Monday, May 25, 2009

Our week with the Wamplers!

Warning: long post. Mostly pictures.

My best friend Leah and her family came from Tennessee this past week and stayed with us. I just wanted to share some of the things we did. 

On Tuesday, we did a lot. We started the day off at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. This is where lots of prophets are buried. I only took a few pictures because there where so many. It was amazing to go there and see their graves. I had been there before but didn't know who these amazing men where. Now that I am an active member of the church, I now know who they are.

This is Wilford Woodruff's.
He was the 4th president of the church. He is one of my favorites. He kept a journal everyday since he became a member of the church. That is how we have a lot of our church history, thanks to him.


This is John Taylor's.
He was president right before Wilford Woodruff. He was present during the martyrdom of Joesph Smith. He was injured but he lived.


Here is our last beloved prophet, Gorden B. Hinckley's.
I had a hard time with his passing. He was the first prophet I came to know as a prophet. I know now that President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet. I love that man!

My friend, Melissa had joined us too that day. That is who is in the picture with me.


I loved David O. Mckay's. I thought it was so simple but beautiful.


I had to get a picture of Evan, Leah's husband with his favorite prophet, Spencer W. Kimball.


Orson Pratt's. 
He was an apostle to Joesph Smith. Amazing!


Next we went to tour the conference center.

They are getting ready to celebrate the new Oaker Mountain Temple, that is now getting ready to open soon.


Picture of the cute family in the conference seats.


This is on top of the conference center. It is so neat because they planted trees and shrubbery on top of the center. It is suposed to look like how Utah looked to the pioneers when they first came into the Salt Lake Valley.


What is Ayla looking at?


Well, the Salt Lake Temple!
This is the view from inside the top of the conference center. That was where we went next.


Ayla and I on the temple stairs.


At the doors.


Look at the size of those doors to Ayla. She is so small. I love it.


Ayla is really starting to love flowers.
These flowers are right in front of the temple.


Ayla and Noah were having fun running around, being free from their strollers.


We took a lot of pictures of Ayla and Noah in this corner but this was the best one that I got. I think it is so cute.


And of course, the Wampler family!

We then went to the Joesph Smith Memorial building.

Evan and Noah next to the large Joesph Smith statue inside.

We then ate lunch at the Lion House. Yummy, Yummy rolls!

On Wednesday, we went to visit Ann.

Me, Ann and Leah.
We all became friends from working at the airport together. I am grateful I worked there. These two women are two of my closest friends.


Down in Ann's basement, she has this kid swing. 
It was Ayla's first time in a swing like this.


It was the cutest. She was laughing and giggling and saying "Weee!" So cute! I love moments like that!


On Friday, we went to This is the Place monument park. I had never been there before. I loved it. I want to go back with Kurt.

That is a replica of the Huntsman's Hotel in the back. We went and got a little bite to eat there.


Ayla loved playing on the stairs in the Huntsman's Hotel. She got really dirty.


That is a replica of Heber C. Kimball's house in the back. Isn't it beautiful?
Notice that Ayla is asleep? It was her nap time. Also notice I am wearing the same outfit I wore on Tuesday. I washed my laundry, I swear! LOL!!


Here I am petting an adorable little baby goat. I wished Ayla would have been awake for this part of it. Oh well!!


This was one of Brigham Young's farm homes. It was really pretty. 
I really enjoyed This is the Place.  I want to go back. 


I took some final pictures of Ayla and Noah the last night they were here. Both of them are in Ayla's crib right before bedtime. 

Ayla had a lot of fun with Noah.


She loves him.


Well that's it. No more pictures. At least that is what it looks like Noah is saying in this picture. But for real, that is all floks. This is the end of the post. The Wamplers went home the next day. I really enjoyed having them here. I miss them already. I guess it is our turn again to go to Tennessee. 

Thursday, May 21, 2009

A fun Sunday evening at Ann's!

About 3 weeks ago, my friend, Ann's darling little boy asked me to make him a Wii cake for his birthday. It melted my heart. He is such a cute little kid. I couldn't say no to his sweet little face. So I told him I would. 

And here is a picture of the cake.


The top view.


My friend, Leah and her family are here from Tennessee and they are staying with us. But on Sunday, they went down south to be with her aunt and uncle and cousins. That was the perfect time for me to go to deliver the cake. So that is what I did. Kurt and Ayla came too because we were planning on taking Ayla to a park and letting her run around.

Here is the darling little boy, Christian with his cake. 
Now look at his face and tell me you could say no to his bright blue eyes. It was an honor to make this little boy happy.

The funny thing is we never ended up taking Ayla to the park because, when we went outside, Christian pulled out the wagon and started pulling Ayla around the yard.

Mary got in with her after a while. 


So cute, them looking at each other. 
I also think this was a good picture of Christian.


And here is one of the two of them smiling! Darling!


Ayla even got to try their little toy car. 
She was having the time of her life.


Then they pulled out the other wagon they have. They had fun it that one too. Kurt enjoyed pulling them around the yard.

Who needs a park when you have Ann's yard. It is a great and beautiful yard. 

Then they gave us treats. 
This was Ayla's first time having a popsicle. She loved it.


Mary had a grape one and then put her hands on her shirt. Can you see her hand prints on her shirt? It actually looked really cool. She is so cute!


Then they played with chalk. 
What a blast!

Needless to say, we didn't go to the park. We didn't have to. We had so much fun watching Ayla have fun with Mary and Christian. She got plenty of fun time with them.

She got to do so many firsts:

She got to ride in a wagon.
She got to get into a toy car and steer.
She got to have a Popsicle.
And she got to play with chalk.

What a fun Sunday evening at Ann's. It was so nice to visit with her and her husband, Chad too. We definitely have to go visit her and her family more than we do.

Thanks for making us feel so welcome in your home Ann. I love you!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

My Mom's Birthday Party!

On Saturday, we celebrated our Mom's birthday. We had a BBQ at my sister, Marion's house. 

Carolyn, my sister-in-law, brought her friend Kayla. 
She is a sweet girl. She is the one in the glasses.


Had to get a picture of Lane Brain. I love him!


Here is Dad!


Dad and Ernie outside trying to clean the grill because some birds made a nest in it. Poor birds. Their home was destroyed.


Ayla looking outside at Buckle, of course. She loves that dog.


Ayla and I. 
Notice Buckle in the background?


One of the awesomest things that happened that day was my best friend, Leah and her wonderful family flew in from Tennessee. They also joined us at the party. Yay!

Leah, Evan and cute little Noah.
I need to give Evan props for flying out here. He said he would never fly and he did. Thanks Evan! We are so glad you are here.


Such a cute little guy!


And of course I needed a picture with the little cutie!


And of course I made my mom a cake. 
Here, we were singing Happy Birthday to her.


Then she opened gifts.

She got some shorts and some other things from Marion.


And Kurt and I made her another T-shirt of her Grandkids. 
She loves these shirts. Can you tell? LOL!! She was wearing the last one we made her. It almost looks like the same shirt.