All is Merry and Bright....

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Happy Thanksgiving

 So thankful for these little pilgims.  Love them all so much.

Landing in St. George

 

"Houston, the Eagle has landed"....

Moving is always hard, and it seems I should be well versed by now.  In October, we loaded a small moving van at our house in Cali and drove back to our beloved Utah.  We have become the biggest weather wimps, though, in Cali.  We've loved so many things about our time in the Bay area, one of them being the weather.  It's really beautiful and mostly mild almost all year long...and I really could not fathom going back to the cold winters.  We prayed about where we should go and both of us felt drawn to St. George.  Southern Utah has always felt like a best friend to both of us, especially because we used to spend so much time at Lake Powell in years past.  There is something about the blue sky, red rocks, and lovely heat that draws me in.  We found a small condo, that was right next to the most beautiful park with a walking path.  Thank you heaven for that wonderful blessing.  We are getting settled here and love it.  We actually bought a building lot here with the idea of building a house again, but that will have to be a little later.  Right now, I am spending my days walking on the path and dreaming about what will come.  

Mary Poppins Syndrome....it's a real thing.

This can only mean one thing

Aero of the sky

He's here!  Baby Aero decided to come a few weeks early...thank heaven he waited till mom and dad got home from the coast, or we all could have had a very different vacation!  He is beautiful and perfect in every way!  I had planned on leaving a week after we got home from Oregon...thinking that that would leave plenty of time before he was born.  Claire called Tuesday morning to tell me that her water broke!  Stop the presses...immediately, I changed my flight and was off on the first flight I could get!  I ended up flying in early in the morning.  As we were flying into Salt Lake...I took a few pics of the beautiful day that was unfolding...

 The sky was glorious!  And speaking of God's glory....little Aero! 

 

My life is full of sweet blessings....

Welcome little man....

 

 

Happy Birthday to the Dread Pirate Robert

Operation "Birthday surprise for the pirate" has been on going for a whole year...for real!!! It all started last summer when Kindle reminded me that this year was one of those BIG number years for Rob....a very special number that shall not be named.....Okay, it's 60.  I knew that we needed to celebrate big time, but seriously....it is IMPOSSIBLE to surprise this guy.  I told everyone that they absolutely had to keep it silent, and that they all needed to expect a trip next summer, and to ready themselves.  Here is how it went down...

Summer 2014-December 2014: Entire family struggles to keep secret.  This is super hard for our family...but I threatened whips and chains if they blew it!   One little wrench...Claire divulges that she is pregnant, and due the last week of July!  This means that a destination needs to be somewhere that she can drive to.  No worries...we can do that...the Search is on!

January 2015:  Thorough searching  of VRBO....Oregon Coast was decided upon..now we find a place for 19 1/2 people!

February 20, 2015:  The Pirate leaves town...HA!  Denise quickly secures VRBO location while Rob is not looking....Whew!

February -June: Entire family has almost blown it several times!  At one point, I almost just asked him out-right if he knew!  I resisted and Awesomely....he was clueless.

Last week in June:  Rob asks if I want to fly to Utah for the 4th....???!!!!  I slyly answer..."No...I'm going at the end of the month to help Claire...let's just stay here and clean the church on the 4th".  (He buys it!!!!  It's a miracle!!)  BWWWAAAAHHHAAAA!

July 3-4:  Whole family (except the pirate and I...hmmm...sounds like a band name....) leaves Utah and drives or flies to Portland Oregon.  Rob can't figure out why no one is answering their phones.
(it was just safe that way)

July 5:  Sunday morning....Rob wakes up and says to me..."Honey, I really need a vacation."
(Blink, Blink)  I respond..."Well today is your lucky day, because we are getting on the plane this afternoon!"  (What happened next is totally awesome)  Rob totally flipped out  in a crazy rant!  He paces and freaks out, because he can't figure out if I am serious or not.  When I tell him I am...he flips out some more!  (it was hilarious!)  The surprise is underway and he REALLY didn't know!  I've never lied so much in my whole life!

When we got into Cannon Beach, we drove to the rental...and there on the porch is the whole family screaming and yelling!  I thought he was going to seize up!  He did seize up!  SURPRISE!!  We did it...WE GOT HIM!  HOORAY!!!!

It was fabulous....just take a look:

Honestly....Our Family needed this!  Rob needed it....I needed it!  So thankful that we did it!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Pirate....I love you so much!

Good to be seen

I woke up this beautiful Sunday morning to the dread pirates usual Mother's day gift...Flowers and Breakfast in bed.  It's an awesome thing he does...I wonder who started the tradition...Adam maybe?

 "No, no, Eve...you lie right there while I go put together a special breakfast for your special day, I mean after all you are the first mother...you should have a special day! No....I won't make much mess... How about some fruit...apples?  and maybe some toast?"

 "But Adam!  We will be late for church by the time you get it done!  And anyway, I always get crumbs in the bed and that's grose..."

But today, instead of thinking those "No No...don't go to any trouble for me" thoughts, I just dozed and waited for the pirate to bring me a plate of his efforts to please.  Actually, as I lay there....I realized that last year on this day, I was celebrating being alive....still struggling to just breathe.  I had just gotten out of the hospital, having had multiple blood clots hit my lungs.  I lay there just breathing and thinking....remembering, made me extremely thankful to just breathe.  So this beautiful Mother's day, I am counting every blessing that has come my way this year.  I am so thankful for family, friends, testimony, and Savior.  When people say non nonchalantly, "Good to see you!"  I have to admit, I always think..."It's good to be seen!"  For reals.

So happy Mother's day to all...So glad you are a part of my life.

Dear Bro. Fowler,

YES!!

BEST NEWS EVER!

 

Just one of the reasons I love California....

Happy Spring!