Family is Everything!

Lion King

FANTASTIC!  FABULOUS!  OUTSTANDING!  AWESOME!  INTRIGUING!  SO MUCH FUN! 

Enough said.

Here's the family in our sweet Lion King ball caps.  Greg went rally style.  My parents even got in on the fun :)

 
 
 
  
 

 
 

Fashion Statement

Pink fuzzy socks and Dustin's ugly shoes. Yup - went to multiple stores like that :)

Happy 29 years to me!

And my one and only true love! Couldn't have done it without him :)

He left this message for me on the floor today. Love that man!

Photo proof of wisdomless Melanie

Alaska Bound

Chelsea left for Anchorage yesterday.  For reals this time.  Not sure how I feel about my chicks leaving the nest.  I'm ok with their new nests being just down the street as they have been thus far.  I haven't worried about Chase's nest being in Costa Rica for two years.  Probably because he's been on the Lord's errand.  But I'm not digging sending kids to live "for reals" in a different state.  I foresee a lot of trips to Alaska in my future :)

 
 

First Day of School

Yup -- Summer is over for us and I do NOT want to talk about it!!

However, these two seem to be taking it in stride.  What a couple of good-looking kids!  

Notice Dustin's scriptures under his arm and Melanie's super-hero lunch box in her hand :) Did I mention these two are GOOD?!?!  

Back to school ...

which means to most youth of the world ...

shopping.

I didn't want to be left out.

New shoes for mom?

Yes.

 

It was time, yet again, for a new pair of running shoes.  

My feet thank me :)
 

Playing in the "Bigs" !!!

My darling nephew, Darwin Barney , was just called up to play with the Cubs!  We are feeling extremely proud!  Go Cubbies!!

 

Something has been eating our cucumber plants!

Chipmunk  -- beware!  Greg has purchased a pellet gun and Dustin is not afraid to use it!

Speaking of chipmunks -- we have a pretty cute one cruising around inside the house, too!

     

 
 
 

The Fearsome Foursome Ride Again!

After a hiatus of WAY too long, the fearsome foursome are together again!  Thank you Margo for getting married so we all had an excuse to gather in the mountains of New Mexico. 

I met these three "best" friends in 1993 when Greg and I moved our family to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Patty and I became friends after our boys, Chase and Max, became best of friends in preschool. Come to find out, we were in sister wards in the same building and lived pretty close to each other!  I met Debbie and her family our first Sunday in Albuquerque when I was wandering the halls with baby Melanie, and the Chavez's were wandering the halls with baby Charlie! Cathy was married to an old BYU buddy of Greg's and when they ran into each other at a stake scout meeting just a few weeks after our New Mexico arrival (and theirs, too), we finally met Cathy and their darling children.  

We four have walked some pretty interesting roads over the past 17 years. Some smooth.  Some rocky. No matter the path, these girls have been around to pick me up, nudge me along, cheer, scold, and love. Some of the stuff through which we've trod includes: three births, multiple surgeries to multiple family members, multiple moves within the state and out of state, graduations, divorces, marriages, cancer, church callings, jobs - or lack thereof, trips to women's conference, temple sessions, tennis therapy, institute class, gospel discussions, birthday parties, tears, and lots and lots of laughter!  

We often go weeks or months without speaking. But when we have the chance to chat or gather again, the time between visits evaporates, and it's as if we are all still sitting around the pool with our eighteen little ones laughing and crying and simply being comfortable with friends who love you no matter what! 

Although distance separates us, we are never far.  Not really.  Sometimes I think my pals know me better than I know myself.  Weird. Not with the fearsome foursome! These three are the angels Heavenly Father sent me seventeen years ago. They are my cherished friends!