By the time we recognize this moment, this moment will be gone.

John Mayer


December 22, 2011

Where has the time gone?


This year has been a year of changes and events in our family.  So much to be thankful for and so many great moments.  We started out our year with an amazing week in Florida with Nic, Kelsey and Riley. SOOOOO much fun for all of us and lots of great memories that I will hang on tight to.  Considering the changes that have taken place in our family, I am glad to have had that time with the kids.

Ahhhhhh......Loved Disney World

April 1st the wedding bells began to ring here at our house and we began the planning. July 29th was the day chosen and I took off running.
Engagement pic!  Sooooo cute
                                              
Then graduation for Nic from Maple Mountain High School.  That was an especially great day for Nic!

Nic and his best bud!
                                   

With lots to do for the wedding we still found some time to spend a couple of days on the lake with the kids and enjoy the boat.  Summer flew by and I still don't even think I took time to sit and enjoy the summer evenings.

Utah Lake with the kids

July came and the wedding got closer. We were blessed to go to the Mt. Timpanogas temple with Kelsey and I had the privilege of being her escort.  I have enjoyed that experience with both my girls and how blessed I felt to be sitting with them as they enjoyed the spirit of the Temple for the first time.

Me and my girls. They are beautiful! 

The wedding day came and we went to the Draper Temple with Kels and Alan. One memory about that experience that makes me smile was the few moments that I spent in the Brides room with her, helping her get into her dress and veil.  The sweet sister in the Temple reminded me to stop for a moment and stand in the mirror with my beautiful daughter and drink in the memory.  I am grateful for that moment.  You teach and steer your daughter all her life towards the Temple.  You teach her to always keep her self worthy to enter and to remember that is her goal. Then the day comes and you walk in there with your daughter and she comes out a wife.  You step back and take your place in her life, different but still important.  And you let go.
Mr. & Mrs. Bushman

Fall came and brought with it lots of craziness and we began to work on mission papers.  We were able to go to Lake Powell and spend a few days with Nic, Kels and Alan and it was a great trip.  Alan caught his first fish! We just relaxed, ate and fished for three days.  The weather was wonderful and Powell never dissapoints.
First fish at Lake Powell

October  we got the mission call and now we are in the last weeks of preparation.  Argentina is taking my boy for two years.  I am not going into that alot in this post. Mainly because it's tender for me. Silly mom, right?
The missionary
Christmas is here and soon it will be over again.  Having a lot of mixed feelings about the holidays this year.  Even so, we will have a good time together and I will drink in all the moments that I can and save them for those days when I need a smile.

Thanks so much to my kids for everything they have done this past year. They are always there to help, support me and each other and make me laugh.  I love them more than I could ever express and I hope they know that. Thanks to my sweet daughter in law for so many things, to numerous to name. Thanks to my now TWO son-in-laws for loving my daughters and taking care of them. I love you all!

I hope as we begin the New Year we will all remember to keep the Savior present in our families so that we can be together forever.  When our testimonies are weak rely on each others' til they grow strong again. So grateful for all the blessings of the past year.

November 4, 2011

The Boys Part One

The night Nic opened his mission call we were blessed to have three of his ward friends there to share the excitement. Each one has served and continues to be great examples to Nic and all of us. We love these young men and are so thankful for all they have done to help Nic become who he is. 


Dan Soffe, Nic and Jace Brown
   
Nathan Kimball and Nic
 
We have two more of them to come home. Sadly Nic will be gone so they
 will have to catch up in two more years.  These young men are the best !!!!!

November 1, 2011

Halloween 2011

Can three little girls get any cuter than this?


Rapunzel one and Rapunzel two!

Ninja Liam in his Ninja pose

Alice in Wonderland.
 Little Livi.

Nya the duck.
She lasted ten minutes then came
 home to play with Grandma

Without a doubt two cuties.
                                                                       My five sweeties!!!!

October 20, 2011

Today

Today the mission call is sitting on my desk at work. This is the second time I have been here. Unlike the mission call before, I now know what is ahead of me. There are so many thoughts running through my mind. Feelings that only a mom can feel. I am wondering how I am going to do this, even though I know that I can. Important days like this come and go and you anticipate and worry. Neither of those things make much of a difference. They still come and go. What makes us able to send away our children for two long years? What gives us the strength to prepare them for 19 years to serve? What makes us smile when the envelope is opened, when our heart is torn? We know deep down that it is a step they must take. Just like going to school, dating, driving, graduating. All those things are steps. More importantly than that, it is faith, pure and simple. There has to be an abundance of faith to allow our children to be taken from our watchful eye. Do I have enough. Tomorrow our lives will be different. Our focus will change, conversations will be different and we will begin the countdown to letting go.

September 19, 2011

Happy 7th Birthday Sophia

Although it hardly seems possible our little beauty Sophia turned seven on Saturday.  She started 1st grade this year and is of course, the smartest girl in her class. She loves to read, play with her friends and she loves school!  We find out everytime we go to St. George that she is a little fish too!  She is a very nice big sister to Liam and Livi.  We love that cutie girl! 

September 2, 2011

What's been happening at the Halls



The last of the boys are gone. Nathan (in the middle) is in
 Buenos Aires Argentina West Mission.
Next it is Nic's turn




This sweet little face won a photo contest. 
 



These two cuties got engaged!


Alan spent 2 months in Spain



My baby graduated from High School
Maple Mountain Class of 2011



The Fam went to St. George for some fun! 
 
We had a wedding. More pics to come!

  
Soph started 1st grade! Where did that time go?

Fall is here and we are winding down the summer. It has been a summer full of fun and memories.  Life just keeps speeding by me and taking my children with it.  Now I guess I begin to think about the Holidays and getting ready to send Nic on his two year adventure.   We are all well and happy and I am reminded how blessed we are everyday.  I have four amazing children and now TWO extra son's and a extra daughter who I love dearly.  We have a great home in a wonderful neighborhood and ward.  Five beautiful grand children all smiles and full of things to tell me.  A great husband who puts up with me on a daily basis.  So many blessings:)

April 24, 2011

Nicolas and Allison

Prom Sophomore Year 2009
Prom Junior Year 2010


Prom Senior Year


It hardly seems like it has been a year already since Prom, but here we are at the end of the formal dances.  Time continues to fly by:(  Look how they have grown up.  My sweet boy and his sweetheart Allison Monroe.  Love that boy to pieces!!!!!