Last Day of School

Last day of Karlee's Freshman year of High School! Wow that went fast!

Jessica, Kami, & Karlee of Millenial Choir

Mary & Mikaela

Mary, Karlee, & Annie

Karlee & Rachel

Jenna, Natasha, Mikaela, Annie, & Kiersha.

Yearbook signing.

He Finally Got a Life

Garet advanced to the rank of Life tonight in Scouts...therefore, he finally got a life! He he! What's amazing is that the kid is eligible to earn his Eagle Scout in 6 months. Congratulations, Garet! You're awesome!

Jeff, aka Scout Master, awarding Garet his rank advancement.

Garet's Last Soccer Game

After flying in the morning and grabbing a quick lunch, Garet went to his last soccer game of this season (unless we decide to go to tournament in a few weeks). We have had a great year and are grateful for our awesome Coach, Reed. Thanks to him and his awesome coaching we won all but one game - in which we tied. Here are just a few snap shots of Garet during the game. Garet's in a Grey jersey & shorts #3.

Flying High

This beautiful Saturday started with Jeff & the scouts down at the Ogden Airport earning their Aviation Merit Badge. Since Jeff is the Scout Master, he was there and took a bunch of great photos of the boys. The flying experience solidified Garet's desire to be a pilot - he brought home information on online flight training and plans on getting his pilot's license as soon as he can. He loved flying today and especially loved the zero gravity and bank turns.

The Pilot, Garet, Connor, & Dallen

Troyettes' TV Debut

It was so exciting watching Karlee & the Troyettes on KJZZ Powerhouse last night! They were invited on the show because they earned a ton of money for the American Lung Association. The ALA is having a walk this morning, and numerous drill teams were invited. Of all the drill teams involved, the Troyettes earned the most money (about $1400 total) and were rewarded with a TV spotlight. 100% of what the girls earned went to the ALA, none went to the Troyettes. Out of their own budget, the Troyettes each got a cute t-shirt that lists all the sponsors on the back of it (including Stokes Folks and B&B) and they are wearing them proudly today at the walk. I am trying to get copies of the TV broadcast to post and hopefully will be able to get some photos too, but take my word, the girls looked darling - except for our Karlee, she looked drop-dead gorgeous!!!

A quick snap shot of Karlee & Erika before they headed to the big SLC for their TV debut.

The Troyettes inside KJZZ Studio

The AWESOME Troyettes with Dave Fox of KJZZ

Happy Anniversary!

Can you believe we've been married for 21 years? Wow, that means we are getting old (as the pictures below will blatantly show you). I am so proud that we have been married for so long - it seems to be a great accomplishment now-a-days.

Thus far we have had a wonderful marriage, don't you think? Sure, we have had our good times & bad as every married couple does, but overall we've had many, many more good times. Is it too corny to say that we are soul-mates? Probably, but that is how I feel. I wouldn't want to be with anyone else for so long...training you was hard enough!!!..:)

Happy Anniversay, Jeff! Thank you for sticking by me and loving me for so darn many years. I love you and cannot wait for the next 21 years with you - wow - we'll be really old then!

May 12, 1989

Christmas 1989

Fall 2009. True, we are much older, but much wiser too. I think...I always forget! Happy Anniversary, Jeff. I love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

This will be our 1st Mother's Day without mom. Ugh! It's crazy that we've been without her for almost a year now. Time flies, time heals, but thank goodness time doesn't let us forget.

Mother's Day 1952

Even though I have to work on Mother's Day, I'm okay with it. At first I was feeling sorry for myself because I wouldn't be home to wallow in sorrow and self pity missing Mom this year. But I think it will actually be healing for me because I have the perfect Mother's Day job! Working in L&D I get to help women become Moms - how awesomely mother's-dayish is that!

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Thanks, Mom, for introducing me to chocolate...I still love the stuff!

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I love you, Mom, and miss you every day! Thanks for being my mom - and loving me the most! (Don't worry, I'll never tell David, B, or Jon that I was your favorite!)

Mom & I - 1989.

Thank you, Mom, for loving me and even though you really wanted to, thank you for not pushing me over that edge! You're the best!

Jeff has an amazing mom! I love her so VERY much! Happy Mother's Day, Gway!

I love my kids. I love being a Mom. Motherhood is difficult and excruciatingly painful and most of the time I have no clue what I'm doing, but being a mom is the most rewarding job I've ever had. Even though I've done my best to ruin them, my children are wonderful. I can't imagine life without them! I just recently came across a quote that pretty much sums up my crazy family... "Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst." by Marjorie Pay Hinckley.

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If you're a mom, Happy Mother's Day! If you have a mom, tell her Happy Mother's Day and make sure she knows just how much you love her!!!

Happy Mother's Day !!!

L&D Sim Lab

I hope this blog post doesn't offend anyone. Working in L&D I have become accustomed to seeing things that are not normally seen... With that said, I will explain that in the photos below the only skin you see is rubber... of a mannequin.

As L&D nurses, we are required to complete many educational modules & simulation labs in order to keep our patients and ourselves safe. Our OBs get to attend this latest sim lab with us as well. I scheduled myself for today's lab for a few reasons: 1- It worked with my schedule 2- the OB is awesome 3- Jenni partnered in teaching it & 4- Janelle, Patricia, and Carrie were signed up for today's class too! Now mind you we did learn a lot, but needless to say we ended up having a lot of fun too! Let me just say I am glad I had my camera in my purse!

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Working in L&D can be VERY stressful. It is one of the higher risk/more frequently sued areas in the hospital, but I love it there! I love helping all those darling young couples have their babies. Mind you, we have our fair share of freakin' nutzo patients too, but overall the patients are great. At times, it is hard, grueling, and even heart-breaking work, but sometimes going to work is more like hanging out with friends. We have a fantastic staff of nurses that are awesome to work with.

Carrie, Jed, & Patricia (And Jenni's legs/arms)

Patricia, Jenni (pretending to be in labor - doing a mighty fine job if I do say so myself!), Jed, & Carrie

Patricia, Jed, & Janelle

Britt Graduates!!

Congrats Britt! We love you and are amazed at your accomplishments thus far. (She just graduated last week from BYU with a BA in English.) We cannot wait to see what else you will do and accomplish in your life!!

Miss Britt. She's got something up her sleeve...probably another law school application!

Miss Britt...a few years ago. (She's still gorgeous!)