Kaylee Graduates from BYU

I will warn you right now that this may be the longest entry on record! We were so lucky to all be able to fly out to Utah for Kaylee's graduation. We ran from sun up to sun down and had a blast!! Here are some of our adventures.....Get your seat belts on...Grant is flying the plane! :) We could not be any prouder of out little Statistics Major. I guess Proud is not a word we should use but it sure fits this occasion! We are so proud of you Kaylee. It is nice to have brains in the family even if they have to marry into it!! ;) Outside the Marriott Center where President Uchdorf spoke. What an honor to hear him in person.

Graduation day. Right after Kaylee graduated. How fitting to have the BYU bookstore in the background.

Grant and Dad.

The Marriott center was packed . Here Elder Uchtdorf and other dignitaries are walking in. Tyler's Mission President Claude Zivic (in Spain)who is now in the First Quorum of the 70's was also on the stand.

One really FUN part of the trip was meeting up with Marilyn and Lincoln Chamberlain a couple of times. We flew in to SLC within minutes of each other so we met up for lunch at this GREAT hamburger joint called Crown Burgers. They both looked wonderful. Marilyn told us a little more about the amazing story of Lincoln's transplant. He truly is a modern day miracle! What a treat it was to see them. Blake just came to life having his buddy back.

The group.

After lunch we headed over to Temple square before our appointment to tour LDS Business College where Blake plans to attend school in the Fall. Here is a classic picture of Blake!

I took actually took this picture. Temple Square was beautiful and the perfect time of year to see all of the beautiful flowers!

That night we met up with old friends from Desoto days... the Cottrell's. You know they are great friends when you can pick right back up where we left off. It felt just like old times!

The next morning we hiked to the Y. I must say it was way harder than I thought it would be. Not only was it steep, I could NOT catch my breath. I think my kids living in Texas were secretly happy that I had to make a ton of rest stops....as they could not breath either! It took me awhile but we ALL made it! Steve missed out this day as he was working at a clients in SLC.

Here we are at the TOP!

Grant on the Y

Carly on the Y

On the way up!

The proof that I actually made it! NO... I did not ride the four wheeler up. They were lighting the Y for graduation. ;) However I would have liked to ride the four wheeler up!

Camille and Carly on top of the world. Over looking Provo.

Hiking down.

Camille, Grant, Kaylee and Tyler at a rest stop.

We were so lucky to be able to meet up with Christine, Maddie and the Ellsworth at the Brick Oven for lunch. It was so fun to catch up and see all of them. My kids say they have the cutest kids!! This is the 'boy" table.

The "girl" table! ;)

You would be hard pressed to find a more darling couple than James and Lori. We miss them but they are happy and are doing well!

After lunch we met the Naylor's (Kaylee's family) and took the kids bowling. Just notice the next two pictures and see what is wrong..... This is Blake

This is Carly..... LOOK at they way they hold the bowling ball!!! It was a bit embarrassing but that is truly how they bowled. We were lucky to get out of there with out the ball being thrown in another lane...although for Carly it was a close call. Note to self. Do not take the family bowling in public again.....

After this I wanted to go upstairs to the BYU bookstore. I was looking for a camp manual when Tyler was waving frantically to me to come upstairs. His Mission President Elder Claude Zivic and his wife were there. It was such a privilege to finally meet them. Tyler absolutely idolizes this man and his wife. They were so kind and complimentary to us. You could see the love and appreciation between them towards Tyler and he to them. We have communicated in letters but it was so fun to actually meet these people that cared for my son while he was in Spain and that Tyler has spoken so highly of. Yes, I had my camera in my purse and had taken pictures all week long and I totally forgot to take a picture until we left the bookstore. If only I could go back and replay that meeting!!

Next we headed up to Bridal Vail Falls. It was a shock to see how the place had changed. I hear that there had been a fire up there and everything was in ill repair. It was such a beautiful, thriving place when I was in school I hated to see it that way. We still walked around for a bit and the kids had fun posing for and taking funny pictures....

Carly at the Falls.

Tyler and Grant at the falls.

Carly, Camille and Grant

Flying:
Camille....

Grounded...Grant ;)

Who is taller??? Sorry Carly you loose!

We are missing Blake in these pictures because he was helping Lincoln move into his dorm room and he was busy at night hanging out with the "Texas friends" . I told him he still had curfew but he fudged that a little.

