The TRUE meaning of Christmas....

...Okay, I could pretend that it is ME doing the teaching and my KIDS doing the learning, but today I realized for sure that it is the other way around! I don't know what happened that made me look at my Nativity Set a little differently today, but what a great lesson I learned!

First, lets look closely at this picture. If you can't see for sure, I'll point some things out:
1. We are missing the angel--it was dropped last year and broken to a million little pieces. We replaced it with the star thing.
2. The donkeys ear is missing (and the one that is still there is super-glued on).
3. You may notice that the manger is quite small compared to everything else--that is because it is the manger that belongs to the cheap $5 nativity set that I bought for the kids to play with last year. When the real manger was broken to a million pieces, we replaced it with this extra small one.
4. And the best for last--Baby Jesus is also of a much smaller scale (because yes, the real Baby Jesus was broken into a million pieces as well, and replaced by the cheap $5 set's Baby Jesus).....also take note that even this Baby Jesus is missing both arms and is hanging upside down off of Mary's lap.

So you might have guessed that my purchase of the little $5 Nativity Set didn't work. My little kiddos cannot keep their hands off of my beautiful, hand-painted Nativity Set. Perfect example: look at the sheep (the larger one came with my nice set, and the small one from the $5 set). Joseph and one of the Wise Men are holding the sheep so that they can see Baby Jesus better. Another good example: it's hard to tell in the picture, but despite all of the extra room on my front table, every figure is as close to Baby Jesus as is physically possible. He is usually completely surrounded on all sides but I moved a couple of people to take this picture.

I am sad to say that I didn't realize how "cute" this is until today.......it really hasn't seemed cute at all. Honestly, every time I walk by my front table and see the all of the figures re-arranged AGAIN, I think "Aaugh! Why can't my kids play with their little set and leave mine alone????!" Then I re-arrange it the way I like it and I say "You guys PLEASE stop playing with my Nativity set!" Does that sound like the TRUE spirit of Christmas or what?

So today, the girls were at school, Isaac was having an extra long nap, I was getting lots of things done and feeling un-hurried for the first time in a few days! And when I walked by my front table and noticed the scrunched up, re-arranged Nativity Set, I actually paused for a second and just looked....and realized:
1. Being un-hurried allows for some very important realizations.
2. I'm going to miss this someday.
3. Material things don't matter. Nice expensive, hand-painted set = cheap $5 set in a child's eyes. They go together perfectly and the more the merrier!
4. Physical appearance doesn't matter. It's okay if the donkey only has one ear, and even if Baby Jesus is missing both arms, He is still just as special!
5. The closer to Jesus, the better. That is the TRUE meaning of Christmas!

Thank you my sweet little kiddos for teaching me what this season is really about! I just love your little mischievious hands so much and I'll try to remember that every day!

Happy Birthday to Isaac!

Isaac officially turned TWO years old! November 15th was the big day.....the family came over and we celebrated with a little "dirt" cake and ice cream. Actually I made some pumpkin dessert for the adults and filled the tractor full of chocolate cake crumbles and some gummy worms for the kids. The pumpkin dessert wasn't my most successful attempt ever--I think we all would have opted for the dirt and gummy worms if we'd had enough. It was a hit with Isaac, for sure. He goes to sleep each night with a truck in his death-grip, so this was right up his alley.


Like I mentioned, he likes trucks a lot. This is all he did all night long (below). The first present he opened had this little skidster being pulled by a truck and a trailer. He threw the truck and trailer in the corner and wouldn't even touch his other two presents. So Madison and Emma opened them while Isaac put cake and ice cream in the skidster and dumped it various places. Great company for the guests, Isaac!

I'm sure the flame had him fascinated more than anything, but I had to wonder what kind of wishes might go through his cute little two-year-old mind....

Isaac and Grady are so cute together. Sometimes Isaac has a hard time SHARING.....but they had fun playing trucks together as long as Isaac got to keep his precious skidster.

