Fun times!

(Sorry these are in random order!! Gotta get better at this!)

Taylor, Mark and Ashley "snuggling" at the hotel in Lakeside!

Taylor smiling "pretty" with his bloody mouth!

This past weekend we went up to Lakeside (North. AZ in the white mtns.) where it is cool!! The occasion was to witness and celebrate my niece, Whitney's wedding.She and Michael were married in the Snowflake temple. Everything was beautiful, especially the bride!

As bonus, we got a hotel and stayed up there for two days, rather than sprinting up there and back in one day. Loved, loved, loved the weather! Mark and Ashley went too, so in between the wedding in the morning, and the reception in the evening we napped a bit, and played a little at the bowling alley!

FYI-Ash won with a her high score of 129!!! Taylor lost - but it was close: score of 43

Ashley getting a little cocky with that high score of hers!!!

Whitney and Michael coming out of the temple after their sealing! AAAAHHHHH! How cute!

On Monday, Taylor had his wisdom teeth out in preparation for mission papers. Here he is as the assistants are walking him out to the car. He video-ed himself many times after this, but this gives a little taste of his drug-i-ness!

Happy 24th of July, and talks in church!

What up, everyone?

Just thought I'd put some super duper thoughts out there.

I have to talk in church on Sunday, (thank you very not much, Mark!!), and it is on, ta da dadum--- pioneers!! Shock and awe, you say!! Pioneers, in July, two days after the 24th??? How clever Mark is!

But I digress- so he wants me to somehow weave in some things I've learned from being a "Ma" on the trek into the topic. Like I can now speak as an expert for the early pioneers, having deprived myself of food, house, a good bed, and most of all a flushing toilet!!! (Ok, maybe I can speak a little like one. . . ). 

I struggle with this. 

 What more can I say that hasn't been said? What twist or new or different turn can I take that will lift and inspire those who will be listening (which will not be a ton, seeing as half the ward will be gone!). 

We all know that the early pioneers SACRIFICED, SACRIFICED, SACRIFICED for their faith. Many sacrificed the ultimate price for their faith. We know that! Don't you already know that?? And that we should liken their sacrifices to our lives now?? Who hasn't heard this? We all know and believe that we should and can follow their fine examples and give our all to the cause of the gospel, our God, our religion, our families.(What is that title of liberty thingy??) 

 So what more can I say?Maybe because I was so involved for so long beforehand, with the trek, but, personally, I am not in the mood anymore, for awhile!!! 

Now, don't get me wrong, I love, love, love the pioneers, and all the stories. 

Heck, Sam's great-great-great grandfather died in the Willie Handcart company. 

And my  great grandfather came over from Australia with his family at the age of 5--and we have a wonderful faith promoting story- about how he was lost, and the company needed to move on, and his mother wouldn't leave without him, so they left her with her trunk and then they looked back and she was praying, so they felt guilty leaving her, so came back for her, and she then told them exactly where to go to find him and they looked and here he came walking toward them and then he showed them where he spent the night, on a big rock, and all around it were the searchers footprints, AND wild animal prints! 

I have read many many of these same types of stories. And, of course, the horribly sad, and unbearable ones where everyone dies in their sleep from the cold!!

But, my point is, IT'S ALL BEEN SAID BEFORE!! And before and before and before!!! And recently, before!!! I don't know what more to say!!!

Maybe I will just stand up and say, "Do as the pioneers did. Have faith. Sacrifice. Trust in God. And all will be well in Zion, even if we should die!!" 

What do you say? Is it a hit of a talk??? (at least it is short!! And kinda sweet!!)

 

Oh, and by the way, Happy 24th of July - Pioneer Day- (to those who have never heard about it! It's a great story!!!) 

Six days and counting!! Sam and I have stuck with it for six days now. Our diet that is. It's not a really fun one, I might add, but boy I think it's doing the trick!!! 

Now if I can really and truly convince myself that good is bad and bad is good (taste that is!!) I'll be doing fine!!!

It has made all the difference to have Sam on board and more committed to it than me! Those first three days especially--all he would've had to say is, "let's bag this stinken diet" and I would've wrapped my loving arms around him and told him he was the sun, moon and the stars!!! Now, let's eat! 

It's getting a little bit easier at turning down chocolate, cookies, candy, graham crackers with frosting, bread, chips, did I say chocolate?? 

 No, I lie!! But my resolve must be getting stronger!!!

So time marches on! Glory glory hallalujah!!! (funny that that's what's playing on the player right now!!! And they say music doesn't influence us!!).

Days gone by!

