*Elder Curtis' 1 YEAR MARK!

*Today marks my little brother Danny's 1 year mark (1/2 way through) away from home as he began his missionary work.

~The photo to the left was taken a year ago from today as he entered the Missionary Training Center. He has served faithfully for 1 year as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in South Korea.

~The photo above is also of the 2 of us, when he was just a chubby little 1 year old. He's made us laugh ever since then.

~He emails us every week and lets us know his progress. Danny is doing so well, and I've never seen him happier.

*Wisdom Teeth Out!

OUCH!!!

~OK so after one of my wisdom teeth basically began crumbling apart around New Years, I decided it was finally time to get my other 2 wisdom teeth out. So I did it! Dr. Johansen who I highly recommend, (a friend of the family's), took them out yesterday.

~They put me under anesthesia & when I came out of it, and after I was put safely in the car, my Mom started laughing at me. She asked me if I was going to put my teeth under my pillow. I'm all: "What are you talking about Mom?" She said that in my drunken state of mind, I guess I asked them if I could keep my teeth. How weird is that?? Actually I believe it because if you all know me well enough..I save EVERYTHING! Do any of you remember me trying to convince the doctors to let me save my tonsils!?

~Anyways so here they are. Disgusting I know!! He told me these teeth had super long roots which touched many nerves, so it was extra painful. I've had pain on my left side of my neck, shoulder, head & behind the ear. I also had to get a couple stitches in my mouth as well. So I'm on my Hydrocodone, Advil & Tylenol and still recovering. At least I've got something to show for it-Right?

*Karate Graduation*

Kaylea is now a GOLD Belt & quickly moving to be a Green Belt!  This weekend Kaylea and her cousin Jett had their karate graduation. Grandpa Ron got to come and kept the little guys laughin'.

*Check out the video clip at the bottom of Kaylea sparring another little boy.

 

*A "SUN" for the night*

*Spence & Jett with the "Suns Gorilla"* 

So this isn't the greatest picture because neither of them are looking but this is what the Suns people mailed us. Oops! I didn't send Tim with our camera. We share season tickets for the Suns games and usually just sell them, but not this time. For some lucky reason we were chosen to have our kids be a part of the "high five kids." Spencer & Jett were lucky enough to play around on the court, hang with the Gorilla & High Five the players as they came on the court. I wish we would have gotten a picture of the players high five-ing the kids!This happened to be the January 12th game (so Jett luckily got to do this on his birthday!) So Spence got to go to school Monday and tell the kids he high-fived Steve Nash!

~We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet~

~We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet~

~As I type this there are tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Last night we heard the news that our beloved Prophet President Hinckley, surrounded by family, passed away, at the age of 97. I was priviledged to be on the Temple grounds in 1995 (as a Sophomore in high school) as President Gordon B. Hinckley was sustained as President of the Church; Prophet, Seer & Revelator. I as millions of others have grown to feel as though we know him so well as he has energetically overseen the church for 13 years. We have grown to love his humor, his wit, his sweet humility, his pure testimony. My testimony is so tender and so strong that he truly was chosen of God. It's hard for me to believe how anyone could ever listen to his sweet testimony & not believe in this Gospel. He was so down-to-earth, yet so in tune with Heaven.
~One of my favorite things about him is the way he always spoke about his wife. In fact the first thing I thought of when we heard of his passing, was HOW EXCITED he was last night as he joined his wife. His past talks over the last few years, talked of how much he missed her. We have a picture in our room of Pres. & Sister Hinckley holding hands, walking through a garden & underneath is a quote from Sister Hinckley saying:
"I married well, didn't I?"
~When Tim and I were first married we were in the same ward as President Hinckley's Grandson Mike. Him and Tim were Home teaching companions and Mike's wife Heather and I worked together in primary. It was always so neat to see the Prophet in their wedding pictures on their wall. What a priviledge to have Him as your Grandpa.
~One memory I also recalled was the General Conference that Tim & I and my parents were there in the Conference Center. It was in October, 2001 (the one right after September 11th), & *I remember when Pres. Hinckley began to cry in front of us at the pulpit as he began to say that He was just passed a note saying that our country had just began bombing Iraq. What an experience to be in same place as the prophet as he received such a note. He cried as he said that he didn't know exactly what was going to happen, and admitted we lived in a scary time. He ended by saying that we'd be watched over by our Heavenly Father.
~I'm so grateful I had the chance many times to be there and just feel the moment he walked into the room. Those who have been there know exactly what I mean. That moment that you get the goosebumps and the spirit whispers to you that he truly is of God...or when the Congregation sings "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet" & you KNOW that he is. How grateful I am that we have such a loving Father in Heaven who has blessed us with living prophets in our day. There is truly Latter Day Revelation. I know this to the core of my soul.

