High School Tag

1. Did you date someone in high school? Yes a lot of guys...then dated my husband since the summer between Junior and Senior year
2. What kind of car did you drive? A GREEN mercury sable and then a gray car...and finally bought myself a gray kia spectra
3. Did you pass your driver's license test the first time? Yes
4. Were you a party animal? YES...i love to have a good time.
5. Were you considered a flirt? Most likely
6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Not in highschool
7. Were you a nerd? I'm too cool to be a nerd :)
8. Were you on any varsity teams? Yes, Cheer!
9. Did you ever get suspended or expelled? no way, but I was caught sluffing! I was too liked by the principle to get suspended.
11. Who were your favorite teachers? Debbie Trythall
12. Where did you sit at lunch? Early years not at school! Later in the lunch room with Jason
13. School mascot: Templar
14. School colors: Red, Black and White
15. Did you go to homecoming and who with? yes, I went with Nate Thomson soph yr, Brad Christensen Jr yr and Jason sr yr
16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Yes, I loved High School
17. What do you remember most about graduation? Not too much of anything...we had a lot of fun partying after graduation though.
18. Where did you go on Senior Skip Day? Lagoon
19. Were you in any clubs? No i don't think so
20. Have you gained weight since then? Nope :)
21. Who was your prom date? Spencer Lund Soph yr, Jason jr and sr year.
22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion?Yes, I don't see why people don't go to those things. I like to see all my old friends and see what everyone is up to now.
23. Did you have a job while in high school? Yep I have worked since I was 14 yrs old...Don's and the Bowling Alley
24. Worst class? English.
25.Favorite class? CHEER of course!!!

I tag anyone!

NEW FRIENDS :)

This weekend we had so much fun! We went up to Cam and Bre's house and Reddek was so excited to hang out with Brayden...well the night was fun until I had to bust their wall!!! I REALLY DID. We were all showing off how strong we were doing pull ups and then wall sits we were all doing it and my wall just caved right in. I am so sorry I can't figure it out! We love hanging with friends.

Brayden!
Then on Sunday we got to see some friends that we hadn't seen FOREVER! Mark and Mary have the cutest little boy Chad. Reddek loved him he kept saying "mom Chad funny"! Thanks for coming up guys and we need to do something soon. I swear this was only my 3rd time seeing their baby and he is now over 1.
Chad!
Reddek is happy to have new friends. He has been asking for Brayden and Chad all day Monday and today.
our conversation on the way home Monday!

Red - "mom collyn wants to a play with Brayden and Chad."
me - "I know we will play with them again soon"
Red- "mom a chads funny, collyn see him."
me- "i don't know when collyn will see him"
Red- "a chad at our house"
me-"i think you are going to be disappointed"
For about 20 mins when they got home Reddek and Collyn looked around the house for Chad and Brayden. Red thought they were hiding. Cute kids. We love having friends with boys his age.

Fun with The Kids!

Last Tuesday we had a fun filled day! My sister was watching her other nephew Brady so we decided to get together and let all the kids play. We first met at Mcdonalds for the kids to eat and play. Then went home put them down for naps and met later at Jumpin Jacks. It is a fun place in Springville with lots of blow up slides. It was so fun to see the kids play! It was hard for them to hold still long enough to get pictures so they aren't the best, but they work.
Brady, Rachel's other newphew
Jadelyn...she was running all over the place and wouldn't let me get a picture of her.
Adysen...she was so light that she almost flew right off all the slides.
And Reddek...what a stud!

After this we headed to the guys basketball game! The kids loved that. I think we wore Brady right out so he didn't even notice he wasn't sleeping at his own home. Thanks Rach for the Fun day we need to do it more often!!!

WhaT a WaY tO sTarT a MoNdaY!

