Since my last post...

Wow, how life has played out since my last post. My Emma turned 12! Holy amazing! I remember being 12! She's so much more mature than I was. We had a family bday party to celebrate Emma and Caroline. Caroline turned 7! Later we'll have a friend bday at Jungle Quest at her request. Emma also got to go to TN to see her Dad, then to girls camp. Phew! She had an incredibly busy summer! I missed her a lot. I'm so glad she's home now.

Also as most everyone knows, my sweet sister Emily passed away in July. It's been a tough past month or so. Things like this most definitely strengthen one's faith and has made me really question what I really believe. Knowing about the Plan of Salvation, and relying on the spirit has really helped me.

Anyway, we really have had a really fun summer. I worked a lot, and Emma played a lot! We have a really fun trip to NY planned for this winter, so that's our next exciting thing to look forward to. These pics are out of order, because I'm kinda retarded and can't figure out how to organize the pics to go in order. Whatever. Maybe I need to do them one at a time.

Sweet Emily and her kiddo's Caroline and Ryan. I will miss her so much.

At the funeral. This is a classic pic. My brothers hugging my mama in the background. Thanks Anndee for these pics.

Also at the funeral. We had to sing...that was special.

Emma's first day of 7th grade. She's a pro! She wasn't nervous at all.

Girls Camp. These were her bunk mates.

Katie, Ann, Sara and Emma

Same crew, but with Rhoda, their camp leader. We love her!

Emma gearing up for the ropes course.

Emma and Caroline's combined bday.

Of course she insisted on an icecream cake.

They got all kinds of fun presents!

What a cute cousin picture!

It just wouldn't be Emma without a silly face picture!

Summer so far

Well...this summer has flown by! Emma's been gone for most of it. She went to AZ to visit her best friends, Zoe and Karston. She called me about 2 days into her trip asking if she could extend it, so we did, by like 2 weeks! When she got back from there, she went to a high adventure summer camp for 9 days...pics to come from that. On Tues she'll be going to see her dad in TN for 2 weeks...holy ALL summer! Following that, she'll be off to her 1st year of girls camp...um...ya, I have a 12 year old! When did that happen? My brother Zeke had us all to his house for a Memorial day BBQ and swimming. He's great on that BBQ...YUM! We went to Thornton for the 4th like we have for the past few years. As many of you know, I LOVE that holiday. It's my favorite. Well, this year it rained, and rained, and rained. On top of that there was a tornado warning. RAD... Well in lieu of watching fire works our great friend Lyssa invited us all to her house for eating and sparklers. I like eating, so it was ok. We love hanging out with our friends too! So, here are some pics of the summer so far.

Memorial day...love swimming on a hot day!

Cute Elijah

The boys

4th of July fun with sparklers

Cousin Megan and her baby Owen

Sweet St. John boys

This is Zoe...Emma's best friend. I'm pretty sure they will be kindred spirits for all time.

This is Emma's other best friend...Karston. She says this is who she's going to marry...Ok, at least we've fought that battle! He's a great kid!

Catching Up...

I feel like I just try to catch up on my blog most of the time. Nothing extra special really ever happens, just life passing by, but I take pictures as they come and post them so people can know what we're up to. As I think about it though, the people that actually read my blog see me often, so they know what's going on in our life, but oh well...this is for me too. It helps me to remember the fun times and blessings in my life. In April we were able to go to Portland for a wedding. It's so fun to see other places and how beautiful this earth is. That is really one of the most beautiful, green and lush places I've ever been. We had a really fun time getting away from real life for a bit. Emma was also in a play called the Lady Pirates of Captain Bree...I love that she loves to act and sing. She's definitely a mini me. Anyway, I'll post some pics and I'm sure that will be it for a while, then I'll play catch up on my blog again.

Cute Emma in her play...she did a fabulous job!

Portland

Flowers at the temple

Me, aunt, grandma and cousin at the Portland Temple

Truly...this is the most beautiful outside of a temple I've ever seen. The landscape was phenomenal!

Mt. Hood from the airplane getting into Portland.

