Hair today, gone tomorrow!

Mitch asked Joslyn if she could bring her clippers on our trip. As soon as we got to the beach condo and unpacked our bags Mitch was begging Joslyn to cut all of his hair off! This is his 1st buzz! I love it---don't you think he looks handsome? I even think it makes him look older! We can't stop touching it, it feels so soft.

Snow for Spring Break! (part I)

Spring Break was very unique this year. We have learned to be spontaneous when plans change by the minute. We were supposed to be in D.C. or Chicago with Laurisa's Light group but with Wade in New York for his new position we had a change of plans. I decided to take the three kids skiing (Laurisa was in Chicago/Nauvoo area). The Breinholts invited us to stay at their cabin and ski/snowboard with them. We had the most wonderful time at their cabin playing games, watching movies ( in their private movie theatre), jacuzzing, zip lining and going out to dinner! They are such a fun family to be around!

The boy's couldn't wait to get home from the slopes so they could zip line! The zip line was incredible...it reminded me of the ones we went on in Hawaii. It was over 60 ft. tall and 250 ft. long. The boys loved every minute of it. We ran out of daylight so Joslyn and I will have to get our turn next time.

ST. PATRICKS DAY!
Kelly and I ran to Walmart and bought every green thing we could get our hands on for St. Patricks day! The boys were a hit on the ski slopes with these big green wigs that covered their helmets. The best part about it was we always knew where they were...they could be seen a mile a way. We all made it through the day without a pinch! On the car ride home we had to stop at Mcdonalds and get our traditional Shamrock green shakes, especially for Wade since he couldn't be with us!
The weather couldn't have been more perfect if I would have ordered it myself. We actually kept having to shed gloves and coats through out the day. It reminded me when I was a teenager and skied at this resort with short sleeves and jeans! It was the perfect ski/snowboarding weather for two days of incredible FUN on the slopes!!!

Photography class 101

My friends Kathy Rollender and Kathy Gray and I took a photograhpy class to brush up on some new photo techniques. Every Wednesday the three of us along with Kelly Breinholt and Carol attend an Institute class together, so today after our class we went out to lunch and then took a photography class. The teacher had a lot of fun ideas. It gave me a small glimpse of how fun taking pictures with a whole different mind set can be. It motivated me to want to learn more and take more classes. Hopefully I can put into practice what I learned. I have so much fun with these women and love them so much! They have become my dearest friends and I always learn so much from them!

Datenight with our daughters!

What a treat to have the girls come with us on our date night! Wade and I have season tickets to Hale Theatre, since we knew how much the girls would love to go with us to the King and I, we bought them tickets! When we lived in St. Louis the girls were in the King and I so it has always had a special place in our hearts, it brought back memories of having to dye Joslyn's hair black every night before the performance.

We went out to dinner to Paradise Bakery ---Joslyn's favorite, and then off to enjoy the show. I love the music and story of the King and I. "Whenever I feel afraid I just whistle a happy tune ..., Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...ETC ETC ETC...!!! We had such a wonderful night with our girls! And we can't stop saying ETC, ETC, ETC!!!

Crazy Crazy Weekend!!!

Laurisa and I matched!

Every year "Light" performs a show in Arizona for us all to see. The Show Stoppers performance went through the different decades with song and music. They performed 3 shows this weekend! Since I helped with the water and flower sales I was able to watch all 3 shows and loved every minute. I don't know how Laurisa kept going, I was tired after this weekend just being a spectator. We were able to see all their new numbers before they took it on the road to Chicago! All of these performers are so amazingly talented. Laurisa had quite a fan club in the audience! You radiate with so much talent and sparkle on stage that is hard not to take your eyes off of you! How do you have so much energy with at least 20 song and dance routines and costume changes! Way to let your Light shine Laurisa!

After Laurisa's performance she went to her school Morp dance---she didn't get enough dancing in after 3 performances! I truly don't know how she crammed it all in but it turned out to be one of her favorite weekends of her life she said! It was Mitchell's first school dance, since they are both in Student Council together they were able to set up the decorations and take them down together. I love the bond these two teenagers have with each other.
MORP 2009

Happy Birthday to my Sweetheart!

Happy Birthday to my best friend, eternal companion, and soulmate! My thoughts have been focused on my husband all day even though we are a country away on his Special Day. He is in New York for training for his new position while we are on Spring Break in Mexico! That is so typical of Wade, he is always sacrificing for his family. He is truly the hardest worker I know. He puts so much effort in being and doing his best in everything he does in life. I am so grateful for his work ethic! He truly never ceases to amaze me with the things he accomplishes in life. I am always exhausted trying to stay up with him, there are times I want to quite trying but I can't because he always encourages me to be my best. He is the energizer rabbit. He is an amazing leader and influence for good. I love when he speaks and I come to hear him. I love knowing I am his #1 fan! Everything he preaches he lives. He is such an example of, "it's better to see a sermon than hear one". I as his wife can attest to him doing what he teaches his children to do. He is so patient and always believes in me! He truly is my best friend. I love being with him always because he makes everything so fun. He is truly the most positive person I have ever been around and always makes you feel better about yourself just being in his presense. I always tell myself that I am the luckiest girl in the World! Happy Birthday Wade, even though we are a country away you are always in my Heart!

