HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAREY!

Sometimes special people come into our lives. They don't always stay but I think they certainly can bring the sun out of the clouds for awhile. You all know what I am talking about. There are just some people that you absolutely LOVE to be around and you feel so blessed to have them in your life as a good friend. I actually have a lot of people like that but Carey is no exception. The first day I met Carey when she came to Moscow, we got together to play games. Since then, we have had many other adventures and done lots of fun things together. She will always be a special person to me. P.S. - Don't you love that to picture?! You look sooo awake!

So, Carey... This is for you. Here are 10 things I love about you:

1. That you are my running partner

2. That you like to laugh and will do silly things with me

3. That you are a nurse (hah.. you have to know me well to understand this one)

4. That you will just come over to hang out

5. That you most always answer my calls and text me back

6. That you don't have to have your house clean for me to come over

7. That you always give me your banana Laffy Taffies

8. That you are an amazing seamstress

9. That you will listen to just about anything I have to say or vent about

10. That you are a happy, righteous and active person

This morning around 6am, Brynn (another special friend of mine) came over and we went over to Carey's to kidnap her for a birthday breakfast. She was a trooper and we had such a good time together. That is what all of these pictures are from. We are going to miss you so much Carey when you leave this summer!! And I think I will miss all of our fun runs together more than anything!

Love,

Sarah

Brandon's Fishing Trip

Brandon was able to go on a big guided steelhead fishing trip with his friend Tanner. At first Brandon was not so excited about it because I bought it for him and let's just say he is a cheap man and was a little upset. However, he did have a blast and I asked him when he was driving home if he thought it was fun. He said, "Yes. Well, the only problem is that I am pretty sure I am going to have to do this every year. It is definitely worth it to go with someone who knows what they are doing!" I am so happy that he went and that he had such a good time and now we have a bunch of fish in our freezer. Good food storage, right?

Christmas Break Continued...

Over the Christmas break we were able to watch my brother Blake play some basketball at my alma mater, Walla Walla High School. Home of the blue devils!

We were also able to visit my littlest brother's grave. He died at birth and Brandon had never been to the grave site, so we went to show him. I can't wait to meet Jeremy in the next life.

Christmas 2009

Every year my mom and dad give us all matching pajamas to open and wear on Christmas Eve. These ones have a "Forever Strong" emblem sewed onto them.

These are pictures from Christmas and as I am sitting here I am realizing that I miss my family sooo much already! I treasure them all so very much!!

Check out the sweet BYU Cougars wig and the sweat bands!

Here are my brothers just before opening the gifts from our eldest brother Kyle who is currently serving a mission for our church. This was a very sweet moment for our family.

These girls LOVE their new kareokee machine that they got for Christmas. Thank goodness mom get them some new CDs just before we left because I am pretty sure we all had "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" memorized by the end of the Christmas break!

Remember these kind of pajamas? So snuggly!

Making gingerbread houses with the family was especially fun this year as I made a bunch of real gingerbread slabs for us to use. I love our little two man teams!