The Spirit of Elijah

I had such a sweet experience the other morning as I was working out and then later in the morning as I was running through the song we were going to sing for Anna's baptism.  I've been trying to listen to conference talks or uplifting music as I workout in the morning it starts my day off on the right foot.   Friday I was doing just that.  When I started thinking of Anna. She has told me latley that what she hopes to be is a singer song writer when she gets older.  I really hadn't thought much of that comment as she is only 8 and these choices come and go.  But as I was listening Friday morning to my music it hit me so strongly that Anna actually has a heritage of music and included in that are some song writers.  I came home and wanted to share with my kids the rich heritage that they do have.  The desire to know these people I was telling my children about was so strong.  We finished up breakfast and The girls were delivered to school.  And I started practicing the primary song baptism that Ryan and I would be singing for Anna's baptism.  As I listened to this song I could feel aunt Mabel with me.  I could feel how happy she was that her song would be sung at her nieces baptism and that it would bring the spirit to such an important event.  I wanted again to know more about her.  I believe this is what the spirit of Elijah is and feels like.  I'm so grateful for the beautiful heritage that we have and want so much to share that with my children.  Maybe this was an experience just for me.  But I felt impressed to share it as it meant so much to me.  I haven't found a lot of time to work on family history but I'm trying to take small steps and even in that I feel like I am being blessed. 

tbsunday????

Again, wish I could crop these.   I loved looking at these side by side.  2 years apart.  Alyssa is still wearing the beautiful dress you made for her... It is her favorite. I happen to have chosen the same sweater to wear , Ryan has lost about 30 pounds, Joshua and Peter have grown a mile and Anna looks much more grown up too. Just kind of fun to compare.  

Anna's baptism

I think this picture is so great!  We have all of the cousins that were there except the Young's AJ.  He was too fussy. That's a lot of cousins!  The program was beautiful.  Anna had asked only kids to participate.  Besides Ryan and I sang the musical number.  Alyssa played the music while Anna got dressed and for the closing song.  Hannah led the music, Sarah Young have the closing prayer, and Rachel gave the most beautiful talk on baptism.  There was a sweet spirit there and we loved it.  With the Hansens blessing their baby this weekend too it was such a beautiful family time.  We are so blessed to have such good family that we also call our friends.  

Joshua is the Best!!

This kid is making me happy latley.  He always has some kind of costume or gear on !  We are truly enjoying the no nap.  It gives us time to run errands and be together!!

Happy Birthday Anna

We celebrated Anna's birthday last weekend.  This is a birthday party year but I have not been in the mood to throw parties so the kids have been able to choose an activity they want to do as a family and they can invite one friends to come.  Anna decided she wanted to go swimming.  And she invited her friend Kalee!  We were planning on going to the Surf n' swim in Layton.  But when we got there it was closed.  So we headed to Bountiful.  We had a great time!  We came home after for pizza and cake and ice cream which this year is the birthday tradition.  Happy Birthday Anna.  We are excited for her Baptism on Saturday.  She had her interview with the Bishop today and is all prepared and ready!!

More Baseball

Peters team are called the Diamond Backs.  He has really been loving it.  The night before he lays out his uniform and then insists on wearing it all day!  Gotta love the enthusiasm!!

Wax Museum

I wish I could crop a picture on my phone, if I can, I don't know how.  This will give you the idea.  The 4th grade had an activity called wax museum connected with their Utah History studies.  Alyssa played the part of Alice Merrill Horne who played an integral part in establishing the first art institute in the United States.  Each of the students dressed as their chosen person from history.  They had memorized a paragraph describing who they were.  They lined the walls of the gym and families, and students from other grades were invited to come.  They each had a dot drawn on paper in front of them.  As parents and students walked by they would press the paper dot and that would wake up the wax figure and they would recite their paragraph and freeze again.  Pretty fun!  Alyssa loved it!! 

Constantly Trying to Organize

This is my newest attempt at staying organized in my laundry room.  1 1/2 weeks down.  So far, so good.  Hopefully it will preserve the life of our shoes!!

Happy Birthday Ryan!! 36

I was gone almost the whole day yesterday

With a family history class, play practice, and my ear peircing date with Anna.  Ryan picked up the slack and then enjoyed time with his boys.  They are really loving their baseball time. 

Here are also a few more pictures if Anna.

Just a few pictures I'm loving right now!

Ryan right before the Messiah concert April 19, 2014.  We took a few hours before the concert to celebrate out anniversary.  We went to eat, walked around Salt Lake and sat on the temple grounds for a but since we didn't have time to attend the temple.  And I just think Ryan looks super cute in this picture.  His smile makes me smile.

Loving this one of the cousins all lined up waiting to dish up Easter dinner and being as goofy as ever!!  That's Nathan and Claire girl in the background.

And here is sweet Joshua feeling as groovy as ever.  He earned enough potty points to wear this batman shirt we bought him as an incentive and he discovered his sunglasses he got for Easter match.  He is more batman than ever now and he's living it!!  Now to earn the batman underwear.  

I Feel Like Blogging...

