I'm a Halloween Humbug!

I just want to put this out there- I HATE HALLOWEEN!!!! I think it's a waste of time, energy and most of all money! It is an unnecessary frustration that I think just needs to be eliminated! Anyways, just had to vent for a minute!

Russ and Nicole's blessed day!

So October 16, 2009 was an absolutely amazing day! I don't think I will ever forget it! By the way I talk you would think that I was the bride! On this day our family gained a very cool sister! We are all very excited that Nicole is officially part of our family. She has been around for quite awhile and we are so glad that it is finally done! Welcome Nicole to our big loud family! We are going to have a lot of good times!

First I need to talk about when our family went down to the Vegas Temple for Nicole to receive her endowments. It was the second time that all of us have been together in the Temple, but the first time Russ had a partner. We were able to take pictures in our whites and it was very cool!

Here we all are! I really don't know what Paul is doing and I really don't think I want to know!

All of our eternal companions! Not a bad looking group!

My 5 eternal sisters and my mom.

So the big day finally came! The sealing was absolutely amazing. I don't think there is anything cooler than being in sealing room with all of your siblings to witness the last sibling wedding. It was pretty cool to look down the row and see all of us there for Russ and Nicole. I have never seen Russ so happy and so peaceful. You could just see in his eyes that he is truly happy. I know Nicole had a lot to do with Russ' happiness, so thank you Nicole for sticking by him through the good and hard times. My parents have been great examples to us and I know that they were so relieved that this day had finally come! They had met their goal of getting us all through the Temple and being married in the Temple. Thank you Dad and Mom for never giving up on us! Just a side note. Russ and I were sealed to our spouses in the same sealing room. So my parents first and last sealings took place in the same room. Cool huh!
My Aunt Nancy was kind enough to hang out with all of the Grandkids at the Temple so that they could be there when Russ and Nicole came out. This is my cute little Grandma. I am so glad she could come. My Grandpa wasn't feeling very well so he stayed home. We missed him!

I love this picture of Cam and Paul. Cam had a rough night the night before so he was so tired. He needed some lovin's from his daddy.

Paul and I taking a rest. I look much better sitting down!

The original 6.

Us 4 girls with our 2 pretty cool sister- in-laws! Since Joanna and I are with child we had to wear our sashes up very high.

Wow we have really grown over the years! We have a really cool family and we are very blessed to all be here in St. George, well at least we all were until the WHOLE family decided to move to the Fields and leave us here. Rude! Anyways I love my family.


The reception was a lot of fun. I hope it was all decorated how Nicole wanted it. It was very informal and we just wandered around the whole night. We had some very yummy Hawaiian food catered by one of the coolest families I know. Thanks Basso family!
Russ and Nicole with all of their nieces and nephews. I just love this picture. They all look so cute! It was so funny at the Temple Alan and Porter were talking to each other and saying how glad they were that Russ and Nicole were finally married because they could now go dirt bike riding with Russ again. Russ got a new dirt bike and they couldn't ride it becauae they wanted to use it in some wedding pictures and didn't want it to get ruined before that. Boys will be boys and dirt bike riding is just incredibly important in their lives right now!

Nicole with all of her sisters.

Russ with all of his brothers.

Paul and Timmy playing some entertaining music.

Just before this picture was taken Russ sang part of a song to Nicole and then grab Nicole for their first dance. The "band" Paul, Timmy Trav and Levi continued playing the same song. It was very cool and very sweet of Russ to do for Nicole!

So Russ has a John Deere tractor that he is so proud of and absolutely loves. We thought it would be pretty cool if that could be their "car" to leave the reception in. It turned out really cool. We got a banner that said "My wife thinks my tractor is sexy!" Then we decorated it with balloons and streamers. They put their hats on and off they went into the night! They drove down Main Street onto the Boulevard and to the Green Gate Village where our family had gotten them a room for the night. They said people were honking and cheering for them on the whole way down there. It's probably one of the coolest get-aways that I have seen! They both looked SO happy!

So it was all over and when we came back in this is what we found. This is a pretty cute band. They sang a song for us and sounded pretty good!

I forgot to take a picture when we were all dolled up. Connor is missing his bow tie and has a huge chocolate stain on his shirt and Lexi is missing her sash. I always forget about pics until it's too late. Looks like Paul lost his tie too! Oh well we looked decent at one point I'm sure.

Bud and I wasting time and dreading clean up time!

So it was a great day! The next exciting event in this old family is a baby! We are only 4 1/2 weeks away and I can't believe it is that close! Things are going good. My blood pressure is behaving. Not so sure about the weight gain. I honestly don't know how much I have gained and I really don't want to know! I just know that I have a lot of hard work ahead of me! Good times, good times!