Since my last post about Isaac's vocabulary, he has quadrupled his word list. He has also quadrupled his use of the word "mine" only it sounds like "MY! MY! MY!" over and over again all day long. He really believes he owns everything in his sight. He likes to show off for people by running around like crazy, screaming his little high-pitched scream and trying a summer-sault or two. He LOVES to read, and always has to be sitting in someone's lap while reading. He cannot share your lap, either, we have learned. He especially likes his little animal book--he gets so excited when he turns the page to see a "NEIGH! NEIGH!" (aka horse). Isaac's favorite foods are macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. I've tried to get him to eat vegetables and he is the worst in our family so far. But if you give him a big pile of sour cream to dip stuff in, he'll eat just about anything! In fact, he usually ends up just spooning the sour cream straight into his mouth--forget about the dippping. He is ALWAYS happy, always has a smile on his face. And definately ALL boy--spending most of the day with three females does not rub off on him at all.....his world is dirt and toilets, trucks, mischief, bothering his sisters, anything BOY. Except that he does favor a little pink and purple blanket more than any of the others. And I did mention that he won't go to sleep without a truck in his hands. He's just a really cute, funny, interesting, unique, and happy little boy! I don't know what we would do without him! Happy birthday to our little Isaac--we love you so much!

My Cute Little Boy....

.....Is growing up way too fast. I've been trying so hard to take in every moment lately, but time is still passing way too fast. He will turn two next month! Lately he is just SOOO CUTE and I want to remember these little things!


This is how he sleeps most of the time. I love his little feet sticking out underneath. And you can see the bottle in the background....yes, he is almost two and still has a bottle at bedtime. We got rid of his binky, but still haven't quite dealt with the bottle yet. He is my baby, and the only time he'll let me hold him anymore is when he drinks his bottle!

Isaac loves to go places--mostly because driving means passing a lot of really cool vehicles.....particularly "GUCKS"......which means "Trucks" in Isaac language. That is all we hear when we are in the car--he doesn't just say it, he SCREAMS "guck!!!....."guck!!!" every 5 seconds. Except of course, when he sees a really extra super cool truck--maybe one with a huge trailer attached or something.....then he whispers "wow, guck....wow, guck" with such respect. So cute. I know what I'm getting him for Christmas for sure.

Speaking of Isaac language, here are a few of his favorite words:

"Goook" = cookie

"Da Gog" = all gone

"Wa da?!" = what's that?!

"woof woof woof" = dog

"roar" = any other kind of animal

......well, of course "No!" is right at the top of the vocabulary, and then mama and daddy....and that is about it! I know he's a little slower with the whole talking thing, because he has two sisters who say everything for him! But every day he jabbers more and more with so much expression. I love the sound of jabbering!

Isaac still loves to "cook," still unloads all of my pots and pans and lids out of the cupboard and fills them with a whole bag of cereal or dirt or garbage or whatever he can find to "stir". Every morning when I get him out of his crib, he runs to the kitchen and goes straight to the waffle iron or the pancake griddle. So basically I make a lot of waffles and pancakes because I'm a sucker. And at 6:30 in the morning, it's usually just Isaac and I....so he does all the stirring and we have our little bonding time.

Madison and Emma taught Isaac how to catch a bug by trapping it underneath a little tupperware bowl....the other day while the girls were at school, I came down the hall and found a few little tupperware bowls upside down on the carpet. When I picked them up, each one had a little dead box elder bug underneath. I thought it was so cute!

And yes, the toilet is still his friend. Every once in awhile he decides he needs some water to "stir" into his pots so he goes to the toilet to get it. Today he walked out with a bottle full of water and a straw inside. He was drinking the water through the straw and so proud that he got his own bottle! Yep, the toilet had signs all around it of Isaac's recent visit. I know that is SOOO gross! I try not to let that happen, but every once in awhile.....maybe a little toilet water here and there will build his immune system.

So anyway, there are a few of my favorite Isaac things lately. Just tonight before bed Emma said to Madison, "I'm so glad we got our little Isaac boy," and Madison said, "Yeah, he sure is a funny little guy." We're all so glad to have him!

