November 30, 2007

Flashback Friday


Someone gave me this brillant idea to do a flashback every friday. I thought it sounded like a fun idea, so here we go. I was flipping through my old college pictures and found this picture. I am on the far left, Mabry, in the middle, and Brenda. They were two of my roommates from Ricks College. That kind of dates my college years because now it is no longer Ricks, it is BYU Idaho. It will always be Ricks to me. I was there when Elder Bednar was President. It was great to get to hear from him on Tuesday devotionals.
Anyways, this picture was taken at Monkey Falls just outside of Rexburg. We all attended the summer semester of school and after classes we would hope in Mabry's car and drive out in the middle of nowhere to this place. It was almost hidden and I am not sure many peopel knew about it but we came here often to swim and just have fun. Mabry was the brave one who would jump off the top of the falls. I don't remember how deep the water was but it wasn't that deep. She was a brave one. You could also swim up under the falls to the caves back behind. This was our summer fun. In Rexburg, you had to use your imagination and we sure did. We had a great year up at school. Mabry was studying in the nursing program and Brenda was an instructor at the Beauty College. She is the one who introduced me into cutting and coloring my hair. We have some fun times. Thanks girls for all the good times. I love ya!

November 27, 2007

Our Thanksgiving





This is the whole Snyder clan, minus one, who is John. He is serving in Brazil. We had so much fun. It was great to see everyone again. It had been a year and a half since we had seen Shauna and we got to meet her two adorable twins, Joel and Jacob. They are just the sweetest little guys too. We also got to meet for the very first time little Emma Marie. Oh she was so sweet. She was so fun to hold and squeeze. I forgot just how small they are. Thanks Paul and Lesa for letting us all crash at your house.It was so nice to meet Shelley. She is such a doll. Eldon, you found a keeper. We can't wait until you are offically married. They have set the date for December 29th in the Oakland temple. So all siblings are flying to California for the wedding, while the rest of us linger in Mesa. We will hopefully get to stay there until after the New Year for the reception. We had fun stuffing invitations and just being together. I know it felt like a zoo sometimes but we had a great time.
Keaton and Andrew really loved playing with the kids. It didn't matter how cold it was, they still wanted to be outside.
Provo was so beautiful. Mom and Dad's home is right up along the mountain. There is just an amazing view out their window. We loved being so close to the mountains again. Mom and Dad, you were so gracious with everything. How do you do it? We sure love you. We only wish that Arizona were right next to Idaho. Our boys sure miss you, but we have your pictures up so you are no strangers to them.
Here are some more fun pictures that we took. Enjoy. I will post some more later.

November 19, 2007

Thanksgiving plans

We have a busy Holiday season ahead of us. We leave for Provo tomorrow to be with the Snyders for Thanksgiving. We are so excited to be with all 9 siblings and their families, except for John who is on his mission in Brazil. We sure miss you John! We look forward to seeing Shauna and her family. She is Lance's older sister and she had twins in July and we have never seen them before. They have never met Andrew either and he is one month short of a year old. It has been a long time. Paul and Lesa just had their beautiful little baby girl last week. Congratulations!!!! Little Emma Marie is with us now and we hear that she is quite the angel.
For Christmas we are flying down to Arizona to spend with the Snyders again. Eldon, Lance's younger brother just got engaged this past weekend.Good job Eldon!! We can't wait to meet Shelly, his fiance. They have set the date for December 29th in the Oakland temple. We are so happy for you both! We can't wait to see you.
We look forward to seeing all of you. Happy Thanksgiving!

