And the Winner is...

Friday night Natalie played her last soccer game for the season. They got to do it under the lights, it was pretty kool. It also ended up being a really good game. It went into a shoot out and Natalie scored the first of 2 goals for the win! Way to go Natalie! It was fun to watch her play and Mark was excited to get an after game with Thomas, Harrison and Natalie.

This Saturday was The Grammy Awards! It’s a wonderful tradition that Grandma and Grandpa Toth started in 2000. They highlight the accomplishments of each grandchild in the past year and then present them with a trophy. It was awesome to see the progress that everyone had made and the goals that where reached. There were recognitions like finding eternal companions, scoring goals in important games and making dinner. I even got mentioned and presented with a trophy. As they mentioned some of the things that I have accomplished this year it was crazy to think how quickly I’m growing up. I’ve never taken a look at my accomplishments in a year and this year I’ve done a lot of important things. It was nice to be reminded that I am moving forward. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for keeping us on track and continuing to encourage us and love us! You are both great examples!

Music: a sound perceived as pleasingly harmonious.

When I was a kid I hated Tuesdays because that was piano lesson day. Music isn't my thing and it never has been. I'll dance to any kind of music, anywhere but when it comes to making music I struggle. I took piano lessons for 8 years and I barely got to the point where I could play some Hymns. I admit that I could have worked a lot harder but I thought that if I practiced just as much as my siblings I should be as good as them but that wasn't the case. My teacher even suggested that we go back a level! And having my brother that was 2 years younger than me give me his old books wasn't very encouraging. Music has always been very important in my life and I think that part of that comes because I struggled so much with it. I loved hearing my siblings play and sing. I remember when my sisters would be at the piano late at night singing together. I would sneak into the cubby in my closet just so I could hear them better. And although it was hard for me to handle the fact that Braden was better than me, I loved when he got the erg to play some William Joseph. I've appreciated their talents so much! 

Music is such an amazing thing. It does so much. When I think of some my best friends and this past year and I think of sitting in front of one of three piano's with a mixture of Kait, Jodi, James, Ryan, Mark and I sitting around it. Sometimes we were even lucky enough to throw in a guitar. Those where the good times!

Right now I'm sitting in the Institute building listening to my husband play the piano. It's probably one of my favorite things to do not just because he's good at it but because he loves it so much. It's been killing him that we don't have a piano or even access to one. Finally this weekend he had it, so we made arrangements to come here... thank you Kevin! We've been here for over an hour already and there are no signs of him slowing down. It honestly amazes me that he can sit at a piano with no notes in front of him and play MUSIC! He is such a talented, creative man and I appreciate it so much! So thank you Colleen for helping him develop that talent. It excites me to think that our kids will grow up sitting on Dad's lap watching him play their favorite song, or sitting on the bench next to him while they both excited play the duet they created. Doesn't that sound good?! 3 months ago today Mark and I where sealed for time and all eternity and we more than willingly jumped into this refiners fire called marriage. It's been the best 3 months of my life. Who knew I could love so much? Who knew I had so much to learn? I'm so excited to live life with him! It will be great!

I love him and believe it or not he loves me too:)

Yay for Family!

This weekend Braden got ordained as an Elder. Congratulations Braden! We are so proud of you and your eagerness to accept those responsibilities from the Lord. Of course this meant that we got to make another trip out to Cardston and the ranch. It was silly of me to think that once we got married we would save money on gas. I feel like we make the trip home just as much as before but really I'm not complaining(other than about the ridiculous gas prices), we love going home!

Friday was Patrick and Christina Foote's wedding reception. Mark served with Patrick in the Elders Quorum presidency in Parkside and they really enjoyed each other so it was good to see them on such an exciting day. The reception was in Magrath so we headed straight to Cardston and stayed at the Drew's house. Saturday we went to the temple and did a session. That night Emily and Jones made us cream puffs and then Lauren and Cody dropped off Ryenn for us to babysit. It was so much fun! We love that little girl a lot. She was a little shy with everyone at first but it was exciting to see that she recognized me. She's really starting to like Mark instead of being so scared of him like she used to be. They had a good time together.

Ryenn loved playing the piano with Mark. It was good cuz Ry isn't
strong enough to actually press the keys so we just got to enjoy Mark playing.

We headed out to the ranch when she started to get sleepy. We arrived just in time to help move in Mom and Dad's new fridge and stove. It was fun to be with everyone but it was a late night for all and then an early morning preparing for Sunday dinner. Sunday was exciting! During Relief Society/Priesthood Mountain View took a ward picture and I was excited that Mark and I got to be apart of that. After church was the ordination and then it was home to eat! As usual it was delicious! We even celebrated mine and Marks birthday.

Taking the old fridge downstairs for Lindsey and Jeff
when they come.

The "new" fridge and stove!

Grandad was sure that Ryenn was enjoying the
big bites just like he was. It was so good though!

We love our families very much and we love their hospitality! Thank you all for lighting up our lives!

Doughnuts, Deuces and Homemade Dinner

Ryenn is Mallery's biggest fan!
She loves that goofy girl.

 That sums up our Monday. Mark and I were both excited to have a holiday. After church we headed out to Cardston and spent Sunday evening with the Drew's. Monday we headed out to The Ranch for some doughnuts and mom's pancakes for breakfast. Cody, Lauren and Ryenn were there and it was so fun to be with everyone. Mark and I were determined to go to Waterton that day so after a little prodding we got everyone (minus Dad and Cody) in the van and headed to the mountains. We took along with us a couple bikes which took up a couple seats in the van leaving Mallery to the floor and me on Marks lap. Mikhail had hurt his foot and wasn't exactly happy that he had to be drug along with us...until he got there then he didn't want to leave. Mallery and Mom took the bikes on the new bike trail part of the way and then Mark and I switched them. On our way into the town site we stopped at the Visitor Center to visit Blandine.
I worked with Blandine a couple summers ago when I worked at the Visitor Center and have loved that lady ever since. She is the koolest! She is about 57 years old, she was born and raised in France and she loves hiking, biking and running. When I worked with her she would often run up the Cameron Lake road and back down the Carthew-Alderson trail...BEFORE WORK! (For those of you who don't know, the road up to Cameron Lake is 16km and the Carthew-Alderson trail is a hike that usually takes about 8hrs) She is an incredible person. Though she is an amazing athlete and I admire her abilities, the thing that I loved the most was her faith. She is not a member of any religion but she loves her Father in Heaven and she understands a lot of what Christ teaches. She taught me a lot that summer and I look up to her so it was so good to see her again! I also loved introducing her to Mark.
After our visit we took off to the tennis courts and I snapped these beauties! It was a lot of fun!

Mom! Ha!

Mikhail had a hard time moving around.
This was after he had missed a ball, I think Mark
was trying to make him feel better.

Lauren is a babe no matter what she is doing.

And this is My Man! Definitely the best tennis player there.
I love Mikhail's face. So excited.

It was so much fun to play with everyone. We played singles for a little bit and then realized it was way too much work so we paired up and played a couple games. After we went back to The Ranch just in time for it to start pouring! Mom made breadsticks to go with spaghetti and caesar salad. It was soo good! We also got to enjoy Ryenn entertaining us with her noises and adorableness. All in all it was a great day! Mark and I drove home in the pouring rain which is always a kool feeling. Thank you family for having so much fun with us! We love you!

And Linds and Jeff we can't wait for you to join us!

-Kami