Beach-tastic ...

Today was beach-tastic.

Sand, surf, sun ...

Boat watching, castle making, seagull chasing ...

Definitely beach-tastic!

A few summer favorites

Here are a few of my favorite (summer) things ...

Favorite summer riverbank ...

Favorite summer park bench ...

Favorite summer hangout ...

Favorite summer toddler ...

Favorite summer underdog launcher ...

Favorite summer strolling spot ...

Favorite summer pool boy ...

Favorite summer goggel eyes ...
Oh, how I LOVE those goggel eyes!

Happy anniversary ...

It's been a year (and a few weeks) since our Michigan journey began.  Saying good-bye to our home and friends, the long exhausting drive, the anxiety of starting law school, daily house hunting, living in a hotel, soothing crying kids who were missing old friends. 

Yep, a whole year ago.  And now ... new friends, new home, new school, lakes visited, parks explored, callings fufilled, winter survived, and seasons enjoyed.

And oddly, as we visited that old familiar neighborhood this last month on our family vacation the feeling was surreal, like we'd never left, as if the entire last year hadn't happened at all.  To the point where I was having a difficult time remembering what Michigan even looked like.  The details of our first MI year were fuzzy.  I felt as if I had fallen asleep and had a long vivid dream.  Like in the Simon and Garfunkel song, "Michigan felt like a dream to me now."  Steve felt it too and so the analysis began.  Was it because our freindships had remained true?  Was it being back in such natural and familiar surroundings?  Was it the Lord's way of telling us he would erase all the negatives and leave only the amazing positives in our adventure?  Or His way of saying our trials would be but a moment?  What ever the message was meant to be, we felt a huge confirmation that our decision to start law school this last year way out here in Michigan was the right decision.  It's good to feel you're on the right track!  Just a relief.

Reunion Randomness

Our family reunion this year (my side) started as a three day event but ended up being a five day event! Too much fun ... we just couldn't quit.

Day one: arrive, reacquaint with family, hugs and kisses all around, set up tents and yard games, trampoline, tree swing, organize the barn loft for older girl cousins to sleep in, set up garage for meals.

Day two: official opening ceremonies with flag ceremony, hike up Darby canyon to the wind caves for older cousins (and Grandma!), splash pad and carousel rides for younger moms w/kids, more yard games with trampoline and swing time, evening outdoor projector movie with treats, goodnight devotional by Grandma.

Day three: early morning temple session for adults, back for a late morning baptism session with the youth, boat making time, more playing with cousins, evening cookout at Shirley's with water-balloon v-ball, zip-line, ladder golf tournament (congrats Dane!), family program & talent show, "boat sing", bonfire

Day four: breakfast at the park, arts and crafts, making/launching bottle rockets, pool time in Shirley's flooded back yard (too fun!) with canoe races, swamp monster attacks, human slip and slide, water volley and foot ball, evening fireside with reports from cousin missionaries (returned, serving, and called).

Day five: church, packing up, good-byes with final hugs and kisses.

Welcome to Grandma's

Splash pad

Carousel riding
Carson, Caley, Jack, Ike

Water-balloon Volleyball
Reid, MK8, Kyle, Gage

Caeden and Rachel

Sunny and Uncle Joe

Gage and Jean

NY Wildings (minus MK8)
Arla, Jonathan, James, Thomas

Scary painted tattoos (it's ok Uncle Dave)

Face painting with Melayne

Kelli, Diane, Dave (good luck in nursing school!), Kayla, Hazel

Aaron & Kaylee

Cook out at Shirley's

Perfect dogs
Susan, Paul, Spencer, Rachel, Dave

Smoke follows beauty
Ammon, James, Layne

Joe, Rose, Shaleen, Kaylee, Mariann, Jill

Grandpa and Sunny

Sunny, Gage, Michigan birdhouse boat (with cardinal and blue jay feathers and firefly glow sticks)

Human slip and sliding

Maryah

Band of brothers
Joe, Layne, James, Dave

Rose, Joe, Layne, Jonathan, Reid, Dave, Ammon, Paul, Jake, Spencer

Saying good-by

Love you Grandpa!

Open the Flood Gates ...

Or in this case I think my sister may have closed the flood gates? Not really sure of the irrigation technicalities but definitely sure of the fun had by ALL. Old and young alike. Grown men acting like boys ... and their boys loving every minute of it. Women tending the babies under the shade tree, dipping their toes in the cool water, cheese nibs saving the day.
Running, splashing, shouting all highly encouraged.
Canoe races, swamp monster attacks, water volleyball, water football, body surfing contests. Best outdoor pool EVER!