Can you keep a BIG Secret???

Our kids are getting one of these for Christmas!
(the burgandy one)
The kids and I left for AZ this last Friday and Andy went to pick up this puppy (literally) on Saturday...our kids have no clue and I'm so excited and a little nervous (okay, a lot nervous!) Andy is bringing it with him on Christmas Eve.
JUST HAD TO TELL SOMEONE...wish us luck, I'm sure we'll need it!

ummmm...I thought this was a DESERT!

Well, my Saturday morning...one minute Andy and I were sleeping IN quite peacefully...the next thing I know the girls are screaming, something about snow. Enough to play in all morning and not even bring up breakfast until 10. Everyone claims it has been unusually cold this past week and I hope that's true...I do not like to be cold. ever. Snow is fine and dandy...to look at from inside one's warm house or to ski/sled in on occasion, that is about it for me.

The inevitable snowball fight begins!

Poor Elisabeth, poor aim dearie!

The boys kept throwing snowballs at me while yelling, "This shows our LOYALTY to DAD"!

ummmm....what does actually bringing these two into the world get me???

The "sista" team (they lost horribly).

Snow Fun!

Driveway sledding on a boogie board (I knew we kept that for a good reason)

Too cute!

After being hit with a snowball!

A real sled...much better.

I LOVE BIG, SWEET, PINK MARSHMELLOWS!

ummm....I could literally eat her up!

Our ANNIE Girl

Okay....so I feel as if I am always behind on this blogging thing, another thing I don't seem to get done (could list about a million)!

SATURDAY was a special day...our DEAR ANNIE turned 5!!!

I know everyone says it...but it's so true...so I'll say it too,

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO???

Everyone who knows our family well, knows...Annie has definitely made our lives more exciting and at times, more exasperating! I truly love this girl, she has so many traits that are and will continue to be amazing strengths as she grows. With each passing year, I realize more and more she is STRONG for a reason and I feel so LUCKY she is mine!!!

In My Next Life, I'm....

Thank you GALS...

This last weekend I went to Time Out for Women here in town, thanks to lots of dear friends in VA...they sent me a ticket for my birthday present. I would not have taken the time to go on my own, so I am sooooo glad they provided me the opportunity, I needed it more than I realized. The entire thing was so uplifting and I came away from it feeling empowered to do better and with some clear, specific goals for myself. Hilary Weeks was there and I just love her...she has such an amazing talent and I'm so grateful she shares it with others. I got to go with Dixie, Andy's aunt that lives here and so enjoyed spending time with her as well!

So, THANK YOU...to wonderful friends, who gave me such an amazing and timely gift that has blessed my life, I love and miss you all!

p.s. The CHOCOLATE was also greatly appreciated and had incredible timing the day it arrived on my doorstep, you are TRUE friends, indeed!

My piece of FALL

My FAVORITE season of all is AUTUMN!

As you know, we now reside in a desert and I was not expecting to see any evidence of my favorite time of year...this saddened me greatly.

To my complete surprise and JOY I have been able to see this for weeks now!

I know, I know... many of you will say it doesn't even compare (to you know where) but for ME it has been just what I needed. Having not expected anything at all, I have been completely pleased!!!

Oh and BONUS...the cool, brisk mornings of (45-50 degrees) followed by the lovely and splendid afternoons of (70-80 degree) consistent weather has added to my love of this new place...the WEATHER is PERFECT! Sweaters in the mornings with flip flops...FABULOUS.

FRIENDS!!!

Friends are so important...
I keep reminding myself it just takes time when you move,
I miss so many of you from VA, more than I can put into words!

We've been so lucky this month to be able to see some dear friends of ours...
The Hungerford's just came through and stayed with us overnight...it was so GOOD to see THEM and visit! It was like picking up right where we left off 5+ years ago in med school...they will always be so special to us, because of going through that experience together. It meant so much to us that they took the time to stop and see us!

AND then, earlier this month...
Jaesi and her cute kiddos came to SG to be with family and we were lucky enough to get together a few times...I love that girl and her kids, they are so fun and it meant so much to me to see their familiar, wonderful faces! Nancy and Kristy also came down with their kids and it was just so fun to see them and get caught up.

