HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I was blessed with a pretty amazing father. He was the kind that was at all my ball games, Beehive church ball included, and even some of my practices (which embarrassed me like crazy at the time). The kind that stood up for what he felt was right, even if it meant leaving a very successful company or disagreeing with friends. The kind that was tough yet a softie, firm but understanding, a leader yet anybody's friend, and not perfect but always giving it his all. The kind that I knew loved me, NOT just because of his actions but because he told me on a regular basis.

My dad passed away unexpectedly when I was just 15. Although I am often upset with myself for not remembering more memories of my youth, the events of his passing remain extremely vivid in my mind:

Like driving to the hospital in the back seat of my grandparents car in the middle of the night, shivering like crazy even though the warm heater air was blowing directly on me.
Like walking into the hospital room just a couple hours after he had died, and instantly recognizing it was just his body. It wasn't him.
Like the tender comfort of the Holy Ghost that brought peace to my heart during the toughest week of my life.

However, although my dad's DEATH has obviuosly had a huge effect on me, it is because of the way he LIVED that I am a better, stronger person.



I have also been blessed with a wonderful father-in-law. A father whose love for me I have never questioned. A father who takes my kids out back to play in the sandbox together or to choose an apple from the apple tree, then sit together and it eat...with salt, of course. A father who taught his son to honor the Priesthood and serve faithfully whenever called. A father who makes the void of not having my Dad here a little easier to bear.



Lastly, the greatest blessing of all is my husband and the father to my kids who is far greater than I could have ever dreamed. I am realizing more and more that you just can't really know what kind of a father someone will be until you are in the situation; and then it is a bit too late to change your mind. Honestly, I don't think I even knew exactly what kind of a husband/ father I wanted. Or needed. Lucky for me, Kyle knew what kind he wanted to be, and he is exactly that kind... hands on, involved, patient, can't get enough of his wife and kids, family fun before fishing, hard working, put on my tool belt and fix it- kind of dad.

I can honestly say that there is NOTHING better then hearing a car drive up at about 5:30 p.m. during the week, because that means...

DAD IS HOME!
And in this house, that is far better than Christmas.

Happy Father's Day

as

Good night, have sweet dreams love you, SEE YOU IN THE MORNING!

Update:

My sister Nat sent me this email in response to my last post, and I just had to share it. It made me SMILE :)

Love it Lis! You are sweet! Thanks! Only you forgot that while you were fuming that I hadn't said the whole thing I was fuming that you continuously left out the most important part of the ritual. I remember having a real fear of dying in the middle of the night and so I added, "Good night. Have sweet dreams. Love you. SEE YOU IN THE MORNING!" Seriously, I actually say this to my kids every night just in case they have the same fear. I remember correcting you on many occassions because if you forgot that last part I feared that meant it was my last night. Silly. Or demented. Not sure which. Either way it is funny to remember how important that ritual was and how long such a thing can stick with you.

Love it, Nat. Sorry for all the serious trauma I put you through.

Good night, love you. Love you, good night.

My girls have been sharing a queen size bed for the past six months, since we moved in with my Mom. Every night, the girls go through a bedtime ritual as follows:

1. Each girl requires X amount of kisses and hugs-X being the number of years old they are. If you give them an extra hug or kiss, you are breaking the rules.

2. Each girl must say this sentence. Over and over. Loudly. To ensure they were heard. You MUST then say it back. Over and over. Loudly. To make sure you were heard...

"Good night, love you. Love you, good night."

Bedtime will NOT begin until these rituals have taken place.

It reminds me of when I was younger.

For most of my young life I shared a room with my older sister, Natalie. She was two years older than me. Not sure how it started, but every night we would say,

Good night.
Have sweet dreams.
Love you.

Now, somewhere along the road, Natalie got it into her head that after I had told her this endearing statement, she could simply say,

Same to you.

Hmmm. This did not jive. This was completely and utterly against the Unwritten Rules of Night-Time Rituals. I remember being so mad at her on many occasions, I wanted to pop her one. "You can't say that. You have to say the whole thing!" I may have done it to her a few times (not popped her one, but said "same to you"), but I am certain she is the one who started it :)

It's silly that such a loving phrase was sometimes said through gritted teeth, ready to fight to the death if "the rule" was not followed and the correct response emitted.

Regardless, I always had a good night filled with sweet dreams, and I still love you, Nat.

There is nothing like a GREAT sister!

I know.
I have three of them!

101 (or 8) Fun things to do at a Family Reunion in St. George

Get your hair sun bleached

That white hair is for you, Grandpa Standifird

Visit Church Sites
The St. George Temple has an awesome Visitor's Center. We also enjoyed visiting Brigham Young's summer home.

The girls thought it would be so cute to get a picture of them
posing like this in this garden nook at Brigham Young's home.

Bask in the SUN




Hike in Snow Canyon (petrified sand dunes are great for little kids to hike around on)

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Play at the sand dunes in Snow Canyon

Go horseback riding...

This turned out to be fun for only part of the group. My brother and
his son fell off a frisky horse and ended up with an injured shoulder
and abanged up face. They were real troopers.

Go cliff jumping at the Red Cliff's Recreation Area (awesome area to visit)

The fam watching as brave Alice (7 years old) gets ready to jump.

My little brother being cool and a tad bit dorky :) Love him!

Fake Bravery...I am honestly kind of a scaredy cat at heart, but I decided I had to jump to save face. No worries. I am fully dressed with a swimming suit and skirt, which is hiked up for better jumping abilities. My dear husband promised to take a picture of my brave jump. This was what he got.
I promise I did jump... I am pretty certain I looked really tough...Definitely tougher than my little brother in the picture above.

Hang out with the people you LOVE

Thanks, FAMILY, for an UNFORGETTABLE Terry Family Reunion!

I Scream, You scream...

We all scream for ICE CREAM!

These goofy girls of mine decided they were going to have an "Ice Cream Stand" on Saturday. Kyle was thrilled at the thought of them becoming entrepreneur-y.
Here is what they learned...

1. Ice cream sandwiches sell better than ice cream cups
2. The Little Ceasar's pizza sign guy has a rough job
3. Cars with sweet older couples and no kids are prime targets
4. Tips are like manna from heaven

Here is what I learned...

1. ALWAYS stop when you see cute kids on the side of the road selling something.
You will make their day...
And their mama's day too.

Jane's job consisted mostly of sitting in this chair and informing

Ellie when a car was coming from her direction. She did her job beautifully.
At one point, she was certain she had a good shot at selling this feather to someone.

Old MacDonald had a Farmhouse

We hope to have a farmhouse of our own when this thing gets finished...



The house is moving along and the framing is almost completely finished. It is amazing how different it feels with walls and a roof. Kyle and I get giddy like little kids whenever we are at the site. It is an amazing feeling to be standing inside something that you created...with a little help from an architect and a few workers :) It is still a surreal thing that a couple of hoodlums like us are building our OWN house. Words can't describe how incredibly blessed we feel.