May 02

Mmmmmm Good!

Donna's aunt makes the most delicious truffles ever! At the reception they had adorable little boxes with two truffles for each person! 

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I came home wanting to learn how to make some. I checked my favorite food blog and there was a recipe! Click here for the link. Yippe! I was so excited. I tried the oreo cookie ones yesterday. I changed the recipe a little. I used mint oreos and chocolate chips. Here is my take. Aren't the beautiful?!
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They were good, but unfortunately not as good as Aunt Carol's. Donna I think I need truffle making lessons from your Aunt!!

Apr 30

6 Months

Tori turned 6 months while in Oxnard. She is at such a fun stage. She smiles and laughs easily. She is a joy in my life!

My mother in law has the most amazing sofa in her house. It is an antique and it is beautiful. Since Tori needed a 6 month photo this sofa provided the perfect background!
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Isn't it great?!
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I want to always remember how her feet fit together! Both of them turn in making the perfect pair!
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I adore her big blue eyes!
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Apr 29

The Reception

The reception was just as wonderful as the wedding. Donna put a lot of time, energy and thought into every detail to make it the perfect night! It was held at the Moorpark Country Club. The weather was perfect. It started with a cocktail hour out in the garden area. The kids had a good time running around. There was lots of pretty places to take pictures!

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Ariana wanted me to take a picture of her, but didn't want to smile or pose. I like these none the less.
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Cousins Ammon and Gabi.
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We were then escorted inside to find our table which looked lovely! 
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Adam was the video-photographer so he was busy filming all night. Since Ariana was so whiny Nik helped a lot! He is always a great helper!
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There was a table with tons of toys, candy, and stickers for the kids to help keep then occupied. Nik found this mustache.
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Ammon liked it too and found some glasses to go with it!
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The big boys liked them just as much. Here is Adam.
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And his brother Lou. See any resemblance?
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Tori loved dancing the night away with all her cousins. This is Alex.
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She also met a new friend who liked her very much! This is Alex's son. These two were very cute together!
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Daddy's girl!
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Sisters! Me and Diane.
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Welcome to the family Donna! 
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Here's to Nick and Donna and a long, loving, happy marriage!


Apr 28

The Wedding

Now for the pictures you have all been waiting for! The wedding pictures! Nick and Donna's wedding was beautiful. Donna looked stunning and Nick was a handsome groom. Their flowers girls were pretty cute too. These pictures were taken before the wedding.

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Ammon waiting inside the church. He was hanging with Uncle Lou!
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The pictures I got of the girls walking down the aisle didn't turn out good. I was disappointed! Britain and Kalixta came in first. Zoe and Ariana were next. Five minutes before the ceremony started Ariana was crying. I was so worried she wouldn't want to participate, but a little milk and all was well. She did a great job! 

Here are a couple of the bride and groom during the ceremony!
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Beautiful, huh?

After the wedding we went to the outside patio for pictures. Here is Donna with all the flower girls.
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It is hard to get that many kids to smile at the same time. I really hope the photographer got a good one. The littlest girls had flower wands to hold and the older girls had cute baskets with petals in them. SO cute!
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Here's the cousins. Cami, Ari, Gabi, Kalixta, Mariya, Zoe and Britain
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And again minus Ariana. She is crying in my arms!
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Here is Adam's Dad and Mom with the newlyweds!
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All of the family cheering!
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Congrats again to Nick and Donna! Love you guys!!

Apr 27

Pool Time

We were able to go to the pool for a short time on Friday before the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The water was cold, and the weather wasn't too warm. The kids still got in the pool and there was a hot tub so we had a good time. Cami went with us and was such a big help. She floated the kids around in the big pool. All my kids LOVE her and miss her so much!

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Ariana was not doing good. She didn't want anything to do with the pool. She just curled up in the sun and slept!
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Ammon loved seeing how fast he could bob his head under the water.
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The bubbles in the hot tub made so much foam. The kids had lots of fun with those!. Here is Zoe's pirate face.
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Thanks Jeff and Kylie for another great day!! We love you!
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Apr 26

Ammon’s Tooth

Ammon's first tooth finally fell out. His bottom tooth has been loose for a little while. Yesterday he was showing everyone how loose it was. He had lunch, washed up and then the tooth just fell out. He was overjoyed! The first thing he did was call his Dad. 

