Family Pictures...

As you can see from my header I FINALLY got my family pictures back! I am so excited! I think they turned out really good. For as sick as Derek was that day... he is the

***ALL-STAR***

We haven't had our family pictures taken since Cameron and I were engaged! So, you can imagine how excited I was! I can't wait to be able to get them printed and hung on my wall!

All the other family pictures turn out as well! Mom, didnt want me posting any of those because she wants it to be a surprise! But just know that they all turned out!

Crying babies, attitudes, allergies and all!

We are a great looking family!!

Acting his age...

A friend of ours little boy had a birthday party on saturday. They rented out a gymnastic studio... Kids Universe. I have to admit it was brilliant. The kids had so much fun. You can imagine the time they all had being able to run, jump and climb on anything. Well, Cameron and I got there a little late but Cameron didnt take anytime in turning into a little kid. They had trampolines that you can jump and do tricks on but then you can also jump into a huge pit of foam. This is a picture of Cameron in the middle of one of his flips. I have to admit... PERFECT TIMING!!!

He just missed the Olympic Gymnastic Team! I am sure he would of brought home the gold medal. Hey Sweetie... you have the gold in our eyes!

Our True Champion

Happy Birthday Jack!!! Thanks for inviting us to a blast of a party!

More picture of Courtney and Derek to follow!!!

99 Balloons...

I just read an email that my step-mom sent me! WOW! That is the only word that can describe the message.

The last couple of days have been really kinda hard for me. I have been struggling with anger, frustration, and heartache. Feelings that I can control but caused by something I can't control.

You get into the mind set of "why me?", "why can't anything go good for me?"

You think that the trials that you are faced with are harder than anything else anyone has to deal with.

Then I get an email like this and the spirit touches me and makes me realize that I need to grow up.

Then you are knocked upside the head and forced to realize that you have it good. You have so so blessed. That these Small trials are the stepping stones to our Heavenly Father.

Here is the website to the video that I am talking about.

http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons

The faith that this father and mother has. The view they have of Heavenly Fathers plan is so awesome.

I only pray that when I am faced with a BIG trial that I will have the faith that these parents have!

It helps me realize how blessed I truly am.I need to express the gratitude for my blessings...

I am so grateful for...

Cameron, Courtney, Derek, my mom, my dad, Diane, all my brothers and sisters, Cameron's family, my health, my job, my beautiful house, my testimony, my friends, Cameron's love for me, the joy of being a mother, my Savior, The Book Of Mormon, temples, a child's smile and laughter.

I could go on and on but I don't want to bore you!!!

I hope that this post has brought to your mind the things that Heavenly Fathers has blessed you with!!

BaCk To SKooL....

I can't believe that the summer is over. School has started. Courtney went to school friday. It was her first day at Junior High. She will be going to Pleasant Grove Junior High. She has turned out to be so pretty. They have the 7th graders go a day before the rest of the school goes. I guess to help them figure out their class schedule, lockers and lunches. It helps with the hazing. That is sad if you ask me!! I never had to deal with the hazing. I am sure it was there I just never experienced it!! She didnt have to go to school today. She officially starts tomorrow. So I didnt get a picture of her in her new school clothes but I took a picture just in case I forget later! She really likes her classes. She said she is really going to love Health. I loved Health in school.

Derek is in the first grade. He is going to Mt. Mahogany in American Fork. He looks so dang cute! He was so excited to be one of the big kids. He said that he got a little tired but he survived! He loved lunch. He said he had Pepperoni Pizza and the pepperoni was exactly they way he liked it "SPICEY" His teacher is named Mrs. Pack

Conversation card... here is another one!

Here is another one of those conversations cards. I don't really have much to blog about this week. Things have slowed down, which is good. I am finally getting time to read "Breaking Dawn". I am hoping to finish it today!
So when I saw this card... I instantly started to think about my dad. My dads name is Calvin Black. He lives in Michigan, which we all hate because he is so dang far away! We all miss him!!!
The thing that comes to mind is that my dad has the BEST advice. Whenever I am struggling with something... it could be personal, spiritual, mental... it doesnt matter what the subject matter is he is amazing! I am so blessed to know that I can turn to him and he will always lead my in the right direction.
THANKS DAD...
I LOVE YOU!!
Here is a picture of my dad and two handsome brothers. This was at my brother Quinn's wedding!!!

