Thursday, April 28, 2011

Trip to Disneyland!

Earlier this year Brian and I took Laurie, Megan, Connor, and Rocky to Disneyland.  This time it was Rachel and Hannah's turn to go.  It was so nice to be able to just spend time with them and enjoy a trip with not as much chaos.  We stayed at a very nice hotel with a waterpark outside and it felt a bit like a Honeymoon too.  :)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Rachel Turns 7!

Rachel Adelle Mortensen.  My bright-eyed, pretty smiling girl.  Rachel is such a joy to have in my life.  I love her so very much!  We are blessed to have her in our family.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Saying Goodbye to Shiloh our Nanny

Shiloh is the most amazing girl ever.  Sandy, my best friend from high school, suggested that maybe Shiloh would be a good option for a nanny.  Shiloh really loved the kids.  She was a great multi-tasker.  She was the oldest of 8 kids and she was so good at getting the kids to do things in a positive way.  She became part of our family in the last 8 months.  We will miss her so much!  And Scott.  Scott, her sweet husband, and my friend.  Scott worked for Lence and I at Gameworld as our technician.  In this world we make connections--or reestablish connections we had before this life--and they enrich our lives so very much. 

Friday, April 8, 2011

Exotic Fruit with Dad

Our wedding day Brian and I went to Jackson Hole and stayed the night.  We went to the local grocery store and were pleased to see amazing and exotic fruits.  We thought it would be fun to buy some of them and bring them back for the kids to try.  We tried starfruit and sugarcane and others.  I love Brian's ideas to enrich the kids' minds!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Wedding Day!



On April 7, 2011 Brian and I got married.  It was such an incredible day.  Just very close family and friends were present at Frank and Belinda's house for the wedding.  Everything was absolutely perfect!  Hannah and Rachel were the flower girls.  Connor was the ring bearer.  The kids walked Brian and I down the stairs and into the Formal Living Room where Bishop Reed married us.  After the ceremony Brian and I kissed and Rocky couldn't help but say, "Ewwww!!!"  It was so cute.  We felt so much love and support from all of the family.  I feel so lucky and blessed to be a part of the VanderSloot family.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have found Brian and have him enrich my life in so many ways.  I love this man!  I love so many things about him.  Here are some...

His mischievous look when he’s known he’s got you fooled
His passion
His guitar playing a singing to the kids at bedtime
His complete desire to educate, mentor, and teach the kids through spaghetti and marshmallow experiments to educational trips to the Grand Canyon, Craters of the Moon, etc, exotic fruit experimenting, etc
His passion for learning—especially history
Crazy driving
Sense of Adventure and Risk Taking
Daddy Daughter dates and fun outings with the Boys
His deep emotional connection and love and adoration for me
His amazing talent with computers and electronics
His selfless service to others—always wanting to ease someone else’s burden
His manliness
His absolute love for kids and family life
His testimony and love of the gospel
His ability to make me truly feel like a princess and so adored
His mind and how he thinks through everything and wants to do the right thing
His deepness
His support in all my quests for a better way J
His deep desire to make me happy
His heart
The depth of his heart
His strong muscular body
The sweetness and tenderness in his eyes
His teasing playful side
I love Brian with all of my heart.  I will forever.