Today was our 24th anniversary. (We think it is cool.) It has been ages since I updated our blog, but today seemed a good day to do it. We celebrated by watching General Conference. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and have a worldwide meeting twice/year (April and October that we call General Conference). We watched the morning and afternoon session with our kids and then had friends over for smoked brisket (Garth did a fabulous job with his Traeger) and Conference Bowl. I am so thankful for a modern day prophet, for modern day apostles, and for the direction it gives us. I am also very grateful fro a fun game to review the things we learned during conference. All in all-a great day! #GeneralConference

PS Don't you love the halo above Garth's head? We celebrated by sharing an Extraordinary Desserts cake with our friends!

Trev's Tribute to our Nation

Trev participated in a grade program at school that celebrated our great nation. I loved the catchy song for the Bill of Rights and am wondering why I have not heard it already. So...I plan on looking it up and learning it as a family. It was fun, catchy, and even though we aren't a family of "singers" we love music and it plays a huge part in our home. All kinds all the time.

Anyway...Trev did a great job and I loved watching him shine. I sure am proud of this son of mine and the effort he puts into everything that he does. Love my son!

GiGi

We were in San Diego for a week. The main reason we went at the time we did was for my Great-Grandma's funeral. Yep, my Great-Grandma. Making GiGi my children's Great-Great Grandma. She passed away February 7, 2013 up here in Utah. She is buried in San Diego next to my Grandpa George. My kids have been so very lucky to have a Great-Great Grandma all these years.

 

One of my favorite memories with my family is all the Halloweens that we spent at GiGi's before her move up to Utah. Garth and I would pack up the kids and meet my parents (and brothers and sisters or whomever was home) at her house. She would buy pizza (forever earning Garin's love) and give the kids candy and then we would trick or treat in her neighborhood and the kids would get so much candy that they didn't finish it. But...they would come back to GiGi's (and Grandpa Joe's) and show them their stash of goodies. They loved it. I loved it.

 

A favorite personal memory is probably lunch at her house. I loved the perfectly set table (fancy schmancy). I loved that everything was wonderfully coordinated. I love my Grandma. Her candy jar. Her funny quirks. Her cake decorating stories. Teaching Jocelyn that olives DO NOT go on your fingers. I am so grateful we were able to go down for her funeral. I was able to see Jocelyn (a HUGE shout out to her and Jason for housing our huge family), Jaleen, and Joanna (plus family). We missed Jenna and my brothers--but had fun none-the-less. A sad reason to get together, but a reason that makes you even more grateful for family.

Shelby is 16

When I asked Shelby what she would like for her 16th Birthday...she answered with, "A trip to San Diego to see Noel and Kirra." I'll admit-we weren't sure how we were going to pull it off. My Great-Grandma's funeral was scheduled for that week too...and being in San Diego for her birthday was able to happen. Below are Shelby and Noel. Yep-whip cream on their faces. I cannot tell you how many birthday pictures I have of these two with something on their faces. They apparently have no clue how to stay clean. Noel is that friend for Shelby. That friend that you know you knew before you even came to earth. That friend that understands you and loves you no matter what your weaknesses are or how far apart you end up living. That friend that makes you say you want a trip to San Diego above anything else. I love both of these girls. And I love that Noel's mom Martha, loves Shelby and is so good to my daughter. Martha made Chicken Chile Verde, wonderful Spanish Rice and Beans, and salad. Can you tell we are loved? She had our whole clan as well as my sister Jocelyn and her husband Jason & kids too. We had a par-tay! We brought the cupcakes (chocolate oreo with cream filling and vanilla with strawberries & cream cheese filling). A great night.

 We are so thankful for Shelby. She really is such a strong young woman. She tries to hard to be a good example and to learn and grow. Garth and I are definitely lucky to be her parents. She chooses great friends (that have great parents-lucky for us) and has been blessed by those amazing friendships. She is a reader like her Mom and sees the divine qualities of others like her Dad. 25% Norwegian and proud. Oldest daughter (thinks she is the oldest period sometimes). Smart. Very smart. A great baker and cook. (from both parents?) A beautiful daughter of God. We love you Shelby.

