Happy Birthday Johnny!

One year older and wiser too! Happy Birthday to YOU! I love you Johnny! You will always be my favorite younger brother! :-)

Lots of love!

Mari

I am still here. . .

The pictures are actually from the last trip my sister took to Spokane. We did not take hardly any pictures while they were here! We ended up getting really sick, and you would not want to see pictures of that time! Blah!

It has been a fun and busy month! My sister's family and my parents were with us for over a week (which is why I have not posted.) I will write more about that later . . .

Now, we are moving! We bought a new house (just down the road from where we are now). So, I am sitting surrounded by piles of boxes, and random things -- all awaiting their place in a garage sale! I will write more as we settle down in about 2 weeks! We are very excited!

We are alive, happy, and well. :-)

Lots of love,
Mari

Primary Olympics

Today was the Primary Olympics for our ward. It was so fun. The weather was perfect! The kids had so much fun! Daniel even said, "This was the best day of my whole life!"

They had yummy Popsicles for them when they were all done. :-) Perfect for a warm day!

Sammi and some of her Primary friends :-)
Daniel and Clayton were the most competitive little boys! They were cracking me up with their boy talk! Luckily, they were on the same team!

William wanted to play too, but he was a little small. :-) In a few years!
Sammi was loving all the fun in the sun!
Daniel showing me his awesome Popsicle

The kids ready to play!

They even had the Pledge of Allegiance


The bean race. They had to scoop up beans in a spoon and fill up a bag -- most kids lost the beans. Daniel figured out that if you hold on to the top of the spoon, they don't fall off! :-)
Daddy and William hanging out at the park :-)

William was a little tired. He has been sick all week with his second round of the crud.

My Daddy!

See post below for what a Daddy is -- all of those same things apply to my Daddy!

I love my Dad! He is the greatest man! It is strange how you only come to appreciate your parents, truly appreciate them -- after you are one! My Dad is such a cool guy. He made sure that our lives were filled with joy, fun, and family time. He always treated my mother with respect, and admiration. We never doubted their love for each other, and I am so grateful for that! It was the best thing he ever did as our father -- he loved my mother! It was such a strength to us, and still is!

I get to see my dad in just a few days! I cannot wait! My parents have returned home from their mission, and now they are ours for a little while! Hooray! I can't wait to see you Dad! And give you a BIG hug!

I hope you have a great Father's day! I am sad I will not be there for it, but I will see you so soon! YES!!

When I think of my dad I think . . .

• Connoisseur of fine ice-cream
• Intelligent
• Strength
• Kind
• Fun
• Gentle
• Grandpa
• Family Trips
• Deep conversations
• Humor that you have to be ready for
• Concern for others well-being
• He is happy, if you are happy
• Likes to party
• Tall
• Crossword Puzzles
• Newspaper
• Finding what is around the next corner
• A comb in his back pocket
• L.L. Bean
• Tie collection
• Ticklish
• Saturday morning serenades
• Singing along with music in the car
• Long road trips
• Adventurous
• Walking to school, 7 miles, uphill, both ways
• Generous
• Slipping extra treats into his cart
• Loves my mother
• Always ready for a good time
• Books
• Charity

Okay, so those are just a few things that came to mind. He is, of course, so much more! Just thinking about him makes me smile, and remember with great fondness the times we had as a family. It was such a great time, a great family! I love them all so much! Thanks for showing us how to live, how to laugh, and how to love!

Love your favorite youngest daughter,

Mari :-)

Who's your Daddy?

A Daddy . . .

Is strong!

Is a Friend
Is Adventurous
Is willing to wear a pink backpack at Disneyland :-)
Is Fun!
Is willing to do things mommy is not

Loves to play in the snow
Keeps you warm

Comforts you when sad

Helps you to walk
Gives you a ride when you can't walk
Enjoys the small moments
Loves to laugh
Can see through a child's eyes
Adores his children
Likes to snuggle
Takes you to new heights
Gives lots of hugs and kisses

I sure love this Daddy!

This guy right here . . . he is my favorite person in the whole world! I love Charles so much, every time I attempt to write something about him, I get butterflies, and I know I will not do my feelings for him justice! On that note, I just want to say a little something about him . . .

Charles is such a sweetheart! I love watching him be a dad. I can still remember after giving birth to Sammi, I was not very thrilled -- more like in serious, all-consuming pain! But, I can still remember seeing the look on his face as Sammi came into the world. That look caused me to forget my severe pain, for a very small moment. He was so excited, and he has been the same for each child. I love that look. I would give birth a million times just to see that look on his face! (Okay, maybe not a million!) ;-)

He is such a great daddy. The kids adore him. They always want to go with him in his truck for special dad-drives. He is so good with with the children. I am so grateful for an involved, helpful hubby -- who can see what needs to be done, and then does it.

To the kids, Daddy is Super-man! They literally think that he can pick up a car! His muscles are HUGE to them, and he is super-strong. I will wait until they are older to tell them that he REALLY is the real Super-Man! ;-) Well, he is to me!

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I talk a lot about the importance of Mothers, and their role. Well, I feel just a strongly about Fathers and their role. They are SO important! I am particularly grateful for Charles and the love he has always shown me. I am so grateful for the encouragement he gives me as a mother. He has been instrumental in my choice regarding motherhood, and I realize I would not be as confident in my motherhood, without his confidence in me. He has lifted me up, and has made me feel like a queen. I love him for that, and I realize he is a great treasure -- a treasure I value above all else, with the exception of my testimony. I will be with him forever, and that is a mighty long time. I cannot imagine being with anyone else but him, and I am so grateful that out of the billions of people, we were able to find each other. It really felt like a Saturday's Warrior moment . . . "I've seen that face, somewhere before . . . " ;-) wink!

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I am grateful for his perseverance when a task is difficult. He has defeated many odds, and I continue to stand in amazement. I had no idea when we were first married where our lives would take us -- I truly had no idea! I am astonished at where we have been, and where we have come together. I am so grateful for God's mercy on us, and that He was willing to take some time out of His day -- to nudge us in different directions throughout our lives. I am grateful, most grateful, that I was "nudged" towards Charles. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for him.

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I just love Charles. I can remember before I married him, I would run around just saying, "I love Charles, I love Charles!" I still do, just a million times more!

Happy Daddy's Day Lovey! You are my Hero!