What a Great Day!

Just a quick note...I have had a really great and spiritual day. My testimony was strengthened today by the talks in Sacrament Meeting on the gift of the Holy Ghost and personal revelation. One speaker reminded me to choose the BEST out of all that is good out there!

In Sunday School, I was reminded of the Power of the Atonement. We can do a lot of good "on our own" but Christ is where perfection and healing and true happiness come from.

Then the fireside tonight was fabulous! It was done by a couple who had served as Mission Presidents in the Arizona Tempe Mission. They were so full of the Spirit! I was touched by the power of testimony...what a power!

And of course, my cute niece Josilyn's 3rd birthday party was the icing on the cake!

It's a great day!


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Madyson's Book! Birth to 10 Years old...

My Happy 4 Year Old!!

So, Karter has known that I was working on a storybook for him about the first 4 years of his life, and he has been very anxious to have it published and HERE!

(Mady has been quite anxious as well!) I'll post hers too...

So on Friday both Madyson's and Karter's 12x12 books arrived! Karter's immediately disappeared--he has looked at it over and over. It is already sporting his fingerprints...I asked if I could take it to show some of my friends, and he cried! So I left it home with him. I will have to get my own copy, I believe!

I love the magic of storybooking with Heritage Makers! Don't you love how cute it is!

School's ON!

School has started and life is again "organized." (In a chaotic sort of way.)

Arielle cheered at her first game this past weekend. Dixie won 21-3 over Springville, so that was happy!

Mekenze is in heaven now that dance has started full force. Auditions for the Christmas show were yesterday--she was gone all day long, which I'm sure made her day!

Curtis is doing dance still (mostly musical theater) but he also has tried out for the Washington County Football league. We're hoping we can make both work!

I'll have to post dance and football pictures when I get them, but I have some fun cheer photos! (I can't wait to start the Cheer Storybook, 2008-9!) The Dixie Cheerleaders attended cheer camp at Utah State College the week before school started and they won top banana! Top team! High honors! Great job girls!

Mady loves school. She has already missed two days--flu or something--and today she is working on the work she missed. She is also dancing, but can't wait to try basketball this year...

And Karter...he is wishing he was 5 so he could go to school. We are doing a Preschool of sorts with all the St. George pre-school aged cousins. Even baby Iyrlend came to our one and only class so far! We did art and ABC's and music and storytime and lunch. Good times!

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Fishlake Family Reunion

We are going camping at Fishlake for our family reunion this weekend. It is the one tradition that seems to continue going forward in the Gene Gates family, thanks largely to Matt and Jenn and Chevia!

I am excited. I made these personalized playing cards with pictures and memories from past campouts at Fishlake and Gooseberry (Salina Canyon) Utah. I can't wait to show them to everyone and to play some fun card games while we are there!

4th of July

We always have such a great time on the 4th of July! We look forward to it almost as much as we do Christmas!

First thing in the morning, Curtis goes with the scouts to put up flags. I am so thankful to the scouting program that teaches our boys respect for this amazing country. Then we go to Denny's for a yummy breakfast! After a couple of really hot hours at the Vernon Worthen park, we just chill at home until it's time for the Colgate Country Showdown. This year Mekenze's friend Delaney Westfall won it! It was so fun!

Fireworks always follow--a great way to finish up the day!

God Bless America!

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Look at my Happy Father's Day book

OK, I can show it off now cuz it's not a secret anymore! The kids and I made Dave a cute, cute book for Father's Day. Check it out!

A Few of My Why's

Summer is just as busy as any other time of the year at the Mac Home! Last week Mekenze and Curtis spent 8 hours a day, Monday thru Friday at a Diamond Talent Triple Threat intensive musical theater workshop. They absolutely love it!

Madyson had her workshop this past week. I realized as I watched her last day of class--She has grown up so much! When I figure out how to download video, I will post it. I videoed it instead of still pics cuz Dave couldn't come.

Arielle is finally home after visiting Davi and Chevia for 10 days. Davi took pictures of Arielle--they are so gorgeous! Next month she will begin cheer...how exciting!

Opportunities like this are the reasons I do the things I do--the craziness is all for a reason! Watching my kids perform is what drives me!

Summer Fun

Craziness in the water can sure be fun! This weekend we were invited by Dave's Isagenix partner/mentor/best friend Lenny to go boating at Sand Hollow Reservoir/Quail Creek. He rented a boat and a wave runner and we drove about20 mnutes (or less even) to this beautiful oasis for a couple of fun hours in the sun!

Not all of our family was able to go. Curtis was at Scout Camp (still--a whole week long!) and Mekenze was at a friend's party. I stayed in the boat behind the camera, just enjoying the ride, but here a some photos of the rest of us!

This is going to make a fun book!~

Summer Time!

I remember summertime when I was growing up. Each of us (7 kids all together) would take turns going to stay with Grandma Leany. It was the highlight of the summer! Of course the best part was when it was my turn, but taking a close second was when "my annoying brothers" would have their turns! Sometimes they even went together-- And that was heaven! The house was quiet and somewhat sane with just the "girls" at home (and Zach, the perfectly cute baby brother who could do no wrong).

I asked Mom one time if she didn't just love when some of the kids (I was eluding especially to Matt and Tim) were gone. Life had to be easier for her! Imagine how shocked I was when she told me that she missed them and couldn't wait until they came home!

Well, now I am a mom. It is summer. Last week, Curtis went camping with his friend for a couple of days and Arielle left a day later to stay with her cousin, Chevia (Matt's daughter). Now that Curtis is home, he and Mekenze have been gone from 9-5 all week long doing a Triple Threat intensive musical theater workshop. Arielle is still gone--now staying at my sister Davi's house--and will most likely be gone another week! Curtis goes to scout camp all next week, then Mady starts Triple Threat...then Girls' Camp and Youth Conference....Can I just tell you that I MISS MY KIDS! I understand how Mom felt!

I'm sure that after June is over and all the individual travels and workshops are over, chaos will return and I will be praying for my turn to leave, but it does feel good to know that I do have the ability to miss my kids, and that my mom probably really missed me! She wasn't "just saying..."

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Hey! So I decided to join the blog party! Everyone's doin' it! ha ha

Actually, the one that finally got me started was my Sister in law Bret and her husband--my brother--Zach. They have the cutest little blogspot with sweet pictures of her pregnant self and a 3-D picture of their baby to be. (Oh, and Zach has a sexy photo too, not to be left out...) She is the cutest pregnant person!

In fact, I have lots of cute pregnant sisters (or recent new mom sisters). I am posting a few pics of my new neice, Graeci, and even newer nephew, Beckham. Too bad I was done having babies about 4 years ago--well, probably not too bad. I am happy to hold these sweet things and then give them back!

My own cute ones, not to leave them out, are now 16, 14, 12, 10 in a week and a half, and 4. They sure do keep me hoppin'! I am posting a picture of them too so that they feel the love.