ANYHOW...
I have noticed a big difference in how happy I've felt recently and it sounds simple, but it has been because of FRIENDS...I have been so BLESSED in my life with wonderful friends, I mean amazing people, who have enriched my life and experiences wherever we have lived...I wish I could transport all the ones I hold dear to SG, but I can't! I'm sure if I'm patient here and perhaps a little more outgoing, I will find those blessings (friends) here. In the meantime, I am so grateful that FRIENDSHIP continues on and on no matter what or where you are!

2 QUOTES that sum it up nicely:

"Good friends are like stars...
you don't always see them,
but they are are always there."

"Friends are like bras:
close to your heart and
there for support."

Classic ANNIE moments...

Sometimes, I am convinced this GIRL...will be the END of ME!!!

If she wants something (in this case, it was a juice box) and I'm busy (switching the laundry), she just finds a way! She is DETERMINED and SMART! She can also be SASSY! She is CONFIDENT about who she is and what she can accomplish!

She is a great BIG sister, here: she and Elisabeth are, after Annie decided they needed whiskers, since they had spent the entire hour before this crawling all over the house pretending to be CATS...she plans activities like this almost every afternoon and Elisabeth is always happy to oblige and goes along with whatever plan ANNIE has in mind!

I could publish a book with pictures like these! This GIRL, this GIRL...I wouldn't trade her for anything...I just need to remind myself of that, at least once a day when she has her CLASSIC "ANNIE" moment or two or three! AHHHH!

Troubling Ticket Tuesday

I am becoming a BELIEVER about this text messaging thing! Today, I sent the following text to Andy and it helped ease the major guilt I was feeling for a major mistake I made.

me:
"i regret to inform you i got a traffic citation this morning. and no, i was not speeding, i did something worse. i had no idea why he pulled me over at the time, but admit i am completely guilty of the violation that he informed me of. honest, complete mistake on my part and i feel just awful because i didn't even realize what i had done. apparantly, i did not see the crossing guard out in the crosswalk with her big, red, stop sign this morning while dropping the boys at school. very BAD move."

andy:
"you probably didn't see her because she was diving out of the way, sounds like you will be pulling weeds."

me:
"yeah, i won't even go into my reasons for not seeing her...though some are quite valid, i made a big mistake and i accept responsibility for it...i did not see her, obviously, or i would have stopped. i am very sorry for what i've done and will tell her personally this afternoon."

andy:
"WEEDS"

me:
"yeah, i know."

Yes, I know it's hard to understand how I didn't see her...all I can say is I honestly didn't. SCARY...that there are people like me who make mistakes like this around school zones. One things for sure I won't ever forget it and I do feel awful, I fell apart while apologizing to the sweet crossing guard lady. Alec was ducking down, so as to not be seen with me, when I returned to the car. All in all, very important reminder and lesson learned. By the way, pulling weeds, tumbleweeds, that is, has become the boys chore if they want to earn some money around here, we have an empty lot next to us, with huge, abnoxious weeds. I am grateful for a husband that just left it at that, after a very emotional morning, I needed some humor to lighten the load.

So...what do you think? Certainly, a conversation over the phone could have ended with a very different tone, I was already very emotional and I think texting helped me get everything I wanted said before I pushed send. Just a thought, but I am a believer.

Happy Birthday to BRENNA!

This young, wipper-snapper here is my niece, BRENNA! Today she is officially a teenager and I CANNOT believe it! I mean, yes, she looks the part, but it makes me feel OLD.

This is my older sister, LORI...she must really be feeling OLD today! Aren't these two too cute together? This summer after we got a bit settled I convinced them to come visit SG and go to see Lady Antebellum in concert with me! Loved it.

The concert was awesome and it was so fun, it was a good, ol' small town country atmosphere. They sounded just like they do on the radio, I seriously love all their voices.

Lori and I thoroughly embarressed Bren, as this was her first concert and she was with her MOM and aunt, who were dancing and singin along...she still had a good time though!

During a the whole show, we kept our eyes peeled for the grand prize of "worst UTAH hair" this may be a bit blurry, but I think you can probably imagine who won and let me tell ya...there were plenty to pick from!