I don't have pictures...but I will post anyway!
It is a payroll Monday so I had to get to work EARLY! Charle and I left about 5:30 AM...the roads were pretty icy but we were being careful going about 10 mph. Well I noticed the car in front of me braking so I thought I better keep a safe distance between us so I proceeded to brake! WRONG THING TO DO. We go spinning around and sliding off the road. The truck behind me must have done the wrong thing also, he came spinning right behind us and we thought for sure he was going to hit us, but LUCKILY he didn't. He just spun and kept driving between us and the fence and took off. Well no big deal we were ok the car was fine, but how the heck do we get to WORK? REASON YOU DON'T GO TO WORK SO EARLY! I thought oh some nice guy will stop in his truck and help us out! WRONG again...we sat there for a good 15 mins nobody had stopped so we decided to call Jason to come pull us out and since it was about 5:45AM Kelly would go sleep at our house since Red would still be sound asleep. Another reason not to go to work so early...your kids are still sleeping! While we were sitting there I was getting annoyed that nobody had even stopped to offer us help. Then to tick me off more A police officer passes us I thought oh he will stop make sure we are fine. NO HE DIDN"T EVEN STOP! ISN'T THAT PART OF THEIR JOB? I know he couldn't have done anything, but what if we didn't have a cell phone and were just sitting there. HELLO I AM STRANDED ON THE ROAD MAYBE CHECK TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OK! I have had lots of situations I have been pulled off the road either for a blown tire out of gas or slid off the road, and I have always had an officer stop to offer help. So this made me pretty mad! So we are still patiently waiting for Jason to come (just sitting in the car hoping that no one slides off the road and hits us) when I notice a Stock truck pass us. OH hooray that guy works with me he will give us a ride to work. By then it was 6:00 or 6:15 and our corporate has changed policy that our payroll has to be entered by 8:00 am...we have a lot of employees and have to pay per job not just hours so I was getting stressed OUT! He didn't even notice us and I was honking! I couldn't let our ride pass us so I called him. Sweet Nate turned around and came back to get us. In the meantime a nice guy stopped and offered to pull us out. Since Jason still hadn't left we called him told him not to worry and let this nice guy help us. We sat there while he tried to get it out...no it wasn't coming. So we just left the car and headed to work! It was like 6:30 and I really needed to get payroll done. They don't wait for me if it isn't in they just won't send checks until Monday or so. So it was a funny memory, and made me realize even if I can't help much I am going to stop and make sure the people in the car are ok and have help on the way! COME ON PEOPLE LETS NOT BE IN TOO BIG OF HURRY TO HELP PEOPLE OUT! Thanks to the sweet guy that pulled over to help us and NATE.
and I got to work and got payroll in on time!!! HOORAY!
We called a tow truck to go get the car and it was free with our warranty...what a great way to start a Monday :)

*~Vanentine Tag~*

Answer the questions about your sweetheart…

*What is your husband’s name? Jason Rulon McCaul

*How long have you been married? 4

*How long did you date? 4 years

*How old is he? 25

*Who eats more sweets? Him for sure!!!

*Who said I love you first? He did

*Who is taller? Jason and everyone else in the world.

*Who can sing best? Jason...I can't sing at all!!!

*Who is smarter? Jason

*Who does laundry? Me...unless I have slacked then he helps me catch up!

*Who pays bills? They all come out automatically...except tithing and I pay that one.

*Who sleeps on the right hand side? I do

*Who mows the lawn? Both of us! I do it while Jason is at work, but on Saturdays Jason does because he can do it in about half the time.

*Who cooks dinner? Both...we don't cook a good meal very often and we take turns. But BREAKFAST he always cooks!

*Who drives? Jason

*Who is first to admit they are wrong? Well jason will admit when he is wrong, but me he has to talk me into to thinking I am wrong.

*Who kissed who first? He kissed me!!! Then laughed how is that suppose to make me feel our first kiss then he starts laughing.

*Who asked who out first? He asked me

*Who wears the pants? Who knows?!? I think he does...

I tag everyone with a VALENTINE :)

PICTURES

Here are some pictures of our Last night in Nauvoo.





And one last picture of the Temple.

