Recent Happenings

I feel the need to catch up on life.  This will probably be long and rambling, so I don't know if anyone will make it through to the end, but here it goes...

My blog has been completely neglected, as well as many other things around here lately.  I was doing so well on catching up but life has gotten crazy as it sometimes does.  We have had some very life changing events in the past couple months related to Darren's work.  Things I never imagined having to deal with.  It is a long story, and one that I don't really want to post on the world wide web, but we are now in the process of purchasing the practice as Darren's business partner has passed away.  There was a lot leading up to that, but I won't go into it.  It is a very sad situation and I feel terrible for those involved.  Especially his family. It caused a lot of stress on our family and left us with a lot of questions and pretty hurt as well. I think over the course of a couple weeks, I felt just about every emotion.  I felt sad for the situation and his family, excited for us and the possiblity of having our own practice, stressed over what was going to happen and overwhelmed with everything going on and at times, I felt so alone.  It also threw our schedule into total chaos.  Things at the office changed from one day to the next, so Darren's 6 hour schedule suddenly became a 12 or 13 hour schedule in order to cover all the patients.  It was a big change!  Things are starting to settle back down and he is going to 8 or 9 hour days now.  It is still a lot different to not have him around as much and to change a lot of the way we do things.  For instance, I used to do all my volunteering at the school on his mornings off and now I'm having to scramble to find people to help with my kids and things like that.  I realize most dads work that many hours, but we just are not used to it yet and the kids are having a hard time with it.  (And I am, too)  We are excited for the opportunity though.  I think in the long run, this will be a really great thing for us.  It is just very sad that it happened the way that it did.

It is also tax season.  I hate that.  I do the books for Darren's office, but I don't keep up on it very well during the year so I end up with lots of work to get things finished up for the CPA.  I just got the file emailed today.  I feel so much better!  It means that I don't have as much time for blogging or anything else. 

I also have a new calling.  I am the Stake Women's Sports Specialist.  Or something like that.  I am not sure what the official title is.  I really like it.  It just means that I have to be at the church once a week at night to run things, even when I have other stuff to do.  It has cut into my blog time, too.  But I am having fun with it and it is a pretty perfect calling for me, although I don't really feel like I know what I am doing yet. 

And, winter is turning into spring!  Well...it started to and then it snowed...  I hate that part of Utah spring!  We seem to get MUCH busier in the Spring and it has already started.  Rylee has started figure skating.  She really likes it.  At least she did the 2nd time she went.  The first time was pretty rough.  Hopefully, it keeps getting better.  Avery is taking dance and has a recital this week.  I'm excited to see if she will actually perform on the big stage.  She is pretty excited about it though.  She has 2 rehersals and 2 performances this week!  BUSY!  And soccer starts up for Logan next week. 

It is also birthday season at our house.  Rylee lost her first tooth and turned SIX the last week of March.  She had a Hello Kitty Extravaganza party and spent the day shopping at the mall.  We even had our pictures taken in one of those photo booths and she picked out best friend necklaces for us.  I felt like I was back in Jr. High.  When she picked them, I asked who she planned to give it to and she said, "you, of course."  I wanted to bawl my eyes out!  Of course I bought it after that.  I hope that she will want to wear best friend necklaces with me when she is 16.  But chances are, she won't.  So I'm enjoying it now!  She loved her day at the mall and shopping and having her nails done - She is such a girly-girl!  And she LOVES her birthday party and loves helping me plan and has such high expectations for them!  Her Hello Kitty party was great and she loved all the decorations and everything. 

After her birthday, it was Easter, which was so fun but lots of traveling to family events and super busy.  We had a really great time though and the kids looked so cute in their outfits.  The following week was Spring Break and we took a quick trip to St George.  We had a great time enjoying the warm weather and hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa Webber's brand new home down there and spent some time hiking and hanging out with Brian and Val and their family.  It was a good trip and we were able to see some friends, too.  And have some delicious sugar cookies and Dirty Diet Coke from Swig's.  That was a highlight for sure. 

We came home from our fun Spring Break, and I turned 32 yesterday.  I think.  I kept telling people I was turning 33 and I had to be corrected.  I don't think it matters once you are 30.  Everything just kind of blends together.  I had a fabulous day and was spoiled by my family.  I love them.  The kids were so excited for my day and it made my heart feel good.  And my phone buzzed all day with Facebook notifications and texts and it just put a smile on my face.  It feels good to be remembered sometimes.  I guess Facebook is good for that.  Darren treated me to breakfast in bed from Kneeder's (Chunky French Toast...YUMMM!!!) and then surprised me and got a babysitter and took me to lunch at Paradise Bakery.  I went in to Rylee's class to volunteer and her cute class sang to me.  It was so sweet!  Darren took the kids out shopping for me and we had dinner at Cafe Sabor and then had cake.  The kids got me some lotion and lip gloss and sunglasses and Darren got me a bike and a bike trailer/jogging stroller!  I am excited to try it out.  Except that it SNOWED yesterday!  All that warm St George weather and then...snow!  No fun!  I love birthdays.  I love my kids' birthdays and mine.  There is just something so great about having a day for you.  It makes you realize how blessed you are.  And I am so blessed.  Really.  I have everything I need and I have the greatest family.  I love them. 

