HaPPY BirTHday AMers!!!!

This is how Amy looked when I met her 9 years ago (she is the 3rd in on the left...middle)--

This is my little Amy NOW, all grown up!!!

HaPPy BIRTHDAY AMy!!!!

So today is Dan's youngest sisters birthday. Yes, that would be a real family picture above-as opposed to a fake magazine model one that they look like. It is AMY and her little fam!

(Amy LOVED on my boys, even before her own--here she is with Colton)

Amy is one of those people that you can never stay mad at, or think ill of. She is one of the kindest, most tender people. She is sincere. I believe she is the one in her family who takes the most after her mom's tender traits.

(Amy (far left) sending Kerri 'her only sister by blood' on a mission)

Amy has always been true to the gospel. Her faith is guileless like her mom's...and I do not think she ever challenged or rebelled it. She has seemed to always know it was true. I remember when I first was married to Dan, and I would be down in the basement while she was hanging out with her friends. She was dating a guy that she liked allot-- and I remember that she was always the one who sent everyone home on time, never broke the rules, and never acted like she was trying to show off or not be herself around them (especially him). I felt like she was confident in who she was and with her relationship with her Heavenly Father.

Sure she LOVED silly girl things (talking on the phone, music, etc.) and enjoyed silly teenager fun--but she did it without compromising.

(Again... Amy playing the piano with Colton--we enjoy being spoiled by our child-less Aunts)

I remember being an EFY counselor while she attended a session at BYU. I was engaged to Dan at the time. One night my responsibility was to help create a virtual wall of counselors to help "guide" the kids back to the dorms and not wonder around campus. I ran into Amy w/ all her cool friends. I remember her yelling out as she walked off, "I LOVE YOU ALICIA!" It warmed my heart. As you marry into a family you always wonder where your placement will be, and how you will fit in. I never felt any sort of difficult transition with her. She loved me from the beginning and accepted me, no weird feelings or having to navigate our new relationship.

I have always felt that she has never been embarrassed by me. She always includes me with her friends. I have never been the nerdy, old-fashioned mom who married her oldest brother. I have just been one of the fam, and her friends--even when I was super BIG pregnant!

(Amy with baby Sterling when he was born)

I remember Amy losing a allot of weight in high school. I worried about her, but since then I have noticed that she is really healthy about it. She appreciates good food BUT in moderation. I KNOW she LOVED learning about nutrition at BYU. She enjoys good, healthy things (exercise, activities...)just like her relationships, or anything else in her life for that matter. However, she never solicits unwanted advice or judges others.

(Amy hugging HER OWN BABY-Lola on her first birthday!!)

I could not love Amy any more for the fact that she gave Dacie a girl cousin.In hopes that they will have a close relationship as I do with some of mine. It is our first cousin on Dan's side of the family!!!! (now she just needs to keep the cousin friends coming...)

Best of all it has been amazing to see Amy become a mother. Not only does she make pregnancy, labor, delivery and nursing easy--she is a baby machine...The Love she has shown everyone very much goes into her relationships with her baby and hubby! It is FUN to talk about big, grown up things. Amy is very tender and hates to see anyone cry, especially her baby!

Before Amy had Lola ...she had her dogs-Bentley and Lucy, and I remember the worry and time she spent taking care of them as well. She LOVES animals too--She is tender-hearted.

I know Amy appreciates sleep and does well getting it. But she still takes motherhood on like a champ!

I know allot of people in Amy's family really value her opinions and fashion sense. I notice allot of the siblings, as well as her mom, confide in her. They also turn to her for advice in fashion and really listen to her opinions. She knows how to get a deal, and make you look SUPER cute & trendy..I mean, look at the pictures-they are proof!!!

Last but not least--Amy is talented. She plays the piano (that is something I want my children to do--even though I passed up my opportunity). It is a valuable talent in the church!!! She also can make the darnedest, cutest crafts. From-- things to hang her daughters bows on, to the bows themselves, to letter for peoples names....she sees something and makes it happen in a cute, trendy, very well-done way. I always want her to have me for Christmas so maybe I can capitalize on these talents!! How selfish am I?

(Amy with her family!!)

Those who are Amy's closest friends seem to stay close to Amy despite distance and growing families. Her close relationships just seem to get stronger. I am grateful to consider her one of mine. My life has been happier with her in it. She is one of the NICEST people I have met. Like I said, someone so stinkin' sweet deserves the sweetest birthday!!

SWeeT BirthDaY Dreams AMERS!!!

We LOVE YOU!!!!!

The Wedding!!!

