Fun with the Kiddos

Crystal helped me with LOTS of coloring.

Rachel decorated some cookies.

Brandon, well, we never saw him because he was ALWAYS working on homework.

Stewart and Doug on the computer playing Empire Earth. Doug looks thrilled to be getting his picture taken. Can you tell? And Blake is pictured below.

Last weekend Brandon and I got spend a couple of days with these fun siblings of mine. I realize more and more how blessed I am to be part of a large family and to enjoy my family so close by. They really have been like a little tender mercy to me these past few months. They bring me so much joy and happiness and I realize that life can be more fun when I am with them.

Hot Summer Nights

Last night we did FHE out at Spring Valley reservoir with some friends. I was reminded that we are surrounded by God's creations in this beautiful world and that this can bring us peace. We also enjoyed yummy burgers and s'mores! I never want it to get cold, ever.

My Mother Would Be Proud...

A few pictures of the flower bed I planted yesterday. I love that I see nice pretty flowers each day, rather than the dead weeds that were there before.

Kyle & Shanie's Wedding - August 13, 2011

Setting up the tent for the reception at the Rowley home

My cute cousins Whitney and McKenna Rowley

Sisters! Rachel, Crystal, Me, Sharon

Shanie's bridesmaids

My brother Blake and I waiting for the happy couple to come out of the temple
Shanie and Kyle, just married

So happy!

My brother Doug and our cousin Brent Rowley

The cutest kid ever!! Little Gordon is my sister Sharon's baby and we all think he is pretty adorable.

It was hot!

My family (left to right: Blake, Sharon, Gary and Gordon, Dad, Mom, Crystal, Shanie, Kyle, Stewart, Doug, Rachel, myself)

Nick, Kyle, Dad

Sylvia, Nate, Shanie (I love her face in this picture)

Beautiful bouquet! Nate bringing Shanie some goods to eat.

Shanie and I

Kyle and his best man, John Grandstaff

The reception

Sylvia's centerpieces (beautiful!!)

Guest Book table

Fun picture table

Sandy's slushy machine was a hit!

Lots of yummy food

My First Wedding Cake

Cakes before the fondant was applied

So much frosting!

Last Saturday I put together my first wedding cake. I think the only major regret I have is the cake topper. I think it looks too big and should be half as tall (simpler). Other than that, things came together alright. I am glad that Shanie and Kyle liked it. More wedding pictures to come in a future post...

Oregon Coast Trip - Part 4

In Newport, we also did something I would highly recommend. We went whale watching and crabbing. The best thing about the charter we went through was that it was a smaller charter that did not cram its boats. I think there were about 17 of us on the boat, including children. So everyone had good breathing room. I was a little skeptical about the whole thing at first but I had a blast! I also didn't know if I would get sea sick on something like this but I did not.

Here our boat helper is throwing out the crab traps (which we will come and get on our way back).

We did see one big grey whale (30 ft. long) but I did not get a picture of it.

The first of the crab crop

Brandon was smiling from ear to ear when it was his turn to pull in a crab trap. He loves these kinds of adventures.

Me on the other hand, well... I am not as strong and felt like a complete weakling as I had to get help to pull mine in. It was heavy!





On our way home from the coast, we stayed in Tillamook, OR and checked out the Tillamook County Fair. This was one of the first booths we passed when we walked in and we thought it was pretty hilarious.

This amazingly tall lady was pretty neat.

One of the things I love to look at at fairs are all of the pretty flowers.
Yummy meat!
And we cannot forget the horse races. We actually had planned on seeing more than just one race of the horse races and possibly going to the Lonestar concert that night but I was starting to get a little bit homesick. So we headed home. Silly huh?