Emily's African Quilt

We were so lucky and got to spend a WHOLE month with Emily this summer.  That hasn't happened since she came home for the summer after her first year at BYU.  We usually feel lucky if she gets to spend a whole week with us.  Can I just say . . . it's sooooo nice to have another girl in the house!  Don't get me wrong.  I adore my boys, but there is just a difference that we feel when Emily (and now Mallory too) is here.  It just brings a sort of balance to our home.  We all seem to be happier and nicer and there is so much laughter in the home.  I LOVE it!  She was a great helper while she was here and she was Ryan's best friend.  Ryan was only 4 years old when she left for college and so it was so nice for them to spend so much time together and build their relationship.

Back at Christmas, we gave Emily a sewing machine.  She brought it home with her, determined to learn how to really use it and she had a goal to take the fabric she brought home from her time in Africa, to make a quilt to go with her new bed in her new condo.  She had very specific ideas on what she wanted to do.  We got to spend a lot of time together sewing and it was awesome!  I loved spending that time with her.  I am so proud of her vision and determination.  She pretty much made up how she wanted it and even made pillow shams and a throw pillow!

 Isn't it beautiful?!  All the patterned fabrics are the ones from Africa.  I am going to add a picture of the finished product on her bed as soon as I get it.

I just got it!  Here is the finished product!

Mallory got a sewing machine for Christmas too, so one day we had a sewing party and it was so much fun!  I loved spending time with the girls!  Here is the pillow that Mallory made.

Emily held down the fort for a week while Brad and I were able to get away to Canada for our anniversary.  All too soon, it was time for her to pack up and go back to Provo.  Man, was that hard.  We were having a serious time with tears over here.  We love her and miss her so much, but are proud of her and know that she needs to be where she is.  We are sure thankful for the time that we get!

Blessings

We had the blessing of going with 2 of our children to receive their endowments at the same time.  Emily flew home for my birthday weekend and we were able to take her to the temple at the same time that we were taking Alex to get his endowments before his mission.  It was such a beautiful experience!  I can't even describe the feelings I felt especially right before the session was about to start.  I was sitting there with Emily and I saw Brad and Alex together and then I turned around and saw so many loved ones coming into the room.  Right then I felt the love of so many both here and those that are not here anymore.  It was one of the most tender experiences I have ever had.  I am so thankful that my family can be together forever.  That knowledge gives me so much peace.  I am thankful for the temples and for the blessings that they bring into our lives.  Alex and Emily - we are so proud of you and we love all of you so much!

Dear Emily . . .

I miss you.  I miss you a LOT.  I don't like your new busier schedule.  I think it's time to come and live in Arizona now so that you are closer.  :)

Love, Mom

Salt Lake City

I got a wonderful surprise from my hubby!  He got me a ticket to go see Emily in Salt Lake!  She has been living there since August while she interns for the church.  I have wanted to go up all year and see her and the environment she lives in - but just haven't had the chance.

Emily decided that she is going back to BYU to get her teaching degree in high school English.  She will be moving back to Provo in a couple of weeks.  So...I am really happy that I got this opportunity to visit her in her SLC environment.  It also worked really well because the boys were going on "Fathers and Sons" and I have always spent that time with my only daughter!

We had such a great time doing everything and nothing!  We saw movies and ate yummy food.  We drove to Provo and bought cinnamon bears and went to the Carl Bloch exhibit (AMAZING!!).  We wandered around IKEA, watched more movies, visited with friends, went to the library and enjoyed the weather.  But, THIS morning Emily and I got up and went to the "Music and the Spoken Word" at the Tabernacle. I had never been and I was really excited! It was such a great experience...I loved it!  Afterwards we walked around in the rain. It was just drizzling but it was beautiful.

I loved taking pictures of the beautiful grounds. I love the peaceful feeling I always feel when I am here.

This is Emily standing in front of the church office building where she works in the Welfare Department.  She has loved working and living here, but is ready to start the next phase of her life.  Thank you Emily for showing me such a wonderful time!  I LOVED spending mother/daughter time with you and chatting with your roommates.  :)

 In front of her cute little house

View from the top of the SLC library

I Feel Like Super Mom!

 

This is the awesome quilt that I made for Emily's birthday!  It is made up of t-shirts that she has saved for YEARS - I'm talkin' some from 4-6th grade.  There are shirts from "Battle of the Books", "Jump-Rope-for-Heart", church girls camps, band, choir, you name it, it's there!  I am so glad that she saved all of those shirts.  What a great way to keep some memories :)

I am really proud of myself for making it!  I have tied quilts here and there, but never started completely from scratch.  It was a lot of fun and I am so glad that she loves it!

First Born

THAT is the number of years ago that my first-born and only daughter Emily was born!  Emily was born on February 19, 1988.  I want to dedicate this post to the wonderful sister that she is to her FOUR little brothers.  Every time we had a baby, she would be sooooo excited and always hoping for a little sister.  I have to admit that she cried a couple of times when she found out each time that we were having a boy.  But...I do have to say that there was never a better sister ever.  When she was little, she made do with Taylor and conned him into playing dress-up with her and even barbies!  Taylor was given Ken and the "beast" from Beauty and the Beast so he would play with her!

