Spring....Broke

On our first day of Spring break it seems as though Spring broke.
I decided to take the kids down to the valley for a few days this past week to enjoy the warm spring air in the valley of the sun.
We headed down on Monday and just after we got past Heber, it started to snow. Hard. Not exactly what you expect to see on the first day of spring break.
Visibility on the road was getting really bad and to make matters worse Sarah tells me that her tummy hurts.
"Umm... like you need to throw up? I ask.
"No. Like I need to go poo." she says.
Well, I know there's a rest stop farther on up the rim so I tell her to hang in there, we'll stop as soon as we can.
Meanwhile the snow storm is getting worse and it's getting harder and harder to see so, I had to slow way down. It seemed the worse the storm got the worse Sarah's tummy hurt.
Suddenly, when I couldn't see more than 20 feet ahead or behind me, Sarah starts screaming! I CAN"T HANDLE THE PRESSURE IT HURTS SO BAD!! MY TUMMY IS GETTING TOO TIGHT!
Then Eliza starts screaming "MOM YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER I CAN"T STAND SARAH'S SCREAMING ANYMORE! CAN'T YOU TELL SHE HURTS SO BAD!!!
While they're screaming and crying, and my white knuckled hands are gripping the steering wheel, I try to tell them that I can't pull over because if I do someone might hit us from behind because they won't see us 'till it's too late.
Then, of course, Caleb starts yelling "MOM, SHE'S GONNA POOP HERSELF AND SHE'S SITTING RIGHT BY ME!!!!!!
"EVERYBODY JUST PRAY!!" I yell. They were quiet for about 30 seconds, then we get to the place where the rest area is and the gate to get into the parking lot is locked! Oh, NO!!!
So, they all start screaming and crying again...
Sarah: because her tummy hurts.
Eliza: because she can't stand that her sister is in pain.
And Caleb : because he's afraid of getting pooped on.
All I can tell them is that I'll pull over at the very next safe spot, or the next unsafe cliff (o.k. I didn't really say that last part, but I was thinking it!)
Finally, I see a little dirt road just off to the side of the highway. I  pull onto it and and it curves around into a little parking area for a trail head. And there, right in front of us was a little outhouse (built by one of the three Nephites, I am sure.) Sarah jumps out of the car, runs into the bathroom and emerges 5 min. later with the biggest smile on her face.
Thankfully, the rest of our drive down was fairly uneventful.
We arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Quists house that afternoon and the kids spent the rest of the day playing with grandma's toys, watching movies and playing with Grandma's bubble guns.

Later that evening, most of my siblings were able to come over for a combined F.H.E. at my parents house. It was great to get to visit with everyone.

On Tuesday, we met up with some of the Gurr cousins for a ride on the Metro Light Rail and a trip to the Phoenix science center.  The light rail was a bit crowded, but the kids thought it was pretty cool to get to ride a train.



Braunsen, Caleb, Aunt Heather and Uncle Tyler, Eliza, Parker and Greaden

 We had to walk a few blocks to the science center but we saw some neat sculptures of insects along the way.

The science center was really cool and super fun. The kids enjoyed all the interactive exhibits, and learned more about geology, weather, magnetics, gravity, electricity and more.

Unfortunately, by the end of the day Caleb started feeling like Sarah did the day before. NOT a fun ride back on the light rail for Caleb. : (
Later that evening, I was able to get together with a few of my best High School friends. We had so much fun visiting and laughing together while eating some great food at Claim Jumpers. YUM! Thanks ladies.
On Wednesday, we slept in, went out to lunch and headed back home to Dad. We sure missed him and were glad to be back home.
Thursday and Friday Adams Brother Tyler brought his boys Parker and Gavin up for a visit. 
All in all it was a fun Spring break, even if it did feel more like Winter.

Sparks! March 24th 2001

Ten years ago today....I was SO surprised when Adam called me the very next day after our first date.
He invited me to go with him and some friends to a party out in Queen Creek. Of course I said YES!
I also invited my friend,  Debbie Towne to come along because I figured if we were going with his friends I might be the odd man out.
It turned out that all his other friends bailed so it ended up just being me, Adam and my friend Debbie.
When we got out to Queen Creek, everyone was playing capture the flag in a big pecan orchard.  We jumped right into the game and Adam and I sort of paired up on a team but instead of playing we spent most of the time just talking. I don't even know which team won, and I didn't care. The backyard where the party was held, was amazing. There was a huge tree fort with bridges, ladders, slides and a zip line. Adam and I spent the rest of the night talking and riding the zip line. We felt so comfortable with each other, and I started feeling those sparks that were lacking on our first date.
The only thing I regret about that night was that I sort of forgot about Debbie! Debbie, if you're reading this, I'm sorry!
At the end of the night, I wasn't worried about whether or not Adam would call me again. I knew he would, and that there would be many more dates in our future.

