Fun with the Fam

We've had the opportunity to spend some fun times with the Ray side of the family as well. Our niece Raegan was baptized a few weeks ago and we were so happy to be here to attend that.

Raegan, Lucy, Shellie, Graham, ME, Vicki, Marty, Sarah and Lori's forehead

That same weekend we went to dinner with much of the Ray crew. Lucy adores the Ballesteros girls and spends nearly the whole time giggling when she's with them.

Lori, Graham, Sarah, Lucy and Raegan

3 weeks ago, we had the Ballesteros girls come and sleep over. Abby and Oliver joined us in the fun.

Here's the girls making cards to send to Jason in Afghanistan. They spent over an hour perfecting their work. (Notice Lucy's face. Her new thing is to make silly faces when I take her picture.)

Oliver, Abby, Lucy, Sarah, Raegan, Lori

After an evening of water balloons, pizza, nail painting and card making, they were ready to settle in for a movie and a treat.

Lucy loves her cousins and was so excited to have them all over at the same time. We had quite the houseful, but with Aunt Beth's help, we made some good memories!

Partyin' it Up....Summer Style!

We've been keeping busy and moving from one summer adventure to the next. It's hard to believe it's almost time for us to head back to Cali. Here's some of the stuff we've been up to:

Lucy took swim lessons for a couple weeks. Her cousins, Abby and Ollie had theirs at the same time. She really liked her teacher and looked forward to going every day.
Graham got to play at the park while we waited for Lucy to have her lessons.

We were lucky enough to be able to go on a quick trip to Bear Lake again with the Wrights. Tami Kamerath and her kids were there, too. We absolutely love spending time there with all of them. Jared became my kids' hero when he took them for a ride on their boat. In this picture, Graham is in his life jacket ready to go. I think he sat there for over half an hour waiting for his ride. Very content and very excited.
Here's Lydia, Kalleen and Lucy and the tube. I was a little bummed that I didn't get in on the tubing/skiing action this year, but oh well. Lucy was quite the daredevil. She kept putting her thumb up, wanting Jared to go faster.

Peter, Grayson, Graham, Lydia, Carol, Lucy, Abby, Kate

The Grunig family joined us for Saturday. We were able to play at the beach and swim at the pool. Here's all the kiddos enjoying their La Beau's ice cream before we headed back home.

We've made it over to Surf 'n Swim a couple times this summer, too. The kids got free passes after having their lessons there.

Ollie, Lucy, Abby and Graham

Here's the gang ready to ride the waves.

This past week I declared it Taco Time Tuesday and we took the kids to Taco Time. For some reason, I've craved their food a lot during this pregnancy.

After typing up this post and seeing the pictures, I am just so grateful that we chose to have the kids and I move home during Jason's deployment. We've had such a blast with our family and friends!

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We were able attend the open house at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple a few weeks ago. It was a very special experience and I'm so glad Lucy and I were able to go.

The temple is a beautiful and sacred place to those who belong to our church. We make covenants there and by attending the temple and being married there, we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and be with our families for eternity.

Abby, Lucy, George, Oliver in front of the templeHere's Lucy and I after seeing the temple. I'm not sure what she's doing with her hands?

Lucy and Abby

I truly enjoyed walking reverently through the temple with Lucy. I loved that she had questions and I could tell she could feel how special a place it is.

The Gateway Fountains

Last week we took the kiddos to the fountains at Gateway. Abby, Oliver, Lucy, Graham and George were all in attendance.
George loved the fountains, but Graham not as much. He did join in during the last song we stayed for.

George and Graham

Lucy and Abby taking a break and warming up. I think they were writing with their wet hair on the cement.

Trip to Aunt Shellie's House

A couple weeks ago, we went on a short trip to St. George to visit my sister in law, Shellie. My sister, Beth, came along to help me with the drive. I wish I would have taken more pictures. We had a great time!I'm annoyed that my pictures are blurry, but oh well. Here's Shellie and her best bud/roommate while we waited for a table at Texas Roadhouse. We went out to eat a couple times while we were there.
The highlight of the trip was swimming in Natalie's parents pool. It was so fun! Graham had a scare when he slipped off the step and Aunt Shellie had to jump in and save him. Thanks, Shellie!

We swam both days and Lucy had a ball. Sometimes she had the life jacket on, but other times she wanted to go it alone.

Lucy and Beth also enjoyed some serious Wii playing time. They beat the entire Disney Princess game as a team. Quite the victory.

Shellie and Natalie are always such fabulous hosts to us when we come. We eat all their food and Shellie gives up her amazing bed for us. She did my hair for me, too! Lucy cried for the first hour on the trip home because she "wishes she could live at Shellie's house". Who wouldn't want to?

