UTAH || SURPRISE TRIP!!

I had only been home a couple of weeks when Ryan called me and asked if I would be willing to come back to Utah to take his ENGAGEMENT pictures sometime before the end of the year. UHM, SURE!!! I would LOVE to!! I was lucky enough that we were able to plan it the same weekend as Brookie's Baptism. I flew into SLC late on Friday night and left on Sunday, it was a quick trip, but it was so fun to be able to capture Ryan and Jamie and their kids, go to Brooklyn's baptism and see my family for a quick weekend!!

Look at this beautiful girl!!

After the baptism we went to SLC to take Ryan and Jamie's pictures, it was a challenge with all the kids, but we had a great time and got some great pictures!! Here are just a couple of my favorites!!

I am so grateful I was able to make it work to go out for a quick weekend and take their photos. I'm so grateful for my amazing family and for the bond we all share!! After we took all the pictures, we went to the cemetery for a few minutes, and then went to Mi Ranchito {yum!}

After church on Sunday, Ryan took me back to the airport, I wanted to stop and surprise Joanna and give her a little Christmas ornament. I talked to her kids and they made sure she would be home. The surprised look on her face was totally worth it. I LOVED surprising her, and I LOVE her sweet encouraging love for me all the time.

It was such a fun, quick trip!

UTAH || SKYLAR IS HOME!!

I'm so grateful I was able to make it work to go home twice this past fall/winter. In October Skylar came home from the Dominican Republic and I couldn't wait to go home and see him and hear his homecoming talk. Tanner was able to go with me and it was a fun - although way too short - trip.

We took a late flight so that I could work all day on Thursday and we didn't get to Utah until almost 11pm. Good thing too, it took Dad and Skylar all day to get ready for us!! :)

He's a pretty good travel companion!! First order of business on Friday morning was a big dirty diet coke {or whatever they call it at Sodalicious!}

Then I had a photo shoot at the Provo City Center Temple, you can see it HERE. We also did some baptism pictures, you can see those HERE. Then we we drove up the canyon to meet my new friend Emily Broadbent to do some updated family pictures. I LOVE how they turned out. Here are a couple of me, I'll share the rest when I share my Christmas cards. The canyon and the mountains were SO beautiful!!! {I really, really miss the mountains!}

After our pictures we ran and got some flowers and went to visit the two cemeteries. It's still surreal that I have to visit the cemetery when I go to Utah now. It still pulls at my heart string and makes me sad, and sometimes angry. It's still raw and open sometimes, but it is getting better, little by little, day by day, it is getting better.

Friday night the weather got crazy and one of my photo shoots had to be re-scheduled. We went and hung out at Brett's house and all sorts of craziness erupted!! It was quite a night of crazy antics, gorillas, moon shoes, and many laughs. {It was just what we all needed}.

Saturday morning I had three more photo shoots, you can see them HERE, HERE and HERE. They were ALL so much fun and I'm so grateful we were able to capture so many fun memories together! It was pretty stormy by Saturday night, so we decided to postpone the last photo shoot until Sunday, you can see it HERE.

Here are some pictures my sister took of me taking pictures this morning, I LOVE behind the scenes photos of me working!

And then we went to Mi Ranchito because you can't go to Utah and NOT go to Mi's. YUMMO!! It was SOOOO crazy, but so fun!!

AND SOOOOO GOOD!!!

Sunday was Skylar's homecoming, the reason why we came to Utah, I made sure Tanner knew that going to church was NOT optional. He was expected to be AT church, on time. And Skylar's talk was SO good. He's grown up so much and he's gained such a strong testimony. I'm so proud of him. But more important than his talk was the fact that ALL SEVEN of us, and all but one of the grandchildren were there together, AT church to support him. I know it was uncomfortable for some of them {my own son included}. I know some of them don't go to church right now and THAT'S OK!!! I have learned so much about agency, about love and about acceptance. It doesn't mean that I like the choice my siblings, or my own son are making, but it does mean that I LOVE THEM ALL UNCONDITIONALLY!!! Choosing to love someone is really a choice we all make. It doesn't matter what they do, or don't do, we can ALWAYS love them and show them that we love them.

I know mamma was there with us. I know she was proud of each one of us for being there to support Skylar. I know that she is cheering us on every day. I know that she loves us each unconditionally.

I am SO, SO grateful for the things I have learned in the last few years. I would not choose these trials, but they have changed me in ways that nothing else could. I am so proud of you Skylar, I can't imagine losing my mom at such a young age, and while I was away in a foreign country serving the Lord. I can't imagine coming home almost two years later and having her not be there any more. I can't imagine how hard the last two years must have been for you, but I also can't imagine the amount of people you have touched, and the testimonies you have helped to grow, because of your faith. I love you bud!! WELCOME HOME!!

After church, we hung out at dad's house, made silly faces and enjoyed being together as a family.

Monday we had to leave to come home. We went to lunch with dad and Skylar and then we went to the airport. It was such a fun weekend and I am SO grateful that we were able to come!

I LOVE this owl that Skylar brought me from the Dominican Republic. It reminds me of mamma, and teal, and owls, and Skylar and everything. Thank you!!

GRADUATION 2017

And then, after one of the most emotional and trying weeks I've had, it was GRADUATION for my sweet boy. I put all of the other stress and pain aside and celebrated HIM! I'm so proud of him and his accomplishments!! He had the best year, his report card was the best it's been since Freshman Year. He is happy and full of life. He still complained about going to school, but he went and he did what he needed to do. I'm SO PROUD of him!!

A few hours before the ceremony, they moved us inside because of the threat of thunderstorms and a huge storm. It was SO hot outside and it was probably better that we were inside in the AC.

The madrigal choir sang the Stars Spangled Banner and it was AWESOME!! I wish I had recorded it!

The A Capella Choir sang Depart in Peace and the Alma Mater, they were both great also!

There was one speaker. The district had one speaker. And then the graduates walked....over 600 of them in about 30 minutes. The entire ceremony was 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was PERFECT!!

And just like that, we have a GRADUATE!!!

Tanner and Shannon

And then I turned around and saw the most beautiful Angel Rays shining from heaven. Oh mamma, you were here with me. You were at graduation and you were with me while I celebrated my boy. I know dad wanted to come so bad. I just felt like after everything that had happened that Ryan needed him  more than I did this weekend. I'm so grateful that you were with me.

I took Shannon and Tanner to Olive Garden for dinner and dessert to celebrate! And then I came home to get ready for his party.

The next day was his party. I spent all day getting ready and decorating. He had such a good turn out. SO many friends came to congratulate him. Bill and Karri even drove from Pennsylvania to celebrate with him. It was a wonderful day to celebrate his accomplishments!!

I love you bud, I am so proud of you.

Benjamin, Stephen and Tanner

After the party, Stephen took Tanner and Shannon to dinner and Bill and Karri and I went to Portillos.... you can't come to Chicago and not have a Chicago dog! Right Bill?

I LOVE you for coming to celebrate my boy. I love that you would jump in your car and come be with us. I love that I felt like a little piece of mamma was with me today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.