Bridal Veil Falls, Utah

Maria and Alex closer to the top, just to prove they are better than the rest of us...=) They just had grippier shoes.
Our family keeping our feet cool in the water.
Maria and her girls...
Sierra, Brooke and I enjoying Nate's first creek walking experience. That water was cold!
Pretty much us...Abby wandering, Sydney refusing to be part of the group, Sierra, Brooke, Nate and I trying to pose for a picture.

We rode bikes from the parking lot and passed the falls. We didn't get very far because the little girls decided they were done pedaling (I feel like that needs another 'l,' but it doesn't). We rode back and played in the water. Such beauty all around!

4th of July...Backwards=)

Since I don't know how to readjust the photos, they are last to first...

Brandon, Amy, Twinkie, Kyle, John and Maria watching fireworks from way back...
Sydney, Nate, Natalie, Oma, and Grandpa Don watching from closer...
Sierra getting ready for her baptism on Sunday, July 5th.
My hair survived! I was so glad! You will see why in a few photos...
Brandon and Brooke trying out the sparklers.
Amy, Beth and Maria had patriotic toes.
Amy and Beth let Sierra get patriotic with our hair. Very festive! Thanks Sierra.
Uncle Jared with Sydney, Nate, Sierra, and Natalie
Aunt Beth and Sierra with our very festive hair...
The process of making the hair festive, dang that hurt! I am lucky to have any hair left after that!
Nate's first Home Depot Day.
We came, we ran, we passed out. Oh wait, that was just me. Amy, Beth and Maria after the Provo Freedom 10k.
Crossing the finish line...
Can you tell she has done this before=) And because I love my sister Amy, I didn't post her photo finishing seconds behind me.
As promised, Sydney at her gymnastics ranch in Alpine. She is so good!

Still in June...

Nate and I took Sydney to gymnastics on a ranch. The best part was Nate got to check out the horses on the ranch with Sierra.

Nate spent some time with Uncle Kyle and Twinkie. He was a little nervous, but that dog is so tiny, they quickly fell in love with each other.
The granddaughters got to have Oma's day camp. They cooked and sewed and played with make-up.
And finished it off with a sleepover at Maria's house.
When we visit Utah, it is all about the restaurants. We ate at Pizza Factory...
Swam at Lindon Pool,
and BBQ'd at Amy and Kyle's. Good food all around!
We even saw Alex a little bit. He spent almost both two weeks with Justin and Brandon (cousins), while their little sister Natalie stayed with us girls.
Maria threw Sierra a ridiculously cute Tinkerbell Party. She turned 8 and was baptized over the 4th of July weekend.
But at her party, there was a huge slide even I had to try...

Seriously, it has been way too long...

We started our summer off with a bang... Uncle Jordan got married. We love him and Aunt Jessica. They know how to throw a party!

Then for Father's Day, we celebrated with Jared because he is such a great dad. We visited my dad and Brooke decorated his grave stone and my little brother Anthony's too. I got to share a few memories. Then off to dinner at Jared's parents. Good food and good family to share the day with=)

Bowling

Brooke has some decent form...
But not compared to Uncle John...  We forgot Maria and John were in a league, so we didn't stand a chance.
Apparently Alex is getting good practice bowling on his Wii, because look at that form!
I am just trying not to tweak any body parts=)  But please notice I wasn't on the lane with the sides up...
Abby had such pride each time that ball made its way down the lane.  No matter how long it took.

New Year's Lame-ness

I don't have time to add photos, so I am just commenting on my own lameness.  I wanted a new background, but it doesn't really go with the October theme, so here I am pretending I have something to say.

The holidays have been wonderful.  BIG birthdays are not as traumatic as they might have been, had Jared not been as AWESOMELY wonderful as he is!

We are ending this holiday vacation with a trip to Chapala's.  The world is simply a better place with Chapala's in it.  It is our favorite Mexican Restaurant, where "Uncle Roberto" knows our name and our favorites.  We can give him a smile, and he knows what we want.  No matter where we are, Mountain View is not too far to drive.  

My life is complete.