I LOVE Women's Conference

I owe the three beautiful days I spent in Utah and at BYU's Women's Conference to my sister-in-law, Jennifer (in the middle). She invited me to go with her to Arbinger training which was way out of my price range, but her invitation got me thinking that I should go to Women's Conference this year and of course, go WITH her! This picture was taken on the second day when her daughter, and my oldest niece, Karianne, came with us!!

Jen and I are obsessed with trees, thanks to Liza and Heavenly Father, and we noticed every tree and every blossom and they each made our trip so much more enjoyable. Spring in Utah is amazing and one day it was warm and breezy and the next day it was FREEZING!! But it was always beautiful!

I learned sooooo much and received so many answers to prayers and peace to my heart, but at this moment, I was laughing my head off. Jen was sitting right by me, but texted me that the combination of the microphone and the speakers black shirt under her white blazer, looked like a person. It took me a second, and then I SAW IT! and I drew it here in my notes. Then I took a picture of it and texted it to Jen so she could see that I saw it. Silliness!

These are some awesome ladies! I stayed at my sister, Dorothy's house, who I always stay with when I go to women's conference (third time's a charm!) and she let me borrow this nifty circular scarf her friend made. Well, when we were walking to one of our classes, I was drinking my drink and Jen thought for a second that I was holding the drink in my scarf instead of holding it with my hands. So I tried it! It worked wonderfully and we decided to market it as the 

"Beverage Bjorn!"

Do you want one? You know you do!

Karianne and Jen waiting for the light. There were sooooo many women there! It was crazy! What amazing women we were with and got to listen to. I highly recommend going to women's conf. every year!

This is Jack, my little nephew who is my #1 fan. He talks and talks so much and I taught him to say my name. YAY! He wouldn't do it at first, but then finally at dinner, he just looked at me and said "Sawah"

He loves reading books- actually just pointing to EVERY single picture and telling you what it is, and one time I read him a book while we layed on the ground, so after that he would go grab a book and lay down on the floor. Hint hint.

It was snowing Friday night and this is what the porch looked like at the Winter's house 

(no pun inteneded)

This is me standing in that same exact spot in the morning! 

This is April 29!!!

I loved the way the spring snow looked on the spring blossoms.

Tree obsession again!

Jack at Krispy Kreme with the rest of his siblings. He plowed through his donuts in two seconds flat!

Kolby was so much fun to hang out with. I LOVE his voice, his personality and everything about him! His glasses are pretty darn cute too!

It is so fun to be the auntie to these darling kids. Look at Jane's darling face and giant eyes! What a doll!

My little sister, Dorothy has become one of my best friends and I am sooooo grateful that she has let me crash at her house (or apartment) so many times when I visit. We had the BEST talk until the wee hours of the morning and got to know each other better than we probably ever have. 

She is a treasure!!!!  (Squirt squirt!)

I love my family!

Olivia and Kiera Steal the Talent Show!

Olivia and Kiera sang the song "Never Alone" at the school talent show May 24th. They dedicated the song to their Aunts. Olivia sang for her aunt Liza, who we recently lost to suicide. Kiera's aunt Alexia passed away four years ago from breast cancer. This song became very special to us when Kiera's older sister, Kelsey, recorded this song as a gift for me after Liza died. This song really helped her deal with her aunt's death and she wanted to make sure I knew I was "Never Alone." 

This is video of them practicing the day before. Super cute! 

(the actual video from the performance is on my facebook page but won't upload to blogger for some reason)

Olivia and Kiera practiced this song for months and worked really hard to make their angelic aunts proud! It sounded incredible and both girls really sang with love. When they were done they burst into tears as soon as they got back to their seats. They wore the Rollersaurus shirts we made for all of Liza's friends and family in her honor. Russ and I both wore our Rollersaurus shirts to the talent show too. Lots of angels were singing on this special day!

Tess's Photo Wins!

This picture looks better in real life- this is a picture of the picture, but 

TESS WON FIRST PLACE 

in the Gilbert High photo contest!

The theme was "Reinventing The American Dream" and Tess took a picture of her friend jumping over this chain-link fence (crossing the border) and then photoshopped a little Mexican town in the background. She was awarded first prize by a distinguished panel of judges from throughout the state and in Gilbert. She received an award at the Gilbert Fine Arts assembly which she purposely did not tell her parents about because she thought the award was "No big deal."

The Great Boat Regatta II

On Good Friday, Chloe wanted to have another boat regatta like we did when I first started this blog several years ago. So we got 5 refrigerator boxes from Spencer's Appliances and the girls went to town!

After the race they took some underwater pictures and Chloe edited them.

Chloe and Brooke getting started on their masterpiece.

Olivia and her team, which constisted of our next-door-neighbors, Karli and Anika Hall, worked on their boat inside (until Anath Hall helped them spray paint it outside)

Anika and Olivia and completed boat, "The Bomb" 

Ellie and McKenna and Macey with their "Pink Titanic" which was aptly named!

Let the race begin!!! Well, actually, it is more of an endurance competition to see whose boat will stay afloat the longest.

The Pink Titanic lasted about as long as it took you to read this sentence. Maybe shorter.

