Way Too Cute...

McKenna and a bunch of her cute girlfriends...

Lucy.McKayla.Brinley.Sophie.McKenna.Malorie.Ali.Maddie.Delaney

Colt's First Pheasant Hunt

This weekend couldn't come fast enough for Colter...When the girls turned 8, we took them and their girlfriends to the Lion House to celebrate, but to me that's more of a girly thing to do, so with Colt I haven't known what to do to make his 8th birthday a memorable one.

I guess Colt had been thinking about it too, because a few months ago, he told dad all he wanted for his 8th birthday was to go on a pheasant hunt...Garrett couldn't have been happier! He quickly made arrangements for them to spend the night at Falcon's Ledge and scheduled a guide at the hunting preserve for Colt's first hunt...it all came together perfectly!
About a month ago whenever I would head out to the grocery store, Colter would ask if I could get the treats he and dad would need for their trip. I would just smile and tell him I wouldn't let him down...it got to be so funny to me how important it was to him not to forget any of his or dad's favorite treats...peanut butter M&M's, jerky, sunflower seeds and York pieces. Just the basics for these boys!

Garrett picked Colt up from school, packed the truck and even packed the dog, they picked up his cousin, Brett and his son, Taylor to join in the fun and began their adventure.

I remember going out duck hunting with Garrett, Brett and Taylor when Garrett and I were newly married...Taylor and I would sit on the buckets, waiting in the brush while Garrett and Brett shot down the ducks. Taylor was only 5 or 6 and he thought I was the coolest. I adored him too. He's now 17 and still so dang cute!

Friday night they ate Subway sandwiches at the lodge, shot guns, played a little pool and ping pong, watched some Olympics and threw the football around until one of Colt's throws hit the fluorescent light hanging above the ping pong table and it came crashing down on the table. Glass was everywhere. Colt's first question was "Dad, are there camera's here?" Garrett said "No, why do you ask?" Colt's reply was "Then nobody will know I broke the light." What??!! Just last summer Colter broke one of our windows and even though he was scared, he immediately came and told me because he knew it was the right thing to do...what has changed in the last year??

After hearing Colt's response, Garrett then took the time to teach his young son about honesty and integrity and choosing the right, even when you think no one is watching. Colter understood and knew they needed to tell the owners. They found a vacuum and spent the next hour cleaning up all the glass and then Colter fell fast asleep right on cue...9:00 p.m. Such a funny kid!

The snow they trudged through was deep and cold, but Colter never complained, he just kept right on shooting video footage of the pheasants in flight and then as they would come falling down from the sky. I know Garrett had a great time...last night he couldn't stop gushing about how great Colter was to take on the hunt, what a stud he is and how much he loves that boy! I love to hear that from him. I love my boys!

Late Saturday night I snuggled with Colt and told him how happy I was to have him back home...he said "yeah, I'm glad to be home, too" then he paused for a minute and said "but I really love Falcon's Ledge, mom!" In Colt's own words..."my favorite part of the trip was everthing, but I'd have to say being with my dad was the best!"

Happy early birthday, champ. I sure love you and I can't wait to cook those birds for dinner...

Good Times...

With Monday being a holiday, this past week has flown by.
It was announced last Sunday in church, that a change in our ward boundaries will be announced this Sunday...that's been on my mind a lot and I'm anxious to see what happens.

Tuesday, McKenna went to the Symphony with the 6th grade, Thursday was Colter's first Blue and Gold Banquet as an upcoming cub scout, Friday, lunch out with my girlfriends, throughout the week de-junking the house (again), and taking care and snuggling lots with my sick, little Wyatt boy.
We always look forward to Friday and this week was definitely no exception, especially for Colt. Garrett came home early on Friday and picked up Colt early from school to take him up to Falcon's Ledge for his first pheasant hunt. One of Garrett's goals this year is to take each of the kids individually on an overnighter and Colt's been counting down the days for his turn.
Friday night Kenna had two soccer games at Ultimate, so the rest of us (along with some of the girls' friends) headed to Woods Cross for the evening. They won the first game 7-1 and tied the second 2-2 in one of the best and most aggressive games they've played. After the games, we went out to dinner at Five Guys Burgers and Fries with Tanisha and her girls. So good, but I ate way too much. Another game Saturday morning, with another tie of 3-3 with an amazing shot with just 6 seconds to go from the other team to tie it up...an adrenaline rush and then a futsal game at night.

