Before and After

Before...

After...

Annie got a hold of some scissors, obviously. She initially did the job on one side back in August at Dyan's house. We were able to get away with it because it looked like she was just pulling her bangs over to one side. Then, according to Annie, on Monday Hannah asked her why she just didn't cut both sides so they'd be the same. It's all about the symmetry. So Annie got the scissors and cut the other side. It wasn't horrible, but enough that it looked funny and definitely needed fixed. We went to someone in our ward, Heather, and she did a great job fixing Annie's 'do.

I guess it's time for the "Koe is the only one allowed to cut our hair" talk. Again.

But on a side note, Isn't she cute? I love her poses for the before pics.

R2R - tons of pictures

Here are a lot of Pictures from Jeremy's Grand Canyon hike. Thanks Kelli for sending them my way.

Hannah hiking out with Matt at the South Rim.

The Goodman Relatives: Aunt Diane, Dyan, Matt, Luke, Craig, Dad, Jodi, Kelli, Ryan, Nick, Uncle Jim and Jeremy

A view coming down from the North Rim

Our Family at the South Rim

Most of the crew after the hike -Back to Front - Dad, Katy Vermillion, Matt, Jeremy, Luke G., Nick W., Craig W., Ryan Alder, Jodi, Pam Sarbo, Richard Garner, Kelli, Cami Hunt, Chuck Melser, Steve Patience, Dyan, Ryan Brown, Kourntey Garner, Uncle Jim

The Whole Group at the North Rim 5:15 am at the start of the hike

Resting at Indian Gardens

Jeremy, Matt, Dad and Dyan at the North Rim

The senior citizen coming out of the South Rim -Victory! You're a stud, Dad!

Most of the group at the North Rim .

Jeremy feels good, was never too sore, therefore never did the true Grand Canyon Shuffle. He has exclaimed over and over again about how awesome the group was, just the neatest people ever. He only wishes there was more time to get to know them all more.

One of these times we're going to go up on Thursday to enjoy the North Rim a little bit and not hike until Saturday, someday...

Creation

Every once in a while I hear people wonder if there is a God or debate how the world was created. I know there is a God and that He created the world.

This picture of 5 of the most magnificent creations seals the deal for me:

Yesterday I took the kids up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to greet Jeremy as he came out of the Canyon after his 24 mile Rim to Rim hike. I so often hear adults say that they have lived in AZ their whole lives and have never seen the GC. I didn't want my kids to ever say that. I didn't want them missing out on one of the most remarkable sights in the world that is so close to home. The kids were amazed when they saw it. Hannah at her first view of the canyon's grandeur exclaimed, "It looks like someone painted that picture in front of us." She couldn't believe it was real. On our way home I asked the kids if they had fun (knowing the answer). They overwhelmingly proclaimed yes, then thanked me over and over again for taking them. Jake: " That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

We enjoyed the afternoon greeting all the hikers in our group coming out of the Bright Angel Trail. We cheered for each one joyously. As the group got bigger the cheers were louder and louder for the last few hikers in the group. As someone who has done it before, I can honestly say it is one of the most amazing feelings of accomplishment when you make it to the top.

The North Rim view (so beautiful and peaceful)

Jeremy was in great shape for the hike. He had trained hard for it. It helped that we recently moved near mountain trails and across the street from the high school bleachers. He did a lot of hills and jogging along with P90X to train. After he got out, he said he could have easily pushed it harder, but being his first time going back in 12 years, he wanted to enjoy it. He still had a spring in his step as he came out the top. He even went back down with Jake a ways to check on Dyan and my dad. Jake carried my dad's pack out the last little way as a birthday present.

Jeremy took a little detour to Ribbon Falls. It is a bit off the path and so worth it. He swam around it in, soaked his feet and enjoyed the gorgeous falls. He said he felt like a new man after that and was ready to trek on.

Jeremy, Matt, Dad and Dyan on the North Rim. They waited until it was too dark to take the North Rim picture, so you can't see the Canyon in the background, but don't the hikers look great? My dad celebrated his 65th Birthday in the Canyon hiking. I'm much impressed. He even beat his time from last year by a whole hour!

Our family after Jeremy got out. Way to go Daddy. The kids were so impressed with how far their daddy went.

By the way, Jeremy already has the itch to go back, but to push himself to see how fast he can do it.

