ah the days of summer...

 

Olivia

 

Danny

 

Ellen's surprise 16th birthday party!

 

On top of Crawford.

 

Annie, Maddi

 

Savannah

 

Emma

 

Danny in search of....

 

This is Maud

 

and this is Clint

 

crazy drivers

 

That's our little girl in that jeep, yes her uncle is driving, kinda!

 

The kids taking in the view.

 

Isn't it breath taking?

 

Summer has swiftly came and gone.  Back to school for all of us. 

Friend:

My friend of 21 years...

We are striking a pose!

So fun we got to meet up on the North Shore of Bear Lake.  Crazy how fast time goes by.  I can still remember the first time we meet.  Raintree Treehouse in St George, Juanita came and helped me move in.  She says I had a ton of blankets which I really did. (funny for St. George)  It was our freshman year at Dixie "1991".  My how things have changed, life moves, roads traveled and we are still friends.  Isn't it great to find friends that motivate you, inspire you and help you through hard times. 

What a nice family picture ; )

Have you ever had a day like this?

We thought we were taking a nice family picture.

We set up the camera just right, on the van...

and

We got a great picture (other than, it was Logan that set up the camera and he forgot to compensate for his height.)  That's why the upper part of his face is not in the picture.  

So then we thought we would try it again.  It was a bit better but to try again this day the kids weren't having it. So this is are nice family portrait ; ) 

This is how I feel like my day has started out.  Taking a test at 12 am that took me tell 1:30 am up by 6:30 to get Logan and Maddi off to work (helping a friend in Evanston) piano @ 8:00 breakfast, studying a minute, and then to try and relax a min ( by doing this) then off to take two finals @ 10:30.  I realize that that was the longest sentence ever, but hey that's how the cookie crumbles.  I'm happy I get to finish my semester TODAY! Yippee....  So with my wanting everything to be perfect and knowing they and I can't be.  I need to remember this...  and apply it to mothering, being a wife, college student, and all the other hats that I wear by being a women .....

"FAILURE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN AGAIN MORE INTELLIGENTLY."  Henry Ford

Just like this picture wasn't perfect, it also wasn't a failure, it was an opportunity to begin again!  Thank goodness for these opportunities that come to us several times in a day and in every season of life we are in. 

*Sisters*

This is MY SIS...

She is....WONDERFULLY AWESOME.....

GIFTED AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE CRAZY....

BUT....

I'M SO GLAD SHE IS WHO SHE IS....

"We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be."

May Sarton

One of the many things I admire about Dana is that she loves herself!

Thank Goodness for Sisters!!

Happy Birthday Maddi

Maddi is TEN

Where oh where does the time go?

Woodruff parade!

Bear Lake

I love you Maddi.  Thanks for being our daughter.  You bring a lot of joy into our family!!  You love singing, (Oprah) is common in your music choice.  You love dancing, performing for others, music, and you are becoming a great violinist and piano player.  You love creating and playing games.  Your imagination is fantastic and you are a great helper around the house and watching your brother and sister.  You are a great reader, you love teaching, ( especially at FHE) talking in church, and sharing your testimony. You have so many great qualities!  Don't ever forget how much I love you Dad loves you, Danny, Libby, and family and friends love you. You will always be my sunshine girl!  Hope you have a great Birthday and a wonderful year!

Love Mom

Willow Park Zoo:

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

~John Steinbeck

Enjoying some fun stories,well not so sure Olivia is.

Danny is up to bat and Maddi is on 3rd.

playing some ball in the month of June

lovin libbys outfit, check out her boots!

I'm not sure if your supposed to close your eyes when you hit the ball, but it worked for her this day!

Danny in deep thought looking at a leaf.

Maddi with a twig.

Lots of bike riding!

Summer full of fun and lots of outdoor activities.  Love it!

I can't believe it is the middle of July already.   Time marches on with great strides.... We went to Lagoon yesterday the kids for the first time.  They loved it and we were there all day... It is so fun too see them light up with delight.  It makes it soo fun as parents!!  We went with the Pearts and Carnahans.  The kids today are already asking when we can go back.  I think Logan and I have a bunch of adrenaline junkies on are hands : )