm still potty training Wyatt and we were outside playing, I asked him if he just wanted to pee in the snow, rather than go inside. He loved that idea and so did the big boys...uh-oh, I hope none of our neighbors noticed the yellow snow between our yards! But, it was pretty funny to see four little boys peeing in a row. Then, after wearing themselves out they came in for some donuts and milk. The boys kept coaxing Wyatt to put the donuts over his eyes and, of course, he readily obeyed...

McKenna and Ashlyn planned an eventful night out with a bunch of their cute girlfriends...
Brinley - McKenna - Brielle
First, the girls all met at our house for a spaghetti dinner, then we headed up to the U of U women's gymnastics meet, then rushed back home to the Clearfield Aquatic Center to cheer on McKenna and McKahll as they played in her late, late-nite
futsol game...which they won 7-2!
Cutie girls: Delaney. McKenna. Brielle.
Ashlyn. Brinley. McKahll. Brinley
we had such a great time jammin' to Garrett's awesome cd mix...singing "I can ride a bike with no handlbars" and rockin' out to songs by the American Rejects (the Yukon was actually jumpin')...talking in accents (where do they come up with some of this stuff?)...just being goofy girls and of course, eating lots of junk food...such a fun night! A few weeks ago, Colter and I went with McKenna and a bunch of her friends to see the Pink Panther 2 movie...I love that they are cool with me hanging out with them, I know it will probably change when they are teenagers, but right now I am enjoying it!
...McKahll #5 as a forward and McKenna in goal...
McKenna also spent the day snowboarding at Snowbasin with her cute friend, McKahll, and her mom, Stacy, one of my best friends...
what a cool mom to take these two up on the mountain...such lucky girls! It's been such nice weather here in the valley, I can only imagine how beautiful it was to be snowboarding. McKenna even rode the gondola for the first time, thanks to some gentle coaxing by Stacy and McKahll.
This morning (Saturday) McKenna woke early and headed back up to Snowbasin with Brielle for their last snowboarding lesson...when I woke her this morning, she was sore and pretty exhausted, but she got out of bed and went...I'm sure she'll come home and crash!
Garrett hung with the boys and went to Colter's basketball game, then out for ice cream to celebrate their win.
Tonight, I'm looking forward to a more quiet night out with Garrett, a little Cafe Rio and the movie, Taken, with our friends ,Tyler and Diane. I can't wait.

Finally...

I guess the realization that I will begin potty training our puppy next week really sank in because I went full-force on potty training Wyatt a few days ago and he's already mastered it. Yay! The other morning, I noticed it was extra quiet after the big kids had gotten off to school, I was in the kitchen and called out, "Wyatt, where are you?"...he said "my on the potty." He was going all by himself and that was only the second day. Whew, I know there are bound to be accidents, but he gets it and I'm thrilled! Today we made a special trip to the store for him to pick out his own 'underwears' and of course he choose Thomas the Train and had to call daddy and tell him all about them.
My love you, Wyatt-boy...you have my heart!

Meet Chopper...

We have a new little chocolate lab puppy at our house...
well, we're not actually bringing him home until this weekend,
but here is a sneak peek. He is the cutest thing ever...
Our good friend's pure-bred lab had puppies about 6 weeks ago, so we went over to see them and fell in love with one little puppy in particular. He stole our hearts the minute we saw him...
now, we are all in love. Garrett and I kind of knew that once the kids saw the puppies and held them we were in for it. The last few weeks we've visited our little Chopper-dog quite often and even brought him to our house a few times to play...the kids are so anxious to bring him home to stay.We've been busy preparing for his arrival...reading up on what lab's need and love and how to crate-train a puppy, getting his crate ready, buying toys, food, a leash, collar, tags and all that comes with having a dog. The kids are all so excited...Wyatt cannot stop talking about his Chopper-chip. I've even thought about potty training Wyatt at the same time we're potty-training this new little puppy - seriously, maybe that would give me (and Wyatt) more incentive.
So, this summer, it looks like we'll be busy building a dog-run, a dog house and maybe finishing the fence around the backyard.
We are so excited to have this new little addition in our family...it's funny that when the timing is right, it's just so right!

Cheering from the Sidelines...

Ashlyn loves to go to McKenna's indoor soccer games and watch her play, but, I also think there's an ulterior motive...these cute girls are always there cheering for their sister, McKahl, and she gets to hang out and run around with them.McKenna plays indoor with a friend named McKahl (it's funny because one of McKenna's lifelong best friends, who plays on the same team, is also named McKahll, but with 2 l's)...anyway, these cute girls are McKahl's sisters...Brinley, Lauren and Anistan. I love that they love taking care of Wyatt at the games and so willingly share all of their snacks with him. They are the cutest little babysitters...Wyatt is one lucky little boy!
Most of our President's Day was spent at Ultimate Indoor watching McKenna's soccer tournament - four games in a row. She came home and crashed...I did, too, and I didn't even play! Garrett and his good friend, Greg, spent the day fishing the Provo River...then Greg and Amy and their kids all met up for FHE at our house...yummy dessert and a lesson on the
Prophet, Joseph Smith. It was a great day.