Sam and I started a diet today. Ok, so I have had two meals on this diet so far.
Breakfast consisted of 2 eggs. Lunch was 3 cups of lettuce and 1 cup of "other" approved vegies along with a chicken breast cut up in the salad. Oh, and I am allowed crystal light type drink. We get the same for dinner. This is for the first 3 days. No breads, starches, sugar, fruits even. I don't know why not. It just says it on my papers. After the first 3 days there are a "little" more items added to your menu. I got this diet from one of our last Relief Society Enrichments. I don't even know what it's called. But we are committed to it, Sam and I! Together!! Gosh darn it!
I have been meaning to update my blog for, what, 2 weeks now?Thanks to this diet, I am now doing it. What, you may ask has dieting got to do with updating my blog???? Well, it is 3:04 pm. and I am starving!! Not in the Africa, drought, and third world country starving (although try telling my stomach that!!), but in the -"What the freak am I doing, and I want chocolate, cookies, no, no, no, I will not give into it!!! I can do hard things! I can do hard things!! I can do things. I can do. . . . I can. I can. I can!
So in order to keep my mind, and more importantly, my hands, busy--I am posting a new blog, and it is about days gone by.
Starting with where I left off in my last blog!! So here it goes. I did the pictures backward so we will go with most current and work back!!
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Over fourth of July weekend, we had our Bi -annual (or every two years that is!) Dahl Reunion.
We had it up at Hawley Lake on the Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mtns. of Az. It was gorgeous. It was John and Mylie's (Sam's brother and wife) turn to plan it, and this is a place they have come for years for Mylie's side of the family. They have cabins you can rent, and we had 3, right next to each other.

                                    Sam, John and Emily early in the morning, fishing.

Not too shabby scenery here!! This was right outside our cabins, looking out.

Blast off!!!

Ok, so here is where the backwardness loses the affectiveness of the pics. But we had a rocket contest on the 4th of July. We were paired up to "build" our rockets. Then shot them off with a pressurized contraption, John built. (You use 2 liter pop bottles and fill them about 1/2 full)

It was a BLAST!! (get it???). It really was though!!!

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

The crowds went wild!!!!!!

The lovely couple! (Paula and Mark with their "baby")

Sam and Ashley "building" their rocket! (Some nepotism going on here-their names were drawn as a pair!)

Actually, these sneaky guys are the ones who rigged it so they could be together!! Matching shirts and all!!! (Taylor and Coy!)

Dad Dahl and Phyllis. Whooping it up on the 4th of July!!!

Talent show night brought us the Dahl Brothers (or the Dahl Four!) singing "I'm a mormon boy". Reliving their childhoods, when their mom had them sing this in Sacrament meeting (in "days gone by"!!)

Some sick ritual the Dahls participate in! (Sam, Jon, and Coy playing their nose flutes, and the flags on the hats-- only "The Shadow" knows!!!). OK, let's just call it what it is--they are bizarre!

So to sum it all up, Dahl Reunion 2009--Hawley Lake, AZ--a great time was had by all. And we missed those of you that were serving the Lord (Tanner, Michael, Matthew), couldn't get off work, or otherwise occupied. Don't take this too harshly, BUT, it was your loss!! (not ours!!) J/K We really did miss all you guys that weren't there!!!

____________________________________________________________________

So working backwards!!

I don't have any pics to prove it-- but on July 1st--the day before we left for the reunion--I, Ashley, Allie, Heather (my niece), Paula (my sister in law), Heidi and Natalie (my nieces from Utah) all went to see. . . . . W-I-C-K-E-D!!!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heidi and Natalie flew in that day and Paula had driven in from Cali the night before. To preparolize ourselves most properly-- Paula treated us all to a pedicure. So toes glamified, we all headed off for a night o funsy. (Check Ashley's blog-she has actual proof we were there!!!)
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On June 27th-- we had a Trek reunion with our "family" combined with the other "families" from Encinas Ward. Thanks to Oliver and Fina, we had an awesome Luau--with great food, and the best show, put on by her Tausala dance group. Only 3 of our 10 kids were able to come. We missed our "kiddos"! But we're glad Nick, and Alexis, and Tristan were there!!

Me (Ma Dahl, Emerald (my bff and laurel, and Ma Keil!!). AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! SO PRECIOUS!!!!

During the show, they had us come up and learn to hula with them!

Of course, the guys were "taught" too!! Love how Mark Early is waaayyy into it, second from right!!! Good job, Pa Early!!

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That about wraps up what I've been doing for the past 3 weeks. Due to more time on my hands, (and stomach!), stay tuned. More often. More details. You may learn things about me you wish you never knew!!

And remember, diets and blogging are a lovely pair!!