Love this picture...love these two! Brenna, I hope you have an awesome birthday and that this year is filled with wonderful opportunities for you! You are an amazing young woman, the most kind and generous with others that I know! Annie and Elisabeth look up to you and love you SO MUCH, thanks for being such a wonderful example to them and letting them FOLLOW you EVERYWHERE when we're together! I have NO DOUBT you have incredible things ahead of you and you will GO FAR! So...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEENAGER, we sure LOVE YOU!!!

New Callings, never can tell what you're gonna get!

I was sincerely and honestly ready to accept anything I was asked to do. I had substituted in Primary twice and there were two openings that I knew needed to be filled...then, I got "the telephone call" and I was just positive my time had come...primary teacher. Now, let me just clarify, I am intimidated by primary...okay, so I am afraid. I have never served in the primary, well alright, I just remembered Andy and I had the short six-month nursery assignment in our BYU married ward. From the time we moved to VA, I had always served in YW...love, love, love Young Women's! Every time I had a chance to sub in primary, it was like I had to give myself this pep talk, "I am an adult, I can control a small class of smal children, really it will be okay." I have so many friends who are just awesome in Primary and I am so grateful for the amazing job they all do, my children love primary! Okay, so enough rambling...I left the bishopric's office, just beaming...I seriously got my dream calling and I was not expecting it at all...BEEHIVE advisor. Apparantly, I still have a lot to learn in YW and I couldn't be more thrilled!

ANNALISE's First Day

Annie woke up Monday morning yelling, "It's TODAY! It's TODAY!!!" She got up, got dressed and did everything she was asked to do, including hair (huge issue in our relationship), without complaint...it was an awesome morning for Me.
She is just so thrilled that it is FINALLY her turn to go to school, she goes to Preschool 4 days a week in the mornings. Elisabeth cried the first few mornings and is really missing her. I have really missed her too, I'm not sure I was as ready for all this as she was! I have enjoyed the one-on-one time with Elisabeth though and better cherish it...before I know it, this year will have passed and it will be her turn next year, these kids of mine are growing up WAY too fast!

Here she is after we first got there and she hung up her backpack, little nervous, but mostly excited!

She had a GREAT experience her first day and was so proud to tell us all about it at FHE.

That afternoon, I put Elisabeth down for her nap as usual, she never gets out of her bed...this summer when we arrived in SG, we moved her to a big girl bed and she has done beautifully. Anyway, I went up to check on her and this is what I found, too cute and still awake, I had to get a picture.

I love this sweet, sweet girl!

Part 2: The LONG of it...4 IMPORTANT things to celebrate before the move!

(I posted these backwards, chronologically, but oh well)

#1: ALEC TURNED 10...June 22nd!

His cousins were headed home that morning, so we celebrated with a birthday breakfast before they left.


Alec loves Belgian waffles, as much as cake, so in went the candles!





His Grandma Vaughan made him a wonderful new quilt.


Thanks Crowther cousins...the camo was the perfect gift for these boys!

Later that day, I took Alec and some friends out for a movie and ice cream sundaes...but overall HIS day was very low key, the moving truck was coming early the next morning...and try as I may, there was still MORE to pack! Both of our parents helped with the packing and I do not know what we would have done without them...that weekend was packed full of major events and thanks to everyone's support, it all came together, I cannot say thank you enough for all they did!

#2 Nathan was baptized...June 21st!

From the time Nate was six, he knew we would be moving right after he turned eight and he has always insisted that no matter what, he wanted to be baptized in Norfolk, with all his friends around. Luckily, we have tremendously, supportive family that all came out to VA for this very special occasion and also helped us pack up and move. I am soooooo grateful for all the family we had there to help and that came, especially for Nathan!



Nathan's Great Grandpa and Grandma Vaughan.


Grace, Ron, and the kids were so sweet to come down from New York.


Annie with her Uncle Macc.


Macc, Lisa, and sweet Ella came too!


I'm so glad these two have each other.


The 3 Musketeers, again.


We were so grateful for everyone's support, especially since his baptism was at 4:30, think of all those children that had already been at church for 3+ hrs.


Our kids and their cousins sang.


Even Elisabeth practiced over and over and could sing all the words!


I love this picture, it's all the kids watching as Nathan was getting in the font.


Tyson, Zachary, Nathan, Alec: best buds.


Tessa, Annalise, Emma, Elisabeth, and Ella.


All our family that came: Vaughan's and Mooney's.


Four generations of Vaughan men...fantastic picture.