Dallen is definitely not short on love, attention and mostly PRAISE at our house. It is amazing how quickly he caught on to and came to expect the positive reinforcement.

When he hits the baseball or tennis ball or banks a shot in the hoop, throws a perfect spiral...he says "that was amazing"

When his friends are playing something he stops them and says "watch me do it, I'm awesome"

Dallen even reminds me to praise him now when I forget. One time he said to me when we were coloring together, "good job Mom" when I said "Thank you" he said "No Mom, say it 'good job'"

I am happy to praise my little boy and turn him into the confident little man he is becoming. He knows that one stroke of a crayon, one cut with the scissors, one super cool sports move MAKES him awesome and I love that!!

Everything about the wedding turned out so wonderfully!! It all began Saturday, March 19th at the LDS Los Angeles temple, where we took lots and LOTS of pictures to commemorate the occassion.The ever-growing family.
Some of us got a little bored when it wasn't our turn and posed for our own pictures.


After a tremendous luncheon, we went back to my parents house for a few more pictures before the festivities began:


Then there was the most beautiful reception. Hopefully everything Aubrey always dreamed it would be, because it was gorgeous!! From the white tulips and wall of mirrors...To the plate sign in table...To the dessert table...Which wouldn't be complete without the most amazing wedding cake I have ever seen (I had major cake envy)...Of course there was the food, it was absolutely fantastic, delicious paninis...And Dallen had a brief love affair with coconut cupcakes!!
And then there was the dancing!! Oh, the dancing...One of my favorite pictures from my wedding was captured during the emotional Father/Daughter dance. I just know that this will be one of Aubrey's favorites as well...One of my personal faves of the night, Matt stranded on the dance floor, yelling for his Mom :) Classic.I may or may not have cried dancing with my little brother who is leaving way too soon.
And the perfect ending for the couple, a motorcycle ride through a sparklers tunnel!!
It was an incredibly magical day and already seems like it happened forever ago. Good thing I can relive it whenever I want on the Mormon Bachelorette blog :) Congratulations Matt and Aubrey, we love you!!

Without revealing pictures of the bride until she's had a chance to do so...here are some pictures from our FABULOUS weekend wedding trip!!We were so blessed to not have a single drop of rain on the special day!The first, of very few, smiles we saw from big D all morning, came at the luncheon...One of my favorite things about the day, was getting to spend some time with my little brother before he leaves for Korea, in ONE MONTH!!Dallen's favorite part was getting the dance floor to himself and his new best buddies!!



And finally, during clean up, Dallen requested I take his picture on every rock in the backyard with his new best friends. Why couldn't he smile like this for the professional camera all day?!?! Sorry Aubrey.
The wedding was absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to reveal more pictures soon!! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Laidlaw :)

Most everyone around us has been spending this week taking a break from school to celebrate the arrival of spring in the valley. We on the other hand are taking a break from celebrating spring to go to California for the wedding we've all been waiting for. So here's to enjoying the 20 degree cooler weather and hoping for NO spring rain!!

My testimony of my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ has increased an hundred fold since becoming a Mother. I daily learn lessons that I never understood until I had a child of my own. I understand now, more than ever, and less than I will later, the love that our Heavenly family has for me. I also understand that the commandment to "multiply and replenish the earth" is as much, if not more, for the benefit of the parents, to learn and to grow.Tonight, Dallen was crying about getting in trouble for not being obedient. After a minute or two he said to me over and over through his tears, "I love you Mommy, I love you". I caught myself as I started to say "If you love me..." and stopped myself before finishing with "...you would obey me". Instead I said "I love you too" and sat back, heartbroken, and in awe as I reflected on discovering the true meaning of the scripture found in John 14:15 that reads "If ye love me, keep my commandments".Dallen, you are an incredibly independent little man, who insists on doing things your own way with so much attitude!! Sometimes it seems like an impossible feat to try to teach you. But if in the end I teach you half of what you have taught me, I feel that I will have been a sucessful Mother. I hope that someday you will understand HOW much I truly love you and love our Father in Heaven. Thank you for teaching me in ways I never thought possible and loving me despite my need to still learn SO much. I love you baby boy!!

I love it when you sing along to your lullabys at night.

I love it when you stroke my hair when you are tired or sad.

I love it when you insist on cuddling so close our foreheads have to be touching to fall asleep.

I really love it when you pause from playing with your friends to help me hold on to special memories:Because you are such a cute little model.Because there is no greater subject of my pictures.Because I always want to remember you this way.I love it when you let me love you and when you love me too!!

And I will say it again, I have the best friends in the world!!

Just look at all the fun things we have been doing together:Hanging at the zoo.
The LONGEST game of bowling ever, with 5 boys under 5!!
Climbing in trees at the park :)

And that was just the kiddos, you better believe we have our own fun too:My BEST friends :)
CJ's birthday dinner, so fun!! (picture collage stolen from Shayla's blog ;)

These are the kind of days I hope to always remember. I love all of my friends and are so glad we have SO much fun together ALL the time!!

...we are enjoying our shorts and t-shirts weather over here :)