Happy Halloween

Thing 1 and Thing 2 had fun dressing up this year! We loved having cousins down to play with. Spent the day at the school carnival and the evening loading up the bags with candy! Can't wait to turn some of the candy into the dentist for some cash! Now...onto Thanksgiving!

Witches' Tea

Had a lot of fun with some friends at a gathering of witches.

Rock Climbing

John and the girls have enjoyed a few days out among the rocks with some good friends. It is a great time of year to be outdoors and appreciating the beauty that surrounds us.

Swiss Days

John has caught the family history work bug.

Ever since grandpa Stucki died he has spent a lot of time researching the Stucki side of the family which helped settle Santa Clara. What better way to see it first hand than to attend Swiss Days. It was a fun day walking through the old town and seeing pictures at the City Hall of the pioneers.

Sarah's conference weekend.

Keeping in tradition, Sarah and John headed north for Conference Weekend now that Sarah is 8. They started at the BYU game Friday night with Brooklyn and Tim, spent time with new cousin Ethan, and attended the Sunday AM session of conference. They sat 12 rows back on the side that everyone walks in from. Sarah told me that President Monson waved at her on his way out. What a special memory!

My 10 year old!

Double digits...wow! Breakfast in bed, lunch at Red Robin with G.G. whom she shares a birthday with, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with a friend, and a very fun night with family!

Ali is a helper, a laugher, a dancer, a good friend, and a daughter that is getting too old for her mother! Thanks for being such a wonderful person Ali. We love you!

Family time.

Grandpa Stucki died Sunday, August 30th.

Santa Clara Cemetery Sept, 4th.

Grandpa's funeral was the first time that all 14 grandchildren had been together. It was a very beautiful service and a wonderful day to be gathered with extended family. Grandpa was a kind man who always took an interest in others' lives and was thoughtful in writing letters. You could always count on getting a birthday letter with $5. 'By golly' we will miss him!

Sarah is baptized Sept. 5th. It was an exciting day for her and so many people were there to support her and show their love. We are so proud of the decision she made to
follow Jesus Christ.

Surrounded by all of John's immediate family! What a lucky girl!

August

Early August marked the end of summer for the girls since they started school on the 12th. John got them up to Zion's and we ate plenty of ice cream and otter pops to keep cool.

Ali didn't technically start school until the 13th since she was home very sick the first day. It could have been nerves, but she was up and ready the next day.

Hard to believe 4th grade has come!

Sarah was surely missing grandma that first day of 2nd grade, but her new teacher is pretty awesome and she is off to a great start!

There is something wonderful about going back to school. After a very busy and somewhat stressful summer with chemo and doctor's appointments abounding it was a relief to have some routine and consistency to count on. We sure did get to visit with so many friends and family though and we will miss the freedom to roam for a little while.

Sarah turns 8!

Sarah has grown so much this year. She is such a smart and hard-working girl. I appreciate her ability to focus and get things done. She loves to make her little sister laugh, and is probably her oldest sister's best audience (or worst depending on the moment!).

Sarah is very intelligent, but definitely has a great sense of humor too! What fun.

July

Visit from the Bingham's

I don't know what it is about these two and coloring. This time it was chalk on themselves. Four years ago it was using rocks to "color" on our two cars!

Mom's birthday dinner at Rusty's. Yum!

We also had our annual visit to Panguitch for Pioneer Day and a wonderful visit with some of my oldest and dearest friends from growing up. Good times!

June part 2

June was definitely a happening month! We really enjoyed seeing so much family and spending the warm summer together.

Ali looks good as a cat! Dance Recital.

Lauren turns 2. Swimming with grandma and G.G.
Not pictured...my cousin's wedding at the Draper temple and the
Porter Family Reunion at Yuba Lake.

June part 1

John was busy, busy, busy...

Trip to California to see his brother,James, after he returned from his mission to Italy!

He turns 36! What an old man!


Youth conference trip up north to visit a temple open house, temple square, Church History Museum, the Conference Center, and the Joseph Smith Building.

