EFY

Ethan had the awesome opportunity of being able to go to EFY (Espcially for Youth) this year on the BYU campus. He was gone from July 25th to the 30th.   It sounds like he had an amazing time.  He got to listen to some amazing speakers, live in the dorms, have fun activities,  go to dances, and strengthen his testimony.    I am so glad he was able to go up and even better that it was with a few boys from our neighborhood. 

Ethan has had a very busy month in July and between our family vacation, Scout Camp, staying with grandparents while mom and dad were gone, and EFY- he has been home about 8 days in July and slept in his own bed about 11 of those nights. 

What fun adventures for him.

Ready to go with his suitcase that was also the same suitcase Jim took on his mission

Awesome group from our neighborhood that went

Chris Roberts, Jaren Sierer, Tanner Rima, Ethan Harrison, Colin Sierer, Will Wallace. 

This kids are going to do amazing things in the future.

Ethan roomed with his good friend Colin.

I took all the boys down on the 25th to drop them off.  It was pretty fun to just listen to them talk on the way up.  We were a little early so we stopped at Krispy Kremes.  They didn't seem to mind :)

They were very good sports and let me take a picture of them with their hats on.

Now we start saving up again so Ethan can go again next year :)  It is definitely an $$$ week.

18 on the 18th

Jim and I thought we would do something a little extra special this year for our anniversary since our 18th wedding anniversary was on the 18th of July.  So four days after we came back from our big family road trip, Jim and I escaped back to San Fransisco just the two of us for four days.  It was a beautiful trip and so nice to spend some time just the two of us for a little bit.  

Day 1- Chinatown, Painted Ladies, Pier, Bridge to Bridge tour

Day 2- Golden Gate Park (with Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden and Shakespeare Garden, Lands End (Mile Rock Beach),

Day 3- Elk Reserve, McClures Beach,

Day 4-Oakland Temple and eating at the Cliff House

Our cute little round house that we stayed in.

We found the painted ladies houses :)

An amazingly huge awesome battle ship on the pier

Listening to our audio tour during the Bridge to Bridge boat ride.

I think my favorite picture from the trip.  Fun on the pier.

Golden Gate Park. 

This was from the Japanese Tea Garden there.

Gorgeous flowers at the Botanical Gardens

Can't go wrong when you get to spend part of your vacation at the beach :)

Oakland Temple.  It was closed which was a bummer but absolutely gorgeous.

Happy Anniversary.

To my kids.....

On July 18th dad and I will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary.  Maybe this year seems extra special because it is 18 years on the 18th of July.  Either way I am more sentimental than usual.  I am so lucky I married your dad and have been able to spend the last 18 years with him.  He is so much better than me in every way possible.

I want you 4 kids to know how much I love you and how grateful I am for you in my life.  I love the little road trip that we just came back from.  I love watching you guys have fun and explore the world around you.  I love spending time with just our  little family of 6.  I realize that sooner than I would like you guys will be moving out and spreading your own wings. I am trying to cherish this time of your childhood before that happens. Ethan leaves on his mission in just 4 short years and then just as quickly you will all start to move on.

As you get older you will see more and more that sometimes life just doesn't seem fair. Sometimes the best of people go through some insanely tough challenges.  There are kids and adults that grow up with so many challenges and family dynamics  that sometimes just do not seem fair.  I see more than my share of that at work. I see kids dealing with so much more than elementary kids should ever have to.  Those days I just come home and watch you be kids and am so grateful you don't have to go through a lot of those things.  I see spouses who either divorce or deal with serious medical issues or have to deal with a spouse passing away. Life can change so quickly.   On those days I realize I lucky I am to have been able to have spent the last 18 years with someone as amazing as your father.  

I watch you 4 being kids in a house with plenty of food, clothes, and laughter and parents who love and care for you immensely. I watch you being kids with your imagination, creativity and care- freeness of childhood.  That is exactly how it is supposed to be.  We would move mountains for you.   You all are smart, funny, caring and have a testimony of the gospel.  How lucky we are.   We know friends that have tried for years to add children to their family and here we are winning the lottery 4 times!

What I am saying is sometimes I just look at my life in amazement and am so grateful.   I found this quote the other day which I think sums it up perfectly

You may not see it today or tomorrow, but you will look back in a few years and be absolutely perplexed and awed by how every little thing added up and brought you somewhere wonderful- or where you've always wanted to be

 I have been so blessed to marry your dad and to have the extra blessings of Ethan, Lizzie, Afton and Lilly join our family.  Thank you!

 Here's not only to 18 more years as a family but to eternity.

I love you!

-Mom

Road Trip 2016

 Jim and I felt it was time to venture out with another road trip.  This time we headed out to Yosemite and San Fransisco.  It was an awesome amazing trip.  I kept thinking how nice it was to have just our little family for 10 days.  Here is a little snippet of our adventures from July 1st to the 10th.  Yes, Lizzie did get home from Girl's Camp on July 1st also.  She was home probably a total of 4 hours before we were off again.


Day 1- We left our house around 5ish and traveled about 3 hours to Angel Lake Nevada

Day 2- Driving day and then a KOA campground.  The views were gorgeous.  Not sure why I didn't take too many pictures.  For some reason I only took like 2 pictures.

Day 3- We were able to camp in Yosemite and explore Yosemite. Wow!  Absolutely gorgeous. 

Day 4- More gorgeous beauty at Yosemite.  A couple wrong travel decisions, a intimidating drive in the dark around a curvy mountain and a much welcomed stay at a hotel at 1:30 in the morning.

Lilly in front of El Capitan

A beautiful room number when you get to it at 1:30 in the morning :)

Day 5- The kids wanted the beach and we gave them a pretty good one.  Point Reyes was so gorgeous and the waves were crazy and loud!

Every morning at our campground the girls would do what they called Olympics.

  They even made up routines and would perform for us.

Day 6- Brought us adventures at some of San Fransisco's tourist spots.  We visited the Golden
Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Pier 39 and Ghirardelli's. 

Day 7- More San Fransisco fun.  Chinatown, Alcatraz Island, eating seafood at the Bubba Gump restaurant and the Golden Gate Bridge at night.

Day 8- Muir Woods.  Such a pretty pathway among the giants of the forest

More Olympic routines

Day 9- Driving from the luscious greenery of Northern California to the desert of Nevada.

Day 10- HOME!

Our house for 8 of the last 9 nights

The parents on the last day- proud that we did it!!!

It was an amazing trip and one that I am so glad we decided to do.