I felt like this rambling post needed a picture.  So, now you can see how blessed I am.  And, how cute my kids looked in their Easter outfits. 

Up next...  Darren and I are taking a trip with no kids.  I am a bit nervous, but also excited!  We haven't done that for a LONG time.  I'm just worried about leaving my Bronson.  I hope it will be OK.  I stress over that stuff so much!  And then when we get back, Bronson will turn ONE!  My baby!!!  I am freaking out a little over that, too.  Time goes much too quickly! 

We Love to See the Temple

August 28 - We loved going to the Brigham City Temple Open House.  We have been to the Okur Mountain Temple and the Draper Temple open houses, but the girls didn't remember them too well so I was excited for them to have another chance to go inside the temple.  I think one of their favorite parts was riding the bus over.  They always love a bus ride for some reason.  It was a REALLY hot day and watching the movie in the underground parking lot, I thought I was going to die because it was SO hot, but it was worth it!  The temple was amazing and I loved that my kids could be INSIDE it and feel the spirit there. 

Daddy and Avery on the bus

Mommy and Bronson

Our family outside the temple after the tour

A few pictures of the temple...

It was beautiful inside and the kids loved it.  They especially liked the Baptistry and the mirrors that went forever.  They talked about them a lot afterwards.  After we were outside, they touched the outside of the temple and Logan said it was "like being whisked into heaven".  Such a funny kid! I think they really felt the spirit there and how special the temple is.  I am so glad they got that opportunity and I hope they will remember it! 

Avery really wanted to "touch" the temple. 

Handsome Bronson.  He was pretty sweaty from such a hot day and being carried. 

After the open house, we decided it would be a great idea to eat at Maddox, one of our very favorite places.  Sadly, everyone else had the SAME idea and we ended up waiting an hour and a half for a table.  It was worth it though.  We LOVE their bison steak and their seafood cocktail and rolls with yummy raspberry butter.  Delicious!  While we were waiting, we killed some time checking out the buffalo. 

I guess Daddy didn't notice the large sign that asked you not to feed the buffalo.  Oops... 

FINALLY...  Time to eat!!!  Avery and Daddy

Rylee and Logan

The boys and Mommy

Rylee

Bear Lake, Day 3

Aug 19 - Our last day at Bear Lake.  We had such a fun time, it was a little sad to go!  I kind of wished we had one or two more days there, but it was a great little trip.  So much fun to spend time with family and to get away from everyday life.  And we always love the beach.  The cabin we stayed in was amazing!  Nothing too fancy but so big and the kids had a blast!  Here are the girls and Daddy just hanging out on the HUGE deck in the morning.  The view was amazing!

 

 There were a lot of fires going on the weekend we were up there and it was really hazy.  By Sunday, it had cleared up a little and we could see much further than we had been able to the other days we were there. 

Sunday breakfast!  Dean and Laura made yummy french toast.  We did Saturday breakfast and did baggie omelets, which is something the Webber's do a lot, but my family hadn't and they were a big hit. 

Avery enjoying her juice box

Family picture before we went to church

Just a couple pics of the yard at the cabin - There was a fun swingset and little playground and trampoline and then turf and a volleyball net. 

This is another view of the yard.  That is the gazebo with the firepit and the awesome BIG swing and a tetherball and the view...  Amazing! 

The cabin - I guess it had originally started as a little A frame and they just kept building wings onto it, which I guess explained the crazy layout, but it was awesome that we could all stay in one place and have so much room. 

BUSTED!  Avery stole a pop while we were busy packing up and cleaning the cabin.  Her little face says it all! 

Since we weren't in a huge hurry to get back home, we spent a little time just playing in the yard of the cabin once we were all packed up.  The kids were having a great time on the trampoline. 

Uncle Brad thought he was so cool doing backflips and demanded I take his picture while he was doing it. 

Handsome little Bronson - He is growing up way too fast!

The mom and Dad

A couple last pics before we headed home

This swing was one of the favorite things at the cabin.  You could go SO high and it was right on the edge of the property before it kind of dropped off where it overlooked the lake, so it felt like you were just flying off the edge.  The kids loved it and their faces in these pictures make me smile.

What a great trip!