The boys returned home late Saturday afternoon with huge smiles and 15 birds. Colt couldn't wait to show me the video footage he had taken of dad shooting down one of the pheasants. He loved every moment of their time away and Garrett said he never once complained, even though it was awfully cold and he sometimes had to trudge through snow as high as his waist.
Saturday night Garrett and I attended a Marriage and Family Relations fireside put on by Bishop Bitton from our stake, the first in a series of firesides for the year, and then we headed over to the Anderson's pool house for games and glow-in-the-dark dodge ball. We laughed hard and had a great time with great friends from our ward!
Tomorrow we'll see what changes come to our ward...

Wyatt's Turn...

A tradition my parents started long ago was to take the grand kids to Build-A-Bear Workshop when they turn 3. Wyatt will soon by 4, so last night it was finally his turn. He has always loved Tobo, the puppy Colter chose when he was 3, so he already knew he wanted his own puppy. They don't make the boxer dog Colt picked out five years ago, so Wyatt was a little distraut until he found his own little puppy with the cutest little face...he of course named him Chewbie. It was looking like he might be named Bronco, but in the end Chewbie won out.

My parents always make a recording of their voices to put inside the kids' stuffed animal telling them how much they love them. Such a fun night with grandma and grandpa...

Colt and his Tobo dog.

The Best Birthday Present Ever...

Catching fish on his birthday was definitely one of the highlights of Garrett's day.

Valentines Weekend...

Sunday after Church, we packed the car and headed up to Midway for the night. As we drove to my parent's vacation home, my heart sank as I saw the 'For Sale' sign hanging from the balcony.
It really is true. I'm sad, yet, at the same time, glad.
It's hard to put into words the things that have taken place these past few years as my parents planned to build this beautiful place, as it finally came to be, as they decorated it and moved in and as we've enjoyed so many, many times together as family. Wyatt thinks he was born in Midway because it's been such a huge part of his little life.
We've known for a few weeks that my parents were planning to sell but we hadn't thought to tell the kids. As the girls and I made dinner that night in Midway they asked if it were true...if grandma and grandpa were really selling Midway.

My heart was heavy as I told them of the things that led grandma and grandpa to this decision. At first the girls were sad because they love being able to spend so much time with grandma and grandpa in Midway and to have such a great place to bring friends for quick overnighters, but then McKenna said "Mom, it's really OK, just like last Friday when we went out with grandma and grandpa...it doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, as long as we're together, that's really all that matters." Wow, what wisdom from an eleven-year old!
Going back quite a few years, I feel I grew up in the best neighborhood in Sandy, in an amazing ward, in a beautiful house that my dad built and remodeled whenever styles would change or whenever my mom wanted something new. I always loved our Sandy home, but growing up I knew my mom never really felt settled. I always sensed she wanted to move into something bigger or better. Over the years, I've had long talks with her, reminding her that things don't bring happiness or make life any easier, but still she longed for that beautiful home on the hill...so a vacation home in Midway seemed to be the perfect fit for this longing she felt. I say seemed because over the last few years, since building their Midway home, I know my mom has made quite a few discoveries about herself and what she thought she always wanted, but what she didn't realize she always had.
Learning this lesson will benefit her (and my dad) for the rest of her life. I think she and my dad are stronger because of the things they have come to know about themselves these last few years because building this beautiful, incredible, perfect home in Midway didn't make life any easier, it didn't take away stress or trials or challenges...it has made me love my parents even more as I've watched them realize what really matters in life and as I've watched them support one another. The Midway house did bring us closer together as a family and I think I now realize we will need to be more diligent about making time to be together. My parents came to realize how much they miss the simple life of hooking up their trailer and heading out into the great wide without a reservation or plans of where they would end up...something they haven't done in years.
So, that is why I'm sad and at the same time, glad...sad to see Midway gone, yet glad to see my parents united stronger than ever and glad my mom is finally, truly settled and loving her Sandy home with all of her heart.
We enjoyed our quick overnighter with our friends, Greg and Amy and four of their kids, Emily, Mitchell, Jacob and Sarah. I think I actually cherished it more because it's not going to be ours much longer!

The boys fished, the kids swam, the girls took naps, we all played games and watched the XXI winter Olympics. Another great get-away.

Date Nights...

