ELEVEN YEARS and counting...
On April 30, Bryan and I celebrated 11 years together! Words cannot describe how I feel about my husband. I love him more and more each and every day. I love the way he smiles at me. I love the sparkle in his captivating blue eyes. I love his constant patience, his ability to calm me in any storm, his loving guidance...I love everything about him...

I remember eleven years ago when Bryan and I were moments from being sealed for time and for all eternity, the sealer asked me if I was prepared for imperfections in my future husband. I remember feeling very mature as I answered in the affirmative. He then turned to Bryan and asked a similar question, which Bryan promptly answered in an overly exaggerated, shocked at even being asked such a question, sort of way...which, immediately brought laughter from all present, and definitely made me look bad:). Now eleven years later if I were to be asked that same question, my answer would reflect a tone closer to the answer Bryan gave (even though his answer was in jest). When I married him eleven years ago, I never dreamed I could love him as much as I do now, and I am positive that I will be even more surprised at my feelings ten years from now. I have never been so blessed as I am being married to my Bryan. Eleven years ago I was naive, and I think a bit clueless...now when I think I have somewhat of a clue (at least I hope), I am astounded at how blessed I am to have snagged such an amazing guy! WHEW.

IN CELEBRATION OF ELEVEN YEARS...WE WENT TO SUN VALLEY, IDAHO!!!

Bryan and I had so much fun goofing around on the ice. Sometimes we balanced rather well, but most of the time...

my fanny was becoming acquainted with the ice.



We also went roller blading...

...again, my fanny making introductions. (I totally deserved this fall, because I had just finished laughing at Bryan for "almost" falling.)

I almost ran over a snake while roller blading. It still makes my insides cringe if I imagine what would have happened, if it would have happened. Thank goodness squished a 'la snake was not on the menu!

We started roller blading just before mile marker #4, and Bryan turned to me and said, "if we make it to mile marker #7, we will have gone too far." We quickly promised each other to keep an eye out for the mile markers. Several good laughs latter, we remembered our promise, and we diligently began looking for the next mile marker. As the next mile marker came into view, we realized our folly (or our forgetfulness). We turned back at mile marker #8. All in all we roller bladed nearly nine miles. By the time we arrived at the car, we were exhausted, yet content. We had so much fun simply enjoying each other's company!

I am so grateful to my mother-in-law for her willingness to watch our kiddos, so that Bryan and I could enjoy a weekend celebrating the beginning of our family!

~LIFE'S CLIMB~
Once upon a time, a family went on a hike. They hiked up a mountain with great determination. The parents encouraged the three children promising them great rewards if only they persevered to the top. Along the way they took breaks to reflect upon their progress...and there was much progress. After each break, the family set off again with renewed strength and encouragement. However, there were still times on this hike, when discouragement set in...and with each new wave of discouragement, the parents were sure to encourage. "Keep going", they would say, "keep it up--you are doing great! Don't give up. You are almost there! Believe in yourself. If you believe you can make it, you surely will!" And with each new word of encouragement the parents would lend a hand. One child held on the entire time, while another child only needed a hand during the tougher moments. The oldest child of the three only needed to hear that someone was there, and that someone believed she could do it! And when at last they had met their goal this family sat and reflected on their journey, and they knew that they had accomplished much, and the reward was sweet!
And thus it is with life. We are all on a hike. Sometimes our hike is difficult. Sometimes we feel we cannot continue. And in those moments of defeat our heavenly parents send another to lend a hand, or to shout words of encouragement. They do not and will not leave us stranded. And though the journey be hard, the effort is well worth it. For in the end, when we have climbed the climb, our Father in Heaven will say, "welcome home, thou good and faithful servant", and our joy will be complete, because we endured to the end, and we climbed that mountain!

We went to Featherville, and we went on a hike. One of my favorite country songs is about the effort of the climb. It relates life to the process of "the climb". All of us have our own mountains to climb, and if we endure...the reward is sweet!! Our climb was well worth the effort. The view from the top was exquisite, and we accomplished much!

~I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE~
Eight Years ago I had the blessed opportunity to serve as 1st Counselor in the Young Women's Presidency. One night while serving in my calling, two young women asked me if I would attend their weddings? I told these two sweet young girls that I would do anything I could to make it to their wedding..."if" they were to get married in the temple... On April 17, 2010, I fulfilled my promise to one of those two girls.

As I exited enterprise rental cars, I was a bit nervous to traverse LA alone. Thankfully, my friend, Beth Harrison, accompanied me most of the time. I was only alone on my return voyage...

My friend, Beth Harrison, and I at the LA Temple. Beth was the Young Women's President while I was serving as the 1st Counselor. She flew in from Seattle, Washington, while I flew in from Boise, Idaho. It was so fun to see her!

~LA Temple~
The wedding was absolutely beautiful. The spirit felt in the temple was amazing! My heart was full as I watched Jill being sealed to her husband for time and for all eternity. I have never been so touched at a sealing as I was at Jill's sealing. I have a testimony of temples! I know that if we are married in God's house, we will be sealed together as husband and wife forever! I am so grateful for this knowledge, and I feel so blessed to be sealed to my eternal companion, my best friend, the love of my life, my knight and shining armor...Bryan!

