Upstairs

Evie figured out how to get up the stairs. It's going to be a long few weeks until she figures out how to go down them.

Taylor

After our family reunion, me and the kids stayed up there for another 9 days while Jamie came home and worked. It was nice to get out of the heat for a few days but it was also nice to get home. I think that's the longest I've ever been away from Jamie since we got married and I was homesick. While we were there, my dad gave TJ a cowboy hat. Every morning when my dad would go out to feed the horses, TJ would say, "It's Cowboy Time" and grab his hat and head outside with him.

My mom's family also had their family reunion while we were up there. They had dinner and a dance the first night and then races and lunch the second day. This is Emmy at the dance doing the Macarena and the chicken dance. She had so much fun.

And here are the kids doing the races the next morning.

And here is my mom with her brothers and sisters. 11 of the 12 of them were there. The 11th one is on a mission in Hawaii.

And being silly.

What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Wyatt caught a tarantula while we were in Taylor and offered all the grandkids a dollar if they would hold it. Emmy was the first one, and one of only 3 to do it. She amazes me sometimes. She let it crawl all over her and tried to convince me to let her bring it home for a pet.

Hancock Reunion

Cody and Rinda were in charge of our family reunion this year. The first night we went over to Cody and Rinda's and ate dinner and then had a talent show. This is TJ saying his poem. It is called "Hand-Me-Downs," and talks about how hard it is to grow up a boy with only sisters. He did a great job and won the funniest act award. Emmy also gave a poem and Addy gave a scripture and they both did a great job.

The next couple of days we spent at ShowLow lake. We all had a great time. There was plenty of boating and swimming.

  And hanging out with friends.

TJ and Ryder are so cute together. Their personalities are very similar. They are just really happy fun little boys and they get along really well.

They loved making "seaweed spaghetti."

And of course everyone can use a good nap on vacation.

The last night all the kids went out to dinner without kids to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary. It was a fun reunion.

Addy's 3!

Addy turned 3 on the 9th. She started her birthday early with presents from Tommy and Jeanette and Grammy and Papa.

On her actual birthday we got up early and went for a walk. The cat belongs to one of our neighbors and Addy asks almost every morning to go for a walk and see it.

When we got home she opened some of her presents. She got a new CD and a princess sing-a-long DVD.

She asked for a Cinderella birthday cake. So we decided to go with a Barbie Cinderella cake.

That night we met Espersons at Organ Stop and had a fun evening. Here she is blowing out her candles.

When you asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said, "dress, dress, dress." She got plenty of dresses and skirts. She is such a girly girl and loves dressing up.

 Eating her cake.

And her. Addy has one of the funnest personalities of any kid I have ever met. She loves life and she lives it to the fullest. Happy Birthday Addy. We love you!!!

4th of July Valley Style

We had a really relaxing 4th of July. We started the night before by visiting Gay and Boppa's grave. Boppa was an airforce pilot and died on the 4th of July. The kids enjoyed helping clean the headstone and the weather was actually not too bad.

We started the 4th off in the pool.

We mainly just hung out all day. I had to do a little grocery shopping and while I was out it started raining. When I was driving home it was 11:58 and my dashboard said 74 degrees. It was absolutely beautiful. I felt like it was a tender mercy. I don't ever remember it being that cool on the 4th of July since I started living down here. We finished the day by eating watermelon, hamburgers and hotdogs and corn on the cob.

Then it was back in the pool while dad made pineapple upside down cake in the dutch oven, which was delicious.

And then it was sparklers and fireworks out front before bed.

It was a wonderful day with family and I am so grateful to be in a country where I can celebrate when and how I choose.