November 15, 2007

Remember when




I was cleaning out my office today and ran across a box full of old pictures. Ones that were taken years and years ago, well seems like it anyways. I found a pile of pictures of our engagement. I couldn't believe how young we looked. Was it really only five years ago we got married? Sometimes it seems a bit longer than that. But we are have had the most wonderful 5 years. We have had three beautiful children whom we love and cherish very much.
I remember meeting Lance for the first time. It was at church, 2 weeks after I returned home from my mission. We introduced ourselves one Sunday and from then on we just started talking in spanish, about missions and everything else. We had a fun summer doing so much. We ran around with Nicole and Rustin and just had fun being together. Thanks for sticking with me Lance. You were a real trooper to be with my family.
This was a trip back down memory lane for me. Remember when it felt so exciting to be getting married. The possibilities, the plans and what life had in store for us was such a thrill. On December 21st, we will be celebrating our 5 yr. anniversary. Thanks Lance for the best 5 years. It has been pretty bumpy but we have made it! Thanks babe for everything. I sure love you! Thanks for being such an incredible father to our children and a fun-loving, supporting husband.

November 13, 2007

Flashback



I was at a Primary Activity and the theme was Missionary Work. We set up a MTC for the kids. We are relay races and fun games for them to do. I was asked to set up a booth about my mission for the kids so they would get a feel for what a mission was like. I hadn't looked through my things for time. There were things in there that I had forgotten all about. Memories that resurfaced again. Pictures of those I grew close to and people who I cared so much about. It was so much fun to go through all of my things and remmember the fun times I had. Looking back now it all seems like a blur. It seems like a dream. Did I really go to Chile? Did I really serve and love those people there? It is a part of my life I look back on and smile from ear to ear. Some of my best friends who I still keep in contact were there with me. There were some friends I will say who bugged me to so much but later ended up becoming my best friends. Thank you!
Now I can sit and show the pictures to my children so they know a part of me that was so important. They enjoy the stories too.
The Lord has blessed so much. I am in debt to Him for His love and the lessons He has given to me.

November 8, 2007

A long night


I was sitting in our dinning room this morning feeding my children breakfast and I was so tired. Anyone who has children will know what I am talking about. One of those nights where your children are up every other hour it seems and all they want is to come into your bed to sleep. Well Keaton wakes up now about twice a night wanting to come and sleep in our bed. We've tried letting him cry it out but ever since we made his crib into a toddler bed he has figured out that he can just get out of bed and open the door to get out. It is really quite simple. So Lance battles with Keaton and I with Andrew. We both wake up at 7 becaause that is when the mechanism in our children seems to tell them to wake up. We are so exhausted. Feels like we haven't even slept yet. Then our day starts off to a rough start and we just are so happy! But then you look at their sweet faces with that huge grin from ear to ear because all they want to see is you and then you forget all about last night until it happens all over again.
My sister Rachel is in town with Ava. They are so fun to have around. Jason graduates in December so we will be so excited to have them back home. Good luck Jason! We are cheering you on. You can do it!
I am so blessed to have the family that I have. Seems like I take it all for granted sometimes. I am infatuated with my husband and desperately in love with my children. I love them all.

November 6, 2007

November 1, 2007

Happy Halloween

This year was extremely warm. Warmer than I remember. We started out at our ward trunk or treat which started pretty early. We were there at 5:30 p.m.. Most of the people that go each year told us to be there on time and we would know why. Holy smokes! I think the whole town of Star was there. The parking lot was packed with kids and cars. Keaton had a hard time at first. He didn't want to put his costume on but once he saw that all the other kids were dressed up then he seemed fine with it. So off we headed to the trunks. He was so excited for each piece of candy that was put into his bucket. We were finished in about an hour. Then we loaded them up into the car and headed to grandma's house for some more trick or treating. Great Grandma was there and happy to see the boys.
This was Andrew's first Halloween. He was relaxed in our arms and just watched all the other kids run around. Keaton was a little lion.I searched and searched for a costume this year. Seems like if you don't get it by the first of October then your options are pretty much limited. So silly mom, I procrastinated and waited alittle bit longer. I ran into this little lion suit and thought it would be cute. I was right! He was so cute. Some even commented that he looked like an ewalk. Is that how you spell it? Someone help me out here!
Andrew was a bat. He fit perfectly into Keaton's costume from last year. He was such a cute one too.
We had a great time. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Quinn, and Uncle Justin for coming with us. We had a good time. It wouldn't have been the same without you all.