Heaven On Earth...

For some reason I would like to share about a very special place. During two weeks of summer, kids and teens with cancer and their siblings go out to a summer camp-- Camp Hobe. Camp Hobe is a very special place. I was fortunate enough to volunteer with them for 8 years, taking part in their planning committee. It is this time of year where they accept applications and get really busy with planning camp. Its during this time of year that I often think of camp Hobe.

My first year at camp, I expected sick, weak kids. I volunteered for Teen Week (the campers are 12-19 years old) and was bracing myself for heartache, but heartache is not what I experienced. Walking into the camp, you would have no idea that some of the campers are sick. There is something about camp. It is really a camp where kids get to be kids instead of patients. I have never ran so much, laughed so hard, danced so late, or sang so much. Exhaustion is evident at the end of your week there but what you feel more is rejuvination. You leave with a new perspecitve on life and a swarm of kids who you will forever look up to.

If you are looking for an amazing place to donate to or volunteer your time, Camp Hobe is a great place. I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of camp and for the everlasting memories and laughs I received from spending two weeks of my summer there. I will never be able to get the Bubble Gum Song out of my head! The link to Camp Hobe can be found under our "Killer Blogs and Sites".

I'm putting up some video's of camp found on www.goodtube.com . . .


A camper's perspecitve...

Grateful

Today I feel grateful. I am becoming more aware of my life and just how much I have to be grateful for. I am so grateful for my job. I'm lucky to work somewhere that is constantly teaching me and helping me to grow. I love the days where I get to see a student really grow and to start moving their life in a positive direction and learn to live with a disability. I love the hard days and I love the days where the students and my friends at work simply make me laugh.

I am grateful for friends. I am grateful to be able to say that I am fortunate enough to have real friends, whether the friendship has been life-long or brand-new; the comfort of being around my friends or a simple call or text to say "Hi"; being invited to yoga or going to book club. It means the world to me. I love having people that I trust and know don't judge me and love me. I am also grateful for family. I'm grateful that I grew up with a ton of cousins and have a life-time of memories with them and my siblings. I'm grateful for grandparents, aunts, and uncles who helped to teach me a long the way. I'm grateful for my siblings and what they bring into my life; My brothers (you too Brad...), I have always looked up to and am grateful for all they've done for me. My sister, she just warms my heart. I've been blessed with parents who love me. My new family. It is overwhelming, the love and support I feel from Brandon's family. They are truly amazing and they bless my life so much.

I am grateful for the Gospel. I'm grateful for the experience I had last Saturday to go to the Ogden, Utah Temple with Lilly, Brandon's parents, Rand and Crystal and Tara and Gabe, to do Baptisms. It was such a neat experience to be in the templewith them and to watch Lilly as she participated in sacred ordinances. The feeling in my heart that afternoon was complete peace and joy.

My new little family. I never knew how much joy, stress, laughter and exhaustion there could be in one day until four very special kids came into my life. They are truly unique and each their own person. I learn and grow from them, because of who they are. My life is forever better. My Brandon. I am grateful for him. For the honesty that exists. His hard work is evident in every day. I'm graeful for a man who strives to honor his priesthood, who can admit to his shortcomings but to his strengths as well. I'm grateful for the pure laughter we share and I'm grateful for a man who thinks it's cute when I'm mad.

I'm also grateful for Coke with fresh lime, pedicures and pj's. I'm super grateful for deoderant, chocolate chip cookies and loofa's. I'm grateful for books, the ability to talk to loved-ones frequently and for the power of prayer. I'm grateful for music, massages, and dance. The dishwasher....I am so grateful for that and wrinkle free fabrics! I'm grateful for toilet paper, magic erasers and cute shoes. I'm grateful for bubble baths, cheese cake and lip gloss.

Today, I am grateful.

Cheese Puffs anyone??

Is anyone in the mood for Cheese Puffs? We might have a few . . . Laura went with me to the store and found this. How do you not buy a massive container of cheese puffs? You don't. You have to get it.

Dining in the Kitchen

This last weekend, Laura, Liz and Luke came down for the holiday weekend. I had asked Brandon what he wanted for dinner and he replied, "Chicken strips, ranch dressing, pie and cupcakes." Well, that is what we had. I don't think he'll ever ask for that again. Once again my dinner was a big flop! In case you didn't know, there is a good kind of chicken strips and a bad kind. I purchased the bad. It was like we were eating dinner from the school cafeteria. YUM! Oh-well. Live and learn I guess. Brandon has been refereeing and playing men's basketball in our Stake. It just so happened that he was playing our brother-in-law last Saturday! So, it turned into a family event. Tara and her kids came, as well as Shelley, Hugh, Nick and MaryEden. Dustin's team won, but Brandon looked so cute playing that it didn't matter to me. Am I allowed to say he looked "cute" playing basketball??? Then it was off to breakfast with all of us to Granny Annies. We had a really fun morning with family.

