preparations

so right now this summer is all about taking care of business...namely the wedding! With the help of our good friend and creative mentor Michelle we narrowed down Karen to some thing we could work with. A wedding planner makes all the difference in keeping us focused!

Bridal Shower-Provo

roomates and sister

After returning from a semester in Amman Jordan, Karen's roomates threw a shower in Provo for our bride-to-be before she headed back to California to work on her preparations. Why didn't I get any pictures of the nice spread they had for her courtesy of Heather and Laura?! Well at least the memory of a good time is preserved!

the dress

so here is the wedding dress being modified for Karen to wear to the temple. It is even better than we imagined. Catrina at A Bridal Center in Provo, UT is our expert seamstress, taking a strapless gown and making a seemingly seamless transition to a top fill.

catrina@abridalcenter.com (801)375-5445

235 North University Avenue
Provo, UT 84601-2836

Tommy's baptism

Happy Family, Happy Missionaries!

Stranger things have happened in life...but this one tops them all for the year! [joking] But miracles never cease, and the miracle of my brother accepting the true gospel in his life is definitely one of them. His baptism, May 23, 2009. I (Linda) gave the baptism talk, with Laura giving the Holy Spirit talk, Ken officiating.

Moloka'i mule tour

This was an amzing tour down the sea cliffs of Moloka'i. The mules are surefooted on this more than steep terrain, and are pretty comfortable too. But it was a sacred experience to be in the towns where so many were banashed for leprosy (Hansens disease). There is an excellant book that led us to take this tour, and I highly recommend it. MOLOKA'I by Alan Brennert.

It's true!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Utah this, Utah That

So while we were up in Utah we went to some of our favorite places, that we hung out at while students at BYU. One of our all time favorites is this fun Mexican restaurant in Springville. We would save our money fastidiously to go here for any occassion we could think of. The best thing on the menu? Chile Rellano. Hands down best chile I've ever had!

Lauras work

Laura finished her dental assistant classes in January and got a job in Orem! I can't believe my baby is working so professionally. Keep it up Lolly~

TEA

So have I suddenly turned into an activist??? Most times we sit back and let the government do it's thing, but when it gets to the point where it border on socialism, and taking money from my pocket...enough is enough!!! So here we are with the hundreds of thousand throughout the country, who got little to no acknowledgement by the mass media. I know what I saw on the street corner I stood at, and it was easily a thousand, yet barely a mention of it was noted. Still it was invigorating to be in a group of well-mannered, orderly, and respectful people who shared concerns and feelings similar to mine. I'm glad "the ladies" and I got to enjoy this together--it made for some great pictures! Want to know more?

CLICK on the Banner

Easter 2009

What a beautiful day to celebrate the Resurrection! We had Ken's family, as well as our kids for a wonderful Easter dinner which we combined with Melba's (Ken's mom) 90th birthday! We were especially lucky to get a good friend of ours to take a family portrait for us--BIG shout out to Jared Cicon.

St Patricks fun 2009

There is always lots of fun celebrating our Irish Heritage! Linda's great grandmother is from County Clare Ireland, a town known as Ennistymon. This year I bought all of my children the tartan colors of Ireland. The girls got scraves and the the boys got ties. I don't have any pictures of the kids wearing them, because they are all up in Utah. I'm hoping for the next year that they'll take a picture and post it to me.

In the meantime, our annual feast consisted of Corn Beef and Cabbage, green mashed potatoes, green pistachio pudding, and green 7-UP. Nora and Heidi joined in the fun with adorable shamrock skirts, and headbands. Heidi even slept over and helped bake green frosted cupcakes--YUMMY-

Brian is graduating!!!

GRADUATION DAY: April 23rd, CONVOCATION: April 24th 2009

We couldn't be any prouder of our good son and his accomplishments~but graduation just added that extra dimension! He graduated with his Bachelors in Biology-cum laude (just shy of one class for a minor in Chemistry). And that money lei around his neck, that would be my doing! A hUnDReD crisp one dollar bills, folded multiple times for each, and then tied and fanned out. I hope you can admire it, because I won't be making it again! I am saving it to pass down to the next graduate, and handing Brian a hundred dollar bill.

Girls and Valentines

What a nice winter time surprise...the girls got to drive down from Utah to visit and take in some much needed sunshine. We spent the afternoon together at one of our favorite eating spots( isn't Ken lucky to be surrounded by all his women?)...and then before the girls left we had our traditional "red stew" with a wonderful brownie, mascarpone dessert for Valentines!