Laurisa gets accepted to BYU and ASU!!!

BYU or ASU ...tough decisionLaurisa found out the news she has been waiting for. She got accepted to BYU Utah and ASU. She has worked so hard for four years to keep her 4.0 G.P.A. and was involved in many extra curricular activities which include student government, cheer, 200 plus community service hours, so it was so rewarding to see her hard work and dedication pay off! She got a full ride scholarship to A.S.U. I think she has made up her mind to take the scholarship and stay in Arizona to go to school. We are so proud of her and happy also with her decision so we can have her with us for another year! Way to go Laurisa! I'm sure we will all be sun devil fans now!!!

Mitch gets asked to his first school dance.

Mitch got asked to Morp (Prom spelled backward)! The door bell rang when Mitch was in the shower so I opened it and this is what I found. I closed the door and went to get Mitch and when I looked out the window I saw two heads pop up, so I had to capture what I saw with pictures! Mitch is so excited to go to his first Highschool dance.

Mitchell and Jake go out for track

We have runners in the family. After wrestling season Mitch and Jake signed up to be on the track team. At Jakes first meet I was very surprised when I saw take third place in hurrdles. I truly have never understood how people can do that event. It is amazing to watch! Jake has such height when he jumps. His other strong event is the high jump!

Mitch's first week he qualified to run in an invitational with several other schools in the valley. It was very impressive to watch him run the 1600 with a time of 5 min and 4 seconds. Way to go boys!

A day with the Aunties and Grandma

What a treat it was to have Grandma Young and My Aunt Jen and Julie in town! My Aunts have always been a special part of my life and our relationship has been more like sisters since the age difference is the same between them and my mom and them and me. They are always so fun to be around. We spent the day together eating lunch at Rainforest Cafe and then shopping! My Aunts have always been examples to me of loving and supporting family. I'm so grateful to have them in my life. Thanks Aunt Jen and Julie for making my mom's birthday so special and for bringing Grandma for the celebration!!! We love you ALL!

Surprise!!!

We pulled off surprising my mom for her 60th birthday! It was a joint effort between Paul and my mom's friends to plan it and make it all come together. Her sisters and mother flew in just for the surprise party. It all came together perfectly and the best part was to see that look on her face when we all said surprise. I don't know if I have seen her so surprised before! My mom is the queen of parties so it was so much fun to be able to throw her a giant party with all of her family and friends there to celebrate the big 6-0! She really makes 60 look the new 50! We have no doubt every time she goes for her senior citizen discount(that she has been looking so forward to) they will card her! Happy 60th birthday to the best Mom and Nana in the world! We love you and wish you the best year ever!

It's all about LOVE

With Valentines day falling on a Saturday this year we were able to have more time to enjoy our traditional breakfast without having to rush off to school and work. It was so fun to have with us Joslyn and the Breinholt children she was babysitting over the weekend and some of Laurisa's friends that had spent the night. We had our traditional heart pancakes with strawberries with cranberry juice with bagels and strawberry cream cheese! Wade came up with a fun new tradition, we went around the table passing out Reisen candies telling one reason that we loved about each person! It was so cute to hear the Breinholt girls tell the reasons why they loved each other and it made Joslyn feel so loved! We also shared scriptures that talk about love in them! We feel so blessed for the love that we share as a family and that we got to share that love with our friends also!

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining!

Laurisa took this beautiful picture of these heavenly clouds. She has a gift for noticing the beauty around her. It reminds me of a quote by Jeffrey R Holland, "Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for he is the very source of the light you seek." How true this quote is to our family right now. God is the source of light that we seek. As many of you may already know our oldest daughter Joslyn who was married last June came back home to live with us after she discovered her husband was living a double life and was never honest with her when they took their marriage vows in the temple. She discovered that he continued to be unfaithful to her during their marriage. It came as a huge surprise to her. She is in the process of having her marriage annulled and slowly putting the shattered pieces of her life back together. I know that we are here to be tested and overcome trials, although I think it is harder as a parent to see our children suffer and overcome trials, than it is to go through them ourselves. Joslyn is such an amazing example to me and has become a much stronger person through this experience. A quote by Elder Cook that has helped me states, This life is not always easy, nor was it meant to be; it is a time of testing and proving." Our family has realized that it is not the trial but how we handle the trial that tests and proves us. Elder Ronald A Rasband explains, "Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and testimony. These experiences come to us in vastly different ways and at unpredictable times. They can be powerful spiritual events or small enlightening moments. Some experiences will come as serious challenges and heavy trials that test our ability to cope with them. No matter what the experiences may be, each gives us a chance for personal growth, greater wisdom, and in many cases, service to others with more empathy and love. As the Lord stated to the Prophet Joseph Smith in a reassuring way during one of his hardest trials he faced at Liberty Jail, "All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D & C 122:7)
I love this scripture the Lord gave to Joseph, it helps me realize why we go through trial in our life---to make us a better person. I have realized this as I have seen Joslyn be strengthened in the Lord. Her desire to come through this trial a better person is so apparent in her actions and words. She is a rock and truly an example to our family. It is amazing to me to see how trials can help our family even become stronger and closer. The Lord has blessed us abundantly and we feel of his presence so strongly in all of our lives.