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Nikolas loves to jump in and ruin pictures. He tried and so I just told him to pose with Ammon. My boys!
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Then Ammon says silly faces. That is our family's thing. One good picture and then one silly face picture. It helps the kids to know the get a reward if then smile good! Plus it is fun!
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Apr 25

Grandma’s House

I was able to go see my Grandma with the kids early Friday. Grandma's backyard is great for kids. She has tons of flowers for the girls to smell and water. Britain started watering then Kalixta took over. She went as far as getting Grandma's hat and wearing it while she water. Ariana even called her Grandma a few times. 

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She looked so cute in the hat. I am going to have to find her one!
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Ammon and Zoe had a blast finding avocados on the ground under all the leaves. Ammon said it was like an Easter egg hunt.The added bonus of going to Grandma's house is bring home the loot! She always sends me with lots of avocados and lemons! Mmmmmmm! I have been enjoying avocado sandwiches all week! I even got Britain and Adam hooked. (Toast bread, spread with mayo and then avocado, then sprinkle with salt! Try it! It is awesome!)

Here's all the kids with my Grandma and Uncle Todd.
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Notice Ariana's not there? This was the start of her bad days. She is crying at my feet!

Apr 24

Tori’s firsts!

The week we were in California was an exciting week for Tori. She had lots of firsts. Her first dip in the ocean. First time in a pool. (More on that later.) Her first food! I fed her pudding on the way home. She did such a great job eating it. I will definitely start cereal this week.

Tori rolled over for the first time. The very first time I thought is was a fluke, but then she rolled over again and Adam and his mom saw it! She is also able to sit up now, until she gets excited and falls over like a dominion, but she sit up really big. It is great! 

Marci thinks she grew more hair while she was gone.

She also got her first sunburn! 
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Her poor little cheeks and nose. They were so red. About an inch above her wrists also got burned, so she has a very interesting farmers tan. My poor girl. But she is a trooper and it never bothered her.
She was a great girl the whole trip!

My Ariana on the other hand had a bad few days. She started a small fever and turned into a big crying momma's girl. I had to hold her and hug her and only I would do. Grandpa was a good choice too. She loves her Grandpa! Of course it was on the wedding day and the day before. Too little sleep and lots to do made her a grumpy girl. I loved this picture on her though. She looks so peaceful and content sleeping with her "cougar blanket!"IMG_7934

Apr 23

The Beach

Our next adventure was the beach, of course! Our last trip the kids had so much fun at the beach I decided we always had to go. The kids were sooo looking forward to this day. To make it even better my brother Jeff and Adam's sister Diane and her kids came with us! The water was colder so the kids didn't play in it as much, but they still had a blast!!

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Ammon loved the water the most. He would get wet, then dry himself, and then get wet again!
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Tori touch the beach water for the first time! She didn't cry at all! I was shocked! Maybe she will be my little surfer girl!
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The sand!
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Tori enjoyed the sand too. 
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She even liked how it tasted!
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Ariana and her uncle Jeff.
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Marqus and I.
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Tori and Uncle Jeff.
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Apr 22

Cove Fort

Yea! We are back in Utah! And the weather today was better than what we left in CA, but that is alright our trip there was great!! We did a lot and I have tons of pictures to share.

I will start with our first adventure, but I have to say "Thank you!" to everyone who has left me suggestions for my new blog name. You all had great ideas! I am narrowing down the choices and can't wait to let you see! 

On to our adventure!  Adam and I have always wanted to stop at Cove Fort. It is a Fort that was built by President Gordon B. Hinckley's great grandfather, Ira Hinckley in 1867. He lived there with his family for 20 years. Our love for Pres. Hinckley made us want to visit the fort. So we finally did. The fort was built to offer protection and refreshment to the traveler. The weather was a very cold and I didn't bring warm jackets so it was a quick stop. We will have to go on a warmer day and stay longer.
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The doors were sooo thick!
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This is the telegraph.
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The kids love dominions so they were so excited to see these dominions and hear that pioneers played too.
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Before we left Marci tried to teach Ariana to pose with two fingers up for peace. Check out Ariana trying to do it here!
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All the rooms had furniture, dishes, clothes, and pictures that would have been around in 1800's.
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Ariana probably trying to get Adam to pick her up!
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Check out the toothbrushes!! Yes, even people back then brushed their teeth!
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This was our super sweet tour guide. She is showing  the kids how to use this toy she then gave them!
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She had the kids all face a display that had Book Of Mormons in many different languages and close their eyes. They then put their finger somewhere and opened their eyes. "That is where you will go on a mission!" she told them. The kids really liked it!
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