Here comes the bride.....

This last week we all went up to Boise and then Salt Lake for Chris and Sommers WEDDING! HURRAY! I got to do the flowers so on Wednesday night BJ and the kids and I drove to Boise so that I could do all the flowers on Thursday! On the way up BJ and Spencer started playing the funniest game! So I captured a little bit of it on video! Keep in mind this game went on for over and hour!!!!!

I put all the flowers together over and Sommers family home and had a great time! GB even flew in just in time to help with the centerpieces!

So if you love flowers like I do here are TONS of pics of all the arrangements and bouquets! I didn't get any of the corsages and boutonnieres!

Graham and his cutie bow tie!

Friday evening we had the reception in the Rice family yard! It turned out beautifully! Not to mention Chris and Sommer were SO twitterpated and happy! It reminded me of what it felt like to be engaged and all the excitement and anticipation you feel as you are about to start this new life together! Lets just say Mom wasn't the only one who teared up that night!

The wedding cake and Moms grooms cake! Chris and Sommer made both of the toppers! The one on the mountain is Chris attacking a bear that was trying to eat Sommer! Funny right?

Here are the dances! Ahhhh .....

There were SO many pics I made a slide show for you die hard picture fans!

We drove to Salt Lake and went to the Salt Lake Temple for the Sealing and then had a SUPER SUPER yummy dinner buffet and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building! The food was to die for my favorite was the Salmon and Scallops in this cream sauce! OH MY GOSH! Dad had people get up and tell funny or heart felt stories about Chris and Sommer and then had them take pics with all the different tables! It was such a fun way to spend the evening! Chris and Sommer took a carriage ride around Salt Lake after they left the reception and few of the kids and I went over and decorated there room with candles and goodies! We made it out of there with no more then a couple of minutes cause they walked in as we snuck out! IT was SO much fun!

It was a great weekend! I was so happy to see my Aunts and Grandmas and meet all of Sommers family! Oh yea and I am SO happy for Chris and his new beautiful Bride!

Renaissance Fair

Last week Cedar had their Renaissance Fair! It was SO much fun! BJ was working a lot and the so the kids and I went every night! We were lucky enough to go with Dang and Amber each night! WE HAD A BLAST! I really enjoyed getting out of the house! Here are a few pictures of all the fun we had!

By far are favorite thing to do was hang out with the knights and practice our spear skills!

We had a few competitions to see who could hit the shield the hardest and make in go around the most times! After 3 days we were pretty good!

Every night they had a show with belly dancers and singers! The belly dancers were AWESOME! Aubrey and Spencer loved to watch them! Amber and I just wished we could learn to do it! It takes a lot of practice!

The food was SO good! I still cant believe I didn't get a picture! But I did get a pic of Spencer enjoying the cotton candy WAY TOO much!

One of the fun parts of hanging out was seeing all the people dressed up! There is a whole sub culture of people who are WAY into it!

It was such a good way to spend the evenings, I am glad BJ was able to come one night and I am SO grateful to have such a good friend like Amber! It is so rare and special to have someone who you are comfortable around and who likes you in spite of all your little quirks! I love laughing and giggling about nothing and being able to feel comfortable talking about important things and nothing at all! THANK YOU Amber for being such a great Best FRIEND!

We were out late every night and the kids loved it! But they sure did tire out! I cant wait for the next festival!

Moments with Graham

Today at nap time I put all 3 kids down and I thought I was going to get a little ME time! Graham laid down for about 10 minutes until he started SCREAMING! I let him cry for a few minutes and then I realized he wasn't going to fall asleep! I went in and picked him up, THAT moment he stopped crying and looked up at me and smiled! All I could think was what a silly baby!

We came in and laid down so he could eat a little more! After a few minutes he stopped and just stared at me! All the other things going on in my mind were silenced as I looked at those bright blue eyes and felt that unconditional love he had for me! His sincere heart warming smiles filled me up with gratitude! Then he started touching my face his innocent curiosity is so special! I love this stage of all he knows is that he LOVES his family and wants to explore his new world! But in those few minutes I KNEW there was NO WHERE else either of us wanted to be! I HOPE that I can love my family the way I felt loved by him, unconditionally truly happy to be with each other!!

I WAS JUST SO GLAD TO HAVE THESE FEW QUIET MOMENTS WITH MY SWEET LITTLE GRAHAMY!

I have always felt his calming and quiet spirit! He is so special, JUST what our family needed to be complete! Life is so SO busy and loud but these moments are what make me SO grateful and happy to be the mother of 3 strong sweet boys!

I LOVE YOU Graham, I cant imagine my life without YOU! You bring something so unique and important to my life and our family! I hope you always know that!

a little firework FUN!

For family night we went over to Amber and Dang's for a BBQ and to light a few fireworks! The food was SO good, Amber does a MEAN grilled pork chop!

But the highlight of the evening was the fireworks! The kids had fun with the sparklers!