Sometimes It's Just a Feeling...

February 9th marked two months since the passing of our little nephew and cousin, William. I really can't believe it's been two months. So, with tomorrow being Valentine's Day, we decided to put together a little package for baby Will.
Today, while the older kids were in school, and Garrett in year-end meetings (it's that time of year for him), Wyatt and I went down to visit William's grave and deliver his gifts.
Last night we found the perfect Winnie the Pooh card that read..."Piglet asked Pooh, how do you spell love?
Pooh answered...I don't need to know how to spell love...
I can just feel it."
As we looked through all the Valentines cards I knew it was the one for him. We came home and all wrote little notes to William in the card...my girls and I shared a quiet moment talking and crying, and crying some more, as we remembered baby Will.
I keep thinking the tears won't come so easily when we talk of him, yet they do, and I guess deep down I'm glad I still feel that tenderness. Wyatt loved seeing all the other gifts that have been left for William over the last few weeks by his parents, brothers, grandparents and friends...red roses, a matchbox car, stuffed animals and balloons.
This is the first time I've been back since the funeral...it was so quiet, so peaceful and so beautiful with freshly fallen snow on the ground. Wyatt played with the little car in the snow while I just silently watched him and enjoyed the perfect stillness. We are all thinking of you and loving you, Little Warrior.
Whitney has been putting together a Book of Remembrance of William's short life and yesterday I got to peek at it...
again, I cried. It's beautiful!
The pictures taken the night William was born, by the sweet photographer who came in and donated her time and talents, were just incredible. Seeing those pictures, brought back a rush of feelings from that evening...I can't look at those pictures without seeing that the Lord upheld Whitney and Russ that night - it's evident in their countenance. Their look of peace and contentment and their trust in His plan, a plan that requires complete faith, is surely evident in those photos.
Happy Valentine's Day...
it is quickly becoming my favorite holiday!

"I Wish I Had Served More"...

In preparing for my upcoming Relief Society lesson, I have been reading everything and anything to get an idea of what I want to teach (or what I need to learn).
On Saturday, I picked up the November 2007 Ensign General Conference Addresses. I snuggled into a quiet corner of my bedroom with my bed cushions all around and just read and read...it seemed to me, most of the talks that session were about keeping our baptismal covenants, particularly, lifting one anothers burdens.
I couldn't put the Ensign down - I read from cover to cover and now have a pretty good idea of the talk I will focus on. In fact, when our boys woke up with fevers Sunday morning, Garrett mentioned he could stay home because he didn't have to teach in YM's and so I could go and give my lesson...I was confused...I told him I didn't have to teach. Then, he looked confused because he asked me what had I been preparing for on Saturday. I told him it's for my lesson next month. His reponse was priceless...all he said was "if you ever doubted that you're a women, this proves it!" Men are so different, especially when asked to teach or prepare a lesson...and I don't think that will ever change.
But, one thing I wanted to share was a talk entitled "Service" by Elder Steven E. Snow of the Presidency of the Seventy...he spoke about his mother dying from cancer and how a few weeks before his mother's death, he was visiting with her in the family room of his boyhood home. He mentioned how his mother had longed to travel during her life, but because of living on a modest budget, those dreams were not realized. Knowing this, he asked her if she had any regrets...he says, "I fully expected to hear she had always wanted a larger, more beautiful home or perhaps an expression of sadness and disappointment over never having traveled. She pondered my question for a few moments and replied simply, "I wish I had served more." I was shocked at her response. When I reminded her of all she had done in her life, she was undeterred. "I could have done more" was all she said.
I know that when we are given the chance to serve, and we do it well, we are changed and those we serve are changed...there isn't anything else like it.
In another talk, Elder Wirthlin asks the question..."What quality defines us best as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?" he then goes on to say "I would answer: we are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves. That is our signature as a people. It is like a beacon to the world, signaling whose disciples we are."

Happy Birthday, Babe...

