Thanksgiving

 I only have one picture from Thanksgiving weekend in St. George. And it's not a good picture but it's a pretty funny one.

I'm sure my sister Kaci would not be happy that I'm posting this picture. But I love Will's face. Here we are at Thanksgiving dinner at Players. Will and Ethan don't really want to have anything to do with any of the food. But Aaron is insisting that Will eat so many bites of sweet potato before he can have any pumpkin pie. So here Will is, crying his eyes out, while he gags down a few bites. I should have gotten the after pic when he was happily eating his pumpkin pie-----tears still in his eyes. 

Holidays sometimes bring out the very worst in kids….and parents. 

Baby Emer

Those eyes!!

Last Sunday, at our family dinner, Sunne brought a whole box of pictures. She had tons of pics of all the kids when they were little. I couldn't stop staring at the above picture of Emerson. She was the most delightful baby and toddler. Oh how I miss those days....

(btw----she is also a delightful teenager!)

Our CRAZY weekend

This last week has been a whirlwind of activity. Trying to get a missionary ready to leave in a week is CRAZY! But everything has fallen in to place and I think we are almost ready. 

Saturday night Finn received his endowment at the Draper Temple. It was a wonderful night. We were so lucky to have so many Brian family members in town with us so it was extra special. The temple worker helping him for the night has a son who returned from the Texas McAllen mission last September so he had some fun experiences to share with Finn.  

Everyone gathered at Sherry's after the temple to eat. What a beautiful view from her front porch!

Yes, it's very blurry but you have to be sneaky when taking pictures in church! The farewell went well. Finn's talk was perfect. He shared a part of a letter he received from Isaac Burr. That was the only time he teared up. I'm very proud of him and look forward to hear all about his adventures in the next few years to come. 

New Family Pic

We got a new family picture last weekend. It was our last opportunity to have one taken before the kids head off on missions. I was convinced that they would not turn out at all because of so many things ----howling wind, hot temperatures, not the best lighting and Emerson not feeling well. But I thought they turned out quite well. I think everyone is happy about them but Emerson. 

No longer a teen....

Montana, the birthday girl, wanted to start the day out right! Amen to that!

Next, we headed out for a pedicure party.

Followed by a very brief hike with 2/3 of the family.

Her day ended with balloons, sugar cookies, flowers and a date with Stephen Hawks. I think it was a pretty good way to celebrate being 20!

And one last pic with some of the England littles before she heads out on the mission!

Finn's Graduation 2013

On the big screen

Grandma and Grandpa England

Graduation day consisted of me trying to hold back tears ALL day. It was so fun to spend time with family and friends and watch Finn enjoy this carefree day. High school has been such a wonderful experience for him. He has had so many good, close friends sharing it with him and I am so appreciative of their examples and friendship to Finn. 

Endowment Day

Montana received her endowment tonight at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. It was a great night to be with family. I think I was almost as nervous tonight as I was the first time I went through for myself! I kept glancing over at her wondering the thoughts she was having, how much she might be freaking out and hoping she was doing okay. It was nice to have her roommates Haley and Lizzie there with us. June 5 is coming way too fast!

More mission call pics

Sister!

Lauren, Lizzy, Montana, Savy, Haley

Montana & London

Proud parents!

Ugly cry face!

Washington Seattle Mission

It's pretty amazing how long two weeks feels when you are waiting for something as exciting as a mission call! Montana had spoken with our bishop early in the week and knew that the call had been issued. Most of the time that means the envelope will come in the mail on Wednesday. Unfortunately it didn't arrive that day! I thought Montana was going to have a nervous breakdown! 

But today's mail finally brought that familiar white envelope. Even harder, though, was waiting until 7:30 to actually open it up! All the England family came to the house along with Montana's roommates and Kenzie Holmes. 

Mom & Dad brought the beautiful flowers to Montana.

She was crying before she even started opening the envelope! But she was able to read enough to get to Washington Seattle English speaking. I am thrilled and I think she is pretty happy too. I kept thinking of all the things that will be so much easier to do having her in the states and so close by-----I am a mom after all! 

She will enter the MTC on June 5-----only about 3 months from now. I'm sure that time will fly by for all of us. 

