A weekend to REMEMBER

This past weekend we were able to go to Twin for the temple dedication. Brent's parents were in Utah and were going to be heading back so we thought we'd all meet in Twin and celebrate Brook's birthday again. It was great to see them and spend some time with them. Thanks Jim and Helen for meeting us in Twin! Brooklyn was so excited to get more presents and loved them all! She really is such a girly girl! She gets so excited when she sees clothes, babies, shoes or anything really cute! She is obsessed with shoes and always wants me to put them on her. She even raids Carter's closet and brings me his shoes to put on her and then gets mad when they come off or when Carter needs to wear them. 

On Sunday morning we went to the dedication and it was so amazing! My dad and brother Terry have been doing the security for the temple open house. My dad had the opportunity to be the driver for President Monson's daughter and husband and Terry got to drive Elder Costa and his wife. They got to be really close with the Presidents Security crew and got to be right close to President Monson all weekend. After the dedication we went to the temple to take my dad some lunch and he told us to make sure to come back at 5:30. We were able to be right up front and watch as the prophet came out of the temple and got into his car. When he came out he immediately went to to opposite side as we were on and my dad was talking to Brother Dibbs (President Monson's son-in-law) and let him know where his family was, he went right up to President Monson and made sure he came right to us. So he did, he immediately came right over to us and gave Steven a high five and shook Tiana and Ana's  hands. He tried to give Carter and Brook both fives, but they decided they were going to be shy and just looked at him. He told me that it was better for them to be shy. He kept talking to everyone and would go to get in and then turn and come back to talk more. It was great! He really is such a great man! Such a funny down to earth man! I felt the spirit so strong and I know that he is a Prophet of God and I am so thankful for him and his family! 

 I'm so grateful for my parents' example and their testimony. They never cease to learn and to teach. Although their teaching is not the same as I was growing up its more of a friendship and through lots of conversations and late night visits I learn so much from my parents. I'm so thankful for the way they raised our family. The way they love each and every one of their children and how they trust in their children to do what is right. I hope so much that as my children grow I can let each one of them know how much they are loved and teach them theprinciples of the gospel so they can make righteous choices.  

Here are some videos and pics of our weekend! 

President Monson's car from Utah!

Elder Eyring

President Monson...my dad standing in the back

Waiting for the prophet to come out. 

My kids were so hungry and tired and HOT!!!

Brooklyn giving Carter her wide open mouth kisses!

Carter giving us his "cheese" smile

My dad next to President Monson's car.

He was in the temple for the first session 

and then watched the cars for the other sessions.

At the cornerstone

Now this is at Brook's party............

Mommy and Brook at the canyon!

Both kids with both grandma's!

She decided to sit and do the splits.

Finally a shot of our Carter James 

(He is so hard to catch and get a picture of)

A love/HATE relationship with her new baby that's going back to the store

A glimpse of my weekend

So this isn't going to be a long post as I don't have much time but I wanted to so badly just put a few pics of our AMAZING weekend. We had the opportunity to get right next to the prophet....the story will come in the next post. We went to Twin for the temple dedication and to celebrate Brook's birthday with family. We enjoyed ourselves so much and I am so thankful that amongst all the craziness with moving, we made sure we went this weekend. STAY TUNED FOR A LONGER POST AND A GREAT VIDEO!!!! LOVE  TO ALL!

Happy Birthday Brook!!!

Brooklyn was so concerned that stuff got in her bellybutton





HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRINCESS! Brook's birthday was on the 19 and we had a little birthday party for her. I made a ducky cake and I think I had more fun making the cake than Brook had eating it. I still can't believe she is 1!!! I know with Carter that first year just went so fast but it seems like it went even faster with Brook. I still want to baby her and when I look at her I realize just how much of a toddler she is. I remember looking at Carter at this age and thinking he was so big and so independent and here is brook that I still consider my baby! It is all how you look at it. We love and adore our little Brook and don't know what we'd do with out her. On her birthday Carter and I were awake and Brook was still sleeping, Carter kept begging me to go get Brooklyn, to wake her up.....they are becoming the greatest little buddies! I will post more tomorrow, it is late and I need sleep. Love to all.

