HaPpY BiRtHdAy DaD

So from a post a did earlier this year I had mentioned how this year I was going to start celebrating my dad's life. What a better way to celebrate than with a birthday PaR-TaY! When we were out in Utah during the summer it was my daddy's b-day (June 20Th). My sister Kelly and I decided to throw him a party. We invited all his brothers and their children. We do not get to see them nearly enough and wanted to spend some time with them. It was wonderful to see them. All his brothers made it with the exception of my Uncle who is serving as Mission President in Texas (he does not have any sisters that's why we invited his brothers and not sisters). Some of my cousins also came along with their children. My cousin Julia cut one of her vacations short just so she could make it...How cool is that?!? Anyway the kids had fun decorating the house and Kel and I had fun decorating the kitchen table with dinner, pictures of my dad and sunflower seeds acted as confetti (my dad LOVED his seeds!).

My dad had many names. He was most often referred to as Craiger Bear and Craig E. Buns. Why I'm not sure...

My Uncle Lane brought my dad a present (he was kind enough to let my mom open it).....Sunflower seeds none the less

The kids all had a blast getting to know each other and playing together.

So we had asked all my uncles to share a story of my dad. It was so fun to sit around and hear stories about him that we had not heard before and others that we had. My Uncle Barry (aka President Smith) e-mailed me a story to read in his behalf. Afterward Kel and I had made a DVD of my dad's life and put together a book of letters, funeral talks, and memories people had given us of him. WE gave everyone a book and DVD as party favors.

The next day was Father's Day so we went to the cemetery. I am ashamed to admit it but it had been years since I had gone there and some of my children had never been. It was so peaceful and the kids really did enjoy hearing stories about their Grandpa. I am so very happy that we did this. My children always seemed to be somewhat confused before when talking about my dad. Just the other day Anika was saying something and she said "Taylor remember when Grandpa did.....". I love the fact that they were talking about him and remembering him even though they have never met him. It just goes to show that his legacy is living on!

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU DAD!

over the moutains and through the woods...

U...T...A...H (and yes I did that red for a reason... I love my Utes!)

I love going home to visit. Nothing says Grandmas house like a visit..or two..or three...to snow shack!



hanging out with cousins watching movies and playing games....

going to the pool.....

playing dress up.....

visiting the cabin.....

visiting friends.....(I'm so happy i was able to see you Cami!)

and getting our first haircut...

we always have so much fun at Grandma's house that it just wipes us out...(apparently before we can get our shoes off....or clothes on for that matter).

We heart Grandma's house!

Colter and Boston come for a visit

We started off our Summer with a bang.....We had Colter and Boston come spend a week with us. It so much fun watching my kids with their cousins. I can not believe how fast they are all growing up! My kids are always walking the neighbors dog ( it's nice the neighbors share their dog with us so I don't have to buy one) and loved having their cousins help. Here are a few pics of our week together:
We went to the Denver aquarium one day with Kelly. As a added bonus my cousin Jesse was in town and so he met up with us. It was so fun to see him! My kids absolutely adore him and were so excited to have him with us!

We then went and spent a night at Kelly's and the kids had a blast hanging out in the hot tub!

We made a trip to the zoo and the kids got to pet a lizard...Yuck!

We topped the trip off with a visit to our neighbors to roast marshmallows and make smores...YUM! (BTW we have the best neighbors. They are an older couple who do a great job of putting up with us and our gaggle of kids.)

We miss you Colter and Boston!

I'm BaaaaaaaCK.....

Blogging. It's like diet and exercise. It's easy as long as your doing it but once you fall off the band wagon it's hard to get back on. Oh and then there is the justifying. And the guilt. Ya ya I do that all the time. Justify why it's OK I'm not doing something and then feel guilty for not doing it. So I've lived the last three months justifying and feeling guilty. I have justified that I have just been to busy to blog.

Busy..............
playing at the beach....

feeding giraffes.......

hanging out with friends.....

watching fireworks with neighbors and friends.....

catching frogs........

going to baseball games.....

playing rock-band.......

taking Lauren and Cailyn to concerts.... AND eating watermelon........

I know I know....I know what your all thinking. We are just as busy and still find time to blog. But remember I told you I was justifying to help with my guilt. Here's the thing though. The last little while I have come to realize how much I need blogging. Not really my blog and stories but yours. I can't tell you how much I have missed reading about and seeing your families. So Cami I am answering your call out from a few posts ago to re-commit. After all if it was not for blogs I would have no idea how good James looks in a kilt! Or that Scott got his mission call to Long Beach (OK i read that after I was told he got it but still I would of learned a lot sooner if I was reading blogs). Since catching up I know how good Colter looks with flattened hair (but I still love those curls)! And wait...Lauren your pregnant...what?!? CONGRATS! (So how many other pregnant announcements have I missed??? Come on fess up.) I also now have to live with the guilt for not being there when my friends could of used me. Megan I am so sorry to hear about Nana, I know how much you loved her! And T please know your family is in our thoughts and prayers. And so this is my pledge...I will get caught up on all my posts that I have neglected (yes some will be from three months ago, but hey this is my blog after all and if I want to go back that far then my golly I will). And I will be faithful once again at reading all of yours. After all I can use a good Timmy Midget and inbreeding KKK story everyday (Jen I must say that was probably one of the funniest post I have read. By the time I reached the part about Timmy Midget I feel off my chair from laughing so hard! Timmy and his inbreeding KKK neighbors will forever be a favorite.) And so happy blogging....and reading! I'm Baaaaack........