East Garage Wall

We are getting ready to finish the wall and pour the second half of the floor. Eric worked really hard yesterday getting everything moved out of the way.

PROGRESS!

Dad worked really hard over the weekend. He got the front porch wall (and new window) in and got the roof finished and the tar paper on one half of the porch. I'm excited!

I'm ESME!

TAGGED!

I must admit that this is the first time I've been tagged. Adrian tagged me. I'm supposed to write down six quirks. You guys probably know my "quirks" better than I do!

1. I CAN'T STAND TO BE LATE!!!! As you know, I come by this quite naturally as my Dad would drive home before he would walk into church late. We have had more fights in our married life over this one point than anything else. I would rather sit there for a long time and be early than walk in even a second late. I liked the quote I heard at our stake conference that it is the ultimate selfishness to expect the Lord to wait on us. I guess that just applies to being on time for church, although I think it applies to anything.

2. The toast has to be buttered the SECOND it comes out of the toaster and it has to be LIGHT brown. I can't eat toast that isn't soft and buttery. The HARD and DARK BROWN really gets to me.

3. The kids tell me that I turn on my blinker about TWO MILES before the turn off.

4. Shirts have GOT to be pressed. I guess my pressing shirts for a dime a piece when I was little influenced my psychic on this one! I hate to see a shirt that isn't pressed - even on little kids.

5. I like things put away - keys hung up on the "hanger" - glasses and wallets put in the same place every day so that I don't have to spend forever looking for them.

6. The minute I put milk on my cereal, I have to eat it. If I put the milk on there and then somebody asks me to do something, I have a nervous breakdown. I don't do "SOGGY."

I'm sure you guys can think of more!

Love ya, Mom

BRUUUUU HAAAA HAAAAAAA!!!!

Invitations are ready...let me know if you want to come...it's the best party of the year....love you all.
-Brooke

PORCH

Dad has started framing the new porch. Eric has been cutting the 2 X 6s that will make up the roof. Hopefully, this afternoon we can get the roof on. It looks like SNOW!

NEW WINDOW!

Disneyland!!

We are back from Disneyland...feel free to check out the pictures on our family blog. I was too tired to put them on both blogs...sorry. We got to meet up with Marci for a few minutes. It was so fun to catch up and chat for a little bit.

BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS

Fun in Holden

These two crazies...
Dad!
Concrete...check!
Look at all those worms the kids found!

Sexy mama!
Porch lookin' great!
Me and Londers just relaxin'
Isn't she the cutest thing you have ever seen?

Well, I wish I had a picture of Eric, but I guess he was dodging my camera all weekend. I couldn't find him in any of them! But, I just wanted to tell him thank you for all that he has done to help Mom and Dad on the house. I know that he built most of the supports so that they could pour cement. WAY TO GO!!!! We love you.

See you guys when we get back from Disneyland!
Love you all.
-Brooke and Fam.

SAWDUST AND WATER DON'T MIX!!

What an experience.

I just wanted to sit down and tell you all a few more details about my Master's degree while the experience was fresh in my mind. I know you all might disagree with the following statement because you are my family, and that's what family does. But, I want you all to know that I'm not smart enough to get a Masters. Now, let me explain. After about a week in the program, I realized that I was in over my head. I'm telling you, this degree is for people who are A LOT smarter than I am. But, since I inherited a deep desire to finish what I started, I made the decision to FINISH, no matter what it took. I wanted to quit SOOOOO BBBAAAADDD! I remember crying to Dan multiple times saying that I'm not smart enough to do this degree.
There were a lot of bumps in the road, and I can't begin to tell you how many times, I wanted to give up.

After I graduated, (without being done), it took me a REALLY long time to be able to start working on my degree again. I was pretty depressed about it. I was probably in the lowest part of my life, when I realized that I couldn't do it on my own, but I could ask someone to help. I NEEDED HEAVENLY FATHER TO HELP ME. I honestly prayed to have the desire to want to finish, because at this point, I had lost the desire completely. I also prayed that I would be able to finish.

Although it took me awhile to finally get to this point, I can't begin to tell you how much help I received from our Heavenly Father to help me. I read parts of my thesis, and I don't remember typing the words. I know that it was Him who gave me the ambition, the strength, and the brain to finish.

I cannot take full credit for my degree because without Him, it wouldn't have gotten done.

I just wanted you all to know that my testimony has grown a lot over the past few years. I know that Heavenly Father loves me, and He helped me obtain my goal. I don't ever want you to doubt my testimony, so I decided that I'd better share it with you.

