Pool party baby...It was a cool party...cool pool party!

I love my YW group! They are so much fun to hang out with. Sometimes I feel like I'm a YW myself, when I'm with these girls. Last night we had a pool party to say goodbye to our old leaders and to welcome our new ones.


We played water volleyball.


Watched the "sunset".


Took loads of pictures. (Kristin is always up to doing this with me)


Had some killer jumps!

Tried to learn how to make a kissy face...I failed miserably!

I realized yesterday at this party how much I love my calling and how much every single person that I have served with and get to serve has impacted my life. Thanks gals! It was a great night!

A small home improvement

It seems like lately everyone has been doing their own little DIY home projects. After being inspired by many of you, I decided to get to work.

My project...Painting and redecorating our book shelf/banister.

Before

During

After
It took me a few days to get it right and my house paid a toll for it. I'm happy with the results and can't wait to start on my next project.

V

Yesterday marked our 5 year anniversary! It's hard to believe that it has already been 5 years. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were getting married and beginning our lives together. I Love you Luke!

This is Oliver....

He likes to clap...

This week I've been teaching Oliver to clap every time I say "yay". This morning as Oliver and I were playing on the floor with The Price is Right on TV, he saw the people clapping and he started to clap along with them. I grabbed the camera hoping that he would keep doing this. He sure did! I love watching my boy growing and learning even if it is something simple like clapping.

"The world was hers for the reading."

For our book club next month, I will be hosting and have chosen the book "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith. This is one of my absolute favorite books. It's a simple yet beautifully written story about the upbringing of a young girl in her poverty stricken life, growing up into the woman she became through lives many lessons, and the atmosphere of the early 1900's. Smith does an incredible job making it feel like you are watching these characters lives play out before you. You truly feel so invested and interested in what happens. I believe Paul Sweeney said it best when he said "You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."

For those of you that are interested in joining us, we'd love to have you. We'll have some good snacks and great company. Our next gathering will be on September 16th. Please come. All are welcome!

Greys River 2009

Greys river has come and gone and now all that is left are some great memories and good pictures. Luke and I are always excited to be able to go on this annual camping trip with the Veigels and highly anticipate the arrival of August when we pack up our camping gear and head up north to the beautiful Wyoming.

Some of the favorite things that we do here are...
-Go down to the river to throw rocks
-Swim in Murphy lake
-The kids have to play in the dirt
-Eat food all day long
-Hike up to Stump Lake
-Tube down the river
-Shoot the potato cannon
-Sit around the camp fire
-And take loads of pictures to document it all

Love having all these little kids around to keep us busy and entertained. We were especially excited this year because it was Olivers first camping experience. He did great!

On our hike this year we made ice cream and enjoyed it once we got up to the lake. It was so good!

Messing around at camp.

And the river. This year Aiden and Andrew got to go down and it was so fun to hear them as they would hit the rapids. This is definitely one of mine and Luke's favorite thing to do there and we can't wait to be able to enjoy it with Oliver.

Camp fire time.

Thanks to everyone who made this trip so much fun and for all the hard work that was put into making it a success. Until next year...

MOAB

I really fell in love with Moab this past week. Luke and I got to go with our ward for Youth Conference and I loved every minute of it. I don't have all the pictures yet, but I will share what I have... enjoy!