Happy 27th Anniversary

It was pretty sad to be away on our Anniversary, but I knew I needed to be there for the girls at camp. We still haven't done anything for it, but we plan on taking a night at the first of July since Steve is always really busy with work at the end of the month. However we did go out with some great friends the Nelson's to get Del Taco and sit around the table on their patio together since we both have anniversary's by each other and Chris was away at camp during hers as well. It was a pretty evening and we enjoyed the conversation.
I am pretty lucky to have someone, actually it was no accident because we both made goals and strived to find someone who fit into our goal of the type of person we wanted to marry. I wanted someone who had a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and lived it.I wanted someone who wanted to have a large family and wanted to spend time with them. I wanted someone who would help and be a partner with taking care of the kids and the housework. I hoped I had learned something from my parents divorce. I love my Dad, but he didn't keep his promise to God or my Mom. Steve is always trying to protect our family by keeping his commitments he made to our Heavenly Father and it helps to keep our marriage safe. He is not afraid to say he is sorry when he does something wrong, and that is a lot more difficult for me. He is not perfect and we both make plenty of mistakes, but we are constantly trying to do better. We take our date night very seriously and don't usually miss it. We know we don't have all the answers to raising children, we continue to learn very difficult lessons and have had heart break from choices our children make in their own growing up process. We have had plenty of laughs and that is what really makes life sweet, when we can laugh through a lot of our mistakes and trials. When we can make fun of ourselves when we screw up. We have lots of good memories and we love to play together. Steve always tells me how he loves me, and tells me how beautiful I am even when I really don't feel it. I am so glad Heavenly Father sent him my way. I am so glad we were sealed together 27 years ago for time and all eternity.
I am glad we had 10 amazing children who we love dearly and plan on being with them forever. We cherish every single one of them. We love to laugh with them, and we get worried for them when they are far away, we are sad when they are having difficult things happen in their own lives and we pray for them constantly. They are in our thoughts constantly. We love their spouses and our sweet grand children. We always wish we could do more for them monetarily.
We have had a pretty emotional year so far with lots of bends in our road and I am so grateful for someone to share it with and have someone to listen and to cry with, and on his shoulder. I love you Steve !

Girls Camp

I went as the camp cook, and so I was able to be up at camp and enjoy watching all the action. It was really pretty mellow. The girls were all so nice and showed such gratitude for the cooking I did and the meals we put together. It was very refreshing. I unfortunately did not bring my camera because I didn't want anything to happen to it. I also didn't use my phone camera, and I don't have an excuse for that one. It was beautiful up at Sage Hen and we had pretty great weather, we even enjoyed the storm that blew through.
I was spoiled because my in laws let me use their camper and I so appreciated that, because I am a hater of bugs and they were awful the first couple of days. They were ants on steroids with wings and they were everywhere. Yeck!!!
I have never been to girls camp with my girls until now.
The ladies who were there for the girls were amazing and they did a wonderful job. I think the food was pretty tasty too. I learned how to use a dutch oven and how to clean it and how to keep from having to clean it. Key, use plenty of foil!
The girls did a service project for the Women s Alliance making cute kits for the little girls that have to come in at a very emotional time. The kits had cute hair clips and headbands and little tutu's and a cute note and the girls did an awesome job. They made friendship bracelets and they are so creative, they looked awesome. They made cute frames. They did some pretty funny skits and Katelynn even played the part of Simon from American Idol and she did a pretty funny job. They went canoeing and hiking and we saw a Eagle and a Hawk fighting over a fish way above the water and then the hawk dropped it and it came tumbling down right into the water next to the girls and they picked it up as it was flopping around , and there was some little boys near them and they gave it to them. They were thrilled. It was amazing to watch that. They had testimony's and they were sweet and it ended with making smores and just enjoying the night. What a week, and lots of new experiences for me. OH, and I missed being home on our Anniversary.

We have had a busy June

So this is all in reverse, we are starting from the end to the beginning, because I didn't want to down load everything again. I am sure there is a easier way I just don't know it.
Saying our goodbyes, and off they go!












Then Ben and Amber made it up to Idaho after leaving most of their worldly possessions behind or selling them to take on their new adventure of medical school, while making the rounds to spend time with family before they head off to Missouri with their little family. Emily and Andrew were so happy to see them again.


Andrew and Emily are such precious little ones, we had such fun with them and they were so good. I can't believe how fast they are growing. Andrew would follow Steve around saying " Mama" and wanting to go everywhere with him. Steve took them every morning to take the kids to school and they loved it. They loved to jump on the tramp and enjoyed every minute they could spend outside. I will miss them, since they are going to be so far away we probably won't see them for the next year. All of us had such a good time listening to Emily talk and the kids loved to prompt her into saying phrases or saying words a certain way because it sounded so cute.



How cute!






My baby came home with a broken heart

Bringing the grand babies up to Idaho for a couple of weeks before Ben and Amber come up so they can finish packing.


Brody's 2nd Birthday




Prom