September Trip to Utah

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of my sister's wedding.  I'm killing myself.  I realized when we got to the temple that I didn't have a camera and then at the reception I was singing so I didn't take the time to photograph any of it.  I was hoping to steal images from my sisters.  Hopefully someday soon.  I'm so happy that I could be there.  Tamara was a beautiful bride.  As I watched both her and Chase with tears in their eyes as they tied the knot I couldn't help but get a little misty eyed myself. Afterward as Kimberly (her twin) went up to hug them both I might have overflowed with tears knowing that they have been through so much together and they have grown up to be such beautiful girls inside and out.  I'm so proud of Tamara and that she found an equally amazing guy to be with her forever.  

So here's the sad story.  When I got home Paul put my camera card into the computer.  I thought that he had unloaded the pictures onto our computer but he hadn't.  A few days later I pulled my card out of the computer and deleted everything from it just like I always do.  I was devastated when I realized that I had lost everything from my trip to Utah, especially the sweet day Audrey and I spent with my parents.  I scrambled on the computer to find some sort of software to bring back the pictures that were gone.  I found one that would restore all the images including the raw but it was going to cost me 40$.  Yikes!  So I found a free software that was able to restore just the JPEGs which are not super awesome, but the fact that I got the pictures back meant everything to me.  

After the wedding we all took much needed time to relax and enjoy each others  company.  The kids played. We had a lazy Sunday with delicious food.  I love being at my Mom's house on Sunday.  

I spent a few afternoons and evenings with Paul's family.  Pretty much every time we got together Audrey wanted to sit on the couch and have Grandpa or Anna read to her the entire time.  She loves to have them read to her.  I love that she loves to read.  They were so sweet to indulge her, despite Grandpa being so tired that he fell asleep once....he just kept going.  I also got to go to a concert with the adults in the Kendall Family and the Storytelling festival.  They were both really good.  I owe it to Nicole to get me out of my old woman comfort zone.  She begged me to get up with her and dance at the concert.  I caved, and thoroughly enjoyed myself dancing with Grant and Nicole. They are pretty awesome.    

My sisters had the awesome idea of building a box village.  It was fun to watch the kids get so excited about their houses.  Audrey claimed a house that was supposed to be Leo's.  It was a small box with a door and a window.  She loved being in there and was content to just be by herself.  

Kimberly rented us a puppy the next day that we played with for a couple hours before having to sadly give him back.  

(video below)

 Jenn had her baby while I was there!  I haven't been there for many special events and I'm glad I was there for this one.  It was sweet to get to see this little miracle come into Jennifer and Derrick's lives.  Her story is so beautiful. I hope she someday realizes how many prayers she has answered.  Happy 

Birthday little Margaret!  

I got to spent an afternoon at my Mom's work baking chocolate, chocolate chip cookies with pecans...they were delicious.  Audrey enjoyed playing with kitchen gadgets that we ended out buying because you can't leave that place without getting something.  

 Then Mom took an extra afternoon off to spend with us.  We went to Bridle Veil Falls. When we got there we put our toes into the water.  It was COLD, REALLY COLD!  At one point Audrey and I bravely ventured out to the middle of the pond to get a picture.  Audrey got used to it a lot faster than I did because she was in it for quite a while.  At one point she decided to get a little braver and stood on this little rock, and immediately fell into the water soaking her bottom half.  The shock on her face from the cold was evident.  She wanted to go home immediately, until Dad mentioned feeding the fish and then she didn't want to leave. I watched as my parents fed the fish with Audrey and I was so grateful for this time with them, for me and for Audrey.

Birthday Videos

Audrey's Birthday

Audrey turned FOUR!  When did I get old enough to have a four year old?  She's going to school next year and I'm having a hard time even thinking about that.  This Mom wants to stay as far away from five as possible.  

Audrey wanted a Rapunzel birthday this year.  I love throwing her parties because it gives me an excuse to take a bunch of pictures of cute kids. :)  

Audrey's favorite Rapunzel song is the one she sings up in her tower about the things she does.  So for her party we did the things Rapunzel sings about.  We painted on canvases, and we decorated cupcakes. I made hair out of yarn that were pretty awesome if I do say so myself, and the girls decorated the hair with flowers, while the boys played with light up swords.  Then we took pictures of each of Audrey's friends, we ate cupcakes, and we sang Happy Birthday.  I think she really enjoyed it, especially the dressing up part.  She would look like this everyday if I would let her.  She loves pretending to be a princess.  

I can't believe my baby is growing up.  I love her.  

Things I want to remember about her at four:

She loves to sing and she doesn't care whose listening.  We'll be walking through the store and she'll belt out Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off".  I've only played it once and she already knows most the words, and the words she doesn't know she makes up for with loud made up words of her own.  

