Carly and Joel's Wedding Day. Salt Lake City, Utah December 19, 2009

Carly has always dreamed of getting married in the Salt Lake City Temple. It was a little crazy as we are from Texas and the Goodman's from California but everyone was willing so with A LOT of effort we made that dream come true. It was a delightful, sunny and beautiful day but it was winter in Utah and 18 degrees outside. By late evening it was at freezing! Not only was it one of the coldest days... it was the busiest as well. It was the day after finals at BYU and Salt Lake Temple had 76 brides to marry that day. Carly and Joel were married at 4:20 in the afternoon.

The Goodman's and the Williams outside right before the sealing. The Goodman's are wonderful people. We feel blessed that Carly found such a wonderful man in Joel and a wonderful family to marry into. You worry your whole life as parents about this crucial decision your kids will make in choosing a spouse. We are pleased with Carly's choice.

Outside the temple right before the sealing.

Dad with his little girl! I remember when Carly was born Steve was so worried about raising her in" this kind of world." He said...I don't know what I would do if anyone ever did anything to hurt her." He loves his girls.

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goodman....Coming out of the temple.

Family and friends at the temple! It was large gathering and so much fun to be around so many that we love.

Carly and Joel with her friends and roommates.

Three generations....Carly, Me and my mom (Loraine Emery)

We had a wonderful dinner at the Lion House hosted by the Goodman's. They were so wonderful to work with and so generous!

Matt Goodman making a toast. With WATER of course!!

Steve and I thanking those who came.

Carly and Joel taking their turn thanking so many for their support and love.

That's my boy...Grant.

3 foot long sparklers for the send off.

As they ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

The funniest thing of the day was when I came back into the the Lion house after sending the kids off....There was Steve all by himself at the table finishing his meal. ;)

**All of my kids were so wonderful and such great help. It was so nice with such a hectic day to see my kids all step up to help where needed without being asked. Tyler pushed my Mom around in her wheelchair most of the time, getting her where she needed to be. Camille and all of the kids were good to focus on Grant and be at his beckon call. Poor Blake, Tyler and Dave Smith ran around most of dinner time trying to get Carly and Joel's luggage gathered and where it needed to be before they left on their honeymoon. It not an easy feat as the traffic was terrible and so they literally ran back and forth from the hotel to the Lion House with luggage (big luggage) and it was FREEZING!! Thanks kids I love you...

Reception at BYU December 18th 2009

We had a small reception that BYU catered for friends and family the night before Carly and Joel got married. It was fun to see so many friends that we have not seen in years! Here are all of my darling kids! The wedding cake.

We had Dave and Nichol Hall and Dave and Rebecca Smith both there at the same time. The Halls were in our ward when there was only one Keller Ward. The Smith's traveled all the way from Utah for this wedding. They have been such a big part of my kids lives. It was fun for all of us to reunite here in Utah. Both great families!

My sister RaeAnn and her family were there.

These are our friends Jon and Jerri Walton. We use to babysit their kids for them when Steve was in Grad school at Noter Dame. We lived in South Bend, Indiana. The Walton's have since moved to Alpine. We have exchanged Christmas cards for years...it was such a treat to see them again.

My nephews Dillon, Derrick and my darling boy Blake. This pictures looks very posed!

This was such a fun picture! Steve and I worked and MET at the testing Center at BYU years ago. Our boss was a great lady named Linda Shirley (in the middle) She is still working there and both Tyler and Carly have worked for her. They call my kids the legends because they are the off spring of two old testing center employees. Linda tells us that she has not had such a tight knit and close group as we all were since we left and graduated. I believe her because we sure had a great group of kids to work with. Tyler told me that he is working at the Testing Center again this semester. Do you think she will still be there when Camille makes it to BYU? We love Linda!

This is a picture of One of Steve's childhood friends Darwin Kinghorn and his wife that now live in Lehi, Utah.

We had a fun and enjoyable night. It was the beginning of a great weekend!

December 2009 in the blink of an eye!

December was pretty much all about Carly...Just ask the other kids! ;)

We were able to enjoy the morning of December 18 th in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple with Carly getting her endowments out. What a wonderful and rewarding time as parents to see one of your children enjoy the blessings of the temple. I am not sure that anything can really top this experience. This was the first time we met Matt and Kay Goodman from Tristan, California. They are wonderful warm people and what an addition to our extended family. They were a joy to work with. We are thrilled to have Joel Pierce Goodman join our family.

