Happy Birthday Mckena

Mckena Age 17

Mckena Age 8

Sometimes don't ya wish you could just turn back the clock? :( This was 9 years ago at her baptism. Now that she is 17, she is hard to track down for a picture! She leaves at 6:00 a.m. for dance so I never got a 1st day of school pic, she was out with her friends all day and night yesterday for her birthday, so again... no birthday picture. But ironically, she got a camera for her birthday, so maybe she will take some of her own and share with me.

She is a joy to our family, even if she is a busy, on the go, enjoy life, laugh, no time to clean my room, constantly borrowing money kinda girl! We love you sis, and are so proud of the young woman you are, the wise choices you make, and the happiness you bring to our family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Quite Possibly One of the Greatest Days of Motherhood

Today we were able to go to the Bountiful Temple with TJ for him to received his endowment. The girls did baptisms, while we went through the session. It was one of the most rewarding moments as a mother. It has been a struggle to get to this point, but in that moment, everything was worth it, and family was the only thing that mattered. Suddenly I didn't care about his room that is never clean, or how mad I was when he had 3 cars at a time, or his obsession to own every shoe ever made. I was reminded of what is truly important. He has been a good kid, not without his mistakes, like most of us, but he has made himself worthy to enter the house of the Lord. I am so very proud of you TJ. It was evident to us too that our dear Chelsea was there with us. It makes the whole temple experience even greater when you have someone on the other side of the veil. I could feel how happy she was for TJ, and just as proud of him as the rest of us.

We were blessed enough to have Rich's whole family (minus one sister and brother in law), my mom, my Aunt & Uncle, and our good Bishop Hill and his wife share this day with us.

It is a day that I will never forget, and I hope that TJ felt all our love and support for him.

Ever since he was little, it has been hard for him to take a picture facing the sun! So cute :)

The suit he is wearing, is the same suit that Rich came home from his mission in!

Officer Shayla

Shayla's SBO officer sweater has finally arrived!

I'm a bit partial, but she has got to be one of the cutest officers SJH has ever seen! I love her nick name she chose for the back "Shazzam," because it really fits her. A small little package with lots of spunk. She is the only girl SBO, but she holds her own! (She probably has TJ to thank for that.)

Here is to a great school year!

What a moment

This much anticipated packet, showed up in the mail today~ August 25th 2010

It was addressed to this handsome YM, I mean Elder

Opening up the hot little packet~ the anticipation is intense

Reading, " Dear Elder Franklin: You are assigned to labor in the Alabama Birmingham Mission"

He had to take a seat when he read, " Report to the MTC on Wed. October 6th" (that is only 6 weeks away! also notice the proud dad.)

Checking out the map, and Kena texting the news to all her friends

Sweet Home Alabama! We are so thrilled, and proud of TJ. This has not been easy coming, but he has now jumped in with both feet! We have a lot to do before Oct 6th, but it will be fun to spend that special time with him. I already feel the blessings, and sacredness of our only son serving a mission! Best of luck to you TJ as you work hard, be obedient, serve the Lord, and share the gospel! We LOVE you and could not be more proud!

So behind...

One of the worst things about journaling/blogging is getting behind. I always struggle between catching up or just move on from here. So in an effort to try to do a little of both, here I go:

June was~ Trek, Shayla's b-day, Rich's B-day, Bear Lake Family Reunion

July was~Girls Camp, Youth Conference, and gone in a flash

August is~ Dance Teacher Convention in Vegas, Dance Intensives, & Back to School!

Our summer at a glance has been:

Cherry Hill, working more than I would like, roasting marshmallows in our new fire pit, laying in the hammock, going to a few movies Karate Kid, Inception, Step Up 3. Eating at Zupas way too much, it is our new addiction, and enjoying our time together.

Cherry Hill

Girls Camp

New Fire pit!

Lazy nights of Summer

Where has summer gone? I hate to see it go, even if fall is one of my favorite times of the year.