Flashback...

I was packing up some pictures to get things organized and came across this picture of Garth and Garin. Where has the time (and Garth's hair) gone? Gosh I love these two (and the other 6). Both the guys below make my heart happy. They are so much alike in their desire to be good, kind, obedient people. Both are so incredibly good to me. Both NEVER read my blog. And yet they are so different. Garth loves to build, Garin not so much. Garin loves computer and animation. Garth not so much. All that counts is that they both love each other. And I am grateful for them both.

Snow.

A quick glimpse of our winter. This is the snow accumulation on a teenager from the bus stop to home. At least she is smiling. This San Diego native's bones just got chilly looking at the picture. ;-) In all seriousness, pretty funny, huh?

Hair today

Starlee is particular about her hair. She doesn't really like it up. She doesn't really like it tight. She likes comfortable with accessories. So she let me do a "messy" bun. Since I stink at the hair thing (being as I have the same comfort issues)...she was happy with it. Gosh, I need to practice. Thank goodness for pinterest. This Mom of two girls (thankfully) needs to get a little practice in.

Beauty in Peace

We had a humdinger of a week. Busy, busy. And after that kind of week peace is much needed and definitely sought after. So we went to the temple. And I got this shot as we walked in on my phone. Tender mercy. It isn't San Diego, but it sure looks lovely, grand, and peaceful. And the night was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I am so grateful for temples. And the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

 

For my friends that aren't LDS...you can check out info on temples here.

Les Mis

I know, I know...you see nothing. No flash photography during the play. We took the family to see Les Mis at the high school. They did a fabulous job. I cried yet again. I love that play. Not exactly London (which I loved too), but such a great experience. And I loved listening to the kids singing the songs that entire weekend. Hopefully we will be able to do it again soon.

 

Oh-side note-I wonder if I will ever get used to how stinkin big the high school theaters are in this state? So cool!

Rio de Gelato...best Italian...and in San Antonio

Garth and I had a business trip in San Antonio a couple of weekends ago. Man, I love San Antonio. I love the great BBQ (Rudy's-Austin, TX). And I love this little pizza/gelato joint that we found LAST time we were there. It is fabulous. Such a great family that is actually from ITALY. If you go, if you are there, if you can...go. I don't recommend lightly. Rio de Gelato

 Our "make us something different" pizza.

 My gelato. Banana pecan and vanilla.

(27 vanilla beans were used to make the vanilla-HEAVEN I tell you. Heaven.)

Garth and the pizza "son." He makes the pizza and the gelato. Taught by his cute father who we didn't get a picture of this time around. Hopefully we can go back very, very soon.



Snazzy Starlee

For Christmas my Grandma Goodner made Starlee a dress AND a jacket. Here is Starlee modeling them very quickly at church. Doesn't she look cute. Starlee loves everything pink, sparkly, warm, buttons, embroidery, etc. She is a detail girl. And we love her to pieces.

Slimy, Goopy, Blue, and Loopy

 Bells is an awesome babysitter. Awesome. We have taught her a few things, but she has learned from the best. Because we had the best babysitters for our kids. Hands down. Each and every one rocked. Which is why we tried to never let them leave. ;-)

 

Anyway, Shelby tries to do something every once in awhile when she goes to watch kids. I saw this goopy stuff on pinterest and thought it would be so fun if a babysitter brought it (and then Ryden played with it later). So...Shelby made the goop and it was a hit. Never a dull moment around here. Messes abound! (The loopy is that I must be loopy to encourage this kind of gross stuff!)

It's a Little Chilly...

Hi everyone! Long time no see. ;-) I have been horrible about blogging. So...I am going to try and get in the groove again. Instead of procrastinating yet again because I am a couple years behind. I am just going to go from here and try and add in past posts when I can. I am hoping this will work. Wish me luck. I am going to need it.

