~~DRIVERS PERMIT~~

Great job Will on passing the brutal drivers permit test.  I am so glad to have another driver in the house.  The few times I have been driving with you have been an adventure.  Let the good times begin!!! YAY :)

~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL~~

Happy "15th" birthday Will!  Not only have you grown a ton physically this past year but you have matured so much :)   You are handsome, smart, kind, athletic, sensitive, a good friend, obedient, hard worker, adventurous, patient, funny, witty and so much more.  It has been so fun this past year watching you play football and really get to know that game.  You are an amazing athlete and anyone that coaches you always comments on how well you listen and do your best.  I love that you talk to me and let me in on what is happening in your life.  I love that you hug me and tell me I LOVE YOU MOM each time you leave even with a carload of friends there :)  I love that you watch out for your friends and include everyone.  You make me laugh more than anyone.  Keep up the great sense of humor and always see the good in others.  You are such a great son and I am so glad I can consider you one of my best friends!  Keep being awesome Will!!! WE LOVE YOU! :)

 

For Will's birthday dinner he chose Chili's!

~~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~~

Thanksgiving this year was at Judy and Roger's.  Spence and Michelle had other plans this year so it was just our family and John's.  I am super grateful for the Dean family that I married into. I couldn't ask for better inlaws that show us so much love and support on a continuous basis.  It is so great to know if we ever need ANYTHING they are there!  We had so much fun watching old videos of Spence, John and Mike.  Those times when we are together as a family and just going down memory lane, busting a gut laughing at Spence and his shenanigans is priceless!  I am so beyond grateful to be called A DEAN!!! :)  xoxo

~~BIRTHDAY DINNER~~

 We had the grandparents over the Sunday between Jake and Will's birthdays.  It is always so fun having them over.  I am so glad we started this tradition when our kids were small.  The time our kids get to spend with their grandparents is super important so I am grateful for these special times.  This was the first birthday dinner we have had since Rachel has been gone.  I'm not gonna lie it was hard for me not having her there :(  We really miss her in our home but are so beyond grateful for her service and experiences she is having in Calgary and the lives she is touching :)  I guess our "party of 5" will just have to do for now!

 

 

 

 

 

~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE~~

Happy "17th" birthday Jake!  We couldn't be more proud of the man you are becoming.  You continually make us proud in everything you do.  You are handsome, athletic, smart, kind, a good friend, easy going, good listener, patient, fun, adventurous,  a good example to those around you, obedient and so much more but  mostly you are one of my dear friends!  I LOVE your hugs and how you always say "I LOVE YOU" when you leave!  I love that you let me in and talk to me and tell me things that are close to your heart!  I know I can be a busy body and ask you a billion questions but I love that you are patient and just talk to me and never get annoyed with me :)!!! I am so glad that I can say one of my best friends is my 17 year old teenage boy! :)  You are AMAZING in all that you do!  WE LOVE YOU! xoxo

 

 

 Jake chose Asian Star for his family dinner! mmmmm :)

 

~~FAST and FEAST~~

We had our fast and feast a couple of Wednesdays before Thanksgiving with the youth.  We met on Tuesday night at 8:30 as a group and watched a short video and Dave Carlston (the priests Faith in God leader) shared a few thoughts on the importance of fasting!  It was such a neat experience to kneel on the ground with 45 youth and 15 leaders.  We had told the youth that night that Matt Evans our Ward Executive Secretary had just a few days earlier found a tumor in his brain.  The next couple of days while we fasted were super important for him because he needed the tumor to stop swelling and be a good size so they could go in and do surgery and remove it.  The cool thing is Matt's family fasted the 24 hours before we began ours so they ended theirs at 8:00 that night and we began ours at 8:30.  When bishop Warner said the prayer to start our fast not only did he bless those that are fasting for things individually but that we as a group could fast for the Evan's family.  We met the the next night at 6:30 and had a nice meal together and the youth were able to talk about their fasting experiences.  The day after our fast Matt's tumor was a size that they could operate.  Although the road is still very long for Matt and we don't know yet about his recovery, I am super grateful for the faith of those youth and leaders that really took to heart the challenge of fasting and made an effort to show obedience by fasting and do what the lord would want.  I had been told several times before I was put in as the Young Women President just how amazing our youth are but seriously they have taught me way more this past year than I could ever teach them! We are so blessed to live where we do and be surrounded by so much good!!! 

Cute Addie Ellis, one of my young women sent me this picture of Jake the day of the fast.  I am so grateful for Jake that he chose to stand while his friends were eating their lunch.  You just never know who is watching and what an example you can be to someone else! :)

~~PAINT DATE NIGHT~~

We bought a Groupon for $30 for a paint date night at a place in Daybreak.  It was a 2 hour paint session in a room with just couples painting the same picture. We went with 4 other couples in our ward... Jensens, Mooths, Bagleys and Jankes. We met at the food trucks in So. Holladay, grabbed some food and then headed out to South Jordan.  It was a fun night of being with friends but mostly Mike! :) We aren't very artistic but it is AMAZING what a little paint class can get you to do!  Watch out Michelangelo!! Haha