Ward Campout

We just got back from our ward campout at Webster's Flat. We had such a great time! Bracken loved playing with the leaves, sticks, and dirt. We had a delicious dutch oven dinner, visited, played a couple of intense games of fugitive, and blew up glow sticks in the campfire. I wish I'd gotten pictures of all of the awesome people who were there, but let me just say we've lucked out to have such friendly, good people in our ward.
Bracken went to sleep in our tent around 8pm and didn't make a peep until the next morning at 7. Thanks little guy! We had so much fun playing fugitive that we're going to have a couples date night playing it here in town in a few weeks. So let me know if you want to come too and I'll let you know the details.

My Lost and Found Wedding Ring

This morning I helped my Dad spread a dump truck full of dirt around to build up the ground at a friends house. Hours later I was talking to my Mom and started wiggling my wedding ring around and immediately realized that something didn't feel right. I looked down to discover my wedding band was missing.

It seemed like ten pounds of lead dropped into my stomach. My mind raced as I tried to backtrack, thinking of where it could possibly be. Then I remembered the dirt pile, and I was terrified I'd lost it somewhere in those tons of dirt. Just to be sure, I checked in the bed I'd slept in, the gloves I'd worn, and any place I could think of. When I told Brian I broke down crying, and he tried to help me think of where it could be.

Back in my parents house I asked my Mom, little sister Sarah, and my two littlest brothers to pray with me that I'd find my ring. When we all said "Amen" we looked at each other for a second, then Sarah stood up, took a step, bent over and picked something off the carpet. She asked me, "Is this it?" There was my wedding band, and I hadn't even gotten off my knees yet! My tears changed from sad to happy and grateful in an instant, and we had another prayer, this time of thanksgiving. My three year old brother started laughing because he could tell how happy we all were.

I am SO grateful we found my wedding band. I love what it symbolizes--my Eternal marriage to the most perfect-for-me guy in the world. Brian worked hard and sacrificed to buy my ring and I love it, and appreciate him. It's a physical possession that is very special because of what it represents, and I am so happy we found it.

I'm also grateful for the testimony strengthener I had today about prayer. We found the ring before I even got off my knees! Heavenly Father really cares about what is important to us. I'm grateful my brothers and sisters were able to be apart of that miracle and hopefully have their testimonies strengthened too.

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma

We went to Idaho to visit my Grandpa and Grandma Gunderson in May. I was worried about the eight hour car ride but Bracken was a little trooper. Bracken was adorable with Grandpa. He would point at Grandpa and say “Bampa!” whenever he saw him. That made Grandpa just as proud as could be. He’d take Bracken around to look at things and Bracken was always so interested in what Grandpa showed him. Bracken kept touching Grandpa’s face with his little hand, then pulling it away quickly and shaking his head and hand and saying “Whoo!” as if Grandpa’s whiskers tickled him.


We went on a drive to see the temple, feed the ducks and geese, and see the old house that Mom grew up in and that Grandpa and Grandma lived in until about six or seven years ago. As a little girl I always loved going to the Snake river to feed to geese and ducks, and it was fun for me show Brian and to watch Bracken enjoy doing the same.


Bracken feeding the geese with Brian.


Bracken loved playing with the Noah's Ark and making all the animal noises.


Bracken had fun playing with my little cousins Connor and Hannah. They were both so good with him.


We had such a great visit with Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa took us to a potato factory where we saw how the potatoes are cleaned, sorted and boxed from the field. We played card games at night and ate lots of yummy food. We visited Aunt Vodis and Uncle Jon and Aunt Nicole and their kids. One night we talked for hours listening to stories about Grandpa and Grandma when they were younger, what they did as little kids, how they met and fell in love...I loved hearing their stories.

