F.H.E.

 

One of our new year's resolutions this year

was to have family home evening each week.

 

So far we have done a pretty good job. Some weeks it's simple and quick. Some

weeks it's a total disaster and we wonder why we even tried. But we know the importance of setting aside one night a week to spend as a family, and Kyler always looks forward to it.

 

 

This past Monday night we talked about how Heavenly Father sent us to earth to gain a body and how we have to make good choices with our bodies.

We made Kyler a little chart with four different ways that he can take care of his body.

1. Dress himself (we struggle with this, but we feel he is old enough to at least try.)

2. Eat all of his dinner (seems like a battle every night.)

3. Brush his teeth.

4. Take a nap.

 

We finished the night by bowling and going out for icecream.

Kyler insisted on using the same 14 lb ball that Jason used. 

 

 

Kyler's favorite treat is icecream. He ate 3 big scoops all by himself. 

Just Jason & I...

 

This past weekend

Jason and I escaped the cold and snow

and enjoyed some rare alone time.

 

We headed south to St. George in hopes of warmer weather.

This is what it looked like for 2 hours of our drive Friday morning.

We were hoping that the trace to 1 inch of snow that they were predicting wouldn't impact our

drive too much. But Friday morning we woke up to it snowing and it continued to get worse

the further south we went. Luckily by Provo we were able to hit dry roads.

 

Once in St. George we enjoyed beautiful blue sky's, warmer temperatures, and signs of SPRING!!!

We enjoyed going through homes and dreaming what life

would be like to live in one of those homes.





 

My dream kitchen...all white and clean.

 

Jason's dream backyard.

 

It was a great weekend spent relaxing, sleeping in, eating out, shopping,

spending time outdoors, and just being able to have an uninterrupted conversation.



(Not the most flattering picture. How do couples take good pictures of them

 together while holding the camera?)

Doesn't seem real...

 

Today should have been my

Aunt Joni's 55th birthday.

Instead it marks 2 weeks since her funeral.

 

 

It was a year ago this weekend that family and friends

came together to celebrate the end of

her chemo/radiation treatments and to show her our love.

Over the past year she was able to make memories and spend time with the ones she loved most.

She lived each day to the fullest and continued to be an amazing example of

love, kindness, friendships, and putting others first.

 

 

This picture was taken last summer about 2 months before my grandpa passed away.

It makes my heart sad that both of these amazing people have passed on, but the legacy they

left behind is amazing. Heaven must have needed two outgoing, friendly, selfless people

to continue the work on the other side because these two were the finest.

 

Joni's viewing/funeral services were an amazing sight.

I have never seen so many people show up to pay their

respect and show their love for the family.



(There were so many people that came that they had to direct traffic outside in the parking lot. There wasn't an

empty seat to be found. People filled the entire chapel, overflow, and gym.)

The family had asked me to take pictures of the day so that they wouldn't have to

worry about it and so they would have them for memories.

I always feel kind of weird snapping pictures at a funeral, but hopefully

I was able to capture a few pictures that they will cherish in years to come.





Joni had a love for flowers and gardening.

The amount of flowers and plants that were sent by people

were a beautiful tribute to one of her many talents. 

 

 I wish it would have been appropriate to snap a picture of all the flowers that filled the chapel.

It was an incredible sight. I have never been in a room with so many flowers.

 

 

Experiencing a little miracle.

This is what the weather looked like the day of her funeral.

After weeks and weeks of COLD, FOG, SNOW, and INVERSION the day of her

funeral ended being a BEAUTIFUL day.

 

 

Because of the amounts of flowers that were sent the family ended up letting each of us

pick out a flower arrangement to take home. 

 

Thanks for being such an amazing example Aunt Joni!!!

I'm grateful for the knowledge that families can be together forever, and

I look forward to the day I get to see her smiling face again.

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

We had a low key Valentine's Day,
but enjoyed every minute of it.

 





Since I had preschool today we had to have a fast easy

breakfast. Kyler woke up to yummy Valentine donuts,

pink milk, and some balloons.

 He had a hard time deciding which one he wanted.

 

Cuddling with his Valentine Bear that Grandma "patty cakes" gave him.

Again we had to have a fast lunch because I don't have

 a lot of time in between preschool classes.

Sandwiches are always more fun when their in a different shape.



 

Checking out all of the fun Valentine's his

preschool friends gave him.

 

For dinner we had a candlelight pizza dinner

and some yummy handmade chocolates. 

 

 

It's now 8:30 and I'm blogging, Jason is resting on the couch

hoping that he isn't coming down with something, and

Kyler is watching a Max & Ruby video.

Very romantic!!!! 

Perfect Saturday

Saturday was spent having fun, eating food,

and being with family.  

With the record breaking snow that we have had this year, we decided to make the

best of it and go sledding. My dad owns a gravel pit on part of his property so

we took advantage of some awesome hills and went sledding/tubing.

My sister and I planned it last minute and thought it would just be our two little families, but to our

surprise my parents, grandparents, niece, and Jason's mom decided to join us.

More the merrier!!!

 

While the boys enjoyed being adventure, I enjoyed taking over 200 pictures of the action. 

I love to get outdoors and take pictures, so with that I hope you  

enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the day.  

 



Loved all the pictures I got of my dad, but even more LOVED that he made time to

come and play with the family. He is usually too busy working to stop and have fun.

 

 

 

My dad had taken the tractor over and made a place for us all to park and cleared a spot that we could build a camp fire. The tractor tracks ended up making the perfect sledding path.

It was just like riding the Alpine slide in Park City.

So much fun!!!!

 

 

 

My favorite picture from the whole day.

My grandpa is one of the most photogenic people to take pictures of.

He always has the most natural happy look on his face.