On Saturday June 28th-Dan's Brother Russ married Selena-(who incidentally has been a member of "the best Friends" that always hung out with Dan's sister Amy-- and as they said, Russ was the accessory-ha ha). Dan, I and the kids were able to come down the night before and attend the festivities that day!Racing (not really, if you knew Dan's dad) Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen to the Mesa temple after accidentally meeting up with them on the highway, after they had gone and picked up the flowers and we were running later than everyone else!
The kids hung out at the visitors center, and the temple grounds (THANK YOU Uncle Clint) while we were in the sealing AND after for pictures. They were pretty good troopers considering it was 110 degrees!
It was one of the sweetest and most spiritual sealings I have been to. I did not want to leave the temple. I enjoyed the sweet spirit I felt there and the overwhelming peace I was consumed with. I cannot imagine being married anywhere else and making these covenants that are not only for this earth life, but well beyond.



After having enough of the heat--we headed over to the Landmark Restaurant for a luncheon. Then we sprinted home to get some quick naps in before we had to return 1-2 hours before the reception for more pictures!

My goal in this whole affair was to get a GOOD family photo (since we matched and all)--and this was as good as it got. My camera was running out of batteries SO we were blurry-AAAHHH!
Dacie and our only cousin (on the Sorensen side) Lola (they are exactly 6 months apart) got matching dresses for the wedding...and of course we could not photograph 'the girls' enough. Here they are sharing some snacks!

Dacie kissing her cousin!
Dan was one of the groomsmen with his 2 other brothers (Clint and Scott) and got to even wear a tux!!! This will probably be the only time besides our wedding that I will have the privilege of checking him out in one. What a hottie!

Selena is a photographer (and in fact majored in it at NAU) SO she got one of the best photographers (or the best-I am clueless with this stuff) for her wedding, and pictures were the priority. Dan got to do allot of 'photo shoots'--check out the photographers site for a slide show and pictures of the affair (look at Sorensen-Reid Wedding).

They introduced the wedding party with a spotlight and DJ, one at a time-- and had them sit at a table up front. The picture above is Dan enjoying a moment with his brothers!

The reception was held at a country club that was "out there"...but it was BEAUTIFUL!!!! Selena's family did not 'hold back' ,and so needless to say this one of the BEST receptions we have attended. It was very formal and beautiful, but also had other fun additions (like a photo booth from the mall to take photos for free!). The entire evening was MC'd with a DJ and they even played a funny little newly wed game. What would a reception be without some DANCING! Daddy and Dacie tore it up on the floor!!

The grounds

Inside the reception hall- Dacie is taking it all in!
Of course guess what part of the reception was MY BOYS favorite? (including Dan's) THE FOOD! They had a chocolate fountain with the cool chocolate that hardened on the food quickly. They had a pasta bar with chefs that would cook your pasta for you right there, with your choice of fixings and sauce. There was shrimp, and sushi, and crackers and cheese.... Dan did not stop eating from the moment he walked in to when he walked out. There was lemonade fountains, and later cups to toast with sparkling cider, etc.! It was CRAZY FUN!! We could not leave, or sneak away as we had anticipated because we were having too much fun!
We got home pretty late...so we drove up to girls camp EARLY the next morning rather than squeezing it in that evening and hitting an elk!
As a side note from my previous post archive picture: We did not have to worry about trashing Russ's car-his "energetic" groomsmen took care of that for us, and Russ got it allot WORSE than we did (with flour down the a/c vents and all)!
Welcome to the Fam Selena!

HaPpY BeLAted Birth DAY Amber-Rose!

So my newest Sister-in-law is the one I have known for the least amount of time! I DID not even meet her until my brother and her were getting married!!! In fact, I met up with her sister on our flight out there (Sacramento), before I had even met her! And amidst not knowing me, she TRUSTED me to do her hair the morning of her wedding (super prego and all) --Welcome to the fam!

Kelby (my brother) and her dated, got engaged and married pretty quick, thus the reason for not meeting before-hand, however... It does not mean I love her any less!

Here are the cOoL things I DO know about Amber-Rose when we manage to get together!

I Know that she LOVES my brother! She is very vocal about how GreAt he is, and how his love was validity to her that Heavenly Father loved and knew her (who can't love someone who says that about her brother?). Their story is pretty cool--She only met my brother a few times/moments and decided to go after something good. She must be awesome (she is), because she "snagged" him pretty quick--right after his mission! Incidentally Kelby was visiting her roommate who was his special "friend" that he was coming to see, to see if there was 'something' there! Instead Kelby came away with a different 'something' else. Amber-Rose knows what she wants and goes after it!

