Loving every minute!

It has been so fun to watch the big girls love their baby sister.  They love to snuggle with her every morning and night.  Rush home from school to hold her.  They love to feed her and think it is so funny when we hear little sounds out of her.  I knew they would be great helpers, but I had no idea how much I would love to watch them love each other.  And then there is Kyle.  He is the perfect dad of girls.  He is so sweet and gentle...and actually likes to change the poopy diapers.  I'm always so grateful when he does.  I am feeling like one very lucky momma right about now.

Lights, camera...action!

We were selected by our health insurance company to share our story in their new ad campaign.  It really all happened so fast, it was hard to believe!  First we got a call from IHC's Select Health asking if we would be willing to do it.  I warned them that cameras make me nervous and I couldn't guarantee how I would do with an interview.  They told me not to worry about it and asked if they could have their advertising agency contact me.  I agreed.  Within the next two weeks we had many people stop by to meet us, interview us, photograph us...I suddenly felt like I was interviewing for a job that I never applied for.  It really was kind of crazy!  On a Tuesday, I got a call saying they were in the area and could they stop by for a minute...they would be here in ten minutes!  Aaaah!  Within 10 minutes a van full of 10 people arrived and filed into my house.  They were kind and forgiving of my mess. :)  They asked if they could start filming here the next day.  I said sure and spent the rest of the afternoon pulling things together.  I even went and bought a new sweater.  Turns out, you don't end up seeing my house or my sweater in the commercial.  :)  But you just never know!  

They set up at 9:30 on Wednesday morning and it was the real deal.  Hair and makeup, craft services, lighting, sound...  Just like the movies.  And contracts.  We worked under the Screen Actors Guild contracts so we felt pretty official and for a day we were treated like royalty.  They interviewed me on camera for 1 1/2 hours, asking all kinds of questions about my experience with Select Health.  We wrapped up at about 2 and went to Wheeler Farm for the rest of the filming.  We didn't get done there until 7:00.  It was a long, but fun day.  Really a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime experience!  I was so excited to have the chance to do this with Krissy!

Setting up in front of our house. We caused quite the buzz in the neighborhood.

Hair & makeup

She was such a natural!

All the people it took to make our 30 second commercial!

They asked Krissy to make some silly faces...you should have seen this girl work it!  I couldn't help but think of my shy, little girl that used to be...not anymore.  This little gal is bursting with confidence and personality.  I am so thankful for her and for the way she is growing up!  

Our commercial, radio ad, bus ad and billboard (aaaahh!) are going to launch in the next few weeks! I will post everything when I get my copy.  

Moyle Park

One of the biggest highlights of our summer was visiting Moyle Park. This year we tagged along with our friends, The Prices. The kids love to participate in pioneer activities and I love the history that is there. The story of John Rowe Moyle is one of my most favorite Church history stories. You can read it below...

"This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Rowe Moyle. John was a convert to the Church who left his home in England and traveled to the Salt Lake Valley as part of a handcart company. He built a home for his family in a small town a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an accomplished stonecutter and, because of this skill, was asked to work on the Salt Lake Temple.

Every Monday John left home at two o’clock in the morning and walked six hours in order to be at his post on time. On Friday he would leave his work at five o’clock in the evening and walk almost until midnight before arriving home. He did this year after year.

One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg. So John’s family and friends strapped him onto a door and, with a bucksaw, cut off his leg a few inches from the knee.

In spite of the crude surgery, the leg started to heal. Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile (35-km) journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.

His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple.⁵

John did not do this for the praise of man. Neither did he shirk his duty, even though he had every reason to do so. He knew what the Lord expected him to do.

Years later, John’s grandson Henry D. Moyle was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and, eventually, served in the First Presidency of the Church. President Moyle’s service in these callings was honorable, but his grandfather John’s service, though somewhat less public, is just as pleasing to the Lord. John’s character, his legacy of sacrifice, serves as a banner of faithfulness and an ensign of duty to his family and to the Church. John Rowe Moyle understood the meaning of “lift where you stand.”

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

lazy days of summer!

We enjoyed every minute of this summer! I can't believe that it flew by so fast. Here we are at the park enjoying one last carefree summer day.

pure excitement!

We are so excited to get to see Lamb of God, tomorrow at the Tabernacle!

"Lamb of God is a sacred musical work for choir, orchestra and soloists focusing on the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, His Atonement and Resurrection. It is written as a dramatic work and presented in concert format. It uses as its basis, and much of its text, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and especially John, as found in the King James version of the Holy Bible. The work is written and composed by Rob Gardner."

Cool thing is...Rob Gardner was our co-worker at QuicKutz. At that time I knew he had musical talent...but I had no idea he was this amazing. Good thing or we would have stalked his cubicle non-stop...none of us would have gotten anything done. This music is at the top of our iTunes playlist. I really love it, but Kyle is obsessed. You'd think he'd died and gone to heaven when I got our tickets. Click on the above link and watch Rob conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in their recording studio. He is pure genius in my book.

sick day

A few weeks ago Kendall was sick and had been stuck inside for days. Krissy came home from school and the sun was shining and they couldn't resist a good opportunity to play on the sheet of ice on the north side of our house. Kendall loved every minute that she was dragged across the ice.

"Hang on tight Tiny!"

That was me hollering from the kitchen window...

duh, duh, da, duh...snap, snap

Friday night Kirk and Danielle hosted their annual Halloween party. We look forward to this tradition every year...and each one seems to get even better! Somehow Shane is always the life of every party. He came dressed as Dad on Christmas morning and he put on a good show (which I've decided not to put online)...we laughed so hard it hurt. Thanks for having us Kirk and Dani! We are looking forward to next year already...and planning our costumes.

Hee Haw Farms

We've already been two times this year because the kids love it so much. Definitely a favorite new fall tradition!