Better Late Than Never

I always LOVE participating in Stephanie Howell's Blog Your Heart challenge.  Take a peek at hers over here.  As you noticed her challenge was back at the end of September.  Yup!!  I'm just a tad behind but blogging my heart anyway.

1 - The summer whizzed by with LOTS of heartfelt and heart full moments.  I cherish each and every one of them.  And they really are embedded in my heart.

Road trip to see these 2 peeps!!  Gotta laugh at Lizzie's "cheese".

Going to Disneyland with ALL my brood.  One day we will have Miss Lizzie with us.  It was also fun to surprise my brother, Seth with Robert being with us.  His face in the hotel room as he walked in and took a double take at Robert was PRICELESS.  It isn't often you get an emotional response from Seth. 

 

And these two got married!!!  Which was the main purpose to our trip to California.

2 - Ryan's deployment.  Can't tell you when he leaves or we'd have to shoot you.  (All in love)  We'll just say he leaves soon.  Yes, another deployment for our family.  This time from a different perspective - a son-in-law.  Who really is like a son.  It's supposed to be a 6-7 month deployment.

3 - My other babies. 

A Mother's heart never stops thinking of her kids.  Are they happy?  Do they enjoy their life?  Watching them make choices in all aspects of their lives.

4 - Being crazy busy and pulled in soooo many directions - Fresco Chocolate work picking up for us, music booster things, accepting callings in Church, letting other involvements go and making sure not to let my relationship with Rob suffer.  Because after all is said and done this guy

is the one that will be around FOREVER!!!  Not only do we still love each after all these years, we LIKE each and have fun being together.

Now to go clean toilets and do laundry!!

Difficult to Share

Back in July when I had my girls' weekend in Chicago, when I was at the airport waiting for my flight I noticed a small group of people gathered rather quietly by the large plate glass window and watching the planes.  Or so I thought.  Being curious, I looked expecting some "star" and their private jet or something.  But what I saw was even bigger.  The area was being prepared by military personnel.

A fallen solider was coming home.  I was grateful I had plenty of time before my flight boarded.  I texted my friends that were there in the same terminal waiting for their flights to depart to let them know what was happening.  One of our friends was from Australia and I thought she would want to see this.  I wanted to be a part of this and to honor this solider.

Can you imagine being on this plane as a passenger?  What a solemn experience.  This solider was the FIRST passenger off the plane.

 

Taking the flag to drape it over the casket

The entire airport terminal shut down to honor this solider

I can not even imagine the pain and heartache this family is going through.  (Side note: not too long after this the Mom collapsed on the tarmac) 

Seeing these pictures bring tears to my eyes, just as it did then.  And watching this video just sent me over the edge today.

Thank you to ALL our military for your service.

We are on a Roll

At the Northwest Chocolate Festival (yes, there really is such a thing) almost 2 weeks ago, Fresco Chocolate was honored and shocked by winning a Double Gold Award Certificate for "excellence in single origin chocolate" for two bars - our Madagascar 214 and our Papua New Guinea 219.

We couldn't be happier that others like our chocolate as much as we do.

Holy WOW!!!

Yes!  Fresco Chocolate is so honored to receive this award for our Dominician Republic 212 bar.  This week we go against all other country winners for the World awards.  So anxious to hear the announcemment.

Poor Em!

Em is short for Emerald - that's the official name of our Honda Pilot.  She's had that name for a few years now.  She's been going around with a few small rock chips in her windshield now for a few years.  But it wasn't until we got down to Provo that we noticed a crack.  A good 2" when we first noticed it.  And not in a spot of a pre-existing rock chip either.  Two days later it was spreading and quickly.  Ugh!  How do you find a good repair shop out of State?  So we called our friend Scot G. for his recommendations as well as start an insurance claim.  Funny thing - they both gave us the same company!! 

So Em became new again and recovered in the parking lot at BYU.

Oh the adventures!!!

More Utah Fun

After we dropped off our luggage down at BYU in Provo we piCked up these guys

And went to lunch at Bucca de Bepo to celebrate Robert's birthday.

 Getting tickled by your Papa

 Amber harrassing the birthday boy

 Lizzie noticing that, as she said "Ummmm, Grandma?  What is that person doing to David?"

 Trying on Amber's glasses

 Coloring with David

And getting shoulder rides back to the car from your Daddy

WE LOVE THIS GIRL!!!!

We interrupt these vacation posts...

... to bring you THIS picture!

That tall guy on your far left on the keyboard is none other than ROBERT!!!  Cira 2002 just starting his senior year in school.  This just made me smile today.

Marathon Driving!!!

First thing in the morning I looked out the window.  Talk about a surprise when I saw this:

When the website said this was "close to the airport" they weren't kidding!!  Surprisingly the noise wasn't bad and we slept really well.

We packed up the Pilot

Had a photoBOMB

Stopped by Salt and Straw again for some breakfast muffins and snacks for the road.  And don't forget to have a yummy one of these

And on the road we go!

We crashed at our friends place on Saturday night.  All the way fro Portland to Sandy, UT.

 

First thing Sunday we headed out for downtown Salt Lake City to see the TV broadcast Music and the Spoken Word. 

Then it was off to see this little one!!

Who was just a little too busy drawing pictures ;)  We spent the rest of the day just relaxing

Playing

Getting our hair done

Drawing pictures

 Snuggling



And seeing long lost friends - Arielle and Tabitha

Just a perfect day!

Such a Whirlwind August...

...and September is half-way over already.  Well let's back up to our trip to Utah.

We started out on a Friday just a little after noon and headed to Portland. 

Yikes! What should have been a 5.5 hour trip turned into a 7.5 hours.  Boy were ready to see this sign.

And reach the hotel.  All Tabitha and Rob wanted to do was do some hotel bed bouncing.

We headed out to dinner and then to introduce the kids to the BEST, most AMAZING ice cream EVER!!!

Yes we waited in line for 30 minutes.  It was THAT good.

How can you not be with artwork like this? 

 

Then back tot he hotel where we literally crashed for the night!