July has treated us Well

July has been busy and hot, but we are getting more and more settled in each day, which is such a great feeling. We are mastering the ins and outs of what it means to take care of a pool, and it is very much of a love - hate relationship. But we are loving every minute of it.

I was trying to capture Vienna's curls that are so adorably cute.

We toughed out our ward pioneed party, even though Everett had a fever and it was miserable but they did a very good job!

One of our super yummy dinners from the grill

Vienna just kept loving playdoh time one day and made lots of yummy party food. It was so cute to watch her imagination just soar!

Our tent from Mema that is our kid changing room and anything they want it to be.

This sweet little boy is almost 7 Months old. Has 2 little teeth on the bottom and must be teething his tops b/c he has had fevers and isn't sleeping as good as usual.

Vienna and Bryson play so well together, its so fun to watch. Here they are having a tea party!

The next pictures are of our pool party with Steve and Tiki and family and Grandma and Grandpa. It was all of their first swims in our pool. Since we have had so much trouble with it we haven't had a chance to have everyone over, but we did and it was a BLAST! Even Steve went down the slip and slide.

Our new pool floaties

Tiki getting the kids all ready. We need an umbrella don't you think.

Grandma with her granddaughters

The boys talking about staining the fence, mowing the lawn and maintaining the house.

The big picture

I asked Mike to take a few pics so that I might be in one, and this was the best one.

Apparently Vedder has never gotten his face wet in the pool or anywhere, however on the slip n' slide he was allowing it to happen and LOVING every minute.

cousins!

Grandma and Everett!

dinner time with the bigger kids

dinner time with the toddlers

I absolutely love with picture...its water balloon fight time. We L-o-V-E water balloon fights. We didnt have too many balloons, but we still had a great time with them. Kids can't get enough of them.

Grandpa with Everett man!

We are adjusting to having our new trampoline that we got for free and getting ready for our trip to Mema and Papa's house. It's our family reunion (minus 1) and we are ready for some fun! Every night is a project, but hopefully only a few more months of that.

The Blessing of Knowing that Families are and will be Together Forever!

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have a knowledge that families that are sealed together in the temple will be together in the eternities and there is nothing more comforting than knowing that I will be able to spend time with my Nan again. She has inspired me and been a great example to me all growing up. Spending so much time with her is something I will forever cherish, I only wish I could have these past couple of years, but unfortunately being poor students way out in Cleveland made that a very big challenge. With her sudden passing being so close to when we were going up to visit her, made it very difficult for me. I am so grateful I was able to attend her service and create more family memories, because FAMILY is what it is ALL about!!!

Luckily my Grandma Betty lives in Cardston so we were all able to crash at her home and it was the first time in years that just all us siblings (no spouses) were together. Some of us had our kiddos with us, but otherwise it was just us. We had good times. Grandma has always worn these dusters around and so us girls have each chosen one to be ours when G-ma passes on. What a fun keepsake to have!

Grandma was pro testing a silly face one and yet, I think her face is the best!

I had no problem putting Uncle Danger to work and he did a great job! Thanks bud!

It was our first time to meet Little Leo and Everett really enjoyed playing with his toes. HOw fun, these cousins are going to cause some serious trouble as they grow up.

Vienna got to meet and spend some time with her 2nd cousins...Lanaea and Rosalee

I'm so grateful that Grandad was able to be there, even though it was very hard on him. He was so emotional and it has been difficult for him to speak the past little while.

I'm so glad he got to see Vienna again and meet and hold Everett for the first time!

Despite the nature of the visit we definitely found time to have some fun! The Cardston pool, that I have spent many of hours swimming in as a kid has been remodeled and  we had a great time in the Lazy Susan. Vienna would not get out and we just kept tapping each other in and out of the ring while she kept going and going. Around and around. How fun for her to be with her Uncle and Aunties!

I managed to capture everyone in one shot.

Hanging out on the pool deck!

Vienna and Rosalee were best buddies and played very well together

I will absolutely cherish this picture (and I sure hope there is one with Vienna and I with Grandma as well...if so PLEASE send it my way), but how special it was to spend so much time with Grandma. She did so great opening up her home to all of us and all of Nan's belongings and everyone to come and take a look. If you ask me, she deserves a Grandma Medal for most hospitable. PS- you look so HOT in this picture Grandma. I hope I look as good as you when I am 86.

This should have been at the beginning. This is when we jammed in the back of fire star to have Lincoln at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Our first stop in Ritzville for dinner

Thank goodness Hailey was with us, she was a big help!

This is another picture I will cherish...my sweet little lady sleeping in my Great Grandma Ivy's bed, again another special place from my growing up years.

This was a picture I was sent from Mike  with him and Lincoln having a man weekend.

Our trip back down was rough but Vienna was a good sport and while I nursed she would play on piles of gravel and get really dirty and she would vomit, but all in all, she did her best to help Everett and was a good sport.

Little did I know that my husband was working his BUTT OFF while I was gone and did a complete makeover on our bedroom. The dresser isn't in here, but I will take some more photos soon. I am still in shock and so impressed. He is the BEST HUSBAND a women could ask for.

Oh it makes me so happy.

So all in all, we survived the trip (barely) and created great memories. 

Nan you are a very special women, I miss you terribly, but I know you are happy and free of this life and all its challenges and trials. I will always LOVE YOU!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

Its been a dream for 4 years in the making. I have always wanted to have a Canada Day party that included a Canada trivia game and this year I finally did it!!! I had a great time and I sure hope everyone else did. My brain is already working on ideas, food and the game for next year.

 Getting ready!

 The goody bags filled with Canadian Candy and of course a CD with Canadian artists!

 The final spread of goodies...chocolate bars, ketchup and All dressed chips, nanaimo bars (a huge hit), fuzzy peaches, cherry blasters, wine gums and maple leaf watermelon.

 visiting

 The Kogans - without Bree and Trason we wouldnt have had all our wonderful candy because they took a trip up to Vicoria, which is in British Columbia and not only brought down my goodies but also picked up these awesome shirts to support my cause!

 Steve and Tiki - Im so glad they came and truly loved Steve's ALL-OUT nasty American flag shirt. Steve competed in the final round, so he must have remembered quite a bit from his years living in Canada or he is just one smart dude!

 The Kinny's - Walter and Tiffany had an advantage as they just went up there for their anniversary a few weeks prior to this. In fact Walter was our ultimate champion and got to walk away with his very own copy of Strange Brew!!!

 The Byrd's - Had very logical answers, but also very wrong. Audra was our biggest loser and got a cute book about Canada and a notepad with a maple leaf and a red pen to take notes for next year!

 The Tew's - Brittany is a good friend of mine from Jr. High and Highschool. They came from Yakima to join us! We knew Brad had a slight advantage  but we let him play and of course Britt was disqualified...

 The final score board...

 The day after, I forgot to take pics of this area, with the poutine and punch!

 I love my cute drink dispenser

 We served poutine but didn't take a picture and couldn't make them exactly the same, but here it was it was suppose to look like.

 The invites I sent out.

I'm so grateful for the country that I love and to have 2 countries to call mine. Its so ironic (Alanis Morsette) how this year I was in the US for Canada Day and I will be in Canada on July 4th.
We had tons of fun! Mike and I are excited to have a few more annual parties, we're already looking forward to Halloween...