2015 Family Pictures

We ended up taking Family Pictures twice this fall and this is a ton of pictures, but I really love having the pictures stored a few places just in case...

 Poor Alli had a rough time at the beginning of this picture time so her face is red still :(.

 This picture is my absolute favorite-love these goofballs more than I can say!!

 And this picture-LOVE it!

 This picture is Cam to a "T"

 Poor Ryan had torn his pec a few days before we took this picture so it had been a busy week trying to figure out how he needed to fix it and he couldn't use his right arm...so Ilene is a bit far way ;).

 This pic...Cam hated it and still hates to see it.  I think it is hilarious!!

 Sweet Ilene...

 Alli seems so grown up in these pictures...makes me happy and sad at the same time!!  She is so thoughtful and loves others.

 Cam was a major stink and would not do pictures by himself.  The only way he would sit for the picture is with dad.

 So we "tricked him" and had Ryan lean away a bit so we could get some close ups.

 He is such a fun little boy...and headstrong as can be!

 So glad these girls have each other.  They are the best of friends and wanted a pic of the two of them.

Testimony

Tonight I have just been so so happy and felt Heavenly Father's love so much.  I had a great conversation with a dear (and inspired) friend Tara.  At the end of our conversation she asked me if I felt Heavenly Father's love? And if I know Who's I am?.  The past month or 2 have been some of the most difficult of my life, truly stretching me so much! There are circumstances from my past that still cause pain and learning to deal with those requires growth and change and that is a difficult process.  I have had to learn to truly rely on Him to strengthen me and change my heart to accept some things and even more than accept to love myself through it and realize there isn't actually something wrong with me and that the parts of me I felt were flawed are actually potential positive aspects and gifts.  Sometimes we wonder why certain things happen and especially the timing.  There have been some days where I have truly felt like I just had to endure because the happiness wasn't coming/wasn't there.  But this afternoon I felt a shift.  Nothing about the circumstances changed in fact the same trouble-some situation was brought to my attention again, but it didn't effect me as drastically as it has other times and I was actually able to truly see the positive authentically instead of trying unsuccessfully to convince myself.  Tonight as I have been cleaning I have felt so much joy and peace.  I feel like as we scoop out the parts of ourselves that need healing it allows Heavenly Father to fill those parts with more love and compassion for ourselves and for everyone around us.  I have now reached a point where I am grateful for the circumstance I am in because it has strongly encouraged my relationship with Heavenly Father!  I just felt the need to record my feelings because I want to remember these feelings.  I am learning on different levels that I AM HEAVENLY FATHER'S and He LOVES me so much! I KNOW He is there, He has heard my prayers! Even on days when He didn't change my feelings or the circumstance as I prayed I felt peace and buoyed up.  I know He carries us through and I trust Him more and more.  I saw some music videos tonight that also really strengthened me.  One was actually a little girl singing the Martina McBride song "I'm Gonna Love You Through it" to her mom who has cancer.  It just reminded me of the pure love children have and I am so beyond blessed to have my 3 kids! They give me so much love and encouragement and such a reason to keep going and keep growing and fighting for what I know they need and deserve.  When I feel like giving up I truly can't because they deserve so much more than that.  I think about each of their little faces and their personalities and I know they were sent to me for a reason-to teach me and strengthen me and STRETCH me in different ways.  I am learning to enjoy the little moments more and more and hopefully spend my time doing what I am supposed to-being with them.  I just want them to always always always know that they are the bright spot in my days and in my life.  The funny, sweet, random things they tell me make life so sweet and I would hate to imagine life without any of them so I am grateful for temples and again for Heavenly Father providing us the way to be together eternally!!

October 2014 part 1

Alli playing with the trinkets at Grandpa Doug's house :).  There are always plenty of things to arrange!

Alli pretending to drive :/

Doing sugar cookies with grandma!!

Umm this dog got big fast...he is on his way to the kennel while we will be gone..

Start of the marathon!!!

my handsome hubby all ready to go!!

Mom and Janette!

Ryan looks a little too excited ;).

Ryan killed it with a chip time of 3:36:16 (3:46:31 gun time)!!

Mom got 14th in her age group and her time was 4:24.  I know I was after her, but I don't remember my time...right around 4:30.  Definitely my SLOWEST marathon!  Right after the marathon we drove   to California to meet up with James and Natalie for another trip to Disneyland! We had to leave early to come back for a tradeshow in Las Vegas for Ryan's work so we went to Disneyland Sun, Monday, and Tuesday.  They joined us Monday, Tuesday, and went Wednesday also.  Oh how I love Disneyland!!!!

Some cute girls on the Bug's Life ride going up and down!!

Cuties ready to watch the Bug's 3-D show.

Bumper Cars were a hit for the kids!

Alli was so bummed she wasn't already 7 or she could have been the "grown up" and gone alone :(.

Cars Land!!

Shooters are always great! Alli and Scott were the lucky ones to go with grandma!

A little carousel action while the adults traded off for California Screamin'

Minnie's House

I think Alli got a little tired on our final drive home...and probably a little cold so she has Ryan's extra pants on :).  We picked him up from the expo and we drove straight because we HAD to be home for the next day...

Alli's class had a field trip!

I was so happy to go with her!

I sure love this sweet, girl who is so fun to be around and just such a fun friend to everyone!

That weekend we went to a pumpkin patch/petting zoo.

Halloween practice makeup.

While we were down for the marathon the kids got to go to Talia's birthday party!

Me and my sweetie ready to run!

After this slowpoke finally finished!!! I was SOOOO tired!

Cuties watching for Ryan

me running with my crew!

More Disney!!!

Funny thing is that first day our legs were so tired and so sore! Walking back to the hotel was a bit ridiculous ;).

Grandma got the girls these cute lanyards to put their passes in and we bought pins to put on them so we can start some pin collections :).

We left crazy early to drive to Las Vegas so we could get Ryan there in time for the expo to start!