Bob's welcome home now with pictures.

My brother Bob returned home safely last night after serving our country in Afghanistan for the last year. We are proud of him, grateful for his service and glad to have him back.

Here are a couple link to interviews the news did of him.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksl.com%2Findex.php%3Fnid%3D148%26sid%3D11121061&h=f5e52

and

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fox13now.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fkstu-utah-soldiers-recieve-warm-welcome-back%2C0%2C928357.story&h=f5e52

These pictures were taken by KSL 5.

Our welcome home poster, to bad they cut off my cute kids heads.


Tess, Haley, Kelsie, Bob, Kiah and Meri

Kalli and I looking on while Bob and his cute little Kelsie were talking. She was sure glad to have him home. She wouldn't let him go.


Bob saying hi to his nephew, Daxton.

Family Home Evening

Blessings

Answers to prayers: even the little ones. I offered a little prayer this week to find something that I needed to find before it became a big deal and shortly afterward I had an idea where to look and there it was.

Much needed and looked forward to vacations and a sister who makes it possible: Maybe I have gone on about this to much but we are very excited and it is very much looked forward to. Special thanks to Jill and Cameron who called several months ago and offered to pay for our hotel if we came with them. There for making the trip possible.

Gas prices that continue to fall: I know I have mentioned this before but they just continue to fall and and I have become obsessed with checking the price every time I go pass our gas station. As it continues to fall it is a happy little spot in my day. Silly, I know.

Doctors: I know I have mention this before but when my kids actually get sick enough to go to the doctors it is always so nice that they can make them and so many other people better. Lizzy had a head cold last week and this week it turned to some secondary infections. Her ears were infected, her throat was all red and sore and worst of all she had infection in her eyes that made them all goopy like new babies get only a lot grosser on a big kid. She is all better now.

Blessings

Productive Wonderful Saturdays: On Saturday I cleaned up the house while Shiloh cleaned out the garage then we cleaned out the car together. I cut my boys hairs and we snuck in a nap after which we headed to Shiloh's parents house. Then while all the boys did the baby sitting the girls got to go to Women's Conference, out to dinner at the Pizza Factory and dessert at Maggie Moo's. The boys thought they might get to play a game of Settlers but they soon learned what life is like when you have all the kids around and try to get anything done. It was a good dose of our reality for them.


Women's Conference: All the talks were wonderful but I really love President Uchtdorf. Just after President Uchtdorf was first called my mom and I went went to Women's Conference at BYU together and he spoke in the opening devotional he told us his story and we fell in love with him. It was an awesome talk and he has never disappointed sense. I really connected with his idea of creating things. It was wonderful to be spiritually feed and now I can't wait for next weekend and the feast.

The perfect weather: all month we have been have a beautiful Indian Summer. It cooled down from the intense summer heat on the first day of the month but it has stayed warm with highs in the 70s and 80s all month long. To me this is the most perfect weather.

Shiloh home for lunch: this week Shiloh had several jobs near our house and I got to have him home for lunch three time this week. What a nice little treat.

Kids: I thought I should give props to my kids this week they are awesome.

ShiAnne is just a sweetheart that is almost always willing to help me. She is also doing so good at school and getting tons better at reading and spelling.

Lizzy, I know I have said several times before that Lizzy is my hardest kid but that has all changed. In the last month or month and a half Lizzy has done a great turn around. The whining is almost completely gone. (I mean every kid is going to whine a little or maybe your don't ?) She is so happy and sweet lately I am just loving her up right now!

Gideon, decided to take up Lizzy's whining though, but I'll give it to him he has been teething all month just to get two teeth, that is only number 7 and 8. It seams like they take forever to come in poor boy. Then everything he wants to play with he can't (like the phones, remotes and computer) and we try to put things where he can't get them but somehow he figures out how to get them and then we spend the whole day taking everything away from him. Yes, he has figured out how to climb and how to move the stole around so he can reach things he should not be able to reach. What a stage we are in right now. He is most happy when we leave the house. We love him though,0 he is learning so many things right now and at times he can be so funny and happy with that big Shiloh grin that takes up his whole face. I love that grin!!!!

Blessings

Busy Weeks: that go by quickly and keep me feeling fulfilled.

Falling Gas Prices: We have made it down to $3.67. Who would have ever thought gas at that price would be a blessing?

A Good Neighborhood: One evening this past summer we accidental left ShiAnne's and Lizzy's bikes at the pocket park in the middle of our neighborhood. The next morning we left town for the weekend. Four days latter when we realized what we had done we went down to the park and there they sat just where wee had left them. That is the type of people I get to go to church with, serve with and socialize with during my week. It is a good place to live.

