Oh what do you do in the Summertime?

Happy Birthday Ellen Boo! We had a fun Birthday bash with Jantzen, who's birthday is one day after Ellen's. It was great to have a lot of the cousins there. We celebrated Ellen's birthday three times. Once at home, once with the Tenneys and once with the Petersons. Ellen loved it!

Later in June, Ben and Amy came down for a visit. As always, we had to make up for six months of separation by partying every night for a week. Just my siblings and I went on a camp out to Black Canyon lake. It was so fun to be alone with my brothers and sister. Thomas came with us because we literally can't do without each other for a few more months :) We had a nice time canoeing and playing games and just talking.

Shortly after that we had the RL Tenney and Peterson reunions. Lots of good food and company were enjoyed. At one point a bunch of people sang a love aria to Twinkies before throwing them out to the crowd. I got one right in the kisser. Man I love funny/crazy relatives and silly accidents!

Ben, Andrew, Mom, Isaac, Thomas, and I went swimming/canoeing at clear creek. It was kinda scary and kinda fun! Next time we need more man power and less baby power.

Anna and I took a sister's shopping trip to Flagstaff, and ate at olive garden. YUM!

The forth of July was fun as always. We went to the Woodruff celebration and enjoyed breakfast, a patriotic program and races. Later we went to Snowflake to swim at grandma's house. That night Mathan and I went to his 10 year class reunion and won a week at Sedona! I can't wait!!!

Sunday night Mathan and I put the kids to bed and watched the fireworks from our roof. It reminded me of "To catch a Thief" in more than one way. ;)

And best of all, summer is not over yet!!!

Gila Valley Temple

I must be dreaming. It's hard to put into words how special this temple, and this area is to me. It was a sacred experience to be in the temple with most of my extended family and especially with my own family.

I love these people so much! I'm so grateful that through the blessings of the temple, I can be with them forever!

I have a lot of dreams for these little ones, but the most important of all is that they live worthy to enter the temple and receive the blessings that are there for them.

My Pretty Near Perfect Day

Today was great! I woke up at the regular hour and woke Mathan because I thought he had work today. He loves to surprize me when he has the day off, and not tell me til it's the normal time for him to go. So we got to stay in our cozy bed and just cuddle and talk. I could do that all day. Instead we got my brother to watch our kids, and we went and did sealings at the temple. Heavenly! I loved it. There were three or four other couples there and I had to smile because I was noticing how well they seem to fit together. They all looked like they had been made to compliment each other. It was so sweet and peaceful to be there. Next we picked up our kids and took them all out to lunch with ice cream to top it off. Yay! No cooking! Then we headed home for some nap time. I love nap time. It was a beautiful afternoon so when the kids were all awake we went for a walk and visited the post office. It felt so good to be out in the sun and be warm again! Thomas was asleep when we got home so I had time to clean out my flower bed. My tulips are up and growing strong, but so are the weeds. It's really spring!!! We let the goats out on the lawn and the girls were playing with them. The baby goat (not really a baby anymore) would follow them around and nibble on their clothes and gently push them with her head. It was cute to watch. She can get really frisky sometimes so I had the girls come play in the dirt with me. Finally, we got cleaned up and had dinner and watched a nice movie together. Does it get any better than that? Family, ice cream, sun,walk, tulips, sleep, temple... Nope!

25 Random Things About Me

I love reading these these notes about other people so I'll do one just for the heck of it!

1. My hair has gotten progressively curlier with each child I have had. I don't know what to do with it!
2. I prefer watching a familiar movie over a new movie unless it comes highly recommended.
3. When I was little I wanted to wear a dress everyday.
4. I like pie better than cake.
5. I don't have TV at my house, by choice.
6. Given the opportunity, I would read all day.
7. I read my favorite books over and over.
8. I've always been disorganized.
9. Clutter drives me crazy.
10. Somethings gotta give! haha!
11. I have two goats and a guinea pig.
12. Does anyone want a goat or a guinea pig?
13. I married the man that I needed to marry. He suits me!
14. I love how Mathan tells me how beautiful I am when I'm a complete mess.
15. I've never been one of those girls who spends hours on her appearance. I'm ready in 20 min.
16. I wish I had a better taste in clothes. I'm perpetually behind the trends.
17. I love the peaceful early morning in summer.
18. I love sleep. I'm so glad I'm able to get away from all the stress of life when I sleep!
19. Sometimes I really miss being able to just grab my purse and leave the house. Kids come with so much stuff!
20. July is my favorite month of the year.
21. It took me way too long to do this, because I can only do it when the kids give me a break.
22. I like to shop alone without any time constraints.
23. If you think I'm quiet, you don't know me very well.
24. Okay, so I am quiet, but believe me, I can be loud.
25. It might just be a mommy thing, but I really think that my kids are exceptionally cute.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Looking Back and Moving Forward

So many related thoughts are swimming around in my head, and I want to make sense out of them. It being a new year, everyone is talking about goals and resolutions. Some say, "If I make 'em I'll break 'em," and they don't want to set themselves up for failure. I love the little montage in the movie Up where, before they know it, Carl and Ellie are old and they look back and realize that they haven't met their goal of living at Paradise Falls and filling their adventure book with stuff they're going to do.

I thought about this while I was sitting in the chapel listening to The Mother of the Year speak. On my left were two or three young mothers who are still in the trenches of raising kids. On my right were two or three old mothers, whose kids have long been on their own. I couldn't help but think that it must be torture for these older women to look back and think about what they should have done! They were good mothers that had done their best, but it seemed too late for them to use any of the practical advice the speaker was giving.

Anyway, what I took away from the movie and from the speech was this: It's never too late, and My best is good enough. It there anyone who doesn't look back with some regret? Is there anyone who's life went exactly as they planned? I don't think so. I believe that setting goals does not set me up for failure, but for success. I know that even though I make mistakes, that my best is good enough when I allow the Savior to step in, and pick up the slack.

So here's to a new year full of dreams, goals, progress, and hope!

So...Christmas was fun..

I know, shame on me for not posting about Christmas. We had a great time and no one was seriously harmed in the making of this picture.

Looks like the makings of a wild party huh?

It was so great to have the whole family together. There was lots of laughter, noise, and good food. We had so much fun that there is a shortage of good pictures, but we had a wonderful Christmas time.
Some highlights were:

Having Mathan home for a week

Watching May and Ellen have a ball with their new toys.

Playing risk with my brothers

Having Mathan home for a week

Playing Christmas music with Ben

Playing in the snow at Great Grandad's

Breaking a pinata for Hyrum's birthday (all the hard candy was beat to a powder before it actually broke open!)

Meeting up with some old friends

Hearing from Elder Tenney in Madagascar

Having Mathan home for a week

Having a tea party with Aunt Maria

Compiling pictures for mom's digital picture frame

Putting together the calendar for Mathan's family and

Having Mathan home for a week...

Can you guess what my favorite part was?