WOWZIE MOWZIE

For our anniversary trip this year we decided to come back to Maui.  We haven't been here since 1997 and we wanted to try it again.  We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and right off the bat rented a Mustang Convertible and dropped the top:)  We are staying in the Kaanapali Beach Club on the West side of the island.  Our condo is very nice with a beautiful bedroom and a gigantic bathroom.  We have a beautiful view of the lush mountains.  

Yesterday was a great day.  After a buffet breakfast we lounged at the pool for a few hours then drove a few miles over to Black Rock to do some snorkeling.  On our way there we HAD to stop and get us a Hawiian Shaved Ice!!  Yum!! 

Since we had been to Black Rock before we knew we were in for a treat.  

The snorkeling here is wonderful!!

We saw turtles, eels, and a plethora of fish including two flounder which are really hard to spot.  The really neat treat was the sound of the humpback whales in the distance.  With my head in the water I could hear them communicating with each other. 

Super Cool!

We ended the evening with dinner at Lahaina Pizza Co. with some pasta and a beautiful view of the ocean.  Now if I can just stay up past 7:30......the time change is killing me:(

Chocolate Cake

Last week as Rick and I were coming out of Hale Theatre (our anniversary night), Rick checked his messages.  Their was a message from a young father in our Stake telling Rick that his kids dropped something on our doorstep earlier that evening.  Curious, when we got home he beelined it to the front door and came walking in with a 1/4 of a Costco Chocolate Cake. (You know, the giant ones with chocolate shavings on the outside and taste absolutely HEAVENLY!)  With it was a note.  It read......

President Phelps,
Thank You for your wonderful counsel during our ward conference Sunday.  We wanted you to know our 8 year old son was listening intently and afterward insisted on finding out about this "chocolate cake" you mentioned. :)  After bringing it home last night, we decided we needed to share it.  (child's name) instantly suggested we share some with you.
Enjoy and know that we are grateful for great examples, like you, for our son and all of us.  We appreciate you.

Rick got a huge grin on his face and said, "Well, that is so thoughtful!  How nice of them to say those kind words."  I agreed enthusiastically!  That was such a nice note and sharing that cake with us was very sweet.

Rick then proceeded to tell me about his chocolate cake epiphany.

 He was sitting in ward conference a few days before (generally the Stake Presidency has the bishops of the wards take as much time as they feel they need and then whoever is attending that ward will finish up the last 5-7 minutes) and Bishop Fawson was talking about shepherding members to the temple.  He was explaining how 10 years ago when a tsunami was coming toward a particular small town in Indonesia, how the cry went out to move to higher ground and how everyone in that small town was saved compared to other places where so many people lost their lives.  He related that to the temple and how important it is to spread the word and try to rally around those who have not been or those who need to get back....to the temple.

As Rick was sitting there he started thinking of the temple and how wonderful it is.  There were many in the congregation that had not been to the temple and he wanted to express how magnificent it is.  He thought about chocolate cake and decided to use that as a parallel to the temple.  He started out by telling everyone how much he likes MY chocolate cake.  (That was super nice of him considering I'm not that great of a cook AND my cakes come out of a box......but what a good husband to say so:)

Then he talked about the chocolate cake from Costco and how marvelous it is.  He asked the congregation if any of them had tried it and continued to sing it's praises.  He posed the thought of trying to explain to say, someone in Indonesia, that had never tried this particular cake and how one would go about trying to get them to understand it's wonderfulness.  (That's my word not his:) You could explain that it was made of flour, sugar, cocoa and eggs but still that wouldn't have the same effect as actually eating and experiencing this particular chocolate cake.  He likened that to the temple and how we can TELL others how magnificent it is but to get the full effect it needs to be experienced.  He then encouraged those who have not "experienced" the temple to make that a goal in their lives because IT is more magnificent than anything......including chocolate cake:)

After explaining to me the back story I got a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart for my sweetie.  It makes me happy that he not only is a great example to me and each of our children,  but to so many others as well.  He would never say so or even acknowledge that he does much.  That is not his way.  He always gives credit to someone else.  Many times I have to remind him just how wonderful he is.  (and I don't mind that at all.) Not only does he go to work each day and provide a living for us, he always is trying to be a good father in teaching and explaining to our children the importance of doing good with their lives (some of them STILL don't get it) AND on top of that the many extra hours of church service during the week.  He NEVER complains that it is too much.  Going to bed after midnight on Saturday night because we had been watching grandchildren, I was thinking how wonderful it was that I could sleep in because church now starts at 11:00.  Instantly I felt ashamed for my selfish thought knowing that he had to be up by five to get ready for meetings and a fully scheduled day,  I simply said, "You are my hero."