Know it is your turn... leave something you love about your dad! I should have done this for Father's day... hey there is always next year!

Black Family Reunion '08

We had a BUSY BUSY weekend at our house. We hosted our family reunion this year at our house. We had my mom, and both my sisters family staying with us. My two brothers had places to stay at other locations. We really had a great time. We had too many things scheduled to do but that is my mom. We just had to smile through it and sometimes we did more complaining than smiling!!! You need to know my family. Here are some pictures of all the many different activities that we had planned! Be aware... photo overload!!!

The first thing Friday morning was the guys went golfing. They were excited to get away from all the commotion.

We took the kids to Discovery Park. It is one of Derek's favorite parks. We thought the kids would love to just get out and run around.

I thought this was the cuties picture!!

Derek loves to spin

Addy and Savannah

Mabry was the cutest ever. I dont think we ever heard a peep out of her. Just a smile on her face. That is all she does... SMILE

Then we decided to go to the local city pool. The Lehi Legacy Center. We couldnt get the kids out of the pool. They all loved it.

Courtney, Derek and Savannah

Grandma and most of the grandkids

Here we are all just relaxing in the water!!

Quinn took his older boys to the Park City Zipline. We thought that they would enjoy that more than the local pool!!

Quinn, Collin and Cody

After the pool and zipline we all came back to the house and had a BBQ. It was a little crazy but it was fun. Cameron got stung by a wasp 10 times. He still is having problems with his hand. You should see how swollen it is. He woke me up last night at 2 to itch it because he was tired of itching it. So I just got up and went to walmart to get him some Benadryl. I have decided that going that early is the best time at walmart! I just might have to make it a weekly visit!

The next morning was BUSY! We all had to get up and get ready. We had family pictures. I was excited about this part because we havent had a family picture (just my family) in over three years! It was much needed! I will post them when we get them back. At the pictures I was impressed with the photographer and getting everything done and making it as painless as possible. The kids did great! Derek had an allergy flare up... here is a picture of his red swollen eyes! Poor guy but he was a tropper.

Here is a picture of my mom. I love that lady! She has done so much for all us kids. This isnt the professional picture this is just a snap shot and I loved it! I dont think I have ever had just a picture of my mom. I am sure it will be something I treasure in the future!

This is the cutest picture... all the kids play ROCKBAND!!! They are naturals.

We all took a drive and went to Temple Square. My sister in law B.J. has never been down there and she really enjoyed it.

This is Kennedee telling us all to be quite so we could hear the pin drop in the Tabernacle. She is hilarious!!


Then the last activity was The Hogle Zoo.

Grandma gave all the kids different animal hats. They all loved them. Especially Cody!

How Cameron meaures up to the Gorilla's!!!


Some of the family....


Cody showing Grandma how much he loves her!

We had a great time!!!

With a family as big as ours... we all know there will be stress and arguing... because that is what my family does best. But the good thing about my family is that we get out our frustrations and then move on. Thanks everyone for a great time. Until next time!

MAMMA MIA... Girls Night

We had a blast tonight!!! I had this great idea to get a bunch of girls together and go see MAMMA MIA. Since I knew that Cameron wasn't going to go see it with me. So we got a group together (about 12) and went to the late showing. It was so much fun. It is the cutest movie!!! It really took a lot out of all of us not to stand up and dance. Not sure if many people know but it is music from ABBA. It is hilarious. I have to admit that Pierce Brosnan can't sing.. but it is so funny to watch him try!! We pretty much had the whole movie theatre to ourselves. We cant wait for the next chickflick to come out. I totally recommend getting a group of your girlfriends together and go have a dancing party! I am totally buy the soundtrack. It will make the housework so much easier!!!

Here is the picture of all of us waiting for it to start!!!