February 1, 2002...

To Joseph in honor of our 7th Anniversary…

7 things I like to call you…
1. Joseph, Joey, Joe, Josephus
2. My Eternal companion
3. The father of my children
4. Husband
5. Backhoe Joe (no one can dig a better hole...no joke)
6. My best friend
7. A fine hunk o’ hiney

7 places we’ve lived since we’ve been married…
1. Lost Creek Apartments in Murray, UT
2. An old house converted into a 4-plex in downtown Salt Lake
3. The huge house on the hill in Bountiful, UT
4. The crazy people’s time share on Main Street in Park City
5. Mark Twain Apartments in Taylorsville, UT
6. Our house on Hudson in Nampa
7. Our current home in Nampa


7 favorite vacations together…
1. Hawaii on our honeymoon
2. Camping in the Uintas with Jake and Geri
3. Anniversary Inn for our birthdays (Romeo & Juliet and Swiss Family Robinson rooms)
4. New York for Adam and Lauri’s wedding
5. Road trip to San Francisco
6. Texas (San Antonio, Houston, McAllen) to visit Brice’s family
7. Washington DC, Virginia Beach, Greensboro to visit Jake’s family and Adam’s family)

7 things we’ve accomplished together…
1. Our Celestial Marriage
2. Bringing 3 beautiful children into the world
3. Learning how to be parents
4. Creating a gospel-centered home
5. Becoming homeowners
6. Your BA from Albertson College (yes, that was both of us)
7. Learning to live and love together even with our imperfections

7 memories together from before we were married…
1. Seeing each other (but not meeting) at that first indoor soccer game
2. The double date with Jake and Geri—Big Judd’s (how romantic), bowling (that’s when you fell in love with me...it’s all in the flick of the wrist!), frisbee in the church parking lot (no, you can’t juggle a frisbee like a soccer ball)
3. “Do you want to dance?” at Jake and Geri’s wedding reception
4. Almost driving into a building when the Beast died and the brakes went out…"Oh *@$^!”
5. Learning to drive stick shift for hours and hours
6. Bringing you a goody bag the morning you were leaving for BYU-I (and the sniper pictures that followed)
7. Our first kiss, in Idaho Falls…
You backing up the car
Me: Did you forget something? (wink wink!)

7 quirky things that made me know you were the one for me…
1. You like flat Sprite just as much as I do
2. I never felt self-conscious eating or even ordering fast food in front of you
3. You’re the only one to successfully teach me to drive a stick-shift
4. You sang out loud to the radio in front of me...without being embarrassed that you can’t sing!
5. Your sarcasm and great sense of humor
6. We both have crazy colored eyes that tend to change colors with what we’re wearing
7. How much you love and respect your mother


7 things I love about you and could never live without… (this was a hard one to keep to only 7)
1. You love to do yard work and considering I’ve never mowed a lawn in my life, this is much appreciated
2. How hard you work for the happiness and well-being of your family
3. The way you play with our children and know the little things that make them happy
4. Your willingness to always help others
5. All of your rippling pectorals and the fact that you love to stay in great shape and flex for me on an almost daily basis
6. That you can always make me laugh
7. Your unconditional love for me

Joseph,

I’m so glad you are mine and I am yours for eternity. You are so good to me and our children and I really couldn't have dreamed of a better best friend than you. I love you with all my heart.
Rachael

Kix, Kix EVERYWHERE

This is what happens when I go upstairs for a little time on the computer...

I thought I heard something funny downstairs and boy was I right. Let me just say the Kix were EVERYWHERE and the pictures don't really do it justice.

Sammy was really upset when he was busted making the mess...

but as they say... (sigh)

boys will be boys!

Oh, Say Can You See...

...Joe's Huge American Flag

Joe has always wanted a big framed American flag for his office wall. So my parents gave him this flag for Christmas and he made this beautiful frame for it. Now it hangs proudly on the wall of the office.

With the frame, it's 3 1/2 feet by 5 1/2 feet so it pretty much takes up the whole wall. But it looks amazing!

Once there was a Snowman tall Tall TALL

Joe built a snowman for the kids in the backyard. They decided it was too cold to go out with him so they just watched from the door.

And there's our snowman, er, uh, snowgirl I mean...

Princess Pretty Girl

(named by Kate, of course)

Here are the kids watching Daddy while they stay warm in the house.

and don't worry, we all still had hot chocolate afterward!

Alice Love

Al, Ali Girl, Alzy, Alouisious

Alice has been learning and growing like crazy. She is now 5 ½ months old and is getting more beautiful every day.

Her Christmas gift to us was rolling from her back to her tummy for the first time. We were all pretty excited.

She always has a way of making all your troubles disappear just by smiling at you... and she loves to smile. You can always feel Heavenly Father's love through Alice's beautiful eyes.

She is such a little peacemaker in our home and

WE LOVE OUR SWEET ALICE LOVE.

Samuel Joseph

Sam, Sammy, Sammy Joe, Sambo

Sam is really starting to catch on to the whole talking thing. He is finally losing his German drill sergeant speech and starting to sound like a little boy...well, actually even like a little puppy sometimes (complete with slobbery-sounding puppy kisses). He's learning new words and phrases every day.

Sammy is very energetic and loves to kick and throw balls. He also loves to play with cars, planes and trains. He especially loves Thomas the train and can spot him from just about anywhere.

He likes to play with his big sister and copy what she does and says but he will definitely tell you what he does and does not like.

He really likes going to his Nursery class at church and seems to get along well with the other children. The only reason he'll let me get him ready for church on Sunday is because he knows he'll get to go his "cwass."

Sam has such a funny little personality and is so fun to wrestle, tickle, snuggle and laugh with. We love the light-hearted fun Sammy brings to our family.

WE LOVE OUR SAM!

Sammy kicks left-footed and Joe couldn't be more proud.

Kate Elizabeth

Kate-Kate, Kate-inator, Katester

Our little Kate is not so little anymore. She has learned so much this year and is becoming a very creative artist. Just set her up with markers, crayons or paint, scissors and tape and she'll create a masterpiece...or twenty. Then she "decorates" the house with them.

She is excited to start Primary this new year and is really starting to come out of her shell more all the time.

Kate is also quite the little performer. She can pretend most anything is a stage and always demands an attentive audience. And boy, can she put on a show!

We are so blessed to have Kate as a part of our family. She can put up with Daddy's silliness, she is a great example for her little brother and sister and a big help for Mommy.

WE LOVE OUR KATE!

Kate with her favorite teddy bear, Pinky.