BRIT IS MARRIED!!!

Beautiful Britney was just 6 years old (turning 7) when we were married! And now, she is married!  What an awesome, amazing day!  Britney and Erin were married in the LDS Bountiful Temple.  The sealer did a tremendous job.  Happy, happy tears!

While we were waiting for the happy couple, we took a couple of pictures.  (Thank you Kathy - these are FANTASTIC!)

Kathy and Jerry

Kate couldn't let Kathy and Jerry have a picture without her!  Sweet girl!

Justin and Andrew 

Thought it was just so cute that they have the same facial expressions.  Like father, like son!

They finally came out!

I love that Dawson is just focusing on trying to blow more bubbles!

Kathy also captured both Amy and I helping her with lipstick and lipgloss!  How fun!

Brit showing off her bouquet - Christine had put charms with pictures of her mom and her grandpa who are both in heaven.  So, so sweet!

Getting everyone ready for the large group photo

Brit with Justin and Amy - how sweet!  Don't they just look so happy?

The Jolley kids!

Faith chilling by the fountain

Kiddos are always attracted to water

We give this wedding 2 thumbs up!

Fun that Erin is giving thumbs up too!!!

Congratulations to the happy couple!  We are so happy for you!

MY TICKET

One of the things that Kate received for her birthday was a 'ticket' for a birthday massage.

Yesterday, we were able to check that off the list. Thank you Sarah for giving Kate a great massage!

After she was done, she asked if she could save her 'ticket' so that she could come back. There's always next year Kate!

GERMAN CHOCOLATE ANYONE?

Brandon continues to try new cakes all of the time.  This was his latest cake, german chocolate.  Looks pretty good to me!

TOP THREE APRIL 2013

Conference is always so great! I just love, love, love hearing these inspiring words. My top three favorite conference talks this spring were:

President Thomas S. Monson's talk Obedience Brings Blessings.

Do you remember what it was like to be 8 years old? Things make perfect sense and you could not foresee the consequences. He said, "We learn obedience throughout our lives. Beginning when we are very young, those responsible for our care set forth guidelines and rules to ensure our safety. Life would be simpler for all of us if we would obey such rules completely. Many of us, however, learn through experience the wisdom of being obedient." Isn't that the truth!

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom's talk The Words We Speak.

"How we speak to our children and the words we use can encourage and uplift them and strengthen their faith."  She tells a story of a child being lost in a fabric store. Hearing his mother's panic voice, the boy hid and remained quiet, until another mother whispered his name throughout the store, "Connor."  And he answered, "Here I am."

Stanley G. Ellis' talk The Lord's Way.  Elder Ellis is a member of the Quorum of the Seventy.

"As we see so many in the world today living in confusion or, worse, wandering in forbidden paths and suffering unnecessarily the consequences of poor choice, it makes me want to exclaim as did Alma:

'Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!' (Alma 29:1)

"Again, I witness the Lord has the way!  Our Heavenly Father knows us, love us, and wants to help.  He knows best how to help."

If you haven't yet heard the LDS General Conference from April, what are you waiting for? I will be re-reading these (one talk every week) to keep their counsel fresh in my mind and hopefully their actions fresh on my body!

WHY WE LOVE IT

General Conference has been so exciting for our family for many years.  I remember that I was trying to get my children excited for conference.  I believe it was the year that Kate was born - 2007.  "There has to be a better way," I said to myself.  And I put myself into researching on lds.org and on google search for way to make conference special.

6 years later, I don't think my children will ever forget why we love it!  Here are a few pictures of our special weekend!

Kate wanted to start taking notes BEFORE conference ever started!  Her treat request this conference was gummy bears!  I love her organization skills!

General Conference Fort

Conference is wicked cool!

Faith took incredible notes and even beat us all at a General Conference review for family home evening the Monday after!

Our traditional fruit tray.  We also had turkey, turkey pot pie, and other fun treats including homemade twix bars and spray cheese!!!

 

Conference snuggles with Dad!

At the end of our momentous weekend, I made them all sit down and take a couple of pictures.  You can really tell who was into it, and who wasn't.  :)  

My favorite part of conference is:

Hearing President Monson talk

I get to nap (typical boy)

Nothing! I love it all!  (And her favorite saying at the moment - peace, love, save the whales.)

Family togetherness

Why do you love General Conference? 

CONFERENCE COUNTDOWN

This year, I tried to find a balance between cool and not killing myself to get everything ready for conference.  I found such a fun idea on a blog and decided to make a replica of some sorts.  It was called General Conference Countdown.

The idea is simple.  Starting 15 days before conference starts, you begin preparing yourself.  You talk about the Prophet and Apostles, read scriptures and quotes about conference, sing songs like Follow the Prophet and We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, etc.  It was so much fun and boy did those days fly by!  Next time, I think that I will take a picture of what we do everyday.

The one day I did take a picture was "Do a service."  We went to a house close by that is currently vacant and picked up pinecones.  Then, we did some quickly in our yard too.  About 10 minutes later, the kids had found over 8 grocery bags full pinecones!  Very fun and easy to do.

What a great experience this was for us and the kids!

EASTER TREAT

Easter was beautiful this year! We kept everything very low key, which we love.  We always have a testimony meeting every Easter as well.  It's a nice time to share feelings with just our family.

Kate's Easter goodies

Dawson's Easter goodies

Faith's Easter goodies

For everyone to share

As we were getting ready for church, Faith came out with this poster.  I was kind of giggling and asked her to explain.  She talked about how Jesus Christ was resurrected on Easter, so she made a poster to welcome him back to life.  I thought it was pretty clever.

I also made bunny rolls for our little family Easter dinner (idea from Pinterest.)  They were such a big hit and I definitely think that I will add this into our tradition for next year.

This was a special Easter because a high school classmate passed away suddenly on Tuesday that week.  Thursday was my birthday and Saturday was the funeral.  Travis' dad gave the best talk I have ever heard on a funeral.  It was so great and gave me a sense of peace.  It was good to remember why we have Easter and that we will live again.