After going to Garrett's 20th reunion from Davis this past summer, I feel he has felt a pull to get back in touch with some of his best friends from high school...some of the guys he grew up with and who shared so much of his youth.
At his reunion, I met Mike and Sarah Schuller. Mike was one of Garrett's best friends through jr high and high school. I had always heard a lot about Mike and Sarah too, so meeting them that night I felt like I already knew them. In the 'good old days,' before responsibility and marriage and parenthood, Garrett and Mike skied together every weekend and when they weren't racing each other down the ski slopes, they were racing each other up and down the streets of Kaysville.
Last weekend, Mike and Sarah picked us up and took us out to McCools, one of their favorite local eatery's tucked away from Layton's main drag. Dinner was amazing, then we hit Nielsen's for some custard. It was a great night.
I have stayed in close contact with my best friends from elementary, jr high and high school and love how these friendships continue to deepen and develop through the years and even though we may only see each other a few times a year, whenever we mange to get back together, it's like nothing has changed...we pick up right where we left off.
I'm seeing the same thing with Garrett and his high school friends. I'm glad he's taking the initiative to reconnect with some of the guys that played a big part in his youth.
In talking to Mike, Garrett found out that another great friend, Jared Sanders, was having an art showing in Park City. Anxious to meet up with another friend that he hadn't seen since our wedding, we marked the date on our calendar and planned another date night for this past weekend. We are spoiled to be able to go out together so much as a couple...this last weekend after a date on Friday and then getting ready to go out Saturday night Wyatt asked me "Are you going on ANOTHER date with dad??! Ohh man, that is ridiculous!!" We all laughed!
Friday night we dropped the kids off for their own date night with grandma and grandpa Nichol to see the movie Planet 51 and then dinner at Dees restaurant while we made our way to Park City for an early Valentines celebration. We found the art studio and followed Jared and his wife, Paula up the stairs to his 'showing'. Jared looked over at us and we just stared back - it took a few long seconds before Jared recognized Garrett, then it was like they were little kids again talking about playing in the Hollow and growing up in Kaysville. It was so easy and comfortable and they were so touched that we came to Park City just to see them and support them. We checked out his incredible art work and enjoyed some dinner from the Blue Iguana. They live in Midway, so we made plans next time we're there, to get together at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants right in Midway.
Then Saturday night, for another early Valentines dinner, we went out to sushi at Tona's in Ogden with our good friends Greg and Amy. We ate more sushi than I have my entire life and loved every minute of it. Last time we ate at Tona's I dreamed about sushi all night. We are blessed to have an abundance of good friends...I swear Garrett and Greg are the same person and Amy is someone I love and admire and love spending time with. I love that Garrett and Greg get to work so closely together in their church callings and get to fish together on the rivers to get away from it all.
These last few weeks I've loved watching Garrett reminisce with old friends and new friends. Though he and his high school friends are all much older and wiser and greyer, it's truly like they picked up right where they all left off...back in high school, before their missions, before marriage and children. Just crazy boys with a need for adventure - not much has changed!
I love the man Garrett is. I love that he's seeking out old friends and strengthening his new friendships and reaching out to those that might need a friend. I love date night!

Wyatt Times Two

Wyatt and his buddy, Wyatt were two little mischief makers on Saturday. Dumping their popcorn all over the kitchen floor, sliding in it, laughing and screaming like crazy and then cleaning it up with a little help and encouragement. Nice job, boys!

Last Year in his 30's...

Garrett took the day off and spent his birthday fly fishing the Provo River. It was probably the best day he's had out fishing in quite a while. He caught his first fish ever on his birthday!
We had an early dinner at The Training Table because he didn't want me to have to cook on his birthday, too sweet. Then we came home for his favorite chocolate roll cake. This year the kids asked him if he ever gets tired of having the same cake every year..."No way" was his reply!
For his birthday, the kids and I found him an awesome case for holding his many fly reels, a cd by Alex Boye with one of his favorite songs on it...Be Still My Soul, a scripture case, some peanut butter m&m's and a new Cabelas hat for fishing. I feel so blessed that we continue to grow closer each year. That I seek out time to be with him because I just love being with him, that he still pats me on the bum, or just grabs me and squeezes me and tells me every day how hot he thinks I am.

This last year I have learned so much by watching him. He is diligent in all he does. He has quiet dignity. He is genuine. He has no guile. I think that's probably the best compliment I could ever give him. The other night we were looking at our wedding picture that hangs in our entryway...I thought he was cute back then, but now I just think he is so much more handsome and so much more dignified. I feel blessed to feel that way about him. To love him and who we have become together.
Last night we were at the Bountiful temple and had the opportunity to hear from President Callister, the temple president, and his wife, the temple matron. He talked about living in this life and walking side-by-side with our companions, not one in front of the other, but side-by-side and then entering the eternities together side-by-side. I love the imagery that created in my mind of me walking hand-in-hand with Garrett. I have friends who are struggling in their marriages and it's so heartbreaking. Maybe that's why I feel so blessed to truly consider Garrett my best friend, my confidant, my everything.

Happy 39th Babe...it's gonna be a great year!