And he truly is:)

GrandKids!!

Here are a few recent picture of my GrandKids....

Rafe has a whole load of teeth in his mouth and is learning to say his prayers.  It is really fun to hear him say words.  Much of the time I'm not that good of an interpreter but I'm learning.  On Sunday he walked up to the group of us visiting in the family room holding this big sucker behind his back like we couldn't see it.  His mom asked him what he found and he just stood there with a guilty look on his face.  Of course Grandpa said, "Let's open that up and have some!"..... and then proceeded to let him eat it on our couch.  Grandpas definitely a pushover:)  

Henry is now 5 months and is such a jolly boy!  As you can see in these pictures he has an amazing smile!  He has learned to sit all on his own and can pick up toys and play with them.  He is starting to eat real food with a spoon like a champ!  He is the light of his mom and dad's life and we love this little guy so much!  His hair is starting to grow a bit but it is hard to see because he is a towhead.  How about those sumo wrestler arms........So adorable!!

Haivyn will be 9 months in another couple of weeks.  She is such a beautiful baby!  Her eyes are a beautiful blue and she has got FIVE teeth already!  She is such a happy baby and can play by herself very contentedly.  She loves stuffed animals and big people food.  She is crawling all over the place so we try our best to keep her contained:)  We don't want her tumbling down the stairs!  

Haivyn has captured our hearts!

Scout is now 3 months.  She reminds me so much of Kendra when she was a baby.  I cannot help but to be totally in love with her!  She is such a good baby.  She doesn't cry much and she loves to be swaddled and held.  While I have only heard her laugh once she has given me many, many smiles and I'll tell you it totally melts my heart!  Such a precious girl!

                     Love these little darlings!!

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday was our 26th anniversary!  I woke up a few minutes before Rick and waited for him to stir.  I wanted to be the first to wish him a happy anniversary!  We have this thing where on special days we try to beat the other by being the first well wisher:)  I beat him by about a half a second and then he said, "Oohh,  I wanted to be the first to say that!  It is a fun tradition (if you want to call it that.)

After he went off to work I went to get my hair done which felt really good since it really needed a cut and color.  When I got home I saw these beautiful roses on my counter.  My man,  he is a flower giver.  He is really thoughtful that way and I am the object of his generosity many times throughout the year in this way:)  That doesn't sound braggy does it?  I hope not.  

He really is so kind and good to me:)

After he got home we headed in to Salt Lake for a nice dinner at The Garden.

Their Oriental Salad is THE BEST!

On the mezzanine.....

After dinner we drove to Hale Theatre to watch a play.  It was called "Is He Dead?"  It was a comedy by Mark Twain about a painter who's paintings won't sell so his friends arrange his death and all sorts of crazy things happen:)  

It was just really fun dressing up and planning for a nice evening out on the town:)

When we got home we found this on the counter.  

It was from Kathy wishing us a Happy Anniversary!  She is such a good sister and friend.  

She is very thoughtful and always doing random acts of kindness for us.  

I am so blessed to not only be married to an awesome man but also of having the benefit of his sisters being my dear friends :)

It was a wonderful night!  Can't wait for the adventures of our future!

January Happenings

January is flying by....
I wanted to document some things that we've been doing.  Mostly to have it in writing.