Easter Fun

So I think this is the most celebrated Easter weekend I've ever had...really. I feel like I've eaten my weight in candy the last few days...PHEW! It was really fun, but I'm a little relieved is over. Our friend Lyssa decided to have some friends over for an Easter egg hunt on Sat with a delicious brunch, which was of course my favorite part. The kids were so cute with their little baskets and things. Once again I upload the pics in the order I want them to post, but the post in whatever order they want to...GRRR! So needless to say the pics are in reverse order of happening, but whatever. So anyway, on Sunday we went to my parents house...of course. There were like 50 people there...there are so many kids now! We have a blast though! We had a delicious ham and various food dinner, had a dance party, had 3 kinds of dessert (my fav of course), egg hunts for the big and little kids, lots and lots of photo taking opportunities, and a lot of FUN! Cool that it was conference on Easter this year too! I only got to watch 1 session so far, but I DVR'd it, and I'll get it in the Ensign as well, which I prefer anyway. Anyway, I'm thankful for these weekends when I can spend time with my sweet Emma, my friends and family. I'm so blessed to have such great...well...both of those! Thanks everyone for a fun time!

Most of the cousins...what an event!

Cute Liam, Caroline and man...I LOVE Lily's piggies. Those are my favorite!

Oh Sean...how I love you!

Cute Emma showing her mad egg decorating skills!

Liam sifting through his loot...getting rid of all the chocolate...hm...weird.

Our friend Teri and Isabel..a pic I took that they didn't know I was taking...my favorite kind!

Peter doing his mad gymnastics! He's a pro!

My cute Emma

Emma being so helpful with her cousins.

Us

Us...again. I think I'm getting wrinkles around my eyes. What is that about?

Building.

So as everyone knows, I moved in Oct of last year. Well I need new furniture and things around my house, so I've been saving for things and getting them as I can. ANYWAY, I needed a perfect cabinet in my bathroom to hold all my stuff, because I don't have a linen closet. I asked my brother Zeke to build me one, but instead we went to Home Depot on Sat and found the perfect one. Well needless to say, thank goodness he was there to help me put it together. I get so overwhelmed by those sorts of projects. I usually get to the end and find that I left out an integral part of the project. Then I get so angry. Anyway it looks fabulous in my bathroom and fits perfectly! It had to be 19" and we found one that was 18"...PERFECT! So here are pics of before and after shots.

So...I've got to figure out how to upload pics so they will go in the order I want them to...but anyway, here is the finished product. LOVE, LOVE the color!

Oh...dowels...or however you spell that. We were short one, and of course found it at the end when the thing was put together...WHATEVER.

My brother Zeke..Thanks brother!

Hinges...obviously.

Unassembled. I don't love this stage.

The last month/Ode to sisters

Well, the last few months have been BUSY! I'm sure they have been for everyone. Kudos to all of my friends who keep their blog posts updated with cool to remember everyday stuff. I haven't taken one picture since Christmas! I need to wok on that. Actually, Emma took a picture of a cheezit, but I won't post that picture. We've been busy working and schooling. Emma's doing great in school, and I'm thankful to have a job. We're looking forward to the Spring and Summer to get out of the house. I'm excited for new babies to come to my family and friends because that's how I get my baby fix! Anyway here are some pics from when the family got together at Christmas time. We always have a great time together...as everyone already knows...lol. I'm so, so glad my parents had many children, especially so many girls. I love, love my sisters. I love my brothers too, but sisters have a special bond. Shelley, I wish you were here! I miss your shining face!~

The girls minus Emily, she hadn't gotten there yet.

Cute family pic

Just funny pictures. Kind of a tradition in our family.

Lyss and I

Cute girls! I love my sisters!

The start of Christmas!!

So...I don't much care for how user unfriendly blogspot is with reorganizing pictures. I need to get a strategy down for the order in which I want my pictures to be posted, cause I can't seem to move them around. ANYWAY...Christmas is starting in our life! We got to go downtown to the parade of lights a few weeks ago. Emma and I caught the #15 bus...and for those of you who live downtown and partake in the bus system you know how FUN that was. It was actually super convenient so we didn't have to park anywhere. It was RAD. Anyway, it was cold and of course we got there early, but we bundled and were warm enough. We had a really fun night. As you can see, we chose really cool lights for our tree this year. Blue and white lights. I think the blue lights are KILLER! They make me want to sing and dance a little. I love to turn the lights off and see the lights reflect off my walls...pretty eh? Well I think so. Anyway, I hope everyone is having fun getting ready for Christmas, we sure are!

Um...they had lights ON their costumes. Reminds me of the Hunger Games a little. I wish I could have lights on my outfits...

See how bundled up we got? Lots of layers was the answer.

Again with the lights! RAD!!

Us