Blessings

Hand-me-downs: Last February our money situation got really tight. It often gets tight in the first few months of the year but this year one of my problem was that Giedeon was growing out of all his clothes and I didn't really have any left in the closet for him. When one day a lady from my ward that I didn't really know that well was dropping of something for relief society and she asked me if I would like like some hand-me-downs. She said she has a friend that she goes to school with that was a single mom with a little boy about a year older then mine and she had some hand-me-downs and was wondering if she new anyone that could use them. I couldn't just use them I really needed them. I almost cried when she left it was an answer to my prayers. This week I received my Fourth bag of clothes. The are always in god condition they are always for the on coming season and they are always the right size. So to Sis. Bloxham and this woman I may never know thank you!!!!

Giggles: Listening to your kids giggle has to be about one of the best things ever. Gideon's giggle is so fun right now because it is still new and he seams to be giggling more and more lately but I think my favorite is when I can here ShiAnne and Lizzy playing together in the other room and they are just giggling and giggling. It make me feel like the all world is right if just for that moment.

Technology: Sometimes I am a little resistant or maybe just a little slow on the uptake when it comes to technology but yesterday we had Stake Conference. It was broadcast from the Merriot Center at BYU to I think he said 135 stakes but I am really bad at remembering numbers so that could be wrong. We got to listen to Pres. Packer, Sis. Dibb, who is Pres. Monson's daughter and a counselor I think in the General Relief Society presidency (I should tell you that Gideon was horrible during church yesterday so if some of the facts are wrong I am sorry), Pres. Uchtdorf, and someone else whose name I can't remember. Anyway back to the point Pres. Packer was talking about how the church uses technology to have conferences such as this and in many others ways. One of the examples was the to call a mission president it is necessary to have an interview with one of the quorum of the twelve and how that wasn't too bad when all the mission presidents came from Utah and maybe Arizona or California but now that they come from all over the world and the traveling would be next to impossible so they use video conferencing to interview mission presidents and there wives all over the world. That was just on of the examples of they ways they use technology to keep in touch with a such a large and growing church and I was just feeling amazed at the way Technology has kept up with the growth of the church. Coincident, I think not. I am grateful for the way Heavenly Father takes care of his church.

Blessings

Cousins: Shiloh went camping with the scouts again this weekend. This time we had some cousins over for a sleepover. All three of my kids had a great time. I am so thankful for the relationship you have with cousins and the relationship I have had with my cousins my whole life I still love to get together with them.

My Kids: ShiAnne who is going through a little attitude phase right now but is still so good. Lizzy who surprisingly enough has become my peace maker the last few weeks and been better then normal and Gideon who just got big in the last two weeks. Sometime they just get big over night. I was noticing that he did this and then everyone started commenting on it. He sure is a lot of fun and has the cutest giggle.

Mondays Off: After Shiloh having to go camping all weekend, it sure is nice that he had today off so we can still have some fun together.

Blessings

D&C 18:45

Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above all things.



Shiloh: In our content struggle to try and figure out what Shiloh should be doing for a living our employment situation has changed again. Shiloh is no longer working at FedEx!!!!!! (insert party here) Yea!!!! Whoopee!!!!! He is going to start doing cabinet jobs on the side (that is what Shiloh actually majored in). We have a few jobs lined up right now and we pray that they will continue coming. He is also going to learn how to install wood flooring. So I just wanted to say that I am thankful for a husband that is such a hard worker and will do what ever he has to do to support his family.

Church: even if sometimes it comes in an over abundance. Last Sunday we went to our regular meetings. On Monday we weren't there thanks to FHE. On Tuesday Shiloh was at the church for scouts. On Wednesday our whole family was there for pack meeting. On Tuesday I was back at the church for cub scout committee chair meeting and round table. On Friday we went to the ward salsa festat the church. Saturday morning we took our turn to help clean the church and Sunday we returned again for our Regular Sunday meetings, followed up by a Young men's meeting for Shiloh. I wounder if there is an hourly blessing wage for the amount of time you spend at the church?

Mandy: is the way cute and way talented girl that has done my hair ever sense that really bad hair cut I got right before our engagement pictures. I got to take a trip to get my hair cut on Saturday, one of my favorite things. It is so nice to have someone you trust and knows your hair to do your hair and to have a friend to sit and talk to while it is getting done. She has made me so much cutter and stylish then I would have ever been on my own. If we ever move I am talking her with me. I still have to color it this week. I do that on my own and then I will post pictures.

Blessings

D&C 18:45
Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above all things.

I have been thinking for a while that it is time for me to start a regular list of my blessings. So here it goes.

My Mom: My mom retired this week we have been counting down to this date for along time. Let the lunch dates, shopping and sleepovers begin.

Education: School starts tomorrow. ShiAnne is sooooo very excited.

Priesthood blessings and a husband who honors his priesthood: With school starting tomorrow we all received father/husband blessings today what a great source of comfort and strength.

The Spirit of competition: Hasn't it been so fun to watch the Olympics this week?! I was thinking this week, you know how we always think about the pioneers and wounder what they would have thought if they could have seen Utah and the church today. Well what do you think those ancient Greek Olympiads think of the legacy they have left for us to enjoy today?