Some things are just worth repeating....

TOP OF UTAH 2009!

It actually happened!! (Despite the incident with my toe, if you read that post.) True, I worried so much about my toe and the cold that I caught that I went TOTALLY psycho and didn't sleep for a week. I ran the marathon in my mind about 1000 times, day and night--I just kinda went nuts for a while (my family can vouch for that one, sorry family). So it ended up that my toe was not even an issue, thanks to a good tape job and some really good numbing cream. I think the lack of sleep/lingering cold had more of an affect......I didn't do my best running that day (not even close), but I finished! I came pretty close to my goal, and now I can look forward to NEXT TIME!
This is the very CUTE poster that Becky and Suzanne brought to me the day before the race. I'm so grateful for good friends......Julie was my counselor for four months while we trained...... Becky supplied me with GU at 10:30 one night when I realized I didn't have any and had a 21 mile run the next morning.....Suzanne drove us up clear up Blacksmith Fork canyon one morning VERY early......Leigh brought me some "toe tubes" that saved my life.......Jessica and Becky and my sister-in-law Pam all came and ran with us at the marathon.....there are many more little things, and I just couldn't have done it without such good friends!

And here is my cute family, cheering along the way (but really wondering what the heck they were doing sitting out in the hot sun all morning watching a bunch of crazy people). They were so cute and it lifted my spirits every time I saw them along the route.

I wish I had a picture of Kelly (he was the one taking the pictures). He should have received an award at the finish line as well! He put up with a lot over the last couple of months.....He was so patient and supportive, I just love him!

What a good feeling that was! That's the scary part, all these endorphins are a bit addicting. That has a lot to do with my current attitude--I'm going through withdrawls!

So to sum it all up.....some things are just worth repeating! Even though I've wanted to accomplish this goal for a long time, I always somewhat dreaded the idea. I thought I would do it once and check it off the list for good! I thought I would be totally burned out of running by the end of the training...not so! Just the opposite, I felt so good and loved it more and more! And even though the race itself didn't go as well as I pictured, it was still such an awesome day. So much support from my family and friends (thanks so much!), even complete strangers cheering each other along. It was inspiring! So if you're considering a little adventure such as this, just know you can do it, and once might not be enough!

Annual First-Day-of-School Pictures (late, as usual)

I was looking through my pictures and realized I never documented the ever-so-exciting First Day of School! It is the annual tradition at our house to take these important pictures in front of our huge, out of control flower bed......which means that I have to start planning for these pictures in May (when I plant the zinnias--and it can only be zinnias forever more because they create such a big flowery backdrop) and then I have to cross my fingers that the flowers will grow! Luckily, this year the flowers grew tall and wild like they usually do, so here's another year bigger in front of the flowers!

Starting with poor little Isaac, who could feel the excitement in the air--he knew something fun was going on, and soon realized that the fun didn't include him :( Istead, he had to hang out with boring old mom all afternoon and then take a nap. He sure misses his sisters, but I have to say, he and I have spent a lot of time out in the sandbox playing and watching the big Parsons trucks drive by our house. We've had some good bonding time!

Emma grew up a lot in one day! She went to school and came home feeling so smart and grown up, and she's acted that way ever since. I didn't cry when I sent Madison to her first day of Kindergarten--I was too excited along with her. But this year I realized how I just sent Madison yesterday, now I'm sending Emma today, and tomorrow it will be Isaac. I cried a little this time around. But Emma looked so beautiful and happy and brave going off to school, and she will be make an awesome Kindergartener!

Madison began her 2nd grade year with a new look and much better vision! We got her glasses right at the beginning of the school year and she loves them. She takes such good care of them and wears them with pride. She takes such good care of Emma, making sure she gets a good seat on the bus and does her best handwriting during homework time, etc. Madison wasn't so excited to start school (mostly because she doesn't like to work, and she knows school means homework, structure at home a.k.a. CHORES, piano practice, etc) but she jumped into the routine and is doing awesome. As usual, she still has way too much fun with all her friends, so life is good.