She still calls Bubba the bear her best friend.  Recently we had an incident where he was left in a hotel room.  I called frantically trying to find him and luckily they found him and shipped him back to us.  But I'm pretty sure Audrey felt like she had lost a family member until he arrived.  

She currently has an obsession with plastic swords and she's always bring them to me as asking, "Mom, you want to fight?".  It sounds so weird coming out of a four year old's mouth.

She loves painting.  Any time there is a opportunity she jumps at the chance.  We already started painting pumpkins for  Halloween.  

She says "What?" all the time.  She usually says it in the place of "seriously?"  It's hard to explain but I think it's hilarious.  I may be to blame. :)  Example:  "Daddy went to work?  WHAT?"  It it sounds so stupid in text but I'm laughing right now.  

She loves talking in different voices for her animals and barbies.  My favorite by far is Bubba's voice.  

She loves to be outside.  I feel bad because it's SO hot.  We don't usually spend a lot of time outside in the summer other than swimming, but she doesn't care how hot it is, she loves it!

Yesterday we went to the park and she found this random little girl and started talking and playing with her. She ran over to me a little while later and said, "Mom, I think she's my friend.  She knows my name."  I love watching her grow and learn things like making friends on her own.  

She started praying daily for a little brother or sister.  Hoping that happens soon.  

She's so sweet.  She will often ask me in the morning to snuggle her.  She'll randomly come up to me all the time and tell me that she loves me so much.  Every night when we say prayer together she will sit on my knees and she won't start praying until my arms are around her.  

She's pretty much the best thing that has ever happened to us!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!  We love you more than you will ever know.  

Birthday interview and singing videos to come...

Mom and Dad's

After the reunion I drove home with my parents.  I love taking long trips with them because I get them all to myself. :) The only bad part about the trip was the stop we took to eat.  We had the worst experience I have ever had ordering food at a Wendy's  I may never go back....that's how bad it was.  I had my niece with me.  I swear it took and hour to get to order our food and there were only five people in front of us! The people taking orders were moving SO SLOW.  Normally I wouldn't have cared.  I would have walked across the street and tried something else.  But we were in the middle of NO WHERE and we were hungry.  After waiting an hour to order, we got our food within 15 minutes.  I had to laugh when we got home and my sister was there.  She left way after we did.  

The next several days were filled with the things I love about being at my parents house.  I had breakfast with my parents.  I listened to my Dad crack jokes.  I watch my sister be the best Mom to her children.  I love watching my sisters be Moms.  It brings me so much joy and I learn so much from them.  

We painted with my sister Kimberly.  The next day she stayed up all night with me painting a picture for Audrey's room before I left.  It meant so much to me that I got to spend time with her and that she was willing to do that for Audrey.  Last of all, I got to take pictures of my sisters cute little boy.  I couldn't help but run for my camera when I saw him eating his cereal.   

Family Reunion

 I've been gone....for a really long time.  Good news, I'm back, and it feels good!  We'll talk later about why I disappeared, but right now it's time to get caught up.  Are you ready! Yay! 

Looking at these pictures makes me want to be here.  I want to relax on the hammock on the front porch, and breathe in the fresh mountain air.  I want to ride a horse in the quiet of the evening, or ride a four wheeler for miles with the wind blowing in my hair while Audrey giggles in front of me.

It all sounds so relaxing.  I might have to beg my sister Michelle to let me visit again soon.  

We went to my Brother-in-laws family's ranch for our reunion.  My Dad's family hasn't gotten together in years and years, so I didn't want to miss it.  I love visiting with my Aunts and Uncles, and there are so many cousins I wished I lived closer to.  

My favorite parts: 

Listening to my Dad and his brother, my uncle Mark get caught up.  They are so much like each other.  

Playing volleyball with Emma and Tyler.

  Riding horses with Audrey.  

Going on four wheeler rides with my Mom.  It's fun to see the farm girl come out of her.  

Eating and chatting with my siblings.  

Watching Audrey play with cousins.  

Driving the law mower for the train.  

Watching my nieces and nephew be cowgirls and cowboys, I might be a little jealous

Looking through quilting books with my sister Lisa and Aunt Diana

Watching the Cowboy Sam and Kimberly romance begin.  I love you Kimberly!
Talking about Grandma and Grandpa.  I miss them so much.
Fishing with Audrey.  She's never been fishing before.  Every time I would reel in some moss she would say in her most excited voice...."Look Mom, we caught some SEAWEED!"  We never did catch a fish.  We'll have to try again soon!

This might be a picture overload....but I think they tell a good story!
I love my family!  I just wish Paul could have been there.