Tucson Temple Openhouse

We braved the hot hot temperatures and went to see the Tucson Temple. Dad had to work. But, we had a fun and spiritual girls day.

Sealed for Eternity 6.9.2017

Kaelani turns 6 years old

Kaelani turned 6 on Friday, June 16, 2017. She was so excited! We counted down for the last 20 days. Each day she'd count and then erase that day from the calendar. 

She started the morning with the traditional Mickey Mouse pancake and candles! Daddy liked to tease and blow a candle out each time we almost had them all lit! Finally mom got after him to stop. We sang happy birthday as a family. 

After pancakes, Grammy called and played zoom to the moon for her. We then tried to FaceTime Grammy to open her gifts. It did not work so we sent videos. 

Kaelani got a hatchimal that she had to love on to get to hatch. 

Kaelani with her egg hatched and measuring 48 inches tall at 6 years old. 

After gifts at home, we went to Peter Piper Pizza to catch up with old friends from high school and celebrate a little more!! 

It was then time to leave for California. Kaelani has asked for months and Months to go to the beach. I'd said around Christmas time maybe at her birthday we could go. So, for the last several months she has asked to go to the beach for her birthday. 

She also has asked repeatedly for this very specific American Girl doll. So, on the way to California we made a surprise stop at the American Girl store. We made her close her eyes and led her into the store. She was so surprised and did not get distracted at all by the other dolls - she went straight to the doll she'd been asking for. Daddy really spoiled her and she didn't just get the doll - she for the guitar and puppy that went with her. He topped it off with a carry case for the doll. 

One happy toothless kid!!! 

After a 6 hour drive and a night of rest, we were headed to the beach.  Sadly, sisters dad would not let her come with us. Kaelani repeatedly said how much she missed Kaiya. Dad needed to stop at the store for a beach umbrella. We found a fairy garden while he paid. 

Off to the beach we went!  We spent 6 hours there on Saturday, June 17, 2017. To say Kaelani was worn out is an understatement, she repeatedly asked when she could go to bed. She and daddy body surfed the waves, built a dam, built a castle, and found sea shells. 

Anniversary

We spent our anniversary in Utah. The girls had fun doing silly and simple things. 

They raced goldfish. Mom has seen it all now - who thought up racing goldfish. 

Dad is terrified of feris wheels. The girls wanted to ride one and mom wasn't allowed because she is pregnant. So, dad faced his fears and begged Kaelani to not rock the car.

We woke to find them sleeping like this one morning. 

We took a scenic drive on the back side of the Wasatch. 

Tooth

She finally let us get it out!! Cutest toothless smile ever. Kaelani cried a bit because she was scared. Dad cried because she was crying.  Dad looks tough but he has the most tender heart ever. She can't wait to see what the tooth fairy brings. 

Eternity

Tomorrow I'll be sealed to my best friend officially making him mine for eternity. Many have asked, "Why the Provo City Center Temple?" 

My answer: I fell in love with this temple because of it's story. It started as a nice tabernacle building that was everything anyone thought it could be. Then, it burned all but to the ground. Through inspiration and lots of hard work, it was resurrected and restored to it true intended glorious state. It was erected as its most sacred form - a House of the Lord.  From ashes to blessing.

 It's story reflects so much of my life. My life was nice. From the outside looking in, my life was everything it should be - return missionary, married in the temple, and a beautiful daughter. However, because of circumstance I could not become my intended state.  Through actions of others, I had to make choices. And, I chose to leave for hope of finding better. However, then I made choices out of a place of hurt and sorrow. The life that looked like it was everything it should be ended up in shambles. My life was all but destroyed,  Then, through the atonement provided by my Savior, Jesus Christ, it has been restored. Through repentance, hard work, and my Saviors love my life has become something more beautiful than it started.  It is not yet in its perfect sacred state, but it on its way. 

This is why this Temple. I'm so excited. We will be sealed one year to the date and all but 30 minutes to the hour that we were married. I am so grateful for the atonement and for all the blessings the Lord is providing. 

If you like to hear it's story in more detail here is a link to its video. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MVoZ_5kGhqc

Big Bad Tonsils

Kaiya has been getting really bad fevers frequently. She missed 10 days straight of school this year. We finally narrowed it down to her tonsils. So, we scheduled surgery. She was super scared, Dad gave her a blessing before he left for work, and we said a prayer before she went to surgery. 

She did awesome. Waking up was sad and funny. She kept crying that she wants to go ride horses at the ranch and hide in the trees to watch moose. She wants daddy to bring her raspberries. She wants to snuggle her cousins and her baby sisters. My kids are not silly risers from Anesthesia they cry instead. 

It's been a rough two days and we have a more ahead. I'm so grateful for a husband and father who can give blessings worthily to our kids. I'm grateful for the care and concern that he shows. 

Kaiya you may forget as you grow up, but Daddy (as you've begun to call him, Matt) as soon as he arrived home was there waiting on you. I woke this morning and he was already st your bed side. You were crying and he was consoling you. He is a big tender hearted man. I hate for him to go back to work on Monday because he is such a comfort and help to us all.