Happy Birthday Samuel!

Today is Sam's birthday but since dad isn't around to celebrate, Sam will have to wait for his cake. So next week we will celebrate and I will post pictures. But I had to at least recognize that today is the day.
I sure love my little guy.

Happy Birthday Bruce

Bruce Daniel is John's brother. I think he is five years older than John. I have never met him but we named our 5th child after him....Samuel Bruce. Bruce was killed in a car accident when he was sixteen. I think that was 23 years ago. I love when the family shares memories of Bruce. I have heard many, many wonderful things about him and stories of his life. His good example is shared with my children. I am glad to know that my children and I will meet him one day. He means a lot to my husband and I am even more excited for him to be with him again one day. I am grateful for the knowledge and blessing of eternal families.
We love you Mom and Dad!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful, most charitable person I know. I love you Mom!!!!





When I think of my mom, I think of charity.
Moroni 7:47 says "But charity is the pure love of Christ and it endureth forever and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."
If I ever complain or say something unkind about someone else, it is guaranteed my mom will ALWAYS tell me how "they are doing their best" or "we don't know what led them to this" or anything that will give "them" the benefit of the doubt. I know if I need to be put in my place, my mom will do it in the most kind and loving way and I am so grateful for that. Sometimes I want to tell her things because I know she will help me to see the other side.
I printed this piece of a talk from Marvin J. Ashton and have it on my fridge. I want more than anything to be like my mom and have this quality that she has.
"We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.
Real charity is not something you give away, it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again...
Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings, having patience with someone who has let us down, or resisting the impulse to become offended...
Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us.
Charity is expecting the best of each other.
That is sooo my mom. Every bit of it reminds me of her. What a wonderful quality Mom. And being found possessed of that, will be well with you.
I feel so much love for my mom. I am so blessed to have had her teach me and guide me throughout my life. When I was in the hospital in a lot of labor pain with my firstborn, I remember just wanting my mom. My sweet husband whom I love was right there but I knew my mom was the one that could comfort me. There have been many times since then when I am sick or confused or depressed when I just want my mom. I am so grateful that she is there and comforts me and heals me during those times.
I love that I can call when I am confused with something one of my children is going through and she always has a piece of good advice for me.
I love that she helps put things in perspective when I'm not seeing so clearly.
I love that my mom wanted only the best for her children and taught us to seek after good things.
I love that because of her faith and strength, she has, in her own way, taught us what is good and right and that each of her children are strong in the gospel and have been sealed in the temple. Mom, thank you for knowing that is best and knowing where we should be and leading us the there.

Thank you for being the best example and a wonderful woman. You are beautiful inside and out.
I hope and pray for you to have JOY and happiness throughout your life and hope you always know how much you are loved by your children and grandchildren. We are so blessed and lucky to have you!!!!!! May many good things come your way this year!!! I love you!

Happy Birthday John John!!! (finally)

John's birthday was on January 21 but I lost my cord to connect the camera to the computer and John brought one home yesterday. So here we go.....10 years old!!!!!!!

Here he is so excited about the clothes from Grandma. Always his favorite! My mom had Jolie's kids so they came with when she stopped by and helped sing and eat cake.

Ice cream cake. YUM! Thank you to Aunt Maria and her kids for making John sugar cookies. They were YUMmmmy.


John got a havoc heli for his birthday. It was pretty cool and kept everyone entertained until it broke after a week. It's a very fragile little toy and needs to be kept up high away from little hands.

He also got "marble mania". The patient and hard worker that John is sat down at the table and didn't stop until it was done.


John found the camera in the car and took several pictures of the boys. He is a wonderful brother to these boys. He has a happy, funny, goofy side that we can't help but love and laugh at.

He graduated from Bears and is now a Webelo. This is pack meeting. All the boys were given the same objects and built something different with them. John created and airport. Pretty clever. Good job John!

Here he is with his wonderful scout leader. We will miss her. They were telling jokes with his pack here. Wesley is the only other boy in our ward in his grade. We are grateful he moved in and will be sad when he leaves.

Here is John sitting with his new Webelos pack. Jarren, Carson, Nairn, Jacob, Tyson, and John. Next picture he is receiving his "most original" award from the primary president.

What a blessing John is in our family. He is patient and kind. He is smart and gets wonderful grades. He is a good student and a good friend. We have a hard time getting him to read but once he gets started on a good book, he doesn't put it down until he finishes it. He is an excellent pianist and we love to hear him play. He is a great big brother and takes good care of his little brothers. He is a good friend to Emily. We hope they will always be good friends. He takes after his dad and is handy. I can always count on him to do little projects. If something needs new batteries, he will replace them then look for anything else in the house that needs new batteries. He is a video game junkie. He got an early start at computer games when he was 2 and it has become his passion (to mom's dismay). Although I am impressed at how quickly he learns new things. He is an avid BYU fan and sports fan in general. He hopes to go to BYU one day. He is a good example to me. He turns down watching movies that might not be that great to watch and keeps me in line with some not so kind words that come out of my mouth at times. He is sensitive and has a real compassion and concern for others. He has always had a favorite blanket (when he grew to big to cuddle up in his first favorite, we bought him another). It is huge and he loves to take off his shirt and cuddle up. He can be found anywhere in the house and usually in front of the heater on a daily basis, rolled up in his blanket. He is great at saving his money and has learned the concept of not "trading what you want most for what you want now". I am so blessed to have this sweet boy. I love him so very much. And as any mother knows, there are no words to express the love for your children. At times my heart aches with the love I have for him. He is a very special young man. He is getting tall and coming out with this personality that I'm not quite sure how to react to yet. I just laugh usually. (sometimes I even have to go in another room so he can't see me laughing when it's something that shouldn't be funny). I am guessing it must be the pre-teens personality.
John, I sure do love you. Life is much better with you around. I hope you have a great 10th year!!!!

Tosca and Blue Man Group

In January, John got tickets from work to the Opera "Tosca". We took John's parents with us. We had the best seats in the house and it was a wonderful opera. I left wanting more. It was in Italian but had supertitles.

Then in February, John surprised me with tickets to Blue Man Group. It was great. I actually realized I liked it more than I thought,after it was over. We kept laughing that we were at a rock concert (or felt like we were). It was nothing we expected so that threw us off.

The morning of the show, we found out that Robert and Mark had won tickets on the radio so they went with their wives and Mom and Dad H. went. We had great seats and it was fun! Thanks John!

President Hinckleys Viewing

We took the kids to the viewing on Friday after school. It ended up taking about 3 1/2 hours but it was worth it. The kids were great through the wait. President Hinckley has been their prophet their entire lives and I thought it might be something memorable for them. It was a nice afternoon/evening. We will miss him.