Forever

Tuesday I was blessed to escort Cheramie Rahaim Hawkins through the temple. We were roommates in New Orleans and have stayed good friends over the years. She was baptized about 3 weeks after I left N.O. by Cory Hawkins who was in my singles ward. They dated for a time and then went their separate ways.

Fast forward about 10 years and they reconnected. They were married in Vegas two years ago and had an adorable little boy Kai a year ago.

Cheramie chose to go through the Mesa Temple on Tuesday to be endowed and then sealed to her husband and son for time and all eternity.

It was a beautiful experience and one I will never forget. I was a bit nervous to be her escort and to help her through the whole process, but lucky for me Cheramie is so mature and was so prepared for the temple. I loved hearing the counsel the temple matron gave her as I listened in so intently thinking certainly I was learning more than Cheramie.

The sealing was beautiful. I have never seen a child be sealed to his parents before and it was priceless!

I am so happy for her and her friendship over the years.

Thank you, Cheramie, for letting me be a part of a beautiful evening.

Cory, Kai and Cheramie

Me and Cheramie

Cory's family - they were all there to support Cory and Cheramie, as well as my parents and Dyan (who are not pictured)

This is how I know...

This is how I know I'm pregnant, besides the early pregnancy test at 3 1/2 weeks and two ultrasounds...

1. I'm super forgetful, worse than usual

2. I'm extremely emotional. But my reasons for crying seem so legit to me -commercials, Disney channel, unintentional mean looks... you get the idea.

3. I've become incredibly clumsy. Yesterday at the grocery store I think I dropped everything in sight. Nothing like buying fresh bagels you dropped on the floor at the store.

4. I have now begun leaving the washer lid up more often than not (see #1). It's really annoying to go to change the laundry just to realize I have once again forgotten to close the lid.

5. I have nothing to wear. I'm kinda in the awkward phase-14 weeks, but look like 20. The other day I got dressed in sweat shorts and a t-shirt ready to go to the library, but Annie wouldn't have a thing to do with that. She made me change out of my pajamas and into nice clothes, so I stuffed myself into my only pair of shorts I haven't washed for a while. Once they get visibly dirty, then I'm dead meat.

6. I get nauseated at gross stuff. For instance, today Annie decided to make a pb&j. She made it herself, which I love, then insisted on adding bologna to it. Then she proceeded to devour the whole thing. Disgusting, right? That would have made me sick anyway, I just needed a reason to write about it - both the fact that she can make her own sandwiches and the bologna part.

This one's for you Dad

I know a lot of my posts have been about Jake lately, but some things just need to be documented....

A little history - whenever the boys in the Goodman family talk about needing a cup for baseball, my dad picks up a sunflower seed shell and hands it to them. hahaha

Today as Jake and Abby were eating pistachios, out of the blue, Jake hands me a pistachio shell and says, "Here Mom, I got you a cup."

"What?! Jake, cups are just for boys, girls don't need them, they don't have the same parts." I thought my boy understood anatomy a little better than that.

Then he told me, "Well that's what Grandpa always says."

"Yeah, I know, only to the boys."

It might be nearing the time Jeremy has the talk with him, not because he's asking about stuff, though he has wondered how the baby got in my tummy, but to teach him that girls and boys are made so very differently.

Visitors

We had our first batch of visitors yesterday (if you don't count the Morris' who came by about 2 hours after we arrived in PV). Anyway, my mom and dad had been planning on coming up. And boy, oh boy, were the Platt's excited. Then I heard they were bringing Jay with them, then it became Dyan, Jay and Kate. When the dust finally settled, we had Mom, Dad, Matt, Dyan, Jay, Kate, Joe, Cassie, Keelie, and Hadlie. It was a full house and so so so much fun!

I gave them the grand tour, then we shot the breeze and ate some Panda Express. Delightful. We took bets on how long Mom and Dad would hang around, since their rule is they only have to stay for as long as it took them to travel. Lucky for us, they hit some construction and detours coming up, so we had them a little while longer. Haha. It really was a fun visit.

After Mom, Dad and Matt left, we got a little adventurous. We headed on a drive over to Watson Lake. We hiked down to the lake and enjoyed some beautiful scenery, a few crawdads and about six million ants.

It was such a fun day. My kids have had a few friends to play with here and there, but Saturday was a day FULL of fun and action. Thanks to all who came up.

I hope we have many, many more guests. We have a spare room with a bed in it - hint, hint to my 5 readers:)