DAY 5

On the 5th day which was kind of our last day because Monday was a travel day. We went to church. It was fun to go to the ward there. There was a missionary sacrament meeting but it started at 8:00 which is way too early with 5 kids and 4 adults to get ready:) It was the Sunday before Christmas so we were hoping the ward we went to focused on Christ and helped us get more in the spirit of Christmas.
We get to the sacrament meeting and there are 4 beautiful ladies singing Christmas songs as people were coming into sacrament...what a way to invite the spirit! The meeting was nice and when it was over I heard my name?!? WHAT? Who the heck knew me in Nauvoo? Well it was one of the pretty ladies that had been singing....my old friend Lisa Church! It is so weird because we found each other's blogs and now I run into her on my vacation in Nauvoo? Very cool...she is so pretty as she ever was and was visiting family for the holidays. I loved seeing her it is much better in person than on the computer!!!
After church we went back to the beautiful house relaxed while the DADS cooked dinner. Joe wanted to have a real Christmas Dinner in Nauvoo...and it was a great one. We had all the fixings, turkey, potatoes, rolls, veggies and the best for dessert Rasselberry PIE! I had never had it and I LOVED it.
At the dinner table we did some toasts and it was so fun to be with family and share our thoughts. Then we turned up the music and all started dancing...I loved that night what a great one to end on! THANKS SO MUCH JOE AND ANDRIA FOR THE INVITE TO NAUVOO IT WILL FOR SURE BE A TRIP ALWAYS REMEMBERED!!!
The day we were leaving me and the kids ran to each room taking a picture in it so here they are I wish it did the house justice. THIS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRIPS...maybe even my FAVORITE :)

And this little one can't run around with us yet, but we loved playing with her!

Sid was too buys watching TV to come join in the picture fun:(


I love this one! Reddek was so sick of all us girls and this photo shows it pretty good. I love my cute NIECES!!! they are so cute:)

sEcOnD hAlF oF dAy 4

Well after we left Carthage we got a bit to eat and hit some more of the sites. We went to the Blacksmith, and like Kennady said we each really got a ring! HOORAY! I learned a lot...it was hard work to get everybody ready to cross the plains, not just like they woke up and decided to go. Oh no no they prepared for months, maybe even a year. They had to make wagons for each family and the blacksmith showed us the process of just making one wheel and it took some time. He even made a little horse shoe that he gave to Reddek and Avery. They LOVED them. Then to the Brick yard. Yes we got a free brick! It was intresting to hear how they make the brick.

Then we went to some more houses. Brigham Youngs house... While Brigham Young was on a mission his family lived in this little log cabin so when he got back he built them this nice house. He wanted the wood work to look like oak so he painted each peice of trim to look like oak. The original wood work was stil in there and it look amazing...and like a lot of work.
Lucy Mac Smith's house which was very special. She went through a lot as the mother of the Prophet Joseph. All the moms out there can imagine how hard it would have been to see your son go through all that he did. She was a great lady and you could feel a sweet spirit in her home.

And John Taylor's home...It was so pretty and they only got to live in it for a few months (i think 5) before they left to cross the plains. They told us a story of him just to show what kind of man he was. After they had left to head west his son was really sad because he left his wooden rocking horse. John Taylor left to come back and get his son's rocking horse. That just shows how much love he had for his family and others around him. What a selfless person! I wish I was more like that.
Then we went to this cute little bakery.
They gave us each a cookie and told us the story of the Bakers that lived here. It was tiny. It was very cool that the baker that lived here went west with all the saints and then later founded Sanpete County...which is where Jason and I are from. Of course I don't remember his name, but it was intresting anyway.

By then it was snowing really bad, but we were hoping the Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo was still on so we headed to the cultural hall to see. Lucky for us they hadn't cancelled due to bad weather. This was one of my favorite parts of Nauvoo...it helped me think of it when they were here and also gave me a bigger love for the missionaries serving in Nauvoo. It was a fun performance and they did a great job. It wasn't suppose to be sad it was more fun and funny...but of course i was brought to tears. I think it is because the missionaries have such a spirit about them and it made me realize how hard it would have been to be asked to leave your home to travel with the saints. There was one lady that was not agreeing with her husband about going and it made me check my testimony and faith. If our prophet asked us today to pick up and move would I? I don't know, they had to have A LOT of FAITH.

1/2 of DAY 4

Day 4 we went to Carthage it was about 20 minutes away from where we stayed so not too long and it was fun to see everything still frozen from the ice storm. The front yards looked like ice skating rinks and all the trees and weeds were covered in ice.

