While we were gone....

Here I come!!!

Look at her go!!

She does wear at helmet at home!!

Brenna learned to ride her BIKE!!! I guess my Dad told her she was too little - so she had to show him!! :) She is doing a great job. I am so proud of her!!

Way to go girl!!!

Fun, Fun Weekend!!

I love love love flowers - they were all so beautiful!!

Ghost town

Ghost town school building

Our friends - Jan & Dave.

We had a GREAT time!!!

I just loved this shot!!

Snake on a fence....

Jan & Dave

Us at the Jacob Hamblin house.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

We ran AWAY!!! My friend Jan & I have wanted to go to Tuacahn for a while - we just didn't know how to convince our guys that THEY wanted to go, too. We found our answer - Brian Regan. Have you heard him? Seriously, You-Tube him - you will laugh until your sides HURT!! AND his act is clean - he said "hell" less times than I do - I count that as clean!! :)

Anyway - so we planned a little weekend in St. George back in January. We had such a GREAT time!! We left not long after the kids got on the bus and headed south. We found an awesome little restaurant - Honolulu Cafe - excellent teriyaki (and I don't even LIKE teriyaki)! We went to a ghost town - had a BLAST!!!! :) We also hit Brigham Young's winter house and Jacob Hamblin's house for a little more history.

We laughed until we cried at Brian Regan. Tuacahn is a BREATHTAKING venue - seriously!! The show was fantastic - I haven't laughed that hard in such a long time - TOO long!! I was worried when the opening act came out - Gaylen didn't laugh until he was almost done. I didn't know if he would enjoy Brian Regan or not, but he did!! He laughed and laughed. We all did!!

I am SO thankful to Ashlee & Tyson for staying with the kids the first night. My kids had such a fun time. Thanks Ash!! And Tyson!! You have NO idea how much we appreciate it. Gaylen and I haven't been away together for more than a night in almost NINE (YES NINE) years!! We just had fun together. I also need to thank my Mom and Dad - the kids stayed with them Friday night. Mom carted my kids all over creation - orthodontist appointment, birthday party, talent show try-outs, Dinosaur park. WOW!!

Jan & Dave are SO easy to travel with - we laughed so much!! I am SO thankful for such good friends. I just hope we don't have to wait for another nine years to get away!!

When did I start losing control?!?

B has wanted a bunny for a while - about TWO days. She is definitely Daddy's little princess because she now has one!! :) I am not sure how this happened but what am I gonna do?! I guess Buster is here to stay.... anyone know about how long a rabbit lives?!?!? :)

Just a few of my favorite moments of the past few weeks.....

Some of the kids chillin'

It just cracks me up.

Mismatch day at school...

Gaylen and two (of four) lovely daughters

B with her dance trophy!

Wy & his pinewood derby car!!

I don't know why Wy loves self portraits but....

California

California

my Dad, Patrick & my sister Teresa

silly Brenna

Wy & Brenna on the Salt Flats

The Jelly Belly factory

Wy enjoying the sunshine

Golden Gate Bridge

cousins

Fisherman's wharf

me & my kids & the Golden Gate Bridge

enjoying the sunshine

everything was so green

This weekend, we went to California to say goodbye to Oma. It was a good trip though. We had a really good time. On the trip down - we stopped overnight in Fernley - the kids swam and swam. We went to the Jelly Belly factory - I LOVE Belly Flops! We arrived in Petaluma on Thursday, in time to attend the viewing. My kids were so amazing. They were all calm. We talked about Oma's body being like a glove - all that made her Oma was with Heavenly Father now. It was sad but peaceful - Oma had an amazing life - 97 years! I about came undone when Brenna took Oma's hand and told her how pretty she looked and how much she was going to miss her. She told her how much she loved her. It was such a tender sweet moment. I was able to see cousins that I hadn't seen in a LONG time - it was so good to have my kids play with my cousins' kids! It reminded me of our days - playing at Oma's. It was hard to go into Oma's kitchen - she always sat at the kitchen table - I missed her. I still do.

The funeral was beautiful - perfect. Oma's minister did an eloquent job. Some of the grandkids took a minute to speak - share memories of Oma. I decided a "Utah cousin" should say something. I don't remember exactly what I said - I just home I made sense.

The weather was perfect. It was absolutely beautiful. We all enjoyed the sunshine.

We decided to take the kids into SF - I don't know when we will make it back. We had a really great day in the city. We came back to Oma's and enjoyed some more cousin time.

We came home with my parents and my sister Teresa. It was a fun time. The kids swam some more and we had some good laughs...and cries.

All in all - it was the perfect way to say good bye to Oma. I am so glad I was able to take my family and pay our respects and say our good-byes.

Tchuss Oma

My Oma passed away on Sunday morning. Oma was 97 years old and amazing. She was one of the bravest, kindest, honest people I have ever known. Oma brought four children from her native Germany nearly sixty years ago. She and my Opa came to a land where neither of them knew the language, the money system, the customs. Together they worked hard, raised five great children, built a home in America. I cannot fathom leaving my home, taking my children across the sea and starting over. That is one of many reasons I admire my Oma so much.

When I was little, we would travel to California to see Oma, Opa and much of my Dad's family, once or twice a year. German wasn't spoken much in our home and it always took a day or two for us to feel comfortable. Oma worked hard to coax us out of our shyness. She always had cookies and cakes and treats lining her cupboard. She made THE BEST meringue and chocolate cookies. She also made amazing creamed potatoes, abelskivers (we looked forward to them every trip), apple cakes and dozens of other things.

Oma loved to play cards - she was a card shark hidden in a sweet German Oma!! She taught me to play rummy, 31 and swickern. She could beat anyone! :)

I loved to sit with Oma and talk - she told the best stories. Stories about times in Germany, her travels, her adventures on her farm in California - she would sometimes laugh until she cried - those are the times I cherish most.

As I have grown up - I have been lucky enough to travel to Oma's as often as possible. My kids all have good memories of Oma - they all love her. I am so grateful for all of the time we had with her. I am glad I've been able to see her sense of humor - boy, did she have one!

Oma, you will be missed more than you could know by more people than you realize. You taught me so much. You listened. You spoke. You laughed. You made us laugh. I hope you are enjoying your reunion in Heaven - husbands, parents, siblings, friends, children. What a party!!

You have helped me become the person that I am.

I love you.

Tchuss.

Dancing before the Jazz game

She loves to dance!

Doesn't she look happy?

My baby looking WAY to grown up!!

My cute folks - they are so good to support EVERYTHING their

grandkids do....

I like this look MUCH better than the made up one! :)

Sweet girl

Brenna's dance group got to dance in the pre-show before the Jazz game. She was SO excited. She loves to dance. She did NOT, however, love her costume - she wanted to know where the rest of it was?? :) She did a great job - all of the dancers did but I would have to say - she was my favorite!!! After she danced, we put her sweats on, took the makeup OFF and watched the game. The Jazz beat the Warriors by about 30! It was a late night but we all had a great time!!! Wyatt cheered for the WHOLE game!! He LOVES the Jazz!!

It was another great night!!