I have experienced the atonement, first hand. I know that through Heavenly Father's plan, we can be forgiven for our sins. I know that perfection isn't expected, and that is why our Savior came to earth. He died so that we could obtain eternal life.

I am so grateful for the blessings of the temple. Although, it would be extremely hard to lose any of you, I know that I'll be able to see you again if I live worthy for that blessing.

I know that we have a living prophet on earth, and I have 100% confidence in him to lead the church in the very best way possible. I know that callings are given with the spirit, and we should accept them and magnify them to the best of our abilities.

I want you all to know that you are part of my testimony. You have all influenced me with your examples. I love you all.

Have a good day.
-Brooke

RELEASED!

Our Young Women's presidency and advisors were released yesterday! I was completely blind sighted. I didn't see it coming at all. After Young Women's, Kris said that we were all supposed to go into the Bishop's office. He told us we were getting released in sacrament meeting.

It was funny. Ross had called Kris on Friday to tell her. She called me after church and said that the only reason she had thought it would be all right was because she thought I was the new president. NOT HARDLY!

It was hard because our Young Women's in Excellence program was last night. The Bishop had gotten it OK'd for Kris and the past presidency to conduct and finish out the program. It was very difficult for everyone.

I guess change is good . . . and hard!

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

I saw one of these on Jayci Crapo's blog & I thought it was pretty cool! I thought it was kinda funny that it says that I look like Beyonce & Scarlet Johansson!! haha--if only it were true!!
I couldn't get the REAL one to post right & show all the pictures, so you can't REALLY click on it to get your own, but here's the link if you want to try it!!
http://www.myheritage.com/celebrity-collage

OUR Kids!

We decided since Brooke is putting pictures of their kids on the blog that we would put pictures of OUR kids on the blog! Here are OUR kids at Lagoon!

LOOK AT MOM'S FACE!!

We had so much fun at Lagoon this weekend. We missed all of you who couldn't come! We actually convinced Mom and Dad to ride the rocket! It was hilarious. Sure love you all.
-Brooke

NEW CEMENT!

We are excited about our new cement! Last night, Dad and I and Eric, along with Zane Pentz, Doug Nielsen, Mike Wilcox, and Mike Josse poured our new cement. Zane had a lot of great tools - big floaters, etc. - that really helped. I'm including pictures.

Dave Lund helped Dad pour cement up to Grandpa and Grandma's. Dad helped them fix their front steps so that they can get in and out the front door now.

Slackifier....Def: 1. One who slacks often. 2. Phil

Hello everyone!

It turns out we are alive and I actually looked at the blog in complete surprise to see all the sweet stuff about me and my fam! Thanks so much everyone for posting our pics and saying such "nice" things about me (Brookie you rock). Aubs is feeling great, but occasionally feels a little sick in the evenings or like at church when she hasn't eaten anything for a while. Anyways, school is sweet. We just went on a couple canyon tree frog (above) and lizard catching field studies. It was kinda crazy and funny. I didn't even know tree frogs existed in Utah especially on desert canyon walls! It was nuts! I have a funny lizard catching story for everyone, but the story must be told in person as it requires many hand motions and much reinacting......... We're going to yellowstone this Friday for a few days and I'm super-pumped to hear all the bulls bugling and see the beautiful fall leaves. I'll post TONS of pics when we get back. I have made a September resolution to be a better blogger and let everyone know whats going on so here goes......................

Love you all!

PHIL AUBS ADDIE AND BABY

SKY FEST!

Philip, Aubrey, and Addie went to the Sky Fest in Cedar City this morning. Here are a few pictures!

Lagoon...

Hey family...
Dan and I are going to Lagoon this Saturday (the 13th). Feel free to come if you'd like. The more the merrier. Love you all!
-Brooke

GREAT JOB, MARCIE!!

When Marcie got home yesterday she told me that she had gotten a Thank You note from her Teacher! She was VERY excited about it!! Well, when she got it out & showed it to me it was actually a certificate--She was named the "Cafe Rio OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE WEEK"!!! She got the certificate & also a card that lets her get a free meal & a drink from Cafe Rio!! WAY TO GO, MARCIE!! She's SUCH a great student & always does her best!

We're SO proud of you, Marcie!! GREAT JOB!!! =D

THANKS!

A special thanks to Brooke and Adrian for setting up our blog and designing it. We love you!

I'M EXHAUSTED!!

Ariel...

Oaklyn Singing

I thought this video was pretty funny, so I decided to share it with ya'all!
Love you,
Brooke