Chloe and Brooke's boat, the "S.S. Papaya" came in second and did much better than the Titanic, but still didn't last nearly as long as the WINNER- THE BOMB!!

Superior duct taping, especially along the seams and the bottom, and a layer of latex paint made Olivia's boat last a very long time! Great job ladies!

Brooke enjoying the last few seconds in her boat.

Olivia and Anika are finally sunk.

Cardboard shipwreck!

Some more editing by Chloe.

What a great day! Love those creative, hard working girls. Those boats took hours and hours to make but only minutes to sink. Good times!

Grandma Rain's 90th Birthday!

Granmda Rain (Avis Lorraine Crawford) celebrated 90 years since her birth, on Feb. 13, 1921. We traveled to Idaho to participate in an awesome Crawford family reunion/birthday party for our beloved Grandma Rain.

But first... On Feb. 11th... we MUST SKI!!!

Olivia and Sophie went with Russ and I, Jim and Marisa and Rustin to ski Bogus, just 30 min. from Grandma and Grandpa Crawford's house. They were a great team and had fun (except when someone dropped their pole off the ski lift) zooming all over the mountain by themselves!

My amazing sister-in-law, Marisa taking vide of the girls. I LOVED the time I spent with her on this trip, she was a very real comfort to me as it was just a few days after my sister, Liza's, funeral. Marisa also lost a little sister to a similar tragedy.

My boy, the skiier. One day I will be like him, sorta.

Rustin takes after his Dad and is quite good on skis considering he lives in ARIZONA!

Russ and his brother, Jim, waiting on us ladies (actually Marisa is a speed deamon as well!)

Thanks for an awesome ski trip honey!

Love those Idaho mountains (and that son of mine)

Got home and changed and headed to Rocky Mountian Pizza for a birthday dinner for Grandma Rain and all of her family and EVERYONE CAME!!!!

Grandma Rain's 3 sons, Bill, Russ and Larry (with the hat)

Three cousins; Bobby (Larry's son), Rusty (Bill's son) and Jim (Russ's son)

Jan Crawford who made this all happen and her mother-in-law, "Grandma Rain"

Grandma's nephew, Flake Casto. He is the son of Grandma Rain's sister-in-law, Janey Crawford and her husband, Flake Casto Sr.

Tess and her favorite Asian- Jami!

Flake Casto's grandchildren.

Flake's daughter, Amanda, and his sister, Kim Casto, who lives near me in AZ!

These girls are soooo happy to be together... wait... 2 of them are.

Revenge for Chloe always giving me a crazy face when I try to take pictures of her!! 

Love you cousin Tori!

Rusty Crawford and Rusty Crawford (no joke! Actually their names are Rustin William Crawford and William Rustin Crawford- No joke! As kids, the Rusty in the middle was called "Roo" - and still is- by Grandma Rain and most of the family, too keep all the Rusty's straight!) and James Vincent Crawford.

Rustin and his cousin, Sloan, all worn out from shopping at the "Blue and Orange" BSU store.

NOW LET THE REAL PARTY BEGIN!!!

Tess had fun meeting and hanging out with her second cousin Taylor Lauer who was born just one day after Tess, barely missing out on the title of "Bompa and Grandma Rain's first great grandchild!"

Taylor with her mother, Shelley Lauer (who is Russ's first cousin and daughter of Bill and JoAnn Crawford) and her sister Julie.

Grandma Rain with one of her dear friends (I'll have to have Grandma remind me which friend this is). I loved all the dedicated friends of Grandma's who came with Oxygen tanks, walkers, canes and wheel chairs. Grandma Rain was worth it!

Olivia snuggling with her youngest Crawford cousin, the adorable Will Straight. 

Jan Crawford, my mother-in-law, in her role as the ultimate hostess. This lady knows how to throw a party! We even started partying the night before at Rocky Mountain Pizza with a dinner with the whole family!

Russ's brother, Jim, talking to his father friends.

Russ with Craig Blaser, one of Jim's best high school buddies.

During the party the kids had a great time outside playing "Red Rover" and I think a little Ninja too!

Tess made grandma Rain's cake with the help of her sister Chloe and their cousins and Aunt Jami. Great job ladies!

It's hard to make a cake in someone else's kitchen, but we packed a lot of Tess's tools and equipment so it worked out well. Love the handpainted gum paste flowers! The 90 is made out of rice crispy treats. YUM!

Some things we did to entertain ourselves after the partying was bowling... (Tess, Chloe and cousin McKenna)

Hanging out at the mall... (Me and Grandma Rain capturing the moment)

... specifically the Apple Store (Rylie and her dad, PJ Straight drooling over the iPads)

Olivia Rocking out to an iPod.  That's my girl!

PJ, Will, Jami and Sophie

Before we headed out, we had the BEST lunch at Tucanos Brazillian Barbeque. Can you say "YUM?" We stuffed ourselves silly on grilled and roasted meats and had fun singing happy birthday to Grandma Rain with the whole restaurant and all the workers.

Grandma, Marisa and Jim Crawford (miss you guys!!!)

McKenna and Tess together again.

Tori, Chloe and Sloan chowing on their choices.

 Thanks for the memories everyone and can't wait to see you all (especially Grandma Rain) at her100th birthday party!!!