Valentine's Day 2020

Due to the craziness of our schedules, we did not end up celebrating Valentine's Day until the Sunday after Valentine's.

Brigham loved wearing his dinosaur Valentine's Day shirt.

During Sunday afternoon we enjoyed spending time together as a family. 

Lucy and Brigham helped me make Valentine's Sugar Cookies.

The big kids enjoyed playing games together. 

The kids were excited for our traditional Valentine's Day meal.   They go upstairs while Brandon and I add the final touches to the meal.

On their way back, they lined up in the traditional youngest to oldest.  Of course, we had to do a silly picture.

The kids arrive to their places to find a small present from mom and dad. The girls always receive flowers from Brandon and everyone receives a balloon.

Brandon was pretty excited that we were having ribs, that were smoked on his Traeger as part of our meal. He wanted to take a picture with them.

We also had steak, brats, hotdogs, rolls, green beans, heart burn potatoes, a fruit salad and Danish Dessert for dessert.  For our drink, we had some sparkling cider.

To end the night, we enjoyed some of our candy and played the games that Lucy and Ben received for Valentine's Day.  It was a great day to spend with those we love. It was also a great time to reflect on Heavenly Father's love for each of us, that he sent his son to die for our sins.   I am blessed beyond measure by the Savior's atonement and his love for me.

Easter Sunday 2017

I do not remember what was taught on church that Easter Sunday of 2017, however I do remember the feelings that I felt. The feelings of joy, happiness and love. A peace that filled my heart after the passing of my Grandpa. Since the Savior died for everyone's sins and was resurrected, we can live with our family again.

 This is one of my favorite pictures of my kids.

These pictures remind me of the peace that is found in Christ, that our families are the most important things and that death is not the end.

Easter Morning 2017

We had a wonderful Easter morning. We were able to celebrate Easter in Utah. The kids woke up and were excited to see if the Easter Bunny came and came he did! Of course we had to line up youngest to oldest to go and see what was left behind. Cute Briggy lead the way being held by his papa.

The kids searched high and low to find what the Easter Bunny gave them.

The kids were able to find a ton of candy and toys.

It was a fun and sweet morning.

My Grandpa

A wonderful man passed away in April of 2017.  To be honest, I have struggled to find the words to express the many emotions I have felt about his passing. My grandpa was one of a kind. He had the best smile that could brighten anyone's day. He always had a firm handshake to give you when he saw you. He always encouraged Brandon and I to take care of each other. He had unwavering love for his family and the gospel. He's a true example of Jesus Christ. 

When Brandon and I were young college students, any time we would come to visit, he would put together a box of food for us to take home. He was always so kind and generous. He would give us an envelope each year for our birthday. Inside the envelope would be the money amount for how old we were turning. I received one of the very last envelopes he made to give since he passed around my birthday. 

Picture taken of Grandpa and I back in Sept. of 2009

Back in January of 2017, our family was able to travel to Utah to attend the party celebrating my grandpa turning 90, my grandma turning 85 and my grandparents 65 wedding anniversary. We are so grateful we went to celebrate these two wonderful people and the life that they have shared.

His funeral was beautiful. It was a spiritual experience to be apart of it. I learned so many new stories about my grandpa. I didn't know that he trained to be a medic in World War II. I loved hearing about the story of when he bested my dad at pull-ups on the clothes line in the back yard.  I personally loved the story that my dad shared of going through my grandpa's old journals and expenses. There was a date long ago. He bought my grandma a wedding ring. The note beside it read: "Wedding Ring for GenaVee, The one that I love."  

I loved being apart of the special musical number with my adult cousins.

I loved that we had vanilla ice cream, his favorite, for dessert after his funeral.

One of the greatest blessings in my life is to call him grandpa!