50 years

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, without any fanfare, in January while they were still on Christmas Island. I think they liked it that way - just the two of them - no attention brought their way. However, we kids couldn't let it end there. While we were all together for our family camp - we decided it would be a great opportunity to all go to the temple together and out to dinner afterwards. My sister-in-law (Lisa) was the only one of the 8 kids and 8 spouses who couldn't be there (because of the soon-to-be-born baby). Well, at the last minute, she got a plane ticket to join us for this one day.

It was such a special experience to be in the temple with all of my siblings and my parents. I hope that someday I can have the same experience with my children.

After the temple, we went to dinner at Hamiltons, and unknown to my parents - we were guided into a room full of friends and family.

I think it was safe to say that we pulled off the surprise. And with 50 people in attendance, that is a pretty big deal that they didn't even have a clue. The funny part is that once they realized the party was for them - they still didn't know why they were having a party. Their friends (who had traveled from California), had to tell them that it was for their anniversary. They thought they didn't have to have a party since they were gone, and that we would have forgotten about it....funny, funny mom and dad.

My cute parents at the party.

My parents at about age 14. I just came across these dating pictures a couple months ago - I LOVE them!

This is the only picture I have of the temple that day we all went. We were in a hurry to get to the party, so we skipped the picture at the temple. BUMMER...me and my picture-taking obsession. I really wish we had a picture of all of us there.
My parents and all 8 kids and our spouses. With this size of family, it's kinda rare to get us all together - but this was a special occasion that no one wanted to miss. My parents are pretty special people that we all wanted to be there to honor.


The following pictures are some of the decorations we had set up. The one directly below is hard to tell what it is - but it turned out really cute. It is a "family tree". It was tree branches that were spray painted black, and we had gold clips holding random black and white pictures of us kids as babies and throughout the years and also family pictures throughout the years.


My moms wedding dress.

For entertainment - we kids (when I say kids, I mean in-law kids too) - had put a small item in a bag which represented a special memory we had with our parents. Then they had to guess whose memory the item represented. Some of the memories shared had us laughing uncontrollably.
It was such a fun night, and I hope my parents enjoyed it.

I am grateful for parents who stayed committed to each other and to their family through the years. For parents who showed us through example how to love. For parents who serve others. For parents who taught us right from wrong. For parents who love the Lord and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Imogene Lake

Ya'll know what a bucket list is, right? It's the list you make of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket". Well, I had never cared to go backpacking, so it wasn't my bucket list - but Brayden wanted Ira and I to go to Imogene Lake with him (since he had gone a couple years ago with relatives). So a couple years ago, I decided I better add this backpacking trip to Imogene Lake, with Brayden, to my bucket list. Well, this year was the year. It had started out as a trip with Ira, Brayden and I. Long story, but Ira ended up not being able to go because of the scouts high adventure trip being rescheduled at the same time. SO...I was booted out of the trip. But the high adventure trip was also changed from it's previous location to Imogene. AND, my relatives (sister, brother in law, nieces, nephews), were all going to Imogene. So I tagged along with them. It so happened that the relative trip was during the same week as the scout trip. The relatives were hiking out as the scouts were hiking in. So Brayden came with me with the relatives, then he stayed there with the his dad and the scouts.

Me and my approximately 32 lb pack. I wasn't sure I was going to make it the 9 miles in - but miracles do happen!

Our whole group on a day hike to the hidden lakes. It was so beautiful - waterfall after waterfall leading to one beautiful lake after another.
Brayden and I