As you can see Amber-Rose is very attractive and very photogenic. I am IN LOVE w/ her red hair. She is also the fashion guru of the bunch. It is so FuN to see my sisters go to her for advice in fashion. They fight over her hand-me-downs. She knows her shoes-- and a plethora of many other things. She dresses so dang cute, and was recently voted as best dressed in the family by many during a fun family Bingo game! (I bet she does not even know that, cuz' she was not there!).

Amber-Rose if very crafty and creative. She sees things and makes them happen- she has made some DARLING bows I covet, as well as diaper cakes, real cakes, and.... I think she should open up a boutique.

In fact, for our last family reunion she made a costume for each day of the reunion that went around our reunion theme, and dressed her entire CuTE family in them for each day. One day they were a complete cowgirl, saloon baby, and Indian Chief. She also painted matching t-shirts and made life size playing cards and yahtzee for game night....uh, Hellloooo! bet you wish she was at your reunion!

Amber-Rose is very good at paying compliments and verbalizing her thankfulness. I notice that she will immediately thank others for dinners, service, etc. She also is very good at expressing her joy and happiness and positive thoughts at events, things planned by others, or visiting your home. She makes others feel good because her thanks is immediate and sincere, and because her compliments come from someone who is CooL! Last but not least, I LOVE Amber-Rose because she provided Dacie with her only GIRL cousin on our side of the family! I cannot wait for Dacie and sweet, chunky Mikkelle to be the girly cousins at reunions and grandma's camp! It is fun to see her as a cute, little, first time mommy with Mikkelle.

I am grateful Amber-Rose joined our family and has LovEd us in all our imperfect glory!

Happy Birthday Sis, I know it was a good one!

HuTcHiNgS HoLd Em' ReUnIoN- Day 2

Sunday is a Special Day!

After church, family photos, lunch, naps, western crafts and dinner...we headed up to the meeting house for an evening of FuN!(Dan, Shaun, Mom H, Colton, Kelby)

We each adopted a kid and split up into 4 groups for 'stations'

(Ryland, Booboo, Amber-Rose, Kayden, Mindy & Grandpa H dead on the floor)

Station #1 is to put on western make-up (fake eyelashes, glitter, eyeliner pencils, RED lipstick, blue eyeshadow) and bust out the boas and bowler hats-- to take B/W photos

(Dacie, Alicia, Brendon, Beth, Cara-Sterling in front)

Sterling putting on Uncle Brendon's mustache
Aunt Mara putting on My (Alicia) lovely 'saloon gal' make-up, while Dacie learns a thing or two
Dan's going to DIE!!! My brothers talked him into this-- Dan and Shaun showing off their pretty lips!!
Cousin Kayden the hard core card player!

Station #2-Included some card games (go fish, old maid, life size Yahtzee -compliments of the Krandar family) and some country western children's books to read

Station #3- Was making wanted posters for each nuclear family within our family-Drawing pictures of them and writing why they are wanted in our family (i.e.- wanted for having the the kindest heart)

Station #4- Come up with a skit from a bag full of props to perform at the end

At each station there was a family video/pictures playing of photos since the last reunion--

it took longer than anticipated and started turning into a late evening!

Let the shows begin!...

Indiana Jones (shaun) and Afro man (kelby) fighting over Colton
Momma Shark attacking!
Uncle Chad and Aunt Breanna having a conversation about losing weight for the reunion-- on the jump rope telephone!
More of the slow motion fight scene (they actually did it in slow motion)

After returning to camp and getting the little babies in bed, the camp fire was lit and games were plentiful each evening. Bedtimes were forgotten and treats busted out!
Grandpa playing domino's with "Da Boy" cousins!!

Happy Belated Birthday BoBoo!

So you could say that I got a little behind in my birthday tributes for June. However these are some of my favorite people...so better late then never!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBERLYN BROOKE!

Amberlyn entered our family with a LoUd Bang! She had a voice on her that has NOT diminished through the years. We gave her a nick name of peacock because of that supreme resonating talent-ha ha ha. She made sure Chad was super surrounded by girls. Amberlyn made our family of five (at that time)- 4 girls and a boy!
I believe the best way to describe Amberlyn would be CoLoRfuL! She is absolutely full of life and animation
Because of Amberlyn's birth order I never got to go to high school or college with her. She served a mission (In Argentina) after I was married--because of this I do not have as many cool or embarrassing stories on her. But I can tell you that despite our lack of life experiences together she is still one of my closest siblings and is totally devoted to me. Amberlyn is devoted. She will be yours truly forever once you are in her life. I always felt important and looked up too when I was around her, and that is a good feeling to have-the trust, companionship and love you feel from that person.
(This is a classic picture of my sister-I remember her so well this way...when all four of us girls shared one small room-full of bunk beds on both walls. I would look down from the top bunk on the opposite side and see this little pixie face every day. This is my BooBoo)

I always felt like what I said was important to Amberlyn. That she takes my words to heart, including unsolicited advice. That is another glorious attribute about Booboo, is that she is humble and is quick to apologize, or try to change her wrong. She is a RED head and does have a little fury in her-but it is VERY short lived and forgotten even quicker.

