Sister Missionaries.

We had the Sister Missionary's over for dinner last night and then convinced them to stay and roast marshmallows with us. I hold a soft spot for the sisters considering I was one once. I had so many wonderful families on my mission that would invite us to dinner, or let us do laundry at there house or invite us over for the holidays.

A Mary Poppins Yard.

My kids found this nest of baby bunnies pushed up against our sand box. It was a FUN discovery! It brought back some of my favorite childhood memories, we use to raise rabbits and we would pack around baby bunnies like they were our baby dolls.

In the spring a bird nested in our pine tree with her babies. I have to admit unlike the bunnies I had moments when I wanted to throw rocks at the mother. She used the back of our house for a toilet. Everyday I would go out to find about fifteen new poop bombs on our siding and deck but I couldn't bring myself to harm the bird because she was a very diligent mother to her babies and what mother can't appreciate that.

This is our chipmunk house and it doubles as our front porch. It may be a little unsightly but at least it serves a good purpose.

Aspiring Minivan Driver

McKenna is aspiring to be a minivan driver. This is her luxury minivan. I'm sure you can't see all the details but the Frisbee is the steering wheel, the quacker is the horn, she has a happy meal toy that plays music for the stereo system and a lolly pop toy that resembles a key chain, it is five passenger no less and as you can see she finds plenty of people who want to carpool in her cool ride. She has quite the imagination, it's really fun to watch her creations take form.

We haven't wasted a single minute of our summer making it one of the best summers ever!

Happy 4th!

This is the girls eagerly awaiting the parade to start. McKenna came prepared for a lot of candy, she brought her back pack. I wouldn't want her to injure her back hauling all that candy home in a regular bag.

This is the position Brock would assume anytime fireworks went off. John was so sweet, he was holding Brock through the fireworks. Brock refused to look up so John would position his own body so Brock would be able so see them even though it partially obstructed his own view.

I don't know what it is about the fourth of July but I always get so homesick. I think it's because we go to the parade and watch all of these families gather to watch it together, grandma's, grandpa's, cousins, aunts and uncles. I always leave a little sad. I was so excited this year for the fourth, we had big plans, the parade, we bought a new pool for the kids and a fire pit and of course fireworks but the night before it started raining and didn't stop until after the parade, it just put a damper on it. A family in our ward threw a party that afternoon, I really enjoyed it, we have made a lot of friends in our ward and I'm feeling more and more comfortable at ward parties. That night we went to watch fireworks at another ward members house. It was definitely the highlight of my day. The view was awesome. The fireworks shot off right over top of us, you could feel the vibration of the sound. I would watch my pant leg shake with the booms. I felt like a kid again, carefree and completely content. Once again we found ourselves surrounded by friends. It seemed so obvious to us on this particular holiday what a big role our ward has played in our lives. I wouldn't say they are replacing our family but becoming another part of our family. So here are three things I'm thankful for on this holiday, FREEDOM!!! (just imagine Mel Gibson saying that with his face painted blue riding on the back of a horse.) I'm thankful for my family at home and my ward family here.

Family Reunions

Last week we went home to Utah and Idaho to visit our altogether huge family. It was as wonderful as I thought it would be seeing everyone. Seeing what was the same and what had changed. The only disappointing thing about the whole trip was I was so busy having fun I spaced taking pictures and then I left my camera in Logan while I went to visit family in Idaho so I only have one picture and that is of us on our ride home.

I did take some mental pictures of my favorite moments so here are a few of them.

-The first time we saw the mountains just outside of Utah.

-Walking through the temple grounds with John remembering the day we got married there.

-Sitting around in lawn chairs visiting with John's brother and sister.

-Making breakfast with Cheryl and Amy.

-Walking with a plate full of food into the big dining room at the Straley reunion, seeing table after table full of our family knowing I could sit anywhere and be sitting next to someone I was eager to visit with.

-Playing cards with the girls.

-Watching the Bachelorette, and viewing my loud opinion on each person on the program.

-Walking into the room Mom had prepared for us at one o'clock in the morning, totally exhausted from the drive, knowing she had spent the whole day getting it ready for us.

-Watching Tyler lay perfectly still on the beach at Bear Lake covered by a blanket and food in order to catch a seagull...it worked, twice! It was the funniest thing I've ever seen.

-Watching Emily get drug under the the balloon tent by a shark. It was the second funniest thing I've ever seen. Actually, maybe it ties for first.

-Watching Michael run up and down the long trampoline about fifty times in order to entertain his daughter who he had on his shoulders. She was truly entertained.

-Getting the best massage ever by my two little sisters who are massage therapist and realizing how talented they are.

-Watching my Dad play with Brock and Karina and remembering how easy it is for my kids to love there Grandpa.