Fathers day 2016

Happy Fathers Day! I can't let the opportunity pass without giving a pretty huge shout out to the men in my life that fit in the fathers category. Rob is the best dad around. Our kids absolutely adore him and idolize everything about him. I'm so excited to have eternity to spend with him, watching him teach our kids and being the best dad around.  He is constantly thinking of things we can do to be better parents. And is always the first to start a pillow fight or tickle fest or to try and scare mama. I'm pretty sure I already have 4 kids, but I wouldn't have it another way. Next on my line up is my own dad. If you haven't talked to him, like really talked to him, you are missing out. He is the type of guy that is reserved and quiet, but is ever observing what is going on around him and you better be sure to know that he going to get on the ground and play with his grand kids every time they come around. He is such an awesome man, that I'm grateful to have grown up with. Gary, my father in law is also one of those quiet giants. I love that I got to spend some one on one time with him this last week. The knowledge that man has about everything is astounding. I love when I have the chance to sit down and ask his opinion, or get his insight on a particular subject or experience. So as you can see I'm surrounded by awesome men. Happy Fathers day to all the guys in my life, brother, brothers in law, dad, dad in law, and husband/best friend.

I missed last Sunday, don't worry I'm not becoming a slacker already, I was out of town. On Monday, May 30 I received a phone call from my mom saying that my really good friend from high school, Breanna McKendrick's dad had passed away. To say that it was hard news that hit really close to home would be an understatement. I loved this man. He was my bishop when our wards split and combined when I was a teenager. I had known Bre for a few years through girls camp and we quickly became the best of friends. So when our wards combined I was ecstatic! Craig, or Bishop Meldrum, became someone that greatly influenced my testimony and conviction of the gospel. He taught me that the Savior loves me, no matter what my choices are. He loved the Savior and was able to share the Saviors love with those around him. I can look back on different times in my growing up stages and know that he was at the crossroads leading me down the right path.  I will forever be grateful for that man, who helped me gain my own testimony and made it possible to be at this point in my life. So the news that he had passed away was hard, he was 54; he was so young and had died suddenly from a heart attack. I called Bre that night and wished more than anything that I was there with her, hugging her and letting her share her grief with me. I would have gladly taken away some of the pain, if not for anything than just to repay her dad for his love he shared with me so many years ago. So plans were made for me to attend the grave side service in Salt Lake City UT Saturday, June 11th. I'm so grateful Rob gave the encouragement needed to be there. Even though it was a small thing compared to what that man did for my life, I hope it brought some kind of comfort to Bre. It also helped me rethink what is important in life. I have been so caught up in what makes me happy, the superficial kind of happy, that I had forgotten what was important to me. I think sometimes as we read the Book of Mormon with the kiddos at night that I am a lot more like Laman and Lemuel than I care to admit. So many times I am reminded and re-reminded that the gospel needs to be at the center of life in order for it to be flowing smoothly. And then once things have settled back down, I forget again and am again reminded. Thank goodness Heavenly Father loves me, and keeps reminding me gently to stay on the course that leads back to Him.

So here's some pictures from the last few weeks. Life is Great!

We decided to head back to Nephi early on in the week so we could enjoy some time with the inlaws which was awesome! We love our grandpa and nana. We were lucky enough to be staying at the same time as Ambre, Trak and Jex. Talk about sweet! baby Jex joined the family May 30th and is as cute as can be! It was so much fun to get to snuggle with him and play with Trak! Even if it felt like I had twin 19 month olds.

 Max wanted so badly to hold Jex but I was nervous (probably not as much as his poor mama was) so I propped his arm up and told him he had to make sure to hold the baby's head :) so he for sure held his head! Isn't he going to make the best bigger brother ever. I'm getting excited to have this everyday at our house.

I loved getting in some snuggles. You forget how little and precious these little guys are when they join our world. It was so peaceful to get to hold him and know that He was so recently with our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 We went on an adventure, while Jex had his 2 week check up, in our old truck we had to leave behind with Jake and Brennen. Yep total craziness with four under 6 in this sweet ride.

 Grandpa and Nana's yard has lots of hidden treasures. The kids loved being able to go play outside for as long as they wanted. And lets be honest, so did mom! Hours of entertainment right there.

 We are SO jealous of the potential in the garden. We won't have garden for the first time in a few years, so every day we had to go check on Grandpa's garden and see if anything new had popped up. Its still a ways off from producing anything yet, but it was fun to work out there with grandpa.

 Dane's new best friend, mainly from a distance. Right after I took this picture he turned and ran because Raz jumped up on the fence.

 And the fallow deer had her baby on Sunday! It was so cute and tiny. Max spotted it probably less than 30 minutes after it was born.

We also had the chance to meet up with our good friends the Dansies and Memmotts. I love these two families and was so excited to get to see them again. So excited that I didn't even get one picture in, duh! It was also great to see some many friends at Stake Conference. Nephi was good to us, and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Its so awesome that we have family there so we will be able to visit no matter where life takes us!

After our long trek home to the heat we resorted back to our habits of pantless Dane. It was such a treat to be up in Nephi and enjoy some awesome cool weather! Everytime I go into the kitchen to cook this little guy pulls up a chair and tries to help. No amount of discouragement can stop him. He loves to stand beside me while I stir something on the stove and jibber on about something. I love that he wants to help, maybe not all the time, but I hope he stays in this stage for a long time!

Yesterday the kids and I decided to have a full on play day. I let them decide what we were going to do, and we just kept going. We went to the park, short lived due to the heat, and walked through Target for about 2 hours without major melt downs, played at McDonald's and enjoyed their 59cent ice cream cones, napped, went swimming and then got to eat dinner with dad! It was a blast!

 The kids were supper excited to wrap and then hide Rob's presents. And we decided to have him hunt for them. It only took a few minutes, probably because I give such great hints! But we sure do love him! Also as a funny side note that I want to remember. I bought a card for Rob from the kids a few years ago for a holiday and then forgot I had it. Well I found it yesterday and was supper excited to not have to go buy one. We had the kids say as I wrote down what they wanted in it. Then this morning as he was reading it, he finished with Happy Valentines Day Dad! I thought he was just kidding, but nope....it wasn't a fathers day card. It was a Valentines day card! So one miss for mom ;) But at least we got a good laugh out of it.