Grandma Great

Last week on Oct 21, my grandmother passed away. She was an amazing woman who was constantly smiling or laughing. I can remember sitting on the ground playing with legos and her singing some old tune and dancing around her living room with an imaginary partner. She had a huge influence in many people. She taught piano lessons in her home and was an amazing piano player. One summer when I was maybe 12, I went down to Utah on my own to visit with my grandmothers and my sister at BYU. She taught me rudementary piano and got me the simplified hymns piano book and taught me how to play "We thank the Oh God for a Prophet." Im sure I totally annoyed my family playing it over and over when I got back. Even in that one small moment she has influenced me.

One of the most meaningful stories to me was the story that my uncle shared at the funeral services. Toward the end of her life she was unable to feed herself, so my father and uncle would feed her and help her eat. The tender expressions of love that this shows was very powerful to me. As my uncle was there visiting on one occasion the last week of her life, she asked for a drink of water. She was so thirsty all the time and she said to him, I just think of how thirsty the Savior was, and they gave him vinegar.... and she wept. It was a living example of her testimony of her Savior.

Traveling to the funeral was one of the best experiences I have ever had with my growing up family. I road triped with 4 of my 5 siblings. My other brother met us down there. It was the first time in a long time all of us were together, and the first time ever all the cousins were together. I met my grandmother's sister Mona who was the most darling lady. She talked to me about our great legacy not that we were anything special, but that we all have a part to play in our own little circle of influence. I came away with this experience with a new perspective on my life and the heritage I have. My family is amazing to me with all of their talents and humor and influence for good.

I think it is rare that 5 siblings can spend 72 hours together in a car and still be great friends afterward. I have gained an understanding of who they are as adults. My oldest sister Amy is the leader and we tease her about making all the decisions, but really none of us want to do it. Eric is the avid outdoorsman (He takes the term Pack it out quite literally :) and he has a very strong conviction for what is right. Emily is everyone's favorite and there is no surprise there she is the sweetest and most tender of the sisters. Matt is the most considerate and loving, he was the brother just older than me and I have always looked up to him, more than he will ever know. My younger brother Andrew is so loyal, he is very devoted to those that he loves. I am known as the pig farmer. oh well what can you do?

Although this was a hard experience for me, It was a good one. I believe the most sacred experiences happen within the family. My grandmother got us to be together and share in celebrating her life and influence for good in the world. I will look back to this opportunity with gratidute in my heart, beyond what I could ever express in words. Thank you Grandma Great.

Howdy Y'all

We Just got back from Texas for spring break. We had a fabulous visit with Ryan's family and went to have the ultimate Texas experience.


Cousin Andyn was attached to Emma, He is seen here combing her hair.


Kinley and Mia are 1 week apart. Here they are with Mema.

The kids watching the prophet during conference.

All the cousins, minus Mia who was finally taking a nap. (The flight and travels did not agree with her at the beginning of the trip)

Mia and Kinley. They were rarely awake at the same time. Here they are holding hands.


We left Dallas and went on our way to San Antonio. WE made a couple stops along the way. This is Perdenales State Park just outside of Austin. It was very cool. The kids enjoyed hiking around and climbing on rocks. I love Marshall's pose in this one.






Marsh loved the fact he could have the window down. Something that doesn't happen in our car.

We went down to Austin through the hill country, not down the main freeway. In hopes to find beautiful scenery and fun stops along the way. We did find just that. We loved the old towns and small highways. This is Hamilton Tx.

This is a restaurant in Hamilton. Im not really sure what it was called but it had "Bite My butt" Written all over. It was a food counter in the front and a meat processing business in the back. It was some mighty fine pulled pork.

Handsome Hubby.

In Austin there is a bridge where the largest colony of urban bats live. 2 million bats live in the slats under the bridge, and a dusk they all fly out in search of bugs. It was pretty cool. Emma was not convinced. The boys loved it though.




This picture doesn't do it justice.


The Riverwalk in San Antonio








Botanical gardens, the kids were surprisingly into it.



Remember the Alamo.


Throughout the riverwalk there are many mosaics. I thought this one was really cool.


There is a spanish market area in part of San Antonio and this cart had various masks and capes. Notice the Nacho Libre one. It was tempting...

Sea World on our last full day there. There was a baby killer whale that was very cute. The trainers didn't interact with them in the water, probably due to the recent accident in Florida. We did enjoy the mix of shows, animal exhibits and rides.



We had such a great time visiting with family, seeing the sights, eating good Tex-mex. and some pretty dang good BBQ. We went to a BBQ place in a small town about an hour from Dallas. A man wearing overalls and covered in little pieces of hay sat down at the table next to us. The conversation went something like this:

Man: What are yer sides?
Waitress: We have fried okra, fried zucchini, french fries, fried beans, collered greens
Man: Are all your sides fried?
Waitress: yes sir, all but the greens.

Welcome to Texas. It was really good food. I think we had a truly Texas vacation.

So much fun

We had just a lovely Christmas. The children were so beyond excited the week before plus with the new baby, they were a little wound up. Christmas Eve came and they for some reason settled down and we had the most peaceful relaxed day.

Christmas Eve we went to my mom's for a wonderful dinner and nativity re-enactment. We got home and did our traditional family stuff then I fell asleep on the couch with the baby at 10 and woke up at 2 and Santa had come. I was giddy. He must have been really sneaky to have arrived right under my nose. There is nothing like the excitement of a dimly lit warm home decorated for Christmas with Santa's surprises tucked under the Christmas tree. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night growing up and checking to see if he had arrived. It was always so hard to go back to sleep. Emma this year woke up in the middle of the night and woke up Zach to inform him Santa had indeed come. It was great to watch them.

Random Mia update: She slept 4 hours straight at night and it was the most peaceful rest, it felt like I had woken up from a deep winter's hibernation. I feel like she changes every time I look at her. Especially after naps.




We had so much fun with my family for Christmas. We did our traditional graham cracker and hot glue gun houses. Just go with it. It works for us.



My parents rented a cabin down by White Pass for the family to get together. We got there day two and sadly missed my brother who passed through day 1 and left before we got there. I stayed at the cabin with my parents and rested while Ryan took the kids sledding. The others all spent the day skiing.

A game of hide and go seek is not just your run of the mill game when you have aunts and uncles involved.

This is my brother Sir Matt the Benevolent (a self proclaimed title) on top of a wall separating the shower from the toilet.

Cousin Roman adorning the mantle.

Cameron was such a hoot.

Zach in the linen closet

Pops got in on the fun.

Ryan was the lamp hiding in the corner.

Don't try this at home.

We had such a great time, I laughed so hard. My family is great.

Me and my sister Amy AKA Famous Amous

Our last night as a 5 person family

The season's first snow fall

Girls are just plain fun to dress up



Emma just loves to help with Mia

Bring on the cankles

They have officially arrived. Poofy fat ankles with little sausages for toes. Sorry no pictures, I really don't think a picture would do it justice. I love all the things pregnancy does to you.

I told Ryan last week the baby won't come because the house was totally clean with all the laundry done, the dishes done, the kids rooms clean, the play room clean, freezer meals done, and the hospital bag packed. It didn't really work to have everything ready so this week we are trying a new method. So if you come to my house, and there is spaghetti on the walls, dirty dishes in the sink, little boys' underwear on the living room floor, just know that we are trying an experiment.

Random questions: why does your ear hurt if you lay on it weird and why do you sometimes get zingers in your neck if you turn your head, and why do your middle toes cramp up?