HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

After a bout with strep throat, Layne and I quietly celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on June 5th with a home cooked meal and movie at home. McKenzie and Karlee got involved by setting the dining room table for two with our "good dishes, candles, and fresh cut flowers." (Karlee even made place cards that said on mine - I love daddy, and on Layne's - I love mommy.) As the kids were eating their pizza dinner, Karlee said, "I wish I had some romance!" :) She was so funny! After pizza, the kids went to the basement to watch a movie so Layne and I could have our dinner. I made shrimp and corn pudding with roasted potatoes, salad and bread. For dessert we invited the kids to join us for homemade carrot cake with cream cheese and white chocolate frosting. It was fun! The kids went to bed and we started watching Australia - I think we made it to about 10:30pm maybe 11:00pm before we were falling asleep! Wow, we are getting old! :) We have had so much fun in our 16 years of marriage, and so many adventures! I love sharing my life with Layne!

Who turns 60?!?

Here he is turning 2... (so cute!)


turning 6,


hunting,


serving our country in the Navy,


boating (with much patience as I learn how to ski),


becoming my father-in-law,


fishing,


more hunting,


always awaiting the next adventure,

or causing trouble :),


singing to his "Linda Lee",


loving his family,


and enjoying life!


Happy Birthday to the BEST EVER father-in-law!

School's Out for Summer!

As we jump for joy because of the many achievements...


McKenzie - honor roll, citizenship award, lots of new friends, and the knowledge that she can do anything with hard work (will that knowledge stick?)!


Kyler - high honor roll, S+ conduct, and the PE award.


Karlee - high honor roll and perfect attendance.


What a cute PreK graduate! :)


and Kavan gets to go to Kindergarten in August! (He is so excited - I think more so because he "finally" gets to ride the big yellow bus!)

...we also jump for joy because summer does not really require time schedules, homework, or projects with deadlines. So, I say HOORAY for summertime! I like to think about the primary song - Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime - it just makes me smile! :)

- Already accomplished on our "not really an agenda" agenda - pizza, milkshakes, fishing and summer haircuts! :)

Who has a Birthday, Today?

Who takes such great care of his mom?



Who loves to teach kids about the things he loves?



Who loves feeding and holding the babies?



Who loves getting kisses?



Who loves having fun with his grandkids and kids?



Who trusts me to take him for a ride? :)



Who loves skiing and riding the air chair? (pretty cool,eh?)



Who loves the Lord, but is not so fond of the cold?



Who is too silly?



Who loves my mom?



My Dad!!!

And who has the coolest dad, ever?



I DO!!!!! :)
Happy Birthday, DAD! We love you!

Happy 10th Birthday, Kyler!

We were so glad to have you here!



Especially Kenzie! :) - I'm so glad you're still great friends! - Happy, Happy!




One year old! Silly Boy!





10 years old and still a silly boy! :)



Love you! So glad you're ours!
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy, Happy, Birthday to you!

From White Belts to... Black Belts!

(Kyler and Collin at their first karate promotion test - November 15, 2002)

On April 25, 2009 Kyler and Collin tested and achieved all of the requirements for their black belts at WorldClass American Karate! Hooray! They were so AWESOME and we are all so proud of them!

Introductions - Collin Mitchell, 10 years old, 5th grade, 6 years of karate. Kyler Mitchell, 9 years old, 4th grade, 6 years of karate.

Beginning of the test!

800 kicks on and off the wall! Yes, I did say 800 - and that doesn't include the amount of push ups and sit ups!


They went through all their kicks and punches,


their forms,



combinations, and etc, etc.


Toward the end came sparring and the final fight!


Kyler after almost 2 1/2 hours. Pure Exhaustion!


Congratulations! The judges - Mr. Ben, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Tina, and Mr. Tyler.



Don't mess with the Mitchells, they're black belts y'know! - Kirk, Kyler, Tyler, Collin and Ryan! :)



Way to go Kyler and Collin!

Layne is 39!

It's the day after, and Layne is officially 39!
I was going to do this yesterday, but Layne took the day off so we could spend it together - so it was hard to be sneaky! We got to go to lunch at Ruby Tuesdays and then spend the afternoon at Layne's favorite stores - the fish store, the fish store and Home Depot! Then, when Layne picked Kavan up from school, the class was shouting Happy Birthday to Layne! That was fun! :) Oh and guess what? Kyler hit a home run in his game last night. He said it was just for dad! :)

Anyway, I just wanted to share some fun memories of Layne's 39 years!

Layne - Brand New! So Cute, huh?

Layne in 1975! Look at that sweet face with those baby blues!

Layne turns 8!

Layne's cute family, 1981!

Layne loves scouting! He earned his Eagle at age 12!

Layne graduates High School,1988! (Layne loves his grandparents. He definitely got his love of plants and animals from his Grandma White!)

Layne leaves on his mission to Santa Rosa, CA in 1989.

After his mission, he took me to my Senior Homecoming dance, 1991. I was so excited! Imagine the faces as I walked into the dance with a "cutie-patootie" college guy!

And then to still be together 6 months later for my Senior Prom! FUN TIMES!

Layne is always ready for an adventure...

He loves being on the water...

whether he's skiing

boating, (I know - kind of a sexy picture,huh?)

or fishing!

(I think he got his love of fishing from his Grandpa Mitchell!)

And he loves to hunt! (He caught the "hunting bug" from his dad!)

I love being with Layne!

Getting married, June 5, 1993! (Best Day of my Life!)

Graduating College, 1994. (Layne went on to get his Bachelor's degree and graduated again in 1996.)


Starting a family, 1997.

Traveling and trying new things!
Our Jamaica trip, 1996. (King trying to teach Layne how to windsurf.)

Skiing at Snow Basin, Utah in 1998.

An amazing trip to Hawaii, 1998. (Thanks to BYU Hawaii's Education Week!)

Our fabulously fun and fantastic trip to Greece, 2003. (A trip of a lifetime - thanks Tyler for serving your mission in Greece!)

One of the greatest things about Layne is that he loves having fun with his kids!

The Cake (his favorite, German Chocolate)...
(Kavan had to step back because there were so many candles! :) But of course, Layne got the candles blown out in one easy, fast puff!!!)

and the Presents!
The kids just love their dad...

and so do I!
Thank you for including me in a great adventure!