Deanna

Today is my wonderful sister in law Deanna's birthday so I thought I would share a few memories! When I lived in Edmonton I really got to know her better and do some fun things with her. Here are some of my favorite times that stand out.
Whenever I would babysit or come over and she would drive me home I remember cranking up the tunes and singing away. She has a beautiful singing voice and I thought she is the coolest Mom ever.
She is like ultra organized/clean. I used to be amazed at how clean and obedient her kids always were. That was before I had kids now that I have them I am in awe??? I still really don't know how she accomplished it but I used to tell my roomates I could eat off her floor!!! Now they have a cute little dog so maybe he gets to eat off the floor? As for having obedient kids she is just a consistent parent I think. I wish I had that all figured out for my own kids!!
I think she has been in Young Women's since she got married and I think it is because she is super easy to talk to and always has great advice. I remember lot's of boy advice just the nice kind like you are great don't settle etc.  I am sure she is doing amazing things with those girls.

What else can I say? She is awesome and I am so happy that she is part of our family!! Happy Birthday Deanna!!!! She is married to my oldest brother Mike and these are there four kids.

Kevin

Today is my lucky brother Kevin's day. He is a pretty great brother and I have a few memories that I want to share.
He is so mechanically minded. Whenever I had a question about my car or anything else mechanical I always called him first. I remember on the farm one time the swather broke down and my Dad is not really a fixer he usually just gets a little frustrated in that department. I remember thinking how grateful I was that Kevin was coming home from Rexburg that day and could fix it. He came home and within a few hours Dad was back to swathing the field.
He is the most laid back Dad I have ever seen but his kids still totally respect and love him. I love watching him interact with his kids because I think there is such a cool relationship there.
When I got married Kevin did so much for us. He helped with the decorations, picked up the flowers, and a bunch of other little odd jobs. He is so dependable.

Here he is taking Abby for a quad ride on the farm!!

Vicki&Darren

Well today I am lumping two together since I don't like to do computer stuff on Sunday. I am going to tell you about my awesome brother in law and sister.
The first time I heard about Darren it was Christmas 1988. My sister was intrigued by this guy and kept talking about him all Christmas holidays. He was so nice about all the wedding plans far more relaxed than his wife to be. Thank goodness! Actually Darren is pretty awesome. He is always helpful and dependable. When I moved to Winnipeg and had some car troubles he helped me replace a lighbulb in my car/headlights and all sorts of car stuff. He is really good at keeping secrets and helped us surprise my sister one year for her birthday.  He loves his baseball and is happy to leave us sisters to chat whenever a game is on!!

Now my sister Vicki is pretty awesome. One of my first memories of her is when I was in Grade 1/2 and she was trying to do my hair for school. I was crying for my Mom because it was hurting my head. Thankfully her skills have improved vastly and she is my favorite hairdresser ever!!! I pretty much grew up admiring her because she was my closest sister in age and she seemed always so beautiful and popular. I mean who wouldn't want to be like her? 

When I was in University I used to call her probably once every week/two weeks and she would always have plenty of advice and plenty of boys to set me up with. In fact every trip out here I think she set me up on a date with someone! I appreciated that she took the time to talk with her baby sister even though she is super busy!!

One of my favorite memories are the hours we used to spend singing at the piano together. So much fun.

Mostly I admire her testimony and dedication to the gospel. She is always giving to others and thinking of others. I wish I could be more like that.
She is an awesome Mom and has helped me many times gain perspective and really do the important things when it comes to parenting.
Lately we have become gym buddies and it is so fun to go work out with her. We are always pushing each other and attaining our goals together. It is so great to have her so close and to feel like great friends and sisters!!

I put in pictures of them holding our kids because they are both awesome to my kids it is great to have auntie and uncle so close!!!

Poppa

Today I am going to tell you about Poppa. Of course this is Grandpa/Ryan's Dad. I have a few funny memories of course most of them are funny because he likes to tease and I am terrible and get embarrassed/turn red and all other such reactions that people who like to tease love to see.

My first memory that always makes me laugh happened before I ever even knew Ryan. When I first moved to Winnipeg I lived in a basement suite of an older couple from Church. It was awesome. Since I didn't know many people they invited me to their "Rook" tournament. Since I love playing Rook I was game. Well the entire evening Al teased me about one thing or another mostly about being single and hanging out on a Friday night with a bunch of oldies he he he!!! Good times. For the record after it was over I went over to  some friends house and stayed out really late to make myself feel socially cool!!! Anyway he made an impression on me as a really funny guy little did I know he had a son that would soon be eligible.

