June - Weeks 2 and 3

We did so many good things during June.


The second Sunday dinner is the Morris family birthday dinner (on the months we have birthdays!  On those we don't, it's just family dinner.  :) 

In June, we celebrated Austin's 17th birthday.  Hooray!

I love this picture of these two brothers.  They're both so good looking!

Dad brought this crazy candles home from Brazil.  You can see (picture two) that Austin about lost his eyebrows to the two foot flame.  It sang and sang and sang the happy birthday song.  TJ finally pulled out the batteries.

TJ was in charge of the birthday card.  :)  I think this was just perfect for Austin.

We bought him an actual Four Square ball.  We've been playing as a family in the driveway, but (sorry Mom and Dad!) using one of Austin's volleyballs to do so.  We thought this may help!

And...a back-up.  Because I figure any second now one will break.

Love this picture of Mom and Austin.

June was also Lettie's first birthday!  The Muirs came in town for the 4th of July, but for the birthday dinner Mom and Dad skyped Lettie.  I loved watching their faces as they talked to her.  They are just oozing with love for their little grandbaby.

Hi Lettie!

Giving the four square balls a try!  I was glad put her brace on.  She's good and she gets into it - better safe than sorry with that torn ACL!

There was a crazy rain storm in June (same one from last post!) and several of Gem and Eileen's neighbors had basements flood.  Cheri, who lives next door, had hers flood and Mom and Dad were trying to help her get it dry.  We ran over to check on it mid-four square.  I loved seeing the neighbors pitch in to help her out and to take care of her (she's a widow).

TJ and me when I came home from work early and brought some chips and guacamole.  Sometimes you just need a little treat in your life.  :)  We shared our treat for ten minutes before TJ hurried to class.

And then while TJ was gone I treated myself to the Petersons.  :)  Because they are good for my soul.  I drove down one evening and Parker and Anna and I walked around the park by their house.  The sky was beautiful and with each of them holding one of my hands - fingers interlaced and all - it felt a little bit like heaven.  Sometimes I wonder if my heart will burst I love them so much.

(misfit with my brown hair!)

Emma got home from her bike ride with Jeff and we walked through the yard looking at everything they're growing: potatoes, peaches, apples.  Love it down there.  Talk about a gorgeous place to raise a family.

I already posted this picture, but I just love it.  Beautiful Elle.

And then!  TJ and I left to the Bahamas for a week to help manage the Yoli work event.  I get really tired of traveling for work, so I was very, very grateful that TJ came and that we were able to take a few hours here and there.  I am lucky to have him.

Some people look lovely when they swim.  I go more for practical...

This picture is not incredibly flattering of me, but it shows how we do beaches.  I have a book on my lap (one of about a dozen I took) and am soaking up that sun.  TJ comes out for limited periods, sits in the shade of a palm tree, with new sunscreen every hour, and towels and hats.  This is great proof of how much he loves me.  :)

When I hit the humidity I forget about straight hair and go for curly instead.

We took all our distributors to a private island one day where they had a dolphin program.  I went early (really early) to make sure everything was ready, so had a few minutes to walk around.  I loved how social these beautiful, beautiful animals were - as soon as they noticed me they came to say hi. 

Couldn't stop laughing about this picture.  Notice the long sleeves, hat and shade.  Poor TJ.

The view on the ride back from the island.  I cannot get over how clear that water was.  Isn't this just unbelievable?

I had to grab a picture at the Mexican restaurant with Callie and Jen (two of my coworkers).  We ate there 5/7 nights.  Even now, 6 weeks later, I bet all of us could tell you everything on the menu.

At the final dinner.  The lighting was unbelievable.  My phone, of course, doesn't come close to doing it justice, but we'll take what we can get!

Ugly face contests on snap chat just make my day.  Every time.

One of my personal favorites -

Another with really excellent form

Actually this might be my favorite.

Tyler and Lettie were born on the same day (actually about an hour apart!) so on their shared birthday I got this fun snap from Sheri.  :)  The Milar decorating tradition lives on!

My view on the last morning (TJ was packing...I was in my swimsuit at the pool with a book).  Love this.

After we got back, we found Beckham and Raegan outside.  They rode their bike/scooter to our house and drew with us.  Cute kids.

A great few weeks!

June - Week 1

I had great hopes of updating this blog weekly, but sometimes life gets in the way!

Here is the first week of June. 

Can't get enough of Brock and Cooper.  This picture isn't clear, so I can't see the scar to verify ;) but I think this is Brock.

Had to keep this picture because it illustrates that these boys are ON THE MOVE!

Alright, someone more knowledgeable than me: how on earth do I get these videos to work on the blog?  They work on my phone and jump drive fine.

Video #1: Brocky making a video of himself.

#2 Tiny blowing on Brocky's tummy while Cooper looks out the window.

#3 Tiny blowing on both their tummies.  Oh, their giggles!

#4 This one about brings me to tears.  :)  When Tiny yells that she's leaving the babies (at least Cooper, Brock on a good day!) come running to give her kisses and say "I luh you."

I feel really, truly lucky that we have the MacKays in our life: we couldn't ask for better friends.  I've been grateful to have some evenings free when I can go help Jenni in some small way while her husband (newly called Stake President) is at meetings.  I had to sneak this picture - while Jenni was putting the girls to bed Evan and I were reading.  After a few minutes he asked me to rub his back.  It was a tender moment for me.  So grateful for the time I get with them.