Here is Emma, Austin, and Sarah. They all live right next door to each other, right in a row. Not a day goes by that they aren't outside yelling into each other's front windows or riding bikes around the driveways. It has been so fun watching these three goof off at the bus stop every day (plus about 10 others in our neighborhood that just began Kindergarten).

This one is hard to see, but this is Madison and Emma yelling out the bus window on the first day coming home. It just made me smile, seeing the two of them sitting together, instead of sitting with their friends. They were holding hands coming off the bus--so cute! They really are friends! (sometimes their behavior says the opposite and I wonder....)

I still miss them both while they're off at school, but now that the routine is setting in a little, I've found an hour of the day that is SILENT! Isaac goes down for his nap while they are gone and I have about an hour to myself--that part hasn't been so bad! If only I could freeze time right now--I can handle them starting school this year, but no more! Stay little! (I wish)

A Little Too Ironic

I'll start with a little background information. I guess you could say that I like to run. Especially lately. I've always liked going for little jogs, ever since high school. It wasn't until after I had Madison that I really started running, thanks to my awesome friend Becky who dragged me out with her. After a while, there were a few of us that could be found outside together in the wee hours of the morning, getting some "therapy" time, as we call it. It's therapy, but it's more than that. I've gained some truly great friendships through running--and we have plenty of time to talk about plenty of things out on the road. It is my "me" time--to sort out my thoughts, sweat out my frustrations, and just renew some energy for the day ahead. Especially after these last few months, I have found that running is just as beneficial for my emotions and my brain as it is for my physical body.

And so, in-between babies, I've kept running.....meaning I've had to start from scratch a few times, but that is part of the fun of it--seeing that all that hard work pays off. The other fun part is training for a race here and there. It is such a sense of accomplishment to run farther or faster than you ever have before. The first half marathon I ran was so awesome. Thirteen miles sounded SO long! I could not even fathom the thought of going twice that long......but there has always been a little goal in the back of my mind to someday attempt 26.2.....somehow. I watched my running friends complete their first marathon a couple years ago and still could not fathom the thought! But after watching them do it, that little goal in the back of my mind moved toward the front a little more. And all the sudden at the beginning of this summer, I realized I feel good! I'm not pregnant, I feel good, I'm in pretty good shape, and I could possibly do this!

And so we started training--it's just been Julie and I this time around, and boy am I grateful for her--she is awesome! I could not have done the training by myself! It's actually been very enjoyable and hasn't seemed that long. But running for four months with one goal in mind....... completing some very difficult runs, changing some eating habits along the way, mentally channeling all the positive thoughts you can muster at times, contributing lots of time and effort in the REALLY early hours of the morning--it has definately been a challenge! And strangely, so FUN! We've gotten all the way through the training down to the last few small runs, tapering and resting a little for the big event.....

......And that is where I am right now mentally, emotionally, and 99% physically--I am at the marathon! There is only 1% of me that is not there. It happens to be my little baby toe, which at this moment is sitting in a bucket of ice (my whole foot, actually, and it is cold!) So finally we're to the IRONIC part, excuse the excess of background info. It all happened really fast....while teaching piano lessons I jumped up to catch some books that were falling and kicked the leg of the piano bench really hard. It didn't hurt that bad, but then it started tingling in a strange way and I looked down. I knew then and there that it was broken. I waited until after lessons to freak out. It's been a roller coaster ride for me since.

So yeah, I've never broken a bone in my body. I can't remember the last time I stubbed my toe, even. Great timing. Isn't that just a little TOO ironic? I'm trying not to wonder too much. I'm still not sure what will happen, if I will run the race, if I should, if I can.....I don't know. I'm just giving it time right now but I don't have much of that! I know lots of people would think I'm crazy to even consider running still, but after all that training and excitement it is so hard to switch gears in my mind! Last night I was feeling like I would be fine if I couldn't do the marathon. And this morning I want to throw a big tantrum again.