We went to Malibu Beach after the wedding, and before the reception. It was breathtakingly beautiful!

~Andrew, Me, & Jill at the Reception~
My recollection of my promise was a bit different from Jill's recollection. I remember feeling like I would try to make it to her wedding (if I could afford it, if it was at the temple, etc...); however, she remembered me saying I would be there...without a doubt! I was so glad I was able to go! Both Jill's mom and dad talked to me about my "promise", and how much it meant to Jill. I am so glad that I was able to fulfill what I hadn't realized to be a full-fledged promise. It was an amazing experience, and I loved being there!
...now that I am serving in the Young Women's once again as the Young Women's President, my husband has admonished me to be careful in what I say...I hope that all my young women know how much I love them, and how much I would love to attend their weddings...

A Walk with the Savior continued...

Day 6~Crucifixion; 3 Days in Darkness

For our sixth day, we had another Jerusalem dinner, and spent the evening by candlelight reminiscing on what it meant to be in "darkness" for three days. There was a sense of awe and reverence in our home as we talked in whispers, and thought about our Savior.

Day 7~Jesus Burial and The Tomb (Easter Cookies...and some world traditions)

Day 8~Resurrection

We had an amazing week all centered on Christ! My kids wanted it to be Easter all over again! I have never had such an amazing experience as a family--our Holiday was truly centered on Christ. I (along with my kids) was sad to see it end. This whole week was made possible, because of ideas gleaned from good friends. I am so grateful to them. What a fun week!!

SPRING BREAK Continues....Day 5~Betrayal of Jesus

(For the fifth day of our walk with the Savior, we talked about the importance of good friends, and what it must have felt like for Jesus to be betrayed by someone who was a trusted friend. We were able to spend the entire day in the company of good friends, and then that night we played Easter Bunny to a few unsuspecting friends...)

I am so blessed to have good friends in my life! One of my favorite country songs of all time is called "Angels Among Us" it depicts how each of us are sent "angels" to watch over us in our times of need. There was a time in my life when I felt immensely alone, and God sent an angel my way.
About eight years ago, Bryan received a job offer in Seattle, Washington as a tax accountant in a big firm. After much prayer, we knew that this was the path the Lord wanted us to take. We were both excited for his new job, and our new start in a big city. As the days became months, it became apparent that neither of us were prepared for what it meant to work at a "big" firm. One night just shortly after the birth of our second child, my feelings of loneliness seemed unbearable. I remember being awake at 2 am, rocking our daughter, and wondering when Bryan would be home from work. I remember turning to the Lord in prayer...asking for help, pleading for his loving hand to help still my loneliness.
It wasn't until years later that I realized that God had sent me an angel. She always said that I was her answer to prayer, but truly she was my answer on more than one occasion. I remember days when all I had to do was call her, and she would know I needed a friend. Several times she would come to my home, and nurture my family. I look back on this experience with gratitude. Gratitude for an amazing example, and gratitude for an angel in my life.
Looking back on my life...I had more than one "angel" during this particularly hard time, and I have had an "angel" in every stage of my life. God really does look out for us! He loves us immensely. He sends us friends to be angels--to answer our prayers in times of need! I am truly grateful for all the angels in my life (and I have many)!

During Spring Break, my "angel" friend, Amy, came to visit, so I rushed home from Idaho Falls, and it was well worth the effort, because we had the time of our lives...

~Jackson (Amy's second oldest), Devyn (Amy's oldest), Jake, Amber, Hailey, and Lexi (Amy's youngest) at the Zoo~

~Lexi, Jackson, Devyn, Amber, Jake, & Hailey~

~Living it Up at the Wing Center~

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Elkington...Spring Break...Easter
During Spring Break we were able to drive to Idaho Falls, and visit Grandma and Grandpa Elkington. Spring Break also happened to be the week before Easter, so we were able to include grandma and grandpa in our Easter festivities. In our house, the week prior to Easter, is a week focused on the Savior. Each night serves a different focus of the Savior's life. While we were in Idaho Falls, we talked about the The Cleansing of the Temple, and The Last Supper. On Monday night after talking about The Cleansing of the Temple, we made grandma extra happy by helping her clean her house. Following our cleaning frenzy, we had a special activity of coloring Easter Eggs.

A WALK WITH THE SAVIOR:

DAY 1~Triumphal Entry
Day 2~Cleansing of the Temple (special activity...cleaning house...coloring Easter Eggs)

Day~3 The Last Supper

On Tuesday night, we talked about the Last Supper, and then reenacted a Jerusalem Dinner. The night prior to the dinner, my dad prepared smoked salmon, and my mom bought all the essential foods needed for an authentic Jerusalem dinner. The spirit was felt by all as we sat on the floor eating foods that the Savior would have eaten in His time. The whole experience made the Savior's life a bit more "real" for everyone involved.

