...and that's how it all began.

June 1995. I was in Logan to play with Dana and visit some old roommates for the weekend. One of our gals had her boyfriend with her. A group of guys approached our table to chat since one of them knew her boyfriend. After chatting for a bit, they joined us and the small talk began. He asked me my name and I, rather shortly, told him it was April.
And your last name, he asked?
I don't have one.
You see I wasn't interested in this scene. Just wanted to be with my friends. Not interested that is, until he began talking to one of the other girls. Well you know, excuse me....attention back to me please!
As the conversation allowed I mentioned that my last name was Elggren. He looked at me rather strange, which you get use to when your last name is Elggren. For some reason it's hard for people to say at first and even harder for people to spell. UGH.
There was an Elggren on my mission he told me.
Where did you go on your mission?
Argentina.
My brother went to Argentina.
What?! That's crazy. Sure enough, this dashing young fellow knew my brother and had spent 2 years in a South American country the same time he had over a year and a half before this.
The conversation flowed and we talked into the morning hours that first night, forgetting about our friends. I really liked this guy. That was something I hadn't thought possible for a long time.
Tomorrow's Father's Day I told him, why don't you come down home with me for dinner. My brother will be there with his new wife. It would be fun to see his reaction.
He came to dinner the next day. Met my family and surprised my brother, who was so taken off guard that it took him a minute to place where he knew this stranger from. We dug up pictures from their mission. At the airport both leaving and coming home from Argentina. There's my family and standing next to us is his family. I'd been there both times when they left and when they came home. He'd been there both times, we'd never noticed each other. This is crazy and funny.
Must be fate, right?
So I married the guy.
16 Years ago today.
What else ya gonna do.

Happy Anniversary Mattie. I love you more today then I could have ever imagined.

How Did You Celebrate Your 100th?

Today was the 100th day of school for the kiddlings. Boy, the school goes nuts over this, all kinds of celebrations. I don't remember it being any sort of a deal while I was in school but BRING IT ON! Any reason to celebrate, right? Mia's class did some fun activities one of which was to draw what they might look like when they're 100. This picture makes me smile.

Hope your 100th was as steller!

Out Of The Mouths.........

Yesterday Madden and I were in the kitchen ready to make him lunch before sending him off on the school bus. He told me I needed to guess what he wanted to eat. So began the list of usual lunchtime kiddie food; grilled cheese, hot dog, chicken noodle soup, chicken nuggets, etc. After a few guesses I asked for a small hint.
"It starts with a W," he said.
.........crickets......more crickets.........
"Madden, I can't think of one thing that starts with a W. Help me out, K?"
"Mom, think about it! Wha,wha, wha.......it starts with the sound of "W". Wha...wha...wha....(these sounds are accompanied by a dramatic eye roll, because seriously, how dumb is his Mom right now?!)
"FINE!" he said, "I'll just tell you! Wha, wha, wha.......Whaman Noodles!"

Gotcha buddy. Sorry to be so slow.
I did follow this conversation up with another about how it really starts with an R. We practiced a few times but it's going to be a while before the W's get replaced with the R's. Maybe once his missing teeth grow back in.

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Last week I took the kids out to buy odds and ends to finish up their Halloween costumes. After a stop at Toys R Us, Hobby Lobby and Walmart I told Mason that we were going to go to Savers and DI. He asked what Savers was and I told him it's kind of like DI where they sell things that people have donated because they don't need them any longer. His reply?
"So it's EXACTLY like DI. They take crap people don't want anymore, slap a price on it, sell it and call it charity."

A little harsh but yep, that about sums it up.

It's Great To Be 8!

Today you're 8 and I'm reminded again how fast time goes by. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. We were so excited to have a little girl join the ranks. You had a perfect round face & a perfect round head (compliments of a c-section) and the most beautiful pair of lips I've ever seen.
You were the smallest of our babies but quickly grew beyond that. You were a very happy baby as long as we kept you fed, changed and generally gave you everything you wanted.
Now you're becoming such a beautiful girl. You're eager to please your teachers. You love babies. You always describe a past event by explaining exactly what you or others were wearing or how your hair was done. You really pay attention to those details. You're excited to be 8 and happy to be in 2nd grade. We love you Mia Anne! Happy Birthday!

*Photo's compliments of Ruth Done Photography :)

Will Be Missed

Matt's brother Darin passed away Wednesday morning. I can't imagine losing any of my brothers so to think this is the second brother he's lost in just a few years seems a little overwhelming. Darin's life was hard. He struggled often. We'll miss him a lot!

Darin Roger Thompson, 40, beloved father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend, passed away on Wednesday September 14, 2011, choosing to leave this life to a better place, free from pain and struggle.
Darin was born January 17th, 1971 in Ogden Utah to Merlene Woodland and Roger Douglas Thompson. Darin was reared and spent most of his life in Garland Utah. He was a natural athlete in his youth where things seemed to come too easy for him. He made friends easily and had a big heart. From adolescence to adulthood Darin unfortunately was led to a life of addiction and incarceration that became too overwhelming to overcome, a life that even the best efforts of family and friends couldn’t persuade. It will be the times of goodness that we as a family will remember most, times when he was fighting to be on the Lord’s side, loving and giving to all around him.
Darin is a member of the LDS Church and gained a testimony of the Gospel late in life, specifically of the Prophet Joseph and the Restoration. Darin was a talented Poet, having written many great works that we will cherish.
Darin is survived by his son Dale, parents Merlene Woodland and Roger (Cindy) Thompson, siblings Matt (April) Thompson, Holly M. Stone, Scott (Tiffany) Stone, Tamaria Bradley, Nick Thompson , Dyllan Thompson as well as his nieces and nephews and countless loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, Justin Stone.Funeral Services will be held Monday September 19, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Garland Third Ward LDS Church, 175 South Main, Garland with Bishop Jim Hall officiating. Family and friends may call from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Rudd’s Funeral Home, 1234 South Main Garland and from 9:30-10:30 Monday at the church. Interment will be at the Garland cemetery following the funeral.

