Birthdays

This last week has been a busy one because Liv and I celebrated our birthdays!!  Liv, the lucky duck, has gotten to celebrate throughout a whole week!  This last weekend we went to Salt Lake again so I could meet the two new babies (Jaxton Hansen and Annalisa Lynn Taylor)!  While we were up there we got to celebrate our birthdays together with my dad, Linda, and Aaron! 

 On the 14th, her actual birthday, she got to unwrap presents from her mom and dad as well as her grandma and grandpa Young!  Then we had cake and ice cream, yum!  I have to say, though, I absolutely LOVE how Liv blows out her

 candles... she stays as far away as possible and then gives little tufts of air!  Eventually someone has to help her, but it gets done!

Then today we had a "Butterfly Tea Party" with what Liv calls "Juice-Tea"!  Her friends came over late 

morning to make their own butterflies, had sandwiches as well has cake and ice cream (and none of the kids wanted sandwiches, just the good stuff)!  And, of course, a super cute butterfly pinata!  The girls loved beating that thing, and I was very impressed by some of their swings.  Liv was as gentle as ever, she tried to 

"kill it with kindness" 

as we always call it!  So it was a great week for the two of us!  Another year down, and a new one beginning!

Lake Powell '09

This year's trip to Lake Powell was the most enjoyable I've had for a long time!  I think that has a lot to do with Linda... Liv was her constant shadow and Linda welcomed it happily!  Those two spent a lot of time looking for seashells and playing games with the family!  Every boat ride we went on the kids wanted to sit on Grandma's lap, and Linda made it work so both grandkids could sit.  Since she was willing to play with the kids it took a lot of stress off of me so I was actually able to relax from time to time!  Todd was there for the first few days, yay!  We actually went a day early and camped on a beach.  We were to find a beach to park the houseboat on for the week, but that turned out to be a difficult job!  It was a packed weekend!  But we were very pleased with the beach we ended up on (Kris and Lyle, the usual beach finders, eventually found it for us!)  But Todd headed home on Tuesday because summer session of school was starting :(  I was very proud of him for being responsible, though, and skipping the rest of the trip to take care of business!  But I was devastated to discover that earlier that day somehow all of my pictures had been deleted off of the memory card :(  I still have no idea how this happened, and it honestly wouldn't surprise me if Gary Boy had somehow pressed the buttons necessary to do this.  So you'll see little pictures of Todd because of this, totally bums me out!

The Baby Blankets

So remember those baby blankets I was going on about back in like January?  Well now that they have been delivered I can finally post the last couple I made:

The blue and white one was specially ordered and made for my sister-in-law, Kolbi, to be given to her recently arrived baby Ryker!  This is not my favorite blanket to make, in fact after I finished the first one I made I swore I'd never make it again.... but when Kolbi asked for this 

one there was no way I'd turn her down!  The body of the blanket is actually really simple and gets done quite quickly.  The difficult part is stitching in the lines, when

 working in the center rows it's bulky and awkward.  In the end, though, I'm very happy with it.  It matches Ryker's nursery well and Kolbi was very happy to receive it on his behalf!

The white blanket with spirals was time consuming but I love how it turned out!  It's different than other patterns I have done, but I'm glad I took the challenge because the look is worth the work!  I think it's very elegant and playful at the same time!  I gave this blanket to Jenny Hansen for her recently arrived baby Jaxton (He was delivered yesterday!)  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to give it to her myself, but I'm hoping she was pleased. 

 

Our Sealing Day

Taking my family to the temple to get sealed was the most joyful day I've had so far in my life... it was heaven on earth!  I was impressed with the kids understanding of what was going on at such a young age, it reminded me of how fresh they still are from God's presence!  Last Saturday, June 20th, was actually a very rainy day but we were all smiles!  We took the kiddos inside the temple at about 2:50pm, were sealed across an alter at 4:20pm, scrabbled to move all of our luau decorations to the church house (because the monsoon rains drenched our original plans) afterwards, then finally fed our guests at 6:30pm!  It was one memorable day.  It was very heavenly and very fun!  Liv explained how she felt to her Grandma Linda by saying "I felt it in my heart!"  Trying to further understand Linda asked, "Inside the temple?"  Liv said, "Yeah," Linda said, "Was it the spirit?" Liv sweetly and simply said, "Yeah!"  Too precious!  I am so grateful for this gift we have to have our families sealed for all time and eternity!

