Utah!!

So, way back at the beginning of August, we packed up the family in our Mini-Van and took it on it's first real road trip to Utah.  We drove to Las Vegas the first night and stayed there then left for American Fork, Utah, where our good friends the Thompsons now live and they were so gracious to let us stay with them for a few nights.  On our way we stopped in St. George to see this beautiful Temple. 

 and who should we run into but our best buddies, the Cooke Family also heading to Utah.  We were all headed to Utah  for a decidedly sad occasion, Our good friend's the Gray's had just lost their newborn son, Henry, and we were going to stand by their side I had to wait a considerably long time to write this post because I am just so dang emotional about the whole thing.  Seeing Emily and Brent and their strength has really strengthened me in my testimony of our purposes here on Earth and the love our Heavenly Father has for us. 

 We got to American Fork and walked to the neighborhood park to get all those car trip wiggles out, it was beautiful we were little enamored as neither Bryan nor I had been through Utah since we were children and I had just driven through on one of our Cross Country Moves.

 it poured down rain the second we walked back in the door to the house...with lightening and thunder and all, quite a treat for my boys!!

 The next day we went to Salt Lake City for the funeral.

We decided to stop by and see the Salt Lake City Temple before hand and it was really nice and the boys absolutely loved it, plus they got hang out with Kien and Caleb and that is always fun!!

 touching the door to the Temple:  Kevin said he could here Jesus talking inside.  I asked him what he said, He said, "He said to be a Good Example"  man, I love this kid...

We went out for lunch after the Temple and after the funeral we went out for lunch again?? but we wanted to get to spend a little time with our friends the Stevens

6 of the 7 boys all 5 years old or younger that we took out to eat, that poor waitress!

I stole these pics off of their blog...but I'm in em' so I figured it was okay  :)  Here we are, an old gang reunited

after the funeral was a get together at Brent's family  home.  It was so nice to get to see our friends, Brent and Emily, Kristen and Jake and the kiddos, and Claire and Eric and the kiddos, all friends we hadn't seen in such a long time as we all live in different states or countries right now.

 Saturday we just hung out with the Thompson's and took it easy before we had to leave for home that evening. The boys had their first experience with  a slip-n-slide (they are hooked).  and we picked apricots which was another really fun pastime...

 we got lots of apricots!!

 

 Then we headed home and that is when we got this news!!

(it is related to advil and my desire to take some but fear that maybe I shouldn't)

 Then we went swimming at the hotel!!  Then headed the rest of the way home.

 I brought HALF the apricots home and decided to make apricot preserves...and thus had my first canning experience (as and adult) and it was good so yay!!

The End

When 3 just isn't enough

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Sister is Wed in Laguna Beach

So on July 24 My sister got married** in Laguna Beach, Ca.  We gathered the troops and hiked down to the beach taking pictures all along the way and were met there by the local preacher, Don, who performed the ceremony.  It was very beautiful and very fun to get to know John better along the walk and to spend time with so much of our family we were just missing Jessie and her family, but she has a newborn and was home bound, or at least local bound out in Tennessee. So here are some pics from the day.  Rachael and John spent the whole week out here and saw everything from Hollywood to Coronado while here so they left tired and sunned but I think they loved it and maybe we will get them to come back soon : D

family Pick.  This is the most family we have ever had in one picture, I believe.

 the boys

the girls (I look a little heavy in that outfit, I won't wear it again) 

 my boys

 the sweet spot for a beach ceremony!

 you may kiss the bride!!!!!!!!!!!!

 the sun was super bright and nobody wanted to look at the camera so we got silly pics!!

 I kinda love this one!

 mom and dad, officially have all their girls married off!!!

 After the ceremony we headed back to mom and dad's place to have dinner and cake!!

 Josh was having a hard time waiting : D

 It was a really BIG bite!

 yes, he bit her...(we kinda love this guy)

 but she got him back with a Hitler, 'stache...

 We are so happy to welcome John into our family...Congratulations Rachael and John and may you have a lifetime of happiness together!



More Random Summer fun Part 2

We went to our Cousin's wedding on July 9th!!  Ashley and Bryce were married and it was beautiful!!

and...we danced.  Bryan was dancing with Lorraine so Bob and I decided to "try" to make them jealous of our dancing skills, but Lorraine was pretty good and Bryan was a good follower so we never really succeeded, but had fun trying : D

 aaahhh beach days, How I love Corona Del Mar!

 and Rainy Days the perfect excuse to wear our rain boots in July!!

 and sleepy days, this is how it goes when daddy has the boys for a Saturday, he wears em' out!!

 and movie days, with popcorn!!

 Swing ball, our new outdoor/beach game is super fun and loved by the whole family!!

 pb&j a family favorite and awesome mess maker

 Hanging with the boys at Cooke Ranch for a pool and pizza party!!

 Daddy had a birthday and blew out imaginary candles!!

 for Daddy's birthday Sarah, Josh and I surprised him with a closet makeover which included a paint job and ended up taking a few days and required the help of friends near and far by the time it was over (thank you Hillary)

 another picture I found of camping in Yosemite.  I love this pic of Kevin so I wanted to add it in.

 another picture of Kevin's preschool graduation, super cute and he was so super excited about his accomplishment :D  He memorized his lines in the program perfectly and they were long lines too.

 and Last but not least we had our 10th anniversary.  which ended up being a little odd but lots of fun.  Bryan had to study for a test that is coming up and so I had planned on going to watch project runway with some friends so B came with me up to Studio City and we had dinner at Aroma Cafe and then he studied while I went and watched Project runway with the girls then when it was over we had some dessert together then headed home.  It was a really fun evening and we both got to do a lot of what we wanted/needed to do and still got a date out of it...oh yah and props to Grandma and Grandpa who had the kiddos spend the night and had them all the next day as I went and worked at the shop for my mom so she could have a grand kids day!!  They went to the park, swimming, and the movies, and the book store it was quite a day!