HARD TO SAY GOODBYE!

The rest of our trip was a lot of fun but it just seemed like it was to quick of a trip. When I told Brooklyn it was time to say good bye she started to bawl. She kept saying "mommy I don't want to leave my cousins I want to play with them more". I haven't seen her cry like that for a while, it was such a sad cry and she really looked broken hearted to be leaving everyone. I felt so bad taking her away and just wish I didn't have to do it at all! She loves all our family and it's too bad we can't be around them more.

Anji, me and my sister Shannon
I love this picture of these two!! Beautiful girls!
While I was there I let my friend Carrie know that I was in town. I love this girl so dang much and haven't seen her for like 2 years or more! She went on a mission and we just haven't been able to get together since she has been back. It was seriously so great to see her she is such a good friend and I love love love her!

On the plane heading home!

DAY 2 IN UTAH

Day 2 was a Sunday and it was spent going to church with family and then just hanging out. I was able to swing over to Toby's parents house and surprise everyone. No one knew I was coming so it was a really fun surprise. The girls loved seeing everyone and getting lots and lots of attention!

Nikell LOVES baby's and Anji let her hold Jack for a little while, she was in heaven and just wanted to hug and cuddle him all day.
I think it is so funny that Nikell looks so small compared to Jack. It was cracking us all up.
We didn't know that it would be this difficult to get Nikell to let go of Jack. Seriously though she refused to let go. Then when we finally got jack out of her death grip she busted down crying. She loved him so much it was pretty cute!
Brooklyn and Nikell were both so tired. They aren't used to so much stimulation and not very much sleep. Brooklyn fell asleep on me around six in the evening. She woke up 2 hours later with a temperature of 102. Luckily it only lasted that night and she was fine the next day.

QUICK TRIP

I hope I don't get into trouble for this but last weekend Toby saw that Delta had a smokin deal to fly to Utah so I took the girls and went and hopped on the plane. I was only in town for the weekend so please friends don't get mad that I didn't call to hang out. I will have to make another trip soon so I can have more time to visit with friends!!

This trip is the first time that I have taken both girls on a plane alone. Brooklyn and Nikell did so well and they really did make it pretty easy on me. They were both very excited for the spur of the moment trip and it was fun to share in that excitement!

When we got there my dad picked us up and took us straight to Shannon's for a birthday party for Denae, Zach and Nikell. It was fun to have most of my family there waiting to party. (we missed the rest that couldn't make it)

Here are a few pics of the first day there. The hi light for me was playing Just Dance on the wii. If anyone has a wii and doesn't own this game you HAVE to get it. I seriously laugh so hard when we play that game!

I took this on the plane...

Nikell got a lot of fun gifts from family!

These girls were making everyone laugh all night! They love each other and always have the best time when they play! The flowers were a big hit! My mom helped the girls make them for our Luau party!

Zack turned 17!

Blowing out the candles!

She looks like she just wants to dive right in! So cute.



And... the awesome dance game! Nikell was getting in on the action and shaking her booty.

NEW CALLING

I have a little bit of catching up to do. A few weeks ago I was called to serve as the 2 counselor in the Primary Presidency in my ward. I am both really excited about his calling and a little nervous. I am lucky enough though to be serving with two of my favorite girls in the world and know that as a Presidency we will do many great things. Our first meeting was a few weeks ago and after our meeting we took all of the kids to lunch. It was a little crazy but we had a great time as always!

Lorilee, me, Misty with her cute new haircut!
Ashley, Brooklyn, Dylen and Sydney
Lookin good ladies!
Max and Nikki
Ashley wanted to take a picture of her and I. She is so cute! Love her!

MORE INFORMATION

The plane left today for Haiti and if anyone is interested in reading more about this mission visit this link and read this short article.
click here
I am very grateful to all of the volunteers who are on the plane headed to Haiti. Please keep them in your prayers!

HELP HAITI

I don't know if anyone read the Meridian but there was an article in it from a friend of our family, Steve Studdert. He was asking for volunteers to go on a critical and difficult mission to Haiti. Since then they have had 150 LDS people volunteer. Among these is my brother Aaron. They will be leaving tomorrow and staying for 21 day's. This wonderful group of volunteers is traveling as the UTAH HOSPITAL TASK FORCE and their primary objective is to get the Healing Hands of Haiti medical center back in operation to save lives.
This is a picture of the Medical Center after the earth quake
Among the volunteers are LDS drs, nurses, EMTs, builders, engineers, and construction professionals who will also be helping to assist as directed by USAID on-ground coordinators to save lives.

All the expenses are being covered by DONATIONS. If anyone would like to donate money you can go to www.healinghandsforhaiti.org when you arrive at the site you will see the donate button right as you enter the site. Thank you so much!!

I just want to tell my brother Aaron that I am so proud of him! I love you so much bro and think your amazing. I know that your life will forever be changed for this experience. Our prayers will be with you and we will be thinking of you everyday!! I love you so much and can't tell you how much I look up to you. BE SAFE!! LOVE YOU!

I couldnt get the link to work on this post but if you look up to the right of my page I added the link there. Thanks again!

JAKEY BOY

Toby's brother Jake came out to visit for the weekend and the minute we told Brooklyn he was coming she got so excited. Jake and Brooklyn have a special relationship and have since she was a baby. I don't know what it is about Jake but she just loves him to death. Ever since she could talk she has called him Jakey boy and to this day that's what she calls him.

We picked Jake up in Oakland and it was a beautiful out near the bay. It was a nice change since it has been so cloudy and dull where we live. We went to the zoo in Oakland and spent the afternoon just hanging out and enjoying the great weather.

Jake is such a fun Uncle and played around with the girls so much. They were both loving all the attention!


Brooklyn was trying to steal Jake's hat and he was making her laugh so hard.


















After the zoo we went and had some lunch at round table and the guys watched the football game for a while and then we drove over to the Oakland Temple and walked around for a while and went in the visitors center. While in the visitors center we were looking at the statue of Jesus and Brooklyn said "daddy, I want to give Jesus a hug" It was pretty cute.

It was great to have Jake around for a few days. Even if it was just a short trip we all had a lot of fun with him here!!