UVU - 75 years in the making

This year UVU is celebrating their 75th anniversary. The school decided to commission this amazing puzzle by Eric Dowdle. Brandon was lucky enough to get one and we were able to put it together a few weekends ago. An annoying problem occurred when we were almost finished with it - we couldn't find the last piece. It is on the upper right hand side on the mountain.

The next day, I spent hours cleaning the entire house in our attempt to find it. Sadly, we couldn't, so we contacted the company and they sent a replacement. Then, a few days later I put on my UVU hoodie and there the puzzle piece was in front pocket. I felt so stupid, but I am still baffled about how it got there. It has been the running joke around here that Mom hides things on purpose.

We are proud, and very thankful for the blessing UVU has been in our lives. Brandon has a fantastic career there, works with wonderful/caring people, and someday it will be fun to have the boys start going to college there. If things work out the way I would like them to, Peter will start sometime around his 16th birthday. Only 8 more years to go.....he is 7.

Easter Party Fun

Our ward decided to do an Easter Egg Hunt/Get together and I was the "lucky" person who they asked to be in charge of it. Despite having it be really last minute it turned out to be very enjoyable. We held it at the local park just two blocks away. It was nice because all the kids played while the adults had time to talk.

Despite waking up to a skiff of snow covering the grass, it turned out to be a fantastic morning. I kept everything very simple and I only spent $4 on tablecloths. Not to bad for a party that had a zero budget limit.

A great party

We had a wonderful day today playing with our favorite homeschool friends. We decided to do a small Easter Party, so we had an Easter Egg Hunt inside the house since it was very rainy outside. All of the kids really enjoyed finding the eggs, and they loved the candy inside.

We also made Easter pictures using glue, salt, and water colors. It was a very fun way to create a picture.

To keep the youngest ones occupied while the rest of us worked, we turned on Mickey Mouse. Both of these boys are busy bodies. Ironically, they are both named Luke. We love having fun days like this with our friends.

Peter is so flexible

We took this video the other day. I still can't stop laughing.

Candy-bar basket

I told Brandon that we weren't going to give gifts to each other for our anniversary this year. But, I cheated and made this candy-bar bouquet for him. I attached 120 mini candy-bars (one for each month we've been married) to sticks and then put it in this basket. It's kinda hard to see how cute it was in this picture, but it really did turn out great. We took it to work and gave it to him. That way he can share with all his coworkers.

Annual Thomas Easter Party

This year our annual Easter Party was held a week early due to the in-laws going out of town for a wedding on the Saturday before Easter. Just as in other years, the food did not disappoint. Brandon brought he yummy deviled eggs, and our brother-in-law Shawn brought delicious twice-baked potatoes.

This year Luke decided it would be fun to get up with his brother at 3am in the morning to play video games, so....he slept through the entire meal. When we attempted to wake him up for the special program he literally would not wake up so he ended up sleeping in my arms. It was all fine until he decided that he couldn't hold his pee in anymore and promptly released it all over me. Nothing gets me up as fast as being peed upon. By the time Luke and I drove all the way back home I was completely soaked. Luckily though Luke decided he had enough sleep, so when we got back he was able to go and search for his eggs.  I'm glad we take the time to have this annual party. The kids love it, and it's nice to chat with the rest of the family.

Sleepy Luke

Peter and cousin Morgan

Peter, Kiersten, Morgan

Papa and Luke

Luke and Lucy

Still searching for eggs

10 years today

I am astounded that the past 10 years have already flown by so quickly. Seriously, I can't be 10 years older, can I? In celebration of our special day, we took a trip to Papa's work for a picnic. The boys love picnics with Papa and it is always so relaxing spending an hour or so with him. I love the people he works with and it's always so fun to just camp out in his office for a little bit. When the weather is nice we enjoy going outside, but it was brisk today so we stayed inside.

There are many thought that have been running thru my mind as I have thought back on the last 10 years. In all reality marriage is a whole lot harder than I ever thought it would be. Most of that is my personality. I am seriously a slave to the word "wife" and "mother". Brandon jokingly calls me his 60's wife and he isn't far off. I spend my days cooking meals from scratch, doing all the laundry, teaching the kids, working in the yard (I even mow the lawn), and I take out all the garbage cans to each week. For me, all the that is the way that I show my love to the hubby and kids. In a lot of ways I derive my own self worth from being productive with all those things.

Another things I've been shocked to discover is how marriage is all about forgiveness and self sacrifice. A day rarely goes by where I have don't have to let something the hubby says or does just slide right off my back. I've decided that just naturally happens when you have such different personality and ways of thinking about things.

In the end, it's all been worth it. Brandon still makes me laugh, and I still prefer to spend a quiet night at home with him instead of doing anything else.  Before meeting each other and dating we were both pretty sure we would both be single for the rest of our lives. I'm so thankful that God had other plans for us that we could accomplish together. I'm pretty sure our boys will also both be similarly thankful some day.  I also have to say that I'm pretty thankful that we had a good photographer who took a zillion photos on our special day. We also had a wedding videographer and I'm so thankful to have that treasure DVD. I watch it every year around our anniversary. Brandon admits that he only remembers two things from our wedding day - that we were super late to our wedding lunch because of all the pictures we were taking, how after the luncheon we just sat in our new apartment completely exhausted and overwhelmed. Silly man, most days I wonder if he even notices I am around - LOL.

Gpa and Gma Burr

One of my aunts recently posted this picture on Facebook. It was a picture taken of my Grandpa John W. Burr and my Grandmother Yvonne C. Burr. I love it so much. They have seven girls in this picture - Deslie, Mary, Susan, Laurie, Carol, Joan, and Janine. They would go on to have seven more children.

This picture is especially tender because I know the rest of their story and it wasn't always a happy one. My Grandparents eventually divorced when the youngest of their fourteen children was only 2 months old. My Grandmother went back to school at BYU and then taught school until she retired. Later in life she met a great man and they had many wonderful years together before they both passed away.

This photo reminds me that although life doesn't always work out the way we hope and want it too, we can still find every day joy in the small moments.

Davis Family Temple Trip

On March 5th, my family got together and went through the Provo City Center Open House. It was so nice to go all together. Even though I had been thru it once with the boys it was enjoyable to go again. My boys love Aunt Amy so much and it was fun for them to have her there. They each wanted to hold her hand going through and I'm afraid they kept her completely busy with all their questions.

It was nice to have a chance for Brandon to see it, plus it was fun to hold his hand while walking through it. Since it was the very last day of the open house the lines were long and there were a whole lot of people there. But, we managed to get there and go through it in 1.5 hours. I hope I will be able to do a session shortly after it opens at the end of the month.

Lego creations

The boys are obsessed with Legos around here. Peter insisted I take a picture of his most recent creation. He made up names for all these dudes. They also each have some type of super power too. I love how they are expanding their imaginations....I just wish I wouldn't step on so many legos all day long.