The Day our Cougars Visited Tennessee

 

When we heard that BYU would play Middle Tennessee this year we told the boys that we would go to that game and looked forward to it all year!

 

 It was such a thrill to cheer on our team in real life again!

I got up early on Saturday and made lots of yummy food for tailgating with some friends before hand

I brought Ham and Cheese Sliders, 7 Layer Dip and Texas Sheet Cake--but my favorite was what my friend Nora brought--Guatemalan Hot Dogs.  They were incredible!  I will be posting the recipe soon!

 

Rise and Shout the Cougars are out:)

It was pretty cold--but so worth it especially when

 our Cougars WON!! 

 

Connor says this cheerleader "really wanted a picture with him and he was totally OK with it."

What a guy! 

 

I need to download all of the boys pictures--they got pictures with so many players!

Let me tell you, the BYU football players are incredibly NICE!

Coleman got a selfie with the quarterback Christian Stewart and he gave him his towel.  Exciting:)

 Cannon getting the Rise Tshirt he got signed--

it was so big on him it reached his shoes!

 Jamaal Williams--

 

 

 

The boys were in HEAVEN!!

Although in the last 2 pictures Cannon was a bit sad because someone referred to his big HUGE  Rise Y Tshirt as a dress.  He was seriously humiliated for a few minutes! Poor little guy!

 

All in all it was an INCREDIBLE day!

WE love our Cougars!

Sister Love

I am sitting here going through all the pictures I took while my little sister Brittany and her family were here. I have a little lump in my throat that they left this morning. We had such a lovely week sharing our home and city with them. It was a treat and I am sad that our week together is over.

I am blessed with a very close family and it is hard to live so far away from all of them. Brittany and I shared a room for years and lived within 5 minutes of each other until just last year when she moved to Seattle and I moved to Tennessee. So you can imagine what a happy reunion this was for us! We would find ourselves giggling like we were little girls again and hugging for no reason! We were so happy to be together!

Sweet little Gabe, I was there to help welcome him into the world... I love this little guy!

I was in heaven lovin' on this little lady! This was the outfit I picked out for her when she was born. Nyah is so cute--I could not get enough of those smiles! What a bundle of pure LOVE!

Two of "3 Amigos" (as Grandpa calls the three cousins all born within months of each other). Cannon and Gabe had a blast together! We missed you Wesley!

What a beautiful Mama and daughter! I am not kidding when I say that this little girl is always happy and quick to break into a huge smile whenever you talk to her. It is precious!


I really can not tell you what a delight it was to have them here! It meant so much to have them come from all the way across the country and use their resources, flight miles and vacation time to visit us. What an honor:)

I have many more pictures to share of all of our adventures in Chattanooga! More to come, but I better get to bed. I came down with a horrible cold today and have tried to lay low in hopes that I will better by tomorrow! Moms can not be sick, you know?!

Menu Monday tomorrow! And I am getting out my fall decor this week! Yeah for fall!

There is a Little Lady in the house...& Menu Monday

My sister and her sweet family are here! It feels like an early Christmas! This morning the boys and I enjoyed some time with our darling little Nyah while her family slept (trying to get used to the 3 hour time change). We love having a girl around here. Bridger told me that he really wishes Nyah could be in our family and live here all the time!

We are over the moon to have Eric, Brittany, Gabe and Nyah visiting!

Now for our Weekly Menu

Monday: Chili Verde, green salad, homemade refried beans, guacamole & chips

FHE treat: vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate truffle sauce

Tuesday: Thai Coconut Curry, jasmine rice, sesame roasted broccoli, fresh pineapple

Wednesday: Ministrone soup, artisan bread, sliced apples

Thursday: Homemade Pesto Pizza, spinach salad, carrots and cucumbers/dip

Friday: Go out for some Southern BBQ

Saturday: Marinated Flank Steak, twice baked potatoes, chinese green beans, honey wheat rolls, Cobbler with home made icecream

Sunday: Frittata with zuchnini, lemon bread, grapes

Labor Dayed out

Cannon enjoying a nice Sunday nap:)

We spent our Labor day doing all kinds of projects from moving furniture, to hanging pictures and organizing closets! Phew--I am exhausted but happy with all the the items I was able to check off my 'To Do' list! The older boys had an airsoft war with friends, Coleman went to Brad's office with him for a couple of hours, and the little boys played with 'new' (forgotten) toys that were pulled out of the shelves of the toy closet while I organized. We ended our day with pizza that Dad and Coleman picked up and a quick Family Home Evening. It was a great day!

Only 6 more days until my little sister Brittany comes with her sweet little family.

I CAN NOT WAIT!!

And tomorrow is the first day of preschool for Bridger and Cannon. They are so excited and I have to admit that I am too! I will have a little time each week with no children for the first time in 13 years of Motherhood!

I have a list of projects and 'To Do's a mile long:)

This is going to be a happy week!

Sweet Utah Trip and BYU Women's Conference

I was surprised by the tears that filled my eyes when I saw the Rocky Mountains out the window as my plane landed in Utah.

Although I love Tennessee, I was so happy to be home!

And then I was teary again when I got to hug my sweet little sister Mindy and her baby Jack outside of the luggage area. Mindy and I talk all the time--but how I have missed her in person!
Jack, Mindy and myself ready for church

Straight from the airport we raced off to meet a few of my dear friends at the Blue Lemon in Highland for a lunch. Once again my eyes filled up as I saw more than a few of these sweet women I have missed so very much! I know, I know I am a mushy girl...but my heart was filled! Thank you all for coming! I love you much!



Getting a good picture was tricky--but we had so much fun catching up!

