A Lazy Sunday Afternoon at Grandma's House

Eli was spraying the girls on the tramp, they loved it!

Ella loved crawling thru the tunnel

Eli found the hose & was tormenting the girls..he is such a boy!

Eli chillin' on the porch swing

Allie & Ella enjoying their popsicles


My mom had us over for dinner today, my brother & sister & niece came up from SLC to spend the day. We BBQ'd and hung out while the kids played & then found the water. It was fun seeing Val & JM & Ella, we don't see them as much these days, the kids loved playing together. It seems we all get too busy, too pre-occupied, too wrapped up in life to stay in touch like we should. Thank goodness for lazy Sunday afternoons!












Summer is coming to an end, Madelyn started 1st grade this past week. It was a little bitter-sweet for me. She was ready to go & very excited, as was I, but it's still a little sad as I watch my baby go to school all day, and I no longer have her under my wing as much. Eli & Allie have lost their supervisor, boss, 2nd mommy & boot camp sergant! They seem to be a little lost without her, but I'm sure they'll adjust. Eli will be starting his first year of pre-school next week. He is thrilled, already has his backpack ready...Allie too, it will be a sad day when she doesn't get to go with her brother, she is his little shadow.

Camping with the Family

Eli making a complete mess with the smores!
The Jensen's, Lisa, Tayler, Kyle, Emily & Brad (Alyssa is missing!)

Part of the Miller's, Broc, Andy, Morgan, Jodi & my Allie.

My brother-in-law, Andy & his son, Broc...posing (they're really not this dorky!)

Wyatt, Eli & Morgan at Bear Lake... they're the 3 Musketeers.

TROUBLE! The cousins get along & love spending time together.

Wyatt, Eli (he's kinda blinking) Allie & Morgan (she got into the markers!)

Wyatt & Eli thought they were "rad" in their helmets riding the 4-wheeler.

We went camping with Branden's brother, Brad & his family, and his sister, Jodi & her family. We went up to Temple Flats again, we've been camping there together for a few years & have always had a great time. We got up there Thursday afternoon, it was nice weather and we got set up. Friday we planned to go to Bear Lake for the day, but we didn't stay too long, it was freezing cold! Who knew in mid-August, but it was chilly all day, so we went back to camp & huddled around the fire, then in the afternoon it seemed to warm up a little. We played cards & the kids rode the 4-wheeler, it was nice & relaxing. Branden's parents came up & spent the day with us on Saturday. We always have plenty of yummy food & treats. I think I've gained 10 lbs. in the last few weeks, it has been camping, reunions, & alot of other excuses to overeat! We came home Saturday night, got unpacked & I'll be doing laundry for the next week straight now...fun fun!

Happy 2nd Birthday Allie!

The Birthday Girl...Allie McKay is two!

My attempt to make cupcakes (they're animals, kitty's, puppies, & bunnies)

Maddie & Eli picked out a dolly that looks like Allie, and a "ba ba" to go with it.


Allie likes the "ba ba" too.

My cute little "nekkid" girl with her beloved balloons. (I think she liked those the best of anything she got for her birthday! Her & Eli have fought over them all week.)

Allie turned 2 on August 12. I can't believe how she is growing up on me... I thought I still had a baby, but I really don't anymore. She is such a fun girl, she is very spunky, she definitely keeps me on my toes. She really adds a special flavor to our family. She is "sweet & sour" either the sweetest little angel, or the most rotten little stink around. I can't help but laugh at her every single day, she is my beautiful, funny, special little girl & I am so blessed to have her in my life.

All Dressed for Church

I got the girls new dresses, I'm not able to get them matching too often so it's fun when I can find them... great sale at Dillards! Unfortunately, no new digs for Eli!

Island Park Adventures!

Madelyn swimming at Firehole River... she loved it, the water was "kinda" warm.
Eli thought he was awesome in his new sunglasses in West Yellowstone.

Allie's new thing is posing, it is hilarious, she is so funny!

The cousins: Eliza, Maddie, Sophie & Hannah...they were inseparable!

Aunt Becky brought sugar cookies for all the girls to decorate, of course Allie thinks she's as big as the rest of them & fits right in.

Ethan & Eli (the turds) were in the hot tub flexing their huge muscles.

Maddie, Eliza, Lindsey & Sarah chillin' on the porch of our cabin.

All the kids piled in the back of my van to go float the river, they thought it was great.

My family, minus Allie & Eli, me, Maddie, Whitney, Mom & Heather.

Our little family at Island Park, without our daddy.

We spent all of last week in Island Park, some of my mom's family was there. We rented two cabins next to each other. All in all there were 14 adults, 4 teenagers, and 8 kids under age 10...needless to say, there was a lot of chaos, a few tears, and a lot of laughs! We hung out in West Yellowstone and saw an Imax movie, spent a day in Yellowstone Park and swam in the Firehole River where the hot spring comes out. We floated down Henry's Fork by Macks Inn a few times, fed the fish at Big Springs, ate a lot of good food, played games & sat in the hot tub every night after the kids were in bed.... We had a great time, it is beautiful country up there, we enjoyed the fresh air, the endless forests, the animals we saw, and the fun memories we made with our family. Branden wasn't able to go, he got really busy at work & decided to stay home & work on some projects in the yard. Aunt Heather & Gramma were a lot of help, although we didn't see Maddie or Eli much, they played & played with there cousins. It is so fun to reminisce & laugh about old times with the family, we have made a lot of fun memories & hope to be able to make many more.