Day~4 Gethsemane (Read "You are Priceless")
Just before we left grandma and grandpa's house, we talked about Gethsemane, and read a story that illustrated Christ's sacrifice on our behalf.

Happy St. Patrick's Day; 2010

The excitement in the morning was tangible. My girls anxiously waited for Jacob to wake up, so they could go see the mischief of our crazy little Leprechaun. Did he come? Did he cause a raucous?

There was definitely no disappointment in our home! Their shoes were filled with treasures, and the house was turned upside down. In addition, their cereal was greeted with green milk. They absolutely loved it! The day started out absolutely blissful as all three children, dressed in green, ran out the door for the beginning of a perfect day.

...and they day continued in the same fashion with green macaroni and cheese

and a leprechaun hunt.

For the leprechaun hunt, my kids searched the house for clovers with numbers. When they found all of the clovers, they traded for different numbers. Some numbers were "lucky" and other numbers were "not so lucky". The funniest part of the game was when Amber got a two dollar bill, and she traded with Hailey, who got a quarter, because she wanted her money for the candy machines at the mall. Even after I explained to her that there were eight quarters in her two dollar bill...she wanted a tangible quarter--so funny!
~Thanks, Ange, for such a fun idea!~

Our day was full of fun; however, it was the ending of a sweet era in our home. At school, Hailey was told by a parent, that leprechaun's are not real. She didn't want to believe him, and although she was a bit heart sick, she held onto some hope. That night she opened her little heart of disappointment, and we confirmed her worries. As realization set in, she wrapped her sweet arms around her daddy and cried. She then started to ask about other traditions... (The tooth fairy is no longer mystical in our home either.) We stopped her at that, and told her to recall on how it felt to "believe". We reminded her of how fun it was, and we encouraged her not to ask about anything else until she was really ready. Although it was late, Hailey and I sat on the couch and talked into the night. We laughed at how much fun "mom leprechaun" had created. I was able to express to her how much love I have for her, and how I express it in the small and simple things that she never even realized--our talk was truly a bonding moment in our lives. And yet, I still can't help the lump in my throat. I want childhood to last forever. I love the simple faith of children. I love the surety in which they live their lives, and I don't want to see it leave. And although I am not angry with the parent who helped my little girl grow up, I feel renewed in my efforts to respect others and their traditions!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess

On March 2, it was Dr. Suess's 106th birthday, so we celebrated! We read "Green Eggs and Ham", and finished it off with a fabulous dinner inspired by the book! We all conferred with Sam-I-Am--we liked green eggs and ham!

Dr. Suess was amazing at articulating thoughts! Some of my favorite quotes by Dr. Suess are:

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

...and my favorite quote of all

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

YMCA BASKETBALL
~SLICK BLACK~

Hailey participated in YMCA basketball again this year. It was so fun to see her grow and develop as a player. She was able to dribble with more control, shoot with more consistency, and defend her opponent. Her understanding of the game definitely increased as she was more aware of the whole court. Most importantly--she had a fabulous time!

~Taylor, Anna, Coach Hill, Kylee, Hailey H., Shae, Mattie, Hailey M., Emma, Madeline, & Brooks~

Happy Third Birthday, Jacob!!!
Amber and Hailey are constantly asking me how Jacob got to be so cute! Day in and day out we find ourselves laughing at this little guy...his mannerisms, his expressions, his sweet personality brings us joy! One thing is definitely for sure--he has his mama wrapped around his finger!
Three Things WE LOVE ABOUT JACOB (this is hard...I need room for a bigger list):
~Your SMILE is CONTAGIOUS & you BRING LAUGHTER to our home DAILY!
~You are always trying so hard to do what is right! (I love that you always say that you are a "good boy", and I love that you believe that, because you are!)
~You have such an amazing spirit at such a young age. Wherever we go, you bring a smile to our faces as we listen to a constant stream of primary songs emanating from your sweet lips!

Jacob's birthday was on a Sunday, and we normally "go out" so our celebrations began on Saturday....lucky kid! Primo's was a perfect fit for Jacob!

~When I asked Jacob what he wanted to do for his birthday, he said he wanted to watch CARS, so after going to Primo's, we invited his buddy, Spencer, over to enjoy the movie...neither of them "watched" the movie, but his birthday wish was fulfilled.~

Sunday Celebrations:

After blowing out the candles, Jacob insisted on holding the "three candle" from his cake. I handed him the "three", and walked away. As I was serving cake and ice cream, Jake was definitely upset! At first I couldn't figure out what was wrong, and then I realized what he was saying...."yucky three". His mouth was full of wax--he had taken a bite of the candle thinking it was candy, and he was telling me that it was "yucky". I quickly cleaned out his mouth, and had a good laugh. I then handed him the candle for a second time for picture purposes, and he took another big bite from his "three candle". The poor kid had another mouth full of wax! After that, the experience was permanently affixed in his brain. For days after his birthday, he told everyone he saw about his "yucky three". Poor kid.

~Classic Eating by Jake~
My goal for his third year of life is to teach him a few manners.