My Gold Lined Van Puzzle Piece

I was crying...........I know big shocker right, lol? I was hurt from something that had happened earlier in the day and I was really sad so yes I was crying, lol. We were driving in the car and my sweet Riley was being so understanding and doing his best to comforting me when my little Jack interrupted and said, "Mommy?"

Me: "Yes sweetie"

Jack: "Do you know how much I love you?"

Me: "How much?"

Jack: "You will have to turn on the lights." He had this cute little playful voice.

I turned on the lights in the van and looked back to see Jack with his arms spread and stretching as far and wide as they would go.

My tears had been sad and hurt feelings before but they changed to tears of joy, peace and love. Jack helped me remember what was most important in this life. Everything that I held most dear was in that van. In that van I knew who I was as a women, wife and as a mother. Everything else was just another piece to the grad puzzle of life but in that car was the most IMPORTANT puzzle piece to me. I realized that if I could just draw a gold line around that van shaped puzzle piece and focus my thoughts, love and actions toward them then every Other puzzle piece (friends, work, callings, and sometimes family) could move around us without it effecting us too much. All other puzzle pieces are important to our piece and in face without them ours would just be a lone puzzle piece in the wilderness but mine is of most importance and by doing what I need to do for them all other pieces will find their place all on their own.

Thank you Mr. Jack for being my little man and giving me your sweet love and for reminding me of what matters most in this life, my gold lined van puzzle piece:)

Temple Square and Firsts

We took the kids to Temple Square and they really loved it. To be honest we were a little disappointed. There are usually SO MANY lights but this year it seamed like there were hardly any. Maybe the church is cutting back to. BUt it was still fun to walk around with our little family.

I had to document Londons 1st piggies!!!!! That poor hair of hers is almost impossible to do. We have been waiting for it to get long enough to put into pig tails and the day has FINELY come, YAH!!!!! MaRea I knew you would appreciate this:)

Then we had our first REAL snow fall so we all went out and built first real snowman:)

I came home from the store and Jack was so excited to show me what he and daddy made for me. It's hard to see but it says, "We Love U" It was very SWEET!!!!

Team ?

For Riley's work they do a white elephant every year. Last night while we were trying to figure out what to do we finely came up with this idea. I am obviously for Team RILEY:). You may wonder who Kevin is, well let's just say Kevin was fired not so long ago and he really hasn't been missed.

When Riley and I were engaged I went to Japan and while I was there I got him a little silk skeen machine. We used it last night for like the 3rd time in 6 years, it doesn't get used much but when we do it's so FUN!:)

Then we made 3 dozen Sugar Cookies for his work party. The kids were in bed and we were able to just hang out, it was fun:)

Dear Santa

Dear Santa

I was good. When I grow big I want a HUGE gun. Maybe when London and Dane grow big they can have tiny guns too. London and Dane were good and they should have puppies that can talk and puppies that are nice to me and them too. Can I please have a motorcycle like the one I gave Zaden? I would also like a Fire Truck. And Batman to get on the motorcycle. I want a cowboy rope too, a batman one. And a dress up to be like Bumblebee and Batman and Iron Man and Woody and Buzz Light Year.

Could you bring my daddy a motorcycle and some dress ups for him? Maybe you could bring him a Bronco too.

Could you bring my mommy cool shoes like mine and a Bat Girl and Super Girl dress up's too?

Thank you for all the presents for my mommy and daddy and London and Dane and me and all the other kids!

-Jack

I knew I would loose this letter to Santa so I thought I would put it on here so I would have it forever:) Jack your just too cute!

RILEY

Where do I start? Riley.........there's just so much to say. 1st things 1st, I LOVE YOU!!! But then again you know that, just like you told the Bishop on Sunday, "She's addicted to me!" It's oh so true, I am totally and completely addicted to you! You are the man who walks in the door and makes our house a home. Our kids get you as their daddy and for the rest of my life I will thank God for that, they couldn't have it better:) Every year we are together the better it gets, time has only made this love more complete and stronger. I don't care what people say, I will love you till the day I die and then some, forever is forever! That little lady in the Temple said that she thought we were newly weds, I will work forever to keep it that way. With you at my side I can do anything and become anyone. As cliché as it may sound it's only the truth, you complete me through and through! I know I say this all the time but I'll say it again........Thanks for choosing me:) Happy Birthday Riley, it may just be another day for you but I will always treasure this day knowing it was the day you became a part of my life.