When we got home, the kids started on their chores. Can I brag about the kids for just a minute? Without asking they did chores! Liz wanted to do the dishes and so Brandon stood at the sink with her and showed her how to clean off the dishes and load the dishwasher. Luke learned how to sweep the floor and he vacuumed the couches. Laura vacuumed the stairs. They were supposed to be done, but next thing I knew, Luke is sweeping the entry and the upstairs bathroom. When I start mopping, Liz asked to learn how. She did our upstairs bathroom and it looked amazing! Did I mention that they all made their beds and Liz and Luke took the garbage out on their own when we went to Brandon's game? Yup, they are amazing!

I had planned a surprise dinner to Bucca di Beppo for Saturday night. I called on Thursday and made reservations to sit at the booth that is located in the kitchen. We got all dressed up and did our hair and went out to dinner. I had wanted to sit in the kitchen to eat for a long time. The only thing I would do differently is order the lunch portions of the food! We had so many leftovers and our fridge smelled like a big garlic bomb all weekend! But we had a lot of fun watching people in the kitchen while we ate. On Sunday we had dinner with Brandon's family and when we got home, I showed Laura how to make an apple pie. She did a brilliant job! It was so yummy!!

Sunday night, Liz, Laura and I had a "sleep-over" downstairs and Luke had one with his dad in our room. Monday morning was spent hanging out watching cartoons. We got lunch and had a picnic on the floor in the living room and watched a movie while I painted Liz and Laura's nails. I had Tuesday off from work and Brandon was able to take the day off too, so we stayed up late watching movies and then went out to lunch and a movie on Tuesday. It was a great ending to the long weekend!

Ongoings with the Sandalls...

The past few weeks have been very eventful and Brandon and I have both found ourselves with very little time to just be. However, being busy is better, right?? Brandon and I have been doing some one on one time with the kids. I like to call them dates. Luke and I had our date a few weeks ago. He chose to go bowling. We decided to go bowling in Bountiful, and all I'm going to say is that I am demanding a rematch!! After bowling, we met my mom at Costco to pick up Lilly's Birthday cake. We ate lunch there and when Luke got his pizza, he proclaimed, "It's so huge, it's going to eat me!!" After lunch, we went to Kohls and he helped pick out some shoes and basketball shorts for Brandon. He also picked out some jewlery for Lilly for her birthday and found earings that Liz and Laura, "Gotta have!!!" He also worked his magic with my mom and we left with a few things for him as well!

Shortly after Christmas, Lilly had a birthday! She is now 13 and we had a fun time celebrating. We went out to the planetarium as a family and Lilly brought her cousin Gabe along. We saw a dome show and then played around in the exhibits. Lilly had some B-Day cash, so she and Gabe hit the gift shop. Why is it, when we are kids, that we simply die to spend money in the gift shop??? I can remember loving the gift shop at the Montery Bay Aquarium as a kid. I always asked for a shiny rock or mug. I have the mug but never got the stinking rock! Home to some fantastic BLT's made by Brandon and movies and the best part....CAKE! I've never liked tomatoes until now. I had a BLT and...I liked it! Who knew? First chili, now tomatoes!

Brandon and I were asked to speak in Church that Sunday (January 9). I had made a deal with my Bishop 10 years prior that since he was asking me to speak 15 minutes before Sacrament meeting, that I didn't want to speak for ten years. Well, the deal held and I tried to make the same deal with my new Bishop, but he would only go for four years. Oh-well. Brandon and I spoke on faith, using the Fall 2010 General Conference talk by Bishop Edgley called: Faith, The Choice is Yours. I always get so nervous having to speak infront of adults. I'm fine talking at work in front of teenagers, but put in a room of adults who know way more than me and my anxiety goes through the roof. I can say I got through it ok but have no idea what I said. Brandon did amazing. He has such a way with words. I loved listening to him talk and bear his testimony. I am so proud to be his wife.

Check out picutres from my date with Luke and Lilly's Birthday!

Party like it's 2010

We started our New Years Eve celebrations early in the morning. Brandon got up and made the kids a huge breakfast of pigs in a blanket, hashbrowns, eggs, bacon and chocolate milk. I got to sleep in. Wahoo! When everyone finally got me going, we headed up to North Ogden to go snow tubing. One quick stop at Walmart for some boots and gloves for a few of us and we were off! Lilly took us to a cool park that had a good-sized hill, called Wadman Park. We had a lot of fun playing in the snow and we had a hard time getting Liz to leave, slap some toe warmers in that girl's boots and she is good to go!

