Andrea's Gilberts Graduation Party...June 5, 2010

Eleven years ago I returned home from my mission in Ecuador. One of the families whom I saw baptised, the Rossi's, migrated to Utah about 6 months after I came home. We've visited on a number of occasions but it's been about 4 years since I've last seen them.

A few weeks ago we received a graduation announcement in the mail for Andrea. (I can't believe how old she has gotten. When I first met her in Ecuador she was only 5 years old and now she's graduating from high school.) Her family invited my parents, Sam, and me to a dinner in her honor at the Lion House. My last companion in the field, Hermana Hutchens, was invited also.

We had such a great time re-uniting and visiting. I LOVE the Latin people. They are so full of happiness and love. To top it off, they KNOW HOW to express it to everyone too. I told Sam and my dad that there has never been a time in my life that I felt SO MUCH happiness then when I was surrounded by these great people who truly know how to love people and how to love life. They understand and know what's truly important in life.

I loved being there with them and reconnecting. I felt that I was in my element again. I felt an insurmountable amount of joy. I was reminded, just by being with them, what's important and how to love others. I LOVE this family more than I can express. They're wonderful people and wonderful saints.

Me and Hermana Hutchens, Eva...

Eva, Andrea, Vanessa, Me, and my dad...

Eva, Vanessa, me, Niza, Vanessa girls...

Eva, Vanessa, Sam, me, Niza, my dad...

Andrea...

My dad doing majic tricks for Vanessa's little girl...SO CUTE!

Grady's Baptism....June 5, 2010

Our little nephew got baptised yesterday. Sam's brother, Eli, baptised Grady and his dad, Ryan, confirmed him. After the baptism Stacey and Ryan had a lunch for him at the park. The kids played ball and chased Lewis down. It was really fun and a beautiful day.
We are so proud of you Grady! You always make us smile!

Take Time to Smell the Flowers....June 3, 2010

Since my mom is in California helping Mike and Jamie; my dad, Meghan, Dave, Tage, and me planted my moms flower and vegetable gardens. We pulled it off in one day. Great things happen when we pull together. (Even Tage was an aweome help, he helped me and meghan dig holes and he helped grandpa and dave get more flowers.) It was good to stop and smell the flowers together for a day. We really needed that. GOOD JOB everyone!
Ta Da!!

Hadlie's Dance Recital.... June 2, 2010

Hadlie performed so well at her dance recital. The theme of the recital was: BROADWAY. Hadlie danced to: FOR GOOD from Wicked and WE GO TOGETHER from Grease. I always get so emotional watching her perform. It's one of the BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING A MOM; watching your children succeed.

We LOVE YOU HADLIE! You're beautiful inside and out. Way to go!

California Trip #2....May 22-28, 2010

TBC....

Dinosaur Park.....May 17, 2010

Some girls in my ward and I had a little Pre-school that we did for 8 weeks with our kids. The last day of Tage's Pre-school we went to the dinosaur park. Tage loved all the dinosaurs and the play ground. While we were there he spoke a lot of when my dad and Dave took him and Daxton last year to the Dinosaur park when Paizlie was in the NICU. I was surprised he remembered it so well from last year. He enjoys doing things with his "buddies" grandpa and uncle Dave.

Jex Kay, Tage's best friend....

Ellie Sharp...


Isn't this the CUTEST picture of Paizlie?

Another RUN BABY RUN....May 15, 2010

OGDEN HALF MARATHON!
My friend Meghan and I ran the Ogden half marathon again this year. Out of all the races I have ran in, I'd have to say this one was the worst. Our time was descent but on mile 7 I had shooting daggers in my knees. I thought I was going to die. Every step hurt. At mile 9 I told Meghan to go ahead of me. She came a few Min's ahead of me at the finish line. So needless to say, I hope the next one I do, Layton half, will be better. I guess I'd better keep running....
Good Job Meghan! Next year we will do better! :)

Congrates Dave and Meghan! USU....May 8, 2010

Dave and Meghan graduated from the USU! Hip, hip, HOORAY! Paizlie, my dad, my mom, my grandma, and I went to their graduation. It was really nice! Good Job guys. We are so "proud" of you!


Grandma Robins, Mom, Meghan, Dave, Dad, Jen, and Paizlie...

Dave and Meghan with her mom and dad, Brenda and Neil...

Megan, Dave, and I...(got to throw this in)

California Trip.....April 25-May 6, 2010

Tage, Paizlie, and I went to California to help my sister-in-law, Jamie. She is pregnant with triplets and was put on bed rest. We went down to help and spend a week with Jamie, Mike, Trae, and Aizlynn. We had SO MUCH FUN! Mike and I sung and danced around, like our typical selves, and the kids played, while poor Jamie laid. (Jamie is such a trooper in her situation. I admire her strength.) The week went by too fast, as it usually does when I am with my brothers. Thank you for letting us come and help. We miss and love you guys so much!

The drive worked out great. My best friend, Ali, wanted to go visit her mom for a week so she and her kids rode down and back with us. It was nice because I didn't have to make the trip alone with Tage and Paiz. Ali's mom lived right on the way to Mikes so I only had a couple of hours to drive alone. We had so much fun with the kids. They did AWESOME!
Here is our trip...

The kids, Ali, and me. We were at the gas station stretching and waiting for Ali's dad to pick her and her kids up...



Aizlynn and Tage tired of playing...literally...

Mike and Paizlie....

Aizlyn entertaining Paizlie...

Mike....WHATZ UP!!!

We went swimming. Paizlie loved the water and she loved playing with Mike...




Paizlie's BLOWOUT!!!

Jamie's "inverted" bed Mike invented...GOOD JOB Mike!

Three kids in a tub....

We went to Lover's Point Beach. We had so much fun. The kids got soaken wet. Mike and I were laughing at how much fun the kids were having....





After we left Mike's and Jamie's me and the kids stayed at Ali's mom's Ranch for a day. The kids had so much fun. They swam in the pond, rode on the golf carts, played in the sand box, and we rode around the small town Ali grew up in. Her family was so nice and we had an enjoyable time. It was a perfect way to end our California trip.






*highlights (TBC): Katie the goat lady and Jamie's huge cupboard that fell off the wall. "Never under-estimate your own strength!" Jen Robertson