My Grandparents..

I'm feeling the need to ramble a a little bit. I have been laying in bed wide awake trying to go back to sleep and I keep seeing this picture and my mind is spinning full of thoughts. I know it sounds crazy! So here it goes.. I took this picture on our drive home from the cabin a couple of weeks ago. Looking at an Arizona sunset always fills my heart with so many things. First being how grateful I 'am to live here! Second, my grandparents... My sister and I spent many summers visiting them and I remember sitting on the back porch watching the sunset with them. I'd like to think they are one of the reasons we moved here(other than finding a job). I've always felt a little slided that I didn't get more time with my grandmother. When we moved here she was extremely sick with cancer and died soon after. I'm very grateful for the tender moments we had while she was sick and I could take care of her. My grandparents have always been a constant in my life. They were our Christmas, there for every holiday and every event no matter where we were living (I moved 14 times before I graduated High School). My grandmother could sew or make anything and was always humming or singing a tune while she worked. She had experiences in her life that were extremely heart wrenching that shaped her and made her the woman that I loved. My grandfather (Que) is the kind of man that I wanted to find and marry someday(I did). I'm so grateful for the example they have set for me. My grandmother taught me so much and looking back she still does. My grandfather, I don't get to see as often as I'd like but, he's remarried to a wonderful woman Flora who loves him and takes good care of him. I'm very thankful for that..
Okay.. I'm losing it I know! But, I just re-read this and it reminds me of the quote I have in my kitchen. " The tender mercies of the Lord are real. They do not occur randomly or by coincidence." David A. Bednar

Favorite Christmas EVER!!!

OK! So MOM! Get Ready.. HERE it comes......

mmm.. i wish these moments lasted longer! These kids have grown up way too fast so.. I'm trying to appreciate it ALL with Tucker!
We had A great Christmas in Newport this year!

The kids had more fun exploring the beach than Disneyland!

It's a rare moment to see Lauren SMILING!

Tuck drove this truck up and down the beach..endless energy!

They explored EVERYTHING! Tuck's favorite word EWWWW...Cool MOM!

Dad took some really great pictures.

(I think he's catching my bug!)

TOTAL frustration!

I was amazed to see how much my kids bonded on this trip. Sometimes it's really good not to take friends!

Chase is CoCo's favorite....

My little man with pink cheeks... it was really cold. But, we had a really fun and memorable Christmas!

Christmas Tradition

I love the tradition we have to visit the temple lights. It always gives me a chance to slow down and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. It's so easy to get caught up in all of the "fluff" of the season. The list of things to do and parties to come seem to never end. It was so nice just to slow down and visit the temple with my sweet family.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...Finally!

So..I'm trying to get in the spirit of Christmas but between tennis lessons and ...

Basketball carpool .....

late nights in mommy's bed....

late birthday parties at our favorite place Bounce U!>....

So...this weekend we decided to escape to our cabin with friends= What a SURPRISE to get there and see it decorated for Christmas!(and i didn't do it) the weather was perfect!
CoCo had fun with Chase...
REALLY fun Ranger rides!

=

Lisa and I ventured out on our own ride with the (little) boys....so fun..

and ..then we went to bed.. and woke up to this glorious sight!

it is finally feels like Christmas.. I think I needed to get away and enjoy my sweet family, friends and the natural beauty that surrounds us.

So, I know I'm going back in time a little but I really wanted to share these cute pictures of my wonderful friends. This last September we went on one of my favorite vacations to Lake Powell(better than Maui in my book). It was our first adult trip with no kids to one of the most beautiful places on earth! Garin and Lisa set us up on the most amazing houseboats I've ever seen EVER! It had all the bells and whistles and more...

Captain Garin and Lisa! Thanks, we Love you guys! They're the kind of people if you don't know them. You need to get to know them. They're Awesome!

ME and my Honey!

I had to put these pictures of Jodi & I and Noel & Dean. We have been friends with these guys forever. Noel and Dean were mission companions and when we were thinking of moving to Arizona after Orthodontic School Noel ran into Dean at this sandwich shop in Tempe. Destiny..Crazy! But, it's Jodi and I that swear we were friends before that. She's like a sweet, crazy, wonderful sister. I love you!

Amy and Jim (the comedian and best cook on the boat).
My friend Kris...
Kristine and Cody

Christina and Dale

..of course I had to put this picture in of Noel. He makes wake boarding look so easy! You're Awesome Noel! xoxox

Noel and I are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. It makes life so much fun to have such fun friends in our lives(even for the bumps in the road). Thanks for being so great in so many ways we are so lucky! We love you, di & noel