From Smile to Smile!

Let’s just start with this picture…

If that doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will!

And smiles on my face are what happens every time I am around this around this little girl!  This is, indeed, what an awesome sister looks like!!

Her sisters are pretty awesome, too!  I got Kendal and Kenna little sticker books that have clothes you can put on models or hang in closets.  Kind of a fashion sticker book.  Kendal was really trying to figure out what outfit to put where!

And it looks like Kaytie is trying to figure out where to put this duck.  Don’t tell Lilly - she claims that duck every time she travels to Arizona!

We traveled in Arizona this month – just a little to the north!!  It was nice to have dinner with Jack and his parents and especially nice to have Grandmother and Aunt Dawn there.  Love this 4 generation picture and how it is the mother’s with their first born children!

Speaking of up north, we took a little test run up a little farther north to the mountains to see what levels of oxygen I’ll need when we go on our actual hunting trip in October.  Cathi, Dave and I ran up to Willow Springs Lake and took in the sites and the cooler weather than the valley was experiencing that day.  We also made a surprise visit to Toni and Lamont Ball’s home!  I failed to get a picture. L  It was a nice outing!

It sure was a surprise when we went to see this young lady open her mission call…..to Mozambique…speaking Portuguese!!  She will also dip her toes in Swaziland and speak a little Swahili!  What an adventure she will have!

And while we’re on the subject of missionaries, here is Aaron Bono!  Aaron is the son of Jim Bono, my first cousin.  Jim and his family live in Nebraska.   Jim and his sister Catherine both sent me emails at the beginning of Aaron’s mission to tell me he was going to be in the Arizona Tempe Mission.  Not too long after he began his service, Dave was called upon to help the missionaries on transfer day.  Well, Dave got to meet Aaron!  Months pass and my path never crosses Aaron’s - until, the week before he is to go home he sends me a message that he will be at a baptism in our building...a baptism I am attending!  His companion was involved in teaching the lady getting baptized and came to do the baptism.  Aaron, of course, had to come with him!  He is a super nice young man and his parents are blessed to have such a fine son.

Blessings…reminds me of this little girl!  Love her little grip on my finger!!  She is growing up so fast – wish it could slow down.

We slowed down on the freeway to the LA area….but the reason we went is to wish Lilly a very happy 3^rd birthday!  And to just visit and relax with family – it was a hot weekend – but a nice weekend.

Relaxing was easy when Kevin and Alena did the cooking!  We were always full, but there is always room for one of Alena’s crepes!

And this month, while we were filled with family, our eternal family gained one more member!  Raelynn was sealed to her Mommy and Daddy in the Gilbert Temple on August 15^th.  What a blessing she is and what a smile comes to my face when I see this picture!!

Oh, July, How I Loved You!!

The first day of July we packed up and headed for the north country!!  We had a very enjoyable trip driving up the road through Page and into Utah.  We spent the night in Lehi – Patrick and Heather’s old stomping grounds.  We even drove by their old home and visited with the neighbors for a bit!

We leisurely made our way into Boise and let the fun commence!  One of the first things we did was head to the Pancake House for breakfast.  That place has never disappointed – the food is good!  I highly recommend the pecan pancakes – delicious.  But having had pancakes several times here, I opted to go the egg route.  Bremen went with me!  He got a veggie omelet and I got a ham and cheese omelet.  Oh man – it may be a pancake house but they make a mean omelet!!  The others had chocolate chip, sourdough and blueberry pancakes.

Fourth of July brought the annual ward breakfast and fireworks!  It was great that Bremen got to be a part of the pyrotechnic fun this year!

We had quite a little crowd at our gathering that evening!

Logan and Bremen even made a volcano for our explosive holiday!

Smores (the indoor kind) were eaten.

We played lots of games and put puzzles together.

Logan crushed Papa and me in Five Crowns!!

Lexi and were fashion designers and make playdough dresses.  Even Daddy got in on the act once!

We took the kids to Wahooz and Lexi drove a go-cart for the very first time!!

And let’s throw this in just to show, for future reference, that he does do chores!

Tae Kwon Do is still going on, too!

And then it was time to go home…

But never fear – we have Skype!!

While we were in Idaho, Jack went to visit GreatGrandmother - I love how Teresa and Jack make time to go see her.  I know Grandmother loves it, too!

Back at home we had to visit with little cutie pie Raelynn!!

And of course her brothers, the dynamic duo of Hunter and Cameron!

These little beauties, Kenna and Kaytie, melt your heart….

…and then Miss Kendal going to kindergarten makes your heart skip a beat!  She can’t be old enough to do that!!

But the best part of July had to be when Raelynn became officially, legally, i’s dotted and t’s crossed, always from here on out a Lambson!!  Love that little girl so much!