Then Dang got out the fireworks! Of course my boys were all over it! They are so fearless (which is a good thing and a bit scary for mom!) They ran back and forth jumping and laughing! Cooper did his happy chicken little dance, Spencer was so excited to be so close to the fireworks that he was just crazy! And Dang (the big kid) was very proud of the biggest firework he had "THE BIG ONE!"

I don't know if you can see it but Spencer is jumping in the air with excitement!

I love this picture because it just shows how excited the boys were! Everyone else was sitting and watching the fireworks and Spenc and Coop are JUMPING and running all over! It is a great example of EVERY outing we go to! Most of the kids sitting quietly and enjoying themselves and the Holm boys ALL OVER THE PLACE! I am sitting here right now smiling and shacking my head in exhaustion! :) And if you KNOW the boys I am sure you are nodding your head in agreement!

Riding All By Myself

On Sunday Spencer and Cooper played outside all day with Papa! Brent has had a small 3 wheeler at the house ever since I've known him! Spencer is getting old enough to start riding it by himself (or so the men in the family say!) He was doing such a good job and I caught it on tape!

He was working on his turning and by the end of the day he was going in circles!

When we left on Sunday night Spencer told Papa "next time I come down I think I should bring my 3 wheeler back to home with me!!" Papa gave him a big smile and said "We'll see!!!"

Celebrating...

We celebrated the 4th of July doing my favorite holiday traditions with GREAT FRIENDS and Family!

(this is my ATTEMPT at a posed picture I took about 20 and this was the best one:)

We went to the Washington park

With BJ's Parents, Jenise and Ellie, and BJ's Cousin Lehi and his little girl Sapphire

The boys rode the tractor train with their Daddy!

The main event at the park was the races!Cooper ran first

He was so fast!

Spencer was up next

This was the first year he ran on his own, he really proud of himself!

We all cooled off with the first snow cone of the day and some much needed shade!

After nap time we headed to the Rec center to stay cool! We all had a blast!

Spencer was trying to swim all over the place!

Cooper was scared of everything for some reason so he pooped out really early on!

We went yo my favorite spot to watch the fireworks! I love to stake out a spot and lay down and watch them right above you! Plus they have the BEST snow cones and fun activities for the kids!

We brought some food and we all hung out and relaxed, Cooper stole the french fries so he could have them all to himself!

Graham had a good time too! He sucked on ice (for his poor little teeth) and made a new friend!

We had a great time all night with the Steele family, Brent and Kristie, Jenise and the Hanks!

It was a great 4th of July!

My Blessing in Nursery

I had a challenging but ultimately rewarding couple of Sundays! Cooper has been REALLY REALLY REALLY struggling going to Nursery! For the last 7 Sundays Cooper would start hysterically crying as we approached the nursery door! Our nursery leaders DON'T want us to leave Cooper if he is crying so I have been in class with him! Some Sundays with Graham too, because BJ has had to work or been teaching in Young Men! It has been challenging!

Last week BJ had to work so I took Graham and Cooper to nursery. It was a rough day for Cooper but as they went for snack time and the lesson I was able to sneak out! I WAS THRILLED! I went and sat down in Relief Society, just as I relaxed into the chair Graham started crying, he was hungry! I got up walked out the door and stood in the hall way for a second! The thought came to me, WHY AM I HERE? I haven't been to either class in weeks, Sacrament is spent trying to keep the kids quiet! I KNOW I couldn't tell you what was talked about. I haven't had one second since I got here to even think about The Savior! WHY AM I HERE? I went and sat down in the mothers lounge and fed Graham, still sad! He fell asleep a few times but as I stopped nursing he would cry! Finally I covered him up with his blanket, still nursing and went in and sat down in Relief Society! I looked up at the clock and there was less then 10 minutes left! My heart sank!! That night as I laid down I said a silent prayer about my frustration! I knew the right answer, keep going even if you sit in nursery and read books and negotiate with the kids during Sacrament! Keep going Heavenly Father will bless you, 10 minutes of class is enough to feel the spirit and learn a little! KEEP GOING!

Then this Sunday my own personal miracle! Spencer took Cooper to class, played a few minutes and left! COOPER WAS PERFECT! never cried never even noticed Spencer left! It seems so small and SO trivial but to me it was a HUGE blessing, something I COULDN'T have done on my own! I know Heavenly Father understands my simplest frustrations and is waiting to help if I will simply continue doing what is right and show Him I believe in Him and His Gospel!

So THANK YOU for listening to me and for ONCE AGAIN showing me that if I out forth the effort and Come Unto Thee you will always be there for me! This is my continuing testimony!

Singing in the RAIN....

Yesterday it RAINED and RAINED! After dinner we went puddle jumping!!

The boys filled up their boots with water and made thier own puddles!

It was fun for the boys to get out and just mess around!

Graham watched from inside! He just started eating squash this week and was saving a little for later :)