After tubing, we went home and all tried to take a nap. The twins were successful in their nap and I believe Laura was too, but B and I were not. Neither of us could sleep. We got ready and headed over to the Wright's. Brandon has known Kari and Cody for years and the kids have known them their whole lives. The kids are all about the same ages. I can't really say who out of the kids was most excited, but they had been talking about going up to the Wrights for New Years for weeks. "It's tradition!"

We ate pizza and tons of other food. There was so much! The adults played a fun Alice in Wonder Land game, however, Brandon, Kari and I were talking too much that Cody kicked our trash. However, I think Kari and I redeemed ourselves with Catch Phrase! I got to try out the Wii and am completely addicted to Just Dance 2. At one point, the grown-ups took over. Kari was amazing and so were Brandon and Cody. I simply struggle! I have a video game disability and with the dance ones I want to do all of it perfectly so I try way too hard and do horribly!!! It was a lot of fun to watch the kids play too, even the little ones. Sadie and Liz rocked it! When midnight hit, we set off fireworks and we hosed the kids with silly string. Once we were back inside, glow sticks were busted out, the lights were turned off and the music was turned up and we had a dance party! That was so much fun!! It was simply a fun night with good friends. Around 3:00 a.m. we decided to crash there (which made the kids ecstatic) and we all went to bed around 4 a.m.

We were up by 9 a.m. and I really don't remember much, as I normally go to bed early and am sure to get 9 hours of sleep. I do remember Cody's Mickey Mouse pancakes, though. Does that count? We got home later that afternoon and I was finally able to take a nap!!! We spent the night vegging out in front of the TV, eating shrimp and other finger-foods. It was such a fun day and thankfully I got to catch up on my sleep that night because we have switched to 11 a.m. church!! WAHOO!!!

Well, there is a quick run down of our New Years. I am so lucky to have new friends in the Wrights, and we had so much fun! Thank you Kari, Cody and kids for such a fun night. It will forever be a great memory. We hope everyone had a safe and happy new year! I am still working on my New Years' resolutions. I am having a hard time picking out what it is I don't want to follow through with this year. :)

Never Stop Lovin'!

There is a stop sign in our neighborhood, right by our church. It's awesome. I hope they never put a new one up!

I love to see the Temple....

On Tuesday (12/21/2010) I went to eat lunch with my B at his work. After, I had an errand to run and then decided (with the help of Brandon) to go to one of the temples in that end of the valley. So I went to the Draper Temple. It is such a beautiful temple, in a breathtaking location with an amazing view of the valley. The Draper Temple runs their sessions on the hour. I normally go to the Bountiful Temple where they run the sessions on the hour and half hour. I got there just after a session had started and so I had a chance to do some initiatories before my session. I made the comment that I had never been there before, so a sister gave me a tour of the bride's room and told me a little about the temple.

I was blown away at how pretty the inside was. Walls are hand-painted with murals and the chandaliers are breathtaking. After my session, I approaced a sister working there and asked if I could see the sealing rooms. As my tour then continued, she showed me a large framed picture that was going to be thrown out, as it was part of a room where they cut double doors out after the mural had been painted. They thought that portion of the wall was too pretty to throw away and so they framed it. I got to see the large and small sealing rooms. The large sealing room seats 75 people. There is a beautiful wood used in the Temple for railings and banisters from Africa. It was such a soft and pretty wood.

It was a really special afternoon for me. It was neat to get to walk into the sealing rooms and to talk with the sister about when she got sealed and about Brandon and I getting sealed. On the day that sister got married and sealed, her father was sealed to her mom who was deceased, and her uncle and aunt got sealed as well. I love the peaceful feeling of being in the temple and having that time to not worry about day-to-day things but to think about those things that are most important to me. I am so excited to get sealed to my Brandon next summer.

Brandon, I am so grateful for you and for how you honor your priesthood. I'm grateful for all the little things you do for me and the big things too. I'm grateful that our Heavenly Father put us infront of one another. You are my best friend. Thank you for working so hard to provide for us. You make me feel like I'm the most beautiful woman on earth. I love you.

Christmas Adventures...

I don't know where to start. The last few weeks have gone by so fast! We had my family Candy Cane Party on the 18th. Yup. We make candy canes every year. It was Brandon and the kids' first time. My mom usually is in the kitchen, but this year she was helping my brother Brian and his wife with their new baby. So it was just my two cousins Katie, Michelle, and me. For it being our first time without my mom, I think we did a pretty good job. We only burned one batch and Kate and I were the only ones to burn our hands. We did catch Gramsy's stove on fire however, but Michelle was quick with the baking soda. I was sitting on the couch holding Michelle's new baby girl, Saddie, when Chloe who is 5, came running up to me and Hailey (Katie's youngest) and said, "Hailey! Come quick! The kitchen is on fire, you gotta see!!" Oh my goodness! That little girl has no fear. Uncle Mark paid all the Candy Cane Makers (Except Katie, Michelle and me) for their awesome candy cane making skills. It was a lot of fun and hopefully next year, we will get the hang of things!! Here are pictures from our Candy Cane Adventure....



