Sisters Trip

All of my sisters, except Rachel (we missed her!), jumped on airplanes and met up in Arizona for a weekend get-a-way. Our first stop was to spy on Taylor and Janelle because he had plans to surprise her with the ring. Our job was to deliver the hundredth balloon of a previous series of 99 with reasons he loves Janelle. We dropped off the balloon to the "spot" and ran to hide. We were able to videotape the entire proposal from our secret location without them seeing us. It was great!

Right after the proposal we ate a fabulous dinner at the country club. 

Taylor and Janelle were so cute. After the proposal we assumed they would want to be alone since they are living in separate states at the moment but they wanted to stay with the whole family that night...and all weekend. We had so much fun getting to know Taylor. I think he will fit in just fine!

In the 3 days we were together, we ate out at 5 different restaurants!! We had to get our fill of the yummy food we don't have by us. 

Poor Taylor was the only boy ALL weekend long. And he was such a good sport...even about sitting in a nail salon for 2 hours while we all got mani's and pedi's. 

Alexis joined us and we had a fun visit and a nice soak in the hot tub.

Christine and I sneaked away with Erica for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory one night. We came home with over 5 different cheesecakes! It was so much fun to catch up.

Aunt Heather and Uncle Paul were so generous to all of us and rolled out the red carpet for this wonderful trip.

We played tennis...then took a stroll down memory lane visiting all our old homes and we got to see the new Gilbert Temple...then we relaxed by the pool and picked juicy oranges from the trees in the yard.

(Heather Sandstrom, Laurel Udall)

We got some good shopping in at Scottsdale and Dana Park in Mesa.

The LOVE BIRDS...Taylor and Janelle

On our last night in town, Taylor set up all his DJ equipment and put on a dance party for all of us. 

We dance and jumped around for two hours straight. It was so much fun.

We try to get together as sisters once a year and this year we were able to ALL sneak away without kids...and husbands! 

We love having Hand-Stand-Contests. We've done this since we were kids. My mom just happened to snap a picture of it.

This is a group picture of us sneaking a peek at the proposal of Taylor to Janelle.

We are in the locker room at the Superstition Mountain Country Club.

(BarbaraJo Hatch, Louisa Matheny, Mom (Laurel Udall), Ashlyn Sandstrom, Christine Hull and baby Lincoln, Heather Sandstrom)

Bragging Rights

Ever since Benton was in diapers he was obsessed with "shooting it". ...basketball, that is. He would find anything round and throw it into any sort of basket or box. He got his first hoop when he was one and could barely walk. It has since been his favorite thing to do.
We finally have organized ball for the little kids and it's my turn to watch my boy shine.

I always said I wouldn't be one of those parents who constantly brags about their child's talents...now I am eating my hat.

My three oldest are loving every minute of basketball and having their dad as their coach.

To watch them play with smiles from ear to ear is worth every second!

They have a lot to learn but they are improving each day.

I can tell this is just going to get more and more fun with the older they get. Go Little LOBOS!

The Day of LOVE

We LOVE Valentine's Day around here.

I have a tradition of getting all my kids a special Valentine.

They get to open it first thing in the morning.

I had a bouquet of balloons delivered to them later in the afternoon.

Adalyn was found on top of my dining room table ALL day long with her hands in the candy jar.

Good-morning my loves.

It took Benton the entire day to finish this lollipop.

I even attempted to style the girls' hair in hearts. If you look closely you can see.

Everyone enjoyed a day filled with Valentine parties...a Primary activity...and a romantic steak dinner prepared by Daddy and Benton.

I made these individual heart shaped cherry pies for the parties. I will post the recipe later.

We have been celebrating all week long. It started last week with a Grade School Fundraiser Dinner then we had a special Valentine's Family Home Evening with all the neighbors at the Johnson Home last night. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

Luncheon

I planned a birthday luncheon for my good friend Jen.

Everything was PINK.

We had about 15 ladies from town there to celebrate, visit and eat.

Our guest of honor had to go in for a D and C that morning and wasn't able to make it so we celebrated in her honor. I took her all of her gifts and a plate of food when she returned home from the hospital.

For her birthday she found out she miscarried her 12th...she got rear-ended by a bus...and learned she had to get a D and C. Not the most desired birthday surprises.

And yet, she still smiled through it all and even was able to laugh at certain aspects of the day. I really look up to her. She is a great example to me. Happy Birthday Jen!

the weekend...

We were invited to attend a fun birthday party at an indoor pool. We were all enjoying ourselves...splashing...swimming...sliding...and then...

Benton slipped and hit his chin on the side of the pool. He split open his chin. Seconds after this happened I was surrounded by two nurses, a lifeguard and a wife of a surgeon. It was then decided that he needed stitches. The wife of the surgeon got on the phone with her husband and had him bring his sutures home. We were able to escape a trip to the ER thanks to these other party guests. Benton is getting a nice history of injuries to his little 4 year old self.

Why I LOVE Mexico...

I know I live a "world" away from my side of the family but I love having my in-laws just down the street.

I love sharing a bench at church with them.

I love having my kids come home for lunch everyday.

I love that everything is walking distance...including the temple.

I love knowing that all my children's teachers, leaders, coaches are temple recommend holders.

I love that my kids are bilingual.

I love that my kids are learning tennis.

I love that they are learning ballet.

I love that they can play the piano.

I love that my kids are learning to play basketball and football.

I love that my children are being included in musical performances in the community.
I love that their grandma is their vocal coach.

I love that my children know how to play outside and use their imaginations.

I love that they are well-rounded.

I love having my husband home everyday by 3:30pm.

I love knowing my kid's teachers and all the kids they go to school with.

I love that the people who own the store know me by name.

I love the honor code that all the teens in town have to abide by.

I love having the farm close by to send my children out to work in.

I love that my kids will have the opportunity to be in the band, choir, student council, cheer squad/football team at the same time if they so choose. 

I love being in a small town.

We are like one big family...

sometimes we bicker...

but in the end we really do care about each other and want whats best for us all.

Benton's Birthday!

Benton is 4! He shares a birthday with his Aunt Rachel. For birthdays we woke up the birthday-boy with presents and cake. It has been a family tradition since I was little. And who doesn't love cake for breakfast?!

We took the family to a local restaurant for pizza and games, then we had cake and ice cream at home with all our relatives. It was a fun night.

 I think we dropped $30 on this particular game. He LOVED it!


Uncle Fred made Benton his very own treasure box...with a lock. Grandpa bought Benton a child-sized wheel barrow and shovel. He couldn't be happier. Now he can lock up his precious cars and dig holes with the work-men...a boy's dream.

Happy Birthday Benton!