Courtney posing with her brother and sister at her 10th family birthday dinner at Olive Garden.

Courtney got to order off of the adult menu for her birthday. She chose wisely and ordered what Mom always gets, Manicotti!! Yummy.

Puppy Love

I convinced my sister Jacki and brother-in-law, Todd to keep their Tobi dog for a week. We had so much fun with the dogs. I took them with me everywhere in my truck and spoiled them tons. The cousins had fun in the woods and found their favorite mud hole everyday. This is why they got up to two baths a day. Dawson missed snuggling Aunt Vicki, as you can see from the picture.

Ashlyn's Baptism

Ashlyn's baptism was beautiful! She had so many friends and family attend her baptism, she felt very loved on her special day. Aunt Jacki, Uncle Todd and cousin Quinn came up from Oregon. The group of kids are her siblings and friends that sang an "I am a child of God" medley during her baptism. It was very sweet. Thank you to everyone who showed their love to her in so many ways.

Some pictures from Ashlyn's baptism

Chase dislocated his knee cap. This is how he gets around these days :(

Snow and Sadness

Yesterday and again today we are getting snowfall. I love to look outside and watch it, but really I'm ready to move forward with Spring. These pictures are for our family in Arizona, yes it's February 10th.

Yesterday, the garage felt so cold and so I brought in Chase's basketball shoes for his game. I love watching my kids play basketball. Chase really loves this time of year too. During the first few minutes of the game, Chase was fouled and fell to the court, he hurt his knee pretty good. At half time, he tried to get up and walk on it. He couldn't...without a lot of pain and tears.

My heart is so sad today for him. The season is over for him and it was only game four. It's 1:00 now, I haven't been able to eat today, I'm so upset for him. We are waiting for tomorrow to hear more from the orthopedic surgeon. For now he has a temporary cast and crutches. I know he will heal eventually. But in this moment I have a hard time feeling optimistic.

My little guy is so talented. I know it sounds like bragging, but Brian and I are so proud of him. We'll hope for the best in his recovery.

Sisters Weekend at the Movie!!!

The Silverdale Stallions: Back Row; Courtney, Coach Monica, Coach Erin, Ashlyn, Middle Row; Erin, Lilly, Tjaden, Front Row; Ally and Audrey

This is my first year head coaching my girls basketball team. I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls to work with. We have been practicing for the last couple of months and the girls have shown a lot of improvement already. Erin and I played volleybal last fall and she stepped up to assist me. I appreciate all of her help. We are getting ready for our first game on Thursday. Can't wait to see them play. Go Silverdale Stallions!!!

An invitation to Ashlyn's Baptism....... Saturday, January 31 - 3:00 p.m. at the Silverdale Stake Center

Ashlyn is looking forward to her baptism this coming Saturday. Shama took the most beautiful pictures of Ashlyn in her white dress. If you are reading this and live close enough to come, we would love to have you come be a part of Ashlyn's special day!

Portraying Abish

I was asked to play the Book of Mormon character, Abish. What an awesome experience it was for me to learn about Abish and tell her story...I told here story seven times to the primary children this morning. It was our Stake primary activity and their were several of us portraying Book of Mormon characters. I think it was a great idea for the kids to see these characters brought to life. The kids asked us questions and learned so much today. Everyone did a fabulous job, it was very impressive and I was glad to be a part of it. We had Captain Moroni, Lehi, Sariah, the angel Moroni, Samuel, Nephi, Abish (me) and Joseph Smith.
If you are interested in reading about Abish, this is what I shared with the childen today. You can read all about it in Alma, chapter 19 as well.

My name is Abish.
I am a lamanite woman.
I work in King Lamoni’s court as a servant to King Lamoni’s queen.
When I was a young girl growing up, I learned from the teachings of my father following his experience with a “great vision.”
I spent my time developing my testimony in secret. I would continue learning, fasting and praying.
I believed in the teachings of the gospel, even though no one in my community shared my faith.

While working in the palace for King Lamoni, I did like them very much. There was a man named Ammon, who was a Nephite and a Shepherd to King Lamoni. King Lamoni was impressed by Ammon’s abilities. The King questioned him about his belief’s. Ammon taught the whole plan of redemption, the King realized that Ammon’s words were true. Being filled with such joy, he fell to the earth, as if dead. King Lamoni’s wife, the queen also heard and became overcome with the spirit. She likewise fell to the ground, overcome with joy.

Ammon was so thankful to Heavenly Father that he also fell to the ground. When the servants came to find all of them on the ground, they began to pray. Then, they also began to fill the spirit and were over come with joy.

I was very happy because I knew what had happened to them. It was awesome! The spirit had overcome them all with joy. I wanted everyone outside of the castle to feel the spirit too and be converted to the gospel. So, I began to run from house to house, calling the people to come to the house of the King. Soon, the palace was filled with many people.

They were astonished to see the King and the Queen and the servants lying on the ground as if dead. They also saw Ammon amongst them and knew he was a Nephite. Some thought he brought a great evil against the King’s household and called him the Nephite monster. They didn’t know what to do. One man drew his sword to kill Ammon…and when he did, he fell dead.

I thought it would be a wonderful event, but the people were fighting and confused with what they saw. They wanted to kill Ammon, this man of God. I began to cry!!

I wanted to raise the queen from the ground and so I took her hand. She immediately rose and cried with a loud voice saying “O blessed Jesus, who has saved me. O blessed Jesus, have mercy on this people.” The King also rose up and began to preach the gospel, which Ammon had taught him. I felt so good inside, as the people were listening to the King. Then, Ammon also added his words. The people no longer wished to do evil and they wished to be baptized. The king and queen were baptized.

I believe that through my faith and humility, along with the queens’, that these miracles happened.

Book of Mormon Characters

Fabulous Foto Friday!!

Brian and I went out on a double date, with our friends the Gardner's. We came home to find our boys like this...How precious!! Apollo and Chase ZZzzzzzzzz