June

After our trip to Nauvoo the first part of June, I was thinking the rest of the month would be boring and uneventful.  How wrong I was!  It was full of lots of extended family fun- which is a good thing since it's just the 3 of us now.  I was finally able to go into Jake's room without being overcome with sadness, and after spending a day cleaning it really good, it doesn't make me that sad to go in there because it doesn't look like his room anymore!  Haha.  We got the net set up in the back yard and try as we might- even combining forces as a team, we can't beat Cam!  He's an amazing badminton player. Enjoyed sitting in the hot tub most nights and after working out knowing as soon as it got warmer I wouldn't want to anymore-

We had the Bundy's over for dinner one night and enjoyed playing badminton and bocce ball. I love that they're always up for games.  Mike- being the great husband that he is- did all the dishes.

For my birthday on the 13th, Mike wanted to cook me a big breakfast, but I told him not to because I wanted to eat my usual healthy bowl of cheerios with 1/2 banana, so when I got up and went into the kitchen, this is what was waiting for me!  What a sweetie he is.  I had a lovely lunch out with Ann at Beehive Grill, then we saw the movie "Now you see me."  We both loved it.  She loved it so much that she took Trace to it the next night!  I did some shopping, then that evening went to dinner at Elements with Mike, Cam, Bundy's and Skeens.  It was a fun day!  And this sunset to end that day was a beautiful gift.

Cam and Marnie and their kids came to town to compete in a rodeo, so Mike and I and Ann and Trace went to watch them.  Since I'm a rodeo novice, I don't know the name of Bailey's first event, but I know she did barrels and Cam and Brody did team roping.  I sure got an education in all that goes on to have rodeo kids from Marnie for the entire duration of the rodeo!  It was very fun and I'm glad we could go see what they do about 80 times a year!  They're dedicated. 

This is the breakfast Mike was happy to eat for Father's Day. No healthy requests from him :)  It was weird to only have one child at home to celebrate with, but he did love talking to both girls on the phone-and Cam did his best to represent the kids.

The next 10 days were busy, fun ones.  On Thursday the Relief Society Presidency (of which I'm the secretary) hosted a going away party for a girl in my ward that I've been good friends with ever since we moved here.  She's getting remarried and moving to Twin Falls.  We had it in my friend Sue's backyard, and I'm in love with her yard!  It was a nice evening and a sweet way to say goodbye to a dear friend.  People often mistake us for sisters.  Do you see it?
On Friday sweet Lydia turned 4, so Lindsey threw out all the stops (is anyone surprised?) and hosted a fun luau at the Skeens.  The Lake's had arrived the day before, so it was great to see everyone and help celebrate an adorable, funny, entertaining girls big day.  One hilarious thing she said lately that I'll relate:  She was over playing with our basket full of beanie baby stuffed animals and it was time to clean up so she could go home.  I told her to come and help put them back in the basket- but she just stood there looking adorable and then said "but I'm cute!"  As if that's the reason why she shouldn't have to help clean up.  Haha-  good luck disciplining her Bundy's!

The next day Mike and I went to Provo to help with and attend Andy and Chelsea's wedding reception.  They had gotten married the week before in Los Angeles and since we didn't attend that, I was extra happy to go and see them as a married couple.  They are just the best looking couple I've seen in a long time!  It was fun to help a little with the set up and food for the first bit, then enjoyable to visit with many relatives who were able to come and eat the delicious food they had.  It was great to see every single one of the Romneys and visit with each of them.

On Monday we had Mom, the Skeens, Searles, Lake's, Petersens and Bundy's over for kickball at the park followed by dinner and beach volleyball in our backyard.  It was a very fun evening.  I just love summer evenings like this.





On Wednesday everyone mentioned above went to Bear Lake for the day- minus Mike and Ryan.  The weather was perfect, the scenery beautiful, the food plentiful, conversations engaging, and the fun in big supply.  It was a great day.












All this fun must have been wearing some people out, because on Friday when the activity was going to Bountiful for a day at the Call's luxury pool and backyard, we lost a few more people.  The Searles and Mom opted out- and too bad for them, because we had a great afternoon and evening playing, eating, and having fun.  I just love these memorable times with family- especially the Lake's who we don't get to see very often. 

And we were treated to this lovely display as we were leaving, so we had to snap a few dozen shots.  Beautiful!

And last but not least, on Saturday Mike and I celebrated 28 years of wedded bliss.  We joined the Skeens etc. for one last hurrah before the Lake's left to go back to WA and had a fun evening playing games at the Skeens.  A fun time was had by all.  I'm grateful for a kind, loving, supportive and fun husband to share my life and eternity with!  I love you Mike.

Wait!  One more very important thing. . . My Elder!  How could I not include some pictures of him?  These are all from the MTC, and although he was only in the MTC for 4 days of June, I didn't get these pictures in May to include them in that post- so here they are.  Doesn't he look great?  Oh, how I miss that smiling, handsome face.

His district that he loved.  Only 4 elders went to Washington, the rest to the West Indies.  He loved his companion, Elder Wells on his right.

Studying hard.   There was a fair amount of goofing off going on, so it was nice to see this picture to think that he really may have worked hard too!

The elder on the left was the district leader, and apparently he thought there was too much goofing off going on. . . can you just imagine what's going on in his mind?  Haha

This is my favorite picture.  He just looks so happy and is willing to take the fall (surely he did, right?) to have a fun picture.