Update

The surgery was a success. They removed the blockage. A tumor has grown back in its original spot. But they left that and will work to shrink it through chemotherapy. Pat will be in the hospital for about another week. (Hopefully I am getting all of this right. It's info passed from Sherry to Kurt to me.) Anyway thanks for prayers! We could still use them so don't stop!

Cancer sucks!

Kurt's dad is going in for surgery today. He has a mass of scar tissue and possibly tumor which is causing a blockage in his small intestine. He has a drain in his nose which is making him so uncomfortable and unable to sleep. He can't eat OR drink. We are praying for him and Sherry and the doctors today. We went to the hospital last night so Kurt and Jake could give him a blessing. Kurt feels very good about the outcome of the surgery. I sure hope that proves to be true.

Sweethearts Dance

Nerds at Borders.

Saturday night was Sweethearts at Orem. The theme was nerds. I think all these kids fit the theme pretty well!

Ski Day

Derik and April and their family have been here since Monday. We have been having fun just hanging out and watching the Olympics. Yesterday we went skiing at Sundance. It was a great day. Emerson was thrilled to be able to ski with Grace. The boys are going to head up today and board to their heart's content!

Oh the love!

So, all in all, I think we have had a Valentine's day filled with plenty of love! We even ate dinner at the kitchen table it was such a special occasion!

And last night someone got a dozen roses from someone who isn't their boyfriend!

Kurt

This is how Kurt looked when I fell in love with him. As we round out this Valentine's week, I get to talk about the person that started it all! It's easy to list all the good things about Kurt. He has a quiet confidence about him. He is always calm and in control. I think I have seen him lose it only once in our whole married life. He truly is nice to everyone. He's the most non-judgmental person I know. I'm sure that's part of the reason his BYU students love him so much. He's very easy to be around. He can and will strike up a conversation with anyone in a heartbeat. He's so creative. For so many years his creativity was bottled up because he didn't really have a useful outlet for it. Now he can use it on a daily basis and he does it very well. He's funny. He's very thoughtful and remembers things that are important. For my 40th birthday, he wrote me a letter listing 40 things he loves about me. It made me cry and, when I read it over yesterday, I cried again! He is a good provider for our family and he is always thinking about us. He is always thinking about his parents and making sure that they are taken care of. How I got so lucky to have such a wonderful friend, husband and father to my children I will never know but I am thankful for him every day.

I love you Kurt!

Emerson

Man I love this girl-----dirty face and shirt and all! I said before how all our babies were good and Emerson definitely was. But she was the most delightful toddler. I don't have any other way to describe it. And she continues to be the most happy, content child. She is always singing. In fact, I just told her today that I hope she takes choir in junior high school because if she is not talking then she is singing! She is friends with everyone. She makes you feel good about yourself when you are with her. School comes easy to her. She likes to try new things. All her teachers love her. At school, when she gets done with her work, she will go around the class and help those that need it. She is always the first one of our kids to ask for hugs and kisses before bed. She likes affection. How lucky we are to have such a great kid in our family.

I love you Emerson!

Indy

What to say about Indy? He was such a good baby----who wouldn't be at 9lb. 1 oz. at birth! But my other two before him didn't really prepare me for the toddler he would be. Let's just say Indy knows what he wants and is willing to fight to get it. That quality in a toddler can be quite challenging! But he could be so sweet at the same time.
He is so determined. He is good at all sports. This fall he tried football for the first time and loved it. He is a good student. Things come easy for him. Everyone wants to be his friend. While he wasn't much of a cuddler as a baby, now he's the one that wants to be closest to me sitting in church or at home watching tv. He has mellowed and become a really great person. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.
I love you Indy!

Finn

My little old man. Finn was born with an old soul. He is wise beyond his years. Yes, he's still a typical teenager in many ways. But, so much of the time, he has a greater perspective. He is always the first person to help me when I ask or even when I don't ask. He wants to please others. He is kind to everyone. He's a good student and I never have to ask him to do his homework. He is good at any sport he tries. He magnifies his priesthood and always does what is right.

I love you Finn!

Montana

Is that the cutest face or what? And to think that she is almost seventeen years old! My first born child. She is a lot like me in many ways but so different at the same time. She is way more friendly and outgoing. She is very adventurous and willing to try new things. She's very responsible and self-motivated. She likes babies and little kids and she's a very good baby-sitter (not that she does much of that anymore!). She gets good grades and wants to do what's right. She is beautiful inside and out. She is a wonderful example to her brothers and sister. I am grateful that she is my daughter.

I love you Montana!