We called Sherry to tell her the good news and she said Pat had a hand in her call seeing as Seattle was where the mission home was for the Northwestern Mission where he served. I was thinking about him the whole day feeling so sad that he is not here to see his grandchildren serve missions but I know he will be doing all he can on the other side. 

one of the cute gifts given to Montana by my sisters

One of Montana's roommates took oodles of pictures which she is going to pass along so I will have more to post in the future. I think we spent a good hour taking all sorts of shots so I'm looking forward to seeing all of them!

Christmas Eve 2012

It's really sad how few pictures we take anymore----even on a big holiday like Christmas! 

Christmas Eve this year was with the England side. We gathered at Mom & Dad's with everyone but Sunne, Flynn and Elliot.....and new baby Boston. Sunne had just given birth on December 16 so they stayed home. We had a fun time. The kids were running around like crazies----too excited to contain their energy. 

We gave Mom & Dad their Christmas gift. I was so excited about it. And I think they really loved it. This isn't the greatest picture and we still need to re-hang them better and more permanently. 

Families are forever.

Sweet Max

A terrible accident happened on Friday morning in our England family. My uncle Todd's family was in the beach house in Dana Point/Capistrano Beach. Aunt Jeannette and cousins Courtney, Chelsey and Amanda were all in Denver at the time for a girls weekend.  Courtney's 17 month-old Max escaped briefly and was found floating in the hot tub. Todd and Chase found him, called 911 and immediately started CPR. The paramedics arrived and continued working on him while they took him to the hospital in San Clemente. The doctors confirmed, at that time, that there was no brain function. He was then transferred to Children's Hospital of Orange County where he passed away Saturday morning.

I remember thinking, after I got the terrible news of the accident, that he would be okay. Although he was on a ventilator, his little heart was beating on its own.  I just kept thinking he would be okay----our prayers and pleading with the Lord would be answered and Max would live. But that was not Heavenly Father's plan for Max. And what a tragedy it would be if we didn't have the knowledge of Heavenly Father's plan. I know they will see him again and that he is sealed to Courtney and Gordon forever.

I'm hugging my kids and husband a little tighter today. I know that every minute I have with them is precious and could be taken away so quickly. But my knowledge of the gospel plan is sure and how eternally grateful I am that families are forever. 

One more boy...

Baby Atticus arrived today weighing in at 7 lbs.13 oz. Everyone says he is a miniature Dave. I haven't seen him yet but I can't wait to! Lindsey may make me hose down and dress in scrubs from head to toe first. She was pretty dang protective of the nieces and nephews before she got this one of her very own. 

Congrats Lindsey & Dave!

Day 24 of Gratitude-Thanksgiving Day

Today I feel blessed to have a family--not only my immediate family but extended family to spend the holiday with. I am so grateful for the anticipation of spending uninterrupted time with them. I feel so lucky that we have an abundance of blessings; that we have more food that we could ever want or need; that we are healthy and able to physically do all the things we want to do; Mostly I am grateful to know my purpose here on this earth. How lucky I am to have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me in spite of my weaknesses and shortcomings.

Fall Getaway

Half of our family got to go to this beautiful place last week for a little getaway. Kurt had work deadlines and both Montana and Finn weren't able to miss school so Indy, Emerson and I drove to Dana Point for the week. I was really dreading that long drive after having driven it so many times this summer. But it ended up being not too bad at all.

Lindsey and Dave were there. It's always fun to drive around town in the Mini!

Mom, Dad and Elliot

This splint did not slow Ethan down one bit!

Elliot loved the hot tub.

We spent one afternoon at Emerald Bay beach. It was a perfect day----there was not a cloud in the sky.

Will, Ethan and Emerson had a great time digging and finding sand crabs.

We spent a day at Disneyland of course! It was such a bummer that it was so crowded. I know Arizona schools were on break but still!!! The weather was downright hot! I think it got into the 90's. But we had a great time anyway.

I had to get a picture of this for Indy.

I loved seeing all the Halloween decorations all over the park. So festive!

There is a great park just around the corner from the England house called Pines Park. It has a fun playground for the kids and the views of the beach are spectacular.

Not a great picture of the beach house but I had to get some documentation of it. It is such a great house.