My sister Kelli and their family. Her husband, Derrick was the leader of our pack. He is an avid backpacker, and had to tell us first timers how it's done. Good thing he was there to pack our bags the right way, and give us a light-weight menu, and throw our rope over the tree to hang our food so the bears and chipmunks wouldn't eat it. I'm just glad he was nice enough to let us crash on his party.
My niece and nephew - Tiana and Nathan.
Kelli's family again.
My nephew Travis and his wife, Brittany.
The backpacking girlies.
Kelli and Derrick
Tiana can't take a single picture without pulling some face. So we saw what she did with this one, and we just had to...
take this one!
Skyler, Derrick & Travis
Teenage cousins.
My sis and I
The girlies again...by the waterfall. We're holding the pine branches our fearless leader cut for us to swipe the mosquitos away.
Did I mention the mosquitos? This is Brayden and Tiana
Another of the beautiful waterfalls on our way through the hidden lakes.
Me and my buddy boy, Brayden. I'm so glad he was my inspiration to go on this trip. If he hadn't told me I HAD to go to this place, I would have never had this breathtaking experience (breathtaking in more than one way!).

On Wednesday we headed out, and the scouts headed in. I wished Ira and I could have had this trip together - but I'm glad we each got to experience it, and experience it with our son.
Ira and Brayden (far left) with the scouts.

They swam out to this little island in the lake. And that water was C.O.L.D!

For Time and All Eternity

I am so proud of this cute little family. This is my nephew, Travis and his wife and daughters. They have been down a very long and rough road in life. There have been many prayers offered on their behalf and many tears shed. When they both realized that they were in the fast lane to nowhere - they made some drastic changes. I know the road back has been difficult- but they have been strong. They have been an inspiration to me that it's never too late to become who the Lord intends for us to be. And that we are never "lost" in the eyes of our Savior. And that prayers are always answered - even if sometimes it's years later.

I have to add this one more comment. I remember when Trav was a little boy, and he had such life and a sparkle in his eyes. That life and sparkle has been gone for a long time. But when I walked into the temple, and saw him sitting there, he looked like that little boy I used to know. He was so full of life with a sparkle that didn't just twinkle in his eyes - but radiated throughout his whole soul.

Summer Birthdays

Jarin and Kamden both have July birthdays. For those of you who can plan your families - I highly recommend summer birthdays. We have so much fun celebrating their birthdays.

Kamden turned 3 years old. I had a hard time with his birthday. I absolutely love the "terrible two's and three's". I will be sad when my last baby is out of this stage. Yes, he tests his limits (and our patience) - but he is so teachable and lovable. And dang - he says the CUTEST things!

Grandpa and Kam. They came to celebrate his birthday with him. Kam didn't remember his grandparents from before their mission - but it hasn't taken him long to love them all over again. (It's so nice to have them home for all these big and little events).

Jarin turned 6. He got to have his first birthday party with friends. He saw this transformers Pinata at the store several months earlier, and it was decided that that's the birthday party theme he wanted. He's never seen transformers, but they do look cool! He even has a transformers shirt.

We had 13 little boys splashing in the water and sprinklers at our house. Ira and Brayden were on a scout trip - so it was Emilie and I. I couldn't handle that by myself - so I recruited my mom. Have I mentioned how glad I am to have my parents home?

Fourth of July

We went on a camping trip to Palisades Lake for the Fourth of July weekend.

Before our trip, we invested in these way fun Kayaks. They have been so much fun!

We went on a "hike" - more like a 100 ft walk - to these waterfalls. Ira and Brayden did go on a bigger hike to the Upper Palisades Lake (about 6 miles each way). They left at 3 am, and just after they left, this really big thunder/lightning storm rolled in. So I didn't sleep the rest of that night, worried that they were somewhere in the mountains struck by lightning. But the storm had passed them somehow. It was a very long night for me, but they loved their sunrise hike.
The back side of the Tetons.

We got this (old but new to us) trailer a couple of years ago, and it has been such a great investment. We have taken our "home away from home" on several outings - and have so much family fun everytime we go. It's just nice to decide at the last minute that we want to go camping, and most of what we need is already packed...LUV IT!
On our way home, we went to Kelli and Derricks house for our traditional BBQ and firework show. They outdid themselves this year with the BBQ they did. I'm not even sure what the meat is, but they cut it into sandwiches - and MMMmmmmmmmm...they were fabulous!

Our firework show while we waited for the BIG show to begin. Love how they have their ears plugged for those loud whistles.

Kam and his cousin Ryan.