~ We will miss you President Hinckley!~

*Click on these links for a more complete story of his life and accomplishments:

~KUTV.com Coverage - Click Here.
~LDS.org Coverage - Click Here.
~LDSlivingmagazine.com Biography -
Click Here.
~Glenn Beck's Tribute - Click Here.
~YouTube Memorial - Click Here.
~President Bush's Remarks - Click Here.
~LDS Church Statement - Click Here.

*Our latest favorite "flicks"

"Ever, Ever After.."... "I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss.."

*...Oh sorry I was just singing some of the songs from 2 of our newest favorite Movies!

(First I just have to say that the princess in this movie looks just like my beautiful red haired cousin Robin who also deserves a fairy tale ending.) ~So we recently saw the movie

"Enchanted" Twice! First with my family & then again the other day with Grandpa Ron & the Lundell kids. (It was so cute, Roc and Daylan sat together and were feeding each other treats the whole time.) This was a Disney movie that turns from cartoon to real life. It was very funny as it spoofed at the silliness yet likability of

Princess Fairy Tales. We all giggled like little kids. *My favorite part is when they're dancing at the Royal Ball & Patrick Dempsey begins singing to her as they dance. A real life fairy tale moment. Awww... Romantic. A must see if you like Romantic Comedies! I'm definitely buying it when it comes out!

*Then the movie"Alvin & the Chipmunks" was Daylan's favorite! He sang along the whole time. It was funny to see Spence & Kaylea laugh out loud with each other. This was obviously after the old "Alvin & the Chipmunks"which actually was created like 50 years ago & we all remember the cartoon. Spence has his chipmunk voice down perfect & Daylan loves to say "Mom, tipmunts sing 'Have Bad Day, tate it one down." It's so cute. I've decided each of my kids represent one of the Chipmunks.

SPENCER~Simon: The studious one, who is always practical,

logical and keeps everyone in line.

KAYLEA~"AALVINNN!": since I'm probably

yelling her name the most. Usually because she is the cause of all the commotion, yet once being disciplined she can most of the time charm her way out of it just like Alvin.

DAYLAN~ Theodore: who is so cuddly and cute just like Dude. Small and chubby, the cutest voice & like in the movie, slept on Dave's head. Day does the same thing to us. We call it 'bottom on the face.'

*Happy 15th Birthday Melissa*

~Happy 15th Birthday to Cousin Melissa! Wow they sure grow up fast! Melissa is the oldest of the other Campbell clan of soon to be 5 children. (I always have a soft spot in my heart for the oldest siblings.) She is a beautiful girl with olive skin (must be that Japanese blood) who, being so petite, is always the one thrown up in the air on her cheerleading squad. We have watched her grow spiritually this past year and love to see that light in her eyes. Hopefully she is able to go to EFY with her Aunt Ashlyn and strengthen her testimony even more.
*WE LOVE YOU Melissa* Happy Birthday!

*What the kids are up to..

So I'm playin' a little catch up...Here's a couple pics of the kiddos.

~Kaylea after her last ART class before Christmas. In her picture she is showing us her drawing of presents with bows. She had SO much fun doing this class & always loves a good coloring book page too!

~Here's the BoYz being silly & making a fun bubble bath mess in our tub!

*HOUSE FOR SALE!*

*This wonderful house is for sale! ...although I could be a little partial. This is our home in Bellemont (just 8 miles outside of Flagstaff) that we lived in for a number of years. We had renters in there this last year who have just moved out, so lucky for any home lookers out there ....it is officially on the market! If you know anyone looking for a home in the Flagstaff area who wants: a beautiful 3600 square foot home, overlooking a lake, park & National Forest, with 5 bedrooms, an office, dining room, 3 car side garage, spacious kitchen with hard wood floors looking into 2nd story windowed great room, Huge Master Bedroom with grand sitting room, and a beautiful view of the snow covered peaks, then this is the home for them! We currently have it listed at $595,000. The catch of the century! Help Us Spread the Word!

*Happy 5th Bday Jett!

