Happy Birthday and Retirement Daddy

My Dad retired. He has been working for the government as an accountant for as long as I can remember. 30+ some odd years. He turned 65 on Feb 5th and finally retired. But first just want to back track a bit. The weekend before me and my sister Cindy flew to Las Vegas on Friday night and stayed with my sister Tara for the weekend. We had a great time. We went shopping and to lunch and dinner. Tara's husband was great about taking the kids and letting us have sisterly time together. Then on Sunday we all drove up with the 2 kids and Tara so that she could be here for the week to spend with all of us and especially for my Dad's retirement party and bday the end of the following week. I think my favorite part believe it or not was riding in the car, even though I was a tad squished in the back between Tara's boys. ha ha I loved just chatting and laughing and just enjoying each others company with my sisters. I love them both so much. None of us took pics of our weekend. We were too lazy, but now I wish we did. It was a great time that I cherish and look forward to many more of those type of trips. So this is a picture of all of us at my Dad's retirement luncheon with his work friends. We went to Little America and ate. The only person missing was my little brother Kenny who was unable to come. We missed him though and wished he was there. So from left to right it's Me, My Mom, Dad, sister Cindy and Tara, my bro Kelly and his wife Cherish. (BTW not loving this pic of me. I look pregnant. I think I need to throw away that sweater I'm wearing. I do want to lose 10 lbs though. Don't you just love pics of yourself sometimes. yuck!)

Us eating enjoying visiting with my Dad's coworkers a bit.




After we had finished eating his work did a little program for him. They gave him a few awards, including cash awards that will pay for his upcoming Hawaii trip, lucky guy. They also teased him by giving him some U of U stuff and doing a cheer. They know what a huge Y fan he is.

They made up for it by giving him a Y golf towel.

After his boss presented him with the awards and said a few words, they opened it up to anyone that wanted to say anything. He had quite a few people that stood up and said so many nice things about my Dad. There are a couple of young girls there and they said they will really miss his advice and his drawer of candy that he had stocked with licorice. What? How funny. It was fun to see this different side of him and how other people view him. He then made a little closing speech and I was super impressed because he spoke about every single coworker of his, said there name and what position they held and there was approximately 20+ people he introduced. My Dad is such a great guy. I am proud to call him my Dad. He would do anything for any of us, and has done many, many things for all of us. I am excited for him to be able to sit back and relax and enjoy golfing daily. He definitely has earned that and deserves that. So this was Wed, then on Friday we had planned as a family to go to the temple together and then to dinner to celebrate my Dad. It has been about 8 years since all of us siblings have been in the temple together. It was so great and a very special evening. Not all the spouses were able to come, but it was great to be there with my parents and brothers and sisters, what a great gift for my Dad. Then we reserved a room at Lonestar Steak house and then came back to my parents home to have cake and ice cream with the kids. We gave my Dad season tickets to Hale Theater. We wanted to give him a season golf pass, but my Mom had already given him that for Christmas. Anyways, families are so wonderful and I am so greatful for mine!!!

Milika turns 2 :(

I can't believe my baby is 2. Here is a look back at the last 2 years of her cute little life. Warning, lots of pics a head!!


2 months


3 months

4 months




6 months


10 months


12 months

Lika on her 1st birthday.


14 months

15 months

16 months

18 months


21 months

22 months

23 months old



My little princess had a great birthday! The dress up clothes she got was her favorite and she dresses up non stop.










I can't believe how fast 2 years flew by. She seems so big to me now. She is talking full sentences and she is just so much fun. All of us spoil her rotten and enjoy every minute of her!

Happy Holidays!!!

Siera with her new cousin Tayiba.

This year for Christmas Eve we reserved our church and had our family party there. Our family is getting so big and then when my brother adopted another 7 kids, we decided that this would be the best way to go. It turned out to be so great! The kids ran around and played and the boys and some of the girls enjoyed playing basketball. We had a nice ham dinner, my Mom and sister Cindy came up with fun activities for all the kids. They played fun games and had crafts for them to do. We had a gift exchange and the kids did a talent show. It was great! We loved having it at the church. We all had such a fun time!!


My sister Cindy with my girls. She is the best aunt! They love her to death!

My sister in law Cherish with a few of her kids playing games.

Me and my girls.

The kids enjoying the gift exchange.



My sister Tara and her adorable son Drew!

My sis Cindy and her son Noah. I love this picture of them!

That's all of us!


Savani enjoying the snow a few days after Christmas.



Hope everyone's holidays were great. We sure enjoyed ours and we are looking forward to a great 2010!