It's been TOO LONG!!!

Carter and his "trimmer" He loves trimming the trees.

Brook so tired ready for a nap

Carter found the Nesquik bunny milk.

He loves that stuff and was eating handfuls of it. YUMMY!



So happy swinging at Grandma's

Well it has been way too long since my last miserable post. So much has gone on and we are staying so busy but I need to blog blog blog about all of it. Since our computer crashed and they couldn't recover any data from it I realized just how important this blog is to me. It has so many pictures of Brook and Carter that I treasure them all now and I am taking them from the blog and uploading them to get developed. I had quite a few already uploaded into Costco and tons of Carter on our other computer so although it's not all my pictures it is better than NONE. I also am becoming a big fan of getting my blog made into a book just for our family, then brook and Carter can read about their crazy little daily life with mom wanting to some days pull her hair out!!!

We finally bought a house. YAY!!! WE close August 27th and are moving labor day weekend. So we are packing like crazy and of course de-junking! I think we will need to continue to move every 2 years just so that I can go through all of our stuff and de-junk ourselves. It's amazing how I save everything for my kids thinking one day they will want to see this or I might need this again sometime and so why get rid of it. We are all super excited to move into our new house and I can't wait to not be living out of a box.

We also enjoyed some great company. Sonia and Ryan (brent's sister and brother-in-law's family) came to visit and Brent's parents came too. We all met in Twin and went to the temple open house. It was so much fun to be able to all be together and go through. I know I am biased but I think the Twin Falls Temple is absolutely PERFECT! I love it! It is still so crazy to go and see the temple when we are driving in. My dad does the security for the temple and so were able to go the first night that the temple was turned over to the church and walk around the temple grounds, the spirit was so strong and I am so happy to know that I truly do belong to the one and only true church.

After we went through the temple we headed to the falls and ate lunch then went back to Boise. We enjoyed the water park and had a great time going down the slides. I was so happy that I could actually go on the slides this year because last year I was pregnant and it totally ruined my fun sitting in the kiddie pool the whole time. Even Grandpa Jim and Grandma Helen went on the slides. We all had fun and no one got sun burned.

Then my sister April and her two kids were able to make a trip out to see everyone. I finally got to see Collin for the first time. He is such a cute little guy that is a dang good sleeper. I wish the distance wasn't so far....but I am so glad that she was able to make a visit.

Then the next week Brent went on a business trip to Boston. I went back to Twin for the weekend to hang out and to break up my time of being alone. I am also trying to pack and trying to get finished with the last book (breaking dawn). It's taking me so long to read this one because I can't just sit and read during a quiet time....I have to pack and make phone calls, and do so many other things. So I am hoping to finish the book this week. Everyone is talking about it and I hate not being able to listen.

Brent got back from Boston on Wednesday and then had a seminar that his work was hosting. He was gone for long days on Thursday, Friday and some of Saturday. It made for some long nights of staying up late watching the olympics together and early mornings for him. I'm so glad that Brent is such a great worker and I truly am grateful that he has such a great job! (who wouldn't love to go to Boston and go to work everyday to hang out with your friends.... just kidding) Thanks for working so hard Brenty!

Since Brent has been working a lot lately he managed to let me have a few 'girls night out' nights....thanks for staying with the kids. On one of the nights we went to Mama Mia......ok I don't know if any of you have seen it but I LOVE IT! It's my new favorite. Completely over the top and fantastic. So if any of you need a good laugh and some good music go see it. I haven't been able to drag Brent to it to go see it again, I really do think he would like it too!?!?

And now I am getting ready for Brook to turn ONE on Tuesday. I can't believe that she is almost one. I seriously don't know where the time went. I keep thinking she's my baby but she's walking and going like crazy....where did that little baby go????? I guess I need another one!?!? HAHAH I'm totally kidding, right BRENT?

OK well that is all for now. I will be more faithful to this blog and not neglect it! Love to all.