Good things to come

Sometimes there are periods in life where you'd rather forget most of whats happened and somehow erase all the ugly. The past 6 months have had a little too much sad in them for me to really want to keep track on our blog. For the purpose of my kids having the important things to look back on though I realized I need to keep a history and this blog has always been my best way to do so. I'll do my best to catch up and add pictures of the good things that have happened in between the ugly. Details are known by enough people that I don't feel the need to share, just know that I still believe God is good, the Gospel is true, that humans will make stupid and unthinkable mistakes, but hearts can heal,and that forgiving is the best although hardest gift (at least for me) to give. I'm working on it daily though, and I pray constantly to be strong enough to continue to heal, and to hold on to enjoy the good now, and all the good things to come. I've been blessed so much in the middle of such an ugly time in my life and I don't want to ever forget those blessings. So here goes the blog again. I'll probably just back date everything starting from Sept 2011 until now so feel free to look back or just catch up with us now. As always thank you for the friendship, support, love and prayers that have been sent our way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I The end of this has been one of my favorite things to listen to. believe in good things to come!

a bunch of awesome Fuqua time crammed into one lovely post :)

Derek and I were talking the other day about how we dont have a lot of friends, but the friends we do have, are ones completely worth having! The Fuquas are some of those friends worth having! They've been the friends we've "grown up with" over the past 5 years and where we were when we met, to where we are all now is pretty crazy! When we all met there was only one little kiddo in the mix which was their son Jory, and now there are 5 between us. Our 2 girls and their 3 boys. We will forever hope that somehow at least one of our kids will marry eachother and tie our families together forever :) ! Anyway, we're lucky to have them and through this spring/summer, because we live 11 hrs away from eachother we've only been able to see them a few times so here is a picture over load to remember all the fun we cram in every visit!:)

Keith and Stacy came down right before Easter, and right before Stacy had their 3rd little boy Tyce. She was such a trooper driving so far and keepin up with a busy weekend! We hit kangaroo zoo, the actual zoo and had fun just hanging out.

We went on our first kidless date in I dunno how long! It was so fun to relax talk and laugh, with no cute little kiddos around :)

Easter egg dying with the kiddos :)

love this picture of all the kids with Keith :) My girls love uncle Keith!

ZOOO!

"people let me tell ya bout my best friend!" :)

they really do just make such a cute little bromance!

Then they came down for Emma and Kyles wedding (stacys sister) another quick visit but we'll always take whatever time we can get! ha plus we got to meet their 3rd beautiful addition to the family Tyce, who we obviously fell right in love with just like we did with Jory and Ryder :)

Next trip was one thrown together spontaniously on our part. We rearranged a few of dereks shifts at work and had 6 days off so I called Stace and we arranged a suprise trip! she was the only one who knew we were coming it was SO fun!

Man is the drive killer, but so worth it :) Taya only got car sick once and other then that it was great our little honda made it there and back like the ugly gem it is :)

We had fun at the Silverwood theme park which for some reason I cant find pictures, we went boating which is always a huge treat!, and we just relaxed! We ate delicious food and of course got some JAMS frozen yogurt :) We love our besties!

silver lining

Exciting news first, Derek and I both got our first temple recommends since we've been together, and I dont think Saten is really liking it! ha as silly as that might sound. I don't think I have ever felt his "power" more in my life then I am right now. He knows we're working to become and eternal family and that is the one thing he'll do anything to destroy. So many little and trivial things keep going wrong and as exhausting as it has been, keeping our eyes on the prize which is being sealed obviously is keeping me sane and has helped put better perspective on Satens attempts to break us. The last bunch of events have been a little bit of a blur but between Derek finishing his associates, quitting Golden Living (where he's been employeed since last June) applying for a new job but having a 3 week space of no work in-between before he got it, while I had a crazy busy month doing hair in Ephraim, Provo, and Rangely. Lets see what else...oh wrecking the big car (minor wreck)having to figuring out insurance coverage that wasn't right, being CTR6 teachers (Our first calling together :), and trying to find a day that would work with his new jobs schedule that was still in the air,to recieve our Endowments and be Sealed, its been CRAZY! All trivial things that felt huge to deal with in the moment but ended up working out great in the end! ha anyway I had been looking at dresses online for me and the girls for about a week and I finally found the perfect ones...well Rylee picked hers out :) I planned on buying them the next day when we ended up getting in a wreck instead. I was so discouraged, I couldn't spend money on pretty white dresses because instead we had to spend the money on getting our car working again. I called my mom crying and frustrated and she said she'd buy the dresses and I could just pay her back when we got back on our feet. It might seem like a little thing but it was so huge for me! I needed to order the dresses so they'd be here in time for the Sealing which we're hoping to have the end of Sept. I was so thankful for my sweet mom in the middle of silly chaos. These beautiful dresses coming in the mail were the silver lining of all the frustrations. I cant wait to see my girls wear them in the Temple!

the big cars little bump and bruise from rear ending a pretty white new car in front of us :( Wasnt too bad but it popped the radiator so we couldnt drive it until it got fixed.

and...the silver lining :) How beautiful are they! I just love these 2 girls! dont worry a post of just them in their dresses is in the works.

let freedom ring!

