****** Flashback - January 15, 1999 ******

Mr. and Mrs. Jon and Cidny McFarland were married at half past five on the evening of January 15th, 1999 at the Memorial House in Memory Grove, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Erik Scott McFarland served as Best Man, Margaret Yvonne Stirling served as Matron of Honor and Stephanie Jean McFarland served as Maid of Honor.  Trever Timothy was an Usher and Jonathen McFarland was their Ring Bearer. Bridesmaids include Ashley Weller, Whitney Weller and Kaysha Bushman.  The Flower Girls were Mackenzie Bushman and Jessica Bushman.  Mr. Rock Bushman gave the bride away. 

After the ceremony the couple and their guests enjoyed champaign toasts, a light dinner and dancing.  At the close of the reception the couple left by horse and carriage.  A honeymoon cruise is planned in the Southern Carribean Islands.

******Flashforward - January 15, 2010 ******

Jon and I have been married for eleven years and blessed with three beautiful children, one grandson and a granddaughter on the way.  I feel so fortunate to have become another parent to Stephanie, Erik and Jonathen.  We happily welomed their spouses, Brad and Kaycee, into our family, and we've watched proudly as they have grown into amazing, responsible adults while starting families of their own.

I love the picture above of our ceremony.  Stephanie is a crying uncontrollably, Mackenzie is pulling a face, Whitney looks terribly bored and Erik looks so handsome and grown up for 18. It's priceless!!!

Here is our ready-made family on our wedding day!

All of my beautiful neices participated as bridesmaids.  I have always loved the old pictures of me when I was my Aunt Rita's three year old flower girl and rememer fondly being a bridesmaid again for my sister Dawn.  I hoped to create the same memories for my neices. My Eden will most likely never have this opportunity as all of our family has already married. I hope that each of my neices, now grown, will remember the day that they were little princesses at our wedding.  They were so beautiful!

Our wedding celebration was one of the funnest wedding parties that I have ever been too!  I look back at the experience with joy at having been surrounded by all of our family and friends with no planning or expense regrets. And I love nothing more than hearing from friends that attended the wedding (even years later) that they still remember it as a wonderful celebration. Other than bringing our babies into the world, it was one of my best days ever!!!

I'm still deeply in love with Jon.  He is a wonderful husband, friend and father.  I feel so blessed to be the mother to our children.  I look forward to years of adventure still on our horizon and to growing (even) older with him.

Happy Anniversary Jon!  Love you...Always!

XxOoxxxx

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Fondue left overs from Christmas Eve are always a tasty treat on New Year's Eve.  Rock, Rick and Rhett came to polish off the left overs with us.  We also made chocolate fondue for the first time (Thanks Kaycee and Erik for the new chocolate fondue pot and chocolate)!  It was a great finish to our favorite meal!!!

Celebrating with the McFarland's

Cheers to you and yours!!!

My New Year's Resolution:  In 2010, I'm hoping to find the positive in each situation. While the economy has dealt so many of us a full helping of challenges, I really would like to try and keep a positive attitude.  We have been blessed with beautiful children who are growing into amazing individuals.  I need to remember that my stress or anxiety affects us all.  Surely, there has to be some postive aspects in every challenge!

We hope you will be happy, prosperous, blessed, healthy and positive in 2010!!!

The Lights at Temple Square

On the 26th, we ventured out in the cold to see the lights at Temple Square with Kaycee, Erik and Jayden. It was freezing!  So, we bundled up all the kids in layers and layers of clothing and headed out.

Spending the holiday with Kaycee, Erik and Jayden was so very special.  Their visit was way too short, but it will always be such a very memorable Christmas.

Thank you Kaycee and Erik for your love and the precious gift of your holiday time!

Merry Christmas!!!

Santa found his way to our house!!!

Jayden was so excited.  He woke up asking if Santa had come.  I love his look of amazement as he saw the presents waiting under the tree.

Eden had a little harder time waking up!

Quinton and Carson discovered that Santa had eaten their cookies AND left them a thank you note.

Surprises were hidden in everyone's stockings!

A new keyboard was waiting for the family.

A new baby doll for Eden.

Santa's silly elves had wrapped very small presents for Quinton and Carson over and over in bigger and bigger boxes.  It took them quite awhile to get to the actual presents.

 Carson got a new Nintendo DSi

And, Quinton found the Ipod he'd been asking for.

Carson also got a Red Rider BB Gun!

Please don't shoot your eye out, kid!!!

Kaycee received beautiful jewelry from Erik.

Eden and Jayden had new sleeping bags, but Jayden was too busy to pose for the picture with Eden.

He loved his new sled!

Eden loves Jayden Paul!

Later that morniong the little ones had their bathie boothas... Now, honestly how many of us can say that we took bubble baths with our aunt or nephew?

Jayden jams on a new set of drums just his size!!!

What a wonderful holiday, and with the addition of the Boise McFarland's, it was a Christmas that we will never forget!  Quinton said it over and over, "This is the best Christmas ever!!!"