Friday, August 17, 2012

July in Review│Busy Month

July was such a fun month.  I got to see some of my favorite people.  
My dear old roommate Ashley spent a couple of days with us. 
I loved every minute of her visit. 
Ashley and I have known each other since we were in our teens. 
We were roommates in college for a almost our whole college experience.
There is something special about a roommate and that friendship.
It is a wonderful thing. 
I love that I was able to share those years of my youth with such a wonderful person. 



Ashley was in Utah for a family reunion and was able to come spend a couple of days here before heading back home to her husband. I'm so grateful it worked out that way. 


Ashley took this one of Brooke and I. 


We had 2 days of talking and talking and talking and remembering the good ol' days of college. 
Thanks for coming to see me Ash. 

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The following photos depict what our summer days have been like around here:


Brielle and Braden have been in their pajama until noon, they ride their bikes and scooter all day and play with their little neighbor friends all day and night if I'd let them.   


They continue to love their baby sister...Brooke's favorite is still Brielle and the not so favorite is Braden. :)


Braden has completely mastered the skill of riding a bicycle.


We go out around the neighborhood sometimes...they have been loving life. 
I love our little neighborhood and Utah people have proven to be wonderful. 
I feel grateful. 

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This summer we have been eating so much watermelon.  
What is summertime without watermelon? 


Brooke has been going to town with the watermelon. 


Scott has been practicing his biking skills on Brielle's princess bike. 
ha ha!


We were glad to see some more friends.  The Gardner's came to see us one afternoon. It was so good to see them and their cute kids. The kids played in the sprinkler and we had a great time catching up! 
Thanks for stopping by Gardner's! 

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We have been lucky to spend some more time with the Heaton's before they moved to New Mexico. 
We love those guys and it's so fun to be around old friends that just get you and you get them and it's easy.







We had a blast riding these little mopeds. Daija's parents' house is so much fun. They have so many toys...you never get bored there. 

(and no Scott didn't ride with Brookie on his lap...he was just holding her for the picture.)


They boys had a blast playing horseshoe.  I think Jonners beat Scott...:)


Then we played some bocce ball. 
It was a wonderful day.
Thanks for being wonderful Jon and Daij.

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Daija's parents live a little ways from my mom, so we decided to make a stop in Provo to see her.




I love it that I can drive to see my mom.  
It is such a blessing. 
We went to the BYU Creamary. 
BEST ICE CREAM in the land! 
I am not exaggerating. 

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Pioneer Day is a big deal here in Utah. 
Jana invited us to join their family to the Pioneer Day Float Preview Party. 
Scott had a night-shift so the kids and I joined them. 


It was so much fun! 
It felt like a carnival...and the best part is that it was free! 
I LOVE free. 




This lady was an amazing face painter. 
I was so impressed by her talent...and she was the sweetest lady too. 
(I have noticed that people here in Utah seem happy, they smile, they greet you, they are just friendly, laid back kind of people...it has been an interesting and nice change.) 



Then there was the balloon guy. 
The kids were mesmerized. 




Can I just say how well these four children get along? 
They are such good little friends.
They like being together. 
It makes my heart happy.


The lego lady. 
Brielle's face says it all.


That would be the yummiest banana split...don't you think?


I have to make sure that you know that I was there too, so here goes a picture with me and the children.


Brooklyn and Brooke. 
They are going to be best pals too! 
They are not quite in the playmate stage, though, but soon. 

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We were again, so lucky to see some more of our favorite people. 
We met up with Holly and Ozzie and the Nelson's at the Blue Lemon by Temple Square. 
It was so good to see all of them. 


Cooper just couldn't resist Brooke.  
This was a PG kiss.  
There were some PG-13 kisses in some pictures...lip to lip contact...ha ha:)
But I'd like to keep this blog PG rated!:)  


It was so fun to see my dear Virginia friends. 
We talked and talked and talked...until it was time to say goodbye. 


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We had some more fun visitors on a Sunday afternoon. 
Some of my favorite people too! 
There are too many wonderful people to love and call friends! 


We got to meet Colt. Reese and Em's new addition. 
He is younger than Brooke and he is almost twice his size! ha ha!


The Shurtliff and Jensen offspring. 
I just LOVE this picture of Colt! 
What a cutie! 
I'm so glad they came to see us. 
It was definitely not long enough but at least we got to see each other! 
Emily and I were also roommates at BYU-Idaho.  I was so lucky to have such amazing rommates! 
Em ended up marrying Reese, who was in our ward.  He is awesome and the best part about the whole thing is that Reese and Scott get along so well. 
I love that it is that way. 


I always forget how stinkin' short I am...I realize this fact of my life when I stand next to Emily!!!:) 
What were we laughing about Em? 
These pictures crack me up! 



The boys. 
We LOVED seeing you Shurtliff's! 
Can't wait to see you again! 

...and that was July for us. 

Holly & Ozzie's Wedding.

Holly and Ozzie's wedding has been the anticipated event of the summer for me. 
I am beyond happy that I was able to be there. 
Holly has been such a blessing to me and a wonderful friend. 
I couldn't be happier for her and this new beginning for her with Ozzie. 


It was a beautiful Utah afternoon, it was an emotional and a happy day...even as I write this I am getting teary-eyed. You know, when your heart feels full? and you want to wish the friend that you love so dearly happiness? but you cannot do it with words... it is too hard to express how much of the good things of this life you can wish to the people you love and respect. 
I have so much respect for Holly. 
She is an amazing woman.


The wedding was beautiful. The decorations, the cakes, the weather.  
Everything turned out beautifully. 


There is a little story about how Holly and I found out about each other. Holly is my good friend Stacey's cousin.  When we first moved to D.C., Stacey kept telling me about her cousin Holly that had just moved there too...it so happened that some boundaries changed in our Stake and we ended up being in the same ward.  
It was like we were meant to be friends!:)


...and I honestly don't know what got into me! 
This picture just cracks me up!!! 
What the heck am I doing to Holly?
...that is just how much I love you Holly! :)


Holly looked beautiful! 
(Your dress was perfect Holly!)


There's something about these two, I think it's your smiles...you can tell you're related. 


We were trying to get a descent picture of Stacey and me...and we were obviously having some technical difficulties...


This is the reenactment of what I guess happened...


This is my surprised face! 


Posed pictures are definitely not as fun as candid ones...:)
Thanks for capturing these Holly. 
My silly self always comes out when I'm around Stacey...


I of course had to get a picture with Cec. 


...and I couldn't forget about my little buddy Preston! 
Oh how I miss him!
I am happy for you Holly and Ozzie. 
You deserve every happiness.