2022 continues.....

April 29, 2022

May the 4th be with you!!!

May 6, 2022

The long awaited day came for Adam getting his license.  Watch out on the sidewalks- wink wink!!!

Jaime and I have really enjoyed going and doing things together again.  It's been wonderful to have a girl in the house again.  We have enjoy going and trying various Mexican restaurants all over Odgen.  The little "holes in the wall" have been the best.  It's a good thing Jaime speaks Spanish, as some of the employees do not speak English.  We have become regulars at a few.  The employees are so nice and recognize us and are happy to see us.

We got new carpet.  It is sooo soft and fluffy!!!

May 2022

May marks the 10 year anniversay of Ryan passing.  I can't believe how long it has been.  Sometimes it seems like just yesterday and sometimes an eternity.  So much has happened since he has been gone.  I know he was taken for a gloroius purpose, but that doesn't mean that I do not still miss him and feel a void without him.  I often wonder what he would be up to.  Would he be married and have kids??  He would love to go skiing, golfing, to the Aggie games, and tons of other things with Mike and my other boys.  I am sure he is watching from above, but at times like these we miss him even more.  I have learned so much from losing him.  I am a better person for what I have gone through.  I have turned to my Savior more because of what I have experienced.  I need Him more and not less.  My heart aches for those who turn their back on our Savior during hard times.  I promise He will be by your side and help make the journey easier.  Trials are not fun and we often do not know why things happen.  I just trust that the reward has to be even more grand when the pain is so hard.  I am thankful for my knowedge of the gospel.  I am so thankful that I know that all wrongs can be made right- if not in this life, in the next.  We are tested to see where we will stand and what we will do.  It would be to easy if life didn't have any ups and downs;  We wouldn't learn anything.  Trials are not fun, but necessary.  Remember, it's easy to love someone who is kind and gives us what we want.  It shows true commitment when we love those that are making our life more difficult.  Our Savior is not mean and He is not punishing us.  He is just seeing where our devotion lies and also knows what we can learn through hard times.  Don't forget, His life was not easy.  Trials are a waste if we do not learn anthing and become better.  I know that makes it sound easy, and it is not.  Just take it one day at a time.  Surround yourself with "light" and turn to Him more for help and strength.  I am so thankful my Savior makes up where I lack and that someday I can hug Him and thank Him for all He has done for me.  Because He laid down His life and suffered all things, I can be with my family forever.  I love Him so much more for this knowlege.

We decided we needed to do something big for the ten year anniversasry.  We planned a trip to Disneyland.  It was a wonderful trip and we made a lot of memories.  Mike's mom Jeri came; It was fun to have her with us.  Sadly, Alex and Kelsie were unable to come at the last minute.  We really missed them with us.  We had lot of laughs and some tears.  I will treasure this trip always.  I am sure  Ryan was smiling down from above. (I had special shirts made that said, "We love you Ryan.  Missing you for ten years.)

May 12, 2022

(People thought we were sisters.  Good for me, not good for Jaime- ha ha!!!)

Mike and Mike

Crazy the similarities.  We recreated this picture.  Ryan is on the left.  That was in the fall of 2011.  He was almost 14.  Ethan is almost 14 as well and is on the right.  They look like the same person!!!

Music was playing and Jeri got into the"groove" and took turns dancing with everyone.  We had a lot of on lookers.  It makes for great memories.

Girl's day with Jeri. 

 The kids and Mike went to Six Flags and so Jeri and I got some girl time together.  She and I had a wonderful day at Disneyland, just the two of us.  We did some shopping and ate at some yummy restaurants.  I will treasure our time together always.

Lotts of fun at Six Flags

I love you.  I know.

Jaime's homecoming was on May 22.  It was fun to be able to have friends and family over because we couldn't for her farewell due to covid.  We had Mexican food- sort of, homemade Cafe Rio pulled porked and taco meet.  I got her this tresleche cake and it was delicious.  It's a traditional Mexican cake- I think.

Both Jaime and Adam got jobs workig on a produce farm.  They mostly dealt with tomaotes but also with various fruits like watermelon and canteloupe.  Ethan worked for another farmer weeding fields and harvasting.  It was very nice when they would bring me home the "ugly" produce that was still good enough to eat, but not to sell.  It actually was a blessing because my garden did horrible this year.  I freaked out because of the drought and over watered. My plants all got something known as root rot.  My tomato and pepper plants never grew in two months.  I was so sad.  I finally pulled them and fed them to the goats, which was pointless because they were so tiny.  Luckily, Jaime brought me a ton of tomatoes that I froze and plan on using to make salsa this winter.  I also had enough rejects that I was able to give a ton away as well.  I plant a big garden so I can share with others.  I was sad thinking that I would not be able to do that, but like I said she brought me enough and I was able to share.  Adam still loves friut.  I had to hide the melons from him, especially if I was planning on giving it to someone else.  He is known to eat an entire crenshaw or canteloupe in one sitting.

taking a lunch break

Let the cookouts begin.  Mike built us a new fire pit in our "cookout area".  We love to go back there and have cookouts.  It's so peaceful and quiet.

For Memorial Day this year we held a family celebration remembering Ryan, as he has been gone for ten years.  It was special to have family over to share in this day with us.  The weather was not great, but we were still able to make it to the cemetary to let off balloons in his honor.

(not sure the meaning behind this!!!)

This first week in June Mike worked in the Oakland, California area.  I tagged along with him.  Over the weekend we drove to San Fransciso and visited Fisherman's Wharf.  We toured a Navy submarine.  Wow are the living spaces tiny!!  We also rode a ferry to see Alcatraz island.  We spent a few hours there and it was very eye opening.  We purchased this cool magnet that was a rule to the imates and totally applies to children. Ha ha.  

I was born in Oakland and it was always my dream to be married in the Oakland Temple (maybe for my second marriage- JK!!!).  That didn't happen and it was ok.  We have visited the beautiful grounds before with the kids, but this time we were able to go inside. 

We explored a redwood forest (boy are the trees huge!!!) and walked the entire Golden Gate Bridge.  It took about two hours and was about 4 miles round trip.  We could have done it more quickly but I kept stopping to try to see if I coud see any seals in the water below (this annoyed Mike and so I did it more than I needed to Ha ha!!).  I actually did see some, but they were microscopic and if you didn't know what you were looking for you woud have missed them.  It was funny we went to a lookout to see the bridge and it was so cloudy we couldn't see anything.   

Where did the bridge go???

June 9, 2022

Wow, I can't believe my daughter is all grown up and offically an adult now.  I love her so much.  I only have one daughter and I got the best.  We have so much fun together.  She is truely my best friend.

(my sister got Jaime the Stitch jammies.  She looked adorable in it)

We went camping up in Idaho, past Preston, the third week of June.  The weather was crazy the first few days and it actually snowed on us.  Thank goodness for our trailer.  Luckily it warmed up.  We had a blast.  We love to go camping to relax, eat good food, play games, and be away from the distractions of everyday life.

This hammock says it's for two people.  No way!!! I actually got stuck and Jaime had to pull me out.  

One day we kayaked at Onieda Reservior.  I guess the cold weather a few days before scared everyone off and so we had the place to ourselves.  It was great.  Apparently, the weather warmed up a little too much....  Mike came out of the outhouse to see this critter staring at him.  Boy I am glad that hadn't been me.  Adam happily caught it and let it go on the other side of the parking lot.  I still was on the lookout for it just in case it decided to come back.

What the heck--- snow!!!