So we will see. My apologies for this LONG and somewhat pessimistic post. I just had to get some of this of my chest! I'll keep you posted on the outcome....nine days until the big day! I still really, really hope I'll be there!

FINALLY! (Catching up on Summertime Adventures)

We're back.....finally! I am so sad to see summer go this time, but looking back at the pictures of all the fun times makes it a little better. We had a really busy and really fun summer (minus the quarelling with siblings that seems to get so much worse when we're with each other all the time....that is the only reason I'm happy to see summer go and school begin!) Here are some of the highlights of the past couple months!I know I already posted a picture like this previously, but considering the amount of miles that these kiddos are putting on that truck.....this is a daily event at our house now. Isaac pushing that thing up and down the road, filling it full of stuff, riding in it, etc. The girls push him around in it and ride their bikes along side him.....we LOVE our long driveway road!

DIRT + WATER + A BUCKET?!!? How can life get any better? Spending the day at Bear Lake was definately a favorite for Isaac.

Emma and Madison make some really beautiful (really sandy) mermaids. Between the trips to Bear Lake and sand box in the front yard, I getting really used to having sand EVERYWHERE in the house!

I don't know how this picture got here--in the middle of the Bear Lake pictures--but it's cute anyway. Kelly filled our freezer full of ice cream bars and the three sugar-hounds caught on really quick. I found them on several occasions just like this (no "Mom, can we have an ice cream?".....not even a guilty look on their faces)......I guess they know that if they cover their faces in ice cream and smile really cute, I'll just take pictures instead of getting mad at them for eating five ice creams a day.

And more Bear Lake fun in the MUD!

Emma taking a ride in Isaac's little swimming pool.

Madison spent the whole day making this sand fort--it was quite the event when Emma decided to knock it down after all that work......I was too busy breaking up the fight to take pictures of that one.

Isaac with his sand, water, and bucket again. That's all he needs to be happy.

What a good Dad, building sand castles with the kids while I soaked up the sun all day long. He got his reward, too--and I got mine....the kids always love him more than they love me, and I got a pretty good sunburn that day.

This is at the Dinosaur Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming. I'll bet you've never heard of that town before! On our way to Cody (to visit Grandma and Granpa "D") we stopped in "Thermop" and stayed overnight. They have some fun hot springs to swim in and this really cool Dinosaur museum. You'll notice in these pictures that Emma was not in the best of moods. Every time we told her to smile so we could take a picture she turned her back. But hey, she has a cute back too, and the dinosaurs were so cool! And even though we forgot to take pictures while we were visiting with Kelly's parents and his brother Dave and Dawnell and family, we really did have lots of fun (that's why we forgot to take pictures--we were having way too much fun). How lucky we are to have such great family, both near and far!

Here we are posing for a cute family picture at a rest stop on our LLLLOOONNNGGGGGG way home from Wyoming. When we drove into Franklin I begged Kelly to stop and let me out so I could walk home. Nine hours in a car with three whining kids and no DVD player....wasn't the greatest part of the trip.

Don't let them fool you--they look really cute and happy in this shot, because it was taken about twenty minutes into the trip. I should have taken another picture 8 1/2 hours later, but by then our car was such a junk pile that I couldn't find my camera. Plus I was too busy just breathing. Did I mention that the driving part WASN'T the hightlight of the summer?

Madie and Emma with "Luann" and "Brookie" the jaguars. The newest additions to their stuffed animal zoo.

Here is Emma rowing her boat on the lake by the cabin where we went for the Nielson Family Reunion. The cabin was a few miles away from the entrance to Zion National Park (which would be 8 hours in the opposite direction of Wyoming, I might add....lots of driving we did this summer!). We had so much fun at the cabin with cousins and auts and uncles--I am so grateful for my family! I just feels so good being with them, seeing how everyone has grown up so much, and what awesome people they are becoming. There were three cousins of mine that had just gotten their missions calls right before the family reunion, and a few that had just returned home....it is amazing to think how many people around the world who will be influenced by just our family. It was a great trip, and well worth another long drive! Plus, Zion National Park is just the most beautiful place!