We arrived to Carthage and were nervous the jail was going to be closed due to the ice, but we were in luck it was open...not many people there but it was open! HOORAY! There was a cute older missionary couple there that took us on the tour. We started by watching a short movie about Joseph Smith's life. It was neat to watch and know that we were right where he last was. We then headed outside in the FREEZING COLD to the
The first room was where the Jail keepers cooked for the prisoners. There was a husband and wife that were the jail keepers when Joseph Smith and the others were brought to the jail.
This room is where some prisoners for little crimes (not being able to pay a fine) would spend their time. It was a normal room just with bars on the windows and doors. Look how thick the walls are!!!My Cute Husband!
Then we went upstairs! The handrail was original it was really low the ladies would use it to hold thier dresses up while walking up the stairs...but it was actually just the right size for me!
Then to the jail cell! This is where the Prophet and the others spent most of their time. (sorry for the weird face, jason would just say katie and take a picture) the floors and cell parts were original. This room was really sad, just dark and locked in the little cell for who knows how long.
Then to the room where Hyrum and Joseph were killed. This was the jail keepers' bedroom, but they had the Prophet and the others stay in it to help make thier stay a little nicer. It was very neat to be able to be in that room, there was a calm feeling there. The kids even calmed down to listen to the Missionary. The original door was still there that had the bullet hole where the bullet came through and killed Hyrum. The missionary told us what went on that day and then we listened to a recording of how it might have sounded. It was such a special experience. It stregthened my testimony being there and feeling the spirit. I have a much greater appreciation for Joseph Smith and his family and what they had to go through to restore the gospel. It was real and lots were hurt and killed from it. I am so thankful that he was willing to give up everything for the gospel so we can have it today.
This was a special spot it is where Joseph fell from the window after he had been shot. We look kind of sad, but it was just a spiritual experience and we were thinking about the loss of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum. It was the original floor so we were standing where the Prophet had stood for the last time. I loved that room and am thankful for the Missionaries that help invite the spirit with their testimonies and reverence there.
This is a picture looking out of where Joseph fell. And some pictures of the outside of the jail.
And us leaving the special place.

day 3 in Nauvoo

Well day three was probably my favorite day! We drove into Nauvoo and it was so pretty because we had an ice storm the night before. It really froze EVERYTHING! We went to do some more sites. Kennady had been telling us that we could get a ring from the Blacksmith, a brick from the Brick yard and a cookie from the Bakery...so we all wanted to hit those pretty bad! Duh who wants to pass up FREE souvenirs? When we got there all the sites were closed due to the ice storm. DANG! So we drove to Parley's street...and all got out to walk down it. I can't explain the spirit I felt as we did this. I am sure we looked pretty crazy to all that saw us! The road was completely iced over and it was FREEZING.

I read some of the journal entrees as we walked down and the spirit just hit me...this is what they really went through, but they couldn't run back to the warm van when it got way too cold for them. They probably didn't even have as heavy as coats as we did. I think we were pretty lucky the sites were closed, because I don't think this was on the agenda! As we were getting toward the end the babies were crying and I looked back at the city and it really was a beautiful site.

I am so grateful for the Pioneers and the testimonies they had to leave their warm homes to travel across the plains. I can't find my sheet with all the quotes that are on the markers on Parley's street, but I do remember one that really hit me. A midwife said she delivered 7 babies that night! WHAT? I felt so humbled, they all really trusted in the lord with all their hearts. I was scared to have my baby in the hospital with drs and nurses surrounding me. Could you imagine leaving your home pregnant and you didn't know when you were going to have a home again? I know these people were amazing. I wish I had the other quotes, but that one I remember and it just made me realize they were normal people like us with kids and pregnant and they still followed the prophet. That was an awesome experience and I know I will always remember it! I was just trying to find the quotes on the trail of hope and I read something intresting. "In the concluding dedicatory session of the Nauvoo Temple, President Hinckley made a special request of all those who were then in Nauvoo. He asked everyone to take a few minutes to "walk down Parley Street to the waterfront," to the landing on the Mississippi River from which the Saints departed Nauvoo and crossed into Iowa on their westward trek. He asked members to leave behind the comfort of their air-conditioned cars, to walk along this sacred path and take time to read the plaques along the Trail of Hope." So we were doing as were suppose to I just didn't know a prophet had told us to!

Next we went to the LDS visiting center. It was decorated for Christmas and was so pretty. We watched a movie about Nauvoo then just looked at all the stuff they had there. Jason found a Brother Missionary to talk to and get all his questions answered. I love the Older Missionaries! They just have something about them that makes me feel so good I have a great love for them. I hope Jason and I can serve a mission when we are older and I think Nauvoo would be the perfect place!

