6 Deans + a Dog

Last week I celebrated my "39th" birthday. It was a great birthday week of celebrating. When I was in Chicago visiting Melanie Mike surprised me with a new leather couch he bought me for my birthday. It was so fun coming home to a new couch in my living room, and the awesome thing is he sold the old one on KSL while I was gone... I was SOOOO excited. I got my "2010" blog book in the mail just in time for my birthday and Mike surprised me while I was at the school when he walked in with a dozen roses.
What a great day =)mmmm...

Loved the 2 cases of diet coke.

Sadie wrote me this cute letter...SO CUTE =)
I love how she taped a piece of gum on the bottom.

Even Diesel wished me "A HAPPY BIRTHDAY"!One more year and I hit the big "4.0"...CRAZY!!!

Rachel received her Young Woman Medallion on Sunday in church. She has been working so hard to get through all of her value projects. I am so proud of her since most people don't get this award until they are seniors in High school and getting ready to graduate. Way to go Rachel.

These are the the girls in our ward that received their medallion this last year.

Rachel just finished her ward basketball season. The girls did awesome, they made it to regions this year. We have such a great group of girls in our ward. Thanks Coach Hill for a fun season.

Rachel did a photo shoot with Sadie on Sunday after church. Sadie was so cooperative she let Rachel do her hair and then smiled for picture after picture after picture (268 of them). Rachel's photography skills really impress me, she has such a talent of taking pictures. It was so fun to see these two get along and do something fun together. Beautiful GIRL =)

Last week I went with my mom and sister Amy to visit my little sister Melanie who is living with her family in Bloomington, IL while her husband is in medical school. It was Mel's birthday on February 24th and she knew my mom was coming for a visit, but we thought it would be fun if Amy and I came along to surprise her. Mel picked my mom up from the airport and went straight to Steak and Shake where her husband Brad would meet up with them. While Mel was picking up my mom, Amy and I were waiting in the airport bathroom until we got a text from Mel's husband saying it was OK to come out and we got in his car and went with him to the restraunt. It was so worth it to see Melanie so surprised when we showed up at Steak and Shake. She had NO IDEA that Amy and I were coming. We spent the first 3 nights of our trip in Bloomington at Melanie and Brad's house. It was fun to see the town they live in and spend time with their kids Chloe and Ezra. On Saturday we took Mel and drove 130 miles to Chicago where we spent 2 nights with just the girls. It was so much fun to be together. I have to admit I did get a little homesick for my little family, but I enjoyed every minute I was able to spend with my mom and sisters. We shopped, saw the bean, went through the Art Museum, saw the Broadway Play "Million Dollar Quartet" (which was awesome), ate lots of yummy food, walked around the pretty WINDY city, and just had a great time hanging out together.

Thanks for the fun memories!!!

So SURPRISED when we walked into Steak and Shake =)

Happy Birthday Melanie.
I sure love you and am so grateful you are my sister.

Spending time with the Chambers Family.

We went to the Childrens Museum in Bloomington.

We had a great time in the music room =)

Melanie, Amy, Me

Hello CHICAGO!!!

The BEANIt is so cool to see the reflection of the city in the Bean.Me looking into the Bean.

...Home Sweet Home...
The kids loved their Chicago sweatshirts I brought them.The 1st Grade class I am an aide for sent me this picture with a text message while I was in Chicago. They said "Emily we miss you and hope you are having a great time." I thought it was so sweet.