Cape Dissapointment

This place was awesome!  It is on the cost on the cost of Oregon and Washington right where the Columbia River comes in.  It was a lot of fun camping with our friends and playing in the sand/water/trees. These girls have the best Dad ever, he loves helping them!

 Kali decided to plop herself in a puddle, but wait that's not all...

 She had to lay in it, lol!

 Lighthouse #1

 Anna really wanted to take a picture, not too bad. 

 This is the same lighthouse form a different direction and what a beautiful view! 

 Our friends the Brady's.  I didn't get a picture of the Brown's though, maybe next time. 

 These are bunkers from WWII, at least that is what we were told. 

 Lighthouse #2. 

 This is the Lewis and Clark expedition that you can see. 

 The coast guard was having on open house and we went down and looked at  the boats.  When we were on our way back Anna got to honk the horn on a fire truck and also turn on the sirens, she was pretty excited. 

 A different angel to the #2 lighthouse. 

 This is the beach just behind out campsite.  There are some trees blocking it so the kids couldn't just go to the water, but it was still a beautiful sight! 

 Our last morning before we headed home we went to see how tall the waves were. 

Fun family time

We are going to miss this temple. 

 I've decided this is why I need a better camera.  You see this picture would have been so cute, but well it was out of focus and they moved...my camera takes forever to take a picture and then it was blurry...in time, in time.

 Yes my camera didn't take this fast enough and she blinked, but I still think it's cute!  Anna is growing up so fast, she always says she's 4, when I try to tell her she is 3 she just says no Mom I'm 4.  I think most of her friends are 4 so she wants to be. 

 I love this Kali girl!  She is so much fun, and has such a sweet personality!

 I found a groupon for bowling and we went as a family, it was a lot of fun, and my girls love to bowl! This is Kali saying I do it, which seems to be the thing lately!

 Anna is a good bowler, and she loves it!

 This is Anna waiting while her ball hits the pins, she is such a girl!

 We had a few warm days were we went to Lake Washington to let the girls play in the water, I knew the water would be cold so I didn't think they would get in, but they did not care! Kali's diaper is so full she couldn't fit 1 ounce more in there because it got wet, lol.

 Zach wanted to celebrate his Birthday by going to Red Robin with our girls!  They gave him a Sunday after the meal and the girls really enjoyed sharing with Daddy, can you tell?

 Yay for a new griddle for Zach's camp chef.  I think I was almost as excited about this as Zach, we took it camping and it was awesome!

My Uncle Kendall

I wanted to pay a little special tribute to my Uncle Kendall.  My heart is very heavy at this time.  I don't think I've cried so hard and been so close to tears for days in many many years, actually probably ever.  However I feel it might help me to remember some of the things that I really I want to remember about my uncle Kendall.  He was always a very caring and understanding man.  I know he was willing to help wherever needed and that he was very proud of his children.  One particular story I remember of him was when we went to visit them in Utah.  We were at my Aunt Ione's house and he taught me how to do a back flip on the trampoline.  He was very patient and understanding even when I didn't get it right for a long time.  He always  had a jacuzzi wherever he lived on his back porch.  He and his wife also loved to play games of any kind.  He was always coming up with some fun family game to play.  He was a very good teacher and could help people just by listening to them.  I remember going to Tucson for some of the Family Home Evening's that we would have every 1st Sunday of the month.  He showed us a video on families and taught us about being a child of God.  We also ate some awesome hamburgers.  I'm so grateful for the influence he had in my life.  I wish Amy and her kids the very best in their future without him.  It will not be an easy road that is for sure but I know angels will be with them when they need them and I know that Christ's atonement is real. 

I still can't believe that he is gone.  I wish at this time I could be with my family.  I can imagine them talking about life, having fun playing cards, and trying to help each other get through this tough time.  I called my Mom today and heard my family in the background.  Just hearing familiar voices brought tears to my eyes.  How grateful I am for my family.  For their love and faith.  I know we don't have all the answers in this life but in time the Lord will provide enough to move forward.  I truly have such an amazing family.  We aren't perfect but we sure know how to stick together when times are tough. 