After the visiting center we ate lunch at this nice sandwich shop and then decided to do temple sessions. We were so lucky to be there with Joe and Andria this made it perfect for us both to do a session. They dropped us off and we were in our jeans...we were trying to find a bathroom near by to change and we didn't find one. So it was very weird to walk into the temple with jeans on but they were so nice to us they made us feel so special. The temple was so pretty. There weren't many in our session so we had a few firsts in the Nauvoo temple. We were the witness couple and had time to do some sealings. They kept the structure on the outside the same as when it was originally built, which made it cool. They also have Lucy Mac Smith's slippers and apron in the temple. They were really neat to see.

Joe came and got us...he got pretty good at driving on pure ice! We got to hang out with the kids for a while when Joe and Andria went to the temple. We had fun played hid-n-seek in a HUGE house, ate cookies and watched a movie. I love all my little nieces, and Reddek was a good sport with all the girls. He LOVES Avery! I know this was a pretty uneventful day, but I felt the spirit so strong that it made it my favorite :)

nAuVoO day 2

Well the second day we decided to drive into Nauvoo and see the sites. The kids were so excited to see Nauvoo! I think Avery was the first to spot the temple...and what a beautiful site!!!
Our first stop was to the Church of Christ. They own Joseph Smith's house and his store. We were lead by a nice old man. We went to the first log cabin the Prophet Joseph Smith had. It was so neat to be in the same spot that he had lived, walked and talked just like us. We thought it was so small and they had added on the other part of it later ... so imagine how small it was when they first lived there.
This is the Nauvoo house which was used as a hotel a lot. This is also where Emma passed away, in the corner bedroom. We didn't get to go inside this one I think they have it set up to use as a bbq place in the summer. But it was such a good feeling to walk on the sidewalks and just look around at the neighborhood that was there. I loved picturing it back when they were there no cars just horses and kids running and playing it is such a beautiful place, with a strong spirit.
Then as we walked we saw the headstones of Lucy Mac Smith and Joseph Smith Sr. Then we stopped at Emma, Joseph and Hyrum Smith's headstones. This was a neat feeling to visit their actual grave. The tour guide said that the mobs wanted to destroy the bodies so Joseph and Hyrum's bodies were hid just down the hill from this spot for quite a while until they thought it was safe to dig them up and mark their grave.
Then off to the Mansion House! Isn't it so pretty? This was Joseph and Emma's home. They used it as a hotel too, and served meals. I LOVED seeing their home. This is where they were living when Joseph went to Carthage.
We ended at Joseph's store. It was very cute! They had a lot of old fashioned candy and souvenirs to buy. Reddek had kind of been a pain this whole day but we bought him a sucker and he was good the rest of the day! I think it is hard for young ones to walk around old houses that they can't touch anything nor do they have much room to walk around in. I felt so stupid because we had been invited then Reddek was a being a pain, but he ended up doing lots better.


We drove down the road from the Church of Christ and saw Parley's street it was so pretty to see. We stopped at the first stop that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had, The Seventies Hall. It was so pretty and you could feel the spirit so strong there knowing the important things that went on in there and the important people that held meetings there. I loved seeing the older missionaries and hearing their testimonies. Then we were all starving so we went to this little diner Dottie's. It is a little inside joke and i laugh everytime I think about it. It was a small town and this diner was not our style. I thought Jason and Joe were going to walk out. But we stayed and I enjoyed my food. Jason on the other hand doesn't like other people preparing his food let alone in this run down little diner. So I am sure he was still hungry when we left. But it is all part of the experience.

We then hit another site...the Family Living Center. This place was so cool! They showed us how the pioneers survived. They made their barrels...
their ropes.
their candles, rugs, bread, and so much more. The kids loved this much more! They got to help hands on and see how to make stuff. A sister missionary told us about how they made their candles and just little things they had to do. The candles were made out of animal fat so they had to make some tin containers so the mice wouldn't eat them, and then to let the candles breath they had to have holes in the container. It made me realize how much they had to do to prepare to go across the plains. I gained a stronger testimony and more appreciation for the pioneers. My favorite part was the sisters had certain candle that they hung in their window when they had made treats and wanted to have people come over and socialize. I wish we still did things like that :)
By then we were all pretty tired and so we went back the Mansion house. This vacation was so nice and relaxing. I think having a house to go back to instead of a hotel room made the difference. We ate dinner watched shows talked laughed and watched the kids run around. I loved having some time off work to just be with family. After we put the kids down the men usually ended up reading Church History books while Andria and I talked. I loved it!!! And this was only the second day on this fabulous trip...