Its Over! They tied the knot...

Well I have to say I was a little disappointed that no one commented on the Laynie video maybe I am the only one who thought it was funny..
But I am happy to say that the wedding is over. It turned out absolutely beautiful. It was lots of work but definetly well worth it. I finally finished the video I was making of them within days of the wedding. There was lots of hours spent doing centerpieces and setting up and tearing down but thats what you do for family. It was very hot out during the day but at night there was not a single gust of wind outside compared to the week before and amazingly it was not cold. Im so happy for them they really are perfect for each other. Its so hard to see your baby sister get married, but Im so glad that she is in love, and found someone to spend her life with. Haley my little sister passed out while we were taking pics and the paramedics came but luckily she had some food and water and was feeling better after laying down for a little bit. I was so happy that my parents got to enjoy Rachels wedding, my mom did all the food and decorations with my wedding which was WAY TO STRESSFUL but this time she was smarter and hired most of it out and they really got to enjoy most of the day. Seeing Laynie in that white dress she looked so cute but it made me realize I can wait for the day when my little Laynie gets married. Emmy Lou if your reading this thanks so much for everything I love you girl! Enjoy the pics (there were way to many to put on here)


The Happy Couple


Dad and Rachel dancing

What can I say I was hungry


Absolutely Beautiful

Like Mother Like Son


Rachel couldnt be the only one getting kisses


Collin and Laynie so stinkin cute

My little family



how adorable is that

My sisters


this cake was one of the prettiest I have ever seen thanks Debbie






Strike a pose girls!


People that didnt know us kept asking if we were twins... we are getting that a lot lately Im not sure I see it..


I love how you can see the temple behind us


Laynie and Rachel lookin so pretty

So Cute.. and they lived happily ever after

oh yeah

Im a little out of it sometimes but to hear what laynie is saying in the video you have to mute the music on my music player at the bottom.

So Stinkin funny...

I may be a little partial but I have the funniest little girl ever. The things she has been telling me lately have been crackin me up!! She is a girl after my own heart. First I was getting ready for church today and she told me that she needed to go to church to find someone to marry!! I asked her who she was going to marry and she tol me "Sunny" who is here cousin, I explained that this is not Tennessee and we dont marry cousins she then informed me that she would just find a friend to marry and have lots of babies. Yikes I really dont want to be hearing this from my daughter who is only 3. Lately she has just been singing all kinds of songs which are quite funny because she doesnt always have the words right but atleast she has the right rhythm. My mom bought her some videos called Little playdates of which I have decided to protest because I swear we have watched it ATLEAST 50x. But the things we do for our kids. I thought I would put this video on here to just give a little taste of what I was talking about. The wedding is less than a week away!! We had the bachleorette party last week so Im thinking I will just post all the pics at once. Its going to be a busy week :)zz

Gone for GOOD!!

Well I am happy to announce that I finally lost 5 pounds!!! After 9 weeks of trying to stay on track it has finally paid off. I think that I have been losing some inches because I put on some pants the other day without having them so tight that it gives a muffin top or to rubberband the top button!! I started going back to meetings and it has been up and down but I know that Weight Watchers works!! Only 15 more to go!

So much to think about...

It has been crazy busy the last few weeks but so much has happened that has made me think long and hard about what is really important in this life.
Yesterday was such an important day for my family, my soon to be brother in law Chris was baptized by my Dad. I remember feeling a little awkward when Rachel got engaged to Chris back in April. I really liked him but I wanted her to be marrying someone who was a member of the church. I want her to be able to have the same experience I had. She is my little sister and I have always thought I knew what was best for her. I had no idea that he would start taking the missionary discussions in my home, and Im so grateful for the spirit that came with that. It makes me so glad to know that the lord does answer prayers because Chris accepted the gospel and is now a member of the church. What a happy day it will be when Chris and Rachel can go to the temple and be married for time and all eternity.

This last week working in the financial business with all that is going on makes you wonder how secure your job really is. I am so happy that my boss this last week asked me to write something everyday that I am grateful for. I guess this made me a little emmotional because I havent stopped thinking about it ever since. The first things I were grateful were my kids. I love them so much that I dont think I could put into words. They really are the light of my life.





Next day I was grateful to have been married in the temple to someone who truly does love me. I am grateful to still be married when the statistics say that 50% of marriages will end in divorce. I am so happy to have such a great best friend and sometimes I feel like my only true friend. Someone that I can be happy to wake up to everyday because so many people dont have that.


I am so grateful to have a house to live in. In this failing economy with so many people foreclosing, I am happy to have not just a house but a home. Not to say that this house payment is not stressful, but Im glad to be so blessed because I know it could be a lot worse.


I am also grateful to be healthy. There are so many people around me with health problems that it makes me second guess the little things that come up with me here and there. I struggle with trying to be grateful with my body because I always find things that are wrong with it. I have been working my butt off for the last 2 months to try and loose weight and I have barely lost 4.5 pounds. Its so hard for me to look in the mirror and just be happy. But this made me take a step back and realize that at least all though it maybe slow I can loose weight, and although I still have some baby weight It could be worse. There are more good things about me than what is on the outside.



Lastly I was grateful for the gospel. I am so glad that when the world around looks so messed up I still have something to guide my way. Im grateful that I can teach my chidren about the gospel. I am grateful for a family that brought me up in the church and tried to teach me to Choose the Right. I am glad that I have this gospel because every few months I feel like I start to go into a depression it is here to pull me out. The gospel is true and the lord does love me. There are so many things that I am grateful for that I didnt write on here because it would have taken forever. But im hoping that by reading this it make everyone take a look into there own life and find how blessed we are.

Last Year in the Twenties!

Matt just wanted to tell you happy birthday. Im sorry that I had to work today but you know i would have rather been at home hanging out with you. Thank you for being such a good companion and a best friend. I love more and more every year. I would have liked to get you that hawaiian vacation we talked about but I will get you that next year when you are turning 30 and you really need it. Hope you have a wonderful birthday. Much Love and kisses. Mandy
I just thought I would share all the crazy faces you have made in pics over the last few years!

Back to the Grind

So I am back from vacation from North Cali with Matts family, and I must say coming back mid week is a little hard. Overall it was a good trip with lots of driving, but so worth it to finally put my feet in the sand. Its a long trip with 2 kids but I KNOW my inlaws appreciate the visit. I did lots of shopping (shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone) and ate lots of yummy food. We even got to take Laynie to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which if you havent been before is something you have to do at least once in life.I havent ever seen anything like it. Matt enjoyed seeing his brothers and Laynie had lots of fun seeing all of her cousins (I think it is super funny that she calls them her friends. But as it is getting closer to the wedding I have to buckle down and help get the rest done, and prepare the stuff for my calling at church. Oh yes and Matts 29th birthday! Enjoy the pics.


Mom E Laynie Matt


Laynie


Relaxing at the pool


Matt and Laynie at the beach



Santa Cruz


Feet in the Sand <3


Laynie after crashing and burning in the ocean



Chillen at the beach



Laynes riding the airplane


Peyton hangin out at Nates



Matt and Nate rockin out


Laynie and cousin Aubryn (they are hours apart in age)


All of the grandkids except for Mike's 3 boys



The view from nate and Jeanann's cabin


Liz Jeanann Me Mom E Erica


Loves his daddy