Isaac eating Watermelon (very intensely), still at the family reunion.

Here is Isaac and I hiking 3 miles up and 3 miles back down one of the "moderate" hikes at Zions. (Actually a whole bunch of us went, so luckily a couple of my cousins helped me cart Isaac around). It was very beautiful and a really fun hike, but whoever names the hikes "moderate" must be a much better hiker than myself (which isn't too surprising). I was glad we stuck with moderate verses "difficult" or "intensely difficult". That could have resulted in disaster.

Kelly and the girls on the "River Walk" hike at Zions. Wow, it was so beautiful there!

Madison, Emma, Isaac, Seth, and Grady at Downata Hot Springs. I think they spent the majority of the day playing right here at the little baby Splash Pad......which was okay by me because the pool was totally crowded full of people. Thank goodness for such fun cousins to play with all summer long!

Same cousins, swimming in the backyard at home. Emma, once again, was not in a picture taking mood......

Now she is (in a picture-taking mood)! Bring out the ice cream, and we're all smiles!

Well that covers most of our summer, since we were mostly MIA as far as blogging goes. There was one more trip that we took with just my immediate family up Ogden Canyon to a really nice resort by the lake. My brother brought his boat and we had a great time! I need to get pictures from my sister since my camera was out of batteries for that whole trip. But I wanted to mention it so we would remember--it was one of the most fun weekends of the whole summer, so thanks Mom and Dad for that fun trip!

And thanks to my cute family for a really fun summer! I wish these summers wouldn't pass by so fast! But here's to the start of another school year and some fun FALL adventures to come!

Sunshine (and rain) and Summertime

This summer has been full of all sorts of weather. Huge hail storms, flooding basements, lots of rain, and a little sunshine scattered in-between. Madison and Emma have taken advantage of every day--rain or shine--splashing in the puddles straight out of bed and still in their pajamas, on this occasion. Isaac was so happy the other day to be one of the big kids, out splashing in the puddles. He kept laying down right in the middle of the puddle, with mud water going in his ears. In addition to the fun in the rain, lots of fun in the sun has been had so far as well.

Madison loves bugs, snakes, anything that creeps or crawls. She was collecting ants a few days ago in a bucket with some bread crumbs inside. She came running in all stressed out and said, "Mom, I was showing Isaac my ant collection and he grabbed the bread out and ate it with ants all over it!" Thats my boy. He just can't pass up a little bite-sized piece of bread. When we have the sacrament at church, he tries to grab handfulls of the stuff. So I guess the ants didn't bother him much and a little extra protein will do him good. He hates the swing, by the way (below).

We were driving down the road with the windows rolled down, and Emma said "Eewwww, it smells like cow manizer!" (manuer + fertilizer = manizer) Kelly says he and Emma have had a few discussions about fertilizer lately. We liked the word so much that it has been officially added to the Daniels family dictionary.

I just love watching these three crazy kids and the things they find to entertain themselves. Today I looked out the front window to witness Isaac flying down our little road, riding in his Tonka truck, going at speeds of up to 3o miles an hour. My first instinct was to yell, "Madison and Emma, stop giving him rides in that thing or we're going to be taking him to the ER and it will be your fault!"

But then I realized that Isaac was laughing hysterically and waving his arms in the air like he was riding a roller coaster. I couldn't help but join the party. So I said, "Madison and Emma, do that some more so that I can get some pictures."

What fun! Thanks to my friends for the Tonka truck, the only true boy toy that we own up to this point. We have pictures of him sleeping inside of the truck when he was three days old, with plenty of room to spare, he was so small! And now he spends hours a day pushing it down the road, loading it up with things, and apparently, doing dare devil stunts in it as well. My little baby is growing up already!

10 Years!

This last Thursday, June 25th, Kelly and I celebrated our 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I can't believe it has really been ten years. Time passes so quickly......and then I look around and see that I have three children, and think "How did this happen?"......it really has been that long, I guess!