I am grateful for my grandparents. Grateful for their love, their support, the way they’ve raised a righteous family and followed Heavenly Father. They’ve served three missions—in the Nauvoo temple, the Washington D.C. temple, and in the Idaho Falls visitor center. They’ve been temple workers every Thursday afternoon since I can remember as a little girl. Now they still go every week to do a session themselves. They remember every birthday and anniversary, and make every effort to be to each of their almost 30 grandchildren’s baptisms, ordinations, and weddings. I know they love us. I am grateful for my Grandpa and Grandma and love them so much! I’m grateful Brian and Bracken came with me and we were able to enjoy that wonderful
week with them.

Pool Party!

We bought a little kiddie pool a couple of weeks ago, and Bracken and his little friends have had so much fun in it. We get the pool out several times a week.


I love this little man!


Bracken loves his cousin Kylie. He calls her "Ky-Ky" and loves to tickle her toes. He doesn't understand that they've moved out of their apartment and when we are playing outside he will say "Ky-Ky!" and climb up the stairs and knock on their old apartment door.


This is the face Bracken makes when we ask, "What does a fish say?"


We're so lucky to have so many little friends close by for Bracken to play with, and such awesome "mom friends" for me!

Can Bracken go to Nursery Early?

This is a little bit of a rambling post. Church today had some funny moments, and embarrassing ones. Kind of like every Sunday.

When Bracken was born, I didn't think about how much, um...fun church would become. From the first time we took him to church, I don't think I've sat through an entire sacrament meeting.

And then there's nap time. It's always during the middle of church. Sometimes we wake him up early and then he's grouchy the rest of the day. We've kept him up and then we're all miserable. I've gone to a different wards sacrament meeting in the morning and then stayed home while Bracken finishes his nap and then rejoin Brian for Sunday school and Relief Society.

For the first six months of his life Bracken lasted until the opening song and then screamed bloody murder for three hours. I often wondered why we even went to church since one of us had to be in the halls or outside with him the whole time. Now he's just loud. When he sees his friend Lucy on the other side of the chapel he yells "Susu!" and becomes an escape artist trying to get to her. Yesterday when we were reading quiet books in the back of Sunday school he saw a picture of a cow and yelled, "MOO!! MOO!!" interrupting the teacher. A few minutes later he started "lecturing" one of our friends, shaking his finger at him and jabbering away. The whole back three rows were distracted. Honestly, it was hilarious, and I was cracking up, but I felt guilty because we were all so irreverent. Where is the line between keeping them in the classroom so we can try to listen, and taking him out so anyone else can hear?

On Sunday's I'm grateful for Bracken's "Jesus book," that he likes to look at the pictures in our Gospel Principles book, for crackers, water bottles, and the closing song in Relief Society.

For all of that, I'm grateful for church. We're always blessed for being there. We're able to take the sacrament, feel the spirit, and know that we're where we should be. Bracken is learning to fold his arms and be reverent, even if it's for short periods of time. He gets so excited anytime he sees pictures of Christ and says, "Jesus! Jesus!". If I forget to help him say a prayer before he eats lunch, sometimes he'll just fold his arms and wait for me. He wants to read a verse or two from his blue Book of Mormon and look at all the pictures each night before he goes to bed. He learns as we're consistent. I want him to always go to church and love being there. I want him to gain a testimony for himself. So even though it's more difficult and often embarrassing to be at church now, it's worth it, and so important for us, and our little guy.

But I am excited for nursery in three months!

Bracken's Little Friend Lucy

Bracken gets so excited whenever I ask him “Do you want to go see Lucy?” He starts bouncing up and down and waving his arms to be picked up so we can go while saying “Susu, Susu!” which is his way of saying Lucy. They play so well together and Bracken is always happier and less work when he’s with his little friend. They give each other hugs and share toys and raid each others snacks. I'm so glad he has such a good little friend close by!

Playing together at the temple, and just being flat-out adorable.

Getting into the diaper bag..."I just know there are snacks in here. I think you guys are holding out on us."

Bracken and Lucy love bouncing in the crib.
Swinging at the park.
Playing at Lucy's birthday.