Last night we enjoyed a delicious pork roast dinner at Garrett's parents to celebrate his birthday... we also had fun watching old home movies of him growing up. We watched some from 1978, when he was about 7 years old. It was funny to see so many similarities between Garrett and our son, Colter...they both have rhythm and anytime that camera comes on them they are 'bustin a move'. One part we watched was Garrett out riding his skinny skateboard in tiny little 'John Stockton' shorts with his long skinny legs hanging down and no shoes on...Garrett's always telling the kids to put shoes on when they play outside in the streets. I guess it's mostly my fault our kids don't wear shoes...I am the worst at wearing shoes in the summertime and my kids follow suit...we had a good laugh at that one.
Then we forwarded quite a few years to when he was getting off the plane from serving his mission in Guatemala...I don't think I could stop smiling just watching this cute, young man recentely returning from serving the Lord. It was emotional to see him at that age (we didn't meet until 4 years later). I loved that he was so humble and meek and I loved hearing a little bit of the accent still in his voice. I kept saying how cute he was and McKenna, who was sitting right next to me, whispered in my ear "I can see why you feel in love with dad," that made me smile. He was a great catch...and still is!

I Love to See the Temple...

Yesterday, we took the kids out of school to attend the
Draper Temple open house...
We have been looking forward to this day all week...
I loved being in the Temple with our kids. I loved watching Garrett bend down, with them surrounding him, listening to him teach and testify of the importance and purpose of each room, or answer their questions or share something significant. I loved the peace. It was an experience I will not forget...seeing the awe in my children's faces, watching their reverence for the House of the Lord, yet at the same time, seeing their excitement. I loved knowing that President Gordon B. Hinckley, before he passed away, broke ground for this beautiful Temple to be built. I loved showing my girls the bride's room. It was beautiful and princess-like. Telling them that one day, not too far off, they will get to come to a room similar to this one to prepare for marriage was emotional for me. I could see in their faces a little more of an understanding for the purpose of Temples. I hope they remember the sacred feelings they have felt. It seems like only yesterday they were so little.
I loved being in the Celestial room with my little family...it brought back so many memories of almost 12 years ago when Garrett and I knelt across from each other and were sealed for time and all eternity. I loved what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said during the film...'that heaven wouldn't be heaven without his wife and children'...I was brought to tears at that point (and that was just the beginning of the tour). That hit me so hard. I loved looking into the mirrors and explaining to the kids that our family will never end. I loved it all.
Grandma Nichol, Great-Grandma Berk, my brother, Dave, and his girlfriend, Bailey, were able to be with us, which made it even more special.
Here Wyatt was showing me how many cookies he had eaten after the open house...if you look closely you will notice he has a cookie in his mouth or close to it in every picture.
My testimony was strengthened and my love for my family made stronger. There are so many things I hope for our children, but the deepest desire I have is that their testimonies will all continue to increase. I look forward to the day when they will all make covenants and know the blessings that come from being worthy to enter the Temple. We are so fortunate to have 12 working Temples in Utah, with another one coming soon.
I hope my kids will remember this great day. Actually, I think they will, the girls came home and immediately wrote in their journals...good job girls. What we don't write down, we forget and this is something you won't want to forget.
We ended the evening with dinner at The Spaghetti Factory, one of our favorite restaurants...it doesn't get any better than this. We also got to sing Happy Birthday to Ashlyn and G...yep, birthdays around here just seem to linger on!

Garrett's Birthday and Superbowl Sunday...

Superbowl Sunday we celebrated Garrett's birthday by having his family over for dinner and munchies while we watched the Superbowl.
With his birthday being on fast sunday, he was kind-of jipped out of breakfast in bed...we'll have to make it up on another day! But, at least he got his favorite chocolate roll cake...
Garrett's cute cousin, Taylor, and Garrett's aunt Andrea with McKenna
These two cousins look innocent enough, right? Not really...we caught Wyatt and Syndey with their hands in the candy jar...literally. But, who could blame 'em? I mean, look at all that loot...
We ate way too much, caught up on what everyone's doing and watched the Superbowl...for me the Superbowl is all about getting together with family and friends and eating way too much. I really only sat down for the last quarter, but that was the best part - too bad the Cardinals couldn't hold on. We ended the night with a few spins on Ashlyn's ripstick. Nice job, Kayla and aunt Nicole...look at aunt Nicole hug that wall!
McKenna loves playing her new recital piece and will play it for anyone who will listen...luckily grandpa's always willing!!

Happy Birthday, Pretty Girl...

Saturday was Ashlyn's birthday, so the day began with the traditional breakfast in bed...then she opened some gifts and later that night celebrated with a late-night party with 15 of her cute, giggly girlfriends...
we played old-school games, ate hamburgers & hot dogs and her much-anticipated panda cake, then watched the movie 'Samantha'. We all survived and I think everyone had a great time.
McKenna's cute friend, Brinley, came over to hang with all the girls...and Colter's buddy, Isaac, came over so he had someone to hang with while all the screaming girls played downstairs!