She has always been so good to play games with them and hang out with them.  Especially since she has been gone for 5 years now.  She makes the most out of every minute she is home and the boys love it.  A week or two ago, she wrote the sweetest blog post about being a sister.  You can find it here.

 San Diego

 Washington D.C.

 Taylor and Emily Band Buddies

 Ryan HAD to be in the Senior Prom picture

Danny leaving Emily at her dorm at BYU - 4 1/2 years ago!

 Em had just gotten back from Mozambique

 Leaving Taylor at the MTC

Alex & Emily at Christmas

Nothing better than siblings :)

We love you so much Emily!  We are so glad that you are our daughter and sister.  You set such a wonderful example for us.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Birthdays & Disney Magic

I always knew that I have the best husband in the world - but gee whiz - he still catches me off guard.  January and into February was one of our worst on record.  I was sick for a whole month.  I had bronchitis and a sinus infection and then Ryan got sick.  He had a high fever and got sicker and sicker.  Four days in, I finally took him to the doctor and he said he had a really bad flu and that we would probably all get it.  This is where I proclaim what a bad mom I am, because I know I am supposed to get flu shots for myself and my children because we have lung issues in our family.  What can I say?  I just never found the time?  I don't know what the reason is, but I didn't do it . . . and can I just say that I will NEVER make that mistake again.  

That very night, Danny and I came down with the flu - on top of my bronchitis I already had.  I was the sickest I can remember being for a long time.  I literally did not move from my bed except to use the bathroom for 4 days.  It was horrible.  Then, poor Brad got sick on Friday night.  So, we all managed to get the flu except for Alex . . . go figure because he always gets sick.

The problem was, I just couldn't seem to kick everything even with antibiotics.  My birthday was coming up on February 5th and Brad started acting weirder and weirder.  Since he is notorious for fabulous birthday surprises, I asked him if he had plans.  He finally broke down and told me that he had been planning a surprise Disney trip since Thanksgiving.  Emily was even gonna fly down and drive over with us and then fly back to SLC from California.  Brad was struggling wondering if he should cancel everything.  With more confidence than I actually felt, I told him that things would be fine and we should just go.  I was surprised and excited, but boy was I worried.

Things turned out a lot better than I had hoped.  I stocked up on my cough meds and my breathing machine and off we went.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but Brad rented a wheelchair to push me around the park.  I was just too weak and sick to do all the walking that Disneyland required.  Anyway, it was a WONDERFUL surprise and a much needed break in the sunshine for me and my family.  I love my awesome husband more than anything.  He is the best!!!!

 Waiting in line for the Matterhorn

 The longest line the whole time was for Toy Story Arcade.  Ryan got tired of standing :)

 Space Mountain

I LOVE the miniature villages in Storybook land!!

Alex and Danny look thrilled don't they?!

Ryan was so excited to be able to ride everything and to "drive" the Indiana Jones car

I love these kiddos and it sure makes me miss Elder McBride :)

Introducing . . .

the newest BYU graduate!!!!  Emily graduated on Friday, April 24, 2010 with a B.A. in English and Minors in Editing and Music.  What a fabulous accomplishment!  And . . . she did the whole thing in 4 years.  It seems like that doesn't happen very often anymore.  It has been a goal for her ever since she was a little girl.

Some of us were lucky enough to go up and celebrate with her.  Brad and I and Danny and Ryan arrived in time on Thursday to attend the huge graduation.  I think they said there were 5 to 6,000 graduates.  Elder Christopherson was the main speaker and it was really nice.  Afterwards, Emily chose to celebrate with Indian food.  We were a little skeptical to take the younger boys there, but decided to try it out.  Everyone loved it!  The only things that were missing were Taylor and Alex.  Taylor is in the DR on his mission and Alex had to stay home for Volleyball and school.

Emily kept the boys with her that night and partied and had a sleepover while Brad and I went on up to Park City to Andy's condo.  We are so thankful that we have such a generous brother and sister-in-law.  They have let us use the place a lot over the years.  Thanks guys!

The next morning it was raining, but it was still really nice.  We picked up Emily and she and I ran into the Hinckley Building so she could meet the Pres. of BYU.  Then we dropped her off and went on over to the Marriott Center.  We got great seats.  For the convocation, I think there were around 600 graduates in the School of Humanities.  It was really nice too and this was the one where they actually call their name and give them the diploma.  Then we got to go in building where Emily spent most of her time and meet one of her professors.

  President Samuelson and wife

It was such a great weekend and we are so proud of her!  I think she is a little sad that it is all over with, but she has a great future ahead of her too.  She just found out last week that she was chosen for an internship in the Fall with the Liahona magazine!  It is really prestigious and hard to get - plus they will pay her $13 an hour while she is doing it!  I can't believe our little girl is all grown up :)

She might have been crying a little :)

The happy family minus 2

This is the cute little house that Emily will live in next year.  She will live in Provo and commute to Salt Lake to the church office building.  She is really excited about it.