Hello out there!

Is it just me or is it hard to find the time and the desire to blog in the summer??

I'd rather be doing other things!

Do you blame me??? :)

My baby brother is all grown up!

Yesterday we went out to Sandy because my little brother, Craig, was ordained an elder. He has submitted his mission papers and is waiting for his mission call to come! He's the baby of the family so it's crazy to think that he's just graduated from High School and will soon be heading off to serve the Lord for two years! Congratulations, Craig! We are so proud of you and love you!!

Craig six years ago, holding Kylie when she was less than 24 hours old.

Craig at his High School Graduation with the girls on June 3, 2008

My experience with my "teenage" daughter

So last night was bed time, as is every night. It was no different than any other night except Kylie apparently turned 16 instead of 6 on her birthday. I had told her to go to bed several times and she was being less than obedient. By the 4th or 5th time I was growing a little impatient. I "slightly" raised my voice at her, then I got this response. "Dad, why do you have to be like that?" I said, "Like what?" She said, "You're not being gentle and kind." So then I said, "What can I do to be more gentle?" Then she starts to give me a list:
"First, no spanking. Second, no 'timeouting.' Third, no hitting Rowdy. Fourth, no throwing Rowdy. And fifth, no poking small children with knives." Luckily she agreed that number five had never been done. We then made a deal that if she obeyed, then there would be no spanking or "timeouting." Two hours later, she finally went to bed. What quality parenting!!??

Our trip to Nauvoo

I don't have a lot of time to write this morning, but I just wanted to get a few pictures up from our family reunion in Nauvoo. We loved being there with the entire family and the girls especially had so much fun playing with all of their cousins!

Thank you Grammy and Grandad! It was so fun to be in such a special place with the whole family. Thank you especially for taking on the undaunting task of watching all twelve grandkids so we could all attend the temple together. We really enjoyed having that time to spend with all of our brothers and sisters! We were sad that you couldn't be there with us, but having all your children and their spouses in the temple together is really something special
and it's something that we won't ever forget. We love you!

The girls standing are standing in front of the headstones

marking the graves of Hyrum, Joseph and Emma Smith.

The girls and their cousins sitting in front of the Old Nauvoo Cultural Center

Little Pioneer Children

In front of the Nauvoo temple with daddyPlaying pioneer games

Listening intently to a missionary teaching them how the pioneers made bread

Sydney and baby Brock

In front of a Nauvoo Temple Sun Stone

Six years old today!

Happy Birthday Kylie!
I can't believe how fast these last six years

have gone by.

You teach me so much and make me smile every day!

You are the sweetest little girl and I am so thankful that I can be your mom!

I love you!