Carly and Joel leaving the temple. We met up with all of our kids and the Goodman's at Olive Garden. It is one of Carly's favorite places to eat.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Don't you just hate starting the new year already falling behind? Well that is exactly where I am. Playing catch up and everyday I am falling farther and farther behind. I have e-mail reminders and phone calls letting me know that the blog has been neglected. Really I am aware of this fact but honestly I am so far behind that I am avoiding it all together. I am not sure I would even continue the blog but I have already printed (in book form) two years worth of blogging and it is such a valuable record for the family. I may not be good at much but hopefully one day my kids will appreciate my effort at recording our memories, after all they are among my most precious blessings... So be patient and over the next few weeks I promise to get up to date. :) We had so much happen at the end of 2009 and much more to come in 2010 so hold on for the ride!

Count Down to Carly and Joel's Wedding

We are on the final countdown to Carly and Joel's wedding. Only 18 days left! We are thrilled with Carly's choice and look forward to having Joel become a part of our family. We have been blessed to have Kaylee Join our family and now Joel is a huge bonus. Tyler and Carly have chosen wisely....let's just hope the rest can be as picky! Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Carly and Joel. The fun tidbit is that our photographer is a girl that I taught when she was in YW in our Desoto ward. She is now grown with a family of her own but it has sure been fun to reconnect with her. She is a darling girl and has turned out well....she must have had a really good teacher as a young woman. :)

This is the picture that made it all the way to the announcement.

This is a really trendy picture. I like it.

It is surreal to me that Carly is old enough to marry. I love/hate my kids getting older. I love them making lives for themselves and seeing them succeed....but I hate them leaving home. I guess they know where to find me.....or at least I KNOW where to find them!

Camille and her Camera!

Camille is my picture happy girl! She loves to play and have fun with the camera. I am so glad she does because she gets some fun shots.... Here are a few of them. She has even taught Grant to point and shoot!

Fun on the tramp.

They had a fun baby shower for Camille's piano teacher. it was all New Moon themed because Beth Ann is a Twilight FREAK! Well, I think everyone there was but ME! We all then went to the midnight showing of New Moon. Yes...even me. Honestly.....It was fun to go along and see how thrilled my daughter was to hang out with the Mom's and see a silly movie. I for the life of me don't get why everyone is so gaga over this series....it makes no sense to me. Am I tooooo old or just to realistic to get it?? Oh.... I know, I already graduated from high School! :) I am sure I will make enemies with that comment!

McKenzie and Camille stand by the life size Edward. Is that his name or is it Jacob?? :)

Stephanie and Camille playing dress up and taking pictures....the funny thing is that these girls and others will play dress up here and take pictures for hours....they have done it since they were Beehives...it still puts a smile on my face!

Playing with the color on her camera.

My darling boy! what a pose.

Bath time.

Oh sure we had the Forth of July in November here in Texas....I was a bit nervous that the neighbors would smell the fireworks and call the police. That would be an expensive fireworks show! :) Grant was thrilled to actually get to play with sparklers. Things we took for granted as a kid.

Get taking more pictures Camille....I love them!

Thanksgiving Day 2009

We had a great and relaxing Thanksgiving day. We were lucky enough to be able to go to a fabulous lake house in Grandbury, Texas with some friends.... The Hughes , Bezzant's and the Wahlin's. We had such a wonderful time just relaxing and talking. It was great food and plenty of it!! The setting was out of this world. If I can figure out how to get a picture of the lake house you will know what I mean! It out does most of our REAL homes by 500%! It was nestled right on the lake and what a beautiful day! Here Steve and Bob shoot the breeze. Here is Grant and Jake being boys Grant was in heaven playing ball all day. This is my favorite picture of the guys holding on to Rick Wahlin's legs so he doesn't fall in the lake as he tries to get the ball out of the water. I don't think anyone of those guys could hold on to RICK if his was going in! :)

The adults went for a nice walk after dinner and then when it was nice and late we headed home. We all need a day like that to take time and reflect on just how really blessed we are. I have a wonderful family and friends. I couldn't be any happier with my life than I am here in Keller, Texas.