(I Love this classic 80's picture-yet once again- because I did her hair in it! I loved that she let me fix her up!)

I Loved being looked up to and she would LET me do her hair and make up ANY time I was around and I could. What older sister could ask for anything more-she did not EVEN borrow or ruin my clothes!!! I could keep her around forever!

Amberlyn has had allot of life experiences. Not only did she serve a mission in Argentina but she majored in linguistics at BYU. She then went on to teach English in Japan for a time. She is now back with us in the states, but has rarely settled herself in one place-- attending every girls camp possible for every stake possible, and being and EFY counselor. She was BORN to be a counselor. She LOVES being with the youth and teaching them. She is one of them in an older body! (of course with some life experience maturity).
Amberlyn is easily entreated and a free spirit! She is game for anything.
(Good ol' swim team summers with the family-Amberlyn is far left and I am middle of the back row...umm this is the year I graduated from High School! ha ha)

Some of my most tender memories of her is when she has come to help me after having a baby. She takes the other kids on like a champ and just does it all and gets things done, without making it look hard. She would send me off to get a pedicure while she rocked and inconsolable colicky baby, mop the floors, get the kids dressed & fed, make the meals, read a book or two (during her visit), watch movies with me, rock a crying baby (I am not exaggerating about the crying baby-she even ask me once if I could make it Stop!...I WISH!), take the boys to the river, play outside with the boys, AND stayed and extra week because I was having a hard time of it--of course, she did this ALL while having a torn ACL (that she had surgery on right after her visit)....and you get my drift. She does it in blink of an eye! However... on that same life saving rescue mission for me, she did manage to get 3 tickets in one day! I do have to say she drives like she lives life...PASSIONATELY! ha ha ha She is one of our family's worst drivers--BUT WE LOVE HER!
(All four Sisters-(top) Alicia, Cara, (Bottom) Mindy, Amberlyn; We always dreamed about becoming an all girls band with this song we made up on a long road trip-this would have been our front album cover-ha ha ha ha)

(Amberlyn finding some HAPPY things to play with at a dinner at the Cracker Barrel)
Amberlyn is always first to volunteer if she is not committed to anything and has the money. For instance my brother needed someone to fill some spots to go to Mexico and she was game money permitting. She is first to play a game, watch a movie or play on sports team when needed. She runs errands, opens up her home, goes on splits, has you over for dinner. She will be the first to come to your rescue for a broken heart or if you are in need of a buddy to play with!
(Above-water skiing at a BIG Hutchings reunion-Amberlyn lower left/Alicia middle w/sun glasses; Below- Tubing down a river in Pennsylvania while vacationing at a cabin with the fam after the miss Alicia middle, Amberlyn left!)
She has appropriately been the activities coordinator for most of her wards and comes up with the greatest and most fun ideas (of course my mom has some genetic say in that one). People call her to find out where the fun is and what is going on!
(Something pretty Cute and Nerdy about my family is for every holiday ALL of us would wear matching holiday attire, typically color appropriate, to church that week! I ma far left in red and Amberlyn is right below me in one of my old dresses...gotta love hand-me-downs!)

Amberlyn is devoted to family and there is very little that would stop her from doing something for any one of us. You always know you can count on her and that you have someone covering your back.
(Amberlyn and Me stranding lights on an arch way for our sister Cara's wedding and for our moms MAD(dening) decorating ideas!)
I remember when I was heart broken after the mission. I had to go get my things from my old friend-boys home-where I had stored everything. It could have been an awkward situation (although it wasn't) and knowing this, she volunteered to come with me to get my things. The whole car ride there her boy friend and her played my heart break theme song as loud as they could blast it in the car. They made a situation that could have been hard leaving me feeling comforted and looked after.
I hope someday a guy recognizes this devotion to the gospel, family, fun, the youth and realize how much color, faithfulness and happiness it could contribute to his life....until that time, I'll KEEP HER!

(Aunt Booboo doing what she does best being with family, reading the scriptures to the neice and nephews!)

She is a great sister, a GREAT aunt and a great friend. Thanks for making me Numero Uno!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!