First Date March 23rd, 2001

Ten years ago today....Adam and I went out on our first date with each other.
A couple months prior, Adam was at my grandparents house for a meeting  and he saw a picture of me on my grandparents wall. He was the stake Y.S.A. representative and my grandparents were the stake advisers.  He asked my grandpa for my phone number.
(No, it wasn't love at first photo sight.... We actually went to grade school together and then High School as well. So, we'd  known each other for many years but, just as acquaintances. It never occurred to either of us that we'd  end up together someday. )
Adam had been home  from his mission for a couple of years when he got my number from my Grandpa. Adam has never explained to me  why he felt prompted to get my number he just said that it was a pretty picture, and  wanted to ask me out.
Meanwhile, I had just about decided that I was done with dating.  After countless blind dates, and singles activities I was starting to wonder if "Mr. Right" was even out there for me.
I was earnestly praying one night, asking Heavenly Father to help me find "him" when the name Adam Gurr popped into my head. At first I was stunned, I'd known Adam since the second grade and never gave him a second thought. Could it be possible that the one I was looking for had been right under my nose all along?!
The more I thought about him, the more it made sense, and a peaceful feeling came over me.
When My Grandpa told me later that Adam Gurr had asked for my number, I was thrilled and waited for his call.
I waited, and waited and waited...Until one day my grandpa told me that Adam had been trying to call me but I was never home to answer his call. So, the next day I arranged to have all calls to my home phone forwarded to my cell phone.
That did the trick and within a few days,  Adam had called and asked me to go out with him that weekend.
We went to a regional YSA Movie night at the Tri. Stake Center in Mesa. They were showing the movie "Remember the Titans" after the movie he took me out for Frozen custard and then he took me home. It was a great movie, and the custard was yummy but....well lets just say, sparks didn't fly.
 I think we were both a little nervous, and what do you talk about with some one who you've known for 16 years but never in all that time made an effort to get to know.
Even though the date wasn't the best, I still felt like Adam was someone who I wanted to get to know better. I really hoped that he felt the same way, but I figured it would be a few weeks before he'd ask me out again, IF he asked me out again.

My Journal

For most of My life I have been a real slacker when it comes to writing in my journal. This blog has given me the opportunity to redeem myself.
At the end of each year, I have all my blog entries for the year published into a hard bound book.
This is why sometimes (o.k. most of the time) my posts aren't very interesting to anyone outside our immediate family.
I continue to write because I know that years from now,  my children will read the blog books and be grateful for this family history.
I wish that I would have thought about keeping a better journal for my {future}children ten years ago. That's when Adam and I had started dating. I know that at some point, our children will want to read about our first date, how our relationship grew, and about the day we got engaged.
Unfortunately, All I have is one piece of paper with a bunch of dates written on it with a one line description of what happened between Adam and I beside each date.
So, I've decided that during the next few months I'm going to start having blog entries that all begin with the same line:  Ten years ago today...
I hope that you will all bear with me, and understand that this is for posterity as well as for all you nosey people out there (like me) who like to hear great romantic love stories or..... perfectly ordinary love stories (like mine).

Stake Conference

We had a very special visitor at our Taylor Stake Conference.
 Elder Quentin L Cook

                            

He spoke to us of the importance of families with emphasis on having regular F.H.E. and attending the Temple often.

He spoke to us  of the need to stay close to the gospel and to follow the Prophet.

And most importantly... about Having Faith in Jesus Christ.

He is truly a special witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are grateful for a living prophet and for apostles on the earth today. We know that following their teachings will help us be happy here on earth, and will help us to someday return to live with our Father in Heaven.

Fantsy and Fairytales

Last week a Royal Decree went out inviting all the princesses in the land to attend the performance of "Fantasy and Fairy tales" presented by the BYU ballet.
The girls and I were so excited to get all dressed up and have a fun Girls Night Out!
We were able to attend the "Royal party" before the show. While there, we were served cookies and punch and we  got to meet the princes and princesses who would be dancing for us.

The Ballet was so beautiful. I loved watching my daughters eyes light up while the ballerinas danced across the stage.
During intermission all the little princesses in the audience were invited to come and dance on the stage with the cast. That was my favorite dance of the night. I tried to get some good pictures of the girls but they were spinning around to quickly.  They LOVED being on that stage and dancing to the music.

The entire night was so magical.  Thank you Princess Sarah and Princess Eliza for going with me. There is no one else on earth I would have rather gone with!  

Land That I love

Last Friday the Trio participated in a patriotic program.
The program was presented by the First graders at Taylor Elementary. Everyone did a wonderful job singing and speaking. They reminded me of all the wonderful things there are to love about our great country.
They told stories of  our nations history and monuments.
I hope that when the kids are a little older we will get to visit some of the places they spoke of.


Great job Eliza, Sarah, and Caleb. You did awesome!