Walkin the Loop

We love a good walk around the loop. It's even better when cousins come along.

This is what it looks like when your uncle highjacks your bike but still lets you "ride on the back".  Probably not a good place to be.

Aeva was actually  much happier riding in the wagon.

Summer days will be ending soon.  So glad to be outside with the best people ever!

Cowboy Brandon

Never has my brother ever looked like, acted like or even talked about a cowboy. Then I receive these pictures on my phone.

Brandon decided to go an play with some livestock?  I'll admit...it's not a bad look (however, he will need to sit up straight on his mighty steed if this is going to become a regular activity).  Maybe Brandon should buy him a few furry animals and start milking cows.  

My kids would love to have an uncle with a farm.

The Taylor's

We LOVE missionary farewells because it usually means that some of our old friends come back and visit the ward.  Aeva loves the Taylor's and gets beyond excited every time they come back to the valley for a visit.

Cute kids.  Maybe we can convince them to move back this way!!!  We can be quite persistent when needs be.

Gus Gus

Gracie decided to get another hamster.  This one was named, Gus Gus.  

Yup, just like the one on Cinderella.

We had him for exactly 33 days and then he passed on into the world where all hamsters eventually go.  Sorry, little Gracie.  I think we will take a break from hamsters for a while - too much love for something that may not stay around for very long. 

Inch Worm

We found an inch worm at the dam. Aeva was in love.

We had to convince her that he would not be happy living with us in our house.  He much prefers going back into the tree!  I'm glad she was willing to listen.  I'm not a fan of worms in the house!

Goodbye, Mr. Worm.  Hope you turn into a butterfly, moth or simply don't get squished!

Gracie's 5K

We are really proud of our little, Gracie. She and some of her soccer team decided to run in a 5K for a Warrior fundraiser. This would be her first 5K!

Warming up!

On your mark, get set...GO!

They all did awesome and this was not a normal 5K...lots of running up and down big hills.

Their reward...breakfast!  Too bad no one is ever hungry after running.

Strong work, Gracie!  Each race gets a little easier than the one before it!  Keep running...

All About Me

Aeva has joined Gracie in the 8-11 year old Activity Days group. Aeva is SO excited to be there and Gracie is SO excited to move into Young Women's. Funny how you can never wait for the next big change...well until you are 40. That seems to be the time when you start wanting to turn around and go backwards!

To sign off one of their Faith in God activities, they had to create a poster with 10 things about themselves.  Aeva must have heard some of my feedback to Gracie because her poster is nice and well rounded with family at the very top.

Now for Ms. Grace.  She looks to have listed soccer at #1...can't argue with that too much.  #2 - Candy...that is where the feedback came.  Family came in as #3...candy beat us...what?  Her sweet tooth has overtaken her love for her mother.  We will work on this one.  She also threw in a carrot at #7...this may have been in an effort to make me feel better about #2.  

There are so many amazing things about these girls.  They bring a spirit into our home that is irreplaceable and impossible to find anywhere else.  I'm proud to call them mine.

School Pictures 2015

School pictures are back!

Maddie - 8th Grade:

Gracie - 6th Grade:

Aeva - 3rd Grade:

They are growing up so quickly.  Love the sweet girls that they are.

Mini Mission 2015 - Paris, France

Maddie got to go on another mini-mission with her YW group. This year she served in Paris, France. She taught her investigators about the Atonement and why it was important. She also had to teach them about how they would know that the things she and her companion had taught them were true. An awesome experience for these kiddos. It's hard to share what you believe and know how to do it well. So proud of them...you can do hard things!

Roller Blade Canes???

Aeva went to the Fun Center with her cousin. A few hours later I received this picture on my phone. What the???

I had to learn by falling on my butt over and over and over.  When did these puppies start to exist?  Probably the same time as lawyers...?  Just sayin.

Nails Night

All of the random, fake nails came crawling out one night.  They lasted a good hour or so before popping off one by one by one.  It's the time together that counts, right?

Life Quote

Love, love...

Just Throw 'er in the Back!

Hilarious!  I drove up behind this truck the other day. I thought it was real for 1/2 a second. My girls took longer to figure it out. They were appalled that someone would throw grandma in the back in her wheelchair. 

Funny stuff.

You ARE What you Wear

Unfortunately, my girls feet keep growing. That means a constant circle of soccer shoes. Gracie wore her old pair out and amazingly there were no "hand me downs" waiting for her. 

 She got a brand new pair all for herself.

She will now be able to out run, out kick, and out last all other soccer players.  

(She will also be able to jump over tall buildings in a single bound).  

Go get em, Gracie!

The Valley 2015

The sunrises and sunsets have been amazing.  

I love where I live!  Blessed to be here.

Butterflies

Ella and Aeva...found markers...drew on their faces. Why not? 

 No one bothered to check if the markers were washable. 

 Turns out...they weren't.

Good thing they are cute with and without their faces painted.

Comic

I often add health related comics to the monthly provider newsletter at my work. I thought this one qualified as funny medical humor. 

Love what I do!

Take a Picture

The other day Gracie opened the fridge and stood there for an extended period of time looking at her "food options". I being concerned that all the food would be warm by the time she decided sarcastically (and lovingly) told her that she should take a picture and shut the door while she decided what she wanted to eat. A few days later I found this picture on my phone. 

 Apparently she took me seriously.

What an obedient child I have.  Love you, Ms. Grace.

Grandma Hazel's 90th Birthday!

My Grandma Hazel turned 90 last month. We decided to have a surprise celebration for her! She is an amazing woman and I'm proud to call her grandma.

Aeva helped with the celebration by making some of the brightest cupcakes I have ever seen.  

Then we started gathering photos from all the kids, grandkids and great grandkids to make her a video.

This picture was one of my favorites...my brother, Brandon, dressed in Grandmas stuff.  

She might not think it is as funny as I do.

They day of the party.  We actually pulled it off...she had NO clue anything was happening.  She thought she was going to a show in SLC.  

Everyone got a picture with Grandma.

Yummy treats everywhere...that makes for the best party.  Lots of sugar.

Aeva found my cousins shoes and thought they were fantastic.  I'm glad she can't buy her own shoes for a while yet.  No high heels for 8 year olds.  Fracture/fall risk.

Five of Grandmas nephews came and sang her some cowboy tunes for her birthday.
Everyone loved it!

Facts about Grandma:  She is the mother of 8 children, the grandma of 29 grandchildren, the great grandma of 56 great grandchildren and the great, great grandma of 14 great, great grandchildren.  More importantly, she LOVES John Wayne!

Each of us wrote a letter to Grandma telling her of a favorite memory that we have of her.