Happy Birthday Vanessa

Today is my baby sister's Birthday and I just wanted to tell her Happy Birthday! I thought that I might get to see you on your birthday this year but I guess not, maybe soon though. I miss you so much and all our time together that we got to have when I was living in Colorado!
You have grow up to be an amazing young woman with so many different talents and abilities! When mom and dad told us kids that they were gonna have another baby, you should have seen our reaction!! We were all so excited and couldn't wait for the day to arrive! After Sheena was born, we knew just what to expect and boy were we excited! When we got to the hospital to see you, you had the most amazing dark hair and they told me I was sick and couldn't hold you. I was so bummed but after you came home we all had plenty of time to play dress up with you and haul you everywhere! We loved it. You and Sheena were the cutest babies and everyone loved you! You grew and changed so quickly and before I knew it you were singing and dancing in the school talent shows, you were amazing! You've always had this ability to say what is on your mind, even at a young age and sometime it gave us all quite a laugh!
You kept growing and changing and blossomed into a beautiful young woman. I was far away for so many of your teenage years, but as you have gotten older, we have found this wonderful closeness that I treasure!! Our couple years that we lived in Colorado were amazing and all the weekends we spent together!! The guys gaming and us chatting till the wee hour of the morning. Those are some good memories for me. I also loved our trip to Nebraska to the Justin concert!!! I loved it and being there with you was the best. Our road trip across the country and time at the beach was fun too! Remember the bubble gum contest? I have the pictures lol.
I just wanted you too know that you are special to me and have a special place in my heart on your Birthday and always! You are such a wonderful, caring person with such a tender heart! The day you came into this world was a blessing to our family and I treasure every moment that we get to be together and share our stories with each other! You have been there for me and you are a strength to me. I love you Vanessa and hope you have a GREAT Birthday!

Happy Birthday Vanessa

Happy Birthday MOM!!!

Today is my mom's birthday and I am lucky enough to be in Kentucky spending the day with her! We drove from Georgia on Sunday evening and surprised her and we are having a great time together!! On this special day I just want to tell my mom how much I love her and appreciate her and talk about her a little bit.
There are so many great memories that bring a smile to my face, and qualities that I love about you. You have taught me how to have love and compassion for others in so many different ways. You have taught me the value of being a mother and teaching my children! Through your example with all of us kids.... I have a passion for having a clean house and being able to throw together a casserole with whatever you have in the cupboard! Thanks to you, mom! lol I remember all the amazing homemade bread you made and the " TO DIE FOR" carmel rolls!! I still love them today. Your help with last minute school projects, your encouragement to stick with sports and band, even when I wanted to quit SO badly! I'm so glad I stuck it out to the end! I love that we chat and have so much to talk about,and still do to this day.
You have taught me to sew, grow a garden, cook, clean, care for others, and above all you have taught me to love the LORD! You have always been such an example to me and you have taught me how to pray, study, and search and ponder the scriptures! I see you doing all these things and it's through your example and the things that you do and have taught me that I am the woman I am today! You are a wonderful, blessed, spiritual woman, with so much to offer and I love you so much! Thank you for everything that you have taught me, given me, and the support and love that you give me daily. I hope you have a Wonderful Birthday and know that you are truly a treasure and blessing in all of our lives!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Alana got to ride Louie....

On Sunday we walked over to neighbors and Alana met Jessica, the girl who gave her a ride on her horse Louie!! She absolutely loved her ride and loves horses! She wants to go over there all the time now and hopes she can ride on her own soon..... I think she has a few more years before she is ready for that lol....

Alana's Huge peice of cake......

So we went to this Greek Restaurant and Alana saw this cake she was excited she wanted a slice.... The cake was HUGE and the slice they gave her was as big as the whole to-go box. Her eyes were so big when the man handed her the box and she was pretty excited to get home and taste it!!!

Kids at the park...

We went to this park after the beach and they had this really cool climbing tree and some fun play things for the kids. We were all really tired at this point and sunburned, so we didn't stay long... We still had a good time!

Day at the beach in Savanah....

We have been having amazing weather and decided a day at the beach would be just the ticket!! It's been in the 90's and really warm. Brecken found a star fish and we flew kites too. It was a fun day in the sun.....

Happy Birthday to my DAD!!!!!!

My dad came into this world a whoppin' 53 years ago and that makes him just over half a century old!! LOL So, in my grand opinion he has a lot of wisdom and knowledge and years of experience! I can ask him advice and he always seems to know what to say.... My Dad is a very spiritual man and had always led our family in righteousness and I admire him for that.

All the fun times that we have had together and memories we have made are very dear to my heart! I remember the daddy daughter dinners we went to and the time we dressed up in 50's costumes to go to the church dance! What fun......

My dad took me fishing and helped me catch the big ones!! I loved fishing when I was a girl and he would help me with basics and then I took it from there!! We also had fun in the old boat he fixed up and we would go out to the lake and spend the day out on the water till it broke again!! it was fun...

We had our share of camping trips and they are all pretty memorable too!! We always seemed to have a great time! The Heart Ranch and Colorado are the most memorable for me! No matter what we did, we always came back with a story to tell.....

Did I mention that my Dad is the BEST Auto Mechanic in the whole world!!! It has been his life long career. He started at about the age of 14 I think, and man does he have a knack for it!! He can fix anything, anywhere! He can just hear it over the phone and tell us what to do to get the job done!! To me, this is a talent that is so amazing, and I am so proud of him for all his hard work that he does!!

But the one thing that stands out the most is when the doctors told my parents that I was not going to live when I was 5 years old! I had fallen off the top of a slide and fractured my skull. Things were looking really bleak and my dad gave me a blessing using his priesthood and through this, a miracle happened..... my life was spared and I am here today because of that blessing and the faith that my family has and prayers of so many others as well......

Thank you Dad, for all that you have done for me in my life and the example you are to me everyday! You are am amazing man and have done so much for our family and so many others! On your Birthday, I want you to know how very special and loved you are.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, YOUR THE BEST!!