The Beautiful Seattle

Picture overload!  So since we decided to move we have a long list of things we want to do here.  Not all of them will happen I'm sure but we will try to do what we can. 

 Anna and Kali loving each other...they are such good sisters!

This is a place called Coulon park.  These pictures will hopefully give some of you a little insight on this beautiful place we've lived for the past year. 

 Love this girl!

 It was raining in these pictures yet the sun was shinning through the clouds.  What a beautiful sight!

 After the  rain there was this beautiful rainbow, I couldn't get the whole rainbow in one picture but it was beautiful, and look at those green trees in the background!

 So for sharing time this Sunday I had each class help me fill this puzzel by drawing pictures.  Basically the idea is that gospel truths were lost on the Earth till Joseph Smith restored the gospel on the Earth, now the puzzel is complete and we have a fullness of the gospel. 

Moving to Oklahoma, what!!!???

Well it's official, we are moving to Oklahoma City.  We are a little nervous yet we are also super excited.   It has been one of the hardest decisions of my life!  This is a HUGE move for us.  Moving to Seattle was big but it was the only job offer had and we were excited for the adventure.  Now we are moving across the country again and not home.  Why?  This is what I've asked myself.  It will mean that we are 12 hours from my Parents and about 14 hours from Mesa which is much closer than the 25 hours that we are now away from Mesa.  That is one reason but he will be working in Materials in Oklahoma and that experience could help him get back to Mesa quicker if that is what we decide to do.  Also the cost of living in the Seattle area is SO expensive.  Most people in AZ would probably compare this area with LA or something like that, maybe not quite as expensive where live exactly but in Bellevue and places like that it is.  We can buy a much bigger house in Oklahoma.  Not that we want to have a huge house but it is comforting to think that we can provide for our family better in Oklahoma, and feel comfortable doing so.

One major reason it's hard to move right now is because Zach actually really likes his manager.  He is a good man and is reasonable.  Going somewhere where you don't know the manager is a little hard because you never know what to expect but all in all we know the Lord will take care of us.  I have felt peace about this decision.  I know the Lord will take care of us.  I sat back and watched as miracles happened when we moved here and I know that will help again.  The house we are in fell in our lap, the ward we were put in has been amazing, and it all just worked.  That doesn't mean it wasn't hard but it was all a huge miracle and a huge blessing.  The Lord really does take care of us when we have faith.  I'm excited to see what the Lord can do with this move.  I'm learning so much through all of this even if it is hard.

One of the hardest things about moving for me is I JUST got called to be Primary President.  I will really miss this calling.  Besides that I'm not the type of person to run from something that is hard.  I like the challenge and honestly I love being in charge.  I love watching the Lord's hand in the small things and watching things come together.  I didn't want to move in part because they have been through a lot of Primary Presidents in the last few year, but we have to do what is best for our family.  Zach also works in YM's and it will be hard to leave all those boys.  I don't want to feel like we are running away from those things, and we aren't.  I got very emotional this morning thinking about moving and leaving behind all the incredible people that we have met, I'm so thankful for the lessons I've learned from the incredible people here!  That song rings true in my ears, "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good."  We can't take one day for granted because we never know where we will be the next day, and we need to learn what we can from the people that are in our lives now because they may not be there tomorrow.  God puts people in our lives at specific times for specific reasons.  I'm so grateful for the gospel that makes moving that much easier!  I know will all my heart that this gospel is God's true gospel on this Earth and I'm so thankful for it!

I also wanted to write a list of things that I'm not looking forward to having to do all over again:
1. Finding all new Doctors, we love our Pediatrician here...
2. Changing your address on just about every document and buisness
3. Finding Friends(this is hard and fun but it takes a while!)
4. Finding new places to take my kids
5. Not having a Costco...only Sam's Club
6. Figuring out how to drive in all new traffic again
7. Packing all my stuff again, trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of (it is kind of nice to reorganize though)