HE'S BACK.....AND THEN GONE!

Colton's back from EFY (Especially For Youth - a conference for 14-18 years old in our church. He attended the conference in Provo, UT (at BYU) and we're so happy to have him home! He and Asher will be leaving around 1am tomorrow to drive to Havasupai for a three day adventure. I thought it would be a treat to hear from Colton himself about his EFY experience. Take it away, Colton!

Well, here I go! EFY (Especially For Youth in acronym form) was the best week of my summer so far. With a $500 (really $450, but close enough, Colton) entry fee, I was really speculating whether or not this would be an intelligent way for my parents and I to spend our hard-earned money. I'm happy to say that it wasn't just a good way to spend $500, but the BEST way to spend it that I've experienced thus far. If any of you are even thinking about going to EFY, DO IT!!!!!! This place has the three G's: Girls, the Gospel, and Great food. It's just pure epicness, and they make church related stuff actually fun. I can't really do justice to how awesome this camp was. My testimony grew literally from an acorn to an oak tree, and I knew that what we were doing was the right thing through confirmation from the Spirit. Oh man, EFY was great. So yeah...just send your kids as long as they're fourteen or up, because I guarantee you that it is the best thing to do over summer break. Oh, and Lagoon Amusement Park was sweet as well...just sayin'.

Well, there you have it - Colton's endorsement of EFY. We were not paid for our endorsement....although...that's a great idea!

EFY

I was so bummed last year! I didn't get Colton pre-registered for EFY and he wasn't able to get in the session with his friend. We didn't end up sending him at all. This year I planned, I was prepared! He was pre-registered. He and his friend are roommates. I was relieved and excited for him.....until last night. As happy as I was and as grown up as he is.....I DIDN'T WANT MY BABY TO LEAVE!!!!! Especially since he's flying up there. And I can't drop him off Monday in person. And I won't be able to pick him up Saturday morning. And I won't have an entire car ride to and from Utah to talk to him and just see him and hear all about it! The truth is - I'll miss him. The truth is - I don't like my kids and I to be too far apart. My dad said "Wait until he leaves for his mission." I think I CAN wait! The only consolation is that when Colton leaves to serve his mission....Tony will be crying harder than me!

So Colton, be safe.

Have fun.

(And get home soon so you can tell me all about it!)

KYLER'S 7!!!

Can you believe it?!? I can't! He was so excited for his birthday this year. He planned his own party, demanding that it would be from 4-6pm on his birthday last Thursday. I didn't think much of the timing until it was too late. Asher had a dress rehearsal for a play that afternoon and we had a dinner for a cousin's wedding. The only thing that it really affected was picking up his free food. (and YES, getting all that free food IS that important!!!!) Solution: take Kyler out of school in the middle of the day to pick it all up. I picked him up around 10:30 and we were able to get in and out of Joe's Farm Grill, Joe's BBQ and Liberty Market in less than an hour! He was also able to eat lunch - from Joe's Farm Grill - under the water tower in Gilbert. (He LOVES the water tower!) After lunch I dropped him back at school and put the rest of his food in the fridge to feed the boys dinner while Tony and I were out. Here's my only photo at Liberty Market - my camera batteries died after that.

Even though Kyler picked a Pokemon party, he picked a baseball cake to go with it!

He also picked out a vanilla cake, in case someone was allergic to chocolate. He's getting thoughtful in his older age.

I wonder what he wished for?!?

Kyler was SO HAPPY for the big box of 42 fruit rolls!!!

(it's too bad it didn't outlast the weekend!)

Pokemon figure!

Here's the crew (including Colton and Mitch - thank you for doing the pinata with the boys) front row: Drew, Teegan, Andrew, Kyler, Greer, Eric, Trevor, Back row: Colton, Kevin, Bryce and Mitch.

Before I knew it the party was over! Thanks to Kyler's friends and brothers for making the day so special for him! Next year....BAPTISM! Go, Kyler!!!

MAY FOURTH

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU.....

HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!!!!!!

Gotta love Jedi Roscoe!

and MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!!!!!

MINNESOTA - THE PURPLE PEACOCK WEDDING

I was fortunate to spend a week in Minnesota (thanks Tony for watching the kids and Candy for picking up boys!) celebrating my sister's wedding, visiting relatives and holding my little niece! First, I have to say what a relaxing week it was. I didn't make dinner once, went to sleep when I wanted, woke up when I wanted, enjoyed a lot of quiet (even with a baby in the house) and spent lots of time talking with adults.....a DREAM VACATION! I flew in on a Tuesday afternoon and we had enough time to drive home, pick up dinner and rush to eat before

AUDRA'S BRIDAL SHOWER!

Audra all decked out in her purple. She did choose purple peacock as her theme!

The food was so delicious and I loved how they decorated with black and white photos of the happy couple. They served a hot corn dip with tortilla chips, hummus with pita chips, sliced apples with toffee dip, baked cinnamon sugar tortilla strips with pumpkin dip, a veggie tray, grapes, strawberries........

cupcakes and brownie bites!!!

After visiting with her guests, Audra told us how she met Steve and how they fell in love. Next up were the gifts! Here's the only gift I can show you. (feel free to visit Victoria's Secret website if you want to see her other gifts) Her grandma gave her this cute sign for her new apartment.

Even with all the hustle and bustle of the wedding week there was still plenty of time to love this baby!

Such a cutie!

Miss Jade getting ready for her bath. Love that Buddha Belly!

Seriously, I can't get enough of this girl!

Thursday we all traveled to St. Paul for Audra and Steve to go through the temple before the wedding the next day. It was still quite cold and they didn't have flowers on the grounds of the temple yet. They have two planters on either side of the doors and they always have flowers in them. Here was one of the planters full of spring flowers. Apparently it made a nice home for a little bird.

The wedding and reception were beautiful!!!! (pictures to come later) Little Miss Jade was tired before the party even got started! Here she is chillin' with Grandma.

Ready to doze off.

Little Miss Jade (and her parents) will be in Minnesota until her daddy starts his training in GA. After training, their family is moving to......ALASKA!!!!!

Bundle up, Jade!

When it was time to go back to reality, Dad drove me up to the cities. On our way, we stopped to get some beef jerky for the boys. We saw this pig's ear and Dad sent one with me for Roscoe. (the second Kyler saw it he asked if he could eat it! Fortunately, he didn't....but the kids did put it up to their own ear......results: they looked like YODA!)

Roscoe was hesitant at first. (ok....he was scared....he's scared of EVERYTHING!) Then he found a little bravery and tried it out.

Thanks to Dad and Connie for putting up with me for a week!

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Yeager!!!

And to Catherine and Sean......You get the CUTEST BABY award!!!!!

THE YEAGER'S

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Steve Yeager!

MITA'S YELLOW COUCH

The only thing brighter than Mita's yellow couch was the sunshine yellow shag carpet that it used to sit on! The couch has faded over the years, but it's as iconic as Mita's Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The only thing missing in the following photos are the cool watermelon lipstick kisses on the kids cheeks!

(impromptu photo shoot before school)

Colton's favorite teenage hobby.....sleeping.

The hat was Papa's....we think from the 50s.

Kyler's pose

Asher meditating

My three monkeys...

See no evil

Hear no evil

Speak no evil

Togetherness

(yes, kyler is sucking his thumb for the photo)

((no, he doesn't do this in real life))

The couch is on my front lawn and ready for photo ops....when are you coming over?