After that I hurried to my Mom and Dad's to be there when they got home from work. We got ready for a Cafe Rio (my favorite) dinner and trip to the temple. It was so fun to spend time with my parents. Of course they spoiled me with wonderful meals, the coziness of home and lots of love! I was a kid again and it was delightful!!

My cute Mother-in-law just happened to be in Utah that same weekend on her way from Scottsdale, AZ (her winter home) to Boise, ID (her summer place). We had quickand fun visit! I am very blessed to have the best Mother in law ever. She is sweetheart and I love her very much.

I was sooooo excited to meet my little brother Matt's newest son Logan. He is absolutely precious! He has the sweetest little spirit. I was in heaven getting to snuggle with this little man!! What a long awaited treat that was! I also spent time with his big brother Wesley, my brother Matt and his wife Amy and Miny'd hubby Griff--but sadly I was too busy enjoying my family to take pictures. I love you guys!! And miss you much!

And last but surely not least, Women's Conference was just as INCREDIBLE as ever!!

I truly LOVED every minute of it and hope to never miss this yearly conference if I can help it! I came home armed with so much inspiration and filled with a desire and determination to Choose to Serve the Lord (this years theme). It was a beautiful experience for me.

And although this is not the best picture I had to include a shot of my conference partner, my "bosom buddy" Stephanie. We had so much fun! I love you Steph!!

This was after a long and awesome day on campus!

I would highly reccomend looking on KBYU TV for rebroadcasts of Women Conference 2010. There were some wonderful talks. My favorite was Julie B. Beck's Opening talk. When it becomes available I will link to it so you can all read it. It was AWESOME!!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Well, I am off to the YMCA for some swimming with my boys!

Welcome February!

Lounging around on one of several days of canelled school due to skiffs of snow...a little silly to me, but the boys are LOVIN life!

I am happy to say good bye to January and my life as a (practically) single Momma! And I am happy to have one of my favorite holidays just around the corner!

I really love Valentines Day. Actually I love all Holdays to be exact:), but I especially love this one! I have a long list of things I want to do before the big day!



Valentines To Do list:

Send some pretty Valentines to my family and friends far away. I am loving these and this one too!

Make, decorate and share some heart shaped sugar cookies with the boys

Make a heart shadow box for Brad, inspired by this one.

Make another love banner like the one above hanging on my mantel for someone special. Directions here.

Help the boys with their Valentines for school

Create a pillow cover for my family room that I have pictured in my mind--with a heart on the front made of buttons. Doesn't that sound cute? To have this little vision of mine come to reality I will be required to actually do some sewing...scarey for me!

Make a batch of white chocolate pink M&M popcorn for my visiting teaching sistas

I need to get going and find or make the perfect Valentines for my darling little boys and especially my LOVE

Hmmmm what else...I {heart} this time of year!

Room 220 & 221

Our first 10 days in the South were spent at the Holiday Inn Express in Ringgold, Georgia. It was a 20 minute drive to the boys schools in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area where our new home is located. Connor's school started 1 1/2 hours before his brothers. Which means a lot of driving back and forth in our rental van!



So instead of the traditional First Day of School Picture in front of our heart wreath on the front door--we had one in front of Room 220!



We sorted school supplies...
the little monkeys jumped on the beds...


read bedtime stories...



And had lots of fresh baked cookies that were set out in the lobby every day. With the cookies and not having to make your bed and do chores ...the boys thought the Holiday Inn was a pretty cool place!

Goodbyes

Our last week in Utah was filled with good friends and family time. So much kindness was shown to us. Thank you for sending us off with so much love and good wishes. We love you all so very much!!


Our Last Family Dinner at Mindy & Griff's

Uncle Matt dropping Bridger on the big love sac below.

We miss our little JMac!!



Cannon, me, Bridger, Matt and Grandma



Cannon was kissing Grandpa--but my picture taking skills were a little slow!

A quick family picture on Aunt Mindy's stairs.
(Coleman and Cannon were sick with fevers--it ended up passing thru all the boys. Connor, TJ and Bridger were sick for the flight to Atlanta--poor guys)

A few dear friends from my very first neighborhood in Utah 11 years ago.
We still get together for lunch dates and girls nights out.

Amy, Jen, me, Laura and Lisa.

My beloved cooking buddies. One last recipe group for me. This time we went out to a wonderful restraunt in Salt Lake called Epic. It was so fun and really good.
Nicole, me, Steph, Becky, Sheri, Tina and Karen. *missed you Kristen

Sheri and Karen, a few of my best friends and neighbors at a little ice cream social they hosted for us the night before our flight to Atlanta.

We love you too!!

I wish I had snapped a picture of our pedicure Steph (what a treat that was!), or the amazing flowers my talented friend Starlie brought me. That filled my home with the most beautiful scent they made the yucky task of packing up much more pleasant. (If you live in Utah and need flowers--click here for Starlies services--she is amazing!) Or all the wonderful food brought over to us. We appreciated all your service to us so very much. You are all missed greatly! XOXO

Adventures in Family Home Evening

Connor taught our Family Home Evening lesson last Monday night on Missionary Work. It was an excellent lesson. He had Bridger be his missionary model--standing on an ottoman and getting a suit, tie, name tag, etc. He was making the point that you don't have to wear a suit, tie, etc to be a missionary. He taught his brothers that they can share the gospel of Jesus Christ everyday by living a Christlike life.

Bridger made a great little missionary model!

Cannon was very anxious for his turn. He kept trying to muscle his way onto the ottoman. When his Dad thwarted his efforts of pushing Bridger off, he became very upset!!!

But his mood quickly changed when he finally got his turn to stand in the coveted spot! He is so proud of himself-

Family Home Evening is quite an adventure around here, let me tell you!