Sorry, Brag Time

I don't like to brag, but this is something I'm so excited about, I want to shout it from the rooftops!  MY MOM, SISTERS, AND I GET TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR MORMON NIGHT AT DODGER STADIUM!!!!!!!!!  My mom wrote an amazing arrangement a few years ago that we've sung here and there, and we've always kind of secretly wished we could do it at Dodger Stadium.  I was looking at their events for this year and had the thought to just email the contact person and ask them if they were holding auditions.  Long story short, a guy in my parents' ward is in charge, asked us for a recording, turned it in to the Dodgers, and they said yes!!!!!!!!!!  The BEST part about it is that my parents will fly my sister out from Texas to sing with us--I didn't know if I would see her before March of next year!  I am so grateful and SO excited!!!!!!  I need to always remember: It never hurts to ask.  WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandmother Hall

We are so sad to have lost our dear Grandmother.  She went in for a shoulder surgery and a week or so later her lungs failed and she passed away.  The true miracle is that we had some warning, so all of her children were able to spend a few days with her.  She was non responsive at first, but then woke up when they were all there.  We thought she was going to make a full recovery, but the morning that her children started to leave, they were called right back to say goodbye.  I think she/they were blessed to have her wake up to have a few, worry-free, wonderful last moments together, and then again, to be with her as she made her way into the next life.

We love Grandmother so much.  I am so grateful that Steven and Rebecca have memories of her.  Also, I am starting to think Rebecca gets her curls from her.  She was so loving and thoughtful.  I feel so blessed to have gotten to know the three grandparents Adam had left when we were married, especially since he has not gotten to meet any of mine.

Thank you for always being such a wonderful example of faithful service, hard work, kindness, and so much more.  We are missing your beautiful smile and your soft, sweet voice.  We love you!

2013, Part Dos

We loved getting together with our WHOLE King family at Newport Beach!!!  It was especially fun to see Rebecca and her cousin Alison becoming best friends.  They live so far apart and don't get to see each other very often.  Visiting the temple grounds, playing at the beach, and shopping at Fashion Island are just a few of the things we LOVE doing there!

Totally posed like this on their own.  :)

2 out of 3 posing and smiling is not that bad.

Precious girls!

Sharing something nice is like having it twice!

Dear Waiter, 2 half faces do not equal one whole.  Happy birthday, Cher!

All the babes!

Handsome dudes!

We have named this rock Abraham Lincoln.  Do you see it?

Go, Cougars!

Can you find the ladybug? 

Dancing on the beach!

Um, hey!  More music, please!

Uncle Nathan is so fun!

Oh, no!

Its Maleficent!!!

2013

Perhaps keeping up to date with my online blog/journal/scrapbook should have been one of my New Year's resolutions.  We have already done so much this year!  Of course, we are almost a third of the way through it--isn't that crazy!  Here is the first installment of my catch-up efforts.

I love when I find her like this at night!

These kids are the best kitchen helpers.  We loved making Valentine treats
together for our family and our neighbors.

Yikes!  Daniel found our V-Day treats from Grandma!

Not gonna lie--I love matching just as much as she does!

Popcorn party at preschool!

We love Grandfather Hall!

If you think seeing the Endeavour is cool, try seeing it with a real
live rocket scientist who has actually helped build those things and
knows exactly how it all works.  It rocks!

Almost there, Bud!

Ellen Show with the girls and a give-away worth hundreds of dollars?
Yes, please!  (So worth the cramped ride home.)

Such a fun group to go with.  :)

And a birthday celebration on the way home.  :)