A Bride To Be!

Last night we had a small family shower for my cousin Krista.

I LOVE Krista!  And I LOVE my family!!

We stayed up two hours past my “bed time.”

 

I think we spent about four hours laughing.  And I mean REALLY laughing—the kind where if you were with anyone but your family, you’d be embarrassed by how loud and awkward your laugh becomes!

And, I think I checked another thing off of my 30 before 30.  I wrote a humorous song for Krista and Ryan, and sang it for everyone—definitely something that makes me nervous, but we all got a good laugh out of it!

Congrats Ryan and Krista!  We are so excited for you!

And thanks mom for planning such a fun shower!  SO. MUCH. FUN!!

Mother’s Day

Usually, I just use this blog for posting activities and pictures and don’t get into my feelings too often, but today I will.

I feel so blessed to be a mother.  I know so many who haven’t had that blessing yet.  My heart goes out to all those amazing women that struggle with infertility, aren’t married, or have some other reason that has kept them from having children or not having as many children as they would like.

I feel so blessed that my children have so many wonderful “second mothers.”  I have amazing women in my family and friends that are so good to my children and really are like second mothers to our kids.  I don’t think I would make it through sacrament meeting without some of these amazing women.

I feel so blessed to have the best mom in the world!!  (Really, if you know her, you know that she REALLY IS the best!).  I feel equally blessed to have such an amazing mother-in-law who raised such an amazing son!

I feel so blessed to have a heritage of amazing mothers, my grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and beyond.

I feel so blessed to have an amazing husband—who honors women, and makes me feel like I am the best mother in the world (even though I definitely am not).  I’ll spare you all the details of how much he spoiled me—this year especially!  Thanks Darin!!

Last, I am so thankful for these two cuties who have given me the special title of mother!

  Happy Mother’s Day 

to ALL you wonderful women!!

Trip to the Cabin

We went to the cabin this weekend.
It was A LOT of fun!

We had A LOT of good food...dutch oven dinner, smores, hot dogs, and more!

We went on some fun hikes.

I love this picture!  

I think Darin is incredibly handsome!  

Lucky me!

This was my first time to Provo River Falls.

Look who's doing SUPER AWESOME walking!!  

Go Lindsay!!

We shot some BB guns!

Matt got in on the action.
I love this face on Matt!

Yes, I too got in on the action!

We do have an indoor bathroom at the cabin, but Matt LOVED going in the outhouse!
Silly boy!

I LOVE these next two pictures of Lindsay!  Her eyes were extra blue!

And I feel like Matt looks like a teenager in this picture!
Look at him so casually leaning back on his elbow!
What a stud!

Thanks mom and dad G for the fantastic weekend!
And thanks Darin for being the best husband ever! 

Happy Cinco de Mayo

We had a fun pre cinco de mayo party with the Hodgkinson cousins.

We started out by making "chili peppers" by using tootsie rolls, pretzels, and candy melts.

Aren't they cute?

Next we made maracas using easter eggs, spoons, tape, stickers, and cheerios. 

Then we had a parade shaking our new maracas!

After lunch we had "almuerzo" (lunch) -- quesadillas, rice, and fruit.  

And Gracie and Heather had to leave after lunch so they missed the pinata.  We missed you!

Check out that pinata!  Yes, I made that by myself!!

Look at that face!  That is some serious concentration! 

Candy!

At the end of the party they each got to take home their own "mini-pinata!"

That night we had a fiesta!

FHE in the Canyon

Monday we had a combined Family Home Evening with my siblings in Mueller Park Canyon. It was a beautiful night—just perfect for roasting hotdogs!

We enjoyed being with the family.


We roasted some hot dogs (or in Lindsay’s case ate them raw).

The kids LOVED their “special drinks.” (I don’t let Matt drink soda very often, so when he gets some he gets REALLY excited!) 

Kristy brought the best dessert! She brought ice-cream cones and then we filled them with marshmallows, chocolate, recess peanut butter cups, rolos, nuts, bananas, and strawberries. Then we wrapped them in tin foil and roasted them in the fire! SOO GOOD!!!

Some family love.

Some cousin love.

Even though Kristy's dessert was awesome, we had to roast a couple of Heather's jumbo marshmallows too!

Thanks Kristy and Heather for doing all the "big stuff" for dinner!  It was fab!  

(And we missed you mom and dad and Rick and Heather!  Love you guys!)