It's GREAT to be 8!

Tomorrow my first born turns 8 years old.  Wow, time is flying by.  I am so proud of Bree.  She is an excellent student and loves school.  She is kind, and helpful, and a wonderful girl.  About a month or so back, I took some pictures of Bree in her white Baptism dress out in our backyard.  Mostly, so I could make up an invite for my family members to come to her Baptism.  I will treasure these little pictures forever!  No, they are not professional, but I love them just the same.  

Now the hard part.  NOT crying at her Baptism.  If you know me, you know that I cry.  I am so glad that Chris holds the priesthood and can Baptize Bree.  The other day, while swimming in her little pool in the backyard, Bree kept going under the water backwards, and told me that she was practicing for her Baptism.  So cute.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful little family.  Three beautiful little girls and an amazing husband.  I am in LOVE with them, and couldn't ask for anything more!    

Happy Birthday Bree!  It's GREAT to be 8!  I am so happy you are getting Baptized!!  

Bear Lake 2013

This year for Christmas my Mom gave each of us a trip to Bear Lake.  She rented a Beach House with 7 bedrooms, a wrap around deck, and a huge grassy yard with a fire pit.  It was a really nice house.  We had an amazing view of the water, and so many fun things to do.  

After arriving the first day and unpacking, we headed over to the community pool.  We all splashed around, and had a great time.  When we started getting hungary for dinner, it was time to go back to the house.  

Ruby and I in our matching swim suits :)

The next day was Sunday.  Those who had bikes, went on a 2 mile ride.  I guess it took a little coaxing to get Elle to come home.  She got really tired.

We took the Kayaks, and went to a rocky beach.  The water level is very high, and there aren't a lot of beaches right now.

We had some really fun campfires, roasted marsh mellows, and made smores, made tinfoil dinners one night etc...  The fire pit was well used by all...

The three babies :)  

Ruby, Ryden, and Oliver

My mom really wanted a group picture.  And then each family split off, for little family pics.  I think this is the first family pic with everyone in it, since the 3 babies were born.  My mom is always on top of these things.  

I just LOVE this picture.  I love Ruby's face here :)  Although Ruby isn't happy in this picture, my Sister in law Monica and her mom Norma, are so good with babies...  

We ate many many amazing meals.  There was a lot of seriously yummy food the whole time!

Here we're having a breakfast of fruit crepes and omlets in a bag.

I think my favorite day had to be our big beach day.  We went to the North end of Bear Lake, and the water was so warm, and shallow forever, and the kids played and played with the sand toys, and everyone paddled Kayaks, we ate lunch on the beach, etc..etc...  

There were two little sand bars, which we put umbrella's on.  This one was called Ruby's Island, and the other, Ryden's Island.  

Thanks grandma and grandpa, for an amazing trip!!

Ruby, on her Island :)  She and Chris actually spent a lot of time out in the water, under the umbrella.  

Me and my siblings.  

Camber, Jennifer, Cord, Dax, and Brighton!

A whole bunch of us in the water.  Different groups of kids just having a ball.

Cousins!!  

The babies were on the beach in the shade, but the rest of the cousins posed for this fun little picture!

We had this Island when I was little.  It seemed so much bigger then.... Of course, there are a lot of kids sitting on it in this picture.  Cord and Doug pulled the kids around in the water.  

Everyone paddled around in the Kayaks at some point.  Here is a picture of Bree and Chris.

Couldn't resist this pic, of all the drying towels.  Our Beach House had an amazing deck and we used it for all kinds of things...

One night, when I knew my girls wouldn't like what was for dinner, Chris and I took them to a little place in town for Burgers and Shakes.  The fries, and fry sauce weren't bad either!!  I enjoyed this meal with just our own little family.  A little bit of down/quiet time.  

One day we headed over to the KOA, and played at the playground, jumped on the jumping pillow, and rented banana bikes etc...  And don't forget the Snow and IceCream Cones!  

I Seriously took a few hundred pictures easy.  But could only post some of my favorites.  This was a really amazing family vacation.  The kids had sleep overs, swam and played until they dropped.  Stories were told.  There were campfires, beach days, games, movies, bike rides, and more fun than I thought was possible.  My girls were seriously worn out!  Now we need a vacation, from our vacation! haha!  Thanks mom and dad for this amazing Christmas present.  

Growing up way too fast!

 This girl is growing up WAY TOO FAST!  

And I took some pictures of her the other day, that I couldn't help but to share.  

I love our little mini photo shoots together.  

Ruby 8 months old

School is out for Bree

Bree has been having all sorts of fun these last few weeks of school.  She has really enjoyed 2nd Grade this year!  She has so many great friends.  She has loved her teacher, and she has done so well in her school work.  One of her friends came over the other day to play, and when I saw her mother again yesterday at the class poetry readings, she told me that she had taken some great pictures of Bree on the field trip, and field day they just had, and asked me if I'd like copies of the pictures.  Too cool.  I love being able to see what Bree's been up to, even though she always tells me all about her adventures!

A couple of weeks ago, they went on a 2nd grade field trip to the Clark Planetarium.  

Here is Bree on the bus, with one of her BEST friends Mersadie.  Mersadie is really shy, and Bree was asked to help her out this year in their school class.  And they have become really good friends.  

Bree, Mersadie, Noa, and Kaiya.

Look Mom, we're on Mars!

Having a bit of fun in the gift shop :)

And some lunch and time at the park afterward.

Then a couple of days ago, it was Field Day!  Eating lunch outside, water and other games.  I'm so glad Noa's mom was able to get some pictures of Bree.

Bree and her friend Gracie in the pool trying to pick up marbles with their toes.    

And Yesterday, Bree's class had a poetry festival.  The whole class memorized several poems to say together, and each child memorized their own poem to recite.  I recored the whole 30 minute program.  Bree has quite a few little friends in her class.  I love that she has so many wonderful kids to hang out with.  Gracie is in her church class and on the soccer team we just signed up for.  I sure hope that some of these cute kids are in Bree's 3rd grade class next year.  

And finally, Bree's teacher.  Mrs. Christensen.  

Bree told me that when she was getting ready to leave today, she ran back and gave her teacher a big hug before getting on the bus to come home.  She said that Mrs. Christensen cried a little today, and didn't want to let her class go.  They've had a great year.  Truth be told, Bree doesn't even want school to end.  She wishes they could go all summer long.  I just love my Bree girl!