Sunday, November 10, 2013

All Because Two People Fell In Love

 
 
Michael and Gail Forever...(It's so sappy I know, not normally a sappy person, but once in a while I suffer a case of extreme sentiment.)  You've been warned.
 
As our 15th Wedding Anniversary approaches I find myself thinking about our beginnings, where we are now, and where we're going.  We met in the autumn of 1995, married in the Autumn of 1998, and now in the Autumn of 2013, nearly twenty years later I realize we've quite a history together.  I almost wish blogs existed back then, I would have a much more detailed history of us...Not that I blog everything for crying out loud.

We met our first year at Salt Lake Community College.  This is a funny story, (funny - ironic, not funny - ha ha) I didn't plan to go to SLCC.  I was well on my way to the University of Utah.  But, due to a tumultuous, painful and truthfully, a very scary senior year, I had to change my plans.  Years later I would discover that was the most significant turning point in my life!  It was there that I met the young and very dashingly handsome Mr. Rimington when we both joined the Institute of Religion choir.  I wrote to him while on his mission, even though I was also writing to my high school sweetheart while he was serving in the military, (we had agreed to see other people).  I never thought Mike and I would write more than a few "kick-off" to your mission letters, but God had other plans and we became fast friends!

After a year of writing to Mike I realized I didn't just enjoy our instant friendship, but I truly loved him.  Discovering how I knew I loved him was a special experience for me that I won't share here.  But I was certain I loved him and now I was counting down the days until he returned.  Which eventually he did and three months later we were engaged, three months after that we were married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. 

Now four babies, seven years of school, fours different residences, and seven vehicles later, we are still going strong.  We've put in a front and back yard together, built a shed together, finished a basement and remodeled our upstairs together.  We've seen each other through changes in employment, nursed one another back to health when ill, and grown together as we've learned about my depression and anxiety.  We've cried on one another's shoulders, shared our deepest concerns for our children and family.  We've read the scriptures together and shared our testimonies with each other in our words and our deeds. 

He compliments my weaknesses with his strengths, and I hope I do the same for him.  Mike, I love you more than these simple, inadequate words can express.  I will love you forever.

                                                  First Family Photo with Emma
 
From our first baby to our last,
Emma, Aaron, Rebekah and Moriah
are here...
 
                Gail and Moriah on her blessing day
 
all because two people fell in love.

                                                                  First year anniversary
 
Happy 15th Anniversary Babe!
Here's to another wonderful 15 years and an eternity more!

 
 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

4


We are loving four!!!  One, two and three were uhm, let's say challenging, ok I'll be honest, they were really hard.  I'm older now with less energy and Mo has a defiant and stubborn side.  But just when I was about to pull my hair out, she turned four.  Oh glorious four - age of reason, age of independence (the good kind), and in Mo's case the age of potty training.  Hallelujah!  Here are snapshots from her birthday parties, (she had a combined party with her friend who turned four a few days earlier, and of course her family party). 
 
Birthday Rock
 

Mo and Abby...Blow out the candles!


 Sure take a bite, it's your cake after all.
 

Birthday Wishes!  (Don't do it Bekah)




 
More presents!  I could get used to this.

This Is Halloween...







Wednesday, October 23, 2013

...And We're Back

After a brief hiatus from the blogging world, we're back.  These next few posts claim that they were posted by Michael, (it's actually Gail blogging here), Mike was already signed in the computer so it naturally assumed I was him.  So I've realized I don't do a lot of blogging in the Summer, when we get home from our water/outdoor activities I'm too pooped to blog.  So here's our summer packed into a few words, swimming, water slides, Classic Fun Center, Lagoon, Bear Lake...you get the idea. 

Here's the latest in our world: We just went to Disneyland, (pics below), Mo has finally accepted the concept of potty training, (that makes for a much happier mommy), the kids are doing great in school, when Mo feels more like a veteran potty-user she will join her preschool class.  We will also be getting a new pet, (a kitten) in the next few days, so watch for those cute pics.  Bekah got her ears pierced, (pics below).  Aaron earned his Wolf.  Gail was released from the primary presidency and now teaches activity days, and Mike teaches the Bears in cub scouts, so pretty soon he'll be Aaron's leader.  Our cluster of birthdays is also about to begin, so watch for those milestones in the near future. 

And now a word on privacy.  I've decided to go back to a Private Blog, so if you enjoy catching up with the Rimington's of the Michael and Gail variety, please email me and I'll send you an invite when I make this puppy private again.

Autumn at Wheeler Farm

Who's grumpier, the witch or Bekah?

Pick a pumpkin!

Pet the spider!

Just don't start it Aaron...
 

Toothless and Pierced!

