Blurry...yes.
But this was the most magnificent view of the Draper Temple.
It was a beautiful ride with beautiful people.

This was a perfect group.
Bug finally joined...and Heather came!
It was Heathers second time EVER and of course she was awesome.
Cruised up like a boss...and came down safe and sound.
It was a blast!

LOOK-A-LIKES!
Look at these faces minus the hair.
They are the same.
So cute!

This was me...transferring photos from my phone to my email so I could blog them.
I caught myself looking real excited.
: )

So...Mayci was sick a couple days ago.
Got some weird 48 hour bug.
She was so quiet for a while...and as I was calling her name in an effort to find her and figure out what she was doing...
silence was what I got in return.
I seriously, for a minute there, wondered if she jaunted off to cousins or friends...but that hasn't happened since the last incident.
Nonetheless I searched the house only to find her here.
Asleep.
In her bed.
Bless her...sweet little sick tired soul.

She fell asleep on me and I was, of course, in my own little Heaven.
As I sat there with her admiring, rubbing, and squeezing her perfectly chubby little hands,
I asked Crockett to snap a pic of them.
I realized it might be the only time to get a pic while she was still and sleeping.
I can't even describe the love I have for those fingers of hers.
I never want to forget them!

Heaven.

Ya know, most people know that I am not a fan of PETS.
Yet...I have 4 now: Maya.  2 Rats.  And yes folks, a new bearded dragon.
WHY?!
All in the name of happy kids and husband I guess.
But...
while I whine and complain about having our gentle giant : ) ...
these moments actually capture my heart.
Wesly truly LOVES her "mini horse".
Often times throughout the day she crawls into her kennel and just sits with her.
This was just one particular moment I was able to capture her loving and hugging on Maya.
I guess Ill let her give the love.
Ill just make sure she is fed: )

Can you tell who my favorite is right now?! 

This is a dead giveaway : )

And just one more.
I can't help myself when she falls asleep somewhere other than in her bed.

We hit up the zoo again.
It was yet another great day!

Snow cones and 7-peaks!

I took this photo and when I looked at it my heart dropped a little.
They are growing up so fast!c.r.a.z.y. 

These kids were spoiled and went to Seven Peaks 3 times last week.
Once with me.
Once with cousins.
And once with friends.
Have I mentioned how lucky we are to live where we live?!
If I haven't...
We are so lucky.

Summer lovin'!

Evan loves baseball.  Its his first year and he is amped about it!
I just about died when he came walkin out in this get-up.
He was drowning in it, and Im pretty certain that helmet weighs more than he does,
but he went out there and still got the job done!

My favorite shirts these days happen to be made by my very own sister.
Love her stuff!

Crockett got a new bike and I wanted to work out away from my basement so we went up into Alpine and rode around Lambert park for a good 4 hours.  My soul is now rejuvenated.  Something about that nature air...wakes me up!

We took Rae along with us on a really super fun >>AND BEAUTIFUL<<  single track trail.
I could see her smiling from behind her helmet the whole time.
We are kindred spirits...Im pretty sure her soul soars in the uncontrolled environments.
I hope she develops a real love for our backyard:)

I plunged and bought the pass of all passes...and no regrets there.
We hit up Seven Peaks and it was Heavenly.
My kids are finally at good ages where Im not feeling so anxious about where each one is every nano second.
Rae and Evan love the freedom, and now that they can both ride on every slide, they love this place.
Mayci and Wesly roamed in and out of the kiddie pool and caught a couple rides with me or their aunties.
Proved to be too much fun for my Wes.
She literally conked 10 seconds into our drive home.
Thank you Seven Peaks.
>>Rae is fake sleeping<<
>>Cami is posing<<
So funny.

Raegan insisted on taking out her own stitches.
She did it...but as you can she...
she was sweat'n it.
That glimmer on her foot = sweat.
Pretty impressed she was able to do that.
Im learning that the more control she has - the less anxiety she has.
Only takes 9 years (or eternity) to figure her out : )
I love her and am really beginning to appreciate her independence!

This summer has been full of friends for this gal.
She is Little Miss Popular.
I certainly don't have to worry about her making friends.
She makes them very quick, everywhere we go!
>>I just have to make sure she doesn't lead them to McDonalds on foot when she's hungry<<

And this poor guy ended up in the hospital a few weeks back.
His allergies got the best of him.  As I was putting the kids to bed I noticed his breathing was very labored.
Scared the crap outta me.  And of course Shawn was out of town.
SO...
I text Brian - and he was knocking on my door 10 minutes later.
Thank You Doctor!
He did more than validate my intuition to take him in immediately.
He calmed me a bit and offered to hang till my dad got there to be with the little ones while I took him to the ER.
What a Saint.
Blessed to live 4 blocks down from him, and blessed for his generosity, care, and concern.

He ended up getting a few breathing treatments and an oral steroid.
Glad he was ok.
These pictures were taken after his breathing treatments - which happen to get him all wired up.
A much different Evan than before his meds.

Thanks again, Brian, for coming to the rescue.
Thanks Laci for lending him.
And thanks dad, for hanging here until 2 am - even when you had a 6 am flight.

I love you all!!

2014 FAM DAM REUNION!!

This is THE ONLY picture I took of our wonderful excursion with the one and only...

OLMSTEAD CLAN!!

Family Reunion 2014.

It was awesome.

Although we had some cold weather...look at the sky on this day.

We did a lot of Ranger/4-wheel rides.

We shot guns.  Duh.

We got back on the 4-wheelers.

We got to see the pre-show of Beauty and the Beast - Kids absolutely loved it.  Still talk about it.

We got to ride horses - Major highlight.  It was breathtaking.  Literally.  I might have almost cried.

We did a piñata.  Duh.

We got back onto the Ranger.

We shot rodents.

We worked out - of course.  Everyone was stretching in their beds at 5am getting ready! : )

We enjoyed a few World Cup games together.

Raspberry shakes were a disappointment, but had to happen.

Most of all, the cousins were in absolute Heaven with each other.

Which allowed some real fun times for everyone.

Late night laughs, good meals, and better yet...good company.

It was perfect.

Karalee - THANKS! For the shirts.

Scott - THANKS! For the 4-wheelers

Heather - THANKS! For the play

Nicole/BriOn - THANKS! For the green beans : ) And pictures!

Brooke - THANKS! For the essential oils!  And good laughs : )

Ginger/Ryan - THANKS! For the paracords (?) and helping with all the food organization!

Rick - THANKS! For babysitting. For funding. For laughing.  Then coughing, or, choking : ) 

And Trudy - THANKS!!!!  For making this a priority.  For all your efforts in getting your family together and making memories that will last forever. 

I love each and every one of you.