Then we headed up to Squaw peek. It was raining in the valley but snowing up there. Grant was thrilled to play in the snow for a little bit. This is a picture of the Naylor's, Kaylee's family. It was fun to be able to spend some time with them and get to know them better. Today is Tyler and Kaylee's 2 year anniversary. Where does the time go??

All of us at the top of Squaw Peek.

Steve, Carly, Camille, Grant and Tyler

Boarding the airplane to come home. Grant cried and cried Sunday morning as we were getting ready to fly home. He wanted to stay just 2 more days.........................

I think we all would have liked to stay just two more days.............. It was a great trip!

You're just not Texan if you don't have a picture like this!

Texas is known for it's bluebonnets! Nothings beats a field full of Texas wild flowers. We saw these out on a bike ride and Grant was so excited to take pictures. If you have ever lived in Texas you have pictures like this! Unfortunately for us it had rained the day before and Grant fell down the second we got there and his pants were all muddy so our"photo shoot" was cut short! There is always next year.

Notice that Grant has on his blue Easter egg ring. That ring was the Easter treasure this year. :)

Look Who Came To Our house!

Grant was so excited the day that Pierce came over to play. Christine had a Doctor appointment so we got to have a play date. I love this little boy. He reminds me a lot of what my kids looked like as babies. Grant even asked his dad is we could have another baby. I overheard the answer from the other room.....NO

Examples in Action

Blake and Camille had the wonderful opportunity to attend our Stake's Youth Conference over the weekend. They were involved in a super service project for a neighboring community's senior center. The service was to build 1/4 mile sidewalk for a walking trail for the center, paint a play ground and clean a baseball field of weeds and over growth. The city put up the 20K for the materials and the kids and others donated their time. Everyone questioned if this could really be achieve in 2 days! They did it!!!!!!

Here Camille is smoothing out the concrete. Blake, Lauren, and Wren

Corrine and Stephanie.

Steve was able to attend one day and came home with a glowing report. How impressed he was with the magnitude of the project. What a wonderful project it was to have their kids involved in something bigger then themselves. He praised the leaders, the volunteers and the KIDS!!

They also had plenty of social time. The had dinners, speakers and even a dance. It was a fun and fulfilling weekend. My kids came home exhausted but both were thrilled to be apart of this wonderful activity. Thanks to all those that made it happen!!

Just wanted to share these beautiful, beautiful flowers!!

Easter Activities

We had a fun weekend getting ready for Easter. Blake and Camille were at the church Youth Conference so we missed them being in on all of the festivities. Grant loved coloring eggs, making 2 bunny cakes and of course the egg hunt!

Grant colored an egg for each person in the family. Here he is calling his dad. Grant: Dad, what is your favorite color? Dad: hummmm white (side note. You could have guessed that... what color are every one of our cars!! It is a bit embarrassing!) Grant: White is not an option. Dad: OK then green. and green is.....
Grant Finally got to lick the long awaited spatula. He chose to make a strawberry flavored bunny cake. The finished product. He took the bunnies twin to his friend Nathan.

Look what the Easter Bunny dropped by!

It rained really hard on Easter morning so the egg hunt was in the house. Not as much fun but we hid and re-hid eggs...

What a wonderful weekend. The kids had fabulous experience at Youth Conference, We had fun together and church was excellent. What a special holiday. I love Easter time. It feels like a renewal of our spirits and a renewal of the earth. What a wonderful time of year.

Happy Bunny Easter....

Grant has been asking all kind of questions this week about Bunny Easter. I tell him that it is the Easter Bunny and he just says OK and continues to talk about Bunny Easter. Where does Bunny Easter live? Does he get scared? Do dogs chase him? Why dosen't he like kids? Why won't he play with me then? What does he eat....oh I could go on and on. . :) His little pre-school had lots of fun Easter activities this week. Yesterday was the Easter Party. I got to help give this one. We all had a blast! The Easter egg hunt.

The popcorn relay. IT WAS SO WINDY. Look at all of the popcorn on the grass. Well at least the birds will be happy.

This was a game of musical egg!

This is my favorite Easter craft of the year, It says....

Here's a bunny that will last for years

He's so cute with his foot long ears!

What a clever craft. I have not seen this one before....I love those little feet! :)

By the way do you know where Bunny Easter lives??