 
Before

After
 

Disneyland Take Two

We just had a really fun family vacation in Disneyland. 
This was the second time we've taken our kids, (technically this was Mo's first visit because the last time we went she was only 4 months old and we left her with my mother). 
Here are a few of our favorite moments.
 Mo's first airplane ride!

 Halloween in Disneyland! 
Just look at that expression on Mo's face...it says it all!  And it makes up for all the pictures she where she would strike a pouty face for no reason.


 Mom's 2 fave's Goofy and Dug!!


The kids became Senior Wilderness Explorers and got to meet Russell!  The wilderness must be explored!
One of the best moments of the trip - Mo getting out there and dancing with DJ in Cars Land.  It was hilarious, we kept prompting our older kids to get out there and dance, but they wouldn't do it.  Then we let Mo out of the stroller and she took off, ready to dance and join the party.

Our Map-Man!
 
 Sugar Face!
 
"You shall NOT Pass."

 Mo, patiently waiting for her favorite ride...wait for it...wait for it...The Tower of Terror!  Believe it or not, she absolutely loved that ride!
 Mo and her peeps!
The World of Color was nothing less than amazing and spectacular!  Too bad Mo crashed right before it began.
I just fell in love with these benches in Bug's Land.  I love the detail in Disneyland!  Plenty to look at while you're waiting in line.
Speaking of lines...this is the kids on the most popular ride right now, The Radiator Racers, without the fast pass the line for this ride is over a hour long!  Thank you Daddy for standing in the much shorter, much faster moving line to get the fast passes!

Mo waiting for the Aladdin Musical to begin.
On our last day we went to the Rain Forest Café.
Tink!
 
Time to go home Mo, kiss Lightning McQueen goodbye.
 
 Too much fun, must rest now...

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Punchline

Mo to the family:  "Why did the bear cross the road?  To get to the other side...without taking a breath or any pause whatsoever she next said...NOW Laugh!"

Friday, March 15, 2013

Just Call Him Super-Boss

I don't really have a picture to accompany this post, (unless I go snap one of Michael on his laptop), but this really does deserve mentioning in the family blog.  Just imagine as you read this announcement, I'm dancing around, snapping my fingers, wiggling my curvy hips - got the visual?  Okay, here goes:

He got a BIG promotion, he got a BIG promotion,
he got a BIG promotion,
wiggle, wiggle, shake, snap!
 
Things I've noticed about the change:
1.  He likes it when we call him boss.
2.  He works more, which is only hard right now because
he's also finishing up his last semester of school so he's super busy.
3.  He didn't think he'd enjoy people leading vs. project leading,
but he's actually very good at it.
4.  He loves his job much more now than when he first joined this department.
5.  He can work from home but it's kind of pain in the butt because he's always on a conference call, so we have to be quiet.  (Have you ever tried to keep Mo quiet when she's on a rampage? 
It isn't pretty.)
6.  He takes more calls at strange hours to accommodate, Taiwan, India, Australia, England...etc.
7.  Even though he doesn't work with anyone in Salt Lake City, he still dresses up for work,
yay - more iroing for me.
8.  Oh, and did I mention he likes it when we call him boss?
 
This post is a little late coming, he's been the big boss for a month now, but we wanted
to tell him how proud we are!  Keep up the good work honey!
 
We love you!

Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam

This is Mike, his co-teacher and their Sunbeam class. 
Mo is actually not the one curled up on teacher's lap, she's front and center with her hands clasped.  Mike willingly agreed to be moved to the Sunbeams to help Mo adjust to Primary.
She's doing great, but with both of us in Primary she spends a lot of time running back and forth between us, as if she can't really decide who's lap she wants to sit on most.
 
 

Double Digit Midget

Emma's teacher likes to call the students that turn 10, "Double Digit Midgets".
Emma loves the nickname.  Would you like to know what her parents don't love?
The fact that she's 10 already and it seems like yesterday I was in the hospital giving birth to this crazy girl.  Do this again and she's 20!  Mike's father warned me not to blink, because they grow up just that fast.  Looks like he was right.  Love you Emma, (even with your rapid growth rate)!
 
Here's 10 Things We Love About You:
1.  Your wit and humor
2.  Your creativity
3.  Your gorgeous smile
4.  Your laugh
5.  Your good grades
6.  Your beautiful hair
7.  Your personality
8.  Your little sprinkle of freckles
9. Your style
10.  Your amazingly strong testimony
 
You're a wonderful girl
and we love you so much!
Happy Birthday
 



(I like how Aaron's cheeks are filled with air, ready to assist his sister should she need any help.)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Off Track? Time to Visit the Aquarium

The kids love this place...and this time Aaron got to bring along a friend.