I think I'll go scrub the toilets or something, now!

Life in the Fast Lane!

So, I made it through.

I know, I know, no one feels too terribly bad for me.

I went on the trek--aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, poor thing, I know you are thinking. As you should!

But then, I add on that the day after we got back, Sam and I left for Seattle, for our Alaskan cruise. @%^$&*!#%@8#!!! Now don't hate me because I'm lucky!! (I could've said, "don't hate me because I'm beautiful!" -remember that commercial??) but then, you'd laugh at me! Just trust me, that the cruise was well appreciated after the wonderful, spiritual, long walking, sore feeted, freezing cold, and rainy, wet bedding'd, growing and learning as we go, HARD trek!! It was a "plethora" of experiences and feelings that can only be described as, "you had to be there!"

The next morning after back from the cruise, I "happily" headed to girls camp for 3 days. That was great--a nice, happy medium-(not that I needed a happy medium from the cruise!). And boy, did we leaders (and the girls, I suppose!) have one crazy, sleepless, fun time! Remember people, "what happens at girls camp, stays at girls camp"!!!

So without further adieu:

Gilbert Stapley Stake Trek - 2009

The "Dahl" Family!! After making homemade candles! We were so proud!!

"Pa" and "Ma" Dahl shaking hands after a fair tug o' war with the boy Dahls and Ma, and and the girl Dahls and Pa, tugging it out!! The boys won with the help of Ma!!!

Me and my real Dahl boy, Taylor.

Sam making sure he documents himself--with Taylor and his "family" pulling in the background!

This was during the Women's pull. Two of my girls in the yoke, me on the side working the wheel, and the other 3 girls pushing in the back. The woman in the green was a stake "angel" helping us.

A-L-A-S-K-A

My sisters'-in-law, Paula and Lorraine, on our balconies, watching the beautiful glaciers in Glacier Bay! All I can say is, Amazing Alaska!!!!

Sam and his brother, Greg, at Mendenhall Glacier, in Juneau, with this massive waterfall to the right!!

Sam and me in front of Mendenhall Glacier. The glacier lake in front had huge chunks of ice floating in it, and you could walk right up to the shore. It was gorgeous!

Sitka was our favorite town!! 8300 people and the 5th largest city in Alaska!! It was so cool!! And, of course, amazingly beautiful!!

Sam and me on June 4, 2009--our 27th anniversary!!! We celebrated by going snorkeling in Sitka, Alaska!!! These are dry suits!! I didn't know there was such a thing until this. We also had neoprene hoods and gloves. See the volcano in the background??? What can I say???? Amazing Alaska!!!

In Ketchikan, we went zip lining among the tops of the trees, and this is the harness we wore. Loverly, huh? It was, you guessed it, Amazing!!! (Alaska, that is!!)

ENCINAS WARD GIRLS CAMP -2009

Our bishop, Bishop Warren playing the cups rhythm game. It was very cute to watch!! Even if he did fudge a bit. He stayed on the beat though!!!

The Love girls and mom, Debbie!! Working on the stamped washer necklaces!! They turned out really cute! Just like the girls!!! heehee

Lisa Skousen, me and Miss Tricia Brown!!! In one of our more subtle and subdued moments!!!

Tricia, after a long night of competing for the title of Runway Model/dance competiton!! She took second - but we know who REALLY won, don't we Tricia?? Anyone for the worm??

OH BABY, MY BABY!!! Graduate - 2009!!!!!

This past week or so has been one exciting celebration for us and specifically for Taylor!! Last Saturday the celebrations began, with he, Riley Norton, and Tyler Scott being honored with their Eagle Scout awards at a special Eagle Court of Honor!! Woohoo!!!
Then, on Sunday, he had the start of Gilbert High celebrations with Baccaulaurette, and that night, Seminary graduation!!!
Then on Thursday, (May 21st), Taylor Brant Dahl, my baby boy- my last baby boy-- graduated from Gilbert High School amidst much rain, chill and boring principal speeches!!! (Bless his heart!).
We couldn't be prouder of our Taytay!!!

Taylor and Auntie Paula!!!

You know he really WANTS us to kiss him!!

Aaron, Sam, Tay, me, Ashley, and Allie

Only missing Tanner man!

Taylor and Rachel Crozier - Seminary graduation!! These two have literally grown up together. From K-6th in the same classes even, and then on up through Gilbert Jr. and Gilbert High School!!

Taylor, Riley Norton, and Tyler Scott pledging to be scouters "fou- ev-ver!!!! Congrats guys!

It's my blog, so I can put myself in it if I want!!! Besides, I'm the proud mama!!!

