This year Ollie boy turned seven on May seventh. He continues to be a genius and he continues to crack us up. We love to tease our kids when there is a great reward involved, so this year we made him open a box of springs for his birthday... he was pretty annoyed... and confused, but then we explained that they were for the new trampoline (actually a family gift). Some of our family came over to celebrate with chocolate cake and pita sandwiches. Oliver is currently digging Legos, reading, and writing stories with fantastic illustrations. We love our Oliver!!
everyday i realize more and more how much we were made for eachother. sometimes after going out to dinner we will need to pick up a few things at the store, and he always knows how to turn this into an extension of our date. one of my favorite things about him (aside from that kissable spot right next to his eye) is his ability to make me laugh. one night i couldn't find him in the aisles and as i turned the corner there he was, talking to a myley cyrus pillow. he was laughing so hard at his cleverness that tears were streaming down his cheeks... and mine.
I can still remember her performance like it was yesterday. When Cassie plays the flute, the heavens open up and almost spill out skittles into our laps;)... it's pretty magical. I'm so proud of you Cassie for all your hard work and determination, especially with such a difficult major. You are such a great example to all of us of dedication and perseverance.
Trent looked pretty hip,
I couldn't resist snapping up the moment.
Trent, Enoch, Caleb, Xavier, Loverboy, Jeff, Jacody, Papa
Chris is jazzed, and that boy behind him is not so sure... about something.
Amazing Jana orchestrated a goodbye party for our Bishop Jerry and his wife and my friend Judy tonight since they are sadly moving away. She decorated everything so cute to match the theme, no surprise because have I mentioned that she's amazing. Sweet Mindy made such a neat video slideshow of their family pictures... cute Aimee and the primary made a quilt with all the childrens handprints on it... and the young women put on a hilarious skit. We were so worried we wouldn't have enough food to feed 200+ people, but just like the "loaves and fishes" there WAS enough for everyone... and then some.
I had been cooking (and cleaning) all day (totally worth it for such a fantastic woman like Judy!!) and several catastrophes happened along the way- burned butter that I forgot about cooking on the stove for caramel corn exploded when I poured it in a jar shooting shards of glass and melted grease everywhere, and Tade having a freak attack upon waking up from a nap panicked and peed all over the floor, I swear it was like he was holding the pacific ocean in his bladder (along with an "Oh Shiz" moment when I realized just how much pork I actually needed to cook) but things always turn out in the end, and even my sweet sister Sadie made some cookies to help me out... Thank you girlie!
This is some of what I brought...
*
SMELLING-
30 lbs of Pork
30.
pounds.
I got the recipe from a cookbook from Sadie's mother in law Vicki... she is all things fabulous-
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Pulled Pork Recipe:
for every 3-4 pounds of meat add
1 cup of salsa
1 cup of brown sugar
(I also added chopped green peppers and onions)
cook on low for 8 hours in your crockpot.
FEELING-
thoughtful...
about Jerry and Judy's future adventures. I heard her say tonight that she has lived in Idaho all her life and how weird it is to move to a different place. Funny how one state over can have such a different atmosphere, but I remember feeling the exact same way about my move from Utah to Oregon, and then Utah to Idaho. Change is hard at first... starting over is never easy... but it will get better with time, and they both have such warm and friendly personalities that making friends will be effortless.
visit Judy's great blog, she is also a wonderful photographer!
My brother Brian was married this week in a beautiful and intimate wedding. We are thrilled for his new found happiness and wish them all the best in the future!
