lucky little lady

Grandma Kat gathered all her granddaughters for a photo. 14 strong, beautiful, loving, vibrant girls with an array of personalities and talents, they are each full of life and joy and so many wonderful things. What a blessing they are in Kit's life, and they all treat her like a little princess. 

water fight.

Two nights after Haylie got home from her mission, gram and grandpa, planned a fun night in their backyard. we had a bbq and loved being together, the WHOLE family! We had some water balloons, which of course, got real crazy real quick and escalated with buckets and water pitchers and the hose. The kids loved every wet second and grandpa and Haylie were soaked!  

different.

It was a little bit of a different year at bear lake. It was a small group. We missed Haylie, Layton & Lauren, Landon & Nicole and their kids! It was cold and rainy and we barely got in the water at all. It was still beautiful though, and of course a rejuvenating weekend with family. 

I kept this picture of Treavor and Owen with their eyes closed, because sometimes I look over to find what looks like the exact same person in a smaller and bigger version. Their mannerisms and facial expressions are identical. This captured that well, they even closed their eyes at the exact same time! 

                

Haylie is home !!

What a happy day August 5th was. Haylie Served so well, and so happily in Germany for a year and a half. Her absence got more and more painful as time went on and the waiting was just unbearable. I've learned so much from her while she was on her mission. I've learned about the joy that comes from looking beyond yourself. The blessings that hard work brings. I've learned about determination, dedication, unconditional love for God's children all over the world. I've learned about optimism, service, and how to appreciate Christ's Atonement more fully in my life. So, Haylie thank you from the bottom of my heart for always sharing even your hard, exhausting, frustrating, lonely, tiring experiences as beautiful, bright lovely times. You have blessed me through your service and love.