I decided today that I feel like blogging...
Ryan is always the most wonderful example of journaling, blogging, drawing, picture taking, etc...recording his thoughts and ideas in many different ways.  He loves it it's relaxing and enjoyable for him.  I however add it to my list of chores to be done.  It could be because even as I write this very post.  The girls have come in to tell about what they have been up to, and to report that they are now bored.  Ryan and I shewed them away encouraging them to go play a game together.  Joshua has come in to report that he was bored I quickly took care of that by offering them all popcicles only to later have Joshua come in with his dripping all over.  So I promptly jumped up to put it in a cup and wipe up the mess he had made.  Just to discover that he had an accident in his potty training pants and some of it had come out on the floor.  And the 1 game that the kids had gotten out had turned into 5 and scattered all over the living room floor, not to mention the fact that I haven't seen Peter in the last bit and am feeling like I should probably check up him.

Now I'm not so sure I still feel like blogging but must post a few pictures for Mom & Dad's sake.  My Boys have become best friends the last little bit.  Love it!! And they are getting boy time with Dad while the girls and I are at Play Practice.

Easter Dresses and Piano Recitals (wish I'd cropped these pictures, but the two ladies in the back are the girls piano teachers.  The one in green teaches Anna and the one in blue is Alyssa's teacher.)

And I am finally feeling healthy again.  Yay!!

Happy New Year

Ryan sent this out to those on his E-mail list but I didn't have everyone I wanted on mine.  So I thought making it a blog post would be easiest!  So thanks Ryan.  

Did anyone else notice that year that just flew by? Rather than a traditional holiday greeting card from our family we’re going paperless. Yes, it is a little less tactile and sentimental, but it’s creative nonetheless. It’s a photoblog kept through the entire year; posting one picture for each day. It shows some of the fun things we been able to do, people and places we’ve seen,  and how the kids are growing. We hope you enjoy. We’d love to hear or see comments about your favorite posts.

http://snarrlyfoto.blogspot.com/

(click on the different viewing options in the top left of the screen when viewing on your laptop or tablet to see more photos at once)

2013 seems to have left as soon as it arrived. It came with its unique challenges, but it also provided for some special opportunities for our Snarrly clan. Here are a few of the highlights:

• We went to Lagoon! again and again and again again. The season pass was a great idea for our family. Best overall ride for our family was a silky smooth ride and peppy beach tunes of Bambora.

• Mom and the girls completed their first triathlon! It was a cloudy day for a race, but we enjoyed perfect conditions outdoors, and a fun post race celebration at a restaurant and the movies with the family.

• Ryan finished the Ogden marathon once again, this time in the rain. It sounds miserable, but it was actually a delightful way to spend the morning and to see all the training pay off.

• Alyssa continued her piano and Anna is catching up quickly. Peter enjoyed playing a season of teeball, and Joshua cheered them all on from the sidelines (He can’t wait to join in).

• We bounced our way through the summer heat on a new trampoline and traded in our annual camping outing for a series of starlit slumbers out in the backyard.

• Ryan’s work for Destination Homes continued with several grand openings through the year which ended with a newly launched master-planned community in west Kaysville. He was also able to stay busy with some freelance and talent work on the side. Yes, that was him playing that singing baseball coach on television. His freelance work most notably ended with reproducing canvas prints of his Christus painting that hangs in our entry way. It is so fun to share his art in this way. You can own one too just in case you’re wondering (shameless plug), send us a note and we’ll connect you with a print for your home or buy one from the online store: http://snarrlyillustration.bigcartel.com/

• Alyssa and Anna were stars on the stage in Syracuse City’s production of Annie this year. Anna stole our hearts with her portrayal of orphan Molly.

• Peter is loving Kindergarten, everyone loves his crazy blonde hair, Anna is a reading machine in the 2nd grade, and Alyssa is leading the way in the 4th grade. Joshua has got a handle on making us laugh or pulling our hair out or something in between.

• Becky got a new calling in the Young Women's as the second counselor. She loves it, and she'll be able to work wonders with all the babysitters in the neighborhood.

• Ryan's involvement in the Tabernacle choir has kept him very busy. From touring the Midwest this summer, wishing happy birthday to each in the First Presidency, to singing with music legends, the year has been full of exciting events. His favorite was having Becky's sister Tammy be a part of the spring CD recording.

• Becky led a group of 'Hot Mamas' in the top of Utah half marathon this fall. She was a great cheerleader for many who had never ran the distance before. Just prior to that she joined Ryan in a midnight half-marathon ending in Farmington. We prefer the early morning races as opposed to the middle of the night sort.

• Ryan joined Becky exercising at the gym this fall. To his surprise he actually enjoys going, and he's now in need of new clothes after dropping 25 pounds.

• The kids are more tech savvy these days having mastered the Apple TV. They've loved catching up on all things Scooby Doo, My Little Pony, and Phineas & Ferb.

• We say Yes to a lot of opportunities, but this fall we found ourselves needing to say no. We said no to some community theater, participating in Savior of the World again, and a trip to Perú. There is a time and a season for everything and we've been blessed to have more time together as a family as a result.

We’re blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in our lives, and wish you and yours a most wonderful and prosperous 2014!

The Snarr's 

Ryan, Becky, Alyssa, Anna, Peter, & Joshua