Now, on to our next thrills!!! The trek, as a ma and pa. Alaskan Cruise!!!! And girl's camp. All within 2 weeks!!!!!

Stay tuned!!!

So much to say and so much work to say it!!!

So this updating blogs, is hard work!!! Especially when there is a lot to blog about! So without further adieu,
Happy Mother's Day yesterday!! I hope all mothers had as good of one as I did. Since I use this as a journal, somewhat, those who read will have to read more than you may want. But here goes!
First of all, I have to say that it was a great Mother's Day!
Highlights of the day:
1.The night before going out to dinner with my mommy, sisters, and nieces (see previous blog!)
2. Church was great-with talks on moms, giant chocolate candy bars!!! Getting to go to Relief Society, with all the women (I'm in Y.W.'s so this is a treat!), getting yummy refreshments, having a lovely program/lesson, and best of all, holding the beautiful Jan Hemp's baby boy for two hours (during SS. and R.S.)! Thanks Jan for the time with your little guy! (p.s. he was born the day before our Miles was due!). It was a treat to hold him and fuss with him and just enjoy the feeling of holding a tiny little miracle!
3. Not cooking dinner!
4. Napping
5. Having all the kids come over and being together
AND
6. TALKING TO MY BABY BOY, MISSIONARY-- TANNER--who is in Russia.
That was the topper to a wonderful Mother's Day! Even got him to speak some russian for me. He sounds good!! Just like I remembered him sounding! Still that dry, sarcastic humor!! (who would've thought!). But tempered a little. We had a little glitch getting through to him. After 30 or more minutes trying and trying the number he gave us, the phone rings and it is a Utah #. Sam tells me not to answer, but we decide maybe we should. It ends up being the family of another missionary there in his area, who Tanner had called that missionary and asked him to ask his family to give us the correct city code, rather than the one he gave us!! So after about 40 minutes of trying, and a second bought international calling card of the day (the ox AND the horse was in the mire then!!), and the phone call from Utah with the correct number, we got through to him!!!
Hallalujeh!!!
Me and Mom opening Mother's Day presents!

The totally insane "photographer", making sure we know he was there!!! Heather and Zach being cute!

Taylor and Ashley showing off. Mark trying to not be seen!!!

Aaron, me and Mom chillen'

More present opening


NEW SUBJECT OF THE WEEK!!!! TAYLOR'S LAST CHOIR CONCERT OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL LIFE!!!
He and the concert choir sounded awesome! I will miss going to these concerts, for the most part!! And High School sporting events, and high school drivings to school, and just my kids being in High School. I have enjoyed every minute of my kids' high school years. Well, maybe not EVERY minute. But it was a good run- those years from 1997 to 2009!!!! I can't believe my last baby is graduating from high school! Where did the time go??? Where did my young motherhood go??? Geez. Is that short for "geezer"???? haha

All the seniors were given yellow roses at the end of the concert. Taylor with his mama and grandma!

Taylor and Dad, Sam!

Taytay with his good buddy, Brandon Tenney!


AND NOW ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS! For Taylor, anyway!! With his being a senior, comes many events in the next couple of weeks. One of which is none other then the:

SENIOR PROM-2009

Taylor took Alli Sorensen to prom. And was in a group of about 14 couples. Here's a few of the guys. I don't know most of the kids in his group. Very few in fact.Due to the fact that our stake does not encompass Gilbert High. So if they've been to my house or played football with Taylor or maybe sang in choir with him, I've met them or know their names. That's not a lot of them!!

This is Alli. The middle one. Isn't she cute?

Being silly!

She's looking "sassy"!! He just looks happy!!!

Practising their "game" faces!! Gotta look cool, suave, smooth, gangsta' or whatever they are calling it these days! Brandon Tenney, and Tay. I think they got 'the look' down, don't you?

All 14 couples!!

Taylor and his proud mama!! Had to throw this one in here!!!

Taylor and Brandon pulling out to pick up their dates in some definite cool wheels!!! Thanks Rob Walker for being so trusting and understanding!! He felt right up top "cruisin' in the jag!!! IT was such a cool thing!

Love this pic of Taylor. Being his GQ self!!!

Some of the boys, just having some fun!

The lovely Alli Sorensen in the middle.

The cute couple

PS. Taylor said he had a great time! From the day date the night before (quading , eating, and watching movies out in the desert), to the actual prom date-eating at Bucca de Bepo, dance, after prom swimming, watching movies. He told Tanner when he talked to him, that he was really glad that he went!!

PPS. By the way, I made him go! I told him at the beginning of the school year that he HAD To go!! Isn't it great when Mother knows best?!!!!!