HiKinG FuN

There are so many beautiful places here in Utah, I love living here. One of my favorite things about this magnificant place is the mountains. I love hearing the quiet peace, wrapped in all the surrounding colors. It amazes me.

Logan's first hike. He did great until we got to the river/waterfall. The loud roar made him a little uneasy.
But he was a trooper in the hot sticky air.
Had to throw this in for kicks.

Heading back down, Logan was much more at ease once he saw we were headed back to the car. My two mountain men!

DoG HoUse

He gives a whole new meaning to the words.

His favorite new hiding place...

Funny story:
My sister Jaclyn slept over one night, that morning as she was getting ready Logan swung open the kennel door and crawled out. Scaring her half to death...it was so funny and he just looked at her like, "What's your problem." We laughed about it for hours.

I am grateful that Oakley could care less about it. I know some dogs are very territorial, but not our perfect pup. He figures the more the merrier!

LQQK oUt WoRLd...

LQQK OUT WORLD HERE SHE COMES!!!

It's a sad/exciting day when the last member of your family graduates from high school...

My 'little' sister Jaclyn graduated from Brighton High School on June 2nd. What a trip that was. It was so surreal to be at her graduation, with my son. When I graduated, I stood in the same spot, in the same gown, with the same smile on my face. Only that on May 31, 2001 I stood next to this wide eyed little 8 year old. I said "8 YEAR OLD!!!!" Are you kidding me?!?!?!???

Where has the time gone, more importantly am I really that OLD???

She looked beautiful, and so excited. It's always a little bitter sweet, you don't know what you're going to do next, or what life has in store for you. Part of you wants to hang onto the life that you've had, and the other part wants to start running towards the future...
You finally choose a college to go to, and a path that you feel confident that you can walk on and become successful...but then you take a step back and are scared that you might fail...
I remember so well being in her shoes. I wish that I knew then what I know now, I would have done a million things differently, and not worried so much about the future and just enjoyed the ride.

I've tried the best I can to give her simple advise, advise that I wish someone had told me. But even still, advise is what you pay for it...and 'sisterly' advise is free. I am truly so proud of her!

She was all smiles as she walked up there to receive her diploma. Again I sat there on the opposite side of the camera, thinking over and over in my head, "Is this really happening? Is she really graduating? Am I really here?" Yes I was really there, and nothing I could do was going to change that.

The future is bright, and filled with so many possibilities, and so many choices. Utah State here she comes!!!

We had some down time, Rachel and I started the "Hall-Club" with our two boys who just couldn't seem to muster the strength to make it through the LENGTHY graduation speeches. Which was fine for me, out in the hall gave me time to regroup and get my emotions in check. Zurik and Logan are the best of buds! This summer I am losing a brother (going to Arizona for school) and a sister (going to Utah State)...

And then there was one :(

After the graduation we went back to Papa and Nona's for some relaxation, and a drink of water. Logan is fascinated with water these days...heaven help me!

I just love this kid!

Jaclyn- I wish you the best in life, don't forget to pray always, have faith in yourself, don't ever let someone tell you that you can't do something. Follow your heart, but think with your head. Don't procrastinate, be patient and kind, don't be afraid to say what's on your mind. Be honest, and study hard. Don't forget where you've been, and be confident about where you are going.

I will miss you like crazy, I expect you to come home every once and a while, and still have sleepovers with me, I don't care how many times you call mom, you are required to call me at least once a week. I love you, and I love you!

ReMemBerRiNg...

For Memorial Day we did the traditional thing...visiting the graves and remember those who have touched, inspired, and changed our lives. It's always a bitter-sweet thing for me to do. A tradition that my grandparents started me with, and one that I want to keep with my little family. Taking the time to remember loved ones is so important, because I truly don't believe you can know where you're going, without knowing where you've been.

We also had the opportunity that day to go to the lake with my sister-in-law Rachel and her family. If Andy could LIVE on the lake he would in a heart beat. Logan he wasn't loving it
he needed sometime to warm up to the boating idea....
And since this is my blog I get braggin rights!!!
I think that Andy is amazing on the wake board. I don't know where he gets all of his daredevil guts from...but I think that he is great.

It's always entertaining when he's out there.

As long as he's not giving himself a concussion...LOL.

At one point he fell and Logan just about jumped out of the boat screaming and crying, "DA!!!!!" At the top of his lungs, with his little arms stretched out to the water.

He was so relieved when Andy was back in the boat. It was so sweet how worried he was about Andy in the water. It was such a great day!

GoInG to ThE TeMpLe...

I introduce with the biggest smile my cheeks will allow my new sister-in-law TORAH!!!
Andy's little brother, Jake and his amazing 'wife' Torah were married Friday, June 4th. A little about them: Andy is Jake's #1 fan, literally! Andy lives vicariously through him. Jake is a good sport about it. In face the for the first two weeks of dating Andy, I felt like I was dating Jake. I heard everything about him, probably more than he would have liked me to hear! But he is a sweetheart, and I have loved getting to know him. Torah: Is one of a kind, she is the most down to earth, loving, and kind person you will ever meet. You can't help buy just fall in love with her, she won the gold medal at this past Olympics for the snowboarding half-pipe (for those of you who didn't know.) But you would never know it, she has the biggest heart!

It was beautiful, and such a fun reminder of when I married into this one-of-a-kind family 4 years ago.
CONGRATS JAKE AND TORAH!!!

My oldest niece Rylee, I LOVE her. She has always had a special place in my heart. When Andy and I were just barely dating (hadn't even met the family yet), he had Rylee and some friends bring bunches of roses to my work at the bank. I just remember this sweet, gorgeous little blonde girl walking up to me with her tiny hands full of flowers and big smile on her face. She use to call me "Jess-i-da" I miss that like crazy! It's so fun watching her turn into such a beautiful young lady!

Here's the QUADS! Tiffany, Ashley, Natalie, and of course Andy. It's amazing to me how they could all be born on the same day, at the same time and all be so different. Each one of them has such unique qualitites that I love and adore!

'Cousin Melody', ME, and Abby (Torah's sister)

At the reception, you can see how excited Logan was to be there...Hahaha. At least his finger isn't up his nose right?!? Every time I asked him to say cheese this is the face he gave me.

Again, CONGRATS to Torah and Jake! They are a beautiful couple, and we can't wait to see what their lives have in store for them. We love you like crazy!!!