One of my other things/memories I have when I think about Al is his perfectionist/OCD tendancies. They make me laugh! He did our slideshow and I don't even want to know how many hours he spent working on it. Pretty much every project/game or activity he is in it has to be organized. I love playing cards and he is sitting there organizing the piles. So funny!!!

Now I couldn't do a post about Poppa without mentioning his amazing photography that he has done for us. He is always snapping pics of us and the kids and has captured many moments that we haven't so I am super grateful that he shares that talent with us!!!

Most of all he is a super awesome grandpa. Abby simply adores spending time with Poppa. He has taught her very useful information like "eggs come from a chicken's bum". Just the sort of stuff you want your daughter spouting off at nursery!! They made this purple birdhouse together and Abby is always telling me it is Poppa and hers. Natalie I am sure will follow suit in her adoration of Poppa.

We are so grateful to live so close to him and to have his love and attention.

Mike

Today I am going to tell you some of my favorite memories of my oldest brother Mike. Since he was the oldest and I was the youngest and only 5 when he left the house I honestly don't remember much growing up. I do remember when he came home from his mission and Leslye and Vicki babysat all the rest of us. It was one big party. I was so proud to have a brother who was a returned missionary!!
 One of my favorite memories of him involves when he brought Deanna (his wife) home for the first time. This was a pretty big deal. My Dad is kinda scary when it comes to bringing people home and so we were all a bit nervous. I remember having a nice meal and then we had canned cherries for dessert. Of course my brothers started spitting cherry seeds at one another. I was pretty sure Deanna wouldn't come back but she did thankfully.  They asked me to be a bridesmaid and at 11 years old I thought I was pretty cool stuff. Especially singing "The Glory of Love" at their reception.(Oh my). I might add I didn't make him do any embarrassing performances at my wedding. He is the handsome one in the dark suit.

Most of my favorite memories are from when I lived in Edmonton and I got to spend some family time with them at their house. Of course all of these fun photos are on my old film camera.West Edmonton Mall waterpark and galaxyland, going to the movies, and going out for dinners. It was so fun to watch him being such a great husband and Dad. I was so grateful to him for coming to Cardston with me when I went through the temple for the first time and really for all the support while I was at school. It was nice to always know that I had family I could call on and they would come and help me if I needed it.
He is one pretty great brother!

Mom

Today I thought I would share with you some favorite memories of my Mom. I think everyone thinks their Mom is the best and I am no exception but I think I really started to appreciate my Mom once I had kids. First of all how on earth was she able to be a Mom to seven kids? Two keeps me busy enough. Anyway out of a lifetime of memories I picked a couple of my favorite.

(On a side note I have learned something in the three days I have been doing this 1. I don't take or have enough pictures of my family and 2. I really need to get some of my old printed pictures onto a digital format.)

Ok back to my Mom.
One of my favorite memories was in Grade 11. I was getting ready to take my Grade 9 piano exam and was of course stressed out and being a teenage girl. My Mom was always telling me to relax and have confidence in myself. I remember her taking me to the Cardston Alberta Temple Open House right before my piano exam because she said it would give me peace. What a wise woman!!! Sorry no awesome pics of me in high school all on the old film camera!!

Here is a pic of her at a baby shower they had for me when I was born. She was so excited to have a baby shower for number 7 can you imagine? Check out those outifts and hair do's!! Check out my sister Vicki in her styling red and white dress!!

Another favorite memory was all the talks we used to have driving back and forth  to volleyball, basketball, choir, and piano lessons. I remember all the recitals and games she always tried to come to. What an awesome lady.

Now that I have kids of my own I get to see her as a Grandma and although my kids don't get to see her as much as I'd like they love her and talking on the phone to Grandma Smith on the farm. She is pretty much amazing and I am grateful to have been raised by such a great lady!!!

Landon and Taylor

Today I am going to tell you about two adorable boys named Landon and Taylor. They get February 2 because it was Landon's 8th birthday yesterday. Same day as his Dad's.

The first picture is of Landon with his parents at my wedding reception. I can't believe he is 8 and getting baptized this Saturday. I wish we could go. He is super talented into sports, music, and dancing. When they came to visit us after I had Abby he was so cute playing video games with his Uncle Ryan and following his cousin Ben around.

Now this is the first time I met Taylor right after Abby was born and I have to tell you he was the happiest kid I had ever met. He was always smiling and carefree. When we had our family reunion a couple of years back I couldn't believe how big he had gotten. He is still the laid back easy going kid. I think he inherited that from his Dad. I have to admit I was so jealous at the time I met him  because I was pretty new at the Mom thing and Abby made a ton of noise still so I thought this kid was pretty amazing!!!

Just two of my amazing nephews that I am so grateful to have as part of my family.