My last day of work for the winter break was on the 17th. I was so excited for 16 days off. Laura had a dance recital on the 18th. She is on a competition dance team this year and doing so well! Her dance was awesome and she keeps getting better and better! She is a beautiful dancer. After her recital, B and I went to lunch with some family. We went and got wings with Rand, Crystal, Nick and Brauch. Then B and I went to finish our Christmer shopping. We did 90% of it that Saturday and by that night, we were exhausted!! On Christmas Eve, we went to Brauch and Natalie's home for a party with the Sandall family. It was a lot of fun. Brandon and I are so blessed to have such awesome families. We had finger food/appetizers and the cousins all played. The adults exchanged gifts . . .big thanks to Tara and Dustin for the gift card to Pei Wei and the family photo album! All the cousins got new pj's and they put on a program for us about the Savior's birth. It was so cute! Brandon and I were gonna go to a movie but we were exhausted so headed home to get in our pj's.

Laura called us that morning. At 6:30 a.m. They were very excited to tell us about what Santa had brought. It was so awesome. B and I rolled out of bed and opened our presents. B is a great gift giver. He got me a cardigan and tank top from American Eagle that I wanted and ihome speakers for my ipod. Wahoo!! We then headed over to Tara and Dustin's for breakfast. I had fun being shown what the girls got for Christmas, they were very excited. They got an XBox Kinnect and I am now saving all my change to buy one. So maybe we'll have one next year??? We got the kids a little before noon and opened presents at our house. Then off to my mom's for more presents and then up to Gramsy's for food and presents. At that point, I could barely remember my name and Luke looked like he was gonna fall asleep standing up. On our way to take the kids home, we stopped at Brandon's parents. B and I had moved our movie plans to be after we took the kids home, but exhaustion won out again! It was a really fun day.

Monday I cleaned and did something I rarely do- Iron. (I totally understand if you need to take moment to process this.) Tuesday I went and had lunch with Brandon at his work and got to see his new office. I then ran to exchange some clothes we had got Liz for her birthday at Fashion Place Mall and then went to a session at the Draper Temple. I had never been there before. It was breathtaking. I am excited to go back. That night I stopped for groceries and then my day was complete when I got a phone call from Laura. I love when the kids call us or I get an email from them. Laura and I chatted and I told her about my day. She then expressed concern about me getting up early enough to clean out my car and trunk (she says it like its dirty and has a lot of junk in it.....I have no comment) and pick them up by 10:30. I said that she had better call to wake me up. And she did. At 6 a.m. She wanted to make sure I had enough time to do my hair and makeup and get my car cleaned out. It was snowing that morning and so I was 5 minutes late to get them...don't worry....I got a call at 10:33 to see where I was. Oh I love them!

We had the kids for the last half of their winter break. So here we go with our 5-day-adventure: Wednesday we went with my cousin Katie and her girls to see Tangled again. I almost cried in it again! Home for dinner. And the really BIG news....I made Enchilada's again. THEY LIKED THEM! SUCCESS AT LAST! Big thanks to Jamie for the recipe!! Thursday we went to lunch at my mom's and then swimming at the rec center. We were there for almost 4 hours. Liz loved the yellow slide and I think she went down it non stop for an hour. We got take-out Chinese that night and went and got Lilly and I some cold medicine as we were both stuffy and not feeling so hot. Friday morning we got up and headed out to go tubing at a park in North Ogden. Liz started out not too sure of it and by the end was sliding down the hill on her bum. She and I popped one of the tubs on one of our runs when we ran over a broken plastic sled, she was not going to let a lack of tubes stop her! That night we went to their good friends, Cody and Kari's for New Years Eve....the party went on into the next day. It was a lot of fun. Thank you Cody and Kari for such a fun night! We sure love you and can't wait to get together again!!

Sunday we went to church and then to dinner at my mom's. I took the kids home as Brandon had a stake meeting to go to. It was such a fun five days. The kids are so awesome about helping me out. They all did such a good job making their beds. Making your bed, when its a bunk bed, is no easy task. Well, that was a quick rundown. I will do another post on New Years Eve. That was such a fun night. Here are some of our pics from Christmas and over the break. We hope everyone had a great holiday as well!!