Welcome to our World

With the disappointment that followed the news that school will begin online instead of the hybrid model they announced a few weeks ago, we were glad to have the family reunion to look forward to. I was told there were 38 of us that shared a mansion in Ashton, Idaho (the first time in Idaho for all of us except Hubby) but I didn’t count. It was wonderful to all be together! My in-laws know how to organize and feed huge groups of people but they also know how to be flexible and have tons of fun. The first couple days we hiked a little and walked to Mesa Falls, went tubing down the river, I truly enjoyed mountain biking for the first time in my life around Silver Lake, fed ducks, played games and spent many happy hours on kayaks and paddle boards at the little lake on the rental property. I also got to hold my precious newest niece and hear the announcement my oldest niece is expecting. (Imagine cute baby noises here.) Our last day we journeyed out to visit Yellowstone National Park toge...

When Kate's volleyball camp was canceled at BYU we canceled her trip first solo trip to Utah.  Then my father pointed out that she would have nothing to do the entire month of July so we asked our sister-in-laws if Kate could still come to visit even without volleyball camp to go to everyday.  Of course they said yes!  Hubby drove her out and she got to swim, shop, bowl, have slumber parties and have a magnificent time.  I'm so glad she could have this time to bond with extended family and create wonderful memories.  She is growing up so fast! Danny and Michelle also journeyed away from home that week.  They went on a backpacking trip with Avid 4 Adventure to Gunnison National Forest with the destination being Lost Lake.  I absolutely loved hearing the stories they told me on the ride home from pickup and over the next few days.  When their leaders sent out photos it was even better.  All 13 children and both leaders had trail names that were...

It’s official!  This beautiful girl is a teenager!  We celebrated by a best friend coming over before Charly left town, eating at Noodles and Menchies with her birth family, and then the next day -- the actually birthday -- her friend, Ava, came over for cake and presents.  Another day Kate got to go to a lake with another good friend, Margaret.  She is so loved.  I was glad we could surprise her with a hoverboard to ride around and that she has the new iPhone she’s been wanting so much. She is paying for it with her own money too. I’m so proud of her for figuring out how to work for what she wants.  Right now Kate likes the color yellow, eating Pad Thai, watching Ashley Garcia on tv and her current favorite movie is The Sandlot.  Her new favorite game is Roblox, she really wants to visit cousins in Utah, and someday she would like to be the founder of a cosmetics line.  Kate is a pro at making her friends laugh, make up and pointing out all the t...