Chris' Homecoming!

Sunday, August 30th, was Chris' homecoming talk at church. He spoke on Enduring to the End and did a fabulous job of sharing his wonderful spirit and love of the scriptures. Afterward, family and friends that came for the special day enjoyed a luncheon of Houston recipes (brought back by Chris). We had yummy brisket with a homemade bbq sauce, jiffy corn casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, and some of mom's homemade bread. Was a great feast!

Saturday, we had a great time being IN the water. Seeing that it was 108 in Murrieta (about 102 in the hills where we live - but STILL!!!)

It is so great to see all my boys together again. They are each so strong in the gospel and such great examples to me. I feel blessed to have them all in my life. But sadly, Kyle is off to Arizona again to rejoin his job at Anasazi and we will miss seeing him for the next month or so.

Chris is Home!

Lots of Hugs, Tears, and Laughter as Elder Chris returned home from the Texas, Houston Mission today!

Caden stayed at school like a good boy and got his own special welcome home from Chris at the Ward Building.

The Morgan Family all together again!

Cute Photo!

Just taking some camera shots at the pond and Paris walked into the frame. Random!

This is for Emily!

Okay Emily,

I took your challenge and played with iphoto. This is baby Caden. I cropped a little, touched up a little here and there, and really made the photo work with the old hat (it was actually Dean's when he was a baby) by applying the antique look. What do you think?

Kaylee in 5th Grade

Caden on Piano

"We'll Bring the World His Truth"

Written by: Janice Kapp Perry

Arrangement by: Marvin Goldstein

Played at the Morgan Family Reunion Talent Show

Our Beautiful Pond (minus all the people)

Dean's sister, Alaina, took these beautiful photos of our pond area. It is such a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary. It was the very useful site of the 2009 Morgan Family Reunion and we hope many good memories were made here.

The last movie my dad worked on before retiring is coming out into theaters!  Can't wait for GI JOE!

YouTube - GI Joe Superbowl trailer spot

Beach Day

Beach Day - Oceanside Pier

There were tons of people - just a few feet between each group of people, which was really fun when the tide came in and everyone started moving back onto everyone else.  But crowds aside, the weather was absolutely perfect.

Kaylee was so brave and just got out there.  I didn't have Caden there, so I was a little nervous, but she did great!  

Thanks to Emily, Lucas, and Alex for driving.  We had a fun time!

Slow Dance

(This poem was written by a teenager with cancer)

Have you ever watched kids

On a Merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a 

Butterfly’s erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun 

Into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don’t 

dance so 

fast...

Time is short.

The music won’t last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask “How are you?”

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You’d better slow down

Don’t 

dance so 

fast...

Time is short.

The music won’t last.

Ever told your child,

“We’ll do it tomorrow”

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say, “Hi”?

You’d better slow down.

Don’t 

dance so 

fast...

Time is short.

The music won’t last.

When you run so fast

To get somewhere,

You miss half the fun

Of getting there.

When you worry and hurry

Through your day,

It is like an unopened gift...

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do 

take it 

slower...

Hear the music 

Before the song is over.

Kaylee's New Sweater!

I know it's summer and all.... but I'm learning to knit sweaters.  I started with a little baby one for Kamber and just finished this chunky style hoodie for Kaylee.  She loves sweaters and blankets (she's always cold like her mom) so she is thrilled.  It is a little big, but I wanted her to have a chance to wear it next winter.

Of course, Kaylee had to go and dress it up.  She can make anything look good.  She loves clothes and dressing them up, layering, matching in a mis-matching kind of way... she's actually very talented at it.  In fact, her latest hobby is designing dresses and cutting them out for her portfolio.  Who knows....

REPRIMAND!

Okay - a little reprimand for all my blogging friends and family!  What the heck?  I don't have anything to read!  UPDATE PEOPLE!!  POST SOMETHING!!  Love always, Dianna!

Elder Chris - Only 11 Weeks to Go!

Elder Chris has spent the last 3 months in Spring, TX and will be staying for at least another 6 weeks.  He's very excited about the work and can't believe how the Lord keeps blessing missionaries.  They have a baptism set for June 20th and more in the works.  He's so happy to be a missionary.  Here's a quote from his letter today:

"I love this work! Great things are always unfolding left and right and I love proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now that I'm nearing the end of my mission I have been doing some personal reflection. I have changed so much, I have learned so much, not only in the Gospel but in also life lessons. I know that I wouldn't be even close to who I am now if I hadn't served my mission. Now I understand why the Church encourages the young men (and women) so strongly to serve missions. There is nothing else that I could be doing in my life that can compare to this sacred work."

What do you do when you turn 45?

You learn to bake bread.....

You teach yourself to knit....
And you plant a garden... (just so you can wear one of those wide brimmed hats!)
Okay - I also work out 3 times a week, can hold my own in raquetball with Caden and Kyle, and take care and school the kids.  But, I love that my new hobbies all fall under the aging woman category... :) 

Kyle is Engaged!

For those who haven't met... this is Carla Hayden, Kyle's fiancee!  Kyle asked her to marry him after the family went on a bike ride down Red Canyon, just below Bryce Canyon, Utah.  I didn't find this out until later, but luckily I had the thought to take their picture while we waited for the other riders and snapped these pics of their actual engagement spot!  How cool is that?  That night, Dean, Caden, and I had dinner with Carla's family and Kyle broke the news to everyone.  Not that it was a surprise to anyone - he had just asked permission from Lance a few days before.  But still, it is so great that it is official!  I've never had an engaged son before, so it'll be a new and fun ride from here.  Congratulations to you both!  We love you Carla and can't wait for you to formally join the family.  Kyle - I love you so much - Congratulations, Son!

Oh - btw - no date is set yet - looking at late in the year.  We'll keep you all posted.  

Photos at the Pond!

Stake Daddy/Daughter Night

Kaylee went on a date with Daddy on Saturday night.  They ate dinner, danced, and had this adorable photo taken.  

Kaylee definitely loves her daddy!

Kaylee and Grandma Morgan

Mission San Juan Capistrano

We made a field trip to the Mission San Juan Capistrano for Kaylee's 4th grade mission report.  It was a beautiful day and learned a lot about the mission and the Native American's that lived there.  It was a nice family adventure for a Monday!

The flowers were all in bloom and absolutely gorgeous.  Look at the size of this hollyhock!

Kaylee at the Kiicha (pronounced Kee-cha).  The tribe that lived here was the Acjachemen tribe also known as the Juaneno Indians.  (Now you can say you learned something today!)

Caden in the dirt area that used to be the Old Stone Church which was came crashing down in the 1812 earthquake killing 40 inside.  It really is a bummer, it would be amazing to see today.

These are some of the bells that used to be in the bell tower that was destroyed in the earthquake.  

It was a good day!

Finished House w/Shutters

We finally got the shutters from Italy and Dean has installed them (actually, I just realized, Kaylee's aren't on yet, so there will be shutters on the far right french doors on the upstairs rock).  Regardless - this is pretty close to done.  Obviously we need to do something with the side yard (will be Dean's garage and drive some day), and now that I see it in this picture, we need to put some bark in the big planter while we wait for the plants to grow up.  And finally, we are waiting on the finished gravel for the driveway till we know all the construction trucks are really done.  It will be a beige gravel to look more like a natural driveway - not a grey gravel base.  

So, I guess when I say "Finished House" - it's not really finished, but it's getting closer!

Regardless, we love it and love being here in the Murrieta hills.