May

Sarah and Olivia

Alison and Faith

Surprise trip to Seattle with the girls...such great times visiting with old friends and old places. Wish I had taken more pictures...just so focused on the people I forgot to snap away.

Had a great birthday...manicure and massage all in one day! Thanks mom.

School got out and summer fun began.

Adenocarcinoma

Reread the last line of my previous post before you read any further....

okay...

My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer this past week. It's a total mystery as to how she got it, but she is in Stage IV and we are gearing up for a good fight ahead of us. If you want to follow my journey with her through this you can read

momandherjourney.blogspot.com

We are fasting for her tomorrow: May 3rd.

She has a positive attitude and of course a million people who love and support her. Her quote of the weekend was..."everything that could go right is going right, except for the part that is going wrong!"

Thanks for all your prayers.

A time of reflection.

In all the history of the world there have been many great and wise souls, many of whom claimed special knowledge of God. But when the Savior rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived—the just and the unjust.

When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime act, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Sunday Will Come,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 28–30)

A question may be asked—‘Will mothers have their children in eternity?’ Yes! Yes! Mothers, you shall have your children; for they shall have eternal life, for their debt is paid.” History of the Church, 6:316

“Children … must rise just as they died; we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory—the same loveliness in the celestial glory.” History of the Church, 6:366

Our little Natalie would have been 4 today. It is hard to believe. I am still comforted by the knowledge that we will be reunited with her. I love this time of year as the earth is in bloom and things that seemed dead are alive again. I am looking forward to another general conference and then Easter when we celebrate the ressurection of Jesus Christ. We have so much to be grateful for.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Visit our e-card: http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/LRl8MKxUn2rp7WRo

COMMENTARY

I received a few emails about Big Love, an HBO show which mixes a non-LDS polygomist life with the LDS Church and is now trying to depict sacred things about LDS temples and practices.

Please use the link to email HBO and thoughtfully express your concern for this tasteless "entertainment".

http://www.hbo.com/apps/submitinfo/contactus/submit.do?title=GeneralInformation&questiontype=generalInformation&questiontype=general

The LDS Church has provided an excellent statement concerning this and other such misrepresentations: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

Vote for Jenn Daniels for Gilbert Town Council!

My sister is running for Gilbert Town Council!

Spread the word to all your friends and family in Gilbert, AZ!

http://www.voteforjenn.com

Happy Birthday Becky

I hope it's a great one. If you don't already know how awesome Becky is, you need to visit her baking blog:
http://satisfyingmysweettooth.blogspot.com/

He's Home!

We just had an absolutely wonderful weekend together welcoming my brother back from his mission to the Philippines. It was an incredible experience waiting for him to get off the plane and reuniting after two years! I loved sitting around and listening to him share experiences about his mission. What a blessing to have such a terrific family.

We took some family shots that turned out really awesome!
http://www.dionsenecaphotography.blogspot.com/

Got 20 minutes?

http://vimeo.com/2120177

Mormon girl at Harvard.

Guitar Hero!!!

Did I mention what Santa brought this year? The girls have had a lot of fun, but John has had the most fun with this amazing game. We sure enjoyed having our friend, Dennis, visit and play along! We would love to give everyone a chance to play along...if you think you can rock!

Happy New Year!

We didn't make it to midnight this year, but we had a fun game night with the Haight family. What a great time. Here's to an incredible year!

Gator Country...need I say more?

Christmas in Texas

We had a wonderfully busy few days in Texas with John's family. Three of the nephews (brothers) received their Eagle on the same day. There was sailing, birthdaying, singing, guitaring, eating, and playing. It was sure great to see everyone!

Jazz and Hip-Hop

The girls were awesome again as they danced for the Christmas dance recital. Sarah is taking a break now and trying out gymnastics. Alison added a ballet class. They love to be active.

Christmas Card Pictures

Most of you should have received the best of the Christmas photo shoot...but here's how most of them turned out!!! Lauren is just at that age where she rules the world. The older two were troopers though and we did have some success.