We're blessed to live in the USA...simple as that! I love the 4th of July and everything that goes along with celebrating it! BBQ's, good friends and family, and of course FIREWORKS! :) Aunt Tonya came down to spend the week with us and we of course soaked up every second we could spend with her! we sure wish she lived closer!!!! We watched the stadium of fire, fireworks with Dereks Uncle John and his family, we watched some in Heber with dereks parents in the rain, and we went to Amy and Brodys for a bbq and to watch Brody light off his own fireworks. This year was the first year in Utah that arial firworks were legal so we of course had to set some of those off :) over all it was an awesome holiday!

Fireworks and red white and blue fingernails :)

The girls absolutely LOVE their aunt Tonya, and so do Derek and I. We're always thankful she's willing to spend her hard earned money to fly or drive down to see us a couple times a year and we love every second she's here!!!

bikes bikes and more bikes!

Well needless to say after Rylee learned to ride her bike...Taya decided she needed to upgrade from this...

(dont know why its blurry)

To this....:)

I couldnt believe how well she picked it up! She took right off...no fear at all. After the first day she was riding in circles saying..."AND TURN!" she didnt care how bumpy the road was or how fast she was going. Totally different from Rylee when she was 2. I think she's mainly just wanted to keep up with her big sister, and she's done a pretty darn good job! Sure love this fun little girl!

Taya wanting to learn to ride a bike, meant getting Rylee a bigger one. I found this awesome purple bike on KSL for $10. I told Ry she could earn it if she wanted to which of course she did. We drove to pick up the bike and when we got there, I was a little worried at how beat up the bike was...it was far from shiny and new and the little handle bar breaks were hanging off, but when Rylee saw it she ran up to it and said, "ITS PERFECT!" I shoulda known a 4 year old would be able to see past some scratches and scrapes. After all it was dark purple and sparkly and nothing could fit my little Rylee better then that!

A couple weeks in and she's turned into a little dare devil. So fun!

Since the girls loved their bikes so much Derek and I decided to follow suit, and after quite a few hours KSL shopping I found us 2 great deals on some nice bikes and a bike trailer and we've had TONS of fun going on family bike rides. Isnt summer just the best!!!

Zoom zoom Rylee on 2 wheels

It's crazy as a parent you watch your child reach so many little and milestones in just the first 5 years of life. Their first cry, first smile (even if its a gas one it counts!) first giggle, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, eating rice cereal, eating solid food, eating sugar! First steps, first word, first sentance, first prayer, first injury, first day in nursery, first night away from parents, potty training, learning colors, letters, animal sounds, numbers, songs, how to write their names and draw their cute interpretation of what people look like. First day at preschool and sunday school..all that good stuff and more. The funny part of all of it, is that every single first, and every little accomplishment is bigger and more exciting then the last! You think you couldnt love or be more proud of your child and then tomorrow comes and they suprise you. Well this little post is in honor of miss Ry learning to be a little pro on her bike minus its training wheels! It was such a rush watching her learn and pick it up so fast! I was a little sceptical because just last summer she didnt even want to ride on the road cause it was too bumpy but off she went and within 3 days of practicing she wasnt needing any help starting or turning. It was definately a proud parent day for me and Der! :) Sad thing is, today it was first time riding a bike without training wheels and before we know it, first day of kindergarten...middle school...high school! first date, first kiss, first love! oh man I sure dont mind waiting for all of those firsts! I'll take these little milestones and SOAK them in!

How cute is she, all ready to ride! :)

Once she learned, riding her bike has been all she's wanted to do...gotta love her all ready to go! :)

the "good air"

Some of my favorite memories of my Dad are of us being in the mountains together. I remember driving up Ephraim canyon, in our little white datsun pickup truck with the windows down, and Dad would say how he loved breathing the "good air." Thats stuck with me ever sense. He loved the mountains, being close to the simple goodness God created for us. I hope to pass the love of breathing in the good air, to our kids. Each time we get high enough up the mountains to breath it, I feel calm and remember Dad. The mountains are a perfect place to be, and I'm so lucky to have always had some close to me! 

To the Good Air!

Cute Derek right after we got married :) one of my favorite pictures!

Our family 2 years ago up Ephraim canyon at the little lake

We took the girls in the bike trailer up the Provo canyon trail and stopped for a picknic. Its crazy how much better the air is just a little way out of the city...love it!

2 cute little buddies

2 more cute little buddies :)

Absolutely love this picture!

Our next summer trip up the mountains was a quick one to roast marshmallows and make smores. We had fun finding dry wood and making a little fire. The girls ran around free and played in the open field. It was such a nice little get away and we left smelling like dirt and a fire pit...it was perfect :)

love this girl and her beautiful hair :) 

yay for smores...straight sugar! 

look at that perfectly dirty little face! oooh she's just delicious!: ) 

once again...delicious!!! 

Me and Ry up the bridal veil falls. The water was freezing but it still felt perfect to just sit and relax

love for the mountains and all that good air!