On Thursday, June 4, Tiny graduated high school.  She is such a delight.  I'm not sure my parents could have had a more perfect last child.  It sometimes seems to me that goodness just oozes out of her.  She works so hard, is a great student, is a gorgeous dancer, and is kind, loving, and plain old fun.  I have been so impressed to see her get together with her friends every Sunday night to go on a walk and discuss their testimonies.  I don't know too many teenagers that are so down-to-the-core good. 

We celebrated her graduation with dinner to Five Alls.  At this point in the game Mary and Jeff were heading to the hospital to have Mary and Elle monitored overnight, so we missed having them there.

Handsome, handsome TJ.  I married such a good-looking man.

Beautiful Tiny. 

These two cling to each other as "the last two."  :)  It sounds so ominous, but I know they've been extra close as the last two that are single.  So sweet of Paige to come up (she was the only sibling to go to the graduation.  I guess that's one downside of being the last of eleven!)  Paige left right after dinner to stay with the Petersons for the weekend - lucky timing!

These are poor quality, but I'm putting them up anyway!

Danny and Tara, Tiny and Mama

Other side of the table: TJ, Rachel, Paige, Sara and Adam (who is being a total cheeseball).

My parents' gift to Tiny is a trip to New York.  She is a little excited.  ;)   She and Paige go with my parents next week: they're doing a great mix of church history sites and New York City.  I'm excited for them.

I really wanted a picture after and...this awkward thing is all I got.  Haha!  It is very, very funny.  We were just really struggling with how short Paige and Tiny are and where to stand them in the picture.  Paige decided to just crouch, so we all just came down to their level.

Laughing at the result.  :)

Ta da!  I remembered that June is pie sale month at Marie Callenders, so after all five courses at Five Alls, I bought us a pie.  Each.  And of course we jumped right in when we got home!

One thing I really love about TJ is that he loves trying new foods with me.  I really want our home to be centered around the kitchen table and he is so open to new recipes and restaurants and kinds of foods.  We met up for dinner (the day after Five Alls) at an Indian restaurant downtown.  It was so, so delicious.  We love Indian food!  We are working on being better cooks of it ourselves, but we are nowhere near this yet!

Right after that dinner, I drove out to Tooele for TJ's cousin's baby shower.  Lindsey and Abe were married last summer and are expecting twin boys. 

The shower was really cute (again, extra appreciated because it's not one of my strengths!)  and it was so fun to talk with relatives.  I have said it before, but I feel truly lucky to have married into such a wonderful family.  TJ's extended family is SO supportive and I love how often they get together to show love.

Mom and me.  I think she is so beautiful.  I am one lucky girl.

I am borderline obsessed with TJ's cousin, Becky.  She is the highlight of every family gathering for me.  :)  I am not sure what it is, but I feel like we just CLICK.  I can sit and talk with her for hours: at family functions I typically do.  She is so good and loving and funny.  I loved talking with her about her kids at the shower and seeing how deeply and completely she loves them.  Such a fun treat to spend time with her.

In the middle of all this hoopla, Holly and Dusty had their gender ultrasound.  Baby boy is on his way!

Saturday morning I decided to do my long run outdoors: I ran from home down to Redwood and watched the South Jordan Days parade with Cassie and her kids, Danny and Tara and their kids and Robert and Julie and their kids.  It broke up my 7 mile run quite nicely and it was a blast to see everyone!

With Kiki and Bud.

(I have to write this because I want to remember it!  Wyatt simply goes by "Bud" and has for as long as I can remember.  He could never remember my name [so many aunts!] so I finally just told him "I'm The Girl Bud."  It worked!  For probably a year now all Danny's kids have called me "The Girl Bud."  I thought it was hilarious when a few months ago Wyatt ran up to me and said, "I know your name!  Your name is WYATT!"  So funny.  So now, his siblings call me The Girl Bud and Bud calls me Wyatt.)

Violet and Lainee.  I am just realizing Violet's shirt has a pig with a crown on it.  Wish I had gotten a better picture of that.

Kate!

A baby.  I'm thinking Cooper (SORRY, SASSO!)  I just had to take this picture to show the candy all over him.  Julie's thought is to let them have all the candy they want during "candy times" (parades, Halloween, etc.) and they'll get their fill and be done!

Sisters!  Two weeks ago she got me through my 9 mile run.  Lucky to have her.

"Funny faces!"

Babies with lots of candy.

That night (after we met Elle!) we went to the fair to meet up with family.  And...it started POURING when we got there.  Here we are huddled under a tent (hello, Robert.)

After about five minutes, we ran for the cars and met at Dairy Queen for ice cream instead.

Love my baby boy.

Tanner is always cold and Paige didn't think to grab him something (it's June!) so here he is wearing one of Tiffany's sweaters.  :)

Love this baby knocking on the window for someone outside to see him.

While there we got a phone call from Sara and Adam (who just went home after the fair) that the house was flooding.  Papa was on the road within 20 seconds of hanging up.  We followed shortly after.

A few of the gutters were clogged and the pouring rain was just coming over the side of the house.  The guys were doing a bucket brigade and using the shop vac to empty out this window well (the water was up to the window when they got there, but the window held and no water got in!)

Parker really wanted to help - here he is in Grandma's coat, carrying buckets to the grass.

TJ climbed up (in that rain!) and cleaned out the gutter.

I think my parents had so many kids because they knew big projects could be done so easily with so many helping hands.  ;)  Everything was fixed in less than an hour!

Paige had the Peterson sleep over.  Here is Lex, delighted with a mattress just her size.

Lexi (in the middle) is 6, Kate (on the left) is 4 and Stacey (on the right) is 4.

We did scriptures and prayer and sang a couple primary songs before bed.  I had to take this video of "Families Can Be Together Forever."  Warmed my heart. 

All that in just one week!