Daddy decided to take a day off and spend time with his girls. He took them to Spanish school, lunch, took Teigan to kindergarten and spent some one-on-one time with Brielle. Then he picked Teigan up from school and didn't tell the girls where they were going. Teigan was ecstatic when she realized they were pulling into the zoo parking lot...

"Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow. And we can stay all day!"

Baby snow leopards!

Baby elephants!

Lots of the animal moms and dads were busy last year. There was a baby elephant, baby giraffe, baby snow leopard, baby crocodile, baby orangutan and a couple baby tigers. The girls liked the baby animals the most.

Despite being away from home and the kids so much, I really like my new job as Assistant Director at the Kinder Care (child care center). Bryce has been super man lately. I come home and he has picked up the kids and made a fabulous dinner. Why didn't I start this sooner?

We have had a great summer. Lots of fun and work with our garden, going to the cabin on the weekends and just enjoying being together. We are excited for fall though. Teigan and Brielle already know what they want to be for Halloween......can't tell yet -- wait till the pictures come.

After a long and grueling year, we all made it to Bryce's graduation. I made him walk since he didn't with his bachelor's degrees. Here is a quick clip of him all dressed up. After the first ceremony, which included an address given by author David McCullough, we went out for lunch and to the movies to see Star Trek. (awesome) Later that evening, Bryce had his smaller ceremony for just his college. It was a great day and only the beginning according to Bryce. He is not done yet. He just has to decide where to go next.

We are all enjoying the beautiful spring weather. We hardly ever get a spring here in Utah. It goes from winter to summer. It has been great weather to get out and do hard labor yard work!

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Go have a BBQ and get some sun!

Dinosaurs and babies

A class field trip to the Dinosaur Museum proved to be much fun, even for Mom! It was our first experience with the massive creatures and the only thing that scared us all was the ginormous great white shark. We did not stop to take a picture. The museum was very hands on and kid friendly. The girls got to explore all kinds of fun things. Towards the end of the tour they uncovered their own dinosaur bones in a giant sand pit. I want to go back again without the kids so I can read all the information plaques, we sort of skipped those.

Next up....

Brielle cuddles with her new baby niece, Jedah. Brielle absolutely fell in love with Jedah the moment she saw her. She did not want to let her go! This is number six for my older but still very young sister. WOW! I can't compete with this! I have also really enjoyed being with the babe, she has that sweet baby smell and is so small. My baby isn't a baby anymore and that makes me sad, sometimes. Happy Spring!

Temples

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made a short video about Temples. It has one clip of the new Draper Temple that is now just a few minutes up the mountain from us. It is so beautiful at night when all the lights are on. It just glows. I want you all to know that I believe that Temples are like a glimpse of heaven on earth. The promises the Temple provides are glorious. One promise is that I can have an eternal family. I can be with Bryce and my girls after death. What a beautiful idea, a beautiful plan. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/mormonmessages

Utah the happiest state!

So I just finished reading a few articles stating that Utah was ranked first in a Gallup pole for being the happiest state. It was quite interesting actually. It included questions about physical health, mental health, work, access to necessities, and how often you smile or laugh. I was most entertained at the blog comments that this stirred up. I find it very funny that so many people believe that Utah is happy because we are all "white Mormons on antidepressants who by the way suppress their women." Well, I can't argue there. I am a white stay-at-home Mormon on antidepressants. I am very happy.
This has given me the opportunity to reflect. Why am I happy? I have lived in seven or eight states, I feel like it has very little to do with the actual state but my state of mind. I am not just happy, but have joy and satisfaction in my life. It is because:
1) I have the most beautiful creations ever made ( I had a part in the making too) Teigan and Brielle.
2) I have an amazing, hard-working and might I add very attractive husband who loves me
3) I have the answers to life's most sought questions
4) Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be HAPPY!
5) I am on antidepressants. Let me explain. I have a family history from both sides of my family of this horrible illness and have struggled with it since my youth. When I take medication, I am not just happy all the time ( ask Bryce) It merely allows me to be at ground zero and then have the clarity and choice to be happy. Mental illness like depression is an illness comparable to other illnesses that require medicinal therapy.
6) My community. I have neighbors who get up at six and run with me in the cold. Some others brought me soup when I had the flu for a week. I can take my kids to almost anyone in the neighborhood if needed and not worry. I have playgroups with great friends. These are wonderful people and no I am not just talking about the relatives, although they are also a huge part.
7) opportunity is all around me. I feel like I could be successful in anything. If you want to hear my latest ideas just ask.
The list goes on......... Why are you happy? Or maybe you are not....think about it. Hawaii was second. My birthplace. Hey maybe it is just me. I make everyone happy JK Comments please?

Happy Birthday Brielle!

She just turned threeeeee!

She had a party at school. She brought cupcakes and the other kids gave her presents to open. She really felt special and like a big kid. The next day she decided to use the potty full-time. YES!

Teigan couldn't help but help little sister open all her fun presents.

We had some family over Sunday night to share the cake with. She loves everything pink! She had pink frosting and pink ice cream. She is such a bright kid. She loves school and is already writing some of the letters in her name. What will the next year bring?

Goodbye to 01/2009

The first month of 2009 is almost gone already? How many of you are still... jogging everyday? reading your scriptures? not drinking soda? not picking your nose???

We are all healthy and well here in Draper. The inversion has kept things nice and cold and stinky. Pray for a storm will ya?

Teigan did something really cute today. I just got a new calling in church. I am to host activity days for girls 10/11. So today I had the girls over to my house and we were playing some "get to know you" games. While playing, Teigan brought down a plate full of different kinds of snacks and passed them around to the girls. She did this without any prompt from me. There were pretzels and raisins and cheese and goldfish and cashews. When I went up to see the kitchen there wasn't any mess either. She played quite the little hostess. SO sweet huh?

To update you on Belle, well, Brielle has such a strong will.

It has been hard trying to potty train her. She is doing very

well though and prefers to be in Teigan's

older preschool class rather than be with me.

Bryce is finishing his last semester of grad school one. (more to come) It is really hard for everyone but we hope it will pay off. (literally pay) There is not much to say about me so that's all I am gonna say about that. Until next time.......

As Bryce and I celebrate our 5th year anniversary, we celebrate with big RED grins. What a great anniversary gift the Utes delivered. Together we get to bask in the victory images, articles, and video clips. We join the sugar high! Here are some images we have enjoyed and some of us in the last home game of the regular season against that team down south. GO UTES!