Sugar Cookies, Super Heros and Discovery Gateway

This is at Gateway on our way to Discovery Gateway. It feels so good to have the whole family together for a pic even if it is blurry:)

Could there be a cutter little cowboy:) We love Discovery Gateway!

Miss London, my little Cow Girl

Jack and our Sugar cookies. I have a bit of a disease, I make cookies 2-3 times a week! Chocolate Chip or Sugar Cookies are the ones we are into right now. It's like therapy for me. I'm sure it also explains the extra poundage as well;) So if you ever need a cookie stop on by, I'm sure we will have some and it's better you eat them than I:)

As we were making our cookies today Jack didn't stop talking for more than 2 seconds.......the whole time we were making them!!!! I don't think I have ever met someone who talk this much, not even my little sister Angie! The whole conversation, (if you can call it that) was about his super heros. His likes and dislikes. This little guy is so funny and so talkative.

Today Jack said, "Mom I have a big girlfriend at school and I think we should take her some of these cookies for Christmas, is that a good idea?" This is news to me, now this girl is his official girlfriend. I asked him, "Is that what she told you, that she was your girlfriend now?" Jacks response, "Ya her loves me."

Hawaii

This is just going to be a pic overload:) One of the best vacations I have ever had!!!! I LOVE you Hawaii!!!

All these pics were taken on my iphone, so of them are a little special:)

The First Morning we woke up this is what we woke up to............ahhhhhhhhh.

On our way to the market:)

This is at the market:) Those Asian ladies made us laugh so hard. They would literally BEG you to buy something from them, no shame:)

The day before we left Riley stepped on a Sea Urchin. It was very sad but we were glad that it wasn't any worse.

Those black spikes are some of what that thing left behind. You can't really get them out so the are still in his foot. They say that they will just come out with time. Poor Riley is limping around waiting for that day to come:(. Wish I had a better pic.

One of Riley's awesome pics he took.

TEDS BAKERY!!!!!! BEST donut I have EVER had in my LIFE!!!!! Wish we would have found this place sooner, I could have come back 20 lb heavier and perfectly happy about it;)

One night for dinner we had a fire on the beach then we split into two groups and went Crabbing. Our team lost but we all know that it't only because we got the crap side of the beach:) These are some of the crabs we caught:)

Riley day dreaming of living in Hawaii.

Us chilling on Sunset Beach. Couldn't swim because The Triple Crown Surf Competition was going on. Fun to watch:)

A sunset on Sunset Beach. It lives up to it's name!

Shopping

That is our Ice Cold Coconut we wanted the whole time...not so yummy but fun to try.

Matsumoto......need I say more. Best Shaved Ice ever:)

Hale'Iwa Eats Thai. I will dream of this place till we go back. I'm not a huge fan of thai food but we went back to this place 3 times:) YUMMY!!!!

This is Kyle jumping of the rock at Waimea Beach. I was to big of a sissy but of course Riley and Kyle did it. Then the next day we went back and I JUMPED, twice!!!

This is on top of the rock before the jump:)

We loved this beach:)

This is Sid the Vish in his Hawaiian attire, no joke. Black socks, sandals, levi pants every day and couldn't be happier,lol!

My parents took us to the PCC Luau, aren't they cute:)

At the PCC, it was really fun to walk around to all the different places and lean about all the different cultures. Thanks mom and dad!

ANd last but by no means least we have one of the last things I saw as we left Hawaii. Isn't that the BEST mullet that you have ever seen, lol!!!!

1st Video is of our first morning. The sunrise was amazing!

2nd video is of Riley making fun of guys who dress cute. We were shopping at the outlets there in Hawaii. This is also a result of shopping, he had to find a way to pass the time so this is what he chose:) He's kinda CUTE!!!

A HUGE Thank You goes out to Terri and Mike and the rest of the clan that helped with our little ones. Without you we wouldn't have been able to go. THANK YOU!