I smile because we are family...

...I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it!

Since my parents and sister Kirsten, and my sister Lisa and her familiy were here for Tyler and Quintin's graduations, we took some time to take some family pictures. It's been a little while...4 years for my family. Our awesome niece Pene was so gracious to come and take them for us. We were missing my brothers and their families and were sad that they weren't able to make it. They plan on taking more pictures when they all get together this Summer for my grandma's 90th birthday.

 My Parents and Sisters

(L-R: Julie, Dad, Mom, Lisa, Me and Kirsten in front)

 With our Spouses

(L-R: Bob & Julie, Dad & Mom, Chris & I, Jordan & Lisa, and Kirsten)

All the Grandkids

(L-R: Back Row-Zachary, Lauren, Tyler & Brynnly; Middle Row-McKenna, Grandpa, Grandma, Quintin & Brooklynn; Front Row-Adelaide, Braxton, Ivy, Sinjin, LaRue & Matilda)

 The Whole Gang

 Our Family - May 2016

 Lauren - 16 years old

The one of the left was taken in April 2016. She hates it, but I love it!

 Brooklynn - 10 years old

McKenna - 13 years old & LaRue - 12 years old

(We didn't get one of just McKenna)

And, we didn't take any of Tyler because we had just taken his Senior Pictures. But just so he doesn't feel left out...here is the official yearbook picture.

Spring Break 2014!

Some Pretty Awesome People Come To Visit

In June, we were supposed to have a family reunion. It didn't work out. But, my awesome sister Lisa and her family had already made the plans to come, as had my parents and sister Kirsten, so they all decided to come anyway. So we basically got a free week to just hang out and soak each other up. It was so much fun. In fact, we had SO much fun, I didn't take hardly any pictures. We hung out, laughed, played at parks, watched baseball games, shopped, had tons of cousin time, sleepovers, went to a movie, went swimming, hiked the Y, went to SLC/Temple Square, had a GNO at The Chocolate, and much more. Sure wish we all lived closer so that we could do these things more often.

So the only pictures I took were at the Church Museum in Salt Lake. They had an interactive children's  display all about the Book of Mormon. The kids had a lot of fun running around and trying everything out. Get ready for lots of pictures!

Here Zack, Braxton and LaRue are checking for eggs. 

 

Oops, I don't think that's supposed to be in there!

The kids practice "feeding the missionaries"

Lauren and Matilda whip something up for dinner

Tyler lifting the Gold Plates. It is the weight of the original plates supposedly. If that's the case, I have no idea how Joseph lugged those around. They are heavy!

Zack digitally remixing primary songs

Dad & Kirsten hanging out

 This was the dance area where you could dress up and learn traditional dancing.

 

 

 

Tyler was a good sport all day, playing with the kids and even dancing with Braxton.

 Must see Video...watch to the end!

Adelaide at the well

Brooklynn driving the jeep full of animals

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooklynn playing "Toss the Tortilla"

Julie and Braxton learning more about the plates

My cousin Gina's little girl. She played for a really long time with these nice paper dolls. Meanwhile my little tornadoes couldn't sit still for more than five minutes!

 

 

Life-size replica of the angel Moroni.

Back Row: Tyler, Lauren, McKenna, LaRue

Front Row: Abby, Sophie, Braxton, Zachary, Brooklynn, Matilda

Oregon in the Springtime

After we went to Washington, we drove down to Oregon to visit my sweet Grandma and my awesome sister Lisa for a few days. I only had two things on my "must do" list, visit family and take a trip to the tulip farm. When we lived in Oregon we loved to visit the farms around the area. Every April we made a trip out to the tulip fields, June was the Rose gardens, later in the summer the Iris fields, September the Dahlia fields. The best part was they were all free. We haven't been in years because usually we go to Oregon during the summer or at Christmas so I was really excited that we'd be there over Spring Break. Tulips are my favorite flowers! We had a wonderful visit with Lisa and Grandma and all too soon it was over and we were saying goodbye. Wish we could have stayed longer.

WARNING! Picture overload. 

I love tulips and so I had to post a lot of pictures. They may look the same to someone else, but I just love how bright and beautiful they are.  They aren't in any particular order because blogger is acting weird and I don't want to fuss with it right now.

 Rows and rows of gorgeous, brightly colored tulips.

They had a little cow train and Auntie Lisa bought all the kids tickets to ride. Tyler was a good sport and even took a spin. We took up almost the whole train.

 

 Racing the rubber ducks down the gutters

 (L-R: McKenna, LaRue, Matilda, Brooklynn)

 (L-R: Adelaide, Lauren, Matilda)

 Tyler will hate me for posting this picture. He is really such a good sport. I mean, the poor guy did have to spend the day at a flower farm with 8 girls.

 McKenna & LaRue

 Riding out to the far end of the fields

 (L-R: LaRue, McKenna, Brooklynn)

 (L-R: Brooklynn, McKenna (blue), LaRue (red), Lauren holding Adelaide, Matilda (orange), Tyler)

  The End