(catching up!!!) In May we took our kids along with Jenny, Jared and fam, Annie and Roman, and Grandpa and Grandma Kemp to Liberty park in Salt Lake city! It was a rainy day and so much fun! We fed the ducks, played at the playground and raced down a hill! What a fun day!

Here duckie, duckie... we just want to pet you!

On your mark, get set...

GO!!!

Paris, Chloe, and Preston

Sunday May 2nd was Jackson's birthday!

I can't believe my boy is 9!!!

Dear Jackson, Happy Birthday! I can't believe you're another year older...9, wow! I am so proud of the sweet, smart, creative, wonderful boy that you are. I have been going through your scrapbooks looking at your baby pictures, I remember the night you were born and how much I loved you! I can't believe that my love for you could've grown past that moment, but each day it does. You are such a pleaser, it makes me so happy to see you being kind to your sisters and friends, people are drawn to you! I love your big heart, zest for life, infectious laugh, creativity, your brown hair and big bright eyes, how you still love to snuggle, your funny personality, the way you never give up, what a great reader you are (reading the 39 clues together), what a big helper you are, watching you play sports, playing games, and everything that makes you Jackson! I am so thankful that I am you mother and I am blessed to have you in my life! I love you, Happy Birthday!

Love, Mom

This is Ella's new way of "sitting down to eat"

She is so cute! We love you baby girl!

Chloe is a ball of fire! So it's fun to watch her watch her out on the soccer field. She is one of the fastest kids out there and she can dribble the ball from one end to the other! She is a scoring machine and she also takes some time out of the game to do a cart wheel or two!

I can't believe another year has passed and another heart check up has come. We enjoy going to visit Dr. Pulchauski but we always wonder if this will be the year that we will be scheduling another surgery. Jackson had an echo cardiogram and an EKG done. He was excited that he got to pick out an "older kid" movie to watch while getting these done (he usually has to watch what his little sister are allowed to watch). We got amazing news! He's good for another year! No Surgery!!! Until next year...

I love watching my kids play sports! I look forward to each game even if it's cold and snowy. Maybe it's because sports have always been a huge part of my life, they have taught me about team work, winning humbly and loosing graciously, working hard to accomplish goals, being competitive while staying patient, listening and obeying coaches, and putting in lots of time practicing.

Jackson was amazing this year! He started out with only one touch on the ball and grew to be able to dribble all the way down the field. He had one game where he had a ton of shots on goal and one that only missed by inches. He excelled in the defensive and keeper positions. I loved watching Chloe and Ella cheer on their older brother. Now we are looking forward to coach pitch!!!

We had a WILD Easter weekend. Friday (April 2nd) was Parker's birthday, I felt bad because we had our new renters moving in the next day and I had a wedding shoot. The day was spent doing all the finishing touches and then leaving the kids with Parker while I got to take pictures. Saturday we played in both our co`ed soccer games together and got home to welcome our renters. By the time we helped them move in, showered, and had a chance to sit down it was late afternoon. Parker came and asked if we could go to Pocatello for his birthday and Easter. I jumped up, packed everyone and we were off. When we got to Pocatello we quickly dropped off the kids to the babysitter and went to Clash of the Titans (one of Parker and Larry's favorite movies). It was really good!!! Easter morning was so fun, we watched the kids look through their Easter baskets and find eggs the bunny had hidden around the house. We had a yummy waffle, strawberries and homemade syrup breakfast and sat down to listen to conference. It was REALLY cold in Idaho, but that didn't stop us from taking the kids outside for some kickball in the snow! The kids loved it! We had a wonderful dinner and celebrated Parker's birthday! It was such a fun weekend and so nice to get away!!! We can't wait to go back up!

Parker and I were Jackson's Jr. Jazz coaches this year! It was a lot of fun to be out on the court with Jackson and his cute team. Jackson did awesome! He was awesome defensivly... one boy he was guarding came to Jackson's waist he couldn't get around him, so he ducked his head and dribbled right through Jackson's legs. I laughed so hard I had tears rolling down my face! Jackson's dribbling, passing, and shooting got so much better this season! He made baskets every game! I love this boy!

The other day we wanted to have a little fun in the pool and since it hasn't exactly been pool weather, we decided to go to to an indoor pool and it was exactly what we all needed. The kids were so excited to be swimming again. Parker was able to snap a few pictures of us while we were swimming. I can't wait for summer!

Happy Birthday to my hunkalicious, funny, adventurous, loving, smart, totally fun, hott, hard working, AMAZING husband!!! I love you with all my heart Parker! Happy Birthday!

There are lots of things in this life that always seem to bring a smile to my face... my family, surprises, a three letter word I can't say on my blog, friends, and April Fools day. Why is it so fun to pull random pranks on people on a specific day of the year? I can't really answer that one, but the simple truth of the matter is that I just love it! There is something so intriguing, so hilarious, and so invigorating in watching someone's face when they realize they were just fooled. So because I love this "holiday" so much I always plan ahead! I realize I haven't stepped it up like the guy who bricked his parents front door closed yet, but I'm working my way up to it. I like my pranks to be harmless and fun! When the kids sat down for dinner tonight... Grilled cheese sandwiches and mashed potatoes, they were expecting another ordinary meal. Little did they know the sandwiches were pieces of cake cut to look like bread with yellow frosting that looked like cheddar cheese, and ice cream with caramel sauce took the place of the mashed potatoes and gravy. Jackson almost died laughing when he took his first bite, and Chloe wouldn't stop telling us that the cheese didn't taste like cheese. And our little Ella was too busy stuffing her face! She had frosting in her hair, on her hands, and all over her face. She loved the "grilled cheese sandwich" so much that she decided using her hands was WAY to slow, so she just put her face in the sandwich. It was the perfect way to end such a fun holiday!

Yesterday morning we woke up early to get ready and go to my family's house for breakfast with Matt (his last American Meal for a while). He was set apart as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints Monday night, packed his bags and was ready to go. During his setting apart my brothers were asked to say a couple words to Matt. David said "as I've watched Matt prepare to go I haven't been sad because my mission has been the best experience of my life so far. I'm excited for Matt to have this experience and to grow." Those words really helped me since I was focused more on "2 YEARS" and how much I am going to miss him! Scott shared how he watched so many people's lives change as they accepted the gospel. I am so excited to hear Matt's stories!

We left for the SLC airport around 9:15. When we got there we checked Matt in and as he took his luggage to the security check Chloe and Ella each jumped on a bag saying they wanted to go. It was so cute. I reminded them it would be a long time to not see Mom and Dad.... they changed their minds! It was an emotional good bye and we watched Matt through security check and up the escalator until we could no longer see him. Then almost everyone went to the bathroom to try and stop the tears! I am so blessed to have such a tight family who loves to be with one another! I will miss Matt tremendously but I am so proud of his decision to serve and I look forward to letters! See ya in two Matty!

Siblings

All the kids and Grandkids

Our little stowaways

My kids are going to miss Matt SO much!

Chloe says Matt's mission is "The other side of the earth"... she's right!

I can hardly look at this picture without crying! I know how you feel Meg!

Brothers (David had class and couldn't make the airport)