~Happy bIrThDay

Cousin Jett!~ He turns 5 today...Hip hip Hooray! Jett is such a good boy. He is very sweet and his big brown puppy dog eyes just make you smile! Jett is a good brother and a fun cousin for the kids to play with. When he is over, my kids argue saying "No, Jett's playing with me, No he's playing with me!" Jett has the cutest way of talking and always makes us laugh. *Happy Birthday Jetterz*

We love you!

(~Newborn baby Jett & 4 month old Kaylea) Now they are in the same Preschool class & loving it!)

*Happy 6th Birthday Emmie!

*Happy BiRthDaY to Cousin *Emmie.* Today she turns 6 years old! She is such a beautiful little girl with a smile that will melt your heart. I was privileged to actually be in the room for Emmie's birth. Unfortunately, she had complications at birth and now has cerebral palsy. Although she can not walk or talk, she is cognitive and very aware of what's going on around her. She has been very sick this last week with pneumonia, but is progressing and getting better. Emmie is such a sweet spirit sent from our Father in Heaven to teach us all many lessons. She reminds me of the kind of person I should be.

*Happy Birthday ~WE LoVe YoU Emmie*

*Laguna Beach Trip*

*The New Cousin Is...

~So Tim's brother Brian & Heidi had their ultrasound this morning and:

**DRUMROLL............................

*Kaylea's so excited to get 2 new girl cousins this year since there

 has been a "girl cousin drought" for SO LONG!:) Congrats Campbells'!!

*Happy 6th Birthday Trenton!

Oh Trenton, Trenton...Well it seems like yesterday we were all waiting in the hospital waiting room for him to be born via C-section. 6 years later here he is!...fiesty & brilliant as ever:) Cousin Trent is such a cute little guy with the cutest freckles, who loves video games & is so smart. He's one of a Kind:) Him and Spence love to play together when they visit from Flagstaff. He is going to be the new big brother to a new little baby due in May. (Boy or Girl??....they will find out today!!! What a great birthday present!!)

*New Years Eve In Laguna*

*New Years Eve Dinner

~This New Year's we celebrated in Laguna Beach as we visited Tim's sisters & parents-Lonnie & Debbie. It was great weather & it was nice to mask those -After-Christmas-Blues.- We've been able to go there about twice a year & it was nice to be able to escape and relax at such a crazy time for us. On New Years Eve Tim & I and his parents went to a nice dinner at "Cannon's", where his little sister Lacey was hosting. Then afterwards we went home and played the "Wii", Scrabble, and card games. The kids konked out early this year, yet Tim continued to play games through the night!!

*Happy Birthday Tiffany!

*Happy Birthday to

 my sister n law Tiffany. What is it now...the 31st? Gettin' up there! Tiffany is so funny. She is one of those people that EVERYTHING bad happens to. Like the time she fell through the attic drywall onto the garage concrete or on her wedding night when she had a bad allergic reaction & her dad had to come bring her medicine to their hotel room. The great thing about Tiff is that she always comes out of it smiling or laughing! Just THIS month has been hard as she's lost her father n law to lung disease, struggled greatly with the safety of her unborn daughter, and had her oldest daughter Emmie very sick with pneumonia. 

*This post is probably embarrassing her since she never wants any pity or attention...But Oh well. Tiffany is a great person and is always giving so much. We love her loud contagious cackle & good attitude. We Love You! 

*Happy Birthday Tiff!*

~Also Happy Birthday to Scott...not like he'd ever read this..but ya know.

*Christmas Eve & Christmas Day!

*Dude already konked out at Christmas Eve Dinner

(Our little Santa Clause)

*The kids in front of the tree, waiting for Santa 

(-whom they spied on as he delivered presents-) Christmas Eve

*Temple Lights

~Brittany, Tommy & Sara in front of the 3 wisemen.

~We went to see the Christmas Lights @ the Temple Grounds with my fam -the Curtis' -the night of Tommy's bday-. The lights are always so amazing as you walk the grounds and hear beautiful music. When we were there

 we heard Jordan Bluth sing which is always so moving. We also ran into some old friends who one was inactive & one a nonmember. They since have had 2 kids &  found out they had just been sealed as a family a year ago. Gave me goosebumps to find out something so special in such a special place!

*Sites & Smells of the Season

Spence & The Claus

Kaylea & Santa

Day said...NO WAY!

~Christmas Sunday..(after church)~

~Baking Christmas Sugar Cookies..."Mmmm..." Oh the smells of the Season!...(otherwise known as one of the only times Audra cooks...kinda!!)