We love you, Shellie! Thanks for always making our trips to your house so fun! We really enjoyed hanging out with you and Nat.

Bedtime Story with Daddy

We got a letter in the mail from Jason that had a video of him reading books for the kiddos. The kids absolutely loved it! They watched it for the first time last night. Graham kept saying, "That's MY Dad" over and over again. He waved at the computer and said, "Hi, Daddy!" Lucy really enjoyed seeing him talk and being able to watch him.

I think that if Jason had done this earlier in the deployment, it would have been WAY too depressing. But the timing was perfect and I actually really enjoy watching it, too! Thanks for sending it, J! We love you!

July 4th

We had a very nice Independence Day celebration. The weather was perfect and the kids had a fabulous time.

Lucy and Grandma started the day with breakfast at Dick's Supermarket (they have it every year). They brought me home a fabulous cinnamon roll. Grandma told Lucy that whenever our family is in town for the 4th, she and her Dad (Jason) go to that breakfast together. Lucy liked hearing about Daddy and was surprised to learn of the tradition.
We, of course, made it over to the city parade. Heidi and Mom staked out awesome spots the night before. Here's Lucy before the parade began.

Graham and George ran around like crazy boys before the parade. There was a family with a dog sitting behind us and they were in heaven. They got to throw the frisbee for him to catch. We stopped them during their dog play to snap a shot. Graham would not leave the dog alone. During the parade, if I lost sight of him, I just had to look behind us and he would be laying face to face to the dog, trying to talk to him.

George, Oliver and Graham

Graham, Abby and Lucy

After the parade we came back to the house and relaxed for a bit. We had a BBQ with Beth and Jason. The kids just played their hearts out in the back yard. Here Lucy and Grandma are making ice cream in a bag. It was a fun idea.
Here's Graham and I watching fireworks. We joined the Skidmore clan for fireworks up at their house. Blaine came down earlier to hang for a bit and invited us to join them. Graham kept saying, "One more time!" after every firework that went off.

Graham and Lucy watchin' the show.

Lindsay's mom, Kathy, was nice enough to give the kids a cookie to enjoy as they watched.

We finished the evening watching the city fireworks from the Skidmore's balcony. When I put the kids to bed, Lucy requested an "4th of July song". So, Mom and I sang a beautiful rendition of the national anthem for their bedtime lullaby.

All in all it was a special day. We missed our Daddy a little more than usual. Especially during the parade and the fireworks. He loves seeing the kids enjoy themselves and watching their reactions to things. My heart ached a little more for him at those times. But we're getting closer and closer to his return!

I am truly grateful for the freedoms we enjoy and embrace here in our country. We are so blessed!

Kodak Moment Before Church

Only 6 more Sundays until Daddy is home!

Hickman Family Reunion

A couple weeks ago we attended the Hickman Family Reunion at Pineview Reservoir. It was a lot of fun! We had a great time visiting with family we hadn't seen in a while. It was a great day in the sun!Here's Lucy and Abby gettin' geared up for a ride. The highlight of the day for the kids was the canoe. My cousin, Camille, and her husband, Foote, brought it and were kind enough to take them for rides (I was feeling to fat and lazy to play in the lake that day).
Lucy enjoyed some serious body boarding, too. She totally has her board face on.

This is my absolutely adorable neice, Ella. She played her heart out in the sand. She actually ate quite a bit of it, too.
Here are the proud owner's of the canoe taking pity on our children and giving them a ride. Notice Lucy and Abby hanging on and dragging next to the boat. I'm sure that made for quite the arm workout for the rowers.
Graham and George have become quite the playmates the last few months. It's so fun to watch them interact and talk to each other.

Graham spent a lot of the time chasing seagulls. He kept thinkin' he'd catch one eventually. Near the end of the gathering, he began feeding them Sun Chips. This did get him closer to the birds, but as for catching one.....maybe next time.
Last year we took a picture of all the pregnant cousins, so this year they decided to have a picture with all the babies that were born. My sister, Heidi, and Ella Bella are on the far right. They also took a picture of this year's pregnant peeps, but we won't be posting that picture. Let's just say that the pregnancy pounds are piling on a little faster than one would hope. Here's Graham and Oliver enjoying their after lunch. I think that's probably Graham's 12th cookie. I couldn't keep him away from the good stuff.

I am so grateful to have a family that still makes the effort to get together every year. I have so many memories with my cousins growing up and it's so fun to see them with their families and to have our children meet and spend time together.

Summer at it's best....

Eating cupcakes with a friend.....and hangin' out in the swimsuit.....

Good times!