 

So...as I sit here at the dining room table looking at mounds and mounds of white stuff in the yard I was thinking I would start off with what seems like we have been inundated with--snow and cold! I am trying to "warm" up to the snow. I really am. Why it hasn't worked yet I don't know. Maybe because I hate layering, love open shoes (preferably flip flops), really don't enjoy sliding on the road, love moments of standing out in the sun, etc? Who really cares? We are here. I am learning to layer and have 4 or 5 pairs of "shoes" and kids that love to play in the stuff.

 

Here is a screen shot on my phone that I sent to Kerity to show exactly why I am freezing my toosh off lately.

 Garin scraping the ICE off the driveway. Yep-that is ALL ICE. We had a storm with freezing rain and got to experience BLACK ICE and all that jazz. I am not going to lie. It sucked. But Garin did pull off a total stunt man move before this picture. He (not on purpose) slid down the driveway, did a somersault, and the bottom, and then landed on his feet. Thankfully we can laugh because he is okay. And then he shoveled all that ice off the driveway so that I could go get the other kids. Such a good kid.

 This has been our week. We finally have a break today. Lovely. :-)

New school

When my kids start school we make a little treat and attach a little introduction to help the teacher get to know that child. Well, even though they had already started in Temecula they were going to make sure their UT teachers knew them too! Pretty cute. The kids decided their new teachers would love Oreo truffles--so that is what we did! Since this is after the fact...I can tell you the kids LOVED their teachers last year!

 Their teacher treat!

 Starlee & Mrs. Siler

 Trev & Mrs. Eskridge

 E & Mrs. Mills (didn't realize it was so blurry...bummer!)

Ry & Miss Shepherd

Iron Chef Shepard View Style

Pretty much right after we moved to Utah my Mom recruited Garth to be a judge for the Iron Chef competition that their ward had annually. Now in the past my brother, Jonas, has dominated. But, alas, Jonas is in Italy serving a mission and we are proud of his sacrifice! Shelby was able to participate and she had a blast! The secret ingredient was BACON. (Perfect, huh?) And the activity requires planning and creativity. A fun, fun night for sure!

 Just call this the "I am smiling, but don't you know I just took a bite?" picture.

 Jonas' picture made an appearance...

Shelby and the other YW cooking away...



Let's Do This...

I am not sure if I will get the chance to catch up on this. But...I have wanted to get back to my form of journaling: the blog. Last August we moved...FAR! (Well, for us...we actually moved closer to some of our family, farther from others. Not totally win-win.) We moved the family to Utah and so far we love it. It has been a great move for our family and our kids love being closer to grandparents! They love school, love our new ward, and love our area. Does it get better than that as a parent?

And I am going to try and catch up since the move. Not many pictures have been taken since I started working pretty soon after we moved up here...but new goals have been made and a blogging I will go!

Cub Scout Blue & Gold

Swamped with things to do, trying to cover just the minimal bases and I remember (okay...last minute) that we are supposed to take a decorated cake to the Cub Scout Blue & Gold dinner. So...we make a plan based on what we had on hand. Chocolate toffee cookie crust, chocolate chunk brownie, chocolate cake with a cheesecake cream filling, and marshmallow frosting (toasted)=a S'more cake. Whew! Was I glad when that was over...and thank goodness the boys seemed to like it. Especially torching the marshmallow.

The cousins come for a visit

Amidst all the craziness of dealing with no flooring, exposed wood, etc. we had the chance to watch Weston and Benson while Jenna and Casey went on a cruise. I was lame and didn't take many pictures (this is becoming an awful habit)...but I did catch a few with my phone when we took them to the zoo. We had 7 kids!! (Garin was at home studying for a test the next day.) How did my Mom do it with 8 every day? ;-) We loved our time with them, loved showing them the animals, and I think the favorite by all was the Skyfari. Passes come in handy!

Ignore the wrinkles...focus on that cute face.

Aw...I love each and every one of them.

The best group shot I could get (and it didn't have everyone).