Matt wrote the obituary & I think it's PERFECT!

We love you Darin.

Like, Totally Fun!!

A little over a week ago Celeste turned the big 40!! What a great excuse to party, right? Shaun did a great job putting an 80's themed party together and we all had a blast dressing up and doing our hair BIG to get ready for the festivities! Here's Celeste & Shaun. Celeste said her hair got caught in her sunroof on the way over....did I say BIG hair?! The party was a blast. We had Cafe Rio pork salads, or as they say, a little bit of heaven :) Shaun had his Atari set up on the big screen, 80's music videos playing on one wall, we had Rubix Cube competitions (which I humbly sat out...didn't want to make anyone feel stupid by smokin the compitition. Did I mention I hate Rubix Cubes? Well I do, they make me feel super dumb and the only way I ever got all the colors on each side was by a.) taking off the stickers and reapplying them correctly or b.) just taking the DANG thing apart and put it back together. Hate those things!) Whew, ok back to the party. There was a photographer there so we could get our "dance"pictures taken just like in High School. We played a fun game to get things rolling after dinner and then we settled in doing some karaoke until the wee hours of the morning. Did I say it was a blast? Cause it was!!!

Tip: in case you were wondering, Savers & DI work great for for finding 80's digs.

Tip: Aqua Net still works the best to get your bangs to the sky! Yes, they still sell it. I found it at my neighborhood Walmart and we all know that EVERY neighborhood has a Walmart!

Tip: If you ever had big hair and you try to go back to your big hair ways, your hair will remember and gladly comply.

Here's the group of men. Handsome aren't they?

Amber, Jayme and Celeste doing the infamous drill team fist-under-chin pose that was in all the 80's yearbooks. At least Davis High yearbooks.

Brad & Jayme. Brad had a nasty curly red mullet coming out of the back of his hat. NASTY!! Jayme was dressed and had her hair done just like someone my family all remembers well (I'm not naming names to protect feelings as well as save Jayme from hearing it one more time. Spot on Jayme, intentional or not!).

Ashton & Ruth..you go girls. Ashton reminds me of Stephanie Tanner from Full House. It was really fun to have Celeste's kids and their friends at the party. However, I think we may have scarred them for life with our karaoke.

The awards ceremony was a bust, mostly because I didn't win anything ;)

Actually it was really fun to vote for our favorites. Ruth & Matt both won for best karaoke performance. I think Matt has secretly waited his entire life to karaoke Ice Ice Baby! Joe got up to do it and after just a few seconds Matt couldn't take it any longer and jumped up to join in. Really he took over, showing off his skills as a white rapper and his lack of constructive things to do as a youth with his memorized lyrics.....I couldn't be more proud!

They gave out awards for highest hair and best 80's costume.

We took a minute as sisters to recreate this picture. We had one taken just like this when we were much younger but our hair was probably just as big. Thanks to Jody from Limelight Photography for hanging out and capturing the night for us. Can't wait to see how the pictures turn out.

The party was a blast! We love you Celeste! Thanks to all the family & friends who took the time to celebrate Celeste's big day with us!

PS: watch for your performances on a You Tube channel near you!

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

Happiest of birthday's Madd-dawg! Where to begin? Wow, you're a stud! I don't know what your Dad and I did to derserve having you in our family but it must have been HUGE! There are so many things that I love about you, I honestly don't know where to start.

You have always been pretty mellow, happy and easy-going. You're pretty quick to give in without much arguement when Dad and I ask you to do something and you love to be around Mason and Mia.

You keep me on my toes asking me simple math questions all day long. For example,"Mom, what's 15 +15 + 6?"

You love to ask how old people are. In fact I think you asked me at least 4 times today how old my mom and dad are. (You already know the answer so I like to give you the wrong one just to hear you correct me).

You sing along to the radio constantly and know pretty much all the lyrics better than me. I think my favorite song to hear you sing is "Who Says" by Salina Gomez. You can seriously rock that beat!!

You love your back scratched at any moment, any place. I secretly totally enjoy it too because it's one of the rare moments in the day where you lay still and just talk to me.

You're a little picky with your food choices but you seem to be coming around a bit to trying new things.

You're new favorite thing is playing Ghost in the Graveyard with the bigger kids late at night.

You've mastered the art of raising one eyebrow and I love when you combine it with saying "How you doin?"

I have utterly and completely enjoyed having you around by yourself this past school year. I will miss you to pieces when you head off to kindergarten this Fall. I'm so glad they let me down easy by only having you away for 1/2 a day. Don't tell anyone but I might get a little misty-eyed when you leave me to fend for myself those first few days.

Madden, I find myself at a loss for words when I try to tell you how much I love you. You're the perfect addition to our family and we all love you so so much!

Happy Birthday, Big Guy! I just wanna eat you up!