As I have been reading a few of my friend's blogs, I realized how infrequently I blog and that I need to do better. I need to start doing it weekly and maybe then I can use it as a fun and creative way to journal what is happening in our lives.

With the start of a new year, we sat down as a family and discussed our family goals for 2014. Here is what we came up with:

*Finish reading the Book of Mormon

*Listen, don't react

*Morning and Evening prayers, without repetition

*Kindness, no yelling

*Have Family Home Evening

I love our family so much. On Sunday's we sit around the table after dinner just talking and laughing about anything and everything.


Meladi got a gift certificate from Ben & I for a dance workshop with some dancers from SYTYCD for Christmas. So this past weekend Meladi, Ben and I went up to Kaysville for the workshop. What a great experience it was for Mel. She got to learn about how real life is in the dance world, how auditions will be and that even these dancers continue to work and train hard every day.                       
 Meladi with Aaron, Malece and Nico.

Oakley was ordained a Deacon on December 22, 2013. It was a very spiritual day for our family. He is such a blessing in our lives.

He just started playing Church ball and is the smallest kid out there. But what he lacks in size he makes up for in determination. He will not let the ball go for anything and he plays great defense. He has yet to make a shot, but not for a lack of trying. His teammates are making sure he gets the ball and opportunities for a shot in every game. This touches my heart that these older boys are trying so hardtop make sure Oakley has a great experience with basketball. What great boys we have in our ward.

Zakary is still our wild and crazy kid. He is very aware of what he wants and when he wants it. He has a temper that flares up very quickly, but he also is the first one to give a hug and kiss every day. He recently got to go skiing with his 4th grade class for the first time. He was so glad that is was finally his turn to go skiing.

 

One last thing, I have to say I have the best husband in the world. We recently got a new car for a great deal from so awesome friends (thanks Josh and Allison). I was so excited to be a 2 car family again. Because having one car has had it rough moments, but we made it work.

Anyway, I was so excited to get a new car and I came home the night that our friends had brought it to us and Ben was just touting all the wonderful features this car had. Then he says there is one thing though, it is a stick shift!!! Now I haven't driven a stick shift since that one time before Meladi was born, so 17 years ago. I did not have a great experience with it either. But he kindly and patiently took me out to practice around the neighborhood. I was doing pretty good, but for some reason the clutch kept sticking down and I had to pull it up with my foot. We pulled into the driveway and he noticed something leaking. The hydraulic line from the clutch was leaking. So Ben worked out in the cold 27 degree yucky, night air to get the car fixed. He got the repair done, but had to go out again the next night to bleed the air out of the line. After about 4 hours each night and some help from each of the kids, it is fixed. I am so lucky to be married to such a hardworking and handy man.

 

 

Goodbye Sweet Shea

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our sweet Shih Tzu, Shea passed away on April 25th. It was a hard day for the whole family. After doing some research on her symptoms, I think she probably passed away from some liver complications. We are so thankful for the almost 8 months we had her to love.

 

 

 

Catching Up

Whew.... It has been forever since I blogged, so instead of trying to catch up on all the time I didn't blog, let's just catch up on April 2013.

 

For Spring Break, we went down to Vegas for a few days. It was such a nice getaway and the weather was lovely. We visited the Hoover Dam, Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, the Las Vegas Temple, Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Sign.

 

 

 So, I have to tell you the story behind the next two pictures. We were riding down the escalator at Circus-Circus and Oakley was in front of me, when his shoelace got stuck in the teeth at the bottom. Luckily, Ben was right in front of him and was paying attention to what was going on. Ben was able to grab Oakley's arm and yank him away from the teeth, leaving behind a piece of his shoelace. You can kind of see it in the picture below. The next picture shows how much it ripped off. Oakley was pretty freaked out. I am so thankful Ben was close by.

Excited for Kung Fu Panda to come out, Everyone will be Kung FU fighting!!!

California for Spring Break 2011

Meladi with Mickey

My daughter, the cheeseball...haha!!! She had fun posing everywhere on our vacation.

Meladi's Minnie Mouse Can-Can ears, they are so her!!!!

Oakley's R2D2 Mickey Mouse ears, the perfect mix of Star Wars & Disney.

Zaky got Mickey Mouse ears of course. The only question was which ones. He decided on Sorcerer Apprentice Mickey.

With the new Disney California character, Duffy the Bear.

The new toy, Oakley the Muscle Boy!!!

The family with Sailor Mickey!! I love this picture. We are all wet, because we just rode Grizzly River Rapids.

My pirate boys at the Blue Bayou. YUMMY!!!!!

Oakley at the Padawan training. He was so excited he got picked. He is now a certified Padawan.

Zaky meeting his favorite character....Mickey Mouse. He had all these questions he was going to ask Mickey and so much he wanted to tell him, BUT when it was finally his turn he was so excited he couldn't even talk.

Our family & Papa and Grandma at Goofy's Kitchen. We had such a fun time making memories, having fun & getting wet.