best friends from the past

SURPRISE!!!

Ira's birthday isn't until August - but his brother's family from Alaska was coming for a visit in June. So unknown to Ira, I invited their best friend, Jason Smullin and his family for a visit and to surprise Ira for his 40th birthday. So we had 22 people at my house for 3 days. It was quite the PARTY!

While we celebrated Fathers Day at my dads house, Alisha Smullin was at my house decorating for our Luau. When Ira opened the door to our house, and they yelled surprise - he thought there was someone in the house robbing us. It was such a fun week with friends and family.

Jason Crawford, Jason Smullin and Ira. They were a threesome in their younger years - and it was fun to have them all together again.

While they were here, we went 4-wheeling. This is the Smullin family ready to ride.
We also went on a hike to the windcaves in the Logan Canyon. Ira had to be at work this day. Beckie was 8 months pregnant, so she stayed back with the littlest people of the group.

It was a beautiful hike.

This is the Smullin family.
Me with three of my kidlets.

The teeny bops (teenagers) of the group.
The kids sitting on one of the arches to the caves. They were a bit nervous - but as I told them, "it will make a great picture - and it's all about the picture!" :)

After Smullins went home (to Boise). We spent a day at Bear Lake. Jason and Ira were made into sand people. I had to laugh that Jason's household is mostly made up of girls (7 daughters). And when they were making them into sand people, they gave them boobs. I guess that's what girls do. ha ha. My boys were a bit confused by the whole thing.
swimming and water fights

Beckie makes us pj's every year for Christmas - and these are our matching pj's from the Christmas before. They had 8 children at the time, and have since had their newest little girl. I'm kinda jealous of the bigger family...kinda not. I'm confident that the Lord just knew what I could handle - and it wasn't more than 4. But I do love being from a big family, and had so much fun with this big family for the week.

All of the Crawfords on our last night.

A Little bit of this and that...

This post is just some of our random activities the last few months.

Of course, we love to 4-wheel. We haven't gone as much this year as we like to - we have just been gone so much. :( Last year, everytime I went 4-wheeling, I enjoyed it, but it would make me really miss my dad. 4-wheeling is something he and I go do together as often as we can. So when we got to go together again this year...I was one happy girl.

This picture is my dad with Kam.

These pictures were taken from the top of Inspiration Point which overlooks Cache Valley and Salt Lake Valley at the same time. It is really beautiful, and a fun ride.

I haven't done these night hikes with "my girls" much this year either - which is sad. I love the exercise but mostly the friendships.
Of course, we've spent time at the pool.

And this year we got a deal on a Seven Peaks pass. We have gone a couple times, and gotten our moneys worth.

Summer started off with me partly being in charge of Young Womens camp. "Bishop Crawford" came up for a couple of days too. One of those days we went canoeing.

Jarins Preschool Graduation

My baby graduated from preschool...again. But this time it was the last time for him. Now he's on to bigger and better - Kindergarten. He was old enough for kindergarten last year - but barely. So I kept him home with me for another year. I hope it was in his best interest (I'm told it was a wise decision) - but if truth be told - I really just wanted him home with me another year.

Jarin with his grandparents
"Teacher Hollie is the best teacher in the whole wide world" - Jarin

Uncle DeVerl

Another May...another funeral in the family. This is the 4th May in a row that we have had to bury someone we love in our family - and they have all been a result of cancer. The other 3 have been on my dads side of the family - this uncle is on my moms side.

My Uncle DeVerl Herzog is one of the the nicest, neatest people I know. I can still hear his laugh, and feel his long-armed embrace. He is the only brother my mom has. She gives him full credit for who she is today. Their parents weren't active church members when she was young. Her brother, being the oldest in the family, decided they all needed to be going to church. So he would take his 4 younger sisters to church. He went on a mission, and while he was gone, his dad stopped smoking. As a result of this young mans example, his family all became active church members and were sealed as a family in the temple. I don't know where I would be today if it hadn't been for my Uncle DeVerls example to his sister - my mom. I miss him.

My mom and two sisters at the funeral

Aunt Rawana, mom, Aunt LaRee (DeVerls wife), Aunt Gloria, Aunt Rawana.

Playin' around

We have been active this spring/summer. In May, Ira and I ran the Ogden Half Marathon. It was my 3rd (and probably last) half marathon, and Ira's first. It was a very difficult run for me, because it has been a very difficult season for training. I have my list of excuses as to why, but the fact remains - I wasn't able to train for it like I would have liked. So I ended up walking half of it. But considering I was going to drop out all together - I'm proud of myself for doing it. It was fun to have the experience with Ira. We didn't run together - but we got up early together to get to the start line. We held hands when the gun went off. We found each other with embraces at the finish line. And the months prior to the run, we talked about the ups and downs of our training. We even got a few runs in together. It was a great experience to have with my sweetheart.

With spring comes Soccer, and with summer comes softball. Jarin and Emilie played this year.



Emilie won a running race at her school, so she was able to run in a race with kids from all over the valley. She was so proud of herself, and so excited for the big day. She started off her race way ahead of the others - then she hit her wall, and had a hard time finishing. But the important thing is that she finished. Way to go Emilie!
Jarin and Emilie were in the Childrens Community play. This years play was "Ali Baba and the 47 thieves". Jarin was a Monkey, and Emi was a dancing girl. They practice everyday for 2 weeks, then put on this play. It is remarkable to see how all these children can pull this thing off in 2 weeks. So much fun to watch.

Easter

Dunno what to add to this post except that I am one blessed mommy. I mean really, look at these sweet faces! I love these 4 kids (especially when they are all dressed up nice and their faces are clean ;) ).

Brayden

Emilie (in a skirt/shirt my friend Amber made for her)
Jarin
Kamden - I love how he often has this one eye closed when he's pointing to something in particular - he closes that eye, or when the sun is on his face.

moab 2

Spring = 4-wheeling in Moab. We took two trips this year. This one was with our friends (the Douglas' and the Petersons) and my dad. Funny thing is that both of the other couples are close to my parents age - not ours. But we sure love hanging out with them.

My dad going over a particularly rough part of the trail.

Oops...didn't know it was THAT deep.
An exceptionally wet spring meant lots of water to ride and splash through. This is Ira trying to make the biggest splash. We made some bigger ones, but they were so big that you couldn't see the driver at all.
Our group
Douglas', Petersons, dad and us
My two favorite men in the whole world. I won't even try to put into words on this blog what they mean to me. But I love having this picture with them both.

moab #1

Moab trip #1 was with our kids in April. Moab is a favorite spring place to visit. When we can't get in our mountains to ride our 4-wheelers - we go to Moab. I was surprised to find myself a nervous wreck most of the time. I have loved going there in the past - but this year I was kinda a mess. I think because this year, Brayden and Emilie both had their own bikes, and having no fear, and riding alongside cliffs. I became the "momma bear" who wanted to protect my kids. So I had enough fear for both of them.

This picture was when we learned that 4-wheelers float! Brayden got into water that was deeper then he anticipated, and well...you can see what happened! (heart stopping moment #1 for me)

This is Brayden riding up these rocks - heart stopper moment 1 million for me. I hope this isn't the beginning of me not liking one of my favorite family activities.
Me and my baby
Brayden - 14 years
Emilie 10 years
Jarin 5 years
Kamden 2 years

I might try to postpone taking my kidlets on this trip for another couple years - until I stop having nightmares of them driving off cliffs! I have to admit tho - when it was all said and done, and we were all home safe and sound - I was glad we went!