In primary I am teaching the kids a new song (well it's actually been around a while but it's new to them) and it has been a joy to me.  The song is "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" and it is wonderful!!  Teaching this song gives me a chance to bear my testimony of the Savior to the children and I love that:)

Rick and I served in the temple for just two Wednesday's this month because it is closing down for remodeling/cleaning for four weeks.  I will miss being there with the youth and of course, with all of the amazing people that I work with:)

On Thursday the 8th,  Rick and I traveled separately to St. George for the weekend.  We had been planning to stay until Tuesday but Rick had to be back for meetings on Sunday.  It worked out well because when he left Saturday evening to come back home I got in my car and headed South for an overnighter with my parents.  It worked out great and I was able to be back in St. George the next evening with a hot dinner ready for Rick when he drove up.  I had a nice visit with my mom and dad. It sure is good being able to drive up the driveway of my childhood home and just....hang out:)
Skylar and Sarah (and Henry) had spent the week in St. George so we got to spend Thursday and Friday with them.  We ate out, played games, and played with Henry.  On Friday, the weather was quite pleasant so we went over to the mini golf and played a round.  The girls dominated with Sarah in first and me coming in second!  It was a really enjoyable time.  Rick and I had planned to spend Monday doing some Spring Cleaning but it was a dreary day and I took the morning and watched a movie.  Belle.  It is fast becoming one of my favorites:)  I rarely turn the TV on during the daytime because it doesn't seem right to do but I didn't care!  We got some spring cleaning done the next day before we left to come back home!

Last Thursday we were invited by Rick's sister and her husband (Karen and Dennis) to go to Lava Hot Springs for the night.  Dennis had done some work there and had some trade for hotel rooms.  There were six couples in all that night....Dennis and Karen, Brent and Lar, Brad and Ruth, Hal and Janis, Larry and Darla, and Rick and I.  We had a very nice dinner at a place called 78 Main (who thought that such good food could be had in such a small town:)  and then met in a room for treats, stories, and jokes.  It was a fun evening for us all.....even though I did get a little sleepy, huh Karen?
The next morning was great.  After our morning walk Rick and I went over to the hot pools and soaked for an hour.  Darla joined us about half way through.  Then we met everyone for a late breakfast at the Chuckwagon Restaurant which was really nice as well.  For a last hurrah a few of us went back to the hot pools....(did I mention that it was snowing?  It was really fun to be sitting in the hot pools while the snow came tumbling down.)  I first went in for a massage.  Has anyone heard of "a shiatsu"?  That's what I had.  It's a massage where the therapist uses her feet.  It was my first time to try that and it was PDG!!  (Pretty Darn Good:)

Last Sunday Hannah Dee spoke in church before she is to leave on her mission next week.  She will be serving in the Cleveland Ohio Mission with her assignment being in the Kirtland Visitors Center.  She gave an awesome talk about how she has been able to prepare for her mission.  She is such a great person and will be an excellent missionary!  Chris, Dalton, and Austin sang the hymn "I Believe in Christ"  and it was wonderful too:)  The Allen's had a big shindig after church and it was nice to visit with some of my nieces and nephews.

Last of all......
Today is our anniversary!!!  Twenty six years!
Rick sent me some beautiful roses and we are going to have a night out on the town!  I will blog about it later....I need to go get ready:)  Bye!

Christmas 2014

I haven't had a chance to post about Christmas so today's the day! 

 Christmas Eve was a really nice day spent with family.  John, Kaitlyn and Haivyn came over that morning and had a nice breakfast with us.  We enjoyed time around the table visiting.  Afterwards, we opened gifts.  Haivyn loved the unwrapping part:)

Later that evening Gary, the Phelpses and the Bomans came out to spend the evening. (Alyssia moved to Vernal the day before) We started with our traditional dinner of Dumplins and Tamales then read the Christmas story from the scriptures and sang hymns.  We ended with a little testimony meeting.  It was very nice:)  After that we put together Christmas dinner boxes to drop on doorsteps. (S&S left for an hour to visit Clyde on his birthday) Brach and Gary had a fun time knocking on doors and running.  We borrowed Kathy's van so that we could all fit and also to be a little stealthier:)  When we returned we opened our Christmas Eve gifts.  It was an enjoyable night for all of us!!  We were in bed by midnight:)

Christmas day was very laid back.  We lounged around in our jammies and I practiced my new saxophone:)   Yes, I got a sax for Christmas.  I played for one year in the 9th grade and thought I'd give it a try again.  It is proving to be a little difficult but I am working on improving:)  Gary received some new clothes and his favorite present was a new jacket!  Rick got a gift certificate to Ifly, an indoor skydiving place in Ogden.  He's excited to try it out.  He also got tickets to see Brian Regan in concert at the Tuacahn Theatre in May.  That'll be fun!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!