I just have to tell my hubby how grateful I am for him! He is such a good husband, always making sure I'm happy and taken care of, putting up with me and all of the things that I get myself into. Not to mention what a good dad he is--sometimes he's a little more in love with his children than he is with me, but I don't blame him for that--they're so much more fun than I am most of the time! (And cuter, too!) He genuinely wants to spend his time at home whenever he's not working. He'd rather play with us, wrestle around with the kids, etc, instead of doing things for himself.

I think we've come pretty far in ten years.....aside from the tangible things--three children, our house, etc.....we've come a long way in many ways! I think back to when we were first married. It's almost humorous. I'm sure my parents were pulling thier hair out. We were both so immature--I'm sure we looked like we were 12, and probably acted like it a lot of the time. It gives me hope that when I see my little daughter going off to get married, and she looks like she's twelve, and acts like it, and I start to FREAK OUT............I'll just try to remember that Kelly and I looked and acted the same way! We got through some difficult times, learned how to work with each other, basically grew up together, and it has turned out okay! As long as my daughter has that same dopey, love-stricken look in her eyes as we did, I'll know she'll be allright (but I'll still freak out). I remember as clear as day, wondering how we would make it and if we were really ready to take the plunge......I didn't know how we'd make it through school, what Kelly's profession would be, had no idea what was in store for us--but I just knew that we were meant to be together and that it would be okay. I had such a feeling of peace and total bliss. This was while we were engaged....sure, the total bliss didn't last for too long, but still.....there was absolutely no other choice in my mind than to spend eternity with this guy! And come to find out, my blind plunge into the wild unknown has worked out extremely well. At least for me......I'll have Kelly insert his thoughts to find out the other side of the story (after all, he was the one that turned a peculiar shade of greenish-gray in the middle of our wedding ceremony.....he'll never live it down).

So, here's to TEN fabulous, family-filled years, thanks to you, Kell. We'll keep plunging into the wild unknown together! And I have no doubt--because of my wonderful family and our loving Heavenly Father who blesses us far beyond what we deserve--that the next ten years will be just what we need to be happy plus some. Kelly and I don't agree on everything, but one thing we do agree on is that we love each other more today than we did on that fateful June 25, 1999.
(Not the cutest picture....but it's slim picking when it comes to pictures of just the two of us!)

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

A few days ago we had a Daniels Family reunion in Salt Lake. We spent the entire day with Kelly's siblings, having picnics, Ladder Golf and Washer Wars tournaments, playing volleyball and dodgeball, kids chasing their cousins, etc. We left exhausted at 9:00 that night, but had a really good day. My favorite part was before all of the games began. We took our kids to the Oquirrh Mnt. Temple Open House in the morning.

As we were pulling up to the temple, we were pointing out the Angel Moroni at the top of the temple. We were talking about how a couple of weeks ago, the Angel of Moroni had been struck by lightening and his trumpet turned black. Emma got this horrified look on her face and said, "That's how Moroni died--being struck by lightening?" It was humorous.

It was a very peaceful, spiritual morning. First, seeing Grandma and Grandpa "D" and almost all of the other cousins and family sitting together in the waiting room--Grandma started crying and almost set me off! We've missed them since they moved to Wyoming and it has been so fun having her and Grandpa here for a month or so. And then walking through the beautiful temple, looking at all the intricate detail and careful planning that goes into the temples. We noticed how the Oquirrh temple has a "circle" theme. Especially in the most special rooms of the temple there are cirlces in the woodwork, on the ceilings, in the carpeting--reminding us of the many eternal truths we learn at the temple.

There is just such a spirit at the temple--even before it is dedicated--that inspires me to try a little harder, and keeps me going, and just makes me happy. On our way home that night, Madison said out of the blue, "When we went inside the temple, it made me want to go back really bad." Kelly and I wanted to turn around right then and go back! I am so glad my girls got to see the temple and feel the spirit that is there! We are so blessed to be surrounded by temples, to have the knowledge that we do, a to be members of the church!