Baby Ryker

This month so far has been incredibly busy and isn't about to slow down yet.  So I will keep posting pictures of these memorable events so none are left out!  The day after my dad and Linda got married (so June 11th) little Ryker McKee Young was born to Todd's brother, Tyler, and his wife Kolbi!  After three hours of hard laber there were super excited to meet this little 7lb 6oz precious doll!  He is absolutely beautiful and perfect!  When we took Liv and Gary to meet their new little cousin they were elated!  I think at first they were surprised at how small he was but then they quickly adapted and gave him sweet soft kisses upon his head!  Liv was so proud when I helped her "hold" him!  But none of our family was as proud as Todd!  He just wanted to keep holding him and later kept asking if he could go visit Ryker as though he were a little kid with a new friend!  It was priceless!  Ty & Kolb's, children are the most fun, and I'm so excited to see you two as proud parents!  Congratulations!

Congratulations Dad and Linda

On Wednesday, June 10th, my dad took Linda to the temple to get married, congratulations you two!  It was such a busy and fun day of celebration... rain included!  We started the morning at the Salt Lake Temple where the two were married in a meaningful ceremony!  Once they got out of the temple the rain started pouring, but everyone just smiled and laughed it away.  After a few group posses it let up and we were able to take a bunch of pictures around temple square (the one above being one of my favorites).

Then we went to a luncheon at Red Lobster.  I am truly not a fan of seafood, but I'm happy to say that the chicken was scrumptious!  Unfortunately, Todd wasn't able to enjoy his until the very end because of some "miscommunication" between waiters and cooks... lame.  But the company was fantastic!  

Following lunch we were allowed an hour to sit before we were put to work helping decorate (just kidding, I was happy to help wherever I was needed) and pictures.  Although, not as much time was spent doing pictures since the rain continued through our "photo time".   But we were able to get some done inside, until the kids were fed up and restless.  Before we knew it guests started arriving.  I enjoyed being the "Line Manager" by standing at the end of the line and "entertaining" the guests to keep their mind off the slight chill (luckily it had stopped raining by then).  I had a great time seeing old neighbors and family.  

I have to admit that my favorite part was decorating the car!  We had to promise to be tasteful & I think we accomplished the task very nicely!  Kim provided decals and cans (yay!)   We wrote on the windows with appropriate crayons and tied ribbon wherever available.  Then filled the car with colorful balloons which poured out when my dad opened the door for Linda!  He pulled out a utility knife and started to pop them, that sound combined with the balloons popping from gliding across the asphalt made the sound of fireworks going off... that was so cool!  Then they drove off to start their honeymoon with us leaving shortly after to crash our heads onto our pillows!  Congratulations again, you two! 

Our Anniversary and a Day of Temples

Last Saturday, June 6th, was mine and Todd's sixth wedding anniversary!!  It's been quite the year for us so we were especially excited to be celebrating this one!  It was pretty special since it ended up being a day of temples!  We started by going with our friends, Gerald and Lori Brady (and company), to the openhouse for the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  It is so beautiful!  I love that our church is able to have the funds to spare no expense to make these houses incredible without going into debt!  We got to take our kiddos with us which was extra special since we are going to the Salt Lake Temple June 20th to get sealed for all eternity!  This was a unique experience to be able to take the kids inside the temple to show them a room like the one we'll be sealed in and teach them what we'll do and how to act.  It amazes me how innocent and sweet their spirits are.  While we talk and teach of the sealing it's as if they completely understand what is going on and they are just as excited as us!  I love it, and it's a reminder of how fresh their spirits still are from leaving our Heavenly Father's presence!

Later that day we got to go to the Jordan River Temple as Nate, my little brother, took his endowments out!  I was so excited and smiled the whole time as I watched my now grown up "little" brother reach this milestone!  Afterward

 we went to Leatherby's, a local ice cream shop, for dinner and treats to celebrate with those that attended the session (plus Aaron & the kiddos).  We had a lot of fun, and I am so grateful for the joy that comes from following the commandments and the blessings we receive when we keep the covenants we make with the Lord!

So it was a typical anniversary celebration, but I thought it was such a powerful day full of meaning!  Plus, in less then two weeks Todd and I will celebrate again as we are sealed, making our marriage and family no longer for just time, but for eternity!